Sunday, December 9, 2012 by GLOBAL MEDIA MIRROR LIMITED

Big Read News

THE

Wills: The troubles within

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News

Six die in Oyo auto crash

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Applause

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‘After 9ice, I’m ready to remarry’ www.nationalmirroronline.net

Vol. 2 No. 52

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Sunday, December 9, 2012

Jonathan weeps ...as younger brother is buried Pg. 9

President Goodluck Jonathan, his wife, Patience and wives of his late younger brother, Meni Jonathan yesterday after a funeral church service at St. Stephen Anglican Church, Otueke in Ogbia local government of Bayelsa state. Inset: President Jonathan …weeping. See another picture on pg 9.

Revealed! Jubilee hotel, Ojukwu’s daughter’s inheritance sold twice

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How to tackle Boko Haram –Atiku P. 50

News

PDP shops for suitable candidate for ailing Taraba governor P. 9

N18,000 minimum wage

Workers to ground Plateau tomorrow

Ekiti 2014: Fayose set to declare governorship ambition

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Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

What’s new

TALKING POINT OF THE PAST WEEK DECEMBER 9, 2012

Movie icon, Enebeli Elebuwa, dies in Indian hospital PDP BoT chair: Anenih, Ali, Nnamani are front runners Applause

Wellness

All you need to know about Glaucoma Medical experts have described Glaucoma as a group of eye diseases that damage the optic nerve. The optic nerve is the main nerve to the eye, located in the back of the eye that is responsible for transmitting electrical impulses to the brain. It receives light-generated nerve impulses from the retina and transmits these to the brain, where we recognise those electrical signals as vision.

As the news of the death of Enebeli Elebuwa broke on Wednesday from complications arising from stroke, what readily came to many minds was his iconic role in a 2001 movie, Weep No More. In the film, the actor played a patient bedridden with stroke, who after a series of treatments, survived and returned to his normal activities. The plot in the movie shares a lot with his real life

in the past few months, save for the fact that he failed to survive. He succumbed to death at the age of 65 in an Indian hospital forcing Nollywood friends and family to weep more. Elebuwa, the consummate showman, came to the consciousness of Nigerians in the early 80s when he featured as Andrew in a popular commercial on the network service of the Nigerian Television Authority, NTA.

JNI, CAN clash on removal of Army commandants An Islamic organisation, the Jama’atu Nasril Islam, JNI, has rejected the removal of Commandants of Armed Forces and Staff College, Air Vice-Marshal Adullahi Kure, and the Corps of Infantry, Maj.Gen. Muhammad Isa. The group said their replacement by non-Muslims as heads of the military formations was suspicious. But the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, in 19 northern states and Abuja called on President Goodluck

Jonathan and the military authorities to disregard JNI stand on the removal of exJaji military commandants over the blasts that killed 15 Christian worshippers. In a statement entitled, “The removal of the two Jaji officers” by JNI SecretaryGeneral, Dr. Khalid Abubakar Aliyu, the organisation said the removal of the two officers was “rushed against the nature of military known to be careful in handling sensitive issues of national interest.”

FG grants 84 stock broking firms N22.6bn reprieve The Federal Government has said that forbearance has been granted 84 stock broking firms to allow their re-admission into the capital market as part of efforts aimed at repositioning the market and enabling it play the critical role of providing long term funds for sustainable development of the economy. The forbearance is for huge

debts arising from margin loans that went bad owing to the crash of the nation’s stock market following the 2008 global economic meltdown. The debt reprieve was one of the major recommendations of the Capital Market Committee chaired by the Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Dr. Kingsley Moghalu.

The Nigerian Economic Summit Group, NESG, has identified the increasingly worrisome insecurity challenges in the country as one of the major constraints to foreign direct investment inflows. Speaking at the opening session of the 18th National Economic Summit in Abuja,

NESG Director- General, Mr. Frank Nweke Jnr, said that an analysis conducted by the group had shown that the size and direction of foreign investment flows into the country in 12 months up to to June 2012, fell by 19.14 per cent to $10.4 billion down from the $12.8 billion a year ago due to insecurity challenges.

National Mirror shines at media award It was double honours for National Mirror on Sunday night as it bagged the Best Designed Newspaper/Magazine award while its Managing Director/ Editor-in-Chief, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, won Dele Giwa Prize for Best Editor Award at the 2012 Celebrity Media Awards. The event, which held at the

Theatre Hall, Lagos Country Club, Ikeja, had the who-is-who in the media in attendance. Presenting the award to Ayorinde, the Publisher, Entertainment Express newspapers, Mike Awoyinfa, said: “I congratulate you; I envy you because Dele Giwa is the greatest. Keep it up.”

Dr. Luke Okojie MD/CEO, ACCOLADE COMMUNICATIONS LTD

MON

fared better. TI’s Corruption Perception Index 2011 had ranked Nigeria 143rd of 183 countries, making it the 37th most corrupt country. This year’s index ranks 176 countries/territories by their perceived levels of public sector corruption, TI explained in the report. The index draws on 13 surveys covering expert assessments and surveys of business people.

It is a great day for me to map out the assignments for the whole week. It is said that if you fail to plan, you have already planned to fail. I get out to my clients. I use the net and sms to reach to my clients. I have found this medium effective

TUE

Global corruption watchdog, Transparency International (TI), has ranked Nigeria the 35th most corrupt country in the world. In a report that was released, Nigeria scored 27 out of a maximum 100 marks to clinch the 139th position out of the 176 countries surveyed for the report. It shared that position with Azerbaijan, Kenya, Nepal and Pakistan, while Togo, Mali, Niger and Benin

Insecurity: Foreign investment drops by $2.4bn –NESG

Though a lot of people complain of high unemployment in the country, many people are not ready to satisfy their customers. Those that are employed are not ready to do their best. I try to lead my team to go beyond naira and kobo. A man will always want to do business with you when he knows that you care beyond taking his money. I believe in the theory of Emotional Bank Account.

WED

Nigeria ranked 35th most corrupt country

Professor Ode Ojowu is the former Chief Economic Adviser to President Olusegun Obasanjo. He also served at various capacities with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), International Monetary Bank (IMF) and the World Bank. He takes a critical look at some areas of Nigeria’s macroeconomic policies and how to improve on them for sustainable national development.

Politics

Seven Days

I meet my clients through physically meeting and via the electronic. The trend, electric device, has become major means of doing business. Send emails, posting via my facebook and the rest.

SAT FRI THU

Oil price not ot reliable for planning annual budgets –Ojowu

SUN

Interview

I strengthen what I have started since Monday. I have to track my plan to be sure that I have been effective. I try to tackle problems and challenges that I may not have resolved since Monday I take care of personal activities at home with my family. I also make sure that I read books. Readers are leaders. I go to church. Fortunately, for me, my pastor, Sam Adeyemi, though primarily a spiritual father, he is also a business coach. Besides the spiritual side of life, I am also privileged to receive lessons on how to run business. Some of the things I get on Sunday may not be taught in Harvard Business School or Lagos Business School. It is a good beginning for me on Sunday. I may also attend one function or the other, though not always. It is another great time to read newspapers and books. In this jet age, you cannot afford to be uninformed or you are deformed. *By Adaeze Amos (0802 301 2293)

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

THE

Big Read SUNDAY SPECIAL INVESTIGATION

December 9, 2012

Odumegwu-Ojukwu

Okotie-Eboh

Williams

Wills: The troubles within Wills, which are legal documents that seek to dispose of an individual’s property and provides for beneficiaries as well as announcing persons to manage estates left behind, are tearing many families apart. But, what breeds these disagreements and how are they resolved? Head, Special Investigations, Isioma Madike, attempts to sift an answer from those who should know

he late Igbo leader, Dim Chukwuemeka OdumegwuOjukwu, was controversy personified while alive. From his remarkable disagreement with his equally late business tycoon father, Sir Louis Ojukwu, over choice of carrier to his activities in the eastern region during the civil war era, he never seized to court controversy. His death and burial were also full of drama. When the news of his death filtered in from the London hospital where he was receiving treatment, the day literally ended in the entire South-east region. The reaction to the news of the man, who became a folk hero among his natives at a young age, signified an eclipse of the sun in a region that is known as land of the rising sun. But, his burial brought together Igbo leaders from both the five states in the region and beyond. The Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) leader, Ralph Uwazuruike, and his Deputy Romny Ezeonwuka also led their “troops” to Nnewi to honour him. And Victor Umeh, national chairman of the troubled All Peoples Progressive Alliance (APGA) used the occasion of his burial to plead with his kinsmen and party members to sheath their swords for, according to him, Odumegwu-Ojukwu stood for peace and love. “You should know that Ojukwu hated persecution and intimidation; he hated lies being told against anybody,” he told those gathered to pay their

last respect to the falling hero. Incidentally, that was not to be as more controversies have continued even after his death and burial. His death not only failed to quell the crisis in APGA but ignited, as it were, another raging war in his family over property. Hours after the long-awaited Will he left behind was made public, trouble took refuge in his immediate family. The Will, read at an Enugu High Court, Enugu State on Friday, November 30, was described as fake by one of his sons, Emeka jnr. Another, who allegedly was disinherited in the purported Will, Sylvester, popularly known as Debe, dismissed it with a wave of the hand. Both, however, believe that the so-called Will was not only a figment of lies, but did not represent what Odumegwu-Ojukwu would have done. Their sentiment on the matter was shared by a crosssection of Igbo elite. Debe expressed surprise over the content of the Will, saying he did not believe it was written by his father. “I am surprised, and I doubt that the Will was drafted by my father. It was a concoction. It seemed to have been done in a hurry by people desperate to achieve an aim,” he said. In his account, Emeka Jnr also dismissed the Will, insisting that the lawyer that presented it was a private counsel to Bianca and not that of his late father. “Now, there are issues that come to mind, why were there no member of

‘CONTRADICTORY DEPOSTIONS CAN TEAR A WILL’

the Ojukwu family when the Will was read? They were not invited and they were not told. She was here when we removed the mourning cloth and since she knows that the Will would be read, she should have invited us or even put us on notice,” said Emeka jnr. In the controversial Will, the late Ikemba apportioned the lion’s share of his estate to his wife, Bianca, and appointed her, the late Igwe of Oraukwu, Emeka Ojukwu and James Chukwuemeka as trustees and executors of the document. The Will stated that only eight listed people should be regarded as Ojukwu’s children. They include, Teni Hamman, Emeka Ojukwu, Mmegha, Okigbo, Ebele, Chineme, Afam and Nwachukwu. However, none of Ojukwu’s children was present when the Will was read at the Enugu High Court. Family members were urged to apply for copies of the Will as well as the codicil (amended version), which was prepared by Barrister Emeka Onyemelukwe on December 16, 2009. However, Odumegwu-Ojukwu’s Will is not the first that is stirring controversy. Another’s is that of the Ibru brothers: Michael, Felix, late Bernard, Goodie and late Alex, who are well known in Nigeria. Their prominence and popularity stemmed from their entrepreneurial acumen and the tightly knitted brotherhood that exists among them. Today, their business empire, which includes virtually all the sectors of Nigerian economy, is in billions of naira. Yet, recent events have put a question mark on the brotherhood and brotherliness that has been in existing among them for some time now. The crisis rocking the estate of the late publisher of The Guardian newspaper, Alex Ibru, moved to the court as three of his siblings, dragged the diseased widow, Maiden, before a Lagos High Court. Members of the family of the CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

WILLS ARE SEEN AS A SIGN OF IMPENDING DEATH –AKPAN

The Big Read

Sunday, December 9, 2012

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

‘Contradictory depositions can affect a Will’

Ibru

Gadzama

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3 late Ibru are locking horns over the authenticity of the Will left behind by the deceased. The family dispute centres on two Wills with different dates – July 6, 1992 and September 8, 2011. Three siblings of the deceased – Felix Ibru, Miss Grace Ibru, and Mrs. Mabel Okolie (nee Ibru) – are opposed to the one dated September 8, 2011, which Maiden is said to hold as her husband’s authentic Will. They insisted that the last and authentic Will of their brother, who died on November 20, 2011, was the one dated July 6, 1992. The three claimants, therefore, initiated a suit before a Lagos High Court against Omamo–a trust said to have been created by Ibru before his death, Maiden, and the Probate Registrar of the Lagos State High Court. In the suit with the number LD/1776/2012, they claim that after several protests and opposition by Maiden to the reading of the deceased’s Will, on October 31, the Wills allegedly deposited by the late Ibru were eventually read. Through their counsel, Bimbo Atilola, the claimants seek the court’s declaration that the “purported last Will and Testament dated September 8, 2011 and purportedly made by Alexander Uruemu Ibru” is void and of no effect. They also seek “an order of injunction directing the Probate Registrar of the Lagos State High Court to forthwith admit to Probate the last Will and Testament of late Alexander Urumemu Ibru dated July 6, 1992.” The claimants did not stop there. They also want the court to give “an order of mandatory injunction” compelling Maiden to render accounts of her management of the Estate of the deceased between November 20, 2011 till “when she is restrained” by the court “from so acting as an Executor de son tort”. Like the Ibru family, there has also been a shocking crisis surrounding the estate of former administrator of Lagos State, Air Commodore Gbolahan Mudasiru. The imbroglio has even made entry to the Supreme Court arena, which is battling to see the case through. In the apex court, the appellants are seeking to reverse an earlier verdict of the Court of Appeal, Lagos, which held that the contested Will of the late administrator was valid. The Court of Appeal in Lagos had affirmed the right of execution granted by the state’s High Court to those appointed as Trustees over the Will of the late Mudashiru. With that, many thought the appellate court’s decision had successfully put an end to the protracted dispute, which began shortly after he died in 2003. Those named as Trustees include, Ibrahim Abdullahi; Ladi Cole; Dr. Olufunmilayo Coker; Mrs. Olusola Sowemimo; and A.C. Mkparu. But, a further appeal instituted by the deceased’s widow, Mrs. Foluke Mudasiru and her three children, Tolulope, Openifolu and Oladapo, acting as the late administrator’s next–of–kin

and beneficiaries of his Estate, dismissed such notion. The core issues in contention were whether the Will captioned Trustees/Executors was the last of the late Mudasiru and not a forgery and whether the Trustees appointed by him were also Executors of the Will. There was also the issue of alteration of the Will. The Will of the presumed winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, Late Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola has equally been in contention about 14 years after his death. The crisis dragged the family to court in which Justice Olubunmi Oyewole of the Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja ordered that the Administrators of the Will be allowed to have access to all his assets both at home and abroad, while appointing judiciary valuation officer with the Administrators to take inventory of such assets. It is the same story in the home of the flamboyant Nigerian politician and former Minister for Finance during the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa’s administration, Festus Okotie-Eboh. The beneficiaries of the Will he left behind had been locked in bitter legal battle for years now. The home of Fredric Rotimi Alade (F.R.A.) Williams has not spared of such crisis as well. The battle over the Will of the late legal luminary, is lingering. The four sons, Oladipupo, a senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Kayode, Folarin and Tokunbo, SAN, are in court on matters concerning the Will. Late last month, a Lagos High Court refused to stay proceedings in a case seeking to enforce the Will of the legal practitioner fondly called `Timi the Law’. The four sons had allegedly agreed on the sharing formula of their father’s property before the Will came to light. Today, the children, in spite of their civility, appear to have thrown whatever remains in the family ethos to the winds as they are currently split on the process to adopt in sharing the late lawyer’s inheritance. On one side are Oladipupo and Kayode, who want the Will enforced. Folarin and Tokunbo, on the other side, are in favour of an agreement supposedly entered into by the children on the estate sharing before the probate registry came up with the Will. The agreement had allegedly been made sometime on March 26, 2005, on the erroneous belief that Williams died intestate (without a Will). To many people, it is becoming absurd the way families are going about issues concerning Wills. And they are wondering why there would be conflict in a Will that was written voluntarily? A legal luminary, Yusuf Ali, SAN says conflicts in Wills usually come after the writer is dead. “If the Will is disputed therefore, an aggrieved party could go to court. Another reason is if the document fails to conform with the required law, written by an unsound mind or involuntarily made,” he further said. On the alteration of Wills, Ali confirms that there is nothing unusual in

Ali

making corrections where necessary, as long as they were initialed. He said where the content of a document does not adequately communicate or represent the intentions of the maker; such maker would expectedly take steps to see that a correction is effected. Another senior lawyer, Joe Gadzama, has gone further to list some conditions that usually bring about conflict in Wills, which he prefers to call contradictory depositions. They include: Giving the same gift, maybe a piece of land exclusively to two different people and stating that each is to enjoy its use to the exclusion of others, giving a gift of cash to an individual with the money to be sourced from a Bank Account that has no money, when the gift to be given is not adequately described. An example is when the testator, who has several cars, gives to Mr. B a car without describing its make or colour and when there are factual errors in the names of the beneficiaries and the gifts to be given. “So, a Will is, therefore, said to contain conflicts when any of the above listed examples exists. But, the conflicts in a Will can be resolved through the use of oral and documentary evidence. The burden of proof is on he who makes the allegation that there are conflicts because the courts are usually reluctant to interfere with the wishes of the dead. Evidence would be led to show that the testator was not in his right mind when he prepared the Will, or that he suffered from an infirmity that probably impaired his judgment. If the court is of the opinion that there are, indeed, conflicts in the Will, then the conflicts may be resolved by invalidating the Will or interpreting the provisions to ensure that the testament does not fail,” Gadzama affirmed. A Kaduna-based activist lawyer and Executive Director, Human Rights Monitor, Festus Okoye also says that a Will is a serious document and that its contents are normally kept secret. This, according to him, is because it involves the wishes of the testator. “Money can be bequeathed. Properties can be bequeathed. And a person can declare how he intends his properties to be managed when he is no more. In large families and polygamous families, disinheriting particular persons or a particular person can cause serious friction. More so in situations where a person is close to the testator and the testator is blind, very sick, of unsound mind or in a vegetative state. Sometimes people believe that even if a man makes a Will he cannot bypass and or extinguish the Customary Law of his locality. Under the Islamic law, the distribution of property of deceased persons are clear and certain and when such an individual makes a Will that is in conflict with Islamic Injunctions, it can create serious conflict,” he said, adding that the resolution of most issues arising from the validity CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

The Big Read

Sunday, December 9, 2012

Wills are seen as sign of impending death –Akpan Can you briefly explain the concept of will writing and why it is necessary to write a Will? Death is something we all must face at some point- rich or poor, young or old. A Will is simply an avenue for the dead to have a say in what happens to their property when they are no more. Now, one either dies without a Will in which case he dies intested or dies with a valid Will in which case it is said that he died testate. The idea of writing a will is simply a way of distributing ones assets the way and manner he or she chose while alive. It is even so important in polygamous societies and helps curb feuding relatives going for each others jugular upon the demise of the patriarch or matriarch as the case may be. In some parts of Africa, Wills are accepted but in others, it is seen as a taboo and is deemed a Whiteman’s concept; one of the last vestiges of colonialism that is culturally un-African. In most traditional African settings, property devolves in a manner set out by tradition, obviating the need for a formal Will and this varies from community to community. If that is so, how come there are conflicts in Wills? It must be remembered that a Will takes effect only upon the death of the maker hence a dispute cannot be easily resolved by calling him to state who among the contending parties he had given the property to. The fact that the maker is dead is further compounded by the existence of sometimes two, three or even four versions of a Will and dozens of codicils; of course you will have conflicts due to insatiable greed and distrust of human nature. People are just not prepared to share and can go to any length to acquire wealth including forgery and all that. How are these conflicts resolved? The courts are often faced with the onerous task of deciding which of the contending claimants are real and which of the documents flying about as Wills is genuine. An oral disposition though acceptable as was the case in Bankole v Tapo (1961; where a disposition of land made orally was held to be sufficient to transfer title to a beneficiary must meet the conditions set out in the case of Ayoke v Ibiduni (1959). However, it must be voluntary, testator must have a sound disposing mind, beneficiary must be named, property must be identified and it must have been done in the presence of witnesses. What other causes of dispute are there to watch out for and how can one prevent it? Now, away from strength of a written disposition over an oral one and by far the most critical disputes about Wills perhaps, are often always related to the twin devils of paternity of the claimants and the testamentary capacity of the testator at the time of making the dispositions in issue. Where the beneficiaries are not the direct children or relatives of the deceased and where a Will is made by a testator so sick, old, perhaps blind, uncoordinated and near the point of death, such a Will may be suc-

Nkereuwem Akpan is a fiery Human/Gender Rights activist and social crusader. He tells Isioma Madike in this interview that conflicts in Wills are usually due to insatiable greed and distrust of human nature. cessfully challenged on the grounds that at that time the testator could have been easily and readily manipulated. So, the way out is to make sure the Will is made out at an age when the testator is in good physical and mental state What kinds of property can one leave under a Will? Can it include physical cash? Any type of property including cash at hand or in the bank can be covered by a Will. Anyone who owns property of any kind that is likely to survive him or her should write a Will. Once you are able to build a house for instance, you should make a Will because unless a calamity befalls you, you will leave the house behind. Aside from property, a man may request that he be cremated, buried at sea or in some peculiar way – provided always that this information is passed to the executors ahead otherwise there is a real danger of that request being violated as Wills are often opened when the funeral is over. But, the popular view is that writing of Wills is for the elderly, the terminally ill persons and the like? Tragically, Wills are seen as a sign of impending death. Indeed, an elderly man, who is advised to write a Will, looks at the adviser with suspicion because Will writing is synonymous with one preparing to die. With the advent of western education, Will writing has become more and more acceptable. Under Islamic law it is well articulated and set out and it is applied to the later. In the southern parts of the country among the Ibibio, Ijaw, Igbo and others, Heirlooms are inherited automatically by the eldest male child and are never to be sold or transferred as the holder is deemed to hold it in trust for his own first male child and there is no contest once paternity of the beneficiary is not in dispute. In fact, among the Igbos you cannot dispose the ancestral home to anyone else beside the first male child. There are several attempts at defining a Will but strictly speaking it’s safe to say that they are instruments if disposition of personal (not family) property made in the lifetime of the owner of such property- the maker of which must be in a good mental capacity at the time. What specific benefits are there to write a Will? The most important benefits of making a Will is that the immediate family members of the testator are well taken care of before any distant relations and gold diggers swamped all over the place. Secondly, the rules of inheritance under customary law are excluded in the administration of the estate of the testator who left a valid Will. Another key benefit of leaving a valid Will is the ability

Akpan

of the testator to donate and leave property to charity or even a complete stranger- an unthinkable proposition under the rules of inheritance and the administration of estate laws. Again, a testator may appoint trusted people as administrators of his estate- especially where the intended beneficiaries- such as children- are very young, He may also appoint guardians for the children but a man who dies intested may turn in his grave to see his estate being managed by people he may have seriously objected to. What makes a Will legal and authentic and under what other situations can a Will be successfully challenged? A sound disposing mind, the testator must attain the legal age bar, specific property and the beneficiary of same must be named; the presence of the witnesses are also critical. Tragically, an invalid Will has the same effect as one having died intestate (without a Will). A straight answer will be that an authentic Will is one that satisfies the requirements of the law of the place of the domicile of the testator and if relating to land, must also satisfy the law of the lex situs (location of the land). The Wills Act 1852, which was an amendment of the 1837 Act, has been reenacted by most of the states in Nigeria but the Act is still applicable to those states that are yet to enact their own Wills law. However, it is worthy to note that case law on the subject is also important and testators and beneficiaries are advised to pay attention to judicial pronouncements thereon.

Review your Will every five years –Gadzama CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4 of Wills is normally done by the courts. In some other circumstances, the people or persons involved, subject themselves to Customary Arbitration for purposes of peace, especially in situations where there are allegations of manipulation. Another Abuja-based fiery Human/Gender Rights Activist and social crusader, Nkereuwem Udofia Akpan, agrees with his senior colleagues. To him, that a Will takes effect only upon the death of the maker is a pointer to a looming crisis. “This is why a dispute cannot be easily resolved by calling the dead to state who among the contending parties he had given the property to. The fact that the testator is dead is further compounded by the existence of sometimes two, three or even four versions of a Will and dozens of codicils (amendments); of course you will also have conflicts due to insatiable greed and distrust of human nature. People are just not

prepared to share and can go to any length to acquire wealth including forgery and all that,” the lawyer said. However, a Will, according to the lawyers, helps an individual decide what happens to his or her money, property and possessions after death. It can be written by individuals but with a legal advice. Aside that, one needs to get the Will formally witnessed and signed by two persons to make it legally valid; if it is updated, there would be need to make an official alteration (called a codicil) or make a new Will. Okoye listed some requirements before one can undertake to write a Will. These are: listing of beneficiaries, welfare of children under 18, Estate Executors and those to out the writer’s wishes after death, what happens if the people you want to benefit die before you among other things. He also said for a Will to be authentic, it must be made by a person of 18 years or over, made voluntarily by a person of sound mind in writing and signed by the person making the Will in the presence of

two witnesses; it should also be signed by the two witnesses in the presence of the person making the Will. In like manner, Gadzama recommends that “you should review your Will every five years and after any major change in your life. For example, getting separated, married or divorced, addition of property and if the executor named in the Will dies. But, you can’t amend your Will after it’s been signed and witnessed. The only way you can change a Will is by making an official alteration called a codicil. You must sign a codicil and get it witnessed in the same way as witnessing the original Will. There’s no limit on how many codicils you can add to a Will. For major changes, you should make a new Will and your new Will should explain that it revokes (officially cancels) all previous Wills and codicils. You should destroy your old Will by burning it or tearing it up,” Gadzama said. Addition report from Aza Msue (Kaduna)

The Big Read

KAYODE KETEFE A Will is a legal document conveying testamentary intentions of deceased person on how he or she wants his properties to be bequeathed. In every society, successive generations transfer inheritable properties to the next in a routine practice that simply reflects their respective culture. But the modern concept of will writing in the modern day Nigeria was a legacy of colonial administration which we inherited as part of received English Common Law and Statute of General application. Thus our Wills legislation is an emanation of the English Wills Act of 1837. Under the traditional Nigerian societies, people bequeath their belongings by oral instructions to the beneficiaries themselves and they often confide in trusted friends or relatives about their intentions. When people die intestate, the customary practice of properties devolution becomes the guiding principle. Contemporary Nigerian society has spawned two attitudes relating to will making. The first is apathy, which is indifference of people including the rich, high and the mighty to making of wills. There are many popular, eminent and educated Nigerians who died without making will. Till today, the percentage of people making will in Nigeria is still abysmally low compared to developed parts of the world. One reason for this is fear that people have that will is a “remembrancer” of death. The other issue that wills making has engendered in Nigeria is controversy and contestation. Although wills do bring about court cases in virtually all parts of the world, but the high rate of disputation surrounding “proving” of wills in Nigeria is a pointer to the fact that people have not really integrated the practice into our culture. There has been countless number of controversies in connection with wills of celebrities, many had been and some are still been contested in courts on the questions of validity. By way of brief recast, a will made by the first republican Minister of Finance, late Chief Festus Okotie-Eboh, became controversial and keenly disputed shortly after he was killed in the 1966 coup. The said will, made on 21st day of August 1947, was contested between two first daughters, Alero Jadesimi and Mrs. C.R Akele, their half brother, Mr. John Okotie-Eboh and Okotie-Eboh’s widow, Victoria. The matter went all the way to the Supreme Court. The apex court however eventually declared the will valid. The will of another public figure that engendered controversies among the beneficiaries is that of the late proprietor of the famous erstwhile Stationery Stores Football Club of Lagos, Mr. Israel Adebajo, who died in 1969. The dispute had occurred on the will dated 21st January, 1969 among three of his widows, Irene Olabisi and Adunni his children. To cut the story short, the Supreme Court, on April 18, 1973, affirmed the judgment of the lower court and declared the will valid, and thus dismissed the appeal of one of the widows, Irene, who had challenged the judgment of the lower court. In recent times, the will of late legal luminary, Chief Rotimi Williams SAN, pitched his children against one another as they embarked on litigation at the Lagos High Court. There are two factions contesting the wills. The deceased first and second son, Chief Ladi Williams SAN and Kayode Williams contend that there is valid holographic will dated June 22, 1954 made by their father and asked the court to pronounce that the will is valid. On the other hand the two remaining sons, Folarin and Tokunbo are claiming that all the children had initially thought that there was no will and that their father died intestate and that they had held a family meeting in which they agreed to share the will among themselves. Folarin and Tokunbo further claimed that in the said meeting they had agreed that if there is a dispute, the matter should be referred to arbitration. They therefore insisted that the court should put a stop to the proceedings while the parties seek arbitral solution. The controversy over Williams will among his children was a surprise to many observers because all the four feuding sons are children of the same mother. This has also made some respected members of the society to wade into the crisis with a view to settling the matter amicably. The case is however still pending in court. Another popular figure whose will is embroiled in the whirlwind of controversy was that of the former Military Administrator of La-

Sunday, December 9, 2012

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Wills... at times, a controversial, legal document

Bianca

gos State, Commodore Gbolahan Mudasiru, who died on September 23, 2003 in a London hospital. His widow, Mrs. Foluke Mudasiru and her children, Tolulope, Openifolu and Oladapo, had engaged the people who claimed to be the executors of their husband and father estate in many protracted legal battles at the Lagos State High Court and the Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal. Foluke and her children are challenging the validity of one of the existing two wills which purportedly named some four persons as the executors of late Mudashiru’s estate on the grounds that it was a forgery. There are a number of cases pending in the court on the matter. Only recently, the widow sent a petition to the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 11, Command, Onikan Lagos, accusing the purported executors of claiming benefits accruable to her husband by false pretences. In the petition, which was written by her solicitor, Chief Robert Clarke (SAN), Mrs. Mudasiru claimed that some people, who claimed to have legal right to represent her late husband, were using a company called Cordros Capital Ltd to claim millions of naira in shares and dividends accruable to her husband estate. She therefore called on the police authorities to institute an investigation into what she described as fraudulent attempt to deny the late Mudasiru’s estate of its due entitlements. In addition to all the above, a new “ popular figure will controversy” recently came to limelight when some members of the family of the late publisher of The Guardian newspaper titles, Mr. Alex Ibru, (who died on November 20, 2011) instituted a suit to contest the authenticity of the will purportedly made by the deceased. There seem to be two wills which different factions of family are claiming to be the original one between them. One was dated July 6, 1992 while the second was dated September 8, 2011. Three of the siblings of late ibru, namely, Chief Felix Ibru, Miss Grace Ibru, and Mrs. Mabel Okolie (nee Ibru) are in favour of the 1992 will while they vehemently rejected the one dated September 8, 2011. On the other hand, Ibru’s widow, Maiden Ibru, insists that 2011 will reflected the authentic testamentary intentions of her late husband.At the height of their controversy over the will, the three Ibru siblings filed a suit at the Lagos High Court to contest the will. In the suit they are seeking for “an order of injunction directing the Probate Registrar of the Lagos State High Court to forthwith admit to Probate the last the last Will and Testament of late Mr. Alexander Urumemu Ibru dated July 6, 1992.” In addition they also want “an order of mandatory injunction” compelling Maiden Ibru to render accounts of her management of the Estate of the deceased between November 20, 2011 till “when she is restrained” by the court “from so acting as an Executor de son tort”

Foluke

The latest in the series of wills of popular figure whose last testaments generated disputes is the ongoing row over the will of the late Biafran warlord. Ojukwu’s sons are saying the will is not the authentic will of their father. It will be recalled that late Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, the Ikemba Nnewi, died on November 26, 2011, in a London hospital after a brief illness. Since the time the purported will of the late Ojukwu was read, controversies had started brewing as regards the authenticity of the document among family members. The controversial will especially spawned public surprise because it purportedly left out the name of Ojukwu’s first son Chief Debe Odumegwu. Another highlight of the will being that it purports to transfer a large part of the properties to the last wife of the late warlord, Mrs. Bianca Ojukwu. Debe derided the will, saying, “There are several things wrong with the will, which included the fact that the will was read without any of the sons being invited. That sends the message to you. Only the person who benefited was at the reading of the will, you can see.” Sunday Mirror sought the views of some lawyers on this recurrent problem of controversies over wills in Nigeria. A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. G. N. Nwueche, said when a will is properly made and executed, it would be difficult to be invalidated. He said “The problem arises when the will is not made not according to the law. One other issue that has continued to generate controversies in Nigeria on the issue of will is the concept of legitimacy of a child. “According to the Nigerian Constitution there are no bastards children. However, every child is a legitimate child, if the so-called father of a child did not accept the child as his own when the child was born, then the child cannot be the legitimate child of the man, but the child will still remain the legitimate child of the mother’s family, not that of the father! That is what people should get clear as it is important, especially in cases where the deceased died intestate.” In his own opinion, a lawyer with specialisation on probate and wills matters, Mr. Yahaya Oladeji said “There have been problems concerning proving of the wills of some persons in Nigeria, a part of the reasons responsible for this is that the will culture has not been well-entrenched in the land. “A large majority of the people does not make their wills, and where there are wills, people tend to kick against it. But legally speaking there are only four reasons for contesting a will under the law and anyone of these can make the court declare the will invalid. “These are: when will was procured by fraud; when the testator was unduly influenced into signing a will; when the testator lacked testamentary capacity to sign a will; when the will wasn’t signed in accordance with applicable state laws.”

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Dateline

SHAPING THE FUTURE WITH THE PAST DECEMBER 9, 2012

How notorious robbery kingpin, Lawrence Anini terrorised Benin K AYODE FASUA

awrence Nomanyagbon Anini, Nigeria’s acclaimed most notorious armed robber, was born sometimes in 1960. He terrorised the old Bendel State, especially its capital, Benin City in the 1980s, but in 1986, his robbery exploits reached a terrific level that it became a national issue. He operated along with his lieutenant, Monday Osunbor, and others. However, one striking feature in the Anini reign of terror was the police complicity. It was soon discovered that the Anini gang had insiders within the police hierarchy of which George Iyamu, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, was their arrowhead. Anini, dreadfully called ‘The Law’ or ‘Ovbigbo’, was born in a village about 20 miles from Benin City. He migrated to Benin at an early age, learned to drive and became a skilled taxi driver in a few years. He became known in Benin motor parks as a man who could control the varied competing interest among motor park touts and operators. He later resorted to criminal acts in the city and soon became a driver and transporter for gangs, criminal godfathers and thieves. Later on, he decided to create his own gang and they started out as car hijackers, bus robbers and bank thieves. Gradually, he extended his criminal acts to other towns and cities far north and east of Benin. The complicity of the police is believed to have triggered Anini’s reign of terror in 1986. In early 1986, two members of his gang were tried and prosecuted against an earlier under-the-table ‘agreement’ with the police to destroy evidence against the gang members. The incident, and Anini’s view of police betrayal, is believed to have spurred retaliatory actions by Anini. In August, 1986, a fatal bank robbery linked to Anini was reported in which a police officer and others were killed. That same month, two officers on duty were shot at a barricade while trying to stop Anini’s car. During a span of three months, he was known to have killed nine police officers. Anini’s exploits In an operation in August of 1986, the Anini team struck at First Bank, Sabongida-Ora, where they carted away N2, 000. But although the amount stolen was seen as chicken feed, they left the scene with a trail of blood. Many persons were killed. On September 6, same year, the Anini gang snatched a Peugeot 504 car from Albert Otoe, the driver of an Assistant Inspector General of Police, Christopher Omeben. In snatching the car, they killed the driver and went to hide his corpse somewhere. It was not until three months later that the skeleton of the driver was spotted 16 kilometers away from Benin, along the Benin-Agbor highway. A day after this attack, Anini, operating in a Passat car believed to have been stolen, also effected the snatching of another Peugeot 504 car near the former FEDECO office, in Benin. Two days after, the Anini men killed two policemen in Orhiowon Local Government of the state. Still in that month, three different robbery attacks, all pointing to Anini’s involvement, took place. They include the murder of Frank Unoarumi, a former employee of the Nige-

Anini

rian Observer newspapers; the killing of Mrs. Remi Sobanjo, a chartered accountant, and the stealing of the Mercedes Benz car in Benin, of the Ughelli monarch, the Ovie. Before September, 1986 drew to a close, Anini, now steaming hot and an elusive dread, struck at a gas station along Wire Road, Benin, where he stole a substantial part of the day’s sales. He shot the Station’s attendant and gleefully started spraying his booty along the road for people to pick. The height of Anini’s exploits, however, took place on October 1, 1986, the Independence Day when the state’s Commissioner of Police, Casmir Igbokwe was ambushed by the gang in Benin, and nearly yanked off his nose in a hail of bullets. The police boss survived the attacks with serious injuries. Earlier that day also, the Anini men had gunned down a police man within the city Also, on October 21 of same year, the Anini robbery gang terminated the life of a Benin-based medical doctor, A.O Emojeve when they gunned him down along Textile Mill Road, in Benin. Not done, Anini and gang went and robbed the Agbor branch of African Continental Bank and carted away about N46, 000. A day after the operation, Anini, The Law, turned to a ‘Father Christmas’ as he strew wads of naira notes on the ground for free pick by market men and women at a village near Benin. Anini’s image thus loomed larger than life, dwarf-

ing those of Ishola Oyenusi, the king of robbers in the 1970s and Youpelle Dakuro, the army deserter who masterminded the most vicious daylight robbery in Lagos in 1978, in which two policemen were killed. Anini thus spear-headed a four-month reign of terror between August and December 1986. Anini also reportedly wrote numerous letters to media houses using political tones of Robin Hood-like words, to describe his criminal acts. My friend, where is Anini? Worried by the seeming elusiveness of Anini and his gang members, the military President, General Ibrahim Babangida then ordered a massive manhunt for the kingpin and his fellow robbers. The police thus went after them, combing every part of Bendel State where they were reportedly operating and living. The whole nation was gripped with fear of the robbers and their daredevil exploits. However, Police manhunt failed to stop their activities; the more they were hunted, the more intensified their activities became. Some of the locals in the area even began to tell stories of their invincibility and for a while, it felt like they were never going to be caught. However, at the conclusion of a meeting of the Armed Forces Ruling Council in October 1986, General Babangida turned to the Inspector- General of Police, Etim Inyang, and asked, ‘My friend, where is Anini?’. CONTINUED ON PAGE 8

Dateline

Sunday, December 9, 2012

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

How notorious robbery kingpin, Lawrence Anini terrorised Benin

Babangida

Inyang

Osunbor

At about this time, Nigerian newspapers and journals were also publishing various reports and editorials on the ‘Anini Challenge’, the ‘Anini Saga’, the ‘Anini Factor’, ‘Lawrence Anini – the Man, the Myth’, ‘Anini, Jack the Ripper’, and ‘Lawrence Anini: A Robin Hood in Bendel’. The Guardian asked, emphatically, in one of its reports: ‘Will they ever find Anini, “The Law”?’. His arrest Finally, it took the courage of Superintendent of Police, Kayode Uanreroro to bring the Anini reign of terror to an end. On December 3, 1986, Uanreroro caught Anini at No 26, Oyemwosa Street, opposite Iguodala Primary School, Benin City, in company with six women. Acting on a tip-off from the locals, the policeman went straight to the house where Anini was hiding and apprehended him with very little resistance. Uanreroro led a crack 10-man team to the house, knocked on the door of the room, and Anini himself, clad in underpants, opened the door. “Where is Anini,” the police officer quickly enquired. Dazed as he was caught off guard and having no escape route, Anini all the same tried to be smart. “Oh, Anini is under the bed in the inner room”. As he said it, he made some moves to walk past Uanreroro and his team. In the process, he shoved and head-butted the police officer but it was an exercise in futility. Uanreroro promptly reached for his gun, stepped hard on Anini’s right toes and shot at his left ankle. Anini surged forward but the policemen took hold of him and put him in a sitting position. They then pumped more bullets into his shot leg and almost severed the ankle from his entire leg. Already, anguished by the excruciating pains, the policemen

asked him, “Are you Anini?” And he replied, “My brother, I won’t deceive you; I won’t tell you lie, I’m Anini.” He was from there taken to the police command headquarters where the state’s Police Commissioner, Parry Osayande, was waiting. While in the police net, Anini who had poor command of English and could only communicate in pidgin, made a whole lot of revelations. He disclosed, for instance that Osunbor, who had been arrested earlier, was his deputy, saying that Osunbor actually shot and wounded the former police boss of the state, Akagbosu Anini was shot in the leg, transferred to a military hospital, and had one of his legs amputated. That was after Monday Osunbor was also captured.

Iyamus’s house

Iyamu

Uanreroro

When Anini’s hideout was searched, police recovered assorted charms, including the one he usually wore around his waist during “operations”. It was instructive that after Anini was captured and dispossessed of his charms, the man who terrorised a whole state and who was supposed to be fearless suddenly became remorseful, making confessions. This was against public expectation of a daredevil hoodlum who would remain defiant to the very end.

ing and abetting of criminals in Bendel State and the entire country. Anini particularly revealed that Iyamu, who was the most senior police officer shielding the robbers, would reveal police secrets to them and then, give them logistic supports such as arms, to carry out robbery operations. He further revealed that Iyamu, after each operation, would join them in sharing the loot. It was further exposed how Iyamu planned to kill Christopher Omeben, an Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Intelligence and Investigation. But Iyamu was later to be disappointed as the assailants dispatched to eliminate Omeben were only able to kill his driver, Otue, a sergeant. Iyamu, whom the robbers fondly referred to as ‘Baba’, reportedly had choice buildings in Benin City; being how he invested the loots he obtained from men of the underworld

Revelations on Iyamu, others Shortly after the arrest of Anini and co, the dare-devil robbers began to squeal, revealing the roles played by key police officers and men, in the aid-

Trial and execution Due to amputation of his leg, Anini was confined to a wheelchair throughout his trial. Iyamu, on his part, denied ever knowing and collaborating with Anini, but Anini The Law furiously retorted, “You are a shameless liar!” Anini had accused him before Justice James Omo-Agege in the High Court of Justice, off Sapele Road in Benin City. Of the 10 police officers Anini implicated, five were convicted. The robbery suspects, including Iyamu, were sentenced to death. But in passing his judgement, Justice Omo-Agege remarked, “Anini will forever be remembered in the history of crime in this country, but it would be of unblessed memory. Few people if ever, would give the name to their children.” Their execution took place on March 29, 1987.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

News

Sunday December 9, 2012

Jonathan weeps at brother’s burial

•He died of cardiac arrest, says President EMMA GBEMUDU YENAGOA.

resident Goodluck Jonathan yesterday could not hold back his emotion as his late younger brother, Meni, was laid to rest in Otuoke, Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. The apparently pensive President opened up that the deceased died of cardiac arrest and inflamed heart. Jonathan said arrangements were being made to fly his brother out of the country for medical treatment before he died on November 20. While describing Meni’s sudden demise as painful and sad, Jonathan prayed God to give their family the fortitude to bear the loss, even as he expressed appreciation to Nigerians that gathered in his community for the funeral of his brother. Among the dignitaries that graced the burial ceremony were the governors of Bayelsa State, Seriake Dickson; Rivers, Chibuike Amaechi; Akwa Ibom, Godswill Akpabio; Delta, Emmanuel Uduaghan; Abia, Theodore Orji; Ebonyi, Martin Elechi and Anambra, Peter Obi. Many ministers were also present. Others at the burial include Senate President, David Mark; Speaker House Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal; Chief Tony Anenih; businessmen, Aliko Dangote, Jim

Ovia, Tony Elumelu, Arthur Eze, ace footballer, Kanu Nwankwo, and some women groups. The northern and South-West governors were conspicuously absent at the burial events. While the burial lasted, however, security was beefed up by soldiers, policemen and other paramilitary organisations at the Saint Stephen’s Anglican Church, where a commendation service was held in honour of Meni ,who is survived by two wives and nine children. Eldest son of the deceased, Lamawal , read the only lesson of the service. Bishop of Ogbia Diocese, Anglican Communion, Rt.Revd. James Oruwori, presided over the funeral service that lasted for about an hour. Oruwori in his sermon, said there was life after death, noting that death was a way of passing from one phase to the other. The clergyman regretted that the death of Meni was very disturbing ,believing that there was judgment after death. President Jonathan, in his remarks, said,”I thank all of you on behalf of the family for the show of concern, sympathy since I lost my younger brother. It was a bad day because it coincided with my birthday. I always know that people will surely die; I always believe that people will live to an age while they make their names.

Some persons die before they were born, there are a lot of still births… He has his two sons fairly grown up, those, at least will be with us.” Jonathan ,who was clad in black jumper and accompanied by his wife, Patience and Mother, Eunice at the commendation service, said what worried him most was the circumstances surrounding his brother’s death. His words: “The circumstances of his death sometimes worry me. What worries me is that he died so suddenly. This was a young man I came home on a Friday, he came to my house ,nobody carried him, he moved down just from his house across

the road. We discussed, he was a bit frail. I said ‘follow us so that he can do medical check-up. He himself drove down to Yenagoa to board the chopper to Abuja. “He got to Abuja that Saturday, so he was admitted in the hospital. The following Monday, his breathing changed. I said ‘let us make arrangement to get him out to let him get treatment outside.’ So an arrangement was being done, unfortunately, the following thing is that he had cardiac arrest an inflamed heart at the State House clinic. We were making arrangement to move him to National Hospital. It is a very sad thing; he had been covering the

home front for us. He had been a very humble person.” “Meni was a reliable and trustworthy person that you can ask to handle things for you. He is dead ,there is nothing we can do. I must thank all of you who have come to join the Jonathan family to give us this respect. In some traditions, I’m not supposed to be in church. It is tradition that you don’t bury your younger ones. Luckily for this community, we don’t have too many of these cultural and traditional things. It is quite sad ,it pulled the whole Nigerians to the community to bury my younger brother,” a visibly shaken President Jonathan lamented.

Children and wives of the of the late Meni Innocent Jonathan, younger brother of President Goodluck Jonathan after a funeral church service for the deceased at St. Stephen Anglican Church, Otueke, Bayelsa State, yesterday

PDP shops for suitable replacement for ailing Taraba governor

he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is considering its options in replacing Governor Danbaba Suntai of Taraba State as it is becoming clearer he is unlikely to recover from his head injuries.

The governor, who was in a plane crash at the Yola International Airport in Adamawa two months ago, is currently in hospital in Hanover, Germany. Several sources revealed to Saharareporters, a web news service, that the party is working with the Presidency to find a suitable replacement for the governor. According to one source, several party leaders, including PDP chairman, Bamanga Tukur, Rivers State gover-

nor, Rotimi Amaechi, and Senate President, David Mark, have all visited the ailing governor and concluded that he could never recover from brain injury to run the state. A separate delegation led by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, failed to set eyes on the governor during an attempted visit two weeks ago as he had been moved to the intensive care unit and on life support. He and his four companions could only leave a get well message with Suntai’s doctors. Saharareporters also learnt that last week, Suntai’s personal doctor visited Nigeria and confided in family members and friends that the governor

is unlikely to recover from his head injuries anytime soon. But as in the case of the late Nigerian president, Umaru Yar’Adua, members of Suntai’s family have pressurised state officials to engage in propaganda that the brain-damaged governor is “making dramatic” improvements and speaking by telephone to some people in the state. Last Saturday, the Taraba State Commissioner for Information, Emmanuel Bello, denied reports that the governor suffers brain-damage, but when asked to provide evidence, he only said the governor had spoken to a Senator. Sources said none of the state officials have

visited the governor in Germany since he was airlifted from Nigeria. Other members of his government who were hurt in the air crash have left hospitals in Germany and returned to Nigeria. On October 4, three weeks before Governor Suntai’s plane crash, the Taraba House of Assembly impeached Deputy Governor Sani Abubakar Danladi following allegations of “gross misconduct” leveled against him by a judicial panel. On October 5, Alhaji Garba Umar was sworn in as Deputy Governor after he signed an undertaking with the governor not to run as a candidate for governor in any elections. On November 14, the

House of Assembly, invoking Section 190(2) of the Nigerian Constitution, empowered Umar to act as governor. With the party performing poorly in many states and at the centre, the PDP is anxious not to lose Taraba to other political parties. A source at the presidency said the party has been mandated to make formal announcements after the holiday seasons regarding the status of Mr. Suntai. Meanwhile, the acting governor appears working fully as governor already by making internal changes and putting structures in place to run the state as the de facto governor.

Six die in Ibadan auto crash KEMI OLAITAN IBADAN

ragedy struck in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, yesterday as a young lady and five boys died in a ghastly motor accident . Sunday Mirror learnt that two young ladies and four boys left one of the highly rated joints located at Ajeigbe area of Ibadan metropolis where they had been enjoying themselves since Friday evening one of the ladies disembarked on the way before the accident . It was gathered that the driver of the Toyota Camry car with other victims suspected to have been heavily drunk drove from Challenge to Mobil area on top speed and lost control on getting to the Oni and Sons Bus Stop, ramming the car into an electricity pole and forcing the vehicle to tumble to the other lane where it hit a BMW car that was going towards Challenge area . It was learnt that the owner of the BMW car who died on the spot was coming from a vigil before he met his fate. A vulcanizer at the scene, while speaking on the condition of anonymity, said “when I got here this morning, I saw the two cars, the BMW and the Toyota Camry. I learnt that the accident occurred early in the morning, I saw about six people, I don’t know whether they were police or road safety officials, but they towed the two cars away from here this morning. “Also I learnt that all the people involved in the accident about six of them died on the spot and their corpses taken to the Adeoyo State Hospital”. Efforts made to get the reactions of the Oyo State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) ,DSP Ayodele Lanade, proved abortive as he did not pick his mobile phone despite several calls.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Academe MOULDING THE NATION’S FUTURE DECEMBER 9, 2012

Meadow Hall Schools, Lekki

A typical public school in Lagos

Early education: Missing out on childhood’s experience Children are enrolled in schools even before they attain school age. While in school, their academic work loads are enormous. What implication is this to their psychological completeness, having missed some childhood experience? As some condemn the practice, others see no danger. Tai Anyanwu reports.

“I

have grown used to my mummy’s sweet voice waking me up at 5.45 am every morning. But l doubt if I will ever get used to coming back from school and not to see her till the next morning,” said little Esse Omorodion, a two and half year-old Nursery One pupil of Edidot Nursery/Primary School, Lagos. Since she must be ready when her school bus comes to pick her up, Esse said she has to struggle out of the comfort of her bed at dawn, five days in one week. With sleepy eyes, she is led to the bathroom along with her mom who must go to work early to escape traffic grid-lock on Lekki-Epe Expressway engendered by the on-going road

Bolarinwa

expansion. “Of course, my school bus comes around as early as 6.00 am; and with the honking of the school bus, I will be like ‘Oh, I will be separated from my mummy’s love and care till the next day”, she related. Then carrying her school bag with one hand, little Esse would snuggle beside her mom with the other hand and allow herself to be led to a waiting bus. She walks unsteadily into outstretched arms of Aunty Oga, the school nanny. Ordinarily, the auntie’s friendly smiles should provide some comfort. But hear little Esse: “That reminds me that another long day has begun. Aunty collects my food flask from my mummy and I always remember I wave and say ‘bye mummy’. ” Little Esse is not the only kid that misses her parents so terribly. Sunday Mirror’s survey in Lagos shows that many kids in private schools across the major cities in Nigeria share the same experience. From the moment a child is ushered into the school bus, parents practically pass buck of the child’s upbringing to the school system. Education stakeholders in Nigeria agree that it is an enormous responsibility that deserves more attention than it is presently getting. Invariably, a nanny with Meadow Hall School, Lagos, who pleaded anonymity, said that some children remain

moody for long after they are picked off to school. “I just have to pet until they can cheer up again. Others fall asleep on the way to school, especially if it takes longer time to get to school for reasons of traffic hold-up,” she added. Though most private schools parade better facilities and offer some comfort for the kids, which public schools lack, Mr. Mathew Egbo, a Mathematics Teacher in Debiruss Schools in Lekki, averred that academic activities in the country are now patterned after the American system of education. “For instance, children get enrolled into school as early as the parents are tired of keeping that at home during work hours. Unlike the British system, still operational in public schools and requires that a child must attain school age. A Sunday Mirror survey also discovered that pupils in private schools sit for long hours of tutelage and most times get bored. Typically, in public schools, academic studies start from 8.3o am to 3.30 pm; and then evening lessons commence from there. At the end of the day, they get home late in the evening, at about 5.30 pm. A concerned mother, Mrs. Victoria Obi, believes that it is not helpful to keep the children that late. “Besides, the children bring home loads of assignments which they must do at home and must present in school the next day. Tell me; is there any time left for them to play as kids?” she asked rhetorically. In spite of the reservations expressed, many parents would rather go the extra length to send their wards to private schools. To some, it has become a class thing-‘I too belong.’ However, some think that children in private schools have access

to quality education than those in public schools. The glamorous learning environment offered by the private schools lend more weight to this conviction. Thus, private schools have taken the centre stage in the education of the Nigerian child. But the key questions still nag. Does the pattern favoured by private school offer better quality? Why is education standard in the country plummeting? Principal of Victoria Island Junior Secondary School, Mr. A. B. Bolarinwa, in own reaction, said, “Learning process in those days was fashioned after British system of education; it was arranged to allow pupils do their assignments and submit them the next day. Ideally, we sit through eight hours of teaching daily; the short and long breaks inclusive. “After school hours, those in the boarding house go for prep. Day students that live near the school usually join. Then there is time for games in the evening, after which dinner is served. Night prep lasts from 8.00pm to at least 10 pm. So I would say that we studied just as hard as nowadays’ pupils.” According to Bolarinwa, the system operated in under the old order but are still in operation in public school ensures higher standards of education, probably because of the dedication of those who were in charge. “Many private schools dangle the American system of education as a selling point and create the impression that it will guarantee more qualitative education. What the private school owners are interested in is the money that parents are going to pay. Yet the standards are falling because you CONTINUED ON PAGE 11

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Academe

Sunday, December 9, 2012

Missing out on childhood’s experience CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10 discover that those claims are not true,” he pointed out. Bolarinwa told Sunday Mirror that many public schools’ results have been found to be far better than the scores of the private schools. “The 2012 May/June results in which Lagos took the third position in the whole country showed that most of the children that performed very well are pupils from public schools. Many parents are getting the awareness that public schools are better and are now withdrawing their wards and bringing them to public schools,” Bolarinwa said. A psychologist from the University of Lagos, Mathew Obarafo, was emphatic that our education managers should adopt a system of education that would groom

future generation of Nigerians that is not only intellectually sound but also possesses emotional stability to steer the ship of state through the right course. “The questions education stakeholders must tackle are; ‘Are the predominating private schools able to groom the youths to fit into the desired future generation? What about the over-loading question and poor time management? Is childhood lost in the entire process? And what are the possible implications?” Obarafo listed out. Besides, Sunday Mirror found out that private schools employ West African School Certificate (WASC) holders as teachers and pay the teachers as poor as N10, 000 as monthly salary. On the other hand, government expects a primary school teacher in the public schools to have at least the Na-

tional Certificate of Education (NCE). Also, learning process in the public is staggered in a way that allows better time management and yet guarantee effective study hours. Whereas in the private schools, children are thought 13 to 17 subjects from morning till about 3.3o pm, they are also sent home late with many home works which do not give them time to rest the brain. According to experts in human behaviour, there are stages in human development and children should be allowed to develop along the growth stages. Obarafo explained that a child is not ripe for academic activities until the child’s mental ability has developed cognitively. According to him, a child attains such maturity at ages three to four years, otherwise

known as school age. Besides, “The brain cannot cope with extra work after a tolerable length of time. Ideally, school children close every day at 2 O’clock. Children should have time to study, play and allow the brain to rest. If the brain is not allowed to rest, there will be transference. If what a child learnt earlier is not allowed to stay, the further intake would overshadow what has been acquired; and the child would not be able to recognise the former. It is not advisable for the children to study more than seven hours per day,” Obarafo said. Excess work coupled with denial of parental love leads to loss of childhood and that has serious implications, he continued. “The fearful side of this is that a child that is denied parental love develops negative tendencies. If nothing is done about this trend, this system will produce future generation of traumatised, harsh and lessloving Nigerians,” Obarafo warned.

‘Make maturity a criterion in school enrolment’ Parents have been warned against the dangers of not recognising the place of stages of child’s development in the process of acquiring western education. In this interview with Tai Anyanwu, Matthew Obarafo of the Department of Psychology, University of Lagos, alerts Nigerians to the consequences of overworking the children in school as it simply translates to loss of childhood In those days, pupils for admission were made to stretch their hand across the head and touch the ear on the other side. What were the school managers looking for then? They were looking for maturity. But nowadays, lots of young people gain admission into schools when they are not mature cognitively. Sigmund Freud, famous psychologist and controversial thinker, said that there are stages of human development. The first stage, usually from one day old to one and half years, he called the oral stage. It is the stage that children derive pleasure with the mouth. Then children cannot tell or express what they need. But they can voice out their need by crying. There is an anal stage and other stages. In all the stages, there is what we call fixation. It is a kind of fascination or habit that a child develops if the child is not given what he or she needs at any given stage. The habit remains with the child when the child grows old. Between ages three and four, a child enters the third stage of development. At this stage, a child’s memory has developed cognitively. This is the age that is advisable for children to go to school. And Eric Ericson, another psychologist, described the age as the age children try to trust the parent. He agrees that it is the ripe age to enroll children in school. Invariably, if a child who is not cognitively developed is sent off to school, the child will misbehave. For that reason, maturity is key. Do you see any difference between the system of education we inherited from the British and the system as it is practised today? Yes. There are lots of differences in the sense that corruption has crept in. In western countries, requisite school age is still being observed. In Nigeria or rather Africa, we are too in haste. Over there, parents buy toys that look like oranges, apples, mangoes or oranges, for children at ages one to two years to play with. Right from the house, the baby already knows what an apple is. When the child starts school and the teacher says ‘A’ for apple the child already knows. But many of our children have never come

across an apple physically. So, they can recite ‘A’ for apple but they cannot picture it. How about parents rushing to enroll children into schools prematurely? Again, people believe that when they take their wards to private schools they will do better. This is not true. And this is my reason. Private schools do not employ qualified teachers. What is the qualification of the teachers in the nursery one, two and primary one, two and three categories in private schools? Government will not employ somebody who is not well qualified. A teacher employed to teach in a public primary school is expected to have at least National Certificate of Education (NCE). But in the case of private schools, they want to maximize profit. They pay N10, 000 to school certificate holders who the schools employ as teachers. What would such underpaid, unqualified teacher offer? One can only offer what one has. One cannot offer what one does not have. For that reason, my children are in public schools. If it is one hour those public schools teach per day, the knowledge they will gain will be greater than what the private school can offer, even though the private schools teach 10 hours a day. Are you saying that children in private schools spend more hours and are overloaded with academic work? It is common knowledge that private schools’ kids are picked from the house as early as 5.30 to 6.00 am; and taken to school. They study average of 13 to 17 subjects a day, from that morning till about 4.00 pm. At home, there are teacher’s assignments. The assignments will keep the kids occupied till late evening often with the lessons’ teacher engaging them in another round of academic work, because parents at work. The child is not given time to play; the child is rather overloaded. There is a mental ability beyond which one cannot cope with extra work. Ideally, schools should allow children close every day at two O’clock. Children should have time to study at home, time to play and time to allow the brain to rest. If the brain is not allowed to rest, there will

Obarafo

be transference. What a child learnt earlier should be allowed to stay, otherwise the new intake of teaching would overshadow the old ones; and the child would not be able to recognise the latter. It is not advisable for the children to study more than seven hours per day. Let me tell you something about children. By the time a child should be allowed to play, if they are not allowed, when the child gets older, he will still play that play that was denied. If a mother refuses to breast-feed a child at the time the child is supposed to suck, when the child grows up, there is every tendency that the child will smoke; because the child must suck something. As a parent, you are supposed to give your child meat to eat. If the child is denied, the child will chew gum as a grown up, because the child has to chew something. So, there are stages and levels of development. There are implications. Childhood is lost, they lose parental love/ care and the fearful side of this is that a child that is denied parental love develops negative tendencies. If nothing is done about this trend, this system will produce future generation of traumatised, harsh and lessloving Nigerians. How do you assess the quality of Nigeria’s education standard today? In those days, when the British system of education was still fully practised in Nigeria, the standard of education in the country was commendably high. What obtains today is less desirable even in the era that we are witnessing a n invasion of the American type of education. Would you say that this invasion education system has a relationship with the falling

education standard in our society? Lots of factors are contributory to the lower standard of education. Corruption is number one. In the school, many lecturers do not have time for students because they have other businesses outside their teaching jobs. This is so real that students cannot even see the lecturers if they want to ask questions pertaining to their studies. Just take look to your right; you can see students hanging around their lecture hall. This is class hours, and they are hanging outside, waiting for their lecturer. The lecture may not come because he or she has something else doing outside. If the lecturer eventually comes, a lecture that should last two hours will hold for only 30 minutes. Two, government is not even helping matters because facilities are very poor. Late Professor Omoolu Ade once told his students that he read psychology in the University of Lagos and pointed out that equipment used to train his set was the same being used to train students today, about 40 years after he graduated. What should be done to raise education standard in Nigeria? First, government should step in and sponsor children’s education, from nursery to adolescent age. Children should not be allowed to hawk in the streets instead of facing their studies squarely. The level of poverty in the country should be tackled equally. The government should be committed to its policy of change and revamp the nation’s economy. We must forget about any system or style that makes parents send kids to school before they attain school age; and return to the former system which allows only ripe children to be enrolled into schools.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

STORIES THAT TOUCH YOU DECEMBER 9, 2012

Revealed! Jubilee Hotel, Ojukwu daughter’s inheritance, sold twice A ZA MSUE KADUNA

indings at the weekend revealed that the house in Zaria, Kaduna State, which was willed by the late Biafran warlord, Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu to his newly unveiled daughter, Tenny Haman, has been sold. The first person to buy it from Ojukwu got it at N2 million and converted it to a hotel But sources said the place, known as Jubilee Hotel, was later re-sold to someone else for N7 million Sunday Mirror’s investigation revealed that the former Jubilee Hotel, once the residence of Chief Ojukwu, located at New Hospital Road, Sabon – Gari, Zaria is now undergoing renovation and it is not clear what its new owner intends to do with it. The first person to buy the building from Ojukwu (names withheld), apparently an Igbo man, abandoned the hotel business in Zaria, making him to resell it and relocate to his country home in Nnewi in Anambra State. It would be recalled that the muchawaited Will of the ex-Biafran leader was read last Friday at the Enugu High Court by the Chief Registrar of Enugu State High Court, Mr. Dennis Ekoh which threw up some surprises as the late warlord identified an unknown daughter, Tenny Harman, as the inheritor of the Zaria building which was widely perceived to be an hotel belonging to Ojukwu. But when the codicil was read, it was observed that the hotel had been sold. Thus,

Front view of the building

The late Odumegwu-Ojukwu

she is to receive the proceeds from the sale. Haman, one of Ojukwu’s children was said to have been fathered by the former Biafran leader through a Sierra Leonean woman he met while serving as the Commander of the 5th Battalion in Kano in the 1960s. Sunday Mirror observed that the house has been under renovation and reconstruction as no one is sure of the intention of the new owner with the building. Meanwhile, there have been no indications that the controversy trailing the reading of the Ojukwu will would soon abate. Emeka Jnr, who claim to be the first son

of Ojukwu, had described the document as fake. He dismissed the Will presented by Barr Emeka Onyemelukwe, saying he is a private counsel to Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu and not that of his dad Ojukwu Jnr argued that he has a copy of the original Will written by his father and not what he described as the fraud presented as a Will. He said,“There have been rumours that there is an attempt to read the will and that they intend to make changes in the original Will. Well, I have not seen the Will that they read. “Now, there are issues that come to mind, why were there no members of Ojukwu family when the Will was read? They were not invited and they were not told. “She was here last Sunday when we removed the mourning cloth and since she knows that the Will would be read, she

would have invited us or even put us on notice. “ “Now, the lawyer that is supposedly doing all this things is not our father’s lawyer, Mr Onyemelukwe is not a lawyer that is known to the family as Ezeigbo’s lawyer. Remember when Ezeigbo was sick, the same Lawyer went to the press to claim that Ezeigbo is getting better and that he is now on exercise and would soon come home and he was lying. “It is still the same lawyer that claimed to have custody of the Will. And I told everybody that it was not true and that since my father was flown to England, he never lifted an arm or spoke a word until his death finally”. In the same vein, Debe, another claimant to the first son position in the Ojukwu family also dismissed the Will.

Woman abandons 3-month-old baby inside ‘Keke NAPEP’

…As hearing resumes in Onitsha kidnap case NWABUEZE OKONKWO ONITSHA

nitsha, eastern Nigeria’s commercial nerve centre, yesterday witnessed another oddity when a young, unidentified girl abandoned her three-month old baby girl and a bag in a tricycle, popularly known as Keke NAPEP, parked beside a pub at Upper Iweka, the heart of the commercial city. The driver of the tricycle who gave his name as Samuel Nwigwe, explained that he had closed work for the day and was just relaxing over some bottles of beer with friends near the park when suddenly he peeped into his parked tricycle only to discover to his chagrin, that the three-month-old baby girl . It lay at the back of the tricycle inside a bag. According to Nwigwe, his alarm attracted passersby who thronged the scene to catch a glimpse of the abandoned baby girl.

Consequently, the attention of the state deputy chairman of the Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS), Anambra State, Dr. Peter Emeka Katchy, was drawn to the incident and he ordered that the baby to be brought to the Red Cross Motherless Home, Ontisha. At the time of this report, Dr. Katchy confirmed to newsmen that the baby girl was being taken adequate care of at the Motherless babies’ home. The Police Area Commander for Onitsha, Mr. Benjamin Wordu, told newsmen in a telephone chat that he was not yet aware of the incident, at press time yesterday. Meanwhile, hearing is expected to resume tomorrow at the Onitsha High Court in Anambra State in the charge preferred against 10 accused persons for allegedly kidnapping an Onitshabased transport magnate, Chief G. U. Okeke on August 23, 2009 while in a church service at the All Saints Cathedral Anglican Church, Onitsha. The matter came up for hearing

last Thursday but the presiding Judge of Onitsha High Court, Justice Celine Nweke, could not sit because she was to retire as a judge the following day and consequently, the matter was adjourned to Monday December 10 for mention before a new judge who was expected to have assumed duty before the new date. However, shortly after the matter was adjourned, a mild drama ensued at the court premises when one of the prison officials alighted from their official vehicle with only one of the kidnap suspects, Kelechi Okafor, the fifth accused person. Efforts by photo journalists to take the photograph of the accused person led to an unusual violent reaction from the prison official who questioned their authority to take pictures inside the court premises. In the process, the prison official verbally abused the complainant, Okeke several times before inviting some police men to arrest him and the photo journalists.

The invitation prompted the arrival of a team of mobile and conventional policemen from the Onitsha Police Area Command, but on arrival at the court premises, they discovered that it was a false alarm from the prison official and they left, after hearing the true story from Okeke himself.

Peter Obi, Anambra State governor

CHRIS NJO

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Interview ENCOUNTER WITH A NEWS MAKER DECEMBER 9, 2012

Oil price not reliable for planning annual budgets –Ojowu Professor Ode Ojowu is the former Chief Economic Adviser to President Olusegun Obasanjo. He also served at various capacities with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), International Monetary Bank (IMF) and the World Bank. In this interview with Assistant Editor, Tola Akinmutimi, he takes a critical look at some areas of Nigeria’s macroeconomic policies and how to improve on them for sustainable national development. Considering the approach Nigeria is adopting in economic development over the past decades, would you say planning has been given the proper priority given its critical role in development and level of funding in yearly budgets. Ever since the year the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) was introduced, planning has not received the attention due to it. In fact, there were times when I was in the office and after that even the Planning Commission itself was under the threat of extinction due to poor funding. There were moves to move the commission back to the Ministry of Finance as a department that the government had to refuse. However, the Planning Commission is now getting better attention than before as a commission, but planning itself is not really getting the correct focus. What we have in place of planning, I used to remember then, was the three-year period for capital project and then we entered Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) which, over a three or four-year project, the revenues flew against the expected incomes. The idea was to have a profile of the revenue and how to manage the expenditures that go with it. The missing link is that if you go and study that thing, it does not tell you what the problems are that needed to be solved. Mainly having a revenue profile or spending profile to write the budget is important but in comprehensive planning, you do not only have the problem in perceptive over a long period but you also segment the problems into sections for solutions so that in each particular year, you will define how much of this problem you need to resolve. Now, you hear such thing like oh, budget for Agriculture is not enough and the reason they give is that Agriculture is an important sector. That is not the way to measure the budget. What you need to measure is how much the problem in Agriculture needs to be resolved in the year 2012. It is against that that you budget and if you do that you will find out that the amount of the budget for the year may be far too much or perhaps too little for you. You have to have a target for what you want to resolve, not the sector and this is important. We need a return to

Professor Ojowu

effective planning and implementation of budget in real terms. The National Bureau of Statistics, by virtue of its enabling Act, is expected to do so much within the context of planning and production of evidencebased statistics to aid development. How would you rate the current level of funding of the agency? Well, let me not be so negative about this. You remember that before 2005, the headquarters of the operations of Bureau, then known as Federal Office of Statistics, were in four different locations in Lagos. Now we have got a central building here in Abuja that houses all the operations of the Bureau at na-

tional level as a very important contribution of the government. But the operational tools of this place, the furniture and other facilities inside this building, are support from the European Union, from the Department of Foreign and International Development (DFID). The operational expenses for some of the researches come from the World Bank under its Good Governance Reform programme. You also have United Nations Development Programme’s support in terms of operation. It is the development partners that keep the NBS going in areas of researches, technical and technological tools and other areas of its operations. The contribution of government CONTINUED ON PAGE 14

Interview

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13

is very low in these areas. If you go through it, we are supposed to give the autonomy away to the NBS so that its funding can be direct because the operational expenses of the NBS is fairly large. There is need to give a priority attention to it for us to meet the target that is set for us in the Vision 20:2020 economic blueprint. I think that NBS is doing pretty well. By 2005, it was rated very low but now I think it is rated among the best three in Africa even ahead of South Africa now. But there is need for a lot of commitment on the part of the government to show that there is need for improved usage of statistical data in national development agenda. I am not just talking about the Federal Government statistics but all tiers of government have to be actively involved in the initiative. The Federal Government is not supported by the states and even the local governments. That to me creates some problem in terms of the size of the funds needed and the terms of policy change between various levels of government is missing. The Federal Government cannot be doing it all alone. Now they are trying to do state level GDP but before that every state is supposed to have Statistical Act to provide that immediate support for Federal Government. Unfortunately, only very few states have that Act. While we are focusing on the contributions of Federal Government, a lot of attention and structures must be put in place at the state level and indeed local governments to facilitate production of statistical data for sustainable development of the country The issue of appropriate benchmark price for crude oil in yearly budgets has consistently been a source of prolonged debates to the extent that the budgetary process has not been fast enough to really facilitate a more efficient budgeting system. The prolonged arguments we are witnessing now on appropriate benchmark price between the executive and the legislature on the proposed 2013 Appropriation provisions do not suggest that the Appropriation Bill may be passed into law before the year ends. What do you think could be done to address this perennial problem to achieve improved performance of the yearly budgets? The issue of timing is not necessarily because of the debate over benchmark or other issues arising from communication gap between the Legislature and Executive. The issue of timing is basically related to when the Presidency is able to submit the budget. This year they have done it reasonably well and both houses have commended the Presidency for submitting their budget proposal early enough for the 2013. The Assembly is not satisfied with the performance of the 2012 capital budget and they are still trying to assess the performance. That is where the problem is. The basis of assessment and framework for doing it is not technically enough. There must be technical people who monitor these figures and verify so that you can put a political face on the figures. For the politicians that argue about figures, all of those are not the best. I know that the lawmakers have the Policy Analysis Unit that helps them to understand the technicality but the extent of the operations of that unit is what I don’t know because it doesn’t seem to be showing up very well in their debates. We must notice that the composition and membership of the National Assembly, both the Senate and the House of Representatives, has improved over the years. If you listen to their debates, quite a number of guys there know their onions and that is the plus for us going forward. Debating the benchmark, I think if they use the operations of the budget, particularly because the recurrent is spent without questions. If they use the spending of the capital budget as a guide, you will still have a lower benchmark than the $75 per barrel because if we have only 30 per cent performance or at the best 50 per cent, then you have no reason to add more money. But we are not looking at that, we are looking at the price of oil. The price of oil is not the correct guide to benchmark. The idea of benchmarking price of oil

Sunday, December 9, 2012

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‘We need effective planning, budget implementation in real terms’

Ojowu

is just to ensure the credibility of the budget but if we are looking at the operations, it will guide us better to determine the benchmark. I don’t agree with the House of Representatives that the benchmark should be raised to $82 or $85. The reason they are giving is a very sound argument that they want to use this extra money to upset the burgeoning internal debt. Now, when you take primary money and you begin to use it to upset the deficit of the budget, then you have lost multiplier effects of that money if properly invested. What we need to do is to ensure a faster and diversified growth of the economy that will reduce the ratio of the debt to the GDP faster rather than taking primary money to upset the budget. That is not economics at all, even in business it doesn’t work. You have been at the highest level of government in terms of economic management and advisory roles. Appraising the macroeconomic policy stance of the current government, where do you think there could be some changes to really make this policies impact better on the economy and welfare of the citizenry? As I said before in the management of economy,

THE STATE HOUSES OF ASSEMBLY SHOULD WORK TOGETHER AND COORDINATE THEIR BUDGETS WITH THOSE OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY IN ORDER FOR US TO HAVE A MORE ROBUST FISCAL MANAGEMENT OF THE ECONOMY

too much of it is left in the hands of the Federal Government. The government has too much control or influence over the states and local governments in terms of economic policy matters. That is the problem. Until such a time there is a higher level integration of our capital budgeting and recurrent expenditures at the various tiers of government, monetary and fiscal policies will not be very effective. You know now that the Central Bank of Nigeria is trying to fully implement cashless policy. In other words, what they want to do is to reduce the amount of money in circulation outside of the control of the central bank which is a very good move. But if you add up what all the states budget for 2013, you will find out that probably it is larger than the Federal Government’s budget. We really have to look at the national budget and some of the parastatals budgets. If we have access to them and put them together, you will find out that the percentage share of the national budget by Federal Government may be insignificant. For this fiscal arrangement to work, there is need for us to get states and local governments to be part of that process. For a more efficient budgetary system, even if it is one line, every state should submit their budget so that by the time the National Assembly is looking at its budget, maybe the state assemblies would have also processed their own. This will enable us to know what the whole national budget looks like so that when you say that Federal Government’s share or contribution to Agriculture is too small, supposing you add up all the states’ budgets to it, of course, the base will also change in relative terms. You may find that it is not as small as we think it is. I think the focus on Federal Government is rather too much. The state houses of assembly should work together and coordinate their budgets with those of the National Assembly in order for us to have a more robust fiscal management of the economy.

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Politics PROVIDING FRESH PERSPECTIVES TO ISSUES DECEMBER 9, 2012

Is Nigeria truly 35th P 16, 41 most corrupt country?

Nnamani

LET US BE REALISTIC; BETWEEN 1999 AND NOW, HOW MANY MINISTERS HAVE WE HAD? YOU HAVE 42, YOU DO CABINET RESHUFFLE AND BRING IN ANOTHER 42 AND I AM Separation of powers imperative in democracy –Don SURE BETWEEN 1999 AND NOW, WE’VE HAD MORE THAN A university teacher at the weekend said adher200 MINISTERS. HOW MANY OF THEM CAN WE REALLY ence to the principles of separation powers was the safety valve to Nigeria’s democracy. REMEMBER? –MALAM LAMIDO SANUSI Prof. Eddy Eragbe of the University of Benin

Ali

Briefly

Anenih

PDP BoT chair: Anenih, Ali, Nnamani are front runners Barely a month to January 8, 2013 final date for the election of the Peoples Democratic Party’s new Chairman of the Board of Trustees, BoT, it appears the chaff have been separated from the wheat. Obiora Ifoh takes a look at the chances of some of the front runners in the race and the intrigues that have been playing out.

t is not clear who among the contenders to the vacant seat of the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, BoT, of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, beat the Thursday deadline for the submission of letter of intent as directed by the Secretary of the BoT, Senator Walid Jibrin. However, a few names have continued to resonate as likely candidates to beat in the race. It would be recalled that Senator Jibrin had declared at the end of the board’s 41st emergency meeting recently held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja that the election that would produce a new chairman of the BoT would hold on January 8, 2013. He advised any member of the BoT who wished to contest to submit his/her letter of intent to the secretary within one week while the secretary would, in turn, present them to the board. He also remarked that the race would

Parties dare INEC over de-registration P. 40

not be an all comers affair as the quality and antecedents of the aspirants would come under close scrutiny ahead of the election. “We are not in a hurry to come up with a new chairman. We want a sound chairman with proven character and clear vision of the party’s mission,” he emphasised. Jibrin’s statement that the position of BoT chairman cannot be left in the hands of just anyone is hinged on the fact that the board is regarded as the conscience of the party with membership carefully selected from the best hands in the party. According to Section 12.76 (1) of the PDP constitution, membership of the BoT consists of all past and serving presidents and vice-presidents of the country, former and current national chairmen, deputy national chairmen and national secretaries of the party. Other members include past and serving presidents of the Senate and

speakers of the House of Representatives, who are still members of the party as well as “founding fathers and mothers”. Why OBJ resigned Political observers feel that the assumption and resignation of former President Olusegun Obasanjo as the BoT chairman were similar as both were stuck in controversy. They claim that after losing the battle to elongate his presidential tenure in 2007, Chief Obasanjo had sought to remain in power through other mean,s at least, at the party hierarchy. He consequently amended the party constitution which did not only disqualify the occupant of the BoT leadership, Chief Anthony Anenih, from continuing in that capacity but also making himself as the only Nigerian alive who can occupy that post. Though that law has been upturned by the party, it however served its purpose at the time as Chief Obasanjo assumed and bestrode the leadership of the BoT since 2007 until he abdicated the office in April, a week after he helped President Goodluck Jonathan win the presidency. In his resignation letter, the former president said he was quitting to enable him have more time to attend to pressing inCONTINUED ON PAGE 16

made the assertion in a lecture entitled, ‘Democracy and Democratisation in Nigeria: an assessment of the fourth republic’ delivered at the 20th convocation ceremony of Auchi Polytechnic. Eragbe explained that there was a disconnect between those entrusted with political positions and the people. The professor of history expressed regrets that the length of period of practising democracy since 1999 had not translated into better living condition for the people. He noted that the judiciary had a role to play in ensuring that democracy in the country thrived in spite of the challenges of insecurity, corruption and ineffective leadership. ``While we tasked those entrusted with leadership positions of this country to be alive to the yearnings and aspirations of the people, we also say our judiciary must remain just, upright and incorruptible,” he stated. He commended the giant stride recorded by the national assembly in the performance of their oversight function over the 2012 Budget. Earlier, the Rector of the Auchi Polytechnic, Dr. Philipa Idogho, said that, though, the country had made progress in democracy, the majority of the people were yet to assimilate the values that would make democracy an integral part of them. According to Idogho, the norms, attitudes and behaviour which ought to go with the concept of democracy does not appear to be fine in the country.

PDP organises retreat for zonal, state publicity secretaries The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will hold a retreat for zonal, state publicity and organising secretaries ahead of 2015 general elections. National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr Olisa Metuh, said this in a statement in Abuja at the weekend. According to him, the retreat is expected to boost the capacity of critical stakeholders in the build-up to the 2015 general elections. The retreat, which will hold from Dec. 12 to Dec. 15, would have resource persons from within and outside the party. The resource persons include the party`s former National Chairman, Dr Okwesilieze Nwodo, founding National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Aniete Okon and Chairman of Thisday Newspapers’s Editorial Board, Mr Olusegun Adeniyi. The others are member, Board of Trustees, Chief Ebenezer Babatope, Dr Akilu Indabawa, Political Adviser to the Vice-President, Mallam Abba Dabo and Mr Colet Odenigbo, a media consultant. He said the press corps attached to the PDP National Secretariat would also participate in the retreat to give them insight into the inner workings of the party. Participants are to arrive at the party secretariat in Uyo, Akwa Ibom, on Dec. 12, for accreditation.

Nwodo

Politics

Sunday, December 9, 2012

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Is Nigeria truly 35th most corrup MUYIWA OYINLOLA

orruption was one of the first challenges former President Olusegun Obasanjo promised to tackle on assumption of office on May 29, 2009. In fact, his famous quote, ‘there shall be no sacred cow’ was derived from his statement in that regard. His quest in this direction led to the establishment of two anti-graft agencies: Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC). Through those agencies, especially the EFCC, many high profile corruption cases, including those involving notable bankers and politicians, were handled, yet many remain inconclusive till date. In fact, some people accused the Obasanjo administration and the then EFCC boss, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, of using the commission to which-hunt their political enemies as many governors perceived not to be in good terms with the Federal Government were either impeached or persecuted. Obasanjo’s successor, the late Umaru Yar’Adua, on assumption of office in 2007, also promised to fight corruption, making it one of his administration’s seven-point agenda. Dr. Goodluck Jonathan who succeeded Yar’Adua, on assumption of office also maintained he would declare a state of emergency in the fight against corruption. But 13 years after the various presidents have made the promise of giving corruption a fight, Nigeria is still being considered as one of the most corrupt nations in the world. In fact, the global corruption watchdog, Transparency International, TI, in its 2012 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) released last week ranked Nigeria as the 35th most corrupt country in the world. According to the report, Nigeria scored 27 out of a maximum 100 marks to clinch the 139th position out of the 176 countries surveyed for the report. It shared that position with Azerbaijan, Kenya, Nepal and Pakistan. Countries such as Togo, Mali, Niger and Benin fared better than Nigeria. It will be recalled that in the 2011 ranking, Nigeria was in 143rd position making it the 37th most corrupt country. However, this year, the number of countries ranked was six, less than that of 2011, making it difficult to say if Nigeria had improved in the ranking or not. Since 1995, TI had been

publishing the CPI annually ranking countries ‘by their perceived levels of corruption’, as determined by expert assessments and opinion surveys. The report, since its release on Wednesday, has generated a lot of controversies, especially with the Federal Government condemning the appraisal, insisting it is not a true reflection of what obtains in the country. Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, said the report was a product of interactions with Nigerians as well as synopses of negative media reports. He accused the rating agencies of failing to recognise the efforts of the Jonathan-led administration to combat corruption, claiming that the government’s systematic and institutional approaches are gradually yielding results. For instance, Maku cited what he described as the administration’s efforts to arrest fraud in the fuel subsidy management by prosecuting suspects. He also stated that the administration had initiated audits of ministries, departments and agencies in order to curb graft in the supply of fertilisers and seeds to farmers. The Information Minister accused Nigerians of hysterically mobilising to oppose President Jonathan’s policy to curtail patronage in the oil and gas sector through deregulation. Then he asserted that the administration had continued to take decisive measures against defaulters in the fuel subsidy scam. In the same vein, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, while condemning the report said “a lot has been achieved in the intervening period with the transformation agenda of the administration. Despite these achievements, there is unbridled cynicism on the part of some individuals who have taken it upon themselves to mislead Nigerians by making unfounded and baseless allegations against this administration. The purpose of this campaign of misinformation and disinformation is to blind Nigerians to the sure and steady progress President Jonathan’s administration has made in the 18 months that it has been in power, to improve the quality of governance and deliver on the promises it made to the people. In the main, the strategy of these cynics, ‘latter-day saints’ and emergency activists has involved peddling falsehood on the true state of the government’s war on corruption, among other issues of national importance. They have posited that contrary to what government would have Nigerians believe, that the present administration is not pulling its weight in

Jonathan

the war against corruption. They have even gone as far as suggesting that President Jonathan lacks the political will to engage corruption head on”. Prior to the release of the report, a number of Nigerians, including former Minister of Housing and one-time Chairman, House of Representatives’ committee on Anti-Corruption, Nduese Essien, had expressed dissatisfaction in the way and manner the President Jonathan-led administration was handling the war against corruption, and called for the declaration of a state of emergency in the area. Essien, who

PDP BoT chair: Anenih, Ali, Nnamani are front

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 15 ternational engagements. He further said that the step would give him time “to give some attention to mentoring across the board nationally and internationally in those areas that I have acquired some experience, expertise and in which I have something to share’’. Who is qualified to contest The amended Article 12.76 of the PDP Constitution which talks on qualification for membership of Board of Trustees states that ‘a person shall be qualified for appointment into the Board of Trustees, BoT if he or she: (a) is a registered card carrying member of the party not less than four years consecutively. (b) has been paying his annual subscription fees regularly. (c) has attained the age of 50 years and (d) is a man/ woman of integrity. Section 12.80 which delves into the functions of the board also states that ‘the Board of Trustees shall subject to the provision of this constitution: (a) ensure highest standards of morality in all the activities of the party by acting as the conscience of the party, with power to call to order any officer of the party whose conduct falls below the norms’. Section 12.77 (b) also provides that ... ‘the person to be elected Chairman and Secretary’ should be people who ‘are of proven integrity and have contributed immensely to the growth of the party’. The contenders As soon as Chief Obasanjo dropped the mantle, prominent members of the party began to show interest to fill the post. They include the second republic vice-president and former BoT chairman, Dr Alex Ekwueme; former BoT chairman, Chief Tony Anenih, former PDP national chairman, Dr Ahmadu Ali; former PDP deputy national chairmen, Alhaji Shuaib Oyedokun. Others are Chief Bode George; for-

mer Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Chief Richard Akinjide; former Senate President, Ken Nnamani; second republic senator, Onyeabor Obi; Senator Bode Olajumoke and Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, among others. Other names that have been mentioned in the past include Chief Yinka Omilani; Alhaji Yekini Adeojo; Dr Omololu Olunloyo; Dr Dejo Raimi; Chief Harry Akande; former Ondo governor, Dr Olusegun Agagu and former national legal adviser of the party, Chief Olusola Oke; Chief Dapo Sarumi, and many others. However, interested parties had brought in the issue of geographical spread of offices within the party as enshrined in chapter 1 of the party constitution. Chapter 1, section 7 (3) (c) provides that the party should adhere “to the policy of the rotation and zoning of the party and public elective offices in pursuance of the principles of equity, justice and fairness”. Based on this provision, those in favour of the SouthEast producing the next chairman argue that it is only fair to the zone to be given the opportunity to produce the next BoT chairman after completely ruling out the South-West where Obasanjo hails from and SouthSouth that produced the president. The three main contenders: Anenih, Ali and Nnamani The real bout for the vacant office of the BoT has been zeroed down to three main contestants. This includes former occupant of that post, Chief Anenih, former chairman of the party, Chief Ahmadu Ali and former senate president, Chief Ken Nnamani. Political watchers believe these men have paid their due in both government and party affairs and have on several occasions exhibited rare leadership qualities that have distinguished them as leaders of great repute. However, whoever becomes the likely

occupant will emerge not because of his pedigree as political intrigues of which the interest of the presidency would be paramount, will be made to count. Tony Anenih Known as ‘Mr. Fix it’ in Nigerian political lexicon, this former minister of Works during the Obasanjo first tenure has remained one politician who is known more for his enforcer role in PDP than any other thing. Fate has made it that he has found his ways into the very heart of every leadership since 1999, calling the shots and fixing every difficult political situation. It would be recalled that Anenih had served as BoT chairman from 2003 to 2007 after Dr. Alex Ekwueme’s five-year tenure as pioneer boss of the board. Ekwueme, a former vice-president in the second republic, and the founding protem National Chairman of the party, served as the BoT boss between 1998 and 2003. However, Anenih who succeeded him was displaced by Obasanjo in 2007 in what was akin to a palace coup, barely a month after the end of his second term as president. Anenih used to be President Obasanjo’s greatest ally until the last lap of the Obasanjo regime when issues which bordered on tenure elongation as well as the choice of succession put paid to their relationship. Both men had major disagreements over the third term agenda of the former president, which Anenih never really supported. They also disagreed though not in the open over the choice of the late President Umaru Yar’Adua as the PDP presidential flag bearer in the 2007 presidential election. Ever since then both leaders have refused to agree on any major party issue. All in all, political watchers believe that despite Obasanjo’s disinclination towards Anenih, President Jonathan appeared disposed to anointing him the

next BoT chairma subsequent electio A source told S Jonathan on anoi a promise earlier role by arm-twist his candidacy aga “If it was not fo wouldn’t have be governors refused policy of zoning w was Chief Anenih agreement entere son why Jonathan presidential camp al of Obasanjo. N granting Anenih one, not even Chi ment.” According to a Obasanjo has rea of the back-stabbi elongation plot an enih was said to h litical class, includ Assembly to call f to the enthronem dent and assumin process to the cha Sources at the l president Obasan what could have enih. The source imposition of Ane It is the belief i rescheduled date f

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Sunday, December 9, 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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Fuel crisis and subsidy claims A

gain, we draw attention to the urgent need to redress frightening indications that the five-month scarcity of petroleum products that has pushed up pump prices may linger and impair the joy of the Yuletide and New Year celebrations. While the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) is reportedly unenthusiastic about repairing the major vandalised pipeline at Arepo, Ogun State, petroleum workers are spoiling for strikes to protest sundry grievances. In addition, two vital ministers - the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; and the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Allison-Madueke, are said to be feuding on the payment of subsidies to petroleum products’ marketers, thus further compounding the problem. Reports indicated that Okonjo-Iweala had taken exception to reports that Allison-Madueke accused her of delaying the payment of subsidies to the marketers and the NNPC, in particular, which translated to blaming the lingering fuel scarcity on the finance minister. Okonjo-Iweala, according to reports, was angry that the petroleum minister led a grumbling NNPC team to President Goodluck Jonathan to complain about the delayed payment, wondering if only the NNPC had outstanding subsidy arrears. Presidency spokesperson, Reuben Abati, however, claimed the cabinet rift was mere speculation. Besides, Madueke herself, at a recent budget defence session with the joint committee of the National Assembly, denied any rift with OkonjoIweala. Nevertheless, her complaint to the committee that the finance ministry’s delay in the release of funds was a setback to the imple-

mentation of the 2012 budget for the petroleum ministry seemed an indication that all was not well, although the petroleum minister assured the lawmakers that fuel scarcity would not mar the festive period. In retrospect, however, the loss of hundreds of billions of naira to private importers of petroleum products, depot owners, as well as the NNPC, that allegedly paid subsidies for fuel not imported or supplied, prompted the Jonathan administration to set up a rigorous subsidy payment verification system. Because of its woeful failure to boost domestic capacity to refine petroleum products, the NNPC imports about half of the yet-to-be ascertained total quantity of products consumed daily, nationwide. Private importers who provide the remaining quantity are currently being suspected of blackmailing the government to pay unverified and, perhaps, dubious subsidy claims. So far, the Federal Government was said to have recovered a meagre N29 billion in stolen subsidy funds out of the N1.7 trillion uncovered by the House of Representatives early in the year; while some subsidy fraud suspects are now undergoing trial in courts. Of significance, however, is the fact that the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) admitted (just last week) that subsidy payments have been halved from N1.4 trillion in 2011 to N671 billion as at October 2012, which is an indication that the subsidy payment verification exercise being supervised by the finance ministry is yielding handsome dividends, despite the obvious loopholes trailing the trial of fuel importers docked for subsidy frauds. Smart crooks that pose as independent marketers and their accomplices in state oil agencies are

believed to be pressuring the FG, using all manner of antics, to slacken the current subsidy claims verification for fraudulent claims to sail through. Not ruled out, nonetheless, is the possibility that the bureaucracy verifying the documentations might be delaying the process because of incorrigible greed and the quest for gratification. For one thing, private marketers and depot owners, invited by the FG to fill in the gap of NNPC’s inability to satisfy national fuel needs, as was the case some decades ago, are under pressure to repay bank loans used to import fuel under government’s assurance to settle the bills. We likewise recognise the fact that not all the marketers are thieves. While we fervently support continuous forensic verification of subsidy claims to end the legendary swindle passed off as fuel subsidy regime, our grave fear is that with the recent confirmation by NNPC officials of the suspension of repair works at the damaged Arepo pipeline, persisting fuel scarcity that has shot pump prices above official rates, ministerial buck-passing, threats of strikes by labour, amid government’s helplessness, anything is possible, including continued fuel scarcity and hikes in pump prices. Any of such measures, to us, is unacceptable. The bureaucracy should expedite action on the verification of subsidy claims for genuine marketers. Subsidy fraud culprits and accomplices in all government oil agencies need to be punished severely to deter others. Of no less importance is equally the need to speedily unbundle the NNPC to dismantle the NNPC hegemony largely reputed for subsidy frauds, sundry leakages and gross incompetence. The oil industry is long overdue for far-reaching reforms.

Reminiscences DECEMBER 9 IN HISTORY 1962: Nyerere becomes Tanganyika president Julius Kambarage Nyerere becomes the first president of newly formed Republic of Tanganyika. 1974: Portuguese, Rhodesian soldiers accused of genocide Portuguese and Rhodesian soldiers were accused in a UN report of torturing and killing over 1,000 Africans in Mozambique during the war of independence. 1982: 41 killed in raid in South Africa Forty one people were killed during a raid by South African forces against supposed guerrilla bases in Lesotho. 1992: Prince Charles, Diana separate Prince Charles and Princess Diana announced a formal separation 1994: Clinton fires surgeon general President Bill Clinton fired Surgeon General, Joycelyn Elders, after she told a conference that masturbation should be discussed in school as a part of human sexuality. 2004: Canada’s court approves gay marriage Canada’s Supreme Court ruled that gay marriage was constitutional 2008: US: Illinois governor arrested Illinois Governor, Rod Blagojevich, was taken into federal custody at his Chicago home for trying to trade Obama’s Senate seat. 2009: Mysterious lights seen in Norwegian sky The Norwegian Metrological Institute received hundreds of calls from confused observers, about the origin of the skylights that they saw. Neither meteorologists, astronomers nor the armed forces offered a solution to the matter. The light was captured by an amateur photographer while he was on his way to work at a salmon factory.

Opinion

Sunday December 9, 2012

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

What’s wrong in pastors flying in private jets? Uncensored U nc

Sheriff S Folarin

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

or some weeks now, the news headlines have been awash with the reactions and counter-reactions about Men of God (Pastors, General Overseers, Founders) of prominent Nigerian churches acquiring private jets. The argument has been that it is immoral to do so and that the pastors are spending stupendous amount of church money buying and maintaining private jets at the expense of mass of church members wallowing in abject poverty. The critics posit that the pastors have become materialistic like the corrupt politicians and are thus no longer different from those whose love for lucre and gold have driven them to wanton show of illegitimate wealth while the nation still gropes in economic doldrums.

I did not want to engage in this debate, and I resisted the temptation to be dragged into such unscientific talk. This was more because those who were putting their pen to paper or fingers to the computer keys to engage in ordinary armchair analysis were considered by me as ‘Christians on the fringes’ (Sunday-Sunday church goers) who may not understand the deep things and mysteries of God, and could as such afford to offer such simplistic and cheap criticisms. Some were not even Christians; hence it would be foolhardy to bandy words with them.

However, with the intervention of Reverend Father Matthew Kukah, a man for whom I have high regards, condemning fellow Christian leaders for possessing aircraft, the temptation to say one or two things in response heightened. And then the maverick Pastor Bakare also condemned the aircraft thing, saying all pastors (including himself) deserved to be hurled into jail for certain ungodly acts. The immediate trigger of all this criticism was the recent gift of an aircraft to the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) President, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor who was marking 40th anniversary on the pulpit. With those two respectable pastors offering their own perspective, it became incumbent on me to volunteer my own perspective on the issue. First, I consider the debate and angst over private aircraft use by pastors as a sheer waste of time. It is totally uncalled for. The pastors have not been indicted by the financial crimes commissions of fraud, embezzlement, or money-laundering. Neither have the congregations taken them to courts for stealing their church money to buy aircraft. The members of these churches are intelligent, well educated and connected enough to question their pastors or the shepherds if they feel strongly against owning planes. The members are not foolish or gullible like the critics have made it to seem. Some of these members even go out of their way to bless their pastors as a show of gratitude for being a blessing to them. Aircraft is one of those ways of showing gratitude. Second, I think it is the poverty mentality of the African society that makes people to consider aircraft ownership as a very big deal. When you have too much money in a typical African society where majority is poor, you are envied, rebuked, criticized and may even be charmed to fail. When you now own an aircraft, people have very odd thoughts in their heads. You must be a drug dealer or have stolen public fund. But for pastors of very big

churches, who have paid their dues after several decades of service to mankind, I refuse to acquiesce with the fact that they dip their hands into church money to buy such aircraft. Thirdly and closely related to the above is the fact that we must wipe off the idea that pastors should remain “as poor as the church rat”. That era is gone. God has given us the power to get wealth, and pastors as men of God are no exception. In fact, if true men of God who carry the cross of Christ are not rich enough, and only unbelievers can afford a plane, I can renounce my Christian faith. The Bible says blessed are those who thirst and hunger for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Paraphrased: blessed are true sons/servants of God, they shall have whatever they want. And Matthew 6: 33 says that ‘seek ye first the Kingdom of God and its righteousness, and all other things (which others are dying to get) shall be added unto you.” If the true pastors do not fulfill these promises as a lifestyle, then it means that there is no honour in the scriptures. Consequently therefore, that pastors own aircraft should not come to us as a shock because the scriptures cannot be broken. Pastors should not be as a poor as a church rat. Their God is not a beggar and Jesus has given us life and has given it to us more abundantly. If the critics understand these things, there would not be any hue or cry over private aircraft by pastors. Fourthly, there is a fundamental lacuna in the argument that Jesus did buy an aircraft. What a juvenile talk! There was no aircraft technology at the time. Jesus traversed the length and breadth of the Middle East building the firm foundation of Salvation through Christianity. He used the boats, ships and foot to do that. And when he rode into Jerusalem, he did so majestically on an ass. The donkey was not a common animal used by just any man. The donkey was for the noble

and princely. If there were aircraft then, our Lord would have rode in the very best. And today, His apostles are taking the message to the extreme lengths of the earth. So, what is wrong in getting it done by private plane if it will facilitate the accomplishment of God’s work? There are certain pertinent things we must understand. The pastors in question have never been in government and neither do they sponsor their members into government to dip hands in government money. These pastors are men of uncompromising integrity known for their nononsense approach about people stealing public funds. The same Men of God lead ministries that have spanned between 30 and 50 years, and are still waxing stronger (jet or no jet). Also, it is their churches that are restoring credibility and hope to the educational sector with their universities, which again some critics have carpeted over high tuition. These churches are employers of labour by their multiple ventures, including schools. These churches are an alternative government, as they now build estates and provide social infrastructures that serve the cause of humanity, something government has, over the years, failed to do. I think taking on Men of God for owning aircraft is misplaced frustration and probably a misunderstanding of the person of God and the ways He deals with those that love Him. If pastors do not love Him, who else could? If He does not bless those who love Him, who else will He bless? And it is not all pastors that are fake. Fake pastors do not last up to 30 years or more and will yet be moving up. Fake pastors do not last longer than 5 years maximum. We need to read the Great Book (Bible) very well before writing or saying junk about pastors flying in private jets. •Dr. Folarin teaches Politics and Inernational Relations at Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State.

A toast to Akpabio at 50 ANIETIE JOHN UKPE WHEN the blest seed of Terah’s faithful son After long toil their liberty had won, And past from Pharian fields to Canaan land, Led by the strength of the Almighty’s hand, Jehovah’s wonders were in Israel shown, His praise and glory was in Israel known…

o began the opening lines of John Milton’s (1608 – 1674) “A Paraphrase on Psalm 114” which was penned when Milton was just fifteen years old. Like all of John Milton’s works, it is a compelling read, and profound in its rendering of the events surrounding the lives of the Jews (The blest seed of Terah’s faithful son). They were blessed. They toiled to win their liberty. They came into the Promised Land led by the strength of the Almighty. Jehovah’s wonders were shown in Akwa Ibom State (sorry dear Milton, Israel). His praise and glory was known and God’s will was done in Israel (oh blimey! One means Akwa Ibom State). Okay this was a little play with words… but the moral of the story is that these lines could have been written about Akwa Ibom State. This is not the only Milton’s work that is “Akwaibomesque” (hope you do not mind the coinage). In the epic Paradise Lost, John

Milton tells the story of Satan’s rebellion against God and how he and his co-rebel angels were thrown down to earth. The narration is in pulsating verse in this seamless piece of classical poetry. Milton states, “Of Man’s first disobedience, and the fruit/ Of that forbidden tree whose mortal taste/ Brought death into the world, and all our woe.” Paradise Lost is an epic of the very first order: vast and complex in scope, potent in its rendition, evocative in its rhetoric, rich in imagery, complex in plots. It is a gripping tale, which intensifies the biblical theme of man’s downfall in the first Paradise. Samuel Johnson, (1709 – 1784) poet, essayist, moralist, literary critic, biographer, editor and lexicographer, praised Paradise Lost as “a poem which...with respect to design may claim the first place, and with respect to performance, the second, among the productions of the human mind.” Akwa Ibom knows about Paradise lost. It was the first place where a demand was made for the creation of states in Nigeria (in 1954). As a matter of fact the Ibibio State Union was formed earlier in 1928 and the concept of states in Nigeria was born in the minds of those patriarchs. Yet Akwa Ibom lost its Paradise of hope when it missed out in the State creation exercise in 1967. Lumped with Cross River State in that state creation exercise, the people of Akwa Ibom State continued a sustained struggle for a state. This came twenty years after.

The sequel to “Paradise Lost” is “Paradise Regained”, by the same author. Having chronicled man’s fall, he decides to cast his searchlight on Jesus Christ and show how Paradise was regained for all mankind. Hear him: Who e’re while the happy Garden sung, By one man’s disobedience lost, now sing Recover’d Paradise to all mankind, By one mans firm obedience fully tri’d Through all temptation, and the Tempter foil’d In all his wiles, defeated and repuls’t, And Eden rais’d in the wast Wilderness. Now that ties in with the Akwa Ibom story. Paradise was regained when the State was created in 1987. The tortuous work to translate the dreams of the “prophets” who saw the state and nourished it in their bosoms into reality began on a slow note. But things have fully ripened in the last five years under the administration of Governor Godswill Akpabio. Under his administration, Paradise has been regained and “Jehovah’s wonders have been known and seen in Akwa Ibom State.” John Milton, who was described by William Hayley (1745–1820), another celebrated English writer, as the “greatest English author” shares the same birthday with Chief Godswill Obot Akpabio, the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, who has been described by many as the “greatest Nigerian governor.” That is no idle claim. Governor Godswill Akpabio is the first Nigerian Governor

to be awarded the Congressional Certificate of Recognition of the United States; the first to be conferred with the Honorary Doctorate Degree of the Nigeria Defence Academy; the most honoured Governor in Nigeria’s history (over ten honorary degrees/ fellowships from the leading universities and polytechnics in Nigeria); the first to be honoured with the Nehemiah Award for the development of infrastructure by two leading churches (The Anglican Church and the African Church); the most honoured Governor by the media (his Man of the Year Awards by the media are too numerous to list); and his uncommon transformation of Akwa Ibom State has remained the stuff of the id eliciting such comments as “when I arrived Uyo after not being here for 12 years, I thought the Governor had played a trick on me and taken me to another city” (Nobel Laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka on his last visit to the state). Milton was born on December 9, 1608 in London. Governor Akpabio was born on Sunday, December 9, 1962 at Ukana Ikot Ntuen, Essien Udim local government area. Today is the seventh time that his birthday is falling on a Sunday and it is instructive that this is his Fiftieth Birthday. Seven, according to Christian tradition, is the number of completion; so a seventh Sunday means a complete life of worship. •Pastor Ukpe is Senior Special Assistant, Media, to Governor Akpabio

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Applause LIFESTYLE, FASHION & ENTERTAINMENT DECEMBER 9, 2012

After my experience with 9ice, I wouldn’t mind another marriage with the right man –Toni Payne Toni Payne is the ex-wife of a popular artiste fondly called 9ice. Though blessed with a son, Zion, their marriage crashed after 20 months. A diva, artiste manager and a publicist, she tells Adaeze Amos in this interview that she wouldn’t mind remarrying if the right man comes. Excerpts: Many know you as the former wife of 9ice and the mother of Zion, his only son, but how do you see yourself? Yes, they are right. I have a son known as Zion. I see myself as a diva and an entrepreneur. Can you reach out to ladies whose marriages are not working even after being submissive? Marriage is meant to be enjoyed and not to be endured. That is my own philosophy. You are meant to enjoy your marriage. If you are in a marriage and you are not enjoying it, why are you there? Should they leave their kids? Oh well, if your kids are seeing you unhappy, that means you are raising kids that are not going to be happy adults. When your marriage is not working, maybe there is no communication. A lot of times, men are busy doing their thing and women are busy accepting it because they want to be submissive. Talk to your man and tell him what he is doing to you that you frown at. When he refuses to change, then check yourself; you are doing something that he doesn’t like and he just keeps seeing you do that. Communication is key. I think there are lots of marriages that are not sweet. It is because the communication is not there. I always say if you want to be married to somebody in life, he should be your husband; you, his wife, mistress, girlfriend, sugar mummy, his everything. Don’t you think people would see you as someone who couldn’t practise what she is preaching, especially as your own marriage crashed? But they also say it takes two to tango. You can force a camel to the stream but you can’t force it to drink water. If you have two parties that are willing to make something work, it would work but if you have just one willing party, there is nothing that you can do. Even God can’t come and knock you on the side of your head for it to work. It takes two to tango, honestly. Does this mean that you made extra efforts to save the marriage? I tried my best. Why then did it crash? What happened? I won’t answer this question please. Do you hope to remarry? Definitely. Everybody knows that about me that I’m definitely trying to remarry. I’m hopelessly romantic, I believe in the institution of marriage. I grew up in a family and my family was very close. I grew up with family morals. I want that for my kids. I believe my kids should grow up in a home, not a house. Definitely, I do plan on getting married again, one day, very soon, yes, hopefully. If I find the right guy, I would definitely be doing that.

What lessons have you learnt from that botched relationship? Now, I’m going to be a little bit more careful. I would watch carefully and instead of just following my heart, I would do so with my brain. When you are younger, you are likely to make mistake, but I have realized that life doesn’t work like that. Now, I would look at the basics. What do you want? Five, 10 years from now, where do you see yourself ? I would ask all those questions. Anybody that tries to talk to me today, maybe, telling me ‘I love you’ and all that, I will ask the person some questions. If you don’t love me, don’t say that to me. If you are able to answer those posers and your answers tally with mine, then we can go ahead; if not we call it quits. Having learnt your lessons, what are now the qualities of your ideal man? I think a person that has very strong family orientation. You have to be a strict family person with the strong spirit of wanting your marriage to work. That is what I’m looking for, someone whose visions are same as mine, so much that when I’m 80 years old, we are still holding hands and our kids are happy and our grand kids are happy. What is the most scandalous story about you? They have written so many scandalous stories about me. None is true. I’m a very level-headed person. I see myself as being intelligent enough not to do stupid things. There have been a lot of scandalous stories about me. I must say those stories weren’t fair on me. Were there some stories that made you shed tears? Oh yes. The most popular one was that I cheated on my husband. But did you do it? I didn’t do it honestly. I read it and for me it was a little bit painful because I know the kind of person I am. I’m hopelessly romantic. If I decide to marry somebody, I’m definitely not going to cheat on him regardless of anything. I’m not materialistic. It’s not as if I’m looking for one moneybag or so. what do you have for mothers-in-law who poke their noses into their children’s marriages? To mothers-in-law, I always say try and be your daughters-in-law best friend. It is the wisest thing to do. I have a son and when he decides to get married, I would try as much as possible to be his wife’s or girlfriend’s friend. I will try to be as lenient as possible. It is not easy letting go of your son because I know that feeling. But you just have to know that this is what it is. What was your childhood like? My childhood was beautiful. I grew up partly here and in America. I grew up around my family. There is nothing better than the family.

‘YOU CAN’T SEE ME IN MINI, EVEN AT THREAT OF DEATH’

HUMILITY OPENS DOORS OF SUCCESS

Applause

Sunday, December 9, 2012

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‘You can’t see me in mini, even at threat of death’ Carol C arol Arhere wh who is the Public Relati Relations Officer, Da Viva Company, is an inter interesting personality. She says e even if threatened with death, she cannot be found in m mini. She tells Adaeze Amos in this interview some common lap lapses designers of Nigerian fashion designers.

Do you think African Wax has been waxing waxin stronger now compared with what was obtainable ob in the 80s? We are far gone. Let me use that word if I’m permitted. What we have at the moment cannot be compared with what we had then. Though, I could say they had lovely things at that time, what we have at the mocompared ment is better; it’s well used, more utilised co made skirts with what we had then. In the past, we just mad and blouses and we were done, but now we do a whole and even lot with African prints. We do jackets, pantsuits a underpants. Do you find any lapses in the fashion designing world? designers. First of all, I must give kudos to Nigerian de They have been trying and are still improving because the industry keeps evolving every day. The only lapse I designs. I do see about them is copying other people’s desig design, you not really like that because when you see A’s des but right should be able to say that is his or her design b one design now we have a lot of them. We can hardly tell on people can from the other. I’m aware of the fact that two pe have the same inspiration and have something similar their own but there are some styles that are defined by th do. If you hands, which I think designers shouldn’t do stay away know this style is meant for A, you should st similar, you from it. If at all you want to do something sim should just pick a little, add your own to it, create a owner of the different style so much that even the owne him/her. Those design/style may not know it’s from him/he generally they are the things that put me off but genera have been doing well and I know they would go w more places. What fabric do you love wearing? I wear African Wax a lot though I sport more of African prints. What’s African W at’s the difference between Afr Wh prints p ints and African Wax? pr It depends on the fabric; Da Viva Vi is 100 perr cent cotton, not wax. When you to p pe Villisco, that talk about wax, you take Villi is what they use. Prints are ar better this for our weather. We have tried tr working for evover time and it is workin mean wax erybody. That doesn’t m as well. I is not good. It is good a can prints, the c ca n only speak of pr one I know so well. Another when prints tthing th ing is that whe are maintained, a ar e well mai The first tthey th ey last long. T maintenance tip is don’t have tthat th at you do t to wash your prints after p pr ints each e ea ch use. If you y yo u know you have y

overused it and it is dirty, you can wash or dry-clean it but not with harsh soap...detergents with bleaching agent, definitely it would tamper with the colours.. But you can use laundry soap that doesn’t have bleaching agents. With these maintenance tips, you can keep your prints glowing all the time. When you are preparing for red carpet events, what do you put on? I opt for African prints. Normally, when I want to go on red carpet, I choose fabric like ‘Expression’ that is quite soft; it sleeps on your body and can move for any evening wear. I go for any style with drapes. In the alternative, you can mix your ‘Ultimate’, which is our other print with silk. I can also mix my plain and pattern it to create that red carpet look. There are various ways you can design Ankara to give you a red carpet look for your dinner or for anything. Ankara is very versatile; it can be used for a lot of things. What is your language? My style language is simple but classy. I don’t have to overdo it, coupled with the weather traffic that we have here. If I’m all dressed up with too many things at a time, I would feel uncomfortable in them. With simple but classy you can always swing from one way to the other… from afternoon to evening wear. That’s why I’m always simple so that it can go for afternoon, casual, night outing, shopping or whatever, and I still stay classy. What is that style you won’t be seen in? I don’t wear mini clothes at all. Why do you avoid mini? I don’t know, probably it is a personal orientation. You can never see me in mini, not even when I’m dead. Don’t you have the legs? Not that. I feel, maybe, for those people that want to flaunt but I don’t go for mini. It is one thing I can never go for. What part of you do you flaunt? My shoulders! I show them off a lot. That is why I go for Caucasian dresses to emphasise my shoulders. I wear flowing clothes to emphasise my height. Those are the things I flaunt most about my body. What’s your field of study? I studied Mass Communication at Benue State University, Makurdi in Benue State. I also studied Theatre Arts. Recently, I had a postgraduate diploma in Advertising. How was growing up like? Growing up was quite fun. My parents had a number of boys earlier. In looking for girls, I eventually emerged hence I was like a baby of the home: I was pampered. I was like the baby in the midst of so many boys. I got attention from a lot of people…my male siblings and dad in particular. For me, it was the best I can ever dream of. Somehow, I was tomboyish because I wanted to learn how to drive, ride, to be there with the guys to do what they were doing and all that because they were the only friends I had around apart from my mom. That actually influenced me in a way. It made me feel a little bit hard. Unlike when other women would quiver or shaken on an issue, I hardly get frightened. What style advice do you have for women? My word for women is wear something comfortable and classy. You don’t have to wear because people are wearing it. Let women be mindful of their body. We should try and protect it. We don’t have to expose everything. A guy that will love you will do not because of what you are wearing but because of how you carry yourself and cover up properly.

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Cocktail Whispers

Stories by Olumide Segun-Oduntan

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

DECEMBER 9, 2012

Who owns Bisi Ibidapo-Obe’s baby girl? If you thought that the paternity issue that surrounded actress, Bisi Ibidapo-Obe, when she was pregnant would have been over by now, you are bound to be interested in the latest development. Interestingly, now that the celebrated screen goddess has put to bed, the paternity controversy seems to be starting all over again. In case you are not aware, a few months ago when she was still pregnant, Omologbalogba made huge headlines when she disclosed that controversial former House of Representative member, Dino Melaye was responsible for her pregnancy. Of course Honourable Melaye did not waste time in declaring that he was no way responsible for Bisi’s pregnancy and several counter claims were put forward by both parties after that.

Kenneth Okonkwo, age is more than number Age is nothing but numbers or so they say. But for popular actor and lawyer, Kenneth Okonkwo when that number is wrongly (or rightly?) quoted high, it may become a major issue. In fact, you may have a court case in your hands if you took that birthday figure higher than it is. Just recently, Mr. Okonkwo became a year older and many took to the social media to express their excitement and in the process, some decided to take the liberty to disclose that the celebrated actor has reached the golden age. Well, as things turned out, Cocktail Whispers learnt that Kenneth Okonkwo did not take kindly to those ‘overzealous’ people declaring him to be 50 years old when according to him, he just turned 44. In fact, it was gathered that the veteran actor became so angry with those who said he just celebrated his 50th birthday so much that he wondered if they were his mother that gave birth to him. So, next year when you are wishing Kenneth Okonkwo a happy birthday, remember that he would be turning 45, not 51.

Wale Adenuga bags yet another award Sunday, December 2 was a day of joy as Wale Adenuga (MFR) was honoured with a Life Time Achievement Award at the 2012 edition of the Nigerian Broadcasters Merit Awards (NBMA) for his immeasurable contributions to the growth of the Nigerian Electronic Media. Adenuga is widely treasured by Nigerians at home and in the Diaspora for providing quality edutainment for over three decades as well as being the creator and producer of Super Story, This Life, Papa Ajasco & Company, Nnena & Friends TV Show and the periodic Nnena & Friends Live Show through his company, Wale Adenuga Productions Limited. He is also the Chairman of Binta International Schools and PEFTI Film Institute. In October 2012, Wale Adenuga gave it a notch as his TV station, wapTV, commenced broadcast on StarTimes Channel 222 across Nigeria and has since been receiving positive reviews and praise for its unique programmes.

However, just few days after the gorgeous role interpreter gave birth to a beautiful baby girl, the paternity issue seems to have resurfaced. Interestingly, the fact that the stunning actress gave birth in November has set tongues wagging. According to information made available to Cocktail Whispers, Bisi Ibidapo-Obe once claimed that she met Dino Melaye in April this year. Now according to a source, Dino Melaye’s friends and some other people are wondering how come she delivered her bundle of joy seven months after she met Dino. They said that Bisi’s delivery has further shown that the baby is not Dino Melaye’s, that if she truly got pregnant for Melaye in April, she should not have given birth by now, going by her claim that she met him in April.

Is Folorunso Alakija the richest black woman? That she is very rich is not in contention. But what has been generating heated debate online is whether business woman and philanthropist, Folorunso Lakija is currently the richest black woman or at least, getting close to it. Just so you know, an international media outfit recently pegged Mrs. Alakija’s net-worth at $600 million. But if the latest gist reaching Cocktail Whispers is anything to go by, the popular socialite may have surpassed that ranking. According to new information at Cocktail Whispers’ disposal, the celebrated business woman may be worth close to $3.3 billion. This ranking has prompted many people to be of the view that Alakija is the richest black woman, a status that was known to be held by Oprah Winfrey. By the way, Alakija, who is married with four children, started out as a secretary in the mid 70s at the now defunct International Merchant Bank of Nigeria, one of the country’s earliest investment banks. In the early 80s, Alakija quit her job and went on to study Fashion Design in England, returning to Nigeria shortly afterwards to start Supreme Stitches, a premium Nigerian fashion label which catered exclusively to upscale clientele.

Sunday, December 9, 2012

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

Women are my major prob –Fatai Rolling Dollar

Fatai Olayiwola Olagunju, popularly known as Fatai Rolling Dollar, is an interesting personality. An oc highlife music star, who returned to stardom at old age after many years of personal and professional Rolling Dollar comes as an enigma. He exudes verve and agility as he does not look drawn by old ag to him, he doesn’t drink, eat kola nuts or inhale snuff, habits which are common with old men. But he things dearly: cigar and women. In this interview with Adaeze Amos, this husband of three wives p his undying love for women. “Women are special creatures. If you want to do well in life women,” he says. Excerpts: How did you hit the limelight? I started from my youth, when I was much younger than this. When I passed out of school in 1944, and I lost my dad during that year, the next thing for me to do was to get ready to make people happy. That was why I made it a point of duty to go into music because I know my future is tailored towards music. I went to learn music. I didn’t just rely on the fact that my mother used to sing in the church. That wasn’t enough for me. I went to acquire the skill. I was under someone who taught me music. It took me a lot of years to learn music. In fact, I spent five years trying to acquire that skill. What is your impression about today’s youths who just start singing just because they have got the voice? That is why their albums are not selling. In our time, you give them what is going to happen through songs. We had messages in our songs. But today’s musicians don’t have messages. So, you prefer your early days’ type of music to what today’s musicians are churning out? Yes, our own type of music is better. Ours was the time of highlife. And without highlife, there was no music. Reason being that highlife was the root of music in Nigeria. If you hoped to be a sound musician that would be recognised all over the world, then you must go and learn it. For how long have you been in Lagos? I was born and bred in Lagos. I was born on July 22, 1926. Could you compare Lagos of those years with what it is today? Lagos of yester-years was indeed nice, yes, very nice. Not minding the fact that it wasn’t as developed as it is now but it was better to me. Maybe because we had easy life then. There was no armed robbery, no police harassment; you walked freely from 9pm till dawn. And if per

chance you were hungry, you would get something to eat from the roadsides. You could have Amala (cassava or yam flour meal) or Iyan (pounded yam) at any time. They start to sell food by nine in the night till the morning of the next day. What was it about life then that you are missing dearly now? Peace! The peace we had then in Lagos State, we don’t have it now. I’m missing the peace we used to have then. We don’t have steady light now. During the British colonial rule, even in the heavy rain, or thunder storms, light would still be on. In fact, it never blinked. Amazingly, we didn’t have much dam. We were using Ajele dam. That was the only dam controlling the whole Lagos then. What was your childhood like? I was very rascally. Oh yes, when I was growing up, I was an original rascal. And women loved you then? Yes, they loved me because of my job. You know women love musicians. Apart from that, I was very handsome when I was much younger. I was lightskinned. Tell us about your love life? I’m admired by lots of women because I’m strong. Where is the source of your strength? God almighty is the source of my strength. I don’t smoke weed, I don’t take medicine but I smoke cigarette (he says, puffing hard on his cigarette). My strength is from God and can you imagine that today, all over the world, I’m the oldest musician that is still playing on the stage? Why are you this strong even in your old age? You know, there is something somebody should not take when he becomes old. I don’t take meat, for instance. I’m off beer as well. But my major problem is women (he paused for a while, gazing up at the writer). But you said you admire women a lot, how are they then your major problem? I still say it that women are my major problem. I love them so much. You don’t blame me for that; after all, my mother is a woman and I loved her so much and she loved me. So, women are problems to me, especially when I see the beautiful ones. I admire them a lot and that admiration is from the bottom of my heart. Do you know I have a daughter of two years from my third wife? That goes to show how much I love women. Look at me, at my age, I’m stile agile and I’m still producing (giggles). Are you romantic? Yes I am, don’t I look it? At 86, I’m still very roman-

tic. If I meet a woman who is n teach her to be romantic. I will A, B, C of romance. How many wives do you have? I have two black women and You know I travel a lot, so I met m and I married her. Do you have a girlfriend now? Yes, I have. I have up to 20. Twenty? How are you able to be No, there is no sex in the r stay together and I advise them to me. You know women have things. They have the power to success. That is why we can’t do You know in Africa, women are l what do you say about this? People that do that are ignor women. If a man wants to succe not frustrate women; he should them like and admire you. Wom they can mar you, if you take th simply means that women can m and also have the power to mak bad. That is the fact, whether yo you want to live long, don’t fru don’t maltreat her and don’t als power. Believe me. How about men who batter their est provocation? I see them as weak boxers. I’ lover (giggles). I don’t beat wome that before in my life. Most men, when they are old sta ment or the other. What ailment None! No ailment at all. I’m sickness. God is managing me. If given another chance, would y another wife? Yes, why not? But it would be dition. The condition is that th it down that she would be resp child or children that come from lationship. You know that I’m o take care of any child now. If y care of your child from me. What is your advice for younger Know what to sing. Be watchf of your songs. Don’t just sing time, if you are singing and yo ‘breast’, they would destroy yo Don’t be vulgar in your songs.

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It is really your time to recover all, says Pastor Okereke

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E-mail:titusanyanwu.2012@gmail.com

EDIFYING GOD

December 9, 2012

Our leaders have no value for lives –Female cleric •Warns against dialogue with Boko Haram TAI ANYANWU

he Deputy President of Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Reverend Mercy Ezekiel, has berated the Federal Government for ever contemplating to go into dialogue with Boko Haram, the Islamic terror group that has claimed responsibility for several bloodbaths in parts of the North. Rev Ezekiel, also the National and International Coordinator of Christian Pentecostal Mission (CPM) worldwide, also described the country’s ruling class as people who have no value for lives. She was speaking at the national harvest/thanksgiving of the church tagged Harvest of Hope 2012, at the Ajao Estate Headquarters of the church in Lagos. She said: “A lot of top Nigerians don’t value life, even a lot of people that are ruling us too. They don’t care for us; they don’t care how we feel.” The masses are dying and they are trying to negotiate with Boko Haram. “I don’t dialogue with the devil. If they want dialogue with them, let our President go ahead and dialogue with them. What has come out of the earlier dialogue? “It has not helped us. It cannot help anything. We can only dialogue on our kneels. Let us talk to God, instead of talking to people who do not understand. All they understand is blood. They are blood thirsty people.” The PFN deputy president was optimistic that Nigeria will not sink but will scale through all hurdles because, according to her, “Nigeria is laid on a solid

Greater Holy Ghost Congress begins Dec 14 The annual Greater Holy Ghost Congress of the Global Success Ministries (GSM) International begins on Friday at the church’s main auditorium, Plot 34, Global Success Street, Amuwo-Odofin, Lagos. The theme for the congress is “Greater Signs and Wonders (Acts 2:43)”. It is expected to attract participants from within and outside the country, with the host pastor, founder and General Overseer of GSM, Dr. Emmanuel Chima Okereke, ministering with other anointed men of God. Rev. Daniel Okechukwu Onuchukwu of the Diocese of Amichi, Anglican Communion Province of the Niger, is expected to deliver the guest lecture during the event, while Prince Mich Philips will perform as the guest artiste. According to the media coordinator of the programme, Brother Ogochukwu, the congress will be declared open during a colourful welcome ceremony at the church auditorium on Friday.

RCCG parish holds Ceaseless Praise L-R: Senator Oluremi Tinubu; Deputy President of Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, Rev Mercy Ezekiel, and wife of the Governor of Lagos State, Mrs. Abimbola Fashola, at the Harvest of Hope 2012 thanksgiving held at CPM headquarters, in Lagos recently.

rock that is Christ”. She insisted that God was taking Nigeria to somewhere and that must come to pass one day. Mrs Ezekiel also reminded Nigerians that Christmas is a season of hope; a time of giving and taking, helping and blessing people; and a season of life. “Jesus gave his life for us; we should be able to give our lives to people by helping and blessing somebody. I say to Nigerians learn to give to people because this is the season of giving and blessing people,” she added. She further advised that the best way to celebrate Christmas is to “thank God, go to church, be born-again and have a

relationship with Christ; not drinking alcohol, not sleeping with harlots, not clubbing but go to church and thank Him for your life”. Speaking in the same vein, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor of Lagos State on Christian Religion, Rev (Mrs.) Akitoye Braimoh, urged Nigerians to have hope in God, pray for a better tomorrow and change any bad habits that have characterised societal rots so that we can all dwell in peace and progress. Wife of the Governor of Lagos State, Mrs. Abimbola Fashola, and Senator Oluremi Tinubu, wife of former Lagos State governor, Asiwaju Tinubu, graced the harvest.

Acquisition of private jet is covetousness –Apostle Suleman

postle Johnson Suleman of Omega Fire Ministry has frowned at men of God who seek earthly possessions. Speaking at the monthly Fire Night at the church headquarters in Auchi, Etsako council of Edo State, the cleric said though it was good for men of God to be comfortable when travelling, he frowned at a situation where they jostled for material things such as private jets and other forms of materialism. He said: “It is not proper for men of God to join in os-

Briefly

tentatious living, especially through acquisition of private jets and other intimidating possessions.” The fiery cleric flayed men of God in in the country who compete among themselves for private jets and other material things. He explained that such attitude did not portray Christendom in good light as it amounted to covetousness, which he said is threatening today’s churches. The cleric insisted that the Holy Bible condemns men of God who are materialistic,

hence owning multi-million private jets while most of their church members can barely afford three square meals in their homes, was bad. Apostle Suleman said there was nothing wrong in seeking comfort but acquiring private jets was materialistic and covetous. His words: “A man of God can fly in first-class for comfort but to purchase a private jet worth millions of naira, I call that materialism and I kick against that.” The Fire Night which p[articipants said witnessed

‘YOU ARE NOT CREATED FOR JUST YOU’

Ahead of this year’s Holy Ghost Congress, The Redeemed Christian Church of God Miracle Centre will hold its December edition of Jacob Service on Wednesday, December 26 at 6 p.m. It is billed for the centre’s auditorium along No. 19 Bello Folawiyo Crescent, off Ikosi Road, behind Mr. Biggs in Ikosi/Isheri LCDA of Lagos State. Theme is ‘Ceaseless Praise’. Speaking on the programme, the host Pastor, A. D. Doherty, said this edition of ‘Jacob Service’ programme will provide unlimited joy, promotion, divine connection, breakthrough, fulfilment and testimony.

Sunday Mirror/Babcock University Bible Quiz: Winners of December 2, 2012 •Iorpev Oryina (08094259350) •Stephen Idris (08032441769) •Akingbade Oluwadamilola (07084329600) •Oshadipe S. Olanrewaju (08189416009) •Ajayi Michael (08023384860) •08038919766 • 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

Suleman

miracles, healings and blessings, was attended by a large number of the faithful from Nigeria and countries in Africa.

A suspicious mind jumps to conclusions about matters and is filled with negative thoughts, words and doubts.

‘IS SUSPICION KILLING YOUR RELATIONSHIP?’

–Pastor Taiwo Odubiyi

Praise & Worship

Sunday December 9, 2012

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Audu’s KARIS award heralds Christmas lights

Pastor Chris Okotie

TAIWO GIDADO

nce again, scores of shrubs that line both sides of the street of Rev. Chris Okotie’s Household of God Church, Oregun, Lagos are adorned with Christmas lights. That sends signals that the Yuletide is here. With it comes the season of the colourful GRACE programme and the KARIS award, hosted annually by the church. GRACE started in 1990 as Rev Okotie’s vision to give back to society by reaching out to the less privileged who are made to benefit from the compassion of Jesus Christ. During the event, four charitable organizations have traditionally been given cash donations of 500,000.00 each (five hundred

thousand) every year. This year, too, these organisations – Sunshine Foundation, Strong Tower Mission, Pacelli School For The Blind and Partially Sighted and Spinal Cord Injuries Association, will receive same cash donations of half a million as usual. Thus for 22 years, the Household of God has championed the course of the underprivileged who look forward to the love feast every year. In 1996, the Reverend conceived the KARIS award as recognition of unsung Nigerian heroes/heroines who, due to some errors of omission were not duly appreciated by the government in their generation. KARIS is subsumed in the GRACE event. Renowned mathematician , Prof. Chike Obi, was the first beneficiary of the KARIS award which now has a cash prize of one million naira, up from half a million naira. Some past awardees were, Gen. Murtala Mohammed, Hajia Gambo Sawaba, Isaac Adaka Boro, Gani Fawehinmi, Obi Funsho Adeolu ( Eleyinmi) DIG Chris Omeoben, Mallam Aminu Kano, Chief Mrs. Margaret Ekpo, Tai Solarin , Hogan Kid Bassey.etc. It is significant to note that some KARIS awardees became appreciated by their indigent governments only after they received the KARIS award. A case in point was Chief (Mrs.) Margaret Ekpo. The Calabar Airport was named after her shortly after she got the KARIS award. The Ondo and Lagos State governments also named gardens and monuments after Chief Gani Fawehinmi, in the wake of his award. One of the appeals of KARIS is its non-political and non-religious bias. Past beneficiaries span the length and breadth of Nigeria, encompassing a diversity of vocations. Their

common denominator is that they were truly distinguished and patriotic Nigerians. This year, the award organizers went up north and bestowed the posthumous KARIS 2012 on the illustrious scholar, politician and medical missionary, late Prof. Ishaya Sha’aibu Audu. He was best known as the pioneer indigenous Vice Chancellor of the Ahmadu Bello University, ABU, Zaria. He was also a minister of External Affairs and Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in the Shehu Shagari Administration. The Impressive picture of Audu’s pedigree informed his choice by the KARIS award organizers. According to his official profile, when he took over as Vice-Chancellor in 1966, the total student enrolment stood at 956; but by the time he left in September 1975 the student population had risen to 7, 651, thus transforming Ahmadu Bello University into the largest University in Tropical Africa. During the same period, the strength of senior staff grew from about 300 to nearly 2,000. To facilitate Nigerianization, the administration of Professor Audu introduced a vigorous and deliberate programme of staff training. Whereas in the 1965/66 session Nigerians made up only 20% of the total number of senior staff, by the session 1975/76 this proportion had risen to over 60%. With reference to academic expansion, it is noteworthy that 37 new academic departments were created during professor Audu’s tenure of office. To ensure that this great University identifies with and effectively responds to the needs and aspirations of the environment it is established to serve, the administration of Professor Audu imaginatively created nine new institutes and centers, including the In-

stitute of Health, the Institute of Education, the Division of Agricultural Colleges and the Centre for Social and Economic Research. Professor Audu’s deep and genuine concern for the rapid educational development of educationally disadvantaged areas led him to initiate and establish the School of Basic Studies SBS in 1970. With an annual intake of about 1,000, this school has undoubtedly important role in preparing candidates for degree courses. Professor Audu’s experiment has been so successful that a large number of similar schools have been and are being established throughout the federalism. Academic growth and development were effectively supported by a corresponding expansion of physical facilities and infrastructure, such as academic buildings, student hostels, staff houses, roads and service departments in all the campuses of the University. In spite of this rapid expansion during the university and indeed the Nation’s most difficult years, and enviable academic excellence and intellectual integrity had been established at Ahmadu Bello University under the able leadership of this eminent Nigerian. As an illustration of his principle of academic leadership by example; he actively engaged in further academic research and professional practice at ABU to the extent that he earned a full professorship in Pediatrics. Even with all these extraordinary achievements, Professor Audu was the very symbol of humility. He was compassionate, God-fearing and a devout Christian. Indeed, these are sufficient reasons for him to merit the 2012 KARIS award. •Gidado wrote from Lagos.

Give expression to your talent –Pastor Olusore Founder of Livinglight International Church, Pastor Israel Olusore, in this insightful message, urges all to realise that the riches, influence and affluence people are dying to attain are locked up within them, waiting to be explored. Excerpts:

Olusore

n the words of Apostle Paul, “I am what I am by the grace of God.” Your talent is grace, given to you by God. You are expected to use it well, else it will be taken from you. With your talent, you are created to be city changers, world changers, pacesetters, leaders and rulers. That God given ability is superior to academic qualification. Cinnamon Knut was at the verge of bankruptcy when God said to him, “What have I put in you. And he realised that as a child he could fry nuts. So he went and carried out research on various kinds of nuts. He worked on

that talent until he came out with the right recipe. Cinnamon Knut eventually became a household name within a short time. Before that great discovery, he had been struggling for years, jumping from one business to another. Your talent is the grace of God. May we not regret when we come face to face with God on the judgment day. Kingdom possession is a function of grace, not a function of academic qualification. Sometime ago, I shared with us the story of a man who never went to school. He was a wood seller for many years. Later, he learnt how to mend shoes and was a cobbler for another 30 years. After about 60 years, he gave his life to Christ. It was then the grace of God on his life began to speak out, to the extent that the Governor sought him out for consultation. He had other people on his payroll; yet he is a cobbler and wood seller. This breakthrough became possible because he found the kingdom at last. The book of Luke 17:21 says, “Nor will they say see here or see there; for indeed, the Kingdom of God is within you.” Wherever you are, that is where the kingdom is. Being the heir of the kingdom, you are also the ambassador of the kingdom. You determine how far you would extend your influence and have affluence. Kingdom possession is a function of grace, and the grace not used is wickedness against yourself, wickedness against humanity and wickedness against God. The man in the parable of the talents decided to hide the talent given to him; and God said to him, “Thou wicked and lazy servant.”

And I am now telling you brethren, don’t bury your talents; use it. Evangelist Ebenezer Obey sang one song which equally means “Don’t ever bury your talent because God will ask you what you have done with that talent.” God will judge us based on those abilities and knowledge He has given us; not that which God has not given us. You are a king with a kingdom. But one can only actualise the kingdom if that God-given grace or talent deposited in us is properly utilised. If you want to receive the kingdom, then make positive use of your talent. Your talent includes the money you are making; the gifts of God in your life and the purpose of God for your life. Because people are not ready to become faithful stewards of His grace, they fail to apply the full weight of their talents to seek God’s kingdom. It takes obedience, diligence and faithfulness. The other two young men traded with their talents. Doing the will of God will always deliver the kingdom to you. The servants, who got five talents and two talents respectively, traded with the talents and made a difference. You will make a difference in your world, in Jesus’ name. Some years ago, I told God that I needed money and I asked and I wanted to know what I would do to get money without recourse to borrowing. God then began to show me lots of things I could do that could translate to wealth. There are things in you that the world is waiting to buy into. But if you do not give expression to your God-given talents, the world might never get the opportunity to buy into it.

Let’s discover and use our talents; the world is waiting for you. nth’s Holy Ghost Service at the Redemption Camp grounds, in Ogun state, the cleric assured that this year’s congress slated to hold between December 15 and 20, promises to be filled with multiple signs and wonders. Towards this end, the regular monthly Holy Ghost service of the RCCG on the first Friday has been cancelled. According to Daddy G.O., as Adeboye is fondly called, “next month, there will be no Holy Ghost service on the first Friday, instead we are having our congress, it is from December 10 to 15. The theme is SIGNS AND WONDERS. The congress of this year is going to be one of its kinds; it will be a kind of congress you have never seen before. Beginning from Monday, signs and wonders will multiply. If I were you I will tell all my friends, relatives and even all my enemies that from December 10 to 15, they should make sure they are here. “You could say there is no problem; I can watch it from the television or on the internet, sure! But let me assure you there that there are certain things camera cannot transmit, there is nothing like a personal touch. If you are far away, we can understand, you are in Papua New Guinea, or in Australia and you don’t have the means of travelling down, we can understand. If you are able to come, but chose to sit down at home, the blessing of coming can never be the same as the blessing transmitted by any means at all. If I were you, I will just make sure I won’t miss a single day and the Almighty God will surprise you in Jesus’ name,” he urged.

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Sir, what should be the expectation of people at the Fire Convention? Fire, in terms of purging of our sins. Some habits will not drop until it is passed through the fire. So, this fire convention is about purification- It’s a fire that purifies and makes you better. The Bible says that God is a consuming fire. We should be expecting the full gospel. How prepared is the church for the Fire Convention? We are ready. We are praying and it is certainly going to be a wonderful time. This is not our first conference. So we have done our best as human beings and we are praying for peace and security from above. What is the secret of your refreshing look and vibrancy at the pulpit? The person you see here is me. The person preaching is not me. That person is an act of the Holy Ghost.

I’m in need of a companion, so I will remarry –Pastor Madubuko As the Revival Assemb Assembly Ministries gears up iin 22nd preparation for its 2 Fire anniversary and F which Convention, whic Friday, the kicks off on Frida General founder and Gen Overseer, Apost Apostle Anslem Madubu Madubuko, interview speaks in this in Eghaghe with Richard Eg church, about the church the convention, without Christianity, life w other his wife and othe issues affecting the country. Excerpts: Exc

How do you feel when people you raised up and as such trust, turn round to stab you in the back? I still go and keep trusting people and raising them. I look at people and I expect people to fail me. So when they fail, it is normal. Things don’t bug me. I have helped people. They stab me in the back. But it means nothing to me. I just keep going. It doesn’t stop me from helping other people because at any point in time, people are bound to fail. I just live my life and try to obey God. Why do people’s lives remain the same, even when they attend churches or revival programmes? It’s a problem for me. People refuse to change and refuse to allow God do what He wants to do with them. That is not my business anyway. My business is to enable and give them opportunity to change. I cannot lead their lives. We just have to keep trying, maybe someday, something will break in them. I think it has to do with their decision not to change. Sometimes, the problem is the church, starting from the head -the pastors. Don’t you think churches are becoming greedy, stressing tithes and offering while the members are not benefitting anything? I blame the members for this because if your pastor is acting crazily, then, get out of the church, period. But the members are there, encouraging the man and he thinks he is okay. What can anybody do? So, if your pastor is money-minded, he is selfish, you don’t think he has your interest at heart, then you go elsewhere. Again, some pastors now divorce their wives and remarry. Is this proper? If your pastor divorces his wife and you don’t like it, get out of the church. May be when people begin to leave their church, they will be forced to sit down and think. But when they see people still there, they don’t think anything is wrong. How is your salvation experiences like? I got saved at 25 years. And before I got saved, I was a very bad person. I was in the Lords’, I was in cult, I was in pirates, I was into anything bad: drugs, alcohol, women. At the point I got saved, I was tired of life. I didn’t know what to do. When I was in the University, the Scripture Union (S.U.) could not preach to me because they thought I was too gone to be saved. That is why I am passionate about souls because nobody is too gone to be saved. In fact, God like the bad people, really. So, nobody taught me about Jesus because they assume I was a candidate for hell and they were right. It was during my youth service that I met one young guy and for the first time, he preached to me the love of God, the real gospel of Jesus Christ. He didn’t condemn me, he didn’t judge me. I was smoking my thing and I asked him, can I still smoke? He said yes and I gave my life to Christ. Thank God, he said ‘yes’ because if he had said ‘no’, I couldn’t have imagined

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life without smoking smoking. If he had said I couldn’t smoke and drink, I wouldn’t have given my life to Christ. But he said I can still do it and I asked: you mean it and he said yes. So I gave my life to Christ but the good news is that from that day, I forgot about drinking and smoking, till today. Why is it that people go back to the world after giving their lives to Christ? I don’t understand it really. Things have changed. In our time, we were consumed by the passion for God; to serve God, to win souls, we were not thinking about what God was going to do for us. I can’t remember praying for God to make me a rich man or anything like that. It was just about spiritual development: we were filled with thoughts to serve, thoughts to evangelise, thoughts to win souls and those were what we were after. All my friends were saved, both males and females. I remember in the university in those days, three months in my salvation, I went back to the university. God sent me to the female hostel and I went there and I preached. That day, I met 99 girls and that brought a revolution in Enugu. It was a big thing that time, in 1984. I got saved in 1983. Things like that don’t happen anymore. It has become a money thing. Actually, I didn’t want to be a pastor. I said ‘ah! What’s the guarantee? Why should I leave my profession as an architect and come to be begging people for money, tithes and all that? But God said ‘go, I will take care of you but be faithful.’ In what ways does God speak to you? He speaks to me in different ways. At

times times, directly; at times with the Bible Bible. God is big. The something there is that I pray all the time and I have been sensitive enough to know that He is the one speaking to me. Are you grooming people to take over from you? Oh, I have a lot of sons, spiritual sons, all over the world. But I am not retiring yet. We just keep moving on and they biblically make a life for themselves. I have many who have their own businesses; some have their own houses, some have their own ministries. I am also doing the same thing, it is amazing. People who use to be completely rejected. As a seasoned minister of God, what tips can you give for a responsible and successful ministry? Don’t be envious, don’t be anxious. Forget about time. Don’t compete with anybody. Just find out what God wants you to do and do it. Don’t do things because others are doing it. Do things the way God wants you to do it. Did God really speak to you to establish a church? You can see the proof. The proof is there that I didn’t do what I wanted to do. I didn’t want to have a church, like I told you before, what was the guarantee that the church will give me food. There was no assurance. In 1990, he said do it, trust me. So, I am doing it because he said so. Not because I wanted to do it. I didn’t go to Bible School, I didn’t go to learn to preach. He taught me everything. What are your challenges?

None. Then, what vacuum has the death of your wife created in your life and ministry? She was my friend for 30 years and my wife for 28 years. I never thought a time would come when I will be like this. Normally, she does all these things. This is her office (falls into sober mood)…God is faithful. Was her death revealed to you? Yes, in a way but I didn’t understand it. Now I know why He (God) did not want me to understand it. I would have challenged it. He told me I took her… because her time was up and she had to move up to another level of ministry which she was not part of. So I don’t question God, I just have to move on. How has life been without her? Tough, but God is faithful. She gave me good kids and my kids have been helping me so much. They are like their mother. They know how their mother was to me. She had my life actually, I didn’t have my life. She had everything. She was such a strong woman. Even the bulbs, the generator at home, I didn’t know anything. Things were working 24 hours. How? I don’t know. She made sure I was comfortable. But like I said, the daughters have been trying so hard because they saw how she operated and they are trying to emulate their mother by making sure that I am fine. My daughter is going away tomorrow (wedding). So it will be tough but God is faithful. Are you thinking of re-marrying? I will remarry by the grace of God, when the time comes. But the truth is, the society is very wicked on widows. I found that out, not God. If a woman loses her husband, it is like she should die as well. She doesn’t have a life. She doesn’t even smile. They try to make a man also, that way. If your wife dies, even when God has told you that you should move on, people want you to be mourning. They want you to be in pain. It is incredible. That is not good because if somebody dies, it is not easy. You can’t experience it until you go through it. I didn’t know it was like this. I used to talk about why should you marry now? You get so lonely. You are used to coming home to see somebody, gossiping with somebody, laughing with somebody, fighting with somebody sometime and all of a sudden, it’s like nobody upstairs, downstairs, everywhere, and at times, I want to call her because I share everything with her. The best way is to find somebody else. But the society will not let you do that. But that is the way to heal. You can’t heal alone. I have found that out. It can never heal alone. It takes somebody to take over that gap. Do you think you will find someone like her for a replacement? No, no, I am not looking for somebody like her any more. I told the church, I said, I am not going to marry a mama again. Your mama is dead. I am going to marry a wife, not a preacher, not a pastor. I want someone that will look after me and take care of me until I go home (die).

Is there any lady you are eying at the moment? The Bible says watch and pray. So, I am watching and praying (laughter)

Was your late wife at anytime diagnosed of any ailment? Not at all. There was no illness at all. We used the same door for 25 years. We don’t have any history of heart problems or whatever, just her time, that is all.

Since you lost your wife, have you ever developed that urge of making love with a woman? I am too occupied really, I won’t lie to you. I don’t need sex. I am talking about now. I don’t know about tomorrow.

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It is really your time 1 to recover all, says Pastor Okereke As David pursued the Amalekites, overran them and recovered all that had been stolen from him, the same daring and miraculous feat can take place in the life of the faithful, says Pastor (Dr.) Chima Okereke, General Overseer of Global Success Ministry, in this sermon. Excerpts:

Okereke

Samuel 30:17-19 states, “And David smote them from the twilight, even unto the evening of the next day; and there escaped not a man of them, save 400 young men, which rode upon camels, and fled. And David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away: and David rescued his two wives. And there was nothing lacking to them, neither small nor great, neither sons nor daughters, neither spoil nor anything they had taken to them. David recovered all.” The word ‘recover’ means an act of collecting back what rightfully belongs to you, which had been forcefully and illegally collected from you. It means that before you recover, there had been a loss. Now let us look at the reasons we should recover and some examples of people who recovered all in the past. In the case of David, he and his people were occupying their land when suddenly their enemies came and invaded their territory. In verse 1-5 of the above scripture, it was recorded that their land were burnt and the people both wives, sons and daughter great and small were taken captives. When David and the people saw all these, they lifted up their voices and wept until they had no more power to weep. David in his distress was threatened to be stoned by his people; still he encouraged himself in the Lord, his God. Had it been David did not stand out with this courage, they would have kept on weeping for many years and there may not have been any room for recovering. Although he was grieved and distressed, he still went to the Lord and enquired of the Lord what he should do to recover all he had lost to the Amalekites. You must not succumb to your enemies. After he had enquired of the Lord, there was a divine direction that gave him victory as he went and he recovered all. If he had not enquired of the Lord, he might have been a failure. Your tears is not a guarantee that God will come to your rescue if you refuse to do what is right. Look at David and his people, even when they were crying, God was there watching them but nothing was done. It was only when David called on Him and asked of what he will do, that God helped him to recover all. God is not moved by your emotions. It is your zeal that He gratifies; that is, when he sees the zeal in you to do something, He gives you the grace towards achievement. In verse 8, “David enquired from the LORD, saying, “shall I pursue after this troop? Shall I overtake them? And he answered him, pursue: for thou shall surely overtake them, and without fail, recover all”. I pray that this day, you will recover all you have lost over the years in Jesus’ name. David was determined to pursue and then he enquired of the Lord if he should go ahead. If you are in a situation that does not give you joy and there is no move from you to make a change, then change will not come. In Genesis 14:15-16, Abraham also pursued and recovered his brother, his goods, the women and the people that were taken captive. When Abraham heard what happened, he was grieved in his heart and he pursued after them and recovered all they took away from him. In Mark 5:27-34, the woman with the issue of blood suffered that ailment for 12 years. It means that there was a time in the woman’s life when she was in a good state of health but suddenly, the enemies brought upon her such deadly ailment. Before she recovered from that sickness, she was determined. Even with the crowd, she pressed on until she made her way through to touch the helms of Jesus’ garment and that day, she recovered her lost good health. In John 10:10, “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy....” Now, there was a time you were filled with

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joy in your life and family, things were going on well for you. Your business and career were successful. You were in good health of mind and body. In fact, all were going on well with you at that time, even though you are still working hard to acquire more good things. But suddenly, you begin to experience some negative changes which may be causing you pains, and the joy you had before is now beginning to diminish. The reason many people have not been able to recover all they have lost is because they don’t to see the possibility of recovering; so they accept pains, poverty, sicknesses and all the terrible things the enemies have inflicted upon them; this is a very critical situation. Being in sorrows and afflictions is not God’s desire for you. He wants you not to be in want of anything so long as you serve Him. He gave us His words. If you are sick, His word said by His stripes, you were healed and He will supply all your needs. God knows that a time will come in life when the devil will come to steal away God’s blessings from you and keep you captive but if you enquire of God when the adversaries comes, surely, you will recover all. 2 Timothy 2:26 states, “And they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will”. Do not accept a change that affected you negatively one way or the other. You need to recover all spiritual, financial and physical blessings. You need sight recovery also because when you are blind from seeing the operations and manipulations of the enemies, it means that the enemies will feast on such individual, as long as you live because you will be in darkness, according to the book of Matthew 6:22-23. The eyes, when active, will help you to see all you have lost and as well help you put up strategies to pursue and recover all. Luke 4:18 says, “The spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the broken hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised”. It doesn’t matter how long you have been suffering in that condition or how long the enemies have been holding what rightfully belongs to you; it is time for you to recover all. I prophesy into your life that before the end of this year, you shall recover all you have lost over the years in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. When the children of Israel were in captivity in Egypt, they lost their freedom, joy and finances for 430 years; but when they cried unto the Lord, the Lord sent Moses to bring them out of bondage. No matter how difficult your case may seem to appear, you must recover all you have lost in Jesus’ name. there are many areas of recovery. Health; let me assure you that if there is any sickness tormenting whoever that is around you or any one you must have experienced before, it will never repeat itself and you shall see them no more as it is written in Exodus 23:25-27, in Jesus’ name. If the case is your finance, God will give you the power to increase financially according to the book of Deuteronomy 8:18 and your business will recover to a prosperous state in Jesus’ name. That job you lost, you must get a better one or even be called with promotion. What have you lost? Is it the joy of your marriage owing to childlessness? This is your time for fruitfulness. Those who rejected you before must accept you again in Jesus’ name. I prophesy to all our readers that this season shall usher you into endless prosperity in Jesus’ name, Amen. Remain bless. •For enquiries on the programme and church activities, please send text messages only to the following numbers: 08067802407, 07038638984 and 08033599027

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You are not created for just you –Pastor Oloruntimilehin Founder of Omnipotence Mission of God, Pastor Joshua Oloruntimilehin Daramola, wants all to live up to expectation and make the world a better place for all. Excerpts:

t is important for people to know that God created human beings for a purpose. Anyone who understands this will always be ready to help others willingly. A person with understanding will always be mindful of whatever he does or says. Parents who know the will of God for making parents take good care of their children are always successful. Some parents endure lots of hardship and even sell their possession to educate their children because they know that they are created to nurture their children properly. Of course, such parents know that if they fail to take care of their children, nobody will do it. Hence, such parents want, above all things, to remain alive so that they can fulfill that purpose in the life of their wards. They endure the test of time. They always believe that things will be better. Let me mention some people that know they came into this world for a purpose. Nelson Mandela did not come to suffer for his wife and children but for the black people of South Africa. He believed that if he did not champion the cause of liberating his people from the shackles of apartheid, God knows who else would. Mandela never compromised the liberation of South African blacks despite the overtures made to him to stop the struggle. An Anot nothe otthe herr sh sshining shin hin inin nin ing g example exam ex am a ampl mpl ple le was was Ken wa Ke en Another gle for Saro-Wiwa. He led the strugthe emancipation of Ogoni people. He suffered incarceration and eventually lost his life in the struggle. It was after his death that the insurgency of militancy esand calated; amnesty programme was put in place to stop the restiveness in Niger Delta. What is y o u r pur-

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pose of coming into this world? Do you know why God sent you into the world? I know the purpose of my coming into this world. One of the purposes is what I am doing presently; that is, trying to convert my people from worshipping idols to the ways of Jesus Christ. I use all the wisdom and knowledge God has given to me to accomplish this task. Today, I am happy to see many of my people who were beating drums and dancing for idols now doing the same for God in the church. Similarly, I came to this world for my wife, children and family. I generously touched their lives. Also, I am responsible for the education of some children who are not my blood relations. I saw that they are serious-minded and they were yearning to be educated. I also support other ministries financially and in other respects and proffer solutions to their problems. Please do not misunderstand me; I am not boasting but only trying to enlighten people on what I do, so that they can emulate me because the Bible says in Hebrew 13 verse 7, “Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.” Brethren, you ought to know what is expected of you. Many people only think about themselves, their wives and children alone. They want to be enjoying a alon al lon one. one e. T hey are hey he are not ar not bothered no both bo both ther her ere about what ere alone. They happen to other people around aro them. It is better to know that you are not created for yourself alone but bu for all other people. The Bible says in Matthew 25 verse 34 - 46 “…For I wa was hungry and you gave me something someth to eat, I was thirsty and you gave g me something to drink, I was wa a stranger and you invited me in. I needed clot clothes and you clothed me. I was looke after me. I sick and you looked was in prison and you came to visit me….” We all should endeavour to know why we are created ens and ensure that the purp purpose of God for our lives is graciously a achieved, and we will be blessed for it.

Revival Assembly celebrates 22nd anniversary

Agu

ctivities marking the 22nd anniversary and annual fire convention of the Revival Assembly, begins on Friday at the church headquarters, Revival Miracle Cathedral, Cocoa Road, Ogba, Ikeja.

The four-day event is divided into two sessions; morning and evening. The morning session begins at 9 while the evening session begins at 6. This year’s convention is expected to feature foremost international gospel minister, singer, and prophet, Dr. Juanita Bynum; South Africa-based singer, Uche Agu and Nigeria’s Chioma Jesus, among others. It also promises to feature life-transform-

Bynum

ing experiences in salvation, praise and worship, powerful ministration, healing, deliverance, financial breakthrough and other kinds of miracle. Chief host, founder, and General Overseer of the Revival Assembly, Apostle Anselm Madubuko, who recently lost his wife, will lead the various sessions during the convention, just as the Higher dimension Choir of the church takes the congregation to inspirational spiritual realm with infectious gospel songs. Founded in 1990, Revival assembly is a leading, full gospel Pentecostal church with branches at both the local and international arena.

Pastors Gbenga and Ruth Efueye

Victory Cathedral holds 9th Kingdom Praise Night

he Evangelical Church of New Jerusalem a.k.a. Victory Cathedral has concluded plans to hold its special ninth Bi-annual Praise Night entitled Kingdom Praise on Friday. According to the general overseer of the church, Pastor Gbenga Efueye, who spoke from his London base, where he had gone to attend to some crucial church matters, the event promises to be a remarkable departure and improvement on the past ones. “For one, high-end guest artistes such as the Midnight Crew and Zion Voices will lead the main praise and worship sessions, while other highlights such as pep talks, comedy, and dance shows will also feature during the all-night event, which com-

mences at 10pm and ends at 5am,” he said. The president of the Women of Faith arm of the church, Pastor (Mrs.) Ruth Efueye added that the Niger Delta crew will be on hand to edify and entertain the congregation, while the Women of Faith choir will also be present. Other highlights of the night are Successful Men’s choir and church choir performances, ewi rendition and drama, while the popular Baba de Baba will be on hand as master of ceremony for the event. According to members of the praise night committee, no stone has been left unturned in ensuring a delightsome night of God’s presence and blessings, while ample security has been arranged for the entire period.

Praise & Worship

Sunday, December 9, 2012

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

God has no challenger, says Pastor Muoka In continuation of his exhortation on the immutability of God, the General Overseer of the Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Ministries, Pastor Lazarus Muoka, in this series gives more biblical illustrations to reinforce the fact that God has no challenger, and that, there is no basis to fear anyone. Excerpts:

ast week, we told you that there is no spirit, man or woman that can challenge or oppose God or His people. That nothing can stop God from achieving His purpose or will. That God has His ways in all things and His designs are accomplished without frustration. That His counsel only shall stand and none of the devices of His foes can put a stop to His decree. That lapse of years cannot diminish or challenge His power to fulfill His purposes.

As the Book of Isaiah 45: 5a says, “I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me…” God is God alone and there is no God beside Him. There is no power alongside His power and there is nothing done without Him. Thus, nothing can challenge Him. Psalm 24: 1 -2 says, “The earth is the LORD’S, and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein 2 For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods.” We must understand that the Lord is the Sovereign Ruler of the universe. He is the Creator and Governor of it and the earth is His property. Men may claim districts and kingdoms of it as their property, but God is the Lord of the soil. Every tree, plant, shrub, the silver and the gold, and the cattle are His. He ensures His will is done and He takes care to anticipate the willfulness of any challenger. Before any challenger will come with action, He will vanquish it and if he is armed with craft, He will frustrate it and make the plot to end in nothing. Various men have various designs, according as their inclination or interest leads them, but the counsel of the Lord that shall stand, regardless of whatever becomes of the devices of men. His counsel breaks men’s devices and men devices cannot in the least alter His counsel nor disturb the proceedings of it.

All things work together…

No one can challenge or oppose the will of God. Any person or being or spirits that tries that does so as a result of lack of knowledge and when it is allowed, it goes to advertise God’s name, power and might, and above all it constitutes to His glory. When we talk about God, we are also talking about God’s people and establishment such as The Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Movement. So by extension any man, spirit or thing that tries to oppose God’s people or institution is doing so at his or its peril. And if such situation is allowed, it is to give God glory for all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose (Rom 8:28) All things work together for good to those who love God, and who live in the spirit of obedience. All things will work together for good for the people that are working with God. In such a case, whatever troubles, afflictions or persecutions that may arise are pressed into their service by God and they will make a part of the general working, and will cause to contribute to the general good of the person who loves God, and who is working by faith and under the influence and operation of the Holy Ghost. So all dispensations of

Muoka

providence whatsoever, whether they are ordinary afflictions or extraordinary trials, which do befall the children of God in this life, are directed by His wisdom, and overruled by His power and goodness, for the temporal, spiritual, and eternal good of His children and people. This is absolutely to affirm that God has no challenger and anybody that challenges Him or His church shall be crushed. Problems may arise in the life of believers but it arises to advertise God’s power and not to challenge His power. Exodus 9:16-17 says, “16 And in very deed for this cause

have I raised thee up, for to shew in thee my power; and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth. As yet exaltest thou thyself against my people, that thou wilt not let them go” God brought up Pharaoh to demonstrate His power and proved that nobody can challenge Him. He made him to exist in the time that He raised him to the throne, promoted him to that high honour and dignity, preserved him, and did not cut him off but strengthened and hardened his heart. He irritated, provoked, and stirred him up against His people Israel, and suffered him to go all the lengths he did go in his obstinacy and rebellion. All this was done to show in him His power in destroying him in the Red Sea. The sum of which is, that this man was raised up by God in every sense for God to show His power in his destruction. So also anybody that rises up against God institution or people is for God to demonstrate His power. That ugly situation in your life cannot constitute any meaningful challenge to the Almighty God as they shall all be crushed and freedom given to you in Jesus name. That man oppressing you is for God to prove His power. That situation asking you where your God is is allowed for God to prove His power. That sickness that has defied known medication is not challenging you but God and must be crushed. Romans 9:16-17 says, 16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy. For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.” God’s demonstration of power is to enable His name to be known hence He allows certain problems to cultivate in His people’s lives. Again, I say the time is up for all the challengers of God and His people for they shall be ruthlessly dealt with and His people shall sing hosanna to the name and power of the Lord in Jesus name. John 9:1-3 says, “And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.” The blindness of this person is not occasioned by any sin of his own, nor of his parents, but has happened in the ordinary course of divine providence, and is for the salvation of his soul, edification of others, and glory to GOD. It was part of the providential arrangement by which God governs the world. The wonderful works of God in the believers’ life and situations ascribe glory to God Almighty. John 11:1-4 says, “Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.) Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick. When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.” I want you to believe that the problem or situation facing you, constituting a challenge in your life is for the glory of God and God will solve it and take all the glory in Jesus name. Rev. 4:11 says, 11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” No one can oppose God. He gave life to all beings and also gave them power to exist. He is the power of the sun, the moon, stars, the day and night, the air, the ocean and without God, can anything existing today exist? Therefore, all these things cannot turn around to begin to challenge God. The power for them to do so is not in them at all. Nothing can oppose the Almighty God.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

I have a right to expect overflowing blessings. In Deuteronomy 28 verses 1 to 2, the Bible says again that provided I will obey and hearken diligently to the voice of the Lord my God, to observe and to obey all that he commands me…I have told you there is a level where God will begin to bless you so much that you will begin to run and you will be saying ‘God this is too much’, and God will tell you, ‘I have not even started the blessing. It will begin to follow and overtake you.’ I have a right to expect victory without a fight. Deuteronomy 28, verse 7 says, “they will come against you one way, they will flee seven ways.” He says God will cause those who rise up against you to be smitten before your face. You won’t do the fighting, you just wait and see the salvation of the Lord. I have a right to expect the kind of prosperity that will flow to nations. Deuteronomy 28 v 11-12 says, ‘never to borrow’, he said ‘as a matter of fact, you will be lending to nations.’ I have a right to expect that not only would I be promoted but my promotion will be permanent. Deuteronomy 28 verse 13 states clearly: you will be above only and not beneath, you will be the head and not tail. That is permanent promotion because it is one thing to be promoted, it is another thing to get there and stay there. But it is in the word of God that you have permanent promotion. And of course, I can go on and on, on several passages but as a child of God, I have absolute right to expect a mansion when I get to heaven. Now take note; I didn’t say if I get to heaven, I say when I get to heaven. And in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, I am going to be there. And I know I will see you there in Jesus’ name. Why? Because Jesus Christ said in John 14 v 1- 3 in my father’s house there are many mansions there. He said ‘if it were not so, I would have told you.’ He said ‘I am going to prepare a place for you and when I have finished preparing the place, I will come for you.’ He is coming for me again! How many of you are expecting Jesus to come for you again? And the reason he hasn’t come yet is that he is preparing the mansion. Now there are some highly educated theologians who said ‘no, no, what is written there is not mansion, what is written there is hut.’ I said hut! In heaven! If you want a hut you will get one, but I am going for a mansion. How many of you want a mansion? You will get your own there in Jesus’ name. For those of you who are old members of the church, I have shared with you again and again, how long ago God had already showed me my own mansion; it was still being built, they had not completed it then and I have not seen it now for a while. So I don’t know how big it is now, but what

Praise & Worship

Sunday, December 9, 2012

You should have great expectations, says Adeboye In this concluding part of a recent ministration by the General Overseer of Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, the man of God stresses the need for great expectations, marked by holy living. Excerpts:

Pastor Adeboye

I saw was so big that if you stand on one end, a man at the other end will be like an ant and they were still building. And that is more than 30 years ago now. Then I asked the Lord, ‘this is where you need to pay attention.’ How many rooms do I need? He said ‘every soul you win will have a room in your mansion. Because in heaven, your convert will come and pay you visit. So those of you who are not winning souls, listen to me; you may get to heaven and found that your mansion is made of only one room because there is nobody coming to visit you; you have not won any soul. Those of you who by the grace of God have been converted to Christ through my little

effort, there is a room for you in my own mansion. When we get to heaven, you are coming to pay me a visit. I want you to begin to work hard for your own mansion too; every soul you win has a room in your own mansion and ’am looking forward to my own. That is why you find that somebody like me can’t rest. We finish one programme, I go on to another. We finish Congress, I go on to Let’s go-a-fishing. Why don’t you sit down? I want to win more souls. Those ones you’ve won are they not enough? No, I want my mansion to be bigger. How many of you are expecting a mighty mansion when you get to heaven? God will give you one in Jesus’

name, but make sure you go on winning souls like nobody’s business. Between the promise of God and the manifestation of that promise, the devil would try his best to see if he can doublecross you. You must not allow him! And I will give you one example and it will be time to pray; that is the example of Joseph. In Genesis 37 verses 5- 11, God showed Joseph how great he would become. God gave him a glimpse of how great he would become, because all that Joseph saw was that his brothers, his father, and mother bowing down before him. He didn’t know the whole world will be bowing down before him but God gave him a glimpse, then the brothers became angry, they tried to kill him; they failed. They threw him into a well, the water was gone by the time he landed. They sold him into slavery; it didn’t matter, they didn’t know they were selling him into the fulfillment of his destiny. He became a slave and when he got to the house of the slave owner he became MD and the devil saw the way these things are going and said ‘I better deal with this boy and set a trap for him.’ Genesis 31v 9 -12: ‘And the wife of the master said lie with me, sin so that your destiny can be polluted, sin so that your destiny can be truncated, sin so that your expectation can be cut short. But the young man said how can I do this thing and sin against God.? There is only one person who can make my expectations come to pass. I will not annoy Him. That is why I am making a very passionate plea to you tonight; people have asked me again and again; Sir, why do you keep on hammering on holiness? One reason apart from making it to heaven, is that, no matter how big your dream maybe, if you don’t annoy God, the dream will come to pass, I know that. All my friends call me the big dreamer. I dream big; if I tell you one of my dreams, you will call me the dreamer. But I know that by the grace of God, I can keep myself pure; the dreams will come to pass. If you will stay away from sins, if you will keep yourself pure, all your dreams will come to pass; all your expectations will become manifestations. Because of the one who promised, because of His track record, because of His resources, because of His ability to perform. And you know the rest of the story? They threw Joseph into prison but from the prison, he got to the throne; because, if the one who promised is faithful, if you are faithful to Him, he will be faithful to you. In conclusion, He said in Isaiah 1 v 19 -20: if you are willing and you are obedient, you will eat the good of the land; but if you refuse, if you rebel, if you will not obey Him, don’t blame Him for what will follow.

Holy Ghost Congress: ‘Get ready for divine surprises’ RICHARD EGHAGHE

s the arrangements for the hosting of this year’s edition of the annual Holy Ghost Congress by the Redeemed Christian Church of God hit a crescendo, the General Overseer of the Church, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, has assured everybody to get set for divine surprises. The great spiritual revival opens tomorrow at the Redemption Camp ground, Kilometre 46, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Mowe, Ogun State, and has as theme,

‘Signs and Wonders’, In a welcome address posted on the official website of the RCCG, the G.O. expressed the confidence that nothing is too difficult for God. “He is the Almighty and sure to do as He has declared.” The message reads: “We are delighted to, once again, welcome you to anther Congress. We thank the Almighty God, the God of Signs and Wonders, for sparing our lives over the 12 months to see this year’s Congress. “With the theme, ‘Signs and Wonders’, we are in for some divine surprises. Nothing is too

difficult for our God. He is the Almighty and sure to do as He has declared. Are you expectant? The expectations of the righteous shall not be cut off. As you seek Him prayerfully, He will surely answer you. “God has specially put this Congress together for you. There will be a time to teach from the word of God, a time to preach, a time to pray and a time for personal ministration during the morning and evening sessions. There will also be teachings on marriage, home management, business, career and related is-

sues of day-to-day living by experts in various fields during the afternoon sessions. “The programme opens with an evening session on Monday followed by the first afternoon session on Tuesday and the first Morning Session on Wednesday. The evening session will run on all six days while the other afternoon session will run on Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday. The other morning sessions will run on Thursday, Friday and Saturday in addition to Wednesday. You may go to the detailed daily programme page on this website.

‘’With the theme, Signs and Wonders’, we are in for some divine surprises. Nothing is too difficult for our God. He is Almighty and sure to do as has He declared.’’ As expected, there will be so many people at this Congress but God can reach you personally. Focus on Him and prayerfully parttake in all the programmes. Your miracles are around the corner. Just trust the Lord and diligently wait upon Him. Happy Congress 2012. Welcome to awesome moments with the God of ‘Signs and Wonders,” the message stated

Praise & Worship

Sunday, December 9, 2012

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

‘Pathetic story of 80-yr-old mother of nine’ An old woman of about 8 80 years had been mourning the death of her eight sons and only surviving ninth son was a mad man. But when Pastor was heartbroken as the o Overseer of Kings in Christ Power Ministries, came on the Chidi Anthony, General O changed. Tai Anyanwu brings the report. scene, the story changed

Chidi

he mission was originally to min minister at a cruFoundation Church losade organised by Sure Foundatio Eastern part of Nicated in Nneato town on the Easte geria. After the first and second days of ministration, Pastor Chidi Anthony, founder of Kings in Christ Power Ministry, whose evangelical activities are always accoma panied by miracles and prophetic utterances said, “I uttera was disturbed in my spirit to go for m morning cry. I cannot remember when last I went for mornw ing cry. So I tried to quench the spirit quen of God but He kept in insisting, “Go for morning cry. Go for morning cry.” At that point, point the servant of God said he had h no choice but to proceed on the morning cry.” Picking his Bible, Picki he announced to some pastors who accompanied him accom to the programme that it progra was time to go for morning cry. But they laughed at the la General Overseer and jokOvers ingly told him, “Daddy, h your position has risen above going for morning cry.” But he told to the people that the Lord had commanded him to t do so; and before they could say one co more word, the deliverance minister was already on his al way. He related his hi experience. “The first day, I preached ‘The Love of Christ.’ The second day, I preached ‘The pr Love of Christ’ Christt and on the third t ird day, I wass still preachth ing on the Love Lov v of Christ. While I was p preaching between 4:30 am and 5.00 am, I a saw a light coming towards com m me. I was wondering what won n kind of light was coming towards me. Could Cou it be a demon or what? “But, I brazed braze e up to bind and cast out the e demon. The light kept coming. When I com m looked closely, behold, I saw b an a old woman of about 80 years years carrying a lantern. I felt I could felt relaxed because bec c see that the light ligh ht was coming from a human being.” be e And the preacher kept prr preaching and the old womt an with the light lig gh kept coming. “She walked up to me walk k and said, “Shut “Shu u up. Don’t talk what you do d not know,” Pastor Chidi related. Though rela a shocked, the cleric c was calm as he replied, “Mummy, “Mumm m I am talking about Jesus Christ.” But she Chrr yelled, “Heh! Don’t mention that name, that man is ve very e wicked.” “Mummy you don’t underd stand, I am talking g about Jesus for.....” Christ that died for... . “Eh! Don’t call that name. There Therr is no atom of love in him. If you yo o don’t know

what to preach, take your Bible in, Mr. Preacher. There is no love in that man,” the old woman continued to retort. At that point, Pastor Chidi said that he said to the old woman “Woman, you will attract a curse upon yourself.” But defiantly, she asked, “Do you want me to prove it to you that there is no love in the man?” When the pastor said ‘yes’, the strange old woman ordered him to follow her. “She took me to her house. In the house, she said Mr. Preacher that preaches the love of Christ, can you see that uncompleted house? My first son started that building. Oh! I remember when he announced to me that he wanted to build it, I was very happy. When he built it to half-way, he told me that he would finish the building before the end of that year and my heart was glad.” However, that same night they ate dinner together and he went to bed. At about 2 am in the night, the old woman related, “My son began to shout ‘my head, my head.’ I tried to push the door of his room open but the door refused to respond to my little strength,” she explained. The old woman then raised the alarm; people gathered and helped her to open the door. It was too late; her son was already dead. The shock of her son’s death was much because he represented the strength of her youth. She said, “I cried and cried. My second son said to me, ‘Mummy stop crying.’ He told me that he would complete the house his elder brother could not finish. After eight months, the second son resumed work at the building and eventually took it to lintel level. While the second son was coming back with iron rods meant for the lintel, he died in an auto accident. She was thrown into mourning again. The third son swore that their mom must surely live in a new house. However, he decided not to go close to the house that ‘claimed the lives of his elder brothers.’ The old woman then took the visiting preacher to another house. “This is another building that my third son started,” she said. “When he began the house, I was happy. Again, I was eating with him when he told me something had bitten his leg. We thought it was an ordinary thing, but the following day, it had developed to elephantiasis. He suffered the sickness for two weeks and died,” she cried. The fourth son went to a nearby village and married a beautiful girl. The traditional rites were done and the wedding fixed for December that year. He was coming home for the white wedding from Lagos. A 14-seater passenger commercial bus had accident along Ore Express Road; her son was the only one that died in the crash. The woman cried, “Mr. Preacher, I gave birth to nine handsome boys, no girl; all hefty and very handsome boys. But they died one after the other and now, remaining one.” She took him to the back of her house. “Getting there, I saw a hefty handsome young man with chains in the legs and hands and was raving mad.” Pastor Chidi could then appreciate her defiance when she said, “Mr. Preacher, look at what your loving Jesus left for me. If you were in my shoes, tell me, will you say there is love in that man? (Jesus?). Look at me, I cannot conceive again. They have left me useless.” “I was forced to pray like I never prayed before. I prayed for one hour, heaven refused to answer. I prayed for two hours heaven refused to talk; getting to the third hour, behold my eyes opened,” the servant of God related. It was about 10 a.m. and people had gathered. Pointing out a spot, the pastor commanded the people to dig up the place. They did until a pot containing nine objects tied together and covered with grave cloths was found. After praying, the minister said he took olive oil, poured it into the pot. He said, “Immediately power left that pot and I had a name and I asked the woman who bears the name ‘Silvanus’. She said the he is the last brother of her husband. I told her that it was the man that had been killing her children.” That very moment, noise was heard in the direction of Silvanus compound. The madness left the woman’s son. Instantly, Silvanus began to tear his cloths and became hotly mad.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Praise & Worship

Sunday, December 9, 2012

How to overcome afflictions, by Pastor Adewunmi General Overseer, House of Prayers Ministry, Pastor Segun Adewunmi, underscores the importance of stability of mind and faith in God. He also says the Christian must learn to forgive others in order to stave off satanic afflictions. Excerpts:

appetite and one may become obsessed. Other signs of dejection include unpredictable temperament, quick anger and behaviours that bother on insanity. It is common to find a dejected person talking to himself or herself (Soliloquizing). Some become unduly religious, preferring to pray when they should be working, even when such prayer lacks faith.

Why today’s believers backslide

Adewunmi

LORD; AND NOT BACKSLIDE INTO UNGODLINESS. THE DEVIL FIGHTS ONLY THOSE WHO WERE CREFOCUS ON THE

ATED TO HAVE A GLORIOUS FUTURE

ast Sunday, we were able to establish that hatred, rejection and dejection are satanically inspired and we looked at some of the ways by which we can overcome the antics and rage of Satan in the life of God’s people. As we continue this Sunday, it important for brethrens to be careful, not to indulge in certain habits like self-pity. The best way to react to problems of life is not to seek sympathy from other people. It is

a sign manifested when one becomes dejected. To allow depression or exhibit inferiority complex, is an indication that one is yielding to satanic affliction of rejection and dejection. That could lead to a more dangerous stage where a dejected person begins to contemplate suicide, taking to drugs, tobacco smoking and other forms of drug abuse. Dejection could lead one to insatiable

It is hard to find steady believers in the church of Christ today. And this is attributable to the fact that an average Christian in our days is unable to meet the standard of God. Many Christians conduct themselves as people who lack understanding of the faith. Rather than be a cross-bearer, an average Christian is a miracle seeker. He has the impression of God as a business partner who must share some profit to him. These children of God seem not to appreciate eternal principles which support that there hardly can be a crown without a cross to bear. The real issues are in the foundation of our Christian life. Until Peter identified the true identity of the Lord Jesus as the Christ, Jesus was variously known as Miracle Practitioner by the virtue of his numerous miracles. Today’s believers are concerned only about His miracles. His real identity has not yet dawned on them. Many Christians do show that “He is Lord”. But the blood covenant is a bilateral agreement which makes it mandatory for the believers to be prepared to shed their own blood, as Christ did for them. Whoever is not so prepared cannot legally plead the blood of Jesus. The Bible, speaking in the book of Revelation 2:10, rightly declares, “Fear none of those things, which thou shalt suffer. Behold the devil shall cast some of you into prison that ye may be tried, and ye shall have tribulation few days: be thou faithful until death, and I will give thee a crown of life.” Indeed, it is the ignorance of the real definition of worship that militates against our faith. Worship is about absolute surrender and submission. It is inconsiderate of the fear of death; rather, it is about the goal that each believer must meet. What matters to the genuine believer is meeting the target of God, even at the cost of his life. We can remember that both Saul, the King and David received anointing for victory but in his human reasoning of wanting to save his life, Saul fled when he heard the boasting of Goliath. He lost his life and his kingdom. The small David went after Goliath and he gained his life and the kingdom. Satanically inflicted hatred, rejection and dejection are a confirmation to God’s interest and purpose in any such victim’s life.

What a victim must do One exposed to such attack should first, focus on the Lord; and not backslide into ungodliness. The devil fights only those who were created to have a glorious future. Second; afflicted persons are usually pressurised to the point where they are

tempted to seek assistance from demonic powers or sources; they are tempted to join a secret cult. A true believer must resist such evil prodding; and rather, hold on to the Lord as Jacob held on the Angel even when he suffered a dislocation of his hipbone. Third; Christians under operation of satanic powers must not plan to get a revenge or hatch evil desires against people who put them on the spot because of their situation. Vengeance must be left for the Lord to deliver. David spared the life of Saul twice, yet he was delivered. Fourth; solutions that are not in line with the scriptures must not be contemplated, not to talk of employed. The devil normally dangles counterfeit solutions. Be prepared to reject them. Remember that Joseph refused the advances of Portipha’s wife. One must realise that God is always there in every affliction. He never promised you a crisis-free voyage. He only promised a safe-landing. The fifth thing that must be done is that the battle must be faced with long fasting and prayer. Fast till noon or afternoon, keeping yourself holy during the period. Meditate in the scriptures such as the book of Esther, some stories in the 2 Chronicles and the Psalms like 22, 44. 69. Devotedly, read these passages two times daily throughout the fasting period. Remember that the devil is very wicked and may want to raise opposition against you in your local church so as to make you to backslide. Memorize and pray always with the words in Isaiah 50:7 to wade off the attacks: “For the Lord God will help me. Therefore, I will not be disgraced. Therefore, I have set my face like a flint And I know that I will not be ashamed.”

You must then expect results “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 unto Pharaoh.” Gen 41:14. Joseph was not demoralised for once throughout the period of his tribulation. This gave Joseph the stability of mind and he could counsel two officers of Pharaoh who were in jail with him. Though the officer who got restored in his job forgot Joseph, God remembered him. It is noteworthy that Joseph managed his crisis well. He also managed the period of his blessing and glory well. Some could be good in the management of crisis but poor in the management of glory. Forgiving your enemies is the best way to begin a glorious life. Living a charitable life shows proper understanding of God. Finally brethren, “Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; for he is faithful that promised.” (Hebrew 10:23). “For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” ( Psalm 30:5) •For counseling, contact the General Overseer via email address: pastorsegunadewumi@gmail.com or phone 08057483082.

Praise & Worship

Text Only: 08037188392

Divine Message with Special Apostle James

Akinadewo E-mail: molailatugrow@hotmail.com

alvary greetings. Welcome on board. May God bless our readers in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. Have you ever thought deeply about eternity in your daily pursuit in this world? Has it occurred to you that this life is a phase? Any thought about Heaven at all?

What does the Bible preach to you and how are you handling the words? Are you just a Christian by name – going to church without the Bible, a church benchwarmer, miracle seeker (fake or real), a sinner expecting God’s grace or a Judas among the saints. It is for real that you will answer some questions someday and that informed our teaching today – are you acceptable?

Divine message

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. “And be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.” (Romans 12 verses 1-2)

Check it out –

Holy – Without Holiness, no one shall see the Lord, no matter your level in the world, you cannot bribe your way to

Hope for the Hopeless with Pastor Goke

Aniyeloye

he Peniel Parish of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), fondly called ‘The place of God’, is gradually becoming the new Jerusalem for Christian worshippers and non-Christians in Lagos and its environs. Located on a two plot stretch of land at 69, Miyaki Road, Oworonsoki, the church, with initial membership strength of 600, now draws a very large number of followers to its newly introduced one hour, special interdenominational prayer service, every Sunday, from 7.00am. The divine programme, introduced by the new zonal pastor of the Parish, Goke Aniyeloye, replaces the first Sunday service and stands the Peniel (translated as Place of God) Parish stand out, of the crowd. The programme is highly rated by participants for its spiritual efficacy, particularly the abundance of miracles like financial breakthrough, healing, deliverance, open doors, etc. According to Pastor Aniyeloye, the special one hour prayer service comes up every Sunday before the normal Sunday service commences. “The prayer programme is for the benefit of everybody; no matter your religion

Sunday, December 9, 2012

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Are you acceptable? Heaven. Acceptable Unto God – You dupe your friends and claiming breakthrough in the church, saying the Lord is good all the time. What type of breakthrough is that when the Bible says ‘thou shall not steal’. That is stealing by trick, with God, it doesn’t work that way, your day of reckoning is coming. Your bodyguards won’t be able to save you, you will stand alone, you and your shadow and that shadow will witness against you. Pause and think – that fetish money charm you did with human blood will cry against in eternal damnation. It is dangerous and suicidal to fall into the hands of an angry God. Better change now, renounce your membership of the evil secret cult and run to God for confession, He can still save your now, tomorrow may be too late. You may sleep now and not wake up the following day, arise now and run for your life, it has no duplicate. Your reasonable service – In all strata of the society, what is your own reasonable service – politicians in governance and the governed, leaders and the led, security personnel, professionals, religious leaders, traditional and community leaders, civil servants, public and private sectors officers – what is your testimonial before God. Your life is an open copy before our creator, you cannot run away from Him because you were not created in the image of banana or stone, you were made in His image. The shrill cry of the marginalized, oppressed, brutalized and the suppressed under you has got to high Heavens and divine fury will be visited on the land in due course. God doeth whatever pleases Him, I pray you will not be consumed by His doubleedged sword.

Do what is right now and put smiles on the faces of His people. God has power to enthrone and dethrone, He puts you there and can remove you in one minute. Ask King Herod for details.

Reminder

“Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud your brethren. Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom of God? Be not deceived, neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind. Nor thieves, nor coveteous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners shall inherit the Kingdom of God.” (1 Corinthians 6 verses 8-10) Defraud – Those who stole the country blind and raped the citizens financially either in the public or private sector committed fraud must know that judgement beckons. Heaven is watching you, every form of indiscipline is corruption, leaders and the led must be disciplined and live rightly before we can be properly rebranded. Unrighteous – The Bible says Let your Yes be Yes and No be No, anything outside this is evil. If you refuse to do good, you become unrighteous before God. Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free, says the Bible. It is not only the truth you know, but the truth you do that will set you free. Many know the right things but are doing the exact opposite which is the ‘evil’ hallmark of leadership in the world today. The Kings of kings is coming to judge you accordingly. Prepare.

Charger

Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of Him. For we must all appear before the

judgement seat of Christ, that everyone may receive the things done in his body accordingly to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. (2Corinthians 5 verses 9-10) May be accepted – We must labour and work well to be acceptable in His sight. Self adulation, cutting corners and wrongly accumulated wealth are like filthy rags in His presence. You must personally work out your salvation, worshipping God only and be Holy always in seeking His face to receive and get divine attention. Appear before the Judgement Seat – You can’t escape it, it is a must. All must appear before that throne of judgement to give account of our stewardship. Tell the doctors that every child aborted during the pregnancy will stand against them on the day of judgement. Every evil deed of yours will count against you on that day because God shows no partiality. “Then Peter opened his mouth, and said of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons. But in every nation he that feareth Him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with Him.” (Acts 10 verses 34-35) God is no respecter of persons, only love those who are righteous and obedient to His commandments. When David (the apple of God’s eye) sinned, God did not spare him. He is a God of order and His words cannot be broken. Run from sin, this is the hour of mercy, when Rapture comes, it is time for judgement. Are you acceptable? Wake Ananiah and Saphirah from the grave, they will tell you better. Hate what God hates. Jesus loves you. God bless Nigeria. It is well.

Counting the gains of extra devotion or creed and be you a Christian, Muslim or pagan; no matter your faith, the church invites everyone because God has made it in our heart that we are not man of the valley but born to excel. And with the special prayer session, everybody will be blessed and at the end of the programme, every other person will go their various ways or to their various churches to worship while our members will remain for the normal Sunday service. The anointed man of God further disclosed plans by the church to introduce other lofty and spiritually enhanced programmes to benefit larger segment of the populace. In his words, “the church is also making solid arrangement for another powerful divine intervention programme, which will come up every first Wednesday to Friday of every month and every last Sunday of the month, as a kind of breakthrough services which will take the form of ‘ destiny changing encounter’ from 8.00a.m.” Pastor Aniyeloye who also doubles as Assistant Pastor in Charge of Special duties, at the Headquarters’ Church is very confident that God is able to do all things for His children, no matter the challenge. “That is why we call on everybody to be at our special prayer service every Sunday. We believe that whatever the challenge that is there, God is able and will be more than able to tackle it. So we invite everybody to come and surrender their problems to God and get the right solution from Him during our special prayer service.” As part of the mission statement of

RCCG to move its pastors around at the God’s appointed time, Aniyeloye had been moved from one place to the other in the course of his pastoral duties, doing the work of God and touching peoples’ lives. He started out as a parish pastor in 1991. He became a full-time minister in 1998 and was made an Area Pastor. In 2002, Aniyeloye became an acting zonal pastor. He was first posted from Ado-Ekiti, to the then Ogun province 3, and from there to Ososa, Ogere and then Sango Ota. Thereafter, he was transferred to Gboko in Benue state (Northern province 7), were he served commendably for three years before he was re-assigned to Katsina Ala, and finally to the Headquarters’ Church, Throne of Grace Parish, Ebute Metta. Only recently, he was assigned to the Peniel Parish as zonal pastor. “A river that does not flow stinks. If you keep moving, you keep increasing and accumulating experiences,” he observed. Relating his experience in the RCCG, he enthused that pastoring at the national headquarters of the RCCG had been a great privilege. “Here, you meet older people that can teach you the gospel and tell you the story of RCCG: how it started and every level of its development. Thus far, it has been a wonderful experience and the good Lord has been increasing us. “I know by his grace, that I am a pastor and God has helped us in the area of evangelism. God called me on January 20, 1996, it was in the evening. God called me and

said I should work full-time for Him. I was a part-time pastor then and I then asked God what kind of work did He want me to do for Him after all I have been doing for Him. So I encountered a lot of challenges between 1996 and 1998 when I finally decided to become full-time pastor. Since then, I have been engaged in full-time ministry. On his impression of the General Overseer of the RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, he said, “I pray for him (the G.O) every day and I beg Him to give me the kind of heart of Daddy G.O. He is an embodiment of humility and love for everybody. My prayer is that God will give Him long life, because he is a gift to this nation, a gift to RCCG, a gift to me and the entire world. May be this is not what I should be saying in the paper but I know Daddy G.O personally; he has affected my life positively. He added: “There was a time I had a serious personal challenge, financially. This great man of God made things to turn around for me. Spiritually, there was a time I had a very big physical challenge. I was an area pastor then, and I developed very serious stomach ache. Most times, I couldn’t sit, but lay the stomach flat on my bed. I was brought all the way from home to the camp. That was the particular year Daddy G.O. said he found that the anointing on him was just too much or too heavy on him and sat at the altar to minister. As he sat on the altar, and mentioned, ‘everyone that is sick here is receiving their healing’, that was how my stomach ache disappeared and never troubled me again.

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Praise & Worship 33

Sunday, December 9, 2012

Is suspicion killing your relationship? Christian Relationship with Taiwo

Odubiyi

E-mail: info@pastortaiwoodubiyi.org.uk

oes your partner suspect your every move and keep accusing you of being unfaithful without proof ? You have probably talked to him or her, assured and even argued that the suspicion is baseless but there hasn’t been any change. The person believes you are having an affair, sleeping around with one of your colleagues, a neighbour or friend when there is no such thing? If that is so, then you need to get help, go for counselling. Or are you the doubting person, and you are suspicious of your partner? Well, the truth of the matter is that suspicion is not a good spirit and it can kill your relationship. If you find it difficult to trust your partner, you should talk to someone for counselling before things get out of hand. In ‘My First Love’, one of my novels, Tofe, a 24 year-old female graduate told Lisa, “I don’t know how to handle Jude anymore.” As she talked, her lower lip trembled a little and tears gathered in her eyes. She went on. “He is very jealous. He doesn’t want me to talk to any male. If I greet or look at a man, he gets very angry. If he catches me talking or smiling with a man, I’m in trouble but when he has calmed down, he will apologise. I ini-

tially thought it must be that he loves me deeply but now I’m getting concerned.” Her voice was shaking. “Did he slap you again?” Lisa asked. Tofe nodded and tears began to run down her face. “He s-slapped me … and pushed me.” “How many times has he hit you?” Lisa asked. “He hits me whenever he’s very angry, and he calls me names.” Tofe answered. She added, “I don’t talk to men again because of him. To get a job has been a challenge because he will ask if I met any man. I’ve had to lie to him a number of times even though I know it is wrong to lie as a Christian but telling him the truth will get me into trouble with him. I try to avoid things that could get him angry. I try to please him; I keep quiet for the sake of peace. I’m changing myself, giving up some things that make me ‘me’ but it’s like I’m not doing enough.” Jealousy and a bad experience usually lead to a suspicious mind which in turn leads to troubles. A suspicious mind jumps to conclusions about matters and is filled with negative thoughts, words and doubts. The person also does things that are not right such as eavesdropping and checking the phones for messages. With time, the person becomes very difficult and controlling which eventually will get the partner upset and angry as well. Not only can suspicion lead to the death of a relationship, it can lead to the death of a person if it is not handled properly and on time. Almost every week, there are reports in newspapers and on TV about people who were killed

by enraged lovers or spouses. Suspicion walks and works hand in hand with rage and makes the person upset and furious. The person imagines all kinds of things going on between the partner and other people in the worst way possible, which will make him or her want to put an end to whatever he or she feels is going on behind his or her back, one way or the other, and most of the time, the ways are wrong and destructive. The Bible has a lot to say about jealousy and why it should be avoided. Surely resentment destroys the fool, and jealousy kills the simple. (Job 5:2) For jealousy makes a man furious, and he will not spare when he takes revenge. (Proverbs 6:34) Wrath is cruel, anger is overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy? (Proverbs 27:4) For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. (James 3:16) There is always a better way to handle issues. Every relationship needs love, respect and trust to survive and thrive. Lack of trust breeds strife and weakens a relationship. Where there is no trust, and a person begins to suspect the partner’s moves, the relationship will begin to struggle and may eventually die. If there are reasons to doubt a partner or suspect an affair, what should be done is to call the partner for a conversation, confront him or her with the evidences, point out what has been seen or noticed and sort things out with an open mind. Communication is important to having a healthy relationship. The person should be calm when having this talk so that

they can get to the root of the matter, get things settled and make the right decision. The choice of words and timing are important as well. If indeed, your partner has been cheating on you, then the choice is yours. For a happy and healthy relationship, there must be commitment. If a person loves you, the person will not cheat on you. What is commitment?

12 Relationship tips on commitment 1) Commitment is focusing on the one you have chosen to be with, and ignoring others. 2) Love works and the works can be seen by everyone. 3) Commitment gets involved, it doesn’t stay on the fence neither is it nonchallant. 4) Love is active, not passive. 5) Commitment does not disappoint, it does not pull away but stays through thick and thin. 6) When you are committed, you don’t complain. You discuss and think of solutions or ways to make things get better. 7) Don’t throw your relationship away, go for marriage counseling. 8) Commitment in marriage means to give your energy and resources to the one you are married to. 9) Don’t waste your time on a person who is not willing to waste his or her time on you. 10) Commitment means devotion or dedication, to be there always. 11) Always remember that you have a choice. 12) Commitment is being loyal and trustworthy with a sense of fidelity.

Expressing gratitude to God Shepherd Life with Bishop Kingsley

Enakirerhi

ecember is here again; how quickly time flies. Indeed this year is winding up with so many things that have happened. When the year began, there were so many predictions. Some were evil, while others were good. Also, there were lots of expectations. Some have been fulfilled while others are yet to be fulfilled. It is in the light of all of these that I want to say that God has been good to us. The truth of the matter is that whatever negative things happened to us as a nation or as individuals, it could have been worse. The number of communities affected by the flood could have been more; the number of those that died through accident, armed robbery attack, Boko Haram attack, could have been more. We are enjoined by the Holy Scriptures to give thanks to God in every situation. At times like this when the year is coming to an end, many don’t see reasons they should give God thanks. This is because they are only conscious of the things God has not done for them. We must learn to count our blessings. Most

times, we don’t really appreciate the most important things in life. If you do, then you will know you have reasons to thank God. Sometimes we take for granted what God has done for us because we think God owes us the obligation. Since the beginning of this year, you have not been involved in any accident despite the numerous trips you have made. Is it not worth thanking God for? Perhaps, you have never visited the hospital this year for medical attention. Is this not the Lord’s doing? Have you ever lacked food to eat since this year began? You may not have eaten the kind of food you desired when you wanted to eat; nevertheless, you had food to eat. It might interest you to know that there are those who don’t know when their next meal will come. There are many who have been on admission in the hospital since the beginning of this year. Please don’t take for granted what God has done for you. The Psalmist said in Psalm 103:1-2, “Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me bless His holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits…” Please don’t forget God’s benefits to you this year. Another reason many fail to appreciate God is because they have forgotten that whatever they have belongs to God and comes from God. God is our source. Romans 9:16 says, “so then it is not of him

that willeth nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy”. The apostle Paul speaking in 1 Corinthians 4:7 said, “for who maketh thee to differ from another? And what has thou that thou didst not receive? Now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hast not received it?” The above scriptures remind us of the fact that whatever we possess or achieve, it is because God enabled us. In 1 Chronicles 29:12 King David said, “both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all”. Haggai 2:8 says, “The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the Lord of host”. If we know this truth, what else can we do but to appreciate this God for all His benefits? One of the ways we can express our gratitude to God for all He has done is to give Him the praise He deserves. Psalm 95:1-2 says, “O come let us sing unto the Lord; let us make a joyful noise unto the rock of our salvation. Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto Him with Psalms”. ”Are you grateful to God for all goodness to you, then raise your voice and give Him quality praise. Another way we can express our gratitude is by serving God. When a man has done well for you, you will be willing to lay down your life to serve him. If politi-

cal aides can pledge their loyalty to their political godfathers, what about God who is above all and greater than all? Psalm 100: 2 says, “Serve the Lord with gladness: come before His presence with singing”. David served God joyfully because he appreciated the fact that if not for God, he would have remained a shepherd boy forever. He was always glad when there is an opportunity to go to God’s presence. The apostle Paul was willing to die for the sake of the gospel simply because he appreciated God that saved him, a chief sinner. If you truly appreciate the salvation of God, you will serve Him with all your heart. Another way we can express gratitude to God is by giving our substance to Him. Money is one of the most difficult things for a man to release. This is because it is reward for his sweat. That is why whenever we give God money, we are saying to Him that we value God more than money. David so much appreciated God that even when God told him not to build a temple for Him because his hand was stained with blood, he nevertheless, gave everything needed for the building of the temple (1 Chronicles 29:9-17). How much of your money can you give to God? This is a true measure of how much you value God. As this year comes to an end, remember to give God thanks for all He has done for you. Don’t be ungrateful.

Praise & Worship

Sunday, December 9, 2012

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My Heavenly Bank Account (HBA) Footprints with Dr. Tunde

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

erhaps you’ve heard this saying: “Some people spend money they don’t have to buy things they don’t need to impress people they don’t like.” Do not let material pursuits cause you to live a life of deceit and pretense. You cannot have financial success if you cannot control your selfish desires. “He who loves pleasure will be a poor man; he who loves wine and oil will not be rich . . . There is desirable treasure, and oil in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish man squanders it” (Prov 21:17, 20). We need to keep in mind the modernday proverb that says: “It is good to have money and the things that money will buy, but it is also good to make sure we haven’t lost the things that money can’t buy.” “Some folks give according to their means, and some according to their meanness.” Whatever you cannot give to God owns you, you don’t own it! Jesus warns: “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matt 6:19-21). Simply put, you need a heavenly bank account (HBA)! This is how to have an HBA: The first way is to make sure you return your correct, faithful, and timely tithe. Tithe is the 10% of your income or increase or salary. “Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings. Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, ‘And try Me now in this,’ Says the LORD of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it.” (Mal.3:8, 10; see Lev 27:30, 32). Abraham was the first to pay

tithes (Gen 14:18-20) and God blessed him. Giving begins after you have tithed! Tithe is returning to God what is His, without which you are a thief ! Whatever you give after your 10% tithe is considered offerings (Mal 3:8-9). “It’s not how much you’ve given, but how much you’ve kept, that really matters.” I encourage you to give according to your income, so that God would not be forced to adjust your income level to your giving pattern. I like this proverb: “The hand that gives, gathers.” Your offerings are deposited into your heavenly bank account and they turn to showers of blessing upon you. Giving to the gospel is encouraged in the story of the rich young ruler in Mark 10:1731. The gospel must be supported so that the world will hear the good news of salvation and the second coming of Christ. A wise person admonished: “Give strength, give thought, give deeds, give wealth, give love, give tears, and give thyself. Give, give, be always giving. Who gives not is not living. The more you give, the more you live.” Nothing done for Christ will go unrewarded. “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come” (Matt 24:14). Your giving makes facilitates this as well as guarantees more eternal permanence, but all you stash on earth will end with the fleeting shadows at the close of the age. These are heavenly bank deposits. Everyone who has “pity on the poor, lends to the LORD; and He will pay back what he has given” (Prov 19:17). Giving to

the needy pleases the Lord as stipulated in Proverbs 28:27. Prophet Isaiah advocates that this is the true fast God accepts: “Is this not the fast that I have chosen: To loosen the bonds of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; when you see the naked, that you cover him, and not hide yourself from your own flesh? Then your light shall break forth like the morning, your healing shall spring forth speedily, and your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard” (Isa 58:6-8). Another way to build up your heavenly bank account is to give to prophets, preachers, pastors, ministers, and those who cater for your spiritual growth. Paul commended the Philippians for supporting his ministry to Macedonia and Thessalonica: “the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God”. The Result: “And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Phil 4:14-19). Jesus taught: “He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward. And he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward. And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward” (Matt 10:40-42). The widow of

Answer these questions and win a prize 1.

What did God do as a sign that He would add 15 years to Hezekiah’s life? Where in the Bible?

“Did not our hearts burn within us while He talked to us.” Who said this and on the way to where? Supply the scripture.

I contain the heavenly record, the names of the righteous that will not be blotted out. What am I and where in the Bible?

•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.

Zarephat gave to Prophet Elijah and she never lacked again. Her son was raised from the dead (1 Kings 17:9-24). The Shunamite woman took care of Prophet Elisha and got a miraculous birth in old age and the restoration of all her confiscated property (2 Kings 4:8-37; 8:1-6). You can’t beat God giving, the more you give, the more He gives back to you! All “firstfruits” belong to God. “Honor the LORD with your possessions, and with the first fruits of all your increase; So your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine” (Prov 3:9-10). When you give God the first fruit of your farm, salary, business profit, etc., God literarily guards the remaining Himself, guaranteeing you an abundant harvest! Testimonies abound to prove that God keeps His word! Give sacrificially. C. S. Lewis said: “if our expenditure on comforts, luxuries, amusements, etc., is up to the standard common among those with the same income as our own, we are probably giving away too little. If our charities do not pinch or hamper us, I should say they are too small. There ought to be things we should like to do and cannot because our charitable expenditure excludes them.” Don’t forget to take reasonable care of your parents. It is a duty you owe to God (Exod 20:12; Eph.6:2). If you want something you’ve never had, you’ve got to do something you’ve never done. King Solomon is a perfect example of that (2 Chron 1:6-7). Take the limit off God. Remember the miracle of the five loaves and two fishes (Matt 14:14-21). Keep on depositing into your Heavenly Bank Account so you can draw from reserves. Your reward is out of this world!!! •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 December 2, 2012 Quiz 1.

Mordecai- Esther 6:11

Dove- Gen 8:8.9

Nebuchadnezzar- Dan 4: 30-33, 37

How does the Holy Spirit look like? Holy Inquiry with Pastor Paul

Nkirukah E-mail: pstpaul11@yahoo.com

Dear pastor, The scripture says that when Jesus was baptised in River Jordan, the spirit of God descended upon him bodily, in the form of a dove. Does it mean that the Holy Spirit has the image of a dove? If no, what is Holy Spirit like? Joseph, from Enugu. Dear reader, First of all, I want to inform you that I love your question and I will do my best to furnish you with the necessary information you may need to know concerning the question, by the help of the scriptures. Let me go straight to the point without prolonging issues. My answer is, no, the Holy Spirit has not the image of a dove,

God forbid; there is no similarity between the image of Holy Spirit and the image of a dove. Then what image has Holy Spirit? Before I can answer this question correctly, let’s first of all examine carefully, the scriptures below for a very good and clear understanding. 1 John 5: 7 reads, “For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost, and these three are one. Having taken a good consideration on the above scripture, it means that God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are one; they look alike and have the same image. The question now is, how does God look like? I mean, what is the image of God? Let’s quickly take a look at the scriptures below for a clearer understanding. Genesis 1 : 26 – 27 reads, “And God said, let us make man in our image, after our likeness, and let them have dominion over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth; 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of

God created he him, male and female created he them.” According to 1 John 5 : 7 of the scriptures above, since the Father, the Word and the Holy Spirit are one, it means they have the same image, and they look alike. And Genesis 1 : 26 – 27 above recorded that man was created in the image of God. It, therefore, means that the Holy Spirit image is like a man’s image. Holy Spirit looks exactly like you. I know you may want to ask, ‘why?’ Did God use the dove as a symbol of the Holy Spirit? First of all, you will agree me that a dove is a peaceful animal or bird. If that is the truth, it means that God used the dove as the symbol of peace, knowing that the Holy Spirit is gentle and peaceful in nature. Let’s quickly examine the scriptures in Isaiah 9 : 6 which reads, “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of peace.” You can now see that Jesus is the prince of peace, because he possesses a peace-

ful spirit which is the Holy Spirit that descended upon him. So my dear, dove there speaks of peace; there is no way the Holy Spirit will resemble a bird or have the image of a bird. Every living thing gives birth to its kind. God cannot and will never give birth to a dove. God gives birth to God, as a lion gives birth to lion. That is why God said that ye are gods because you are born of God. In as much as you are born again, you are born of God. Before you were born again, you were born of man or flesh, but now that you are born again, you are born of God, or spirit, and that is why the scripture says that ye are gods. Let’s see the scripture below. Psalm 82 : 6 – 7 reads, “I have said, ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High, 7 But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes. “Therefore, be informed that anybody, no matter who you may be, parading the image of a dove as the image of the Holy Spirit, lacks understanding and needs to ask God for forgiveness. Take note. In conclusion, the dove there during Jesus baptism represents peace, not the image of the Holy Spirit.

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Halimat wins Next Movie Star 2012 Pretty and vivacious Halimat Aitsegame has emerged winner of the 2012 Next Movie Star. The fairskinned, lithe beauty trumped other contestants in the keenly contested reality television show to win for herself a brand new SUV with cash and movie roles in her kitty, and a lifetime thrust into the make-believe world. During the tension-soaked moment when the judges, actress; Bukola Ogunnote and marketing communications expert, Yinka Opadere, called the remaining finalists together, it was pin-drop silence in the typically boisterous House. The runners up were the first to be announced; Olajoju Muse, Babatunde Samuel and Chibufue Bridget, each of whom will get different prizes. When Halimat’s name was announced as the winner, she sank to her knees and let loose a torrent of tears. It was a moving moment for the 2010 theatre arts graduate of the University of Ibadan who confessed that her father never wanted her to study her course of choice, much less be an actress. “It has been a very tough battle convincing my dad

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Sunday, December 9, 2012

Castles In The Air set to light up Abuja stage ‘Castles In The Air’, a stage play organized by Beeta Universal Arts Foundation (BUAF), an organization that believes in the resurgence of stage plays and the strengthening of theatrical performances by making it accessible to the public, will perform at the Amphi Theatre of the Mediterranean Recreation Centre in Asokoro, Abuja on the 14th to 16th this month. The Chief Executive Officer of BUAF Bikiya Graham-Douglas, an actress and event planner who has acted in several stage shows including ‘The Vagina Monologues’ and

‘Iya-Ile’ amongst others, said she intends to make theatre the preferred entertainment in Nigeria, hence has been working on the resurgence of stage plays. Having performed in Lagos and Calabar, she decided to take her play ‘Castles In The Air’ to Abuja . The play, a comedy drama highlights the need for unity in Nigeria and why our diversity should be our strength not a weakness. The play centers on a couple who failed in their desires to ensure that their son get married until they receive a letter from a great uncle offer-

’m not a boxer; I’m a en; I have never done

art having one aildo you have? m not managing any

you love to take

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musicians? ful over the wordings rubbish. In my own ou mention the word our record, honestly.

ing a huge amount of money to the family with conditions that this son of theirs must marry and father a child within a year. All seems okay and preparations begin on how the money would be spent to upgrade the family lifestyle, until the son decided follow his heart desires instead of him to follow the path and life style of the family. The mystery of what happens to this illustrious son of the family is part of what will be unravel at the Amphi Theatre of the Mediterranean Recreation Centre in Abuja from Friday to Sunday.

Lami excites lovers with new single Basketmouth, Tiwa Savage to host 2012 NMVA Popular Neo-Soul and Afro-pop singer, Lami Phillips

rant of the power of eed in life, he should d be their friend. Let en can make you and hem for granted. This make something good ke something terribly ou believe it or not. If ustrate your woman, so underestimate her

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that this (acting) is my calling, it is what I am passionate about but he wanted me to go the conventional route of Law, Accountancy and the likes. I am happy that Next Movie Star has proved me right,” she said amidst tears. Continuing, Halimat stated that beyond the prizes that come with her victory, her ultimate victory is in the fact that her dad can now appreciate the seriousness of her chosen career. According to Ogunnote, a renowned Nollywood actress, “From the day Halimat entered for auditions, we knew she possesses the attitude and aptitude of a successful actress which we thought she probably acquired because she read theatre arts. She however proved to us while in the house that she is a complete package, an embodiment of great acting skills and an onscreen delight. I am not surprised at all that she won. She deserves it. More importantly, however, all the contestants are winners in their own right because it is not easy earning a spot among the lucky 20 that were chosen from thousands Pan-Nigeria.”

MI, Oreka Godis, Tosyn Bucknor to rock Annual Black Ball

Details have now been unveiled for Y! Magazine’s Annual Black Ball. An end-of-the-year celebration for the cool set, the first edition will hold on Saturday, 16 December, 2012 at the Crystal Ballroom of the Landmark Events Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos. “Y! Magazine has kept its promise as a cultural connoisseur – presenting the best and the finest of Nigerian entertainment, lifestyle and issues,” said its managing editor, Adebola Williams. “What this event does is celebrate another year for young trendsetters – great wine, fine dining, the best company delivered with the sophistication of the Y! brand. We are grateful to BlackBerry, continuing its tradition of driving connectivity and networking, for presenting this first edition.” The event will be hosted by rapper, MI Abaga and the 3 Live Chicks including Tosyn Bucknor and Oreka Godis. Dress code is Black with Masks, with the organisers presenting guests with masks at the venue. The black carpet is hosted by rave fashion TV show, GlamSquad led by Style editor; Latasha Ngwube. The guest-list of the selected 300 for this event will be unveiled to the magazine’s web site.

is out with her latest single, ‘But You’. This is the third single off the sophomore album of the UN Ambassador titled ‘Pieces of Love’. She had previously released ‘Ori Mi Wu’ featuring Ice Prince and ‘Titililai’. The two songs received considerable airplay on radio and enjoyed massive downloads on the internet. Lami, known for her stage presence and strong live perfor mances has not failed to push on her creative piece when it comes to what she knows how to do best. Being naturally inclined to R&B, Soul and Jazz, from an early age, the diva has strategically branded her style of music which goes unrecognized as a distinctive style of music. The new single, ‘But You’ is a well crafted melodious love song with well arranged strings and horns accompanying Lami’s smooth vocal delivery. Produced by MOBO Awards nominee producer, Femi Tones, the song does not require a second listen before finding its way to the heart and bringing out the hidden emotions. With this new single, many couples will definitely fall in love again. Speaking concerning the new single, Lami said she wants to help people to believe more in love. “With this new single (as with the first two), I’m hoping I can help people regain their faith in love. There are way too many sad stories and many people have stopped believing in love. I’m hoping in my little way I can change that.

The anticipation is currently very high in different quarters of the entertainment industry as what to expect from the sixth edition of the Nigeria Music Video Awards (NMVA) which prides itself as the most credible, most attractive and the most respected awards out of Africa. The iconic event which ranks as one of the most consistent in the Nigerian entertainment calendar will hold on December 20, 2012 at the Exhibition Hall of Eko Hotel and Suites in Lagos. Already confirmed to host this year’s awards ceremony are two frontline entertainers who are doing great in their chosen careers; Basketmouth and Tiwa Savage. Basketmouth is currently one of the biggest comedians in Africa while Tiwa Savage is one of the most sought after female artistes right now in Nigeria. Earlier in the year, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) announced its partnership with Nigeria Music Video Awards (NMVA) to help broaden the reach of NAFDAC’s public enlightenment campaign against counterfeit drugs, unwholesome food, corrosive cosmetics, poor quality packaged water and other substandard regulated products.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Weddings Engagements CELEBRATING THE JOY IN MARITAL BLISS DECEMBER 9, 2012

Akpos Okudu weds Owhonda Nwokekoro in Port Harcourt N

otable fashion designer, Akpos Okudu, and her beau technology entrepreneur, Owhonda Nwokekoro, celebrated their traditional and white wedding in Port Harcourt recently According to Akpos, they met in a friend’s room at the university seven years ago. “I had just started learning to sew. I went to sell chiffon tops to my friends in their room in school and he came to see my friend who was his course mate. As soon as he saw me, I think he got a little confused. Later, we got talking, started out as friends and then love came knocking three months later.” When and where did Owhonda propose to Akpos? Akpos revealed that, “In March 2012, it was his birthday; I had planned a surprise dinner party for him with my friends, his friends and sisters. When we got to the restaurant, I thought my surprise was perfect and that he fell for it. Little did I know he knew all along and had a surprise waiting for me. After cocktails, the waiter handed me a tray but instead of a menu, there was a scrapbook and the cover had – ‘15 reasons why I love Akpos Okudu’. This scrapbook was filled with baby photos of me and him, photos of our first date. He even drew and coloured with crayons. I cried as I read it. The 14th reason was “and one day, I will marry her”, and as I turned the page to read the 15th reason; it said “PLEASE SAY YES” and he was on his

knees with the most beautiful ring. I don’t even remember saying yes, I just kept crying.” The rest is now history. Akpos and Owhonda looked spectacular in their wedding outfits. While she wore a tulle wedding dress with a beautifully embellished neckline, the groom dazzled in his sleek black suit. The celebrations began with Akpos and Owhonda’s wedding ceremony where the couple said “I do” before moving to the well decorated reception hall with flowers, lighting, feathers and candelabras in white which were accentuated by petals and ribbons at the Atrium Events Centre.

Akpos and Owhonda’s first dance was magical because for three minutes; the couple was wrapped up in their own world as they danced to one of their favourite songs in each other’s arms. However, the groom surprised his bride when he asked the maid of honour to perform Akpos’ favourite song, Norah Jones’ “Come away with me”. Akpos was really amazed as love filled the air. The beautiful cream-coloured fourtier wedding cake was designed with yellow ribbon. There were lots to eat and drink.

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

Chukwuzulum Prosperity Ofoelue was born at Bamby Children’s Hospital, Siluko Road Benin to ThankGod and Anne Ofoelue. He was delivered at 12.30 p.m. and weighed 3.5kg. What did Anne crave for during the pregnancy? “I craved for lots of fruits and African salad,” she revealed. What irritated her during the pregnancy which was her second? “I was irritated by the smell of perfumes. Incidentally, I also hated disappointments during the pregnancy.” Excited ThankGod said that they knew they were going to have a baby boy even though Anne never went for ultra scan to determine the sex of the baby. What do Chukwuzulum’s parents love about him? “I like everything about my cute little boy,” said Anne, while ThankGod added that he likes the fact that he eats a lot. “He eats a lot. He keeps his mother busy breastfeeding him.” What do his parents want him to become in future? “For now, we await divine revelations from God concerning who he shall become in life,” emphasised ThankGod. What is the meaning of Chukwuzulum? “Chukwuzulum in Igbo language means God is sufficient for me,” ThankGod explained.

He asked for a concrete relationship –Olabisi OLUWASEGUN IJABIKEN

aturday, November 24 will certainly not be forgotten in a hurry for the residents of Meiran neighbourhood. It was the day they witnessed a simple but classic wedding ceremony between Olabisi Babayeju and Ayodele Omokan. The event started with the traditional wedding rites at Toy-Besh Plaza, Coconut, Meiran, Lagos where the couple

Mr. & Mrs. Omokan

appeared in the full Yoruba regalia: a combination of turquoise blue lace which they complemented with goldcoloured aso-oke. The bride and groom harmonised their attire with coral beads. Guests were later treated to a grand reception at the same venue, where the lovebirds changed into another outfit. The groom, Ayodele, wore a black suit, white shirt, blue tie and pocket square with a boutonnieres match while Olabisi wore a dazzling white gown, paired with a bolero. She matched her bridal look with earrings, necklace, hair fascinator and a beautiful bouquet. The arena was decorated in turquoise-blue and gold colours. The couple had their court wedding two days earlier at Agbado/Oke-Odo Local Government Marriage Registry. According to Olabisi, they met in May, this year at Power of Harvest in Christ Ministry where she had been a member while Ayodele newly joined the church. He was serious about having a concrete relationship and not a mere casual friendship from the outset. Within a month, he proposed and she accepted. She describes Ayodele as a God-fearing, jovial, caring and loving man. She is convinced that she made the right decision in marrying him. Ayodele is an indigene of IjeroEkiti, Ekiti State, while Olabisi hails from Yewa-South Local Government Area of Ogun State.

Antoine Ese-Ose Ofomah was born at Harvey Road General Hospital, Yaba, Lagos State to Anthony Osegbe and Omonigho Benedicta Ofomah. He was delivered at I2:46 p.m. and weighed 1.9kg. “During the pregnancy, I craved for drinks like 5alive and I ate a lot of apple,” revealed Benedicta. She stressed, “I was irritated by draw soup such as okro, ogbono and ewedu during the pregnancy.” Were there obvious physical body changes? “The only obvious physical body change besides my protruding tummy was that my nose grew bigger,” emphasised Benedicta. What do they love most about Antoine? “We love everything about him,” said the happy mother. What do they want him to become in future? “We want him to become a medical doctor,” said Anthony. What is the meaning of Antoine? “Antoine means praiseworthy while Ese-Ose means gift from God,” revealed Anthony.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sunday, December 9, 2012

Weddings & Engagements

Glamour as Ogochukwu, Alfred wed A

ll roads led to Orchid Hotel on Lekki-Epe Expressway, Lagos, on Saturday, November 17, 2012, where former Miss. Ogochukwu Enemoh, daughter of the Group Managing Director of ASCON Oil Company Limited, Barrister Grace Enenmoh, got married to her heartthrob, Alfred Ohiomoba. Many movers of events in Nigeria attended the wedding. Our cameraman was at the MUSON Centre, Onikan, venue of the superlative reception that followed. He captured the high-flying wedding.

The Couple, Mr. and Mrs. Ohiomoba

The couple (right) set to cut the cake, with Rev. Olowofoyeku (left) commanding L-R: Barrister Grace Olowofoyeku, the couple, and Rev. Bankole Olowofoyeku

Eureka! I’ve found her! The groom seems to be saying as he nests on his wife’s lap

Barrister O. E. B. Offiong, SAN, (left) chairman of the occasion and Alhaji Aliko Gwadabe, Chairman, ASCON Oil Limited

Couple with the Enenmoh’s sons and daughter

Parents of the groom, Mr. & Mrs. Francis Ohiomoba

Sunday, December 9, 2012

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Can you be friends with an ex?

his is an age old question that has its answer rooted in individual character and ideologies. It all starts and ends with you. There is really no clear cut ‘’yes’’ or ‘’no’’ answer to whether it is okay to still be friends with an Ex. An Ex boy friend or girlfriend is someone you have shared love, laughter sad and intimate moments with. You have probably day dreamed of spending the rest of your life with this person before the love went awry. After the breakup, they give you some time to heal before dropping the awkward question, ‘’Can we stay friends?’’ So, the question should rather be: can you handle being ‘just friends’ with your Ex? It’s usually a difficult question to answer, depending on how deep the relationship was and if there was a case of betrayal and hurtful words exchanged before the breakup. These things have to be dealt with and the air cleared before any sort of friendship can ensue. This issue should be handled with utmost maturity and sensibility because dealing with ex’s can not only affect your past relationships with them, but it can also affect current and future relationships. If there was no deep emotions between the two of you and you are both comfortable in each other’s company after the relationship has ended, then go ahead and be friends. But in cases where there was a big play of emotions during the time of your relationship and these feelings are still fresh in the mind of either of you, then that friendship can indeed be awkward and should be reviewed before you start something you will regret in future. If you are honest with yourself, take some inventory: “Are those old feelings really gone, or are they lying dormant for a while, ready to burst into flames if stirred?” If you think there is a possibility that the old flame still burns, then you need to put some good distance between you especially if either or both of you is committed to someone else. The mistake most people make is that they think they are strong enough to withstand falling into temptation until it is too late to turn back. If you were once romantically involved with someone who is asking you to stay friends with them, the best thing to do is to bring it out in the open and discuss it with your spouse or the partner you are currently involved in. By so doing, you will hear their opinion on the matter and gauge their feelings about the situation. Whatever they come up with have to be respected and put into serious consideration because

they belong to your present while your Ex is living in your past. That is why I said earlier it is an individual thing. Ultimately, each relationship is different from the other persons’. Some men may accept their partner being friends with an ex so far he can trust her not to betray his feelings; while some will out rightly reject the idea simply on the grounds of territorial superiority. Just like the cock, the male ego finds it difficult to see his woman in the company of an ex, platonic or not. So in a situation like that, the woman has to respect the wishes of her husband and reject every form of friendship from her ex. The same thing goes for the man. If the woman does not like your closeness with your former girlfriend, then cut off the ties and make your woman have absolute trust in your love and fidelity. However, there are many occasions when love is lost and the ex is someone who will only be an innocent friend. Perfectly healthy friendships can come as a result of two persons deciding that the romance road wasn’t the one they should take. Many people often wish success for their ex’s, hoping they will find persons who better fit their personality or preferences. This is especially true when both parties had good intentions and things just didn’t work out. When a situation like that arises, it is best to form a family friendship circle out of it. By being family friends, your spouses can rest easy knowing they don’t have anything to fear out of the friendship both of you have While it is considered good relationship practice to tone down friendships with persons of the opposite sex, totally ignoring friends or ex’s isn’t always necessary. However, it is important to point out here that your current partner always comes first. This is not something you should be told. Many hurt feelings can arise if the time you spend with your ex, or chatting with your ex, exceeds the amount of time you spend with your current mate. The ex question can be tricky, so you’ll have to play it by ear. If at any time there are questions or doubts from your current mate, be sure to put him/her first. No innocent friendship should have to be severed when you enter a relationship, but those friendships also should not disrupt your current love. Friendship with an Ex is only right if your partner is comfortable with your friendship and does not feel threatened in any way.

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Opinion

Sunday December 9, 2012

Joy comes in the morning FEMI FANI-K AYODE

oday our nation stands at a crossroad and it is left for us to decide which path we choose to take. Do we take the path of despair and dishonour and give up on our country? Or do we rise above it all and latch on to the promises of God for our land and for our people? With biting poverty, mounting hopelessness, a bleeding economy, youth restiveness, unprecedented violence, brazen acts of terror and all manner of vices and evil thriving in the land one wonders how things got so bad. The foundation for our current situation was laid many years ago and since that time we have seen so much suffering and failure at virtually all levels. We were plagued with leaders who lacked vision, who lacked intellect, who lacked sincerity of purpose and who were antagonistic to those that dared to challenge their visionless and purposeless policies. Our country is currently be-devilled with so much negativity that it is easy to look around and just give up. Yet I say that we must never give up because ‘’hope springs eternal’’. The bible says though the night may be dark yet ‘’joy comes in the morning’’. The wise ones say you cannot have a message without a mess. You cannot have a testimony without a test. You cannot get to the top of the mountain without first going to the bottom of the valley. This is true. And out of Nigeria’s ‘’mess’’ shall surely come her ‘’message’’. Out of Nigeria’s ‘’test’’ shall surely come her ‘’testimony’’. We have been to the ‘’bottom

of the valley’’ and therefore we shall get to the ‘’top of the mountain’’. Our dream for a better Nigeria shall never die and neither can our collective prayers be in vain. I refuse to give up because I know that the God that I serve never fails. He alone rules in the affiars of men. He alone forges the destiny of nations. Out of a deep void and formlessness He ordered the creation of the world. He established it by the power of His word, and He gave us dominion over it. In the same way, He created Nigeria for His purpose and for His glory and that purpose and glory shall surely be established. It shall come to pass and it will be manifest to the entire world. We shall see it and we shall be established in it as a nation and as a people. If God can do it for others, He can do it for us too. We can be great and, by the grace of God, we shall be great. This is my dream and this is what I see. And believe me when I tell you that it is prophetic. A Nigeria where every man and woman, regardless of faith, ethnicity, status or political persuasion, finds a common cause and relishes in our collective humanity. A Nigeria where the rich have a conscience and the poor have hope. A Nigeria where joy and peace reign supreme and where bombings and killings are a thing of the past. A Nigeria where the descendants of Ishmael and Isaac and the adherents of the two great Abrahamic faiths of Islam and Christianity live together in peace, harmony and mutual respect. A Nigeria where the secularity of the state is respected yet where God is reverred and honoured by all. A Nigeria where the knowledge and fear of the Living God reigns in the hearts and minds of the people. A Nigeria where every man is His brother’s keeper, where leaders show compassion to those that they

lead, where justice is done to all and where political persecution has no place. A Nigeria where decency is rewarded, where dissent is tolerated, where nonconformity is encouraged and where equity is enthroned. That is the Nigeria of my dream. A Nigeria where youth unemployment is low and where every individual, no matter how high or low, can aspire to any position and live his or her dream. That is the Nigeria of my dream. A Nigeria where human life and human dignity is sacrosanct and where fairness is the watchword of every soul. That is the Nigeria of my dream. I have no fears about the future of this great nation because the God that I serve never fails. The bible says the nations are ‘’as a drop of water before Him’’. He sits above the circles of the earth and He counts the earth as His footstool. Yet despite His sheer awesomeness and majesty, with Him lies great compassion and mercy. Once we return to Him, acknowledge Him, honour Him and are led and guided by Him, He will restore us and shower us with His blessings. The Lord awaits us to make the right choice. We either continue to wallow in self-delusion, wickedness, greed, murder, the persecution of perceived enemies, the abuse of power, evil and insensitivity or we desist from our wicked ways and turn to Him. I am persuaded that once we make the right choice our date with destiny, as a people and as a nation, will come far sooner than we can possibly imagine. In his book titled ‘’The Wretched of the Earth’’ Frantz Fanon said the following- “each generation must, out of relative obscurity, discover its mission and fulfill it or betray it.” Past generations in Nigeria have not lived up to expectation. This is the bitter

truth. Yet there is still hope as long as we have faith. That hope and faith is our blessed assurance and it lives in our minds and hearts. We know that the Lord will fix it. We know that He is ‘’more than able’’. We know that He is a man of war whom none can resist and we know that He restores, redeems and rebuilds even the most broken and wretched walls. Dr. Martin Luther King jnr., after delivering his celebrated and inspiring ‘’I have a dream’’ speech, was felled by an assassin’s bullet on April 4 1968. To those that killed him, his dream died with him. Yet they were wrong. They did not know that great dreams, once birthed, never die. That is why the Word of God said ‘’if the princes of this world had known they would not have crucified the Lord of Glory’’. If those that murdered Jesus, and the devil that inspired them to do it, had known that He would honour His word and rise up three days later they would not have crucified him. They persecuted Him, they humiliated Him, they beat Him, they tortured Him, they spat on Him and they killed Him yet they could not kill His dream or abort His mission. His dream lived on and became a reality for all mankind to see. It was the same with Martin Luther King. They killed him but his mission had already been achieved and his vision came to pass 45 years after his sacrificial and selfless death. This is indeed the stuff of which dreams are made. Great things are born in great dreams, and if you dare to dream, nothing is impossible. •Abridged opinion of Fani-Kayode, former Minister of Aviation

FRSC and the World Bank rating in retrospect SIZWE BANSI

ccording to Young and Evernett, advocacy is an activity which is embarked upon by an organisation seeking to influence public or government action towards a particular course. Advocacy sets out to influence public-policy and resource allocation decisions within political, economic and social systems and institutions, with the aim of achieving attitudinal change or social transformation. It was on this plank that the Corps Marshal and Chief Executive of the Federal Road Safety Corps , Osita Chidoka, on assumption of duty as the helmsman at the FRSC placed part of his vision in a public statement in 2007, when he roundly stated his drive to transform the Corps to a world class agency. Five years on, the Corps Marshal could be described as a young man with not only a unique dynamism to pilot the affairs of the nation’s lead agency on road safety management but also with sustained commitment to optimal adoption of advocacy as critical ingredient to achieve the transformation of the Corps into a world class agency. It was therefore no surprise to ardent observers of the numerous initiatives by the present dispensation of the FRSC to ensure safer road use in the country when at a recent workshop under the auspices of the UNECA in Adis Ababa, Ethiopia, the FRSC was adjudged the best lead agency on road safety management in Africa by the World bank. The genesis of this global commendation can be traced to November 2009 in Russia during the first global Ministerial Conference with the theme, “Time for Action” which brought together Transport, Infra-

structure, Health and Interior Ministers, Road Safety agencies and relevant Nongovernmental Organisations with the FRSC boss, Osita Chidoka presenting a position paper on the relevance of volunteer groups in actualizing global goals on road safety. It is instructive to recall that the Moscow confab did not only instigate collective action towards reinforced governmental leadership and guidance in road safety, it also included designating or strengthening lead agencies and co-ordination mechanisms at national or sub-national levels to make specific efforts to develop and implement policies, infrastructure solutions to protect all road users particularly, those who are most vulnerable such as pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists and users of unsafe public transport as well as children, the elderly and people living with disabilities. It also set the pace for the United Nations General Assembly to declare 2011-2020 as the “Decade of action on road safety” with a goal to stabilise and then reduce the forecast level of global road deaths by 2020. Prior to its launch across the globe in 2011, the FRSC had taken bold steps to be the first African country to activate the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety through a summit in 2010. Worthy of note was a positive outcome from the Corps Marshal’s presentation which culminated in what we have today as the World Bank Safe Corridor Project in Nigeria. Under this scheme, the FRSC has attracted the World Bank’s buy-in to embark on road rehabilitation along 18 designated critical corridors with safety components such as road signs, markings and massive deployment of human and material resources as part of measures to entrench best safety practices on Nigerian highways. Part of the United Nations/World Bank framework for the decade of action on road safety which it expects member states

to adopt include the International Road Safety co-ordination which involves new multilateral and bilateral donors, countries allocating 10% of their road infrastructure investment for road safety. Going forward, the World Bank has embarked on series of missions to Nigeria to review its capacity on road safety management. Between July 5 and 16, 2012, the Integrated Transport Planners from the UK was contracted by the World Bank to undertake a review of road safety management capacity in Nigeria. The review was meant to analyse road safety management capacity, using the country capacity checklist and aim to develop a consensus with the government on the need for safety improvements. The consultant was also expected to prepare a longterm plan for achieving this by designing a qualitative road safety investment strategy and identifying the appropriate technical assistance (including Draft Terms of Reference) required to assist in the delivery of the necessary improvements. It was from this review that the first phase investment strategy was developed, funded by the Federal Roads Development Project (FRDP)and also identified other short-term and medium-term recommendations for action that will make road safety improvements affecting the federal road network. Interestingly, one of the submissions by the consultants read: “The leadership of the FRSC has shown a strong desire for improvement in road safety having attended and presented at many international conferences. Information of best practice has been used to implement road safety interventions relating to many key issues such as the use of seat belts, use of mobile phones whilst driving, alcohol and drugs as well as institutional improvements

to increase capacity within the country. However, it is vital that this knowledge and enthusiasm transfers not only to FRSC personnel, but also to all stakeholders engaged in the delivery of road safety”. Similarly, the World Bank sent a second team of consultants in August this year to conduct a capacity review of the FRSC’s road safety policing role, taking account of the organisational management functions; enforcement operations in the road environment; entry and exit controls on drivers, vehicles and operators; and recovery of road crash victims. This was carried out by a team led by a Lieutenant General (rtd) , Minze Beuving (former Commissioner, Netherlands National Police Services Agency) and Mr. Ian Harry Hayes, Operational Support Superintendent (South Metro Region, Dandenong, Australia). In the same vein, the World Bank also contracted a Transport Specialist, Per Mathiasen in August this year under the auspices of the Sub-Saharan Transport Programme on a fact finding mission and to collate relevant data/information through interaction, from the FRSC and other strategic partners in road safety for the preparation of a documentary/presentation on road safety activities in Nigeria which was used as expository item at the regional workshop in October, 2012 in Adis Ababa, Ethiopia to showcase Nigeria a model lead agency for road safety management in Africa. In his presentation on Lead Agency Good Practise, the Sub-saharan Transport specialist, Per Mathiasen specifically lauded the Federal Road Safety Corps’ commitment towards promoting best road safety practices in Africa through its exemplary leadership of the West African Road Safety Organization(WARSO). •Bansi, a social analyst, lives in Lagos

Politics

Sunday, December 9, 2012

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Musa

Jega

Braithwaite

AYO ESAN

exist. Since 1983 after the general election we decided to form ourselves into a movement and an electoral party so that we will continue to be relevant. Whether we are registered or not and whether we are contesting or not, we will continue to struggle for democracy and the proletarian’s right by any means possible”. Continuing, Balarabe said “What happened yesterday is not new to us and it will not dampen our enthusiasm and continuous struggle for the reconstruction of Nigeria and of the state economy to ensure peace , equality , dignity of human person and progressive development of the whole country”. In his own reaction, the leader of the Nigerian Advance Party (NAP), Dr. Tunji Braithwaite said the decision of INEC to deregister some political parties in the country cannot hold. “It will not stand. It is a non- issue. It is a diversionary strategy by Jega’s pay masters to conceal their plan for term elongation”, he said. The CNPP in its reaction through its publicity Secretary, Mr Osita Okechukwu said “We are regrettably alarmed to report that Professor Attahiru Jega in league with Peoples Democratic Party, PDP; are unfolding their road-map to dictatorship; aimed at rigging the 2015 elections and consolidating the inordinate ambition of PDP to enthrone a one-party state in Nigeria and rule for 60 years uninterrupted. “Penultimate week the submission of INEC to the National Assembly was among others request for powers to ban candidates, and today it is de-registration of 28 political parties The CNPP said it is unfortunate that Professor Jega against his previous high pedigree has allowed himself to be recruited by the PDP; “a party which failed to deliver the dividends of democracy and whose game-plan is to use subterfuge and brinksmanship to hang on to power”. “Otherwise, why did Professor Jega blatantly consign to the dust-bin of history or implement with passion other breaches and infractions of the Constitution and the Electoral Act 2010, which more than the partisan ones he is now committed to are better placed to deepen our fledgling democracy? To mention a few, the failure to prosecute the Deputy Governor of Ekiti State who was caught with election materials and the serial bribery scandal of INEC officials which were reported to Professor Jega”. “Professor Jega by the day vindicates the Uwais Electoral Reform Committee Report, one of its core recommendations is that the recruitment of Electoral Commissioners should be made open; instead of Mr. President nominating cronies”. CNPP said INEC lacks the moral and legal capacity to de-register political parties; “as the Supreme Court judgment on the registration of political parties is still subsisting. At any rate the strength of political parties cannot today be determined because of the sham and less

than transparent elections INEC conducts. For instance, how can somebody de-register PRP with all the massive Aminu Kano followership in the North?” “In sum, only the electorate under free, fair and transparent elections can truly determine the strength of political parties and not legislation invoked to enthrone one party state dictatorship; for Peoples Democratic Party, which failed serially in spite of unprecedented oil windfall to provide security, electricity, build refinery, modern railways, construct good roads and provide quality health and education’. Chief Ayo Adebanjo of the Democratic Peoples Alliance, DPA; one of the parties that were deregistered said the decision of INEC has confirmed that there is no rule of law and democracy in Nigeria. According to him, “It is not the electoral body that determines whether a party is doing well or not but rather the people. In advanced democracy a party may decide to participate and not to participate in election. It is only the people that can reject the party. What they have done is wrong but we are in a country that lacks democracy and rule of law so anything goes”. Adebanjo said what INEC has done is totally undemocratic. INEC in taking decision on Thursday has cited Section 78 (7) of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended), which states that: “The commission shall have power to deregister political parties on the following grounds: (i) Breach of any of the requirements for registration. (ii) Failure to win a seat in the national or state assembly election.” Though the commission did not give reasons for the action, it was learnt that INEC premised its action on the fact that the affected 28 political parties had not won a seat in either the state House of Assembly or the National Assembly in past elections. Political analysts believe that the INEC has sought the support of the National Assembly on the issue which had resulted in the amendment of the Electoral Act which gave it power to deregister parties. Hint that the action got the support of the National Assembly was evident from the position of the Senate President, David Mark who last week predicted that Nigeria would “soon end up with fewer political parties than the present 57”. He spoke at a conference on “Party politics in Nigeria and lobbying: The lobbyist and the legislature,” organised by the National Institute of Legislative Studies. Mark decried the proliferation of parties in the country, which he said was driven by the quest of their promoters to benefit from government subventions. “We know that in reality, most of our political parties are fledgling and hardly able to stand on their feet. Many exist mainly on paper and were floated to attract the financial subventions, which the 1999 Constitution hitherto guarantees them, before it was amended,” he had said.

Parties dare INEC over de-registration T

he decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to de-register 28 other political parties after the initial de-registration of seven on August 18 last year, in what it called the ‘first phase’ of such action, has drawn criticism from politicians across the country. The seven earlier deregistered political parties were Democratic Alternative, DA; National Action Council, NAC; National Democratic Liberty Party, NDLP, and Masses Movement of Nigeria, MMN. Others included National Conscience Party, NCP; Nigeria Elements Progressive Party (NEPP), and National Unity Party (NUP). Prior to the 2011 general election, there were 63 political parties but this was reduced to 53 through INEC’s decision to de-register seven parties which it said it considered not to have met the required standard. Some of the parties are already contesting the power of the commission to de-register them in the court of law. One of such parties, NCP, which was formed by the late human rights crusader and Lagos lawyer, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, has got an injunction from a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos which has since restrained the INEC from de-registering it. This restraining order was given as an interim measure by the presiding judge, Justice Okon Abang, while ruling on NCP’s application for interlocutory injunction to restrain INEC from de-registering any political party pending the determination of the suit challenging its power to do so. The restraining injunction is made to be operative till the final determination of the suit. The judge, however, qualified this restraining order by stating that other political parties that are not parties in the suit cannot benefit from it. Justice Abang said: “The order of the court is only binding on the parties before it.” In his reaction to the decision of INEC to deregister 28 parties last Thursday including his party, the People Redemption Party, PRP; chairman of the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties, CNPP; Alhaji Balarabe Musa, said “the action is illegal, the constitution does not give INEC the power to deregister political parties. “There is already a case in court and the court has granted an injunction against any deregistration of parties until the determination of the case”, he further said. He vowed that the affected parties will meet to take a decision on the matter. Speaking specifically with Sunday Mirror on the deregistration of the PRP, Balarabe said “Our reaction is that we are used to what happened in the past by both the military and the civilian administration in the country with the intention of killing the PRP and what it stands for but this has not succeeded. We will continue to

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

pt country?

Lamorde

posited that corruption cannot be tackled successfully with kid gloves, specifically pushed for the application of some subtle illegal acts tinted with doses of radicalism as was the case in Ghana, China, Singapore, Argentina and Chile. The former minister stated these at the retreat on ‘Repositioning the ICPC as a foremost Agency in the Anti-corruption Crusade’, organised by the ICPC in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. He warned that the fight against corruption may remain fruitless except the various anti-corruption agencies like the ICPC, EFCC, and Code of Conduct Bureau, among others

runners

an for his role in his nomination and on as the president in 2011. Sunday Mirror that the insistence of inting Anenih was in fulfilment of made to him when he played a key ing the PDP governors in accepting ainst all odds. or Chief Anenih, perhaps Jonathan een the president. When the PDP d to work with him over the party’s which clearly favoured the North, it h that came to his rescue. It was an ed into since 2011 and it was the rean wanted to appoint Anenih as his paign coordinator but for the refusNow, he wants to redeem his vow by his desires and it is certain that no ief Obasanjo can stop this endorse-

a dependable party source, Chief ally never forgiven Anenih because ing roles he played during the vexed nd the Yar’Adua succession bid. Anhave also instigated the rest of the poding the governors and the National for the ‘order of necessity’ which led ent of Jonathan as the acting presing all powers of a president in the agrin of Obasanjo. last BoT meeting confirmed that exnjo’s absence at the meeting stalled been a coronation exercise of Ansaid that Obasanjo had objected the enih as his successor. in some quarters that the January 8 for the endorsement of Anenih was

Politics

Sunday, December 9, 2012 were repositioned. Meanwhile, the Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG) has described the report as “a wake-up call” to the fight against corruption. Director-General, NESG, Mr. Frank Nweke Jnr., said, “This figure merely serves to remind us that we need to keep working on the issue of corruption in the public and private sector. Even if we are ranked 20th out of 176, I still feel that government must continue to redouble its efforts to really address these issues.” However, in his remarks during a panel discussion for financial regulators at the summit, the Central Bank Governor, Mallam Lamido Sanusi, said no country was immune to corruption. “The greatest challenge facing Nigeria is that of a people that have lost sight of the importance of merit and not corruption. “If you go to China, they steal money, in Malaysia there is corruption and why don’t we hear about it? “It is because every day, these countries are developing. If you go to the hospitals, the doctors know their jobs, you go to the school, the teacher is qualified. If you are running a bank, a regulatory agency or a minister, there is merit,” he said. Over the years, celebrated corruption cases including the $30.5 million Siemens scandal, $180 million Halliburton scandal, the Pension Fund scandal, scandal of the last House of Representatives and many more are still pending. There are also a number of unresolved corruption cases involving many former governors and government officials. Besides, the EFCC which is handling most of the high profile cases has been blamed for inefficiency in some of the cases. But the anti-corruption agency on the other hand has been attributing its challenge to poor funding and having too many cases to handle. In fact, its former boss, Mrs. Farida Waziri, always complained about these challenges, among others while in office. Just like Farida, her successor, Ibrahim Lamorde, has also started complaining of paucity of funds for the commission. Consequently, there are indications that the commission’s activities may further be hampered next year due to inadequate funding, as its 2013 budget proposal was last week slashed by N11.37 billion by the Federal Government. Lamorde has already expressed concern that the development might prevent the agency from meeting its personnel cost in 2013. Corroborating Lamorde, the chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Drugs, Narcotics and Financial Crimes, Adams Jagaba, also decried the poor funding of the Commission. Jagaba, who spoke at the 2013 budget proposal defence by the Commission before the National Assembly, decried the non-release of budgeted funds to the EFCC by the Federal Ministry of Finance. “It is even more saddening when funds

to give the president an ample time to pacify Obasanjo with whose relationship in the past few weeks has also degenerated. Both leaders had recently gone to the media to make uncharitable statements against each other. It is not known, however, if the purported Jonathan reconciliation moves would achieve much before the rescheduled date. The question being asked is, should the reconciliation efforts fail to yield fruits, would Jonathan damn Obasanjo’s supposed intransigence and anoint Anenih? This is more so as the President would be fighting a battle of his life to get the party re-nominate him for a second tenure as he really needs an Anenih to achieve this feat. Ahmadu Ali This former National Chairman of the PDP is known more as the trusted apostle of Chief Obasanjo and a very loyal party man who has been used in many occasions to achieve the party’s objectives however inordinate such task could be. Recall that at the trying moment in the life of the party, the former Education minister of the ‘Ali-must-go’ fame was drafted to replace the unbending Audu Ogbeh who refused to yield to extraneous forces that tried to hijack the party. Chief Ogbe was forced to resign and Ali was drafted in to carry on with the leadership of the party and was given the onerous task of ensuring that third term agenda succeeded. An adherent of ‘do or die’ politics, Ali also supervised the Yar’Adua succession bid and the election; he also successfully ‘captured’ the South-West states, save Lagos state for the PDP and had threatened to ensure that Nigeria became a one party state. Like a soldier that he was, he was ruthless in his assertiveness, particularly as it concerned party discipline and

have been appropriated for the agency in the budget of the federation by the National Assembly and they are not released. We are not happy because if truly we want EFCC to work, it must be funded properly. We cannot expect the EFCC to work with nothing. For instance, during the 2012 Budget consideration, we discovered that nothing was proposed under Legal Services; the Committee then appropriated N200 million for legal services, but the executive said no to that. We are calling on those saddled with the release of budgeted funds to release the balance of your money under the 2012 Budget,” he added. Earlier, Lamorde had presented a budget proposal of over N21 billion for 2013, before the National Assembly. The chairman pointed out that the EFCC proposal of N21.02 billion as against the N9.3 billion approved by the Budget Office of the Federation left a gap of N11.3 billion which could impact adversely on the operation of the agency. He told the committee to note that “for 2013, the EFCC requested for N6.51 billion for personnel cost, and only N5.8 billion was appropriated by the Budget Office, leaving a shortfall of N710 million. Due to this shortfall, the Commission would not be able to meet its personnel cost fully in 2013”. Chairman of the Senate Committee on Drugs, Narcotics, Financial Crimes and Anti-Corruption, Victor Lar, had on November 22 advocated proper funding of the anti-graft agencies if the war against corruption and economic crimes in Nigeria is to be taken seriously. The lawmaker said there was no harmony between the verbal pronouncements of the government and the financing of the EFCC. While advocating for proper funding of the Commission, the senator said more need to be done with regard to building capacity of staff of the EFCC. Whereas the commission is still fighting hard to get adequate funding, there are indications that it may have succeeded in its demand for the setting up of special courts to try corruption cases, as some Federal High Court judges would soon be exclusively assigned to try high profile corruption cases. According to the former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Dahiru Musdapher, this will facilitate the possibility of hearing the cases from day to day without any adjournment, adding that it is also part of the reforms in the judiciary. In spite of the pledge and in some cases the seeming commitment of government to deal with corruption, the recent rating has shown that there is a need for synergy among the government, the anti-graft agencies and the people. Recent development has shown that poor funding of the anti-corruption agencies is partly responsible for their ineffectiveness. Moreover, the lack of trust in government’s sincerity to fight corruption erodes people’s confidence in government and, in some cases, does not make them report corruption cases to appropriate agencies.

had gone ahead to ensure that as many that refused to abide by his rules are shoved out of the party. Under his lordship, a quarter of party members led by former vice-president Atiku Abubakar were forced out of the party. He has remained loyal to Obasanjo and has continued to be the ears of the former president in party affairs. He was nominated by Obasanjo to serve as the Jonathan presidency campaign coordinator but could not for reasons which bordered also on the interest of Anenih for the same portfolio. Fortunately for Ali, he is seen as a rallying figure by many PDP members who have since been alienated from the party. His support cuts across all divides and even the South-West leaders of the party have also endorsed him should one of their own is not considered. A South-West leader of the party who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Ali’s candidacy was supported because of his pedigree as national chairman of the. “During Ali’s tenure as PDP national chairman, he was a principled person and a man who had a mind of his own. We examined the qualities of Ali and we discovered that during his term as national chairman, the party witnessed a lot of progress and it was during his tenure that the party raised the money to build the new national secretariat now under construction. “We discovered that throughout the tenure of Ali, the party was peaceful and after his tenure, there had been crises and we believe as the chairman of the Board of Trustees, he has the charisma to pilot the party to victory in 2015,” the source, who hails from Ogun State, said. Now that the whistle for the race is being blown, Nigerians are likely to see more endorsements and counter-endorsements of the

frontline candidates for the PDP BoT chair. Ken Nnamani Senator Ken Nnamani, former senate president, would best be remembered by the heroic role he played in shooting down the third term agenda of former President Obasanjo. He also led a group called the G21 that successfully campaigned for the re-amendment of PDP constitution to make the chairmanship of the BoT open to all qualified members of the board. Nnamani equally led the PDP Reform Forum which sought to reform PDP from the garrison orientation in the party prevalent during the regime of former President Obasanjo. Nnamani’s chances are equally very bright as he commands the support of a large number of voting population of the BoT should the matter be resolved through voting which though will be unlikely. The population of former legislators in the BoT appears to be higher than other members and should he be supported by his kinsmen who are members of the BoT, then he is set to carry the day. More importantly, Nnamani may turn out to be a consensus alternative if the intrigues between Obasanjo and Jonathan over their preferred candidates play out. It is believed that the President should have his way but events have shown that Obasanjo can be a fighter who hardly accepts defeat in good fate and should the bout suggest that the peace and unity of the party are endangered and the party is on the receiving end or such as to avoid any of the leaders being humiliated, a consensus option may be reached and in that case, Nnamani will be the preferred alternative. His roles in ensuring that sanity returned to the party during the Prince Vincent Ogbulafor era will certain come to the fore and he may be rewarded for that accordingly.

422

Sunday, December 9, 2012

GROWING UP with

Aunty Angela growingup5@yahoo.com

Hello children, I know you are all preparing for the Christmas holiday. However, how many of you truly understand what the Christmas season is all about? If you do, write it down and send me an email on the topic, ‘What Christmas means to me’ and it will be published. I wish you a wonderful week.

The truth about butterfly

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

FUNNY ANIM

JOKES Respect yourself

Andrew’s elder sister, Sandra, was not satisfied with the way he plays with younger boys in the area. So infuriated, she told him to respect himself. The next morning, the following conversation ensued when Akin, Andrew’s friend came to visit him. Akin: “Andrew I have been watching you for the past two minutes. Please why do you keep saying ‘Good morning sir to the mirror’?” Andrew: “That is because Sandra told me last night to respect myself.”

I didn’t do my homework Simbi: “Mom, today my teacher beat me for something that I didn’t do.”

Girl: The homework.

Mother: “That is very bad of your teacher. What was it that you didn’t do?

RIDDLES

What is as big as an elephant, but weighs nothing at all? Answer: The shadow of an elephant. What can honk without a horn? Answer: A goose. What has a face and two hands but no arms or legs? Answer: A clock. What five-letter word becomes shorter when you add two letters to it? Answer: Short. What has to be broken before you can use it? Answer: An egg.

WHO INVENTED WHAT…?

•Butterflies are insects. •A butterfly’s lifecycle is made up of four parts namely: egg, larva (caterpillars), pupa (chrysalis) and adult. •Butterflies attach their eggs to leaves with special glue. •Most caterpillars are plant eaters (herbivores). •Butterflies can live in the adult stage from anywhere between a week and a year, depending on the species. •They have four wings, six legs and feet. •Butterflies often have intricate and brightly coloured wings with unique patterns made up of tiny scales. These designs are intended for camouflage purposes to scare off predators like birds. •Most butterflies feed on nectar from flowers.

•There are about 28,000 known butterfly species throughout the world. •Some Butterflies are migratory. They fly thousands of miles in the winter to places having a warmer climate, and return in the spring. •They can be found mostly anywhere in the world where it is not too hot or too cold. •Butterflies cannot fly if their body temperature is less than 86 degrees. •They taste food by standing on it. This is because their taste sensors are found in their feet. •They fly during the day, have a knob-like antenna, and close their wings when resting. •Butterflies range in size from a tiny 1/8 inch to a huge almost 12 inches.

Children, you can send your contributions and pictures through this email address growingup5@yahoo.com or call telephone number: 0805 198 0588

George Crum: Crea

orn as George Speck in 1822 in Saratoga Lake, New York, Crum was the son of a Native-American mother and an African-American father. As an adult, he adopted the professional name “Crum”, a name his father also used in his career as a jockey. In his early years, Crum worked as a trapper and a mountain guide in the Adirondacks before he realised his talents with food. He invented the potato chips in 1853. He was chef at the Moon Lake Lodge resort

in Saratoga Springs, New York, USA. French fries were popular at the restaurant and one day a customer complained that the fries were too thick and soft. Although, Crum made a thinner batch, the customer was still unsatisfied. Crum finally made fries that were too thin to eat with a fork. He fried them until they were hard and crunchy. Finally, to top them off, he added a generous amount of salt hoping to annoy the extremely fussy customer. But surprisingly, the customer was happy - and potato chips were invented. Crum’s chips were originally called Saratoga Chips and potato crunches. In 1860, George Crum opened his own restaurant on Malta Avenue in Saratoga Lake featuring potato chips in baskets on each table. Though Crum never attempted to

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

MAL PICTURE

Sunday, December 9, 2012

POEM

DID YOU KNOW?

Cockroaches can survive under water for up to 30 minutes.

Scientists have found that cockroaches can survive for up to 45 minutes without air. They have even been found to survive being submerged under water for up to 30 minutes. The average human being can stay without air for three minutes.

What children know (understand) Children know laughter They know tears Children know peace They know chaos Children know acceptance They know rejection Children know joy They know pain Children know abundance They know lack Children know health

They know illness Children know fulfilment They know emptiness Children know hope They know dismay Children know love They know hatred What they don’t know is WHY! – Namie Elisha

BRAIN TEASERS A cloud is my mother, the wind is my father, my son is the cool stream, and my daughter is the fruit of the land. A rainbow is my bed, the earth my final resting place, and I’m the torment of man.

TONGUE TWISTERS Amidst the mists and coldest frosts, With stoutest wrists and loudest boasts, He thrusts his fist against the posts And still insists he sees the ghosts.

Answer: Rain. Why is an island like the letter T? Answer: Because it is in the middle of water.

tor of Potato Chips patent his invention, the snack was eventually mass-produced and sold in bags providing thousands of jobs nationwide. The chips became so popular that other people started imitating the recipe and trying to sell them as a snack food. The restaurant was success-

ful for 30 years, serving several rich and famous guests of Saratoga. Crum closed his establishment in 1890, and died 14 years later at the age of 92. His fame as a successful inventor and businessman is a legacy in Af African-American history. Others caught on to the possica bilities of Crum’s potato chip very C quickly. In 1895 William Tappendon 1 the first to try to masswas th market potato chips in Clevemark land, Ohio, producing them land in a makeshift factory behind his house and selling them to local grocery stores. In 1926, Laura Scudder who owned a potato chip factory in Monterey Park, California invented a wax paper potato chip bag to keep the chips ffresh and crunchy; this made mad potato chips even more popular. p p

Gertie’s great-grandma grew aghast at Gertie’s grammar.

QUOTE

Before you act, listen. Before you react, think. Before you spend, earn. Before you criticise, wait. Before you pray, forgive. Before you quit, try. –Ernest Hemingway

POP

Sunday, December 9, 2012

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

A Fashionista’s

World DECEMBER 9, 2012 DECEMBE

Humility opens doors of success –Bunmi Ademokoya,

Most Outstanding Model 2012 Bunmi Ademokoya can be best described as an international model having won the Best Model of the world in 2007. Penultimate Sunday, she added another feather to her hat. She bagged the Most Outstanding Model of the year 2012. She tells Adaeze Amos in this interview her modelling experiences outside the country and the qualities of a good model. You were just given the Most Outstanding Model of the year (2012) by Isis Modeling Agency; do you think you deserve this award? I think I have done much job outside the country in particular. I have represented Nigeria well; I have represented both the agency and the manger of Isis Modeling Agency. I’m based in South Africa and I have been with Isis Modeling Agency, Johannesburg, South Africa since 2007. I think for all my hard work, I was presented with this award and a brand new Chevrolet car. Apart from modelling, what else are you doing in Johannesburg? I’m studying Law at the University of South Africa. I’m combining education with modelling. Apart from the fact that I’m doing well as a model, I still believe that education is power. It is good for one to have a back-up plan. How did your journey into modelling start? It all started in 2007 when I became the first runner-up in 2007 Nigeria Next Super Model by Isis Modeling Agency. I was 18 years old then. In the same year, I was enrolled in the Best Model of the World and I won. I became the Best Model of the World 2007. The pageant took place in Istanbul, Turkey. That was the beginning of my journey to stardom. We were over 70 countries that contested. I represented my country Nigeria and I won the diamond studded crown. I made my country proud. I later left Turkey for South Africa because of

language barrier and to pursue my university education. I signed into Isis Modeling Agency, Johannesburg in 2007 and I have been with Mrs Joan Okorodudu, the owner of the modeling agency till date. When you became the best model of the world, what was the prize? I was given a cash prize of $5,000. What lapses in modelling would you wish to talk about? Models are paid little or nothing. It’s a peanut. I have been to casting where models were paid a paltry sum of N30,000. I mean casting for major brands. There is no improvement on this. Since 2007 when I left the country till date, I learnt the same thing still obtains. No improvement. Another major problem confronting the modelling world is that we don’t have an association. It is because of this that makes every skinny girl out there feel and see herself as a model. If there had been an association, there would have been room for screening. How about the attitude of some models? That reminds me about those that are not professionals who even think they know it all. I’m an international model, so I know what I’m saying. I’m talking from experience because I have worked in Paris, America, Bulgaria, just name it. Our models should try to be professionals. How can they be professionals? They should strive to go to casting on time and not to come late. Take your portfolio along, go with the right clothes which, of course, are leggings and black tank-top so that your casting director can tell your statistics. Avoid butt pad or padded bra to shoot up your boobs. Carry your heels along and the colours of the three shoes you should go with are black, silver and gold because any cloth can blend well in such colours. Also remember to be humble. Humility pays; it opens doors of success.

Sunday, December 9, 2012

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Wellness YOUR HEALTH AND HEALTH RELATED ISSUES DECEMBER 9, 2012

All you need to know about Glaucoma

Glaucoma-afflicted eye

VANESSA OKWARA

n a statistics given by The Nigerian Optometric Association, about 4.25 million citizens, specifically those aged between 40 and above are visually impaired and glaucoma was found to be responsible for about 16.7 per cent of the total blindness. The data added that 90 per cent of blindness caused by the disease in the world was in developing countries. Medical experts have described Glaucoma as a group of eye diseases that damage the optic nerve. The optic nerve is the main nerve to the eye, located in the back of the eye that is responsible for transmitting electrical impulses to the brain. It receives light-generated nerve impulses from the retina and transmits these to the brain, where we recognise those electrical signals as vision. Damage usually occurs as a result of elevated pressure of the fluid in the eye. If glaucoma is not diagnosed and treated, it can progress to loss of central vision and blindness. According to surveys by the World Health Organization (WHO), glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness, cataract being the first. Globally, about 314 million people are visually impaired while 45 million of them are blind with 87 per cent of the visually impaired living in the developing countries. Worldwide, glaucoma is becoming an increasingly important cause of blindness as the world’s population ages. In a community enlightenment programme organised recently by the Nigerian Optometric Association, Lagos State

Undergoing eye test

An eye afflicted with the disease

Chapter, Dr (Mrs) Maureen Oriahi, the spokeswoman for the association, educated the participants on the disease. She said, “Glaucoma is a condition where the pressure in the eye exceeds the optic nerve fibres and becomes too high. When pressure builds up in the eye known as Intraocular pressure (IOP), the clear fluid known as the aqueous humour in the eye, which normally flows in and out is prevented from draining properly. The resulting increase in the eye damages the optic nerve which will eventually lead to loss of vision”. She explained that this damage appears as gradual visual changes and then loss of vision. The early visual changes are trivial and do not affect the central vision which is seen when looking straight ahead or when reading. It is the top, sides and bottom known as the peripheral vision that are affected first before the permanent loss of vision. Glaucoma usually occurs in both eyes, but extra fluid pressure first begins to build up in one eye. Who is most likely to get this disease? Dr. Oriahi gave several factors that can put a person “at risk” for developing glaucoma. ‘’Everyone is at risk for glaucoma from babies to senior citizens. Older people are at a higher risk for glaucoma but babies can be born with glaucoma Young adults can get glaucoma, too. African Americans in particular are susceptible at a younger age. Others include: • Race - Blacks are three to five times more likely than Europeans to develop glaucoma. Asians and Eskimos are more likely to develop glaucoma than Europeans or Americans.

• Family history of glaucoma There is a 20 per cent chance of developing glaucoma if a parent has it and 50 per cent chance if a sibling has it. • Age - If the person is above 40 years of age and everyone over the age of 60. • Medical conditions such as migraine headaches, diabetes, rheumatoid. arthritis, myopia (nearsightedness), and high blood pressure. • Abnormally high intraocular pressure. • Recurrent blurry vision. • Pain around the eyes after watching TV or leaving a dark theatre. • Seeing a rainbow - hued halos around lights at night. • Peripheral (side) vision is decreasing. Optometrists caution that vision loss from glaucoma is silent, slow, progressive, and irreversible, if not detected early. It is no wonder it has been aptly nicknamed the “silent thief of sight”. The reason is that the loss of vision normally occurs gradually over a long period of time and is often only recognised when the disease is quite advanced. Experts estimate that half of the people affected by glaucoma may not know they have it. This is because most types of glaucoma cause no pain and produce no symptoms until the later stages of the disease when vision loss becomes noticeable. The two main types of glaucoma: Open-angle glaucoma. Also called wideangle glaucoma, this is the most common type. The structures of the eye appear normal, but fluid in the eye does not flow prop-

USAID sets up 300 committees on maternal mortality The Targeted States High Impact Project (TSHIP), Bauchi State office, has facilitated 300 ward development committees in the 20 local government areas of the state to address health related issues. Mobilisation Specialist,

Alhaji Ahmed Ahmed, of the USAID-funded project told the newsmen recently in Bauchi that the committees would also address issues related to maternal mortality. Ahmed explained that the action was to train the members of the

committees to enable them mobilise and create awareness on maternal health, family planning and other related issues. He said the committees would help to further strengthen and sustain the health of the communities.

Dr. Oriahi

Facts

Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness, cataract being the first. It occurs as a result of elevated pressure of the fluid in the eye. There are several risk factors that cause glaucoma and some of them include age, family history and medical cases Optometrists caution that vision loss from glaucoma is silent, slow, progressive, and irreversible, if not detected early. Everyone over 40 should have a comprehensive eye examination every two years and those above 60 should have an eye check-up yearly. erly through the drain of the eye, called the trabecular meshwork. Angle-closure glaucoma. Also called acute or chronic angle-closure or narrowangle glaucoma, this type is less common but can cause a sudden buildup of pressure in the eye. Drainage may be poor because the angle between the iris and the cornea (where a drainage channel for the eye is located) is too narrow. Others include: Congenital glaucoma; Secondary glaucoma; Pigmentary glaucoma and Normal-tension glaucoma. Eye experts say for most people, there are usually a few or no symptoms of glaucoma. The first sign of glaucoma is often the loss of peripheral or side vision, which can go CONTINUED ON PAGE 48

HEALTH NEWS

Kebbi health agency begins advocacy visits on child killer diseases Kebbi Primary Health Care Development Agency (KPHCDA) has deployed volunteers on a house to house advocacy on the importance of immunisation against child killer diseases. Chairman of the agency, Dr Abubakar Koko, told journalists in Birnin Kebbi that 40

volunteers were deployed to each local government area for the exercise. He said the advocacy was being conducted in collaboration with UNICEF to ensure total eradication of the six killer diseases. “The advocacy would encourage parents to expose

their children to immunisation and also to adopt preventive measures against the diseases,” he said. He noted that the exercise, which would last for two weeks, would involve traditional rulers, considering their roles in the polio campaign.

Wellness

Know your organs The breast generally refers to the front of a woman’s chest and medically it is known as the mammary gland. One of the important sex organs in women is the breast, one on each side of the breast, jutting out as rounded firm masses, almost spherical in shape in a mature young virgin. In the centre there is a pink areola, with a small projection called the nipple. On the surface of the nipple, there are eight to 10 small openings of the milk duct. The breast or mammary gland appears at the age of about 12 to 13 in a girl and gradually keeps on enlarging due to the increased amount of blood supplied by nature. It is then tender to touch and feels warmer. On pressure a slight watery colourless secretion can be squeezed out to it. The mammary gland is a milk-producing structure that is composed largely of fat cells. The fat deposits are laid down in the breast under the influence of the female hormone estrogens. Just as the surge of estrogens at adolescence encourages this process, androgens, such as testosterone, discourage it. Within the mammary gland there is a complex network of branching ducts or tubes. These ducts exit from sac-like structures called lobules. Breast glands The lobules in the breast are the glands that can produce milk in females when they receive the appropriate hormonal stimulation. The breast ducts transport milk from the lobules out to the nipple. The ducts exit from the breast at the nipple. The lobules and ducts in the breast are supported by surrounding fatty tissue and the suspensory ligaments of the breast. There are no muscles in the breast. The characteristic bounce of the breast comes from the elasticity of the matrix of connective tissue fibres in the breast. There are blood vessels and lymphatics in

Sunday, December 9, 2012

The Breast the breast. The lymphatics are thin channels similar to blood vessels; they do not carry blood but collect and carry tissue fluid which ultimately re-enters the blood stream. Breast tissue fluid drains through the lymphatics into the lymph nodes located in the underarm (axilla) and behind the breast bone (sternum). The small darkened (pigmented) area around the nipple is called the areola. In pregnancy the areola darkens further and spreads in size. The areola contains small modified sweat glands that secrete moisture that acts as a lubricant for breastfeeding. The primary function of mammary glands is to nurture young by producing breast milk. The production of milk is called lactation. The orb-like shape of breasts may help limit heat loss, as a fairly high temperature is required for the production of milk Small-breasted women During pregnancy the breasts grow further. This growth is much more uniform than that at adolescence. The breasts of women with small breasts tend to grow about as much during pregnancy as those of women with large breasts. The amount of milk-producing tissue is essentially the same. This is the reason that when milk production begins, small-breasted women produce as much milk as do largebreasted women. The nipple becomes erect because of such stimuli as a cold environment, breastfeeding, and sexual activity. The nipple of the post-partum female is used by the infant to breastfeed. Likely breast diseases Some of the diseases that may affect the breast include: bacterial mastitis; mastitis from milk engorgement or secretory stasis and breast cancer which may initially appear like a lump. It could be benign or cancerous. Women are advised to check their breast regularly against cancer.

‘Glaucoma is second leading cause of blindness’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 47 unnoticed until late in the disease. Occasionally, intraocular pressure can rise to severe levels. In these cases, sudden eye pain, headache, blurred vision, or the appearance of halos around lights may occur. If you have any of the following symptoms, seek immediate medical care: • Seeing halos around lights. • Vision loss. • Redness in the eye. • Eye that looks hazy (particularly in infants). • Nausea or vomiting. • Pain in the eye. • Narrowing of vision (tunnel vision). Dr Oriahi advised that if you have any of these symptoms or you have any one of the risk factors, go to an eye clinic to see an optometrist or ophthalmologist immediately so steps can be taken to protect your sight and vision. Unfortunately, experts have declared Glaucoma not curable, and vision lost cannot be regained. With medication and/or surgery, it is possible to halt further loss of vision. Since openangle glaucoma is a chronic condition, it must be monitored for life. Diagnosis is the first step to preserving your vision. She insists that early detection is the only

cure for glaucoma. “The only way you can know you have glaucoma is through a comprehensive eye test that is conducted in an eye clinic and not with quacks because they cannot check the back of your eyes where the doctor can see some likely signs of glaucoma nor check your eye pressure. Detecting glaucoma early is one reason you should have a complete exam with an eye specialist every one to two years.” she emphasised. Is there a way to prevent glaucoma? Dr Oriahi said, “There is really no way to prevent glaucoma; even doctors do not know of any. But there is a way to prevent blindness from glaucoma and that is through regular eye examination, eye pressure checks and using your medications well or surgery as the case may be. Do not wait until you can no longer see clearly before you go and see an eye doctor. Everyone over 40 years old should have a comprehensive eye examination every two years and those above 60 should have an eye check up yearly. Check yearly, see clearly”, she quipped. The doctor also counselled on the importance of developing a healthy lifestyle. Once you are above 40, avoid excessive alcohol, smoking, eat a healthy diet, keep your weight down, exercise, take nutritional supplements and be sure to see your eye specialist on a regular basis.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Your

BONE

Health

with Dr. Olatunji Idowu

How to maintain a positive outlook with spinal cord injury (2) •Spasm Many of our reflex movements are controlled by the spinal cord but regulated by the brain. When the spinal cord is damaged, information from the brain can no longer regulate reflex activity. Reflexes may become exaggerated over time, causing spasticity. If spasms become severe enough, they may require medical treatment. For some, spasms can be as much of a help as they are a hindrance, since spasms can tone muscles that would otherwise waste away. Some people can even learn to use the increased tone in their legs to help them turn over in bed, propel them into and out of a wheelchair, or stand. • Autonomic dysreflexia Autonomic dysreflexia is a lifethreatening reflex action that primarily affects those with injuries to the neck or upper back. It happens when there is an irritation, pain, or stimulus to the nervous system below the level of injury. The irritated area tries to send a signal to the brain, but since the signal isn’t able to get through, a reflex action occurs without the brain’s regulation. Unlike spasms that affect muscles, autonomic dysreflexia affects vascular and organ systems controlled by the sympathetic nervous system. Anything that causes pain or irritation can set off autonomic dysreflexia: the urge to urinate or defecate, pressure sores, cuts, burns, bruises, sunburn, pressure of any kind on the body, ingrown toenails, or tight clothing. For example, the impulse to urinate can set off high blood pressure or rapid heart beat that, if uncontrolled, can cause stroke, seizures, or death. Symptoms such as flushing or sweating, a pounding headache, anxiety, sudden high blood pressure, vision changes, or goosebumps on the arms and legs can signal the onset of autonomic dysreflexia. Treatment should be swift. Changing position, emptying the bladder or bowels, and removing or loosening tight clothing are just a few of the possibilities that should be tried to relieve whatever is causing the irritation. • Pressure sores (or pres-

sure ulcers) Pressure sores are areas of skin tissue that have broken down because of continuous pressure on the skin. People with paraplegia and quadriplegia are susceptible to pressure sores because they can’t move easily on their own. Places that support weight when someone is seated or recumbent are vulnerable areas. When these areas press against a surface for a long period of time, the skin compresses and reduces the flow of blood to the area. When the blood supply is blocked for too long, the skin will begin to break down. Since spinal cord injury reduces or eliminates sensation below the level of injury, people may not be aware of the normal signals to change position, and must be shifted periodically by a caregiver. Good nutrition and hygiene can also help prevent pressure sores by encouraging healthy skin. • Pain People who are paralyzed often have what is called neurogenic pain resulting from damage to nerves in the spinal cord. For some survivors of spinal cord injury, pain or an intense burning or stinging sensation is unremitting due to hypersensitivity in some parts of the body. Others are prone to normal musculoskeletal pain as well, such as shoulder pain due to overuse of the shoulder joint from pushing a wheelchair and using the arms for transfers. Treatments for chronic pain include medications, acupuncture, spinal or brain electrical stimulation, and surgery. • Bladder and bowel problems Most spinal cord injuries affect bladder and bowel functions because the nerves that control the involved organs originate in the segments near the lower termination of the spinal cord and are cut off from brain input. Without coordination from the brain, the muscles of the bladder and urethra can’t work together effectively, and urination becomes abnormal. The bladder can empty suddenly without warning, or become over-full without releasing. In some cases the bladder releases, but urine backs up into the kidneys because it isn’t able to get past the urethral sphincter. Most people with spinal cord injuries use either intermittent catheterization or an indwelling catheter to empty their bladders.

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

News

Sunday December 9, 2012

Plateau workers set for strike on Monday ..as police warn NLC

JAMES ABRAHAM JOS

rganised labour in Plateau State says its planned strike is to hold on Monday after the expiration of a 10-day ultimatum to the State Government to implement the N18,000 minimum wage. The Chairman of the NLC in Plateau, Jubril Bancir, gave the strike notice on Saturday in Jos at a news conference after a meeting with the Special Task Force (STF) maintaining peace in the state failed to reach an agreement. Bancir said there was no going back on the threat by labour to shut down all gov-

ernment and private businesses on Monday, due to the State Government’s failure to implement the N18,000 minimum wage to Local Government employees. He said the government had yet to make any move to stop the industrial action. Bancir said that labour was not aware of the purported court injunction, ordering it not to go on the planned strike. According to him, no such order has been received either by the national or state secretariats of the NLC as at the time of the conference. He, however, said that talks with the STF, aimed at resolving the impasse,

failed because the state chapter of the NLC could not call off a strike, ordered by its national secretariat. The STF had in a statement described the issue as capable of jeopardising the relative peace in Plateau. The statement signed by Capt. Salisu Mustapha was issued after talks to persuade the state chapter of the NLC to call off the impending strike failed. In the statement, the STF said that it had come to its notice that the NLC had summoned all workers, private establishments, traders and all service providers to withdraw their services by midnight on Dec 10.

The STF said the continued insistence of labour on the strike was in disobedience to the interim injunction by the National Industrial Court, restraining all workers or labour unions in the state from declaring or embarking on any strike. meanwhile, the Plateau State police command has warned labour to desist from embarking on any protest or demonstration capable of thwarting the existing fragile peace in the state. Spokesman of the state police command D.S. P. Abu Emmanuel in a press statement made available to newsmen in Jos yesterday stressed that it has received a court order from the National Industrial court of Nigeria restraining the NLC and any other persons from declaring any strike action.

The statement further appealled to the good people of the state to go about their lawful business as the command has strategized to protect lives and property of the people of the state. It also warned that lawless will not be tolerated by any Body or group of persons. In the same vein, a group known as Plateau Pragmatic Leadership Forum (PPLF) yesterday said it would resist any attempt by the NLC to disrupt the peace in the state. Addressing a press conference yesterday in Jos, its Chairman, Mr Joshua Wang said that the threat by labour portends great danger to the state, adding that after a careful examination of the issues at stake, the group has come to realize that the strike ac-

tion has been hijacked by political interest opposed to Governor Jonah Jang’s administration to destabilize the state. He contended that available facts showed that the Jang administration has done a lot to improve the welfare of workers as it has gone ahead to clear a backlog of salaries, leave and transport grants, arrears of pension, implemented 18,000 minimum wage at the state level, actualized COMESS/ CONHESS,CONJUS, CONTISS, 12 percent teachers salary structure and 12 percent salary increase; stressing that as such the current plan by labour to shut down the state and general services creates doubts as to the motive and interest at play.

FG awards N4.3b road contract to Imo communities

Minister blames overpopulation for housing, infrastructure deficits in Abuja

CHRIS NJOKU

OLUFEMI ADEOSUN

OWERRI

ABUJA

he Federal Government has awarded some kilometres of road projects valued about N4.3bn to Ngor/Okpala, Aborh/Mbaise Federal constituency in Imo State. The road projects, expected to be completed by January, were said to have been attracted by the Deputy Speaker Federal House of Representatives Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha to his constituency. The deputy speaker said during a tour of the project site yesterday that the road project was initiated to solve the problem of traffic congestion in the areas especially during festive period. “I brought the project to end disturbing traffic-jam at Ahiara junction when people are travelling to their different areas mostly during Christmas period. The project was flagged off on Friday by members of People Democratic Party (PDP) who went round to visit the project site with some personalities from federal ministry of works, as delegates to accompany the lawmaker to identify with the contractors han-

NIGERIA IN

Oyo State State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi (left) receiving the certificate of recognition for the Technical University, Ibadan, from the Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission, Prof. Julius Okojie, in Abuja PHOTO: NAN at the weekend.

dling the jobs. Ihedioha, while addressing his people and the job contractors advised them to co-operate with one another not to demand for any compensation or marchinggrants that might lead to its abandonment. The projects include Okpala-Umuohiagu-Ulakwo road across Echie Rivers State. The other from Umuowa in Ngor community- Umuonyeririnwe road to River State and that of Enyiogugu-

Abor-Ahiazu going to Imo River Basin Junction. There is also a road joining AhiaraAba, Obowo-Umuahia and Mbano, Ibekuru- ibenyi. The chairman, M.D Zerour construction company Ltd Mr. Charbel Abib as one of the contractors said the job has been given mobilization fee for its kickoff and completion before the year ends. In his speech, Chief Ogboefi Ozombachi Chairman House Committee on Works said it was job signed by the

BRIEF

NUC recognises Technical University in Ibadan

The National Universities (NUC), has formally presented a letter of recognition to the Technical University, Ibadan. Presenting the letter to Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State, the Executive Secretary, NUC, Prof. Julius Okojie, charged the governor to “give all it takes to the new institution to survive”. Okojie expressed dissatisfaction with the manner with which some state universities

Committee in collaboration with Federal Government to ensure development to the constituencies. He called on the companies to so their best to deliver the projects at the expected time, adding that the projects would be withdrawn from the companies if any form of delay was noticed. The committee chairman also warned them desist from given half-hazard job which he said would be unacceptable to government.

were being politicised, which always led to their eventual collapse. “The most difficult institutions to run are state owned institutions,” he noted. He attributed the problem to change in leadership and politics of ethnicity, adding that, “we cannot play politics with university education”. Okojie, who also said universities of technology in Nigeria had lost focus, noted that the system was failing

because there were no industries to ``translate theory into practice. He said universities had big roles to play in ensuring the advancement of technology in the country, especially through constant researches and commitment to quality education. Ajimobi said the university was established to fill the gap in courses that were missing in other universities in the country.

he Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed, has said that the FCT suffers serious housing and infrastructure deficit because of influx of people from other parts of the country for various reasons. He lamented that the daily influx of people to the capital city is taking a toll on the FCT administration’s efforts to increase the housing stock and fast-tract infrastructure development in the city. The minister, who spoke at the induction of new fellows to the Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB), stated that this attraction had made the demand for housing, infrastructure and utilities grow at a geometric progression. He said,” It is important to note that despite the effort of this administration to increase the housing stock and fast-track infrastructural development, Abuja still suffers both housing and infrastructure deficits. “This is because the territory remains a major attraction to both Nigerians and expatriates. People living in

various flashpoints of crisis in the country see the city as a safe haven”. In the event of any major crises in their various towns of abode, they relocate to Abuja in droves. Consequently, the demand for housing, infrastructure and utilities is constantly growing at a geometric progression.” Bala, who was represented at the event by the Director of Public Building, FCD, Arc. Eni Ugot, however maintained that the challenges confronting the city would not derail the administration’s vision of making the FCT become one of the top 20 capital cities in the world by the year 2020. To achieve these lofty aspirations, the minister sought partnership with the NIOB, stressing that Nigerian builders occupied a pride of place in the country’s drive toward infrastructure development. Also speaking NIOB President, Bldr Chucks Omeife charged the 10 newly inducted fellows to brace up to the challenges of the time in the construction sector, stressing that being fellows put additional demands on them.

Traditional ruler urges FG to build museum in palace Oba Ismail Adesanya, the Alara of Ilara, Eredo Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Epe in Lagos, has urged government to construct museums in palaces to showcase cultures and promote tourism. In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Epe, the Oba said most palaces of traditional rulers in the

country lacked the place and facilities to preserve peoples’ historical heritage and artefact for generations unborn, tourists and research. “Our children would want to know about the culture of their communities but there are no places to preserve these cultural artefact to show to them,’’ the traditional ruler said. “Tourists and students

would also come to the palaces to see the historical monument and carry out research on the culture of the communities if the government build such museums, “ Adesanya said. He advised the federal government to convert all palaces of traditional rulers to monuments to boost the culture of the people and tourism potential of the nation.

News

Sunday December 9, 2012

How to tackle Boko Haram –Atiku OBIORA IFOH ABUJA

ormer Vice-President Atiku Abubarkar yesterday provided a panacea to the raging insurgence of Boko Haram, saying it can only be tackled with structural, institutional and policy changes rather than huge budgetary allocation. He also said the same measure should be applied to solving the problems associated with the nation’s status. Abubarkar, who is the founder, American University of Nigeria (AUN), Yola, Adamawa State, also proposed the institution of free and compulsory primary and secondary education across the country, with the Federal Government providing support for states that agree to abide by the policy and meet set standards. Delivering the 2012 Shehu Musa Yar’Adua memorial lecture titled, ‘Rebuilding Public Education as a Bridge to Nigeria’s fu-

ture’, at the Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja, the former Vice-President interjected while reading a prepared speech, and stressed that like the education sector, no amount of money can stop the Boko Haram crisis as believed by the government. He said, “I have deliberately failed to emphasize the issue of adequate funding for our education. This is partly because all too often we seem to believe that throwing money at problems, ‘just as the case of Boko Haram’ will somehow magically solve them. But problems that are widespread and which have festered for a very long time cannot be solved simply by throwing money at them. “Americans call such a thoughtless practice “throwing good money after bad”. We must make the structural, institutional and policy changes that are crying out for attention. As we do those and engage in proper plan-

ning we shall have a better sense of the resources that are needed for our educational rebirth, what we can afford and the best way to deploy them - as a country, state or locality as the case may be. “In any case, I believe that if we reduce corruption and waste in our system, we will be able to allocate a quarter of our budgets to education, in line with the recommendation of UNESCO. And it will be a sound investment to make. “Ladies and gentlemen, I readily acknowledge that education will not solve all our developmental problems; but we really can’t solve them without transforming and improving our education. And doing so will be a very good way to honour the memory of my friend, mentor and a great Nigerian, the late Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, the Tafida of Katsina.” He also proposed for decentralization that will concede education as a

responsibility of state/ regional and local governments with the Federal Government, at best, setting standards and providing financial support. The former Vice-President also advocated for the enactment of a law that mandates anyone under the age of 18 to be in school and to hold parents accountable for noncompliance. He noted that such a revolutionary law will ensure that most of our citizens complete secondary school education. “But it should not be implemented the way we typically go about these things. A target date should be set to allow for data collection and proper planning. We need to know the impact that such a policy will have for enrollment, school space and other resources, number of teachers, their availability and training, the impact on the demand for tertiary education and the cost of all of these.”

L-R: Former Head of State, Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (Rtd); former Military President, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (Rtd), former Inspector General of Police, Alhaji Gambo Jimeta; and Vice President Namadi Sambo, at the wedding fatiha of the Vice President’s daughters in Kaduna, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

Tambuwal tasks religious leaders on peace

he Speaker, House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, has urged religious leaders to continue to pray for continued peace and unity in the country. He made the call at the National Prayer session organised by the Tijjaniyya

Brotherhood in Kano on Saturday. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the National Prayer Session was held at the palace of the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero. He called on religious

leaders to intensify prayers to enable the leaders to steer the leadership of the country in the right direction. He observed that Islam was facing great challenges brought about by the lack of clear understanding of its tenets by a seeming vo-

NIGERIA IN BRIEF

Archbishop Patrick Ajibogun passes on His Grace, The Most Revd Patrick Olanrewaju Ajibogun, an accomplished administrator is dead. He was 70 years old. He died on October 30 after a brief illness. Ajibogun was born on

the October 3, 1942 at Lafiaji area of Lagos Island to Muslim parents, but got converted to Christianity and was baptised in 1954 at St. Michael’s Catholic Church, Lafiaji, Lagos and christened Patrick.

The funeral arrangements will start from Wednesday December 12 at 12 noon with a Commendation Service at United African Methodist Evangelical Church Cathedral, 3, Akinsola Lane, Abule-Ijesha, Lagos.

cal minority in its fold. According to him, religious leaders and traditional rulers must intensify efforts to bring the real Islam into mainstream consciousness in order to clear misgivings about the activities of some it’s youths.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Oteh vs Reps: House’s position, path to anarchy –Ex-AG ...as Civil society urges caution EMMANUEL ONANI ABUJA

s the House of Representatives sticks to its gun in the demand for the sack of the Director-General, DG, of the Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, Ms. Arunma Oteh, by President Goodluck Jonathan, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and former Attorney General, AG, of Abia state, Prof. Awa Kalu has said that the action will lead “to anarchy”. Responding to a question by Sunday Mirror via a text message, the former Faculty of Law lecturer, University of Lagos, noted that it would amount to an aberration for the lower chamber to dictate to the President. Kalu’s words: “I do not think that it is within the province of any public officer to pick and choose which other public officer they will deal with in the discharge of a public duty. Once it is understood that a legislative house cannot , outside legislative confines,dictate to the executive. “The house of representatives is pursuing a path that will lead to anarchy. Picture a situation where the President refuses to deal with the Speaker or the president of senate or a governor etc.” Also speaking Executive Director of Civil Society Legislative and Advocacy Centre, CISLAC, Mallam Auwal Rafsanjani appealed to the lawmakers to look beyond the SEC’s DG, saying what is paramount is the renewed capacity and interest of the lawmakers to carry out more vigorous “over sighting” of the commission. According to CISLAC, insisting on not considering SEC’s 2013 budget, in the face of the president’s firm belief on the principle of rule of law and due process, may lead to corruption in Nigeria’s capital market.

“My appeal is for the House of Representatives to reconsider their position on Ms. Oteh and put legislative oversight in place to see where corruption may exists and expose it. “Let them receive her (Oteh) and scrutinise the budget of SEC because, if they say they won’t consider SEC’s budget, then they will allow corruption”, Rafsinjani noted. The House of Representatives carried its threat to what some analysts consider a “ridiculous extent” last week, when its committee on Finance, walked out officials from SEC, who were duly invited alongside other revenue-generating agencies, to give account of their revenuecollection profiles. In attempting to justify the well-criticised action of the House, Chairman of the committee, Abdulmumin Jibrin said SEC was invited in error. Jibrin’s words: “We mistakenly included you in the advertisement... As you know, the National Assembly is not having any deal with you, so kindly take your leave.” However, the position of members of the “Green chamber” to many discerning minds, detracts from their primarily responsibility of making laws for the good of Nigeria and Nigerians.

Oteh

Group calls for reduction in govt expenditure Following the recent call by the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mallam Lamido Sanusi that civil servants should be reduced by 50 percent, the national coordinator of Change Agent of Nige-

ria Network (CANN), Mr. Olukayode Salako, has thrown his weight behind Sanusi’s position, calling for reduction in government’s recurrent expendition. Speaking to newsmen in

Lagos, Salako also called for scraping of bicameral legislature, stressing that the number of members of the National Assembly should be reduced drastically to cut down government expenditures.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

SOUTH SOUTH

Zonal News

Sunday December 9, 2012

SOUTH WEST Constitution amendment, exercise in futility, Ekiti 2014: Fayose to declare says cleric guber ambition in April

AMOUR UDEMUDE ASABA

s mixed reactions continue to trail the amendment of the 1999 Constitution from different quarters, a Delta State-based cleric has faulted the process by the National Assembly to amend the constitution, He said it was all futility as the world had come to an end. Rev Ben Onah, who was reacting yesterday to the move by the lawmakers to amend the constitution, in Asaba during an interview with journalists, charged the nation’s leaders to as a matter of importance do away with man-made laws

and focus on God’s commandments, “It is not possible for man as a creature to of himself determine or frame a law governing the world, of which he does not know nor neither can tell truly how it was brought about.” According to the cleric, human government was allowed as a “necessary temporary evil for God in the end to show the exceeding greatness of his might and power this last time once more and forever”. While warning political and religious leaders to forsake worldly possessions which add no spiritual value to the society, Onah, maintained that the king-

dom of God was not meant for the rich, adding that he was against church leaders having private jets. “If you own all these things and you are standing on the truth, it is useless. Rich pastors are no pastors because the gospel is for the poor and not for the rich. Christ became poor for his followers, so a servant cannot be greater than his master. Whosoever that cannot forsake all that he has cannot be Christ’s disciple. It is easier for a camel to go through the needle’s eye than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. Christ rejected all the riches of this world.” Onah opined.

ABIODUN NEJO ADO EKITI

ormer Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, is expected to, in April next year, declare his intention to contest the governorship of the state under the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Ahead of the declaration, the former governor had in the last two months toured the 16 local government areas of the state for meetings with PDP leaders and other stakeholders.

OSOGBO

sun State Governor, Mr Rauf Aregbesola has announced the names of nine people who are to join Nobel Laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka on the board of the Centre for Black Culture and International Understanding, (CBCIU). The governor who made the announcement in a statement issued yesterday by the Director, Bureau of Communications and Strategy, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon said that the board members will the affairs of the centre

Dame Jonathan seeks priority for women’s vocational education W ife of the President, Dame Patience Jonathan, yesterday in Auchi, Edo State, told tertiary institutions in the country to give special attention to women’s vocational education. The First Lady who spoke at the 20th convocation ceremony of Auchi Polytechnic, said this was the only way to unlock the potential of women in technology and engineering. Represented by the Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Zainab Maina, Mrs Jonathan stressed the need to encourage the girl-child. “The girl-child should be deliberately encouraged and supported to take active careers in technology, engineering and vocational

education. “This is so because the future is technical education.” The first lady, who was honoured with the polytechnic’s fellowship award, commended the school for the achievements it recorded. Minister of Education, Prof. Ruqayyatu Rufai, said the Federal Government was putting effective policies in place to enhance the use of information and communication technology. She said that challenges posed by bandwidth availability in the country were also being addressed. Represented by Dr. Maasu’d Kazairue, the Executive Secretary, National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), the minister

advised tertiary institutions to prioritise their projects. “As efforts are geared towards improved funding by the government, the fund managers should ensure prudence in the utilisation of funds through proper prioritisation of projects.” Rector of the polytechnic, Dr Philipa Idogho, said the management of the institution had in the last four years deliberately put in place policies and programmes aimed at ensuring high academic standards. NAN reports that apart from Jonathan, a former federal commissioner, Chief Edwin Clark, and Hajiya Aishetu Dukku were also conferred with the polytechnic’s fellowship award.

Adelusi said “Fayose has already intimated his supporters of his resolve to contest and serve the people again”. It would be recalled that the PDP National Working Committee had last September endorsed the return of Fayose to the party and granted him a waiver backdated to September last year when he formally returned to the party. Adelusi said that “by the waiver, Fayose is entitled to enjoy all benefits of membership of the PDP”.

Aregbesola names board members of Centre for Black Culture WALE FOLARIN

L-R: Deputy Governor, Dr. Pius Odubu; Governor Adams Oshiomhole and Rt Hon. Uyi Igbe, Speaker Edo State House of Assembly and Hon. Philip Shaibu (standing), during the signing of the Edo State law on Land Use Charge by the governor, in Benin City at the weekend.

A statement from the Ayodele Fayose Campaign Organisation (AFCO) yesterday said Fayose’s wife, Feyisetan, would hold meetings with women in the state in Ado Ekiti tomorrow as a prelude to her husband’s formal declaration for the 2014 governorship election. AFCO Director of Publicity and Research, Mr. Idowu Adelusi, said the meeting with women outside politics and PDP women leaders would hold in the Adebayo area of the state capital.

located in Osogbo the state capital. Prof Wole Soyinka Aregbesola had earlier in August this year named Prof Wole Soyinka as the chairman of the board of the centre, a development which generated a lot of controversy sparked off by the former governor of the state, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola who was the Chairman of the board. Oyinlola had faulted the decision of the state government and the lawmakers on the ground that the centre which was established during his administration was totally

independent of the state government. According to Okanlawon the new members of the board are the Special Adviser in charge of Culture and Tourism, Mr.’Ladi Soyode, two representatives of the Academia: Professor Olabimpe Aboyade and Dr. Wunmi Raji, four representatives of Art and Culture namely Amb. Olabiyi YAI, Chief Muraina Oyelami Chief (Mrs) Nike Okundaye, Dr. Wale Adeniran, a representative of UNESCO and the Nigeria’s Permanent Delegate to UNESCO.

Why we arrested 10 yam sellers, confiscated their wares–Lagos task force boss MURITALA AYINLA

hairman of the Lagos State Task Force on Environment and Special Offences Unit, Supol Bayo, yesterday said the arrest of 10 yam sellers for conveying and hawking their goods on cart on the highway was to serve as deterrent to other cart pushers on Lagos highways. The cart pushers were arrested on Wednesday and Thursday with their wheelbarrows fully loaded with tubers of yams, while the consignment was confiscated according to the traffic law. The tasks force boss said henceforth, the state government would begin arrest of anyone found hawking or pushing carts on the road since a section

of the state traffic law had outlawed such. Speaking with Sunday Mirror, Sulaiman said the state government had earlier warned the leaders of the yam sellers at Mile 12 Market on the provisions of the law. He said:”These people cause road accidents and traffic gridlocks in some instances. You will see them moving in convoy on the highway. We are not interested in their arrest, neither does the government want their tubers of yams; we just want them to comply with the law. “We had earlier told their leaders in some of our meetings with them that it is an offence under traffic law to push any form of goods on the highway and they agreed to comply. “They even signed an undertaking to demon-

strate their compliance. We just realised that despite the warnings, they are now forming a convoy of yam sellers, pushing carts on the highway and in most cases, against traffic.” Sulaiman added that some of the yam sellers were arrested on LagosIbadan Expressway while othesr were nabbed at Ikorodu Road. He added that three of the yam sellers had been sentenced to community service while they would have their carts and yams therein confiscated by government. On the resurgence of okada riders in some areas in the state metropolis despite the enforcement of the law on them, he said the government was doing its best to enforce the law, saying the state can’t enforce it alone.

Zonal News

NORTH EAST

Sunday December 9, 2012

Borno: Groups embark on massive campaigns against meningitis

INUSA NDAHI MAIDUGURI

orno State, chairperson of State Social Mobilisation Working Group and Commissioner of Health, Dr. Salma Anas Kolo, in collaboration with Social Mobilisation Technical Committee (SOMTEC) has aggressively embarked on a door-to-door campaign to ensure full compliance. This followed the refusal of children, parents and guardians to fully participate in the ongoing vaccination against meningitis (MENAFRICVAC) in the state. It would be recalled that the exercise which started in Maiduguri and other local government areas witnessed a low turnout of people as many believed that the vac-

cine if received would have negative health implications on the well being of beneficiaries. Also the series of killings and bombings in the area contributed in frustrating the exercise. Dr. Kolo, in her campaign tour, had insisted that the vaccine came after intensive research which made it safe and would work in human system for about 10 years before it would expire. She added that meningitis is a deadly disease that can kill in a few minutes if not properly managed, and even after treatment, she said, such patients will experience some deformity in hearing, and stiffness of the neck, among other dangers. She therefore called all, particularly those between the ages of 1 and 29 who are vulnerable and

stood to be the targets to visit all healthcare facilities across the state so that they can be vaccinated. Also speaking during the campaign tour, Chairman of SOMTEC, and a director in the state Ministry of Information, Mr. Bata Balami, urged information officers in all the 27 council areas, other sister ministries and agencies to reach every community in their domain to mobilise and sensitise them on the importance of the ManAfric Vaccine. Represented by his deputy, Mrs. Hanatu Daniel, he commended the efforts of traditional and religious leaders in their quest to mobilise their subjects for the ongoing exercise, and urged them not to relent as meningitis was dangerous when its virus infects people.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

NORTH CENTRAL

Al-Makura inaugurates panel on communal crisis

asarawa State Governor, Umaru Al-Makura, has inaugurated an 8-man commission of enquiry to ascertain the remote cause of the November ethnic clash in Agyaragu, Obi council area of the state. Al-Makura said in Lafia at the weekend that his administration was committed to creating an environment where sustainable peace and tranquility would prevail. He said the commission would look into the immediate and remote causes of the ethnic clash with the aim of finding lasting solution. ``I need to reiterate that it is the responsibility of government to protect the lives and property of its citizens, and also to create the needed enabling envi-

ronment for development to take place. ``Accordingly, I wish to make it abundantly clear that this administration will not relent in its efforts towards discharging this onerous task,” Al-Makura said. He explained that the panel would among others, ascertain the degree of loss of lives and property; identify persons or groups involved in the disturbance and their mode of operations; as well as apportion blame and recommend appropriate punishment. The governor stressed that communal crises should not be allowed to become the trademark of the state. He called on all people of goodwill to condemn the recent violent clashes be-

tween the Eggons and Migili ethnic groups. Al-Makura said the commission was expected to complete its assignment and submit report within three weeks. Responding, the Chairman of the commission, Justice Ridwan Maiwada, assured the governor and people that they would carry out their assignment with the fear of God in the interest of the state. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalled that violence erupted between the Eggon and Migili ethnic nationalities last month at Agyaragu in Obi local government area of the state. The crisis left so many people dead and property worth millions of naira destroyed.

Taraba PDP warns members against meetings

eoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Taraba State yesterday warned its members to desist from holding meetings ahead of 2015 elections as such action was against the party guidelines. The state Chairman of the party, Mr Victor Bala Kona, gave the warning in a speech he delivered at the first meeting of the party’s stakeholder’s forum in Jalingo. He said it had been brought to the notice of the party that some members had been holding meetings in Abuja and other parts of the country ahead of the

2015 elections. Kona said that a disciplinary committee had been constituted to try any member who contravened the provisions of the party constitution. He said the party was above any member or group, irrespective of his or her position in the society. Bala explained that the party was working at reconciling all aggrieved members to restore the confidence reposed in the executive and to eliminate negative perception. He added that the prime agenda of the present leadership in the last nine

months had been to finetune and entrench new vision for dynamic political awareness. The state’s Acting Governor, Alhaji Garba Umar, expressed appreciation to the party leadership for the strides accomplished. He added that though PDP was deeply rooted in the state, there were still challenges and advised the leadership to address all weaknesses. The meeting was attended by all party chairmen from the 16 councils, present and past members of the state executive council and the legislators.

Again, gunmen kill school teacher, two others in Maiduguri INUSA NDAHI MAIDUGURI

arely five days after gunmen invaded Success Private School in Borno State and shot two teachers while in their classrooms, suspected gunmen of Boko Haram sect yesterday attacked the homes of a school teacher (names withheld) and two others in the Polo area and Sulemanti ward of the metropolis. The gunmen, according to a resident and eyewitness, walked into the residence of the school teacher of Namu Secondary School, and shot him dead, before

fleeing to Sulemanti ward to kill two other residents. He added that the two people murdered by the gunmen were neighbours with only a block from the first house being attacked at about 1.35 a.m. The Joint Task Force (JTF) and the police said yesterday that immediately after the incident, they rushed to the scenes of the killings and cordoned off the areas amid sporadic gunshots for half an hour. The eyewitness said the killings in the two areas of Maiduguri, were however selective, as the three assassinated, including the school

teacher of Namu Secondary School, are all Christians in Muslim-dominant communities of Polo and Sulemanti wards of the metropolis. Confirming the separate incidents yesterday in Maiduguri, the Borno State Police Command spokesman, Gideon Jibrin, said that there were multiple attacks in the areas of Polo and Sulemanti, where three people were shot dead, including one teacher of a secondary school in the Government Reservation Area (GRA) of Maiduguri. Jibrin said no arrests had been made by either the police or JTF.

Representative of the Governor of Plateau, Pastor Yiljap Abraham (left), with the General-Secretary, Nigerian Baptist Convention, Rev. Olasupo Ayokunle, during a courtesy visit on the governor in Jos, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

CPC chieftain advocates five political parties HENRY IYORKASE MAKURDI

chieftain of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in Benue State Dr. J.T. Orkar, has advocated for a maximum of five political parties in the country. He urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) under the leadership of Prof. Attahiru Jega to also prune the overbloated number of political parties in the country. Orkar, while speaking to Sunday Mirror on the recent clampdown on 28 de-registered political parties by INEC, gave kudos to INEC for the brave action taken by the commission.

He urged the electoral umpire to use its sledgehammer and drop more with a view to having more active participation of political parties in the forthcoming elections in the country. He was enthusiastic about the decision taken by Jega and his team to peg down the number of political parties so as to give room for competition and fairness aimed at sanitising the administration and also nurturing a sense of stability in the body politic of the nation. Orkar also decried the situation where the overbloated political associations are just there in name

but in reality nothing ever was said of their relevance. According to him, “I wish to see only those parties that have clinched seats at both state assemblies as well as produced council officials including the National Assembly, explaining that it was the only way to feel the impact and existence of the parties. He maintained that “if that is the only way, it will demonstrate seriousness by the key players of the game by ensuring strict competitive and keen contest among stakeholders, noting that in such manner there would be credence for free playing ground for elective contenders”.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Team Ekiti shines in gymnastics, gets MVP award P. 54 KEEPING YOU ABREAST OF SPORTING NEWS

Sport December 9, 2012

Lagos, Delta win hockey gold P. 54 Glo-CAF Awards Lagbaja, Yvonne Chaka Chaka, others to entertain guests

op African artistes have been lined up to entertain at the Awards night holding at State House Banquet Hall in Accra, Ghana, on December 20, as the countdown to 2012 Glo – CAF Awards begins. Top on the list is singing sensation, Salif Keita, an afro-pop singer cum songwriter from Mali, who is rated highly because of his reputation as the “Golden Voice of Africa”. Also billed to perform is South African singer, Yvonne Chaka Chaka who is expected to thrill the audience with her popular songs like “I’m Burning Up”, “I Cry for Freedom”, “Sangoma”, “Motherland” and the ever-popular, “Umqombothi”. Others include the masked artiste from Nigeria, Lagbaja who is expected to keep the night alive with his Afro-Calypso genre of music, a product of various influences ranging from traditional Yoruba music to Jazz.

Torres fires home a penalty to double Chelsea’s lead in yesterday’s explosive match against Sunderland.

Torres brace secures Benitez first league win, as Arteta rescues sinking Gunners

ernando Torres scored twice yesterday as Chelsea secured a 3-1 first Premier League win in eight games and ensured Sunderland dropped into the relegation zone. It was the Spaniard’s first Premier League win in four attempts but it increases the pressure on counterpart Martin O’Neill, whose side have won only two games in 23 league matches and have slipped to 18th place in the table following Southampton’s win over Reading. A dismal run of form had left an 10-point gap between Chelsea and leaders Manchester United at the start of the day. But with no wins in seven league games and an enforced break because of the World Club Cup in Japan, defeat against a hopelessly out-of-form Black Cats side would surely have ended their title chances. Chelsea established control from the outset as Benitez had in-

sisted the deficit at the top of the table was not insurmountable. Eden Hazard appeared unfortunate not to win a penalty when Larsson tugged him back as the Belgian raced through on goal, Mata elected to try to find Torres and the Spaniard was only denied by smart goalkeeping from Simon Mignolet. But Torres soon steered them ahead with a beautifully controlled volley from Hazard’s cross. Chelsea’s rhythm was disrupted when holding midfielder Oriol Romeu was forced off after 20 minutes with what appeared to be a knee injury. And, having been completely outplayed, Sunderland suddenly upped the tempo. They started to press further up the pitch, denying the visitors space in their own half and forcing mistakes. O’Neill’s side still struggled to create clear chances, but Stephane Sessegnon tested

Mancini rues missed signings P. 55

keeper Petr Cech with a swerving long-range effort and there were a couple of nervy moments in the Blues defence. However, any fears of a repeat of last week’s second-half capitulation against West Ham all but disappeared as Chelsea scored either side of the interval. Larsson raced back and needlessly chopped down Ramires on the goal-line. And Torres showed renewed confidence to assume spot-kick responsibilities and found the corner with his first penalty in English football. Three minutes after the restart Mata had made it 3-0, calmly shooting across goal when an instinctive first-time Torres strike crashed back off the bar. Moses almost added a fourth soon after but Johnson’s breathtaking strike across Cech gave the hosts hope with 25 minutes left. And suddenly Chelsea started

to look shaky as David Luiz and Gary Cahill both made important defensive interceptions as Sunderland dominated territory. But Sunderland were unable to prevent a 15th defeat in 16 games against Chelsea, who head off to Japan in a much better frame of mind and with Torres suddenly in form. Meanwhile, Mikel Arteta arrested Arsenal’s recent slide as he scored two penalties to steer his side to a 2-0 win over West Brom yesterday. The midfielder’s first spotkick came after Steven Reid was controversially adjudged to have fouled Santi Cazorla. The visitors thought they should have had a penalty for a Per Mertesacker handball but they struggled to create any real chances. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was fouled by Chris Brunt for Arteta’s second goal and a first Arsenal win in four league games.

Akpabio assures on FEPSGA Games IFEANYI EDUZOR

overnor of Akwa Ibom State, Godswill Akpabio has assured the Main Organizing Committee (MOC) of Federation of Public Service Games Association (FEPSGA) that the state will organize a befitting tournament slated to take place in the state from December 10th to 19th. The Governor stated this, when he presented the official acceptance letter to host the Games to members of the Main Organizing Committee of the Games. According to the Governor who was represented by the state’s Commissioner of Sports, John Harry, Akwa Ibom state Government will ensure that the 31st edition of the Games will be the most memorable in recent times. Akpabio while reminding members of the MOC that sports is a unifying factor, advised them to ensure they maintain fair play throughout the duration of the Games, promising that his Government will continue to encourage sports development at all levels. Earlier in his speech, President of FEPSGA, Victor Orji commended Governor Akpabio for accepting to host the games.

Hazard has no Chelsea regrets

Messi cleared to play

P. 55

Sport

Sunday December 9, 2012

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Team Ekiti shines in gymnastics, gets MVP award

eam Ekiti, has emerged the overall best medalists in the male and female gymnastic events at the 18th National Sports Festival in Lagos. Tayo Oke also from Ekiti was adjudged the most valuable gymnast at the event. Eighteen states participated in the artistic event, held at the Indoor Sports Hall of Teslim Balogun Stadium out of which only seven won medals. Ekiti which topped the list

won four gold medals and one bronze, while hosts Team Lagos was second, with three gold, one silver and four bronze. Team Edo was third with two gold, five silver and three bronze medals, while Team FCT, was fourth, with two gold, one silver and four bronze medals. Team Delta was fifth with two gold medals and one silver, Team Ondo sixth, with one gold, while Team Rivers was seventh with just one bronze.

Team Osun garners more medals ANDREW EKEJIUBA

eam Osun has weathered the storm after the death of their head of delegation, Alhaji Yesufu Alade, as they increased their medals haul in chess, kokowa and boxing. The pep talk given to the state athletes by the late Osun State Sports Council General Manager yielded fruits as the spirit of the deceased came to life when Michael Ijisakin, won gold medal in Chess Bod 5, while Isaac Adeshina clinched bronze medal in Bod 3 category. In a similar development, boxers, Sanusi Musiliu who fought

in the 52kg category and Lawal Saheed in the 81kg both won bronze medal each, while Salisu Hila in the 75kg category won the kokowa bronze medal to improve the position of Team Osun on the medals table. Speaking with Sunday Mirror after their performance and successes, the medalists said they won the medals to appreciate the late Sports Council boss who died while moving from one competition venue to another. Team Osun has earlier won 2 gold medals in powerliifting, 1 silver medal in taekwondo, and 7 bronze medals in boxing, wrestling, chess, kokowa and powerlifting.

Lagos, Delta win hockey gold IFEANYI EDUZOR

eam Lagos hockey team garnered another gold medal yesterday when they defeated Nasarawa, 3-2 through penalty shoot- out after the game ended 1-1 at regulation time. Team Lagos which lost to Kaduna in the semi- finals was allowed to play in the finals after Kaduna was disqualified following a petition written by Lagos accusing the former of fielding an ineligible player. In an entertaining encounter decided at the Legacy pitch of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos

yesterday both teams exhibited high knowledge of the game to the admiration of fans that trooped to the pitch to support them. The game which saw the two teams making some fine moves was however decided through penalty shoot- out when the game ended one goal apiece, and in the resultant penalty Lagos scored two goals against one by their opponent which enabled them win the match. Meanwhile, in the female category, Delta state which did not lose a match throughout the group stage maintained their pre- tournament rating as the best female hockey team by defeating Lagos 2-1 to win the gold medal.

BRIEFS

Action recorded during 200 metres physically-challenged women at the 18th National Sports Festival In Lagos on Friday. PHOTO: NAN

Badminton: Team FCT claims gold in women’s doubles

Lagos confirms boxing superiority A IFEANYI EDUZOR

eam Lagos on Friday confirmed its supremacy in the boxing event of the 18th National Sports Festival, tagged ‘Eko 2012’, when it emerged the overall winner of the boxing event held at the Gymnasium Complex of the National Institute of Sports (NIS), Lagos. The team won a total of eight gold medals and one bronze which was an improvement on the seven gold medals it won at the 2011 ‘Garden City Games’ in Rivers State. Ogun state came second with seven gold, four silver and three bronze medals, while Ondo grabbed two gold and one silver to occupy the third position. On the final day of the tournament, defending champion in the 64kg Olaide Fijabi did not disappoint his fans as he recorded a 10-1 win over Adeniji Korede of Kogi State to win the gold, while female boxer, Kate Peters also retained her gold medal won at the ‘Garden City Games’ last year. Also, Ibrahim Segun competing in the +91kg weight category outpunched Ajagba Efe from Delta State 11-3 to win the gold, just as Otto Joseph had no difficulty de-

Fans hail Lagos for installing score board at Agege Stadium

Female basketball final action between Team Lagos (white) and Team Rivers, at the 18th National Sports Festival in Lagos on Friday. PHOTO: NAN

EKO 2012 National Sports Festival

ans at the Agege Stadium, venue of the football event of the ongoing 18th National Sports Festival (NSF) yesterday commended the Lagos State government for providing a score board. A businessman, Bayo Akinyele, wondered why the score board was not installed before the football event kicked off. He, however, applauded the state for providing the score board. A student, Godfrey Akpan, told NAN that the score board should be maintained for other competitions. In the same vein, Rashidat Azeez, a trader, said that the score board would provide spectators with more information about a match.

feating Soyoye Kazeem of Ogun State in the 60kg with a 9-1 win to grab the gold. In the 91kg category, Gabriel Francis of Lagos had no difficulties recording a win against Jegede Solomon of Kogi State to win the gold while Oriyomi Aishat defeated Sunday Omobolanle of Ogun State in the female 54kg bout to win the gold. The highlight of the day was the fight between Dauda Azeez of Lagos State who wasted no time in defeating his opponent Muyideen of Ogun State 8-0 in a onesided encounter to win the gold in the 49kg category.

Rivers, Lagos triumph in basketball M

en’s basketball defending champions, Team Rivers and hosts Team Lagos have emerged the men and women’s gold medalists, respectively, at the 18th National Sports Festival scheduled to end today. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Rivers successfully defended its men’s trophy by beating Team Oyo 6031, while Lagos defeated defending champions, Rivers 61-34, to claim the women’s gold. Rivers completely overwhelmed Oyo all through the match to claim the men’s gold, while Lagos completely routed Rivers to also win the women’s gold. Team Rivers Coach, Fubura Oyenabor, in a post match interview, said that his team really worked hard to defend its title, saying it was a well-deserved victory. Team Oyo coach, Adebayo Aderinboye, said that Rivers players had height advantage over his players, adding, however, that he was pleased with the silver medal. In the women’s category, Coach Adewunmi Aderemi of Team Lagos said that it was a great victory for him and his girls, because they were able to overcome Team Rivers.

ugustina Sunday and Zainab Momoh of Team FCT defeated Juliana Jacob and Peace Orji of Taraba 2-1, to claim gold in the Women’s Badminton event at the ongoing 18th National Sports Festival. The keenly contested encounter dragged on at the Mobolaji Johnson Sports Complex for one hour and 30 minutes before the FCT duo eventually subdued the hardfighting pair from Taraba.

Lagos female football team wins gold

he Lagos female football team yesterday trounced their Akwa Ibom counterparts 4-0 to win the gold medal at the 18th National Sports Festival in Lagos, ending today. The four goals were scored in the 17th, 20th, 67th and 76th minutes of the match, while, Team Edo defeated their Osun counterparts 2-1 to win the bronze medal.

Cricket: Rivers stuns Ogun to win bronze in T-20

eam Rivers on Saturday emerged the bronze medallist of the T-20 format in cricket at the 18th National Sports Festival (NSF) in Lagos, scheduled to end today. Rivers defeated Team Ogun with 28 runs after scoring 129 runs for seven wickets, while Ogun scored 101 all out.

We are unbeatable in female hockey –Okoh-Baya

aith Okoh-Baya, the Team Manager of the Delta female squad, yesterday said that they remained the unbeatable champions in the event at the 18th National Sports Festival. Team Delta defeated their Rivers counterparts 2-1 in the final of the event at Legacy Pitch of the National Stadium Lagos, while Team Lagos overwhelmed Team Kaduna 1-0 to clinch the bronze medal in the third place match.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sport

Sunday December 9, 2012

Mancini rues missed signings

the Blues did not add to their roster of strikers. Ferran Soriano’s appointment as City’s new chief executive came late in the transfer window, while Marwood moved to oversee the club’s new training ground and Academy facility when Txiki Begiristain was recruited as director of football in October. “The transfer market is always difficult and we were also in a difficult period. We changed the CEO, the man who was in charge in that moment. If you are not strong enough

oberto Mancini thinks that changes behind the scenes at Manchester City contributed to a difficult transfer window for the club during the summer. The Premier League champions were keen to add Robin van Persie to their ranks, but the Dutch international moved to Manchester United from Arsenal in August for £24million. Mancini aired his frustrations over City’s transfer policy, controlled at the time by Football Administrator Brian Marwood, as Van Persie opted for the red half of Manchester while

you can have some problems in the transfer market. “For us the market was really difficult and our problem for now is to improve our strikers. “Anything can happen in the transfer market. You can want to buy one player but it is difficult because the player then makes another decision. We can’t change that,” says Mancini. Mancini is now calling on the four strikers who helped City win the Premier League last season to raise their game, starting with today’s Manchester derby, in their bid to retain their title.

EURO BRIEFS

Skrtel relishing Cole test

iverpool defender Martin Skrtel is not fazed by the physical threat of West Ham ahead of today’s trip to Upton Park. The Hammers will be without Skrtel’s on-loan Reds team-mate Andy Carroll, who is out for two months with a knee injury, but Carlton Cole will provide a similar presence up front.

Friedel dismisses Spurs exit talks

rad Friedel has rejected reports linking him with a return to Blackburn Rovers and insists that he is happy at Tottenham. But despite his status as ‘second-choice’, Friedel says he is focused on Tottenham, where he enjoys competing for the starting position with Hugo Lloris.

Mancini

Hazard has no Chelsea regrets Shelvey hopes to fill Suarez’s boots E L den Hazard was sorry to see Roberto Di Matteo sacked as Chelsea manager, but insists he has no regrets over his decision to move to Stamford Bridge. The Belgium international joined Chelsea from Lille over the summer after also attracting interest from fellow Premier League clubs Manchester City and Manchester United. He has enjoyed an impressive start to his new career in England, despite seeing Di Matteo dismissed by the European champions last month following an indifferent run of form. Rafa Benitez has been placed in interim charge and Hazard concedes he was aware of Chelsea’s reputation for changing managers on a regular basis before he decided to sign. “Look, I knew before I came here where I was ‘putting my feet’ and the sort of club I was coming to. I knew that Chelsea was a club that changed its manager reasonably often. “Obviously I didn’t intend it to

PREMIERSHIP TABLE TEAM

PTS

1. Man Utd

2. Man City

3. Chelsea

4. Tottenham

5. West Brom

6. Arsenal

7. Everton

8. Swansea

9. Stoke

10. West Ham

11. Norwich

-7

12. Liverpool

13. Fulham

-1

14. Newcastle

-4

15. Southampton

-10

16. Aston Villa

-11

17. Wigan

-13

18. Sunderland

-7

19. Reading

-9

20. QPR

-16

Hazard

be that quick because Di Matteo was the person who signed me and I was looking forward to a relationship and working with him for some time. But, I don’t have any regrets. I think it’s the first time it has happened to me in my career when a manager has gone. It’s never easy. It’s something that is part of football life,” he said.

“I supported West Ham as a boy so to play against them in iverpool midfielder Jonjo any position is good for me, but Shelvey says he is excited by it is not easy to fill the boots of the prospect of filling Luis Su- a player like Luis Suarez. “I will just give it my arez’s shoes against his beloved best shot. I played against West Ham. Young Boys in that role and The talismanic forward is I thought I did alright, I was suspended for the trip to Uphappy to do a job for the ton Park after accumulating team. It is an honour to play his fifth yellow card of the wherever you are told to play season last weekend, and with for Liverpool,” he said. the club’s shortage of strikShelvey has found it harder ers, Shelvey could be given the to get first-team minutes as main striker’s role. Liverpool regain players from The 20-year-old, from Romford, spent three years at Upton injury, but an injury to Nuri Park as a youth player and is Sahin in midweek allowed relishing the chance to play on him to get some game time ahead of today’s clash. his old stomping ground.

ito Vilanova says Lionel Messi has recovered from his knee injury and will be travelling with the Barcelona team for today’s match with Real Betis. The Argentina star picked up a knock midweek and initially was a doubt for the game but his

Futre proud of Mourinho’s friendship A tletico Madrid legend Paulo Futre has commended good friend and Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho for his sportsmanship. Real triumphed 2-0 in the Madrid derby between the two Spanish capital clubs, and Mourinho jumped to the defence of counterpart Diego Simeone, who was the subject of harsh words from fans. Futre believes Mourinho’s actions were noble and spoke of his pride of being friends with the former Inter coach. “Everyone knows I was desperate to see Atleti beat Real on Saturday, but it wasn’t to be. “A few days after the game, no longer seething about the defeat and joking apart, I feel even more proud to be Mourinho’s friend.

Friedel

Rodgers has no Sterling worry

rendan Rodgers is confident Raheem Sterling will sign a longterm contract at Liverpool, but will not bow to any ‘over-the-odds demands’. Sterling turned 18 yesterday and is now in a position to agree a fresh deal at Anfield after enjoying an impressive first half to the season.

Messi cleared to play

coach has insisted the forward will be fit to play. “If there was even the smallest risk then Messi would not travel with the rest of the team. “This means he is recovered and ready to play. However, we will assess his condition and then decide whether he can play 90 minutes or not,” Vilanova told a press conference. The Barca coach said Betis are always a problem for his side and hinted that Alexis Sanchez could be close to returning after an ankle injury.

Messi

Nedved delighted by Conte’s return J

Mourinho

“Particularly after the gesture he made for our brilliant (Diego) ‘Cholo’ Simeone. Only great champions like Mourinho could do that, silencing the public in defence of a colleague from a rival team,” Futre said.

uventus director Pavel Nedved says Antonio Conte’s return will spell trouble for the club’s rivals. Conte will step back into the dugout today after a six-month ban for his alleged involvement in the latest match-fixing scandal to rock Italy. And Czech legend Nedved is excited by the prospect of seeing the coach in charge again. “We’re back among the European greats. There are perhaps three or four teams who are better equipped than we are, but there’s very little difference. “They banned a world-class coach and his return will make it tougher for everyone to stop

us,” Nedved said. The director believes his side have the right resources to build upon last season’s success and defend their Scudetto. “Following up last year’s achievement will be even more difficult, but I can see the right determination from the entire team. “They were already thinking about Palermo immediately after going through to the Champions League knockout stages on Wednesday night,” he said. Juventus currently occupy first place on the table after winning 11 of their opening 15 games as they travel to face Palermo today.

N I G E R I A

N3.5 Vol. 2 No. 52

Sunday, December 9, 2012

www.nationalmirroronline.net

N150

I N

trillion, amount former Commandant of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos and aviation security expert, Group Captain John Ojikutu (rtd), said is earned by airlines in Nigeria annually.

F I G U R E S

N20

billion each, amount the CBN plans to give to Savannah Bank and SGBN to recapitalise and come back to business.

The Sanusi banter on the Constitution

Back Page

Comment

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

with Jim Unah

ast Thursday, the news media, especially the print media, was agog with a front page headline on what appeared to be a serious indictment of the nation’s public servants - their mediocre performance, their squandermania and profligacy - which derived fundamentally from an equally idiosyncratically wayward constitution; by the apex bank Governor, Mr. Sanusi Lamido Sanusi. That indictment (or is it vituperations?) by the nation’s most senior public servant in the banking sector, in my view, for want of better expression, given his antecedent, is rather a banter on the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The platform for the CBN governor’s reenforcement of his position that a pruning down of the public service work force by 50 per cent was inevitable to free funds for development purposes, was the 18th edition of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group - NESG; a position that has pitched him against organsed labour, civil society groups and activists. Now, in the free ambience of the NESG, Sanusi clearly bared his fangs - lambasting ministers and legislators for not only having failed to deliver service to Nigerians, but more painfully, for over-bloating the public sector

work force and constituting themselves into a drain pipe on the country’s resources. And to think that this overbloated public sector work force is not just an accident borne out of a politically incorrect decision which may be redressed by a Presidential fiat, but a constitutionally entrenched provision, speak volumes for the congenitally flawed structure of the nation’s federal constitution; indicating that it could not have emanated from reasoned national dialogue and consensus. What manner of people would accept to operate a constitution that is so shamefully and ludicrously flawed as the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria? Only a bunch of people who are chronically short-sighted and self-serving; without clear vision of society, without a burning passion for collective growth and national integrative development - a nation that was programmed to fail from the start, would toy with such a contraption that serves only the interest of those who happen to be in control. So long as the country is prevented by its rulers from changing such a wayward constitution, as the military given Nigerian constitution of 1999, so long would the madness of seamless bureaucracy described by Sanusi continue to be used by self-serving legislators, ministers, governors and local government functionaries to retard the progress of the people and the growth and development of the country. The Nigerian constitution and its operators have deliberately worked against the canons of Oakham’s Razor which insists that we must not multiply entities beyond necessity. For once, the Sanusi assessment of our

constitution and the retardation it has set on the nation is apt: when states are carved out of regions, when more states are created from existing ones, and when new local governments continue to be proliferated, the successive generation of Nigerian leaders have been merely multiplying entities beyond necessity; and by extension, inflicting mortal wounds on the psychic fabric of the nation, now dangerously manifesting in the Boko Haram insurgence, the rise of ethnic militia, armed robbery, brigandage, kidnapping, hostage taking and the daily threats of secession. As Sanusi said, when the powers-that-be create new states and local governments, they further swell the number of ministers, legislators, special assistants, local council chairpersons and even civil servants; wrongly thinking that they are creating “jobs for the boys”; whereas, in point of fact, they are merely trapping funds for entire national development in lubricating mediocrity, mendicancy and impoverishment. But as is usual with conservatives attempting to turn temporary progressives, Sanusi could not assign culpability for the deplorable state of affairs. Least of all could he locate the appropriate agent of change to put an end to the growing national embarrassment and shame. This is how and where Sanusi turned a serious matter into a side joke, a banter! If as he concludes that the matter is not about himself, organised labour, legislators, governors, or indeed the president of the country, but about Nigeria deciding as a nation what to do with the present constitution, how can an abstract entity as Nigeria take

Lagos agog as ‘Eko 2012’ ends today IFEANYI EDUZOR

he city of Lagos is agog as the 18th edition of the National Sports Festival, tagged ‘Eko 2012’ comes to an end today at the Teslim Balogun Stadium. As usual, the festival which took off on a good note on November 27, when it was officially declared open by the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Namadi Sambo, will witness a lot of side attractions like fireworks and cultural displays of the host state. Also the event will see athletes and officials exchanging pleasantries, bidding themselves good bye and hoping to contest against

each other at the 19th edition of the sports fiesta slated for Cross River State in 2014. The bi-annual event which is expected to be declared closed by the President and Commanderin-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has been adjudged a success going by the planning, provision, provision of facilities and hospitality the host state exhibited throughout the time it lasted. Although festival of this magnitude which has been rightly described as the Nigerian version of the Olympics cannot be said to have witnessed no hiccup, but when one considers the achievements recorded at the event, it could be said to be a suc-

cessful one. It is true that some ugly events such as the death of Alhaji Yesufu Alade, Head of Delegation of Team Osun took place during the festival, but it did not dampen the morale of the participants who gave in their best. It is equally true that the festival witnessed a lot of disqualifications of ineligible athletes, but these are isolated cases which could not be used to judge the success of ‘Eko 2012’. However, it must be noted that notwithstanding this isolated cases, many records were broken and new ones set while some young talented athletes were also discovered, which is a confirmation that the festival lived up to its billing as one of the best-organized sport festivals in recent time.

such a decision or is he saying that all Nigerians have to move to Abuja to decide how to change the albatross of a constitution imposed on us by the military? What sort of evasive conclusion is that? Now, let me state it clearly here. What all public-spirited Nigerians from organised labour down to my humble self have been saying is that the present 1999 Constitution should be set aside and a new Nigerian people’s Constitution be written and given unto them through a plebiscite - a constitution that would recognise every Nigerian anywhere in the country as an indigene; put an end to continuous creation of states and local governments; restructure the country into development zones or regions empowered by law to exploit all resources available to each and every one of them for self-development and self- realisation, contributing a percentage of all earnings (say 30 per cent) to the central government for external affairs and defence; leaving the zones or regions to control their resources. The people to make this happen are the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and members of the national legislative assembly in concert with the state houses of assembly; with inputs from organised labour, civil society organisations, among other designated and accredited groups. History teaches that in other countries where this sort of fundamental constitutional changes occurred peacefully, the leaders at the material time seized the initiative and gave the people what they wanted.

Torres brace secures Benitez first league win, as Arteta rescues sinking Gunners P. 53 PREMIERSHIP RESULTS Arsenal 2-0 West Brom Aston Villa 0-0 Stoke Southampton 1-0 Reading Sunderland 1-3 Chelsea Swansea 3-4 Norwich Wigan 2-2 QPR PREMIERSHIP FIXTURES Today’s Matches Man City v Man United 13:30

Everton v Tottenham 15:00 West Ham v Liverpool 16:00 Monday, December 10, 2012 Fulham v Newcastle United 20:00

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