Sunday may 6, 2016 by GLOBAL MEDIA MIRROR LIMITED

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News

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FG plans to tax phone calls, pay TV usage

Unending proliferation of fake drugs

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Vol. 6 No. 10

March 6, 2016

National Mirror Online

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EFCC to arraign 2 SANs for bribing judges P. 6

...stringent bail terms promotes corruption, Secondus claims Buhari set to launch Ogoniland cleanup –Minister

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Police investigate man ’s death after prayer vigil in Lagos

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Motorists queuing to purchase petrol at a filling station on Olusegun Obasanjo Way, Central Business District, as fuel scarcity continued in Abuja, at the weekend. PHOTO: NAN

DSS arrests terrorists ’ gun fabricator, others

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Okorocha denies N2bn bailout fund diversion

Ekiti Assembly raises alarm over invasion

News

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Shiite: NGOs call for expulsion of Iranian Ambassador

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Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

What ’s new Politics

PMP and future of PDP

Seven Days TALKING POINTS OF THE PAST WEEK March 6, 2016

EFCC slams 10-count charge against Badeh

No fewer than eight people have been killed in a bloody clash that erupted between the Yoruba and their Hausa counterparts at Mile 12 market in Ikosi- Ketu, Kosofe Local Government Area of Lagos State yesterday. Properties worth millions of naira, including shops, houses, vehicles, goods and other valuables were set on fire in the

bloody clash which started around 9 a.m. Commuters, motorist and passersby took to their heels even as market men and women, hurriedly closed shops as the communal clash escalated. It was gathered that trouble started between the two communities that have had age long relationship on Tuesday.

Ese Oruru ’s abductor ’ll be prosecuted —AIG

Women are fashion pacesetters –Sandra Anthony Wellness

Combating malaria in Africa

Malaria remains one of the leading health problems of the developing world; it is actually one ailments that the human race has been doing all it could to control. The Ugandan nation is said to bear the largest burden from the disease, at over 95% of the country ’s population affected, according to statistics from the health

ministry. The disease remains a major cause of illhealth, hospital admissions, and death, with children below five years, people with HIV/AIDS and pregnant mothers mostly affected. According to medical experts, Malaria in pregnancy continues to be a serious health risk causing maternal anaemia and perinatal mortality.

Assistant Inspector- General of Police in charge of Zone I, Kano, Mr Shuaibu Gambo, says abductor of Miss Ese Oruru will be prosecuted. Gambo gave the assurance while addressing a news conference in Kano on Thursday. He said abductor of the girl, popularly known as Yunusa Yellow, must face the full wrath of the law in order to serve as deterrent to

others who might contemplate committing the same crime. “The action of Yunusa is a criminal offence. So, he must be prosecuted in accordance with the law of the land, ” he said, adding that all those who played any role in the mishandling of the case would also be prosecuted as the Inspector- General of Police, Mr Solomon Arase.

FG accuses Dasuki of frustrating trial Federal Government yesterday accused the embattled former National Security Adviser, NSA, Sambo Dasuki, of deliberate attempt to frustrate his trial of unlawful possession of firearms. At the resumed hearing of the case before Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court, Abuja, prosecution counsel, Oladipo Okpeseyi, SAN, said Dasuki has not placed any material evidence to show that the Federal Government has violated an order of the court. He argued that the Federal government

Siaka Nimat

Ambode calls for equity, transparency in N25bn ETF disbursement Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, has called for equity and transparency in the disbursement of N25 billion allotted to Employment Trust Fund, ETF, urging entrepreneurs and artisans to take advantage of the fund. Governor Ambode, who spoke at the Lagos House, Alausa, while inaugurating board of the ETF, said the establishment of the

Fund marked a turning point in the responsiveness of government to the yearnings of the youths and unemployed people in Lagos State. The governor described the ETF as an instrument designed to galvanise the creative and innovative energies of all Lagosians, adding that the Fund would only be available to Lagosians and residents of the state.

EFCC arrests Imo ofcials for diversion of N2bn bailout fund Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have arrested three senior officials of Imo State government for allegedly diverting N2 billion bailout fund given to the state by the Federal Government. President Muhammadu Buhari had approved the fund for states of the federation to enable them pay

backlog of salaries to their employees shortly after he assumed office in May last year. An online medium yesterday named the officials as principal secretary to the state governor, Obi Paschal Chigozie; director of finance, Uzoho Casmir; and treasurer, Iheoma Kenneth. They were arrested last Wednesday.

has obeyed the order of the court and did not stop Dasuki at the airport to prevent him from travelling. “The arrest and rearrest of the applicant is not in respect of any offence or charge before this court. “The applicant has admitted to this fact by supplying the six numbers of other charges filed before a different court and different judges after this suit have been instituted. “Whatever has happened in this court is been obeyed by the Federal government, ” he said.

A MODEL AND BEAUTY QUEEN.

MON

that Moro and his codefendants be remanded at Kuje Prisons in Abuja pending her decision on their application for bail. Ruling on the former minister ’s bail application and that of his co-defendants, Justice Anwuli granted Abba Moro bail on self recognition and granted the two other defendants bail in the sum of N100 million and one surety each, in like sum. The court ruled that the surety to the former director in the ministry, F.O. Alayebami and former Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Anastasia Daniel Nwobia, must be a public servant, not below the rank of a director.

As soon as I ’m up, I say my prayers after which I go for workout. It might not necessarily mean going to the gym but I do a work out just to keep fit and to maintain my good physique.

TUE

Passion

Mayhem in Lagos as Hausa, Yoruba clash

Justice Anwuli Chikere of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja yesterday admitted bail to former Minister of Interior, Abba Moro, on self recognition. Moro was arraigned on Monday by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, alongside a former Director in the ministry, F.O. Alayebami, and former Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Anastasia Daniel Nwobia, on an 11-count charge bordering on complicity in a N676 million immigration recruitment scam. The trial judge, Justice Anwuli Chikere, had at the last sitting of the court, ordered

Still the same as Monday but after I ’m back from my work out, I shower and get set to go to the library, to get inspiration and write down some stuffs. I love writing.

FRI THU WED

gressives Grand Alliance, APGA, the aggrieved PDP members led by Chief Perry Opara, a former aide to Alhaji Ahmed Gulak, former Political Adviser to former President Goodluck Jonathan and Chief John Agbara led their followers to the meeting held at the Sheraton Hotels.

in the charge is specifically accusing Badeh of unlawfully using funds meant for the Nigerian Air Force, NAF, to purchase landed properties in choice areas in Abuja, between January and December 2013, while serving as Chief of Air Staff. Badeh is likely to be arraigned today before Justice Okon Abang. In the charge, the antigraft agency alleged that Badeh, while serving as Chief of Air Staff and Iyalikam Nig. Ltd.

After my daily routine, I attend events or meetings that might have been fixed before time as a beauty queen.

SUN SAT

More trouble surfaced for the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as some of its aggrieved members last Tuesday teamed up with some members of other opposition parties to announce the formation of another party, the Peoples Mega Party, PMP. Joined by a faction of the All Pro-

Economic and Financial Crimes Commissions EFCC, has filed a 10-count charge against former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, and his company, Iyalikam Nig. Ltd., before a Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja. EFCC Deputy Director, Legal, Aliyu Yusuf, endorsed the charges, dated February 26, 2016, and bordered on criminal breach of trust and corruption. The anti-graft agency,

NIS scam: Court grants Abba Moro bail on self-recognition

I go to movies with friends, thereafter go for lunch and dinner together.

I sit down in my room to write, writing keeps me busy. This is the day I usually map out lots of designs because as a fashionista, I design what people wear and I choose how best it would blend.

This is the Sabbath day; I always remember to keep it holy. I don ’t do much, I try to rest today. *By Adaeze Amos (08023012293)

The Big Read

Sunday, March 6, 2016

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

‘Tackling fake drug trade, a joint effort’ The need for the contribution of healthcare personnel in fighting this menace is even more essential in the rural areas where control and monitoring of the sources of the drugs in circulation is difficult due to inadequate Kemmer

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4 feit drugs don’t enter the country. Therefore, how do fake drugs get into the country despite the availability of customs and other related agencies? ‘fake drugs dealers are killers and must punished accordingly’ According to Prof Okhamafe Augustine of University of Benin, the reasons for the helplessness in combating fake drugs are organic due to the porous nature of our national borders, ineffective monitoring at the ports and the element of corruption. “Most of the drugs imported in to this country are imported by non-pharmacists or people who are not trained. They are simply interested in importing drugs just because of the monetary gains. I therefore strongly suggest that those who deal in these fake drugs should be treated as killers and punished accordingly. Also, the open unregulated market must be clamped down on throughout the federation. The issue of wiping out the fake drugs markets is a question of policy. It is a question of will of the government. It is quite a pathetic situation because the whole of the environment can be wiped out through a fake and dangerous product that is brought into the country. According to him, “Everybody has a role to play irrespective of his status in joining hands with appropriate authorities to end the circulation of fake drugs, food etc in the Nigerian market. Wherever you see something questionable, you can report to the appropriate authorities for appropriate action. Therefore, this fight against fake drugs is not the action of NAFDAC alone, it need multi-sectoral approach, both formal and informal for holistic and comprehensive achievements of the objectives of making Nigeria a free fake drug company.” According to Albert Oru, a healthcare expert, the negative impact of fake drugs on the society is more than that of either narcotic agents or the combined effects of malaria, HIV/AIDS and armed robbery. According to him, the associated health risks include antibiotic resistance, therapeutic failure, toxic effects and even deaths. “Our laws should be firm and decisive. Unlike developed nations with clear and strongly enforced laws on civil liability against suppliers or manufactures, whose product causes harm to consumers, most of the poor countries afflicted with the problem of drug counterfeiting have laws in which civil liabilities are either not clearly defined or inadequately enforced. For example in the US it is not uncommon for victims of fake drugs to seek compensation in the order of millions of dollars from the culprits of the crime. It is the direct opposite here. The developing countries are not merely the victims of the problem but also serve as the sources of fake drugs with India and China being the biggest culprits globally.” However China will not spare the life of any fake drug peddler. Top NAFDAC officials have been accused of allegedly recycling some seized fake drugs for filthy lucre. Research shows 85 per cent of the anti-malarial drugs in Nigerian markets were impotent contributing to the epidemic of treatment failures, drug resistant malaria parasites, disability, and death. Drug counterfeiting business may also be encouraged by the different standards set by the exporting countries regarding the drugs for public use and those for exports with the standard of the latter being less stringent than the former. Adewale Oloke, a expert in health matters suggested that abolishing such a double standard could help to a large extent in combating the crime. “This factor is particularly important in countries like Nigeria whose indigenous pharmaceutical industries can only cater for 40 per cent of the demand of its teeming population. Long term strategies for battling drug counterfeiting include provision as well as enforcement of

number of law enforcement personnel. clear and adequate civil laws that will compensate and protect the rights of affected individuals as obtained in developed countries like the US. Punishment of drug counterfeiting needs to be revised to make the practice harder and less lucrative. “Drug counterfeiting is a grievous crime tantamount to murder hence, use of lenient punishment is inadequate and it may even bolster the morale of the counterfeiters. However, use of extremely harsh punishment (such as life sentence and death penalty) may be associated with an increased risk of drug counterfeiting being hijacked by organised criminal elements as well as likelihood of developing corrupt relationships with law-enforcement agents. He however pointed out that without adequate enforcement, state laws may not serve as an enough deterrent to combat a crime as lucrative as drug counterfeiting. In order to ensure such enforcement, he insisted that stamping out corruption among the staff of law enforcement agencies, government officials as well as at each step of the pharmaceutical system manufacturing registration and distribution may be helpful. According to him, “Healthcare providers such as physicians, nurses and pharmacists are well positioned place to help governments in this difficult fight that requires enormous resources often lacking or inadequate in poor countries. They can help by having high index of suspicion on the possibility of drug counterfeiting in cases of treatment failure or uncommon adverse reactions. “They can further contribute by educating themselves and their patients on how to identify fake drugs using visual security tools such as the size and the shape of the tablets or capsules and the quality of the print as well as other aids such as the examination of the holograms. After confirming any case of counterfeit drug, the healthcare provider should enthusiastically convey the information to his colleagues, patients and appropriate authorities. “The need for the contribution of healthcare personnel in fighting this menace is even more essential in the rural areas where control and monitoring of the sources of the drugs in circulation is difficult due to inadequate number of law enforcement personnel. “The menace of drug counterfeiting is a serious public problem. Reducing or preventing the problem is primary duty of every responsible nation. Drug industries, healthcare providers, consumers and governments are necessary partners in this regard. Tackling corruption at various levels of the pharmaceutical systems is indispensable for the success of the crusade against fake drugs. Also, due to the limited resources of the developing countries that are worst affected with this problem as well as the infectious nature of the problem, there is need for international collaboration in the fight against this crime. “More studies examining the efficacy of the various strategies tried worldwide against drug counterfeiting may be quiet helpful in reducing or even preventing this menace,” he said. Empirical observations show that there may be more counterfeit than genuine drugs in circulation. A Child Psychologist, Professor Ibinabo Agiobu-Kemmer of Head of Department of Psychology, University of Lagos said our value system has been eroded. “Those who still want to keep the values are probably getting fewer and fewer. “We have to restore the family alter. Restore Prayer time, sitting together and defend family values, defend scriptural values. It is sad.” Government has recognised the need to impose stiffer sanctions of dealers in counterfeit drugs.

Yetunde

For example, the bill to tighten the noose on manufacturers and distributors by amending the Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods (miscellaneous) Act Cap C34 of 2004 has proposed a maximum of life sentence for offenders instead of the slap-on-wrist maximum jail of 15 years with an option of N500,000 in the current law. In the new amendment, hawkers of prescription drugs risk seven years jail term, while all convicted fake drug producers and peddlers would have their properties confiscated to compensate identified victims of fake drugs. Hawkers in open markets may pay N5 million fine in lieu of imprisonment or serve both sentences. The draft bill however provided for an option of N10 million fine for manufacturers or life imprisonment or both. Also slated for punishment in the new bill are aiders and abettors who sell or display any counterfeit, adulterated, banned or fake, substandard or expired drugs or unwholesome processed food in any form whatsoever commits an offence. Some experts who reviewed the bill suggest that the operational licence of any pharmacist involved should also be withdrawn while the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) should delist culprits from its membership. All states are also advised domesticate the law, after its passage by the National Assembly, for stronger effect at the grassroots with large victims. The Federal Government should also prioritise its foreign policy and ensure that the international collaborators of these drug offenders are blacklisted, so that they cannot under any guise, do any business in Nigeria. This punishment must be more stringent and strictly enforced, if the law is to have any desired effect. “This must be so, because many renal diseases, such as, kidney failure, liver problem and cancerous bones have been traced to the use of fake drugs”, an officials of the Lagos State Ministry of Health, who craved anonymity, said. Stemming the tide of fake drugs Experts agree that it is imperative for government, and by extension, NAFDAC to intensify efforts in fake drug eradication. There is need to weed out the bad eggs who sabotage the efforts of government and the agency The proliferation of fake drugs has affected the credibility of the healthcare system, leaving very harmful effects including loss of lives on the consuming public. Howbeit, the sad reality is that the manufacturers of these fake drugs are still very much around and the impact they leave on consumers is still very devastating. As NAFDAC tasks herself dutifully in the fight against the proliferation of fake drugs, more challenges come up from unscrupulous drug dealers. While not discountenancing the effort of NAFDAC in stemming this menace, it is important to note that fake drug smugglers have not been dealt the necessary killer blow that will stop them or, at least bring the menace to the barest minimum. This is where it becomes necessary for the Federal Government and other relevant government agencies to extend to NAFDAC all the necessary support it needs to prosecute the war against the proliferation of fake drugs. To this end, it is imperative for government, and by extension, NAFDAC to intensify efforts in fake drug eradication. There is need to weed out the bad eggs who sabotage the efforts of government and of the agency. In other climes, especially the developed countries, dealers on fake and expired drugs are usually professionals and must be certified by relevant government authorities. In these countries, drugs are usually supplied from accredited sources and purchases are also usually done from accredited pharmaceutical shops and outlets managed by certified Pharmacists. These conditions are not compromised. This is not the case in Nigeria. What has happened

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Sunday, March 6, 2016

The Big Read

‘Fake drugs importation worse than armed robbery ’ Dr. Patrick Chukwuemeka Korie is the Managing Director, Managed Healthcare Services Limited MHS, Lagos, Nigeria, He sheds more light on the unending proliferation fake drugs by unscrupulous drug dealers in this interview with Paul Omo Obadan. What is your take on the proliferation of fake drugs in Nigeria? We should not have fake drugs. By Legislation, rules and laws that govern Nigeria, such things are prohibited. Having them in circulation means that one or two institutions are being overwhelmed. Not that they are not doing their work. We know that NAFDAC is very effective. They have been doing very well right from the time of Professor Dora Akunyili. To be fair, NAFDAC has been doing its best to stem the menace of fake dugs in the country. Under the leadership of its former Director General, the late Prof. Dora Akunyili, the Agency brought international laurels to Nigeria by cleaning up the Onitsha Bridge Head market in Anambra State, which had gained the notoriety for the manufacture of fake drugs. They are overwhelmed because they cannot act as a solitary organization, and require a synergy of all other organizations that could help to reduce the importation of these fake drugs into the country. Importation of fake drugs into the system is worse than armed robbery, because this is outright murder. Armed robbery, you may be robbed, you have your life but loose only property. But with fake drugs, it is a direct affront on our fundamental right to life. If people want to snuff out life of fellow citizen, it is a serious crime and should be recognised as such. It has to be a collective effort of all agencies, all Nigerians. We cannot sit down and watch our life being snuffed off. For instance, somebody has a condition, there is a drug known for treating that condition, the person is given that drug, the person did not respond and the disease condition continues and it leads to death because of fake drugs. As a society, we have to fight this menace collectively and not leave it to the agencies alone. Perhaps, of all crimes, none is as potentially dangerous yet neglected as drug counterfeiting. As individuals, how do we fight this anomaly? NAFDAC came up with something, that before you purchase any drug, you scratch it and send the number to them to confirm if that drug is genuine or fake. How many of us

In China, any fake drug dealer is executed. The problem is that we are too lenient in this country when it comes to something that will protect the interest of the populace.

do it. And it is a toll free line. They advertise it and sing it like a song. How many of us are doing it. Let us start from there as citizens and obey that simple instruction. If it does not have tag or code, don’t buy. If you send the number and NAFDAC tell you fake or genuine, you buy or ignore as the case may be.

Can we enforce that law? We need to do that so that we don’t go picking prescription drugs anywhere. It requires the will and the strong support of the regulatory agency and government to say it is now a crime to you, if you a patent medicine dealer, you’ll have a category of drugs you can sell. You sold not sell prescription drugs. If you are a pharmacist, you can sell both over the counter and prescription drugs. And being a pharmacist, if a fake drug is traced to you, appropriate sanctions should take place. We have to look at the drug trade very well, organize it and ensure that only licensed people, Professionals operate it.

Are you satisfied with the present regulation of the drug market Nigeria? The drug market has to be regulated better. There are drugs that you call over-the-counter drugs. These are simple drugs. And there are drugs that you call prescription drugs. It should be really enforced that prescription drugs should only be sold with prescription from a medical doctor and you can only take it from a qualified pharmacist who is licensed to dispense it.

What sort of penalty should be meted out to fake drugs dealers? You have to look at the existing laws, They are not being enforced. We don’t need to say let’s do stiffer penalties when the existing laws have are not effectively monitored. In China, any fake drug dealer is executed. The problem is that we are too lenient in this country when it comes to something that will protect the interest of the populace.

Chukwuemeka

‘Penalities for drug counterfeiting not enough’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4

is that most people who deal on drugs are not professionals. It is even more worrisome as Sunday Mirror investigation has revealed the preponderance of some market men and women hawking and indiscriminately prescribing drugs to people on the streets. Findings revealed in every nook and cranny of Lagos State, and by extension Nigeria, You find drugs being sold by mostly ‘aboki’ (Hausa traders) on the roadside kiosks. Some women also hawk antibiotics, painkillers and blood tonic capsules in markets. Indeed some “prescribe” a combination of drugs, which are packed in cellophane and sold as a combination therapy (“Ikomi”) ostensibly for stamina and coping with the rigours of work and trading. Several scholars have suggested that in order to achieve a drug counterfeit free society, there must be a more formidable policy framework that will streamline drugs distribution and administration to only the professionals. That way, the drug can only be distributed and purchased from the right sources and the menace of counterfeited drugs will reduce considerably if not totally eradicated. It has also been pointed out that it will do Nigerians a lot of good if, on their own, they cultivate the habit of patronizing only accredited pharmaceutical shops, which are being operated by qualified pharmacists and where there is almost zero per cent chance of obtaining a fake drug. For someone with advanced technical know-how and a devious mind, a piece of chalk or some flour or starch can be shaped into a tablet or pill. With the naked eye, it’s almost impossible to tell it’s a copycat. Labelling and packaging are often imitated to perfection. The global counterfeit drug trade, a billion-dollar industry, is thriving in Africa. The markets are flooded with fake and poor-quality drugs. Crime against humanity The proliferation of fake, falsified and substandard drugs has had tragic consequences. “Counterfeiting is more than a criminal act,” writes Professor Pierre Ambroise-Thomas, the WHO expert on malaria and

tropical parasitic diseases, in the Mediterranean Journal of Haematology and Infectious Diseases. “Manslaughter is perfectly justified to describe such an act although some prefer calling it simply murder.” Unfortunately, the penalties for the crime are not strong enough to deter criminals, Manufacturing, storage and distribution must also follow strict guidelines. Without registration, the drugs cannot be marketed. The cost of medicines is a determining factor for consumers, since most pay for their medications out of pocket. Products sold in licensed pharmacies remain out of reach for many. A joint study by the WHO and Health Action International found that “duties, taxes, mark-ups, distribution costs and dispensing fees are often high, regularly constituting between 30 per cent to 40 per cent of retail prices, but occasionally up to 80 per cent or more of the total.” People will continue to patronize drug outlets like open drug markets for first-line treatments, observes Chinwendu Uzor, a trader, because they’re cheaper. SMS-protected drugs The problem of fake and counterfeit drugs is real and constitutes a major threat to the health and safety of the Nigerian population. A descriptive study was carried out to assess the methods of identification of counterfeit drugs by community pharmacists in Lagos State. Dora Akunyili was director-general of the country’s National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) from 2001 to 2009. During her tenure, she led highprofile campaigns against ineffective drugs in the Nigerian marketplace, winning international acclaim and numerous accolades in the process. Yet despite Akunyili and other campaigners building widespread attention and momentum about fake and substandard medicines, they remain a major concern in Nigeria, and indeed much of the developing world.

At the height of her campaign, an assassination attempt was made on Akunyili, but she escaped narrowly, only to succumb to cancer years later. NAFDAC has advocated stiffer penalties against culprits manufacturing and peddling fake drugs. Speaking in Ibadan at the International Conference on Medicine Regulation, the former Director-General of the agency, Paul Orhii, said the review of the laws would enhance the agency’s performance and argued stiffer penalties would deter culprits. “Under existing laws, offenders are jailed for 15 years or fined N500 000 upon conviction.” Orhii advocated for the review to life jail terms and confiscation of property. Meanwhile, Orhii said the agency’s education drive had benefitted millions. “The agency has been spearheading global efforts in combating production of fake and counterfeit drugs and as part of the effort, 80 million Nigerians have had the opportunity of being informed through SMS on whether some drugs are fake or genuine,” said Orhii. He said, through Mobile Authentic Service (MAS), Nigerians would be informed of fake and genuine malaria drugs. “The agency would continue to provide an enabling and conducive regulatory environment where both manufacturers and consumers would derive maximum benefits,” he added. The disturbing and moral question is how justifiable can we go just to make money at the expense of life. Chief Pharmacist, Daytona Peoples Pharmacy Limited, Owolabi Shita said that until the government takes decisive action on fake drug peddlers, by punishing severely culprits, they would continue with their nefarious activities. “In United States of America for example, a manufacturer of a drug cannot just sell the drug to people but as a licensed manufacturer, he is to sell drugs to licensed wholesalers who also sell to licensed pharmacists” he said.

News

March 6, 2016

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

EFCC to arraign 2 SANs for bribing judges MARCUS FATUNMOLE ABUJA

he Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, yesterday said it was set to arraign two Senior Advocates of Nigeria, SANs, Rickey Tarfa and Dr. Joseph Nwobike, at the Lagos State High Court. They are accused of bribing Justices in order

to pervert the course of justice among others, according to a statement made available to Sunday Mirror by Head, Media and Public Relations of the Commission, Wilson Uwujaren. Acting Chairman of the commission, Ibrahim Magu, had a fortnight ago lambasted senior lawyers (SANs) and journalists in the country for aiding cor-

ruption and obstructing efforts of the commission to effectively prosecute corrupt persons before courts of law. Yesterday ’s release noted that in two separate charges filed by the EFCC, Tarfa and Nwobike are accused of offering gratification running into millions of naira to judges “in bizarre ploy to influence decisions in their fa-

vour ”. While Tarfa faces a 27-count of alleged willful obstruction of authorised officers of EFCC, refusing to declare assets, making false information to an officer of EFCC and offering gratification to a public official, Nwobike will be prosecuted on a five-count charge of allegedly attempting to pervert the course of justice and

L-R: Chief Executive Officer, APN Terminals in Africa, Asia and Middle East, Mr. Peder Sondekgaard; Special Adviser to Maersk group in Africa, Mr. Lars Reno Jakobsen; former Head of Interim National Government, Chief Ernest Shonekan; President Muhammadu Buhari; Chief Executive Officer, Maersk group, Mr. Nils Andersen and Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi, after a meeting with President Buhari at the Presidential Villa Abuja, at the weekend.

DSS arrests terrorists ’ gun fabricator, others MARCUS FATUNMOLE ABUJA.

he Department of State Services, DSS, said it had arrested a man who manufactures and procures arms for radical extremist sect, Boko Haram. A statement issued yesterday by the agency ’s spokesman, Mr. Tony Opuiyo, said the man was arrested in Jos, Plateau State, following a hint during a special operation. Opuiyo, who said the Service has continued to record positive milestones in strategic and tactical operations embarked upon across the country revealed that the suspect, one Musa Garba Abubakar (Engr) aka Muhadis Musa Bin Haddad, was arrested at Jos, Plateau State, on March 2 during a special tactical operation by the Service. The DSS stated that Abubakar is a major gun fabricator, arms-runner and a covert linkman/courier for the Boko Haram group. The statement said that

during his arrest, two pistols, 80 rounds of live ammunition and several sensitive documents were recovered from him. According to the DSS, “In a bid to employ propaganda to manipulate the international community against the efforts of the Federal Government, in the ongoing war against terror in the North-West region, Musa had approached a foreign mission in Nigeria for logistics and financial support to fight the Boko Haram. However, unknown to the mission, he is actually an unauthorized gun-maker/ runner with intent for mischief and communal strife in the North Central region. “In furtherance of exploited leads, this Service apprehended other suspected associates of the gun-runner, namely: Umar Khalil Muhammed and Mohammed Yakubu TAHIR aka Mallam Yaro, on 2nd March, 2016. Muhammed was arrested at Layin Oscar in Jos South LGA, while Tahir was picked up at Mista Ali

area, along Jos-Zaria road in Bassa LGA. “The duo are accomplices and active marketers of ABUBAKAR and his products to criminal elements in the North-Central region of the country ”, the statement added. Opuiyo also said the DSS had arrested more terror suspects including one Armaya ’u Yakubu aka Ali Tekwando, Yakubu Sule and Usman Ibrahim on 3rd March, 2016, at Hayin Danmani area in Kaduna metropolis. It said the three men were members of an extremist cell under the coordination of Yakubu, with affiliation to the proscribed extremist group, ANSARU and had been perfecting plans to travel to Sudan, for terrorist training with other radical elements of the group. According to the statement, “The service wishes to reemphasize its resolve to sustain the fight against organized vices and criminalities by terrorists, kidnappers, fraudsters and other deviant elements in the Country.

“The Service also wishes to urge law abiding Nigerians and indeed, all residents to continue to support law enforcement/ security agencies, with proactive and actionable intelligence, for the sustenance of peace, law and order. ”

offering gratification to public officials. Some of Tarfa ’s counts read according to the commission: “That you Rickey Tarfa [S.A.N] on the 29th day of January, 2014 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, intentionally gave the sum of N 1,500,000.00 (One Million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira only) to Hon. Justice Nganjiwa Hyeladzira Ajiya of the Federal High Court directly from your Zenith Bank Account No.1002926967, in order that the said Judge acts in the exercise of his official duties. “That you Rickey Tarfa [S.A.N] on the 3rd day of October, 2014 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, intentionally gave the sum of N 835,000.00 (Eight Hundred and Thirty Five Thousand Naira only) to Hon. Justice Nganjiwa Hyeladzira Ajiya of the Federal High Court directly from your Zenith Bank Account No.1002926967, in order that the said Judge acts in the exercise of his official duties. “That you Rickey Tarfa [S.A.N] on or about the 15th day of December, 2015 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, intentionally gave the sum of N500, 000.00 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira only) to Hon. Mohammed Nasir Yunusa of the Federal High Court indirectly through Awa Ajia Nigeria Limited ’s account No.

0000971931 domiciled in Access Bank Plc belonging to Hon. Justice Nganjiwa Hyeladzira Ajiya in order that Hon. Mohammed Nasir Yunusa refrains from acting in the exercise of his official duties ”. Similarly, two of Nwobike ’s counts read: “That you Dr. Joseph Nwobike (S.A.N) on the 19th day of March, 2015 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, intentionally gave the sum of N 750,000.00 (Seven Hundred and Fifty Thousand, Naira only) to Hon. Justice Mohammed Nasir Yunusa of the Federal High Court directly through your United Bank for Africa Plc Account No.1002664061 in order that the said Judge acts in the exercise of his official duties. “That you Dr. Joseph Nwobike [S.A.N] on the 28th day of September, 2015 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, intentionally gave the sum of N 300,000.00 (Three Hundred Thousand Naira only) to Hon. Justice Mohammed Nasir Yunusa of the Federal High Court indirectly through Awa Ajia Nigeria Limited ’s account No. 0000971931 domiciled in Access Bank Plc belonging to Hon. Justice Nganjiwa Hyeladzira Ajiya of the Federal High Court in order that the Hon. Justice Mohammed Nasir Yunusa acts in the exercise of his official duties ”.

Stringent bail terms promotes corruption, Secondus claims OBIORA IFOH ABUJA

eputy National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, has once again narrated his ordeal in the hands of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, cautioning the antigraft agency that administrative bails with stringent conditions only help to promote corrupt practices in the name of fighting corruption. Secondus, who said such conditions would not help the anti-corruption mantra of the present administration, explained that he never collected 23 exotic cars from one Jide Omokore, as alleged by the EFCC.

The immediate past acting National Chairman of PDP, in a statement entitled, ‘Keeping records straight ’, added that there was no truth in EFCC ’s allegation that he collected 23 exotic cars purchased from proceeds of oil swap. Describing the allegations against him as baseless, the Deputy National Chairman explained that he only received two cars and buses gift from his friend staggered between 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015. Secondus, it would be recalled, was granted administrative bail on Wednesday night, after spending eight days at the EFCC net over allegation of collecting 23 cars from Omokore. He also described his arrest and detention by

the EFCC for allegations that he collected 23 cars as unfounded and part of political intimidation by the All Progressives Congress (APC) against the opposition political parties. He said it was far from the truth that he collected 23 exotic cars from his friend of over 20 years, adding that he collected only two cars and buses gift from Jide Omokore, who has been his friend for over 20 years. He said: “My friend of over 20 years gave me two cars and buses gifts staggered between 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 and these are verifiable facts from the waybill and manifest from Skymit Motors Ltd. The vehicles were given to me as gifts as he, Jide Omokore, can attest to this.

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NEWS

Sunday, March 6, 2016

SEC lists effect of TSA implementation on funding budget deficits

ecurities and Exchange Commission (SEC) says the Federal Government’s Treasury Single Account (TSA) implementation was affecting its ways of generating income through investment of savings to fund budget deficits.

The commission made the assertion in a statement on its website entitled, “The Nexus between SEC and TSA’’. According to the statement, TSA is an initiative of the Federal Government being implemented through the office of the

Accountant General of the Federation (AGF) as part of its Economic Reform Programme. The statement also said it was a unified structure of Government Bank Accounts - a single account or a set of linked accounts for all government transactions. It said that like many other initiatives, TSA came with the usual teething problems which included adjusting to the new ways and getting the procedures right. “Another notable challenge was inability of the

commission to directly invest its savings as was the practice to generate interest income to fund budget deficits. “TSA will not only help government to unify banking arrangement but will give government oversight on cash resources, promote efficiency, transparency, accountability, reduce overall cost of government borrowing,’’ it said. It added that it would reduce idle cash balances of

Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) funds in banks. “The SEC is supervised by the Federal Ministry of Finance and as an agency of the Federal Government it is bound to comply with all directives. “The TSA is one of such directives, hence the nexus between SEC and TSA,” it said. It explained that the commission was one of the first agencies to comply, adding that experience

so far had proven that TSA was indeed a more convenient payment platform. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr. Mounir Gwarzo, SEC Director-General, recently expressed concern that TSA operation had greatly reduced the capital market regulator’s ability to be flexible. Gwarzo had said that the commission was currently ``running a very tight budget, given that the market has gone down

and given that there are aspirations to move the market up, we have to set aside some amount of money. “The budget of 2015, we had a projection of N6.9 billion as our income but we were only able to make N4.9 billion because of the state of the market. “We no longer take our staff on overseas and local training and our earning are now 30 to 40 per cent less than we had in the past’’.

Buhari set to launch Ogoniland cleanup –Minister

resident Muhammadu Buhari is set to launch the cleanup of Ogoniland in the coming weeks, says the Minister of Environment, Amina Mohammed.

The minister announced this when she paid a courtesy visit to Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers State. “It is hoped that we will have this launch in the coming weeks and the president himself will launch the cleanup. “It is really to us a turning point in the history of the struggle. Ogoniland is the first place where actions need to be – cleanup. “There is a wide challenge of pollution in the Niger Delta. We are here to begin activities toward the launch of the cleanup with stakeholders’ dialogue. “We are beginning in Rivers because this is the home of the struggle but we know it is wider,’’ she said. The minister said that the cleanup of the Ogoniland would span between 25 and 30 years. However, Wike advised the Federal Government that to achieve success, the cleanup must not be politicised as there were diverse interests. The governor urged the Federal Government to be careful not to bring politics into the cleanup in order to achieve success. “It doesn’t matter the political party that anybody belongs to, environmental issue does not affect a political party; it affects the entire state and the entire Niger Delta as a whole. “Communities do not know about political parties,

what communities know is about how to survive. “And so, I will advice that we approach it in such way that it does not look political, particularly in Ogoniland, it is a very complex place; you have to be extremely careful. “Because if you are not careful you may not achieve what you want you intend to achieve,’’ the governor warned. According to him, there are political undertones to most of these things that are happening hence it was very difficult for the former government to do what they are supposed to do. He advised that all stakeholders must be brought on board for the exercise to succeed. Wike assured the minister that the state government would give all the necessary support to ensure the success of the cleanup, adding no government would be happy to see Ogoniland in its present state. He said he was interested in whatever affects Rivers and the entire Niger Delta that had to do environmental pollution and other issues. Wike said the environmental degradation in the entire Niger Delta and more in particular in Ogoni area has been a major concern to all. According to him, it partly has to do with oil exploration that has left so many communities not to have potable water. So many communities who are farmers can no longer go to farm; communities who dwell on fishing can no longer fish because of oil pollution.

Commercial motorcyclists queuing to purchase petrol at a filling station in Madalla, as scarcity of the commodity continued in Niger, at the weekend. PHOTO: NAN

Police investigate man’s death after prayer vigil in Lagos

agos State Police Command yesterday said it had begun investigation into the alleged suicide committed by one Taofik, who hanged himself on a tree after an all-night prayer vigil in Iju-Isaga area of the state.

Spokesperson of the command, SP Oladapo Badmos,

told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the surname of the deceased had yet to be ascertained. Badmos said the Police Division at Iju got a report of the incident brought by Pastor Odunike Abiodun of King of Kings Church, No. 45, Taju Bello Street, Iju

Isaga. “The pastor brought the report on Saturday at 7.50 a.m. that the man was found dead at about 5.30 a.m. “The deceased hung himself on a tree in a valley close to a river, near the King of Kings Church,’’ he said. The police spokesman said that it was reported

that the deceased had earlier participated in an all-night prayer at the Church. She said that the scene of the suicide had been visited by detectives from the division. “Investigation is ongoing to unravel the cause of the death and the corpse has been deposited at a morgue for autopsy,’’ Badmos said.

Imo PDP members exchange blows at party secretariat

Chris Njoku OWERRI

t was a free for all yesterday as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members exchanged blows at the party secretariat in Owerri when a faction of the party led by the embattled chairman, Chief Nnamdi Anyaehie, violently disrupted a meeting of the caretaker committee led by Barrister Vitalis Okafor.

Okafor , whose committee was inaugurated on the January 29 this year to pilot

the affairs of the party for three months and particularly conduct the state congresses, had hardly settled down for business with his members when the Anyaehie-led exco stormed the secretariat in a commando-like operation chasing everyone away with all sorts of weapons. Members of the warring factions, who exchanged blows while the melee lasted were later dispersed by armed policemen manning the secretariat after which Anyaehie and his supporters drove away in a long convoy

for an unknown destination. However, scores sustained injuries as a result of the fracas. The police reinforced later to cordon the premises to allow Okafor to address newsmen. He accused Anyaehie of causing avoidable confusion within the party by scheming to perpetuate himself in office. He said the meeting was convened to brief members of the party on the latest development in respect of the legal battle between his committee and that of Anyaehie which was instituted by the latter.

According to him, Anyaehie’s tenure had since expired as pronounced by the party’s National Executive Council (NEC) which subsequently installed his caretaker committee to preside over the affairs of the party for three months and wondered why he (Anyaehie) had refused to comply with the directive. “The people of the state and the PDP have rejected them because they have failed woefully yet they do not want to read the hand writing on the wall,” he lamented.

NEWS

Sunday, March 6, 2016

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Okorocha denies N2bn bailout fund diversion

Chris Njoku OWERRI

mo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, yesterday denied diversion of N2 billion bailout funds by officials of his government contrary to the claims by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

Three government appointees, the Principal Secretary to the Governor, Dr. Pascal Obi; Director of Finance, Casmir Uzoho and Treasurer, Iheoma Kenneth,

were last week arrested by EFCC over alleged diversion of N2 billion bailout funds, which were said to be part of the N26 billion bailout money given by the Federal Government for payment of workers’ salary arrears. Okorocha, while addressing newsmen at the Government House, Owerri also denied that his political appointees were arrested but agreed that they were invited based on the petitions written by some Imo people to the anti-graft agency. He frowned at the way and manner some people in the

state write petitions to EFCC against the state government which had led to the incessant inversion of the state by the agency. He said the N26 billion bailout fund given to the state government by the Federal Government had been judiciously utilised for the payment of workers’ salaries. The governor disclosed that every Imo worker had been paid up till December 2015, which according to him, the bailout fund covers, stating that before the bailout

money was taken that the state had initially accessed a loan from Zenith Bank to pay salaries. “So it was not true that N2 billion was diverted from the bailout fund. My administration is the most investigated in the whole country because EFCC has visited the state more than any other in the country because Imo State has professional petition writers and whenever there is an allegation, the EFCC would come down to the state to investigate.

He added, “This is not the first time that the EFCC is coming to the state, in fact they have been here more than 50 times and they are always welcomed to the state if they have issues to clarify with the officials of the state because it is their duty to investigate any allegation no matter how frivolous and it was in this regard that they came”. The governor maintained that his administration was not owning any bank or had taken any loan from abroad

as alleged by the enemies of his government, adding that he has performed more than any previous administration. “My administration is not owing any bank or have we taken any loan from abroad as alleged by my critics. We are open for investigation because we are transparent and I challenge anyone to prove me wrong because this administration has performed more than any other administration and the results are there for anyone to see”.

Shiite: NGOs call for expulsion of Iranian Ambassador Adeola Tukuru ABUJA

oalition of Human Rights and National Interfaith and Religious Organisations for Peace, made up over 500 civil society groups, yesterday protested the role of Iranian Ambassador, Saeed Koozechi, in the recent Shiite crisis.

The protesters marched to the Iranian Embassy in Abuja, displaying placards with inscriptions, ‘We reject threat to our sovereignty by Ambassador Saeed Kozeechi’, ‘We reject sponsors of extreme religious views and doctrines’, ‘We say no to terrorism and political cells’, ‘We call for expulsion of Saeed from Nigeria soil’, among others. Speaking on behalf of the groups, National President/ Convener of the Coalition, Bishop Musa Fomson, rejected threats to the sovereignty of the country by Ambassador Koozechi. Explaining why the activities of the Shiite must be condemned, Fomson said, “To abuse the freedom of choice guaranteed in Nigeria is to take away the rights of all of us to choose. For years, Nigerians, especially those in some parts of Kaduna State, endured the tyrannical disposition of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) or Shiite Sect that constantly use its processions to deprive those of other sects and faiths of access to national infrastructure like free passage on public roads that it takes over for its marches. “The Shiite Sect imposed its will on others because it had raised for itself an army – there is documentary evidence of this in video and photo formats readily available and can be accessed with a simple online search. “It was this same IMN militant wing that attempted to

assassinate Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff under the pretext of denying him right of way except he listened to their alleged grievances.” Speaking on the disturbing trend of Iran’s involvement in the whole saga, the convener said “Iran, which has up till date not done much by way of supporting Nigeria to tackle extremism-related insurgency like Boko Haram, became the champion-inchief of the Shiite Sect in its uprising against the state.” He said: “Comments from senior Iranian officials in the aftermath of the Zaria incidents were debasing to the extent that an uninformed person would be tempted to believe the whole of Nigeria was just another province of Iran. Many of the comments actively emboldened IMN members to rise against the Nigeria state while some went as far as hinting at physical invasion of our dear fatherland. “The worst of these inflammatory comments were from the Iranian Ambassador to Nigeria, Saeed Koozechi, who has new utterances for each new week aimed at stoking Shiite extremism. “Koozechi’s affront was to the point where he suggested that Nigeria will burn for detaining IMN leader, Mr. Ibrahim El-Zakyzaky, “Nigeria is pouring fuel on fire” was the comment credited to him in several publications. “He had further gone ahead to suggest that we should accord Shiites status that is kind of above the law, where they can practice as they deemed fit – which in the past had entailed inflicting hardship on the rest of us when they hold their street orgies. “Koozechi’s tel-guiding of the IMN has bolstered the Shiite Sect to the point where they now issue videos to threaten the Nigerian state and public officials.

President Association of Women Doctors, Dr. Boladale Mapayi (right), leading other women doctors in protest against women violence within the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital complex (OAUTHC), Osun State, yesterday.

Tarmac infiltration by passengers won’t happen again –Dati Olusegun Koiki

he Federal Government has assured travelers that the recent infiltration of the tarmac of the Nnamdi Azikiwe Interactional Airport, NAIA, Abuja by angry passengers of Turkish Airlines would not recur again in the country.

This is as the government said that security of airports and other facilities across the country should not be left in the hands of government alone. The General Manager, Corporate Communica-

tions, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, Mr. Yakubu Dati stated this over the weekend in an interview with our correspondent at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, MMA, Lagos. Dati explained that the government had taken a lot of measures to prevent recurrence, stressing that the airport authority had deployed more security personnel at strategic locations within the airport, adding that an opening within the terminal, which enabled the angry passengers to access the terminal had been blocked.

He said, “We have taken quite a number of steps and that is why when a similar incident recurred by the same airline, it didn’t result into what happened the first time. First and foremost, we have been able to deploy security as at when due and officers on duties have also gone to inspire other officers to be alive to their responsibilities. “Also, we discovered that most of the angry passengers passed through an opening in the carousel area, we have also fortified that area such that it would not be porous again for people to use. If I

mention the security measures we have deployed, it would be inimical to the system because we are dealing with public here.” Also, Dati insisted that security should not be left in the hands of the government again and called on the public to collaborate with the government in order to fight insurgency. He declared that FAAN was partnering with other security agencies to improve security at the nation’s airports, adding that the agency was also engaging the public for them to be aware of their environments.

Criticism trails annulment of Osun NUJ election Boladale Bamigbola OSOGBO

ondemnations yesterday trailed the annulment of the February 11 election in the executive positions in Osun State council of Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, by the national secretariat of the union. In a letter signed by the

general secretary of union copies of which were made available to newsmen, the national secretariat of the union said the election was annulled over irregularities that marred it. But the Correspondents’ chapel of the union and Osun state chapter of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria in separate communique issued

after their congresses during the weekend, said it has never happened in the history of the union that election that supervised by the national secretariat and declared free and fair, would be annulled by the same national secretariat hiding behind some “fictitious claims”. Osun NUJ Correspondents’ Chapel in its commu-

niqué of rejected the nullification and maintain that it was wrong for the national secretariat of the union to have annulled the election, when the result of the election was generally acceptable to all members of our union in Osun State including those that lost, who embraced and congratulated the winners after the election.

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Almajiri school programme is a wrong policy –Ganduje P 37

Politics PROVIDING FRESH PERSPECTIVES TO ISSUES

March 6, 2016

OUR VICTORY WAS SCUTTLED

BY EVIL CHARACTERS WHO

PREFERRED THE NARROW POSITION OF THE MINISTERIAL OFFICE THAN THE COLLECTIVE ESTEEM AND HONOUR OF WINNING

LAGOS STATE GUBERNATORIAL ELECTION

–FORMER DEPUTY NATIONAL CHAIRMAN OF THE POEPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY, PDP, CHIEF OLABODE GEORGE.

PMP and future of PDP

Sheriff

AYO ESAN

ore trouble surfaced for the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as some of its aggrieved members last Tuesday teamed up with some members of other opposition parties to announce the formation of another party, the Peoples Mega Party, PMP. Joined by a faction of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, the ag-

Grounded politicians formulate long lasting policies –Wadada Briefly Group tasks EFCC on Akpobolokemi ’s trial

Group under the auspices of Concerned Lawyers has raised alarm over what they described as consstant intimation of the counsel to a former Director General of National Marim ttime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Dr. Patrick Akpobolokemi notN iing that the agency should be called to order. It also noted that the trend if not stopped, would gravely undermine the position of the judiciary as the last hope of the common man. The group further urged the commission to embrace the acceptable rules guiding prosecution of cases at the law court and avoid employing methods alien to the rule of law. A statement by its spokesperson, Mr. Hanacho Alogie, maintained that these actions smack of attempts to victimize judges who cannot say anything in their own defense publicly saying the victimization of the judiciary is an affront to justice and equity. Hence, he described the alleged development as a deliberate attempt to pronounce Akpobolokemi guilty without establishing any element of the crime so alleged. His words: ’ ’ Since the commencement of this case last year, we have watched with keen interest the peculiar manner with which the EFCC is going about the prosecution of Akpoblokemi. While we are not biased about any attempt at probing any alleged misconduct by public servants, we are deeply concerned about the exceptionality of the modus operandi employed on this matter without recourse to the rule of law and the sanctimonious place of the judiciary. ‘ ‘As an arm of government, the independence of this sacred institution should not be a subject of debate any day. But we are taken aback by the calculated attempt by the EFCC to harass, intimidate and subdue the lawyers representing Dr. Patrick Akpoblokemi in this case. As a law abiding citizen conversant with his rights as enshrined in the 1999 constitution, Dr. Patrick did not hide his readiness to fully cooperate with the commission regarding the investigations.

Opara

grieved PDP members led by Chief Perry Opara, a former aide to Alhaji Ahmed Gulak, former Political Adviser to former President Goodluck Jonathan and Chief John Agbara led their followers to the meeting held at the Sheraton Hotels, Abuja where the formation of the party was proclaimed. At the meeting, Chief Perry Opara emerged as the temporary chairman of the new party pending when the party would stabilise.

While speaking on the outcome of the meeting, Agbara said the decision to form a new party was reached after a wide consultation. “We are today full members of the PMP, ” he declared adding that the slogan of the new party is: ‘Forward Nigeria ’. Opara, who addressed supporters after the meeting, said the PMP emerged because of leadership tussle and challenges in the PDP and that these unfortuCONTINUED ON PAGE 10

P 38

Akpobolokemi

Politics

March 6, 2016

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PMP and future of PDP CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9 nate issues had impacted negatively on the party and its future. Opara said it does not mean that it is only people from the PDP that formed the new party. “We have APGA chairmen from many states of Nigeria identifying with the new party, people from Labour Party (LP) and the Accord Party (AP). “There are also disenchanted people from the APC that feel that they want a new place and that is what it is. Today marks the birth of this new party ”, he declared. It would be recalled that there was confusion in January at the national secretariat of PDP when the former Political Adviser to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Alhaji Ahmed Gulak, stormed the secretariat with his supporters and made himself the national chairman of the party. Gulak who had arrived at the national headquarters of PDP in company of other aides of former President Jonathan, went straight to the third floor of the building, and asked that the office of the national chairman be opened for him. He later moved to the National Working Committee, NWC, Conference hall to address journalists, using the chair of the national chairman. Gulak, while briefing the media then, noted that a high court had thrown out an application by the PDP and the acting national chairman of the party, Prince Uche Secondus, which sought to stop a previous ruling demanding that Secondus vacates office within 14 days. He also said there would be a change to the proposed date of the national convention which was slated for March this year by the Uche Secondus-led National Working Committee, NWC, against the backdrop that the NWC ought to have first tabled the matter before the National Executive Committee, NEC, before announcing it. He was accompanied by Dr Doyin Okupe, Mr. Shehu Birma, Ayakeme Whiskey, Chuma Nnaji, Mohammed Kachalla, Jonathan Asake, Moshood Salvador, Denis Emmanuel, Eddy Olafeso and Yusuf Hassan, among others. Gulak was then condemned by NWC of the party which said he was working for the APC. The PDP NWC described Gulak ’s action as shocking, a taboo that was unacceptable and described Gulak as a fifth columnist working for the All Progressives Congress, APC, to cause confusion in the party. It wondered why Gulak could come through the back door to become the national chairman of the party, asking him to go to his zone, consult, lobby for his name to be submitted from the North East zone. PDP National Legal Adviser, Mr. Victor Kwon, dismissed Gulak ’s claims but urged him to go and lobby if he wanted to be chairman. “He cannot proclaim himself national chairman and court did not tell the party to name him national chairman, ’ ’ he said.

Gulak

Kayode

THE ELECTION OF SHERIFF HAS CAUSED DEEP ANIMOSITY IN THE

PDP, A PARTY THAT HAS MANY OF ITS LEADERS FACING LITIGATION OVER THEIR CORRUPT PAST

Following this development, the PDP NEC agreed that the North East in line with the pronouncement of the court should produce the successor to the former national chairman, Adamu Mua ’zu who resigned his appointment shortly after the party failed to win the presidential election last year. It was agreed that based on the court pronouncement, a party member from the North Ease zone must complete the tenure of Mua ’zu. The National Executive Committee, NEC of the party rose from its 68th meeting and approved Ali Modu Sheriff, the former Governor of Borno State, as its National Chairman. Sheriff ’s appointment, which followed a series of intrigues and horse-trading, eventually came to light when he was invited to take the oath of office on Monday, February 22, 2016.. Although he was initially endorsed by other organs of the party, Sheriff was opposed by some members of the party ’s Board of Trustees (BoT). But some prominent members of the party, including governors, Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, senators and members of the House

of Representatives quickly swung into action to persuade those with divergent views. At the end of the exercise, Sheriff polled 60 votes to beat two other candidates to emerge as the national chairman. But a large number of the PDP senators from the South East and South South were against his emergence . They resolved to reject him outright when the caucuses of the two geo-political zones met The senators were particularly miffed that any of the governors on the banner of the party from the North East could even consider the former governor who joined the party just a few months before the last election. The election of Sheriff has caused deep animosity in the PDP, a party that has many of its leaders facing litigation over their corrupt pasts. Before the handing over ceremony, Sheriff came under intense attacks from members of the PDP, who opposed his nomination for the party ’s top job. It was the high level of opposition to his leadership that made the PDP Governors ’ Forum (PDPGF) to rise and defend

their decision to field the former Borno governor as replacement for the former chairman, Adamu Muazu. However it was the comments of former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, who wrote an article in which he linked Sheriff to the dreaded Boko Haram sect that irked Sheriff most. Thus, at the handing over ceremony, Sheriff declared his readiness to tackle his party men who had made uncomplimentary remarks about him and singled out Fani-Kayode ’s attacks. Different groups have also emerged with some supporting Fani-Kayode ’s view on Sheriff and others chastising him for his comment and view. The formation of this new party by those aggrieved members may be the outcome of the emergence of Sherriff as the party national chairman. PDP it would be recalled had a similar crisis in the build up to the 2015 general elections when five of its governors and some of its leaders formed the NewPDP that later merged with Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN , Congress for Progressive Change, CPC and a faction of All Progressive Grand Alliance APGA to form the All Progressive Congress. The question now on the lips of political analysts and watchers of political events is whether the creation of the Peoples Mega Party, PMP by elements from the PDP will not weakened the troubled party even the more. They are also of the view that with crisis upon crisis engulfing the party, the PDP may not be able to play the expected opposition role which will enhance the present democracy. It is yet to be known too whether the aggrieved members led by Opara are just clearing way for other big wigs of the PDP who may show their faces as time goes on. Will PDP survives this crisis or will it go into extinction only time will tell.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

March 6, 2016

Man in the News Ayodele Dada, UNILAG best graduating student

When preparation leads to perfection AYO ESAN

wenty nine year-old Ayodele Dada has created a new record at the University of Lagos as he last week graduated with the highest cumulative grade point average obtainable in the university, 5.00. The grade was described by the Vice Chancellor of the university, Professor Rahamon Bello, as “a perfect score. ” The Ekiti-born Ayodele, who is a Psychology graduate definitely emerged as the overall best graduating student out of the 10,097 students that graduated from the school. Thus at the graduation ceremony last Tuesday all eyes were on him as he was called several times to receive different awards . The awards that he received include, the vice-chancellor ’s prize for the overall best student, best all round performance at the faculty level, University of Lagos Parent Forum prize, Tony Elumelu prize for best graduating student, Late Prof. Adetokunbo Sofoluwe prize and Dean ’s prize for the best overall student in the faculty, among others. He was also awarded the University of Lagos Alumni Association prize and received N500,000 cheque, fivefold of what originally is meant for the recipient of the award. The gesture according to the alumni association ’s president, Dr. Sonny Kuku was because of the record he has set in the university. Kuku also explained that the money was also meant for the five years he has spent in the university. On how he achieved the feat of gotten the maximum grade for the first time in the institution ’s history , Dada in a media interview said scoring ‘As ’ is about preparation. “Preparation, for me, isn ’t just about studying. It involves understanding the personality of the examiner, the culture of a department and other variables, which others may consider ancillary to the matter of academics. I favour the quote by the Chinese military strategist, Sun Tzu (4th century BC), who believed that the victorious general is already victorious before the battle while the defeated general enters battle and struggles to find the victory. When you prepare well, you win before the battle. “I consider an examination as an opportunity to sell myself as a product, to my lecturer/examiner who can be seen as a consumer. If your product is not unique and doesn ’t add value to the consumer, they don ’t buy it. For me, they buy my product when I get an ‘A ’. He explained that the key thing is understanding the consumer.

“Listen to everything they say even when they don ’t realize they are communicating. Add something they care about to what you offer. It ’s quite simple because the lecturers actually give clues when they speak. Regrettably, most students are distracted and engage in side chats. As such, they don ’t learn the clues they need. As to whether he planned to score 5.00 Cumulative points from the time he set his foot on the institution ’s soil, he said I did not plan for a 5.0. His words: “I just wanted to do each test, assignment, presentation and exam

very well. All I cared about was doing well each day. By getting it right and pushing the boundaries each time, I wanted people to see psychology differently. To see it as something we can use every day to solve problems. Psychology is not well understood or recognized in Nigeria and I thought it was possible to change that. We only discover how real “impossibility ” is when we test its resolve, when we challenge its will to survive. Ayodele Dada who was born to an accountant turned Pastor, David Dada and Mrs. Anneyemi Dada, a teacher, had his primary education at Agape Baptist Col-

lege, Surulere and his secondary education at Hopebay College also in Surulere but did not proceed to the university immediately due to some reasons. . “After secondary school, it took me a while to decide on what I wanted to do but eventually, I read a book that just made me see how psychology can be applied in real life so it just captured my imagination and I decided that I was going to devote my time to Psychology. “Yes it was difficult at first for example, when I decided I was going to do Psychology, I spent three months preparing for Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination and I really studied hard for it and I wrote the examination, confident that I did well only to hear later that my result was seized, I was devastated. “That was in the year 2011. They said I cheated or so. I felt sad but I took it as fate. I initially wanted to go through the complaining procedure but it didn ’t really work out because it was taking too long. I really wanted to resume as quickly as I could and then that was when I took the Diploma option, the foundation programme. That was how I came into UNILAG. “It was challenging because of the expenses, I worked a bit with my uncle. I did a bit of sales job selling computer accessories for some time. I also did some tutoring, I was teaching some people trying to at least make ends meet for myself and I didn ’t stop that even when I started my programme at UNILAG. “I was responsible for my daily expenses except one or two occasions. I had to plan my time such that it would not affect my study. I tutored just to survive. Before I was able to get on board the foundation programme, I had to get money from several sources. There were quite a few family friends who were very helpful, they really came in and stood in for me because I could not take the bill myself. I was ready to borrow this money because I was sure that once I was done with this programme, I would pay them back. Ayodele, who has the ambition of getting a Doctorate degree and become a professor of Psychology, said he is determined to help improve the education system of the country. His mother, a teacher with 23 years of experience said although her son was a slow learner, he would never settle for less. The vice-chancellor of the university, Prof. Rahamon Bello elated with Dada ’s performance said the university will continue to maintain the tradition of excellence and of producing quality graduates that do compete with their counterparts all over the world.

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Wellness YOUR HEALTH AND HEALTH RELATED ISSUES March 6, 2016

Combating malaria in Africa ODINAKA URUAKPA

alaria remains one of the leading health problems of the developing world; it is actually one ailments that the human race has been doing all it could to control. The Ugandan nation is said to bear the largest burden from the disease, at over 95% of the country ’s population affected, according to statistics from the health ministry. The disease remains a major cause of ill-health, hospital admissions, and death, with children below five years, people with HIV/AIDS and pregnant mothers mostly affected. According to medical experts, Malaria in pregnancy continues to be a serious health risk causing maternal anaemia and perinatal mortality. Studies have also shown that the prevalence of placental infection with plasmodium malaria in pregnant women stands at about 62.1%. Malaria control in developing countries every year, through different projects such as the Malaria Initiative and National Malaria Control Programme (NMCP), the government of affected areas inject funds to control the spread of malaria. Speaking with Sunday Mirror, Dr. Tolulope Dairo, Medical practitioner with Randle Health Centre, Surulere, Malaria is a serious disease that causes high fever and chills. She added that people can get the disease when bitten by an infected mosquito. “Malaria is caused by parasitic plasmodium species that are carried by the female of an anopheles mosquito and introduced into the bloodstream of humans by an infected mosquito. The disease is often found in Africa, Southern Asia, Central America, and South America. Malaria is caused by a bite from a mosquito infected with parasites. In very rare cases, people can get malaria if they come into contact with infected blood. A developing fetus may get the disease from its mother. You cannot get malaria just by being near a person who has the disease ”, she said. Dairo revealed that most malaria infections cause symptoms like the flu, such as a high fever, chills, and muscle pain, adding that symptoms tend to come and go in cycles. The medic listed Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium malariae, Plasmodium ovale, Plasmodium vivax as the four species of plasmodium organisms in mosquito. “The four species are sometimes referred to as being one of two main forms,

A Lagos hospital ward

namely benign or malignant. The malignant form is the more serious and is caused by Plasmodium falciparum. It accounts for the majority of infections and is potentially life-threatening. Malaria caused by the other three plasmodium organisms is generally not life-threatening except in the very young, and very old, people with immune deficiencies “Malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum causes serious problems, such as damage to the heart, lungs, kidneys, or brain. These types can be deadly. When people suspect that they have malaria, they should see a doctor who will order a blood test to check for the malaria parasite in the blood ”, she advised. She revealed that medicines usually can treat the illness, but some malaria parasites may survive because they are already in the liver of the sufferer or they are resistant to the medicine. “It is advisable to get medical help right away if one has been in an area where malaria is present, was exposed to mosquitoes, and gets symptoms that are like the flu, which include a high fever, chills, and muscle pain ”, she revealed. She further revealed that though, using medicine to prevent malaria may not always work, but it is advisable that people use these drugs to prevent malaria by taking medicine before, during, and after travel to an area where malaria is present. When asked why preventive malaria

medicines do not always work when taken by people travelling to areas where the disease is present, Dairo said: “This is partly due to the parasites being resistant to some medicines in some parts of the world. ” Speaking on signs and symptoms of malaria, Dairo said: “Malaria is sometimes misdiagnosed as influenza because of the symptoms of fever, headache and generalised aches and pains. Pyrexia is common, and some patients complain of nausea and vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal cramps. Children may present with a high temperature, cough and tachypnoea (rapid breathing). The liver and spleen may be palpable and the condition may develop very rapidly; it often proves fatal in those infected by Plasmodium falciparum. “Early diagnosis and treatment is lifesaving. Nearly all of the million malaria deaths that occur each year worldwide are from Plasmodium falciparum, and 90% of deaths from malaria occur in Africa south of the Sahara, mostly among young children. The medic insisted that since children and babies are a vulnerable group, as they depend on their parents to adopt precautions to prevent insect bites, the parents should make sure they do all they can to control or eradicate mosquito in the environment. “Mosquito nets should be used for children ’s beds and cot nets for babies. There

are insect repellents available that can be used for children. She also revealed that malaria could increase the risk of premature labour and birth, miscarriage and stillbirth in pregnant women. “Since malaria is such a serious illness in pregnancy and because no chemoprophylactic regimen is completely effective, women who are pregnant or likely to become pregnant should be advised to avoid travel to a malaria-risk area. If a woman must travel she should be advised to use insect repellents sparingly and sleep under a mosquito net. It is safer to take malaria prophylaxis than to contract malaria. “Asplenic patients i.e. those without a spleen are at particular risk from malaria. They must be aware of the need to use insect repellents to prevent bites and concur with the prophylaxis recommended ”, she admonished. On how to prevent malaria, Dairo said: “People in area with large population of mossqito should wear long-sleeve clothing, long trousers or skirts and limit the amount of exposed skin, they should avoid dark coloured clothes because mosquitoes are not attracted to light colours, sleep under treated mosquito nets, apply insect repellents regularly in cream, spray insecticides, use coils and mats impregnated with insecticide in closed rooms to repel the mosquitoes. ”

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EDIFYING GOD Sunday, March 6, 2016

The wisdom of the wise (2) 16

QUOTE

The deep study of the Bible confirms the need of deliverance, the helplessness of man without God, the cost of deliverance paid by Jesus Christ, the place of man in heaven or hell will depend on his acceptance or rejection of the offer of salvation in Christ.

â&#x20AC;&#x201C;Prof Kunle Macaulay

Put the teachings of God to practice 17

Christianity, a deliverance religion 32

Reality of heaven and hell 14 & 15

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Sunday, March 6, 2016

Reality of

eaven is a common religious, cosmological or transcendent place where heavenly beings such as gods, angels, jinn, saints, or venerated ancestors are said to originate, be enthroned, or to live.

The modern English word heaven is derived from the earlier Middle English, heven (attested 1159); this in turn was developed from the previous Old English form heofon. By about 1000, heofon was being used in reference to the Christianized place where God dwells, but originally, it had signified sky or firmament. Heaven is often described as a higher place, the holiest place, a Paradise, in contrast to Hell or the Underworld or the low places universally or conditionally accessible by earthly beings according to various standards of divinity, goodness, piety, faith, or other virtues or right beliefs or simply the will of God. Some believe in the possibility of a Heaven on Earth in a World to Come. In ancient times, Heaven was regarded as a physical place far above the Earth in a dark area of space where there were no stars, basically beyond the Universe. According to the Book of the Dead, departed souls would undergo a literal journey to reach Heaven, along the way to which they (dead) could encounter hazards and other entities attempting to deny the reaching of Heaven. Their heart would finally be weighed with the feather of truth, and if the sins weighed it down their heart was devoured. On the other hand, hell that is regarded as the abode of Satan, the fallen angel and his agents, is a term translated from the Hebrew word, Sheol which means the world of the dead. Though hell is often connected or depicted as a lake of burning fire, but considering Old Testament description in scripture such as Jonah 2:1-2, there is no hint of a place of fire. In the Old Testament, Sheol is translated as grave 31 times, hell 31 times, and pit three times. Believing that since death is not a natural occurrence, but issues from the fall, the Old Testament writers confidently await God’s demonstration of his lordship over hell (Sheol) by raising the righteous to life as denoted in Genesis 2-3, Psalm 16:10 , 49:15 , Isaiah 25:8 and Hosea 13:14. The Old Testament infrequently suggests a bodily resurrection for the wicked, a final judgment and retribution for evil deeds. Nevertheless, the contemptible and horrible destiny of the wicked, irretrievably isolated from the righteous, is clear. In the New Testament, hell is where the reprobate exists after the resurrection from Hades and the final judgment. In this lake of fire, God punishes the wicked, along with Satan and his henchmen (Matthew 25:41), bringing an end to evil’s freeways. Jesus Christ, the son of God and saviour of the world spoke so much about the reality of heaven and hell than any other biblical figure. His teachings and parables about the kingdom of God (heaven), where those who do the will of God and live a righteous life will spend eternity with God equals His warnings of the eschatological judgment liberally coloured with the

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Heaven and Hell

Heaven and hell are two contrasting places that have been spoken extensively of in scripture and other religious books. Heaven is presented to be the dwelling place of God, the creator of the universe, as hell is also inhabited by the devil and other fallen angels; many people also believe when the righteous die they would go to heaven and enjoy everlasting peace with God and when sinners die they would face damnation in the lake of fire, that hell is portrayed. ODINAKA URUAKPA brings the testimony of people who claim they had the revelation of the existence of heaven and hell. imagery of hell. He (Jesus) portrays this future judgment through pictures of Sodom’s destruction as depicted in Luke 17:29-30 of fire, burning sulfur, and a fiery furnace (Genesis 19:24-25). The images of God’s judgment were well established in the Old Testament and other religious literature. Important portrayals of hell are also present in Jesus’ parables, including the tares spoken about in Matthew 13:40-42, the net; Matthew 13:50, the great supper (Matthew 22:13), the good servant and the wicked servant; (Matthew 24:51), the talents (Matthew 25:30), and the last judgment (Matthew 25:46). Here, weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matt 13:50 ; 24:51 ; 25:30 ) and darkness are key descriptive phrases. For believers, the fact remains that God created man for a loving relation with Himself, but at the fall humankind rebelled. Therefore, God’s judgment falls on all sinners, unless they have faith in Jesus. After the provisional state of Hades and the final judgment, God’s wrath culminates in hell. According to the New Testament, the objects of God’s wrath range from the pious hypocrites in Matthew 23:33 and those failing to help the poor as depicted in Matthew 25:31-46 and Luke 16:19-31, to the vile and murderers as

Some time ago, I took ill and my parents seeing the seriousness after some days took me to the hospital.

I didn’t even know when we got there, but I could see myself leaving my body on the bed. I could see my mum by my bed side crying her eyes out. revealed in Revelation 21:8. Narrating what she referred to as her testimony, Blessing Peter, a young lady from Kogi State claimed that heaven and hell actually exist because she had been there at a time she thought she was dead, until she realized she had actually been in a coma. “Some time ago, I took ill and my parents seeing the seriousness after some days took me to the hospital. I didn’t even know when we got there, but I could see myself leaving my body on the bed. I could see my mum by my bed side crying her eyes out. I tried to communicate with her and the others in the room to tell them that I was not dead, but they couldn’t hear me. Suddenly, I saw I saw a man putting on white clothes, he reached

out for my hand and before I could say anything, my clothes also turned white. The man took me to the top of a mountain, and at that point I was able to ask him where he was taking me to and he answered that he wanted to show me something. The man took me to a place; it was actually a house with different sections where I saw people crying. ‘This place is called hell’, said the man. Suddenly, I saw a man I knew in that place and I exclaimed, ‘what happened; I know that man! He is a man of God.’ ‘Yes, the man is a pastor’, my guide replied. The man went on to explain to me that the pastor had a stain on him because he impregnated a girl in his church. I also saw Michael Jackson there and when I asked why he was there, the man said he (Jack-

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Sunday, March 6, 2016

heaven and hell son) played music with evil people. As I looked again, I saw a chorister with blood stain on her gown and I asked why the blood stain? The man replied that she had an abortion and that is the reason she is there”, she revealed. Blessing further revealed that as they moved away from the spot which the man presented as hell, he took her to another place where all the people inhabiting there were garbed in white attire. “When the man took me to this place where I saw everybody in white, singing from afar, he said ‘that is heaven.’ The place looked so peaceful, there was no noise; the air oozing from that place was very lovely. There, I saw a man sitting on a chair, and I told my guide that I would like to see that man. But my guide said no, explaining that it was not yet time for me to see the man. My guide asked me to look down. When I looked down, I saw my parents and siblings gathered around the bed with my lifeless body; they were crying. My guide then said, ‘you must go back and tell the people of the world about the reality of Heaven and hell.’ He gave me a song in my dialect (Kogi) Ajojuknia which means the kingdom of God is at hand”, she claimed. Also testifying to the reality of heaven and hell, Sean Davies, an undergraduate narrated his experience as a teenager some years back that had heard so much about God and was keen on seeing this much talked about being called God. “I was a young lad of 16 living in San Francisco with my parents at the time, and already in high school. My parents are Christians who go to church and are committed to the things of God, and in the same way, they brought us their children up. One day, I was praying and asked my mother how one can see God. She replied by telling me that I could only see God when I become old, die and go to heaven. Being the little child I was, I exclaimed, ‘heaven! My mother answered ‘yes, that is where God lives with the angels singing to the glory of God.’ From that moment, I started thinking of how I will see God. That night when I slept, I had a dream where an angel appeared to me asking me to fast and pray, saying that if I do this, I will see what will happen afterwards. After three days, I saw the angel again. This time, he informed me that I would die for six hours in order for me to see God. He also informed me that there is the probability that I may not come back to life; I didn’t care about that, all I wanted was to see God; so, I told him that that I was okay with that. I started preparing because the angel had already given me the date and time for my adventure. The angel also informed me that if I wanted my request to be granted, then, I have to tell my mother about what transpired

between us. When I told my mother, she told me not to believe such things. My mum went to intimate our pastor about my dream and the pastor promised to pray and see what God would reveal to him. Days later, the pastor called my mum and confirmed what I told her. My beloved mother couldn’t contain her grief, as she started crying. My sister also joined her when she heard what was going to happen. I started giving out my belongings to my friends who couldn’t help but to ask if I was travelling anywhere. I said yes, but that my mum was yet to tell me where I was travelling to”, he stated. Sean revealed that even as his family grieved, he was happy because he was going to see God. He added that he started preparing for the D-day, as he prayed, as well sang praises to God for giving him the opportunity to see Him (God). “Since the pastor had assured my mother that I would come back to her after my quest, my mother started preparing for the said time. She bought a coffin, as she was already getting ready for when I would die. On the D-day, precisely May 9 and at exactly 3.30pm, I saw angels all around our sitting room. I told my mum that they have come to take me, but she said she couldn’t see anybody. When it was a minute to 4pm, I started making jerking movements and collapsed. I saw myself standing up from the coffin where they had put me, as the angel I saw earlier in my dream took hold of my hand. He took me to a place where I saw people moving about, some going towards a narrow path and others towards a wide path. I asked the angel where all these people were going and he said that they were going to find out whether they would be going to heaven or hell. He took me to a place where I saw angels singing and praising God. The place was so peaceful, so also was everyone there; they looked happy and satisfied. Then God spoke; He informed me that I would go back to the world, but I said no that I would like to stay. He instructed me to look down; when I looked down, I could see my mother, sister and the pastor. God told me that they needed me and that I should go and tell them how heaven looks like and immediately I opened my eyes to the joy of my mum and others around”, he revealed. Recounting the revelation she had about the existence of heaven, Joy Okoro, a teacher with one of the private schools in Lagos claimed that she saw her late brother clothed in white sparkling attire when she went into a trance due to her sorrowful state. “Heaven is real. I was so sad when my beloved brother, Pastor Isaac Ubah died on February 25, 2015. My mother had just three children; two girls and a boy. I was very bitter when my younger sister died in the year 2009, and just the

Heaven and Hell

Jesus arm-wretling with the devil

Recounting the revelation she had about the existence of heaven, Joy Okoro, a teacher with one of the private schools in Lagos claimed that she saw her late brother clothed in white sparkling attire when she went into a trance due to her sorrowful state.

two us were left i.e. my elder brother and myself. Tragedy struck again six years after, as my elder brother also passed on leaving only me in the world. After my brother’s burial, that faithful day, March 22, 2015 to be precise, I was very bitter in spirit and I was asking my creator why I should be the only one remaining on earth. I was almost out of my mind with sorrow because I kept asking, ‘God, why did you call my brother?’ All of a sudden, I saw myself in a

trance and saw my brother. His face was glittering like gold, and he was wearing sparkling white clothes and was smiling at me. I couldn’t do anything than to accuse him saying, ‘so because you are in at a better place that is the reason you left me all alone in the world.’ Before I knew it, I woke up. I am quite sure that I got the revelation of the reality of heaven that day and that my brother is in heaven”, she claimed.

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From the

Pulpit Sunday, March 6, 2016

The wisdom of the wise (2) General Overseer of the Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Ministry, Pastor Lazarus Muoka, in this piece enjoins Christians to live a blameless life. Excerpts:

ebrew 10:24-25 says, And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Proverbs 8:5, 14 says, “O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart. Verse 14 Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength”. Beloved, the core reason for the word of God is to educate mankind on who the True God is, what He requires of man, and above all to know Jesus Christ whom He sent, and for what end He was sent. Understanding this Truth is the wisdom that matters, and this is the wisdom that God wishes that everyone should have. If we are to inculcate this wisdom in our lives, we must understand that God is to be worshipped solemnly and publicly, for such worship is an open demonstration of where we belonged and stand for. Public worship pleases Him most, and He accepts it as the best. It is the manner of some Christians to forsake the public assemblies or feel ashamed carrying Bible and preaching the gospel. Some imbibed this negative attitude of faith out of sloth and negligence, others out of fear and persecution. But such negative attitude is a disgrace to the body of Christ and foolishness to those that abide by it. This is because Christian assemblies are the life, the food, and nourishment of our souls as a result forsaking of church-assemblies is a sign of backsliding. The manners of those that go to church only on Sundays or do not go at all are discouragement to the believer. Many people, who heard the Lord is coming soon and are yet remain far from the Lord are not Christians and if you are one of them the Lord is warning you to draw closer, because the wisdom you thought you possessed that is keeping you away from the Lord is the wisdom of the world and may ruin you. Hearing of rapture or that the Lord is coming soon is enough to spur us into drawing nearer to God and seeking first His Kingdom. We should know that we should be more committed now than before in order to escape His wrath. Thus, we should be in all the fellowship, stay more hours, and when the Pastor says the service is over, we should use the opportunity to meditate and pray-in the sermon and ensure we are going home with something because that is preparing our soul for the journey to heaven. It is not wise to come to church late or leave the presence of the Lord in haste after prayer meeting or service and not too late to come to church. We must know what is good and what is bad, and must avoid committing willful sin that may not be forgiven. Many people have become too familiar with God, and the only thing they understand in their relationship with God is that one could sin and come back and say I am sorry because God is merciful. As a result they continue in immorality

and keep saying God is merciful, and will forgive. All they know about God is that He is merciful, but do not understand that God hates sin. They don’t know that when one sins willfully, there will be no forgiveness again because he has by that action despised the son of God that died for him. Hebrew 10:26 says, “For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins” Willful sin is bad it is evil. If we deliberately, for fear of persecution or from any other motive trample underfoot the grace of God, We have, in that case, rejected Christ, the only sacrifice for sin and there may not be forgiveness again. Some people have the habit that every time they come to church they will be confessing a particular sin. I want to let you know the Bible said he that committed sin is of the devil, for whoever is born of God does not commit sin for the seed of God remains in him, for he cannot sin because he is born of God and whoever that continues in sin is not of God. So if you are among those that sin willfully and believe they will always be forgiven, you have goofed. That is why many are suffering, and nothing works for you, and when they die, they go to hell, but it shall never be your portion. Hebrew 10:27-31 says, “But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” After we have received the knowledge of the truth, and upon conviction of its truth, and sense of its power, have taken upon us the public profession of Christianity: After we have dedicated ourselves to Christ in baptism, and joined ourselves unto the body of His church: After all this, if we continue in sin, either for fear of suffering, or love of this present world, we shall be exposed to an unimaginable and inevitable condemnation. S o m e times people boast no-

body can query them but the Lord said it is a fearful thing to fall into the hand of the living God, why, because our God is a consuming fire. So, if you are among those proud men and women in the church, who don’t care who will judge them, I want to let you know the Lord will judge His people and if you are found guilty you will not go scot free, if the rapture comes, you will miss it and if you die before the day of the trumpet, you will hear the voice, ‘depart from me you that walks iniquity, I never knew you’. What God will judge is iniquity, His pronouncement will be, ‘you that walks iniquity’, not because you are in the church, a leader or preach and cast out the devil, if you have iniquity He will pronounce you guilty by saying, ‘you that walks iniquity I never know you’. So you must ensure you don’t play with the grace of God, or you are a willful sinner and then claim to be born again. That is not wisdom. The true wisdom is the wisdom that makes you to know the fierce judgment of God, know what is good and do it and keep away from all appearance of evil. We all should know that every year we are adding to our years, if someone is eighty years last year, he will be eighty one this year, if he is seventy five; he will be seventy six. So as his age is increasing so also he is getting closer to his grave. And if that is the case, no-one should play with his life. There are people that listened to me last year but today, they are no more. Some people jubilated because they have seen a New Year and thus declared the year would bring them riches but forgetting that there is no wisdom in such declaration. They are happy to have entered the New Year but have forgotten it was God’s offer of opportunity to prepare for rapture or death. They are gladly anticipating making so much money, building houses, buying cars and probable getting married. But they forget they can die anytime and go to hell. My prayer is that you who is reading this message will not make the mistake others have made. Romans 13:11- 14 says, “And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. 12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.” Beloved, our salvations, redemption, the day of rapture, the day we are departing this world is closer and than we expected, therefore, let us live our life in agreement with the word of God. Whatever you are doing now should be part of your preparation to eternity whether in heaven or hell fire. You must stay away from all appearance of evil, put off the work of darkness and every form of unrighteousness. If you are among those people that think they are wise because they can Pastor Muoka defend their

Church. Let it be known to you that church will never take you to heaven, but righteousness and holiness will, for without righteousness no eye shall see the Lord. If you are among those defending their title or position in the society, you should know that is not what matters on the side of the Lord, rather that is the wisdom of the world. Many people in the Church who thought they are wise perceive every year as a year of making money, doing their own pleasure, business, etc and think they will live forever on earth, such wisdom is very dangerous. There was a rich man in the Bible who thought like that and the Bible said that that night the Lord said to him, ‘thou fool this night I will take your soul’ what then will be of those thing, he wasted his years for. There is no wisdom in this. My prayer for you is to have the right wisdom of ensuring that nothing is standing between you and God. Luke 12:16-21 says, “And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” This is about somebody that is after the things of this world and not the care of his soul. He is not rich towards God but only thinking about the things of this world. And when he thought he had arrived then the Lord required his soul from him. This is a proof that, a man’s wealth cannot preserve his life when God requires it, much less to save his soul. And if wealth cannot save a man’s life, why should men endanger their lives, to get or increase wealth? And this wealth cannot last longer than his life, for the ownership of wealth changes hand as soon as he dies. So, since these things shall not be ours, when we are gone, and we will not know whose they shall be after we are gone; whether they shall fall into the hand of an enemy or a stranger, a wise man or a fool, why then do we foolishly chase the things of this world to the detriment of our soul. Luke 17:26-27 says, “And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.” As in the days of Noah they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage; that is, wholly given up to sin and wickedness, and did not know, the floods was coming, until it swept them away so it shall be for this generation. The same sin will be prevailing before the destruction of this present world except we repent. A wise man is he that will take serious the teaching of this message, applied it to himself, repent from his sin and surrender to Jesus. This is the wisdom that matters.

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From the Pulpit

Sunday, March 6, 2016

Put the teachings of God to practice

General Overseer of Omnipotence Mission of God, Prophet Joshua Daramola Oloruntimilehin, in this admonition, advises worshippers to put God words in Practice . Excerpts:

eople that go to the house of God or attend church services, do so to receive the teachings of God. After receiving the teachings and then fail to make use of them, if evil should befall the people, then they have themselves to blame. There is nothing that will happen by their gnashing of teeth or complaining that God has not done well. If they are not careful their problems could be compounded by God inflicting more punishment on them. Many people die suddenly everyday because they heard the words of God but fail to use them for the betterment of their lives. Similarly many people fall everyday because they refuse to use the words of God they heard in the church.

These people see God and His messengers as foolish people. Their failure to practise the teachings of the Lord brings about Satan blocking their ears and making the words of God to be nothing to them. Why are the children of God falling into pit or fall down and Satan would start mocking them. It is because of their disobedience to the words of God and failure to put them into practice. Jesus said in the book of Luke 6:46-49 “Why do you call me Lord, and do not do what I say? I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and put them into practice…” imagine a person told me he was suffering and did not know why God did not intervene into his matter. Angrily I responded that if care was not taken he would perpetually be suffering for life. Why? He

refused to heed and obey what the spirit of God instructed him to do. He felt so bad with my response and saw it as a slander. But I did not allow that to bother me and saw him as a person who was not ready to enhance the work of God. Brethren, it is imperative for people to know the leader or head of their churches and to learn a lot from the servant of God. Some of the heads or leaders of churches know themselves very well. For instance there is nothing I eat, drink or do that I cannot stop doing. There is not enjoyment or catching of fun that I did not do. But when the time came I stopped everything willingly. It was not the Holy Spirit that instructed me to do so. Therefore people should know themselves very well and have the courage and power to take decisions that would be of benefits to them. People have the grace and power to abstain from habits and ungodly acts that are detriments to God’s relationship with people. In as much as God made man to have dominion over other creature both animals and plants (Genesis 1:28). So also man should have power to over ungodly acts to reject them in all ramifications. Therefore people have power over adultery, stealing, fornication, etc. When people do not have power over all these acts then they are sinners. These people may be loved by others but heavenly kingdom would kick against them. It behoves on all the servants of God

to teach their followers the right ways of God. The Bible says in Hebrew 13:7 “Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you, consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith”. As a prophet / messenger of God, I always use myself as example for my followers and want them to believe me because the Bible says 2 Chronicles 20:20 “…Have faith in the Lord your God and you will be upheld; have faith his prophets and you will be successful”. My teachings both in practice and theory, emphases are made on the need to place God above any other things either man or material. Many people are using the teachings and they are practising them and they are successful. The Bible says in Matthew 10:37 Jesus said “ Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me”. The children of God need not to suffer if they obey and adhere strictly to the words of God and of His prophets. The understanding of how God Almighty does things is paramount for people. This will enable them to follow God’s ways and that of the prophets, obey divine instructions. Whatever the prophets of God tells a person and fails to obeyed, then problems, affliction and suffering will be the consequence of disobedience. The Bible says in Exodus 15:26 “…if you listen carefully to the voice of the Lord your God and

Missed opportunities (2)

rophet Jeremiah documented one of the greatest laments in Scripture: “The harvest is past; the summer is ended, and we are not saved” (Jer 8:20). This qualifies as one of worst testimonies ever chronicled! “Nothing is more expensive than missed opportunity” warned H. Jackson Brown, Jr. We always regret the opportunities missed more than the mistakes we have made.

There were two harvests in the ancient Near East—a spring harvest and a summer harvest. If the spring harvest failed, one could hope for a bumper crop in the summer. In this lament, both harvests failed. No hope is left. No backup plans! Harvests are festive and joyous occasions for gathering the crops. The Old Testament provides several figurative uses of harvest. A destroyed harvest represented affliction (Job 5:5; Isa 16:9). The “time of harvest” sometimes represented the day of destruction (Jer 51:33; Joel 3:13). Jesus spoke often of the harvest in connection with the harvesting of souls (Matt 9:37; Mark 4:29; John 4:35). In the parable of the tares, Jesus related harvest to the end of the world (Matt 13:30-39). There are several times of harvest in a person’s life. For babies and children, Christ mandates all parents, guardians, teachers, and caregivers: “Suffer little children to come unto Me” (Matt 19:14). In time of youth, the wise man counseled: “Remember now your Creator” (Eccl 12:1). The final harvest of old age is inevitable. Harvests occur during God’s special opportunities. Missed opportu-

nities often lead to missed harvests! The Bible is full of examples of people who missed golden opportunities. Most of them found no way of getting them back! The people of Noah’s day had a chance to come to the ark of safety but they were too busy with life. They heard Noah’s preaching, saw the Ark being built, and watched animals entering the Ark by themselves. They jeered at Noah until the day it began to rain and the door was shut against them. Similarly, the people of Sodom & Gomorrah and Lot’s married daughters refused to repent and escape the burning inferno. These were tragic missed opportunities! Esau lost his birthright opportunity to his younger brother, Jacob, in exchange for a pot of red stew (Gen 25:29-31). The onetalent servant missed the opportunity of multiplying what God gave him. His harvest was lost (Matt 25:14-30). The two thieves on the cross both had an opportunity to repent as they shared space with the Savior. One took the opportunity to secure eternity with Christ while the other merely derided Christ to his eternal damnation. The five foolish virgins who took no extra oil with them lost the long-awaited opportunity of their lifetime of dining with the bridegroom. The door was shut against them and they got the shameful harvest of “I do not know you” (Matt 25:1-13). Similarly, people cooked up all forms of alibi and life excuses barring them from coming to the great supper. Marriage and business are flimsy excuses when the Master offers this opportunity: “Come all things are ready” (Luke 14:16-24). The priest and Levite missed the opportunity of saving a wounded life. They were too holy, sanctimonious, and sacred to be contaminated by estranged non-professionals. They were too busy working for

God that they had no time for God and lost compassion for humanity. In so doing, they missed God (Luke 10:30-37; Matt 25:13-46). Do not miss an opportunity to make a positive difference in someone’s life. Do not miss an opportunity to be a blessing to someone who was hurting. Do not miss an opportunity to minister to your spouse or children because you are too preoccupied. Jesus howled: “And that servant who knew his master’s will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating (Luke 12:47). Has an opportunity ever knocked on your door and you were so caught up in other things that the opportunity slipped through your fingers? Have you missed an opportunity to get a certain job because you were not prepared? I will never forget the story of the shoe salesman posted to an island where no one wore shoes. As soon as he got there, he wrote back to his company saying: “Please bring me home, nobody wears shoes over here.” The company obliged but immediately sent another salesman there to replace him. No sooner than this other sales representative arrived than he sent a letter back to the company saying: “Please send all the shoes in the warehouse; nobody where shoes here and I cannot miss the opportunity to sell shoes to everyone of them!” The Bible also gives us several examples of individuals who seized opportunities to serve God and bless humanity. Noah obeyed God and saved his nuclear family from the raging flood (Gen 7-8). Rahab saved the spies and thereby delivered her entire household: (Josh 2:8-14; 6:23). Deborah encouraged King Barak, leading Israelite army to victory against their enemies (Judges 4:14). Naaman’s wife’s maid helped Naaman by telling her mistress about Elisha (2 Kings 5:1-3). Nehemiah seized the opportunity of his favor with the Persian king to gain permission to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem (Neh 2:2-5). Daniel offered to interpret Nebuchadnezzar’s dream (Dan 2:14-16). Priscilla and Aquila

do what is right in His eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases…” In the same vein, there are blessings for people who are obedient to the words of God and His prophets. The Bible says in Deuteronomy 28:14 “If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow all his commands that I give you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all nations on earth. All these blessings will come upon you and accompany you if you obey the Lord your God…” Brethren disobedience is the foundation of sin and death is the wages of sin. Therefore I fervently pray that the spirit of disobedient will be cast away in the life of people in the name of Jesus.Let people who are followers of Christ endeavour to put into practice the teaching of the Lord so that their lives might have meaning. For further enquiries call: 08023020108, 08058110288, 08023991354. w w w. f a c e b o o k . com/pastoroloruntimilehin Prophet Oloruntimilehin

taught Apollos who later became an effective colleague of Paul (Acts 18:24-26). We have often missed opportunities to witness to people. We have missed opportunities to make an eternal difference in a person’s life because we didn’t seize the opportunities. The Bible insists: “Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction” (2 Tim 4:2). Let us not fail in calling people to repentance (Acts 2:38). “If you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, or from his wicked way, he shall die for his iniquity, but you will have delivered your soul” (Ezek 3:19). “And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town (Matt 10:14). They have missed their own opportunity! “He who gathers in summer is a prudent son, but he who sleeps in harvest is a son who brings shame (Prov 10:5). Go labor on while it is day. If you don’t, you will lament at harvest time! Do not wait until you find something convenient or “big enough.” Delay is dangerous! Be faithful in little things. A skyscraper is built, one block at a time. May you take advantage of the doors God opens for you this day! Let God use you . . . or ready to be set aside. If the likeliest fail, then the unlikeliest will be raised up and employed. Time is running out; the countdown is proceeding. Life is uncertain. Christ is coming! Harvest is past and we are not saved” is life’s saddest cry. It could be a cry from hell! Don’t let it be your cry! Do not miss the opportunities God sent you way! This Could Be God’s Final Call! •Tunde Ojewole, Ph.D., is the Babcock University Pastor in charge: Division of Spiritual Life. Get your copy of his newly released book: GOD’S FOOTPRINTS. For enquiries, contact: ojewolea@babcock.edu.ng or call/SMS 08058299434/08060376577.

March 6, 2016

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Lenten season and its signicance

ednesday February 10 was Ash Wednesday; it marks the beginning of the 2016 40 days Lenten season. An important event in the Christian liturgical calendar, Lent, this year will end midday of Holy Saturday, which falls on March 26. The season is similar to the themes of the highest of Jewish holidays, Yom Kippur, and the Islamic month of Ramadan. For Christians all worldwide, Lent is underscored by fasting, penitence and abstinence. Expectedly, like past Lenten seasons, many Christians in Nigeria will participate in this year ’s exercise. Thematically, the season recalls the 40-day fast of Jesus in the wilderness after his baptism, as well as the 40-day fast of Moses on Mount Sinai. The themes of Lent include self-examination, mortification, penitence and preparation for the events of Holy Week. At Ash Wednesday services, ashes are applied to the forehead of congregants as a symbolic reminder of the words “you are dust and to dust you shall return. ” This is intended to remind Christians of their mortality, and it also foreshadows the promised Resurrection of Jesus Christ. The purpose and intent of Lent, using the Catholic Encyclopedia as a guide, are above all else, to “prepare men for the celebration of the death and Resurrection of Christ …the better the preparation the more effective the celebration will be. One can effectively relive the mystery only with purified mind and heart. The purpose of Lent is to provide that purification by weaning men from sin and selfishness through self-denial and prayer, by creating in them the desire to do God ’s will and to make His kingdom come by making it come first of all in their hearts. ” We believe in the sublime illumination of the Lenten exercise above. However, we do not live under the illusion that everyone that professes the Christian faith buys into the above argument. But yet, it remains an indisputable fact that the Lenten season has several appeals, which if taken seriously could make the world

THE LENTEN SEASON WOULD BE THE MOST AUSPICIOUS TIME TO CHANGE NOT ONLY OUR BODIES BUT ALSO OUR HEARTS AND THE INDIFFERENCE WE SHOW TOWARDS OTHERS a better place for mankind. So for the next 40 days, Sundays excluded, all the faithful should guard their loins for participation in the Lenten observances. Even the nonbelievers could observe them reflectively, keying into those aspects of their individual life that should be changed for the betterment of the country and the collective good of all Nigerians. During this season, all of us Nigerians, including our leaders, should replicate the New Year resolution making process in the aspects of our lives that should be given up for our collective good. Such resolutions should concern personal sacrifices necessary to lift Nigeria from the morass spiritual decadence and political ineptitude. The Lenten season would be the most auspicious time to change not only our bodies but also our hearts and the indifference we show towards others. This should be especially true of those Christians who allow religious differences to distance and separate them from other religious; it is equally true for non-Christians whose intolerance to the religious sensibilities of others has caused several implosions in the country. The absence of this Christian virtue is what is responsible for the prevalence of religious sectarian crises that have been our lot since independence. The huge geopolitical divides in the country are traceable to this development. Therefore, Nigerians of all faiths

need to imbibe the spirit of love and compassion without which we cannot build a strong and virile nation. Leaders of different faiths need to draw lessons from how Jesus engaged religious and secular authorities in his days. He spoke truth to power without being abrasive; he was an example of model citizenship. The objective state of our dear nation is reflective of the platitudes with which Nigerians approach spiritual things. If Christ is love, how has our being Christians impacted positively in our mindsets, relationships with our fellow humans, policies and programmes as political leaders, and more importantly, the management of our commonwealth? Dasukigate has opened our eyes to the prevalence of the promotion enlightened self-interests, pursuits of self aggrandizement and unconscionable abandonment of the downtrodden. The revelations dogging arms procurement by the relevant military authorities have underscored inhumanity of man to man. Many of the indicted are Christians. Christ was also an epitome of the model leadership. His miracles and healing are the modern day ’s equivalent of solutions to the challenges of our time. And so, political leaders who exploit their coveted and privileged positions to pursue self aggrandizing agenda, or loot public treasuries with reckless abandon, or acquire property all over the world while the majority of their compatriots are languishing in abject poverty, repudiate all the values that Christianity stands for. What amount of love inheres in a heart that diverts public funds meant for development into personal accounts? Many Nigerians are currently overburdened by privations while the leadership lives in affluence. The time has come for those in leadership positions to demonstrate this virtue by the force of their own examples. Leadership is about service, especially selfless service. Let all make amends; repent and seek forgiveness; above all let them should make restitution.

Reminiscences MARCH 6 IN HISTORY 1987: Belgium - 140 die as British ferry capsizes The British ferry, the Herald of Free Enterprise, capsized after leaving Zeebrugge, Belgium in the English Channel on route to Dover with the loss of more than 140 passengers when the cargo doors were not closed. 1908: U.S. - Company executive, Hauce commits suicide Elwood T. Hauce the first vice-president of the Union Trust Company, had taken his own life. People who knew him had said that he had been depressed for quite some time as a result of financial problems. 1951: Trial of spies begins in New York The trial of suspected spies Ethel and Julius Rosenberg indicted for conspiring to obtain national defense secrets for the Soviets starts in New York. 1957: Ghana gains independence Ghana gains its independence from Britain and becomes the first black African country to become independent. 1962: Canada against nuclear weapon testing It was reported that Prime Minister Diefenbaker had approved Canada ’s desire to take a stand against nuclear weapon testing. As a result, provisions were being discussed, one being the possible mutual disarmament arrangement being made between the Soviet Union and Canada. 1964: Greece gets new king King Paul, Constantine II became the new King following the death of his father. 1965: Troop movement in S ’Vietnam South Vietnam had requested troops to be sent to South Vietnam ’s Da Nang ’s air base. This action was intended to help free up South Vietnamese troops for battle work. The Marines had officially begun landing in Da Nang on March 8. 1965: Canada - Car robbers flee A team of 20 officers search the Northern Bushland in Canada. They were on the lookout for three men bearing weapons while speeding away in a stolen car. 1970: Rabies scare hit England The British government announces an indefinite ban on the importation of domestic pets following a pet dog imported from Pakistan dying from Rabies. 1981 U.S. - CBS ’ Walter Cronkite retires Walter Cronkite retires as the nation ’s most beloved anchorman from CBS Evening News. 1983: Helmut Kohl is new German chancellor Helmut Kohl is elected German chancellor as his Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party is voted back into power.

PASSION

Sunday, March 06, 2016

A Lifestyle Magazine

APPLAUSE

I’ve contributed enough to women empowerment –Siaka Nimat >>21

Women are fashion pacesetters

– Sandra Anthony >>20

>>20

Passion

Sunday, March 6, 2016

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Women are fashion pacesetters – Sandra Anthony Sandra Anthony is the founder, Sandra Anthony Cervical Cancer Foundation, Lagos. She studied International Relations at University of Nigeria, Nsukka. The beauty queen tells ADAEZE AMOS in this interview that women are pacesetters in fashion, among others.

are saddled with? How about rape cases that are becoming rampant now or sexual harassments at work places? So, I thank God for a day like this when women are recognised and appreciated. This is because we actually do a lot to better our homes and our society as International and if we are aptake on this? preciated worldare being wide, it would urge the world us to do more. deserve son is What thrills you g o most about being a l o t woman? ety. Women are

As a woman in a male-dominated society as ours, how does that make you feel? Truthfully, being a woman in a male-dominated society as ours is intimidating but it pushes me to want to work harder so that I can stand my grounds and say yes I have achieved my goals. March 8 (today) is known worldwide Women’s Day, what’s your I am happy women celebrated all over and I think we this. The reathat women through a in our sociWhich o n e would I talk about? Is it the complications and pains we go through during pregnancy and labour? Or should I talk about the domestic violence m o st wome n

special creatures of God. We are unique, beautiful, understanding, strong, intelligent and fashionable. We are given extra ability to endure emotional pains. So being a woman is beautiful, it is wonderful b e cause you

have these extraordinary features working for you. It’s been said that women are weaker vessels; does this hinder you in any way? This has never hindered me in any way. This weaker vessel story came up from creation when it was said that God made a woman using a rib of Adam. But if a woman who was made from one rib can be seen in all walks of life, if she is this hardworking psychologically, mentally, physically and spiritually, then you can imagine what she would have done if she was created like a man. Each time you see yourself in the mirror, what comes to your mind first? What comes to my mind is that I’m an amazon, a conqueror set to conquer every challenge, one who is determined to fight amongst men. I realise that being a woman does not stop me from becoming who I want to. It only gives me reasons to want to do more. What’s your advice to women who feel unfulfilled for having all female children? Women/mothers I know the burden of not having a male child can be heavy, especially when you have in-laws that place emphasis on producing one. But always remember that your baby girls are precious. Know that you have produced pillars that can strengthen this nation. So, focus on your girls, educate and groom them, build their self esteem and watch them conquer the world. Every child is a blessing, be it male or female there should be no preferential treatment. If you have the opportunity of reliving your life, would you like to come as a woman? To be honest, I wouldn’t want to come as a woman if I would have to relive my life. I would want to come as a man. You want to know why? Men don’t undergo menstrual cramps/pains and experience rigours of pregnancy and labour and they don’t get fat easily. These are things that make us women age faster. When you look into the fashion world, what gladdens your heart? The revolution of fashion centres on women. If there is no woman, t h e r e would be no fash-

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Applause

Sunday, March 6, 2016

ion! Women can wear just anything including male attires and still look beautiful, sexy and hot. I think that alone makes me proud to be a woman as we are fashion pacesetters. What do you tell God in prayers about yourself and the rest of other women? I always tell God to make me an inspiration to other women. I pray He grants me my heart desires and takes me to places I can’t take myself and also bless women beyond their expectations. I wish He gives them strength to carry on in their endeavours. People have been clamouring for women empowerment, do you think women actually need to be empowered? Women have spoken loud enough for their voices to be heard. We should do more than just being in the kitchen, giving birth and taking care of children. How do you think women can achieve more in life aside from empowerment? If we can love ourselves the more, we would go places. We would achieve more and overcome most of our hurdles. But I’m glad that petty jealousies among women are dying down fast. Women all over the world are getting to embrace themselves. If this can continue, it would help us to achieve more. What do you have to tell some women who have been beaten, battered and broken in their marriage? What I can say to such women is that they should open up and not die in silence. Women bottle up a lot. Voice out for goodness sake and look for help. If your marriage is life-threatening, take a walk and give yourself a break from it. Don’t wait until you become a corpse and you are evacuated. Leave when you are alive and seek for help. What good thing do you think has ever happened to you as a woman? The good thing that has ever happened to me is being a woman. What is Sandra Anthony Cervical Cancer Foundation all about? It is a non-governmental organisation set to bring the awareness of cervical cancer to women. Can you tell us some experiences you’ve come across in the course of running your foundation? I have read and seen women suffer over this disease and most of them don’t even know how deadly it is. They are not aware of the major causes of cervical cancer. But I believe that with constant creating of awareness and free screening centres, most women would be informed about it.

I’ve contributed enough to women empowerment –Siaka Nimat Adaeze Amos

arch 8 is set aside every year by the United Nations, UN, to mark the International Women’s Day. It is a date earmarked to recognise the social, cultural, economic and political achievements of women the world over. Kogi State-born Siaka Nimat, a sociologist and coordinator/founder of Mama Africa Global, a non-governmental organisation, says she is fully ready to be honoured as a woman because she has contributed her quota to the empowerment of women. “I initiated an NGO which centres on the affairs of women. I started this because of my selfless passion for women of like minds and the way and manner some women around me suffer low self esteem, discrimination, marital iproblems, molestation and maltreatment from the male folk including their husbands. I have always been a spokesperson for women. I am an advocate of better change for women in my country. And I’m always aiming at sensitising people’s mindset positively for women,” she affirmed. This certified project manager and the present ‘Miss Curvy Nigeria, Tourism’, is happy that March is the month that women all over the world are remembered and celebrated. “I thank God that the UN actually set aside this month to celebrate us. This makes me feel special and unique. I’m excited for this really because women have come a long way. We are like the salt of the world and as long as we exist, the world would never be boring. “The unique sides of us are unbeatable and of course we have unimaginable strength. It is true that we are referred to as the weaker vessels but I believe people just say it. I see that as mere assumption. Women are actually not the weaker vessels if you look at it critically. I thank God that such an assumption has never in any way affected my visions and dreams in life. I am strong, I feel good and I see myself taking charge without limitations. This is also applicable to so many other women,” she declared.

To mark the International Women’s Day, Nimat asserts that Nigerian women all over the country deserve a special song, just to celebrate us. “We deserve a national anthem for Nigerian women. We need a special song that would encourage, empower and shower encomiums on us…song that would dry our tears if need be and give us stamina to forge ahead. I think we need to look into this, really. Let female artistes come together, put their heads together and give us an anthem that every Nigerian woman should know how to sing off hand,” she said excitedly. To women who feel unfulfilled for having all female children, this black beauty has some words. “Having female children and no male isn’t a limitation at all. All you need do is to train your daughters well and I bet you they would even make you proud the more. Know that a male or female child is a good gift from God; so value what you have,” she counseled. According to Nimat, Nigerian women are doing very well even in the fashion industry. “In the fashion world, I’m proud to say that women are endowed with unique and innovative styles that bring out our sweet and beautiful body frames. Nature has already endowed us with a good body, all we need now is for us to be empowered because to women, empowerment is like refuelling a vehicle. Empowerment takes us back on track, reminds us of our plans, visions and dreams. “It energises and pushes zeal or passion into us. That would also put in more power into focused women,” she said. To women who have been battered and maltreated in their marriage, this daughter of Zion used this special month to share some soothing words: “Never feel discouraged or disappointed, never have any reason to regret any action or steps taken because there is always a second chance in life while we live. So, keep your heads high, shoulders up, trust God and strive hard to bring out the best in you,” she urged. What’s the best thing that has ever happened to her? “Knowing and realising the great privilege of being a real

woman who has the capability of creating a world of our own because women are life’s sweeteners. Without us the world will be tasteless. We give birth to both men and women. So, there wouldn’t have been life without us. This very factor makes us super beings,” she said. Nimat has indeed made great contributions to womanhood. “I was crowned a beauty queen on October 18, 2015 and ever since then I have kicked off my pet project. I have been able to visit some orphanages and I provided them with foodstuff and gifts just to show them love. Sometime in January this year, I travelled to Niger State to partake in rice farming mechanisation empowerment project which was sponsored by the United Nations. I encouraged and motivated women of the community to be serious as farmers just as men are because what a man can do a woman can do even better,” Nimat emphasised.

Opinion

Sunday, March 6, 2016

Uncensored

Sheriff Folarin

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

n view of the growing crime rate, unconcern shown by the personnel in the face of criminal attacks or activities, lack of capacity displayed whenever needed most, reported or alleged complicity in many crimes as exposed in the past, and in light of an emerging crop of undisciplined personnel whose weapons of protection and security have become instruments of intimidation, oppression, exploitation and extortion of the vulnerable society they are created for; against the background of all these, do we still need the police around us? Do we sincerely still need them?

The constitution of the country clearly states the roles of the Nigeria Police, which, among others, are to ensure that the security and fundamental human rights of the people are ensured and to check as well as arrest crimes and prosecute criminal activities within the framework of the law. The police is not to be an instrument of oppression. It is subject to the will and needs of the people. The police is an extension or part of the government and state, which, in Cicero’s term, is “res populi”, namely, “affairs of the people”.

Safety Tips with

Jonas Agwu

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

owering the drinking age is a dangerous decision fraught with consequences. How worried are you over the increasing incidence of drink driving? Do you know that statistics indicates that there is an increase in drink driving related crashes in most cities especially at night and most pronounced during the weekends? Are you aware that despite the provision of the traffic laws which prohibits driving under the influence, age prohibitions are rarely seen in the traffic laws? Do you know that despite the risk involved in driving under the influence, only N5,000 fine is provided for this offence? Please read this culled piece from India. In our ambition to showcase our cities as world class, we seem to think that more pubs, bars and easy availability of alcohol will make them so. Many newspapers and Television channels have supported the idea of longer drinking hours, lower drinking age and easy access to alcohol. The way these ideas are being promoted suggest that there are no problems associated with a widespread drinking culture. Unfortunately, facts point us in the opposite direction. A recent study by the world Health Or-

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Do we still need the police? (1) The police itself is drawn directly from the populace and given both military and civil training, with the former for the purpose of mastering how to secure the populace and the latter, the civil skills, meant to give them a sense of belonging to the society that berthed them for the purpose of making them committed to the same cause. The institution is thus regarded more as a civil than a military one. The resources for funding them are drawn from the people’s taxes, natural resources and national revenue. Therefore, the police is on the payroll of the people and is sustained by their commonwealth. Thus, by their background, training, orientation and roles, police personnel are bound to be committed to the affairs (wellbeing, security and happiness) of the people. However, there seems to be an unfolding reality today in which the citizens and residents of Nigeria have rather become victims and not protégés of the same police established for their security. The general feeling is in fact, that the police in Nigeria has lost its relevance because it lost its understanding of constitutional roles long ago. The people, particularly the weak and more vulnerable, have become the worst hit by police brutality, corruption and irresponsibility. Also, they are the everyday victims of poor policing, roadside extortions and police crime-scene look-aways. So let down and despondent are people that they see no need for the

police any longer in their communities. Some have canvassed for community policing or outright abolition of the police institution. The latter prescription, though extreme, is reminiscent of the Greek society in the Hellenistic age. The people of Greece had lost a great civilization to the interminable wars among the city-states of the time. The worst victims were Athens and Sparta, which had evolved the most sophisticated political organizations. But the internecine wars between Greek city-sates had brought these sophisticated political systems and security of life to their wits end, with the people pointing at “government”, railroaded by inordinate ambitions as the cause of the avoidable nemesis. The people wanted an abolition of government, which was the only guarantee to their individual sweet and good life, happiness and fulfillment; and a philosophy that became popular at the time, particularly that of the Epicureans and Cynics’, was that life was more secure, sweeter and longer without government. Individuals, according to this extreme “government-less” or “statelessness” philosophy would cherish their freedom and need to be alive and as such would provide all of the good life for themselves, than for such cherished life and living to be left in the hands of a group of people in government, whose major preoccupation was state power consolidation, expansionism and wars, that would, in anyway, end the cherished life

and living. While this seems extreme and is not recommendable in a postmodern world of ours, the philosophy of the Hellenic age comes alive towards policing as a result of the many obnoxious practices of the police in Nigeria. Let me make it clear here that I am from a family of very senior police officers. With a maternal grandfather getting to the level of police commissioner, aunt being deputy police commissioner, an uncle and a cousin rising to senior officer’s level, I should grow up desiring to join the Nigeria Police. But the personal encounters with the police and the general disappointing show of the personnel have made the institution one of my most detested professions. Aside the personal encounter in 1989 when a group of 14 Mopol and regular policemen bullied and battered a tender teenager in school uniform like me, using boots, rifle butts and sticks to (unknown to them) send their boss’ grandson into a state of comma during the anti-SAP riots, in the course of looking for who to take out their anger on as university undergraduates took them to task; the police officers have over the years, continued to act so unprofessionally and put up disappointing performance in the line of duty. Sheriff Folarin (PhD), an Associate Professor of Politics and International Relations, writes from Sango Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria.

Nothing to ‘cheers’ about

ganization (WHO) tells us that 40 to 60 percent of all injury deaths are attributed to violence. This is particulars so for traffic accidents involving alcohol. In most countries where drinking and driving is not controlled strictly, 40 to 50 per ent of traffic crash fatalities have alcohol involvement. Even in those countries where there is strict enforcement of drinking and driving law progress has been difficult. In 1982, there were 26, 173 alcohol-related road traffic fatalities in the United States, 60 per cent of the total number of people killed on US roadways. With a great deal of effort over 20 years this proportion was reduction to 40 per cent. But the number has been increasing in the past few years. Sweden has worldwide reputation for controlling alcohol sales and for every strict drinking and driving laws. Their successful work against drunk driving resulted in alcohol-related fatalities declining sharply from 31% in 1989 to 18 per cent in 1997. Sweden joined the European Union in 1996. This meant, among other things, that it had to accept a gradual loss of its restrictive alcohol policies. The percentage of fatally injured drivers who had been drinking had risen to 28% by the end of 2002. Swedish researchers point out that “best practices” to avoid the negative societal consequences of all alcohol consumption include minimum legal purchase age, government monopoly for retails sales and restrictions on hours or days of sale, all diluted since 1996. Alcohol misuse is also a major contribution to crime, disorder and anti-social be-

havior in all societies. This is particularly true for males less than 25 year old. British government reports show that 33 per cent of stranger and 25 per cent of acquaintance alcohol-related assaults happened on weekday evening/night. The problem is quite serious in India also. A study done at IIT, Delhi, showed that 36 per cent of two-wheeler crash victims admitted to a neurosurgery ward in a Delhi hospital had alcohol involvement. The National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore (NIMHANS) estimated that 21 per cent of people who sustained brain injuries during a crash were under the influence of alcohol within three hours prior to the crash. This should not surprise us. Almost all the recent cases of well publicize accident in India have alcohol involvement. A WHO study shows that teenage drivers with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.03g/100ml carrying two or more passengers were 34 times more at risk of crash compared with drivers aged 30 years or more, with no alcohol, driving with one passenger. In the face of these grim facts, what are the world class city governments doing? Many countries have a minimum legal drinking age (MLDA) laws below which people cannot purchase or publicly consume alcohol. In most locations in the US, that age is 21. There is strong evidence to suggest that MLDA laws are effective in preventing crashes involving drinking and driving. – statistics in the US shows that those States who adopted the MLDA of 21 in the 1980s have since seen a 10 – 15 per cent decline in

drinking-driving related fatalities compared with states that have lower ages. There is evidence that a relationship exists between alcohol-related problems and both outlet density and hours during which alcohol can be sold, with longer hours and more outlets leading to increased problems. Diadema in Brazil has reduce its murder rate by almost half in the last few years – largely by establishing 11pm as the closing hour for bars and other similar establishments. Many city governments in the West are also imposing server responsibilities, where retailers are liable for injuries caused by intoxicated adults or by minors to whom they have sold alcohol. Responsible beverage service and sales legislation is generally aimed at reducing sales of alcohol to youngsters and to intoxicated people. The available evidence suggested that legislation of this sort can significantly reduce crashes involving drinking and driving. If we want our cities to be world class in safety and lack violence, we will have to reconsider our headlong entry into greater alcohol consumption. Before we make any changes in alcohol serving and sales laws, we have to put in place mechanisms that ensure that people cannot be violent in public places and cannot drive after drinking. Dinesh Mohan runs the Transport Research and Injury Prevention Programme at IIT, Delhi.

•Agwu, an Assistant Corps Marshal, is Zonal Commanding Officer, Zone 7HQ of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC).

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sunday, March 6, 2016

Perfect Cut

African Look Ankrara attires to experiment with this week Adaeze Amos

hat makes fashion exciting is that it gives room for variety. You can actually experiment on mind-blowing but simple attires and watch models and style aficionados rock them on runways. So, for this week, if you have some yards of African print fabrics lying idle in your wardrobe, you can make good use of them. Here are some simple styles you can experiment on. Once you have your poise intact and a good body frame, there is nothing stopping you from looking good in these styles. Check them out!

Sunday, March 6, 2016

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Cape s

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sunday, March 06, 2016

Perfect Cut

styles now fashionable Adaeze Amos

ape styles are now the in-thing in the fashion world. Fashionistas are gracing red carpet events in these styles that look as if it would last for a long time. Ladies, donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be left behind, join them and look good in this shoulder style. There are long, short capes and midi. It depends on what you want. Take a closer look at these ladies and make a choice of what you want.

Sunday, March 6, 2016

Dude Style

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net victorudoh804@yahoo.com 07067124302

‘My style signature is simple but classy’ Martin Evans aka YungBilo is Delta State University graduate of Computer Science and the CEO, BillionNation Music Label. He opted for music in order to reach out to people through his songs. In this interview with VICTOR UDOH, he speaks about his lifestyle, music and dress sense. How did you come into music? Music has been a long time passion for me and it’s something I can’t just let go. I discovered my talent when I was just a kid and today I’m happy that I’m into it. It is surely like a dream come true.

What crazy thing has a female fan ever What’s your style signature? My style signature is simple but classy done to you? The craziest thing a female has ever done because I already know right from my university days that you wear what/who you are and that your appearance is your character.

Tell us the songs you have released. I have churned out songs such as ‘Give It To Me’ produced by TP Flex Beats, ‘U 2 Sabi’ which was produced by Young D, ‘Money Matter fts Terry G’ produced by TP Flex Beats, ‘Take You Go’, ‘Loving You’ and ‘Gemme Some More’ produced by Ill touch, ‘As E Dey Hot’ and ‘Sweet Potato’ produced by Vandrous.

What fashion items form a larger part of your wardrobe? Designer label trousers and shirts.

What inspires your songs? I can boldly say that my inspiration comes from God. Who are your role models in the music industry? My role models are Tuface, Timaya, Banky W, Davido and Don Jazzy; their musical lives inspire me a lot.

Are you a designer label freak? Yes, I am when it comes to Versace wears. Then of course I love shoes, I can spend any amount to get my designer shoe. Who in the music world do you admire? I love Chris Brown a lot, including his style of music. I admire Tuface Idibia because he teaches me how to keep it simple and real. What lesson has life taught you as an artiste? Life has taught me that the shortcut to success is first of all having it in mind. It has also taught me that there’s no such thing as shortcut to success, so I have to work very hard.

What thrills you most as an artiste? What thrills me most is the reaction of my fans while performing a song. It’s the best feeling to know that your fans love What are your regrets? My regrets in life? I don’t think I have you for what you do; it’s not just all about the money or fame, but the love alone any, I’m happy with myself and my life. thrills me. Can you relive the experience of the first time you performed on stage? Owing to my church experience, because I started from the church and I have sang in public, I didn’t have any stage fright. I only noticed that I wasn’t really giving enough communication to the crowd for the first time, but I corrected this and I was happy I did at the right time. To me, it was a long time dream and I was really happy about the fact that it came true. What stands you out in the music world? My style of music is unique. I don’t try to emulate anyone. Like some artistes who take substances to be high on stage, what keeps you high? I’m aware of that, but for me seeing crowd at any function or occasion makes me high. When I need to mount the stage, the crowd turns me on and the determination to woo the audience gives me extra energy. Then of course, the organiser who chose me among thousands of others also keeps me on my A game. Can you define your style? Well, I’m not a fashion freak but I stick to dress code for every occasion I attend and I always come out looking amazing.

to me was to slap me. What’s your philosophy? Putting God first in everything I do in life, knowing He is my maker and molder and that all things come from Him.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

March 6, 2016

Pregnancy Talk

Naughtiest Thing

with

The naughtiest thing I ’ve ever done

Adaeze Amos

Hannah Ojo

߾ࠆ߾ࠀࠁ߾߿ࠀࠀࠇࠁ ߶ࠡࠛࠡ ࠝࠜࠚࠧ߷

Getting set for delivery

o t e l p o e p t a e r I sta s s e n y h s y m r cove

hen you miss your flow and your doctor places you on some vitamins to make you healthy, he is mainly getting you set for that special day. Indeed, the day your water will break and labour sets in. So, as your doctor gets you ready for it, compromise with him and do whatever you are told. First, do not ignore prenatal vitamins or keep them under your pillow without taking them, thinking that your fetus may not have need of them. Remember, your baby ’s neural cord, which becomes the brain and spinal cord, develops within the first month of pregnancy. So it ’s important you get essential nutrients, lis that you would be strong and healthy to undergo the rigours of delivery. Don ’t ignore your exercise. If you are asked to be taking brisk walk, do so. It ’s good to stay active till the time you are due. Regular exercise will help you control your weight, improve circulation, boost your mood, and help you sleep better. Plus, getting into an exercise habit now will help you set a good example for your child after she ’s born. Swimming if you know how and brisk walking are all great activities for most pregnant women, including Kegel exercise. Kegel is an exercise that strengthens the pelvic floor muscles, which supports your bladder, bowels and uter-

us. Done correctly, this simple exercise can help make your delivery easier and prevent problems later with incontinence. The best part is that no one but you can tell you ’re doing them, so you can practise kegels in your car, while you ’re sitting at your desk in your office, or even standing in line at the grocery store. Here ’s how to do them right: -Practise squeezing as though you ’re stop ping the flow of urine when you use the bathroom. - Hold for three seconds, then relax for three. - Repeat 10 times. Remember to read pregnancy journals. Knowledge is power, they say. So, read everything your hands find on pregnancy. It helps get you ready for the day contractions would set in. Don ’t also ignore pregnancy classes if you have the time. Even if this isn ’t your first baby, attending a childbirth class will help you feel more prepared for delivery. Not only will you have the chance to learn more about childbirth and infant care, but you can ask specific questions. Talk to your doctor about problems with past pregnancies, and report any family incidences of birth defects.

efore I share the naughtiest thing I have ever done, I would like to first point out that I ’m both an extrovert and introvert. I ’m an extrovert because I ’m an actress. When I tell people that I ’m shy, they argue over it, they hardly believe me because of my acting profession. But truly I ’m always shy and somehow I ’m an introvert as well because there are certain places I may not go because of shyness. Thus, at a time, I realised that on so many occasions I always feel shy when people look at me, especially when they recognise me as an actress. I decide to be doing one naughty thing so as to be

bold. I find myself staring back at people eyeball to eyeball. When I ’m going out and see a guy staring at me, I always make sure that I stare back into his eyes so much that he would feel uncomfortable. I could stare back for as long as he stares at me, then I ’d find myself laughing and walk away. I would feel cool within myself and leave the person in his own thought. So, when you see me outside and you think you have got what it takes to stare at me, then be ready for my own part as well. •Ojo is an actress who has starred in many movies. -ADAEZE AMOS

Movies & Music

Sunday, March 6, 2016

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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

Olamide, Bovi, others thrill Lagos fans with #TheSpecialOne G Waje features on CNN African voices

ward-winning Nigerian singer and UN ambassador, WAJE featured on CNN’s African Voices on the 5th of February 2016. She talked about several issues including the African Women project, her new album and her mission to help homeless kids in Nigeria. The songbird also talked about how she uses her music platform to impact lives and be a voice to several Nigerians. Following the interview, Waje dropped the visuals of her song “Ominiknowest.” Produced by EKelly and directed by Clarence Peters and shot in black and white, ‘Ominiknowest’ shows Waje at her fiercest hitting back at ‘naysayers’ and critics. While undeniably Fela influenced, the video has Waje take on several personas; from a fiery Malcolm X, to a sultry Marilyn Monroe, a 90’s Janet Jackson in all her tomboy glory and shades of the king of Pop Michael Jackson. Waje is an award winning Nigerian singer, songwriter and Glo brand ambassador. Considered Nigeria’s queen of Pop-soul, Waje’s vocal quality spans over three octaves and is one of Nigeria’s most popular and respected female musicians Angelique

Waje

ET Arena, Lagos was recently transformed into a colourful, and vibrant space as music stars Burna Boy, Ycee, Kolasoul, Magnito, Simi thrilled guests. The Arena played host to a launch event with over 3,000 guests excited to meet #TheSpecialOne - Guinness Africa Special. It also had Bovi and Jimmy keeping the crowd hyped and energised, anticipating the excitement of the night. Superstar DJ Spinall brought down the roof with his music line-up. Godwin Strings stole the night with his amazing talent, while Osa 7 used live graffiti to bring alive the famous Eyo image that is synonymous with the people of Lagos. #TheSpecialOne party had earlier toured the cities of Port Harcourt, Abuja, Enugu, Benin and Ibadan. Made of Black ambassadors, Olamide and Phyno were present and in their element and the crowd went wild, especially when they performed ‘Iranu Abacha’ together. Olamide even lost his shoes to the excited crowd! Olamide and Enimoney also took the fun a bit higher when they performed Oyadab getting everyone to pose with their Guinness Africa Special. Speaking at the Lagos event, the Portfolio Manager for the Guinness brand, Liz Ashdown said Guinness Africa Special is the first new innovation from Guinness in 10 years and was created to satisfy the needs of young Nigerian consumers who

constantly crave for something special and relevant to them. According to her, “This product is special because everything from the packaging to the liquid to the advertising is truly African. The natural extracts were grown in African soil. The Ankara harp and pattern on the packaging proudly projects African routes and the beer has been tailored to young people’s tastes and at a price they can afford at just N200!” The crowd had the chance to interact with the brand and also the unique opportunity to make the night their own. They were able to make their own #TheSpecialOne t-shirts, get creative at the face and body painting stand, and pose and engage with the unique props. People were also able to share their excitement and creativity with the crowd by interacting with the digital screens. It was indeed a memorable night! Guinness Africa Special is the unique quality of Guinness Stout with natural African extracts for a unique vibrant and refreshing taste. The beer is five per cent alcohol by volume and sold at a recommended retail price of N200. Guinness Africa Special is a vibrant and colourful brand that has been made by us for us. From the drink itself and the packaging being truly African, to the event space and props that allow young people interact with the brand and make it their own to the advertising that was created by young Nigerian graffiti artist Osa7, this one is ours.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Movies & Music

Sunday, March 6, 2016

Ozzybee laments abuse of innocent children

zzybee (Ozzybosco Wonderkid) needs no lengthy introduction; he is a well-known kid artiste within and outside the entertainment industry. Interestingly, he’s a very loving and compassionate kid, especially towards children. He has in no small measure put smiles on the faces of children in orphanages, hospitals, Atanda Olu School for the mentally and physically challenged; took 14 children on a week holiday to Tinapa in Cross River State, among other philanthropic activities. On February 25 an unforgettable event happened in his house. Nine-year-old Ozzybee came into his mum’s bedroom to say good morning and stumbled on her phone where he saw on Linda Ikeji’s Blog, the picture of the 4-year-old Sadiq Usman whose eyes were brutally gouged out by ritualists in Zaria which was posted by Mr Emeka Opara, Director, Corporate Communications of Airtel Nigeria. The pathetic pictures so touched the young artiste that he broke down and wept uncontrollably clinging onto the phone with his eyes glued on the lamentable photos of this innocent child. He was engulfed with so much emotion, pity for the kid and rage for the heartless ritualists who committed this heinous crime. All efforts by his mum and nanny to take the phone away or pacify him proved abortive as he poured out his heart saying “why did they wicked this small boy

like this; mummy! I want to see Sadiq to sing my SMILE AGAIN song and dance for him so as to make him happy”. In fact, the school had to be contacted to explain reasons for his swollen red eyes and lateness to school. Team Ozzybee working under the auspices of OzzyBosco Smile Foundation (OSF) are moved beyond words by both the story and Ozzybee’s reactions. Consequently, we have resolved to support our young star in carrying out his heart desires; to visit, extend love and play with Usman. We have also pledged OSF’s readiness to join forces/partner with Sadiq Usman Foundation (SUF) to spread awareness and curb the rising cases of cruelty and abuse on innocent children. Ozzybee is seizing this opportunity to passionately plead with all kindhearted persons not to fold their hands while these vulnerable innocent young ones like me are being tortured by these heartless, getrich-quick ritualists hibernating within our society. Just imagine the pains this poor brave boy went through …unthinkable!!! All Nations, Kid-loving individuals, corporate bodies and indeed we the children, should rise to this upheaval challenge which has reached an epidemic stage, especially here in Nigeria. Children are God’s inheritance; the future generation …should they be celebrated or extinguished?

Bosco

Vivien delights Lagos with Blind Tasters

Pasuma performs at Maba town crowning ceremony

ll roads lead to Maba town in Obafemi/ Owode local council in Ogun State, where Fuji crooner, Alhaji Wasiu Alabi Pasuma, will entertain guests at the coronation of Baale of Maba Town Chief Alhaji Jimoh Akinrinola also known as Olope. Pasuma also known as (Ijoba Fuji) and oOganla1 is planning to strengthen his fan base at Maba town. According to Alhaji Jimoh, the crowning ceremony ‘is to cement and confirm me as a substantial Baale of Maba town’. He noted that the ceremony was arranged to attract Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, and other stakeholders.

Vivien

ot a few may readily remember Vivien Ike, an actress in her own rights, who left the country’s shores some years ago to the USA, in search of the proverbial golden fleece. Vivien, who is a sister to iconic Nollywood star, Chika Ike, recently zoomed into town looking very purposeful and beautiful. In a chat with Sunday Mirror, the former Nollywood actress who is not averse to doing more movies, however stressed that her return was particularly to host a new show, a cooking competition entitled, ‘Blind Tasters’. The show, which winner will cart home N2 million cash and a car, is to promote and strengthen family values of love, friendship and desire for cooking. Speaking on the cooking competition, Blind tasters, the head honcho of Vivienike Productions, stated, ‘’the show employs blind tasting as a means of evaluating, promoting, strengthening and rekindling the bond between people. This healthy competition involves seven chefs and seven blind tasters. These blind tasters could be relatives or friends of the chefs. The chefs are assigned to cook while the blind tasters identify their chef’s dish. If they fail, they send their chef to the danger zone where each of them has to identify whatever is presented to them.

How Beauty Aghedo cheated death!

Pasuma

ver the years, the Nigerian entertainment industry has mourned the loss of some of its talented celebrities snatched by death, leaving in its wake unspoken dreams forever silent in the entertainment industry. Just recently, Beauty Aghedo popularly known as B’Dash, stepped on that same road that leads to death but something happened and she came back alive! According to B’Dash, ‘as I stood face to face with death, standing between the broad gate that separates the living from the dead, I looked down into my soul and said to myself, ‘I will not die, but live to accomplish my purpose on earth. Because I have the life of God in me, and greater is he that is in me than he that is in the world. After

Aghedo

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March 6, 2016

Lessons of Life TRUE LIFE STORY ON MATTERS OF THE HEART

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

‘Life has been unfair to me ’

Ocholeche, lives in Abuja, 30. I ’m looking for a lady who is eager to settle down for marriage. No discrimination of ethnicity, religion and culture. 08177408866.

This story of Sandra is one that touches the heart. It started from her secondary school days to when she got married and subsequently came back to her parents ’ village home because of some unforeseen circumstances.

Paul, from Anambra, but lives in Adamawa, Jemita, Yola to be precise. I ’m 30. I need a beautiful lady or a girlfriend. She has to be above 20. 08036423263. Dayo, a civil servant, lives in Lagos. I ’m from oyo state, I ’m 44. I want a Muslim lady that is working, single, beautiful and ready to settle down for marriage. 08033086629.

andra finished her secondary education at 19 and started trying her luck to secure admission into one of the universities or higher institutions in the country but luck wasn ’t on her side. She finally went to do a pre degree course at College of Agriculture Umuagwo, Now Federal Polytechnic Umuagwo in Imo State. “I was enrolled into the department of preliminary studies so that I could opt for one of the main courses in the institution. But after some months, I ran away from school, forfeiting all my things. That was when Theo my boyfriend, a second year Agronomy student in the same institution also fled. It was said that one of the school cults was seriously looking for him, threatening to deal with him because he was the Capone of an opponent cult. So, while they were looking for him, he sent message to me through his cousin that I should find a way to escape else I would be kidnapped and dealt with. That was why I ran for my dear life, ” she recalled. That was how Sandra eloped with just her handbag, leaving behind the rest of her things in her room in the hostel. She never came back to that school. “And I never saw Theo again. I came home and lived with my parents who bombarded me with questions concerning my school. But I told different lies so that I would be left alone. At a time, I was left alone when I enrolled into one school of music that was closer to my house. I was now keen in perfecting my singing skill and I was strictly into gospel songs. I was honestly enjoying it and later had a band of my own. I started making some little money from gospel music because my band was being invited to perform in events and that fetched me money. I was so occupied with my gospel music work that I didn ’t see it necessary to go back to school. Moreover I was scared to go back to the same school where I fled from, ” she said. Sandra later met Eugene, also a gospel artiste. “I met him at one of the events I was invited to perform. He too had a band of his own but he was more popular than me. Before we parted that day, we exchanged phone numbers and addresses. And that marked the beginning of a relationship that later culminated to a serious affair. He

In need of a serious relationship/marriage

Alao, 38, single, lives in Lagos, needs a single Muslim girl below 30 for marriage. 08170141833. Omotayo, 26, looking for a man for marriage. He has to be between 30-50. 08082629319. God ’s Power, 30, needs a lady of 35-40 for a serious relationship. 09030145709. Prince Iyke, 31, lives in Abuja, a script writer and movie producer, needs a lady between 28- 31, light skinned, tall and rich to boost my production. 08071231490. Paul, 45, a business man, handsome and caring. I need a woman between age 27-48 for marriage. 07030809667

Toba, 40, a graduate and working. I need a fat Yoruba lady for a relationship that can lead to marriage 08060439348 Sam, 36 needs a caring and supportive lady who is 45 years and above. 08068553322.

Prince Olamide, 23, lives in Lagos, needs a sugar mummy for fun. 08187641034. Jokotade, 20, lives in Oyo and a mother of one. She needs a 35-45 bouyant sugar daddy who resides either in Lagos, Idbadan or Oyo state. 08167622738.

A model

never told me a lie about himself. He told me how he dropped out of secondary school when he was in class three immediately after the death of his father and concentrated on music. He was the leader of their church choir and that was how he started. His good voice had taken him to so many places outside the country before he even started a band of his own. When we started dating, we had to come together. We brought our bands together and performed together. We became so popular that once we dropped a music/video single, it sold like hot cake . God blessed us financially through music, ” she enthused. When Eugene and Sandra got married, their wedding was like a funfair of a sort. “So many gospel artistes came and guests who came danced and danced until they were tired. Guests refused to leave the wedding hall even when the wedding was over because the gospel artistes refused to let go. They continued performing to impress my husband who was like a boss to them. My wedding was the talk of the whole town. Two months after my wedding I became pregnant. Carried my pregnancy till term and when my water broke, I went to the hospital where I was registered, same hospital where I had my antenatal clinic. “When my doctor examined me, he told me that though my water had broken but I should not leave the hospital. That I would be on admission where I would be receiving medication so that I wouldn ’t be infected since my water

had broken. When I stayed till evening and I had no contraction, I just sneaked out of the hospital and went home. I did that because the doctor was a good friend of my husband, so I felt he wouldn ’t query me much, ” she recalled Four days later, Sandra came back to the same hospital having severe contractions. That was when she observed ‘Show ’ on her panties and she was brought back to the hospital carrying her bag where the things she would be needed for labour was packed. But the mistake of sneaking out of the hospital even when she was admitted cost her a lot. •To be continued.

Michael, 33, needs a lady between 22-26 for a serious relationship that will lead to marriage. 07031138330. Moses, 27, needs a serious relationship that can lead to marriage. She should be between 21 and 28 years old. She should be a workingclass, dark-skinned and beautiful. She should be living in Lagos -07087764057. Ola, needs a girl of 18-25 for friendship. 08054836335 I ’m Sunday, dark, 35 years old and 6ft tall. I ’m a civil servant from Ondo State. I need a God-fearing lady between 25 and 32years old. She has to be a working-class from any part of the world -07031151927. My name is Agbamue Samson, 2 7years old and a working-class. I need a sugar mummy between 30 and 40 years of age -08061540752. Gabby is my name, 45, a media officer in Makurdi. I need a mature lady of 55 years old and above for companionship -08178717095.

NOTICE: Please note that we don ’t do personal connections outside this column. Calls to connect privately are not allowed. Just send an SMS or email and we ’ll get your request published. The request is published on first come first served basis. Thank you!

RESPONSES

Re: ‘I regret marrying my mum ’s boyfriend ’ You are already legally married to Ignatius, who took over responsibility of you, your younger sister and mum, after the death of your father. Your father died when you were just 12. He sponsored your education to the university level, still sponsoring your sister ’s university education. He rented accommodation for three of you in Lagos when he was transferred there and have been tremendously kind and loving.

boys quarters, while your sister stays in the guest room. Please develop strong affection, intimacy and love for your husband. Discard fear and regret. I am optimistic that in a short while children will start coming and you will eventually move to your own freehold house. Your mum is there to protect your interest, however, caution your sister to concentrate on her education and should not lure or seduce your husband, in any form. She will eventually get a lover and a good husband.

Veronica, do not regret or entertain any fear that she might be sleeping with your mum secretly. Your mum is living in the

PATRICK ADIASOR SURULERE, LAGOS TEL 08033452087

Dear Veronica,

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Chapel of Holiness and Testimony with Pastor K. I.

Bona

dditional few examples of those who through exhibition of violent or stubborn faith were able to get their deliverances, healings and or possessed their possessions are: 1) The woman with the issue of blood – Matt. 9:20 2) Blind Bartimeaus – Mark 10:46 3) Jacob alone with God, wrestled with an Angel: Gen. 32:24 4) Holy cry provoked in the spirit generated holy fire that dismantled the evil schemes of the wicked. In Rom. 8:14-15 “ For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.” Holy anger against the devil and his evil work, inspire holy cry which produce holy fire: When holy fire is evident, results are certain. Examples in the scriptures where holy cry generated holy fire and the outcome were testimonies A) The children of God shouted in holy anger, produced holy fire, the wall of Jericho fell down. B) Gideon army blew the trumpet in holy anger sparked off holy fire and the Midianites were defeated. In Judges 7:18 “ When I blow with a trumpet, I and all that are with me, then blow ye the trumpets also on every side of all the camp, and say, The sword of the LORD, and of Gideon.” C) When Elisha came to the Jordan river after receiving the mantle of Elijah his master, he shouted, “Where is the Lord of God of Elijah, and he struck Elijah’s garment on the river, then Jordan divided. D) Jesus at the tomb of Lazarus shouted Lazarus come forth, the powers of grave immediately released him. E) Blind Bartimeaus cried out to receive the attention of Jesus. There are other many holy cries in the scriptures that drew heavenly

Sunday, March 6, 2016

Territorial powers and their bondages (7) attention. Dear child of God always pray with holy provocation generating holy cry with resultant holy fire you would see that all your prayers would end up testimonial. F) You must possess enough holy fire to generate holy cry 4) You must be ready to put off thy shoes. God commanded Moses to put off his shoes so that he could be baptized with holy fire. Figuratively, Moses received the baptism of five. Immediately, he removed his shoes and faced the burning bush he was baptized by fire. Just as the disciples of Jesus were baptized with the Holy Ghost and fire in the book of Acts: Acts 2:1-4 “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” The shoes which Moses put off were his old nature. His adamic nature or old man. A child of God who fell to put off his old nature as shoes may not be able to possess holy fire. This is because the old nature in him/her would kill the fire. Old nature, adamic nature or old man need to die in the life a Christian for a new man to emerge. It is the new man in us that carries holy fire. Which was why God commanded Moses to put off his old nature which was the shoes. As he removed the shoes he was baptized by fire. Romans 6:6 “Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.” What is old nature adamic nature or old man a) Inherited sinful life or inherited sinful lifestyle b) Those sins that has become part of you that sometimes you commit them unconsciously. In Heb. 12:1 “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily be-

set us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.” c) Your frailties, shortcomings or weaknesses. d) Those hidden characters or qualities in you that denies the power of God in your life. e) All appearances of evil. f) Any behaviour, habit or lifestyle in you that denies the testimony of Jesus. g) Those sins that you find difficulty to forsake after confession. 5) You must be willing to cast your rod on the ground: casting down your rod is total submission. Submission to the call of prayer. Avoiding any form of distraction while in God’s presence. Unreserved determination and focus to pray for result. You know many believers prays these days with their phones on. They interrupted their prayer intermittently to answer calls. Those who does such cannot receive holy fire. Remember what the Bible says, on the day of Pentecost all the disciples were together in a place in one according in one mind, one heart, one hope and in one faith there was nothing distracting them. The rod which Moses had represented a very important value in his life. However, God commanded him to cast it to the ground. Which means God was saying because of the assignment I am giving you consider this most valuable property in your live valueless for my sake. And when Moses obeyed the rod because a serpent. You see that in all these mediums of distraction. The prince of this world disguises himself as serpent and hides in them. Which is why they are always used to manipulate our love, dedication, and submission to the things of God. What are those things in life which devil uses as medium of distractions to our faith? 1) I am beautiful and I am hand-

some syndrome. 2) Pride attached to skin completion. 3) The influence of money. 4) The influence of cosmetics. 5) Marriage pride. 6) The pride attached to conception grace. 7) The pride attached to social status. 8) The pride attached to level of connections. 9) The pride attached to level of educational qualifications and degrees acquired. 10) The pride of life. 11) The lust of flesh. 12) The pride attached to power and politics. 6) You must put forth your hand and take the serpent by the tail. The serpent stood for the prince of darkness. Anyone who is afraid of the devil, cannot have holy fire. Holy fire is the baptism of authority over the prince of darkness. Fear is not of God. Spirit of fire is a gift from satan. God wishing to defeat spirit of fear in the life of Moses commanded him to put forth his hand and take the serpent by the tail. Testimonies – save delivery after ten months My pregnancy was over ten months. No sign of delivery was seen. I became afraid I came to meet the man of God. He prayed with me and commanded contraction to manifest before the end of that week. Brethren, by the weekend of that week I had serious contraction. I was rushed to the hospital to the glory of God I delivered safely after ten months of pregnancy, praise the Lord! Sis. Nkeru Address: Pastor Kingson I. Bona, General Overseer Chapel of Holiness and Testimonies Ministries, No. 6, David Egbetuyi Street, Fagbile Estate, Ijegun, Ikotun, Lagos. Tel: 08023404926, 08075598531 Website: wwwchapelholiness.org facebook: pstbona@chapelholiness.org

News

PFN honours Ambode, others T

he Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) has honoured the Governors of Lagos, Akwa Ibom and Imo states, Akinwunmi Ambode, Emmanuel Udom and Rochas Okorocha respectively for their support to the association.

The award which was given at the dedication of PFN Secretariat held recently in Aswani area of Lagos also saw an award being bestowed on Mrs. Josphine Uche, a lady who allegedly returned money she found to the owner. According to the conveners of the event, Mrs. Uche found missing N12m at the Lagos International Airport and returned it to owner, and she deserves to be accorded special recognition for exhibiting uncommon integrity. Conferring the award on Mrs. Uche, the President of PFN, Rev. Felix Omobude, said that the award comes with a cash reward of N250.000 for being a good ambassador of Christ by showing exhibiting outstanding integrity. Also awarded on the occasion are the mother of Pastor Wale and Paul Adefarasin, Mama Hilda Adefarasin, who

was decorated for raising a family of pastors; Pastor Mrs. Mercy Ezekiel for allowing the Christian Pentecostal Mission use her church premises as temporary PFN Secretariat for many years. Other awardees include Lt. General Joshua Dogonyaro (rtd.), Elder Felix Ohiewere, and the Edo state governor, Adams Oshihomole. According to Omobude, the dedication and award ceremony is part of activities marking the 30th anniversary of PFN. Delivering his speech on the occasion, Omobude said: “Today history is being made, as we dedicate this multipurpose facility and officially commission it to the glory of God. Indeed, what can we say but to thank God Almighty for the great things he has done for us. For everything you have done, Lord, we thank you. “You gave the vision, you made the provision, and you have graciously given us the privilege of life and good health to be able to witness this day. For this and your many acts of beneficence and benevolence, we thank you Lord.”

Omobude also thanked members of the PFN family, who he said their support for the fellowship and heart beating with much love and generosity had made the project a reality. “The Bishop’s Court stands tall today, as an eloquent testimony to your commitment and fidelity to the vision of the PFN. Our Lord Jesus Christ will reward you for your labour of love and the sacrifice you continued to make in propagating the gospel, empowering Nigerians and being at the forefront of national development,” he added. The PFN president used the opportunity to count the blessings of the fellowship pointing out that PFN had become a beacon of hope for Pentecostals in Nigeria, maintained a robust national presence, inspiring more people into the Christian faith, engaging political leadership to national development and intervening whenever there were critical moments in the nation. He urged the PFN members to keep their minds open to new ideas while being mindful to actualize the dreams and vision of PFN founding fathers.

The Bishop’s Court was initiated by Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, president, Christian Association of Nigeria when he was the president of PFN. In his prayer of dedication he said: “You gave an idea that became an organisation, an association. And finally, you have put a roof over our head. And so, we give you glory. We have come to dedicate to you this house that already belongs to you. “Every prayer that will be prayed here will be answered by heaven. Everyone that comes into this building sorrowful will find joy; every troubled heart will find peace and every one that has problem will find solution and find direction. Also praying on the occasion, General Overseer of the Redeemed Evangelical Mission, Bishop Mike Okonkwo added: “O God, to you alone belong the glory, honour and adoration. And we declare that out of this house shall bring forth wisdom that will transform our nation, Nigeria. The secretariat was dedicated in the name of God the father, the son and the Holy Ghost.

From the Pulpit Learn with Kunle

Macaulay

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

esus said to his disciples, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation” Mk. 16:15. The book of Acts in its first chapter has the same message”……. you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the world”. Acts 1:8b. The primitive church got this message from Jesus and knowing that Jesus would be coming back because he said, “…. I am going there to prepare a place for you… I will come back and take you to be with me….” Jn. 14:3; so, they went out with desperate haste and sleepless watchfulness to make him known to the world. The Greek Antioch commissioned Paul to go out and convert the world. The problem Paul had with the Jewish Christian conservative was Jewish legalism. Paul felt that Christianity is free and vital and that it must not be tied up with any mechanical formalism. During the time of Paul, mystery religions were the most outstanding witnesses to the longing for deliverance and this offered Christianity its supreme opportunity. These mystery religions influenced Paul to give a new direction to the development of Christianity. Some liberal theologians claimed that Christianity took over from the mystery religions and adapted to its own uses some important materials. Mystery religions no doubt are religious cults with carefully guarded ceremonies of initiation. The initiates are vowed to secrecy and what they do in their meetings remains untold. In fact, mystery religions offer security and defense. They possess the authority of an immemorial antiquity, they teach religious truth in appealing symbolism and promise immortality. They deal with individual, supply fellowship to the lonely and

Destiny Hour with Pastor Femi

Lanre-Oke

elcome to a new week in Jesus name. Remember, God is always ready to bless and prosper you but you must consciously receive of Him through expectation, prayer and thanksgiving. This week make a prayer project of every issue bothering you and praise God in full expectation of manifestation. I believe that your harvest of testimonies will over flow in Jesus name. Amen.

We have spoken extensively on kingdom harvest especially the responsibilities of the harvesters and intercessors squad. I believe you have been blessed and also believe that you have enrolled in these awesome kingdom services because believe me it is the fastest and shortest path to blessings. When you are a harvester or an intercessor for souls of men then you are directly in the employment of the Most High and a labourer for the Almighty will always receive his wages even beyond what he deserves. Before we go on, still talking on the issue of harvest, I want you to consider some of the promises of God that came at the beginning of the year, remember one of the things said was that is our year of harvest. So below are some of those harvests for you this year, I want you to prayerfully go through them

Sunday, March 6, 2016

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Christianity, a deliverance religion make religion a fact of experience. They foster magic and sorcery. They are excessively emotional with little respect to the intellect. They believe in spiritual rebirth and the divine indwelling. Some of the letters of Paul confirmed that he was writing to converts who had been in the mystery religions. The first Christian church saw the need to produce a religion that will be stronger than the mystery religions. Christianity never accepted or included any of the practices of mystery religions into its own. Although it converted many of the members of the mystery religions into accepting Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour and Paul in his undisputed letters shaped his appeal to meet or reflect the needs of the pagan world of his time. It is true that Paul lived, laboured and died with the recognition of human situations of his time. Paul, a man of alert intelligence who for thirty years went through Asia Minor and Greece knew and understood the minds of religious seekers of his time. The mystery religions were built about a faith in a saviour god whose suffering, death and resurrection the initiates could share. There was blood cleansing for sin, ritualistic uses of water and sacramental meals. Some demanded for baptism of blood from a slain bull. There were also sacred meals which the members of the secret cult ate with their god – the unseen guest. Paul who observed that there was a high level of religious syncretism in Christianity then developed a way of using words which are common in the mystery religions but maintained the mind and authority of Jesus Christ. He also adapted Christianity to the needs of the pagan world as he saw them. Christianity has its own historic sources, its own ways and truth. The truth is that all the facts of the life and suffering death of Jesus Christ are there to be interpreted. Paul was brought up in the environment

where mystery religions were developed and practiced. When you study his life and ministry, you will find out that he formulated and preached the deliverance gospel which he centred about the Cross of Christ. Paul proved that the deliverance, peace and triumphant life people are looking for in mystery religions can be found in Jesus Christ. He lived and died in the expectation of the day of the Lord. He practiced a deliverance religion with the solid facts of the life and death and resurrection of Jesus Christ in his mind. He led Christianity to win the world as a deliverance religion because it had a commission from Jesus to do so. The early Christians went about preaching the gospel of deliverance with the creeds of incarnation and redemption of the individual and nations of the world. The creeds began with the predetermined councils of the God head, went on to include a fallen humanity that requires a deliverer. It included the coming of a deliverer through a virgin woman born in Bethlehem with the choiring angels announcing his arrival and finally his majestic journey to the Cross, his death, resurrection, ascension and his coming back which gives hope of a new life. These are facts in the history of Christian doctrine that have engaged the attention of a disciplined mind. The deep study of the Bible confirms the need of deliverance, the helplessness of man without God, the cost of deliverance paid by Jesus Christ, the place of man in heaven or hell will depend on his acceptance or rejection of the offer of salvation in Christ. This offer of salvation is not tied up with any race or group. It is based on the only truth that Jesus is the way to God and the only true way of the deliverance. It is a religion of humanity that recognizes that there is no difference between Jew and Greek, male or female, bond or free. It has a timeless message to save men and women of all human generations.

Angus said “Christianity brought a satisfying message to the wide spread sorrow of the ancient world”. Nigeria needs deliverance because political and religious atmosphere has been effected with the acts of sinful nature – greed, immorality, hatred, selfish ambition, occult practices, human and drug trafficking and human sacrifices. Old people of Nigeria are tired of waiting to see the “good day” again while the young ones have no patience to even understand what the government is doing. Government must be sensitive to the needs and suffering of Nigerians while the media must be prepared to educate the citizenry on the core issues facing Nigeria. Religious organizations have the responsibility to teach their adherents to encourage and support a struggling government. The present government has just spent less than twenty percent of its term in office and therefore must be given time to implement its plans. People in government must allow Nigerians to know exactly what their plans are and must also listen to the voice of the people they are serving. Christian experts who know that Christianity is a deliverance religion must develop methods and invent words that will bring meaning to pain and power to ensure the troubled. The Christian key words which have been salvation and redemption have been replaced with the message of prosperity to meet the needs of the confused people of Nigeria by some secularly trained and spiritually unfilled Christian leaders who interpret the Word of God wrongly for personal benefit. There is no doubt that the time is ripe for true Christians to exhibit the power of God in them to purify the moral life of Nigeria and Nigerians. •Prof Kunle Macaulay is the Director of Studies United Bible University, Lagos Phone: 0802 – 303 – 2698: email : profkunlemacaulay@ yahoo.com Twitter : KunleMacaulay1

Kingdom harvest and begin to thank God for the ones you have seen and then remind of those you are yet to see. • The Lord said this year shall be characterized with speed and progress. • There shall be fulfillment of long time dreams and prophecies. • The yoke of delay shall be broken in so many lives and homes this year. • There will be a lot of marriage ceremonies and naming ceremony. • Those trusting God for job should rejoice this year -there would be many job opportunities. We have the responsibliy of expectation for us to receive manifestation. The farmer who plants expects harvest in its season and this becomes his motivation for endlessly working on his crops. When you lose sight of your harvest the motivation to strive for excellence is lost. So if I were you, I will print these prophecies and paste it somewhere I can always make reference to it and then begin to water it with prayer, thanksgiving and expectation in order to see the harvest promised me of God. We are about to enter into the mid of the year period and God does re-visit and revive His works in the midst of the year (More on this next week by the grace of God). The Preservation Mandate of the Intercessors’ Squad We started talking about the place of the intercessors in Kingdom harvest last week and we spoke on their responsibility before and during the harvest of souls into the Kingdom of God. One cardinal point mentioned is that the Holy Spirit alone can con-

vict hearts of sinners, therefore the intercessors prayer for the convicting power of the Holy Spirit to be at work to ensure that the harvesters are not labouring in vain. The responsibility we want to look at briefly today is the preservation of the harvested souls. If we study a farmer carefully, we will note that the preservation of the harvest is actually as important if not more important than the period of harvest itself. Harvest not preserved is lost and efforts put into harvesting are in vain with nothing to show for it. Galatians 4:19, ‘My children, with whom I am again in labor until Christ is formed in you’. Apostle Paul is saying in the passage above that his responsibility on the souls won for Jesus are not over at salvation but there is the need to continue to labour to ensure that the souls are established in Christ. The duty of the harvesters’ squad is to ensure that this passage below becomes a reality in every believer; ‘But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you’. (1 Peter 5:10) God’s heart desire is for the maturity and the establishment of every one that professes the name of Jesus and has truly repented of his sins if not the salvation grace is taken in vain. This is an area we keep missing it in churches. It is not enough to call for altar calls every Sunday but we must take conscious efforts to nurture these souls in prayer and the word of God constantly till they also become matured enough to bring others to Jesus and

say no to besetting sins. Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; Ephesians 4:13-14 This passage above must become your preservation request and petition to God on a daily basis for the souls that are being saved and harvested around you. God is too faithful to fail, you are doing yourself a lot of disservice by not enrolling in the service of the Most High. Lots of harvests and rewards awaits the wise man that is actively responsible for the winning of souls to Jesus. I pray that all we have said in the last 3 weeks will give you understanding and the wisdom to enrol for the service of the Most High. Then you can begin to enjoy true harvest. Stay blessed in Jesus name. What is the mystery of the midst of the year? Next week by the grace of God If you are not born again, the process is simple: Believe in your heart that you are a sinner and cannot save yourself. •For further prayer & counseling, Please contact: Pastor Femi Lanre-Oke, Jesus Praise Evangelical Ministries International, Plot A22 Power Crescent, Arab road, Kubwa. Abuja, +2348030752799, +2348053695097, Email: femi_lanre01@yahoo.co.uk

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Hour of Change with Primate

Oyelowo

he blessing of the Lord it maketh rich and added no sorrow with it ‘’Proverbs 10:22 What then is blessing? It is the increase of a believer‘s possession. Put in another way, it is the aggregate increase of a believer’s possession. A believer should understand that it is God who gives him power to get wealth. (Deuteronomy 8:18) Also, a believer should bear in mind that his wealth belongs to God. He is just a caretaker and he/she is going to give account of his stewardship. Proof of this assertion is seen in Haggai 2:8 which reads thus: ‘the silver is mine and the gold is mine saith the Lord of Hosts’’. Read also 1 Chronicles 29:16 There are some condition governing wealth and its sustenance. The firs one is obedience. It is the art of complying with instruction, command, precept and law give. Each country of the world has her constitution which regulates behaviors of the governed and those charged with responsibility of Governance. How this constitution is observed will determine, to a large exert, the success of failures of such a country. The holy bible is the constitution of a believer Our Lord Jesus Christ was successful in his three and half year earthly ministry because he obeyed his father’s in-

From the Pulpit 33

Sunday, March 6, 2016

Conditions to receive God’s blessing struction to the letter. Hear him; ‘’then Jesus answered and said unto them , Verily, I say unto you, the son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the father do ; for what things so ever he doeth, these also doeth the son likewise’’. John 5:19. Man was endowed with a free moral agent. How it is applied make or man him. It is not a crime for a believer to use his free will: however, he must exercise it in a limited form. In any given society, there are two sets of people, the haves and have not or rich and poor. In order to mitigate the suffering of the despondents, he commands the rich to make provision for them. (Deuteronomy 24:19-21) ‘’Thou shall and thou shall not’’ are commands, ‘’shall’’ is a mandatory injunction compelling somebody to do something while ‘’shall’’ is a mandatory injunction compelling somebody to do something while ‘Shall Not” is a prohibitory injunction refraining somebody from doing what he intends to do. In the passage above, God commands the famer not to go back to pice what he has forgotten to pice when he is harvesting his farm produce, God told him point blank that the left over is for the poor so that he can have something to live upon If a believer wants divine blessing. Cheating is absolutely forbidden. (Deuteronomy 25:13-5)’’for all that do such things, and all that do un-righteously, are an abomination unto the Lord thy God’’; Deuteronomy 25:16. Cheating is a daily occurrence in this country. When you go to the filing station to buy a fuel,

you pay for 5 liters but 4 liters is dispensed in return. When you bug of cement which is supposed to contain fifty kilo, to your surprise. When you buy a bag of cement which is supposed to contain fifty kilo, to your surprise you see it actually contains 48-49 kilo if you put in a good scale. Another condition is for a believer to acknowledged God as the sovereign God, He is the only one to be worshipped. Deuteronomy 6:4-5 says; ‘’Hear, O Israel; the Lord our God is one Lord; and thou shall love the Lord the thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might’’. Many a Christian worship God in the day, but worship lesser God in the night. Jesus says yoyu are a slave to whomever you submit your life (John8:35) No wonder, Untimely death is rampant now a day among the wealthy people because they worship wealth (Money) rather than their God. In order to get wealth and sustain it they belong to different secret societies and cults. ‘’ and when they shall say unto you, seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? For the living to the dead’’. Isaiah 8:19 Anyone who sincerely wants to be blessed must engage in productive ventures. Proverbs 22:29 says: ‘’seest thou a man diligent in his business? He shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men. In essence without means of livelihood, it is hard or impossible to receive blessing. Deuteronomy gives credence to this asser-

tion in chapter 28:8. It is one thing to engage one’s self in doing something; it is another thing to commit one’s self to that cause. wisdom is the application of knowledge. Some people just dabble into business for which they have no required skill. Whatever vocation or profession you smile on you. Also ensure you complete the article ship period of the business you intend to do and receive the blessing of your master. Disciples of Jesus Christ served him until his death. When he arose form dead, he appeared to them and commanded them to continue the propagation of the gospel after his ascension. He also assured them of his support. (Mathew 28:19-20) Finally, it is important for somebody to know his area of calling. This is based on your natural talent and spiritual gift. Some people choose a vocation for which they are not naturally endowed because of the curativeness of such a vocation. At the end they have themselves to blame for their wrong choice. Bezaleel was given the task of constructing both the tabernacle and the ark of covenant based on his being naturally endowed. (Exodus 36:1-3) As the election is fast approaching, I pray that the danger associated with that exercise will not be our portion in Jesus name and we shall eat the fat of this country, Amen. Till then, have a blissful week. Shalom! •You can contact us at: The Word of Life, Agbo Igbala Ti Kiish Aladura Church 70 Patey street Lagos State. Tel: 07040517413

Photo News

L-R: CEO Unity Hospitals Group Ltd, Sir (Dr.) Chief Oladeinde Williams KJW, with the former CEO, Conoil Plc, Engr. Sina Tychus, his wife Dame Adetope Tychus, the new Archbishop of Lagos, Methodist Church Nigeria, Most Revd Luke Odubanjo, the Presbyter Wesley Cathedral Olowogbowo, Lagos Circuit, Very Revd Sola Ala and Lady Gloria Williams the annual Choir Festival of the Wesley Cathedral Olowogbowo, Lagos.

From the Pulpit

The voice of wisdom

with Dr. David

Oyedepo

e understand from scriptures that spiritual exercise, which includes prayer and fasting, is profitable in all things as it impacts on every aspect of our lives. We must also understand that fasting is one of the commandments of scriptures designed for our profiting, not punishment (Matthew 6:16; 1 Timothy 4:7-8; Isaiah 58:6-8).

However, to set the stage for a most profitable engagement in prayer and fasting, we must note the following: Prepare in the Word to approach the prayer altar: The throne of grace is the throne of judgment where the Judge of all the earth (God) is seated. It is also the courtroom of heaven where we produce our cause in prayers. As it is written: Produce your cause, saith the LORD; bring forth your strong reasons, saith the King of Jacob (Isaiah 41:21; see also Genesis 18:25). However, it is on the basis of God’s Word that we plead our cause. This is because He grants us audience on the basis of His Word. Therefore, the stronger our reasons, the more assurance we have for answered prayers. No wonder the Bible says:Put me in remembrance: let us plead together: declare thou, that thou mayest be justified(Isaiah 43:26). We must understand that engaging God’s Word in prayer guarantees us audience with

Let’s go

BIBLE with Favour

Tioluwani

Email: letsgobible@gmail.com

ave you heard this phrase in your marriage? “Your man doesn’t have what it takes.”

When you hear it, it sounds like your own voice and perhaps the voice of one of your parents. In the spiritual battle, the tactic here is division. Consider how many ways you’ve been tempted to diminish your husband’s value in front of your peers and your parents. This is Jennifer O. White, “I entered marriage as a good Christian girl who didn’t know that the Philippians 4:8 “think on these things” was an effective marriage defense training tool. And I suppose God’s “honor your husband” instruction for wives was obscured by the thrill of being chosen. Regret floods my mind as I recall the years I spent rehearsing what seemed to be wrong with my husband. Unfortunately the rehearsal moved beyond my mouth and into my conversations with my parents and close friends. I was unknowingly committing treason—forsaking the vows I made before God to love, honor, and cherish him. I was completely clueless to the spiritual attack on every marriage, and I certainly didn’t know I was cooperating with the Marriage Destroyer.” Your Marriage is a Strategic Target The union of marriage is God’s design. It’s His lifesized illustration of His commitment to love you and me forever. But it’s more than just for our own personal benefit. As you and your

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Engaging the blessedness of prayer and fasting! Him. This is why it is important to prepare in the Word before approaching God on the prayer altar because it is the scriptural basis for our demand that gives us audience with him. That means God does not hear our prayers except we are asking Him according to His will, which is His Word. The Bible says: And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us (1 John 5:14). For instance, the will of a man is his written document on what pertains to his children after he is gone. Likewise, God’s Word which is Kingdom legal tender is His will for His children and God cannot deny Himself. When we pray according to His will, we remind Him of His commitment to us on the subject matter. Therefore, preparing in the Word to approach the prayer altar is wisdom because we rule and reign by the Word. When we are adequately Word-prepared, prayer becomes a smooth adventure. This is why Word-lazy people don’t get much out of prayer. Thus, we have a duty to search through scriptures for what commits God to answer our requests in prayer. Genuinely forgive those who offend us: Jesus said: And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses (Mark 11:25-26; see also Matthew 6:12-15). We must be willing to forgive those who offend us because it qualifies us for automatic forgiveness with God. Moreover, if our trespasses are not forgiven, God’s hand

cannot deliver answers to our prayers. Therefore, it is very important to willingly forgive, so we can clear the way for our own forgiveness and secure audience with God on the prayer altar (Isaiah 59:1-2). Engage in praying for the needs of others: This is one of the facilitators of the heavyweight profiting we access in fasting. When we pray for the needs of others, we commit God to the release of ours. For instance, when Job prayed for his friends, in spite of his affliction, the Lord turned his captivity and gave him twice as much as he had before(Job 42:10). That means seeking the well-being of others is the gateway to our well-being. Remember, what we make happen for others, God makes happen for us. Moreover, when we water the destiny of others, God also makes ours to blossom. As it is written: Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free (Ephesians 6:8; see also Proverbs 11:25; James 5:16). Therefore, as we pray for others and their trials are turned to testimonies, we have secured our testimony too (Acts 12:5-17; Philippians 1:19). Approach the throne of God with full assurance of faith: We must approach the throne of prayers with full assurance of faith and a pure conscience because prayers are answered on the platform of faith. While approaching the prayer altar, we must understand that we have not come to try whether God will answer or not. However, we must believe that we have come to the prayer answering God to take delivery

of our desires. The Bible says: Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; for he is faithful that promised(Hebrews 10:22-23; see also Matthew 21:22; James 1:6-7). It is important therefore to build our faith in the Word before we approach the prayer altar; for faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God(Romans 10:17). We must recognize that though fasting can be costly, the benefits are unmatchable. Are you born again? If you haven’t given your life to Christ, you can say this prayer and you will be born again: “Lord Jesus, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me of my sins. Cleanse me with Your precious Blood. Deliver me from sin and satan to serve the Living God. Today, I accept You as my Lord and Saviour. Thank You Jesus for saving me! Now I know I am born again!” For further reading, please get my books: Winning Prayers, Satan Get Lost and Born To Win. I will continue this teaching next week I invite you to come and fellowship with us at the Faith Tabernacle, Canaanland, Ota, the covenant home of Winners. We have five services on Sundays, holding at 6:00 a.m., 7:35 a.m., 9:10 a.m., 10:45 a.m. and 12:20 p.m. respectively. I know this teaching has blessed you. Write and share your testimony with me through: Faith Tabernacle, Canaanland, Ota, P.M.B. 21688, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria; or call 01-4548070, 01-4548280; or E-mail: feedback@lfcww.org

Four ways to protect your marriage spouse love, honor, and cherish each other, the world around you sees a reflection of God loving them. But if your commitment to each other is destroyed, what will the world know of God and His enduring, merciful love? Satan, the Marriage Destroyer, wants to shine a dishonorable, untrustworthy light on his opponent. He wants to influence as many people as he can. His schemes are aimed at destroying belief in God. He does not get to live in the perfection of heaven, and he doesn’t want anyone else to either. He wants people shaking their heads in disbelief that God’s Word is truth. And he’s happy to use you and me to make it happen. Is Your Focus Fear or Faith? I want you to see the reality behind the divorce statistics. There is a backstory that is as old as Lucifer’s fall from heaven. He is a subtle but pervasive enemy. You’ve seen some of his victories. His destructive nature on some parents’ divorce, which has opened the door to influence the demise of their children’s first marriage. And also threatens the current marriage. The marriage died because they focused on what was wrong. The fears of what might go wrong and what they might live without far exceeded their faith in what God could do. The advice they heeded was all focused on saving themselves from heartache. Marriage, The Land of Promise Many sees the challenges in marriage and felt like a powerless grasshopper. Marriage, the land of promise, looked impossible—hopeless. Your fears were so much bigger than your faith. Moses sent twelve spies to scope out the Promised Land. Ten of the spies acknowledged that while the land had so much to offer, there were enemies that

made them feel as small and as powerless as grasshoppers. They counted the cost and said, “No, thanks.” Caleb and Joshua were the only ones willing to go into the land anyway. The “we won’t go” boys were focused on their own abilities, and the “we can do this” fellas were sure of God’s power and ability to protect them (Numbers 13–14). The threats of marriage is scary. But always be excited about the great things God has planned for your married life. Stand in the land of your promise with assurance that God’s presence and power are epic forces in the spiritual battles ahead. He is able to establish us and guard us against the evil one (2 Thessalonians 3:3). I’m joining the “we can do this” team and inviting brides to find God able to do more than they can ask or imagine in their marriage. Show Up, Surrender, and Salute A good soldier trusts the commander and obeys the orders. Our Marriage Commander has provided the armor and the training we need. It’s our job to fall in line and salute Him. Obedience to God’s Word sounds like a drag when you are more interested in doing your own thing. But when you have faced the enemy and seen yourself as a grasshopper, obeying God becomes your lifeline. Isaiah 32:17, “And the effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever.” “I’ve never had peace and I want it. I want to live in obedience to You, God.” With such prayers you will have the supernatural desire to do what God said you should do. As a result, your mind and your marriage will be healthier than expected. Prayer: Our Most Powerful Weapon

Prayer is one of the most significant ways God shepherd marriages. Praying with His Word is an effective offense and defense in the spiritual battle. Though fearful thoughts of not being enough circles the mind like vultures, Insecurities chipped away at intimacy but let God lovingly work the reality of 2 Corinthians 12:9 into the fabric of your heart. God promises to fill in the gaps. He is not weak. And He offers to bring His power to our weaknesses. He promises that if we will take a posture of humility, own up to our shortcomings, and acknowledge His wealth and power, He will supply what we lack. As often as you ask for His help, God replies with supernatural proportions. There is this very important prayer: “God help me to see my husband as You see him.” God wants to answer that prayer for every wife because He wants us to succeed in honoring our husbands. As God reveals His perspective of your husband to you, you will be strengthened to lift up your shield of faith against the fiery darts that scream “your man is not enough.” This amazing God will establish you as a wonderful wife and enables you to stand under His command. The simple “Help me Jesus” prayers were the beginning of a beautiful story of healing and restoration. •You can send in your QUESTIONS and the Holy Spirit will be set to give you the ANSWERS. Barr. (Mrs.) Favour Tioluwani Tel: 08050272259 or 07062738213. Email: letsgobible@gmail.com

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Time to move to ‘the other side’

Miracle Arena with Bishop

Theo Ugochukwu

n the previous two editions of the above topic we attempted to impute diverse relevant meanings into the phrase “the other side” as was used by our Lord Jesus in Luke 8:22 and to state what it takes to move to “the other side”. In this concluding edition, we shall discuss the possible consequences or manifest effects of moving to ‘the other side’ of life – the higher level side of life. Arguably, every stage of life has its own peculiar experience and price. For instance, a person on the dark and low side of life usually experiences and pays the price of lack, poverty, disregard, rejection and loneliness. Such a person lives in the world of unrealized dreams, worries, depression and self-pity. He is alone in his world because virtually everyone including his relations and brethren maintain some distance from him. He is hardly recognized and celebrated anywhere, even in the church. Reason, he is a failure. And since no man really wants to fail in life, a failure is always avoided. Child of God, if you are on this dark and low side of life, I declare unto you by the mandate of Heavens that you must move to ‘the other side’ before the end of the 1st quarter of this year, 2016 in the Mighty Name of Jesus. Yes! I prophesy to you under this High Tension Anointing that your case must be different beginning from this year in Jesus Name. If you have accepted the above prayers, you will have to be ready to face the consequences and pay the prices of leaving the dark and low

verything works in this life based on the connection that such thing enjoys. The state of your connection in life is determined by connection. Your being a success or failure is predicated on your connection. Great men enjoy great connections while small men enjoy little or no connection. The connection at one’s disposal determines the extent of his or her fulfillment in the journey of life. Struggle in searching for fulfillment in your marriage, your career, your project and everything other that concerns you will end as soon as you locate your connecting point. Unnecessary struggles and every form of unhappiness in life are tied to not being connected. The crown of your destiny lies in the connection that you enjoy.

Take for instance, no matter how effective an electric fan is, it will not serve you well by blowing the room and possibly alter the ambient temperature of your room, if the said fan is not connected to a power source. The fan requires a connection to serve its owner effectively. In the same vein, weakness in life is a function of not being connected to the source of divine power. This implies that, divine connection makes you powerful. It takes weakness and powerlessness away from you and makes you stronger to effectively carry out your purpose for living. Another good side of divine connection is that, it paves way for prophecies to come to pass. Divine connection is a vehicle for prophetic fulfillment. There was plethora of prophecies that had gone ahead of the birth of Jesus. Those prophecies did not however, see the light of fulfillment until they have found their God ordained connection. For Jesus, meeting with John the Baptist was the nexus for the fulfillment of all the manygeneration-prophecies that had gone ahead of Him. The next day John sees Jesus coming to

From the Pulpit 35

Sunday, March 6, 2016

side of life for the brighter and higher side of life. Such consequences and prices include:1. Storms: The road to a higher level side of life is usually very stormy and rough. It is full of thorns, mountains and valleys. Recall that as the disciples were on their way to ‘the other side’, storm arose to stop them. Their journey to their desired end or destination was anything but smooth and convenient. Thank God that they embarked on the journey on the order of Jesus and that the Lord Himself was with them. The incident that took place in Luke 8:22-24 goes to show that any move in life that will change your level is bound to attract storms. But one thing is certain; if Jesus is with you the storms will not be able to hinder your safe arrival. So, don’t be afraid of storms in your moves or journeys to ‘the other side’ as long as Jesus is with you in such moves and journeys. 2. Fear of the Unknown: The fear of the unknown usually rears its ugly head anytime one wants to make a move to break new grounds. The fear of failing in the adventure of life and the sad consequences that often accompany such a failure is common thing among mortal men. But when you remember that as the Image and Likeness of God, you have been given the spirit of boldness and not the spirit of fear, then you will rebuke and overcome the spirit of fear and move on to do whatever you wish to do to better your lot. Note that the fear of the unknown which includes the possibility of death never deterred the lepers in the Book of Kings when they dared the fear of death and made a bold move into the enemy’s camp where their life situation could change for better. The lesson to learn here is that fear will fear you if you dare it. so, don’t let the fear of the unknown to

delay or obstruct your journey or move to ‘the side’ of life. 3. Back-biting: Ambitious moves and efforts usually attract back-biting from all angles, especially from the circle of idle people who are always busy doing nothing but backbiting and discussing those who are making attempts to better their lots. The fact is that anything you do that does not elicit idle talks and discussions in different quarters does not worth the efforts, so forget it. Once your efforts and moves are ambitious ones and such that can change your level at the end of the day, people will not only back bite you but will also make some serious allegations against you with the sole aim to provoke you and perhaps stop you from achieving your lofty goal. Recall that Jesus suffered heavily from back-biting and false allegations by even His own people during His kingdom works here on earth. But that never deterred Him from doing whatever He wanted to do and to achieve His divine mission on earth. In the same vein, don’t let backbiting and perhaps false allegations to constitute a hindrance to your journey to ‘the other side’ of life. 4. Envy and Resistance: Every level of success and break-through naturally attracts envy and resistance by some evil minded elements. In Genesis 26:12-14 we are told that Isaac sowed and prospered exceedingly in the land of Philistines and the Philistines envied him. They did not only envy Isaac, they also resisted him by doing anything they could to stop him. Also in the Book of Exodus we see that the Jews in Egypt multiplied in number and become so prosperous that the Egyptians including Pharaoh envied them. Consequently, stringent measures were taken to hinder them from making further progress in

life. Again, the Book of Genesis tells us how Jacob’s father-in-law was envious of Jacob over his success and therefore made several attempts to make life difficult for him, and even tried to kill him. But in all of the above references, the enemies failed because God was with the victims of envy and attacks. Even in Ministries today, back-biting, envy, false allegations and attacks are the order of the day. And like in the days of old, those who are in the business of back-biting and attacking their fellow Ministers instead of facing the gospel works hardly make any headway in Ministry. Therefore, don’t let enemies of progress stop you. No matter what they say and do to you, they must fail. This is so because Jeremiah 1:19 says, “Though they (enemies) shall fight, but they will never triumph”. 5. Recognition and Acceptance: Despite the above stated challenges that usually manifest in every attempt to move up the ladder of life, one thing is still certain. The moment you arrive in the journey to greatness you must be recognized and accepted by all and sundry including those who are against you. So move over to other side of life without minding the challenges of getting there. Conculuded •For more information, contact: Bishop Theo Ugochukwu – General Overseer, Miracle Assembly Bible Church, a.k.a. The City of Joy, 80, Ajose Street, Mende, Maryland, Lagos; Tel: 08033461482. Email: bishopgracemiracle@ ymail.com

Divine connection him, and said, Behold the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world. This is he of whom I said, After me comes a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me. And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water. John 1:29 John did the introduction of Jesus’ personality to the people even though He was not the only person that came for the baptism. He created the first public awareness about what Jesus came to do for mankind. Beside, the meeting between Jesus and John was also to fulfill the prophecy that God told John about Jesus. Similarly, if there has been anything that has been said to you, either in God’s word or through prophetic declarations, its fulfillment will come the very day that a connection is established. Prophecies will suffer colossal loss if the recipients of those prophecies could not locate the point of connection for their fulfillment. For Saul to enjoy the actual fulfillmentof his destiny, God gave him a connection by meeting Prophet Samuel (1Samuel 10:9-10). Your journey from Point A to Point B in the affairs of life needs a link. Such a link is your connection. Even in the conventional world, people depend on godfathers’ connections to get things done. Politicians depend on their political godfathers for electoral victories. But in the Kingdom of God, we depend on GODCONNECTION to get things done. God has programmed some men and women to help and assist us in fulfilling our life’s goals, but what you need to do is to locate them. They are the God ordained connections for your life. All you need to do is to discover those people. You can discover them through your prayers

Opayinka

(Luke 3:21; John 14:13-14), you can also activate your connection through sacrificial giving (2 Kings 4:8). The place of connection You can establish your God ordained connection through the following: 1. The house of God: The house of God is one of the best places to connect with God, reason being that the name of the Lord has been placed on anywhere that is dedicated unto God. Jesus said “the house of God is a place of prayer- a place to connect with God. Many people had contact with Jesus during his earthly ministry in the synagogue (house of God) 2. Our response to the servant of God: Every genuine servant of God carries the presence of God with them to where ever he/ she goes. Our sincere response to them at any time connects us the power of God that is in their life. We can connect God by believing

them and responding to their needs. 3. The place of fellowship: When we gather together with others to honour the Lord, we can command so much anointing through our cooperate worship. Worshiping God with other sincere believers is a good way of connecting with God in a unique way. 4. The place of obedience: Our obedience is a great avenue to connect with God. Through our obedience we make God to stay with us (Jn 14:23) Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word. Then my Father will love him, and we will go to him and make our home within him.”(KJV) Obedience creates a conducive atmosphere for God’s presence to be with any man. God is the actual Help. He is not only a Helper, but He is “The Help”. God is the Help and He makes men to help His children across the world. Helpers are the channels through which helps come. But God is the source of the help that comes to the helpers before they in turn help God’s children. Destiny links are destiny helpers. They are the men and woman ordained by God to show you the road to the throne. Be assiduous in discovering your own today. Be a prayer addict. Be a dangerous giver. Be an obedient child of God and you will see God working for you. Bishop Joshua Kolawole Opayinka is the Presiding Bishop of Glorious Tabernacle International located behind Ondo State Cultural Centre, Akure, Ondo State. Share your testimonies and prayer points with me at: O8060297831 joshuakolawoleo@yahoo.com

From the Pulpit Priesthood House with Pastor Bola

Bello

“ t is noticed that in the humblest vessel of God, contained the most precious treasure. This true virtue is made manifest in meekness and humility to obey the instructions of God without hesitation. These are rare characters, yet what must be the basic possession of those who will bring harvest to God. They have the nature of the dying vessels of God and carry the treasure and power of Christ to manifest His glory to men. The design of God is that, in His unfathomable wisdom and deepest potency of His possibilities, man was chosen as the treasure of God to manifest His quality to creatures.

The paradox of this wisdom is the death sentence passed on such men before they can manifest this treasure. The light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ was contradictory to the religious and believe systems of the world. The world has not learnt so, that what science cannot produce is made possible through the knowledge and relationship with Christ. Jesus practically demonstrated to the world the excelling power of divinity and the glory of the Son. Though, the glory was naturally veiled and it needed to be pierced before the earth can see the glory of God in the Son. The revelation of this glory was the manifestation of resurrection, when he rose from the death and became the first begotten from the dead. Death was swallowed up in dominion. People take treasure as financial possession; they take gold for treasure and asset as the symbol of treasure. These are physical metaphorical expression of true treasure in which these emblems are inadequate to describe the treasure of God as used in 2 Corinthians 4:7. The treasure of God in man is the manifestation of the brilliance of God in man. This denotes the superiority of God over circumstances and situations the

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Church as God designed it – The harvest and its season (8) world might bring to our paths in the course of our journey with Christ. Man, those who are in Christ are potent in God to ride above the high places and bring situations to submission. This does not however, often show up until near death experiences are at hands to proof your trust, confidence in God. “We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body” (2 Cor. 4:8-10). In other words, when Paul screamed the word “more than conquerors” it is a description of the excellence of God or His Superiority over situations in which faith in Him could bring our ways. Bringing harvest to the kingdom requires genuine sacrifice and life threatening experience before the harvest could come. Harvest is the treasure hidden in the earthen vessel and the vessel must be broken before the treasure is let out. When a treasure is kept in the earthen vessel, the vessel must have passed through process, test, and experimental proofs to ensure the sustenance of the treasure. Moulding and remoulding involves breaking down and proper grounding before the treasures are kept in it. Esther, the newly queen of Vasti was not crowned and became harvest without the discipleship efforts of Modecai.` She needed to go through purification and waiting before she became queen and treasure of harvest to Israel. Her willingness to take risk, face death was largely responsible for the harvest she witnessed as the saviour of Israel in a strange land. The treasure was contained in the veil, what she needs to do is to pierce it to bring it out. We cannot overcome what we are not prepared to challenge. No one witness the harvest except he desires harvest, seek for harvest and take the risk involved in having harvest. Harvest is not a wish-

ful possession without taking the risk involved in it. Harvests come for those who fight for it. It is the inheritance of Sons. Daniel, in the Babylon, virtually evangelised the king of Babylon for God through his patriotic and willingness to die for what he believed. King Darius saw himself as the king of kings until someone proved to him that there is another king of kings and Lord of lords. Daniel refused to couch down for the image of the king. This act was without a price – death penalty for disobedient to the instruction of Dairus. Sad to say, today’s believers are not prepared to die for Christ, even when they knew that Christ died for them. Daniel was ready for death but was spared because of the excellence of God over situation and circumstance. When Daniel was thrown to the lion den, the lion became harmless because the supremacy of the Creator of lion must keep lion away from harming God’s servant. The outcome of this supernatural deliverance is the acceptance of God and the proclamation of the dominion of God over all kings. This is the decree of Darius afterwards; “I make decree, that in every dominion of my kingdom, men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and steadfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed and dominion shall be even unto the end” (Dan. 6:26). Daniel virtually harvested the whole kingdom for God as a result of his preparedness to tear down the veil for harvest. In our own case, we may not necessarily go through this process because of the present political dynamics of the world. However, the battle is becoming ferocious than before with so many subtle confrontations in which our generation is faced. We are likely to be held down by the excuses of unemployment, economic melt -down, internet phonographic scam, comfort of home and football competitions. Many prefer to watch Manchester United and Chelsea or Real

Madrid and Barcelona on Sunday morning than to go to Church. The situation is so appalling that, some Pastors organised marathon prayers for Arsenal to win Barcelona. I was pleasantly joyful when such prayer was ignored. God is not an entertainer. He gives joy unending to people. It is hypocritical and lack of present spiritual truth for someone to embark on such frivolity. Such people do not understand the threat Boko Haram poses to their faith. Such people do not understand the implication of economic crisis on their faith both for today and tomorrow. Such people do not understand the epic centre of harvest and its timing. If such energy is engaged on productive spiritual exercise, the harvest will be gargantuan. I am not against watching of football for those who have such luxury of time, but moderation is required in such exercise that profits little. Harvest requires seriousness and hard work before harvest is ripen. “I must work the works of Him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work” (Jn. 9:4). It is necessary for Christ to work before He can bring harvest to God. The time placed demand on Him to do it at a specific period. Death put an end to human activities. Only what is done in the flesh is required to become harvest unto both God and man. Doing the right things at the right time irrespective of the challenge posse by it, is importunate beckoning to harvest. We cannot continue to fold hands and expect things to be done for us what is required of us to do. This is the design of the Church. Please worship with us at Power and Glory Tabernacle, FUTA South Gate, beside Solab Hotel. You will experience a spiritual transformation when you come. God bless you. • Please worship with us at Power and Glory Tabernacle, FUTA, South Gate, Akure. You surely rejoice you do. Pastor Bola Bello – 08033704564

News

PCCAN urges govt to be sensitive to citizens’ needs Odinaka Uruakpa

he Pentecostal Commonwealth Christian Association of Nigeria (PCCAN) has appealed to Nigerians to be patient with the present administration, as it claimed that the government is doing its best to manage the current state of affairs in the nation.

Rising from their National Executive Council meeting on the state of the nation, the association urged the President Muhammadu Buhari led government to see that it puts things right so as to alleviate the sufferings of the people, as the present situation of the country is biting hard on the populace. While calling on the media to help in educating the citizenry on government policies, the body urged the

government to be sensitive to the needs and sufferings of the citizens, as well as do everything at its disposal to give Nigerians the dividends of democracy. On the economic state of the nation, the council appealed to the populace to be optimistic, adding that the current hardship the nation is passing through will soon be a thing of the past with God Almighty on the country’s side. The body further urged Christians and their leaders to pray for the growth and peace of the nation, as well as recovery and improvement in every facet of the nation. Those present at the meeting include Bishop (Dr.) Anselm Charles, Professor Kunle Macaulay, Bishop (Dr.) Bernard Ojemeni among others.

L-R: General Secretary, The Bible Society of Nigeria (BSN), Reverend Dare Ajiboye; Chairman, Special Members of Forum of BSN, Pastor Bayo Oladosu; Vice Chairman, Special Members Forum of BSN, Mrs. Mowanuola Dixon, presenting a Bible to former Nigerian Ambassador to Britain, Dr. Christopher Kolade

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Politics

March 6, 2016

Almajiri school programme is a wrong policy –Ganduje Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, the Executive Governor of Kano State speaks of tackling revenue shortfall, boosting agriculture, his relationship with his predecessor and other issues in this interview with Abuja Bureau Chief, OBIORA IFOH. Excerpts … In view of the huge revenue shortfall following the oil price crash, could you tell us how the state government intends to cut the cost of running the government and buy into the Federal Government economic diversification policy? What areas will you be looking at? We have saved a lot but it isn ’t easy to quantify in terms of facts and figures but two things are very important. First, the attitude towards governance by the administration and by the people and secondly the physical reduction in the cost of governance. I have reduced the ministries from 19 to 14; I slashed the salaries of political offices holders by half. So by simple arithmetic you will know that things have been reduced. Also I established a new project payroll, all our contracts are being publicised, all our council deliberations are been publicised, so you can see the issue of transparency in Kano and definitely that is leading to the reduced cost of governance in Kano State. In the area of diversification, I told you that in agriculture we have taken three areas that we have comparative advantage; the production of wheat, rice and tomatoes and all these we have people that are ready to partake, people that are ready to purchase and the farmers are ready and we are providing an enabling environment and what we have discovered is that agriculture shouldn ’t be limited to rainy season alone and therefore we are utilizing our dams, we have over 24 dams in the state and we are using them. Just last week, I distributed 5,000 water pumps and we distributed to the actual farmers because I told you that it is our point of duty to visit all the irrigation clusters and in the process I measure the size of the farmers by geo hyping and tagging the farmer so every farmer who is involved in the cluster we know the size of his farm, we know the amount of fertilizer he requires, amount of insecticide he is requiring and also we are revamped our fertilizer blending company, it is now working 24 hours. We have spend over N500 million and the fertilizer we are producing is much better than any fertilizer that is been imported because the fertilizer we are producing is based on the chemical nature of the soil in Kano State. We have rice millers now and I was surprised when we visited one of the rice millers, one lady came from

Gandujje

WHAT WE HAVE DISCOVERED IS THAT AGRICULTURE SHOULDN ’T BE LIMITED TO RAINY SEASON ALONE AND THEREFORE

WE ARE UTILIZING OUR DAMS, WE HAVE OVER 24 DAMS IN THE STATE AND WE ARE USING THEM

Lagos looking to purchase 50 trucks of rice but the company could only provide 25 and another came from Enugu looking for 30 trucks but the man said he could only give 10 trucks and he has the raw market and any farmers who has produced rice or wheat he is ready to buy. So you see how farming is lucrative and very soon we are establishing rice pyramid, which will replace groundnut pyramid in Kano and I will invite you for the launching of the rice pyramid in Kano. If you look at the philosophy behind the minimum wage, it wasn ’t because Nigeria had too much money that is why the salaries of workers were increased, it was because workers were still suffering. In Kano State we don ’t intend to reduce the salaries of workers what we do is that we use our cost to generate

revenue. We use them to help us to fish out what we are supposed to collect from the rich people and that in itself will be a way to sustain us and we are trying very hard and we have told them that we are not reducing this salary. Kano State use to be one of the states with high turnout in terms of education and judging from the falling standard that we have across today what effort is your government putting in place to ensure that Kano state is returned to its original position in terms of education? Falling standard of education is an issue all over the nation. Quality is always challenging quantity and in Kano State, we have involved inspectorate group, which is in charge of quality control to ensure that standard is maintained but

you know in maintaining standards takes a lot of time before the measurements are noticed so I can ’t precisely tell you that in terms of say, arithmetic that the standard has gone from this level to this level, it is something that will take a lot of time, something that will take a lot of input, the quality of the teachers matters, the instructional materials matter. There are so many variables we have to put in place and we are doing that. Can you give us an idea of where you are coming from in terms of Internally Generated Revenue and what the reformation of the revenue board have brought and some figures, how much the board is bringing now? I just talked about revenue generation, we had a lot of oil money from the last administration and at that time we didn ’t emphasise on internally generated revenue but they say necessity is the mother of invention. Now that we are in a necessity we are now inventing. Before now, we could hardly get N1 billion as internally generated revenue but I assure you now from the beginning of the year, we have over N2 billion because some infrastructures are just been laid on the ground and we brought in some technical advisers. Some are collecting money from landed properties, some from rented properties, some from vehicles, some CONTINUED ON PAGE 39

Politics

March 6, 2016

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Grounded politicians formulate long lasting policies –Wadada Hon Aliyu Ahmed Wadada is Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, chieftain in Nasarawa State who represented Karu/Keffi/Kokona federal constituency for eight years in the House of Representatives and was the pioneer House Committee Chairman on Capital market. He contested the senatorial seat of Nasarawa West Senatorial Zone on the platform of PDP in the 2015 general election. In this interview, he speaks on the state of governance in Nasarawa State and his private developmental initiative. IGBAWASE UKUMBA brings the excerpts. How would you rate the nine months in office of Governor Umaru Tanko AlMakura ’s second term? To rate the Governor Tanko AlMakura, I have to flash back to his past four years which I was emphatic on one thing; the policy drive, the mantra. What was the mantra of his administration? Was it education, housing, health, anti corruption, was it doing what will avoid ethnic and religion violence. I never got that up to the time his four years expired. To say the least, I have not seen anything better. Why am I not seeing anything better? What made Governor Al-Makura and I what we are today is education. What is the state of education in Nasarawa state? No society develops by neglecting or bastardizing its educational sector. Today, I don ’t know what is the state of education is in Nasarawa State. Without education, which is the bedrock of socio-economic development of any society, your whole effort would be dashed into the gutters. But permit me to say that if you are at the helm of affairs and you are objectively criticized; listen to those criticisms because they would only make you better. Let me say to you that Keffi, which is my immediate community, voted against PDP led administration of Aliyu Akwe Doma in 2011 just because Keffi was getting water supply every week or every two weeks. Before the last election, Keffi had stayed over seven months without water. I don ’t know either water flows freely in Keffi now. Let me them say the least which is quite worrisome to me because as the English saying goes; “charity begins at home ”, what His Excellency has been known with as his chosen endeavor is estate development. Since he came into office as governor there has been no deliberate policy to address housing matters in Nasarawa State. He has no reason whatsoever to fail. What I am saying here not be perceived as insult; I am only reminding my brother to rise up to the challenges so that Nasarawa State would be better

book. Do you think such action of the state governor portend that the nation ’s democracy is jeopardy? First and foremost, Governor Tanko Al-Makura did not employ that lady. If I understand very well the process of employment, she must have been employed by Nasarawa state civil service. And if she was employed by Nasarawa state civil service, having gone through all the required processes of getting employment then the governor lacks the powers to just terminate her appointment. All the governor should have done under ideal situation was to send her case to the civil service commission. For that lady to have called the attention of government which is in the interest of the people of Nasarawa state, and that government is sitting under the mandate of the people of Nasarawa state and you are terminating her appointment just because she has drawn your attention to your fundamental responsibility, which is the wellbeing of the people is a disgrace and I would not want to talk about that.

Wad dada

WHAT ARE THE ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES THAT ARE TAKEN PLACE IN NASARAWA STATE THAT WOULD WARRANT ANY PROFIT ORIENTED CONTEMPORARY AIRLINE TO BE FLYING INTO

LAFIA TO BRING WHO?

for all of us. Part of the reason on why I heard workers went on strike was that the minimum wage that was embarked upon by government was going to be reversed. I don ’t know, before our government embarked on that minimum wage which of course put Nasarawa State on the lead out of all the states in Nigeria as to the highest minimum wage given to workers. I don ’t know the parametesr or indices that the government used to embark on that. You don ’t just embark on a policy just for the purpose of it, for temporary political goals. If you are grounded politician, what you should always do is to embark on goals that would be there forever or would stand the taste of time. So Nasarawa State Government should have taken cognizance of what comes into the coffers of the state from the federation account and then should

have taken into cognizance the Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, and then plus and minus of market forces that could either turn your indicators up or turn the indicators down which is exactly what we are experiencing today. If all those were taken into cognizance, the state government wouldn ’t have paid its minimum wage on what it pays because it would have realized that for any reason to erupt in between, the government would not be able to continue. And that ’s what trapped the government. I am not going to take it as the fault of the workers to ask for what they have enjoyed over the period that they have enjoyed. It is still the fault of the government for not doing its homework well. Recently a young lady had her job with the state government terminated for criticizing the state governor on the face

Governor Al-Makura has embarked on an airport project recently even as the airport project is being alleged to have met series of criticisms from indigenes of the state, that it is not a priority of people of Nasarawa State. What would be your position on the airport project? I had criticized the idea of an airport of any kind by Alhaji Tanko Al-Makura ’s administration more than three years ago when the information started filtering to the people through grapevine. I was asked and I said what would be the viability of an airport in Nasarawa State of any kind; being it cargo, being it dry being it wet, being it whatever. What are the economic activities that are taken place in Nasarawa State that would warrant any profit oriented contemporary airline to be flying into Lafia to bring who? What has the government put in place that would warrant 20, 30 Igbo traders to leave Enugu or Lagos to Nasarawa State on a daily basis, and to 50 Yoruba traders to come to Nasarawa? What are the industrial activities that are going on in Nasarawa that would warrant that flow of passengers in and out of Lafia? Now talking about cargo airport, there is a cargo airport that is being worked upon in Jos and we cannot compare the socio-economic activities happening in Jos to what is happening in Lafia. NEXIM Bank is already working on a cargo airport to be sited in Abuja. So of what meaning would be another cargo airport in Lafia? I need to be enlightened and educated by the government of Nasarawa State on why. Apart from selfish benefits, the cargo airport of N17 billion is being established yet you are crying that you cannot pay workers minimum wage you have committed yourself to because price of oil has gone down, but the downward price of oil is not bad enough to stop you from embarking on a project that would have no economic value to the people. Is that not ridiculous?

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Politics

March 6, 2016

‘Almajiri programme is wrong policy ’ rural roads were abandoned for almost 10 years now I have taken time to complete them so I don ’t believe anything should be abandoned especially infrastructure because when the project was taken it was taken under public interest and it is a waste if we don ’t do that.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 37 from registration of business premises, we have taken all the sectors and put technical advisers and they are working hard to see how we will increase the internally generated revenue in Kano. How do you view local government autonomy in Kano? We always meet with them but one thing is that some of them can ’t even pay salaries so we have to augment what they are doing. So it isn ’t only the autonomy that matters but autonomy and augmentation. If you are relying only on autonomy some of the local government will shut down and it is something you work together to generate revenue, you give them what is their entitlement according to the constitution and also if they are in trouble you bail them out. The last federal administration invested so much on Almajiri schools, I want to know what the state of the Almajiri schools are now, have they really contributed to the development of education in Kano state? The last federal government introduced it but the programme is not well articulated, it is a wrong policy. For example, in my village, we have these schools it is only 50 students and in Kano we have over three million Almajiris and the number of Almajiri is almost a problem to the number of school children, so the issue is not creating a school. If you are creating an Almajiri school that is abnormal, who will like to be tag Almajiri? Is it that after completing your studies your certificate will be tagged Almajiri? And later in life you will be called a graduate of Almajiri school? Which means you were an Almajiri before, so it has some social implications. What we are adapting is integration, the Almajiri are integrated into the normal school system and from our investigation most of the Almajiris in Kano came from other parts of the North and from Chad and Niger. So we have concluded that the Almajiri schools should be integrated into the normal school and any mallam, who is coming with over 200 children from another state should allow the children to be integrated in the school or he should take his children back to his state. I think that is a more sustainable idea rather than building schools, how many schools can you build? It is difficult so it is better you integrate it. I wrote a letter to Mr. President and I told him the statistics of the Almajiri and I told him the method we have taken but that will require a lot of money because you need more infrastructures, more teachers, more materials for teaching and so on but that is a starting point. After the 2015 general elections, you were the only deputy governor that succeed his boss and that shows that there is a mutual understanding between both of you but of late something happened. Your younger brother was suspended by the Emir of Kano as the head of health, is that an indication of the rift between

Gan nduje

THE ECONOMY HAS CHANGED, THE COST OF OIL HAS DROPPED AND DO YOU THINK

BUSINESS AS USUAL CAN CONTINUE? WHEN CIRCUMSTANCES CHANGE DEFINITELY THERE MUST BE A CHANGE IN THE MANAGEMENT OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS you and the Emir? Definitely there was a good relationship with the former governor. We meet 30 years ago and it wasn ’t only in governance that we met, we met outside. I was his deputy for 14 years. There are two things that are really important, firstly know the roles of sycophants; from his side and my side that will like to benefit if we have problems but we have been talking. Secondly, no two individuals are the same even identical twins have differences in their emotions, philosophy, and the way they interrelate with others. This is a natural thing. The style may not be the same but the objective may be the same and to some a change of style may be a challenge, not agreeing with the former system but that is not so. If you put these two things in mind sometimes you find things happening here and there but I assure you we are together, we are still building what we had before, if I criticize him that means I am criticizing myself but that doesn ’t mean that if I fine tune that doesn ’t mean the other man was wrong, if I con-

solidate that doesn ’t mean the other man is wrong. The economy has changed, the cost of oil has dropped and do you think business as usual can continue? When circumstances change definitely there must be a change in the management of public affairs. The administration of Kwankwaso embarked on a lot of infrastructural projects in the state and people were worried that those projects accumulated a lot of debts in the state. Can you let us into these debts and how you are coping with it? When we were in government together we had a lot of money and we started a lot of mega projects that couldn ’t be completed, we had a lot of debt but having a debt isn ’t a crime because whatever we expended is in public interest and it is my responsibility to complete all the abandoned projects. In fact, there are some projects abandoned during the administration before Kwankwoso and I came in, two mega hospitals were abandoned for over 10 years and now we have started to complete those projects. Many

I do know that Kano used to be a very violate state. You met virtually with all stakeholders in security did you also meet with Igbo community because I do know that you use to have ethnic based conflicts, did you at anytime meet with these people too? The Igbo community, the Yoruba community and any other tribe in Kano, I want to carry them along and I will like to inform you that two months ago we connected in an interface conference, which was done live and it consisted of all ethnic nationalities, all religious groupings and we will continue to coexist together and I have constituted a permanent interface committee where there is a meeting from time to time. Also to show that those who are staying with us in Kano are mainly those living in Sabon-gari and I made it a point of deliberate policy to provide some facilities in Sabon-gari. Right now we are constructing a road and very soon we will start constructing another in Igbo road. I was there and the celebration is very high, in fact I no longer call them non-indigenes I call them indigenes of Kano State with primordial claims from where they came from. That is their new designation, they are not foreigners they are also indigenes of Kano State. What are you going to do to help them curb the high intake of drugs among the youths because there was a report recently that suggested that Kano has the almost the highest number of unemployed youths, how are you going to take them off the streets? Drug addiction is related to illegal sales of drugs. Kano State is a commercial state and it is more than a commercial centre in the North, it is also an international commercial centre for some West African countries, as of today and you see the drug trafficking business flourishing. Therefore we have a task force dealing with influx of illegal drugs almost every week and the commissioner of police is working very hard, many arrests have been made and in the last administration under my former governor he was the one who established this task force and we have being supporting the task force and they have being working very hard and also for those youths who are drug addicts, we have established a reformative school where we have medical doctors, welfare officers, psychologists and so on, where we take these addicts to after being detoxification, we teach them some skills and at graduation we empower them. With Kano being a mega city, this has continued to be a major burden, but the fact is that drug trafficking is an international problem, fighting illegal drug trafficking isn ’t an easy job but our security agencies are working very hard.

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STORIES THAT TOUCH YOU March 6, 2016

Mile 12 mayhem

Fear grips residents over fresh attacks

…they want market relocated

Owoseni

Rioters

OBASOLUYI TELEWA

s the Lagos State Government grapples with the crisis that engulfed Mile 12 and its environs in Kosofe Local Government Area of the state during the week residents of the areas affected are still living in fear over possible fresh attacks, Sunday Mirror investigations have confirmed. Eight people were killed on Thursday while many others were injured, including policemen, after a fight broke out between Hausa and Yoruba youths at Agiliti area of Mile 12 Market, Lagos. The violence, which started on Tuesday evening, snowballed into a full scale mayhem leading to deaths, burning of houses and vehicles. According to a resident, Mrs. Bosede Ogundimu, the people in the neigbourhood are still apprehensive based on the experiences of the past. “What most people do now is to quickly go out buy some things and return home on time, she disclosed to our correspondent, who visted the scene at the weekend. Also speaking, Mr. Olatunji Nosiru, a resident of Adekunle Street, Ketu, who also sells at the shut Mile 12 market stated that past experiences has made most people to be apprehensive about a recurrence. According to him, a similar incident

that occurred in 2007 when a fight broke out between the Yoruba youths and Hausa traders over leadership tussle and when people in the area thought sanity had prevailed, a group of Hausa traders invaded some primary schools in the area a day after killing and maiming innocent school children so as to avenge the death of their colleagues in the previous day ’s attacks. According to him, “Then, mothers were seen crying, there was commotion, it was a war-like situation ”, he said. Going by similar incidents that had happened at Idi-Araba in Lagos and Shagamu in Ogun State some years back, residents feelanything can still happen, he said. “It was in the night that the aggrieved Hausas mobilized for reprisal attack on their hosts, based on this, it is not yet over, he added. He advised the state government to find permanent solution to the crisis which, according to him, may go beyond the surface. “For a lasting solution the government should relocate the market to the land made available at Imota area of Ikorodu so that peace can reign in the Mile 12 area ”, he submitted. To check the escalating mayhem, Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, swiftly moved in and shut down the market and declared a curfew on Thursday. According to Sunday Mirror ’s investi-

Ambode

gations, Thursday violence was as a result of pent- up resentment that had been waiting to explode for the past two weeks. A reliable source disclosed to our correspondent that, “two weeks ago in the market, there was a Hausa man who was pushing his wheelbarrow when he was allegedly harassed by some Yoruba youths who taunted him with the manner at which he was pushing his wheel barrow. According a source in the area, “The youth got the support of others and said he would beat the Hausa trader who stood his ground. The timely intervention by some people prevented the outbreak of violence at that period ”, the source disclosed to Sunday Mirror. According to a Hausa trader who craved anonymity, “Truly the violence may have been spurred by the incidence of harassment of a Hausa trader by some youths in the area two weeks ago which did not go down well with the Hausas ”, he disclosed to our correspondent. So far the law enforcement agents have arrested oveer100 youths while heavy security presence can be felt in the affected

areas. Narrating the cause of the trouble, an Okada rider who gave his name as Jimoh, said, a Hausa motorcyclist knocked down a pregnant woman and refused to take her to hospital. He said the Agiliti youths wanted the motorcyclist to see to the woman ’s medical needs, which was rebuffed. According to him, angry Yoruba boys then impounded his motorcycle and those of other Hausa riders and set them ablaze. The Hausa boys left in a huff. They regrouped and returned for a reprisal attack. Before people knew what was happening, the ground had turned red with blood. Painting a gory picture of the tragedy, a trader, who gave her name as Alhaja Tawa, said, “At least 10 persons were killed. Houses and motorcycles were also burnt. According to her, “The Hausa men came with their men, welding weapons of all kinds and fight broke out leading to loss of lives and property. A former administrator in the Kosofe Council Area, who is also the Lisa of Ogudu Land, Alhaji Nojeem Fasola, said, he felt saddened over the incident. According to him, “The government of the state must ensure that there is peace between the Yoruba and Hausa, as well as the Ibos and other tribes living in the state. The problem may go beyond the ordinary but it must be controlled. The government must look into the circumstances that led to this, that is my candid advice ”, he told Sunday Mirror at the weekend. The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni, while assuring the public of their safety stated that those involved in violence will be brought to justice. Owoseni said that over 100 suspect had been arrested in connection with the clash. The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Dolapo Badmus, while confirming the clash, said, “The police command mobilized men from the RRS, Mobile unit and Area ‘H ’ Command to restore normalcy ”. The commissioner of police further stated that the Command is engaging the market people and community leader in a peace talk, insisting that investigations are ongoing to unravel the root cause of the fracas. The state governor, Ambode, while ordering the closure of the market and imposed curfew on four badly affected streets in Mile 12 area which include Oniyanri Street, Maiden Street, Agiliti 1 and Agiliti 2, said the decision to shut the market and restrict movement on the streets was to aid security agencies restore normalcy in the area.

March 6, 2016

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

NDDC disowns college renovation contract in Akwa Ibom

he management of Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has said it did not award any contract for the renovation of classroom blocks at the Government Technical College, Abak in Akwa Ibom. The acting Managing Director, Mrs. Ibim Semenatari, disclosed this yesterday at Government Technical College, Abak, when the Akwa Ibom Government complained that the contract was aban-

doned. The state Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mr. Aniekan Umanah, had taken the Senate Committee on NDDC and Amnesty Programme on projects inspection to show the abandoned classroom blocks. Umanah alleged that the commission came into the school and removed the roof of four classroom blocks leaving the students to suffer in the rain and under the scorching

sun. The commissioner said that the contract was abandoned a year ago, complaining that delicate science facilities and computer sets were damaged during the process of transferring them. Responding, Semenatari explained that the contract was not listed in the books of NDDC. Semenatari further explained that any contract awarded by the commission usually carries

NDDC signpost at the site. In his reaction, the Senate Committee Chairman on NDDC and Amnesty Programme, Sen. Peter Nwaoboshi, cautioned the people of Niger Delta to beware of fake contract letters purportedly issued by NDDC. The committee chairman said that there had been reports of fake contract letters issued by unscrupulous persons in the name of NDDC. At the inspection of the

2km Edienne Abak – Ikot Ekan Road, the committee expressed dissatisfaction with the level of work done since 2012 when the contract was awarded. Nwaoboshi directed the contractor to return to site immediately or refund the mobilisation of N48 million earlier collected from NDDC. The NDDC engineers had informed the committee that the contractor had completed earth work and one kilometre of stone base before abandoning the work.

Nwaoboshi, who was baffled at the contract sum for project, put at N248 million and the level of work done, said, “I am really surprised, I am disappointed. ” The committee, however, said that it was impressed by the quality of work done at the NDDC prototype hostel complex for the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH). Commenting on the project, the committee chairman said, “I want to commend NDDC for this beautiful project. ”

Al-Makura reads Riot Act to persons converting public schools to other uses IGBAWASE UKUMB LAFIA

L-R: Chairman, Prison Welfare Support Association, Evang. Taylor Eric; representative of the Chief Judge/Deputy Chief Registrar (Legal), High Court of Lagos State, Mrs. Eniola Fabamwo; former Chief Judge of Lagos State, Ayotunde Phillips; Commandant, Prison Training College, Kirikiri-Lagos, Tunde Ladipo; Assistant Controller of Prison, Kirikiri-Lagos, Akande Olusegun,during the belated New year Party/Talent Showcasing of Nigerian Inmates, held in Lagos at the weekend.

Ayade ’s wife canvasses use of mosquito nets in schools RICHARD NDOMA CALABAR

ife of Cross River State Governor, Dr. Linda Ayade has emphasized on the need for students in boarding schools across the State to sleep inside Mosquito Treated Nets (MTNs) to avoid being attack by malaria disease. The governor ’s wife gave the charge during her advocacy visits to Hope Waddell Training Institute and Holy Child Secondary School, both in Calabar while sensitizing the students on the dangers associated with not sleeping inside mosquito

treated nets. The governor ’s wife who was represented by the Special Adviser, Office of the Wife of the Governor, Mrs. Rose Eneji, stated that the exercise was organized by Mediatrix Development Foundation (MDF) - the Non Governmental Organization, NGO, which is working in partnership with the Department of Community/ Primary Health Care, to implement the Roll Back Malaria Initiative in the State for boarding schools across the state. She said as a medical doctor, her greater focus will be mostly on health, especially that of chil-

dren, adding that, as future leaders, she does not want their lives to be cut short as due to malaria disease, hence the need for the distribution of mosquito nets to the schools to help combat the disease. Dr. Ayade therefore enjoined the children to take the issue of sleeping inside the nets seriously, adding that, malaria is a silent killer disease that should not be taken for granted, noting that, many people collected the nets during the 2015 net distribution by the State Government without making use of them. She disclosed that her Foundation encompasses a lot

of activities for women, children, the aged, vulnerable and the less privileged on the State, adding that, her dream is for Cross Riverians to remain healthy.

asarawa State governor, Alhaji Tanko Al-Makura, has said government will deal decisively with anybody caught using public schools across the state for activities unrelated to education. Special Assistant to the Governor on Media And Publicity, Ahmed Tukur, in a statement said Al-Makura handed down the warning when he paid an unscheduled visit to LGEA primary school Lafia East. The governor explained that government has incured serious losses ranging from destruction of school windows, roofing and other facilities as result of converting of public school

premises as avenue for games after school hours. Al-Makura said his administration will not take it lightly with any person or groups found destroying such government property hence anybody caught in any school premises after closing hours without genuinereasons would have himself to blame. The governor added that government will henceforth deploy security agencies to various schools across the state to provide watch over such premises even as he called on members of the public to assist government in the protection of government properties. Lagos council urges schools to prepare for Spelling Bee competition

Akwa Ibom begins elimination ioonn of ghost workers

he Akwa Ibom Government yesterday said it had begun the elimination of ghost workers from the state civil service. The Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Akan Okon, disclosed this while interacting with newsmen in Uyo. Okon said that the gov-

ernment was conducting staff audit to ensure the success of the exercise. He said that the government was partnering with a Consultant to help it to tie all civil servants on its payroll, to their Bank Verification Number (BVN). “We are undergoing staff audit; we are also ensuring that every civil ser-

vant gets BVN. “We are tie-ing our payroll system to the BVN and the outcome is certainly going to help to reduce the issue of ghost workers in the state. “As a state we are working closely with a consultant that is helping us to tie all the civil servants that we pay salaries to, to their BVN.

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FRESH BUSINESS NEWS AT YOUR FINGERTIPS Sunday, March 6, 2016

FG plans new taxes on phone calls, pay TV

ommunication service subscribers may pay additional tax if a new Bill now being introduced by the National Assembly is enacted into law. The categories of communication services liable to the tax include voice calls, SMS, MMS, Data and Pay TV.

The Bill, titled ‘Communication Service Tax Bill (“CST” or the “Bill”) 2015’, seeks to impose, charge and collect Communication Service Tax (CST) and will be levied on service fees payable by users of electronic communication services and will be borne by the customers. The rate of the CST,

which is proposed at nine per cent of the service charge for the use of communication service charged by service providers, is seen by fiscal experts as amongst other taxes being imposed by government to shore up its revenue base as the headwinds in the international oil market continue

its depreciative impact on accruable earnings by the country from crude oil exports. According to a ‘Tax Alert’ publication by Pricewater House Coopers, PwC, Nigeria, if the Bill is enacted into law, it will mandate service providers to file monthly tax returns with the FIRS with strict penalties for

non-compliance. For instance, Section 2 of the Bill listed the chargeable services to include, Voice calls, SMS, MMS, Pay per View TV stations, data usage from telecommunication services providers and internet service providers. While the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) will be responsible for the collection of the tax and its payment together with any interest and penalty into the

Federation Account, the Federal Government will be responsible for the administration and management of the funds. The Bill provided that all service providers are to file tax returns and pay the tax due not later than the last working day of the month immediately after the month to which the payment relates. Failure to comply with this provision will attract stiff financial penalties on erring entities

Bristow crash: NCAA lifts ban on Sikorsky S-76 aircraft Olusegun Koiki

L-R: Managing Director, Body Art Cosmetic Surgery, Mrs. Tola Ajayi; Marketing Executive, Diamond Bank Plc, Adenike Oyetibo; Internal Communications Manager, Nigerian Bottling Company Limited, Bisi Aweda; and Managing Director, Nordica Fertility Centre, Dr. Abayomi Ajayi, during the Endo Walk 2016 to end the pain of Endometriosis in Lagos, yesterday.

El-Rufai advocates appropriate policy for transport industry Olusegun Koiki

he Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai has called for the creation of appropriate policy environment for the growth of transportation industry in the country. This is as the gover-

nor also promised to support the empowerment of technical personnel in the aviation industry in order to create more job opportunities for youth and other qualified Nigerians. The governor stated this over the weekend at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, MMA, Lagos

when he toured the facilities of Arik Air in Lagos. El-Rufai insisted that in a bid to grow the economy, aviation sector as part of the intermodal form of transportation must be developed, adding that the State Government would help in its own little way to propel the industry forward.

He also craved for improved frequencies to Kaduna Airport from Arik Air, appealing to the airline management to increase its frequencies from one to two daily in into the airport order to accommodate more air travellers especially business travellers in and out of the state.

Why Nigeria must develop agriculture –Wike Dennis Naku

PORT HARCOURT

ivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has stated that agriculture should be developed as the country’s next foreign exchange earner in view of dwindling oil prices. Wike stated this in Government House, Port Harcourt on Saturday when the Minister of Agriculture,

Chief Audu Ogbeh and the Minister of State for Agriculture, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri paid him a courtesy call. The governor said developing agriculture would generate employment and strengthen the economy. He said: “Agriculture is a critical sector, which should be developed as a major foreign exchange earner for the country. Rivers State

Government will work with the Federal Government to develop agriculture.” He said that the state government has initiated school farming to encourage youths to be involved in agriculture. The governor added that his administration has also extended loans to farmers for greater agricultural production. He approved the hosting of the 2017 agricultural conference in Rivers State as

requested by the Minister of Agriculture. In his remarks, Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh said he was in Rivers State to visit Notore, the fertiliser production facility. According to him, Rivers State hosts the two biggest fertiliser plants in Nigeria, Notore and Indorama, hence the state remains critical in the development of Agriculture in the country.

he Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, has lifted the ban on all Sikorsky S-76 helicopters operating in the country after a comprehensive operational audit of all the companies using the chopper type. NCAA had suspended all Sikorsky S-76 aircraft in the country last month following a second crash involving in the aircraft type within six month. The first of such crash occurred when the Sikorsky S-76 aircraft crashed into a lagoon on the Third Mainland Bridge area of Oworonshoki while the other happened on February 3, 2016 when the helicopter ditched into Atlantic Ocean. Statement issued in Lagos by the media consultant of Bristow Helicopters said that the regulatory authority lifted the sanction yesterday Commenting on the lifting of the sanction, the Group Vice President, Global Operations, Bristow, Mike Imlach commended the regulatory body for conducting a thorough review of its operations. He emphasized that the helicopter company completed a detailed safety inspection of the S-76 series helicopters and test flights for all [16] S-76 aircraft in compliance with the NCAA. He added, “Our Group President and CEO, Jonathan Baliff, was a passenger in one of the approved non-revenue test flights to demonstrate his confidence in the safety of

our S-76 fleet.” He explained that the company had concluded a number of return to service safety activities with flight crews, engineers and other service employees, clients and key stakeholders, as an additional precautionary measure prior to resuming the S-76 fleet to operation. These activities include maintenance assessment reviews, risk assessment, and pre-flight safety briefings with passengers to give them the opportunity to talk to the crew and ask questions. The company he said had also engaged a reputable independent third party aviation firm to conduct an additional review of its entire operations in Nigeria. Bristow proposes that the review be extended to other operators in Nigeria so that best practices could be shared to enhance safety across the industry, and has commenced discussions with a number of operators regarding their participation. Bristow he insisted was in full compliance with NCAA regulatory requirements and all Sikorsky directives for its fleet, adding that the company maintained its aircraft to industry standards in accordance with special maintenance and monitoring programs developed by the aircraft and engine manufacturers that are fully approved by the NCAA. Besides, Bristow’s Senior Legal Director, Africa Region, Tolu Olubajo declared that the company would continue to cooperate fully with the Accident Investigation Board, AIB, which is investigating the events of February 3, 2016,

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North

March 6, 2016

Arewa youths appeal for release of Shiite sect members ADEOLA TUKURU ABUJA

he Arewa Youth Leaders ’ Forum has appealed to military authorities to pardon and release detained members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) also known as Shiite Sect. This followed its apology to the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant-General Tukur Buratai, over the incident of December 2015 when he was threatened as the sect members obstructed his

convoy in Kaduna State. The Forum ’s decision to appeal on behalf of the detained sect members was reached at a roundtable dialogue held in Abuja yesterday. Messers Isah Ocheja and Jonah Ali, president and general secretary respectively, in a statement jointly issued on the outcome of the gathering said: “We resolved at our roundtable in Abuja on Saturday, February 5, 2016 to apologise to the Chief of Army Staff and the Nigerian Govern-

ment and beg for pardon for detained members of the (Shiite) sect to be released with a promise not to engage in further acts of terrorism. ” The statement disclosed that the group planned to reach out to the National Assembly while consultations would be embarked upon with traditional rulers on why no individual or group of persons should allow their children to be indoctrinated and radicalised to commit any act of terrorism again.

It however kicked against the solidarity extended to the region and the sect by the Iranian authority as they demanded that Iran ’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Saeed Koozechi, must desist from making utterances that present the population of the North that has been known to be peace-loving as terrorists and promoters of extreme sectarian views. “We passed a vote of confidence in President Muhammadu Buhari for the recent successes on

the war against terrorism. Nigerians are happy that despite the situation of helplessness that he met on ground, he has been able to raise the bar. “Nevertheless, we appeal to Mr. President that any religious sect whose activities are not in tandem with the laws of the land should be proscribed and declared persona non grata, ” the Forum ’s leadership said. Reacting to videos of

Niger rst lady tasks govt on national policy on nutrition PRISCILLA DENNIS MINNA

L-R: Governor Aminu Tambuwal; Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa ’ad Abubakar; Sen.Aliyu Wamakko; Deputy Governor of Sokoto, Alhaji Ahmed Aliyu and other Muslim faithful during the funeral prayer for Sokoto Commissioner for Science and Technology, Malam Nasiru Zarummai, in Sokoto, yesterday.

Peace paramount for development in Kogi WALE IBRAHIM LOKOJA

he need to foster unity among ethnic nationalities in Kogi State to enhance speedy development of the state has been stressed. Peace Ambassador, Kogi State, Paul Adewunmi, who was the guest speaker at ‘First Kogi Peace Submit ’ held in Lokoja yesterday, explained that peace was crucial for the overall development of the state.

He pointed out that peace is when everyone lived safely without fear or threat of violence. Also in a paper presented by Dr. Ahmed Attah at the Summit, he stated that unity and peace are not negotiable if development must come to Kogi Attah, who is a medical consultant, expressed thanks to God for giving this direction under the leadership of Governor Yahaya Bello. “On a day like this we are bound together by the

vision and dream of our founding fathers and we can almost feel their presence as we stand to make bold steps into the future for strong, virile and united Kogi State, ” he emphasised. Speaking on the occasion, human rights activist and executive director, Centre for Human Rights and Conflict Resolution, CHRCR, Comrade Idris Miliki Abdul, urged that people invest in peace, noting that preaching peace without investment would not achieve the de-

sired results. Earlier in her address, the organiser of the event and the Managing Director of Bramak Events Enterprise, Mrs. Grace Samuel, explained that the main objective for the summit was to foster unity among Kogi people. Samuel added that restoring hope back to the state by supporting Governor Bello, providing solution to some of the challenges facing the state should remain the priority of both the government and citizens.

Shiite leaders calling for retaliation against officials, the Forum noted that some disgruntled elements are still threatening violence against innocent members of the state, which it described as saddening, unacceptable and condemnable in view of the lasting peace initiatives set in motion by the government of Kaduna State and the entire northern region to nip the unfortunate incident to the bud.

ife of Niger State Governor, Dr. Amina Sani Bello, has urged the state government to adopt the National Strategic Action Plan on Nutrition to help enhance nutrition status of people, especially children. In an address at a ‘OneDay Advocacy/Sentisation Meeting for Policy Makers and Nutrition Stakeholders to Scale up Nutrition ’ organised by Civil Society Scaling-Up Nutrition in Nigeria, CS-SUNN, under the PACFaH project, in collaboration with the Niger State Primary Health Care Development Agency for policy makers and stakeholders in Minna, Dr. Bello said the biggest challenge in the state was the refusal of mothers to go on exclusive breastfeeding for their babies to ensure they get good nutrition for healthy growth. According to her, at present 30 per cent of women in the state are no longer breastfeeding their children, based on a survey carried out, a development she noted has increased the cases of stunting in children. Decrying the 11 million cases of stunting due to poor nutrition among chil-

dren in Nigeria, she said by the figure, the country has the second highest on the African continent and second highest in the world, presently. Earlier, the Head of Nutrition, Federal Ministry of Health, Dr. Chris Ose Isokpunwu, stated that 11 million children, representing 32 per cent are alleged to have stunted growth due to lack of proper nutrition, according to the Civil Society ScalingUp Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN) survey. Speaking on the theme: ‘Implementation of National Strategic Plan Action Nutrition; Cost Implication to Nigeria and Niger state ’, he said aside from 32 per cent stunted children, 7.2 per cent are wasted, while 18.6 per cent are underweight. Isokpunwu also said the nutrition Indices of 2015 revealed that 20 per cent of child mortality can be averted if mothers adhered strictly to breastfeeding of their babies in the first six months of their lives. He stressed that to adequately improve nutrition status of people and enhance productivity, government at all levels should come up with an action plan to address the situation.

Senator distributes science laboratory equipment to schools EZEKIEL TITUS BAUCHI

enator Ali Wakili representing Bauchi south senatorial district has distributed science laboratory equipment worth millions to various schools in seven local councils of Bauchi State This was just as Wakili

promised more dividends of democracy to the people of Bauchi senatorial district in line with the APC change mantra. The senator who made the statement in Lere district in continuation of the distribution exercise said the need for western education in the area of science development informed his

decision to distribute the science equipment “I want to make a clear difference to improve science innovation unlike in the past where pupils were not privileged to acquire scientific knowledge for effective development, ” Wakili said. Among the schools that benefitted from the equip-

ment are GDSS Bar-Arewa, GDSS Lukshi Dass, Tapshin, GDSS Lusa, GDSS Baraza and including others that cut across seven LGAs in the state Wakili stressed that the gesture was out of the senatorial constituency allowance, saying that the political mandate was given to him to serve as

servant of the people not their masters. According to the senator, the beneficiaries are not only supporters of APC, but the entire people of Bauchi south irrespective of their difference. He noted with displeasure the current economic doldrums in spite of his giant strides to fulfil the

mandate given to him and seek for the people ’s support. Mr. Bom who spoke on behalf of the principals whose schools are beneficiaries expressed delight and urged Senator Wakili not to be distracted in his renewed commitment to bringing development to the areas.

South

March 6, 2016

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Ekiti lawmakers raise alarm over DSS invasion of Assembly complex ABIODUN NEJO ADO EKITI

kiti State House of Assembly has raised alarm over alleged invasion of its complex at the weekend by operatives of Department of State Services (DSS) and subsequent abduction of some of its members. The Assembly at a press conference attended by 13 members of the 26-man

legislature, condemned the manner the DSS operatives allegedly stormed the complex, at about 3 p.m. on Friday, “shooting sporadically into the air and sending staff and members scampering for safety ”. The Speaker, Kola Oluwawole, who addressed the conference, said: “At the end of the commotion created by this barbaric act, we discovered that four of our members could not be

found. “It was only this morning that we were able to establish that Hon Afolabi Akanni (Efon Constituency) was abducted and taken to Abuja. “We got it on good authority that the script now being acted by the DSS is part of the APC and President Muhammad Buhari ’s clandestine plot to cripple Ekiti State Government by arresting and detaining

top functionaries of government. “The plot is to harass, intimidate and embarrass top officials of the administration because of the governor ’s critical stance on the Buhari government, ” the Speaker said. Although Oluwawole did not mention the names of the three missing members, he alleged: “We are aware that 18 of our members have been pencilled

down for harassment and the game plan is to harass them to submission, with a view to coercing them into signing an already prepared notice of impeachment of the governor and his deputy. ” The Assembly warned that it would not condone dictatorial tendencies in the current democratic era. It said that the state Assembly would never make itself available for anyone to destabilize a democratically-elected government in the state, adding that the DSS drama that played out in Akwa Ibom State last year shrouded in se-

crecy was what was being re-enacted in Ekiti State. “Let it be reiterated once again that this House of Assembly is a partner in the progress of the Ekiti State government under the able leadership of the Governor. “Therefore, the Abujabased agents of destabilisation should get it into their heads that we will never be harassed or intimidated into buying into their sinister agenda. “We, therefore, wish to tell the APC agents of political instability that this time around, this House of Assembly will not be available for any ungodly use, ” the Speaker said.

Rivers rerun will be test for democracy, says Wike DENNIS NAKU

PORT HARCOURT

R L-R: District 9110 Governor Nominee, Rotarian Dr. Adewale Ogunbadejo; 9110 District Governor Elect, Rotarian Pat Okheloa; NTA Channel 10 General Manager, Mrs. Bunmi Idowu; District 9110 Governor, Rotarian Sir Bola Onabadejo during the Rotarians ’ visit to NTA, yesterday.

Aregbesola approves Ayeni as Akinla of Erin-Ijesha

overnor of State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola, has approved the appointment of Prince Isaac Adeyeba Ayeni as 26th Akinla of Erin Ijesha in Oriade local government of the state. A letter signed by Femi Ogundun on behalf of the state Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy, Water Resources, Rural and Community Affairs with reference no. CD.21/22/Vol.

11/252, dated March 3, 2015, titled: ‘Notification of your appointment as the new Akinla of Erin-Ijesha ’ and addressed to Prince Ayeni, said his appointment took effect from March 2, 2015 in accordance with section 20, sub-section 1 of Chief ’s Law (Cap.25) Laws of the State of Osun 2002. The letter reads in part: “I am directed to inform you that the Governor-InCouncil ably led by Mr. Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola, has

approved your appointment as the next Akinla of Erin-Ijesha in Oriade Local Government area of the state with effect from Wednesday, March 2, 2016 in accordance with section 20, sub-section 1 of Chief ’s Law (Cap.25) Laws of the state of Osun 2002. “I am equally to inform you that arrangement is being made to publish the appointment in the government official gazette. Congratulations and accept the highest regards of the state

government of Osun. ” In a release by the monarch ’s media aide, Kayode Ekundayo, the approval and subsequent installation of Oba Ayeni as Akinla of Erin Ijasha, brought about wide jubilation to the people of the ancient town. This also has brought to an end the 17-year kingship tussle in the town. Oba Ayeni, an astute engineer, is from Ayeni royal family of Osefiri ruling house of the town. He is 52 years old.

You can ’t denigrate Adams, OPC warns expelled member

yo State Secretary of the pan-Yoruba group, Oodua People ’s Congress, OPC, Comrade Julius Olajide, has warned the Yoruba to be wary of baseless and blatant lies being spread by an expelled member of the body, Shina Akinpelu, aimed at tarnishing the image of Otunba Gani Adams. He said the allegations that Adams owns houses in England, Lekki in Lagos and Tema in Ghana

are nothing but lies aimed at inciting members of the OPC against its national co-ordinator, Adams. He challenged Akinpelu to prove the allegations he had levelled against Adams. “ Oodua People ’s Congress became what it is today with the power of Almighty God and the initiatives of Otunba Gani Adams and the support of every loyal member of the national coordinating council and members of Oodua People ’s Con-

gress, ” Olajide explained. Listing a few of the achievements of OPC under the leadership of Adams, he said they include the repackaging and rebranding of the OPC from what it is used to be to a refined and corporate group which everyone wants to identify with. According to him, other achievements of OPC under Adams include cultural promotions and diversification that gave birth to a well known and recognised cul-

tural organisation. Olokun Festival Foundation, which promotes over 23 cultural festivals annually in Yoruba land, such as Eledumare Festival in Lagos, Oodua Festival in Ile-Ife, Olokun Festival in Lagos, Okota Festival in Ondo State, Wealth Festival in Lagos and Obatala in Oyo State. He also listed Adams ’ achievement as the leader of OPC to include the renting of offices with modern facilities for all the SouthWest

ivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, yesterday declared that the forthcoming legislative rerun elections in the state would be a test for the current Federal Government to allow for democracy to be deepened. This is as he reiterated that the Supreme Court upheld his election on the premise of laid down legal principles applied in all the other governorship appeals, saying no actions were taken to influence the judgement as alleged by the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC. Speaking when he appeared on a radio phonein programme in Port Harcourt , Wike said that Rivers people would not allow alleged planned use of security agencies to rig the elections to materialise. According to him, the desperation to rig the forthcoming rerun elections is part of a plot by the APC to capture Rivers State through fraudulent means, saying that the party has arranged to write results and go ahead with an impeachment plan. His words: “They are so desperate to rig the elections. These elections will be a test for democracy in Nigeria. ” Wike disclosed that contrary to claims by the APC, he was not inciting violence, pointing out that

the warning he gave that those who plan to rig the rerun elections would be treated as political armed robbers was in line with similar warnings given by President Muhammadu Buhari before the last general elections. “If they are coming to do proper elections to let the will of the people to prevail, we will support them. Why are they worried simply because we are fighting political armed robbers, ” he said. On the military invasion of Ogoni communities which led to the loss of innocent lives, Wike said he supports the fight against criminality, but will never support the unjustified killing of innocent people. He noted that he visited Yeghe and Bori communities in Ogoniland as governor to ascertain the level of damage and loss of lives. He wondered why in the so-called search for one Solomon Ndigbara (a former militant) the military would massively deploy in Ogoniland to disrupt peaceful communities. While blaming Senator Magnus Abe for going about with soldiers to intimidate his constituents, Wike said it was unfortunate that some politicians invite soldiers to rout their peaceful communities. He said the Solomon Ndigbara that Abe was hunting for was the senator ’s associate before they fell out politically.

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Rangers top Nigerian league

Sport

Sunday, March 6, 2016

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KEEPING YOU ABREAST OF SPORTING NEWS SUNDAY, MARCH 6, 2016

Terry rules out retirement PAGE 47

NFF must take blame for Oliseh’s resignation -Lijoka Ifeanyi Eduzor

s more reactions continue to trail the recent resignation of Super Eagles handler, Sunday Oliseh, a former Julius Berger central defender, Kola Lijoka has blamed Nigeria Football Federation for the resignation of the embattled coach even as he advised Nigerians to hold the football house responsible if the national team fails to qualify for AFCON 2017. Sunday Oliseh who is just eight months into a three- year contract last Thursday resigned his position as the Super Eagles gaffer following irreconcilable differences with the glass house which includes unpaid salaries, contract violations and lack of support from the NFF. In an exclusive interview with Saturday Mirror, Lijoka stated that instead of Nigerians castigating Oliseh for dumping the team few weeks to the all important AFCON 2017 back to back qualifier against Egypt, they should rather blame the NFF for its inability to look into some of the issues raised by the coach such as nonpayment of players match bonuses and poor preparation for the team ahead of their clash with the Pharaohs. “It is quite unfortunate that outsiders are running the country’s football. Most of the people in the NFF are not qualified to be there. Because of personal interest, they frustrated Oliseh and I want Nigerians to hold them responsible if the Super Eagles fails to be in Gabon next year. ‘’ Members of the NFF are being economical with the truth. All they wanted Oliseh to do was to keep quiet and work under very difficult condition but because he is out spoken and ready to call a spade a spade they became uncomfortable and make things more difficult for him. “I am convinced that part of the reasons why Oliseh threw in the towel was because of inadequate preparation for the qualifiers. Egypt has been playing friendly matches while Nigeria has not played any and do not be surprised they might be in Togo or Benin Republic preparing for the game”, he stressed. According to the former Calabar Rovers and BCC Lions of Gboko player, Oliseh took the right decision to quit because he must have realized that the NFF has perfected plans not only to sack him if Nigeria looses to Egypt but to blame him for not qualifying the country for AFCON 2017 which will be a dent on his resume. Lijoka who had his professional stint with Sporting Club de Tulle of France said he would have preferred the NFF appealing to Coach Stephen Keshi to handle the two important matches against Egypt or in the alternative engage Shuabu Amodu or Joe Erico as caretaker coaches before a substantive one is named even as he canvassed for the recall of Vincent Enyeama and Emmanuel Emenike to the national team. “I am not quarrelling with the appointment of Samson Siaisia, Salisu Yusuf, Emmanuel Amuneke and Aloy Agu as caretaker coaches of the Super Eagles but I would have preferred a situation where the NFF should have appealed to Stephen Keshi to handle the team or in the alternative invite experienced coaches like Shuaibu Amodu or Joe Erico because they are capable of handling the crisis situation we found ourselves” he concluded.

Super Eagles players in a prayer session before a match: Inset. Pinnick

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IFEANYI Eduzor

08055829770 ifeduz24@yahoo.com

Zango sure on Olympic qualifier

Action recorded in a league match

Rangers top Nigerian league E nugu Rangers are the latest leaders of the Nigeria league after they piped hard-fighting Wikki Tourists 1-0 at home yesterday. They are now on 10 points from four matches, a point ahead of erstwhile leaders Lobi and MFM FC, who will both be in action today. Godwin Aguda was the match winner for ‘The Flying Antelopes’ when he stabbed home in first half stoppage time after a good work by striker Bobby Clement. Wikki created chances to draw level

with Mubarak Umar denied by goalkeeper Itodo Akor and also skipper Mustapha Ibrahim threatening the Rangers goal. Osas Okoro was also denied by the Wikki goalkeeper Emeka Nwabulu in the second half. The first effort at goal in the game was in the sixth minute by Rangers Obinna Nwobodo, whose tame effort could not beat the Wikki goalkeeper. Five minutes later, Bobby Clement headed over the bar from a corner kick.

Wikki captain Mustapha Ibrahim shot wide in the 16th minute after his good work through the midfield. Four minutes after the interval, Nwabulu in Wikki’s goal stopped Rangers Bitrus Dada’s low drive. In the 55th minute, Rangers goalkeeper Itodo kept out Godwin Obaje’s effort. Bobby Clement could also not get on the score sheet in the closing moments of the encounter when the Wikki goalkeeper got a strong hand to his low shot that was heading for goal.

ITTF Championship: Nigeria, Egypt remain in division 2

fter failing to qualify to the elite division of the biennial ITTF World Team Championship, Nigeria and Egypt will again campaign in second tier in 2018. From the rating of teams, Egypt finished ahead of Nigeria in the ranking having made it to the semifinal stage while Nigeria did not advance beyond the quarterfinal

round. As it is, Egypt is ranked 27th while Nigeria occupies 29th place as the eight-day championship ends today in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. However, the race for the African sole slot in the men’s team event of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games continues between Nigeria and Egypt as their players aim to garner points to

become the best team from the continent. With the absence of Nigeria women team, Egypt has automatically qualified for the women team event of the Olympic Games. Nigeria will have to wait for the decision of ITTF to know its fate in the women cadre after the West Africa side failed to make it to the tournament.

Lagos YSFON Oba Cup play-off begins today Ifeanyi Eduzor

he 2016 edition of the Lagos State chapter of the Youth Sports Federation of Nigeria, Oba of Benin U-13 football play- off will kick off today at the Opebi Primary School, Ikeja, Lagos. According to a statement by the Federation, the championship which is being organized to select the best team that will represent

the state in the annual Oba of Benin tournament will attract many grassroots football teams from all the Local Government Areas of the state and will be played on a round robin basis. Fixtures released by the organisers of the week long tournament indicates that the first match of the day will be between Fortune Football Academy and Young Shall Grow Fc which will be followed by a involving Mainland United and

SAB FC. Other matches to be decided today include; Lagos Island 2 and United Side FC just as De King Fc will test the might of Danilola Taylor Fc in the last match of the day. The organisers noted that the championship which is part of YSFON’s efforts at developing football at the grassroots in the country will produce the state champion that will fly the flag of Lagos State at the annual Oba of Benin Cup coming up later in the month.

Eagles invitation, a huge honour, says Ogagotewho

ke Ogagotewho has expressed his delight at receiving his first Nigeria call-up ahead of the crucial Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Egypt. Coach Samson Siasia named his 42-man squad for the upcoming fixture on Thursday, with Ogagotewho

picked alongside the likes of Kenneth Omeruo, Godfrey Oboabona and Efe Ambrose. The Sunshine Stars’ player insists he wants to be a key member of the Super Eagles for a long time and says he has given no thought to be scared of any big name in the team.

“I count it a great honour called to represent my country amidst other great players,” Ogagotewho told Goal. Com “ It is a proud moment for me and my family and I am very motivated to justify my inclusion because chances like don’t come often.

ice-President of the Nigeria Boxing Federation Ibrahim Suleiman Zango says that the ten boxers selected to represent Nigeria at the 2016 Olympic qualifiers in Cameroon are capable of doing the country proud in the Central African country. Nigeria Boxing Federation early this week selected ten boxers made up of seven men and three women to represent the country in the qualifiers namely; Efe Ajagba, Efetobor Apochi, Korede Adeniji, Kazeem Soyoye, Muyideen Oyakojo, Sadiq Umar and Abua Christian In the women category are Edith Agu- Ogoke and her two Nigerian Army counterparts, Kehinde Obareh

and Caroline Linus. He told knockout that the boxers has what it takes to win Olympic tickets in Cameroon with a declaration that they are going to win gold medals when hostilities begins in the qualifiers. “The boxers we are taking to Cameroon are tested pugilists and with the training they have under gone, they are definitely going to win Olympic tickets in Cameroon. “It is also important to know that the boxers were selected after excelling in their various weight categories during trails and with their present form, I do not have any fear on their ability to do the country proud in Cameroon”, he concluded.

Ricky Burns (L) exchanging blows with Raymundo Beltran

Burns to fight for third world title

ormer WBO superfeatherweight and lightweight king, Ricky Burns will get a chance to become a threeweight ruler in the summer, as he will challenge Italian Michele Di Rocco in Glasgow on May 21st for the vacant WBA lightwelterweight title. 32-year-old Burns, (395-1, 13) has only won three of his last seven outings and had a bad spell in late 2013 and 2014, when he was held to a controversial draw by Raymundo

Beltran in a fight where Burns suffered a broken jaw and was deemed lucky to have escaped without a loss and later lost on points to Terence Crawford and Dejan Zlaticanin Though Burns fought against the unbeaten Omar Figueroa Junior in May 2015 and went ahead to record two victories against decent fighters, but the fight against the classy Italian known as “The King” will mark a step back up in class.

Hopkings targeting one more fight

iving legend and former middleweight and light-heavyweight king Bernard Hopkins is still planning to have one last big fight before he walks into the sunset and calls time on his career; one of the greatest in modern day history. Talking with members of the media on Thursday in Washington D.C, the 51-year-old future Hall of

Famer said he did seriously want to fight feared middleweight terror Gennady Golovkin, but that that fight is now off the table. Hopkins said as quoted by RingTV.com; how he wants a meaningful fight on which to go out with, and not some easy fight against a “nobody.” “That’s the type of fight I wanted, to end with a bang.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Euro Sport

Sunday, March 6, 2016

English FA E boss dismisses super league idea

nglish Football Association chief executive Martin Glenn has dismissed the idea of a European super league, arguing it would kill competition. Leading Premier League clubs reportedly met this week to discuss the idea of a breakaway competition featuring the continent’s top teams. But Glenn said closing off the league to certain teams would put fans off. “Football has to keep evolving but we can’t lose the principles of promotion and relegation,” he told the BBC. Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal and Arsenal have already declared they are against a European super league. Glenn, who was appointed a year ago, drew on the example of Premier League leaders Leicester, who would not be able to join the mooted elite should they go on to win the title.

Terry rules out retirement

Mata

Gaal

Man U confidence is growing, says Mata

Cristiano

Klopp plays down Benteke’s form

uan Mata says Manchester United are finding it easier to express themselves having gained confidence from four straight wins. United’s narrow 1-0 win over Watford on Wednesday marked only the second time this season they have won four in a row in all competitions, leaving them level on points with fourth-place Manchester City, who have a game in hand. Mata is the only United player to play in every Premier League game this season, and while he admits the campaign has been tough, the Spaniard is enjoying the current winning period. Speaking exclusively to Sky Sports he said: “It’s a good moment for us, nice two or three weeks, winning games and enjoying our football, and making our fans proud.

iverpool boss Jurgen Klopp is ‘not worried’ by Christian Benteke’s form, saying the striker is showing signs of improvement. Benteke has struggled since his £32.5m switch to Anfield from Aston Villa last summer, scoring seven goals in 32 appearances in all competitions for the club, and is yet to start a match for Klopp’s side in 2016. However, the 25-year-old came off the bench during Wednesday’s 3-0 victory over Manchester City, and Klopp insists he noticed an improvement in Benteke’s game. “If you saw him in the last game, he came on and was completely different to the games he had before,” Klopp said ahead of today’s trip to Crystal Palace.

Wenger

Benteke

helsea defender John Terry insists he can play at the top level for another three years as his future at Stamford Bridge hangs in the balance. Terry’s current deal ends this summer and he claimed earlier this year that the club will not be offering him a new deal. While reiterating that any extension on the deal is down to the club, Terry is adamant he can play at the top of football for another “two or three years”. Terry says he has been in his best physical shape in the last three or four seasons He said: “I’m probably feeling in the last three or four years the best physical condition that I’ve ever been in. “As a youngster you take it for granted; you eat what you want, you can train, have a rest, but when you get older you can’t. You can’t eat the pastas, the breads; it all goes out of the window. The sleep too. Terry has already made clear that he would not make a move to another Premier League club having been at Chelsea for 21 years.

10-man Arsenal salvage vital T point at Spurs

ottenham missed the chance to go top of the Premier League as Alexis Sanchez salvaged a 2-2 draw for 10-man Arsenal at White Hart Lane on yesterday. The Chilean struck with 14 minutes to play after goals from Toby Alderweireld and Harry Kane had overturned Aaron Ramsey’s firsthalf opener. Spurs appeared to be heading for three points when they scored two in quick succession shortly after Francis Coquelin had been sent off for a second yellow card on 55 minutes. But Sanchez’s strike earned a share of the spoils and Ramsey nearly grabbed the winner for the Gunners, only for Kevin Wimmer’s last-ditch challenge to deny the Arsenal midfielder.

N I G E R I A I N F I G U R E S -The sum 10 states -The amount would spend on investors gained in housing this year. six days.

N664bn Vol. 6 No10

SUNDAY, MARCH 6, 2016

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Comment

E-mail: jimunahlive@gmail.com Jim Unah is Professor of Philosophy, University of Lagos

with Jim Unah

f new universities, especially the new federal universities, are allowed to become centres of job creation, it would be difficult for them to devote full attention to teaching and research; the type that would produce graduates and commercialize-able research reports, and eventually result in blossoming entrepreneurship that would power large scale employment generation and wealth creation for over-all national development, in the shortest possible time. Ideally, the type of jobs that universities should create for their use is essentially teaching, research and consultancy jobs. In modern universities, especially the ones that have embraced change and taken a cue from the new concept of “The University of the Future”, all other jobs including lecture presentation and students information management systems are technology-driven. That way, it is much easy for universities to concentrate on qualitative teaching, research, and consultancy to generate resources for itself and maintain a high caliber of teaching and research crew that would

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N150

N239

The new Federal Universities (2) turn out graduates that are efficiently equipped to go out there and create enterprises, generate jobs and wealth for future graduates that would impact beneficially on all categories of citizens, at various levels of society. Where universities have failed to achieve this task, they unwittingly metamorphose into institutions for the multiplication of executive portfolios; with several vice chancellors, directors and registrars—all scrambling for relevance and predominance and thus sidelining and relegating the original intentions of the university idea as a centre of excellence for the cultivation of the intellect of young inquisitive learners under the tutelage of master professors. The university is not originally designed to generate jobs endlessly for itself, but to educate people whose focus, after graduation, would be to go to corporations and the public sector to foster the conditions for job creation and wealth generation for society and for over-all national development. That is what the new federal universities should be guided to do and accomplish. With the exception of a few old generation federal universities where effort is in top gear to computerize and simplify their processes, and focus attention on research by adapting modern technology to drive their operations, many universities in developing countries cannot make it to the top 100 position till eternity in

global ranking for evident loss of focus. And for any of the new universities to struggle to develop along the axis of the old universities would be a sheer waste of valuable time and a fruitless expenditure of effort and resources. Looking at the way government funding of universities is depleting geometrically, the new universities cannot get enough in the next 50 years to begin to look like the old universities. The quick way for the new universities to grow and develop faster and even come into global reckoning soon is for them to be assisted by regulation to discard with the old organogram and staff structure and a embrace a global faculty and staffing policy that would attract the best brains from the best universities in Africa and beyond, even on visiting, contract and short time basis to enhance the quality of teaching and research. More resources should be deployed to acquiring and developing and adapting new teaching and research technologies. It is a mistake to want to do everything from the scratch. They should connect properly and develop. A more visible and robust way to make a positive difference is for the new universities to develop course modules for all the courses on offer by their students and create students weblearn portals in their websites to upload all teaching materials to all registered students of their institutions. That way, it would be easy for anybody anywhere in the world, including parents and

IFAB approves video technology for matches

ootball’s law-makers have given the green light to the testing of video technology to aid referees in live matches, starting no later than the 2017-18 season. The International Football Association Board (IFAB), the game’s law-making body, approved a two-year trial period allowing technology to be used in four cases: to determine if a goal has been scored , red cards, penalties and mistaken identity. “We have taken a really historic decision for football. IFAB and FIFA are now leading the debate and not stopping the debate,” said new FIFA president Gianni Infantino following IFAB’s 130th annual meeting in Cardiff on yesterday. “We have shown we are listening to football and applying common sense. We have

to be cautious but we are taking concrete steps forwards to show a new era has started in FIFA and IFAB.” IFAB, which comprises four FIFA members and one member from each of the four British associations, approved a detailed set of protocols

for the video technology experiments and agreed they should be conducted for a minimum of two years in order to identify the advantages, disadvantages and worst-case scenarios.

guardians, to cross-check what is taught to the students, and can also compare that with the evaluation system to see that the proper things are being done in terms of teaching, evaluation and learning outcomes. The new federal universities should embark on aggressive curriculum review and design through consultants after due consultations with industry and all stakeholders in the education sector, especially that segment of society that has been complaining aloud about the poor quality and irrelevance of existing university courses taught to Nigerian undergraduates. The new universities would be carving a niche for themselves by making ground-breaking innovations in curriculum development that would catch the attention of industry and society in terms of the capacity of their graduates to trouble-shoot problems and proffer fundamental solutions; thus, making their products not only competitive but sought-after in the global job markets. My plea to the new federal universities is to throw away the old university organogram and staff structure and design what is simple, feasible and sustainable, and in tandem with global best practices; design cutting-edge programs that can attract students from far and wide, and drive their operations with modern information communication technology to reduce cost, simplify their processes, achieve optimum efficiency and leap-frog into global reckoning in no time.

EPL RESULTS

Tottenham 2- 2 Arsenal Chelsea 1-1 Stoke Everton 2-3 West Ham Man City 4-0 Aston Villa Newcastle 1-3 Bournemouth Southampton 1-1 Sunderland Watford 0 – 1 Leicester Swansea 1-0 Norwich

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