Sunday, November 18, 2012

Big Read News

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Teenage breadwinners Story of young boys and girls who labour for upkeep of their families

News

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Lam Adesina’s death Our agreement with Ajimobi is assured –Ladoja www.nationalmirroronline.net

Vol. 2 No. 49

N150

Sunday, November 18, 2012

L-R: Abia State Governor, Chief Theodore Orji; Chairman of the occasion and Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN) and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, GCON, during the Nigeria Law School Class of ’88 4th Edition Alumni Reunion Lecture and Luncheon, held at the Nice Resort Hotel, Enugu State, yesterday.

Boko Haram: Security operatives warn FG Say offer not over dialogue from sect P. 6

50 children killed as train crashes into school bus

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Navy arrests two vessels, intercepts 17 in Niger Delta –Naval Chief

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Gunmen kill Kano lawmaker

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Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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What’s new Interview

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Seven Days TALKING POINT OF THE PAST WEEK NOVEMBER 18, 2012

Applause

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My career, marriage and coping with fans,

by Mercy Aigbe Mercy Aigbe is a celebrity of the Yoruba movie genre. In this interview, she speaks about her career as an actress, marriage and plans to build her brand. She says her husband pampers her like a baby, adding that this does not stop her from taking her marriage to God to keep it stable.

Wellness

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Gestational diabetes: Effects on mother, child Medical experts agree that almost all women have some degree of impaired glucose intolerance as a result of hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy. That means that their blood sugar may be higher than normal, but not high enough to have diabetes.

cer which he was said to have been battling with for the past five years. Olaolu said: “He has been battling cancer for about five years.

He was fine this morning.

He was comfortable and even said his prayers. He died in the presence of one of my brothers, my mother and my two sisters.”

“He gave up the ghost at about 6 a.m.”

No hiding place for Boko Haram –Army The Nigerian Army has said that the terrorist group, Boko Haram, has no hiding place in the country, describing them as anarchists.

Commander of the Nigerian Army Infantry Corps Centre, Maj.-Gen. Mohammed Isah, said members of the sect are insurgents rather than religious warriors.

He said the days of the sect are numbered as Nigerians want to end terrorism. Isah said the security threat

posed by the sect lies in the hands of every Nigerian, adding that there was never a problem without solution.

He was speaking at the opening ceremony of a one week training programme organised by the Tactics Wing of the Nigerian Army School of Artillery, NASI, for commanding officers, young officers and corps commanders that was held at Jaji, Kaduna State.

Bank customers to enjoy free inter-bank ATM transactions Reprieve came the way of bank customers as the Bankers’ Committee finally removed Automated Teller Machines, ATM, charges on interbank transactions.

The decision, which was among those taken at the end of the committee’s meeting in Abuja, is expected to save millions of naira monthly for customers who, over the past two years, had been crying over spurious

charges for services, which sometimes are not rendered by their banks.

Speaking on the rationale for the removal, the Managing Director of First Bank Plc, Mr. Bisi Onasanya, said the decision was to minimise the financial burden of bank customers and also make services friendly in such a way that would encourage the financially excluded Nigerians to access banking services.

Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, has denied calling for a revolution in Nigeria. Reacting to reports quoting him as saying that a revolution was imminent in the country, the former president said he was misquoted as he never made such comment.

He said: “The person saying I talked about revolution taking

place in Nigeria is talking nonsense; he doesn’t understand English. What I said was that as long as we do not pay adequate attention to solving the problem of unemployment, we are all sitting on a keg of gun powder.

And it is a tickling time-bomb.

All of us must realise that it is a serious problem. Our leaders must pay attention to this issue.

Samuel Olugbenga Soremi DIRECTOR, BOTIFE GUEST HOUSE

MON

Saraki, Lam Who take over from them?

Second Republic Senate Leader and strongman of Kwara politics, Dr. Olusola Saraki, on Wednesday died in his Lagos home after five years of a protracted battle with cancer. He was aged 79.

Saraki’s youngest son, Olaolu, told newsmen at his father’s residence on Cameron Road, Ikoyi, Lagos that his dad died of can-

Obasanjo denies calling for revolution

Most times, I get to the office around 10 in the morning. I will go round and see what is happening in the guest house as the director. This is equivalent to what the doctors call ward round which they do in the hospitals. I check round to see what facilities we have in place. Then, After, I’ll sit down to crosscheck the sales and arrange what to buy or how to spend the money.

TUE

Saraki succumbs to cancer …at 79

time the Igbo were unanimously allowed to produce Nigeria’s President after her late husband was made a ceremonial President in 1960.

Prof Azikiwe, however, said the people of the South-East would play a major role in deciding whether an Igbo man would be elected President in 2015.

I come to the guest house to do a similar thing. In the evening I’ll go to the church. I’m the choir master of mychurch and because we usually have choir practice, I go there to teach them how to sing. I attend the headquarters of the Eternal Sacred Order of Cherubim and Seraphim Mount Zion Church, Tejuosho. This keeps me busy on Tuesday.

WED

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Widow of the first Nigeria’s President, Prof. Uche Azikiwe, has joined the league of those pushing for the next Nigerian President to emerge from the South-East in 2015.

Prof. Azikiwe spoke at the ongoing public hearing on 1999 Constitution review held in Nsukka, Enugu State. She said it was high

I resume work and later in the afternoon, I visit friends in order not to get bored. Most times, there are lots of activities here, especially on Wednesdays. They train models and aspiring beauty queens in the main hall of the guest house. In a way, I’m also part of it. I’m an entertainer and a lot of attention is needed in this.

THU

Politics

meeting, tabled a memo for the approval of 28 infrastructural development projects for the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC. The council also ratified the President’s N98.5 billion anticipatory projects for the NDDC with a completion period ranging between 26 and 142 dry weeks.

It stressed that the projects would be located in the nine oil-producing states of the Niger Delta.

My Thursday is somehow similar to Wednesday, but I usually go to my club. I belong to Ikeja Club.

FRI

Mr. Fred Agbaje is a Lagos based lawyer and human rights crusader. He speaks about issues bordering on democracy in Nigeria.

The Federal Executive Council, FEC, has approved N293.2 billion worth of contracts for road construction and rehabilitation, education, power and developmental projects in the nine oilproducing states of the Niger Delta.

Briefing journalists after the FEC meeting, the Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, said that President Goodluck Jonathan, who presided over the

I spend most of my time on this fifth day of the week with people who come to see me. Some come for counselling.

I’m always engaged from morning till late in the night when I would say ‘please excuse me, allow me to go home’.

SAT

Most lucrative business in Nigeria is corruption –Agbaje

2015: Zik’s widow pushes for Igbo presidency

Most of my Saturdays are tight. I do have weddings to attend.

When I come back, I go for choir practice. In the evening, I come to the guest house before I drive home at 11.30 in the night.

SUN

FG in N298.2bn road, NDDC contracts bazaar

On Sunday, I usually go to church. I leave church about five in the evening. When I’m back I would branch to the guest house briefly to see how my members of staff are faring. *By Adaeze Amos (0802 301 2293)

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Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

THE

Big Read SUNDAY SPECIAL INVESTIGATION

November 18, 2012

A wheel barrow pusher at Onitsha, Aanmra State

Teenage breadwinners Adamu

Young boys scavenging from dump waste

Story of young boys and girls who labour for upkeep of their families Across the nation, hunger is growing, and putting food on the table has become a problem in most homes. Kids, in this circumstance, have thus, assumed the responsibilities of adults, growing up before they could enjoy their youth and working ‘hard’ as breadwinners in most homes. Head, Special Investigations, Isioma Madike, narrates the tales of these ‘adult’ kids

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or Nigerians and foreigners alike, when it comes to foodstuffs, Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji Sunday Market in Ogba is where to go for good bargains. For more than 20 years, rather than head for church on Sunday mornings, many, especially working class women, would rather be on their way to the sprawling suburb near Ikeja, the Lagos State capital. Many preferred deferring shopping for food items to Sunday when the weekly market held. It remains the favoured market for assorted food items at relatively cheap prices. It is also where the Lebanese, Chinese and Indians, buy their food items, particularly fruits and vegetables. With the

market holding increasing attraction for many Lagos residents, both patrons and traders appear pleased with their purchases and volumes of business carried out in this market.

But, they are not the only ones pleased with the happenings in this market. The kids too, many of school age whose parents are either no more or alive but cannot afford to feed them let alone pay their school fees.

The market thus provides a sanctuary for them. They hawk food items, work as carriers of purchased goods and engage in other activities that could fetch them something to take home.

‘WHAT IS THE USE OF SCHOOL WHEN I AM ALREADY MAKING MONEY?’

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Rokib Tajudeen is one of these many lads whose lives have been indentured by poverty. For him, everything appeared to have gone wrong from the onset. He is 12 years old and lives at No. 41, Moshalashi Street, Agege. He had earlier dropped out of school when his father died some years back. A quick glance could not reveal that Tajudeen had packed such a considerable but dreaded experience into his life. He is a popular face at the Sunday Market where he earns his living as an Alabaru (goods carrier for customers). “Fate had entrusted upon me the responsibility of an adult as I have been the breadwinner of my family for about five years now,” he quipped in his little English.

Tajudeen has two other siblings, Mutiu and Rukayat, apart from his mother, Monsurat, to fend for. He resumes for duty every Sunday at the market by 6.30 am and closes at about 6.30 pm. “I do this to meet up because we are many here. If you come late, others will take your customer. We are used to it as it has now become routine for us,” the little “father” said. On a good CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

THERE IS HUNGER IN THE LAND –CONSULTANT PSYCHIATRIST

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The Big Read

Sunday, November 18, 2012

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

‘What is the use of school when I am already making money?’

Tajudeen

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3 Sunday, he says, “we can make up to N3, 500 but, it does not happen like that every time.” He saved a little from this and was able to open a petty shop for his mother in front of their house in Agege. On week days, Tajudeen and his siblings would hawk Koko, local pap to augment what is coming from the shop. This way, the little boy has been able to re-register himself, younger brother and sister back to school at Olusanya Primary School, also in Agege and hoping to make it despite the vicissitudes of life. He is currently in primary four.

Incidentally, Tajudeen’s situation is not an isolated case. Yusuf Adamu, 14, from Niger State has also been coming to Sunday market for two years now. Like Tajudeen, Adamu had been left with a blind mother and two younger brothers after he lost his father seven years ago.

“I came to Lagos to beg until a friend introduced me to this market. Later, I was approached by a physically challenged woman, who thereafter employed me to be pushing her around soliciting for help. I make up to N2, 300 every Sunday from this market and the woman I works with on week days, pays me N3, 000 every week from Monday through Friday. She does not beg on Sundays, so, I use the opportunity to ‘hustle’ at the market,” Adamu said. He sends bulk of the money he is making back home to take care of his mother and younger brothers.

Biliki, from Ogbomoso in Osun State is, certainly, a pretty girl at 13; dark complexioned with radiant skin and the right figure. The smile on her face runs contrary to the life she had led. Yet, the glows on her rosy cheeks confirm the fact that she is still very young. She was “imported” sometimes in February this year through a middle-man to Madam Kemi Balogun, a restaurant owner (mama put) at Olusosun, Ojota. Her salary of N5, 000 per month is paid directly to her parents back. She had never seen the four walls

Biliki

of a formal school and may never see one as she seems to have accepted her fate of carrying the burden of her entire family.

Coming from an underprivileged background, she is also used as domestic servant and as street trader.

Harrowing as Biliki’s tale is, she is lucky. Many of her type have been forced into early marriage, prostitution and drug trafficking. Through an interpreter, she said, “I do this because my parents are poor. If I don’t do this job, my other brothers and sister may not be able to go to school. My salary may be small but it goes a long way to put food on the table of my family back home. And since my madam is nice to me, I will do it for as long as it lasts,” Biliki said with an innocent smile. For Segun Adeniyi, 16, bus conductor and family breadwinner, life in the streets has become normal for him. He works with a middle-aged man, who simply identified himself as Alhaji Wasiu. He plies the Ojota-Yaba route. Adeniyi has been with him for the past two years. For him, going back to school is simply unnecessary. “What is the use of school when I am already making money?” he asked.

Face with poverty and lack of parental care, the kids readily take to menial jobs in most Nigerian cities in order to make a living and cater for their younger ones.

Street hawking has turned a lot of them into hopeless youths with a bleak future.

It is not uncommon to see children walking the streets looking desperate, wretched and hunger-stricken while hawking.

Some of them grow up to become touts, thugs, drug addicts or armed robbers.

For many of them, activities at school and even at home have become a serious problem as the demand of everyday life does not seem to permit it. Everywhere in the country, the pitiable state of children in Nigeria is evident.

For a state like Anambra, in spite of the government’s effort to stem this ugly trend, the practice has persisted. For in-

Another young hawker

A boy leading blind beggers on the street of Kano

stance, Nonso Nwitor, 13, from Ogrute, Enugu State roams the streets of Onitsha, moving from one waste dump to another scavenging for valuable metals and plastics. He had lost his father in 2010, which pushed him to what he is doing at present to be able to fend for the rest of the family. Occasionally, according to him, miscreants, hanging around the motor parks would swoop on him and forcefully take away his money and other valuable items he had sourced for that day, leaving his wheel barrow empty.

“It is not easy but I have to do it for my people to survive,” Nwitor said.

Routinely, in Awka, Nnewi and Ekwulobia, among other key cities of Anambra State, kid hawkers and beggars of varying age move around selling goods and begging for money under excruciating conditions. At Awka, they can be found mainly at the major streets of Nnamdi Azikiwe Avenue and the Tracas Park around Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka junction. Similarly, in Onitsha, they ply their trade at the key parks and markets, particularly at the Upper Iweka Road, Head Bridge and Zik Round About, while in Ekwulobia and Nnewi, their operational areas have been the

Nkwo Nnewi and Eke Markets areas, respectively. The government through the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development has carried out raids of the key black spots and arrested many child hawkers, who were later released to their parents, with warnings to desist from the act. According to the State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Lady Henrietta Agbata, the practice of using children as breadwinners is against the Child’s Rights Act and should be stopped.

“It is a vicious trend that is caused by poverty and loss of society values. We should go back to the drawing table; let a child be a child before he becomes a man or woman. Let them have basic knowledge as a child and at the appropriate time, grow up to be adults,” the commissioner said.

That is in Anambra State. In the neighbouring Ebonyi State, a young girl, who is also the sole breadwinner fending for a family of six: four children, her retired railway father and blind mother, was encountered. She told Sunday Mirror that life has been tough for her family. Before she left for greener pasture in CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

The Big Read

Sunday, November 18, 2012

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There is hunger in the land –Dr. Ogun, Consultant Psychiatrist Dr. Oluwayemi Ogun is the Consultant Psychiatrist and Head of Clinical Services, Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Yaba, Lagos. She tells Vanessa Okwara, in this engaging interview that Nigerians need to think of a better alternative for the children of the poor if kid’s breadwinner syndrome is to be tamed.

There seems to be a growing trend of kid breadwinners in the country. What could be responsible for this?

That trend is pure wickedness. We have heard of so many stories around it. It is very wrong and different, not really hawking per se but pretense. Well, the root cause could be located in the fact that parents of these children are poor and they are engaged to help others train their children and gets paid for that. But, these people send their own children to school and then send that other child they brought from the village to the streets. That is very wrong.

Agreed that our parents sent us to hawk when we were young, but it was never to the disadvantage of the child.

By the time the child is hawking when she or he is supposed to be in school, it becomes child labour and should be discouraged outrightly.

Is there a difference between street hawking and child labour?

Yes, a child is not supposed to be the breadwinner of a home. The type of hawking we were doing when we were young was not that our family was dependent on everything that we bring home from the hawking because they were also working. It is child labour when a child is supposed to be in school and he/she is sent to the streets to go and sell goods and the family is completely dependent on what that child brings home. It is also child labour when parents send out their children to beg and then hang around somewhere expecting them to bring the money to them as we see some of these Fulani’s do. When a child is sent out to the streets, specifically to make money for the

family, it is child abuse and that child is disadvantaged.

What is the psychological effect on such a child that has been subjected to this form of abuse?

Such children are not happy. For one thing, that child will be very unhappy because they will be seeing their mates going to school while they are on the streets. It does not enhance their development because that is what they will continue to do. Psychologically, from there, they will join street gangs, especially when they are beaten when they get home from selling on the streets. They will realise that they are happier being on the streets than going home where they are beaten. From there, it leads them to prostitution, drug addiction and also falling into wrong hands.

Ogun

What, in your view, is the solution to this problem in the Nigerian society?

The solution to this problem should not be left in the hands of the government alone. There are a lot of fundamental problems in the country. The poverty level in the nation is appalling. It is a multi facetted issue. It is not just enough to legislate ‘’no child hawking on the streets’’ or having the Child Rights Act. Lagos State has passed their own and some other states and that is a good development; but the solution is not just making it a criminal offence.

We need to think of a better alternative for the child of the poor parent. When the law enforcement agency see these children on the streets and forcefully take them away until their parents come to pay a fine, where do they take these children to? There is poverty in the land and that is what

we need to address than promulgating laws against hawking.

Should that be the only solution?

Another issue is family planning. People should learn to have as many children as they could cater for. Unfortunately, it is the poor people that have more children in our society and this is mostly out of lack of education.

They are unaware of the importance of family planning.

Unless the government can start a welfare package in the country to take care of the poor in our society, we will continue to talk about it. I don’t see this problem ending right away or in the nearest future in this country. Whether you like it or not, hawking is not the problem, poverty is because there is hunger in the land.

Alarming rate of abdication of parental responsibility in Nigeria –Commissioner

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4 Lagos State, little Nkechi says their morning food had been Akamu (pap) without sugar, nothing in the afternoon; their next meal – Eba with crayfish and vegetables. “It was tasteless and we were dying of hunger,” she recalled.

Today, Nkechi works in a beer parlour in Lagos Island where she earns N6, 500 as monthly salary. “This is what I send home every month and it goes a long way at helping my family maintain a balance in life,” she said. Like many of her counterparts, Nkechi, now 15, also dropped out of school when she was only eight. But, Lagos, she agrees, has not been any better. According to her, a lot of families too are desperate also. “I see many children of lower class parents going about scavenging the leftovers of the privileged residents. Other places frequented by these human scavengers include hospitals and restaurants,” she quipped with a forced smile on her innocent looking face. Indeed, across the nation, hunger is growing, and putting food on the table has become a major problem for most homes. Kids, in this circumstance, have thus assumed the responsibilities of adults as they struggle to take up the challenge of breadwinners.

In the northern part of the country, Islamic student beggars, also known as almagiris, roam the landscape.

While in other part of Nigeria, children are often to be found in market and in the streets, engaged in trading and other strenuous activities that are well beyond the act of their tender frames. The Plateau State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Olivia Dazyem, who frowns at this undeserved load on innocent kids, says, “there is an alarming rate of abdication of parental responsibility in Nigeria. Most parents after giving birth to children turn around to abandon them; and in most cases, use them to fend for the family. They are the ones seen in the streets hawking, and doing all manner of menial jobs. Some are given out to live with relatives as house helps, who in turn subject them to all

Dayzem

forms of abuses.

“But, we are trying in Plateau State to create awareness to the people on the rights of the child and entrench the child protection network in the state. We also try to approach other development partners in the state.

My ministry is working very closely with Child Protection Network, which specialises in child protection; the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) is there as well as the Federation of Women Lawyers and Child Welfare Department. There are also efforts to develop the child’s capacity to defend their own rights,” she said.

Though, the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) and many other Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in the country have been pushing to ensure that the rights of the Nigerian child is protected, not much has been achieved in that regard. Just like their counterparts in other parts of Africa, the Nigerian child has so far remained entangled in vicious circle and tramped upon by ignorance, lack of shelter, hunger, disease and malnutrition. These are happening despite the various local and international laws and conven-

tions aimed at protecting the rights of children in the world. In Nigeria, laws have recognised the welfare of the child since 1943, when the Children and Young Person’s Ordinance was first enacted. In the 1979 and 1999 constitutions, the rights of the child were also clearly stated. But, not much was achieved with these laws.

Government intervened sometime ago with the introduction and implementation of the Universal Basic Education Scheme (UBE) to arrest the ugly trend. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo while launching the scheme in 2000 declared, “this scheme makes primary education compulsory and spells out punishment for parents who refuse to send their children to school.”

Many other states, especially from the southern part of the country, have also at various times enacted laws, making education compulsory at primary, and in some states, post-primary levels with the sole aim of protecting young children. To Dr. Oluwayemi Ogun, Consultant Psychiatrist and Head of Clinical Services, Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Yaba, Lagos, “the solution to this problem should not be left in the hands of the government alone. There are a lot of fundamental problems in the country.

“The poverty level in the nation is appalling. It is a multi facetted issue. It is not just enough to legislate, for instance, ‘no child hawking in the streets’ or having the Child Rights Act. Lagos State has passed its own law and some other states too; that is a good development. But, the solution is not just making it a criminal offence. We need to think of a better alternative for the child of the poor parent. When the law enforcement agency see these children on the streets and forcefully take them away until their parents come to pay a fine, where do they take these children to? The child that you are taking away does not really know that this is a criminal offence,” she said.

Additional reports from Charles Okeke (Awka), James Abraham (Jos), and Vanessa Okwara (Lagos).

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NEWS

Sunday November 18, 2012

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Boko Haram: Security operatives warn FG over dialogue •Say offer not from sect OMEIZA AJAYI, ABUJA AND AUGUSTINE MADU WEST, K ANO

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ndications emerged last night in Abuja that security agencies in the country have started mounting pressure on the Federal Government to ignore the offer of a ceasefire by the Boko Haram Islamist sect, describing the offer as phoney and selfish.

The security services are said to be treading with “serious caution” on the offer which is seen in security circles as a grand deception.

Sunday Mirror investigations revealed that although the government is keen on negotiating with the group, security agencies in the country are of the belief that the offer did not emanate directly from the sect.

A security source in Abuja said although he learns that the sect is ready for a ceasefire, the purported offer by one Abu Mohammed Ibn Abdulazeez “is nothing other than mere fabrications”.

On November 1, the leadership of the Jama’atul Ahlis Sunnah Lidda’awati Wal Jihad, also called Boko Haram, had purportedly named the former Head of State and presidential candidate of Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, General Muhammadu Buhari among six prominent northerners, to mediate between the group and the Federal Government.

Spokesman of the group, Abu Mohammed Ibn Abdulazeez, who claimed to be the Second-in-Command (Amir) to their leader, Imam Abubakar Shekau, was said to have made the group’s intention known in a tele-conference with journalists in Maiduguri.

A top security source in Abuja who said Abdulaziz is unknown to the media, said even if Abul Qaqa, the sect’s spokesman has been killed by security agents, the new sect spokesman would still have preferred to go by the name of the de-

ceased comrade.

“Why did he not call for the implementation of Shariah law across Nigeria, a long-term demand of the sect? And why did he choose to speak in English which is not the usual language adopted by the sect?

“The self-proclaimed leader of the sect, Abubakar Shekau, had before now loathed the government so much that he said the group was not interested in talks with the government and would never be. So, why the sudden change of mind?

These are some of the questions that we are trying to get fool-proof answers to before we can tell you what we are up to next”, said the source.

A security expert and former Director in the State Security Service, Barrister Mike Ejiofor also urged the Federal Government to be

wary of the offer by the sect.

According to him, terrorism in Nigeria has now become an industry and the government would have to tread with caution in the way it welcomes such demands. “You will recall the previous offers by the Boko Haram. Now, there are two angles to look at on why the dialogue failed: it is either that the offer was made by fake Boko Haram members or by bonafide members who were not authorised to do so, and by mediators who did not enjoy the confidence of the sect”, he said.

According to him, the recent offer was made by a man who does not enjoy the confidence of the sect. “Abu Mohammed has been going under different names to make the same offer and he does not have the confidence of Boko Haram leaders.

He said: “Boko Haram

has become an industry which some people now use to selfishly enrich themselves. Government should be wary of such dubious people who just want to use the sect’s name to defraud the government. On May 1, the guy came as Mallam Abu Mohammed and claimed to be Shekau’s second in command. It is just a scam. On May 13, an offer was made by the same man.

Before then, on February 7, same offer was made and was sent to the Nigeria Television Authority NTA only for Boko Haram to later dismiss the tape. Government should discountenance all these people until they get the real sect leaders. Besides, among those reportedly mentioned by Boko Haram, only Buhari has come out to dissociate himself from the sect. Where are others? It is just a scam”, he

Governor Godswill Akpabio condoling with the sons of former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Nsikak Eduok (rtd) during the funeral service of their mother, Mrs. Nkese Nsikak Eduok, at United Evangelical Church, Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom, at the weekend.

stated.

Meanwhile, recent bomb and gun attacks in parts of the Northern state specifically, Kano, Kaduna and Borno are justifying the doubts by some northern leaders that the proposed ceasefire suggested by militants of the Boko Haram sect to pave way for dialogue that will address the political situation in the North will end up an exercise in futility and the decision of former Head of State and leader of the Congress for Progressive Change CPC, General Mohammadu Buhari to back out from the exercise he was expected to play the role of chief mediator has also added salt to injury.

Hence, scepticism has continued to trail the declaration of the extremist group that it was ready for dialogue, especially with its choice of Saudi Arabia as venue for such meeting.

Former civilian governor of old Kaduna State, Lawal Kaita said” it is a welcome development that should bring some relief to the people; it’s a good omen because peace is better than conflict which impedes national and economic growth of a country. I have confidence in the calibre of people listed in the dialogue, and I’m sure of success in the renewed effort.

Another northern leader, Bashir Tofa who was presidential candidate on the platform of the defunct National Republican Convention (NRC), said the parties involved in the negotiation must ensure sincerity, adding that commitment plays

a vital role in the exercise.

There must be immediate ceasefire as no meaningful negotiation can take place with killings going on, there is no reason why this time around we won’t succeed if we put our acts together”.

Speaking further, he said “ the team must be composed of trusted people approved by the parties involved in order to avoid the kind of suspicion that rocked previous efforts, government should accept full responsibility for financial implications of all the damages suffered by the people throughout the period of the conflict in form of compensation, including the dead victims. Government must also grant unconditional amnesty to the sect, Nigerian all over the world should pray for its success”.

However, as the withdrawal of General Buhari continues to generate concern, Northern leader, Alhaji Tanko Yakasai and some southern political leaders have thrown their weight behind General’s decision to back out from the proposed dialogue, an action which has attracted war of words between the CPC and the presidency with the government insisting that it was General Buhari’s call for violence over alleged rigging of the last presidential election in favour of President Goodluck Jonathan and the People Democratic Party that sparked off violence leading to the loss of lives and property in the North, and by implication, the emergence of the Boko Haram insurgency in the region.

Jonathan congratulates China’s new leader, Xi Jinping ROTIMI FADEYI ABUJA

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resident Goodluck Jonathan has congratulated Mr. Xi Jinping on his emergence as General Secretary of the Communist Party of China, Chairman of the country’s Central Military Commission and President-Designate.

A statement issued yes-

terday by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati said, “On behalf of himself, the Federal Government and people of Nigeria, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan warmly congratulates Xi Jinping”.

Jonathan also commended Jinping and the outgoing President, Hu Jintao, and the Commu-

nist Party of China for the orderly transfer of power to a new generation of leaders who have been entrusted with the huge responsibility of leading their great country into an even brighter future.

The President said he looks forward to working with Jinping and other new members of China’s top governance organ, the Politburo Standing

Committee, to further strengthen existing cordial relations between Nigeria and China.

He also expects that under Jinping’s leadership, the already robust trade and economic ties between both countries would continue to grow for the benefit of the people.

Jonathan also hoped that the Federal Government can continue to

count on the support of the Chinese government for its developmental efforts in priority areas such as the expansion of national infrastructure, power supply, transportation and communications.

He wished Jinping immense success in the discharge of his enormous responsibilities as leader of the People’s Republic of China.

FG reserves 3,000 hectares for irrigation farming in Jibia –VP T

he Federal Government yesterday said it had reserved 3,000 hectares for dry season farming under the Jibia irrigation project in Katsina State.

It said the development was geared towards enhancing agricultural pro-

duction and food security in the country.

Vice-President Namadi Sambo said this in Batsari, Katsina State, when he visited areas affected by the recent flood in the state.

Sambo explained that the government would

assist farmers with improved inputs to achieve the desired goal, adding that the step was in line with the government’s commitment towards filling the deficit in food production created by floods in many parts of the coun-

try.

Sambo said the Federal Government had released N300 million to assist flood victims in the state, adding, ``The government sincerely condoles with the families of those who died in the disaster’’.

Earlier, Gov. Ibrahim Shema had said that seven persons lost their lives to flood in the state, adding that property estimated at N1 billion were destroyed.

According to him, over 10,000 people were affected by the flood in 18 local gov-

ernment areas of the state.

Shema, however, expressed delight with the assistance rendered by the Federal Government so far and called for more assistance to ameliorate the suffering of the displaced persons.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Dateline

Dateline

7

SHAPING THE FUTURE WITH THE PAST NOVEMBER 18, 2012

O

n November 10, 1995, on the orders of the maximum leader and Head of Nigeria’s military regime, General Sani Abacha, Ken Saro-Wiwa was hanged until he died in a Port Harcourt cemetery.

Saro-Wiwa, it will be recalled, was the man behind the Basi and Company, the TV serial comedy with one hilarious Basi always dreaming of making millions. Born in 1941 as the eldest son in an Ogoni family, Saro-Wiwa was a writer, artiste, journalist, and television producer who became the most outspoken environmental activist in the Niger Delta, decrying the devastation and despoliation of the land, air and water at the hands of rich corporations and complicit governmental authorities.

He chose to fight using non-violent resistance techniques such as poetry, prose and peaceful protests. Saro-Wiwa was able to mobilise the people of the Niger Delta to push for adequate representation and the preservation of their homeland, which was continually being to be destroyed by oil exploitation.

In 1994, Saro-Wiwa was given the Right Livelihood Award, often called the “alternative Nobel Prize”, along with three other environmental activists. The following year he was given the Goldman Environmental Foundation of California prize.

In May 1994, a meeting took place which broke out in violent confrontation, and four of Ogoni elders were killed. Even though Saro-Wiwa had been barred from attending the meeting, he and eight other Ogoni leaders were held responsible and arrested. A trial took place, though independent and international witnesses claim the various circumstances surrounding the proceedings strayed from the laws outlined in the Nigerian Constitution and international human rights law. Accused of murder and without legal counsel or right to appeal, Saro-Wiwa and the other eight Ogoni leaders, Baribor Bera, Saturday Doobee, Nordu Eawo, Daniel Gbokoo, Barinem Kiobel, John Kpuinen, Paul Levura and Felix Nuate were hanged by the then military gov-

The late General Abacha

How Saro-Wiwa, environmental activist, 8 others were killed ernment.

Saro-Wiwa and the case against Abacha, Shell

In 1990, Saro-Wiwa founded the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP). He also authored ‘The Ogoni Bill of Rights’, and as an activist with ties to Greenpeace International, Saro-Wiwa became the foremost opposition leader in the Niger-Delta. Under his leadership, MOSOP likewise became one of the most visible organisations protesting the economic exploitation and environmental degradation of the Delta region, where most of the country’s oil reserves are located. A more

Trial speech of Saro-Wiwa Speech made by Ken SaroWiwa about the struggle for a homeland in the Niger Delta for the Ogoni people. It was given before November 10, 1995, during the author-cumenviromentalist’s trial for incitement to murder.

My lord,

We all stand before history. I am a man of peace, of ideas. Appalled by the denigrating poverty of my people who live on a richly endowed land, distressed by their political marginalisation and economic strangulation, angered by the devastation of their land, their ultimate heritage, anxious to preserve their right to life and to a decent living, and determined to usher to this country as a whole a fair and just democratic system which protects everyone and every ethnic group and gives us all a valid claim to human civilisation, I have devoted my intellectual and material resources, my very life, to a cause in which I have total belief and from which I cannot be blackmailed or intimidated. I have no doubt at all about the ultimate success of my cause, no matter the trials and

tribulations which I and those who believe with me may encounter on our journey.

Nor imprisonment nor death can stop our ultimate victory.

I repeat that we all stand before history. I and my colleagues are not the only ones on trial. Shell is here on trial and it is as well that it is represented by counsel said to be holding a watching brief. The Company has, indeed, ducked this particular trial, but its day will surely come and the lessons learnt here may prove useful to it for there is no doubt in my mind that the ecological war that the Company has waged in the Delta will be called to question sooner than later and the crimes of that war be duly punished. The crime of the Company’s dirty wars against the Ogoni people will also be punished.

On trial also is the Nigerian nation, its present rulers and those who assist them.

Any nation which can do to the weak and disadvantaged what the Nigerian nation has done to the Ogoni, loses a claim to independence and to freedom from outside influence. I am not one of those who shy away from protesting injustice and oppression, arguing that they are expected in a military regime. The military do not act alone. They are supported by a gaggle of politicians, lawyers, academics and businessmen, all of them hiding under the claim that they are only doing their duty, men and women too afraid to wash their

radical youth movement, also founded by Saro-Wiwa, was allegedly engaged in sabotage against Shell. The company decided to cease operations in Ogoniland in 1993. In his Star Series, ‘The Brink of Disaster and Genocide in Nigeria’ (1992), Saro-Wiwa criticised corruption and condemned Shell and British Petroleum. The Nigerian government decided to break MOSOP. Saro-Wiwa was arrested and a number of his supporters and relatives were slain at Giokoo, in Ogoniland. In his letter, which was written in prison and published in May 1995 in The Mail and The Guardian, Saro-Wiwa stated: “Ultimately the fault lies at the door of the British government. It is the British government which supplies arms and credit to pants of urine.

We all stand on trial, my lord, for by our actions we have denigrated our country and jeopardised the future of our children. As we subscribe to the sub-normal and accept double standards, as we lie and cheat openly, as we protect injustice and oppression, we empty our classrooms, denigrate our hospitals, fill our stomachs with hunger and elect to make ourselves the slaves of those who ascribe to higher standards, pursue the truth, and honour justice, freedom, and hard work. I predict that the scene here will be played and replayed by generations yet unborn. Some have already cast themselves in the role of villains, some are tragic victims, some still have a chance to redeem themselves. The choice is for each individual.

I predict that the denouement of the riddle of the Niger delta will soon come. The agenda is being set at this trial. Whether the peaceful ways I have favoured will prevail depends on what the oppressor decides, what signals it sends out to the waiting public.

In my innocence of the false charges I face here, in my utter conviction, I call upon the Ogoni people, the peoples of the Niger delta, and the oppressed ethnic minorities of Nigeria to stand up now and fight fearlessly and peacefully for their rights. History is on their side. God is on their side. For the Holy Quran says in Sura 42, verse 41: “All those that fight when oppressed incur no guilt, but Allah shall punish the oppressor.” Come the day.

the military dictators of Nigeria, knowing full well that all such arms will only be used against innocent, unarmed citizens.” In another letter he summarised: “The most important thing for me is that I’ve used my talents as a writer to enable the Ogoni people to confront their tormentors. I was not able to do it as a politician or a businessman. My writing did it. And it sure makes me feel good! I’m mentally prepared for the worst, but hopeful for the best. I think I have the moral victory.”

Saro-Wiwa also faced opposition from some Ogoni tribal elders who believed that the group should continue to negotiate with the international oil companies instead of turning their backs on further talks. In January 1993, MOSOP had organised peaceful marches of around 300,000 Ogoni people – more than half of the Ogoni population – through four Ogoni centres, drawing international attention to its people’s plight.

The same year the Nigerian government occupied the region militarily. Despite the heavy military presence, MOSOP continued to intensify its protests against Shell, and also, was engaged in enlightenment campaigns to the Ogoni people.

On May 21, 1994, Ogoni youths organised a rally, in which Ogoni elders were supposed to have a reconciliatory meeting.

Saro-Wiwa, who was their leader, was said to have been barred by the military from attending. During the meeting, strong disagreements arose between the elders, and four members of Gokana council of chiefs and elders, who were opposed to Saro-Wiwa’s tactics. They were ambushed and brutally murdered. They were allegedly cut down with machetes and set on fire, along with their cars. They were Chief Albert Badey, Chief Simeon Orage, Chief Theophilus Orage and Chief Edward Kobani.

Within 24 hours, Saro-Wiwa was arrested and charged with the murders. It was implied that he had had the elders killed because of their stance on Ogoni issues.

Though not the first time he was being arrested, he never knew it was going to be the last. Saro-Wiwa had been denied entry to Ogoniland on the day of the murders, but he was arrested and accused of incitement. He denied the charges, but was imprisoned for over a year before being found guilty and sentenced to death by a specially CONTINUED ON PAGE 8

8

Dateline

Sunday, November 18, 2012

Death of Saro-Wiwa, eight others

brief. The company has, indeed, ducked this particular trial, but its day will surely come and the lessons learnt here may prove useful to it for there is no doubt in my mind that the ecological war that the company has waged in the Delta will be called to question sooner than later and the crimes of that war be duly punished. The crime of the company’s dirty wars against the Ogoni people will also be punished.

“In my innocence of the false charges I face here, in my utter conviction, I call upon the Ogoni people, the peoples of the NigerDelta, and the oppressed ethnic minorities of Nigeria to stand up now and fight fearlessly and peacefully for their rights. History is on their side. God is on their side”.

He also said: “On trial also is the Nigerian nation, its present rulers and those who assist them. Any nation which can do to the weak and disadvantaged what the Nigerian nation has done to the Ogoni, loses a claim to independence and to freedom from outside influence. We all stand on trial, my Lord; for by our actions we have denigrated our country and jeopardised the future of our children.”

Auta was said to have conducted the trial in a suspicious manner that eventually led to the withdrawal of the defence counsel.

The late Chief Gani Fawehinmi (SAN), attorney to Saro-Wiwa, submitted that every requirement of fundamental right of fair hearing was violated by the tribunal, and that every norm of due process was ignored.

In an interview in 2010, human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, said he and the late Fawehinmi had withdrawn from the case on the advice of the late Saro-Wiwa when there were two incontrovertible evidences

that the Ogoni four were killed at the instance of the Security Task Force headed

by Okuntimo.

“As soon as the then state military administrator of Rivers State (Dauda Komo) divulged the information that the MOSOP leaders were going to be held responsible, we got the video recording and sought to tender it at the tribunal but the tribunal collected the video and refused to admit it as evidence,” he said.

According to him, the tribunal insisted that the Evidence Act does not make provision for the admission of such. Falana said the second issue was that the prosecution witness swore to an affidavit to the fact that they were paid N30,000 each to implicate Saro-Wiwa and the others and the evidence was rejected. “It was then that Saro-Wiwa asked us to withdraw since the state has made up its mind to prevent the accused from giving evidence,” he said, stressing that it was the state that killed the Ogoni four and nine.

“That was why Shell compromised and decided to settle out of court in the United States and certainly the last has not been heard of the issue now that more facts are emerging, the case will be revisited,” he said.

After the verdict of death by hanging was given by Justice Auta’s tribunal, the international community and the Nigerian people kicked against the judgment. But to make the matter worse, Saro-Wiwa and his kinsmen were hanged at Port Harcourt Prisons before they could appeal their death sentence. The world was appalled, in particular over the denial of the right of appeal.

They were executed on November 10, 1995, when the meeting of the Commonwealth of Nations was holding in New Zealand.

On that day in London, Greenpeace International said: “Ken Saro-Wiwa was hanged today for speaking out against the environmental damage to the Niger Delta caused by Shell Oil through its 37 years of drilling in the region. Ken Saro-Wiwa was campaigning for what Greenpeace considers the most basic of human rights: the right for clean air, land and water. His only crime was his success in bringing his cause to international attention. If Shell and the Nigerian military think that the hanging of Saro-Wiwa has removed national and international outrage, they’re wrong. Greenpeace today reaffirms its dedication to continue the campaign against environmental

1980s/early 1990s, you’d have discovered that he later changed his mind about sedition and decided that it was a great vehicle for ambitious African politicians,” Kogbara said in an article published in “The Independent”newspaper of London.

However, since his unfortunate demise in the hands of Abacha, he had lost his father and mother to the cold hands of death.

His son, Ken Saro Wiwa Jr., has relocated to the United States of America (USA) after serving former President Olusegun Obasanjo as Special Adviser.

Did the former president of Association of Nigerian Authors die in vain? Saro-Wiwa formed the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP) as a grassroots organisation that drew its strength from affiliate bodies representative of all segments of the Ogoni people to act as the fulcrum of the struggle for the rights of the Ogoni to a clean environment and to be entitled to benefit from the proceeds of the crude oil mined from their ancestral home.

Through the mobilisation of MOSOP, Ogoni have etched the true ideals of the struggle in their hearts.

But today, the MOSOP that Ken built is divided into two factions, with one recently declaring autonomy for Ogoni, and the other countering and disowning the other.

Some people have said what will translate as success of the Ogoni struggle is the total liberation of the people from poverty

and the clean-up of the land.

Sixteen years after the death of Saro-Wiwa, the struggle he pioneered has still not resulted in the ideal society that he and his fellow martyrs envisaged.

But Professor Ben Naanen, Chairman of Provisional Council of MOSOP, told Sunday Mirror that Saro-Wiwa did not die in vain, pointing out that the struggle is continuing.

He stressed that the process of achieving the goals of the struggle is not an “overnight” event.

Naanen, who is also teaches in the Department of History and Diplomatic Studies of the University of Port Harcourt, said the struggle that Saro-Wiwa died for has brought awareness and consciousness to minority issues which the government cannot escape from.

He noted that the awareness and consciousness raised by the extra-judicial killing of Saro-Wiwa and his colleagues is also embedded in the current ongoing attempt at constitution review by the country’s National Assembly.

On the family left behind by the Ogoni Martyrs, the MOSOP Provisional Council chairman said the group was showing interest in their welfare but acknowledged that there are limitations to what they can achieve in that regard.

“Whenever possible, we assist their families, but you must acknowledge that it is not easy for a social movement, a cultural organisation like MOSOP”, he said.

Protests against Shell’s activities in the Niger Delta

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7 convened tribunal. The same happened to the other MOSOP leaders accuse alongside him.

17-month trial and death Saro-Wiwa was reportedly held in shackles in a military prison and was badly beaten on several occasions. His trial, which began on February 21, 1995, was to drag for 17 months. It was a highly criticised trial before the trial was concluded.

At the start of the trial, military guards blocking access to the court building reportedly allowed entry to an observer from the International Commission of Jurists and to another from Shell Oil Company but impeded access to correspondents from the British Broadcasting Corporation and the opposition press. In addition, unconfirmed reports claim that when defence lawyers objected to the military’s heavy-handed screening policy, military personnel assaulted them.

Justice Ibrahim Auta was the Chairman of the Civil Disturbances Tribunal set up by the late despot, General Abacha, in 1995, which found Saro-Wiwa and eight other Ogoni activists guilty.

During the trials, Saro-Wiwa used the platform to state his case more forcefully to a global audience. Greenpeace, the environmental group, had keyed to the case and thus afford a global platform.

In his closing address to the tribunal, Saro-Wiwa stated, “I repeat that we all stand before history. I and my colleagues are not the only ones on trial. Shell is here on trial and it is as well that it is represented by counsel said to be holding a watching

Did Saro-Wiwa die in vain?

CHINEDUM EMEANA PORT HARCOURT

M

r. Kenule Saro-Wiwa, playwright and environmental rights activist and eight of his Ogoni brothers were killed by the Sani Abacha government in what has been described as judicial murders.

They dared to confront big oil conglomerates and the establishment over environmental degradation that their beloved Ogoni people were subjected to over the years as a result of crude oil exploitation.

The military junta successfully used the judiciary on November 10, 1995 to exterminate Saro-Wiwa and his kinsmen.

But there are people who hold strongly that “Ken Saro Wiwa was never a saint”, and was not stable ideologically. Donu Kogbara, an Ogoni and a family friend of Saro-Wiwa, even though sympathises with the man and the Ogoni struggle yet accuses him of unbridled “pursuit of power and wealth”. She alleges that his politics led to the death of his moderate fellow strugglers.

“Saro-Wiwa had never been 100 per cent idealistic about anything. Read some of his earliest writings and you’ll discover that he opposed those who supported the Biafran civil war mostly because he thought that sedition was bad for one’s career.

“And if you could have tuned into some of his conversations with me in the late

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

destruction by the oil industry,” said Thilo Bode, Executive Director of Greenpeace International.

Because there had not been a willing hangman within reach, the executioner was dispatched from northern Nigeria to Port Harcourt. It took five attempts to hang Saro-Wiwa. On the third or fourth time, he was said to have cried out, “Why are you people doing this to me? What sort of a nation is this?” The official Shell response to the execution was silence. The former American President, Bill Clinton, had made a phone call to Nigeria’s military leader, General Abacha, asking him to spare Saro-Wiwa’s life. He never did. SaroWiwa’s body was burned with acid and buried in an unmarked grave in the eastern city of Port Harcourt.

Shell versus Ogoni people

In 1996, some human rights organisations and attorneys brought a series of cases to hold Shell accountable for alleged human rights violations in Nigeria, including summary execution, crimes against humanity, torture, inhumane treatment and arbitrary arrest and detention. The lawsuits were brought against Royal Dutch Shell and Brian Anderson, the head of its Nigerian operation.

The cases were brought under the Alien Tort Statute, a 1789 statute giving non-U.S. citizens the right to file suits in U.S. courts for international human rights violations, and the Torture Victim Protection Act, which allows individuals to seek damages in the U.S. for torture or extrajudicial killing, regardless of where the violations take place.

The trial date was June 2009. On June 9, 2009, however, Shell agreed to an out-ofcourt settlement of $15.5 million to victims’ families. But the company denied any liability for the deaths, stating that the payment was part of a reconciliation process. In a statement given after the settlement, Shell suggested that the money was being provided to the relatives of Saro-Wiwa and the eight other victims, in order to cover the legal costs of the case and also in recognition of the events that took place in the region.

Some of the funding was also expected to be used to set up a development trust for the Ogoni people. The settlement was made just days before the trial.

New evidence of a frame-up

In 2010, the family and lawyer of Ken Saro-Wiwa stated that they had new evidence pointing to the fact that the writer was framed up by the then military government before being hanged. His lawyer, Falana, said the case might be revisited.

Falana defended the late activist alongside the late firebrand Lagos lawyer, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, before withdrawing in protest.

A UK-based newspaper, The Independent, had published evidence that accused the military commander of the Internal Security Task Force stationed in the Niger-Delta region, Lieutenant-Colonel Paul Okuntimo, of ordering the killings of four Ogoni elders whose deaths led to the trial and hanging of Ken Saro-Wiwa, with eight others in 1995.

Okuntimo was also alleged to have taken bribes from Shell to carry out the killings.

Both Owens Wiwa and Falana stated that they were aware of the gruesome participation of the military in killing the elders. In the testimony, one of the witnesses, Boniface Ejiogu, an orderly to Okuntimo, offered compelling evidence exposing Okuntimo as having ordered the murder of the four Ogoni elders at a meeting on May 21, 1994.

The evidence, apart from uncovering the killing of the four elders, had revealed that Okuntimo, whose troops were implicated in the murder and rape, was in the pay roll of Shell at the time of the killings and was driven around in a Shell vehicle. Asked if he ever saw his commander receive money from Shell, he said he witnessed it on two occasions.

Ejiogu described in detail how, just days before the Ogoni elders were murdered, he drove with Okuntimo to Shell’s base in Port Harcourt, where the officer received seven large bags of money.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

News

Sunday November 18, 2012

Seme customs’ command rakes in N142.2m from 317 seizures

C

omptroller of Customs, Seme Area Command, Mr Othman Salleh, at the weekend said the command realised N142.2 million from 317 seizures between January and October this year.

Salleh, who made the disclosure to newsmen at the customs’ conference room, Seme, Badagry in Lagos State, said the command collected about N6,59 billion out of its target of N8.4 billion set for 2012. ``We have made 317 seizures with a duty paid value of N142, 29 million between January and Octo-

ber 2012. ``Five out of the 22 suspects arrested had been convicted, while other cases are at various stages of investigation and prosecution. ``The hard drug-related cases have been transferred to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in the spirit of inter agency collaboration” Salleh stated.

He added that the command arrested a couple with 30 compressed blocks of substance suspected to be cannabis. ``The suspects, exhibits and KIA Sephia car had

since been handed over to the NDLEA,” Salleh said.

The Area Comptroller noted that the scanner and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) had maximally assisted the command, adding that it had facilitated the clearance of goods within Seme border.

He said the command was facing a lot of challenges which were surmounted by dedicated staff members. ``The deplorable state of the Seme-Lagos highway which tends to hinder legitimate trade is a big con-

cern,” he explained.

He frowned at what he called ``the improper method adopted by the Customs’ administration of Republic of Benin in the escort/ canalisation of imported vehicles’’.

Among other challenges, he identified, were inadequate office accommodation as a result of the border reconstruction.

Salleh said discussions were in progress with a view to addressing the problems and warned that the command would not tolerate smuggling in any guise.

Navy arrests two vessels, intercepts 17 in N’Delta

T

he Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Dele Ezeoba, yesterday said the Nigerian Navy had intercepted 17 vessels in the Niger-Delta which indulged in illegal maritime activities.

Ezeoba said this in Port Harcourt while briefing newsmen at the end of a joint sea military exercise code named ``Operation FARAUTA” which in Hausa means hunting.

He said 17 vessels were intercepted out of which two were found culpable because they still had further explanations to give as to the quantity of product they had on board.

He said some of the vessels intercepted had crude oil in excess of the quantity authorised, adding that one of the arrested vessels did not have any documentation at all.

The naval chief said the apprehended vessels did not possess the required documents authorising their activities. ``It is important to note that the exercise would be continuous and we will do what is humanly possible within the limit of available logistics. ``Going out at sea had cost us a lot in terms of human and material resourc-

FG approves N37bn for Gurara dam project T

he Federal Government has approved the release N37 billion for the completion of the Gurara dam project in Kaduna State, Vice President Namadi Sambo, has said.

Sambo disclosed this in Kaduna yesterday, while meeting with some victims of the recent flood disaster in the state.

The Vice President said the dam when completed would support 16, 000 hectares of irrigation farms and generate 32 megawatts of electricity.

He said 300 graduates would be employed to work at the Gurara irrigation and fish farms, to fast track the economic development of the state.

Sambo added that the government had approved the release of seeds and other inputs to irrigation farmers to encourage massive dry season farming, to arrest possible food shortage due to recent floods.

According to him, some 5,000 youths, including women, will be employed in the state under the Subsidy Fund Reinvestment Programme (SURE-P), before the end of the year.

He also said similar number would be engaged in subsequent years, as part of measures to address the problem of unemployment in the country.

The Vice President said the 215 megawatt Kaduna

Emergency Power Project had reached 70 per cent completion, while the Abuja-Kaduna rail project had reached over 40 per cent.

On the flood disaster, Sambo said the federal government had released N400 million to support the victims, in addition to other relief measures taken.

Sambo announced plans to dredge the River Kaduna to allow for free flow of water and the development of dry season farming along the river bank.

Earlier, Gov. Patrick Yakowa had told the Vice President that property and farmlands worth N9.1 billion were lost during the flood disaster which claimed six lives and affected 5,254 other persons in the state.

Yakowa said three bridges and more than 40 culverts as well as other road infrastructure and farmlands were damaged. ``A family lost four kids in the incident while food stuff and other agricultural produce yet to be harvested had been washed away,’’ he said.

The governor commended Dangote Group and the Sardauna Foundation for their various assistance to the victims.

He appealed to the federal government to render more assistance to the state to mitigate the long term effect of the disaster.

F

authority has also resigned.

Egyptian President Mohammed Mursi ordered his ministers to offer support to the families of those killed, the state news agency reported.

President Mursi vowed to take “all necessary steps” to compensate the injured and the families of the dead “They told us the barriers were open when the bus crossed the tracks and the train collided with it,” doctor Mohamed Samir told the Reuters news agency, citing witness accounts.

An eyewitness said the train pushed the bus about 1km (half a mile) along the track.

50 children die as train crashes into bus …in Egypt

Former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar, and Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha at the 35th Founder’s Day Anniversary and Inaugural D M Ukpe Biennial Lecture Series and launch of N100 million Endowment Fund by the Federal Government College, Okigwe Old Students Association, at the Federal Government College Okigwe, Imo State, yesterday.

es and for us to continue to do what we are supposed to do, it is important we get all the support we can get from government,’’ he said.

Ezeoba said it was difficult to patrol the nation’s waters if the right platforms were not made available to ensure that the capacity required was in place.

He said the Navy needed the support of everyone including the media so that

people would understand the problems of illegal activities going on in the waters. ``The enormity of the wealth of this country, the peace and stability, sustainable economic growth and development lies in the sea and it is only the Navy that has the capacity to protect it. ``So we need to be encouraged and be empowered; so I can assure you

NIGERIA IN BRIEF Group threatens to shut down Nigeria over planned subsidy A rights group, Anti-Corruption Network, yesterday called on the Federal Government to back down on its decision to effect total removal of fuel subsidy, saying it would “shut down Nigeria” using all legal means including civil disobedience if the government went ahead with the plan.

The organisation said it would mobilise ordinary Nigeri-

9

ans to the streets without necessarily involving the organised labour movement such as the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC).

President Goodluck Jonathan had while receiving the report of graduating participants of the Senior Executive Course 34, 2012, of the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies,

Kuru near Jos, stated that only a total removal of subsidy on petroleum products would attract investment in the oil sector and put an end to the importation of petroleum products.

He had said, “Why is it that people are not building refineries in Nigeria despite that it is a big business? It is the policy of subsidy, and that is why we want to get out of it”.

that given the right resources we will certainly deliver, ‘’ he added The exercise took place between Nov. 11 and Nov. 17.

NAN also reports that the exercise was in line with President Goodluck Jonathan’s directive that the Navy should intensify naval operations in the Niger-Delta region to checkmate crude oil theft, illegal oil bunkering and piracy.

(NAN)

ifty children aged four to six years old and the driver of the school bus they were on were killed when their vehicle was hit by a train in central Egypt yesterday, officials said.

The transport minister resigned in the wake of the crash near Manfalut, 350km (230 miles) south of Cairo.

The provincial governor said the man in charge of the crossing was asleep and had been arrested.

Egyptian roads and railways have a poor safety record.

An estimated 8,000 people die in car accidents each year in the country.

The head of the railway

FG assures motorists of smooth ride on PH/Enugu road during Xmas, New Year Minister of State for Works, Amb. Bashir Yuguda, said yesterday that the Port Harcourt/Enugu Expressway would be fully rehabilitated before the Christmas and New Year festivities.

He gave the assurance when he inspected ongoing repairs at the Abia end of the road. ``From the last inspection I did about a month ago to

the present stage, there is an improvement and what we are trying to do is to ensure that we make that road motorable before the Christmas and New Year. ``Government target is to ease traffic congestion and arrest the bad state of the Port Harcourt/Enugu Expressway,’’ he explained.

Yuguda said the road was divided into four sections to be handled by contractors and FERMA engineers.

He added that under the present arrangement, FERMA and the contractors handling the projects would be expected to do stone base, final asphalt coating and other jobs where necessary.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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STORIES THAT TOUCH YOU

War of words in Bayelsa NOVEMBER 18, 2012

•Govt sacked us from camps with police, soldiers –Flood victims •It’s a lie; but just go –Bayelsa Govt EMMA GBEMUDU YENAGOA.

T

Dickson

his is not the best of times for the majority of flood victims in Bayelsa State that was forcefully ejected from their temporary relief camps by soldiers and policemen in the state.

The state government appears to be over-stretched on the welfare of the victims displaced by flood last month.

Last Wednesday’s government’s directive that the internally displaced persons should vacate the camps was like a shock to them.

There was an array of protests in over 22 camps set up by the government in the state, owing to the poor feeding ‘culture’ of the displaced persons’ camps. Over 30,000 persons were displaced by flood in the state.

Managing the victims, investigations revealed, had been fraught with sharp practices among government officials who are members of the State Emergency Response Committee.

It would be recalled that the feeding of the displaced in the camps was fraught with complaints, owing to alleged insincerity on the part of the State Emergency

Response Committee headed by the State Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral John Jonah(Rtd.).

Alleged diversion of relief materials such as foodstuffs and mattresses was rampant in the camps. Supervision of activities in the camps was at a low ebb, owing to lack of commitment on the part of the committee members. Even, Governor Seriake Dickson was dismayed with the committee’s performance and quickly reorganised it for an improvement ,but the reverse was the case.

Most of the victims residing in the local communities are still counting their losses even as the flood is receding on a speedy pace. They lost their farmlands and fish ponds to the flood. A lot of them do not have funds to start all over again. They have even turned to beggars to eke out a living.

Government has ruled out payment of compensations to the flood victims as they leave for their communities. State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Markson Fefegha, told Sunday Mirror that government would only be responsible for the provision of buses and speed boats that would convey the flood victims to their various communities in the eight local governments of the state.

The deployment of more troops and policemen to the flood relief camps for internally displaced persons has

Furore over baby dumped in Kaduna •Paternity clash as ‘parents’ surface •Child in pastor’s custody •Community alleges police bias A ZA MSUE KADUNA

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esidents of Chikago, Kakuri community, in Kaduna city, Kaduna State, were recently horrified following the dramatic emergence of a man and a lady who claimed to be the father and mother of a retrieved abandoned new-born baby.

The baby, found by a senior Pastor, Universal Gospel Apostolic Church in the Kaduna suburb, Dayo Jola Oluwa, was dumped at a cemetery in Kakuri, Kaduna, by an unknown mother.

The incident, which happened a month ago resurfaced a few days ago when a man who claimed to be the biological father emerged with an orphaned-mother of the baby identified as Banko Anza to retrieve her from the adopted father/pastor.

But the pastor, community leaders and the youth have threatened to resist any attempt in what they have described as “conspiracy of the Kakuri police” with the acclaimed father, to collect the child from the clergyman.

They are demanding a DNA paternity testing to determine the true father.

Pastor Oluwa told Sunday Mirror how it all started.

“We were to report back at the Kakuri Police Station on Monday October 15 with the child after the treatment in the hospital. On getting to the police station, the Divisional Crimes Officer, DCO, in charge Of Kakuri, told me that they had seen the mother of the baby found in the cemetery. I was writing a statement and began to find out how they managed to find the mother who intentionally threw her child away into the cemetery after birth.

“I asked the presumed mother personally as a pastor why she should throw the child away. She began to cry

and said that she was fed up as there was no help for her as the father abandoned her. She said when she had the pregnancy she thought of doing away with it. She even visited a doctor who gave her an injection to do away with the pregnancy.”

When asked if money was demanded by the police, Pastor Oluwa said, “Yes, the police told me to pay the sum of N5,000 in their station for documentation and I paid. There is other money that I paid. Some of the moneys are just to appreciate the police for the work they were doing … going up and down. But the money spent in police station was close to N25,000 for adopting the child.”

The pastor explained that if he honestly wanted to estimate the amount he had spent on the child, it was over N100,000.

“If I want to check all expenses I made on the child, it was over N100,000. They were asking that if I were going to adopt the child, I had to do this or that. The same police people said to me that the elder brother of the lady that picked the child said that his junior cannot accommodate or even care for the baby because he had no job and his wife was heavy.”

Pastor Oluwa said he told the police that he would love to take possession of the child in order to give it adequate care if there was no one ready to take custody of the child. He said that was the statement he wrote down in the ‘agreement’ at the police station.

As to whether he reported the matter to the Kaduna State Welfare Board, Pastor Oluwa said, “So far as the case has gone to the hand of the police, they were the people to take the case to Welfare because, on that day we

The abandoned baby

Chief Sani

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sunday, November 18, 2012

so far generated tension, as the inmates were forced to leave with the belongings.

Investigations by our correspondent revealed that the helpless victims were ordered to vacate the camps before 4pm last Thursday, else they would be tear-gassed by the soldiers and riot policemen. It was gathered that the Security Adviser to the governor, Lt.Col. Bernard Kenibai (rtd.), allegedly led the security agents that ordered the victims to leave.

A competent source said the visit of President Goodluck Jonathan to the state on November 16 may have caused the abrupt closure of all the relief camps in the state.

The flood victims insisted that government should provide them with little stipends as most of them were cash- strapped. When our correspondent visited the camps, buses were seen conveying flood victims to their respective communities. It was gathered that all the cooking utensils and power-generating set deployed in the Bishop Dimieri Grammar School flood relief camp and other camps in the state had been withdrawn by the Commitee responsible for the welfare of the displaced persons.

The inmates alleged that they had not eaten for the past one week in spite of the various relief materials donated by some multinational oil firms, non-governmental organisations and private individuals. The aggrieved, displaced persons who spoke with ‘Sunday Mirror’ lamented that they were forced to leave for their respective communities without any stipend.

The victims almost attacked the coordinator of the BDGS camp, Dr. Duonebiyah Udisi, as they alleged the middle-aged man had compromised his position. The enraged victims poured invectives on the coordinator for allegedly performing below expectation. But Udisi told our correspondent that he had presented the demands of

The flood victims after ejection

cemetery picked the baby, the police called the Welfare officials. At the time the police called the woman boss in charge of the Welfare, she had already closed from duty and thus was not in the office. She, however, promised she was going to send somebody. The police now asked me to go home with the child and come back on Monday with it.

They said that if I wanted to take custody of the child, they will refer us to the Welfare”.

An angry Pastor Oluwa said justice should be done as he had expected the police to take the case to court immediately they had arrested the lady and the man who impregnated her.

He says this is more so given the statement made by the man, claiming to be the father of the abandoned baby.

“I am not sure if he is the biological father. The DPO asked the alleged father two

The baby after rehabilitation

to three times whether he knew the cost of carrying out blood test, i.e. DNA of the father and the baby. He agreed he knew and could foot the bill. So I was surprised why the police cancelled the issue of a DNA test” he averred.

The Chief of Chikago, Kakuri District, Kaduna, Mr. Ibrahim Sani, who spoke in Hausa, also confirmed the allegations.

When contacted, the Divisional Crimes Officer, DCO, Kakuri Police Station who did not give his name, confirmed the case but said the matter had been reported to their command.

Kaduna State Commissioner of Police, Mr Olufemi Adenaike, who was also contacted on the phone, neither responded nor gave reasons for his inability to react to the seeming police complicity.

The bag which contained the baby

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the flood victims to the committee, saying he should not be blamed if their demands were not met. Udisi, however, dismissed allegations that he had compromised his position, noting that he was a man of integrity.

“I’ve done what I could to assist my colleagues, but it is left for government to implement the demands of the people. Government is ensuring that the people leave the camps,” Udisi said.

Coordinator of Southern Ijaw Local Government in the BDGS camp, Friday Boro, told our correspondent that government provided 10 buses and 20 speedboats to convey over 3,000 victims to their communities, describing it as inadequate. Boro alleged that the committee stopped feeding them in the past one week, describing it as man’s inhumanity to man. He appealed that they should be given some stipends to return home.

His words: “They stopped feeding us in the camp since a week ago. We are going back to our communities without a token. Government should please provide us with stipends to enable us leave. We should be sent back honorably.”

In the same vein, a middle-aged woman and flood victim, Mrs. Timiebi Alexander, rained curses on the state government, especially the committee responsible for their welfare. The mother of five lamented that she slept on bare floor throughout her stay in the camp. Alexander also alleged that four mothers who gave birth in the camp slept on the bare floor, as the committee claimed there were no mattresses for them.

She went on, “This state government is wicked. They are treating us like animals.

When it is time for election, they will make many promises .In the next election, we will vote them out because they are heartless persons in power. God will punish them,” Alexander spoke amid sobs.

The victim wondered how she would leave for her community without holding any money to feed her family. Alexander expressed doubts if the state government could distribute the remaining relief materials to their respective committees.

While another flood victim, Emmanuel Efo ,who camped at the Sports Complex, described the committee responsible for their welfare as corrupt and greedy, Efo urged the state governor to investigate their activities. According to Eto, officials found wanton should be arrested and prosecuted. The victim regretted that he was leaving for his Korokorosei community “without a dime.”

But in an interview, state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Markson Fefegha, denied allegations of diversion of relief materials by the commitee members charged with the responsibility. Fefegha, who is a member of the committee, insisted that it had fared well in spite of the verbal attacks on it. He claimed there were enough relief materials stocked in the central store for distribution to the affected communities.

The commissioner informed that a Post-Flood Assessment Management Committee had been constituted by the state government, noting that the committee would be responsible for the fumigation and distribution of relief materials to the flooded communities. Fefegha alleged that hoodlums and cultists had penetrated the relief camps to cause disaffection and blamed it on the opposition in the state. He also alleged that some camps had been politicised for selfish gains.

The commissioner said he was attacked and robbed of N100, 000 cash at the BDGS camp by displaced persons a couple of weeks ago and blamed it on the opposition that wanted to discredit the administration. Fefegha debunked allegations that some commissioners and House of Assembly in the State Emergency Response Committee for flood victims diverted funds and relief materials, describing as false and misleading.

“Money was not shared to Commissioners and House of Assembly members.

Rather money was distributed to local government committees mandated to manage the distribution of relief materials to the various camps. If government shares money for displaced persons at the camps ,they will cut each other with knives because hoodlums and cultists have penetrated the camps.”

In the same vein, Fefegha in a government statement called on the flood victims to vacate various relief camps, stressing that this became imperative because the education of pupils and students in the state had suffered severe setback He said: “The state government had to order the closure of all schools in the state at the onset of floods. Now that the floods have receded, it was only proper for pupils and students to resume normal lecture. The present administration places a very high premium on education. The call on internally displaced persons to leave the relief camps is also hinged on the fact that government needs to renovate the schools.”

“Government has observed that a lot of nocturnal meetings are being held across the various camps, thereby posing security threat to the administration.

While commending the selfless efforts of the leadership of the various camps, they will be held them responsible for any breach of peace and order in the camps. Government commended all internally displaced persons at the various relief camps for comporting themselves. No monetary compensation will be given to anybody,” the statement added.

Security at the various relief camps have been beefed by soldiers of the Joint Military Taskforce (JTF) and police personnel to check possible breakdown of law and order in the area.

A Yenagoa, analyst and rights crusader, Johnson Ebi, faulted government’s action in using security agents to force the victims out of the relief camps. Ebi advised the Post –Flood State Emergency Response Committee set up by government to strictly supervise and ensure that the relief materials stocked in the government central store reached the displaced victims in their respective communities. The crusader faulted the alleged diversion of relief materials by some top government officials who are members of the flood response committee, describing as a shame on government.

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News

Sunday, November 18, 2012

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Lam Adesina’s death: Our agreement with Ajimobi is assured –Ladoja

•We’re not concerned with any pact –ACN AYO ESAN, L AGOS; KEMI OLAITAN, IBADAN

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ith the death of the leader of the former governor of Oyo State and the leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in the state, Alhaji Lamidi Adesina, last Sunday, the Accord Party (AP) under the leadership of Senator Rashidi Ladoja is hopeful that the remaining part of the agreement between it and Governor Isiaka Ajimobi would soon be realised.

Adesina, a few months back, had led the other party leaders to openly caution Ajimobi from going ahead with the agreement he was said to have unilaterally had with Ladoja.

Speaking with Sunday Mirror, through his Chief Press Secretary, Alhaji Lanre Latinwo, Ladoja said it was true that the party leadership had been the one giving Ajimobi problem in fulfilling the agreement with Ladoja He said the Oyo governor had continually assured them that the agreement would be fulfilled and that they had thought it would have been completed even before the death of Adesina last Sunday. He however added that it was clear to everyone in the state that he (Ajimobi) had been under pressure from his party leaders not to fulfil the agreement.

He said it is true that the opposition to the fulfillment of the pact may wane now that the party has just

lost its leader Ladoja disclosed that the agreement was purely between Ladoja and Ajimobi and not with the ACN, thus they were not bothered with the party leadership’s opinion on the matter.

He said he was hopeful that Ajimobi after mourning his leader, Adesina, ‘who was a great son of the state’, he would fulfil the agreement.

Before the party leaders’ directive, Ajimobi had already constituted AP members as caretaker committee members for

Egbeda and Ona Ara local council areas.

Since then, the constitution of caretaker committee members for the other two local governments (Lagelu and Ibadan North-East), which had been ceded to AP, had been put on hold.

In his reaction, however, the state chairman of the ACN, Chief Akin Oke, said what Governor Ajimobi owed the memory of Adesina was to pursue the interest of the party in Oyo State.

He said he wouldn’t care about whatever agreement the governor had with any party, even

Accord Party.

“What is important is for the government to execute policies of the party to the satisfaction of the people”, he said.

Oke maintained that the ACN has its own policies and the Accord Party has its separate policies and that he didn’t care if Governor Ajimobi had any arrangement or pact with anybody or party so far it doesn’t affect the interest of the ACN. According to the pact between the two parties, the governor had agreed to concede the four local governments namely: Ibadan North-East, Egbeda, Ona Ara and Lagelu, won by Ladoja’s party in last year’s governorship poll

alongside 20 per cent share of political appointments and key parliamentary posts to the opposition party. This is in return for friendly passage of executive bills and support for government’s policies and programmes.

Ajimobi’s confidants explained that the governor had been forced to enter into the accord and made the concessions, which were fiercely opposed by his party, to stave off a hostile parliament in which his party had only a marginal majority. But the governor has been unable to fulfil this condition, owing to the Adesina-led party leadership opposition to the pact.

Gunmen kill Kano lawmaker AUGUSTINE MADU-WEST KANO

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uspected terrorists last night shot dead a member of the Kano State House of Assembly.

Police gave the name of the slain lawmaker as Ibrahim Garko, representing Garko constituency.

The attack, according to the Commissioner of

Police, Ibrahim Idris, occurred at Mariri area of Kano.

The area is reputed as a veritable flashpoint and hideout of gunmen terrorising residents; same with Hotoro, Sharada and Dakdata areas of Kano.

Some lives have been lost to terrorist attacks in Kano lately in Kawo and Hotoro.

Reduce states from 36 to six -KOWA Party

AYO ESAN

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OWA Party has said that Nigeria should replace the existing 36 states structure with only six states.

The party, which was making its recommendation to the ongoing public hearing on constitution review in a release through its legal adviser, Mr Chinua Asuzu, said the current six geo-political zones should be converted to states, saying the question of state creation should be perma-

nently closed.

On the third tier of government, KOWA said the constitution should not stipulate the number of local governments in the country or define the boundaries or geography of the local government areas.

“The only constitutional provision on local government should be; that it must guarantee democratically elected local government councils in every state and that every state must by law set up local governments.”

Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, in a warm handshake with the bride, Ayoyinka Adetomilola Ayeni, while the groom, Olawunmi Adedeji Awosedo, savours the moment, during the solemnisation service at the New Dawn Baptist Church, Victoria Island, Lagos, yesterday

Minister tasks Nigerians on provision of health facilities KEMI OLAITAN IBADAN

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inister for Health, Prof Onyebuchi Chukwu, yesterday charged wealthy Nigerians to always spare a thought for the less privileged in the society by complementing the efforts of the Federal Government in the provision of health facilities in the country.

NIGERIA IN BRIEF

CACOL warns FG against fuel price increase

The Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL) yesterday warned the Federal Government against increasing the price of petroleum products in the country.

Executive Chairman of CACOL, Comrade Debo Adeniran, in a statement made available to Sunday Mirror, said the Federal Government should be wary of heating up the polity with any careless move because the nation was sitting on the keg of

gunpowder.

“President Goodluck Jonathan should desist from increasing the tempo of the nation unnecessarily. We all saw what the nation witnessed in January when the FG first took this step. The loss of lives and property is enough to teach any reasonable government morals that Nigerians would resist any hike in the price of petrol vehemently. The masses are groaning under the economic hardship created by the hike

in the price of the product from N65 to N97 early this year. The imminent crisis that will greet another hike is better imagined,” Comrade Adeniran said.

The anti-corruption crusader noted that President Jonathan should bother himself with the substantive issue, which is ridding the oil sector of corrupt practices with recovering our common patrimony from those who short-changed the nation to the tune of trillions of naira.

He gave the charge at the official commissioning of Chief Tony Anenih Geriatric Centre, endowed by the former Minister of Works at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan.

The minister, while commending Chief Anenih for his contributions towards the geriatric centre, said the government given its limited resources cannot alone shoul-

der the responsibilities of providing adequate health facilities to the people.

He said the time has come for those endowed

by God to help humanity, stating that it was by doing this that the country can achieve meaningful progress as the poor would know that they have people thinking about them.

His words: “This act by

Chief Tony Anenih, coming at this critical time that the country is facing numerous challenges, should be emulated by those blessed by God and this will go a long way in the efforts by the Federal Government to make health facilities available to all .”

Anenih explained that he decided to contribute to the public-private partner.

Igbinedion commiserates with Saraki, Eso families As the family of the late Senate Leader in the Second Republic, Dr Olusola Saraki, conducts Fidau prayers for his soul today, former Governor of Edo State, Lucky Igbinedion, described the exit of the late politician as a “loss to Nigerians and lovers of democracy in the country”.

Igbinedion, in a statement yesterday added that the

legacies of Saraki should not be allowed to waste.

“He was a politician par excellence, a philanthropist of the highest order, a man of the people, a colourful politician and a great mentor,” he noted.

In the same statement, Chief Igbinedion while commiserating with the family of the late former Supreme Court Justice, Kayode Eso, who died two days ago in

London, recalled his career on the nation’s bench, noting that, “he was a judicial officer whose tenure on the bench will be difficult to match. Justice Eso was a symbol of the rule of law. He was a fair and firm jurist. He will be sorely missed by all.”

He also prayed that God will give families of both elder statesmen the fortitude to bear their loss.

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Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Interview ENCOUNTER WITH A NEWS MAKER NOVEMBER 18, 2012

Most lucrative business in Nigeria is corruption –Agbaje Last month, the gubernatorial election in Ondo State was conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), how will you assess the conduct of the election?

So far so good. I am delighted that all the political parties that participated in it gave kudos to INEC. That is not to say that there were no flaws in the election. But having the opportunity of hindsight, one would say that the performance of INEC in both the Edo and Ondo elections, the two major elections following each other, had been a commendable one. It shows that good leadership can turn an organisation round for good. Although I begin to hear that one of the major political parties in Ondo is alleging that INEC did not do well, yet they were commending INEC before and after the election that it did well. As I said, the commendation of INEC does not mean that there were no flaws and all was well. The only thing is that INEC must begin to address aggressively those flaws that had been observed in the course of election in Ondo State, particularly the issue of late arrival of materials whether in the riverine areas or on top of the hills. If election is supposed to commence by10.00 a.m., it must start by 10. If election is supposed to close by 6 o’clock except for ‘observable’ reason, it must not extend beyond that time. I am tired and sick of hearing of logistic problems.

All in all, it is okay and it was good that INEC improved on what they did in Edo in Ondo State. Whether we can see them do the same thing in the next presidential election is another thing.

As I had said several times, this idea of somebody singlehandedly nominating the headship of the electoral commission for the entire federation does not augur well.

It gives room for skepticism. It gives room for cynicism and it allows for all sorts of speculations as to the loyalty and the socalled independence of INEC itself. A situation where one person can just sit down in Aso Rock and nominate whoever he feels is sad. I think the earlier we find an amendment to the existing provision as it relates to the appointment of INEC chairman and other members of the INEC, the better for this country. This is a very big country and we are operating a federal system of government. The tendency is that whoever appoints will get the loyalty of the man in charge. This is why I have consistently joined in the call for the fullest implementation of Justice Uwais Electoral Commission’s report. The eminent jurists made far reaching recom-

Agbaje

Mr. Fred Agbaje is a Lagos based lawyer and human rights crusader. In this interview with Ayo Esan, he speaks about issues bordering on democracy in Nigeria. Excerpts mendations as on how to better the lots of electoral process in this country. In other words, how to galvanise what I would call the electoral dignity into the system or building ‘electoral integrity’ for the country. They did a painstaking job but I am surprised that the present government, like its predecessor, just threw the report into the dustbin.

It is either we want a free and fair election in this country or we want the old way of rigging and going to election tribunal to continue. I will suggest that it is high time we hawked for a better electoral process that will bring about ‘electoral integrity’ in this country. If by a large extent we reduce the political rancour and political bitterness that often arise after each election, it will be good. The only way we

can achieve that is when those that are described as electoral umpires are themselves real umpires…that these are people who can instill confidence in the people, particularly with their appointment and I think this is where the Uwais report and recommendations come readily.

Many people also believe that having staggered elections like we had in Edo and Ondo may bring credibility to our electoral system. What is your view on this?

I don’t give a hoot whether stagger or compact election will bring credibility.

The only thing is that any of them that is good for the country should be adopted. If it is staggered or simultaneous election that will produce or guarantee electoral

i integrity and respect in the country, so be iit. We must weigh the option of each one.

Anyone that will guarantee what I call A electoral integrity is okay as far as I am e concerned. But I know that even if you c make elections staggered, those who will m rrig will still rig. If you hold the election simultaneously, those who will rig will still rig. These riggers are professionals and they don’t want to be thrown out of job. These are political elements that will rig and tell their opponents to go to tribunals as if that is a good talk. Why must the election be rigged? If the paraphernalia, the electoral process is free and fair and the umpire themselves behave fairly, this would go a long way in reducing electoral fraud. As I said, I don’t give a hoot whether elections are staggered or compact; Nigeria needs the best of the options.

How do you see democratic rule in the country in the last 13 years?

It is so good and I am proud that there CONTINUED ON PAGE 14

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Interview

Sunday, November 18, 2012

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

‘We should remove plea bargain from jurisprudence’ state capitals. That is already a presumption that you are corrupt. Then you will come and lead the evidence that you are not. Those who cannot give evidence or explain the source of their income will forfeit it and go to prison.

So we reverse the presumption of innocence and we ask you to come and prove your innocence. By the time you do that you have made the job easy for the state. Not only make it easy for the state but the state will spend less time, less resources on the prosecution. The concept of strict liability is known all over the world, particularly for an offence that is recurring.

We should also ensure that the idea of plea bargaining is never made part of our criminal jurisprudence.

We should remove it. If somebody says he wants to make such plea, it is good for him but not the way we have been practising it, in which the thief takes 90 per cent of the stolen wealth and gives only 10 per cent back to the state.

What kind of plea bargaining is that? That is even a slap on the society. That is a tacit encouragement to the fact that corruption pays. Take the 90 from him, the remaining 10 per cent pass it, so that at the end of the day he may not get two per cent and then you still convict him.

Special court should also be created to handle corruption cases. This is because the offence of corruption has been so endemic. The regular courts are over congested.

Agbaje

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13 have been a regular democratic practice in the last 13 years. Whether we are practising democracy in the true sense of it is another thing. That is also not to say that we are enjoying democratic dividends in the last 13 years. I am happy that I have not heard somebody saying ‘I Major General so and so’. That has not happened. In other words, practically we have joined the league of civilised nations in the world that embrace democracy as the best form of government, not militarism. Some people say, democracy is in place but we are still learning. But how long is it going to take us to learn? If after 13 years, Nigeria is still battling with electricity supply and unemployment is still on the increase, insecurity is the order of the day, welfare of the citizens has been relegated to the background, then it means that even though we have democracy in place, the practitioners are yet to embrace the true spirit of democracy. You cannot be mouthing democracy when the real or practical effect of it, that is translating it into putting foods on the table of the ordinary man, is nil. How do you talk about democracy when jobs are not created? What type of democracy do you have in place that can only guarantee one major industry and that major industry is corruption. That is why I keep on saying that the most lucrative business in Nigeria today is corruption. Corruption has become the 37th state of the federation, drawing its weekly and monthly allowances from the Federation Account unabashedly. Our anti-corruption agencies are becoming helpless. Different scandals of corruption are oozing out of government parastatals to no end. It is sad. That cannot be the type of democracy that Nigerians want. What is in place now is a democracy that has guaranteed rapid rate of growth in corruption in the country. If a country has a very high corruption rate, the tendency is that unemployment will also increase. In such a society where unemployment increases, the rate of corruption and crimes will also be on the increase and the welfare of the citizens in such a political economy would be relegated to the background.

You talked of corruption being on the increase in the country. How do we combat it?

The question is, is the government sincere with the fight? As far as I am concerned, government needs to do more. I am not so impressed with what the so-called anti-

THAT IS WHY I KEEP ON SAYING THAT THE MOST LUCRATIVE BUSINESS IN NIGERIA TODAY IS CORRUPTION. CORRUPTION HAS BECOME THE 37TH STATE OF THE FEDERATION, DRAWING ITS WEEKLY AND MONTHLY ALLOWANCES FROM THE FEDERATION ACCOUNT UNABASHEDLY. corruption agencies are doing. It is like you have square pegs in round holes or vice versa. We have tested those who are there in the various anti-corruption agencies and they are not living up to standard. It is as if they are not capable. If they are incapable, why do we not get credible people? Listen to what Ribadu said last week when he was submitting his report and look at the damning verdict he gave in respect of anti-corruption agencies, that despite their presence, corruption is still waxing stronger. It is either we re-energise them by surgical operation, removing the leadership of the organisation and putting people that are ready to work there. It is not just saying we have anti-corruption agencies and nothing positive is done about corruption. I will suggest that if we want to fight the cankerworm, there must be surgical operation towards sanitising the anti-corruption agencies.

Secondly, I want a fundamental constitutional amendment to Section 36 of the Constitution which relates to fair hearing. It should be inserted there that the offence of corruption should be treated in the constitution as an offence of ‘strict liability’. Strict liability in criminal jurisprudence simply means that if you are arrested for a crime like corruption, if it becomes offence of strict liability, it is you the suspect that will lead evidence as to exonerate yourself. Let’s say your salary is N50,000 a month and you are riding a car that is worth N15 million. The question they would ask is, where did you get the money to buy the car and you are building houses all over the

The United States of America held its presidential election last Tuesday. What lessons can we learn from the election?

So many. The first lesson as I said when Oshiomhole won is that those who are parroting and mouthing democracy, particularly our political leaders, must learn to match our democracy with their own performance ratio. You cannot say you are a president and for the four years you were in office, you could not point at one tangible thing you did and how much of corruption you had fought. It is when you have been able to touch the lives of the people democratically through the provision of necessary socio-facilities that the people themselves would stand by you like they did with Obama. The people stood by him particularly in his management of the economy and in the fall in the unemployment market. Look at the health bill, even though the opposition were very critical of it, they are beneficiaries of it today. The further implication is that countries should talk less about war and talk more of the welfare of the citizens and their security as paramount and constitutional immunity for the sustenance of democracy. That is what the American election has taught us. They believed that Obama had touched their lives. Can the average Nigerian talk of the same thing of the PDP- led Federal Government in the last 13 years? Look at the Lagos-Ibadan road that is supposed to be 45 minutes drive; you would be on that road for four hours. That is if you are not delayed more than that because it is accident-prone. Have you ever heard of anybody talking about rigging in the American election?

The greatest lesson of all has to do with the electoral process. Do you know there is no central electoral body in the US? Have you ever heard of any chairman of electoral commission in the United States? There is nothing like that. Elections are organised in the states, the figures are released and collated. But here we are still talking of chairman of INEC to organise election for the entire federation. Who appoints the so-called electoral commission chairman in Nigeria? Is it not the government in power?

Do we expect such so-called electoral umpire to be an unbiased? So election has already been rigged with the appointment of INEC chairmanship by the ruling party.

Otherwise, why are they scared of implementing Justice Uwais report on electoral commission in this country?

Has anybody told you of going to election tribunal in the USA? No way. The good thing is that the loser immediately he sees the figure congratulates the winner.

Not here in Nigeria. They would never congratulate the winner. Maybe, perhaps, they know how the winner got there. He got there through questionable electoral process and rigging.

By and large, the lesson I think we should learn is that we should not see election as a do-or-die thing. That is the greatest lesson.

15

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Politics PROVIDING FRESH PERSPECTIVES TO ISSUES NOVEMBER 18, 2012

I REMAIN RESOLUTE AND VERY CLEAR IN MY MIND THAT UNTIL EACH STATE IS ABLE TO ENFORCE ITS OWN LAWS, UNTIL THEN,

Edo State is not broke, says Ize-Iyamu P 16, 41

WE MAY CONTINUE TO BE BESET WITH THOSE PROBLEMS OF NATIONAL SECURITY AND MY ADVOCACY OF STATE POLICE DOES NOT MEAN THAT THEY WILL EXIST WITHOUT THE FEDERAL COMPONENT. –MR. BABATUNDE RAJI FASHOLA (SAN)

Saraki

Lam Adesina

Who take over from them?

“Oloyee! Agoro b’ogun b’olu, Baba Bukola. Awodi b’ale, ki jinijini ba omo eiyek’eiye.

Meaning…..

The great chief! The one that feeds everybody, the father of Bukola.

The eagle that lands and brings shiver to the chicks of minor birds”.

T

hese and more are the kinds of praise songs that will be missing in ‘ile l’oke’, the house of the Sarakis in Iloffa Road, GRA, Ilorin. On 15th day of November, 2012, an end came to a 48 years political journey of Dr. Abubakar Olusola Saraki, the Wazirin of Ilorin, the founder of Northern Union (NU), a geopolitical body, father of Kwara politics, the political kingmaker, leaders of politics in the North Central Region, father of ex-governor Bukola Saraki, the patriach of a political dynasty that he established and which produced three senators; two at a go; the one who for over 40 years, had the political fortune of Kwara State in his pockets.

Similarly in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, the passage of former Governor Lam Adesina , a chieftain of the Action Congress (ACN) who until he breathed his last was a political godfather in the state, also shook political circles in Yorubaland.

Adesina, who was an acolyte of the late

sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, was also a key figure in the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), a pro-democracy group that unsettled the General Sani Abacha junta. He subsequently became the Oyo State governor on the platform of Alliance for Democracy (AD), a party formed by the NADECO chieftains.

Saraki was particularly reputed for presenting and successfully selling the choice of Adamu Atta as first executive governor of the old Kwara state. To buttress this, Atta on Thursday in his condolence statement, said, “Dr. Saraki in 1979 single handed made me the governor. Were it not for him, I was nobody and the Ebira were not that relevant either”. Also, Saraki made Alhaji Mohammed Shaba Lafiagi the second executive governor in 1991, followed with Admiral Mohammed Lawal’s, until he did the unbelievable, a masterstroke, when in a fierce political battle, he dislodged Lawal, an incumbent governor and military warrior to install his own son, Bukola in 2003.

The son has not only become the only governor in the state since 1967 who spent two-term tenure in office. Not even the military administrators were allowed two terms in Kwara except Saraki approved.

Bukola, Saraki’s son has also lately become an emerging political godfather in Kwara, as he, like his father can now conveniently boast of producing Senators, House Representatives members, State Assembly members, Commissioners, Local Government Chairmen, Councillors and members of parastatals, at both federal and state levels.

There are still an air of confusion wheth-

Enugu Govt backs creation of Adada State Enugu State Government at weekend said it was supporting only the creation of Adada State in the South-East zone.

The government made this position known in Enugu during the Senate public hearing on constitution review.

Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Mr Amaechi Okolo, who spoke on behalf of the government, said Adada State was the oldest outstanding state creation agitation in the zone.

Okolo said that Nsukka, which is made up of the proposed Adada State, was the only province in the Eastern Region that had not been accorded state status.

“To ensure equity and fairness, Enugu State Government enjoins the Senate committee to support the creation of one additional state in the South-East.

“In specific terms, Enugu State Government asks for the creation of Adada State.

“We want to put on record that of all the provinces of the former Eastern Region, it is only Nsukka which constitutes the state in question that has not been given state status. It is the oldest outstanding state agitation in the South-East. As much as we have been deceived with a lot of agitation today, we should also bear in mind that law recognises first among equals and that should be granted the right of place,’’ the SSG said.

Reading the resolutions of the state, the Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State, Mr Dave Umahi, said. that implementing local government autonomy would be detrimental to the country.

“Local government is part of the state and should not be divided. The powers of the state government must also not be divided,’’ Umahi said.

Also speaking on behalf of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Mr Don Onu called for the inclusion of student union bodies in states’ budgetary allocation.

Azikiwe symbolises Nigerian unity, says George

SARAKI, LAM

WOLE ADEDEJI, ILORIN; AYO ESAN, L AGOS

Briefly

er the making of the incumbent Governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed was not the work of Saraki, the father and Saraki, the son.

One striking trait in the politics of Saraki is the fierce fight that often trailed the romance between him and his godsons starting from those that he made governors to those that were ministers, senators, commissioners and so on. Many came out to say he was quite domineering, disallowing them to function independently in their various offices. However, many of these fights, as deadly as they were, had always ended in favour of ‘Oloye’. Those that were openly fought were the governors, who included his son and they all lost except the son, who strangely, for the first time, floored his father in the political battle front.

However, in the last one year, Bukola had become a self-made leader and he had not pretended about it. His father in June 2010 boasted of going to lesser hajj as he used to do, to commune with God so that on return, he would announce who the governor would be.

No sooner than he left that Bukola also jumped on another flight to the same hajj.

Seven months after, Saraki announced his daughter as the next governor and Bukola cried foul. The battle line was thereafter drawn between father and son. They both went into the trenches and ‘the father was defeated.’ Saraki who was ailing before then, engaged his son in a combat that apparently worsened his health. When he came out to vote on April 27,2011, people saw a dying old man. By December 2011, CONTINUED ON PAGE 16

A former Vice-Chairman (South-West) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has described Nigeria’s former President, Dr Nnamdi Azikwe, as a ‘nationalist that represented the unity of the country’.

George made the statement in Lagos at the weekend while delivering the16th Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe Day Lecture, which had the theme, ‘Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe and the Unifying Factor’.

The annual lecture was instituted to celebrate the life and times of Zik, who was the first president of Nigeria.

“But what is even much more in this great man was the unifying thematic essence of the first president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“It is indeed impossible to talk about the Zik of Africa without invoking his vast accommodating largeness, without polishing him in the deserved lustre of a total, uninhibited nationalist.

“The great Zik of Africa who spoke Yoruba with effortless grace of a native speaker, maintained a life-long relationship with an abiding coterie of very close lieutenants who were mostly Yorubas.

“His pursuits were predicated upon the unity of the Nigerians,” George emphasised.

Also speaking, Chief Dede Odumegwu-Ojukwu, described Dr Azikiwe as a ‘man that bestowed developmental features on the people of Nigeria’.

Dede, son of the late Ikemba, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, urged Nigerians to use the lecture as a vehicle for global peace.

George

16

Politics

Sunday, November 18, 2012

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Edo State is not broke, says I

Osagie Ize-Iyamu, a pastor, is the National Vice Chairman (South-South), Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). A lawyer Ize-Iyamu is seen as the livewire of the Comrade Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole-led government in the state. In this intervie speaks about various issues including the forthcoming local government election and the financial status of the state Ebhuomhan, was there and presents the excerpts.

A the As h Di Director-General G l off Ad Adams O Oshiomhole hi h l C Campaign i Organization, what are the secrets and strategies of your campaign that ensured a successful election?

It was a combination of factors. Firstly, we have to thank God for making it possible because we prayed to God that the election to be peaceful. We did not want any violence; we did not want any loss of life and in fact on the election day, we did not also want the rain to fall. And God heard our prayers.

To the best of my recollection, I don’t think that there was violence anywhere. I have not been told that anyone died.

The weather of the day was good and the election went quite well. Again, our people behaved themselves properly. Apart from the security arrangement that was put in place, the usual incidences of ballot box snatching, trying to stuff ballot boxes, trying to use force to rig elections did not occur.

So, to Edo people too, we must appreciate them for behaving themselves in an exemplary manner and showing to other Nigerians how election should be conducted. It should not be a do or die matter; it should not be a desperate thing. When politicians have campaigned, it is now left for the people to peacefully and vote for them. I think Edo people demonstrated that and I am happy the thing went the way it did. Also, we must thank Mr. President. I recall when he came to Edo State to campaign. He made it very clear that the era of writing results or using security agencies to intimidate people were gone. That the election will be free and fair; that it will be one man, one vote; and that security agencies had been told to behave themselves properly. Honestly speaking, that was what happened.

Compared to past governorship elections in the state, what, in your view, ensured that everybody played by the rule for a free, fair and credible election?

Well, you know that during the campaign many of those

issues were brought i b ht up by b our candidate did t in i particular ti l and d to a lesser extent by other party officials who kept saying: that we will not tolerate ballot snatching; that even if the security agencies were to be complacent, we were ready to ensure that such there was no foul play. But I also think that the President’s assurances and the way the police and military behaved on that day helped to ensure that everybody played by the rule.

There was no preferred political party. There was no preferred candidate. These made it easier for people to behave themselves. The level of enlightenment was also was high.

The level of mobilization was quite high. And ACN, as a party, made it very clear that we were not interested in rigging the election. All that we wanted was that the outcome must be transparent and credible. And at the end of the day, that is what we got. Many people, I must commend, had roles to play and they did what they ought to have done to make it a success.

ACN has been very successful in Edo State so far. But the fear is that since some of you came from the PDP owing to internal crisis, how are we sure the ACN will not be torn apart in the same way that the PDP was?

You see, the problem with PDP was that the leadership was too autocratic and too personalized. Because of that, many of us could no longer stay. You will recall that at the height of the arrogance of the PDP leadership, we came out with the slogan that “No man is God” because we were trying to say that there was need for humility even in leadership. In ACN, I believe we have learnt from the mistakes of the PDP. You will recall during the campaign that there were talks about an impending implosion in ACN. At the end of the day, we came together and work together. The beautiful thing about ACN is that we encourage robust arguments. We

are not afraid to disagree with ourselves and we also have a nism for settling problems before they get out of hand. When mechanism is there it only makes the party healthier.

A party where everybody says one thing is not a healthy p political party has different people and if they are vibrant the have different views. The ability to collate them and say this overall view is what makes the party strong. You can see the un played out in our election. It takes unity to win 18 over 18. We h purpose; we had a clear agenda. Some of us were in the PDP be cency and integrity demanded that we should leave the place. T no harm or crime in disagreeing. Disagreement is healthy in but what is important is the ability to annex the views; the ab accommodate one another.

Just as the state governor was being inaugurated for a second there was this rumour that because Edo State has become too most of the projects that he began may be abandoned soon.

I don’t know where you got the information that the state is Let me say emphatically that Edo State is not broke. I am even right now, that contractors are being paid. I also know that pub vants are being paid as at when due. If the state is broke the not be possible. The only time there was a lull in constructi because of the rains. Now, the rains have stopped. Contracto fully returned to sites. The state is not broke. If you look at t the Comrade Governor has handled the revenue of the state, y actually give him kudos. Apart from the fact that there is tr ency, he has also ensured that steps are being taken to make Ed viable.

Today, people are paying their taxes; institutions that n would have talked to are being talked to: PHCN, UBTH, bank are now paying their taxes. In the past, these organizations wo lect money running into several millions of naira as Pay As Yo (PAYE) taxes from their workers and the moneys would not be ted to the state government. But Oshiomhole has brought ju

Saraki, Lam: Who take over

Bukola Saraki

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 15 Saraki was home for an organised public reconciliation between him and the son. There was no need for a stargazer again to know that the king of politics was going. He never physically came home to disabuse this notion again until his remains were brought for interment last Wednesday.

For now, the coast is not clear yet what the politics of Kwara State will be after Saraki. Bukola, who is presently called ‘the leader’, even before his father died, has been reported to record pockets of resistance from his supposed followers. Sunday Mirror was told of a local government chairman who allegedly told Bukola Saraki to go to hell at the Sarakis’ Iloffa

Road home where Bukola allegedly assembled them and accused them of leaking the secret of Local Government Joint Account to the public.

Sources also equated Bukola with the biblical King Rehoboam who ruled after his father Solomon and was alleged to have shown open disrespect to wise counsels on several occasions, especially from the old followers of his father who attempted to put him right. Another opinion said unlike his father, the Senator forces himself too much in the governance of the state in the areas of finance and policy making. He was said to have threatened on regular basis to remove people from office “because as a leader, he was the one that used his resources and power to put them in positions.

Not only that, the story making the rounds now is that while Olusola Saraki was known for large heartedness and wide generosity, philanthropy, kind heartedness, grassroots politics, humility and consultations, His son is believed not to be so endowed. These outstanding attributes of ‘Oloye’, reportedly endeared him to the people since 1973, the year that that he relocated from Lagos to Kwara to commence full time politics.

Meanwhile, the Action Congress of Nigeria is believed to be warming up to take over the politics of the state but the problem is whether Kwara State that is known to for the culture of belonging to conservative parties will go progressive with the death of Saraki. A shade of opinion told this reporter that there had been a natural conservative party in the Mohammadu Buhari’s Congress of Progressive Change (CPC).

Another factor which the Sunday Mirror checks reveal, is that, the ACN had shot itself in the leg in 2011 by frustrating the traditional progressive elements out of the party by the way its primary election for the gubernatorial position was handled. These progressives have found unusual accommodation in conservative parties like the PDP and CPC. Other

political parties only exist on paper in the state, waiting for election season to come and look for ways of negotiating with the Sarakis for appointments and compensations. The litmus test for Kwara politics after Abubakar Olusola Saraki will be in early 2013 when people will be warming up for the local government elections in October.

In Oyo State, the death of Adesina, popularly known as ‘Lam Ade’, is also seen by many who had paid tribute to him as a vacuum in the country’s progressive political camp. Alhaji Adesina died at the St. Nicholas Hospital in Lagos last Sunday after a protracted illness.

However, more than any other thing, his demise would definitely redefine the political landmark in the pacesetter state.

For his political rivals within his party, the ACN, and his foes outside the party in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Accord Party (AP), the exit of the highly blunt politician will be of great consequential political importance.

Adesina’s progressive tendency, outspokenness and strong belief in the Awolowo school of welfarism politics had endeared him more to the grassroots who see him as God-sent and a messiah.

Before he became governor in 1999, Lam was a vociferous member of the Federal House of Representatives in Lagos, between 1979 and 1983. He got into the House through the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN).

A man of firm principles, Adesina stood against tyranny, oppression and was always on the side of the people in the fight against military repressive rule, especially before his election as governor of Oyo State in 1999.

He was a thorn in the flesh of the successive military governments and one of those who caused their exit from the country’s political space.

From 1999, he and the late political enigma from Ibadan, Alhaji Lamidi Adedibu, carved a niche for themselves in the poli-

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

17

Sunday, November 18, 2012

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

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HEAD, GRAPHICS

Boko Haram’s offer of dialogue

A

pparently in response to the offer of dialogue by the violent Islamic sect, Boko Haram, to the Federal Government, FG, the government on Monday confirmed the commencement of dialogue between it and the sect. Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Reuben Abati, was, however, quoted as saying that “the talks are not the kinds being envisaged by Nigerians. I know that some Nigerians are expecting that a venue should be chosen and a banner will be placed there indicating that the FG is holding dialogue with the group… That is not the kind of talks we are talking about here.

The ongoing talks are a back channel one in which those who know members of the group are talking with them on behalf of the government”.

After some years of bitter campaign of violence aimed at the destruction of lives and property, the Islamic fundamentalist group had lately offered to dialogue with the FG under some terms it spelt out.

The foremost condition was that the dialogue should take place in Saudi Arabia. The sect also demanded for compensation for its losses in men and materials, the arrest and prosecution of former Governor of Borno State, Ali Modu Sheriff, the release of all its members arrested and detained, rebuilding the places of worship of its members destroyed during the 2009 uprising, as well as the rehabilitation of the wives and children of its members displaced as a result of the lingering violence. They also listed some eminent persons from the North through which the dialogue would be consummated, including the nation’s former military leader and Army General, Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), who promptly declined the offer on grounds that he was not aware of “any religion that will

tell people to kill others and burn schools”.

Not surprisingly, there had been varied reactions to the latest offer of dialogue by the Boko Haram. While some viewed it as a window of opportunity for peace, others felt it was a possible deceptive plot by the sect to have some respite and regroup for further violent onslaughts on its perceived enemies. The Catholic Archbishop of Kaduna, Matthew Manoso Ndagoso, for instance, declared support for the dialogue, the choice of Buhari as one of the mediators as well as Saudi Arabia as the venue for the peace talks, provided it leads to an end to the waste of lives and property which has become the trademark of the Boko Haram. But the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) threatened to resume militancy should the FG accede to the request of Boko Haram for dialogue.

For a violent sect which, according to recent statements by the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Azubuike Ihejirika, killed roughly 3,000 people between 2009 and this year, the Boko Haram demand for dialogue seems quite an interesting development. Talking with the sect has offered another opportunity to revive past efforts by the FG to dialogue with the Boko Haram, but which the group rejected because of its claim of insincerity against the FG during the talks. Besides, an end to the group’s insurgence and peace might be achieved in the end.

But considering the grave harm the group had done to lives and property of very innocent and harmless citizens these past years, our thinking is that the dialogue should not be premised on arm-twisting pre-conditions. While we do not know the exact kind of dialogue the FG commenced with the sect, it is quite debatable if

the FG should accept any form of conditionality from the insurgent group. Without doubt, the Boko Haram feels aggrieved over issues that only the sect and its members clearly understand. The sect would probably have garnered massive public sympathy and support if, from the onset, it declared publicly the basis of its campaign of violence. If it had strictly channeled its grievances and killings to those who offended it, without destroying innocent lives and the property of citizens; and the FG responded brutally to such uprisings, perhaps there would be basis to consider some of the pre-conditions it sought for the talks.

On the contrary, the sect literally waged a war on the nation and has been killing people indiscriminately, sometimes across religious divides, which has now cast doubt on whether its campaign is truly a case of religious intolerance. Besides, the sect’s leaders had made statements in the past suggesting that the conversion of President Goodluck Jonathan to Islam, foisting Islam on the nation as state religion and the resignation of Jonathan would make them cease hostilities. All these have helped to cast doubt on the real motive of the group, the authenticity of its offer of dialogue and the characters behind it.

In addition, there are other faceless groups claiming to be Boko Haram.

What are the real demands of such groups and their grouses? To avoid the resurgence of violence in other parts of the country, the FG should accommodate the demands of Boko Haram within the context of constitutionality, what is legitimate and the realities on ground. Let the dialogue go on if found not to be deceitful. But if it turns out a ruse, the FG should summon the nerves to put an end to the sect’s insurgence.

Reminiscences NOVEMBER 18 IN HISTORY 1928: Mickey Mouse film premiered in US Mickey Mouse appeared for the first time in Steamboat Willie. It was the first successful sound-synchronised animated cartoon film produced by Walt Disney and premiered at the Colony Theater in New York City.

1957: Federal Union of Egypt, Syria created The creation of a Federal Union of Egypt and Syria was approved by a joint Egyptian-Syrian parliamentary meeting.

1978: Guyana cult leader, Jones, misleads members The cult leader, Jim Jones, instructed 400 members of his church, ‘People’s Temple’, to drink a soft drink brewed in a tub with cyanide and sedatives at a mass meeting at the Jonestown camp.

The bodies were later discovered at a camp in the jungle.

1985: Gorbachev, Reagan discuss nuclear threat A two-day summit was planned with Mikhail Gorbachev and Reagan present. The main order of concern during this meeting was to find a way to “relieve mankind of the threat of nuclear war”. The Swiss President, Kurl Furgler, was also involved in these negotiations.

1991: Shiites release Terry Waite 4 years after Terry Waite, the special envoy of the Archbishop of Canterbury, was released by Shiite Muslims after more than four years of captivity. Prior to his kidnapping, he had secured the release of missionaries in Iran, British hostages in Libya and American hostages in Lebanon.

2005: Suicide bombings kill 60 in Iraq A series of suicide bombings in Iraq killed at least 60 people and injured 60 more as insurgents attacked a prominent Baghdad hotel, an apartment block in Baghdad and two mosques 90 miles north-east of the capital.

2011: Pentagon tests hypersonic weapon The Pentagon tested a long-range missile that was able to travel at five times the speed of sound. The missile was part of a project to develop super fast long-range weapons that would allow the military to hit anywhere in the world in less than an hour.

18

Opinion

Sunday November 18, 2012

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

To glide or to flap: When’ll these Eagles get their grooves back?

Uncensored U nc

Sheriff S Folarin

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

T

he first half was drab, very drab. One had thought it was yet the same old story of a struggling fruitless effort on the field of play. It was a catalogue of misses, miscalculations, wrong passes as well as poor marksmanship that kept one angry and sad on reflecting that this was yet another manifestation of the national team’s age-long misfortunes. The essence of staying awake all through the weehours like during an American election night was nearly defeated; Keshi’s boys seemed not to be different from the same old tired legs of the last six years. The style of play could not be understood; neither could the formation or strategy be comprehended. Anyway, the first half in the Marlins Park, Miami, Florida between Nigeria and Venezuela ended goalless.

But then there was a twist of fate in the second half. The Eagles seemed more determined and looked entirely different. They became more daring in front of goal and began to find their rhythm in the wings. A more purposeful combination of Brown Ideye, Bright Dike and Obafemi Martins changed the tempo of the game and in the first five minutes of

the new half, the boys menaced the goal area of the South Americans until it resulted in a Yekini-like USA ’94 World Cup goal by Ideye. Shortly after that exploit, Nosa’s cracker of a long-haul blinder but well crafted shot from a few metres away from the mid-field almost tore apart the Venezuelan net. It became 2-0 to Nigeria.

However, the usual Nigerian post-exploit lull soon set in as the non-purposeful approach that characterized the first half returned. No wonder Venezuela soon pulled one goal back due to a most embarrassing defensive error. This remained the situation until the closing minutes when Shola Ameobi’s innovative intervention in the attack that resulted in a rattler from Ogenyi gave the Eagles an emphatic 3-1 win over Venezuela.

It was a great victory in the end.

However, an apt post-mortem shows that the defence-line lacked confidence and purpose. The midfield collapsed for most of the time, apparently because there was no visionary and creative midfielder.

80 per cent of the passes were lackadaisical and awful, which most times went to the opponent or got lost in the process.

The passes could not just connect while the backward approach of play more than 45 times whenever the Eagles were with the ball showed lack of confidence or initiative. This was coupled with loss of concentration leading to loss of ball possession all of the time. The goalkeeping was however good, which led to daring saves by Austin Ejide. There was also a fine coordination of forward by Brown Ideye and Shola Ameobi after his inclusion. The Eagles need confidence and a stabilizer at the back and midfield; while the need for a creative attacker and a technically sound sweeper is urgent.

For the Eagles to return to winning ways and restore the nation’s soccer glory therefore, the defence will need people that could coordinate and firmly hold the defence like Stephen Keshi himself in his heyday, or like Okechukwu Uche and Taribo West. A creative midfielder in the ilk of Muda Lawal, Felix Owolabi, Jay Jay Okocha, or Mutiu Adepoju would reenact the old magic the Eagles were revered for. Mikel Obi is a great stabilizer, but he would need to be more proactive and should certainly play the role of an attacking midfielder like Samson Siasia, and not defensive. We would need another visionary right-winger like Segun Odegbami or Finidi George who can hold the ball from the sidelines and pull it across to the forward meaningfully. If another Finidi is hard to get, we can go for someone that can run and dribble from the right wing and score or create good attacking chances like Tijani Babangida. The team has also not had a purpose-driven left winger since the days of Friday Elaho. That wing has been dead from those times. It would have to be resurrected. And for the attack, Yekini must be relived.

The coach must take his time to find another Rashidi Yekini. He is the best thing that has ever happened to any African national team. Keshi must search all those rural and urban centres and comb those small and big clubs to get another decisive attacker like Yekini. If someone like Yekini or Kanu Nwankwo-two persons that score with relative ease-is gotten, the Eagles will yet soar again.

Keshi strikes me as another Clemens Westerhoff, who knows what he is doing, focused and has a goal, which he pursues relentlessly. He has a friendly approach

towards his players and yet handles them firmly. He searches out from the clubs home and abroad to get the best legs and like a protégé of his boss, Westerhoff, Keshi seems to be taking the risk of experimenting in order to rebuild a formidable national team. I never gave him a chance after Siasia was sacked; but now with what he is doing and having seemingly finally gotten the team’s groove back, having two or three sets of the senior national team, all high-scoring sides, another Westerhoff with good fortunes seems to have landed.

Nigeria qualified with relative ease when one reflects on the last disastrous ouster from the Cup of Nations. The friendly matches played so far were competitive ones, Venezuela encounter capping an interminable winning streak.

This reminds one of the road to 1994, when the Eagles flew from the Nations Cup to the World Cup, earning media attention, world recognition and great FIFA ranking. If Keshi can maintain the tempo and get those replacements mentioned (Yekini, Kanu, Amokachi, Amuneke, Okocha, Adepoju, Siasia, Finidi, Elaho, Okechukwu, Oliseh, and Taribo), Nigeria will bounce back and will once again instill fears in their African and world opponents. Keshi however needs to sustain his rebuilding programme and not allow any pressures or distractions from any quarters. He must stay true to that cause to the very end like his mentor, Westerhoff. That alone can reinvent the Eagles and restore our national soccer glory.

•Dr. Folarin teaches Politics and Inernational Relations at Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State.

Time to abolish political parties OLUWOLE SHOLANKE

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t is no gain-saying that many countries of the world cannot boast of having more than half of what Nigeria is endowed with. Yet, most of those other countries are “flying high”, performing admirably, and maturely, both economically and politically.

Nigeria, which is expected to be the giant and leader of black Africa, remains confused and unsettled, economically and politically, even in sport. Nigeria is in fact “lame” Between 1956 and 1960, Nigeria was granted self-government which was practised under the watchful eyes of the colonialists. It was a trail period for granting independence.

During that period, Nigeria, not yet independent, had to apply the political system practised in Britain which was by the formation of political parties, campaigning for votes, “One man One vote” election, leading of course, to the House of Lords and the House of Commons.

Looked at critically, the establishment of the two Houses appears to be discriminatory, segregatory and exploitative. But that is beside the point.

Importantly however, that system was evolved by the British, over several decades.

They believed in it and it virtually became their culture and it is widely accepted as truly democratic.

Nigeria politicians were quick to grasp the system and to see the relationship in the system between the Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank of Nigeria where cash control and custody reside. But they had also secretly devised and reserved

other uses to which they can be put.

On October 1, 1960, when Nigeria became independent of British rule, one of the cardinal principles necessarily introduced for the formation of government was the formation of political parties and it was adopted because it looked democratic and it had become international.

But it needs to be pointed out that whereas the adopted principle of political party system had been developed in an advanced society, in Britain, where it had virtually become their culture, it was only just being introduced into a relatively illiterate and poor society, Nigeria, where the principle was entirely new and unfamiliar.

Before long, when the time for campaigning for votes came, the ruling political party, in order to win the votes of the largely illiterate population, saw the need and advantage of distributing money (bribe) among the electorate, who were generally poor and inexperienced.

The ruling political parties either in the regions, (there were only three then) or at the federal level, had full and unfettered access to public funds in the Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank and only had to devise a near legal (but fraudulent) means of siphoning or looting public funds, carried out by inflating contracts, or, by awarding big contracts which were half, or never executed at all, although fully paid for by the treasury.

Elections were won with landslides, but the public did not quite understand how.

Opposition cried foul, but all to no avail.

By 1970, ruling political parties had deepened and perfected their nefarious activities. Several postings and appointments were made, usually of round pegs in square

holes in the Ministries and Parastatals by inter-ministerial transfers or even from the North to Lagos, as Heads of strategic offices and Positions, and were given flashy cars, fabulous salaries and allowances. They were hardly experts in those Ministries or Parastatals, but were given such appointments only because they attended one or two years at the School of Administration in Zaria.

Over the years, the looting of public funds increased with impunity. Questionable funding on elections and unessential things were becoming rampant. Agitation against the ruling political parties even leasing to commission of enquiries or being taking to the law courts were easily muffled, with non-challance, and nobody heard anything thereafter.

As at today, in 2012, corruption, in atrocious dimensions, has bedeviled the Nigerian economy and of course, politics, as well as social life, manifesting in, hunger, mass un-employment and poverty everywhere.

Look at our hospitals, our educational system, power, the roads, transport system, the aviation, pensioners, market prices of commodities, everybody is unhappy.

Labour is complaining. There are strikes every day.

Unemployment figure is soaring, to mention just a few. On the other hand, Legislators who were put there by the ruling political party, prescribe for themselves, outrageous salaries and allowances. They live in Government Houses, in Abuja, but they feel reluctant to pay N18, 000.00, monthly minimum wage-because of insensitivity and man’s inhumanity to man?

No government salary earner should

earn more than a don, or less than N30,000.00 per month.

It is all the work of the ruling political parties. They dictate to the government.

They say, but do not believe that they were put there to serve the Nigerian people.

It is not surprising that they win all elections by large majority. It is clear, beyond doubt, that all these plans were concocted surreptitiously, by ruling political parties by which they will get overwhelming majorities, to do whatever they like in the House. See what the investigation into fuel subsidy has brought; the revelation of the committee on oil and gas.

The political party system which Nigeria adopted in 1960 has been adulterated if not bastardised.

Frankly, the Political Party System is an ingenious device to provide easy employment for the Elite to exploit and permanently dominate the masses.

We can conduct Elections ourselves democratically, peacefully, and very cheaply too. If the Nigerian Bar Association, the Nigerian Medical Association, the Registered Engineers of Nigeria, Nigerian Labour Congress, even Church Councils etc, can appoint their president and other officials without supervision or supervising organisation (like political parties are doing to Nigeria), then it follows that Nigerians can invite technocrats and experienced persons to prepare any document that may be necessary for good governance Imagine how much will be saved if Nigeria abolishes political party system. Un-healthy and riotous political rallies will disappear.

•Sholanke is a septuagenarian legal practitioner, based in Lagos.

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Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Applause LIFESTYLE, FASHION & ENTERTAINMENT NOVEMBER 18, 2012

My career, marriage and coping with fans,

by Mercy Aigbe like that’.

Mercy Aigbe is a celebrity of the Yoruba movie genre. She tells Adaeze Amos in this interview about her career as an actress, marriage and plans to build her brand. She says her husband pampers her like a baby, adding that this does not stop her from taking her marriage to God to keep it stable.

How have you been combining the home front and your acting career?

It hasn’t been easy to actually strike a balance between being a wife, a mother and a full-time career woman.

They are different roles and you will actually want to balance the three because you don’t want anyone to suffer.

Things have been a lot easier for me because I have a very understanding husband. He makes my job easier. I have domestic staff who help me whenever I’m on location. I also have my mom who supports me.

How do you rate entertainment industry now?

We honestly are not doing badly because we have really improved in terms of technical know-how and story lines.

We are not doing badly but I know we can do better and I believe that with time, we are going to get there. The only problem that we are faced with is piracy. Piracy kills creativity. When you want to put your money in a movie as a pro-

ducer, you actually want to get it back but if there is no conducive environment for you to be able to get your money back, you won’t want to put your money that would not reap profit. If you have a job that is going to take N10 million, for instance, and because you are scared of piracy and all that, you have to cut cost. At the end of the day, you are killing creativity because you are not giving your all. I think it is just a very big problem that is really facing us and we are all trying to come together to actually fight it. The entertainment industry, as a whole, is growing and we will get there.

In fact, we are trying to get the government to actually pass rules, regulations and laws that would deal with that ...to let people know that anyone caught pirating movies would be punished. We feel if that is done, it would go a long way.

How have you been coping with your fans that seek intimacy?

I appreciate my fans, both males, females, but I always know where to draw the line. When I know you are going beyond fan, and all that, I always know when to say ‘please, I’m a married woman, here is my wedding band and things

‘WOMEN ARE TOO INVOLVED WITH THE EXTERNAL’

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What are you doing to build your brand?

I actually have an organisation I’m planning to launch very soon.

There is also a foundation that we are going to launch very soon. I just want to give back to the society the little I can because I’m very passionate about children. I want to do things for orphans and the motherless babies. I have been doing it in my own little way but I want to take it to a bigger level so that I can have people coming and also helping out. What we do is that we go to these homes, find out their needs and then provide it for them. We move to the next home and continue from there. We just try to reach out to as many homes as possible. Now, I want to launch it so that we can have other people coming in, good-meaning Nigerians, to actually help.

What attracted you to your husband?

My husband is very handsome. I like his dark complexion. He is cute. That was the first thing that attracted me. What actually made me to marry him was because he is understanding and mature. When a man is understanding, that alone makes life easier for a woman. He makes me have my own way most times and he pampers me like a baby.

With the rising divorce rate in the society, what are you doing to protect your marriage from crashing?

The only thing I have done and still doing is to take my marriage to God. Apart from being in the limelight or a celebrity, it is not by your own power that you keep a home. I have come to the realisation that you have to make God the head of your family. The Bible says the wise woman builds her home. I have decided to go to God in prayers and put my marriage at His feet. I don’t intend divorcing my husband. I pray divorce is not my portion.

Can you describe your personality?

I’m a very friendly, honest, down-to-earth person. I can’t stand lazy people because the Bible says there is no food for a lazy man.

‘I WOULDN’T HAVE GONE TOO FAR IF I WERE A MAN’

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Applause

‘Women are too involved with the external’ Adaeze Adophy is the Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, Spicy Chrysalis, a transformational platform.

She studied Graphic Design at the University of Nigeria Nsukka. In this interview with Adaeze Amos, she advises women bosses to leave their matrimonial problems at home and not heap them on the heads of their subordinates in the office.

You run Spicy Chrysalis; what is it all about?

Spicy is the acronym for speak positively to inspire and cause to yield. I started this because I found out that I had a passion for people doing the right things. I also wanted people to present themselves properly. A lot of people have ideas but they don’t know how to transform them. I believe that if we put our minds to it, we would get the country back to her past or lost glory. I’m passionate about Nigeria. I believe that Nigeria is a fantastic place.

With this passion you have for the country, what is your impression about Nigerian women?

The Nigerian woman is an individual that is powerful. It is just that some of us have not realised how powerful we are. They are still waiting to be liberated from that mindset that says you cannot do it. That is like double trouble. You are expected to be the motivation and the inspiration that we need to show that, ‘look did you say I couldn’t do it? Watch me now!’

Don’t you think male dominance is also hindering women?

It is! It’s like that all over the world. It is not only peculiar to our society alone. That is why I said it is a decision you have to make for yourself. You know, you have got to set a goal for yourself. What is the vision you have about yourself ? Even if it is just in home management, you can manage your home with the vision that other women would want to emulate. It is not only in the corporate world.

The point is, can you be the light anywhere you find yourself ?

Can you be the beacon someone can look at? We may not live to see the results but know that you were able to hand over a torch. Try to be a leader. A leader is someone who creates more leaders, not the person who has more followers. A leader creates more leaders and that is why you give what you have.

Can women be leaders when we don’t love ourselves?

It is not just women, people generally. If you don’t take care of yourself or know who you are, you can’t love yourself. You have to know who you are before you can

Sunday, November 18, 2012

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

love yourself. I want to say that most times our priorities are misplaced. We hassle over things that are not necessary. You find out that there comes a time you just wake up and ask yourself, what have I been doing? Every now and again, we get there. That is why you are able to say that women we don’t love ourselves enough. I have to know you to love you right? It is the same principle that applies to me. I have to know myself to love myself. When I understand that you are an intelligent human being, and that we are put on earth to achieve something, that you can do something, then I would fall in love with that person and I would start to celebrate who that person is. I would look nice, carry my nice bag and wear my good shoes to enhance the already powerful, fine person that I am. If you take those things away, they don’t take away who I am. We have to get to that point in life when we realise that it’s not just the women, even the men and our children.

What are we giving back to them? What are we teaching them, what examples are we setting for them? It is said that it is not what you say to a child that you should be concerned about, it is what the child is seeing.

How do you think women can be leaders in their families without overdoing it?

Leadership is also about humility and it is about personality. Look at Nelson Mandela, very humble; look at Obama, same thing. Humility elevates. Let us women learn to be humble. If your husband understands who you are, when you understand yourselves, you work together, not against each other. Our mindsets count too. It’s a lot about what we believe, who we are. A lot of our problems can be solved if we put our minds there.

What’s your philosophy of life?

My philosophy is to speak positively to inspire and cause to yield. That is what I am?

This has become a brand and it is a name I answer too. It is the philosophy that keeps me.

I can’t speak to you positively if I don’t know what is positive. I can’t cause you to yield if I’m not yielding. My philosophy in life is that you have got to improve yourself, learn and keep learning. The 21st century illiterate, they say, is the person who has refused to unlearn so that you can learn. You are forever saying I know it like this because you don’t want to unlearn that one you have learnt so that you learn a better one.

So, I’m always learning, I spend time in reading, I learn a lot, I meditate a lot, I have a lot of quiet time with myself. I have a vision, I have a plan, I have goal.

Is it true that women bosses carry their problems from home and heap on their subordinates at work?

Yes, it is true. That is why it is important to be emotionally intelligent. When you are emotionally intelligent, you would know how to separate things or join things together. You would know to say this is what it is and this is not what it is. At times, they say you are being premenstrual, which means because your period is coming, you are irritable, but you should know that at such a time, this is what happens when I become irritable. If you are conscious and know yourself, you should take the step not to exhibit that negative trait that comes with it. If you have a problem at home, leave it at home. Taking it on your subordinates would not solve your problem.

What puts you off with women?

I found that we are too involved with the external. Whose hair is the longest, who’s carrying the most expensive bag? But there comes a time when you have enough shoes, you have enough cars, it is now time to give back. Try to give back. Instead of buying that bag in two different colours, how about using that money and investing it in the life of someone? You would be surprised the return that would come back.

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Cocktail Whispers

Stories by Olumide Segun-Oduntan

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

NOVEMBER 18, 2012

Halima Abubakar’s ‘desert’ skin cut Wait a minute! Have you seen Halima Abubakar lately? The Nollywood diva who has carved a niche for herself in the makebelief world? You may not recognise her at a quick glance?

She now wears a skin cut.

Yours sincerely met her at City People’s 16 years’ anniversary which took place Sunday, last week at Anchor Event Centre, Agidingbi.

Guess what? She looked stunning in her razor-skin-cut, honestly. Little wonder, she never minced words when she told Sunday Mirror recently that she could switch her looks. When asked why she opted for a skin cut at this time when assorted weaves are the rave of the moment, her answer was straight to the point.

“This is how I want to look this season. This is my own look of the season. Or don’t I look stunning?”

She asked.

So, Okei-Odumakin was detained 17 times?

Joe Okei-Odumakin doesn’t need much introduction.

Take a close glance at her picture during the Corporate Amazon seminar which took place at 1960 Eagles Park Ikeja, last week Thursday. She is the president of Campaign for Democracy, the human rights activist who didn’t give military juntas a breathing space during the military rule. She actually opened her old wounds to empower fellow women especially those of them that are hindered by their sex as woman.

When Joe was introduced as the first female die-hard human rights activist, yours sincerely who was seated in a cinder within the seminar hall watched the facial expression of the corporate women present. She stepped out donning a black polka-dotted top, on a black pant and a pair of black sandal. Those of them who hadn’t met her before started whispering among themselves, maybe wondering why she deserved such a bogus introduction. ’Cocktail whispers’ watched the women with keen interest and as this activist opened up, they listened attentively. She unveiled her challenges during the struggle. She encouraged them never to be hindered by their sex that she transverse courageously where men feared to thread. They all started nodding as she continued. “Ï was arrested and detained for up to 17 times but my spirit was never daunted. I never saw myself as a woman, not even for once. In 1991 in a rally, I was badly beaten by mobile policemen,” at that, some women held their heads imagining the pain but Joe continued. “My skirt was torn as I fell inside a gutter.”

She paused and saw how emotionally moved the ladies were and had to round it up. Ï don’t believe it when people say that women are the enemies of themselves. After all, a woman offered me her scarf to cover up when my skirt was torn. And that was why even up till date, you can only see me on pants.

I don’t wear skirt or gown.”

When she was through, the applause was much. Trust women, so many came out of the hall to hug her, including those who frowned when she was introduced.

Elkanah Mowarin’s unique style STORIES BY ADAEZE AMOS

It is indeed true that style is that inherent part of you that stands you out. Little wonder style pundits are quick to say that fashion may come and go, trends may fade away like roses but that style remains constant like the northern star. Wondering where this writer is headed for? Well, the fact remains that Elkanah Mowarin, a TV producer, the CEO of EOM communication has got style.

Guess what stands this man about town out? His passion for designers’ wrist watches. This passion is so intense that this cute guy wears two wrist watches same time. He wears a different one on his right wrist and another one on his left. Did you say what? Oh yes, that is his own style. When yours sincerely had an encounter with this Delta state born for the first time in his office, it was surprising that he meant it when he said that what stands him out is his two-wrist-watches at a time style. To prove his point, he gently raised his long sleeved baby pink shirt up a bit and displayed them. When he saw my brows were raised, he explained: “Well, this is my own style,” ionhe enthuses. “My own way of standing out.” able, she Did you hear him? Well, this gentleman is right. Isn’t is also a show-stopit hip for one to have something that stands you per. Yes, she stole the show out in the style world and abide strongjust recently at City People ly by it? Without giving a damn Apart from the fact that Iyamagazine’s anniversary gig whose ox is gored? lode Adunni Bankole the steplast week when the ace juju ‘Oga’ ride on. mother of the former Speaker musician, Evangelist Ebeneof House of Representatives, zer Obe performed on the Dimeji Bankole is highly fash-

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and delectable fashion pundit walked up the stage, held some clean wads of Naira, where ‘Daddy’, as Obey is fondly called, was performing. When she got there, she wriggled her shoulders and body gently to the rhythm of the music, as she ‘sprayed’ some money on the music icon.

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Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

& ovies Music M Stories by Olumide Segun-Oduntan 08189418761 e-mail: lumidezy@yahoo.com

Next Movie Star housemates party in style It was an especially exciting day recently for the 16 housemates of the 2012 Next Movie Star. After the 10-day training and grooming session culminating in their exclusive media unveil earlier in the week, the organisers of the celebrated reality television show hosted the housemates to a grand welcome party.

Upscale events and entertainment centre, The Place, in GRA, Ikeja, Lagos, was the venue of the well-attended welcome party.

Chauffeured in a glittering white Limousine, the housemates, resplendent in their tonsorial ensemble thanks to Make Me Beauty Place (the makeover partner) and dressed to the nines, were

welcomed by screaming fans and family members who had not seen them in the past three weeks and who would not see them for almost the same number of weeks except on television.

That, notwithstanding, the acting prospects and their guests were not prevented from unwinding and letting their hairs down without inhibitions. Anchored by popular 2011 NMS first runner-up, Tomiwa, and Soundcity presenter, Adams, also an alumnus of the NMS; with support from Boma McAke and Urchmouth, the show was as colourful as it was captivating, especially the drama sketch put up by the housemates.

While welcoming the guests, Sam Uche Anyamele, associate producer for this year’s show, declared that the idea of the welcome party was conceived to properly introduce the housemates to the public while also affording them the opportunity to wine and

Exc ite me nt a Tals

Indigenous rapper, Jojo, samples Justin Beiber on debut single New and exciting up-and-coming indigenous rapper, Jojo has come out with his brand new record titled ‘Never Say Never Keh’. The new work was recently released via Abe Aja Records.

Remixing Justin Beiber’s original smash hit ‘Never Say Never’ and sampling vocals from the Canadian Pop star, Jojo, has brilliantly crafted an interesting, tonguein-cheek rap record which not only vividly describes the everyday hustles of street life in Nigeria but also highlights his impeccable Yoruba delivery, wordplay, commanding flow and distinct rap

Nig

2face, Dbanj, Fe Kuti, Shi Peters sp about Top Mics

dine with their family and friends before entering the house proper.

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ent hunt show, Nigeria’s Got Talent, presented viewers across the continent with yet another thrilling weekend, as its semi-final round continued.

The episode kicked off with Vodavillz, a dance group from Enugu - a brilliant way to start the show according to the judges. Romeo Asuquo from Calabar took over with his spectacular act of juggling t e m and cycling; maintaining balance as he juggled on who pera stool and also rode a monocycle. “Amazing,” said formed Alicia actress and judge, Kate Henshaw.

Keys’ ‘A woman’s Adding glamour to the night was Azuka Ekaworth’ and whose voice zue who sang an old time classic from Boys II Men, was described as “excellent”. ’End of The Road’, wowing the audience, though The show wrapped with perforthe judges wondered about his voice and originalmances from The Expendables, the dance ity. The Pebbles ballet dance group, however, held group from Port Harcourt and Blessing Chrisboth audience and judges in awe with a ballet pertopher; who impressed the audience with her drums. formance to popular hit, ‘Omo T’osan’.

All through the show, the judges’ responses to contesThe crowd pleasers included Toke Salami, an tants emphasised poise, depth, volume and other criti11-year-old who performed gospel act Lara cal feedback to improve their craft.

George’s classic, ’Ijoba Orun’, Gabriel style.

“These are talented young men and women, no Ayankoko with his spell-binding In just doubt, about that at this stage,” explained judge and glass eating and fire dancing under three radio OAP , Dan Foster.

“Our job has changed now. We act. Something went wrong minutes, Jojo are proud of them, but we are passionate about seeing with the flames, but grippingly raps them grow and being the very best that they can be. he delivered to apand paints an intense That’s what this show is about - creating superstars plause; as did picture about the intrigues that are at the height of their talents, and giving NigeDeborah of life on the streets of Lagos rians an amazing show to boot!”

Obafrom street fights in Mushin to monThe semi-final round continues this week and viewey rituals to “Odeshi” magic - in very eners still have the power to vote and save their favouthralling and somewhat satirical fashion as rite contestant weekly. Nigeria’s Got Talent is aired if he was talking directly to Justin Beiber and his on Sunday on AIT, STV, NTA, TVC and Soundcity. aptly placed ‘Never Say Never’ vocal samples.

Fans in the United Kingdom can watch the ‘Never Say Never Keh’ is definitely worth listening to - if show on HITV UK Sky 193. not only for the clever concept and the ingenious way in which Justin Beiber’s vocals were flipped and sampled then simply for Jojo’s excellent rap skills and story-telling prowess.

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Great Expectation,

by Pastor Adeboye

Praise Worship E-mail:richardeghaghe@yahoo.com

E-mail:titusanyanwu.2012@gmail.com

EDIFYING GOD

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Ahead Jan 21 inauguration

November 18, 2012

Briefly

Atheists tell Obama: Don’t mention God, don’t use Bible

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resident Barack Obama will be taking the oath of office for the second time on January 21, 2013. And atheists want him to do so without mentioning “God” and without a Bible.

The Freedom From Religion Foundation sent Obama a letter following his re-election, asking him to reject the way “this country politicises religion.”

“When you stand to reaffirm your oath, do so using the language of the Founders.

Eliminate the religious verbiage. While you’re at it, why not place your hand on the Constitution instead of a Bible?” FFRF attorney, Andrew L. Seidel wrote in the letter.

The words “so help me God” are not included in the oath as prescribed by the Constitution, the organisation argues.

The Constitution also does not require the president to place his hand on a Bible when tak-

ing oath, FFRF adds.

When Obama took office in 2009, he repeated after Justice John Roberts: “I, Barack Hussein Obama do solemnly swear that I will execute the Office of President of the United States faithfully and will to the best of my ability preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States, so help me God.” FFRF argues that “so help me God” violates the Constitution as it alienates the nonreligious, which the organisation believes is the future of America.

Since this is Obama’s second term, FFRF says he is not “beholden to any future constituency.

“This term is a chance to do something that no president in recent memory has done: reach out to secular Americans. In the past, that might have been politically costly.

Rev. Koya

African Church consecrates new bishop President Obama under oath on January 20, 2009.

But this recent election shows that it will be politically costly not to reach out to secular America,” FFRF wrote. “We are the future. Use this second term to build a legacy by rejecting the way this country politicises religion.”

Atheist Michael Newdow tried to take the issue (“so help me God”) to court but was re-

fused a hearing by the U.S. Supreme Court last year.

The FFRF doesn’t plan to file any lawsuit but is imploring the president to honour the “secular intent of the oath.”

Atheist Hemant Mehta doesn’t believe it’s a big deal or that any real harm would be done if Obama does recite “so help me God.”

Church plans N50m ultra-modern hqtrs …as BSN holds Bible quiz for schools RICHARD EGHAGHE

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he Last Days Church of God, (Kingdom Investors Ministry International), is organising a N50 million foundation-laying ceremony for its ultra-modern international headquarters, Bethel Prayer City, on Saturday, November 24.

The event, which coincides with the 55th birthday anniversary of its General Overseer, Prophet PFA Ajayi, and 15th year anniversary of the church, holds at the international headquarters in Ifo, Ogun State, and it is expected to attract top government functionaries and dignitaries from all walks of life.

According to Prophet Ajayi, some of the eminent personalities expected to grace the occasion include Professor Akin Oyebode, a professor of international jurisprudence; Mr. Gbenga Oyebode, the Chairman of Access Bank, Chief (Mrs.) Kemi Nelson, Hon. Funmi Tejuoso, among others.

“We invite eminent personalities from all walks of life to contribute towards propagating the word of God. We believe this prayer city would give succour to the oppressed and ameliorate their spiritual

problems,” he said.

According to him, Bethel Prayer City would include a church auditorium, schools from primary to tertiary levels, health care facility, among others.

Ajayi, who specialises in deliverance ministry, says he was called into God’s vineyard to set the afflicted free from “bondage.”

Meanwhile, the Annual National Secondary School Bible Quiz Competition organised by The Bible Society of Nigeria (BSN) will hold this year on Friday, November 23 at The Apostolic Church, Palmgrove District Headquarters in Lagos.

It will feature six schools from the six geo-political zones of the country.

The Bible Quiz Competition, according to Ben Mordi, spokesman for BSN, “is being organised in fulfillment of the Society’s mission to meet the scriptural needs of every Nigerian and help people interact with the Word of God.” BSN is a non-profit making interdenominational Christian organisation that translates the Bible into local languages, publishes, distributes and raises funds for the Bible work.

“So far we have complete Bible in 20 Nigerian languages, the New Testament in 60

GOD’S FAVOUR AND MERCY MAKE THE DIFFERENCE

The Primate of the first indigenous African church in Nigeria and overseas, the First African Church Mission, His Grace, the Most Rev. (Dr.) Emmanuel Olabode Koya, JP, will today consecrate the Bishop of Opobo/Ogoni Diocese of the church in Rivers State.

The new bishop is 37 years old, the youngest in the history of the church.

According to a statement by the publicity secretary of the church, Emmanuel Ola Campbell, the new bishop, Venerable Matthias Accra-Jaja, had been holding the fort as bishop-elect of the new Diocese since October 1, after serving as Vicar, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Okrika in the Okrika Diocese of Rivers State.

The ceremony, which is expected to be performed by the Primate at St. Peters Cathedral, Ijebu-Ode in Ogun State, commences at 10 a.m. at the church auditorium.

The Primate is expected to be joined by other bishops from other dioceses, including that of the Diocese of Lagos and Archbishop of the West, Most Rev. (Dr.) Paul Onanuga, JP; the chancellor of the Mission worldwide, Bro. Femi Sangonuga; the Registrar and other national officers of the Mission.

Sunday Mirror/Babcock University Bible Quiz: Winners of November 4, 2012 •Femi Ogetunji (08186353527) • Stephen (08032441769) • Paul Unuavworho (08034378721) • 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

Prophet Ajayi

local languages and one book or another in 98 languages…we gives Bibles free to old people’s homes and orphanages, the visually impaired, prisoners and women of easy virtue, among others.”

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OVERCOME WITH HOLY REBELLION

Difficult circumstances are a fact of life and there is no human being that can ever be useful without passing through some obstacles.

-Pastor Olukoya

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Praise & Worship

Sunday November 18, 2012

Your disposition matters, says Pastor Olusore Pastor Israel Olusore, General Overseer of Living Light Church International, in this message, says he is called by God to raise a people zealous of good work, empower them through the application of the principles of His kingdom and prepare them for the harvest that comes. Excerpts: In the book of Mathew 25:1430, the Bible tells us about a certain rich man who distributed talents and practically left his kingdom in the custody of his servant and went on a long journey.

The parable of the talents captures how each servant valued the property of their master and how the Master reacted to the disposition of the servants. It is the father’s good pleasure to give his faithful servants the kingdom. But like the wicked servant in that portion of the scripture, many Christians handle the things of the Kingdom with utter disregard.

Types of kingdoms A kingdom means a dominion, a sphere being influenced by one person in authority. There are three types of kingdoms; namely the kingdom of God, the Kingdom of darkness and the Kingdom of this world. The kingdom of God is created for God, His angels and His children. The kingdom of darkness is created for Satan and his angels while the kingdom of this world is created for human beings. However, God’s kingdom has supremacy over the other kingdoms. Every kingdom exists with the permission of God; even the kingdom of darkness is allowed by God. God has reserved a place called hell for Satan, the king of that kingdom of darkness and his angels.

But God has given the kingdom of this world to His faithful children. Every kingdom characteristically manifests the attributes of the one that is controlling it. The very heavens are the Lord’s, yet God gave the earth to the children of men. So, the kingdom of this world is for us. Unfortunately, man either by trick or intelligence of man delivered the kingdom to the devil. But God came down in person of Jesus to take back the kingdom and now begins to allot it to whoever is controlled or ruled by the kingdom of God. A glimpse into God’s kingdom The kingdom of God is a kingdom of prosperity, a kingdom that profits and decorates faithful children of God with influences and affluence. It is God’s good pleasure to give His children the kingdom. It is a gift that is receivable; and there is a way to receive it. The kingdom of God is the kingdom of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost.

It is a kingdom that is saturated with all that pertain to life and godliness. It is a kingdom that has everything that pertains to life and godliness. It is a kingdom that guarantees a life of

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TREM hosts conference RICHARD EGHAGHE

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he Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM), will hold her 23rd edition of the King-

dom Life World Conference (KLWC 2012), with the theme, ‘Grace Grace’, from today, and will end on November 25, at the Cathedral of His Glory, TREM International Headquarters, Gbagada Expressway, Anthony Oke, Lagos.

The conference, according to Rev. Sunkanmi Obisesan, chairman, Planning Committee, will start at 4.00 p.m. today, while the Ministers’ Conference and various teaching sessions will feature during the morning sessions, from Monday through Thursday.

The sessions, he added, will address topical issues bordering on, finance, relationship, leadership development and other social-economy issues.

The guest Speakers billed for the conference include Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN)

and Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) National President; Bishop Tudor Bismark of Jabula of New Life Ministries International, Zimbabwe; Dr. Felix Omobude of New Covenant Church, Benin City; Dr. Jerry Wolcson, USA and Dr. Mensa Otabil from Ghana.

Others are Bishop Simeon Okah of Flock of Christ, Warri; Dr. Greg Romine, from USA, Bishop Joe Imakando of Bread of Life International, Zambia and other anointed men of God. Major highlight for the conference, according to Obisesan, is the Big League Summit holding on November 20 and 22 at the international headquarters.

The Big League Summit is about preparing the unprepared and positioning the prepared to possess that which God had ordained for them.

It is also about repositioning Christians from all walks of life and denominations to be major players in the national and global economics.

Lack of love, bane of Nigeria–Cleric SEGUN ADIO

P Pastor Olusore

abundance; that reflects the nature of God. It is a kingdom that is full of opportunities, a kingdom that influences and cannot be influenced. If the devil can influence God, he would have influenced Him all these while. Adam had no reason to struggle until he delivered his kingdom to the devil. God drove him out of the Garden of Eden. The Bible says that God’s kingdom ruleth over all. He is God among all nations.

Recently, I read about a Governor who granted amnesty to two condemned armed robbers. He used his influence to grant them amnesty against the wish of those who opposed it.

How to receive the kingdom Our disposition to this kingdom is what determines our ultimate influence and affluence in the kingdom of this world.

We could see it play out in the lives of Saul and David. God enthroned Saul king over the Kingdom of Israel. And by a decision, God took that kingdom from his hand and delivered it to David.

God said, “Saul, the kingdom has been taken from your hand and a better neighbour of yours had been sought and that kingdom has been delivered to him.” This was possible because God influenced the decision.

Saul’s disposition to the kingdom of God was nothing to write home about. God took it from his hand and handed it over to the

one that had a better disposition to the kingdom of God. We could see that play out in the lives of Peter and Judas Iscariot. Judas despised God’s kingdom; but Peter valued the kingdom of God. So, Peter became the possessor of the kingdom. Judas lost the Kingdom.

We could see that play out in the lives of Ananias and Sapphire. They never valued the kingdom. Their value for God was zero. They were more inclined to seeking position, recognition than having the kingdom paramount in their heart. They sacrificed to become known in the kingdom and they died for it.

But Cornelius had value for the kingdom, so God gave him the kingdom. Your disposition and my disposition are what determine our allotment and God will give us the grace to possess it. Remember the story of the 12 spies. Joshua and Caleb had better disposition for the kingdom than the 10 spies. They became men of influence and affluence.

Daniel and the three Hebrew children had value for the kingdom over all the others. The Bible is full of people that had value for the kingdom of God and they are the ones we are celebrating today. The hall of faith has a record of people that have value for the kingdom and God has given them their own place in the kingdom. I see God giving you your own place.

rovost of Saint Theresa’s Church of Cherubim & Seraphim, Imene El’Shaddai, Mushin, Lagos State, Pastor Wole Shitta, has identified lack of love and trust among Nigerians as the bane of the country.

Pastor Shitta said this at the closing of the church’s week-long annual thanksgiving service.

The cleric said Nigeria would have peace from the day its citizens began to show love to one another.

He pointed out that killing of innocent people by terrorists was due to lack of love.

His words: “The solution to Nigeria’s security challenges is not far-fetched: we just have to love and respect one another more. That has been lacking in the country for some time now. And until we change that perspective, we are going nowhere,” he said.

Pastor Shitta also called on Nigerians to love their coun-

try and also show loyalty and patriotism towards it. He also urged Nigerians to always think of what they could do to benefit the country and not putting all their problems on the government.

Pastor Shitta also had words for the leaders. According to him, Nigerian leaders should also try to live above board, citing South Africa’s great Nelson Mandela as a role model. Pastor Shitta, who waxed philosophical at the event, maintained that no one would carry arms against fellow countrymen if there is love. He called on Nigerian political leaders to show love to their followers by providing them with pre-election promises.

Speaking at the event, Obaelect of Bariga, Prince Gbolahan TImson, commended the leadership of the church for upholding the teachings of Christ.

The traditional ruler, who is a regular face at the annual event, urged the church to continue to pray for the nation.

Miracle Vineyard of Zion turns 10 OSEYIZA OOGBODO

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he Miracle Vineyard of Zion Ministry is set to celebrate its 10th anniversary with an eight-day package of programmes that will begin from November 25 to December 2.

According to Reverend (Dr) J. A. Oyedele, the General Overseer of MVZ, “We never knew we would come this far.

We faced many challenges, including those of spiritualists who placed rituals so that the church wouldn’t survive.

There were also other minis-

ters of God who tackled us but we give God the glory, as we are now 10 years and growing stronger.”

Adding that top gospel musicians, Folake Umosen and Timi Osukoya are among those who will participate in the anniversary ceremonies, Oyedele disclosed that the anniversary would kick off with a football match between the church’s Oke Aro headquarters and its Matogun branch, followed by a three-day revival programme, a film show, a praise night, a Bible quiz, a rally and finally, the anniversary thanksgiving.

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Praise & Worship

Sunday November 18, 2012

Unemployment has created many pastors –Adewumi Senior Pastor of one of Nigeria’s fastest growing churches, House of Prayer Ministry, Pastor Segun Adewumi, has expressed concern over the loss of focus by many Christian organisations. He speaks about this and more in this interview with Stanley Ihedigbo. Excerpts.

My message for Nigeria and its citizens is to look forward to success and prosperity.

Another message or advice is that Nigeria will not prosper very much until true federation is achieved. But I see revolution coming in few years, but I pray that our government should take immediate action to prevent it for happening, because of the injustice in the country. Again, the way out is to have a very solid federated, united Nigeria, in which each division or geographical area is fully in control of its resources, rather than the Federal Government depending on a particular zone’s wealth to feed the whole country.

How do you feel about the rise in crime and other evil activities in the country, considering the number of churches that are springing up every day?

It will not be out of place for one to say that the proliferation of churches and other religious organisations has contributed to some of the problems affecting the country today. When you look at our society today, you will discover that many able-bodied men and women who are supposed to contribute to the economic development of the country now claim to be pastors, prophets and prophetesses, even when they do not have the call of God. Many of them are doing this because of unemployment and the poor economic situation of the country but they fail to realise that on the last day, when God’s judgment will come, they will all give account of what they did.

People should be aware of such fake pastors so that they will not be led astray.

How do you think the problem could be solved?

To solve the problem is very easy. It only requires seriousness on the part of the government. And the best way to arrest the situation is to tax churches and other religious organizations on about 50 percent of their total earnings. I am saying this because many of them make money as if they are businessmen and do not pay taxes. When you look at our society very well, you will discover that some church leaders behave as if they are slave masters;

Rev. Ezekiel laments poor spiritual living TAI ANYANWU

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he Founder of Christian Pentecostal Mission (CPM), Rev. (Dr.) Obiorah Ezekiel, has expressed concern over poor spiritual advancement of pastors and Christian workers in Nigeria today.

Can you tell us how you got the call to work in God’s vineyard?

My call to work in God’s vineyard came about 25 years ago. As a young man, I was always following the footsteps of God and so, people were not surprised when I decided to be a Minister of God. However, it will interest you to know that I started the ministry through God’s grace when I received a divine call to serve God. Initially, I started the Ministry as a prayer house and later, it transformed to a full church with the aim of worshiping God in truth and in spirit and saving souls for Christ Jesus.

As the year draws to an end, what special message do you have for the country and its citizens?

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Pastor Adewumi

the founder serves as General Overseer, their wives act as second-in-command while their sons also hold sensitive positions in the church and all these people do not pay tax and in case if the founder dies, the family automatically inherits the church and all its assets. You will also discover that some of these pastors do not preach salvation because if they are doing so, they will always remember that God commanded us to leave things of the world and make him our focus. Rather, they are preaching that people should leave God and make the world their central focus and this has contributed to the increase in crime as we are witnessing today in the country. You also discover that many people attend churches these days for miracle which accounts for why you will see a person that has been in the church for over 5o years still looking for miracle, which means they are not attending church because they really want to worship God in truth and faithfulness; but because of what they will get in terms of miracles. So, what I am saying is that, for this problem to be solved, there is the need to make churches and other religious organisations pay tax.

Churches have been accused of commercialization; as a man of God, what is your take on that?

Don’t forget that commercialisation of churches in the real sense, did not start with us. It was the Americans that started it, when individuals began to own churches and prayer ministries. It robs God of his holiness in the churches. Most times, about 90 percent of the congregations in the churches are asking God for one personal favour or the other.

Take for example, a Customs officer, his or her prayer point is that, they should post them to the ports or borders where they will have the opportunity of looting, to make more money.

So, we are seeking the hand of God, not his face, which is the point of our worshiping Him. The ‘self ’ is no more disciplined; rather, it is elevated beyond God, which is what the church is all about now. I want government to disallow churches being family affairs and be taxed. Then, that is when you will begin to see the purpose of churches in Nigeria.

What have you to say about the situation

where hospitals and schools are established by the churches with members’ contributions and yet the same members are unable to access them?

Let me confess to you that some churches are trying their best to improve the living conditions of Nigerians through the provisions of these basic amenities, because hospitals and schools provided by some churches are better than the government-owned ones.

But for me, there is the need to empower Nigerians, through farming and basic skills, because I know that it is the only thing that can uplift the living conditions of the citizens and make them self-reliant. I thank God as various levels of government are now paying attention to farming, as the only way the country can build its economy and create wealth.

So, the children of God will be able to care for themselves.

How would you want corruption to be tackled in the country?

We have two problems in the country; one is the church and the second is ethnicity. If a Yoruba man steals money and is to be prosecuted , his ethnic group will be blackmailing the government, because he is one of their own and vice versa . So it goes around every ethnic group in the country. And if this cannot be checked, how will you get corruption eradicated in Nigeria? Unless there is a change in orientation which will be brought about by people coming back to God and obeying His commandments, the problem cannot be solved. Although, we are praying against corruption, at the same time, the people should bring back the moral value. Because in some ethnic groups in Nigeria, stealing is abomination. I can recall what happened some time ago when one gentleman in my office embezzled money; he lost his son in-law to be. The person that was supposed to marry his daughter refused to marry her again, because he heard that his father in-law was accused of embezzlement. Again, in those days in my village, the first person that went to prison had his entire families made to leave our village and relocated elsewhere. That is the kind of shame in the past, but now, the corrupt men and women are being celebrated and given chieftains title, which is a shame.

He was lamenting at the Back-to-Bible Conference, an annual event of the church intended to ignite fresh fire of anointing among CPM clerics, in Lagos recently.

Speaking on the theme, Glorious Divine Nature, Dr. Ezekiel urged the ministers of the word of God to move up from the level of operating with human strength and come up to the calling to operate in the divine nature of God. He explained that when ministers in the vineyard operate in the power of divine nature, “God takes off the robes that no longer fit us; robes that cause heaviness, robes of disappointments, of shame, of confusion of doubt and fear.”

“God is pulling down man’s understanding, the ways of the world, but in you, He is establishing His divine nature.

Out of you will come out good words that will reflect the goodness of God.” The CPM patriarch regretted that today’s pastors have not done very well in this area and therefore, urged the participants to buckle up.

His words: “I am tired of the level of Christianity today. We must move higher; Christians are playing with hot temper, anger, adultery, seduction and so on. I hate Christians gossiping. You must be lifted above those things.”

The servant of God noted that every year, ministers gather for the Back-toBible Conference but changes hardly take place within them.

He likened Christians who fail to acquire the divine nature of God to the victim of Decapolis, a man in the Bible who was possessed by 200 demons and could neither hear the word of God nor confess the Lordship of Jesus Christ in his life.

Ezekiel recalled that Jesus went into the tomb; the habitation of the demonpossessed man and liberated him because He possessed divine nature of God. “I want all of you to come higher and experience the Kingdom of God in your lives. Jesus put his finger in the ear of the demon-possessed man and he could hear the word; he put his saliva in his mouth and liberated his tongue to confess Jesus.

“No man can stand the finger of God. Oh, I cry for Christendom today that the finger of God would touch their ears, tongues,” he prayed.

Rev. Ezekiel

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Praise & Worship

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sunday November 18, 2012

Divine intervention, by Pastor Okereke General Overseer of Global Success Ministries (GSM), Pastor Chima Okereke, in this sermon, highlights the mighty power of God to heal and deliver. Extract presented by Richard Eghaghe

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n Mark 5:24-35, “And Jesus went with him; and much people followed him, and thronged him.

And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood 12 years, and had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse. When she heard of Jesus, she came in and touched his garment. For she said, if I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole. And straightaway, the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.

And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, who touched my clothes? And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, who touched me? And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing. But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth.

And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of the plague”.

What a wonderful story that when the time of the woman came, she rejoiced. I am praying for you that in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, you shall surely rejoice before 15th December, 2012.

How will it happen, you may ask? If someone had told that woman with the issue of blood that she will rejoice soon, she won’t believe it because she had tried her best, spent all she had and the situation grew worse but when the Almighty said that the day Jesus was passing by was her day, she only touched the garment of Jesus and she got healed. Let me give more examples for you to understand that the time for your divine intervention has come this day.

In Genesis 21:1-6, the Bible told us how God visited Sarah who had passed her stage of bearing children; Sarah was about 90 years of age, an age that is medically for a woman to be pregnant; but with God all things are possible, according to the book of Matthew 19:29. To all the people believing God for the fruit of the womb; I pray for you that in the mighty name of Jesus Christ; those of you who are opportune to go through this message shall have good news within six months from today in Jesus’ name.

When we are talking about the power of the Mighty, we are talking about the power of the Highest. In Luke 1:35, the angel of God told Mary that the child she will bear shall be as a result of the power of the highest coming upon her. A woman who has never slept with any man but as soon as the pow-

er of the highest came upon her, she became pregnant. In Psalm 62:11, we were told that all power belongs to God and there are several proofs of it. Let me share with you this testimony. A woman got married and she spent 26 years with her husband but no children to show that she had been married for such a long time. She spent money like the woman of the issue of blood until, by the special grace of God, someone directed her to our Ministry here in Amuwo-Odofin, Lagos. After prayers, I told her that God said she will be pregnant within three months. She did not take it seriously that day but today she has since delivered a bouncing baby girl.

There are several examples of divine intervention but I will give two more for now. In Mark 10:4652, the Bible told us a story of a man who was blind for many years and because of his condition he became a beggar. One day, Jesus was passing and he heard the noise of the people moving. When they told him it was Jesus of Nazareth, he started shouting: have mercy on me. At the end of the day, he recovered his sight. I prophesy to you in the name above every other names, ‘Jesus Christ’ of Nazareth receive your miracles in Jesus’ name.

Your case may even be that all hope is lost but I want to assure you that there is still a big hope for your testimonies. In John 11:1-44, we were told the great story of a man called Lazarus; he was sick but later died yet there was no intervention during his sickness. Even as he died, there was no intervention from God. He was buried and everybody completely believed that nothing could be done. Surprisingly, when Jesus came, the dead Lazarus who had been in the grave for four days came back to life again. No matter how terrible your situation is now; believe me that your time has come for divine intervention in Jesus’ mighty name. Are you passing through financial problem? Haggai 2:8 says, Gold and silver belongs to Him; this is your time; are you having any sickness; there is no kind of sickness or disease Jesus cannot heal. Are you oppressed? Isaiah 49:24-25 tells us that even in worst cases of demonic invasion one shall still be free. I have more words for you next week. You shall surely rejoice in Jesus’ name. Say it in your heart that this is my time. Before the woman with the issue of blood got healed physically, she said it in her heart first and it was so for her. I love you with the love of Jesus. It shall be well with you in Jesus’ name.

•For further enquiries and counseling, please send text messages only through the following numbers: 08067802407, 07038638984, for prompt attention.

Briefly

Pastor Iroatu marks ordination

…gets jeep as gift

Pastor Okereke

The Assemblies of God Church, College Road, Ijaiye-Ogba, Lagos was set agog after service, last Sunday with the celebration of the ordination of the presiding Minister, Pastor Godson Iroatu and the launch of the book, “I Give You Seven Days”.

The colourful celebration, which attracted the who-is-who in the society, had Barrister Onyeka-

chi Ubani, Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ikeja branch, as chairman, with other distinguished personalities like the Chairman, Tonad Group of Companies, Tony Iwena, the retired Executive Director of the Central Bank, Mr. C.G.O Akoroda as special guests, among other prominent ministers of the gospel.

Pastor Iroatu surrounded by church members, friends and well wishers dancing to glorify God.

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God’s favour and mercy make the difference, by Pastor Oloruntimilehin Founder of Omnipotence Mission of God, Pastor Joshua Oloruntimilehin, underscores the need for people to seek God’s favour, because it is what they need to achieve breakthrough in life. Excerpts brought by Tai Anyanwu.

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rethren, the mercy of God is plenty and great. God says in the book of Exodus 33: 19 or Romans 9: 15, “For He says to Moses, I will have mercy on whoever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whoever I will have compassion”.

This means that God chooses whoever He wants to show favour, not minding what kind of person he or she is; and what other people do or say. Several years ago, there were five children in my locality, they were friends, attending the same primary school and were in the same class. They were fond of one another to the extent that they always wait for each other after closing, and leave the school premises together.

They parted ways for their homes at a particular T-junction and converged the next day on the same junction and then went to school. They do this daily. They passed out of primary school the same year, but three gained admission into secondary schools immediately while the other two did not. Two of the three went to a university and the third went to a polytechnic.

However, the two that did not start secondary education the same time with others were able to develop themselves.

Eventually, they all became graduates in different disciplines and continued their friendships and they all got married. But one of the two that did not start secondary education with the rest the same time was favoured. He was blessed by God and became outstanding among the five to the extent that he was always helping the others financially and trying to lift them up.

He was giving his friends contracts running into millions of naira. He was also extending this gesture to their wives and children. Despite his generosity to his friends, they were not satisfied and started complaining. All they wanted was for their friend to introduce them to government agencies so that th hatt they they could could ld begin begin i to to enjoy enjoy j government goverrnm nmen entt patronages.

The man learnt of their dissatisfaction and decided to be more generous t o

Pastor Oloruntimilehin

Praise & Worship

Sunday November 18, 2012

them than before. He consulted his wife who pleaded and prevailed on her husband to do more for his friends than he initially planned to. His wife showed that she is a good woman by pleading with her husband to give his friends substantial amount of money.

Women should emulate this woman and not prevent their husbands from helping other people. If a wife discourages her husband from helping others, the implication is that she is preventing herself from being joyful. A woman who behaves in such a manner will not get good report.

Women should indeed encourage their husbands to help others because a day will such women come they will get positive acknowledgement.

So, the favoured young man agreed with his wife to give his four friends very large sums of money, in addition to what he had done for them, to make their lives and those of their family members to be pleasant and good. Anybody God chooses to favour is the person He will favour.

On his birthday, the young man invited his four friends, their wives and first born, and gave each of them several millions of naira, after explaining to them that his concern was to see that they are all okay.

His friends were happy and thanked him greatly. But after about three years, three of the friends had nothing again and they began to say their rich friend was using their stars to get rich.

One of the friends travelled to the US but came back with nothing. The fourth person made use of his own money very well and did not dissociate himself from their friend like the other three friends and he was doing fine. The three disgruntled friends later realised after thorough investigation and consultation that their accusation was not true. They were actually not suffering and afflicted when they maintained with their more formain mai ma inta int tain tai ined d friendship fri rie ie tunate friend.

Hence, they decided to apologise to their rich friend, and begged him through the a fourth friend who kept fate with their rich friend. They said that truly, his riches are from God d and a that God showed him favour and d mercy me . The rich man reassured them that was to see them become sucth his desire de cessful like lik him; but he did not know that they were wer plotting against him.

He told to them that their fourth friend never had h any bad mind against him and he was open-minded, which is why he too became successful. Brethren, do not bec persecute or condemn anyone God has persec chosen or favoured. Some people were lifted lift up not because of their wisdom or knowledge but because they were favoured, shown mercy by God. God showed Joseph favour and mercy throughout his journey. That was why he was blessed.

Similarly, God showed favour to Jacob than Esau. To receive God’s favour and mercy is not determined by who you are. Let people pray for God’s mercy and favour .

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Some opportunities are not opportunities –Pastor Bamidele Pastor Lai Bamidele, General Overseer, Christ Glorious EndTime Evangelical Ministries, warns against the dangers of sharing one’s visions with just anybody and seeing all opportunities as opportunity.

Christians, he explains, should be wise enough not to allow these factors to derail their destiny or rob them of their glorious future.

Excerpts:

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want to share this topic, ‘From Zero to Hero’ within the context of the story of a man called Joseph. Joseph is a man that enjoyed God’s grace. The Bible speaking from the book of Jeremiah 1: 5, emphasises, “Before I formed thee I knew thee; and I ordained thee as a Prophet.”

Before Joseph ever came into the world, God already knew what he would become in life. The Bible records that Joseph shared his dreams with his brothers. That was the only revelation he had about his future; he shared it with his brothers and they ganged up against him and they desired to destroy him. They meant evil for him, but God turned their evil to good.

Let’s see the book of Genesis 37:18-19, “Then when they see him afar off even before he came near unto them, they conspired against him to slay him. And they said unto one another, behold this dreamer cometh.” Here the Bible is emphasising about how the brothers of Joseph ganged up against him.

There are some of you that what you do not need to share with your brothers, you share with them. And that is the basis of the problems you are going through in the journey of your life. Some people cannot keep anything in mind. Their mouth is loose, they talk anyhow.

It is not every secret that you expose to people. You must be reserved in all that you do. You must know the caliber of people that you share your vision with. You don’t share your vision with someone that will kill your vision. You don’t share your future with a man that will destroy your tomorrow. When you go to a bus stop and you are relating or making friends with a tout, don’t you know you have nowhere to go?

Genesis 39:4 states, “And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house and all that he had he put into his hands.”

After Joseph was put into the pit by his brothers, he found himself in Potiphar’s house. Potiphar bought Joseph as a slave and he took him into his house; but because the grace of God was upon Joseph, he made him the head of the house. He became the overseer of all that Potiphar had.

Listen to me. In Genesis 40:8-11, the Bible explains Joseph’s encounter with co-prison inmates. “They said unto him, we have dreamt a dream and there is no interpreter of it.” Before the issue of dream came up while Potiphar made Joseph the head of

Pastor Bamidele

his house, potiphar’s wife made advances to Joseph to destroy the destiny and glory of Joseph. But Joseph was wise.

Many believers today, grab every opportunity they see. It is not every opportunity that is opportunity. There are opportunities that can lead a man to death. If Joseph had slept with the master’s wife, he would have been eating the best food; he would have been wearing the best shoes and he would have been wearing the best clothes.

But that would have been the end of the glory he brought to the world. And after everything, he would have still been chased away. He would have returned to status quo. But Joseph refused that Greek gift. Joseph decided to stand on God’s side.

How many of you believers that are reading my message today will still stand by the side of truth when death is staring you face-to-face? Many of us will say every opportunity that comes our way is an opportunity. Not every opportunity is an opportunity. There are opportunities that can lead you to death. There are opportunities that can lead you to destruction.

There are opportunities that can scatter a man’s glory.

Three things happened to Joseph while he was in prison. And that is what I am talking about in James 41:14. It says, “Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon: and he shaved himself, and changed his raiment, and came in to Pharaoh.”

When the opportunity came for Joseph while he was inside the prison, God placed a problem in the life of King Pharaoh that has no solution; and the solution is in the hand of Joseph by grace.

There is someone reading my message today, someone that God has ordained to be your destiny-helper, someone God had programmed to be the one that will help you attain your glory; wherever that person is, he will never have peace, rest until he locates you, in the name of Jesus.

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Praise & Worship

Sunday November 18, 2012

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

A cross section of worshippers who claimed to have been delivered by the power of God in the crusade

Lord’s Chosen storms Owerri with power-packed crusade

Pastor Muoka

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efore the proper commencement of the revival programme, the evangelical team of the Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Ministry had visited all markets and streets to announce to all ears that the Almighty God had remembered them and had set out on the day of the crusade to demonstrate His power in their midst and liberate them from all bondages, oppression and afflictions. Also, the people were assured that God was prepared to heal sicknesses, cure diseases, break yokes and above all, grant salvation to all that have not received Christ.

It was just as the scripture says, “Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning…” The people of Imo and neighbouring states came in large number, as the irresistible ‘operation grace of God of the Chosen’ overwhelmed their souls and delighted them to be present on the day of His visitation, at the crusade ground.

The venue of the crusade started receiving the influx of participants from 5.30am, and by the time the programme began by 8 am, the whole arena had become jam-packed with people from all walks of life, expecting the touch of God. Indeed, it was time for God to demonstrate His power. And all those that had challenges, ranging from physical disability, blindness, insanity and sickness, to diseases of all kinds received a divine touch of healing. Pastor Lazarus Muoka, the Founder and General Overseer of The Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Ministry, gave reasons God chose to demonstrate His power in Owerri this time.

According to the cleric, the situation of the country, particularly the rate of violent crimes by hoodlums in the eastern states of Nigeria, have become so frightening and embarrassing, that it has resulted in people looking the other way round for personal security, other than God. He said it ought not to be so.

“Thus, God decided to prove His power”.

Quoting from the scriptures, the anointed man of God read from Eccl. 3:1-3: “To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven. A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; 3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up”. Pastor Muoka then affirmed, “Now is the time for God to prove His power in the life of His people. It is their time of visitation. Whether they like it or not,

Owerri, the capital city of Imo State, had a touch of God’s mighty power last week as the revival train of the Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Ministry made a stopover for a two-day power-packed crusade entitled, ‘It Is Time For God To Prove His Power’. The event which attracted a mammoth crowd, held at Avu Junction along the Owerri-Port Harcourt Road. Richard Eghaghe reports: whatever God has said will surely come to pass, no matter the raging of the enemy. Now is the time of deliverance and God’s visitations upon the lives of the people. God shall prove to Imo and neighbouring states that it is time for Him to prove His power, no matter the social violence going on in the area; God has decided to demonstrate His Supremacy.”

He further asserted that God did it in the Bible days when the three Jewish young men namely Shedrack, Meshach and Abednego where accused of insubordination by the ungodly people of Babylon because of their refusal to bow to the golden statue made

by King Nebuchadnezzar. At that instance, these three Hebrews were summoned to defend themselves before the king. And after they were addressed by the king, it dawned on them that the time for God to prove His power had come. There was no doubt that they had wholesome confidence in God Almighty and thus, knew that He would never let them down. “So also, we have wholesome confidence in our God that He will not disappoint us in this crusade”, he said, while reading from the book of Daniel 3:16-21 which states, “ Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. 17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up”.

These three Hebrews told Nebuchadnezzar that they have no need to put him to any farther trouble; because they have made up their minds on this subject, and have their answer ready: They stated categorically that, ‘We will not serve your gods’. This answer was as honest as it was decisive, as there was no need for them to debate the matter.

Of course, the king had resolved to have his will against them, but they were resolved on the contrary to stand by the side of God Almighty. And then what follows?

Verse19 says: “Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: therefore he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated. 20 And he commanded the most mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to

cast them into the burning fiery furnace. 21 Then these men were bound in their coats, their hosen, and their hats, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.”

Instead of being convinced by what they said, Nebuchadnezzar who had formerly found them to be wiser than all his wise men was exasperated. Of course, the more brutish a passion is indulged in, the more violent it grows. Nebuchadnezzar, in this heat, became a wild bull in a net. Pastor Muoka continued, “But if men in a passion would view their faces in a glass, they would blush at their own folly and turn all their displeasure against themselves. Instead of mitigating their punishment, in consideration of the honour they had, Nebuchadnezzar ordered them to be dispatched to death quickly. But God brought glory to himself out of this foolish stance of the king; for, though it would not have added pain to their death but yet it did make their deliverance much more illustrious.

He ordered them to be bound in their clothes to ensure they would not struggle or make any resistance and then be cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace, which was done accordingly. But God’s providence ordered it for the increase of the miracle, in that their clothes were not so much as singed. What a terrible death was this-to be cast bound into the midst of a burning fiery furnace! It is amazing that the tyrant was so hard-hearted as to inflict such a punishment, and the Hebrew men were so stout-hearted as to submit to it rather than sin against God”.

The cleric said that cannot be compared to the second death in hell fire, which burns eternally with fire and brimstone? If Nebuchadnezzar had heated his furnace as hot as fire itself, a few minutes would still finished the torment of those that were cast into it, but hell-fire tortures and does not kill. It was a remarkable providence that the mighty men, that bound them, and threw them into the furnace, were themselves consumed by the flame.

When they were cast bound into the midst of that devouring fire, people must have concluded that they would hear no more of them but, to their amazement, they found that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, were alive. Nebuchadnezzar found them walking in the fire. It was some unaccountable impression upon his own mind that astonished him, and made him rise up in haste, and go to the furnace, to see what had become of those

24he had cast into it.

According to the pastor, in his astonishment Nebuchadnezzar called his counsellors and asked them, if they did cast three men bound into the fire? “True, O king!” said they; “we did order such an execution to be done and it was done”. “But now,” says the king, “I have been looking into the furnace, and I see four men, loose, walking in the midst of the fire,” That was amazing, unbelievable but truth because it was time for God to prove His power.

As the pastor was still on his message, the power in the undiluted word began to wrought miracles in the lives of the participants. Indeed, it was a day that God determined to prove His power. As the man of God prayed down the power of God, there was a spontaneous echo of joy among the participants as God came down to prove His power.

Those that came with crutches started dropping them and walking towards the pulpit unaided. Those that were wheeled into the arena left their wheelchairs and walked freely to the glory of God. The joy of Sister Eunice knew no bound as she received instant healing of 10 years arthritis. She danced from her sitting position to the front of the pulpit, a distance of 100 metres, to drop her clutches as evidence of deliverance. She was not alone in dropping crutches, as all the people that received instant healings dropped their crutches, thus making a heap of crutches.

There was a case of another sister, Catherine Nwokolo, who came all the way from Ukwale in Delta State and who suffered stroke for 27 years and was brought to the crusade ground bedridden; but as the power of God came upon her, she did not know what lifted her up and she started walking without even assistant.

The blind, the deaf and dumb were not left out from the miracle largesse. Sister Chinyere Okeke from Nnewi in Anambra state was born deaf and dumb. By December this year, she will be 50 years. Chi-Chi as she was fondly called by friends and relatives never knew her name because she was deaf.

But at the crusade ground when the man of God prayed down the power of God, every yoke was broken, and the power of God fell upon her and she started hearing and speaking. Before now, according to her, she was only seeing peoples’ mouth opening and closing but was not hearing anything, but now she hears very well.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Praise & Worship

Sunday November 18, 2012

29

Great Expectation, by Pastor Adeboye M

ark 5: 25- 34 states, “And a certain woman who had an issue of blood 12 years and have endured much at the hands of many physicians and had spent all that she had and was not helped at all, but rather had grown worse. After hearing about Jesus, she came up in the crowd behind him and touched his cloak.

For she said, “If I just touch his garments, I will get well”. Immediately, the flow of her blood was drained up and she felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction. Immediately, Jesus, perceiving within Himself that that power proceeding from him had gone forth, turned around in the crowd and said, ‘who touched my garments.’ And his disciples said to him, ‘you see the crowd pressing in on you and you said, who touched me? And he looked around to see the woman who had done this thing. But the woman fearing and trembling, aware of what had happened to her, came and fell down before him and told him the whole truth. And he said to her, ‘daughter your faith has made you well, go in peace and be healed of your affliction.” Someone will leave here tonight completely whole.

As the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) gears up for another edition of its annual Holy Ghost Congress, the General Overseer, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, delivered this sermon at this month’s Holy Ghost Service tagged “Great Expectation”, which held at the Redemption Camp Grounds, Kilometre 46, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Mowe, Ogun State. Excerpts:

What do we mean by expectation?

In the simplest language, expectation means you are looking forward to something about to happen. When a woman is pregnant, we say she is expectant; meaning what, she is looking forward to babies being born.

James 5 verse 7 tells us that the husbandman, that is, the farmer, waits for the precious fruit of the earth and he has long patient for it. The farmer is expecting that the seed he planted is going to produce fruit. So, when we talk about expectation tonight, we are talking about looking forward to God doing something.

And I have come on the authority of the Almighty God to tell you, you will not be disappointed. When we use the word great, great can mean so many things.

It depends on how you use it. When you say a man is great, that is different from when you say the crowd is great. You are still saying great; great could be large in number, it could mean high in quality, it could mean tremendous in influence and so on and so forth.

For example, in 2 King 4 verse 8 -17, the Bible talks about a woman of Shunnem and the Bible calls her ‘great’. She was called great because she has a lot of wealth; you can’t be poor to build a house for a pastor. She was wealthy, but when Elisha said ‘may I introduce you to the king or the commander-in-chief, she said, “Thank you very much, I am well connected”; she also had influence. When we talk about great, we are actually talking about the opposite of small. So the moment you hear great, you know it is the opposite of small. The Bible gives us several examples to let us know what we mean by great.

In Matthew 2 verse 10, when the wise men saw the star that they have been following from the East, standing over a particular house, they had great joy; that gives you a rough idea what great means.

In Mark 4 verse 25, the Bible says a great multitude followed Jesus; that is another form of ‘great’. In Matthew 5 v. 35, the Bible refers to Jerusalem as the city of the great king. Again this is talking about greatness in another form. So we can have greatness in quantity, in quality and we can have greatness in influence and we can have of course greatness that com-

said ‘Daddy please loan me some money.’

He collected my money to buy me a pen.

Glory be to God! God does not need a loan from you to get you a thing.

Expectation depends on one; promise, two; the track record of the one making the promise, three; the resources of the one who is making the resources, and of course, on the ability of the one making the promise to perform. Jeremiah 32 v 27; the Almighty God said, behold, I am the God of all flesh. Is anything too hard for me? Again, I remember telling you once upon a time I was visiting my people at home in Ilesha and one little boy ran to me and said “Lagos Daddy, I want a pair of shoes for Christmas. And I said, “Done, I will buy it for you.’ He ran to meet the others who are playing outside that I have got shoes for Christmas, he hasn’t seen it but he believed it firmly.

Then one of them replied and said: me too I have new shoes for Christmas and they ask him ‘who said so?”’. He said, ‘my father!’ They said, ‘your shoes are joking shoes. ‘They know that his father hasn’t got money for new shoes, he hasn’t got the ability to perform. Lagos Daddy, if he says you will have shoes, you will have shoes. Now, there is an heavenly Daddy and he is saying to somebody here today, ‘I will meet all your needs.’ So, expectation depends on promise; the track record of the one who promised the resources of the one who promised, the ability of the one who promised to perform and therefore, faith on the side of the one who is expectant. The Bible tells us that faith is the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11 v. 1.) Evidence of things not seen, I haven’t seen it yet, I know who promised, I know his track record, I know his resources, I know his ability to perform.

How?

Pastor Adeboye

bines all of them. One thing I am sure of today is that somebody will leave here with great joy and great testimonies.

Now, expectations depend on many things, particularly if we are talking about God and am sure that is the person we are talking about. Expectation depends on, number one, Promise; If God has made you a promise, then you have a right to expect that the promise will be fulfilled. For example, in Genesis 8 v. 20, the Almighty God made a promise on which the farmer based his expectation; he said as long as the earth remains, seed-time and harvest shall never cease.

That is the promise of God; that is the basis on which a farmer planting a seed expects there will be a harvest.

Secondly, expectation depends on the track record of the one who promised. If you are dealing with a man who doesn’t keep his promises, and then if he made you a promise, you don’t expect anything from him. If you are dealing with a man who in the past said I am going to the right and you discovered he went to the left, the next time when he says I am coming, you will know he is going. But in Numbers 23 v.

19, the Bible says God is not a man that He should lie, neither the son of man that He should repent. Once He spoke, you know it

is done. Psalm 33 v 8-9 tells us clearly that the whole earth should fear before God because He spoke and it is done. Once He makes a promise, you can go to bed, knowing it will be fulfilled.

Expectation depends on the resources of the one who has promised. I can remember one occasion several years ago when all my children were very smaller and all of them held a meeting in the room; they didn’t know I was watching them and they sent the youngest one to me and said ‘go and ask daddy what he wants for Christmas.’ That one came and said ‘what do you want for Christmas?’

I said ‘what can you afford?’ Because I know he hasn’t got anything. He ran back to the people in the room and he came back and said, ‘just ask for anything’. I said, “what about an aeroplane?” He ran back and he said “no, no! That is not the kind of things we are talking about. But glory be to God, we have a God who is completely unlimited.

Psalm 24 v. 1 says the earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof. Haggai 2 v. 8 says silver is mine and gold is mine. In case you want me to complete my story, the fellow came back and I said, get me a pen. “What kind of pen?” He went back and told his people. Then he

You will see immediately again the link between faith and expectations.

Because faith can be in categories; you have great faith. Matthew 15 v 21- 28 tells us the story of the woman who came to Jesus and said, ‘help me my daughter is grievously vexed of the devil.’ Jesus didn’t answer her and she kept on crying and the disciple said ‘Lord, send her away, her noise is disturbing us.’ And Jesus said, ‘I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel’ and the woman kept on pressing until Jesus said, ‘I cannot give the bread of children unto dogs.’ The woman said, “No problem, but this dog is not going home at least without a crumb.’ Jesus turned to her and said, ‘woman, great is thy faith.’ She had great expectation because at least, she got what she wanted.

Of course, there is little faith in Matthew 6 v. 30. The Almighty God talks about people of little faith. And then there is no faith at all and you find that in Mark 4 v 40, the Almighty God talked about the disciple he rebuked of having no faith. So we have great faith, little faith and then no faith. Somebody with great faith can go home with great expectations, fulfilled, and the one with little can then have little expectation and of course the one with no faith cannot expect anything at all. So, expectations are in categories. Remember; we want to talk about great expectations. Expectation is determined by faith, so great faith will produce great expectation. Little faith will produce little expectations. No faith will produce no expectation, at all.

30

Praise & Worship

Sunday November 18, 2012

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Are you a Christian, asks Pastor Chidi General Overseer of Kings in Christ Power Ministries International, Pastor Chidi Anthony, children of God to exhibit the character and nature of Jesus Christ. harps on the need for chil He emphasises the place of humility, followership, discipline and discipleship as enduring worthy of emulation. Excerpts: Christian characters worth It is said that character makes a man. This is so befeatures and traits that cause it is the summation of fe person or a thing such form the individual nature of a p distinguishes one person as moral or ethical quality that dis from the other. time. A man of character Character stands the test of time maintains his ground in defending the truth. He calls a spade a spade, irrespective of any prevailing circumstance. c It is a premium quality that makes one stand out among the crowd. Education brings about distinction in the life of a person just as the anointing of God’s spirit can bring bri a lifting. But good character sustains the lifting. Without good character, a colossal fall is inevitable.

The Bible, in the book Apostle James, says that God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.

Brethrens, do you understand what it means unde when a proud person perso is marked out for God’s resistance? Such person shut out S of God’s favour. He H or she is shut down that rising up again ends as a futile efag fort. It is horrible horrib when God decides to resist someone. someone God, the wise wis man, Solomon, says, hates a lofty heart. he Pride was actually the error of Lucifer; hence he was brought down to a lower region.

Jesus said, I saw reg Satan fall down dow like lightening. This is the result of a proud heart.

Lack of humility in the lives of hu many Christians is equivalent to Christi a proud disposition to the things disp of God. As good followers of Jesus go Christ, we should exhibit characters sho or traits that show sh we have the nature of our Master.

When I talk about followership, I mean the attitude attitu of being under a master to be taught, disciplined and to tau qualify as a genuine disciple. Followgen ership is a good Christian character. It helps the disciple discip form the characters of the master by imbibing behaviours, attributes and the t nature of the mas-

ter and he or she is able to carry on even though the journey may be difficult.

For three years and more, Apostle Peter and the other 11 sat at the feet of Jesus Christ to learn of his ways. Paul sat at the feet of Gamelea for years as a disciple. It is a noble Christian character for God’s people to learn to submit to discipleship under a master that knows his onions.

When we humble ourselves under a master to learn, we show that we have the fruit of the spirit at work in our lives. As Christians, we should see humility and service as the ladder to promotion in life.

Therefore, we must flee from pride and shun ‘I too know mentality’. It has not done anyone good.

A Christian is born again to make a difference in our world. He or she is not meant to play by the same set of rules or conform by the same world standards that appeal to the ungodly. Our lives should reflect the life of Jesus, who died to re-entrench God’s acceptable standards of character on earth. The earth is God’s gift to the sons of men.

But man delivered it into the hands of the devil because of worldly considerations.

However, Christ came and died that we may retrace our steps, imbibe Godly standards or character and repossess the earth to the glory of God. We must not lose the earth again the second time. Humility and Godly character exemplified by Christ must be our watchword.

In Philippians 2:5, the Bible tells us of the humility of Jesus and how God exalted him above all names. Jesus said: “My father worketh and I work.” He was not doing his own thing. As Christians, if we want to live true Christian life, we must study the life of Jesus and follow His steps.

One cannot be a good Christian without the discipline of a good follower, and passing through discipleship and the humility test expected of a Christian. These traits are attitudes that lead to promotion in due time. Every child of God has need for the Master’s training that brings about maturity in Christian faith and character.

Are you a Christian? If your answer is yes, then show it in practical terms. Let your life manifest the characters of Christ. We talked about Christianity, for a long time; now is the time to let the life of Christ show in our characters. Let us behave like Christians.

Mind you, as many that profess Christianity but live their lives in manners contrary and inconsistent with Christian virtues and character will answer before God on the last day. Do not lose the consciousness and make a shipwreck out of your salvation.

Finally brethren, let us live daily promoting our Christ and the Christian faith. Live wisely and Godly on earth, which God has given unto the children of men for their possession.

CHARACTER STANDS THE TEST OF TIME. A MAN OF CHARACTER MAINTAINS HIS GROUND IN DEFENDING THE TRUTH Pastor Chidi

Speak against evil, Ola-Makinde tells new bishops, lay presidents RICHARD EGHAGHE

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relate of the Methodist Church, Nigeria, His Eminence, Dr. Sunday Ola-Makinde, has tasked newly consecrated bishops of the church to speak against evils and develop a vibrant, spirit-filled heart, to depopulate the kingdom of darkness.

The consecration and investiture of eight bishops along with the induction and investiture of 22 lay presidents of the Methodist Church, Nigeria, held recently at the Methodist Church of the Trinity, Tinubu, Lagos.

In an address, Makinde, who is the Chief Consecrator for the newly ordained clerics, said, “The challenges are high but they are surmountable.”

The Prelate equally enjoined the new bishops and lay presidents to lead God’s flock who are

in their care aright.

His words: “For every generation, God always appoints leaders for His people. This is what we are witnessing today: God appointing these ones, bishops and lay presidents to lead His people here on earth. The responsibilities are enormous, the task ahead is huge, but they must hold on to the fact that they have been saddled by a God who is able.”

The clergyman expressed the confidence that “these bishops that were consecrated and the men and women that were inducted and invested are people of proven integrity; people filled with a heart to serve God without holding back and they are prepared not to disappoint God, their maker.

“We will continue to pray for them, especially in the face of the dangers and perils of this age. They have a compelling

duty to speak against these evils and develop as vibrant and spiritually filled men and women that would fight to depopulate the kingdom of darkness,” he said.

The preacher of the day, the Archbishop of Enugu Archdiocese, The Most Rev. Samuel C.K. Uche, in a sermon, called on the new bishops and lay presidents to be worthy ambassadors of God. He implored them to uphold the values of God-fearing leadership, which he said was lacking “today in our country and around the World.

“God expects our unwavering love and commitment in our relationship with Him, which will extend to our fellow human beings and in the process, heal the world and make it a better place,” he remarked.

Among the newly consecrated bishops are the Very Rev. Edo-

ka Josiah Amuta, Connexional Secretary for Evangelism and Discipleship; The Very Revd. Dr. Emmanuel Oluwasesan Abejide PhD, JP., from the Diocese of Okun; The Very Rev. Titus Ilori Omoniyi, from the Diocese of Oyo; Very Rev. I. B. Osunjuyigbe, from Ijesha North Diocese; Very Rev Chiemeka Okpara Chukwudi, from Uzuakoli Diocese; Very Rev. Rufus Olarewaju Babalola, from Kubwa Diocese; Very Rev. Solomon Abayomi Adegbite, from the Diocese of Owo and the Very Rev. Lebee Humphrey Nnam JP., from Diocese of Gokana The Lay Presidents include Ambassador/Engr. Charles Akpan Usua (M.O.W), from Mbiaso Diocese; Bro. Emmanuel Ikechukwu Chukwuemerie, from Onitsha Diocese, Sir Edet James Amana KJW, OON, from the Diocese of Oyubia, Barrister Baridi Robert, from Gokana Diocese,

Brother James Adeyemi, Sir, Chief Amos B. Olakunbi Ojo, from Okun Diocese, Dame Titilayo Ajanaku, Elder (Hon.) Sunyiekekere John Inokon of Essien Udim Diocese, Elder Esang Nsa Bassey, of Oron Diocese, Engineer Michael Ayoade Ojo, of the Diocese of Oyo and Mr. David Olatunji Fadairo, of the Abuja Diocese.

Others are Mr. Daniel Olushola Nutayi Akapo, of the Badagry Diocese, Sir Christian Chinyeaka Ohaa, of Agbani Diocese, Otunba Ayodele Oluwole Elesho, of the Diocese of Ikorodu, Otunba Morakinyo Hanson (JP), of the Lagos West Methodist Church, Sir (Barr.) Friday Essiet Ekpety, of the Kubwa Diocese, Sir (Chief) John Olufunsho Aiku, of the Port Harcourt Diocese, Sir Ayodele Elesho, of the Diocese of Ikorodu, Sir and (Barrister) Timothy Aderemi Olukoga, of the Lagos Central Diocese.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Praise & Worship

Sunday November 18, 2012

31

Overcome with holy rebellion, says Pastor Olukoya Choristers in session

No one achieves great thing in life without passing through tough circumstances. However, on your way to honour and glory, you need to deal with modern-day Philistines, with holy anger, says Pastor Daniel Olukoya, General Overseer of Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM). Excerpts produced by Tai Anyanwu:

S

ometime ago, a relative of mine brought a girl who had just arrived from the village to my house. The first night, she talked throughout in her sleep. I got angry in my spirit that day but I had to keep quiet as a matter of courtesy since that was her first night.

The following morning, I confronted her and told her that if she dared have any conversation in her sleep again, both herself and her invisible partner would be imprisoned and caged. Behold, that particular night, she did not make a single sound while she slept. But by the following morning, she carried her things and left. My warning destabilised her.

The apostles of old had cause to report some people to God: They said, “O Lord, behold their threat.” Many of us reading this message have been threatened in the past while some are now living under the threat of their enemies. What a big insult to the children of the living God to be living under such a condition. Therefore, I want you to get angry in your spirit and fire these arrows before you read further: I destablise every witch or wizard warring against my life, in the name of Jesus.

Let every serpent dispatched against me begin to bite itself, in the name of Jesus.

Every enemy of my breakthrough, become blind, in the name of Jesus.

1 Samuel 17:38-40 says, “And Saul armed David with his armour, and he put a helmet of brass upon his head; also he armed him with a coat of mail.

And David girded his sword upon his armour, and he assayed to go; for he had not proved it. And David said unto Saul,

I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them. And David put them off him. And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook and put them in a shepherd’s bag which he had, even in scrip; and his sling was in his hand; and he drew near to the Philistine.”

What are the forces of the Philistines?

We have modern-day Philistines. They are the forces threatening the people of God, harassing them and vowing to cause tragedies in their lives. They are not hiding their evil intentions. They say it openly just as Goliath was an open enemy. Verses 41-46 say, “And the Philistine came on and drew near unto David; and the man that bares the shield went before him. And when the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he disdained him, for he was but a youth, and ruddy, and of a fair countenance.

And the Philistine said unto David, Am I a dog that thou comest to me with staves? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. And the Philistine said to David, come to me, and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field. Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. This day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take off thine head from thee; and I will give the carcasses of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know

Dr Olukoya

that there is a God in Israel.”

What David did at the battlefront is what could be called holy rebellion. After all, his mission at the war front was to deliver food to his elder brothers. But when he got there and saw someone boasting and threatening the Israelites, he began to ask questions: “Who is this man threatening the armies of the living God?” He carried out a holy rebellion and what happened? Goliath fell. The man had a big head and a big sword too. David therefore took the sword of Goliath and with it cut off the head of Goliath. This means that the weapon that the enemies have fashioned against you shall be used against them, in Jesus’ name.

Difficult circumstances are a fact of life and there is no human being that can ever be useful without passing through some obstacles. Jesus Himself had to pass through the cross to receive glory and honour. The Bible says that He was despised, forsaken and counted unworthy to live. He was a man of sorrow and acquainted with grief. His face was not an object that anyone would like to look at because it was badly spoilt. They plucked His beard. He passed through agony while on His way to receive glory and honour. Inquire from anointed men of God and talk to people who have achieved something for God and they will tell you stories of what they have passed through.

I can never stop getting amazed at the story of Elisha. Here was a man who followed Elijah and they worked together for some time. The first thing that would surprise a careful student of the Bible is the fact that there were many students

in the school of the prophets; how come at the crucial stage of Elijah’s ministry, the only person he could see was Elisha?

There must have been something special about him. He followed his master to the end. When they passed through Gilgal, Elijah asked him to wait there for him but he said, “No. As the Lord lives, where you go, I go. I am not waiting.” As they got to Bethel, Elijah again asked him to wait but he refused; and on getting to Jericho, when Elijah saw that Elisha was going to carry out a holy rebellion and was not going to let him go, he asked what he wanted from him. If Elisha had turned back in Gilgal, there would have been no opportunity for Elijah to ask him that question. You may say that he was stubborn but he knew what he was looking for. When eventually he told his master that he wanted a double-portion of his anointing, his master said, “You have asked for a hard thing. However, if you are able to see me when I am being taken away, it shall be so; otherwise, the request cannot be met.”

Elisha’s final examination was to be able to see Elijah on the heavenly chariot physically and he saw him. I am convinced in my spirit that prior to that day; Elisha must have stopped eating for days because he did not want to miss that golden opportunity. He had holy rebellion inside his blood. When the chariot came, he saw it and screamed, “My father, my father, the chariot of Israel and the horsemen thereof.” He took a further step of rebellion by not sitting by to watch the chariot; rather, he held on to his master and got part of his garment.

Praise & Worship

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Sunday November 18, 2012

Sunbreakers

Text Only: 08037188392

Divine Message with Special Apostle James

Akinadewo E-mail: molailatugrow@hotmail.com

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alleluyah. He rose for your lifting.

Your all-round lifting – physically, spiritually, mentally uprightness in your lifting is the reason why He came, died and rose you.

Blessed be the name of the Lord for the soul inspiring feedbacks and messages. Know for sure that it is an achievement for you being around this time, you are a miracle going somewhere to happen and you are wrapped around with testimonies.

God created sun for our illumination and shine on our path but made us as world changers, history makers and change agents – to have dominion over every other thing, possess our possession and create a better tomorrow for ourselves.

You need to check the Bible in the book of Joshua 10 verses 12-14 and see how Joshua commanded the sun, moon and stars to wait until he finished his assignment to understand that you are God’s masterpiece and can’t settle for anything less than your potentials, doing the opposite of God’s plan is anti-creation and against the original plan of God for our lives. This informed our teaching today – Sunbreakers.

Divine word “And God said, Let there be lights in

Hope for the Hopeless with Pastor Goke

Aniyeloye

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nto thee, we cry O Lord, our rock; be not silent to us; lest, if thou be silent to us, we become like them that go down into the pit. Hear the voice of our supplications, when we cry unto thee, when we lift up our hands toward thy holy oracle. Draw us not away with the wicked, and with the workers of iniquity, which speak peace to their endeavours: give them after the works of their hands; render to them their desert. Because they regard not the works of the Lord, nor the operation of his hands, He shall destroy them and not build them up” The Bible, according to the book of 2Chronicles 7:14, states, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

Equally, Daniel said in the book of Daniel Chapter 9:17-19, “Now therefore, our God, hear the prayer of thy servants, and our supplications, and cause thy face to shine upon thy nation that is troubled, for the Lord’s sake. O my God, incline thine ear, and hear; open thine eyes, and behold

the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night, and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days and for years.

And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth, and it was so. And God made two great lights, the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night, he made the stars also.

And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth ….(Genesis 1 verses 14-17) “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.

So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him, male and female created He them.

And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.” (Genesis 1 verses 26-28.)

What a unique, peculiar, extraordinary, blossoming and magnificent you.

You are a sunbreaker, a great achiever like Joshua, a limit breaker like Elijah and a record breaker like Elisha.

Digging deep *Be for signs – Giving us light. Needed to help us in acting fast because we have limited time for our aspirations on earth.

A time is coming (old age) when no one will have power to work anymore. Act quick, act right and act fast now. *For seasons – Sun and moon will

shine for all seasons on the condition that you get your bearing right and do the right things at the right time. *For days – Your days shall be fruitful with divine backing working in your favour. *For years – You will fulfil your days on earth with surplus of blessing and enjoy divine abundance.

Charger As a sunbreaker, you must do uncommon things to get uncommon results.

While others are watching the scorching sun, you are breaking through in your endeavours.

Laziness is a destiny limiter, you can’t be lazy and be useful to yourself and your world. It is only lazy people that will watch the sun, complaining that it is too scorching, opting to stay indoors while others are making headway outside.

Have you taken time to examine the direction your life is headed? Everything needed to succeed is within you, it is just one opportunity and you must make a mark in your world.

Why must you live your life halfway and think you are in the maximum? Untold questions await you at heaven’s gate on the day of reckoning. Don’t be lazy, thread where others dread, make news for them to tell, set records that people will strive to break, move mountains and turn bushes into cities, turn dunghill to a market and transform a hut into a palace.

Become the driver of your life. Take charge of your destiny, nobody will account for your voyage on earth; you are the chief accountant that day.

Move like lightning leaving others in your trail with devil gasping for breath.

Sunbreakers are pacesetters, pathfinders

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and achievers, grab one and make headlines – Your positive turning must be stunning that the devil will be too dazed to wake up until you fulfil your days and throw a party after you have left the stage.

Sunbreakers Act One, Scene One Nigeria came on the world map in 1940 when an evangelist from the Sacred Cherubim and Seraphim Church, worldwide, Iya Alakoso Christianah Olatunrinle became the first African woman Bishop.

This highly anointed prophetess, shook nations for God, became a sunbreaker and the world marveled at her exploits.

The Ondo born warrior for Christ journeyed through Africa with prophetic unction and left her feet in the sands of time.

Act One, Scene Two History was made in Nigeria when a global evangelist, Bishop Ayo Oritsejafor became the President of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).

It was the first time someone from the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria will mount the saddle as the head of the umbrella body for all Christians in Nigeria and it was a landmark achievement in the history of the 38 year old Christian body.

A firebrand evangelist, Oritsejafor became a sunbreaker and the nation stood for him.

Are you a sunbreaker or a timid toddler, check yourself because if you don’t use your talents now, there is no other world where you will use them.

God bless Nigeria.

Be Holy. Jesus loves you. It is well.

What happens when they really pray?

THE WAY YOU COULD HAVE REFLECTED AFTER READING AND LISTENING TO THIS MESSAGE IS TO SWING INTO ACTION OF PRAYER.

WE HAVE AN ASSURANCE THAT THE MOMENT WE ARE OBEDIENT, WE WILL SURELY EAT THE FRUIT OF THE LAND our desolations, and the city which is called by thy name: for we do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousness, but for thy great mercies. O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do; defer not, for thine own sake, O my God: for thy cities and Nation and thy people are called by thy name.”

I am not a politician and I will never be one, but one thing I know for sure is that this country belongs to my Father and no one, I repeat, no one can hold this nation to ransom. Lord you just have to put an end to this barbaric killings, kidnapping and all sort of animalistic behaviours in our country Nigeria.

Lovers of Nigeria please don’t relent in your prayer life, there’s no rest for us until our enemies are put under our foot. When the church prays for the peace of this nation, then prosperity will be our lot.

According to the book of the Apostles, Chapter 12, things started to happen when the Christian started to pray. In fact, the miraculous happened, great things happened, the supernatural happened, because we find Peter lying here in the prison, and an angel came and tapped him to wake up,

and delivered him. As many of us have read in that book, the iron gates yielded to the power of God, effectively, in answer to the prayers of the church. I hereby decree: every stronghold in this nation, be pulled down in Jesus’ name.

Peter came knocking on the door of the place where the people were praying, and that young damsel Rhoda came to the door and she could hardly believe it was Peter.

She was in such a shock that she hadn’t time to open the door, and she ran back to the people saying, “It’s Peter! They said, “No, it couldn’t b; it must be his Spirit or his angel”. Great things happen when a church prays, when it really prays, even to the extent that the church doesn’t believesuch things can happen, and when they happen.

They (Peter’s brethren) were so astounded because they didn’t even think it could happen. Ladies and gentlemen, brothers and sisters, let’s really get down to business of prayer and it will amaze us how the good Lord will silence our enemies. I know, when we get settled down with our duty, those great miracles that happened to the old testament people can and will be repeated in our days. Acts Chapter 12 tells us all that

we need to know, that the church, when it really get to grips with praying to God, can see great things, supernatural things, miraculous things, happening! And praise God, there are still few people today that believe that things haven’t changed!

There are, aren’t there? God is still the same, and all you have to do is look to revival history to see the fact that is the case.

I think of Henry Ward Beecher, who was a very famous American preacher many years ago, and he was asked what was the reason of the success of his ministry. In fact, why he almost experinced perpetual revival, year on year? He turned to the questioner and replied: The success of this ministry; it’s not really in my preaching, not that I am more organised skillfully, it’s not because of the kind of leaders I have or the scholarly ability that I possess: but here it is: “I have a good reflector in the Pews”. Isn’t that lovely? I have a good reflector in the Pews; in other words, when he preached the word of God, and the light of the gospel truth and teaching of the word of God went forth, the people were reflecting the reality in their obedience, their actions. What greater way could you have reflected, after reading and listening to this message, is to swing into action of prayer. We have an assurance that the moment we are obedient, we will surely eat the fruit of the land. I pray we will all see and enjoy the goodness of this land in Jesus’ name Till we meet next week, please keep this in your mind; the devil has not been permitted to write the last chapter of this nation. Remain blessed in Jesus’ name.

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Praise & Worship 33

Sunday November 18, 2012

Why your wife may not initiate love-making Christian Relationship with Taiwo

Odubiyi

E-mail: info@pastortaiwoodubiyi.org.uk

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ast week, I pointed out the fact that sex was God’s idea and gift to a man and his wife, not only to make babies but also for their mutual enjoyment. And in 1Corinthians 7, the Bible tells us that to avoid sexual immorality, people should get married and have sex regularly as sex is good and right in marriage. Married people should give sex to their spouses.

It is something that is required and not optional. It is a married person’s duty to keep the spouse satisfied. Also, they should realise that their bodies belong not only to them but to their spouses as well.

As such, their spouses’ opinions and feelings should be considered. When it comes to marriage, it is no longer about ‘me and what I want’; it’s about pleasing each other and meeting each other’s sexual needs to keep the marriage strong.

Why your wife may not make the first move • Anger or unresolved issues: If the wife is unhappy or angry, she won’t want to make love with the man who has hurt her, let alone initiate the love-making. In ‘Tears On My Pillow’ (my novel), Moni was not initiating love-making because she didn’t feel happy in her marriage. If this is the case, the husband should fix things by discussing and resolving the issues with his wife.

• Belief: People and culture have taught

some women to believe that it is not the duty of a wife to make advances to her husband. These women have been made to think that making the first move in marriage is neither appropriate nor a ladylike behaviour; the wife must wait for her husband to come to her; and a wife who shows her desire for her husband is considered to be of an easy virtue but this is not true. What is true is that: in marriage, a woman can show her desire for her husband; outside marriage, it is wrong and sinful.

If your wife is one of those who believe it is not the duty of the wife to make the first move, you will need to talk to her. Let her know that you’d like to be pursued by her and that it’s okay to do so because you are married. There is now no condemnation.

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. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8:1-2 NKJV) • Body conscious: A wife who is not comfortable with the way she looks or her size might have a low self esteem which in turn would make her to not want to be naked often, let alone initiate love-making. If the man will enjoy great sex with his wife, he will need to first convince her that her size or look doesn’t matter to him. He should make her know that he enjoys being with her and he still loves her in spite of whatever it is she’s been battling with or ashamed of.

•Exhaustion: More often than not, women complain of tiredness after a day of work and taking care of the children, and the last thing on their minds is mak-

ing the first move for sex. The husband should do whatever he can to relieve her so they can have a good ‘sexy time’ together.

• Lack of enjoyment: If she doesn’t really enjoy love-making with her husband, then she won’t bother to try to make the first move. Again, communication will greatly help. The husband should try and find out how he can please her and get her to be interested.

• Fear of rejection: Some wives are afraid their husbands may not respond to their overtures. The husband should make it clear to her that he will not reject her, and he should encourage whatever move she makes towards him.

Would you respond to your wife’s overtures?

Most of the husbands I asked said without hesitation that they would definitely respond if their wives show she’s in the mood and ready. They would definitely be happy to comply even if they are not in the mood. The few men who said they might not respond gave extreme tiredness, illness or unresolved issues as grounds.

For wives If for any reason, your husband does not respond to you, don’t feel hurt, rejected or discouraged but rather try to find out why. Make the move again at another time. It’s a way of working on your marriage. As I pointed out last week, great sex in marriage has benefits: • It’s a way of saying “I love you” to your husband.

•It makes your husband feel loved, desired and happy. Just as women love being loved, men love to be loved too. When a man feels loved, he is more likely to show

his love.

• Initiating it shows your interest and makes you a willing participant in the sexual activity which will bring a new level of satisfaction to you.

• Because sex brings a connection, initiating it can strengthen your relationship with your husband. The more regularly a married couple makes love, the stronger their marriage tie.

• To ensure sex does not drop. When sex drops, intimacy drops as well and it will not be unusual to see the couple snapping at each other.

• To keep her husband sexually satisfied, which in turn helps to keep Satan, temptation and immoralities of all kinds away. It’s a protection for the marriage.

For couples: Where there has been a disconnection, the couple involved must work on reconnecting and bringing great sex back in their marriage. There might be some challenges but this does not mean it is impossible to achieve a reconnection. Some of the things that need to be done are: • To reestablish communication. Couples who talk about their issues to resolve them tend to have better marriages than those who don’t. They will need to talk explicitly about their sex life and what can be done. Without fear of rejection or feeling embarrassed, each person should talk about his or her expectations and needs.

• Each person must be willing to meet the spouse’s needs, making time for sex.

• It may also be necessary for them to take some steps such as going out or going away together.

• If another woman or man is in the picture which has been a distraction, that relationship should be terminated so that the couple can focus on their marriage.

It will surely come to pass Shepherd Life with Bishop Kingsley

Enakirerhi

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here is one phrase in the Bible which I like so much. Whenever I come across it in the scriptures, I feel excited and my faith comes alive. It is the phrase ‘and it came to pass…’

Whenever this phrase is used in the scriptures, most times it refers to the fulfilment of an earlier promise made by God or it is used to refer to the fulfilment of a promised event. When God is determined to do something, He uses the phase ‘and it will come to pass…’.

Christianity is a way of life that is based on promises. None of us has seen heaven except by divine revelation. But because God has promised us, we believe and we work towards it. In Hebrews 11:33 we are told that the Heroes of faith “obtained promises” by faith.

Thirty years ago when God told me to leave Lagos and come to my home town in Delta State to start a work for Him, He told me several things and showed me many things that He will do in my life and ministry. Today I can boldly testify that God has

been faithful and I have witnessed the fulfilment of many of them today.

In Genesis 12 and 15, God promised Abraham to make him the father of many nations. He specifically promised him that Sarah his wife will give him a son. Abraham waited for 25 years before the fulfilment of that promise. In Genesis 21:1-2, the scripture records, “And the Lord visited Sarah as He had said, and the Lord did unto Sarah as He had spoken. For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him” I want to let you know that God’s delay is not a denial. The Bible says, “He makes all things beautiful in His time” (Ecclesiastes 3:11). So many times, we think God has forgotten us but God said that even if a mother can forget her sucking child, He will not forget us for we are engraved in the palm of His hand (Isaiah 49:15-16).

Whatever God has promised you, I announce to you today that it will surely come to pass.

God showed Joseph in a dream that he would be great and his brethren would bow down before him. When he told his brethren the dream, they were angry and tried to prevent it from coming to pass by selling Joseph into slavery.

I want to let you know that it does not matter what your enemies say. It does not matter what those star readers have discovered and are doing to work against

your dreams. Every word God has spoken concerning you will surely come to pass.

There is nothing the enemy can do about it.

Though they fight, every move they make will only be pushing you closer to the realisation of that promise.

The reason is simply found in Isaiah 55:10-11 which says, “For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not hither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater: so shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it”.

God watches over every word He speaks in order to fulfil it. Therefore, if He has promised you anything, then I want you to be rest assured that He will definitely bring it to pass. In spite of what Joseph’s brethren did, eventually, Joseph became the ruler in Egypt and his brethren came to Egypt and bowed their heads before him.

It is important to state here that God is not a man that He should lie. He does not need the vote of anybody to remain God. So why should He lie? People lie because of fear of punishment. Who is in a position to punish God that will warrant His telling lies? God cannot lie. It is impossible for Him to lie.

However, I want to show you some things that you need to do in order to ex-

perience the fulfillment of God’s promise to you. First, you need to have faith in God. Hebrews 11:6 says that without faith, it is impossible to please God. In Hebrews 11:33, we are told that by faith the patriarchs of old obtained promises from God. Until you believe God, you are not yet ready for the manifestation of His word. In Romans 4:20-22, we are told concerning father Abraham: “He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strong in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully persuaded that what he had promised, he was able also to perform. And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness”.

You need faith to obtain the promise.

Again, you need to be patient with God. The fact that it is yet to come to pass does not mean it will not come to pass. The fact that you are not yet married or with your own child, does not mean it will not come to pass. In Hebrews 6:12 and 15, we are told, that “ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises…And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promises…” As you patiently endure like Abraham, the dream that God gave you will surely come to pass.

Finally, make sure you remain faithful in your walk with God. Abraham never one day compromised his commitment to God. As you faithfully serve Him, God who cannot lie will also make it come to pass in your life.

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Sunday, November 18, 2012

The cosmic conflict consummated (I) Footprints with Dr. Tunde

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

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he great controversy between Christ and Satan is soon to close. The battle of all ages will culminate in the annihilation of the devil, demons, and everything and everyone that bears or symbolizes sin. Satan shall be vanquished. Sin shall be eradicated. Evil shall be terminated. The universe shall be sanitized. The earth as we know it shall be incinerated in the lake of fire. Heaven shall be populated with the redeemed. Every question shall be settled.

The incarcerated saints shall be liberated.

Never will evil again be manifest. The law of God will be honored as the law of liberty. A tested and proved creation will never again turn from allegiance to God. In these last days, Satan has redoubled his evil plot. Revelation 12:12 says: “Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.” He is like a snake whose head has been chopped off from its body. It is sure to die but it is angrily splashing its deadly venom in its dying moments. In the Saviour’s expiring cry: “It is finished,” the death knell of Satan was rung. The great controversy which had been so long in progress was then decided, the final eradication of evil made certain. Indeed the war is won by Christ but the battle is not over yet!

After Adam and Eve parleyed with Satan and lost their innocence, God promised: “I will put enmity between you [Satan] and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; it shall bruise your head and you shall bruise his heel” (Gen 3:15). Had God not done this, humans would have continued unabated in fellowship with the tempter. Thank God for the enmity! No matter how irresistible temptation may appear, the tempted one should remember and appropriate God’s promises and meet Satan

Holy Inquiry with Pastor Paul

Nkirukah E-mail: pstpaul11@yahoo.com

Dear Pastor, I want to know from you if God can forgive me all my sins? Why I am asking this question is because I have committed so many atrocities and I have been to so many unholy places that I will not like to mention here. I am sure God knows what I am talking about.

-Nkechi from Abuja.

Dear reader, Though, I may not know the sins you have committed and the places (you intend to keep as secret) you have been to. However, I know for sure that if you agree to be forgiven, God is ever ready to forgive your sins.

Now, let’s examine the scriptures be-

with the Scripture weapons. “Angels are round about those willing to be taught, and they will bring to their remembrance the truths which are needed . . . . But the teachings of Christ must previously have been stored in the mind in order for the Spirit of God to bring them to our remembrance in the time of peril.”

In the time of opposition, intolerance, and persecution, the half-hearted and hypocritical will yield the faith; but the true Christian will stand firm, his faith stronger, his hope brighter, than in days of prosperity. “He shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreads out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat comes, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit” (Jer 17:8). I encourage you to stand firm against the wiles of the devil (Eph 6:10-18).

There were two major institutions that God gave to humanity before sin entered the world. Genesis chapter two mentioned marriage and the Sabbath were given to us during the sinless state at the beginning of time as we know it. God made the male and female to become one flesh. They are equal partners in holy wedlock. The Sabbath was also established as a divine memorial of creation, the Creator’s signature inscribed on His creation. It was made to be God’s sign or mark of ownership over the planet (Gen 2:1-3; Exod 31:13, 16, 17; Ezek 20:12, 20). Sabbath and marriage predate sin. In these last days, Satan’s greatest and most relentless attacks have targeted both marriage and Sabbath.

Satan has convinced many people that instead of marriage being between “Adam and Eve,” it could as well be between “Adam

and Steve” or “Andrea and Eve!” Since the sexual revolutions of the 1960s, people have fostered a community of people seeking alternative sexual expressions. Today, the term LGBT refers to the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgendered community.

It emphasizes a diversity of “sexuality and gender identity-based cultures” and is sometimes used to refer to anyone who is non-heterosexual or cisgender. There are several European countries who have redefined marriage from being exclusively between a man and a woman, thus legalizing same-sex marriage. About six (6) states in the United States of America have followed suit! Those born “female” can now be legally re-classified as “male,” and vice-versa!

The definition of “family” has also been altered to accommodate such deviance. Satan has increased his attacks on the family, the fabric of the society. The wars that go on in families and among couples are signs of the end-times. May your family not be a statistics in Jesus’ name. Amen.

The Sabbath is seriously under attack too. “Thus the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were finished. And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done.

Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made” (Gen 2:1-3). The Bible helps us to know that the 7th-day Sabbath is Saturday: the day after Christ was crucified (Luke 23:52-56) and the day before the resurrection morning (Matt 28:1-2; Mark 16:1-2).

The resurrection day (Sunday) was numbered as the first day of the week (Matt 28:1-2; Mark 16:1-2; Luke 24:1; John 20:1).

Answer these questions and win a prize 1.

2.

3.

“Lord, lay not this sin to their charge.” Who said this while being stoned to death and where in the Bible?

The Island that Paul and Barnabas first stopped in their first missionary journey is… Supply the scripture.

Name the instrument David played to enliven Saul’s spirit when Saul was distressed. 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.

Hence anyone can count one to seven to identify Saturday as the 7th-day Sabbath.

Today, worshippers and other religionists have sandwiched the true biblical 7th-day Sabbath-Saturday, with Friday on one hand and Sunday on the other! But God says: “I am the Lord, I change not” (Mal 3:6). Heaven and earth may pass away, but not a dot or comma shall pass away from God’s word (Matt 5:17-19).

Had the true Sabbath been universally kept, man’s thoughts and affections would have been led to the Creator as the object of reverence and worship, and there would never have been an idolater, an atheist, or an infidel. The Sabbath is the antidote against evolution and all forms of idolatry. The keeping of the Sabbath is a sign of loyalty to the true God. The seal of God’s law is found in the Sabbath commandment (Exod 20:8-11). The disciples of Jesus are called upon to restore it by exalting the Sabbath as the Creator’s memorial and sign of His authority.

Only diligent students of the Scriptures who have received the love of the truth will be shielded from the powerful delusion that takes the world captive. By the Bible testimony these will detect the deceiver in his disguise. Are the people of God now so firmly established upon His Word that they would not yield to the evidence of their senses? Would they, in such a crisis, cling to the Bible, and the Bible only? The choice is yours. May the Lord depend on you!!

Tunde Ojewole, Ph.D., is the University Pastor and Associate Vice-President for Spiritual Life, Babcock University.

For enquiries: ojewolea@babcock.edu.ng; 08058299434/08060376577

Answers to Nov 4, 2012 Quiz 1.

2.

3.

Jacob. Overcomer- Genesis 32:28 (King James Version).

Zechariah- Luke 1:19-21, 62-64.

Four-footed animals, reptiles and birds of the air- Acts 10:12.

Answers to Nov 11, 2012 Quiz 1. Philadelphia- Rev 3:7, 17 2. Plagues- Exodus Chapters 7-11 3. Aaron- Exodus 28:29, 30 NIV

Can God forgive me all my sins? low to ascertain why God will forgive you.

1 John 1: 8 – 10 reads, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

According to the statement or the scriptures above, it is very obvious that before we can be forgiven our sins, we must have confessed it to God. But my dear, it cannot end up in confessing only, there is another thing one has to do before his or her sins are completely forgiven. Let’s quickly take a look at Proverbs 28: 13 which reads; He that covereth his sins shall not prosper, but who so confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.

According to the scriptures above, it is evident and obvious that confessing your sins to God is the starting point, but after confession without forsaking your sins, my friend, I am afraid there may be no forgiveness. So, after you have confessed your sins and you did not stop commit-

ting that particular sin, you cannot be forgiven.

Let’s also see the book of Ezekiel 3: 17 – 21 which reads, “Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel, therefore, hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me. 18 When I say unto the wicked, thou shalt surely die, and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand, 19 Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.

20 And again, when a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumbling block before him, he die; because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand.

You have heard it all; that when a wicked man or a sinner repents from his

wicked ways, his sin shall be forgive and the sin will no more be remembered by God; again if the righteous commits a sin and repents not and dies in sin, his righteousness will no more be remembered.

Another thing you should do is to forgive every one that offended you, as the scripture says in Mark 11 : 25 – 26 which reads,” And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your father also which is heaven may forgive you your trespasses, 26 But if ye do not forgive, neither will your father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.

In conclusion, I advise that if you have been born again, just confess your sins to God and ask for His mercy and stop committing those sins , and you will be forgiven; but if you are not yet born again, I also advise that you give your life to Jesus right now, by say this simple and very important prayer: Lord Jesus I Believe In My Heart That You Died For Me And Now I Receive You Into My Heart As My Lord And Personal Saviour, Thank You Jesus.

If you can confess this, I tell you that you are free from those sins.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

35

Sunday, November 18, 2012

5Mics unleashes lyrical fangs in new music video

Ije: The Journey set to hit DVD outlets

Monday, December 3 and Many have described ‘Ije: The benchmark for other movies. it will be sellJourney’ as the best movie featurBut according to its producers, one ing from over ing of Nigeria’s biggest female thing you cannot take away from ‘Ije: The 6,000 retail With ‘Five Blessings’ and ‘Elevating’ currently enjoying tremovie stars: Genevieve Nnaji and Journey’ is, it was and still is the highest outlets availmendous airplay on radio, Abuja-bred rapper, 5Mics, is not taking Omotola Jalade Ekeinde. Some selling movie in Nigerian cinemas, gross- ing viewers at his foot off the gas pedal, as he intends to correct the impression have described it as the best mov- ing over N60 million at the Nigerian box- home the opheld by some that since he moved to Lagos, he had abandoned ie to come out of the ‘New Nolly- office. It’s a record no local movie has had portunity to own a copy. his hardcore hip-hop roots, corrupted by the mainstream, and forced to wood’ while others have broken since its release in July 2010 and Chineze Anyaene is the churn out ‘commercial’ music. called it the has only one foreign movie, ‘Avengers’ founder of Xandria ProIn order to put the wagging tongues in check, 5Mics has unleashed his lyrisurpassed. The movie, which featured ductions and the Dical fangs on this freestyle, rapping over the beats of Driicky Graham’s ‘SnapThe two of the biggest actresses in Nol- rector/Producer of backs and Tattoos’ - unleashing a lyrical mayhem titled ‘Ray Charles’. headlining lywood, the duo of Genevieve ‘Ije: The Journey’ To send this visual message across, he artistes for the secNnaji and Omotola Jalade- which was actuteamed up with the quirky poet-turned-filmond edition of the much Ekeinde, will hit the ally her stumaker, James Amuta, to cook up a video (as their anticipated concert, Top10 Mics, DVD stores na- dent thesis.

Halloween gift to you all) that can best be described have all come out with one voice to speak tionwide as the work of a seriously disturbed mind. extensively about the forthcoming music confrom The content warning at the beginning of the video cert holding on November 30 at the Eko Hotel and does well to prepare you for entering into the gory world Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos. of underground hip hop, whilst 5Mic’s performance in the 2face Idibia, Dbanj, Femi Kuti and Sir Shina Peters are all video metaphorically depicts how carnivorous his bars are, lined up to perform at this year’s Top 10 Mics organised by enterand how much of an ill lyricist he actually is. tainment powerhouse, Koga. The duo of DJs Jimmy Jatt and Neptune For his outstanding lyrical agility, and commendwill be dishing out live beats to the audience while ace humourist, Bright able role interpretation, you would be impressed Okpocha a.k.a. Basketmouth, will anchor the concert. enough to award the artiste the full five mics Amidst recent reports that the headline acts for this year’s concert would rating. be performing with a live stage for duration of one hour, the acts have now And for the video, it is up to you to decome out to set the records straight by clearing the air on the matter. cide the director’s fate. But a courtWhile talking to reporters lately, the music icons spoke about what to ordered psychiatric evaluaexpect at the concert. First to speak was Koko-Master, Dbanj fresh off his tion may not be totally One MOBO Awards exploits: ‘’Performing for one hour with a live band at Top of Nigeout of order.

10 Mics won’t be an issue as that is one of the attributes of a performer. I ria’s prolific would be motivated at the sight of the Kokolets coming to see me perform singers, Omawunso it won’t be a problem’’. mi, is no doubt doing ‘Hypertek’ crooner, 2face Idibia, further hit the nail on the head, “My well in her chosen career people, nothing dey happen. It will be a special night on November and doing Nigeria proud. A few 30 as I would be there to serenade the audience; it would be my days back, the singer was the only best stage performance ever as I have been rehearsing for it artiste chosen from Nigeria to perform at Guess for some time now”. the AFCON draw witnessed by South African who is back Afro-beat Icon, Femi Anikulapo Kuti, high- President, CAF President and other leading interon the Nigerian lighted his performance at last year’s event national lights. As usual, she gave out her best and music scene and ready and promises a better one this November. got a standing ovation in return. o give it to you? It is none “For those who thought last year’s Not relenting on her oars after the great success other than African Hip-Hop star, performance was the best ever, recorded by her last single, ‘Bottom Belle’, the singer Superwoman and Revolutionary, Kel, they were wrong as there is will be dropping her new single titled, ‘Stay Alive’ in with an exciting new single titled, ‘Give It To still more to come this a matter of days. The single which will be released You’. year. in audio and video format is another creative piece The brand new track features Mr. Wonda himself, W4 from the singer. Fans will again be thrilled with this and superbly produced by TinTin. new release from the entertainer that borders on the Laced with a thumping bass-line, heavy beats and a need to relax and take things easy despite the hustle ousing horns section, ‘Give It To You’ is a massive and bustle of life. “What I am saying in the song is and infectious party jam packed with all the right that you need to just relax and take things easy bepangredients for huge success on radio, in the cause some people don’t.

Every day , you see n y This treets and clubs. people trying to acquire wealth or get w a s is no doubt Highlighting a marked evolution in to a level where they can forget also worka feel-good moKel’s sound into an all-around artheir troubles. ing on other ment for gospel music iste and entertainer. artistes.

Together, act, Gloria Folakemi Doyle. he said, they will all take According to the latest information music to a greater height. reaching M&M, the songstress has hooked On why he signed on Doyle, George said, “We saw her up with Freiheit Communication Limited, an previous works and we are satisfied with it.” Speaking outfit that is into musical video production, by signing further he said, Freiheit Communication is working on in as its first artiste. artistes that they believe, have the potentials to soar high Speaking at the signing-in ceremony, the chairman of and take their place in the industry. He made it clear that the company, Mr Dele George, told newsmen that the comthey are working with artistes who have something to offer musically, not just gospel artistes alone.

The Managing Director of the company, Mr. Olufemi Ajibode, threw more light on why Freiheit has come to stay in the entertainment industry. “In the last seven years of the existence of the company, we have done a lot of promotions on musical video productions, e-literary, where people can listen to any kind of music, have them on their phones or flash drive.’’

Doyle, who is fully set to take her new album to the next level, said she was ready to work and cooperate with Freiheit to ensure that she achieved the mileage and success she had envisaged. While her manager Mr. Babatunde said he was sure that Doyle and Freiheit would enjoy a good working relationship since she is humble and had not given him any reason to complain in the last few years he had been working with her.

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36

Sunday, November 18, 2012

Heart-throb

Connecting

Vanessa

Send text only to 08025253996

with

In need of a serious relationship/marriage maarriage I am Oyetola, from Oyo State, 25 years old). I work and live in Lagos. I need a God-fearing man, a Christian, between the age of 26 and 30 years, for a serious relationship that can lead to marriage –08168104121.

Vanessaonsunday@yahoo.

Beware of online romance scams

I am Treasure Onyemaechi, 5.8ft tall living in Nyanya, Abuja. I need a nicelooking young lady, between 24 and 28 years old, who is a Christian and Godfearing, for marriage –08181523555.

My name is Adams Stella, a 25-year-old student. I want a strong, dynamic man for a romantic relationship –08068684663.

Ejiro is my name. I am 37 years old and tall. I need a God-fearing, caring, honest and good-looking guy, between 40 and 45 years old, for a serious relationship –08178516220.

Danny Okuns is my name. I’m 46 years old, from Edo State and live in Lagos. I need a working-class, single mother, a Christian from either Edo or the Yoruba tribe for marriage –08095395539.

I am Bola, 38 years old, living in Lagos. I require a lady, between 25 and 45 years old, for a serious relationship. She must be a business or working-class woman –08033329005.

N

igerians were shocked to their bones when they received the dreadful news of Cynthia Osokogu’s murder and how she was lured into the cold hands of death by friends she met on the popular social media site-Facebook.

As the shock waves of her death rippled through the same social media that gave birth to her demise, it became apparent to all that fraudsters have invaded the global village and there’s need for everyone to put precautionary measures on how they relate with total strangers on the internet.

You would think the case of Cynthia’s death will be enough warning for some of these ladies to be on their guard concerning online romance and play cautiously, but that is not the case, as yet another Facebook death was averted recently when 21 years old Nkiruka Akabuogu, a Linguistics student of the University of Lagos, reportedly jumped down from the third floor of a high rise building in Lagos in a bid to escape rape and threat to her life by 26 years old Arthur Obiora, a graduate of Igbenedion University she met on Facebook a week earlier. He invited her to a club house in Apapa where they had drinks and ended up in his family home at 1004 Estate, Victoria Island Lagos.

Nkiruka sustained multiple injuries, including a fractured pelvis from the jump.

Romance scams typically get started while chatting through online dating websites and social networks such as Facebook, MySpace and the rest of them. On these sites, the perpetrators will request for friendship at every profile they find, hoping for responses through the dating sites’ email or chat program. Once they get the desired response, they start with the questions; asking as many as they can, while answering a few of your own. This is one of the methods used to build a profile of their victim and is called “social engineering”. It is also how they create their own personality to match what the victim is looking for in a romantic relationship. They make victims of their prey by becoming the knight in shining armor the woman always dreamed of. Before you know it, the lady is head over heels in love with this online lover and is ready to go to any length to be with her new found love, even if it means rushing into her own handmade coffin!

Ladies, it’s all an illusion! You are just acting your own home video in a real life scenario. Cyber space and the World Wide Web (WWW) create make-believes in our imagination and before you know it, you begin to accept the romantic tales happening to you online as real.

Sorry to bust your bubble, but you are just in love with the idea of being in love. It is an idealised romantic illusion created to lure you into your worst nightmare where you can become a victim

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

My name is Sam, 38 years old, cool and good-looking. I am a CEO of a creative company in need of an advanced lady who is connected for a serious relationship –07041383743.

I am Paul. I live in Port Harcourt. I am 26 years old, tall and dark in complexion. I want any disabled lady from a rich, royal family for marriage –08165003083.

Models

of heartbreak, rape, fraud or even death.

So, please be very careful when adding people on your friends’ list on any of the social media sites. It is important to be cautious about the kind of personal information you give out to total strangers online in the name of chatting. Be wary when someone you hardly know meets you online and begin to shower you with love words almost immediately.

I know what you are already thinking: some people met online and today they are happily married, was that scam too? Yes, it is possible to find real love through online dating sites and Facebook, but that’s more like finding a single needle in a haystack. You just have to be extra careful to sift the chaff to see the grain. There are a lot of romance scammers online and this have made knowing the real ones almost an impossible feat unless you happen to be a prayerful person or a soothsayer. These scammers look for single women who are desperate to get married. They prey on this need in a woman’s heart and cajole her to do unimaginable things.

Take for instance, how could a right-thinking woman meet a total stranger in a hotel room or private residence, all in the name of being ‘in love’?

Well, na wetin you de look for, you go find! Like my mother will always warn.

If you must meet with this person, make sure it is at your own terms and in a familiar environment you can control like an Eatery; that way you’ll be in charge of the meeting and can always walk away if you find the first time meeting offensive in any way.

By so doing, you’re passing a message to a wouldbe predator that you are not desperate to get married and neither will you be easily deceived with phony romantic overtures. Most times, when you put such hurdles their way, they scuttle away like rats and leave you in peace. It is only a genuine person who will be willing to go through any hurdle you place to win your love.

Please, don’t swallow all romantic gibberish thrown at you either through chats, e-mails or even phone calls from a person you’ve never met before.

Put them to test yourself to ascertain their sincerity.

By so doing, you are safe guarding yourself from scams or, worse, becoming another casualty the social media fans will ogle and share among their friends as an added victim of online romance scams. To be forewarned is to be forearmed. It is only fools that rush in where angels fear to tread!

Have you been scammed romantically online before? Write in and tell us about it.

My name is Herbert, 40 years old single civil engineer. I need a beautiful, young lady for marriage –08024284692.

I am Great, from Edo State. I am 33 years old, 6ft tall, fair in complexion, a graduate and working. I need a woman that believes in true love –08023989838.

Ibrahim is my name, 27 years old. I live in Kano. I want a sweet baby that will support me in my education –08053325315.

My name is Roland. I’m 32 years old and live in Lagos. I am tall, single, genotype AA, light-skin graduate and working. I want a caring God-fearing lady –08063445875.

Ezekiel Akande is my name. I am 49 years old, living at Sango Ota, Ogun State. I need a decent working-class lady, between 44 and 47 years old; a divorcee will be at an advantage. I work in Lagos with a multinational company –07058429136.

My name is Taiwo, 35 years old. I seriously need a lady, between 25 and 32 years old, for marriage –08085780268.

Dele is my name. I am 40 years old, handsome, dark and tall. I need a funloving lady for a relationship –08102683379.

My name is Kenneth; I am 38 years old, living in Lagos. I want a sexual relationship with a woman with no strings attached –08034878078.

Olusegun is my name. I want a lady for a serious relationship. She must be living in Lagos –08026776509.

In need of a sugar mummy/daddy I am Ayomikun. I need a nice, caring, loving sugar daddy and partner –08083534116.

My name is Stephen. I am based in Benue State. I am 25 years old, of average height and chocolate in complexion. I need a very beautiful, rich sugar mummy to take care of me. She must be fair in complexion, of average height and between 26 and 37 years old –07031293108.

I am Austin, from Calabar, but live in Lagos. I am 33 years old, chocolate in complexion and in need of a sugar mummy that enjoys love-making –08106060700.

My name is Ola, 40 years old. I am a banker and in need of a sexy-looking and understanding sugar mummy –08059304996.

I am AK, 27 years old, living in Lagos. I need a sugar mummy, between 28 and 40 years old, that I can satisfy with good romance –08132688413.

Austin is my name, 36 years old, based in Lagos. I require a sugar mummy, 35 years and above, for fun and connection –08067114701.

I am Jacob John. I am 29 years old. I live in Abuja. I want a rich, sexy and romantic sugar mummy, between 30 and 40 years old –08178846556.

My name is Rachael, based in Lagos. I am good in bed. I need a sugar daddy –08061194548.

I am Henry, 30 years old, tall fair and working. I live in Lagos. I am an energetic guy in need of a sugar mummy, between 25 and 50 years old –08073050245.

I am Ade, 35 years old, handsome and based in Lagos. I need a mature sugar mummy that is based in Lagos, between 40 and 45 years old –08135909085.

My name is Bamidele, a middle-aged man living in Lagos. I need a romantic sugar lady –07040068216.

I am Shut Samuel, 28 years old. I live in Abuja. I need a sugar mummy –08034919590.

NOTICE: Please note that we don’t do personal connections outside this column. Calls to connect privately are not allowed. Just send an SMS or email and we’ll get your request published. The request is published on first come first served basis. Thank you!

&

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

37

Weddings Engagements CELEBRATING THE JOY IN MARITAL BLISS NOVEMBER 18, 2012

Ex-Rufus Giwa Poly rector’s daughter, Tinu, weds sweetheart A NGELA DAVIES

T

he families of Ogundowole and Oriola were full of joy and festivities when their children, Tinu Ogundowole, and c Tope Oriola, exchanged marital T vows recently. v The couple was joined in holy matrimony at the St. John’s Anm glican Church, Iyere-Owo before g ffamily members, friends and lloved ones. The couple took the bold step of becoming one flesh b after many years of courtship. a Tinu, the bride, looked stunning in her breathtaking sleeven lless sequined, flowing wedding dress. She harmonised her d llooks with lovely bridal accessories. Dark-complexioned c Tope complemented his bride T iin a black suit which he paired with a white shirt and red tie to w match. m After the church blessing, guests made sure they witg nessed the grand reception as n tthey all made their way to the Aruwajoye Event centre for a A ssuperb reception. The venue was elegantly decorated with w rred and white colours which in-

cidentally were also the colours of the day.

The lovebirds danced with all excitement. There was also no dull moment throughout the duration of the reception. The three-tier white and red wedding cake was cut with so much love by the couple after which they fed each other.

Tinu is a lawyer and the second daughter of the former Rector of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, Dr. Bolu Ogundowole, who is at present the Head of General Studies, Achievers University, Owo. Tope is also a lawyer.

Even though Dr Ogundowole is no longer with Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, the staff of the school came in large numbers to celebrate with him. As expected, the reception was filled with legal luminaries and it was turned into a ‘court’ but this time, it was not to argue any case but to rejoice with their colleagues who dropped bachelorhood and spinsterhood for married life.

Invited guests were served with assorted food and drinks.

They also went home with varied souvenirs.

Fate unites Ademola, Mofifoluwake in marriage O LUWASEGUN IJABIKEN

I

badan, the Oyo State capital, played host to the wedding ceremony between Mofifoluwake Alesinloye and Ademola Olalude on Saturday, November vember 3, at Christ Apostolic Church (The Able God), od), Alakia in Ibadan.

Mofifoluwake hails from EfonAlaaye in Ekiti State while Ademodemola is an indigene of Owo in Ondo State.

Mofifoluwake and Ademola a met in 1999 through a telephone conversation that was occasioned by the former’s mistake of wrongly dialing the number meant for another call. This turned out to be the landline of the Olalude family’s residence. Ademola who picked the phone on that fateful day was fascinated by her voice and tried to be polite with her.

Eventually, they started off as friends and lovers. They had their traditional wedding on Friday, November 2 while the e white wedding followed the next xt day. After the church blessing on Saturday, guests were hosted to a wonderful reception that took k place within the church premises. The arena was beautifully decorated with h silver and

purple colours. Assorted foods were served, and typical of Yoruba weddings, aso-ebi of different colours spiced up the occasion. Precious Band was there to serenade the atmosphere with melodious tunes.

Ademola looked gorgeous in a grey suit, white shirt and purple bow tie paired with a pocket square to match. match His heartthrob, Mofifoluwake, wore wor a long-sleeve bolero with flare hands over a white tube h wedding dress. She complemented her bridal looks with earrings, necklace and hair accessories.

They both danced cesso rhythmically to the thrill rhy of all.

Mofifoluwake revealed that tha her soul mate, Ademola, proposed to her six mo years ago during an inyea congruent discussion that con he would like her to be his bride someday. Mofifolubr wake while describing wa Ademola said: “He has a Ad good heart and undergo stands me better”. sta Ademola revealed that A was drawn to Mofifoluhe w wake because of her Chrisbackground and humility. tian ba for singles is that His advice adv should wait for their time they shou and make sure they understand during courtship. their spouse du

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

You can call this line 08051980588

BABIES OF THE WEEK

Khadijat Toluwalope Busari was born at Jon-Ken Hospital Ltd, Akoka, Lagos to Mutiu and Hawau Busari.

She was delivered at 2:12 p.m. and weighed 3.7 kg.

“During the pregnancy, I craved mainly for fruits like watermelon, pineapple and oranges,” revealed Hawau.

Speaking about her obvious physical body changes, Hawau said she had swollen feet. “Aside from my bulging stomach, my face was swollen,” Hawau stressed.

What do they love about Khadijat?

“She is a peaceful, little girl,” she emphasised.

What do they want her to become in future? “I want her to be successful in any career she chooses and we will support her as her parents,” emphasised Hauwa.

What is the meaning of Khadijat?

“Khadijat means the first and most favourite wife of the last prophet,” Hawau added.

Umar Oladimeji Akinrinade was born at the General Hospital, Konda, Ilobu, Osun State to Thair and Ganiyat. He was delivered at 1: 00 a.m. and weighed 3.8kg.

According to Ganiyat, “during the pregnancy, I loved taking pap”.

Were there obvious physical body changes? Ganiyat emphasised that, “the only obvious physical body change was my protruding tummy”.

What do they love most about Oladimeji? “He is a handsome and cute little baby,” Ganiyat said.

What do they want her to become in future? “We want him to become the president of the nation,” Thair said.

What is the meaning of Oladimeji?

“The name means he is an additional blessing following his brother who is the first born,” Thair revealed.

38

Sunday, November 18, 2012

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

A Fashionista’s

World NOVEMBER 18, 2012 NO

‘I wouldn’t have gone far if I were a man’ Emem Nkanang is a producer-cum-presenter of a fashion TV show at Galaxy Television. Though, she studied BioChemistry, she is passionate about fashion. She tells Adaeze Amos in this interview about her style and personality.

What exactly is the focus of your TV fashion show?

My fashion show is meant to promote fashion and the industry in Nigeria which is becoming very large and highly competitive.

Can you spell your style?

My style is trendy. When people hear trendy, they expect to see you in English attire, looking corporate. We should learn to appreciate our African prints. For instance, I did a little bit and piece with Ankara. I also made the shoes I’m wearing using Ankara. I decided not to do skirt or gown but opted for a wrap, just to look chic.

What’s your view on how Nigerian fashion designers put Ankara to use?

Fantastic! In fact, I love to play with African prints because they are beautiful. They are bold, festive and colourful. We should learn to appreciate our prints because they are really beautiful and you can do fantastic designs with them. You can go all the way with the African prints. They are very versatile, not reserved. I would encourage Nigerians to please appreciate our prints and let us do a lot with them. I don’t do trends; I just go with what fits. I play a lot with materials. I could opt for styles that were worn in the 60s. That is why you see ladies wearing a popular olden style known as ‘Oleku’.

I like to play a lot with fashion while trying to have fun.

When you are stepping out on red carpet, what do you do to stand out?

I like to stand out with my fashion sense. You noticed when I stood up, everybody especially the paparazzi rushed to take some shots of me because of what I’m wearing.

I just sit down and put things together and say let us go ahead and rock it. Whether I’m looking casual or simple, what I believe is that looking good is good business.

What thrills you about fashion?

As I have said so many times, I have a passion for fashion. From my childhood days, I noticed my mother used to be very fashionable. She was very particular about the things I wore even as a child. I think I grew up with that mentality and I can’t go anywhere without looking good.

What was your childhood like?

My childhood days were fun. Growing up was fantastic. I went to school in the East. I studied Bio-Chemistry at the Madona University, in Anambra State. That is why when my course mates whom I graduated with saw me in the fashion industry handling a fashion TV show, they were amazed because I studied Bio-Chemistry. They said I was supposed to be in food industry. I do tell them that I’m doing what I love to do. Basically, when you love what you do for a living, you don’t find it stressful.

How do you feel being a woman?

I love being a woman. I don’t think I would have gone too far if I were a man. Women are superior beings, honestly. God took special time to create women and that is the fact. We have the domineering spirit. It is left to you to know how to use yours to dominate.

How do you think we should use it to dominate?

Make sure that when you fall, try and rise again. You don’t fall and say since I have fallen, that is okay for me. You step it up and rise. Look at great women who have made great impact. They refused to stay down.

What is your favourite colour?

I appreciate bold colours such as red, yellow, orange. Nigerian ladies love colours and our climate welcomes that since we are in the tropics. Basically, I love orange and yellow.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Opinion

Sunday November 18, 2012

39

The fiscal stifling of Nigeria’s NOP states LEONARD K ARSHIMA SHILGBA

N

OPS is an acronym for Non-Oil Producing States. The Nigerian state is so presently organized in such a way that encourages dependence of the federating states on disbursements from the federation account. But what is the primary economic activity of the Nigerian state that fetches the needed revenues for the necessary developmental expenditures of states? The answer is very obvious. Oil revenues (including oil-related taxes) account for more than 90 percent of the total revenues accruing to Nigeria. Here is a conundrum. Nigerian states, by reason of the 68 items on the exclusive legislative list in the second schedule of the 1999 constitution of Nigeria, have been handicapped and severely restricted in their vision and efforts at developing their natural resources, agricultural resources, public infrastructure, and even human resources.

They are equally unable to design and enforce physical security that should attract private investments that encourage employment, with the ineluctable reduction of poverty and the enhancement of public revenues through improved public tax revenues.

Section 162 of the Nigerian constitution requires a minimum of 13 per cent derivation for mineral resource producing states.

Item 39 of the exclusive legislative list includes “Mines and minerals, including oil fields, oil mining, geological surveys and natural gas” in the list of engagements that Nigerian states cannot even contemplate.

And because the Nigerian government

focuses primarily on oil exploration and mining, and consequently the majority of foreign direct investments is in this area, the NOP states are being incrementally starved of necessary revenues while at the same time being abused, derided, and despised. If the Nigerian federal government had given the same attention it has done to the oil industry in the development of other mineral resources that are available in all states of the federation, then there should have been a significant improvement in developmental revenues for all states including the NOPS. We then have a situation where the hands of states are tied and yet they are required to bathe themselves. Oil producing states in Nigeria receive hundreds of billions of naira from the federation account every quarter. Whereas one oil producing state receives more than 10 times what a NOP state receives, the NOP state is expected to provide for its citizens the infrastructure for development and growth that the oil states should be able to provide because of the revenues available to them. And I agree and have written copiously that Nigerian oil producing states deserve even more than they are receiving now. My problem is that the federal government, while retaining the exclusive powers on matters of harnessing our natural resources, has failed beyond oil, and even in the oil sector, it has underperformed in the refining of crude oil, enforcing of environmental standards (as required in sections 16 (1)(a) and 17 (2)(d)), and the development of our gas resources.

I am more disturbed that even the little

that the NOP states receive from the federation account is generally not prudently invested on behalf of their people. But my emphasis in this essay is not on the devastation of misappropriation of public funds by the Nigerian state governors and public officials. I seek to draw attention to the self-contrived restrictions that have been constitutionally placed before Nigeria’s federating states.

Free up the states

It is my firm belief that if items on the exclusive legislative list are not significantly pruned down, and the concurrent and residual lists are not so clearly defined in phrases that completely remove ambiguities and conflicts between state and federal legislatures we will not have economically viable states.

Lagos state once was the seat of the federal government, which now is the economic center of Nigeria. Historically, Lagos colony was a separate country from the nineteenth century until 1906 when it was merged with the Southern Protectorate, and then later became part of the 1914 unilateral amalgamation. The advantage of semi-autonomy makes Lagos to be the only NOP state with a large economy, having access to huge tax revenues, without any fallback on oil or oil-related revenues. The socio-economic arrangement of Nigeria does not help the federating states to express themselves, not least the NOPS. Even Lagos has had its share of frustrations from the meddlesomeness or outright sabotage of the Nigerian state.

The on-going constitution review

efforts will remain just a mollifying elixir on our national conscience if the outcome is not the whittling down of the colossal powers of an incrementally incompetent federal government.

Economically viable local and state governments must be the clear objective of the exercise. There are clearly different opinions on pathways to this objective.

But I think there should be preponderance of support coalescing about the focal point of state economic independence. The most indicative of such independence is the freedom to legislate on many of those items on the exclusive legislative list. And what should be the test on determination of what those should be? A simple test should be any issue that does not jeopardize Nigeria’s social existence, or which does not affect egregiously the governance of another state, or which should not require more than one state legislating upon for ease of implementation of such resulting piece of legislation.

In a diverse society like Nigeria, diverse in ethnicity, religion, intellectual and social views and beliefs, it is impossible to frame a constitution that is perfectly acceptable to all. But if we work toward one objective—the freedom, economic freedom of the federating units, we shall be able to achieve other equally important objectives, including political equality.

•Shilgba is an Associate Professor of Mathematics with the American University of Nigeria

Osunbote: Between political myopia and analytic bigotry BENJAMIN IGHOROJEH

O

rdinarily one would not want to respond to the disjointed, shallow, often comical piece titled ‘Tinubu’s Political Megalomania’ credited to one Oladele Osunbote and published in The Guardian of Sunday, November 11, 2012. In his opening paragraphs, for instance, Osunbote pointlessly made reference to some great African leaders – Kwame Nkrumah, Julius Nyerere, Sekou Toure, Nelson Mandela among others – and then made this absolutely meaningless statement: “The history of Africa must parade the great names so that I can obtain my egoistic competence to counter the negrophobists”. This is sheer lunacy showcasing an unstable mind shrouded in darkness.

Osunbote obviously lacked the intellect to effectively communicate his ideas (if he has any) or lucidly demonstrate his logic. Given the proven anarchical bent of his mind, one can, therefore, better understand some of the wild, unsubstantiated and absolutely reckless allegations this writer makes in a futile bid to denigrate the character and tarnish the political career of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu – former Governor of Lagos State and National Leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

As the title of his diatribe suggested, Osunbote’s objective was to prove that Tinubu suffered from political megalomania and was greedy to acquire power and dominate others at all costs and by all means. He admitted that Tinubu successfully withstood the PDP’s incursion into the South-West in 2003 and remained the only Alliance for Democracy (AD) Governor left standing after the PDP hurricane that swept the traditionally progressive region on that occasion. Osunbote equally could not deny that Tinubu as Governor of Lagos State stirred the ship of the state with dexter-

ity and overcame the seizure of the state Local Government funds for over three years. He even admitted that Tinubu at the time was “morally and tactically higher than Obasanjo and his group”. Thereafter, Osunbote reasoned, Tinubu “has become ensconced, so politically comfortable that he wants to control all political machineries of South West”.

And how did Osunbote prove this? He made the following unbelievably wild and sweeping assertion that could be nothing but the product of a diseased mind: “… all consultants to all ACN states in the South-West must come from Lagos. He must appoint two thirds of the number of judges and commissioners to be appointed in all the South-West states except Ondo State which is firmly under the control of the Labour Party. Street cleaners, consultants, contractors etc must come from Lagos. So much is now going to Lagos to the extent that some of the commissioners in the South-West cannot approve or pay twenty thousand Naira only”. Now, is it not obvious that only a truly demented and deranged mind can make such ridiculous claims without the slightest effort at substantiation?

It is quite convenient for Osunbote to forget that Asiwaju Tinubu had played key roles in Nigerian politics long before he became Governor of Lagos State. Tinubu was elected to the Senate from Lagos West constituency with the highest votes in the country in the Third Republic. In the Senate, he was the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Finance, Currency and Appropriations. In that capacity, Tinubu initiated a far-reaching probe of the finances of the National Assembly that set him at loggerheads with the legislative bureaucracy and the military regime at the helm of affairs at the time. It certainly does not occur to Osunbote that a megalomaniac

simply wanting power for its own sake would have rather warmed up to the powers that be at that time rather than risk his position and possibly his life by challenging their financial misdeeds.

Again, Tinubu was at the forefront of Chief MKO Abiola’s campaign for presidency in 1993. When the June 12, 1993 election, described as the freest and fairest in the country’s history was annulled, Tinubu emerged as one of the fiercest opponents of the annulment. As the arrowhead of the struggle to actualise Abiola’s mandate, the military junta reached out to him severally to jump ship and come over to their side. He was offered juicy appointments and contracts to no avail. He refused to betray his principled commitment to the sanctity of a free and fair election.

Is that how megalomaniacs behave? Does Osunbote know the meaning of the word?

Exasperated by Tinubu’s intransigence, the military viciously went after him. He was detained. His house was fire bombed.

He eventually had to flee the country for his dear life. In exile he remained steadfast in his commitment to the pro-democracy struggle making great personal and financial sacrifices towards this effort. Is that how megalomaniacs behave? Wouldn’t a megalomaniac rather enjoy the transient benefits of economic and political power rather than risk his life fighting for truth and justice?

After the 2003 election, Tinubu was the only AD governor remaining in office in the South West. His position was clearly vulnerable. PDP leaders were boasting that he would have no choice but to come over to their party. A megalomaniac intent on protecting his position at all costs would have opted for that easy way out.

Power would have mattered to him more than principle or party loyalty. Tinubu demonstrated character. He exhibited

integrity. He showed that there are values more important than wielding power for its own sake. Surely, that is not the trait of a megalomaniac. Beyond this, Tinubu did not try to diminish the influence and political authority of his fellow governors – Segun Osoba, Lam Adesina, Niyi Adebayo, Bisi Akande and Adebayo Adefarati – who were dislodged from power. He rallied them round, gave them moral and logistics support and ensured they continued to play their leadership roles in their states within the party. That is why they were all able to play their roles in the systematic return to political ascendancy of the progressive forces in the South West. Is that the trait of a megalomaniac intent on grabbing and dominating power? This Osunbote is clearly hallucinating.

What of Osunbote’s claim that consultants, commissioners, judges and even street cleaners appointed in ACN states are from Lagos? Of course such childish drivel is quite laughable. One challenges him to name even one of the functionaries in any of those states who is not an indigene of the state? He should cite any indigene of Lagos who is a political appointee in Oyo, Ogun, Ekiti or Osun states. If any indigene of these states has worked in Lagos or elsewhere acquiring valuable expertise in the process, is it a crime to put his knowledge and experience to the service of his state? If an indigene of any South West state has distinguished him or herself even outside the country – US, Britain, Canada, France etc – is it a crime to bring such a talent home to help develop his state? How myopic and bigoted can Osunbote be?

Osunbote and his sponsors can continue their lamentations. Tinubu, Lagos and the South- West will continue to march forward.

•Dr. Ighorojeh lives in Lagos

40

Politics

Sunday, November 18, 2012

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

KEHINDE OLAOSEBIKAN

A

lhaji Lam Onaolapo Adesina, Oyo State Governor from May 29, 1999 to May 29, 2003 passed onto glory peacefully on Sunday, 11th of November after over 73 years of a very successful sojourn on earth. Alhaji Lam rose to the pinnacle of all his callings in life. He got to the zenith of his career as a teacher; as a social crusader he got state recognition and tagged ‘prisoner of war’; and politically he did only realize his ambition of becoming the governor of his state, he achieved the extra ordinary by installing a governor, not while in power but eight years after he had left office.

Since Sunday, torrents of tributes have been pouring in from various quarters all extolling the virtues of Alhaji Lam Adesina . He has been described in many superlative words, establishing the fact that Alhaji Lam was a great man. But how great really was the husband of the benign Alhaja Sarat Adeola Adesina? As his Chief Press Secretary while he served as the Governor of Oyo State, I will transmit a story of how the former governor tamed a former Military Head of State and prevented what could have led to the Nigerian second civil war.

It was on the 13th of October 2000, when words went round that General Muhammadu Buhari was leading the Arewa Team to the governor’s office to confront the state over alleged killings of Fulani cattle rearers in Saki, Oke Ogun Area of the state. General Buhari did actually telephone the governor that he was leading a team to his office.

In less than 30 minutes after the General informed the governor of his visit, we noticed that the entire secretariat was already filled with lorry loads of our brothers from the North. This created some tension but we kept our calm. At about 2pm, General Buhari arrived in a long convoy at the Governor’s office in company with the former Governor of Lagos State, General Buba Marwa, Alhaji Aliko Muhammed, Alhaji Abdulrazak , Alhaji Hassan and some others. They all worn long faces. In fact, the anger and venom in them was very palpable as all pleasantries extended to them were largely shunned. “This is trouble” was the expression on the faces of all of us in the Governor’s office.

Shortly afterwards, the Director of State Security Service (SSS) and Commissioner of Police arrived. But their presence did not change anything particular on the fears that had already gripped majority of us. The two security chiefs did not come with any troops, they came almost alone.

The meeting was called to order after Alhaji Lam serenely walked into the Executive Chambers in his well embroidered multi colour lace. Introductions over, General Buhari spoke of his mission to the governor’s office. Emitting fire, the General accused the governor and the government of Oyo State of complicity in the killings of over 68 Fulani people in Oke Ogun Area and perversion of justice.

His words: “Your Excellency, our arrival here is to discuss with you and your government our displeasure about the incident of clashes between two peoples… the Fulani cattle rearers and merchants are today being harassed , attacked and killed like in any war in Saki. In the month of May, 2000, 68 bodies of Fulani cattle rearers were recovered and buried under the supervision and protection from a team of Mobile Police from Oyo State Command. “ That some arrests were made by the State police Command in the massacre with their immediate release without court trial was said to be ordered by Oyo State authorities and they were so released to their amazements. Then consequently, the mass release of the arrested suspects gave the clear impression that the authority is backing and protecting them to continue the unjust and illegal killings of Fulani cattle rearers…

According to the General, they therefore wanted immediate stoppage of the killings, justice and compensation for the mass killings of the Fulanis.

As weighty and indicting the General’s allegations were against the governor, Alhaji Lam Adesina remained unperturbed as he only fired back with his own well coordinated arsenals in form of robust explanations and engagements.

Alahji Adesina identified all the points raised by the General and simply asked the heads of the organizations directly involved to respond to the allegations made by the General.

First to speak was the Commissioner of Police who debunked all the claims made by the General. Instead of claims by General that the natives were killing the fulanis, Police commissioner said pointedly that opposite was the case. “ The killings of the natives by the Fulanis were duly reported to the police and of course, we can’t make arrest

The late Adesina

The greatness in Lam because as soon as they kill they migrate to other areas.

Who are you going to arrest? So that is the problem”. On the contrary, on the killings of the Fulani which he said was as result of “pile up anger”, the commissioner disclosed that arrests had been made and the suspects still in police custody.

Next was the Director of Security Service who equally torn all the claims of General Buhari to shreds. “The natives don’t have problem with the Fulanis who are resident but those who are coming in, they don’t care for nobody.

They just go ahead and when they graze their farms and whoever cares to challenge them runs into trouble. You said 68 people were killed , and people driven away. I am not saying there were no killings but cannot be more than 5. The petition is on the harsh side, there is nothing like that.”

Not done yet, Governor Adesina called in his Deputy, Barrister Iyiola Oladokun, His SSG, Chief Michael Koleoso both from Oke Ogun and the Chairman of the affected Local government of one of the affected areas, Mr Ademola Alalade. They stated the true positions of things in the area, corroborating the submissions of the security chiefs. At this point, all the tensions and apprehensions evaporated.

Trust Lam any day! he must rub it in. He spoke for about 20 minutes and the Generals were at the edges of their seats for the entire period. They were like chicken that have just been thoroughly beaten by the rain.

Lam Adesina: “ Before I thank you for this visit, you have come to tell me something, I also want to tell you something and that something is to make an appeal. General Buhari has been a former Head of State, Brigadier Marwa has governed Lagos for some time and with credibility… so you are national leaders of this country. Even though, by accident of birth, you are from the North, so you can be born anywhere, may be next time when I am coming to the world I will be born in the North or the South South.

My appeal will be that effort must be made to unite this country and that will be to the best interest of all Nigeri-

ans. I am appealing to the Arewa Consultative Forum under which auspices our distinguished Nigerians are here, in recent times, they have been sending wrong signals to a number of us who believe in the unity and peace of Nigeria, you have been too critical of the efforts of the federal government. I am saying this because Nigeria at this point cannot afford to break and words you northern leaders utter are very weighty, at the South here, we normally analyze them critically”.

On all the allegations, Alhaji Lam Adesina said: “from what they have written in the petition, this government is completely blameless because we don’t interfere either with the judiciary or with the police functions. I always converse peaceful co-existence living in Oyo State and Nigeria as a whole. We are all Nigerians and that is what we have been preaching all along and we shall continue to be Nigerians , no matter the present or immediate problems which will be solved by the grace of Allah.

I want to say also that we really have to appeal to our people, the itinerant Bororo people that they should observe less aggression. It is not good , it is not right just coming from somewhere then you just pass through farm lands cultivated may be with the person’s life savings and then over night everything is gone. That is not right, even Allah does not approve of that. We even wonder when they talk about this people carrying dangerous weapons, I say do they really believe in Allah? When you just take life like that and go away! Are we not forbidden not to take human life? So I think General Buhari, General Marwa, you have to be educating them… It is my pleasure to inform you that at the Presidential lodge, we have made some arrangements for refreshments so that before you go we can refresh together” Genral Buhari and his team did not wait for any refreshments. They came in with anger and left with misery.

ADIEU! GREAT LAM! •‘Agba Akin’ Olaosebikan was Chief Press Secretary to Governor Lam Adesina between 1999 and 2003.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Politics

Sunday, November 18, 2012

41

Ize-Iyamu

and former Secretary to Edo State Government, ew with some journalists in Benin City, he e. Chief Correspondent, Edo State Sebastine

mechan such a

party. A ey must s is our nity that had one efore deThere is politics bility to term, broke,

s broke. n aware, blic serese will ion was ors have the way you will ranspardo State

no man ks, they ould colou Earn e remitdgment

to these organizations. They are now even told to pay their arrears.

The revenue profile of the state has increased. Today, Edo State is not totally dependent on flacks as it was in the past. From the IGR, (internally generated revenue) alone, Edo State government can pay their recurrent expenditure. And if you look at the pattern that he is synonymous with, which I also want to recommend at the federal level, his priority is capital projects. In his current budget, he made it clear that recurrent will not exceed 40 per cent of the budget, leaving capital at 60 per cent. We must not continue to consume our resources. So, Oshiomhole is determined to take Edo State to the next level. In this second term, I see a lot of commissioning. I see a lot of projects across the state being commissioned. I see more development being started and completed at the same time. I see areas where people thought have been neglected being tackled. You can see that with Dangote during his inauguration. I see a lot of things happening in the second term that will even overshadow what he has done in the first term.

Edo State government is planning to conduct the local government elections early in 2013. What should the people expect from your political party?

We have always wanted to do the election because our popularity is not in doubt. We have 18 LGAs in Edo State. INEC, which is Federal Government agency, conducted an election and we won in all the 18 LGAs. So, we have no doubt that by our own track record and performance, anytime we do the next election, whether state of federal, we will win. So, we actually look forward to doing the election but we have resolved that we cannot continue to allow the LGAs to be administered by people who were not voted for. That is why we have dissolved the transition committees in the 18 LGAs. We have told the council staff to be in charge of the council temporarily and we have also appealed to the House of Assembly to expedite action in coming out with the local government law so that the timetable could be set by the Edo State Independent Electoral Commission for the local government election, which we do not believe will go be-

r from them?

tics of Ibadan nay Oyo State. Though they belonged to different political divides and differ in styles, Adesina and Adedibu whose houses in Felele Area and Molete Ibadan respectively were less than three kilometres apart, dominated the politics of Oyo State.

His emergence as the leader of the (ACN) in the state in the current dispensation came unarguably by merit, experience and seniority. Since 2001, Adesina had played the leadership role to the best of his ability as a dependable leader of the AD, a strong defender of justice, a versatile mobiliser, organiser and inspirational leader. His leadership style was believed to had been acceptable and endearing to both men of the old order and the new converts. His role as leader of opposition when the PDP sent him out of Agodi Government House in 2003 was one that kept the PDP government in the state on their toes.

Thus, he provided the necessary ingredient of check and balances which is essential in democracy.

Adesina used his experience and pedigree to rally members of the ACN in the state together. When they felt aggrieved with those outside the party who were given appointments by Governor Abiola Ajimobi who in his appointments was trying to compensate different people outside the party who contributed to his success in the gubernatorial election, they found a haven in Lam’s house to lodge their protests.

He most times had to consult with the governor on their behalf. He was therefore until his death a stabilising factor in Oyo ACN. He reportedly ensured that none of the party chieftains, including those at the corridors of power, rock the boat, thereby distracting those in government and who are saddled with good governance and accountability.

He was also said to have calmed frayed nerves at very auspicious moments to the chagrin of even his detractors who believe he was too domineering in his approach to issues.

Ize-Iyamu

yond early next year. Our party is very unique. We are people who came out of tyranny and have fought hard to get the freedom we now enjoy. When it comes to doing local government election, we are not afraid to say that there will be disagreements. But we are also strong in resolving such disagreements and by the time we finally do the primaries; the whole exercise will be credible and peaceful. But you know you can’t please everybody.

There is this rumour that you will succeed Governor Adams Oshiomhole after his tenure. How true is it?

I believe I am already contributing my quota. So, if anybody says maybe after Oshiomhole, I will help to shape the political landscape, maybe they are saying my impact has not been noticed at all. But in terms of who will succeed the Comrade Governor, that is something in the hands of God. I think the sensible thing for now is to allow the Comrade Governor to settle down and do what he promised to do by taking Edo State to the next level. All those who mean well must assist him to achieve that because if he achieves that, it makes it easier for the party in subsequent elections.

It was gathered that many party supporters and admirers in the state have become apprehensive and jittery owing to his death. They are said to be worried that his demise could be exploited by some leaders who are playing hawks within the party to move against those that are perceived as his core supporters by denying them appointments and elective positions in the next general election.

Their fear is not unfounded because there were reports that Adesina and Ajimobi had become estranged following their collaboration that helped to unseat the PDP from office in 2011 and that until his illness, the gap between them was a bit wide.

It was gathered that during the burial ceremony of Ajimobi’s mother a few months back, Adesina though attended the ceremony, he refused to sit in Ajimobi’s tent. He rather sat with the party leaders and local government caretaker chairmen.

But the perceived feud has since been debunked by a government source who disclosed the personal efforts made by the governor and his family towards the former governor in the twilight of his life. It was also gathered that the government paid Adesina’s treatment at the St. Nicholas Hospital in Lagos.

With the death of Adesina, the leadership of the ruling party has also fallen on the lap of Governor Ajimobi. How he would be able to bring together those who within the party believe that he was favouring his allies in the ANPP than the core ACN members will determine the success of the party in future election in the state.

Outside the party, the AP leader, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, and his supporters would probably want to warm their way back into an agreement between the party and Ajimobi’s government now that Adesina is dead.

Adesina had led the other party leaders to openly call on Ajimobi to severe any pact he had singlehandedly signed with the AP and its leader, Ladoja.

According to the pact between the two parties, the governor had agreed to concede the four local governments namely: Ibadan North East, Egbeda, Ona Ara and Lagelu, won by Ladoja’s party in last year’s governorship poll alongside 20

per cent share of political appointments and key parliamentary posts to the opposition party in return for friendly passage of executive bills and support for government’s policies and programmes.

Ajimobi’s confidants explained that the governor had been forced to enter into the accord and make the concessions, which were fiercely opposed by his party, to stave off a hostile parliament in which his party had only a marginal majority of 15 members to rival PDP 10 and AP’s seven. But the governor has been unable to fulfil this condition, owing to Adesina-led party leadership opposition to it.

His exit could mark a turning point in the build-up to the 2015 general election. There is the possibility of a major political actor launching a bid to forge a coalition.

Political analysts and watchers of political events are even saying that it is possible now for Ladoja to merge the AP with the ACN as a way of forming a formidable party that would face the PDP in 2015. It is believed that the current arrangement and pact between the two parties can lead to their being transformed into a single party since the main antagonist of such arrangement is no more.

It is believed that Ladoja who had said openly on a local radio in Ibadan that Ajimobi is his cousin and that he was not having any problem with Ajimobi but with the leader of his party, may not see anything wrong in joining the ACN if he is no longer interested in contesting the gubernatorial election in 2015.

The other strong opposition party in the state, the PDP, may also benefit from the exit of the strong grassroots political leader. A source within the party who doesn’t want his name in print because of the seven days mourning declared by the state government said, “With Lam’s death, the ACN cannot remain the same in the state”.

He said the PDP stands more chance if it can put its house in order. But how easy that will be is another question that is begging for an answer.

All in all, the death of Lam may bring about a new political calculation, manoeuvring, alignment and realignment before the next general election in the state.

422

Sunday, November 18, 2012

GROWING UP with

Aunty Angela

daviesangel2000@yahoo.com Hello children, How was your week and how about your studies? The Christmas holiday is drawing closer, I hope you are studying hard so that you can get deserved gifts from your parents, uncles and aunts? I wish you a wonderful week.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Who invented what…?

Johan Vaaler manufact

Its story time …

The Bundle of Sticks

A

father had four sons who were always quarreling among themselves. When all his yelling and advice failed to solve their quarrels and fights, he decided to fathom a suitable way to make them know and understand that discord would lead to disunity.

One day when the quarreling was too much and he could not take it any longer, he decided to give them a practical illustration of the evils of disunity; so he asked one of them to bring him a bundle of sticks. After he brought it, he placed the bundle into the hands of each of them in succession, and ordered them to break it in pieces. Although, each one

tried with all their strength, but none was able to do it.

Next, he opened the bundle, took the sticks separately, one by one, and again put them into his sons’ hands, and asked them to break it, and this they did very easily.

He then said to them: “My sons, if you stay together and help one another, you will be as strong as this bundle, and no enemy can beat you; but if you are divided among yourselves, you will be easily broken as a single stick in that bundle.”

The sons understood the message, thanked and promised their father to always stick together no matter what.

J

MAZE

ohan Vaaler, a Norwegian inventor who holds a degree in electronics, science and mathematics, invented the paper clip in 1899. He received a patent for this from Germany and years later, he received an American patent in 1901.

It was a patent for abstract which can be bent into a rectangular, triangular, or otherwise shaped hoop. During the World War II during the Nazi Occupation, paper clip became a symbol of Norwegian nationalism. They were prohibited from wearing buttons imprinted with the Norwegian king’s initials; they

Moral: There is strength in unity.

BRAIN TEASERS

Some months have 30 days; some months have 31 days; how many months have 28?

Answer: Every month has at least 28 days.

There is an ancient invention still used in some parts of the world today that allows people to see through walls. What is it?

Answer: A Window.

QUOTE Start by doing what’s necessary, then what’s possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible –Francis of Assisi

Children, you can send your contributions and pictures through this email address growingup5@yahoo.com or call telephone number: 0805 198 0588

The rabbit and the turtle are having a race.

Can you help the rabbit and the turtle find their way to the finish line under the candy tree?

Use a pencil to trace a line along the trail. See you at the candy apple tree.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

tured the Paper Clip fastened paper clips to their lapels in a show of solidarity and opposition to the occupation.

During the World War II, wearing a paper clip was often reason enough for arar r e s t .

Wi t h that, e v e n it was often a good reaason for one to get arrested or jailed. led.

In 1904, the Cushman an & Denison Company ny obtained the trademark ark over the name.

Despite Johann Vaaler’s paper clip innovation being used alll over the world today in offices, es, he never made much money from this. f thi Copycats C t gott around with Valer’s patent as his pattern were so simple and easy

43

Sunday, November 18, 2012

to mimic. As a result, he never earned the royalties that could have been his.

People have been re-inventing the paper clip repetitively to make it more user-friendly . The user f designs that have been the most be successful are the “Gem” with “ the double oval shape. shap The original Gem type proved prove to be the most practical, and an the most popular among all the other types.

Today, the th paper clips come in a variety of colours colour for office use. Its qualities tie of easy use, gripping without tearing and storing without tangling have t been difficult to improve further on.

Did you know?

A cat has 32 muscles in each ear?

A

cat has 32 muscles in each ear, compared to a human’s six muscles each. A cat can rotate its ears independently 180 degrees, and turn in the direction of sound 10 times faster than those of the best watchdog. Because of this mobility, a cat can move its body in one direction and point its ears in another direction. Most cats

have straight ears pointing upward.

When angry or frightened, a cat will lay back its ears, to accompany the growling or hissing sounds it makes. Cats also turn their ears back when they are playing, or to listen to a sound coming from behind them. The angle of a cat’s ears is an important clue to their mood.

JOKES The hearing aid Bill: “After buying this new hearing aid, I am able to hear something two blocks away.”

Mike: “That is really cool, how much did it cost?”

Bill: “The time is three past ten.”

Silly Amy Teacher: “Amy, what do you call the outside of a tree?”

Amy: “I have no idea miss”.

Teacher said angrily: “Bark, Amy, bark”.

Amy: “Bow Wow Wow Miss”.

A.B.C.D Teacher: How many letters are there totally in “A.B.C.D”?

Sandra: “There are four”.

Teacher: I meant the complete set, not just “A.B.C.D”.

Student: “52 letters ma”.

Teacher: What?! How? Sandra: “Lower case is 26 and Upper case 26.”

TONGUE TWISTERS Lesser leather never weathered wetter weather better.

Of all the felt I ever felt, I never felt a piece of felt Which felt as fine as that felt felt, When first I felt that felt hat’s felt.

RIDDLES

POEM My best friend’s mother

M

y best friend’s mother is very strict And when I come over to

play I know she’s going to send us out on even the coldest day.

She never once gave us cookies or cake.

She says that it makes such a mess.

And she had a fit when my friend spilled coke all over her second-best dress.

My friend’s not allowed to wear jewelry or lace.

Her mother says it’s not proper, The time we wore lipstick and powdered our face She screamed and nobody could stop her.

If she were my mother I’d run away fast I’d sail away over the water, From China I’d send her a postcard at last -‘With love, from your runaway daughter!’

POP

Take off my skin and I won’t cry, but you will! What am I? Answer: An onion.

No sooner spoken than broken. What is it?

Answer: Silence or a promise.

What jam can’t you eat?

Answer: A traffic jam.

What building has the most stories?

Answer: A library.

What can we catch but cannot throw?

Answer: A cold.

44

Sunday, November 18, 2012

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

45

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Wellness YOUR HEALTH AND HEALTH RELATED ISSUES NOVEMBER 18, 2012

Gestational diabetes: Effects on mother, child Its prevention and treatment

VANESSA OKWARA The World Health Organisation (WHO) set aside November 14 of every year to raise global awareness on diabetes, its escalating rates around the world and how to prevent the illness in most cases. This year’s campaign was no different as the World Diabetes Day 2012 campaign focused on linking the urgent need for action to the protection of the health of our future generations.

WHO estimates that more than 346 million people worldwide have diabetes. This number is likely to more than double by 2030 without intervention. Almost 80 per cent of diabetes deaths occur in low and middle-income countries.

Diabetes mellitus often referred simply as diabetes is a condition in which the amount of glucose (sugar) in the blood is too high because there is not enough of the insulin hormone in the body system.

WHO recognises three types of diabetes: • Type 1 is a situation where the pancreas does not produce enough insulin so glucose (sugar) is not being absorbed by the cells causing the blood glucose to rise.

• Type 2 is when insulin is produced but it does not work properly so glucose is not consistently absorbed by the cells therefore it rises in the blood. It is frightening that most people with this type of diabetes do not even know it until they develop eye problems, nerve damage, kidney and gum damage, etc.

• Type 3 also known as gestational diabetes occurs in pregnancy and usually disappears after child birth.

A lot of awareness and campaign has been raised to let people know about Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes and their deadly effect on human lives but not much focus have been given to the effect of Type 3 diabetes or gestational diabetes which is also a risky health problem for both mother and child.

American Diabetes Association (ADA) says, “Pregnant women who have never had diabetes before but who have high blood sugar (glucose) levels during pregnancy are said to have gestational diabetes. Gestational diabetes affects about four per cent of all pregnant women usually during the late stages of pregnancy.”

Being diagnosed with gestational diabetes, experts aver, can be both unexpected and upsetting. It can raise questions such as: Will my baby be affected? Will I have diabetes for the rest of my life? What do I need to do to manage this condition?

To answer these questions, Sunday Mirror spoke with Dr Olabisi Abiodun, a gynaecologist working with Fair-

Diagram showing gestational diabetes

field Hospital, Lagos who said there have been an increase in women who developed gestational diabetes coming in for ante natal clinics in our hospitals. “Gestational diabetes is a condition characterised by high blood sugar (glucose) levels that is first recognised during pregnancy.

Recently, we have noticed that there have been a lot of pregnant women having an elevated glucose level in their blood and this is a dangerous trend. Pregnancy comes with a lot of changes in a woman’s body and she does not need the added problem of having Type 3 diabetes or gestational diabetes to battle with. This type of diabetes brings a lot of complications into the pregnancy and the woman needs to be monitored closely, especially during delivery,’’ she said.

Medical experts agree that almost all women have some degree of impaired glucose intolerance as a result of hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy. That means that their blood sugar may be higher than normal, but not high enough to have diabetes. During the later part of pregnancy (the third trimester), these hormonal changes place a pregnant woman at risk for gestational diabetes.

Usually the mother’s pancreas is able to produce more insulin (about three times the normal amount) to overcome the effect of the pregnancy hormones on blood sugar levels. If, however, the pancreas cannot produce enough insulin to overcome the effect of the increased hormones during pregnancy, blood sugar levels will rise, resulting in gestational diabetes.

Certain women are at increased risk of developing gestational diabetes. High risk groups include: • Women over 30 years of age • Women with a family history of Type 2 diabetes • Women who are overweight or obese • Women who had gestational diabetes in a previous

Prevent gestational diabetes by eating a balanced meal

Fruit salad

pregnancy.

• For reasons that aren’t clear, women who are black, Hispanic, American Indian or Asian are more likely to develop gestational diabetes.

• You have sugar in your urine.

• You have high blood pressure According to Dr Abiodun, having diabetes during pregnancy affects mother and child in a number of ways.

She explained that diabetes can affect the developing fetus throughout the pregnancy. In early pregnancy, a mother’s diabetes can result in birth defects and an increased rate of miscarriage. Many of the birth defects that occur, he add, affect major organs such as the brain and heart. If your blood sugar levels are too high, too much glucose will end up in your baby’s blood.

“When that happens, your baby’s pancreas needs to produce more insulin to process the extra glucose. All this exCONTINUED ON PAGE 46

HEALTH NEWS

‘Tattooing, body piercing prone to viral infections’ UN seeks investment in family planning the instruments used for applying was to use only sterile, single-use in developing countries Some health experts have advised Nigerians against tattoos and body piercing, saying they are prone to viral infections such as hepatitis, HIV and AIDS. They told newsmen in Lagos that tattooing and body piercing lacked proper sterilisation and disinfection.

A Dermatologist at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Dr Shola Akinlabi, said

tattoos could be contaminated with infected blood or bodily fluids of another infected person.

“Where the skin is penetrated with the tattooing instruments, which may not be thoroughly sterilised or disinfected, people are at risk of contracting viral infections such as hepatitis, HIV and AIDS.” Akinlabi said the ideal situation

disposable instruments, handled properly by trained personnel wearing appropriate clothing and sterile gloves during the procedures. “When it comes to tattooing and piercing in Nigeria, the required standard needed is low. “It is, therefore, advisable to abstain from it, otherwise there will be risk of contracting infections,’’ the expert added.

The United Nations, UN, has called for additional investment in family planning to help developing countries in maternal and newborn health care costs.

UN Population Fund (UNFPA) in a report published at the UN Headquarters in New

York recently, estimated that over $11 billion could be saved annually for the benefit of making services available to the countries.

Executive Director of UNFPA, Dr Babatunde Osotimehin, said during the launch of the report that family planning had

a positive multiplier effect on development.

“Not only does the ability for a couple to choose when and how many children to have help lift nations out of poverty, but it is also one of the most effective means of empowering women,” Osotimehin said.

46

Wellness

Know your organs

T

he pancreas is a fishshaped spongy grayish-pink organ about six inches (15 cm) long that stretches across the back of the abdomen, behind the stomach. The head of the pancreas is on the right side of the abdomen and is connected to the duodenum (the first section of the small intestine). The narrow end of the pancreas, called the tail, extends to the left side of the body.

Its functions The pancreas makes pancreatic juices and hormones, including insulin. The pancreatic juices are enzymes that help digest food in the small intestine. Insulin controls the amount of sugar in the blood.

The pancreas has digestive and hormonal functions: The enzymes secreted by the exocrine gland in the pancreas help break down carbohydrates, fats, proteins, and acids in the duodenum. These enzymes travel down the pancreatic duct into the bile duct in an inactive form. When they enter the duodenum, they are activated.

The exocrine tissue also secretes bicarbonate to neutralise stomach acid in the duodenum. The hormones secreted by the endocrine gland in the pancreas are insulin and glucagon (which regulate the level of glucose in the blood), and somatostatin (which prevents the release of the other two hormones).

As pancreatic juices are made, they flow into the main pancreatic duct. This duct joins the common bile duct, which connects the pancreas to the liver and the gallbladder. The common bile duct, which carries bile, a fluid that helps digest fat, connects to the small intestine near the stomach.

Its feature The pancreas is known as a compound gland.

It is “compound” in the sense that it is composed

Sunday, November 18, 2012

The Pancreas of both exocrine and endocrine tissues. The exocrine function of the pancreas involves the synthesis and secretion of pancreatic juices. The endocrine function resides in the million or so cellular islands (the islets of Langerhans) embedded between the exocrine units of the pancreas.

Beta cells of the islands secrete insulin, which helps control carbohydrate metabolism. Alpha cells of the islets secrete glucagon that counters the action of insulin.

Because the pancreas is a storage depot for digestive enzymes, injury to the pancreas is potentially very dangerous. A puncture of the pancreas generally requires prompt and experienced medical intervention.

Pancreatic cancers Pancreatitis, a condition causing inflammation of the pancreas, can come on suddenly and without warning. Your stomach may become swollen and tender. It is common to experience nausea and vomiting. It is also likely that you will run a fever, a sign that your body is trying to heal itself.

Pancreatic cancers, particularly cancer of the exocrine pancreas, remain one of the most deadly cancers, and the mortality rate is very high.

Cause of diabetes Diabetes mellitus type 1 is a chronic autoimmune disorder in which the immune system attacks the insulin-secreting cells in the pancreas.

One cause of diabetes mellitus is insufficient insulin. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas. In some people these insulin-producing cells die off for no apparent reason. In other cases, the pancreas produces sufficient quantities of insulin but the body seems unable to actually use the insulin. In both cases, the body is not able to process glucose properly. This is what causes diabetes.

‘A mother’s diabetes can result in birth defects’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 45 cess blood sugar and insulin can cause your baby to put on extra weight, particularly in the upper body.

“This can lead to what’s called macrosomia. A macrosomic baby may be too large to enter the birth canal. Or the baby’s head may enter the canal but then his shoulders may get stuck. Having a large baby increases risks during labour and delivery. For example, large babies often require caesarean deliveries and if he or she is delivered vaginally, they are at increased risk for trauma to their shoulders. Also the baby may also develop jaundice and Type 2 diabetes later in life. Untreated gestational diabetes can result in a baby’s death either before or shortly after birth’’ she warned,” the expert said.

Dr Abiodun further explained that gestational diabetes affects the woman by increasing her risk of developing high blood pressure during pregnancy, a condition called pre-eclampsia; premature labour, having too much amniotic fluid and an increase in chance of developing gestational diabetes during a future pregnancy or Type 2 diabetes.

It is not all woes for a woman who found out she has developed gestational pregnancy. Dr Abiodun said she can go on to deliver a healthy baby and also live a healthy life after delivery if she strictly follows her doctor’s instruction to the letter. “Usually, with gestational diabetes, blood sugar levels return to normal about six weeks after childbirth because the placenta, which was producing the extra hormones that caused insulin resistance, is

gone. Most women who develop diabetes during pregnancy go on to have healthy babies. Dietary changes and exercise may be enough to keep your blood sugar levels under control, though sometimes medication is needed, too. It’s important to keep your blood sugar levels in check by regular blood sugar test because poorly controlled diabetes can have serious short and long-term consequences for you and your baby,’’ she said.

Gestational diabetes is managed with: A well planned diet – You are encouraged to eat a varied diet that is nutritionally appropriate for pregnancy, including foods rich in calcium, iron and folic acid. Your diet should be low in saturated fats and high in fibre.

Exercise – Studies show that moderate exercise also helps improve your body’s ability to process glucose, keeping blood sugar levels in check.

Many women with gestational diabetes benefit from 30 minutes of aerobic activity, such as walking or swimming, each day.

Monitoring blood glucose levels – Regular testing of your blood glucose levels is essential. It gives a guide to whether changes are effective and when further treatment is required.

Insulin injections – May be needed to help keep your glucose level in the normal range. Insulin is safe to take during pregnancy and does not cross the placenta from the mother to the baby.

Education –Regular contact with your diabetes educator or doctor regarding blood glucose levels is recommended.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Your

BONE Health with Dr. Olatunji Idowu

Spinal Cord injuries: Treatment and rehabilitation (2) What are the causes of spinal cord injury?

The most common cause of spinal cord injury is trauma.

Nearly half of the injuries are caused by motor vehicle accidents. Other types of trauma include: • falls from heights, • violence (stabbing or gunshot wounds to the spine), and • sporting injuries (diving, football, rugby, equestrian, etc.).

Spinal cord injury can also be caused by compression of the cord by a tumor, infection, or inflammation. Some patients have a smaller than normal spinal canal (called spinal stenosis) and are at a higher risk of injury to the spinal cord.

All tissues in the body including the spinal cord require a good blood supply to deliver oxygen and other nutrients. Failure of this blood supply to the spinal cord can cause spinal cord injury.

This can be caused by an aneurysm (ballooning of a blood vessel), compression of a blood vessel or a prolonged drop in blood pressure.

What are the symptoms of spinal cord injury?

The symptoms of spinal cord injury depend on where the spinal cord is injured and whether or not the injury is complete or incomplete. In incomplete injuries, patients have some remaining function of their bodies below the level of injury, while in complete injuries they have no function below the level of injury.

Injuries to the spinal cord can cause weakness or complete loss of muscle function and loss of sensation in the body below the level of injury, loss of control of the bowels and bladder, and loss of normal sexual function. Spinal cord injuries in the upper neck can cause difficulty breathing and may require the use of a breathing machine, or ventilator.

How is a spinal cord injury diagnosed?

The first step in diagnosing a spinal cord injury is a medical

history and physical examination. The attending physician will obtain a medical history asking questions about the details surrounding the time of the injury.

The amount of time since the injury is important because spinal cord injury is a medical emergency. The quicker the patient obtains treatment, the better the chances for recovery. Other details of the medical history could include details of any prior neck or back injuries or surgeries, the presence of pain in the neck or back, any weakness in the arms or legs, loss of bowel or bladder control, loss of sensation in the arms or legs, and other previous medical conditions.

The physical examination will include testing to see if sensation to touch is intact in the arms and legs as well as testing muscle strength and reflexes in the arms and legs. The patient may be kept in a cervical collar or on a backboard to immobilize them until the physician determines whether or not the patient has a spinal cord injury.

The next step is often x-rays of the neck or back. These can help identify a fracture or dislocation of the vertebrae. These may or may not be present with a spinal cord injury. It is possible to have a spinal cord injury without an injury to the vertebrae. X-rays can also help identify a tumor or infection or severe arthritis that could cause spinal cord injury.

A computed tomography (CT) scan is a more advanced imaging test that can give the physician a better view of the vertebrae. CT can identify some injuries to the vertebrae not seen on the plain x-rays. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan is another more advanced imaging study that can identify a spinal cord injury. The MRI is better at evaluating the soft tissues including the ligaments, intervertebral discs, nerves and spinal cord. The MRI scan also can show evidence of injury within the spinal cord.

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.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

47

Business FRESH BUSINESS NEWS AT YOUR FINGERTIPS

November 18, 2012 ject of opprobrium in the global village for years and which at 143rd position in the global corruption perception with a Corruption Perception Index (CPI) score of 2.4 in the current year’s rating by Transparency International, the strategic plans which are intended to be remedial to Nigeria’s festering moral sore could not have come at a more auspicious time.

Despite the soundness of its newly designed operational template – the five-year Anti-Corruption Strategic Action Plan 2013-2018 – that will guide its actions and programmes over the next few years in its attempt to entrench best practice standards in public service in the country, the agency is, like others that could fix the rot in the nation’s public finance, is grossly under-funded.

Even then, despite the meagre resources a cursory appraisal of Barrister Nta-led Board’s achievements in the Commission in the past year showed that over N840 million had been recovered from public vault predators even as anti-graft agency continues to intensify its investigative searchlight on hundreds of petitions it received.

For instance, out of the 525 petitions received, comprising 436 main and 89 miscellaneous, 223 of the suspects had been assigned for investigation, out of which 76 had been successfully completed while 147 others are on-going.

In the area of prosecution, the Commission had also filed 16 cases in court and secured four convictions, while 172 cases are pending with 23 cases on Appeal. In addition, Barrister Nta said of the 44 civil matters taken to court for adjudication by the agency, it had secured judgement in its favour on eight while others are still pending just as cases that are not covered by the Commission’s mandate were referred to appropriate agencies as provided for in Nta, ICPC boss Obiageli Ezekwezili, World Bank Vice-President Section 5 of the ICPC Act. Also, in accordance with the proviTHE ANK WOULD LIKE TO DEVELOP A WORKING sions of Section 6 (b -d) of its enabling RELATIONSHIP WITH THE AS ONE OF THE KEY Act, the Commission, in its effort aimed at identifying and correcting corruptionINTEGRITY INSTITUTIONS IN IGERIA IN THE AREA OF prone processes, has carried out series of System Study and Review in many MinisIMPROVING TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN tries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) PUBLIC RESOURCES MB EBRESELASSIE with remarkable successes in terms of the billions on Naira saved and systems put in place to checkmate fiscal abuses in such entities in the future. offices with an irrepressible determinaThe Commission’s System Study and TOLA AKINMUTIMI tion to succeed in the face of all odds.

Review conducted in the National Pension ABUJA Determined, the new Chairman of Commission PENCOM also yielded some s Nigeria’s financial recklessness the Commission, Barrister Ekpo Nta, result following the findings that N107 biland sleaze in the public sector con- who recently vowed to consolidate on lion was yet to be remitted to the Retiretinues to raise serious concern at the achievements of his predecessors in ment Savings Account of contributors out the domestic and international environ- the battle against all forms of sleaze and of the N427 billion released by government. ments, the Independent Corrupt Practices other anti-social vices in public service, The discovery led to the subsequent creditand Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has designed what could be described ing of the sum of N34.5 billion into 97,842 is set to push the frontiers of the battle as result-driven transformation agenda RSAs beneficiaries’ accounts in 226 MDAs. with increasing determination by seek- through the five-year Anti-Corruption Similarly, the Commission has also ing funding and other supports from the Action Plan that is serving as the operacarried out System Study and Review in World Bank and African Development tional compass of the Commission’s opthe National Commission for Museum erations.

Bank (AfDB), amongst other partners. and Monument; Federal Capital TerriHe listed the key objectives of the fiveLike a fighter who knows that surtory Lands Administration and Docurendering in a battle that holds so much year Strategic Action Plan as, more efmentary on Grassroots Involvement; and for the future of his country would be fective reportage, investigation and prosthree Nigerian Universities the National tantamount to abdicating a political and ecution of corruption cases, reduction Health Insurance Scheme both of which moral responsibility, the Independent of system-induced corrupt practices and are ongoing.

Corrupt Practices and Related Offences increased managerial effectiveness of the Other activities that the Commission Commission (ICPC) is pushing further Commission. is currently carrying out to deal with For a country that has remained the obits ongoing war against graft in public the menace of corruption at the roots in-

ICPC: Seeking World Bank, AfDB’s support on anti-graft war

B

ICPC N

–A

.G

A

SUBSCRIBERS HAIL BAN ON GSM PROMOS

48 10 LESSONS FROM NOAH’S ARK (1)

clude, its discussions with principals of secondary schools in Nigeria with a view to launching anti-corruption clubs in the schools nationwide; and the campaigns at NYSC Orientation Camps to set up the National Anti-Corruption Volunteers Corps (NAVC) for NYSC members. The maiden NAVC corps was established during the 2012 Batch B Service year in some states.

Appreciating the enormity of the funding resources required to drive the various anti-corruption programmes to logical conclusion, the Chairman is silently but determinedly seeking the World Bank and the AfDB’s help in order to meet the gap between its yearly budgetary allocations and the actual operational financial needs.

For instance, the Commission is seeking the World Bank’s assistance in its proposed pilot National Survey on Corruption survey which it hopes to kick-start before the end of the year with a view to improving its fact-based intervention against corruption in the country. The survey is to be carried out in collaboration with the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

Similarly, when the African Development Bank’s delegation led by visited him penultimate week in his office, Barrister Nta who spoke on the thrusts of the Strategic Action Plan 2013-2018 during the visit of the team led by Ambassador Haile Gebreselassie, solicited for the Bank’s support for its capacity-building initiatives, particularly the manpower capacity skill development component.

Specifically, he listed the Commission’s plans in areas of capacity-building and training interventions, support for organisations/management reforms; IT and Equipment support for Investigation and Prosecution; E- Library provision; Technical Assistance and Equipment/ Facility Support for Effective take-off of the‘Nigerian Academy for Corruption Studies’ ; and Support for NYSC Orientation Sensitisation Lecture and Training all of which, he said, remained crucial in winning the anti-corruption war in the country.

In his response, the leader of the AfDB team, Ambassador Gebreselassie, said the Bank would like to develop a working relationship with the ICPC as one of the key integrity institutions in Nigeria in the area of improving transparency and accountability in public resources.

He therefore requested the Chairman to give the delegation an overview of the Commission’s main programmes and priorities for the next five years; as well as the assessment of the most recent activities and achievements of the Commission.

As commendable as the Barrister Ntaled leadership’s efforts to create enduring institution and mechanisms in the current war to defeat the fiscal devourers in Nigeria’s public vault, the extent the war could be sustained, as some analysts have noted, will depend on the Commission’s level of funding by the Federal Government in yearly budgets.

As it is today, ICPC requires more funds to fulfil its mandate and to deny the agency the financial lifeline would suggest that claims by the leadership to fight corruption may not be anything than pretentious empty sermonisation!

49

48

Business

Sunday November 18, 2012

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Subscribers hail ban on GSM promos Property Watch •For Lagos area as at Friday Nov. 16, 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

S

ome mobile phone users on Saturday expressed satisfaction with the ban on sales promotions by telecommunication networks in the country, saying it would enhance quality service.

The stakeholders made the commendation in interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Lagos, saying the ban might lead to improved services.

The Nigerian Telecommunications Commission (NCC) had on Tuesday announced a ban on the promos, stating that it served as a huge service disruption.

The Public Affairs Director of NCC, Mr Tony Ojobo, had said that the ban covered all proposed and approved promotions and lotteries,

The approvals were given based on the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) entered into with the National Lottery Regulatory Commission.

Ojobo said that the commission had been inundated with complaints from consumers, industry watchers and stakeholders, against the various promotions offered by telecommunications operators.

The networks affected are MTN, Globacom, Etisalat, Airtel, Visafone and Multi-links.

Mr Destiny Obinna, a business centre operator, told NAN that the promos had only succeeded in making call connectivity difficult.

He said that since the inception of some of the promotions, it had been difficult for subscribers to make calls easily.

He explained that most of promotions required the user to spend a certain amount of call credit within a specified time to enjoy additional airtime.

He said that it was painful to see his customers not being able to dial through a network successfully.

Obinna also said that the promotions had robbed him of numerous customers, who now preferred to use the available benefits provided.

Another business centre operator, Mr Mike Aboderin, said that he was glad that the promotions were stopped.

Aboderin said that although the telecom operators provided greater benefits if consumers utilised a stipulated amount of credit required, the outcome of

Tourism operators tasked on human rights

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

such benefits resulted in huge service disruptions.

He said that calls from one network to another became increasingly difficult and caused frustration to mobile phone users, some of whom might be eager to make emergency calls.

He lauded the ban and urged all telecom service providers to enhance their services for the benefit of their customers.

Mr Lawal Adejumo, a phone user, said that he had silently wished the promotions never existed, since in the long run, his calls were either constantly interrupted or difficult to get through.

Adejumo said that sometimes after utilising the socalled sum stipulated, he was still not credited with the promotional credits.

Senior Laboratory Officer, Ilupeju Medical Laboratory, Mrs Uchechi Evurulobi, administering a fasting blood sugar test on Mrs Gloria Nwabuike, Brand Manager, Culinary, Nestlé Nigeria, at the corporate head office of the company in Lagos, in celebration of World Diabetes Day 2012, last week.

Focus on foreign investments, Ashiru tells Missions abroad

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oreign Affairs Minister, Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru, has said that attraction of foreign investments, skills and technology must be given top priority by Heads of Nigeria Missions aboard.

Ashiru told the Heads of Nigeria Missions in the Southern Africa countries at the signing of the performance contract in Pretoria, South Africa over the weekend, that the Heads of Missions should justify the trust reposed on them by Nigeria. ``As I have said before, any officer who is either unable or unwilling to live up to the highest standard of professionalism and efficiency service delivery will henceforth find it difficult to operate in the new environment that we seek to create. ``Promotion and welfare of Nigerians must be accorded top priority, with unflinching support and understanding of Mr. President. ``The Nigeria government is determined to provide the right environment, including the provision of requisite resources that will enable Nigerians

Mission abroad better deliver on government transformation agenda,’’ Ashiru said.

He said the signing of the performance contract with him by the Heads of Missions was in line with the new policy and practice of the Federal Government of Nigeria. ``Among other things, the performance contract process, an innovative management practice, is intended to foster accountability in service delivery and costeffectiveness in the conduct of government business in Nigeria. `` Under the scheme, public servants are expected to be better focused in the discharge of assigned tasks with specific target and timeliness that can be regularly evaluated and measured against overall government policies and objectives,’’ Ashiru said.

He said it was no longer valid argument in the foreign ministry that the outputs were intangible and hardly susceptible to performance evaluation and measurement. ``To change this norm and in tandem with the vision of Mr. President, I have sought to deploy foreign policy as an instru-

ment of economic development in a manner that facilitate job creation for the Nigerian people, while contributing to poverty eradication across the country,’’ Ashiru said.

He charged the Heads of Missions to protect the interest of Nigeria abroad, protect the interest of Nigeria economy and improve the profile and image of Nigeria abroad.

Minister of Trade and Investment, Dr. Olusegun Aganga, while addressing the Heads of the Missions, said the new Nigeria foreign policy should be economic diplomacy. ``My ministry and the foreign affairs ministry have a strong partnership. I have been collaborating with the Minister of Foreign Affairs in areas of visas regime,’’ he said.

He said Heads of Missions had a duty and responsibility to attract investors to the country from their respective missions. ``The Heads of Missions have an important role to play in the country’s attainment of growth and development through attraction of foreign investors to the country,’’ Aganga said.

The Director, National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR), Mr Ernest Obia, at the weekend called on stakeholders in the tourism sector to have respect for human rights.

Obia told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Abuja that the sustainability of tourism could only be achieved by respecting and protecting human rights. ``All must be protected if tourism is to be sustained and its benefits equitably spread.”

He said that employing a human rights approach offered the industry a framework for playing its part in this regard. ``However, it should not be forgotten that these places are peoples’ homes, the people, their cultures, and the natural environment are what make the places so alluring for tourists to visit,’’ he said.

Obia said that the UN World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) had estimated that 6 to 7 per cent of the global workforce earned a living either directly or indirectly through tourism. ``It is not surprising that tourism is increasingly harnessed by low and middle-income countries as a means to drive socio-economic development,” he said.

He, however, said that the benefits were fundamentally undermined by human rights violations. ``These violations include land grabs and forced displacement, loss of livelihoods, compromised access to water and other essential natural resources. ``Others include environmental degradation, poor working conditions, exclusion from decision-making processes, cultural erosion, and sexual exploitation of women and children.”

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Personal Finance

Sunday November 18, 2012

Business Inspirati with Lanre

Oyetade

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

This column, Inspirati, was created at my entrance into the Tribune titles some years back, to give vent to my long-standing interest in matters of motivation tilting towards the inspirational, and of course, to allow the reader share some of the insights one might have garnered over the years.

While most of the articles that have featured in this column were written originally by yours truly, some of them I came across in one publication or the other and could not help adapting them for my readers’ attention and use.

This write-up is an example of the latter.

It was actually adapted from an article sent in to a newspaper by a certain Adeboye Joseph a while back. It was very brief but I liked it very much and decided to expand it and let my readers have a feel of it. Please enjoy it.

Lesson 1: Don’t miss the boat

Each time in life, there are boats of opportunity to fulfilment, greatness, wealth and even survival. One of such in Noah’s time was the ark; but more often than not, most people, out of sheer lethargy and apathy will miss these boats. In more contemporary times, there are the boats of edu-

10 lessons from Noah’s ark (1) cation, which can launch one to lands of great opportunity, but which many choose to miss; there are also the boats of diligence and hard work, which are really opportunities to move to higher grounds, and there are equally the opportunity boats of several investment vehicles, which many will miss either due to improper preparation, ignorance or complacency, and thus refuse to be saved from the clutches of want and lack. Don’t be one of them; take advantage of the boat’s presence to launch yourself to greater possibilities in life.

Lesson 2: Remember that we are all in the same boat

Yes, for those of us who choose to get into the boat, we end up in the same boat.

So the issues of relative efficiency and healthy competition crop up here. It is not nearly enough to get a choice employment, for instance. You need to realise that several of you eventually got into the company and are constantly being measured against one another; you need to realise that the requirements to get the job are not the same requirements to effectively retain and progress on the job. So the issue of going the extra mile comes in here. You must be prepared to provide that very ‘jara’ into all your undertakings that will stand you out and ahead of the crowd.

Lesson 3: Plan ahead; it wasn’t raining when Noah built the Ark

It is a popular saying that every minute spent in preparation saves ten in execution.

Imagine the catastrophe that would have resulted if Noah had waited till the very

Greetings from the Diaspora!

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

What about small-time investors?

Dear Lanre, First I must appreciate what you are doing to help us know where and how to invest or monitor our investments. Please I am a teenager. I want to start investing but I have capital as low as five thousand naira, which is the small money given to me by my parents. I wanted to invest in a certain bank’s IPO a long time back but did not have enough funds. Does it mean I can’t start from little? Maybe by the time I’m working I will now have experience on stocks. Please advise me on how to start even with one thousand naira, or does it mean that low-income earners are not entitled to investments? Those that earn as low as four thousand a month, can’t they invest N2,000 from it? Please, Lanre don’t publish my inquiries on the paper, reply via this mail, but if u must, use FUNMI or any other name as my name, I don’t want my parents to know. Even after publishing it with another name please still reply via my mail because I use the net more than I read papers. Thanks as I await your advice.

‘Funmi’.

Dear ‘Funmi’, Yes, most primary offers have minimum amounts one can invest but I will advise that you save up your money in a savings account, pool the funds into about N20,000 and then approach any stockbroker to assist you in buying shares from the secondary market, from where you can buy or sell any working day of the week.

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Dear Lanre, Congratulations on your excellent write-ups. I tip my hat to you. I always look forward to reading your write-ups and I want you to know that I am one of your fans here in the United States. I look forward for the collections of your write-ups. Again, I thank you very much for your writings.

Keep up the good work and God Bless.

Fatai Omosanya, Annapolis, Maryland. U.S.A., fataio@hotmail.com.

On forming an investment club

Dear Lanre, Glory be to God Almighty for the good work you are doing in order to open the eyes of your readers to seeing the avenues of making it and leaving the poverty level, by reason of your column ‘Money Consult’ in the Sunday Mirror.

Kindly put me through on how I can be investing at least N5,000.00 monthly, and recommend a stockbroker to whom I can be giving such money and who will in turn be re-cycling (investing it profitably) on my behalf. Furthermore, I will like you to enlighten me the more on trading in shares at the floor of the Stock Exchange through a stockbroker.

I want to set up a group to be known as “Financial Friends Int’l.” (It’s a financial club) and it will consist of people of like minds with a minimum investment of N20,000.00.

Can you please give your advice on how such amount can be invested, what percentage shall be given to each investor at the end of the year and what will be the percentage the club will retain so as to be financially strong. Waiting for your response. Thanks.

Olaniran, Port Harcourt “ade niran” revthomade@yahoo.com

last moments to start building the ark. You probably would not be reading this today, neither would I have written it in the first place. So we need to devote ample preparation time into every act and deed we need to perform. My late father used to get me prepared completely as at the preceding night for any task I had to carry out on any particular day. For instance, the writing materials, documents, clothes and shoes to wear, bus fare etc had to be prepared and get well laid out on the preceding day to every examination, and that has become part of me. Ample preparation will save you a whole lot of embarrassment, frustration and failure, and make you feel good and confident when the deed has to be done.

Lesson 4: Stay fit; when you’re ‘600’ years old (like Noah was) someone may ask you to do something really big (like God did ask Noah).

It is important that you are fit at all times both in body and in mind. You will need the good health edge at every point in your life and may have to carry out a tasking assignment at a particularly unexpected point in time. Noah built the ark at age 600. Imagine how he would have managed to carry out the task without much external help if he had had to do it with an abused, burnt-out body or with a sick mind. I doubt if God would have found him fit for the ‘call’ with any of these. A lot of people make their breakthrough moves in the latter years of their lives.

Until next Sunday when we shall conclude this treatise, please stay inspired in His presence!

Dear Olaniran, On how you can invest small amounts regularly, please see my response to the question immediately above yours. For a stockbroker, you may want to get the book, ‘Stock market/Investment manual’ for ideas on stockbrokers near to you but most stockbrokers may not want to accept amounts as little as N5,000 for investments now, given the reduction in the commission rate and the jerk-up of minimum capital base requirements for stock broking firms. The ‘Financial Friends Int’l’ you describe sounds like an investment club and you may contact me for detailed advice on this matter.

I need sponsorship

Dear Lanre, I thank God for your life. Each time I read your motivational words and financial column in the Sunday Mirror, they encourage me that I can still make it and they also give me the hope to move ahead. I pray that God will continue to increase you in wisdom, knowledge and understanding. I’m a young man of 23 and an upcoming and gifted afro beat and pop artiste with a strong desire to be an unforgettable hero; God has given me hit tracks that everyone will enjoy to buy and this will cost me N60,000 to get all the studio jobs done but I am restricted financially at the moment to get the dream realised. Please help me publish this.

Reader, 08057795051

Export market for calcium carbonate wanted

Dear Lanre, Could you please link me up with any corporate body or company that has an export market for calcium carbonate powder (CaCO3) or who uses it directly in Nigeria?

Mr. Oyetade, may God bless you for your publications. Thanks.

Dairo Babatunde, 08035928038.

Wealth Nuggets ‘Top 10’ Men trip not on mountains, they stumble over stones –India (Hindustani) proverb If a tree is firm, why should it fear the storm?

–Borneo proverb Adversity makes men wise – English proverb Every short cut leads to a deep cut –Segun Olatunji The secret of getting rich slowly, but surely, is the miracle of compound interest –Prof. Burton Malkiel Time is far more important than timing –Anonymous It is easy to get poor quickly but to get rich, you have to do it slowly and you have to start now –Gbemiga Odediran Many a man has never found himself until he has lost his all –Sidney Newton Bremer The mental attitude we take towards anything determines to a greater or less extent its effect upon us –Ralph Waldo Trine Mind is the great lever of all things; human thought is the process by which human ends are ultimately answered –Daniel Webster

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Zonal News

Sunday November 18, 2012

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

SOUTH WEST

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SOUTH EAST

SURE-P to employ 5,000 youths in Ekiti

ive thousand youths from Ekiti State are to be employed under the Subsidy Reinvestment Programme (SURE-P), Chairman of the State Implimentation Committee (SIC), Rt. Hon. Femi Akinyemi, has disclosed.

Akinyemi, who made this known in an address he delivered during a meeting yesterday, with Ekiti State Stakeholders on the SURE-P said 3,000 youths would be employed before the end of November while another 2,000 will be employed in December.

He said the SURE-P was a programme specifically designed for the eradication of poverty, for uplift

and development in Ekiti State, adding that the State Implementation Committee was prepared to carry out the programme with zeal and vigour.

The chairman, however, noted that the programme was not a free wheel programme but a well designed and thoughtful programme, which is part of the transformation agenda of the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan.

He expressed confidence that the programme will be successful in Ekiti State, saying, “Looking at caliber of people from both ‘divide’ that are present in the hall today, I can see

the light at the end of tunnel, I can see hope for the hopeless, I can see unity among Ekiti people again, I can see Ekiti State where poverty will soon become a thing of the past because the major ideal of SUREP is to tackle poverty and rescue our people from its bondage.”

He said the Committee has three Senatorial Coordinators, Hon. Dare Olasebikan (North), Mrs. Tosin Aluko (Central), and Hon. Kayode Ogunsakin (South) while the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) State Coordinator, Mrs Abimbola, Oni will serve as the Vice-Chairman.

PDP cautions Fashola on days-in-office fanfare OLAJIDE OMOJOLOMOJU

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he Lagos State PDP has cautioned the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) government of Lagos State to stop “wasting public funds on its number of days in government.”

The party noted that the monumental amount usually spent on mobilising ACN members to such events could be ploughed to improve the lot of Lagosians, “rather than live in a fool’s paradise that Lagosians are happy with them.”

The party challenged

the ACN to dare Lagosians by measuring its achievements through street parade and see whether the reactions would be positive or negative.

The Lagos State PDP made this caution on the heels of the 2000 days in office by Governor Fashola, holding today.

“Honestly, this is a pathologicaly deceitful and propagandist and has indeed become a How on earth can a sensible government plan celebration in office when there is apparent poverty, lack of employment, underpaid civil servants and viola-

tion of human rights, to mention a few.

“In spite of getting a total revenue of over 56 billion Naira monthly, the state is still not enjoying such developments that are social services. All the assumed developments in the state are indeed by concessionaires and donors. Notwithstanding, they are highly paid for to enjoy. The celebration will be another talk party of “I will do” and not ‘I have done’. It is our belief that monies are being siphoned through this activity because it is just too often and nonsensical,” the party averred.

Demolition: Ogun assures evictees of compensation FEMI OYEWESO ABEOKUTA

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he Ogun State Government has assured residents of the state whose properties have been marked for demolition that adequate compensation would be paid to them before their structures are demolished.

The state Commissioner for Works & Infrastructure, Mr. Olamilekan Adegbite, who stated this during an inspection of demolition of some structures along Ibara - Omida, Abeokuta also

said the state government had earmarked enough money to pay the compensation to property owners.

Adegbite said demolition to give right of way to roads to be constructed within Abeokuta would continue as soon as the compensation payment has been completed.

While allaying fears of traders at Sapon, Itoku and Omida markets on their sales during the forthcoming festive period, Adegbite said government would provide platforms where the traders

could conduct their transactions unhindered during the period.

According to him, the construction of the roads would be done in phases to allow the traders sell their wares while government will resettle them into modern shops to be built around the places later.

Some of the roads to be constructed in Abeokuta are: Mapoly (Ojere) - Adatan Junction Road, Brewery Junction OGTV, Mudashiru Lawal Stadium - Abiola way, among others.

Obi inaugurates four road projects A

nambra State Governor, Mr. Peter Obi, flagged off the construction of four roads in the state yesterday.

At the flag-off of OwerriEzukalla- Umuchukwu road, being constructed by Cossel Construction Company, Obi said that he was recharged in his determination to work for the people of the state that voted him in.

He advised the people to always remind those in government about their promises and the need to fulfill them rather than get carried away by the antics of crooked leaders.

In his response, the monarch of Umuchukwu, Igwe M. N. Ukaegbu, said that Umuchukwu people would

forever remember Governor Obi for constructing the first road in the town.

He equated Obi to a revolutionary, who moved beyond his town and local government and brought development to all the parts of the State, including those that did not even vote for him.”

Obi also flagged off the Amawbia roads and Okpuno road where the people received him in ecstatic merriment.

At the sites, he encouraged the people to “take ownership of the projects” by monitoring the projects and reporting to the government promptly if anything goes amiss. He asked the contractors to call the

police and arrest anybody in government that would visit them for any form of gratification, claiming to have been sent by higher authorities.

Obi, who expressed satisfaction with the progress of various works in the state, said that the flag-off of the four roads was just a tip of the iceberg, on what the state would further witness. “In the next one week, we are going to flag-off 10 quality projects in different parts of the state,” Obi promised.

Earlier in his remarks, the State Commissioner for Works, Mr. Callistus Ilozue, warned the contractors to work according to specifications.

Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State addressing the people of Owerrezukala-Umuchukwu community at the flag off of a road project in the area yesterday.

FRSC targets accident-free ‘ember months’

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he Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Ebonyi State Command, in Abakaliki yesterday reaffirmed its commitment to ensure an accident free ember months in the state.

The Sector Commander, Mr Jide Femitola, gave the assurance at a sensitisation rally to mark the year 2012 World Day for the remembrance of victims of road crash.

He said that November 17 of every year was set aside by the UN to remember those who died in road accidents.

Femitola told a crowd of motorists, who gathered at Spera-indeo Park in Abakaliki for the rally, that FRSC was determined to ensure zero road accident rate in the ember months.

“We are here to sensitise

you on the need to drive safely on our high ways; as we mark this year’s World Day for the remembrance of victims of road crash.

“The ember months usually witness high rate of human and vehicular intra and intercity movements.

“Our commission is determined to ensure safety and accident free movement during this period.

“Our appeal is that motorists and other road users should maintain road traffic rules to prevent avoidable road mishaps,’’ he said.

Femitola said that 90 per cent of road accidents were caused by careless driving, disregard for traffic rules, use of worn-out tyres and use of cell phones while driving.

He appealed to motorists not to indulge in acts that

would jeopardise their lives and those of their passengers.

“I appeal to you to avoid excessive speeding, overloading and acts that will endanger the lives of the road users,’’ he said.

The Chairman, State Task Force on Safety of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Mr Kingsley Nebo, commended FRSC for the rally and promised to ensure that members of the union complied with traffic rules.

He said that the task force would collaborate with the Commission to achieve an accident free season.

Nebo said that the NURTW had commenced sensitisation of its members in the state to adhere to safety measures on the highway.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

NORTH CENTRAL

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Constitution review

Senate receives 100 memoranda from N’Central

he North-Central Senate Sub-committee on the review of the 1999 constitution received 100 memoranda during its public sitting in Makurdi, the chairman of the committee, Senator Barnabas Gemade, has said.

Gemade, who gave the information at the closing of the public hearing at the weekend, said the

document would be useful to the Senate in producing a more acceptable constitution.

He commended those who participated in the sessions for their orderly conduct and assured them that their views would be forwarded to the Senate.

Gemade also assured them that the Senate would take notice of issues

not slated for deliberation but were contained in the people’s submissions.

He assured groups who did not make their submissions that they still had the chance to submit their papers.

Gemade said the essence of the wide consultations was to produce a constitution that would be acceptable to all Nigerians.

Saraki was benevolent, says Okonkwo OLAJIDE OMOJOLOMOJU

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s reactions continue to pour in over the passage of strongman of Kwara politics, Dr. Olusola Saraki, the President of a South-East political group, C21, Senator Annie Okonkwo, has described him as “the undisputed, benevolent chief

Zonal News

Sunday November 18, 2012

priest of Kwara politics.”

In his tribute through his Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Collins Steve Ugwu, Okonkwo noted that the late Saraki was a “unique medical politician whose proven surgery in masses generosity provided him the magic of his endowed popularity to his very end”.

He said,“He has a peculiar charisma that is not noisy, yet very loud by the ease of his adaptation to all classes of his people, especially the masses. This craftsmanship was a suave repellant political weaponry that guaranteed him loyalty from the people whenever poachers tried to encroach.

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NORTH WEST

LG poll: Yakowa counsels contestants A ZA MSUE KADUNA

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overnor Patrick Yakowa of Kaduna State yesterday advised politicians to always shun violence and accept defeat, as power comes from God. Yakowa said the key to peaceful political activities is when politicians would be ready to be guided by such a belief .

He stated this yesterday

at the Kaduna Township Stadium during the flag-off of campaigns and presentation of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) flags to 23 candidates for the forthcoming local government elections in the state. The poll is slated for December 1.

He further urged the standard-bearers to desist from politics characterised by insult, fighting and mudslinging.

He said, “The greatest

obstacle to a peaceful, fair and credible election in this country is the tendency for politicians not to believe that power comes from God. “But by the time we believe that it is so, Nigeria will start to witness a healthy, virile and peaceful contest, and so I am urging you today to go and campaign but without insult, fighting or casting aspersion on anyone.”

Kaduna embarks on schools’ census K aduna State Government says it will begin the 2012/ 2013 annual school census data collection exercise for developmental plans.

The state’s Commissioner for Education, Muhammad Usman, made this known in a statement over the weekend, in Kaduna.

Muhammad said the ex-

ercise would take place between Monday, November19 and Friday, November 30.

He said the exercise was aimed at getting accurate data of public and private primary and secondary schools in the state.

“This would enable government to set up developmental plans in the

education sector to meet the desired objectives.”

Muhammad urged Principals, Head teachers, Zonal Directors and Education Secretaries of the Local Government Education Authorities to supply the needed support to the Annual School Census Data Collectors for the success of the exercise.

Community decries activities of sex workers MARCUS FATUNMOLE SOKOTO

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Chief Executive, Federal Road Safety Corps, Mr. Osita Chidoka (donning a white fez-cap, on the front row) and others; during an executive jogging exercise, in commemoration of the world Road Traffic Crash Remembrance Day, in Abuja, yesterday.

Al-makura’ll complete abandoned projects, says commissioner M rs Victoria Titi-Monde, Nasarawa State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, said on Saturday that Gov. Tanko Al-makura would complete all abandoned projects in the state.

Titi-Monde said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigerian (NAN) in Lafia.

She said the administration was working to ensure that all abandoned projects in the state were completed as soon as possible. ``The government has also completed new projects including the School of Nursing and Midwifery, Lafia and the State House of Assembly, among others,’’

she added.

She urged the people to support the government to trigger meaningful development in the state. ”Al-makura has the interest of the people at heart and would do everything to give to them the much needed dividends of democracy,’’ she said.

NEMA warns against bush burning ADEMU IDAKWO LOKOJA

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he National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, has cautioned people living in rural areas and urban settlements in Kogi State to desist from bush burning.

The Zonal Coordinator, North Central, Mr. Ishaya

Isah Chonoko, stated this in Lokoja at a sensitisation workshop organised by the agency for the victims of the floods in Kogi State.

Chonoko said bush burning has contributed to the depletion of the ecosystem, with resultant effect on human health.

He regretted the refusal

of the local government officials in the state to comply with the disaster management strategy.

The coordinator called on the Federal Government to make disaster management a national agenda through holistic approach, in order to ensure compliance from every stakeholder.

esidents of MarafaShuni community in Dange-Shuni Local Government area of Sokoto State have called on government to save the area from the activities of commercial sex workers.

They made the call during the week at an interactive section between reporters and the villagers on the impacts of Global Fund-sponsored Community Strengthening System (CSS) supervised by ‘Actionaid Nigeria’, in the area.

Speaking with Sunday Mirror, Senior Mobilisation Officer, Health Services of the local government, Malami Binu, said: “Our

experience on HIV/AIDS has been unpalatable, as a result of commercial sex workers that operate close to us here around the Army Barracks. Their numbers are in hundreds.

“They constitute a threat to the health of our people. Many of our youth go to them and sleep with them. We are afraid there is possibility for our youth, whom we are trying to convince on the reality of HIV/AIDS to contract the disease.” He, therefore, called on government to control the activities of the sex workers.

Binu expressed the belief that the Global-Fund sponsored initiative which involves strengthening the leaders of selected com-

munities and health workers on the need to contain the HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria had drastically reduced the spread of the diseases in the past two years. He stressed that the programme empowered the leaders of the communities to sensitise their people on sustained prevention and management of the diseases.

Chairman, Marafa-Shuni Ward Development Committee, Alhaji Mohammed, expressed happiness with the reduction in malaria, which he said had claimed many lives in the area before the intervention. He noted that the community focused on prevention of HIV/AIDS to reduce incidence of tuberculosis.

Yakowa approves N1 bn loan to irrigation farmers G overnor Patrick Yakowa of Kaduna State has approved the release of N1 billion loan to irrigation farmers in the state.

Yakowa said this on Saturday in Kaduna during the presentation of flags to Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidates in the December local councils election.

He said the loan would be disbursed to small holder farmers under the Sub-

sidy Fund Reinvestment Programme (SURE-P).

Yakowa added that modalities were being workout to ensure that the farmers have smooth access to the fund.

The governor said the Ministry of Agriculture had been directed to register irrigation farmers into cooperatives before the disbursement.

He advised the party’s candidates to be peaceful in

their campaigns, avoid rigging and ensure transparent polls.

Yakowa said the state needs peace to enable government execute development programmes for the benefit of the people.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 23 chairmanship candidates were presented with the PDP flag ahead of the election slated for December 1.

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NORTH EAST

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Sunday November 18, 2012

Tribunal: Oshiomhole Polio: Emir advocates faults Aihiavbere’s continuous immunisation witnesses

he Emir of Ningi, Alhaji Yunusa Danyaya, yesterday suggested that Polio Immunisation Plus Days should be continuous to achieve positive results in the polio eradication campaign.

Danyaya made the suggestion at the launch of the November rounds of the immunisation plus days in Ningi, Bauchi State.

He said that the exercise should be scaled up to ensure adequate coverage of target populations, especially the unreached. ``The immunisation days should be conducted at all times so that the targeted children will be captured, not the way it is done for a period and it ends there, till after a while then another round

will be administered,’’ he said.

He expressed disappointment that Ningi Local Government Area was listed among the risk areas in the state.

Mohammed reminded the gathering of the importance of traditional rulers in national development and said they should be carried along to achieve success in the polio eradication campaign.

In his speech, Gov. Isa Yuguda urged the public to maintain personal and environmental hygiene in order to reduce the risk of infectious diseases.

Yuguda, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Alhaji Sagir Saleh, said that parents should avail their children of the

immunisation exercise.

Earlier, Alhaji Usman Biliyaminu Othman, the Emir of Dass and Chairman, Bauchi State Social Mobilisation Committee, urged health workers to be diligent in their jobs.

He said the government had expressed its readiness to sanction any worker found wanting during the on-going polio campaign.

He said that the state government had directed all local government caretaker committee chairmen and stakeholders to remain in their areas to ensure effective supervision and monitoring of the exercise.

The Immunisation Plus Days will run from November 17 to Nov. 20

Bauchi rehabilitates adult education institute

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Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

he Bauchi State Government has improved structures in the Institute of Adult and Non-formal Education, situated in Kangere village.

The state government had wanted to move the college of agriculture to the premises, to pave the way for the establishment of the faculty of medicine at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU).

However, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Isa Yuguda, Mr Ishola Michael, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday that the decision was reversed.

He said the reversal came after the Federal

Government gave the university a grant to build its own college of medicine within its premises.

According to him, the new structures being erected at Kangere will be used by the institute for the promotion of education for those without formal education.

He also said that the institute was the only one of its kind in the whole of northern Nigeria and had full accreditation.

“Initially the institute was to be moved to another place so that the place would be used as the ATBU College of Medicine.

“After the university was given a grant by the

Federal Government to build its own college of medicine, It was decided that the institute would remain and have the privilege of using the new structures.’’

He said that because of the provision of new and more structures in the institute, all its members of staff, including those at the headquarters, who were in Bauchi, would now move to Kangere.

Michael added that the problem of water supply and power generation in the institute had also been taken care of as new water reservoir with high capacity and a generating set had been provided

C

ounsel to Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State and Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, yesterday faulted the testimony of a witness of the appellant, Maj-General Charles Airhiavbere (rtd), in the case which he instituted before the Election Petitions Tribunal challenging the victory of Oshiomhole in the July 14 election.

Irked by the inconsistencies in the witness’ testimony, the ACN counsel, Mr Ken Mozia, SAN, said, “You came here to tell lies to help your retired superior officer.”

The appellant, yesterday, brought in four witnesses to justify the alleged corrupt practice in the election.

The first witness, Saturday Oamhe, who said he could neither read nor write said he “owned the booth” in his unit. He, however, accepted under cross-examination that he neither knew the number of registered voters in his Ward 10, Units 4,5 and 6, nor the names of the PDP agents in the units, despite insisting that he was his (PDP) party’s “supervisor

in the Unit”.

Another witness, Best Okosisi, under cross-examination, said he voted at 12:30am. He alleged that security agents at his polling unit prevented PDP supporters from voting, to which the ACN counsel countered, saying the voters had no tags to show which party they would vote for.

The attempt by the appellant’s counsel to bring in portions of the voter’s register in exhibit was resisted by the counsel of the respondents.

Chief Niyi Akintola, SAN, counsel to Governor Oshiomhole (1st respondent) while kicking against the document, said it was not pleaded in the witness’ statements and should, therefore, not be admitted as exhibit.

On his part, Mr. Ken Mozia, SAN, counsel to the CAN (2nd respondent), said the document is a Unit Result and parts of the Voter register and is of doubtful origin and therefor,e inadmissible in court.

The INEC counsel, Mr E.R

SOUTH SOUTH

Egunewho, said the law provides that a document can only be tendered through the author and since the appellant is not the author of the voter’s register, he cannot tender it in court.

They all cited relevant sections of the Evidence Act and other authorities to back up their argument, forcing the appellant to withdraw the document.

Addressing his supporters outside the court, Governor Oshiomhole urged them to remain calm as the case was already in court.

He said the people should not mention the PDP in the matter as even the PDP has washed its hands off Airhiavbere’s case.

He said the witnesses told many lies to cover up their initial lie and wondered how a man who did not know the difference between the World Bank and the United Nations and between tiers of government and arms of government could question his qualifications.

The tribunal headed by Justice Muazu Pindiga adjourned to Wednesday, November 21.

Chairman, Delta State House of Assembly Service Commission, Mrs Josephine Kachikwu (left) and others, unveiling the Anioma Convention Centre at Onicha-Ugbo, Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State, yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

Group donates relief items to Delta flood victims

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L-R: Bauchi State Executive Secretary, Primary Health Care, Dr. Nasir Umar; Commissioner for Health, Dr. Sani Malami; Bauchi State Deputy Governor, Alhaji Sagir Saleh; Emir of Ningi, Alhaji Yunusa Danyaya and Chairman, Bauchi State Social Mobilisation, Emir of Dass, Alhaji Usman Bilyaminu, at the beginning of the campaign on Immunisation Plus Days in Ningi Local Government Area, yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

he Special Adviser to the Delta State Governor, Mrs. Ann ChalokwuOrumade, has implored all public spirited Deltans to come to the aid of flood victims in the state by donating food items to assist them in their hour of need.

She made the appeal while receiving relief materials for the victims on behalf of the state Government from the OgwashiUkwu Development Union (OYDU) in Asaba.

While expressing pro-

found gratitude on behalf of the Delta State Government to the members of the union for the donation, she remarked that the menace of flood in some parts of the state had caused severe pains to the victims as well as the Government of Delta State following the enormous property destroyed and thousands of persons rendered homeless by the disaster.

Earlier in his address, the president of the Union, Lagos Branch, Henry Nwakunor, who was

represented by Matthew Utulu, noted that they were touched by the devastating effect of the flood; hence they decided to contribute their own quota towards alleviating the sufferings of the victims.

He appealed to other public-spirited individuals and philanthropists to regard the flood incident as a big challenge and contribute generously towards the project to complement the good efforts of the Delta State Government.

53

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

EKO 2012: Omoro assures of Team Rivers’ readiness in P. 54 trado wrestling

NSSF boss delighted with NASCOM board composition

Sport

KEEPING YOU ABREAST OF SPORTING NEWS November 18, 2012

Hatton dreams come back fight P. 54

ANDREW EKEJIUBA

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he President of the National School Sports Federation (NSSF), Malam Ibrahim Mohammad, has expressed delight with the composition of the board members of the Nigeria Academicals Sports Committee (NASCOM) and hailed the Sports Minister, Malam Bolaji Abdullahi for taking a positive step towards repositioning grassroots sports in the country.

Mohammad told Sunday Mirror that after the inauguration of NASCOM on November 6 in Abuja, he noted during the first meeting of the board that they had tested sports personalities who are eager to work assiduously in repositioning the dwindling fortunes of Nigerian sports at the grassroots.

“We had a fruitful inaugural meeting and I want to state that I was impressed with the focus and vision of the Chairman of NASCOM, Mr. Yemi Idowu. I saw in him that seriousness to deliver and reposition sports at the grassroots as directed by the sports minister.

“Aside the aforementioned, I saw that the new NASCOM board was composed of people who are transparent and had vision. So, from all indications we are set to reposition grassroots sports and I wish to call on all national team coaches to make themselves available by attending NASCOM-organized competitions to select players for our age grade teams.

“I also want to appeal to the Ministry of Education and state governors to support school sports because that is where the future of sports development in Nigeria lies,” Mohammad said.

The new NASCOM board is chaired by Mr. Yemi Idowu and other members are Ohimai Amaize, Fela Bank-Olemo, Ibrahim Mohammad, Olabisi Joseph, Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna and Barrister Kola Olapoju.

Others include Lawrence Oduah, Felix Awogu, Victoria Roland Kayode and Opeyemi Aminu.

Meanwhile, Mohammad has expressed shock at the failure of the organizers of the National Sports Festival (NSF) from inviting NSSF and Nigeria University Games Association (NUGA) officials to be part of the organization of the biennial event, to help improve the quality of officiating in sports in the country.

West Brom’s Shane Long (left) nodding home the opening goal against Chelsea yesterday. INSET: Peter Osaze Odemwingie celebrates his winning goal.

Osaze on target, as resilient West Brom down Blues

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helsea went a fourth league game without a win as they were yesterday beaten 2-1 by the top flight’s surprise package West Brom at The Hawthorns, thanks to Peter Osaze Odemwingie’s winning strike.

Chelsea had gone close early on when Daniel Sturridge Sturridge and Victor Moses combined to set up Ryan Bertrand for a shot which was cleared off the line by Liam Ridgewell.

Eden Hazard pounced on the loose ball and his shot might have yielded a penalty as it appeared to strike defender Jonas Olsson’s arm.

Referee Michael Oliver did not award a spot-kick and the Baggies capitalised by taking

Arsenal targets Sterling P. 55

the lead, when Zolten Gera slipped the ball to James Morrison and his cross to the far post was headed in by striker Shane Long.

The visitors sought to get back on to level terms as West Brom, who blended a tigerish work-rate with an assured passing game, showed why they had made their best start to a season in 20 years.

Chelsea, though, kept probing away and Hazard equalised when he latched on to Cesar Azpilicueta’s cross with a far post header, which took a touch off right-back Billy Jones on the way in.

The Blues appeared to have seized the impetus but, after Sturridge had a shot on the turn saved by Myhill, the visi-

Fergie backs Welbeck P. 55

tors again fell behind.

This time around, Long was the provider as he whipped in a cross for Peter Odemwingie, whose glancing header went in through the legs of keeper Petr Cech to give West Brom a 2-1 lead.

As a result of the goal, Di Matteo was forced to throw on Oscar and Juan Mata for Oriol Romeu and the ineffective Fernando Torres and the move almost immediately worked.

Moses was denied a penalty for a shove by Claudio Yacob before Mata’s chipped ball found Sturridge, only for his flicked shot to be instinctively saved by Boaz Myhill.

Myhill was developing into one of Albion’s star perform-

ers and he again came to his side’s rescue when he saved another Sturridge effort.

Sturridge has pushed his claims for a starting berth but he did not help his cause as he failed to take the opportunities which came his way.

He had a clear sight of goal in the final minutes of the match only to drag his effort wide, to keep final score at 2-1 in West Brom’s favour.

It was West Brom’s sixth home league win in seven games this season, as it could be recalled that they inflicted defeat on Chelsea at The Hawthorns last season. It was a loss that resulted in Andre Villas-Boas being sacked as Blues boss and Roberto Di Matteo filling the breach.

Mourinho, Ancelotti chase Cole P. 55

54

Sport

Sunday November 18, 2012

Knockout IFEANYI Eduzor with

08055829770 ifeduz24@yahoo.com

NBB of C boss thumbs up Ekpo

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resident of Nigeria Boxing Board of Control (NBB of C), Dr. Godwin Kanu, has commended West African Boxing Union (WABU) super middleweight champion, Isaac Ekpo for winning the title.

Ekpo last month defeated George Amuzu of Benin Republic in the 11th of their 12-round fight at the Willpower Boxing Complex, Accra, Ghana to emerge as the new sub-regional champion.

The NBB of C boss noted that his winning the title outside the shores of the country is a testimony that Nigeria can boast of talented boxers who can take on any opponent in any part of the world.

“I am very proud of what he has achieved. His winning the title in far away Ghana is an indication that with the necessary motivation, Nigerian boxers can rule the world of boxing in any weight category.

“We at the NBB of C will continue to support him and create enabling environment for other boxers to win laurels for the country because Nigeria is blessed with talented boxers.

“There is no denying the fact that Nigeria is blessed with so many good boxers and Ekpo has proved it, so it did not come as a surprise to me that he won the title in Ghana,” Kanu said.

Kayode expresses surprise at Green/Cameron fight

U

nited States of America-based Nigerian boxer, Lateef Kayode (180-1,14kos), has expressed surprise at the upcoming fight between Danny Green and Shane Cameron for the vacant IBO Cruiserweight title slated for November 21, 2012 in Melbourne. Australia.

The 29-year-old boxer who recorded an impressive draw with the former champion, Antonio Terver last June had expected the boxing body to allow him have a shot at the title after Terver was stripped of the title for testing positive

to performance enhancing drugs.

According g to him, his camp has been expecting that he be called up to fight for the title, only for them to be informed that the fight will now be between Danny Green and Cameron.

“Our understanding is that we are in line for the belt only to be told of the recent arrangement.

“I am still hopeful that at the end of the day, whoever wins that fight will have no option to defend it against me,” he concluded.

Employ foreign coaches for table tennis, Okoya-Thomas charges NSC ANDREW EKEJIUBA

T

he sponsor of the annual Asoju-Oba Table Tennis Championship, Chief Molade OkoyaThomas, has charged the National Sports Commission (NSC) to employ the services of foreign table tennis coaches to arrest the dwindling fortune of the sport in the country.

He made the call in a well-attended press conference in Lagos to herald this year’s Asoju-Oba Table Tennis Championship

which is in its 44th edition.

He said that the poor outing of Nigeria’s pingpongers at the just concluded Olympic Games in London is an indication that all is not well with the sport at the grassroots.

“Let me recall that during last year’s press briefing I did advocate that in order to revive our dwindling fortune in sports, particularly table tennis, we should go back to the grassroots.

“I reminded the audience then too that things went well in sports during

ANDREW EKEJIUBA

T

he Torch of Unity of the National Sports Festival, EKO 2012, will be in Ogun on November 21.

In a statement signed by the Press Officer of the State Ministry of Youth and Sports, Mr. Rotimi Oduniyi, the torch would be received by the Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun in an elaborate ceremony at the Governor’s office of the state secretariat, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta beginning at 10am.

The governor will lead a power-

F

ormer two-weight world champion, Ricky Hatton says he feels “as good as ever” before his return to the ring against Vyacheslav Senchenko in Manchester on November 24, 2012.

Hatton, 34, (47-45-2) last fought in May 2009 when he was knocked out by Manny Pacquiao in two rounds.

But in September he announced he was coming out of retirement following three years of depression and drug abuse.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve felt like this. Those close to me have all seen me on the verge of a nervous breakdown and suicide and all of a sudden I’m laughing and joking and have got a spring in my step. I’ve already won.

“There are people out there who are going to be thinking that I’m 34 and has lost fighting power since being knocked out by Pacquiao, but I am ready to prove all of them wrong,” said Hatton.

Manny Pacquaio (right) throws a punch at Ricky Hatton during their last fight in 2009 which Pacquaio won by a technical knockout.

ful state delegation to the ceremony that includes the Deputy Governor, Prince Segun Adesegun, speaker of the state House of Assembly Rt Hon Ishola Adekunbi, Secretary to the State government, Barrister Taiwo Adeoluwa, Sports Commissioner, Mr Gbenga Otenuga, and other members of the state executive council, top government functionaries as well as the sports fraternity in the state.

The Torch will after the ceremony move in a relay-like parade to all the major streets in Abeokuta, ending at the M.K.O Abiola Stadium, Kuto.

Ochoma rates Pillars’ ACCM chances high

C Hatton dreams come back fight

boys and girls club era. Today, look at the dismal performance of our table tennis players at the London 2012 Olympics.

“Permit me to go further by suggesting that we employ coaches from either Sweden or China to be able to keep abreast of the standard of the game that has gone very high,” Okoya-Thomas said.

He noted with a tinge of regret that the level of achievement of our table tennis players on the international scene has dropped drastically, despite the

determined efforts and occasional sparkling performance of the country’s topmost player, Segun Toriola.

Meanwhile this year’s Asoju-Oba Table Tennis Championship will commence on November 19 and will end on November 23, at the Molade OkoyaThomas Indoor Sports Hall of the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos. A total of 17 titles would be at stake and the competition will be played in three categories, namely-junior, intermediate and senior.

NSF Torch of Unity moves to Ogun

SAYO OGUNDEJI

Lateef Kayode (right) squares up with Nicholas Lannuzzi recently.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

aptain of Royal Hoopers of Port Harcourt, Ikachi Ochoma, has thrown his weight behind Nigeria’s representative at this year’s African Champions Cup for Men (ACCM), Kano Pillars to go all the way to the final of the competition.

Pillars will fly the country’s flag at the tournament which holds from November 29 –December 8 in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea after Hoopers pulled out due to financial constraints.

And despite his team’s inability to participate at the event, Ochoma remains optimistic Pillars have the players capable of competing with some of the best on the continent.

I

t is not for nothing that football is dubbed the ‘King of Sport’ and this is again playing out at the annual Nigeria Bankers Games (NBG), a multi-sport tournament featuring functional banks that are operating in the country.

The Games organized by MediaVision Limited is featuring table tennis, tennis, scrabble, chess, drought, athletics and football, but most of the headlines have come from the football activities.

As at the conclusion of events last week leading to the grand finale today, Fidelity Bank seems poised to stay ahead of the pack in all events though they crashed out of the football event at the group stage.

EKO 2012: Omoro assures of Team Rivers’ readiness in trado wrestling ANDREW EKEJIUBA

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he traditional wrestling coach of Team Rivers, Dickson Tompreye Idowu Omoro, has expressed readiness of his wrestlers to win all available gold medals in the wrestling event when hostilities begins at the forthcoming NationAlready, it is the captains of the al Sports Festival, tagged ‘Eko 2012’. two finalists in football that have gone Speaking to Sunday Mirror, Omoro, to town to rev up support and psy- whose wrestling team emerged victorichologically weaken their opponents ous at the just concluded National Festival ahead of today’s showdown at the of Arts and Culture (NAFEST) in Ilorin, University of Lagos Sports Complex. Kwara State, restated that they are battleCaptain of Standard Chartered ready to repeat the same feat in Lagos at the Bank, Funlola Oni said his team’s sports festival beginning on November 27. strength is in their tactical dis“We are battle ready to make Team cipline and team work, as he be- Rivers proud again after coming tops at lieves that the experience of play- the just concluded NAFEST in Ilorin. ing together over many seasons of “We are also aware that a lot is exthe Bankers Games have built the pected from us after Governor Rotimi squad into a solid and cohesive unit Amaechi has given us all we needed to that can take on any other team. excel. Our wrestlers are training hard His opposite rank at Skye Bank to make a clean sweep of the medals in team, Femi Aribaloye, insisted his trado-wrestling and by God’s grace we team has a tradition of winning shall achieve victory as we did at the last and that the 2012 edition offers sports festival in Port Harcourt,” he said. them the chance to equal the record Omoro however expressed gratitude to of UBA as the most successful team Coach Wilson Emele for being a source of in the Bankers Game football event. inspiration to him and the wrestlers.

Bankers Games: Skye, Standard Chartered chase individual records ANDREW EKEJIUBA

Omoro

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

EURO BRIEFS

Suarez salutes classy Gerrard

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iverpool striker Luiz Suarez has called team-mate Steven Gerrard the best midfielder he has ever played with. Since joining the Reds as a trainee as an 18-year-old, Gerrard made his 600th club appearance against Newcastle earlier this month, while he secured a century of England caps against Sweden in midweek.

Sport

Sunday November 18, 2012

Pedro laughs off rift rumours in Barca

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arcelona star Pedro Rodriguez says there is no problem between David Villa and Lionel Messi.

The pair had a heated discussion on the pitch during a win over Granada earlier this season, when Villa opted to shoot rather than pass to Ballon d’Or winner Messi, leading to rumours of a breakdown in their relationship.

“There are many things

happening on the field in every team,” Pedro said.

“Sometimes he (Messi) shoots and we complain too. Messi and Villa? People talk too much, we laugh at these kind of things.”

Spain international Pedro also expressed his delight after scoring twice in his country’s 5-1 victory over Panama on Wednesday.

“I’m very happy, not for me but for the team.

“I feel more comfortable

in every game and every time I play more minutes.

“I’m luckier with Spain than with Barcelona. I feel good in both teams, but it seems I’m luckier with the national team.

“I had an inconsistent season (in 2011/2012). I had injuries, (played) few minutes and I didn’t feel confident. I thought I’d never be the same again, but I kept working and things are fixed now,” he said.

...As Fergie backs Welbeck

Gerrard

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Arteta keeps penalty duties

A

rsenal boss Arsene Wenger said midfielder Mikel Arteta will remain their penalty taker, despite his late miss in their draw with Fulham last weekend.

The Spaniard saw his spot-kick attempt saved by Mark Schwarzer just seconds before the referee blew the full-time whistle on their 3-3 draw at the Emirates.

Howard calls for Moyes stay

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im Howard insists it is vital that Everton tie down David Moyes to a new long-term contract as soon as possible. Moyes is in the final year of his contract at Goodison Park and he revealed earlier this week he was in no rush to sign a new deal.

ir Alex Ferguson claims Danny Welbeck’s best form this season has been for England, rather than Manchester United.

And he has promised the young forward will get a run in the team as a striker in the near future after fielding him on the left flank for much of the campaign so far.

Welbeck, 21, has only scored one club goal this season, in the 4-2 win over Stoke, but has found the net three times for his country.

He has become fourthchoice striker at Old Trafford because of the arrival of Robin Van Persie, the prolific form of Javier Hernandez and the presence of Wayne Rooney.

“With Robin coming in and when we’ve got Wayne

as well, you tend to rely on the experience of these players. They are great players too. What we have to try and do is alternate selections so that Danny feels he is making a contribution.

“At the moment, we have tended to play him wide left. I think he’s capable of playing there. He is a threat coming in off the wing and he has done that many times but I think he is a natural centre-forward.

PREMIERSHIP TABLE TEAM

P

GD

PTS

1. Man City

12

15

28

2. Man Utd

12

12

27

3. Chelsea

12

11

24

4. West Brom

12

6

23

5. Everton

12

6

20

6. Arsenal

12

10

19

7. West Ham

11

3

18

8. Tottenham

12

-1

17

9. Fulham

11

5

16

10. Swansea

12

2

16

11. Liverpool

12

1

15

12. Newcastle

12

-4

14

13. Norwich

12

-9

14

14. Stoke

11

-1

12

15. Wigan

12

-9

11

16. Sunderland

10

-4

9

17. Reading

11

-5

9

18. Aston Villa

12

-12

9

19. Southampton

12

-12

8

20. QPR

12

-14

4

“Danny’s best form has actually been with England. He has not had the opportunities with us to play centre-forward all the time but that will come.

“We’ve tended to play him wide left, which is maybe a little bit unfair to him but nonetheless he has shown with his form with England that he can be a real asset to us through the middle. That will come for him,” Ferguson said.

Welbeck

Nicollin questions PSG credentials

Howard

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Arsenal targets Sterling

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ising England star Raheem Sterling could be heading to Arsenal in a deal which would see Theo Walcott sign for Liverpool.

Walcott’s current deal expires at the end of the season and manager Arsene Wenger is reportedly prepared to cash in on the winger after seeing talks over a new contract hit the skids.

The Arsenal boss is a huge admirer of Sterling and is prepared to offload Walcott plus £8million in his bid to sign the Liverpool winger in January.

Earlier this month, Sterling added to the uncertainty over his Liverpool future by withdrawing a tweet that was meant to reassure Anfield fans.

Sterling, who became the country’s third youngest international in 100 years after making his debut against Sweden on Wednesday night, sent out mixed messages on Twitter by claiming he was going to sign a new deal on his 18th birthday next month - then removing the message.

It followed claims that his advisers were asking Liverpool for £50,000 a week.

Walcott is believed to be holding out for £90,000, but the Arsenal hierarchy are unprepared to meet his demands. The winger, who will undergo a fitness test will be free to talk to other clubs from January 1.

Mourinho, Ancelotti chase Cole

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ose Mourinho wants to beat Carlo Ancelotti to the ontpellier president Louis signing of Ashley Cole by pickNicollin has cast doubt on Paris ing him up in January.

Saint-Germain’s Ligue 1 title hopes.

The 31-year-old Chelsea leftDefending champions Montpelback has been strongly linked lier and PSG drew 1-1 last weekend with a free switch to Paris Stat the Stade de la Mosson, but NicolGermain when his contract lin believes his side were the better team at home, claiming Carlo Ance- expires in the summer. With lotti’s men will struggle to top the Marcelo injured with a broken table come the end of the campaign. foot, until at least the New Year, “I do not see them finishing as Mourinho is hoping to beat his champions. I would see Lyon finish- fellow former Chelsea boss to a reunion with the England star. ing first,” Nicollin said.

The 69-year-old was not impressed with the capital city club, and thinks Montpellier would have anchester City Roberto won had they not seen Younes BelMancini has warned handa sent off for handball in the keeper Joe Hart that he is not second half. PSG had already gone a afraid to drop him if his form man down following the sending off wobbles. of Mamadou Sakho.

The 25-year-old has been “It was a good result. But I do not described as the world’s best really like what Belhanda did. If he after a string of impressive had not been expelled, we would have displays for club and country. taken three points because of the But he has come under-fire way the game was moving,” he said. recently with City leaking

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Sterling

Chelsea do not want to offer Cole a deal that stretches longer than 12 months as per their new club policy on players over 30.

Cole took to Twitter on Friday to say ‘Just want to take a moment to thank you all for your endless support. Couldn’t have made it this far without you, and I sincerely appreciate it.’

The unprompted message has been taken by some Chelsea fans as a sign the player’s

time at Stamford Bridge is coming to an end.

In true Cole style he added: ‘And to all you non-supporters out there, I definitely couldn’t have made it to the top without climbing over you!! #HatersCantBreakMe.’ The defender is still performing well for the Blues but, with promising youngster Ryan Bertrand emerging, Chelsea are willing to take the risk and let Cole leave.

Mancini: Hart jersey not safe

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goals in the Premier League and Champions League, and also for England after an indifferent showing helped a Zlatan Ibrahimovic-inspired Sweden to a 4-2 win in midweek.

“For me he is the first choice but if he does not play well I change. I don’t have any problem.

“Joe is like Mario Balotel-

li, like all the other players.

For England I think it will be the same. If he does not play well maybe the manager can change the keeper.

“Costel Pantilimon is a good keeper and if Joe does not play well for five or six games, probably I can change the keeper. This is normal,” Mancini said.

87, Vol. 2 No. 49

Sunday, November 18, 2012

www.nationalmirroronline.net

N150

N I G E R I A

age at which Eminent jurist of the Supreme Court, Justice Kayode Eso, died at the Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK on Friday, November 16.

I N

F I G U R E S

$7bn

, amount the International Energy Agency (IEA) in its monthly report released on November 13, said Nigeria loses annually to oil theft.

The state, the church and the revolution

Back Page

Comment

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

with Jim Unah

I

t is often the operators of a failing state that get agitated when the word “revolution” is mentioned. This is because it is a terminology that signifies a change of the status quo; where the status quo is a deplorable social order, a regime of decadence, a milieu aptly captured by the Hobbesian State of Nature where the life of man is brutish, nasty and short.

The ecclesiastical order, typified by the church, has become a willing accomplice of the state in its experiment with disintegration. A nation-state that sustains a thoroughly corrupt and profligate regime, with a dispensation that harbors massive youth unemployment, lacking in capacity to provide basic infrastructure on which job creation is feasible and practicable; with insurgents, brigands, robbers and kidnappers challenging the authority of the state and making life for the average man a nightmare; is surely experimenting with disintegration.

Instead of providing the platform which would enable the youth to take the gauntlet and fight their oppressors to a standstill and bring economic empowerment and liberation to the peo-

ple, the church has provided the opium which gives illusory happiness through their bombastic promises and putative miraculous solutions to earthly problems. Everyone in Nigeria seems to be waiting patiently, endlessly, for his own miracle, even as the powers-that-be intensify their regimes of corruption and injustice which further impoverish and emasculate the people. Not only that, Pentecostal ministrations have become diversionary, they have become ecumenical parallels of the exploitative rapacity of the state.

As state actors - Presidents, Ministers, Governors, Legislators and sundry top public functionaries - resort to the acquisition of private aircraft in part to protect them and their families from the death traps that their misrule has rendered the roads, having deliberately crippled the railways, and in part to provide them with easy escape from the country in the event that the inevitable implosion that everyone foresees as the logical end of a distorted and idiosyncratically wayward federalism happens; so have the Clerics - the so-called “men of God” - joined in the frenzy of acquiring private jets, largely at the expense of the congregation, the regular church men and women, who pay their tithes and give generous offerings, in the hope that they are subscribing to piety; perhaps for the same reason as the state actors or rather to be closer to God than the ordinary run of men.

Neither the state nor the church is really doing anything concrete to avert a bloody confrontation with the civil order; probably due to the accustomed and misguided belief that Nigerians are resilient and long suffering, and would rather cling tenaciously to life, even in miserable conditions than risk the uncertainty of a violent revolution. No one could have imagined that suicide bombing would be possible in Nigeria. Today, it has become a daily occurrence in a section of the country. So too are the phenomena of kidnapping and hostage taking. Let the state and the church continue to delude themselves that “it cannot happen here” or “that God is in control here”. If the ecclesiastical order does not distance itself from corruption and profligacy of the state and champion a people’s revolutionary redemption, it will be treated like a harlot in the event of social upheaval and national catastrophe.

No one prays for a violent social revolution. But the politicians and state actors have sowed the seeds that would germinate implosion or violent social rebellion.

It cannot be wished away least of all prevented from happening by merely putting words in the mouths of retired Generals.

After 13 years of civil rule, road, rail and electricity infrastructure have virtually collapsed. Youth unemployment is at an all time high. Yet, the nation’s earning from crude oil sales has never been any better than now. Sections of the country are acting secession on a daily basis. The

Eko 2012: Benue tasks LOC on security, as Luke admonishes HFN

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avid Orngu, the Director of Sports of the Benue State Sports Council, has tasked the organisers of the forthcoming 18th National Sports Festival (NSF) to ensure adequate security for contingents.

Orngu in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday said that the call became necessary, because of the prevailing security challenges in the country.

He stressed that security must be given utmost priority during the NSF to enable athletes to perform without fear or hindrance.

“Security is very important and I urge the Local Or-

ganising Committee (LOC) to ensure adequate security for contingents coming for the festival,” he said.

Orngu said that the state’s contingent was working very hard towards a creditable outing at the festival and vowed that the state would surpass its 10th position placing at the 2011 edition of the NSF which took place in Port Harcourt.

Meanwhile the Secretary of the Handball Federation of Nigeria (HFN), Olusola Luke, has admonished members of the board to close ranks in the interest of the sport rather than pursuing personal interest.

Luke said the sport could only grow when such a step was taken by members.

“It is high time board members come together, and channel our resources towards programmes that will move handball to its rightful place, “he said.

He added that it would provide the necessary foundation to engage budding talents at the grassroots, in competitions that would sharpen their skills.

“The success of the federation lies in the hands of the board members, and there has to be collective responsibility on the part of each member.

“We should strive to come up with progressive ideas, instead of engaging in needless criticisms,” he said.

youth that politicians armed and used to rig elections and snatch ballot boxes in the past, having been dumped by their power hungry masters, are left to their own devices, as guns they used for election purposes could not be retrieved from them. These have become insurgents, dare-devil robbers, hostage takers and kidnappers. How long would the Nigerian State survive with these sorts of disgruntled and implacable elements in society growing by the day? Young school leavers and graduates from tertiary institutions are growing geometrically, while opportunity for gainful employment is thinning down considerably. What would prevent a violent social rebellion in a situation like this?

I have no sympathy for prophets of doom. There are no problems without solutions. But are the people in position to apply solutions ready for genuine solutions? Or are they merely bidding time applying cosmetics and palliatives? Why couldn’t they go down to fundamentals; address both the national and nationality questions to resolve the indigenesship crisis; tackle the problem of devolution of power to the federating units and resolve the issue of resource control, and other biting matters that make the cohesion of the Nigerian State impossible, and create employment and opportunities for the youth?

This is the way to begin to avert violent social rebellion, and save the church and the state from perdition.

Osaze on target, as resilient West Brom down Blues P. 53 PREMIERSHIP RESULTS Arsenal 5-2 Tottenham Liverpool 3-0 Wigan Man City 5-0 Aston Villa Newcastle 1-2 Swansea QPR 1-3 Southampton Reading 2-1 Everton West Brom 2-1 Chelsea Norwich 1-0 Man United

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