Sunday, May 15, 2016

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The Herdsmen from Hades

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Boko Haram war:

France pledges support for Nigeria www.nationalmirroronline.net

May 15, 2016

Fuel price hike

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Labour, civil society begin strike Wednesday P. 6

…warn Nigerians to stock food, essentials •Oil workers unions support FG Notorious robber beaten to death in Minna P.47

Nasarawa cuts workers ’ salaries by 35%

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L-R: Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir el-Rufai; former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and President of African Development Bank, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, during the 2nd Regional Security Summit in Abuja, yesterday.

PDP blasts Fayose for disrespecting Buhari ...says he ’s causing confusion within opposition party

•Fracas mars S ’East congress, Jonathan absent in S ’South News

2 feared killed as rival cult groups clash in DELSU

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åååå What ’s

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Politics

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Nigeria, the West and politics of stolen funds

Seven Days TALKING POINTS OF THE PAST WEEK May 15, 2016

PDP crisis: Gana faction sacks Sheriff

Patients at government hospitals in Abuja panicked yesterday, following the commencement of the strike embarked upon by resident doctors in the country. The doctors, under the aegis of National Association of Resident Doctors, NARD, declared a five-day warning strike on Tuesday. The medical practitioners had expressed hope

that their action would compel government to look into their demands.

Relatives of in-patients hospitals visited by our correspondent yesterday, pondering whether to relocate them to other health facilities or allow them to stay.

Asokoro General Hospital, which has always been a beehive of activities.

Return stolen assets, Buhari tells Cameron

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Preventing the occurrence of fibroids in women

Fibroids are abnormal growth that develops in a woman ’s uterus; sometimes the tumors become quite large and cause severe abdominal pain and heavy menstrual flow. In other cases, they cause no signs or symptoms at all and the growth are typically benign (Noncancerous).

Several factors may influence the formation of the illness such

as hormones and family history.

According to the National Institutes of Health (NHIS), about 70 to 80 percent of women have the aliment by the age of 50.

Fibroid is a severe condition and must be considered an emergency. If left untreated, it can damage the internal organs of a victim and the longer it is left the more serious it can become.

Federal Government yesterday announced a new pump price of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, which should not be above N145 per litre as a way to deregulate the importation of fuel and remove subsidy. Briefing State House correspondents, Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, Ibe Kachikwu, said the new price would not be more than N145 per litre. According to him, the new price regime was part of the steps taken by government to end per-

Alleged N9.7bn fraud: EFCC arraigns ex-Air Force Chief, Umar Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, yesterday, admitted former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Mohammed Dikko Umar, to bail on self recognition.

The judge also ordered Umar to deposit his International Passport to the Custody of the Deputy Registrar of the court. Umar

was arraigned before the court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on a seven count charge bordering on money laundering to the tune of N9.7billion during his time as the head of the Nigerian Air Force.

Umar ’s counsel, Mr. Hassan Liman (SAN), after the accused had taken plea.

ACTRESS AND MODEL

Return stolen assets, Buhari tells Cameron President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday urged Britain to return assets stolen by corrupt officials in pointed remarks after Prime Minister David Cameron described Nigeria as “fantastically corrupt. ” “I am not going to demand any apology from anybody.

What I am demanding is the return of the assets, ” Bu-

hari said while addressing an anti-corruption event in London. He noted the case of former governor of Bayelsa State, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, who was detained in London on charges of money laundering in 2005, but skipped bail by disguising himself as a woman. Alamieyeseigha, who died in October.

sistent fuel scarcity in the country. Kachikwu spoke after a stakeholders ’ meeting presided over by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. According to him, the meeting noted that the main reason for the current persistent fuel scarcity was the inability of importers to source foreign exchange at the official rate because of the massive decline of foreign exchange earnings of the Federal Government.

Angel Amaka Obeta MON

Wellness

hari said while addressing an anti-corruption event in London. He noted the case of former governor of Bayelsa State, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, who was detained in London on charges of money laundering in 2005, but skipped bail by disguising himself as a woman. Alamieyeseigha, who died in October.

Petrol to sell for N145/litre as FG removes subsidy

TUE

Every part of my body is sexy –Anita Joseph

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday urged Britain to return assets stolen by corrupt officials in pointed remarks after Prime Minister David Cameron described Nigeria as “fantastically corrupt. ” “I am not going to demand any apology from anybody.

What I am demanding is the return of the assets, ” Bu-

ments were usually delayed for months after a budget had been signed by the President He said while it was not possible for the entire capital budget to be released at once as not all the projects would be ready for execution, government would make sure that the processes for the execution of projects are fast-tracked to ensure improved performance of capital budget this year.

“We are ready to kickstart the implementation of the budget and by tomorrow (Friday).

Federal Government said yesterday it would commence part disbursement of funds allocated for capital Newsprojects in the 2016 budget today. Minister for Budget and National Planning, Senator Udo Udoma, who disclosed this during the public presentation of the budget in Abuja, said the fund to be released by the Ministry of Finance would be used to kick-start the execution of capital projects.

This represented a marked departure from the past when budgetary disburse-

THU WED

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Patients panic as doctors ’ strike hits hospitals

FG begins disbursement of capital budget today

FRI

Passion

August 27 1985, Buhari took a similar path with his anti-corruption and War Against Indiscipline (WAI) campaigns which he carried out with his then Deputy who also served as Chief of General Staff, thwe late General Tunde Idiagbon.

Convention, while distancing itself from the zoning arrangement as announced by the zoning committee. In a communiqué issued and signed by Senator Ibrahim Mantu, Prof. Tunde Adeniran and Chief Raymond Dokpesi, the group said: “The purported extension of the tenure of the chairman and other members of the National Working Committee of the party by the NEC was an illegality and therefore untenable and contrary to the provisions of our party constitution.

SUN SAT

When President Muhammadu Buhari assumed office on May 29 last year, he had vowed to tackle the issue of insecurity, ensure job creation and wage total war against corruption in the country. As a military Head of State between December 31, 1983 and

The crisis rocking the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, deepened yesterday, with a faction led by Prof. Jerry Gana sacking the Ali Modu Sheriffled National Working Committee. The faction, which called itself Concerned PDP Stakeholders held a meeting in Abuja and immediately announced the setting up of a 21-member steering committee to manage the affairs of party.

The faction called for the cancellation of the

When I ’m not shooting, today is for meetings and official matters.

Today is almost same as Monday except that in the evening if I ’m not shooting, I go for fellowship.

I do grocery shopping for the house on Wednesdays.

I choose today to pamper my skin, do my manicure and pedicure, facials and my hair. I call it my spa/beauty day.

This is my laundry day because I wash my clothes and then hang out with friends.

I visit the gym after which I go for swimming.

I start the day by going to church. When church is over, I come home, rest a little before I go to the beach. *By Adaeze Amos (08023012293)

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

THE

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Big Read SUNDAY SPECIAL INVESTIGATION

SUNDAY, MAY 15, 2016

The Herdsmen from Hades Over a fortnight ago, Fulani herdsmen unleashed terror on Ukpabi Nimbo, a community in Enugu State, killing dozens of people. The attack came, just a few weeks after a similar wave of violence by the same herdsmen in Agatu in Benue State. In the years leading to the recent mayhem, the spate of attacks by herdsmen against farmers across the country had resulted in loss of many lives with property worth millions of naira destroyed. PAUL OMO OBADAN explores ways of bringing about an enduring panacea to the imbroglio before it spirals into a full blown war.

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n the early hours of Monday, April 25, 2016, destruction was unleashed upon Ukpabi-Nimbo, a sleepy village in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State. Scores of heavily armed Fulani herdsmen executed a ferocious attack on the community, killing dozens and seriously injuring a large number of others.

According to eye-witnesses, at least, fifty people were killed and about thirty seriously injured. By the time the attack was over, it left trails of woe and lamentation for the bereaved in particular and the nation at large.

This development is, no doubt, a source for grave concern. Pundits have questioned whether the aggressors are

Fulani herdsmen or terrorists masquerading as herdsmen?

The herdsmen, to their own credit, have over the years contributed their own quota to the economy of the country.

The place of these herdsmen, therefore, is inevitably important as they have sustained the production and sale of meat in markets across the country, thereby ensuring availability of meat locally and by consequence, save the nation the hassle of meat importation. However, despite this positive angle to it, their alleged recent activities, if found to be true, leave much to be desired.

Reacting to the deadly attack, a public analyst, Dehinde Fatokun described as unfortunate, the level of criminal impunity happening in a sovereign state with a constitution,

‘SECURITY AGENCIES NEED TO BE MORE PROACTIVE’

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which states uuambiguously that the security and welfare of the citizens shall be a major responsibility of the state. “I think our government should do more in the area of security and protection of lives and properties, not only in affected areas, but all over the country.

The Federal Government must urgently summon the political will to forge a lasting solution to the Fulani herdsmen and their host farmers clashes to prevent its escalation into tribal wars and to avert further loss of lives and property.

Government must, as a matter of priority, reposition the intelligence agencies including the police to stop the attacks, killings and wanton destruction of property by the Fulani militia and retaliatory attacks by the victims. They need to be arrested, disarmed, prosecuted and jailed if guilty while their sponsors should be smoked out and brought to justice.

The military needs to step in and implement stiff measures, so that things do not degenerate.

The slaughter in Enugu was heinous, to say the least. They are a menace and should be stopped by all means necessary, including a ‘shoot at sight’ military order if the situation requires. This is the opportunity some people have been waiting for to divide Nigeria and with sentimental manipulation through propaganda, they are slowly, but surely getting there.

“We must stand together as a country to fight this menace and find a solution, instead of trading blames,” he said.

What is most disturbing to farmers and land owners is the way the herdsmen forcibly kill, maim and allow their cattle to destroy farm crops wherever they set their feet. The nomads have built up resentment against themselves among many communities in the country. Most worrisome is the brutality and impunity with which the assailants operate without regard for the law and sanctity of life coupled with the inability of the Nigeria Police to defend the victims mercilessly slaughtered in their homelands.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

‘GOVT NEEDS TO MODERNISE ANIMAL HUSBANDRY’ 5

The Big Read

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Sunday, May 15, 2016

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

‘Security agencies need to be more proactive’

Alhaji Yerima

THE SECURITY AGENCIES MUST Arase

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3 There are pertinent questions begging for answers. Is there a clandestine agenda of the herdsmen? Who are those arming them to unleash mayhem on innocent and defenseless Nigerians? Why are the police incapable of protecting the farmers from violent attacks by these invading herdsmen? Why is it difficult for the Federal Government to contain this monstrous terror? Why is it that the criminals alleged to be behind the inhuman killings and destruction of property in the affected states and indeed across the country always get away with their crime without being apprehended and brought to justice?

There is, certainly, grave danger ahead because some of the ethnic nationalities incessantly attacked by the herders have warned that if the government fails to protect them, they would be left with no other choice than to defend themselves and their land from the marauders. For instance, Sunday Mirror’s findings revealed that the Igbos have resurrected the defunct Bakassi boys and commenced recruitment of vigilantes to counter the rampaging insurgents.

Attacks Could have been averted However, the bloody incident could have been averted, if prompt and decisive action had been taken, according to reports from civil rights groups. Sunday mirror gathered that the villagers became apprehensive a week before, when they observed the movement of large numbers of their armed-to-theteeth tenants who had come with the only reason of rearing cattle around the area. They immediately alerted Cornel Onwubuya, chairman of the Transition Committee, Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area, and also informed the state government and the leadership of the State Police Command. Onwubuya summoned an emergency stakeholders meeting at the Uzo-Uwani Local Government where the leaders of the Hausa-Fulani community assured the natives that no such attack would take place. All these transpired over the weekend and by Monday morning, the attack occurred.

If the fore-going is accurate, then the authorities had prior information regarding the impending mayhem. The question now is, what did the authorities do to avert the impending catastrophe?

Similar accusations have also been made against them in Ghana, Benin Republic and Ivory Coast.

For a country to be efficiently administered, it must first be well secure because other social and economic initiatives cannot thrive in an atmosphere of insecurity. That is why it is of paramount importance to stem the tide. The Federal Government already has enough of inherited security challenges to cope with which are yet to be resolved. And so, these criminal elements masquerading as herdsmen should be put in checked before their activities become another inglorious national calamity.

A policy analyst, Funsho Aderibigbe observed that the time has come to admonish the security agencies to realize that they have a constitutional and sacred responsibility for the protection of lives and property. Thus, it behoves them to rise up to the occasion to investigate, identify, arrest and prosecute these criminals and their sponsors who have violated the constitution; stoking up ethnic tension; undermining national security and embarrassing the nation.

“The security agencies must expand and reinvigorate their intelligence network to keep watch over the activities of the herdsmen. All leads must be thoroughly investigated to curb the excesses of the invaders,” he said.

‘Various ethnic groups need to be integrated’ Another social commentator, David Ighodalo was of the view that the various ethnic groups are still not fully inte-

EXPAND AND REINVIGORATE THEIR INTELLIGENCE NETWORK TO KEEP WATCH OVER THE ACTIVITIES OF THE HERDSMEN.

ALL LEADS MUST

BE THOROUGHLY INVESTIGATED TO CURB THE EXCESSES OF THE INVADERS, grated in the country. According to him, some of the people in the South have this dogma about the North/South dichotomy and we believe everything from the North must be bad. And instead of accommodating people from the North, we are hostile.

This may have formed the background for what is happening presently,” he said.

‘A major threat to the peace and unity of this country’ Many South-East opinion and political leaders perceive the menace of the so-called Fulani herdsmen as a threat to every Nigerian as their activities are nationwide.

Barrister Emmanuel Nwaghodoh is a staff attorney with Social and Economic Rights Center (SERAC), a non-governmental organisation that protects the social and economic rights of Nigerians.

He argued that it is another major threat to the peace and unity of this country.

“It started some years back and people seem not to realize where they are coming from and how far they are going. Few years back now, it has become a serious threat not just among the western states, but all parts of the country. The government needs to see it as a serious security threat and begin to put in motion, a machinery on how to curtail the activities of the herdsmen.

I see it as a task that is beyond state governors. I am looking at a situation where whatever ministry - is it the Federal Ministry of Agriculture? - will begin to put in place, designated grazing areas in some states. It could be in the six geo-political zones. So that, even if they migrate from the North, and come to the South-South, instead of moving from one community to the other destroying people’s crops, they just move straight to the designated grazing ground and begin to raise their cattle there.

Since they are mainly from the North, northern governors should also do more to also curtail the incessant movement.

I know that five states in the North could take care of all the grazing of all the cattle in this country. But if they feel five states are not enough, each state in the North including also the Biddle Belt should set up areas for grazing to minimize their movement from the North to South.

“The resurgence of kidnapping and other forms of insecurity shows that Nigeria still has a long way to go in making the country safe. The situation should be checked before it spins out of control.

They should be checked and be made to seek other modern ways to feed their cows.

A stitch in time saves nine.

The Igbos should not be tempted into waging reprisal attacks against their assailants in order to safeguard their lives, properties and territories. The mantra of this administration is change. One of the changes I want to see is the difference in the way the Fulani nomads earn their livelihood.

The Federal Government already has enough of inherited security challenges to cope with, which are yet to be resolved.

And so, these criminal elements should be put in check before

Soyinka

their activities become another inglorious national embarrassment. It should not be allowed to snowball into another security storm where some unscrupulous politicians would profit from, as the case may be, with the Boko Haram issue now,” Barrister Nwaghodoh posited.

Sunday Mirror investigations revealed that besides the damage on crops and other farm produce, the aggressive nature of the cattle rearers is more of concern to any community they invade. They are always armed to the teeth with dangerous weapons, including AK47, charms and deadly sharp daggers and machetes and are often ready to attack the farm owners at the least provocation. Over 70 percent of the people domiciled in rural areas engage in subsistent or commercial agricultural activities as their mainstay. But because of the recently increasing threat posed by the herdsmen, most farmers are now scared to go to their farms. The immoral practices by the nomads had instilled fears in residents of the communities; the fear of being attacked by the herdsmen has gripped the villagers.

‘Open grazing is now outdated and should be phased out’ According to Dr. Emmanuel Ezeokolie, the Eze Ndigbo of Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State was alarmed by the recent mayhem in Enugu alleged to have been perpetrated by Fulani herdsmen. This is one too many,” he said.

“Our brilliant ones including our wives have been raped, assaulted and even killed by the strangers. Many of their wives and ladies that had been raped were either on their way to the market or river to fetch water.

Something has to be done to the issue of nomadic herdsmen, to ensure that they carry out their ancient means of livelihood in a more sustainable manner and in a way that they can live in peace and harmony with others in the federation. I have often ranked the Fulani herdsmen menace as constituting even a higher security risk to this nation than the Boko Haram terrorists. There is hardly any ethnic group in this nation who has not had a clash resulting in bloodshed on both sides with the nomads. The time has come for us to do something about these avoidable bloody clashes. Let no one who has a mind to solve this problem speak about grazing routes and the fact that nomadism is an age-old way of life of the Fulani. Those are worn-out arguments we have heard over the centuries which have not helped in addressing the problem. The truth of the matter is that we do not even need a national summit or any other such delaying tactics that would further lead to more bloodshed. We have witnessed the shedding of so much blood over this matter that we cannot afford to waste any more time. The solution is ranching. They must be made to settle in ranches spread across the country and spare us the trauma of their presence on people’s farms. Nigeria and her government should no longer keep quiet in the face of this Fulani terror.

The open grazing acts of Fulani herdsmen are now outdated and should be phased out in Nigeria. We warn of future consequences of unchecked Fulani herdsmen attacks on innocent Nigerians,” he said.

In 2015, it was recorded that there were more casualties from herdsmen violence than from Boko Haram. It clearly shows that the most potent threat to the existential continuity of the Nigerian state has shifted from Boko Haram to the rampaging Fulani herdsmen.

In 2016, there have been over 21 attacks. Sunday Mirror investigation has been able to independently verify, with the number of victims standing between 526 and 820.

However, the response from the government and the security institutions do not show a clear understanding of this fact.

Worse still, they show a lack of will to pursue protection of Nigerians from this threat as has been shown for the Boko Haram insurgency. This has emboldened the herdsmen and has won more and more to their cause. Success in their rampaging enCONTINUED ON PAGE 5

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sunday, May 15, 2016

The Big Read

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‘Govt needs to modernise animal husbandry’ Is-Haq Akintola is a professor of Islamic Studies in the Department of Religion, Lagos State University (LASU). He sheds more light on the imbroglio caused by the nomadic Fulani herdsmen in the country in this interview with PAUL OMO OBADAN What is your take on the present imbroglio between land owners and the Fulani herdsmen?

Concerning the nomadic Fulani cattle herdsmen, ordinarily, one would want to say that they have been doing this over the years for decades. It is a way of life. I have run into herdsmen in several places and cities in Yoruba land when I was a kid, and I still see up till today. I think it is their way of life. In view of the fact, however, that conflicts have come up in recent past, I want to say it is up to the government to resolve the crisis. And when I say government, I mean the federal government because state governments may not be able to handle it appropriately. But at the same time, it can be extended to the state government too. State governments can set aside certain portions of land where the herds of cattle can graze. And they can let Fulani herdsmen know that they are always free to go to these areas since farmers and land owners are accusing you of trespassing on their land. Again, the federal government also can evolve a means of communicating with these herdsmen. A committee can be set up to look at the issue. State governments can be brought in as stakeholders. And then, leaders of troubled groups can be brought in as stakeholders. And after discussing issues, we might find solutions. I don’t want to see a situation whereby we start chasing Fulani herdsmen all over the place because it will create another crisis.

There is freedom of movement, freedom of speech, and this should not be abused. A southerner can move to the North, and he is supposed to be free to move. A northerner can move to the South, he is supposed to be free to move around.

Do you think the various ethnic divisions in the country have fully integrated into one another?

Nigerians need to be fully integrated. The various ethnic groups are still not integrated. I want to say without any fear of contradiction that some of us in the South have this dogma about the North/South dichotomy. And we believe everything from the North must be bad. And instead of accommodating people from the North, we are hostile. This may have formed the background for what is happening presently. Whether somebody is Ibo, or Yoruba or Hausa, depends on where God actually created him and where God decided to send him. Who are his Parents, his parents gave birth to him, he did not decide who his parents were. I could have been a Japanese; I could have been an American. If I were born in Japan, I would have been a buhdist, a kongfucianist, not a Muslim. In matters of religion and ethnicity, we should be religion blind; we should be ethnicity blind. We should not look at the color, the race, religion, tribe of a particular person or hate a particular people based on perceptions. Perceptions are often misleading. In the same Yorubaland, we the Yorubas, we tell are sons, don’t marry an Ijebu girl; we tell our sons, don’t marry an Egba girl. Okay, which

THE GOVERNMENT MUST,

AS A MATTER OF NECESSITY AND URGENCY, PUT IN PLACE MACHINERY FOR THE EDUCATION AND SENSITIZATION OF HERDSMEN ON THE MODERN DAY REALITIES OF ANIMAL HUSBANDRY

Is-Haq Akintola

one will they marry. When you take the Ijebus and the Egbas, Yorubas are finished. Of course, there are the Ijeshas, there are the Ekitis. I am from Ile-Ife, but I don’t believe in this dogma that the Ijebus are bad, the Egbas are bad.

What of us in Ile-Ife that are always fighting the Modakeke.

So, why are we always hating ourselves. Love should not have any barriers at all. You must be liberal and look beyond the fence of your house; look beyond the borders of your town; look beyond the boundaries of your state and look, even beyond the boundaries of your country. That is why I say we will not accept the wrongful teachings of people like Bin Laden and Alqaeda and ISIS that says that wherever you meet Americans, you should kill them; wherever you see Britons or anybody from the West, kill them. What have this westerners done to us? Because of their colour? No. Even among people of the West, there are Muslims. So, what do you gain there. So, you cannot hate a people because of their colour, religion, tribe or the region they come from. Even from among Afghans, you would find truthful, honest, sincere, kind and benevolent people.

Among the Ibos, the Yoruba will find very sincere, very friendly people. And among your own kith and kin, the Yorubas, you will find those who are looking forward to your downfall. Those who are working openly, not even hiding it, towards your downfall for no reason at all. Hatred or love should not be based on peoples’ race or colour. In fact, you should not hate. When you hate, you are hating a creature of God. You cannot create ordinary an ant or fly. And God

created all these people that you want to hate. At the end of the day, you find out that amongst this people that you tend to hate, or you don’t want to associate with, there are very kind- hearted people; there are good people. There are people better than people that you think you know. I want to urge us to simmer down. We have witnessed too many crises in this country. We have killed ourselves for no just cause. We have destroyed homes. What we should be doing is building and we should stop anything that is likely to cause further destruction. We must also, as part of our patriotic duty, complement government efforts in ensuring safety of lives and property as well as harmonious and peaceful co-existence between the various ethnic nationalities inhabiting the Nigerian geographical space, call on the Federal Government to immediately begin exploring measures of curbing the incessant herdsmen and farmers clashes by encouraging and mobilizing the states since they are the ones constitutionally entrusted with land ownership to look at the prospect of building ranches with modern facilities as a means of revenue for grazing herds since animal husbandry is big business and in that way, jobs and wealth will be created and healthy and nutritious cattle raised.

The government must, as a matter of necessity and urgency, put in place machinery for the education and sensitization of herdsmen on the modern day realities of animal husbandry as against the old practices of moving herds on foot from farmland to farmland which is a source of threat to their lives, occupation and national security.

The government must as well tighten security at the borders in order to check the influx of migrating herdsmen from our neighbouring countries who have been alleged to be the chief instigator of the perennial herdsmen and farmers clashes.

For every crime, there is a punishment; for every violation, there must be restitution. The nomads of the world cannot place themselves above the law of settled humanity.

‘Nigeria must not allow another Boko Haram situation’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4 deavours has granted increasing legitimacy to their methods amongst those who might have remained antagonistic to such violence within their ranks.

The scale, spread and frequency of the attacks, as well as the near methodical manner in which the communities are wiped out, pacified and the sequence in which it is being carried out speaks to a higher degree of planning and organisation than the government is willing to acknowledge.

It is dangerous to refuse to acknowledge this, as our recent experience with Boko Haram has shown.

It takes only a little nudge forward for what we see as marauders of civilian targets to begin to take on whole army formations. By then, it will be a lot more difficult to defeat them.

It also speaks to the value placed on the Nigerian life by the government, where a group of people kills other Nigerians with impunity and openly justifies the killings as retaliation for grievances of cattle theft and the government does little or nothing to punish the killers or put an end to the killings.

The number one thing that legitimizes a government is

the ability to protect the life of its citizens.

Much of the violence in central Nigeria dates back to the 2002 and 2004 clashes in the Yelwa-Shendam area of Plateau State in which thousands lost their lives.

The Fulanis are also sometimes attacked and have their animals stolen by bandits, prompting brutal reprisals.

The conflict has cost Africa’s largest economy more than $14bn (£10bn) in the three years to 2015, according to the UKbased humanitarian organisation, Mercy Corps.

It has “impeded market development and economic growth by destroying productive assets, preventing trade, deterring investment, and eroding trust between market actors,” it added in a report The recent upsurge also represents a fresh security challenge for a country already stretched by the seven-year Boko Haram insurgency in its north-astern region.

Unlike that crisis which is concentrated on a fraction of the country, this conflict is occurring in almost every part of Africa’s most populous nation.

Soyinka blasts Buhari over killings Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, has lampooned the presidency for its seeming inability to halt the menace of Fulani herdsmen across the country.

In his address to the National Conference on Culture and Tourism, recently, Prof. Soyinka said the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government was yet to come up with an articulate solution to tackle the menace.

“I have yet to hear this government articulate a firm policy of non-tolerance for the serial massacres that have become the nation’s identification stamp,” said Prof. Soyinka.

The government should introduce regulated grazing system to solve this problem, “he said.

However, in recent times, cases of similar nature have been reported in the South-East and South-West parts of the country. Of much prominence is the kidnapping of Chief Olu Falae on 21 September, 2015 by suspected Fulani herdsmen which brought about tension in the land.

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News

May 15, 2016

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Labour, CSOs shut down economy Wednesday over fuel hike …warn Nigerians to stock enough food items OLUFEMI ADEOSUN ABUJA

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igerians may have to brace for more hardship in the coming days as organised Labour and its allies in the civil society organisations have served the Federal Government notice of commencement of industrial action, beginning from Wednesday, to press for the reversion of the pump price of

fuel to N86.50 kobo.

They also urged Nigerians to begin to stock sufficient food items that would last as long as the indefinite strike subsists, insisting that the action being planned would lead to shutdown of banks, sea and airports, government and private offices as well as markets.

The Federal Government had last Wednesday announced the removal

of subsidy on petroleum products with a new pricing template pegging a litre of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), otherwise known as petrol, at N145.

However, indications have emerged that the division arising from last year ’s delegates ’ conference which produced Comrade Ayuba Wabba-led National Executive Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress may turn out to hurt

the struggle to prevail on government to revert the new price.

Despite explanations by the Federal Government that the subsidy removal was inevitable and in the good interest of Nigerians, the new pricing regime has continued to draw flak from the public. Nigerians argue that government is yet to reveal its true intention regarding the increase, which they claimed

L-R: United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Resident Representative, Mrs. Fatma Samoura; Minister of Budget and National Planing, Seator Udoma Udo Udoma; Swiss Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Eric Mayorasz and UNDP Country Director, Mr Palamin Beyai, at the nveiling of the National Human Security and Human Development Report for Nigeria, in Abuja at the weekend.

PHOTO:NAN

PDP warns Fayose over disrespecting Buhari, party, court ...Fayose causing confusion in PDP -National Secretary OBIORA IFOH ABUJA

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ational leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday warned Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, against his penchant to disrespect President Muhammadu Buhari, the leadership of PDP as well as courts in the land.

The party also accused the Ekiti governor of not only causing confusion in PDP but also manipulating the leadership.

It said the governor was behind the plan to hold the South-West zonal congress in Akure yesterday despite the court order which asked the party to suspend the exercise.

National Secretary of the party, Prof. Wale Oladipo, disclosed this while

speaking with journalists in Abuja.

Oladipo said the party had decided to obey the order of Justice Ibrahim Buba of a Federal High Court in Lagos, which restrained the party from going ahead with its zonal congress.

He explained that the National Legal Adviser of the party, Mr. Victory Kwon, had advised the party to obey the order of the court, which he said was served on him (Oladipo) and the party on Friday afternoon.

He also disclosed that the National Chairman, Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff, whom he said was not at the party secretariat on Friday when the order was served, had been notified.

Oladipo, who is the head of the party ’s national secretariat said,

“Governor Fayose is not a member of the National Working Committee of the PDP, but he ’s causing confusion with his utterances.

“We are not dabbling into his government and he has no right to tell us how to run the party here. We have an order of the court stopping the congress. The governor cannot overrule the court.

“He should behave like other governors who do not dabble into the running of the party at the national level. He should learn from Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State who respects the party and the President of the country.

“The order of the court was even published in three national dailies and, therefore, he can ’t deny that he was not aware.

“Our National Legal Adviser who is the Chief Legal Adviser of the party, Mr. Victor Kwon, has advised that we comply with the order and we are complying with it. We are not above the law of the land. ” Oladipo said that any result that comes out of the convention would not be respected by the party as it would amount to waste of time and resources.

He stated: “Those who want to claim they want to organise any conference are doing that on their own, not on behalf of the party. Whatever comes out of it would be null and void because we are not monitoring it just as the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has also been informed about the order of the court.

was premised on forex challenges.

At the emergency meeting of the National Executive Councils of the NLC, the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and CSOs held in Abuja yesterday, the President of Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), Francis Johnson, maintained the union ’s support for the new pricing template.

It will be recalled that the two main unions in the downstream sector, PENGASSAN and (NUPENG) had last week declared support for the deregulation of the oil sector, a stand which is at variance with TUC position. Both unions are affiliates of TUC. Reading the content of the communiqué, Wabba, restated Labour ’s opposition to the new pump price, warning that unless government reverts to the old price within the next 72 hours, the economy would be shut down.

He said Labour and other allies in the civil society had perfected strategies to mobilise workers and other helpless and hapless Nigerians to occupy the streets.

According to him, during the process of the struggles, banks, sea and airports, government and private offices, including markets would be shut.

Wabba accused President Mohammadu Buhari of betraying its electioneering promises upon which the Nigerian masses voted for him overwhelmingly.

His words: “During the electioneering last year, the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Muhammadu Buhari, promised that if elected president, he would not remove fuel subsidy if there was any at all.

“On January 18, 2016, the government further allayed the fears of the Nigerian people by reducing the pump price of PMS to N86:50k, explaining that the reduction was in furtherance of the implementation of the revised component of the petroleum products pricing for PMS and kerosene. The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr Ibe Kachikwu, had been speaking from both sides of his mouth. Whereas last

year, he had strongly canvassed for the removal of “subsidy ” in defiance of President Buhari, about a month ago, he claimed the subsidy had been removed through his ingenuity and that Nigeria was saving $1billion from this process.

“Organised Labour wondered what has informed government ’s sudden and dangerous policy summersault and its desperate attempt to convince the public that Labour was part of the decision that led to this price increase. ” While berating government for giving the public the impression that its action got the endorsement of the organised Labour, the NLC boss declared in the absence of the board of the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA), on whose the burden of price variation resides, any action taken to that effect remained a nullity and illegality.

Also speaking, TUC President, Comrade Bobboi Kaigama, denied that the unions were carried along in arriving at the new price.

Kaigama, who described the fuel increase as an ambush, explained what transpired at the meeting with the government, “At the meeting, we had the Minister of Labour and Employment, the Deputy Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and the Chairmen of the Committees in charge of Oil and Gas Industry, NLC, TUC, PENGANSAN and NUPENG. “Government made its position known and in turn sought for our support and cooperation.

But we told them directly that our organisations are well structured and that decisions emanate from our organs. We told them to allow us reach out to our organs for appropriate reactions to their documented issues. We never agreed to the implementation of the new price regime. But we were pretty surprised that less than two hours after we left the venue, we heard breaking news. I think we deserve a modicum of respect from our government. ” CONT ’D ON PAGE 7

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News

May 15, 2016

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France pledges support for Nigeria in ght against Boko Haram ROTIMI FADEYI ABUJA

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rench President, Francois Hollande has pledged the support of his country for Nigeria in the fight against the Boko Haram sect and defeat of terrorism.

Hollande spoke yesterday at a joint press conference after a closed-door meeting with President

MuhammaduBuhari at the Presidential Villa before attending the second Regional Security Summit held in Abuja.

He commended Buhari for the successes recorded so far in the fight against Boko Haram and the effort to ensure adequate security.

The French President noted that the deadly attacks and abductions by

the Boko Haram have been drastically reduced following the commitment of the government as well as the regional and international support towards the prosecution of the war against terror.

While commending the long and friendly relationship between Nigeria and France, Hollande said the security summit would provide opportunity to as-

sess the level of success against terror as well as draw roadmap on how to deal with the common threat.

Hollande, who said that his country would continue to provide support for the Multi National Joint Task Force (MNJTF) stated that the project for Lake Chad region would also be supported so that concrete progress could

be achieved in the region.

Hollande said his government was committed to fighting corruption and dismantling tax havens in order to ensure economic progress and development.

At the press conference, Buhari commended Hollande and his country for supporting Nigeria, especially in the areas of security, economy and anti-corruption war.

He said the issue of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) should be taken seriously, saying that it was a matter for concern for people of conscience.

According to him, about two million people, both women and children, had been displaced through the activities of the terror group.

On the level of threat of Boko Haram, he said though Nigeria had been the battleground, the ter-

ror group, presently, had been degraded, pointing out that the group was no longer in control of any local government in the North-East region of the country.

Buhari, who said the terrorists now make use of available technology like the use of improvised explosive device (IEDs) to bomb soft targets, stated that the focus had now shifted to rehabilitation of the IDPs and reconstruction of their homes.

The two leaders disclosed that the issue of the IDPs and how policy could be put in place to assist the victims of insurgency was discussed at their meeting.

They both signed a number of agreements that would be of mutual benefit to both countries including a letter of agreement on defence matters.

Boko Haram attacks troops, 5 injured UBONG UKPONG ABUJA

Suspected cult members arrested by Operation Burst of Oyo State being paraded at Ibadan, on Friday.

Lake Chad Development plan to cost 916m Euros –Buhari ROTIMI FADEYI ABUJA

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resident Muhammadu Buhari yesterday said about 916 million Euros was needed for the effective implementation of the Lake Chad Development and Climate Resilience Action Plan (LCDCRAP).

Speaking at the 2nd Regional Security Summit in Abuja, Buhari noted that the implementation of the LCDCRAP was a great challenge to the region.

“The total cost of the short and medium term development of the Lake Chad region is estimated to be in the region of 916 million Euros.

“As LCDC Member States, we seek the cooperation and support of our partners to implement this plan, ’ ’ the President said Buhari pointed out that there was need to articulate a plan for the critical

post-conflict development phase, stressing that it was only by bringing development to the areas affected by the insurgency, and by protecting the victims and the internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and refugees that genuine recovery for conflict devastated areas could only be achieved.

“We must seize the opportunity this summit presents to evaluate the successes we have achieved, consolidate our achievements, identify any shortcomings we have experienced, and then draw important lessons on which to build further progress, ’ ’ he added.

He said Nigeria had diligently implemented several proactive programmes following decisions of the summit which held in Paris, France He explained that the long term development of the Lake Chad re-

gion would reduce poverty rate, a situation that could be exploited to recruit terrorists.

Buhari listed some Nigeria ’s achievements, at both bilateral and multilateral levels, since the Paris Summit to include the recovery of all territories occupied by the Boko Haram sect in Nigeria and the establishment of Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) to prosecute the war on terror.

The President further said other achievements

include the admission of the Benin Republic to the MNJTF, establishment of Regional Intelligence Fusion Unit (RIFU) in Abuja, strengthening the security of border regions of Member states and reactivation of MNJTF with 8,500 officers and men.

In his remarks, the US Deputy Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, said the US authorities had so far spent $250 million for the development of the Lake Chad Basin.

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igerian Army yesterday said Boko Haram insurgents attacked its troops on harbour, wounding five.

An update by the Director of Army Public Relations, DAPR, Colonel Sani Usman, said two corpses of the attackers were found by the troops who also seized weapons.

Usman said the attacked troops were from 21 Brigade and rugged team of Armed Forces Special Forces (AFSF) on Operation CRACKDOWN inside Sambisa forest.

He said they were on harbour for refitting before they came under the insurgents ’ attack at about 1.45 a.m. yesterday morning.

“Unfortunately, five soldiers were wounded in

action (WIA), as a result of mortar fired into the harbour area by the terrorists.

“The wounded soldiers have been evacuated to the rear for treatment.

“However, the gallant troops successfully repelled the attack. They further followed up with mopping-up operations of the general area before advancing. They also recovered two corpses of the attackers, ” he said.

Usman added that two AK-47 rifles, two rocketpropelled grenades (RPG) bombs, five rifle magazines, mortar bombs and a belt of machine gun rounds were seized.

Despite this incident, he said the morale of the gallant troops remains very high as they are determined to successfully clear the Boko Haram terrorists.

Labour, CSOs shut down economy Wednesday over fuel hike CONT ’D FROM PG 6 PENGANSAN President, Comrade Francis Johnson, tacitly laboured to extricate himself from the agreement reached at the meeting, saying that the TUC merely co-opted him.

Johnson said both the NLC and TUC were already aware that PEN-

GANSAN and Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, had agreed to the new price with some conditionalities, which he claimed was in tandem with some of the points raised by the parent unions.

He said: “I just came in from Calabar this morning when my President,

Comrade Kaigama said there is a joint NEC meeting. What also gladdens my heart is that reading through the communique, there is a point highlighted that ‘NLC, TUC and other civil society allies are not unaware of the positions taken by the unions in the oil and gas industry.

A process of engagement will be put in place in or-

der to ensure the success of the struggle to protect the overall interest of the Nigerian people ’. ” For the struggle to be formidable and to achieve its set goals, he urged NLC to address the issues that emanated as a result of last year ’s delegates ’ conference leading to fictions within the union.

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Fracas mars South-East PDP congress, Jonathan shuns S’South meet EMMANUEL EZEH- ENUGU AND DENNIS NAKU, PORT HARCOURT

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he South-East zonal congress of the Peoples Democrat-

ic Party, PDP, which was held at the Michael Okpara Square in Enugu, capital of Enugu State, yesterday descended into chaos mid-way into commencement of vot-

ing.

Tension had started building up earlier in the day as delegates waited endlessly from 10 am till noon, but leaders of the party in

the zone, including the Deputy Senate President, Chief Ike Ekweremadu and the three PDP governors in the zone, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Dave Umahi and Onyechi Ik-

L-R: Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; his wife Dolapo and Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Winifred Eyo-Ita, during the wedding of the son of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Emmanuel and Minaro in Abuja, yesterday.

North-East zone endorses Sheriff for PDP national chairman …South-West PDP defies court order, conducts congress JUSTIN TYOPUUSU, JALINGO AND OJO OYEWAMIDE, AKURE

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he North-East zonal chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday endorsed the candidature of Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff for the position of national chairman of the party ahead of the May 21 national convention in Port Harcourt.

Taraba governor, Darius Ishaku, at the congress held at Jolly Nyame Stadium, Jalingo nominated Sen. Sheriff and was seconded by his Gombe State counterpart, Hassan Dankwambo.

Ishaku who canvassed support for Sheriff lauded the sterling leadership quali-

ties of the Borno-born politician, saying within the short time he held sway at the Wadata House, he had brought the party closer to the people.

He appealed to PDP stakeholders in the North-East to stand by Sheriff and sell him to the other zones, adding, “When you have a good product, you take it to the market.

We in the North-East have a good candidate, Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff for the position of chairman already zoned to us; so, I urge all to support him.

“We need a strong opposition party in this country and a strong person as the national chairman who will help the party reclaim power in 2019 and Sen. Sheriff is that strong man we need at this time,” he said.

The governor, who urged all PDP members to support Sheriff to become the national chairman of the party, vowed to stand by him and called for a periodic meeting of leaders in the zone to fashion out ways of developing the zone to become one of the viable economic zones in the country. On his part, Governor Hassan Dankwambo of Gombe State enjoined PDP supporters to be united and allow room for give-and-take spirit to prevail in order to move the party forward.

He urged the national chairman to do more in reaching out to the elders and other aggrieved members of the party to clear way for his emergence as chairman at the national convention, even as he called

for unity and understanding among party members in the country.

Meanwhile, the SouthWest Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday defied a court order and conducted its zonal congress in Akure, Ondo State capital.

Justice Ibrahim Buba of a Federal High Court, Lagos, had on Thursday restrained the party from holding the congress.

The order followed an application brought before him by the former zonal secretary, Chief ‘Pegba Otemolu.

Otemolu had claimed that the zonal congress was unlawful because the tenure of the South-West zonal executive would not end until October 11, 2018.

EFCC flayed for persecuting Yoruba politicians KEMI OLAITAN IBADAN

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coalition of socio-political organisations in the South-West zone under the aegis of Network for Equity and Justice (NEJ), yesterday berated the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for persecuting politicians from the zone under the guise of prosecuting anti-corruption campaign.

The group in a release signed by its Media Officer, Elder Joshua Obadare, said while it is in total support of the anti-corruption policy of the President Muhammadu

Buhari administration, it would not endorse singling out of opposition figures for punishment while members of the APC remained untouchable.

The organisation said it came to the conclusion after reviewing the circumstances surrounding the arrest and detention of the immediate past Senator for Oyo Central, Senator Ayo Adeseun.

It would be recalled that Adeseun was arrested last Tuesday by officials of the EFCC over involvement in campaign funds disbursement, and detained for a night at the State CID

in Ibadan, before he was whisked to Lagos by EFCC operatives on Wednesday.

NEJ said more than five days after Adeseun was picked up, no charges had been preferred against him, wondering why he was only allowed access to his lawyers after his third day in incarceration.

According to the release, only the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was empowered by law to look into campaign funds of political parties and ascertain whether they have overshot the stipulated limit.

“They said they granted him administrative bail and one of the bail conditions is that he should provide the Certificate of Occupancy of a property in Ikoyi, where a house costs hundreds of millions of naira. The EFCC has a zonal office in Ibadan, why did it take the Senator to Lagos? Obviously, EFCC is acting a script written for it by Aso Rock. It knew Adeseun would not get someone with such property to stand as surety for the accused and would, therefore, keep him in detention for as long as it would take to meet the bail conditions.

peazu did not show up.

They later arrived at 3.oo pm, with apology from Ekweremadu, who apologised over their lateness, disclosing that it was aimed at resolving all issues to ensure a peaceful congress.

According to him, “The late commencement is in the interest of our people; since yesterday night, we have been meeting to resolve all the issues.

“We are just coming from the Enugu Government House where we had a marathon meeting.”

However, the PDP leaders, who thought they had brought everything under control were wrong as fight ensued over an alleged gang-up against one of the candidates, Mr. Ali Odefa.

Odefa, a former zonal publicity secretary of the party, vied for the position of the zonal vice-chairman, which was zoned to his state of Ebonyi.

However, Sunday Mirror gathered that before the voting kicked off, a petition, which was allegedly written by Gov. Dave Umahi of Ebonyi, seeking to disqualify Odefa, threw the congress into a fight as supporters of both the governor and Odefa engaged each other in a free-for-all.

Also At the SouthSouth zonal congress of the party held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital, former President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan was visibly absent.

Jonathan neither sent a representative nor goodwill message to the event held at the International Conference Centre in the oil and gas rich city.

Two former governors from the zone, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State and Senator Liyel Imoke of Cross River State were conspicuously absent at the party’s zonal congress, even as they did not send representatives.

Former Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Chief Godswill Akpabio, was the only former governor on the platform of

the PDP that attended the congress.

Akpabio who delivered a solidarity message at the zonal congress, called on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to conduct the suspended legislative elections in Rivers State.

Chairman of the Electoral Panel of the party’s South-South zonal congress, Owoseni Ajayi, Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Ekiti State, who had earlier asked for the former zonal executive to be dissolved further stated that from the official list of contestants obtained from the headquarters of the party, “there is no dissenting list”.

He said, “The list of contestants that we were given by the national secretariat of the party has been approved by the National Working Committee, NWC, the state governors and the State Working Committees, SWC.” Ajayi stated that although there was no dissenting list, or anyone challenging any of the candidates already cleared by the NWC, the SWC, and the state governors, the constitution of the PDP states that actual voting process should, however, be complied with”.

At the end of the voting exercise that lasted about 30 minutes, Ogidi was elected chairman.

He received 570 votes with four void while Etim Andy was elected secretary with 573 votes with one vote void.

The following candidates emerged through popular acclamation: Elder Emmanuel Ogidi from Delta State, emerged as the national vice-chairman; Boyelayefa Debekeme, a former Speaker of the Bayelsa House of Assembly, was elected as the zonal secretary while Bishop Etim Andy emerged as publicity secretary and Mrs. Juliana Emeh, from Rivers State was chosen as treasurer of the zone.

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Politics

May 15, 2016

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Nigeria, the West and politics of stolen funds CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9

the engagement of the services of foreign private investigators to help trace and find looted funds. The anti-corruption posture of Buhari and his zero tolerance on maladministration started to manifest in July last year, barely two months after he assumed office, when operatives of the Department of State Security (DSS) effected the arrest of Colonel Dasuki Sambo (rtd), the National Security Adviser (NSA) to outgone president Jonathan over alleged $2.1 billion arms deal. Just like Dasuki, other prominent Nigerians who served under the Jonathan administration had been arrested over allegations bordering on corruption and mismanagement of public funds, charged to court and are currently standing trial. They include former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, founder of DAAR Communication, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, Spokesman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Olisa Metuh, former cabinet ministers and others who either served in the government of Jonathan or were his close associates.

The Buhari administration also took his anti-corruption fight to the legislative arm of government, specifically in the Senate, regarded as the upper chambers of the National Assembly following the arraignment of the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) over alleged false asset declaration during the time he was governor of Kwara State.

He is at present standing trial before the tribunal. However, the recent comment by British Prime Minister, David Cameron labelling Nigeria as one of the most corrupt countries in the world had elicited a lot of reactions and opinions.

Cameron had described Nigeria as “fantastically corrupt ” while making a remark ahead of the international anti-corruption summit held in London with the theme, ‘Exposing Corruption, Tackling Corruption and Driving Out Corruption ’. The British Prime Minister had labelled Nigeria and Afghanistan as two of the most corrupt countries in the world while speaking at Buckingham Palace at an event to mark Queen Elizabeth ’s 90th birthday. Cameron had said, “Actually, we have got some leaders of some fantastically corrupt countries coming to Britain … “Nigeria and Afghanistan –possibly two of the most corrupt countries in the world ”. However, in a swift reaction, Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, intervened, saying (of President Muhammadu Buhari): “But this particular president is not corrupt … he ’s trying very hard. ” While reacting to Cameron ’s comment, Buhari through a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mallam Garba Shehu, said the comment was quite embarrassing. The statement reads in part: “This is embarrassing to us, to say the least, given the good work that the President is doing. The eyes of the world are on what is happening here. ” Buhari said Cameron must be making his point from an old impression about the Nigerian nation as things had really changed since he took over government.

“Prime Minister must be looking at an old snapshot of Nigeria. Things are changing with corruption and everything else. ” Pleased by the comment of the Archbishop of Canterbury, who argued that the president was not corrupt, he said: “Thank you to the Archbishop ”.

But Cameron while making his opening remarks at the summit and perhaps realising that his earlier comment about Nigeria

Das suki

Mag gu

was not the reality in the country applauded Buhari ’s vigorous efforts to curb corruption. The comment of Cameron has elicited mixed reactions from legal practitioners.

While some said the British Prime Minister was simply expressing the obvious, others faulted his assessment, saying he sad not been sincere.

Some senior lawyers while expressing their views agreed with Buhari that there was no need for Cameron to apologise for his comment but called for the collaborative efforts of all Nigerians to tackle the menace of corruption.

In his reaction, Awa Kalu (SAN) said, “What other reaction, we have accepted that it is true. Apology for what? If somebody has a big head and you tell the person that his head is big; will you then apologise for saying the obvious?

“From what I read online, the President said that he (Cameron) is not apologising and that Nigerians should cooperate with him to fight the menace, what we should do now is to cooperate with him and find a way out. ” Another senior lawyer, Godwin Obla (SAN), shared the same view with Kalu and wondered why Nigerians are calling for an apology when what Cameron said was the obvious.

“The truth is that Nigeria is corrupt; why are we calling for an apology? Cameron has expressed his opinion and if you feel he is not correct prove him wrong. You can ’t even sue him for libel because at the end, will you be able to justify that Nigeria is not corrupt? ” he asked.

“The President was right in his response and I think what we should do now is to cooperate with him in order to fight corruption ”, Obla said.

However, Sam Ologunorisa (SAN) had a different view on the matter. While the senior lawyer said he agreed with Cameron in his assessment of Nigeria as a corrupt nation, he said it was wrong for the British Prime Minister to have singled out Nigeria and tagged it as the most corrupt nation.

“Singling out Nigeria as the most corrupt country for me is very bad and should be condemned in its entirety. Most particularly, considering the relationship between Nigeria and Britain, it was arrogance on

the part of Cameron to have made that kind of comment without thinking about the relationship between the two countries.

Such a comment is capable of affecting the relationship between Nigeria and Britain and if the President had acted in the same manner, what would have happened? But for us and the President, we should not chase shadows and that is what the President has done ” he said.

Another Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Ikechukwu Ezechukwu, said there was nothing about the comment of the British Prime minister that is new. He added that instead of calling for an apology, “Nigerians should rather look inward and collaborate with Buhari in order to reposition the nation to that which will give it a good image within and outside the country. ” Specifically, Buhari had declared that he would not be asking for any apology from Cameron over his scathing comment about Nigeria but would rather demand for the return of stolen funds stashed in banks in the United Kingdom, United States and other foreign countries in the world. At the summit, he had raised serious concern that the international community had looked away for too long on the issue of tackling corruption while calling on world leaders to urgently step up action and tackle the evil. He also urged the international community to urgently create anti-corruption infrastructure and a strategic action plan to facilitate the speedy recovery and repatriation of stolen funds hidden in secret bank accounts abroad.

“When it comes to tackling corruption, the international community has unfortunately looked away for too long. We need to step up and tackle this evil together. That is why we have gathered here today. Corruption creates a system where resources are shared by small elite while the majority wallows in poverty. Corruption also undermines the ability of countries to finance development.

“I recall in this regard, the landmark Addis Ababa Action Agenda of the 3rd International Conference on Finance for Development held in January this year.

A prominent feature of that global framework is the recognition that good governance and measures to combat corrup-

tion and curb illicit financial flows will be integral to the effort to attain sustainable development globally by the year 2050, ” he disclosed.

Buhari said his government was determined to address illicit financial outflows which have served as a major impediment to progress. He reiterated his demand for the global community to come up with mechanisms for dismantling safe havens for stolen funds and facilitate the return of stolen assets to their countries of origin.

Buhari had earlier told the Managing Director of the World Bank, Ms Sri Mulyani Indrawati, during her visit to the Presidential Villa, Abuja that the bank should do all within its powers to facilitate the speedy repatriation to Nigeria of stolen funds still being held by Swiss authorities. The President said the repatriation of the additional $320 million in Switzerland, which has been identified as illegally taken from Nigeria under the Abacha administration would help to ease the current economic hardship facing the country. The President assured Indrawati that his administration was taking appropriate steps to ensure that public funds are no longer stolen or misappropriated by government officials. ‘ ‘We need the support of the World Bank for the repatriation of the funds. We are as concerned as the World Bank about accountability. If such repatriated funds have been misapplied in the past, I assure you that the same will not happen with us.

Three hundred and twenty million dollars is a lot of money and we will not allow it to be misappropriated or diverted, ’ ’ Buhari told Ms. Indrawati.

He explained that one of the conditions given by the Swiss authorities for the repatriation of the funds was that it should be spent on the implementation of social programmes for the benefit of the Nigerian people in an efficient and accountable way, guaranteed by the monitoring of the World Bank. He also assured the World Bank MD that his administration would honour all agreements with the Bank that would assist to stimulate Nigeria ’s economy and reduce the level of poverty in the land.

The President said that Nigeria would welcome greater international assistance for the rehabilitation of damaged homes, schools, health facilities and other infrastructure in the North Eastern states affected by the Boko Haram insurgency. Indrawati in her remarks told Buhari that the World Bank was ready to use its knowledge, expertise and resources to help Nigeria achieve faster growth and development. ‘ ‘We will strongly support you to create jobs and ensure prosperity in Nigeria, ’ ’ the World Bank MD assured Buhari. She also expressed the World Bank ’s full support for the war against corruption being waged by the Buhari-led administration The President had also expressed frustration with the process involved in the recovery of Nigeria ’s stolen wealth from foreign countries when the Executive Secretary of United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Mr Yury Fedotov, visited him at the Presidential Villa. He urged the UN body to facilitate the faster recovery of stolen funds, saying that the process of recovering the stolen assets had “become tedious ” to the consternation of many Nigerians.

“We are looking for more cooperation from the European Union, United States, other countries and international institutions to recover the nation ’s stolen assets, particularly proceeds from the stolen crude oil. It is taking very long and Nigerians are becoming impatient, ” the President said.

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EDIFYING GOD Sunday, May 15, 2016

Your problem is a material for testimony 20

QUOTE

The church today is divided.

It needs reconciliation. We are to be reconciled across denominational, racial, gender and cultural barriers demonstrating the true spiritual unity for which Jesus prayed for in John 17.

Prof. Kunle Macaulay

Importance of sowing seeds

Spiritual direction for Christians, Christianity and Nigeria 30

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Pentecost: Celebration and Significance 12 & 13

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Cover

Sunday May 15, 2016

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Pentecost: Celebration

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entecost is usually celebrated every year on the 50th day after the feast of Easter which is the resurrection of Jesus Christ and 10 days after the feast of the Ascension of Christ. Like the dates of most other movable feasts, the date of Pentecost which falls on Sunday depends on the date of Easter. Since the date of Easter changes every year, the date of Pentecost does as well.

The feast commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles of Jesus Christ as recorded in Acts of the Apostles chapter 2:1-13 which Jesus promised before He ascended to heaven.

Pentecost, a feast of the Jewish tradition, is also believed to herald the establishment of the Church through the preaching of the Apostles and baptism of the thousands who on that day accepted the gospel message of salvation through Jesus Christ. The day of Pentecost is also seen as the culmination of the revelation of the Holy Trinity.

The term Pentecost is an English word coined from the Greek word Pentekostos which means 50. It is believed to have come from the ancient Christian expression Pentekostos hemera which in English translation means the 50th day.

According to American cleric and writer, Rev. Mark D. Roberts, Christians did not invent the phrase fiftieth day, rather, they borrowed it from Greek speaking Jews who used the phrase to refer to their Jewish holiday. This holiday, according to Roberts, was known as the Festival of Weeks, or more simply, Weeks or Shavuot in Hebrew.

The term Shavuot now known as Pentecost, as revealed by Roberts, comes from an expression in Leviticus 23:16, which instructs the people to count seven weeks or 50 days from the end of Passover to the beginning of the next holiday, Pentekonta hemeras in the ancient Greek translation of the Hebrew scripture.

Going by ancient Greek history, Shavuot was said to be the second greatest feast in Israel’s yearly circle of holy days. It was originally a harvest festival which is recorded in Exodus 23:16, but with the movement of time, it turned into a day to commemorate the giving of the law on Mount Sinai. This day became especially significant for Christians because seven weeks after the resurrection of Jesus Christ, during the Jewish celebration of Shavuot (Pentecost), the Holy Spirit was poured out upon His (Jesus) first followers, thus empowering them for their mission and gathering them together as a church.

Pentecost is often referred as the birth day of the church since adherents believe that because of this day, a Jewish feast day divinely chosen for the descent of the Holy Spirit, Christ’s mission was completed, and the New Covenant was inaugurated. It is interesting to note that some Christians Saint Peter, the first Pope was spokesman for the Apostles on the first Pentecost Sunday.

According to Professor Kunle Macaulay, Director of Studies, United Bible University, Ojodu, Ogun State, Christians do not need to celebrate Pentecost as they do some other feasts noted in the Bible.

“Pentecost is the arrival of the Holy

For the old generation churches, just like every other Christian celebration, Pentecost is relevant and marked every year as was done in the Jewish tradition, but for some Christians, Pentecost is not worth being celebrated elaborately as they argue that it is a time of sobriety and solemnity for adherents. ODINAKA URUAKPA speaks to clerics and brings their thoughts on the issue.

Spirit and every individual has his or her own Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit will come to him or her. The Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles when they were in Jerusalem, in fulfilment of the promise which Christ made to them when He (Jesus) asked them to tarry in Jerusalem until they will be endowed with power. When the power promised them arrived as they were in Jerusalem, they spoke in strange tongues. Those strange tongues they (Apostles) spoke in were known tongues; they didn’t speak in heavenly tongues, rather, they spoke languages that people from different tribes who were gathered there could understand. This was the reason the people around who heard them speaking their language were amazed at how Israelites who had their own language could achieve this feat. For me, Pentecost is not something to celebrate at all; it is something that has been done once and for all on the day divinely chosen for the arrival of the Holy Spirit. Every time you preach to a person or a group of people and they are converted, that means that they are touched by the Holy Spirit and that is their Pentecost day”, he stated.

Regarding the significance of Pentecost, Macaulay claimed that the event is all about the arrival of the Holy Spirit for the establishment of the Christian church, adding that from the moment the Holy Spirit descended on them, the Apostles became a united group that actually formed the first church.

“We have theologians who read the Bible and interpret it to fit into their doctrine. If you look at the reverence of Mary, for instance, by the Catholic

BECAUSE WE ARE PART OF THE BODY OF THE CHURCH, PENTECOST IS THE CHURCH’S BIRTHDAY, AND OURS AS WELL. AND LIKE ANY BIRTHDAY, IT IS A CAUSE FOR CELEBRATION. THE WORD PENTECOST IS GREEK AND IT MEANS 50TH DAY. Church, it was never part of Christianity until some theologians from the Catholic Church sat down and said Mary must be a saint because she gave birth to Jesus Christ, the son of God that we worship, and they concluded that definitely she (Mary) is greater than Jesus Christ. If you look at it theologically, if a mother talks to her child, that child is bound to respect the opinion of the mother. This is why theologically, if they want to ask anything from Jesus Christ, they go through His mother. This is also where the theory of Mariology is derived from.

While explaining that the Bible is ridden with some loopholes, Macaulay further claimed that though sometimes, some of the existing doctrines of some denominations may not be right biblically, but they could be right in the theological sense.

“The Bile has a lot of loopholes. Take for instance when Jesus said, ‘I am going to prepare a place and when I prepare, I will come. What does Christ want people to do when He is away? There is a gap there; there is something you need to fill

there. So, anybody can turn around and say, ‘well, we have to go and teach; we have to go preaching, we have to do this though Christ never said so. You can develop that which you think theologically and make it your doctrine, but mind you, it could also be theologically wrong”, he asserted.

In his submission, Rev. Fr. Paschal Obioma, Director of Catholic Apostolate, Abbi, Delta State claimed that Pentecost signifies the birth of the church, therefore, those who are part of the church should do well to celebrate the feast of Pentecost, just as they would be eager to celebrate their birthday.

“Because we are part of the body of the Church, Pentecost is the Church’s birthday, and ours as well. And like any birthday, it is a cause for celebration. The word Pentecost is Greek and it means 50th day. Fifty days after Easter Sunday, we celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and their followers, and the beginning of their earthly ministry to make disciples of all nations.

Pentecost coincidentally is also a Jewish

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Sunday May 15, 2016

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and Significance holiday, which the Jews use to celebrate the end of Passover. Jews celebrate the gift of the law to Moses at Mount Sinai on this day. But we, as Catholics celebrate the birth of our Church. At Pentecost, the Apostles and their followers were gathered in a room. Jews from all over the world were gathered with Peter, the leader of the Apostles and the Eleven. At this time, a great wind blew and a flame appeared as a tongue of fire, which split itself into many individual flames above the heads of all those present. The Holy Spirit came upon these people and each began to speak in tongues. Despite the fact many had no common language, they were perfectly able to understand one another. Others who were not so blessed, accused those speaking in tongues of being drunk, but Peter arose and addressed the crowd, explaining that it was only 9 o’clock, and that this phenomenon was not intoxication, but rather this was the work of the Holy Spirit, prophesized in the scripture. Peter then called all those present to be baptized and about three thousand people were baptized that day”, he stated.

Obioma claimed that these people were among the first Catholics, as Peter is the first pope of the Catholic Church.

He added that the symbols of Pentecost are the flame, wind, and the dove, which represents the Holy Spirit.

“The colour of Pentecost is red and this is why the priests in the church wear red vestments on this day. Parishioners are also invited to wear red on this day. Red decorations as well as celebrations are appropriate, similar to any other birthday and special prayers are often said just for Pentecost. On Pentecost Sunday, the Holy Trinity is fully revealed. Since that first Pentecost day, the Kingdom announced by Christ has been open to those who believe in him; in the humility of the flesh and in faith, they already share in the communion of the Holy Trinity. By His coming, which never ceases, the Holy Spirit causes the world to enter into the last days, the time of the Church, the Kingdom already inherited, though not yet consummated”, he claimed.

When asked the benefit of Pentecost to members of the church, Obioma said: “On Pentecost, God gave his people a gift. The Holy Spirit is God’s gift to His people. God is Love and love is his first gift, containing all others. God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

Because we are dead or at least wounded through sin, the first effect of the gift of love is the forgiveness of our sins. The communion of the Holy Spirit 126 in the Church restores to the baptized, the divine likeness lost through sin. He, then, gives us the “pledge” or “first fruits” of our inheritance: the very life of the Holy Trinity, which is to love as “God [has] loved us.” 127 This love (the “charity” of 1 Cor 13) is the source of the new life in Christ, made possible because we have received “power” from the Holy Spirit.

By this power of the Spirit, God’s children can bear much fruit. He who has grafted us onto the true vine will make us bear the fruit of the Spirit which includes love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness

ON PENTECOST, GOD GAVE HIS PEOPLE A GIFT. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS GOD’S GIFT TO HIS PEOPLE. GOD IS LOVE AND LOVE IS HIS FIRST GIFT, CONTAINING ALL OTHERS. and self-control. We live by the Spirit”; the more we renounce ourselves, the more we “walk by the Spirit. Through the Holy Spirit, we are restored to paradise, led back to the Kingdom of heaven, and adopted as children, given confidence to call God Father and to share in Christ’s grace, called children of light and given a share in eternal glory.”

Speaking on the Holy Spirit and the Church’s mission, Obioma said: “The mission of Christ and the Holy Spirit is brought to completion in the Church, which is the Body of Christ and the Temple of the Holy Spirit.

This joint mission, henceforth brings Christ’s faithful to share in his communion with the Father in the Holy Spirit.

The Spirit prepares men and goes out to them with his grace, in order to draw them to Christ. The Spirit manifests the risen Lord to them, recalls his word to them and opens their minds to the understanding of his Death and Resurrection. He makes present the mystery of Christ, supremely in the Eucharist, in order to reconcile them, to bring them into communion with God, that they may bear much fruit. Thus the Church’s mission is not an addition to that of Christ and the Holy Spirit, but is its sacrament: in her whole being and in all her members, the Church is sent to announce, bear witness, make present, and spread the mystery of the communion of the Holy Trinity. All of us who

have received one and the same Spirit, that is, the Holy Spirit, are in a sense blended together with one another and with God. When Christ, together with the Father’s and his own Spirit, comes to dwell in each of us, though we are many, still the Spirit is one and undivided. He binds together the spirits of each and every one of us, and makes all appear as one in him. For as the power of Christ’s sacred flesh unites those in whom it dwells into one body, in the same way the one and undivided Spirit of God, who dwells in all, leads all into spiritual unity.”

Also airing his view on the issue, Pastor K. I. Bona, General Overseer of Chapel of Holiness and Testimony, Ijegun, Lagos claimed that Pentecost is not an occasion for celebration, rather it should be a ministration and a programme that would embrace all members of the church to come together to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

“Pentecost is not something that we need to celebrate like social events, but it is a time for us to come together to prepare our spirit to receive, just as in the times of old when the early Christians i.e. the disciples of Jesus Christ waited for quite a number of days in the upper room for the coming of the Holy Spirit and when the day came for the descent of the Holy Spirit, they (disciples) received it, and they were in one accord.

The Bible states that there was a mighty

wind, and resting upon their heads were glowing tongues of fire signifying the Holy Spirit. So, like I said earlier, Pentecost is not something to be celebrated, but something to be practiced, as people are expected to gather in prayer to receive the spirit of God just like the disciples did. Unfortunately, many Christians have deviated from this and prefer to do things their way.

He urged Christians to emulate the Apostles who on receiving the power promised them, who rather than making merry, feasting and celebrating like is obtainable these days, wasted no time in proclaiming the Good News to all gathered in the place they were in.

“I will advise Christians to rethink and take opportunity of such a day just like the disciples of Jesus Christ did to proclaim the good news and save people from eternal damnation and introducing the person of Christ to people they come in contact with. Like we are told in the Bible, the Apostles preached to the people gathered in Jerusalem at the time for the feast of Passover, everyone heard the good news being proclaimed in their own native tongue and they accepted Christ as their Lord and saviour and were baptized by the apostles. So we should at this time and always be foot soldiers of Christ as we proclaim the good news and win souls for God”, he said.

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May 15, 2016

Man in the News Iyabo Veronica Anisulowo

Gender equality activist rescued from the ‘lion ’s den ’ TUNDE ADELEKE

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hen on Wednesday, April 17, 2016, she woke up to pray in the early hours of the day, she certainly would have included avoidance of evil in her supplications to God. Fate, however, played a fast one on her as she ran into dare-devil abductors on her return from work in the evening of that day having spent the whole day tending her farm.

Iyabo Anisulowo, former senator of the Federal Republic, former minister and one of the most prominent female political personalities and proponent of gender equality in Africa was abducted by unknown gunmen alongside her security aide that evening while returning from her farm in Sawonjo in Yewa South Local Government Area of Ogun State.

Breaking the news to the nation, the Ogun State Police Command said the elder stateswoman was kidnapped around 6.00pm. The command ’s spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi who confirmed the incident to newsmen said the state Commissioner of Police, had deployed five teams to rescue her.

“The Ogun State Police Command is aware of the kidnapping of Senator Iyabo Anisulowo in Ilaro area today around 6.00pm.The Commissioner of Ogun State Police Command, CP Abdulmajid Ali has detailed five teams to the area to rescue her unhurt, ” Adejobi said in a statement.

The Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, and Anti-Kidnapping Squad commanders have been sent to the area by the Commissioner of Police to rescue the senator and apprehend the perpetrators ”, he further said, adding “we have also embarked on scientific investigation of the matter. ” The leader of the group of abductors, according to media reports, was described as an audacious kingpin in the business who approached the police to help facilitate payment of N200m ransom they demanded while the old woman was still being held captive.

The gang leader who was said to have been arrested last Tuesday was tracked by the telephone with which he placed a call to the police to advise them against wasting time on seeking ways of rescuing their victim, but should instead, help ensure speedy payment of the huge ransom placed on the former minister, saying the police would make no headway if they chose to press on with their efforts to locate the gang ’s hideout.

The gang apparently obtained police telephone lines through the media as they had, in desperate moves to rescue Anisulowo, released some telephone

lines to the public through the media, requesting useful information that could assist their efforts.

The kidnappers had during the period of the hostage demanded a whopping sum of N200m as ransom from the woman ’s family while the police also offered N5m for any information that could lead to her release.

Anisulowo was, however, fortunate to regain freedom Tuesday evening. Police said she was rescued at Gbegbelawo village, a suburb of Olorunda town located in Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State around 7.00pm adding that her suspected abductors were arrested during the operation.

Many Nigerians including the former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo have commended the efforts of the Ogun State

Governor, Senator Ibikunke Amosun and the Nigeria Police Force in securing the release of the former minister. In a letter to the governor, the former Nigerian leader praised Senator Amosun for the successful rescue of the 65-year-old elder stateswoman.

In the letter dated May 9, 2016, Chief Obasanjo commended Amosun for his exemplary leadership, commitment and dedication to the good of the people of Ogun State in particular and Nigeria in general.

“It was enormously heartening to see the fruition of your uplifting eagerness and action in getting the release of Senator Iyabo Anisulowo from the den of her kidnappers without her being harmed and without any ransom paid ”, he said.

Obasanjo, also a former military head of state gave all those involved in the op-

eration that led to the release, particularly the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 2, Bala Hassan and the State Commissioner of Police, Ali, a pat on the back.

Narrating her ordeal, in the hands of her captors, Senator Anisulowo described her experience as dehumanizing and terrible. Speaking at the Ogun State Government House to where she was brought by Ali, the state commissioner of police, she claimed to have lived on water while her ordeal lasted, adding that she, however, kept hope alive because she knew the police must have been searching for her.

Governor Amosun in his reaction expressed satisfaction with the efforts of the police. The governor who disclosed that no ransom was paid to secure the release of the former senator also expressed belief in the ability of the Nigerian Police to provide security.

Veronica Iyabo Anisulowo who was born 65 years ago in Ilaro into the Ajibogun family, rose through the ranks from the grassroots level to a position of reckoning. A product of moderate background, the woman described as a liberal conservative because of her pro-family values and feminine independence through universal quality education joined politics in1991 when she was appointed Secretary to the Local Government in her native state of Ogun. She became a commissioner in the Ogun State Civil Service a year later.

Senator Anisulowo also served as state commissioner for Agriculture & Rural Development before her appointment as minister of state for Education by the then maximum ruler, the late General Sani Abacha.

The politician turned farmer contested for the governorship of her state on the platform of of the state ’s chapter of All People ’s Party, APP. She represented Ogun West district in the Nigerian Senate, 2003 – 2007 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, from where she defected to the All Progressives Congress, APC. She got embroiled in a controversy during her term in the Senate in October 2004 following allegations that she withdrew N500,000 and N700,000 respectively from the purse of the Senate Committee on States and Local Governments.

She was physically assaulted by a fellow senator, Isa Mohammed, a fellow PDP member representing Niger West.

Senator Anisulowo denied this allegation with the explanation that the money was for the Inter-Parliamentary Union meeting taking place that year in Geneva, Switzerland. The tireless amazon who lives in Ilaro, the biggest metropolitan Yewa community is married and has children.

PASSION

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A Lifestyle Magazine

APPLAUSE

‘Fighting for women’s rights, interesting, challenging’ >>17

Every part of my body is sexy

–Anita Joseph >>16

Sunday May 15, 2016

16

Passion

Sunday, May 15, 2016

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Every part of my body is sexy –Anita Joseph Anita Joseph is a popular Nollywood actress. The glamorous performer who tells ADAEZE AMOS about her style, ideal man and passion for acting in this interview says she considers every part of her body as sexy.

What new jobs are you busy with currently?

My new jobs are ‘Apia’, ‘Anini Sis‘Umunne Delilah’,, ‘Ojukwu the Warj lord’, ord’, ‘Sorrows of Madness’, ‘Trial of Faith’, ‘Weeping Mother’ and a host of other movies I can’t remember now.

Has a male fan ever done something crazy to you?

A male fan once slapped my bums at the Shoprite where I went to do some shopping.

I wasn’t expecting it and suddenly what I heard on my bums was a loud slap. I was shocked.

You know how it feels when you weren’t e x pecting a

ters’,

touch, a tap and suddenly you had a hard slap on your bums. I was angry. When I turned, I saw a guy I have never met before hitting g me on my y bums. When I shouted at him angrily asking why he did that, he started apologising. He said he was carried away by my bums so much that he didn’t know when he did that. He apologised continually that I had to forgive him and walk away.

What parts of your body do you consider very sexy and which do you flaunt often?

I consider every part of my body sexy.

I flaunt my thighs because of their firmness.

What are some of the beauty rituals you must observe?

I ensure I have a healthy diet and I watch my carbohydrate intake and lots of protein because protein is a body builder. Of course I drink a lot of water in order not to dehydrate. Water cleanses my system and rejuvenates me. For my face, I use Clinique products. I cleanse before I sleep and I dare not sleep with make-up on.

What have you been doing right to retain a flat tummy?

I d o n’ t joke with my exercise.

There are exercises t h a t burn the fats in your tummy area.

I spend time doing such exercises in the gym. So, my flat tummy a n d

curvy shape are re the good results of my work-out. I don’t eat at nights. If I must put something into my mouth at night, it mightt only be an apple and a glass of water.

Would you oblige ige your husband if he insists you must stop acting, ng, if you are married?

This is a very ry difficult one. My answer has althatt my husband should love me and ways been b I do for a living. If he sees me as an love what w actress and wants actres ants to marry me, he should be prepared to have prepar ave an actress as wife. This is my prayer. prayer The Bible says ays God would always grant me my heart desires. So, the answer to this question is that would not stop me from acting because he would he wo me to continue love m tinue doing what I have passion for. My husband has to love my job. m y husba T hat’s prayer. prayer do you feel How d el about the that you don’t fact th on’t have privacy because privac se of acting?

It h hurts that at I don’t have privacy really. It hurts to the privac marrow. marro stands you What s ou out in the midst of your colleagues? collea What Wh standss me out that I am me. I don’t is tha try to be some e other person or try to live the life others and of oth d copy them sheepishly. I don’t sheep on’t pretend to who I am not. be wh ot. are the qualities What a ualities of your ideal man?

He must be e God-fearing. This is basic because a man who has the of God would fear o ould not maltreat his Also, he must be smart, clean wife. A outspoken. and ou n.

What tthrills you u most about what you do as an actress?

What Wh thrillss me most is that I interpret roles that teach ch morals. They always have storylines thatt people would follow and learn storyl one or two things ngs from. I also do movies that make people laugh augh and forget their sorrows. know how to strike hot poses before the You kn camera, how did this part of you evolve? camer I ha have known wn how to strike hot poses from onset. Also the on o is the fact that I have five big sisters who taught ught me everything.

What ttips guide e you while applying makeup?

It is the desire ire of every lady to have fa lawmakeup whenever she is getting set to atless m tend a glamorous ous event. The major thing that be in place must b ce for your makeup to give you smooth, perfect finish is a smooth spotthat sm face. less fa Ensure you are not going to use foundaEns tion to conceall or cover up lots of burns, patches and acne. patche cne. If at all you are going to apply a concealer, let it be that are of the desire to have a flawyou ar finish. less fin Another area Ano rea of consideration is your eyebrows. They must be able e to give you that llook you are craving for.

Once f e your eyebrowss are in good shape,

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9

2018: Osun ’s emerging political forces P 37

Politics PROVIDING FRESH PERSPECTIVES TO ISSUES

May 15, 2016

WHEN A PARTY IS AT PEACE AND THERE IS NO

CRISIS,

WHEN THERE IS CRISIS, IT MEANS THERE IS GOING TO BE FACTIONALISATION AND IT IS LIKELY TO LOSE MEMBERS.

Nigeria, the West and politics of stolen funds

Ca amero on

Over the years, Britain and Nigeria have maintained strong relationship and collaborated on many issues beneficial to both countries. However, the comment of the British Prime Minister, David Cameron, describing Nigeria as one of the most corrupt countries in the world shortly before the opening of the anti-corruption summit held in London last week generated reactions and put the nation on the spotlight. ROTIMI FADEYI and DOOSUUR IWANBE examine the issues and the implications for the country.

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hen President Muhammadu Buhari assumed office on May 29 last year, he had vowed to tackle the issue of insecurity, ensure job creation and wage total war against corruption in the country. As a military Head of State between December 31, 1983 and August 27 1985, Buhari took a similar path with his anti-corruption and War Against Indiscipline (WAI) campaigns which he carried

P 40

IT MEANS THAT THE MEMBERS WILL GO TO BED, BUT

–SENATE MINORITY LEADER, CHIEF GODSWILL AKPABIO.

Bu uhari

Buhari didn ’t do home work properly before coming to power –Adebanjo

out with his then Deputy who also served as Chief of General Staff, thwe late General Tunde Idiagbon.

Now that he is back in power as a democratically elected President, about 30 years after he was overthrow by General Ibrahim Babangida (retd) in a coup d ’état, Buhari is again pursuing the agenda to wage a war against corruption. He had revealed to Nigerians shortly after he took over power

from former president Goodluck Jonathan that he inherited an empty treasury and vowed to pursue his anti- corruption campaign by taking urgent action against those who looted the treasury in order to recover all stolen funds.

In two weeks from now, precisely on May 29, Buhari would have spent one year in office. Within this period, he had taken his anti-corruption campaign to many countries of the world, asking for the return of stolen funds taken away from Nigeria by corrupt public officials and stashed in foreign banks. The government had been able to trace stolen funds to countries such as Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, United States, France, Germany, the British Virgin Islands and other havens spread across the world. The administration had also disclosed that the search for the looted funds would not be limited to these countries but anywhere in the world that such funds are hidden with CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

Briefly

CACOL backs Cameron ’s remark on Nigeria

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s more reactions continue to trail the comment of British Prime Minister, Mr David Cameron, in which he branded Nigeria as “fantastically corrupt ”, Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders, CACOL, has acknowledged the remark as true.

CACOL stance is contained in a statement issued and signed by its executive chairman, Mr Debo Adeniran.

Cameron, who on Tuesday night made the comment at a discussion with Queen Elizabeth ahead of the International Conference on Anti-corruption organised by the Commonwealth, which Nigeria is also a member and was due to attend, was pilloried for such a view. The PM had singled Nigeria and Afghanistan as countries that are ‘fantastically corrupt ’.

But the CACOL chairman admits Cameron was right and does not deserved to be nailed because, according to him, the PM ’s remark was informed by the fact that the country is actually corrupt, noting that the situation was why President Muhammadu Buhari is doing his best to tackle the menace head on.

“We view the comment not as an attack on Nigeria or the President, but as an honest comment on the corrupt system that has subsisted and characterised even several regimes before the present administration in Nigeria.

“Mr. Cameron ’s comment stems from the reality that Nigeria is indeed profoundly corrupt which justifies the fierce fight the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government is prosecuting against corruption. ” He further commended the United Kingdom for its support for the country against corrupt practices.

Adeniran recalled that the British government had on several accounts helped Nigeria to apprehend corrupt political office holders, which were highly commendable.

“The UK has even been more helpful than harmful in the fight against corruption in the country. For instance, it took the UK to be able to make James Ibori to answer for some of his very outrageous corruption crimes against the background of him having escaped about 171 charges of corruption in Nigeria by manoeuvring through the judicial system.

“The immediate past Minister of Petroleum, Diezani Allison-Madueke, is currently facing corruption charges in the UK, an individual who also was on the run from justice; a fugitive from justice in Britain, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha was granted state pardon in Nigeria, another fugitive from justice in the same Britain is spending his third term in the Senate and we think Mr. Cameron is ‘insulting ’ us? ” he enquired.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sunday, May 15, 2016

you are okay even without lipstick. This shows how important eyebrows are in the beauty world.

Then your lashes shouldn’t be ignored.

If you want to wear false lashes, opt for moderate ones so that you don’t look like a doll.

Use good mascara to highlight y o u r natural lashes.

Applause

17

‘Fighting for women’s rights, interesting, challenging’

Effah-Chukwuma

ADAEZE AMOS

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miable Josephine Effah-Chukwuma is the executive director, Project Alert On Violence Against. She founded the non-governmental organization in 1999 and ever since then, the passion she has for the organization has not waned. She is still thrilled by what she does. “What thrills me most about Project Alert is our ability to put smiles on the faces of numerous girls, women and families who come to us feeling life is over for them. The Support Services Programme, SSP, of the organization though challenging, as we have to deal with several institutions in the society - family, police, courts, cultural, religious etc. - is the one that thrills me the most. Giving hope to the hopeless; challenging cultural norms, breaking the silence and encouraging women to speak out; getting justice for these women etc., thrills me so much. The smiles the women give me; the ‘thank you’; and ‘God bless you’, make me go home daily, a very satisfied woman. Touching lives through Project Alert, thrills me,” she assured.

You wonder how she came to develop a strong concern for women and children, so much so that she is a strong voice for them? “I was born into a family of six girls, with parents who believed so much in their girls and gave them sound education, even up to university level. Love radiated in my home while growing up, and I never saw my parents quarrel or fight one day. However, in the community we lived, I witnessed one or two incidents that raised my curiosity while in secondary school in Lagos (Our lady of Apostles Secondary School, Yaba). One was a couple in an inter-racial marriage (Yoruba woman and Ibo man). Very peaceful family they used to be, until the man died, and suddenly everyday there were regular quarrels and cries from their house by the woman as they prepared to bury the husband; and after the burial. One day, the late man’s brothers came and were carting things away. I asked my mum what was going on and she couldn’t or wouldn’t explain it to me. I knew something was wrong. The kids, who were agemates of mine and my siblings kept crying and clinging to their mum.

The second incident happened during my first year in the university. My roommate was dating a third year student and she would always go out with him. On a couple of occasions, she would return with bruises and red eyes and I would ask her what happened. She would say, they had a fight because of what she did. And I would ask her what happened? What caused the fight? Why did he have to beat you; couldn’t he just talk? Do your parents beat you this way? I would ask her. She would keep off the boy for a little while, and the next thing you know, she was going out with him again. I was angry; I hated the boy; and made sure I was out of the room anytime he came visiting.

“These two separate incidents formed me. I had so many unanswered questions about the treatment of girls and women as I grew up. Though brought up in a protective, safe home; I was witnessing several abuses of girls and women and was even wondering at one point, if it was a crime to be a woman,” she enthused.

She acknowledges that it is a daunting task being a female activist/crusader for the rights of women in a society such as ours. “Hmm, being a woman and fighting for the rights of women in Nigeria is interestingly challenging. First you are seen and perceived as a radical, a rebel trying to disturb or change the order of things. Nigeria is a patriarchal society where male domination is the order of the day. Culture, tradition and religion are used to justify the abuse of women’s human rights. Women to a large extent, are socialised to be seen and not heard; and submitting to the dictates of men (as fathers, brothers, husbands and even sons).

“So, as a female activist fighting for the human rights of women and girls is not easy. One of the major challenges is culture and tradition. People tend to think culture is static, especially those aspects of culture that discriminate against and

violate women. Women themselves have been socialised to seeing themselves as second fiddle; unable to think and plan for themselves without a man; accept violence in the home as normal; and not have a say in both private and public life. Thus, I am always confronted with this culture challenge. I have over the years tried to sensitize people that in a situation where there is conflict between human rights and culture, human rights have an upper hand. Human beings make culture and not the other way round,” she stressed.

She mentioned yet another factor that tends to bring women down. “Yet another challenge is the manipulation and misinterpretation of the holy books – Bible and Quran – to justify acts of violence against women; and why women should condone and not speak out when their rights as human beings are being abused in both the public and private spheres. Religious manipulations are being used to batter women into submission. Women, young girls in particular and children in general, are the number one victims of some fake pastors and religious leaders, who abuse them physically, sexually and psychologically under the guise of removing witchcraft; treating barrenness etc,” she said as a matter of fact.

She is not done yet. “The slow workings and corrupt nature of the criminal justice system, starting from the police, to the courts and prisons in Nigeria, is yet another challenge to human rights work. Justice delayed is justice denied. Several female victims of physical and sexual violence, do not achieve closure on their victimization because of corrupt practices by some officers in the justice system; and prolonged nature of the cases in court,” she gesticulated.

“Poor funding for NGOs doing human rights work, especially in the area of practical support services, is yet another challenge. Governments at all levels do not provide funds for human rights work,” she asserted.

How did she feel remembering that for a long time before the birth of Project Alert, women’s issues were not given adequate attention? You may ask. “Honestly I don’t know how female victims of violence used to fare, before the advent of NGOs such as mine. I shudder at the thought that there was a time when abused women or girls had nowhere to go to; who to talk to; and where to get help generally. At the time we started, we were the first NGO to focus exclusively on violence against women. Before we came into existence, the issue of violence against women was treated on ad-hoc basis, as an exception rather than the norm. Domestic violence, sexual violence and harmful traditional practices were shrouded in a lot of secrecy and silence. Nobody wanted to talk about them, for fear of stigmatization,” she said.

But now, is there a reduction in the abuse of women since 1999 when Project Alert came to be? “I would not say there has been a reduction, I would rather say there is more awareness about it; more willingness to discuss it openly, report its occurrence and seek justice and help. Silence which used to be a weapon in further perpetrating acts of violence against women has been broken. Fathers, brothers, sons are all seeking help for their daughters, sisters and mothers,” she nodded.

Most often it is difficult to help women when they are in dire need because they bottle up things and don’t speak out. “The question we should ask ourselves is why do women keep quiet about their victimization. The answer to that is very clear: they do not want to be subjected to secondary victimization. Primary victimization is the violent act itself (domestic violence, rape, assault etc.) while secondary victimization is the blame and the shame. If we want female victims of violence to speak out, then we must have structures and processes in place to deal with the issues professionally and in an accelerated manner. Why should I speak out about my victimization if I am sure you will be of no use to me,” she said.

This amazon said she has been moved to tears severally due to some emotional problems of people (women and girls) she encounters in course of work. “Of course there have been cases that have moved me to tears. These include cases such as incestuous defilement of children by fathers; acts of domestic violence that have resulted in maiming and death; forced child marriage that almost resulted in the victim killing herself,” she recalled.

Did you ask about women battling low self-esteem in adulthood because of abuse they faced while growing up? “There are several women like that, who due to the various abuses they experienced while growing up have lost their self-esteem. This is common, especially in adults, who were sexually molested as kids. They grow up not having confidence in themselves and believing they are not capable of doing anything. Such women need to undergo counselling that would help them gradually regain their sense of self-worth, dignity and confidence,” she said, finally.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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Wellness YOUR HEALTH AND HEALTH RELATED ISSUES May 15, 2016

Preventing the occurence of broids in women TITILOPE MORAKINYO

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ibroids are abnormal growth that develops in a woman ’s uterus; sometimes the tumors become quite large and cause severe abdominal pain and heavy menstrual flow. In other cases, they cause no signs or symptoms at all and the growth are typically benign (Noncancerous).

Several factors may influence the formation of the illness such as hormones and family history. According to the National Institutes of Health (NHIS), about 70 to 80 percent of women have the aliment by the age of 50.

Fibroid is a severe condition and must be considered an emergency. If left untreated, it can damage the internal organs of a victim and the longer it is left the more serious it can become.

Different fibroids develop in different locations in and on the uterus, such as the Intramural Fibroids which is the most common type of fibroid that appears within the lining of the uterus (endometrium) may grow larger and actually stretch the womb. Another is the Subserosal fibroids that form on the outside of the uterus which is called the serosa; they grow large enough to make the womb appear bigger on one side.

When Subserosal tumors develop a slender base that supports the tumor, they become pendunculated fibroids.

However, Sub mucosal Fibroids develop in the inner lining (mynometrim) of the uterus, they are not as common as the other types of fibroids but when they do develop, they may cause heavy menstrual bleeding and affects conceiving.

In an interview with Sunday Mirror, Dr.Isaac Kolawole, a medical practitioner with Life gate Hospital, Iyana iba, Lagos, gave details on the causes of Fibroid, he said “ It is unclear why Fibroids develop, but several factors may influence their formation such as the Estrogen and Progesterone hormones produced by the ovaries. They cause the uterus lining to regenerate during menstrual cycle and may stimulate the growth of fibroids. Fibroids may run in the family, when a member of the family such as the Mother, Sister or grandmother has a history of this condition, it may develop as well. Also pregnancy increases the production of estrogen and progesterone in the body, fibroids may develop and grow rapidly while one is pregnant ”.

The risk for Fibroid, he said “Women are at greater risk for developing fibroids especially when they are pregnant or have a family history of fibroids, being over the age of 30 or having a high body weight ”

Fibroid

On the symptoms, he said, “The symptom depends on the location and size of the tumor(s) and how many tumors a sufferer has. When the tumor is very small, or when the victim is going through menopause, the symptoms may not be severe and may shrink during and after menopause. Heavy bleeding between or during menstrual cycle may occur which includes blood clots, pain in the pelvis or lower back, increased menstrual cramping, frequent urination, pain during in-

tercourse, menstruation that lasts longer than usual, pressure or fullness in the lower abdomen and swelling or enlargement of the abdomen. ” On the treatment, the medic explained that “The doctor develop a treatment plan based on the patient age, the size of the fibroid and the victims health status. The patient may receive a combination of treatments; Medications to regulate the hormone levels and drugs may be prescribed to shrink the fibroids.

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists will help the estrogen and progesterone levels to drop which will eventually stop menstruation and shrink fibroids.

Other options that can help control bleeding and pain, but will not shrink or eliminate fibroids, includes an intrauterine device (IUD) that releases the hormone progestin, over-the-counter anti-inflammatory pain relievers, Birth control pills and Surgery. Surgery can be used to remove very large or multiple growths (myomectomy) may be performed. An abdominal myomectomy involves making a large incision in the abdomen to access the uterus and remove the fibroids. The surgery can also be performed laparoscopically, using a few small incisions into which surgical tools. ” He added: The prognosis will depend on the size and location of your fibroids.

Fibroids may not need treatment if they are small or do not produce symptoms.

If you are pregnant and have fibroids, or become pregnant and have fibroids, your physician will carefully monitor your condition. In most cases, fibroids do not cause problems during pregnancy. Speak with your doctor if you expect to become pregnant and have fibroids.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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May 15, 2016

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

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

Towards a robust national road safety vision

T

h death he d th off six i medical di l doctors d t from Ekiti State with their driver last April 25 along the Abuja-Kaduna highway on their way to Sokoto State for the 56th Annual General Conference and Delegates Meeting of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) is a sad reminder of the parlous state of Nigerian roads and the shoddy emergency medical services provisioning in place to safeguard the lives of accident victims. This development has once again underscored the cheapness of life in Nigeria. Just like happened last March when the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Barrister James Ocholi (SAN), his wife and son perished on the same stretch of road, the Ekiti NMA tragedy has equally evoked heartrending anguish and state of disbelief across the country. Nigerians are tired of official platitudes; the governments at all levels must step up their game to reverse the unwholesome trend of avoidable loss of lives on the nation ’s highways through factors that could be controlled.

Recall that Ekiti State and indeed Nigeria were thrown into deep mourning following the death of six of its medical doctors, who were part of the 12 travelling to Sokoto to attend an NMA-organised meeting. Among the deceased were Alex Akinyele of the Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido-Ekiti [FETHI; and Ojo Taiwo of the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, EKSUTH], Ado-Ekiti. Others were Atolani Adeniyi, Tunde Aladesanmi, J.B. Ogunseye and O. Olajide. The driver of the vehicle also lost his life in the process. The narrative of the wasted lives is as agonizing as the revelation that some of them would have been alive if the appropriate emergency medical infrastructure and personnel to prevent such deaths were put in place by the authorities. One of the survivors and chairman of Ekiti State branch of the NMA, Dr John Akinbote, attributed the relative high fatality to lack of immediate medical attention to the deceased doctors and their driver. His opinion: “Those that died would have survived if we got good medical attention from the point of the accident to the Doka General Hospital in Kaduna. It became even worst, when we got to Doka Hos-

WE SHOULD CONSIDER PERIODIC REFRESHER COURSES FOR ALL CATEGORIES OF PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS, AND COMMERCIAL DRIVING SHOULD BE TREATED AS A PROFESSION WITH A MINIMUM QUALIFICATION OF PRIMARY SIX CERTIFICATE FOR ENTRY.

pital and there was no single doctor to attend to us and the only nurse on duty had no first aid facilities to administer treatment. I am sure, if FRSC personnel that took us to Doka Hospital and the nurse on duty had medical facilities to give first aid treatment, our doctors and driver wouldn ’t have died. ” The painted scenario is gory, sad and agonizing. It is a terrible situation like this that makes Nigeria to rank 191 out of 192 countries in the world with unsafe roads with 162 deaths rate per 100,000 population from road traffic accidents.

By FRSC own statistics, an average of 11 people got killed daily in road accidents across Nigeria in 2012. Between 2009 and 2013, 30,435 Nigerians died on the road; and the figure rose to 49,867 in 2015. We are in 2016 and still counting.

That this revelation is not a fairy tale is seen in the reported daily occurrences of road accidents in our media, print and electronic. So, the nation needs a holistic road safety vision where it will become unacceptable for people to die or get seriously injured due to road

and the right ttraffic ffi crashes, h d th i ht strategic t t i enforcement framework to reverse the ugly trend. Globally, the task of ensuring safer roads does not start and end on the patrols and enforcement on the highways; various programmes and policies centered on education, engineering, enforcement, emergency management, encouragement, engagement and evaluation on a continuous basis are imperative.

The time for a robust synergy among the three tiers of government for a total overhaul of our highways transportation infrastructure is now. Lagos State emergency management template that emphasizes speed and care for road accident victims is a model worthy of emulation. The state runs an Emergency Ambulance Service and maintains several ambulance points equipped with Mobile Intensive Care Unit (MICU) to fast track response to distress calls for emergency medical services to accident victims. Infrastructure like these could have saved the lives of the six Ekiti doctors.

The Head of Operations of Kaduna State Sector Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Deputy Corps Commander, Salisu Galadunci touched a raw nerve in the nation road accident trajectory when he blamed over speeding for the accident that claimed the lives of six the medical doctors. Though vigorously disputed by Dr. Folu Ekundare, one of the survivors, and others, it would be tantamount to denial to ignore this factor in our collective drive to address this social malaise. Over speeding is known to be responsible for a larger percentage of accidents on our roads. So, strong deterring measures must be put in place to address the problem.

We should consider periodic refresher courses for all categories of professional drivers, and commercial driving should be treated as a profession with a minimum qualification of primary six certificate for entry. Such basic qualification will enable them read and understand road signs and safety manuals.

Of course, we must not ignore the need for appropriate and adequate budgetary provisions by all tiers of government for the necessary infrastructure for emergency medical service delivery on our roads.

Reminiscences May 15 IN HISTORY 1926: General strikes rock Britain After weeks of strikes in Great Britain for transport, mines and factories, the country is starting to get back to normal as the transport industry and unions have reached a compromise. The mining industry is not back to work but hopes are high that they will reach a settlement.

1942: Gas rationing in U.S. Gas rationing goes into effect across 27 United States states as part of the World War II effort.

1948: Israel declares independence Israel declares independence on May 14, and one day later the new state of Israel is attacked by Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon and Iraq which lasted almost a year, a ceasefire was declared and temporary borders, known as the Green Line, were instituted.

1949: U.S. - Tornado kills 6 in Amerillo A major Tornado strikes Amerillo, Texas causing six deaths and many injuries and over 50 homes completely destroyed.

1957: Britain tests hydrogen bomb Britain tests first hydrogen bomb on the Christmas Island area in the Pacific Ocean.

The arms race between countries continues to escalate as each country tests bigger and more destructive nuclear devices.

1970: U.S. - Police kill 2 at Jackson University During a student protest at Jackson State University in Mississippi, police opened fire, killing two students and injuring twelve others.

1974: Palestinian gunmen murder 16 school children A school hostage situation close to the Lebanese border ends with 16 of the children murdered together with the three Palestinian gunmen who had been holding them hostage. As Israeli troops storm the school, the teenagers were attacked with hand grenades by the Palestinians as a last act of defiance.

1981: Mexico produces 20 millionth Volkswagen Beetle The 20,000,000th Volkswagen Beetle came off the production line at the Volkswagen plant in Puebla, Mexico.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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From the

Pulpit Sunday May 15, 2016

Your problem is a material for testimony General Overseer of the Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Ministry, Pastor Lazarus Muoka, in this piece, explains that your problem is a material for testimony. Excerpts:

B

eloved, I want you to understand that whatever the enemies have done against you in their efforts to destroy you or your business are all materials for testimonies because I know they cannot overcome you as long as you are in the Lord. Whatever Pharaoh has done in your life in the course of pursuing you are ingredients of testimonies. All those troubling you who have refused to give you rest and who have been opposing every good thing in your life are all materials for your testimonies. All the things they have done to frustrate your life, family and business which have caused you sleepless nights and defied all solutions are materials for testimonies.

That problem that made you to seek the intervention of God is a material for your testimony. No matter how bad your situation may appear to be, they are materials for your testimonies. I don’t know how many years you have suffered from the problem, neither do I want to know who it is that is behind it, what I can assure you is that it is a material for your testimony. It does not matter the degree of torment you have been subjected to all these years despite your sincerity in serving God; it does not matter how people may have construed your predicament as some may even be accusing you of not doing what they expected you should do to alleviate your problem, or some may be making caricature of your situation, but do not bother yourself for all those things are for testimonies.

They may mockingly be asking if you are still a Chosen and yet are suffering when many are receiving solution to their problems; do not be anxious over such comments, rather consider them as a materials for your testimony.

Agents of Satan may mock you for being always in the Church and doing the work of God, they may even point at your bad condition and accuse you of not doing anything to help yourself. They may even ask what you have got to show for serving God. Your close friends are not excluded in this simulation, for they will be in league with others to scornfully laugh at your predicament.

Your own case may be that you are being persecuted by brothers and sissis ters or kindred because you have chosen to serve the Lord and are born again.

And they are doing everything to stop you from evangelism because they do not see any reason you should continue to do the work of God and yet

have nothing to show for it and at the same time refuse to join them in idolatry.

Beloved, they may have said many things against you and you may have erroneously spoken what was not becoming of a Christian.

Sometimes, you may have murmured about your case while God says don’t murmur or complain. I don’t know what you have said concerning your condition that have brought the Church into disrepute, but what I want you to understand is that whatever situation you found yourself are materials for your testimonies. No matter what you are going through, never you assume those things to be so strange that God does not understand, or become disturbed by the mocking name given to your situation. I want to let you know you are not the only one that had been mocked, for I also have been a victim of the caricature of the people of the world. There is no jest in this world that has not been thrown at me when I took the decision to serve God. In fact, on one of the days, I met a friend in the market where I went to preach. And he angrily asked why I abandoned my business and was foolishly walking all over the place in the name of preaching the gospel. He called my preaching of the word of God a waste of time. I told him I was looking for a vacant shop to rent as I was not privileged to own a shop since I do not belong to their market association which influenced such things. And he made all sorts of jest to embarrass me, but today that caricature is a testimony material.

Besides that, I was always mocked everytime I went to preach in the bus, on the streets or doing morning cry, but all those things are materials for testimonies. Some of these people concerned are no longer alive and nobody can testify whether they made heaven at last.

People suffer different kinds of persecution because they want to worship God and God never left them, but delivered them. Your own persecution may be that nobody is pricing what you are selling, and you are so worried about the debt you want to pay and are wondering if God has abandoned you and not considering all the work you are doing in the house of God. So if the above is your case, or whatever is happening to you now, should be considered as a material for testimony. I want to remind you that when the brothers of Joseph were mocking him because of his relationship with the Lord through the vision shown to him, he never murmured or complained. When he was handed over to the Egyptian merchant who resold him to Potiphar, the Pastor Muoka

brethren were rejoicing they have dealt with him and his dream. But little did they know it was a material for his testimony. When he landed in the house of Potiphar, the wife of Potiphar wanted to mess him up, lied against him and then caused him to be imprisoned for many years. Today, all those things were materials for testimonies.

When the children of Israel left Egypt to the Promised Land, behold they looked back and saw Pharaoh and his armies pursuing them, they cried and asked Moses if it was because there was no grave in Egypt that he brought them out of Egypt to die in the wilderness. But Moses said to them, “These Egyptians you saw today, you shall see them no more forever, the Lord will fight for you and you shall hold your peace”. They were sorely afraid, but it eventually resulted in a material for testimony.

I don’t know the enemy that has closed on you to destroy you, my advice is that you should hold your peace and speak no evil; because you found yourself in such a strait situation does not mean your world has come to an end, do not think that your situation is a hopeless condition or assume that your situation when you were in the world was better. You must understand that what is happening to you now are materials for your testimonies. There is no place better than being in Christ.

Remember that all that happened to the Israelites from Egypt to the wilderness - all the famine, draught, sufferings, wars they fought, the obstacle of the Red Sea to their escape from the Egyptian armies, the snake bites and their bitter experiences in the wilderness were all materials for their testimonies.

I want to tell you that whatever that is happening to you now is for testimony. But assuredly, something positive will happen in your life after reading this message and given the fact that your life is in Christ, you shall be delivered. You should consider all the things happening to you as materials for your testimonies because God who allowed it has a purpose which will definitely turn to testimony.

Rom. 8: 28 says, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to w them who are the called according to his purth pose” p All things without exception that happened to man work for the good of the man who loves God. All our afflictions and trials; all the perseG cutions and calamities to which we are exposed cu are for our testimonies and are allowed by God ar to make His work manifest. They work together and mutually contribute for good to them that an love God. To them that love God, afflictions are lo materials for testimonies, but on others, they are m sent as chastisements which produce murmurse ing instead of peace; rebellion instead of submisin sion; and anger, impatience, and hatred instead si of calmness, patience, and love.

You can look at your problem and be imagining who can deliver you from the mountainous in

problem, the dry valley and the land of thorns, but they are material for your testimonies. It is only God that can deliver and today He will deliver you.

I want you to understand that whatever that is causing anxiety in your life now is a testimony in the making. God has allowed it so that He will take glory in it and for men to know that all power belongs to God. I don’t know what you are going through, but today God must take glory in your life. That enemy cannot take the glory, that lawyer, doctor or judge cannot take the glory that belongs to God. All glory must be ascribed unto the Lord. In that your condition, God will take glory. You will definitely see a definite change in your life as God takes the glory.

Jn 9: 1-3 says, “And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him” Take note of the reason for the cause of the problem, it was that the work of God should be made known to the world, so that God would take the glory. The cause was neither in the blind man’s life nor his parents, but in order that the work of God should come to public knowledge. God allowed that blindness to be upon that man for everybody to see, so that God will heal him and everybody will see that God has power to do all things and give Him the glory. God so orders things in His providence to display the true character of supremacy and men are sometimes left to suffer sore trials, that they may see His goodness and magnify His power and grace in the deliverance.

You must have suffered so much. In fact, what is happening to you now may have been known to everybody in the community, but don’t be discouraged because all is for the work of God to be made manifest. God will take the glory today as He delivers you and the people who know the case will acknowledge there is God who is the Almighty and all powerful.

During the last concluded crusade at Lokoja in Kogi State, there was the case of a 27year deaf and dumb who received her healing instantly. The lady who was brought to the crusade venue by her relations became completely healed immediately the pastor mentioned her case in the course of ministration. Of course, you will agree with me that 27 years infirmity was not a hidden case, but must have been known in the community and its environs.

Now, after she became healed and taken to the village in the full glare of the neighbours, God took the glory and that was the reason for her predicament.

Therefore, that hardship, delay in marriage, delay in promotion, years of barrenness, etc are there for the work of God to be made manifest, and people will know that only God can do this.

And at the end, you will confirm that, all the experiences during the problem are materials for testimonies, so that God will be glorified in Jesus’ name. So, that your problem is nothing, but for your testimonies. If you can give your life to Jesus today, then, your testimony is guaranteed.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

20

From the

Pulpit Sunday May 15, 2016

Your problem is a material for testimony General Overseer of the Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Ministry, Pastor Lazarus Muoka, in this piece, explains that your problem is a material for testimony. Excerpts:

B

eloved, I want you to understand that whatever the enemies have done against you in their efforts to destroy you or your business are all materials for testimonies because I know they cannot overcome you as long as you are in the Lord. Whatever Pharaoh has done in your life in the course of pursuing you are ingredients of testimonies.

All those troubling you who have refused to give you rest and who have been opposing every good thing in your life are all materials for your testimonies. All the things they have done to frustrate your life, family and business which have caused you sleepless nights and defied all solution are materials for testimonies.

That problem that made you to seek the intervention of God is a material for your testimony. No matter how bad your situation may appear to be, they are materials for your testimonies. I don’t know how many years you have suffered from the problem neither do I want to know who it is that is behind it, what I can assure you is that it is a material for your testimony. It does not matter the degree of torment you have been subjected to all these years despite your sincerity in serving God, it does not matter how people may have construed your predicament as some may even be accusing you of not doing what they expected you should do to alleviate your problem, or some may be making caricature of your situation, but do not bother yourself for all those things are for testimonies. They may mockingly be asking if you are still a Chosen and yet are suffering when many are receiving solution to their problems, do not be anxious over such comment rather consider it as a material for your testimony.

Agents of Satan may mock you for being always in the Church and doing the work of God, they may even point at your bad condition and accuse you of not doing anything to help yourself. They may even ask what you got to show for serving God. Your close friends are not excluded in this simulation for they will be in league with others to scornfully laugh at your predicament.

Your own case may be that you are being persecuted by brothers and sisters or kindred because you have chosen to serve the Lord and are born again.

And they are doing everything to stop you from evang elism because they do not see any reason yo u

should continue to do the work of God and yet have nothing to show for it and at same time refuse to join them in idolatry.

Beloved, they may have said many things against you and you may have erroneously spoken what was not becoming for a Christian, sometime you may have murmured about your case while God says don’t murmur or complain. I don’t know what you have said concerning your condition that have brought the Church into disrepute, but what I want you to understand is that whatever situation you found yourself are materials for your testimonies. No matter what you are going through, never you assume those things to be so strange that God does not understand, or become disturbed by the mock name given to your situation.

I want to let you know you are not the only one that have been mocked, for I also have been a victim of the caricature of the people of the world. There is no jest in this world that has not been thrown at me when I took the decision to serve God. In fact, in one of the days I met a friend in the market where I went to preach. And he angrily asked why I abandoned my business and was foolishly walking all over the place in the name of preaching the gospel.

He called my preaching of the word of God a waste of time. I told him I was looking for a vacant shop to rent as I was not privileged to own a shop since I do not belong to their market association which influenced such thing. And he made all sorts of jest to embarrass me but today that caricature is a testimony material. Besides that, I was always mocked every time I went to preach in the buses, on the streets or doing morning cry, but all those things are materials for testimonies. Some of these people concerned are no longer alive and nobody can testify whether they made heaven at last.

People suffer different kinds of persecution because they want to worship God and God never left them but delivered them.

Your own persecution may be that nobody is pricing what you are selling, and you are so worried about the debt you want to pay and are wondering if God has abandoned you and not considering all the work you are doing in the house of God. So if the above is your case or whatever is happening to you now should be considered as a material for testimony. I want to remind you that when the brothers of Joseph were mocking him because of his relationship with the Lord through the vision shown to him, he never murmured or complained. When he was handed over to the Egyptian merchant who resold him to Potiphar, the brethren were rejoicing they h ave Pastor Muoka

dealt with him and his dream. But little did they know it was a material for his testimony.

When he landed in the house of Potiphar and the wife of Potiphar wanted to mess him up, lied against him and then caused him to be imprisoned for many years. Today all those things were materials for testimonies.

When the Children of Israelite left Egypt to the Promised Land, behold they looked back and saw Pharaoh and his armies pursuing after them, they cried and asked Moses was it because there was no grave in Egypt that he brought them out of Egypt to die in the wilderness. But Moses said to them, These Egyptians you saw today, you shall see them no more forever, the Lord will fight for you and you shall hold your peace. They were sore afraid but it eventually resulted into a material for testimony.

I don’t know the enemy that has closed on you to destroy you, my advice is that you should hold your peace and speak no evil because you found yourself in such straight situation does not mean your world has come to an end, do not think that your situation is a hopeless condition or assume that your situation when you were in the world was better. You must understand that what is happening to you now are materials for your testimonies. There is no place better than being in Christ.

Remember that all that happened to the Israelites from Egypt to the wilderness- all the famine, draught, sufferings, wars they fought, the obstacle of the Red Sea to their escape from the Egyptian armies, the snake bites and their bitter experiences in the wilderness were all materials for their testimonies. I want to tell you that whatever that is happening to you now is for testimony. But assuredly, something positive will happen in your life after reading this message and giving the fact that your life is in Christ, you shall be delivered. You should consider all the things happening to you as materials for your testimonies because God who allowed it has a purpose which will definitely turn to testimony.

Rom. 8: 28 says, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called accordlo ing to his purpose” in All things without exception that happened to man work for the good of the man p who loves God. All our afflictions and trials; w all the persecutions and calamities to which a we are exposed are for our testimonies and w are allowed by God to make His work mania fest. They work together and mutually confe tribute for good to them that love God. To tr them that love God, afflictions are materials th for testimonies but on others they are sent as fo chastisements which produces murmuring, ch instead of peace; rebellion, instead of subin mission; and anger, impatience, and hatred, m instead of calmness, patience, and love. in You can look at your problem and will be imagining who can deliver you from the b mountainous problem, the dry valley and m the land of thorns, but they are material for th

your testimonies. It is only God that can deliver and today He will deliver you.

I want you to understand that whatever that is causing anxiety in your life now is a testimony in the making. God has allowed it so that He will take glory in it and for men to know that all power belong to God. I don’t know what you are going through, but today God must take glory in your life.

That enemy cannot take the glory, that lawyer, doctor or judge cannot take the glory that belongs to God. All glory must be ascribed into the Lord. In that your condition, God will take glory. You will definitely see a definite change in your life as God takes the glory.

Jn 9: 1-3 says, “And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.

And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him” Take note of the reason for the cause of the problem, it was that the work of God should be made known to the world so that God would take the glory. The cause was neither in blind man’s life nor his parents, but, in order that the work of God should come to public knowledge. God allowed that blindness to be upon that man for everybody to see so that God will heal him and everybody will see that God has power to do all things and give Him the glory.

God so orders things in His providence to display the true character of Supremacy and men are sometimes left to suffer sore trials, that they may see His goodness, and magnify His power and grace in the deliverance.

You must have suffered so much. In fact what is happening to you now may have been known to everybody in the community, but don’t be discouraged because all is that the work of God to be made manifest.

God will take the glory today as He delivers you and the people who know the case will acknowledge there is God who is the Almighty and all powerful.

During the last concluded crusade at Lokoja in Kogi State, there was a case of 27 years deaf and dumb who received her healing instantly. The lady who was brought to the crusade venue by her relation became completely healed immediately Pastor mentioned her case in the course of ministration. Of course, you will agree with me that twenty seven years infirmity was not a hidden case but must have been known in the community and its environ.

Now, after she became healed and taken to the village in the full glare of the neighbours God and that is the reason for her predicament.

Therefore, that hardship, delay in marriage, delay in promotion, years of barrenness, etc are there for the work of God to be made manifest, and people will know that only God can do this. And at the end, you will confirm that, all the experiences during the problem are materials for testimonies so that God will be glorified in Jesus name. So, that your problem is nothing but for your testimonies. If you can give your life to Jesus today, then, your testimony is guaranteed.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

From the Pulpit

Sunday May 15, 2016

21

Importance of sowing seeds General Overseer of Omnipotence Mission of God, Prophet Joshua Daramola Oloruntimilehin, in this admonition, explains how is importance of sowing seeds. Excerpts:

S

owing seed is an important thing in the life of believers whether the person is a Christian or Muslim. This is because a person does not reap if he or she fails to sow a seed. Therefore, it is Godly and must for people to sow seed so that they can reap. The Bible says in Galatians 6:7 “…A man reaps what he sows” Let people sow so that they can reap. A person needs to sow in three areas before he or she can be bless (i) Must sow seeds in the house of God (ii) Must sow seeds in his or her family including extended family (iii) Sow seed to outsider i.e. outside the family.

Let us examine the sowing of seeds to outsiders. For instance a person wants to sow seeds in a community and he or she cannot give out money to go round the community but notice lack of water supply. The person can provide water for the community by putting in place a borehole, storage tank and generator to power the borehole.

The person has ameliorated the suffering of the people in the community particularly the poor who have to trek a long distance to fetch water. The people in the community and heavenly kingdom will bless such a person that sows generously into the community. The Bible says in Colossians 1:9-10 “…And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way bearing fruit in every good work…” Similarly a person that provides bus service for members of the church, to transport members from certain point to the

church every service day without any financial involvement of the church has sown seed. In their prayers, the members would always remember the person.

A person can establish school and enrolls the children of the poor free or give the poor children scholarship from primary to university level. A person can sow seed by establishing a trade or business for a widow for her to have and take care of her children.

It is preferable, to give to the needy what will sustain them for live than kill cow, prepare food for people to eat. This is because their prayer for the provider of the food ends after they finish eating the food. But their prayers for you continue when livelihood is provided for them. Therefore, let your seed sowing be continual without stopping as long as you live. Some rich men establish factories, business for people to earn a living not necessarily for their own benefit. Another seed sowing is to your family. This is very important. What were you called or created to do for your family? Some people are running away from their family. They refuse to travel home to see their family because of the belief that they will bewitch them. These people need to put in place something that will be beneficial to his or her family and the extended family but they refuse to visit the family. When they do sow seeds by touching the lives of the family members and make them know that you are for them.

Then they will be praying for you and will not want anything to hurt you because you are touching their lives. Brethren, it is

not advisable to believe that your family will bewitch you. Try to do your best for them by touching their live within your available resources. So if you are requesting for blessing, ensure you sow seed into your family and do what is right to your family, (father, mother, siblings, uncles, aunties, nieces and nephew etc.). Do not run away from your family, it is very dangerous. Know that the witches and wizards can get to their victim anywhere in the world. It is better not to stay away from your people but do your responsibility to your family so that you can be free. If you fail to do it, then you may find it difficult to get solution to your problems. It will be difficult for any members of your family that you have generously touched his or her life to bewitch you.

The people in your father’s family and mother’s family that you positively touched their life will always wish you well in life. Imagine Jesus Christ mentioned that He did not come into this world because of the people but for the lost sheep of the Israelite (Mathew 15:24).

It was Apostle Paul that changed it that Jesus came for the whole world. Ensure that your responsibility towards your family is carried out.

Sowing seed into the house of God is the ultimate. Some people believe that because they do not have they cannot sow seed into the house of God. Inasmuch as eat, buy things for yourself be you widow, widower, rich and wealthy people, try to sow seed in the house of God. Some people have bountifully but sow little, such person will reap little and if you have

little and sow seed you will reap bountifully.

Imagine a widow who had little (two shekel) among the rich people she gave the only two shekel she had and Jesus recognized her more than the rich people (Luke 21:1-4). I implore people to imbibe the spirit of sowing seed in the house of God, your family and other people so that the blessing of God would come upon you.

Finally, the Bible says in 2 Corinthians 9:6-9 “ Remember this, whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sow generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion for God loves a cheer giver…”

For more enquiries call: 08023020108, 08058110288

Prophet Oloruntimilehin

News

T

Cleric urges Nigerians to shun lust for wealth

he Bishop of Badagry Diocese, Rt. Rev. Babatunde Adeyemi, on Sunday urged Nigerians to be contented with what God had provided for them.

Adeyemi gave this charge on the occasion of the 50th Birthday of Ven. Babatunde Adegoroye, the Vicar of Bishop Ajayi Crowther Memorial Anglican Church (BACMAC), Gowon Estate, Ipaja, Lagos.

The occasion also marked the inauguration of the Church’s vicarage, church bus dedication and 20th wedding anniversary of Ven. and Mrs. Adegoroye.

Adeyemi said that many Nigerians asked God to provide cars, housing and other things for them, adding that even after providing such things; they (Nigerians) continue to ask for more without pausing to thank God. “We do not thank God at times for what he has done for us. Some people do not bother to say thank you God. Some of us are never satisfied. No matter how difficult your life is, you can always count your blessings; past, present and future’’, he said.

He urged Nigerians to think of the legacy they would leave behind and what they could gain spiritually if they put God first in all that they do.

The bishop urged the Ven. Adegoroye not to diminish in return in serving God, adding that he should continue with his commitment to the work of God.

L-R: Secretary, Women Ministry, Assemblies Of God Church, Rasanwo, Surulere, Lagos, Mrs. Florence Ekeleme; Coordinator, Pastor (Mrs.) Lina Chibuzor Ubong; Treasurer, Mrs. Promise Jimmy and President, Mrs. Emily Job at the WM Celebration tagged “Restoration of the total woman” held recently in the church.

Quoting Phillipians 4:8 Adeyemi advised Christians to always make themselves pure so that they would be worthy in the sight of God. He also urged Christians to serve God conscientiously and sincerely.

Adegoroye, who is also the Registrar of

the Anglican Seminary in Lagos, said that he would remain committed in the vineyard of God. The cleric claimed that as the registrar of the seminary, so many priests had benefitted from his lectures.

The vicar expressed gratitude to parishio-

ners of BACMAC, who made the occasion a success.

The Bishop of the Lagos West Diocese, Rt. Rev. James Odedeji, performed the inauguration of the vicarage and dedication of the church bus.

22

Opinion

Sunday May 15, 2016

Uncensored U nc

Sheriff S Folarin

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

I

t is a year now, that the Political Science community in Nigeria and Africa lost one of its brightest, Professor Adekunle Amuwo. On May 8, 2015, a date we would have wished away if we had the powers of the ethereal, but which came and, like the proverbial ill-wind that blows no one any good, turned the clouds dark in the wee-hours, as the icon fell to the cold hands of death.

It was an uncommon wind that blew that morning. This was a strong man; very agile, both physically and intellectually. He was a source of inspiration, a colossus. Amuwo was every student and younger colleague’s favourite. He was down-to-earth, factual, objective, motivational and articulate. You would see him and rest-assured that you would again add something to your academic value. He could get you intellectually alert and excited for hours without even realizing that the day was far spent. He was the true example of fine teacher!

He was such an energetic man and as such, it was least expected such a giant could become victim of a cowardly death. The development threw the entire university community into pandemonium, quickly followed by uneasy calm and stillness that usually attend the demise of an iconoclastic figure. As people, even in the sciences, engineering and business colleges gathered, it was solemnity and pain. Amuwo, the much-loved, much talked-about, and yet much-revered radical intellectual, was gone. The full impact or reality of this development did not dawn on his

Safety Tips with

Jonas Agwu

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

B

etween February and April, 2016, there has been incessant fatal road traffic crashes caused by tyre blowouts. They include the crash which claimed the lives of the Minister and his family, the seven Doctors from Ekiti and then, the more tragic death of students from Kano and their driver. I know that tyre knowledge is average based on findings by the Federal Road safety. I however know that the need for appropriate tyre care has remained top priority on this page. At a point I thought I had said all that I needed to say until the rich doses of tyre information I received during the recent stakeholder’s forum by the Federal Road Safety Corps on the theme, Promoting Safe tyre use in Nigeria.

But while I was still hoping to digest this vital information, I stumbled on two very important pieces of information which I hope to share with you today; the first was an online media report on the testimony of one of the surviving Ekiti doctor which painted the picture of challenges that complicated rescue efforts. The second was from a contact who shared his experience with a man he said had lived abroad. It was titled, important information to vehicle owners. I have chosen to share both with you as I commence another series on,’’

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Kunle Amuwo, one year after

closest pals until after a day or two. For those of us that conveyed his remains to the places immediately required for preservation before final farewell, the pain and reality were simply fast and unbearable.

Who expected Amuwo to leave so suddenly, just like that? There were so many great plans and ongoing projects. He was only ill for few days and was expected to have a rebound and resume his academic enterprise and sociability in full force, when the jaws fell on him. Professor Amuwo, on the sickbed, still had some funny moments with some of us, trying to, in his usual manner, downplay the magnitude of what he was going through. He cracked jokes and laughed heartily. He held the painful left side of his abdomen and allowed his diaphragm to be freed up by good laughter. He made an order to his adorable wife for his favourite food for that night. It was time for us to part and we prayed together. A man of faith himself, his “amen” was simply demonstrative of his belief in the efficacy of divine healing. We bade our byes and told him we would be back. And that was it…the next day, it was another ballgame entirely...

I met Professor Kunle Amuwo for the first time in 1993, in the lecture room for POS 214Military in African Politics. He was a great teacher and if everyone fell in love with that course for his bright and exciting insights, I found in him a great mentor. Well, I was distant from him until results for the course were out. He posted my matriculation number on the Departmental Notice Board, requesting that the bearer see him immediately. My anxiety was laced with both fear and excitement. I met “Prof ” and he was congratulating me and asking what books I read and which secondary school I went, to write so articulately and maturely. I had the best grade in that compulsory course, of about 1,000 students at the 200 Level of the Faculty of the Social Sciences of the University of Ibadan..

This was how we got close. Amuwo was

to later advise me to go into academics and commended my writing skills as a campus journalist and regular contributor to national dailies at the time. After my Master’s degree in the Department of Political Science, I went into journalism. He was one of those that considered the profession as not the place I was meant to be. The History Department later employed me as a lecturer, and yet Amuwo felt I was in the wrong place, insisting I relocate to Political Science. I finally did and he was my very first supervisor at the doctoral level. His iconoclasm and awe-inspiring as well as galloping rise in fame and popularity in the university community made some powers-that-be uncomfortable; hence, after some battles of life, Amuwo relocated outside the country. He sojourned abroad and made more name internationally, becoming a renowned and compelling figure in the African Political Science circuit.

It was time to return home and consider the many options available to him as a suitable academic setting to bring wealth of experience to bear. I was now the Head of Department of Political Science and International Relations, and we had always been in touch.

I wanted such an icon and an age-long mentor to come and inspire, mentor and develop the faculty in my department. I also wanted an Amuwo brand in my University, to create the waves in leading universities in and out of Nigeria. Did he? Abundantly. After much persuasion, he chose mine ahead of other great universities seeking him, and within a short time, became a rave, for students, staff and entire community. His public lecture, though controversial from my University’s point of view, made heads to turn to the direction of the institution, in terms of its capacity, after all, to attract radical scholars. It was a positive long-term effect this public lecture had on the community.

But this was going to be the last wave. May 8 changed the course of things. Amuwo went

to the bosom of his Creator. The strong man, an icon of note, an elixir for aspiring intellectuals, the fulcrum of the academic hoi polloi, the helper of juniors and supporter of seniors, the person who would be the last man standing by you when others have quit, the man with the very large heart, departed the world and left everyone out in the cold. His magical smiles and hearty laughter were no longer there to melt any hardened situation.

His unique reassuring words of encouragement, no one else could give. Amuwo’s exit is like a study or thesis that has left more gaps than answers. His departure has rather left sores in the hearts of those that prized him most.

Professor Kunle Amuwo is more sorely missed by his immediate family, particularly a hardworking wife and four children abroad that would always be expecting daddy to pay them the next visit. His grandchild from the first daughter would not have the opportunity of drinking directly from the fountain of knowledge or drawing from his large heart, which many of his academic grandchildren have abundantly benefitted. To these ones, his wife and children and grandchild, I pray for fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

To us, the academic children, colleagues, friends, associates and admirers, it is a duty call to us, not to forget Amuwo, to institutionalize and immortalize his name, not to abandon him in the grave and thus make out time to say at least a word of prayer in memorial of May 8 every year, and to let the Amuwo legacy (of articulate and sensible radicalism, expansion of the frontiers of African Political Science, meaningful and sound scholarship, and human kindness and compassion) live on!

• Sheriff F. Folarin, PhD., is an Associate Professor of Politics and International Affairs

Know your tyre know your tyre’’ borrowed from the Corps ongoing campaign on tyre and as a fallout on the depth of information provided during the stakeholders forum. I do hope that as this series run, that we will all take a second look at what we know about tyres and how we treat tyres.

Let me start with the first information on the doctors crash; according to the report, a survivor from Sunday’s accident in which six medical doctors, and a driver from Ekiti State were killed 60 kilometers from Kaduna State, on his sick bed in Kaduna said the doctors would not have died had basic medical care been administered on them after the accident. By the time the members of the Road Safety Corps came, some doctors that were severely injured had died. Five of them! But, we have two who could still survive. So we rushed them to the nearby hospital (Doka General Hospital, about 70 km to Kaduna).

“At the hospital, I was surprised when they said that there was no doctor there. I was even telling the nurses, ‘ok give me a pain reliever and let me put you through on how to resuscitate that man that was lying near me. But none of them attended to us. They were just running around, saying there was no this, no that. They were running around looking for this and that.

Then I pleaded with the Road Safety to take us to the nearest hospital away from the one we were. I said they should take us to Suleja, Kaduna, wherever, but the Road Safety said that they didn’t even have fuel.

I told them that it was ok, that I would pay

for fuel. So we left the place in search for fuel and bought the fuel on the road. But, before we got to the hospital (St. Gerard, Kaduna) the other person had died. That made the number of deaths six. The other very injured person, who was in the other bus also died making the casualty seven.

It is obvious from his testimony that the absence of prompt medical care, the challenges of fuel compounded the death ratio. But did you know that investigations shows that both the vehicles involved in the Ekiti Doctor crash and Kano students were among vehicles recalled by Toyota; that the rear right tyre which burst was manufactured in 2008-a 7years and 4months old, meaning the vehicle had a tyre that had expired? The same was the case with the Kano crash where the burst tyre was over five years old while out of the studs of the wheel/tyre assemblage, two studs had no nuts- these are all clear cases of negligence on the part of the drivers. I do not know if there was a case of over inflation or under inflation which has caused avoidable deaths. This is why the second information is key for me because it addresses this issue. It reads thus; many people have been wondering what could be the cause of the incessant tyre burst accidents on Nigerian roads. The major cause is that we put too much pressure in our tyres. How did I know? I was preparing for a journey, I changed some of my tyres and I asked the vulcanizer that ‘ what is the recommended tyre pressure? ‘ he said 50.

I said alright, he should inflate it to 50 all

round.

When I got to where I was going, I was discussing with some people on the issue of the minister that died on the road due to a burst tyre and wonder what could have happened because nobody could imagine a minister would be travelling with expired tyres as many would think is the major cause of tyre burst. A man (lived in US for many years ) said that the major cause of tyre burst in Nigeria is that we put to much pressure in our tyres and that each car has recommended tyre size and pressure clearly written on it by the manufacturer. I was surprised and begged him to come and show me where it’s written on my car. To my greatest surprise, it’s by the driver’s door which I enter everyday without noticing it. By the time we checked, the recommended pressure for my tyres is 32!

And I just traveled with tyres on a pressure of 50! He took me round his compound and showed me that of the cars (which includes a jeep and a sienna) there, the highest was 32. Some were even 29!

He further explained that tyres are made of rubber and expands at high temperature. So, when yu are travelling in the afternoon when the asphalt on the road is hot, the tyre will want to expand.

If the pressure in the tyre is to much and wouldn’t accommodate the expansion, a burst is likely to happen at that time.

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

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Opinion

Sunday May 15, 2016

23

Discos and historic electricity debtors OKECHUKWU NWANKWO

T

he news in the Thisday newspaper of May 9 on how much some Nigerian public institutions are owing Nigerian electricity distributor companies called discos was quite disturbing .

The amount ran into about N98b.

The report noted that the debtors , called historic debtors , cut across the three tiers of government namely local , state and even the Federal government and also included the security and military apparatus of government .

That certainly is a very bothersome development which simply does not augur well for any hope of having constant power supply in Nigeria or for any meaningful economic development to occur , when institutions which should set the pace for others to follow are the leading defaulters on payment of electricity bills .

Worse still is the obvious situation of these public institutions being the very ones expected to act to prevail on ordinary and corporate debtors to pay their electricity bills in case of default on payment of such bills . What sort of moral authority would such public institutions and security outfits have to prevail or induce

electricity debtors to pay their bills when they too are owing similar bills they have not paid? .Certainly a huge moral deficit has been created for such local , state or local governments that have not paid their electricity bills . Obviously such defaulters in high places both in power and the corridors of power have contributed immensely to the parlous state of electricity supply in the nation and the odium of poor performance that attended the image of both NEPA and PHCN both predecessors of the discos in the delivery of electricity in Nigeria Given the huge investments of the discos to come on stream in electricity delivery as a result of privatization , it is certainly unrealistic , if not downright wicked to expect the discos to carry a debt burden that preceded privatization without some financial help from government in recognition of the existence of such debt burden on the discos . But now that government itself is involved at all tiers it is as if it was a government policy not to pay electricity bills at all levels which definitely cannot be the case . Or are we mistaken on this matter in assuming that government has decreed not to pay electricity bills when it privatized the power industry in

this nation thus contributing immensely to the huge historic debt burden inflicted on the discos?

Certainly an answer needs to be provided at the highest echelons of government to solve this riddle finely but mischievously hidden in an enigma of unbelievable government default of electricity bills The obvious comparison is for government at all levels to consider how it will feel if citizens in each local government , state and the nation at large , fail to pay taxes .Of course they are taken to court and if found guilty are jailed .Now how can the discos who are partners with government perform successfully their task of delivering electricity when consumers including government don’t pay the equivalent of taxes which are electricity tariffs and which in this case are cost reflective and putting that weight of delivery on the shoulders of the discos ? Certainly something is rotten in the state of public institutions perception of their electricity bills and government at all tiers must do their duty in this regard to prove that like all of us who pay our taxes and electricity bills , they too are worthy to be called solid individual or corporate citizens .

This is a clear cut case of civil irresponsibility that should be nipped in the bud before it becomes the norm in our society and nation generally .Public institutions have always had priority over individuals or even busy corporate companies and the private sector at large in the allocation of electricity even before the coming of the discos and right till now. So why cant they justify their importance by simply footing the bill of their electricity consumption ?

This none payment of electricity bills by agents of government at all tiers cast deep aspersion on the integrity and sense of accountability of such institutions in the governance of this nation . This is another act of blatant corruption and misuse of public funds since such public institutions must have budgeted for electricity usage and delivery . This certainly is another Pandora’s box in the Buhari government ’s fight against corruption . Government should simply ask its institutions of all shapes and sizes, and at all levels to pay what they owe the discos or be ready to face another Dasukigate , this time in the power sector .

•Nwankwo, a public affairs analyst, writes from Benin

Who will help the NCC? ANTHONY KOLAWOLE “

Y

our subscription to The Guardian monthly has been renewed successfully and 150.00 deducted from your account.

Your service will be renewed on 2016-05-31.

To cancel, text NO TGM to 4900. Thank you!”

That was one of the frequent and obtrusive SMS that delivered to my phone. Was that a problem? Yes. The problem was that I never subscribed to any ‘Guardian Monthly’ news alert and the bigger problem was that N150 was deducted from my voice call balance.

At N150 per week, I was going to be losing N7, 800.00 just for this rogue service each year. If I multiply that by ten out of the more than 37 other short codes that send me unsolicited offers every other fifteen minutes then I stand to lose anything in the vicinity of N78,000 each year and that is minus the caller tunes that can be accidentally subscribed to.

Following the direction given, I sent ‘NO TGM to 4900’ and the response I got was “you are not a subscriber of requested SMS Alert Service.

To Know About More Services, Please Type HELP and send it to 3307*.” Yet, my N150 remained deducted.

Contacting the network provider’s customer care via the online chat platform was a lesson in time wasting. Ifeoma at the other end of the chat maintained or feigned that

sense of helplessness throughout the duration of the exchange. I simply terminated the chat and resolved to never use that line again since I have been similarly debited for a caller tune I didn’t order as well as countless other deductions that I didn’t know of until I notice an unusual speed at which my remaining airtime balance is depleted.

I find it difficult to blame the network provider for this theft, instead I blame the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, which has the power and regulatory wherewithal to protect me from this criminality. More than the N150 that was extorted from me, I also hold the NCC responsible for every single kobo that I lost to bad quality phone calls that I was charged for. If NCC did its work of enforcing standard and quality these unwholesome and sharp practises by the telecoms would not be happening.

My hope that a recent consultative forum organised by the NCC to discuss its draft regulatory framework on Value Added Service (VAS – which forms part of those robo calls and marketing SMS) in Lagos would bring an end to my troubles was dashed.

It was immediately clear to me that the NCC has little muscle to call the shots in the face of the big telcos.

The network providers more or less shoved its draft regulatory frame-

work back in its face even though the media reports that followed attempted some damage control.

I don’t know what compromise rendered the NCC into such a toothless bulldog or impotence, but to the extent that my phone line is serviced with my hard earned money, I have my demands for our dear regulator.

There is a reason why regulatory systems exist worldwide and we cannot be an exception in Nigeria. The NCC cannot come up with a draft framework that is meant to protect Nigerian consumers of telecom services and then quickly back away because the network operators are not comfortable or agreeable to it. If they can get away with this how soon before they would unilaterally decide to impose other outrageous tariffs regimes on us?

The concept contained in the draft framework hinted at taking away the value added service component away from the network operators and vesting same functions to other segments of the sector like developers, hosting companies and aggregators.

Since this concept is said to be in my interest as a subscriber then the NCC has no business compromising my interest the way it is doing.

If I understand correctly, an aggregator would have been able to evaluate, screen and vet a content

before sending to me only if I have indicated interest in receiving such by signing up for it.

The freedom from being bombarded with unsubscribed, unwarranted and unwanted messages and the like is something that the NCC and its partners – as the network operators have become – must not attempt to take away from me.

I further gathered that the framework would have made it possible for me to see the phone number of the organisation or person that is spamming my phone so that I can call them back to deliver my own version of ‘cease and desist’ order.

Since this will firmly put me in charge of what content gets sent to my phone I want this guideline approved like right away.

These changes are not too much to ask even though I must concede that it would be too much to ask if the NCC is an enforcer for the network operators instead of working for Nigerians.

This piece is therefore a wakeup call to other Nigerians to demand that the NCC pushes through the necessary policy framework to make sure that the exploitation of subscribers under any guise is stopped forthwith.

Dr Kolawole, a University Lecturer wrote from Keffi, Nasarawa State

24

Perfect Cut

African Look Where elegance meets panache ADAEZE AMOS

T

he real African look has no room for simplicity. What with the glamorous accessories that go with it? Even when you don’t want to wear ornaments, some fabrics are already beaded and decked with stones, sequins and studs.

All you need do is to ensure that your blouse is well tailored. That’s if you are tying a wrap on it.

Then, if you are opting for a skirt and blouse, ensure that your skirt fits you and that your blouse looks as if it is carved for your body frame.

Get a good clutch bag and shoes and you are good to go. Don’t forget your poise and always carry yourself like a lady.

Sunday, May 15, 2016

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Blue is favourite

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sunday, May 15, 2016

colour for today’s ladies ADAEZE AMOS

I

t has been said that cobalt blue is a fantastic colour for dudes, but seriously speaking, colour blue is superb on ladies! Today’s fashionistas now prefer this colour for both casual and glamorous outings.

Check out how Queen Siaka Nimat looks stunning in her favourite colour.

You can actually combine blue with cream accessories or yellow, and you’ll look smashing!

Perfect Cut

25

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

26

Sunday, May 15, 2016

Dude Style

victorudoh804@yahoo.com 07067124302

Tribalism, main cause of insecurity in Nigeria –Ngwoke Mr Temple Ngwoke, managing director of VIGWEB Technology Limited, a leading name in security and surveillance services provision, shares insights about the company in this interview with VICTOR UDOH. Excerpts: How was your growing up?

I was born immediately after the Nigerian civil war. I am from a modest family, where my father worked as a medical laboratory technician. My mother was in business, now she is a nurse. Like I said earlier, I graduated from the University of Calabar. I have siblings, two of whom are lawyers and they are all doing very well. I am blessed with three children.

Thus, my growing up was an experience that awakened feelings of rendering service to the society. I am not a coward. If am going for something, I stand by it.

Tell us about your company?

First of all, we are more into preventive security. When I look at our security policy in this country, it gives me cause for concern.

For instance, the insurgency taking place now in Borno State, what stops the Federal Government from fencing the Maiduguri border immediately to check the terrorists?

In Gaza, the street was fenced. There are a lot of fences that are touch-sensitive that the Federal Government could use. Though people might look at it as capital intensive, when you realise that it has to do with lives and property, you will know it is worth doing. If the government is really serious in protecting lives and property, they should take up all those borders as a project. This alone will curb the unrestrained influx of people and terrorists.

They could also build censures along the borders. These censures are so sensitive that if people touch them, alarms would immediately sound at the emergency section in the control room. And the emergency team will respond immediately.

For instance in Gaza, the emergency team uses helicopter to respond to such situations.

The insecurity issue in North-East Nigeria will continue until the Federal Government embarks on fencing of the borders.

When did you venture into security work?

I started this security job as a student activist in the University of Calabar. This is because I always liked to stand for justice, and help others. Though I read Chemistry in school, I always stood to help people whenever problem arose. After finishing university, I discovered the best place I could perform very well was the security sector.

So for me, I fear that if we don’t take collective effort to security, our common enemies will overcome us. If we only talk about our security alone, without putting into consideration others’ security, nobody will come to our aid when issues arise. In fact, I am always happy anytime I am called upon by clients to help solve security problem. I see security job as my social responsibility. I see it as a way of contributing my quota to national development.

How can we curb online fraud in Nigeria, using surveillance system?

Of course, all banks in Nigeria have surveillance sections. Surveillance is part of banking policies. There is a surveillance facility in every bank. The surveillance system helps to identify a suspect anytime there is problem. It also helps in the analysis of the problem and how to arrest the suspect. The

lem.

They will be calling the installer to help them do things they could easily do themselves. Also, the passion I have for the security work does not allow me to feel bad whenever any challenge crops up.

Do you have any machine to detect mines and other explosive devices and prevent them exploding in the North-East?

Of course, we have machines. However, corruption in Nigeria did not allow these machines to work very well. That is why I am happy with the current anti-corruption posture of this government.

How can security business contribute to our economic development?

The security job alone has reduced unemployment. As a security expert, I have trained over 300 installers. These 300 installers did not need to open shops; they only need to get the contacts of their clients and keep in touch with them. The installation of surveillance system will create huge employment if government can support those that are trained to get tools to be used in the installation. I am even thinking of writing proposal to the Ebonyi State government about my mission and vision to create a centre where I can train youths on CCTV installation, control room building, among other security training.

Ngwoke

picture captured by surveillance system could be sent to the database to see if the face is on any social media. Also, Nigerians should behave in a responsible way because most of the crimes committed in the world are always carried out by citizens against the state. The citizens also should form the habit of reporting what they see to the law enforcement agents.

This apathy against police is very bad. Nigerians should shun the habit of ‘I don’t care.’ This habit is destructive because if you don’t report crime to the police when something happens to someone, when it comes to your turn, nobody will help you. So, we have to be responsible first as citizens. We must be bold to tell the whereabouts of suspects to the police during investigation. People should be able to stand as witnesses when any terrible incident happens.

Many eyewitnesses of crimes or accidents always shy away from standing as witnesses at the police station or elsewhere.

Can this surveillance work perfectly in volatile areas of Lagos like Ajegunle?

The only thing that can work perfectly in all those areas is constant emergency response patrol unit. They should demarcate the area.

Know these areas and put permanent emergency response unit. Equip them with surveillance unit. Most of the squad teams in the world are equipped with surveillance. As you are talking to them, you are being recorded.

This is the only security measure that can be used in these areas. If you should go and install surveillance system like CCTV cameras and other modern technology in these volatile areas, they would be vandalised. The security problem in these areas can only be solved by putting up teams to go around and record whatever is going on in the area. There should

be constant patrol unit that people can call in time of emergency. There is no way we can live in a society that is not policed. The police should constantly patrol Ajegunle.

The police should not base their patrol only on festive period. Their presence should be constantly shown through patrols. The police should equip their vehicles with necessary gadgets that will enable them transmit whatever that is going on in these areas live.

They should also try to work with the community heads in these areas. This is because security is indigenous and the people of the area know more about their community than any other person.

Have you suffered any setback that almost made you regret your venturing into security job?

Not really; the only problem I have encountered is that some clients failed to participate in security efforts. At times, they will not put on the surveillance system when they ought. And the main purpose of CCTV camera is to serve as deterrent. It wasn’t created to catch thief. This is because it makes people to behave themselves anytime they see camera facing them. Anywhere there is CCTV, people are always careful of what they do because they know the place is well covered.

Immediately robbers sense or know they are being recorded, they leave you alone. In that aspect, our clients don’t take the CCTV seriously. They will be waiting for the installers to install this for them. The client can buy expensive smart phones and other things that are needed for the operation of the surveillance system, but to do some minor things on their system become a prob-

What are your efforts or plans toward actualising the vision of people empowerment?

I have already started that; I mean, I have already started recruiting people. On the buying and selling, there are equipment they can purchase and sell, such as security wristwatch. This wristwatch can record and video; it can be used during security threat. People like me would love to use this kind of wristwatch because of my level of security consciousness. I don’t joke with security. Even, my friends know that I am a security conscious person.

Who do you look up to?

My best personality in this world is Professor Wole Soyinka. This is because Soyinka is an embodiment of knowledge. The way he talks alone commands respect. His thoughts are always wonderful.

Security for me starts when you start thinking about others. It is not necessary you give them money, but when you have holistic thoughts about people, humanity and other things that affect society; when you think about what to do for people around you, in your community, state and country.

The person may not necessary be a member of your family or tribe. The main cause of insecurity in Nigeria is tribalism. This problem breeds social disconnect which degenerates into insecurity. Nigeria should shun the idea of tribalism. They should be civilised. They should see people as human beings, irrespective of where they are coming from. Nigerians should stop discrimination in any form. Corruption should be seriously dealt with. We should also revisit our value system, social structure and laws.

Where do you see Nigeria in the next five years?

I think with the right government in place, Nigeria should be able to reposition itself and overcome all the challenges.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

27

May 15, 2016

Pregnancy Talk

Naughtiest Thing

with

The naughtiest thing I ’ve ever done

Adaeze Amos

Angel Amaka Obeta

߾ࠆ߾ࠀࠁ߾߿ࠀࠀࠇࠁ ߶ࠡࠛࠡ ࠝࠜࠚࠧ߷

Bonding during pregnancy

I

n last week ’s piece where I made mention of bonding, some readers wrote wanting to know what it is for a pregnant ant mum to bond with her unborn n baby. It was due to several calls from expectant mothers that prompted ompted the topic of this week.

Bonding of a mother-to-be and her unborn baby y actually starts when the baby iss right inside her womb and not when hen it is born. ReRe esearchers have shown that a lot happens inside the he womb between mother and baby y throughout nine months of gestation. ion.

Early in the pregnancy, for instance, natural rhythms and responses develop constantly. Baby listens to mum and nd mum to baby, often even subconsciously ciously. There is a communication system ystem that unborn babies become familiar miliar with which often shows afterr birth by the responses of babiess to their mother ’s voice, touch and even ven smell.

No wonder our ur mothers and grannies would advise us to talk to the unborn rn baby as if you are seeing g it. When it kicks vigorously, usly, talk to the little thing ng to be calm. This sounds ds funny but it is real. Experts in the field have e known for many years that the relationship between etween mother and baby y is the foundation for a child ’s sense of security, y, trust and independence, dence, even as they grow older.

Assuming you want begin your our own bonding at birth, this can an sometimes be diffficult, especially y if there are life e distractions or challenging birth experiences, but when the attachment begins during pregnancy, the process afterr birth is made easiasier. If bonding actualtually starts when you ou are pregnant, it becomes ecomes important you make yourself happy. This is because unborn babies can feel their mother ’s emotions, happy or

sad. This may sound funny but it ’s true.

When a mother is feeling depressed,

anxiety-ridden, upset for long periods of time during her preg-

nancy, the baby may be getting too much negative input. If maternal stress hormones are too high for long periods of o time they can imfetal growth and brain pair feta development. If you dev doubt this, please ask do your doctor for cony firmation. Though an unborn baby is good at protecting itself from stress, iif the stress is much, it will feel the effects.

Below are some tips that can guide tip you: you Talk to your baby: Our Ta and grannies have almothers an ways advised us to do this and we stupid. It is not! Talk to think it is stup your day while driving, her about you while you are in your room. Imagine her as your best friend.

• Close your eyes and dayyour baby. See yourdream about y and loving her after self holding a she is born. This may feel very foreign for ssome, that ’s okay just what you feel, notice be with w good or uncomfortable feelings. It ’s always helpful acknowledge how you to ac feel tto help move through negative and be with the n positive. the p Play soft music • your baby. Play your for y favourite songs and even favour sing to it. It will remember later in life, you might them lat surprised at how it responds be surpris to a certain song, especially if you sing it to it frequently.

Display ultrasound pic • Displa tures. Place them around your you will see them frehouse where y quently. Many parents find it helpful to create a baby collage. Use pictures of yourself, from magazines, even draw them and credream of what your life ate a dre will be like together after baby is born. the bab Touch or massage • your belly. This releases calming and relaxing calm hormones for you and hor your baby. Feel your yo baby kick and reba spond to experiences s around you. a • Remember to feel joy every day. Laugh, smile and appreciate the simple things in your life.

ed k a n t n e w t s o ‘I alm f o e s u a c e b s s in cla Mathematics ’

T

he naughtiest thing I ever did happened when I was in secondary school. It was before I became an actress.

In those days, I hated Mathematics and the teacher. The hatred for the subject was transferred to the teacher, hence I avoided him like a plague.

Those subjects I used to like, I also had same likeness for the teachers.

I couldn ’t explain why it was so.

On this particular day a classmate of mine by name Goodness ran into the class to announce that the Mathematics teacher was on his way.

Immediately I heard that, I asked myself what I was doing in the class at that time.

My mind told me to escape at that moment so that he wouldn ’t walk in and meet me in the class.

He would make it difficult for me to leave.

I ran out of the classroom and while running, I missed my steps and fall by the door.

I wasn ’t bothered that I tripped and landed on the floor, what actually bothered me was that when I fell, my uniform was raised over my head and my underwear was on display.

I heard everyone laughing and making fun of me. I felt ashamed of myself that day •ADAEZE AMOS • Obeta is an actress who has starred in many movies.

28

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

May 15, 2016

Lessons of Life TRUE LIFE STORY ON MATTERS OF THE HEART

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

‘Enough of this! I ’m walking out of my marriage ’ (3) This is the concluding part of Rita and Nelson ’s story which started penultimate Sunday. The duo met in a crusade ground somewhere in Enugu state. And before the crusade was over, they were already friends.

They joined same church after the crusade and that was when their relationship began to sizzle. Below is the rest of the story.

The remaining four days of the crusade was “awesome. Nelson and I had made up our minds to be attending the church. We met the pastor of the church, introduced ourselves and indicated our interest. The concluding part of the crusade ended early, so Nelson decided we had dinner together afterwards. I noticed I couldn ’t eat as much as I used to because my system was getting used to the fasting program. Nelson said he started fasting two days to the crusade. That was what made me curious. I asked what he was expecting from God. He only said he needed God ’s intervention in every aspect of his life. I didn ’t hide mine. I told him that I needed God to bring my own man because I was ready to get married so that my mum would let me be. At that, Nelson laughed long, ” she said.

They both became members of the small church in their neighbourhood. “Aside from being members of same church, we became friends which later culminated into something more serious. When Nelson proposed marriage, my mum was the first person I told, ” she recalled.

Rita took Nelson home and introduced him to her mother. “She was happy when she saw him and pretended as if she hadn ’t been anxious about my getting married. I told mum everything before I brought Nelson home. I told him about his career, his people and the fact that Nelson and I had never slept together. That it was a taboo in my church to do so before marriage. My mum loved him the more for that and said he was very unlike today ’s men who would want to sleep with their fiancées before walking them down the aisle. So, before I brought Nelson home, mum had already developed soft spot for him, ” she enthused.

The traditional marriage of the two didn ’t make much noise. “My father was late and my mum kept on crying because the ceremony reminded her of my late father. It was my uncle that played the role of my father. He sat beside my mum that day and poor mum wasn ’t happy that he was present taking charge.

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Reason was that my uncle treated us badly when my father died, he took over most of my late father ’s properties because my mother never had a male child. She had just me, so according to the tradition my uncle was supposed to be the one to hand me over to my husband. Immediately after the ceremony I hopped into Nelson ’s car, and my mum sat at the back and we drove off. I told Nelson already that my mum was the only one I had and that I would bring her into my matrimonial home and take care of her because she was already getting older. Hence she needed adequate care and he was game with that idea, ” she said.

Rita ’s mum came to live with her daughter and her hubby. “I loved that because my prayer when I was single was to bring mum out of her one room dingy apartment at Abakpa Nike in Enugu whenever I got married and I thank God Nelson never frowned at it. Nelson had to convert his garage into a room and parlour which he furnished for her. And then she was kept busy with little business which my husband opened for her. Her shop was close to our house so that she could walk down and walk back home when she closed.

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Mum was happier and without being told I saw that my mum was really home. We were all happy just three of us for five years but the major problem Nelson and I had been battling with was childlessness. Though my mum desperately longed to carry her grand children but I couldn ’t get pregnant.

Not that it was my fault, but my hubby ’s. He was diagnosed with diabetes when he clocked 35 and had been managing it for three years before he met me. It was actually what brought him to the prayer ground/crusade where we met. He needed God ’s healing. He said he actually came to see if God could heal him but that he couldn ’t tell me because it was too early to start washing his dirty linen before me.

That was his major reason for not making love to me when we were courting.

He said he was afraid is erection would fail him and that was what happened the very first night after our wedding, ” she recalled.

The problem of Nelson was that his medication really affected his erection which invariably affected his sex life with his wife. “I noticed it but I was thinking that it was mere anxiety. We never had sex through out our eight months of courtship. He said it was sinful to have sex before marriage that

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!

it would defile the bed according to the scriptures. And that we should wait until everything was tidied up, before doing such a thing. I agreed with him and was even happy that a man like Nelson could abstain till we tied the knots. It was when his weak erection lingered on that I became curious and started asking and he told me everything. That was when I realized why my hubby was avoiding sugary foods and stuck to his doctor ’s diet. I pitied him and decided to keep his secret because I had no option. I loved my husband and he was indeed nice and caring to me and my mum. He loved and treated my mum like his. During our fifth year wedding anniversary, his mother started being on my neck to give her grand children. Nelson ’s siblings were beginning to make some cynical statements about my childless situation. And each time I made a report to Nelson, he would plead with me to ignore them. His two sisters who called me barren peacock made me cry for two days. And when my mum confronted them they insulted her. That was when I lost my cool and beat two of them black and blue. I couldn ’t stand watching two ladies insult my mum over something that wasn ’t my fault. I descended on them so mercilessly that my mum started begging me to leave them.

When Nelson came home and saw what I did, he supported me to their disappointment.

Readers, over to you. Advise Rita on what to do in this situation.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sunday May 15, 2016

Vineyard

Briefly FGC, Fadeyi hosts confab

T

he annual confab of Foursquare Gospel Church tagged “Zonal Conference 2016” which began on Friday, May 13, 2016 ends today, Sunday, May 15 with grand celebration at 9am.

The 3-day event is billed for FGC zonal headquarters, located at 21, Akorohunfayo Street, Off Ikorodu Road, Fadeyi, Lagos.

The Chairman of the Planning Committee, Pastor Bosun Oloyede assured attendees of divine intervention, miracles, fruitfulness, restoration for all business and marital breakthrough among others. Rev Phillips Olugbenga Randle speaking on the theme said God will visit His children with great transformation.

Celebration

Nigerians urged to be prudent ....as AG celebrate Women’s Day

Destiny recovery begins at RHMI

L-R: President WM, Assemblies of God Church, Ikeja, Mrs. Olohigbe Ukadike, minister in Charge, Rev. Peter Agianpuye, Coordinator of WM Rev(Mrs.) Dinah Agianpuye and Secretary, Mrs. Florence Afolabi on the occasion

T

he two-day destiny recovery programme at the Refiner’s House Ministry International aka Transformation Chapel tagged “Pastor Joseph storms Mowe” which began yesterday, May 14, 2016 will end today, May 15 at 23, Ofada Road, mowe off Lagos/Ibadan expressway in Obafemi/Owode LGA of Ogun State.

The Host, Senior Pastor Adeyemi Shayo revealed that the programme which features healing, deliverance, salvation and break-through is set apart to re-instate the destiny of man to his primary position.

He added that Gideon was also destined to be a deliverer of a whole generation and not until God eventually discovered him and turned him out a man of valour.

The guest Minister from expected to speak on the occasion is Pastor Joseph Shirvandehi from Sweden.

CCC Hosts Night of Grace

A

ll is set for five-night of grace at Celestial Church of Christ, Latter Day Glory Ministries (Jesus Arena).

The programme tagged “Marching into our Jerusalem” adapted from Ezra 7:8 scheduled for Monday, May 23 2016 to Friday May 272016 from 10pm to 3am will be held at the church premises located at 4, Church Street, Off Yaya Adamo Street, Mobil Bus Stop, Oke Ira, Ogba Lagos.

The host, Prophet Raphael Arole Abass (JP) claimed that all participants at the programme will enter into the joyful place God has reserved for them.

Those expected to minister include Prophet Olawale Wahab, Prophet Adeleke Adelakun, Prophet Peter Oladejo, Sup. Evang. (Dr.) D.O. Ogunrombi. Guest artistes include Aduke Gold, Lanre Atorise, Esther Igbekele and a host of other gospel acts.

FGC Fadeyi hosts Confab

T

he annual confab of Foursquare Gospel Church tagged “Zonal Conference 2016” which began on Friday, May 13, 2016 ends today Sunday May 15 with grand celebration at 9am.

The 3-day event is billed for FGC Zonal Headquarters located at 21, Akorohunfayo Street, Off Ikorodu road, Fadeyi, Lagos.

The Chairman of the planning committee, Pastor Bosun Oloyede assured attendees of divine intervention, miracles, fruitfulness, restoration for all business; marital breakthrough among others. Rev Phillips Olugbenga Randle speaking on the theme said God will visit His children with great transformation.

The programme featured deliverance prayers by Evang. Bamidele Jones with the theme “Divine Visitation” adapted from psalm 126:1-2.

29

ODINAKA URUAKPA

T

he president of Women Ministry, Assemblies of God Church, Ikeja District, Deaconess Olohigbe Ukadike has called on Nigerians to be prudent and efficient in managing the resources available to them as she claimed that in doing this, citizens will be able to overcome economic downturn confronting the nation.

Ukadike who gave this charge during the celebration of the General Council Women Ministry week of Assemblies of God Church tagged “Restoration of the total woman” held recently in Lagos also urged women to be prudent in managing the home, as well as instil in themselves, virtues needed to be a total woman.

While urging women to play their God-given role of being helpmates to their husbands, the deaconess advised that every woman should complement her husband, rather than dragging equality with him.

“There is nothing like gender equality.

Women are helpmates to their husbands. Instead of dragging equality with the man in the home, the woman should be busy, just like the virtuous woman who was mentioned in Proverbs 31: 10-31, making sure that she is not sleeping, but doing all she can to make things right at home”, she said.

Concerning the economic situation in the country, she advised women to engage themselves in work or trade so as to boost their financial status.

“Here in this church, we always advise women that they must find something to do; either they go back to school or learn skills because when the woman is doing nothing to help out financially in the house, the burden will be too much on her husband. We have made it mandatory that every woman in this church is engaged in work or trade to assist the husband financially”, she admonished.

On the way old men keep taking minors as

Cross Section of WM Choristers

brides, Ukadike said: “It is wicked and I would also say brutal on the part of these girls. Those men taking other people’s under-aged children as wives will not allow this to happen to their own children. The people involved in this kind of wickedness, hide their own children and make sure that they read, but they won’t think twice before defiling other people’s children. It is scripturally and morally wrong; it is child abuse, particularly to these young girls. Any man that takes a little girl for bride is not fit to live; that is how bad it is.”

Ukadike advised Nigerian women to be godly even with the myriad of problems confronting the country, as she insisted that in no circumstance should they compare themselves with men.

‘No matter how things are in the country, women must be what God made them to be. It is not possible for women to take the place of men. Like I said earlier, the Bible does not tell us that we should be equal with them, but to be help mates. With the situation in the country, I will advise all women that they should stand up and help this government in

any way they can. We have so many big women that are well read and intelligent and can do a lot to improve things in the country. They should not wait for things to get bad before bringing their ideas to the fore. I know that God will lead the government to hear them out”, she said.

In her speech, Rev. Mrs. Diana Agapunye, co-ordinator, Women Ministry, Assemblies of God Church, Ikeja District urged women to reflect the person of God in all that they do, adding that like the biblical Esther, women ought to exhibit characters that would protect them, as well impact on their family positively.

While urging women to pray always, Agapunye encouraged them to better their lot as wives and citizens by seeking knowledge and education, adding as they did this, it would reduce the passive and contrary ways women are seen and used in the society.

The high points of the event were presentation of songs, drama and panel of discussants who spoke elaborately on the qualities of the virtuous woman with reference to Proverbs 31: 10-31.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sunday May 15, 2016

Vineyard

Briefly FGC holds marathon prayer

F

oursquare Gospel Church, Alapere District Headquarters has concluded plans to organize a 24-hour marathon prayer mountain scheduled for Monday, May 16 to Tuesday, May 17, 2016 at 72/74, Agboyi Road, Alapere Lagos.

The hosts, Rev. and Prof. (Mrs.) Ajibola Jolaosho said the programme will feature intensive prayer session and fasting, adding that all attendees will receive uncommon favour as yokes of delay will be broken, academic excellence received, revival in the spirit, completion of projects, restoration of marriages, business break through, healing and lots more.

Celebration

Nigerians urged to be prudent ....as AG celebrate Women’s Day

Destiny recovery begins at RHMI

L-R: President WM, Assemblies of God Church, Ikeja, Mrs. Olohigbe Ukadike, minister in Charge, Rev. Peter Agianpuye, Coordinator of WM Rev(Mrs.) Dinah Agianpuye and Secretary, Mrs. Florence Afolabi on the occasion

T

he two-day destiny recovery programme at the Refiner’s House Ministry International aka Transformation Chapel tagged “Pastor Joseph storms Mowe” which began yesterday, May 14, 2016 will end today, May 15 at 23, Ofada Road, mowe off Lagos/Ibadan expressway in Obafemi/Owode LGA of Ogun State.

The Host, Senior Pastor Adeyemi Shayo revealed that the programme which features healing, deliverance, salvation and break-through is set apart to re-instate the destiny of man to his primary position.

He added that Gideon was also destined to be a deliverer of a whole generation and not until God eventually discovered him and turned him out a man of valour.

The guest Minister from expected to speak on the occasion is Pastor Joseph Shirvandehi from Sweden.

CCC Hosts Night of Grace

A

ll is set for five-night of grace at Celestial Church of Christ, Latter Day Glory Ministries (Jesus Arena).

The programme tagged “Marching into our Jerusalem” adapted from Ezra 7:8 scheduled for Monday, May 23 2016 to Friday May 272016 from 10pm to 3am will be held at the church premises located at 4, Church Street, Off Yaya Adamo Street, Mobil Bus Stop, Oke Ira, Ogba Lagos.

The host, Prophet Raphael Arole Abass (JP) claimed that all participants at the programme will enter into the joyful place God has reserved for them.

Those expected to minister include Prophet Olawale Wahab, Prophet Adeleke Adelakun, Prophet Peter Oladejo, Sup. Evang. (Dr.) D.O. Ogunrombi. Guest artistes include Aduke Gold, Lanre Atorise, Esther Igbekele and a host of other gospel acts.

FGC Fadeyi hosts Confab

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he annual confab of Foursquare Gospel Church tagged “Zonal Conference 2016” which began on Friday, May 13, 2016 ends today Sunday May 15 with grand celebration at 9am.

The 3-day event is billed for FGC Zonal Headquarters located at 21, Akorohunfayo Street, Off Ikorodu road, Fadeyi, Lagos.

The Chairman of the planning committee, Pastor Bosun Oloyede assured attendees of divine intervention, miracles, fruitfulness, restoration for all business; marital breakthrough among others. Rev Phillips Olugbenga Randle speaking on the theme said God will visit His children with great transformation.

The programme featured deliverance prayers by Evang. Bamidele Jones with the theme “Divine Visitation” adapted from psalm 126:1-2.

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ODINAKA URUAKPA

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he president of Women Ministry, Assemblies of God Church, Ikeja District, Deaconess Olohigbe Ukadike has called on Nigerians to be prudent, as well as efficient in managing the resources available to them as she claimed that in doing this; citizens will be able to overcome economic downturn confronting the nation.

Ukadike who gave this charge during the celebration of the the General Council Women Ministry Week of Assemblies of God Church tagged “Restoration of the total woman” held recently in Lagos also urged women to be prudent in managing the home, as well as instill in themselves virtues needed to be a total woman.

While urging women to play their God given role of being helpmates to their husbands, the Deaconess advised that every woman should complement their husband, rather than dragging equality with them.

“There is nothing like gender equality.

Women are helpmates to their husbands. Instead of dragging equality with the man in the home, the woman should be busy just like the virtuous who was woman mentioned in Proverbs 31: 10-31, making sure that she is not sleeping, but doing all she can to make things right at home”, she said.

Concerning the economic situation in the country, she advised women to engage themselves in work or trade so as to boost their financial status.

“Here in this church, we always advise women that they must find something to do, either they go back to school or learn skills because when the woman is doing nothing to help out financially in the house, the burden will be too much on her husband. We have made it mandatory that every woman in this church is engaged in work or trade to assist the husband financially.

Cross Section of WM Choristers

On the way old men keep taking minors as brides Ukadike said: “It is wicked and I would also say brutal on the part of these girls. Those men taking other people’s underage children as wives will not allow this to happen to their own children. The people involved in this kind of wickedness, hide their own children and make sure that they read, but they won’t think twice before defiling other people’s children. It is scripturally and morally wrong; it is child abuse, particularly towards these young girls. Any man that takes a little girl for bride is not fit to live; that is how bad it is.”

Ukadike advised Nigerian women to be godly even with the myriad of problems confronting the country, as she insisted that in no circumstance should they compare themselves with men.

‘No matter how things are in the country, women must be what God made them to be. It is not possible for women to take the place of men. Like I said earlier, the Bible did not tell us that we should be equal with them, but to be help mates.

With the situation in the country, I will advise all women that they should stand

up and help this government in any way they can. We have so many big women that are well read and intelligent and can do a lot to improve things in the country.

They should not wait for things to get bad before bringing their ideas to fore. I know that God will lead the government to hear them out”, she said.

In her speech, Rev. Mrs. Diana Agapunye, Coordinator Women Ministry, Assemblies of God Church, Ikeja District urged women to reflect the person of God in all that they do, adding that like the biblical Esther, women ought to exhibit characters that would protect them, as well impact on their family positively.

While urging women to pray always Agapunye encouraged women to better their lot as wives and citizens by seeking knowledge and education. She added that they do this; it would reduce the passive and contrary ways women are seen and used in the society.

Highpoints of the event were presentation of songs, drama and panel of discussants who spoke elaborately on the qualities of the virtuous woman with reference to Proverbs 31: 10-31.

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From the Pulpit Learn with Kunle

Macaulay

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

esus declares, “I am the way and the truth and the life” Jn. 14:6. The way of the Lord is the only way to the truth and life. The Bible confirmed that “only the redeemed will walk there”.

Our generation is the last instrument God is using to prepare the world for the arrival of Jesus Christ who will come anytime from now. The study of biblical history and proper study and understanding of the Bible help us to know that the time is very near. It is the duty of Christians to declare the glory of God to all nations. Jesus left all his disciples including the present Christians with very clear marching orders. “Go and make disciples of all nations” Matt 28:19. “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation” Mk 16:15.

This commission is to be carried out between the time of ascension of Jesus and his return to earth again.

The church in Nigeria is under mandate to disciple all nations which in Nigeria should include all States of the nation but we have failed. 12 States of the nation are under Sharia – and of recent a proposed bill to ban public preaching and to license preachers is already supported by over 19 State governors of Nigeria. We know why we are suffering in Nigeria.

It is not because we do not have fertile land or human resources but because our constitution has removed God from its place in the nation and men and women of God have gone to sleep. The Bible said that the sons of Issachar

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Sunday May 15, 2016

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Spiritual direction for Christians, Christianity and Nigeria “understood the times and knew what Israel should do” Chr. 12:32.

Christians should know what to do as we should understand our times. There should be no idle time “As long as it is day, we must do the work of Him who sent me….” Jn. 9:4. As we have read in the book of Acts 1:8, the fullness of Holy Spirit is given for the purpose of effective Christian witness. God gives all Christians power not a few. Jesus said, “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you.” The Bible confirmed that, “Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accomplished it” Mk 16:20.

The church today is divided. It needs reconciliation. We are to be reconciled across denominational, racial, gender and cultural barriers demonstrating the true spiritual unity for which Jesus prayed for in John 17. If we must follow Jesus, then we must be ambassadors of reconciliation. We must be proclaimers of the gospel that reconciles people to God. As God is calling all Christians to reconciliation, he is also calling his church to restructure.

The role of the church in Nigeria is changing dramatically. While Jesus said, “The Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost” Lk. 19:10, people called men and women of God today are weak spiritually and cannot challenge any opposition to the work of God in their hands. They are man – centered and not God – centered. They preach that the purpose of God sending his Son to die is for their happiness and well-being and as such encourage their followers to have the best of time in this contaminated world. Their sermon emerges out of what they are and

we experience their “feel good” revivals. The greatest inpediment to the work of God in Nigeria today is the carnality of the church.

If we as Christians must win Nigeria for Christ, we do not need to carry gun and bombs, become aggressive or abusive rather we should “live holy and godly lives” as we draw upon the resources of the Holy Spirit.

We must rely on the dynamism of the indwelling Christ rather than human strength to do the work of God. For us to succeed in all aspects of human life-at work, in the family life, in the society and including spiritual life, we need God and his power. Jesus said, “For without Me, you cannot do anything” Jn. 15:5b. It is unfortunate that even Christians are demanding mystery and intelligibility in the church, hence, foundersof churches are employing sales experts, public relations consultants and motivational speakers to lead the church of God. God is Supreme being, the creator and preserver of the world. He cannot be known ordinarily except through his Spirit. He gives Holy Spirit to those who believe in Jesus Christ so that they can be controlled, directed and taught the way of the Lord. Jn. 14:26. His presence in the life of a believer is still a mystery.

This is the time Christians should refocus as Nigeria is experiencing some difficulties. Christians attend various conferences tagged,‘’Destiny Conferences’’,‘’Discovering your Destiny” ,”Breakthrough Conferences” even “Holy Spirit Conferences”. David said to God, “My life is in your hand”. People should stop deceiving themselves. When the Bible is read and understood, faith is strengthened and soul sanctified. Jesus once prayed, “Sanctify them by the truth; your Word is truth” Jn. 17:17. The Word of God must be attended

to with diligence, preparation and prayer. It must be received with faith and love and laid up in the hearts and applied to human situations.

May be I need to remind the reader that all nations of the world rise and fall according to their relationship to the glory of God. We need to know the kind of Nigeria that Nigerians want and by now Christians must know the kind of Nigeria that God wants. Without considering our theological differences as Christian churches, we must know that our nation is created by God, answerable to him and that all God’s people in the country have the responsibility to get him known.

Hosea said, ‘’without a vision, the people perish’’. Our Christian leaders must see the need to come together to pray for Nigeria and people in government must recognize the sovereignty of God in this nation. History confirmed that Australian Christians gathered in Canberra to pray at the opening of a new Parliament House because they were concerned about the future of their nation and American Christians gathered in Washington for what they called ‘’ Washington for Jesus Rally’’. Religion has a social aspect and social role to play in any nation. It helps people to become moral, disciplined and socialized citizens of the society. I do not see why Nigerian Christians cannot declare one day prayer for Nigeria. I know Nigerians are religious and are praying but let us have a spiritual program that will lead all to the heart of our nation.

•Prof. Kunle Macaulay is the Director of Studies of United Bible University, Lagos. Phone: 0802 – 303 – 2698; email : profkunlemacaulay@yahoo.com; Twitter. com/Kunle Macaulay1

The Influence of Divine Power

he Influence of divine power in a situation cannot be over-emphasized because many things are that determine the events in the life of an individual or a nation. When Jesus entered into the stormy situation of the Apostles, there was a big difference and the storm was brought under control. If Christ has not entered into a situation, it does not matter who has stepped in, there will be no change in that situation. When Christ enters into a life, church, family, business and the affairs of a nation; the trouble and calamity will cease. The stepping in of Christ into the affairs of a nation will bring an end to hunger, famine, lack and other unpleasant situations. The only one that can bring positive change to our lives and nation is our creator; no man can bring the change we have been clamouring for because they are just human beings and there is a limit to what human strength can achieve for us.

As we can see that the situation we find ourselves in this nation needs what I call a declaration of the “State of Divine Intervention”. Our situation will even become worse if Christ is not allowed to enter into the affairs of this nation. If we really desire a positive change, then let Christ be enthroned in the Executive, in the National Assembly proceedings during the law making process, in the Judiciary and other aspects of our nation.

If an individual allows Christ to be enthroned in his or her life, his or her business will progress, family life will progress, though they may experience challenges in life, all will turn to testimony for the individual. If Christ is in you, you cannot fail, you cannot fall for the enemies to rejoice over you, and in whatever you do, you will enjoy the abundance of God because He will lead you to success.

To receive this life-changing force, we must allow Christ to enter the following places in our lives.

1.

Our Hearts: The heart of man is so important that the Bible says it should be guid-

Bishop Opayinka

ed with all diligence. Christ wants to enter our hearts and reign there as King (Rev. 3:20).

Look! I am standing at the door and knocking. If anyone listens to my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he will eat with me.

(ISV) Jesus said, if you open the door of your heart to him, he will come in and dine with you. Maintaining your relationship with God depends largely on the way you position your heart before him. Let us follow God and maintain our connection with him. When God enters into your life, He will make you great and mighty. Nigeria will be better if we allow Christ take over every aspect of our national life. If our leaders will surrender their hearts unto God, Nigeria will experience the positive change we are expecting and this nation will take her rightful place in the comity of nations.

2.

Our Families: When Jesus enters into a family, the crisis, troubles and struggles therein will end. In the family of Martha and Mary, they allowed Jesus to step into their case; the sad situation was turned into a great testimony for they receive back what they had lost (John 11:17-25).

17:When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days.

18 Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about

fifteen stadia away, 19 and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them about their brother. 20 As soon as Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, while Mary stayed at home. 21 Martha told Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now, I know that whatever you ask of God, he will give it to you.” 23 Jesus told her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24 Martha told him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” 25 Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The person who believes in me, even though he dies, will live. (ISV) When Jesus is in your family, death cannot enter into your family, tears will be turned into laughter. There are many homes today with crisis because they refused Jesus into their homes. Some allow Jesus into their homes, but they are the ones in control, not Jesus. Let Jesus take control of the affairs of your life today and you will realize lifting and promotion in your endeavours. Jesus will make you strong and all that have been stolen in your life and family will be restored.

3.

Our Businesses: When Christ enters into your business, you cannot continue to run at a loss or fail. Any business that has Jesus will not suffer failure. The business that was about to fold up became a successful business when Christ stepped in. Peter has struggled all night with nothing to show for his hard labour, except an empty net and a frustrated life (Lk. 5:3-6).

3 And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon’s, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship. 4 Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. 5 And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have foiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net. 6 And when

they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake. (KJV) The man who was about to close down his business became an employer of labour.

When you allow Jesus into your business, things will begin to change for you. Whatsoever the level of failure you have suffered before in your business, as you allow Jesus to step in he will bring a great turnaround into your life.

4.

Our National Affairs: When Jesus is allowed into a nation to rule and control the affairs of governance, such a nation will experience progress, peace and development.

Samaria has suffered famine so much to the level of mothers beginning to eat their children (2 King 7:1).

Then Elisha said, Hear ye the word of the LORD; Thus saith the LORD, Tomorrow about this time shall a measure of fine flour be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria (KJV) The intervention of the Prophet of God (representing Jesus stepping into the case), brought an end to the famine that had ravaged the entire nation. The famine the nation (Nigeria) is experiencing today is not what any man or political party has an answer to.

We must allow Jesus to enter into our national affairs in order to find divine wisdom to help us out of this present situation of national famine.

If we want Christ to enter our lives and nation, we must stop every form of corruption.

A society where corruption has become the norms will be difficult for Jesus to operate. Our leaders must show by example that corruption is unwanted in our nation. Moreover, we must ask God to forgive all kinds of wickedness and sins we have committed in this nation. Imagine the blood of so many innocent people that has been shed in this nation, all this wickedness must stop for Jesus to take over and for a positive change to happen in our nation.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

From the Pulpit 31

Sunday May 15, 2016

Do not be afraid! (1) Miracle Arena with Bishop

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Theo Ugochukwu

he Bible, according to Luke 1:5-12, tells us about a certain servant of God called Zacharias whose wife was Elizabeth, the daughter of Aaron. Both of them feared the Lord, served God in righteousness and lived their lives within the laws of God. So, they were blameless.

However, they had a great challenge.

They were childless after several years of marital bliss in holiness and in the service of God. And both were advanced in age, an age beyond child bearing, biologically speaking. Besides, the Bible in Luke 1:7 specifically declares that the wife Elizabeth was barren. This implies that even, if they were not above child bearing age, they would not still have a child since the woman was barren.

In this kind of situation, the couple

Desti Destiny Hour Pastor Femi

Lanre-Oke

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y the special grace of God, we started the series on the efficacy and potency of the word of God last week and we concluded by looking at a contemporary application of the word of God. We said it meant that the writing and the text of the Bible may be old as some critics say, it remains relevant because the Holy Spirit who is the inspiration behind the word of God knows all things, is everywhere and He’s all powerful. These features of his ensure that while the earth remains, the word of God will forever hold its potency over the affairs of men. Today by the grace of God, we shall continue to look at another contemporary application of the word of God. Look around you and you will see people toiling, both young and old. You will see the highly successful, the moderately successful and those living in abject poverty. You will then wonder what makes the difference between these groups of people. This is a contemporary issue, but with biblical solutions.

Let us see what the Bible has to say about seasons: Genesis 8:22; while the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-2; there is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant

must have had cause to be worried and sorrowful. They must have been also objects of jest and insulting idle talks. So, they must have been living in fear, the fear of the uncertainty of life and what future held for them. Yet, they continued in the service of the Lord without relenting.

Then one day, while the man, Zacharias was on duty, doing the work of God in the Temple, an Angel of the Lord appeared to him and said, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son”. What kind of child would Zacharias and his wife Elizabeth have at an old age? Luke 1:15 says it all.

“For he (the child) will be great…” Again, the Bible says in Luke 1:14, “And you will have joy and gladness and many will rejoice at his birth”.

I don’t know who is the Zacharias that the Lord is telling now not to be afraid. I don’t know that man or woman who has been serving the Lord with little or nothing to show for it. I don’t know who is that man or that woman whose commitment to the service of God has not yielded any tangible results. I don’t know the one whose several years of good work in the household

of God is yet to be a blessing to him or her. Hear me now, and hear me clearly, God is right now telling you through me that you should not be bothered. The faithful Most High God is telling you now that your story will change from today. I have the mandate of Heaven as an anointed servant of God to declare to you that God will visit you and your household any moment from now. I say by auction that the divine visitations to Zacharias and his wife Elizabeth will be extended to you and your household in Jesus Name.

Whatever that aches your heart and subjects you and your household to fear and worry shall be no more before the end of this week. That marriage that has not been fruitful will be fruitful from today in Jesus’ name. And the fruitfulness will be great and extraordinary. God told Zacharias that the child will be ‘great’.

In the same vein, the fruits your marriage, your business and your entire life will bear, starting from today will be very great. And like Zacharias, there will be gladness and rejoicing because of your fruitfulness in the mighty name of Jesus.

When the word of God come to pass

in the family of Zacharias, the wife Elizabeth says in Luke 1:25, “Thus the Lord has dealt with me, in the days when He looked on me to take away my reproach”.

You are the next person that God will deal with and take away your reproach in Jesus name. No matter the type of reproach and how long the reproach has been with you, God who did it for Elizabeth will do it for you and, even more in Jesus name.

So, don’t be afraid, but be strong and steadfast with the Lord. Surely, God will not disappoint anyone that waits on Him in trust.

Join us next week as we continue on this topic.

I LOVE THIS GOD! •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

The potency of the word of God – (2) and a time to uproot,…

God the maker and ruler of the universe created seedtime and harvest time, He created the seasons and the passages above confirms that. And one very important season for all of mankind is the seedtime and harvest time. The results you see today in life, sir/ma is a function of the seeds sown yesterday. Where you find yourself in life is a function of the seeds you sow.

Do you know that where your children are in life is a function of the seeds of their father’s (this is the topic for another day).

People who behave as if there is no God should understand that evil men may flourish, but it is the planting season because according to Genesis 8:22, the harvest of the seed sown must be reaped. Some will ask the question, why are unbelievers prospering and flourishing? It is due to the potency of this seedtime and harvest established

by God in Genesis 8. This law is a universal law that affects both the Godly and ungodly. If you work hard Sir, you will be successful; if you are lazy, then penury knocks at the door. However, success in an area of life due to hard work does not culminate in wealth which is success in all areas of life; spiritually, physically etc; this is exclusively reserved for the redeemed (this is also the topic for another day) Seasons and Opportunities Presented Proverbs 13:4, the soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.The diligent is that man who understands the seasons and the opportunities they present. 1 Chronicles 12:32, and of the children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of

the times, to know what Israel ought to do; the heads of them were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their commandment. They men of Issachar understood the importance of seasons and the opportunities made available in every season. They knew what Israel was to do to maximize the potential in every season.

The reason why you will plant, invest and maximize opportunities is that you see the harvest ahead. The reason why you will invest in today is because you see the brightness of tomorrow. Proverbs 6:6-9 Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest. How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? The scriptures clearly defines that the ant understands harvest, understands the seasons and work in preparation of the time of lack.

Those who will be effective leaders inall spheres of life are persons who will catch a picture of their future early in life, understand the season they are in, see the opportunities such seasons present and invest appropriately.

This is a contemporary issue and highly biblical in application.

One thing that is available to maximize is time. If you want to become a medical doctor, then there is the season to go to school and learn. Man of God, for you to become who God wants you to be, you must invest in the planting season when you have the time to invest quality time, listening to the heartbeat of God and familiarizing yourself with the Holy Spirit in the place of prayer and the word of God. You want to become a businessman, there is something to do in this season, get to know

all there is to know and then launch your business. Opportunities are only maximized by prepared persons and since the Bible says there will be a harvest season, then the time will come when what you have prepared for will be showcased. Therefore, keep preparing, keep planting, your manifestation is just around the corner.

What makes the difference between the rich, the average and the poor is an understanding of seasons and maximization of presented opportunities.

This is as presented in the word of God. God bless you as you maximize your time this week. We shall continue next week by the grace of God. Only the redeemed are entitled to wealth (all round success in life). You can do well in business and be a marital failure, it takes Jesus to be connected to the wealthiest people on earth. If you have not given your life to Jesus, the process is simple: • Believe in your heart that you are a sinner and cannot save yourself.

• Believe in your heart that Jesus died on the cross of Calvary paying the price for your sins and rose from the dead the third day to establish your victory.

• Confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and saviour.

• Repent of all sins before the Lord and forsake them.

• Welcome into God’s family.

Please locate a Bible believing church and share your new birth experience with the church leaders.

For further prayer & counseling, pleases contact: Pastor Femi Lanre-OkePlot A22 Power Crescent, Arab Road, Kubwa. Abuja +2348030752799, +2348053695097.

Email: femi_lanre01@yahoo.co.uk

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Movies & Music

Sunday, May 15, 2016

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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

2Face, first Nigerian artiste to receive honorary degree

Ehiz, Caroline and OC

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igerian music icon, Innocent Ujah Idibia, popularly known as 2Baba, has been conferred with an honorary degree by the Igbinedion University, Okada, thus becoming the first Nigerian artiste to receive such a honour from an indigenous university.

2Baba received the honour on Tuesday, 9th May, 2016 at The university’s main auditorium in Okada, Edo State during the its 17th Founder’s Day ceremony witnessed by a large audience.

The auditorium, venue of the event was filled to maximum capacity with special appearances made by Prof. (Sir) Victor Uwaifo and a popular comedian, Maleke.

The master’s degree was presented to 2Baba by the former governor of Edo state, Chief Lucky Igbinedion, who is also the deputy vice-chancellor of the university.

2Baba’s wife, Annie Idibia, was also present to witness the historic conferment and was

all smiles as she accompanied her husband to receive the honorary degree.

Earlier, on their arrival in the state, the couple paid a courtesy visit on the founder of the university and Esama of Benin Kingdom, Sir (Chief) Dr. G. O. Igbinedion.

With this latest achievement, 2Baba continues his astonishing momentum in 2016, having already released three singles and bagged several endorsements.

He recently announced that he will be headlining the Lagos leg of “Buckwyld ‘n’ Breathless: The Disruption” this year.

He also announced a competition that would see him take some fans on a week-long trip to Nairobi, Kenya.

His latest single titled ‘Oya Come Make We Go’ features fellow Buckwyld ‘n’ Breathless headliner, Sauti Sol, and was released last month. The latest release has been subject of rave reviews from fans and music aficionados.

Burna Boy lights up Lagos NYSC camp with sensational performance

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Burna Boy

ecently, National Youth Service Corps members currently in the Lagos orientation camp at Iyana-Ipaja had an experience they will remember for a long time. The Original Nigerian Don Gorgon, Burna Boy, was at their concert to thrill them, and thrill them he absolutely did.

The concert, an initiative to give back, was organised by The Beat 99.9 FM and Naija FM 102.7.

Burna Boy, who is well known for his exhilarating performances was at it again.

He stepped on stage in a classic Burna style and the energy he brought infected all in attendance very fast. There were cheers and screams as Burna began, with the excited crowd singing along at the top of their voices. His performances of monster hits “Soke” and “Like to Party” made the crowd go bonkers.

He also performed songs from his latest album including Rizzla as well as his other hits such as Won Da Mo, Gba Gbe, Yawa Dey and Check & Balance.

By the time Burna Boy was done, everyone in attendance was exhausted from jumping, dancing and singing out loud during his performance. It was further proof of Burna’s ability to get a crowd going and a testament to his immense talent.

Burna Boy has been working non-stop since the release of his sophomore album #OAS (On a Spaceship) last November, releasing videos and gaining acclaim in different African cities. Earlier in the year, he won the One Africa award and two more at the Metro FM Awards in South Africa.

Princess Temmie

YBNL Princess Temmie Ovwasa begins media tour

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BNL, nation’s newest act, Temmie Ovwasa aka YBNL Princess, has officially started her first media tour since signing with the label. The artiste, who was recently unveiled by the label boss, Olamide, visited Naija FM 102.7 to kick off the tour.

During the interview, she talked about joining the YBNL family, her music, her ambition and more. She also talked about how supportive her parents have been with her music, her personal life, her fears now that she is in the public eye, what her music and brand are all about and also what her relationship with Olamide and the rest of the YBNL crew is like.

Temmie Ovwasa also shared the story of how she got Olamide’s attention and eventually got signed by him. She said she did covers of different songs and posted on her Instagram page. According to her, Olamide found her page and was so impressed with what he listened to that he sent her a direct message. Once contact was established, the rest followed.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Movies & Music

Sunday, May 15, 2016

DavidB returns with new single ‘Titi Lai Lai’

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Chelsea Eze

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anchester-based Nigerian R&B/Soul singer, songwriter and musician, and MOBO Award nominee DavidB is back with his brand new single titled ‘Titi Lai Lai’, produced

by Lagos-based producer and musician Mosa, whose production credits include working with the likes of Waje, Mo’Cheddah and producing Ty Bello’s classic debut album Greenland.

Coming on the back of the success of his last single ‘Iwo Nikan’ which was championed by leading African online publications, and the likes of Cool FM, Silverbird TV, Channels TV, Radio Continental, and Smooth FM, among other tastemakers, ‘Titi Lai Lai’ is yet another amazing offering from DavidB, which excellently highlights his glorious vocal abilities and song writing dexterities.

Speaking about the inspiration for his new single, DavidB says of ‘Titi Lai Lai’, “this record is about expressing love in a vulnerable and transparent way; making a commitment to stay with the people you love – forever. I met Mosa in 2014 and I couldn’t wait to work with him, we hooked up again last year and ‘Titi Lai Lai’ was created”.

DavidB

Wives on Strike goes to Ghana A fter ‘Wives on Strike’ garnered N51m in 17 days of its cinematic debut in Nigeria, with viewers over 50, 000 people across cinema houses in different states of the federation, it continued to make stupendous waves in the cinemas, breaking and surpassing all other records in the Nigerian box office history.

Reports emerged from top cinemas like Filmhouse Cinemas, Surulere; Silverbird Cinema, Ikeja City Mall; Genesis Deluxe Cinema, Lekki and Silverbird Cinema, Abuja that Wives on Strike kept selling, even with the presence of latest Hollywood releases like The Barber’s Shop, The Huntsman and Jungle Book.

Having made such a huge achievement in Nigeria, the movie is set to hit Ghana in all its grandeur.

The movie which stars Omoni Oboli, Uche JomboRodriguez, Ufuoma Mcdermoth, Kehinde Bankole, Julius Agwu, Keneth Okonkwo sold 15 million in three days in its first weekend at the cinema, making it the first ever Nollywood movie to do so in the history of box office records in Nigeria.

Wives on Strike is produced and directed by leading Nollywood figure, Omoni Oboli who in time past had garnered commendations for her two earlier movies, Being Mrs Elliot and The First Lady as executive producer. The two movies made best box office movies of 2014 and 2015 respectively with excellent showings at the cinemas.

However, Wives on Strike has shattered all those earlier success by Omoni’s previous movies. Not only that, the movie is shattering records of other movies and setting a new one.

The movie is a hilarious comedy about a group of market women who decided to take matters into their own hands against their husbands in a bid to stir them into standing up for a young girl whom they wanted to protect from the wishes of her own father.

The women, who hilariously interpret their roles, set a

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The Chief Operating Officer

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ith Nollywood breaking grounds and making dauntless progress amongst other global film bodies due to the relentless efforts of a few, but growing resourceful film-makers in the industry, who have taken film-making task to another gargantuan level, the sky is just the stepping stone as more laudable projects are embarked upon on a top notched competitive level.

One of such is the recent project by Christiana Martin and Tokunbo Ahmed, who recently co-produced ‘Scorned’, another movie that tackles one of the raving social issues that had affected many in Nigeria and even in the Diaspora - rape.

Scorned is the story of a rape victim who took her time to plan her revenge against a rapist who completely forgot about the damage he had done to an innocent young girl.

It showcases the psychological damage she went through and the effects the rape still has on her as an adult; and how silence, out of fear and shame, can either make or break you.

The movie has just concluded its production process and has delved into post-production in anticipation of its cinema release which is not too far away. |Scorned stars talented and fast rising stars in the industry including the likes of Daniel K. Daniel, Christiana Martin, Okey Uzoeshi, Chelsea Eze, Chigul, Funny Bone and a few others who interpreted their roles without amiss.

Court orders Zeez to cough out N22m to HF Music

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Omoni

series of events in motion to give the movie many moments of laughter without missing a beat on the reason for everyone to know why they are on strike.

In a statement by BBB Media, FilmOne, COO, Moses Babatope said, “Wives on Strike has surprised everyone. We expected a decent run at the cinemas, but no one expected this record breaking standard the movie is setting at the box office. The records of the movie have truly amazed everyone. And to say it is beating The Huntsman despite being in the cinema for just three week is so amazing. Omoni is truly Nollywood personality of the year and definitely casting her name in gold’.

Omoni says she is truly grateful for the record: “I am full of gratitude. People have shown me so much love. The record is humbling. I am grateful”.

Nostrovia hosts local hip-hop artistes opular hangout, NOSTROVIA recently celebrated top Nigerian artistes namely Ruggedman; indigenous rapper, Seriki; Klever J; Rayce and Kennis Music’s charming prince, Joe El among other hip-hop singers for their involvement in the growth of the entertainment industry.

Scorned’ premieres with exciting new talents

(COO) of the Wine Bar, Mr. Emeka Williams popularly known as Emwill said, “We at Nostrovia appreciate the importance of music in the hospitality business; that was one of the major reasons we dedicated Friday’s night to celebrate and appreciate our artistes for their tremendous contribution to the growth of the entertainment industry.”

Speaking further, he added “the hangout has invested heavily in latest musical and culinary equipment as well as experienced staff. We are poised to make fun lovers within and around the axis to feel comfortable without travelling far from their locality and another reason we bring aspiring music star closer to our customers,”

Ruggedman

high court in Lagos has asked popular Nigerian artiste, Zeez (formerly known as DJ Zeez) to refund over N22 million to his record label, HF Music, the same label that houses fast rising pop artiste, BigLittle.

The presiding judge, Honourable Justice B. A. Oke-Lawal (Mrs) in the case brought before the High Court of Lagos State, ordered that Zeez, whose real name is Kingsley Elikpo, should refund the sum of N22,378,605.70 (Twenty-two million, three hundred and seventy-eight thousand, six hundred and five naira, seventy kobo) being the total amount spent by HF Music through various advances made to and on his behalf, from the commencement date of his contract with the label till the point he breached it.

This judgment is expected to have serious implications for the Nigerian music industry, as record label owners and investors can now Zeez feel safe investing in artistes, knowing that their investments are protected by law. On the other hand, artistes are now expected to sit up and take their contractual obligations more seriously, knowing that breaching their contract might turn out to be a career ending move.

Both HF Music and Zeez are yet to make any official statement on the issue.

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From the Pulpit

Sunday May 15, 2016

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Operating in the Realm of Financial Fortune by the Word! (3) T The voice of wisdom o

with Dr. David

Oyedepo

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e began this teaching series with the understanding that the law of ‘seed time’ and ‘harvest’ which means giving and receiving is the anchor law of the covenant that launches men into the realm of financial fortune(Genesis 8:22; 2 Corinthians 9:6-8).

Furthermore, we examined tithing and worship offerings as the two main biblical channels of giving, and how Abraham was launched into the realm of financial fortune.

This week, we shall look at another quality of Abraham that guaranteed his access to financial fortune.

• From the scriptures, we understand that Abraham was a liberal soul: Though God blessed Lot as He blessed Abraham, nevertheless, he (Abraham) liberally gave Lot all that he wanted.

Abraham was a liberal soul to the extent that he entertained angels unawares.

No wonder, he was blessed and prospered supernaturally (Genesis 13:5-13, 18:1-5; Proverbs 11:24-25).

It takes liberality to access God’s agenda of prosperity and it is love that facilitates liberality.

That is, giving is a proof of the sincerity of our love.

This is why we need the giving grace to access the realm of financial fortune.

Thus, it is not about what we have, but where our hearts are.

For instance, the Macedonian Church was in poverty, but the giving grace

Let’s go

BIBLE with Favour

Tioluwani Email: letsgobible@gmail.com

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his is going to be like a checklist that you must have with you all the time, if possible putting it into your brain.

It has to do with you starting from the beginning, not at the point of answering the question.

For you to say yes: 1. Ask yourself if you are ready for the PROCESS. That is, the process that leads to your marriage. Myself, am l ready for this? (a) Ready to play around. My friends are doing this, can l do same and not get myself into physical, spiritual and medical problems? (b) Ready to settle down. Can l take being tied down by someone now? (c) Ready for responsibilities. Can l handle the responsibilities coming up before me? Not only me now; but others too whose number I am not even sure of.

2. Have you asked God? Ask God about yourself first; then the person that is asking you out. Have you got the approval

upon them empowered them to be liberal.

The Bible says: How that in a great trial of affliction, the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality (2 Corinthians 8:2; see also Luke 6:38; 2 Corinthians 8:8).

That means there is a giving grace that enables people to walk in financial fortune.

The greater the giving grace on our lives, the greater the coast of financial fortune we access.

However, for our giving to be fruitful, there are conditions to be met. These include: • The fear of the Lord: According to the scriptures, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, which is the commander of wealth.

The Spirit of wisdom speaking in scriptures says: I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.

Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness (Proverbs 8:17-18; see also Psalms 111:10, 112:1-3).

• Integrity: The Bible records that Job was a man who feared God and eschewed evil.

As a result, he became the greatest of all men in the business world, in his days. Without integrity, we cannot walk in financial fortune (Genesis 14:23; Job 1:1, 22:23; Zechariah 5:4).

Furthermore, for our giving to be acceptable, we must give willingly, cheerfully and in love (Acts 20:35; 1 Corinthians 13:3; 2 Corinthians 8:12, 9:6-8).

• He was a tither: When Abraham returned from war, he paid the tithe of the spoil to Melchizedek and

that launched him into the realms of supernatural blessings.

We provoke our access to a world of financial fortune through our consistent tithing (Genesis 14:19-20; 13:2, 24:1; Leviticus 27:30; Hebrews 7:1-8).

• Abraham was addicted to the altar of sacrifice: At God’s command, Abraham was always willing to let go of what he had, including his son whom he waited for, for twenty five years.

It was through the altar of sacrifice that Abraham accessed a sworn blessing from God (Genesis 22:16-17).

The altar of sacrifice is the altar of turnaround and more often than not, it is privately demanded by God for our personal turnaround (2 Samuel 24:2425).

For these reasons, Abraham was supernaturally blessed in all things and he became a symbol of generational blessing.

This is why obedience to God’s commandments today is an investment in posterity.

We are told in the scriptures that Christ died to bring us into the Abrahamic order of blessings by redemption.

As we all know, it is following the steps of giants that makes a giant.

Thus, if we are Abraham’s children, then, we must walk in his steps to command the same order of financial fortune that he commanded (Genesis 24:1; Psalms 112:1-3; Isaiah 51:1-3; John 8:39; Galatians 3:13-14).

In conclusion, it is important to understand that our seed is not a financial donation to ‘help’ God, the church or a ministry.

Rather, it is a spiritual transaction that provokes the release of financial fortune in the ultimate, among others.

However, continuity, consistency and steadfastness in financial stewardship remain a covenant requirement for walking in financial fortune (Psalms 24:1; 1 Corinthians 15:58; Philippians 4:15-19; Hebrews 6:12). I, therefore, pray that as you subscribe to the terms of the covenant, every financial stress in your life will be terminated in Jesus’ name!

Remain ever blessed!

Are you born again? Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your Saviour and Lord? If you haven’t, 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: Understanding Financial Prosperity, Breaking Financial Hardship, Winning The War Against Poverty Hidden Covenant Of Blessing and Covenant Wealth.

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, PMB 21688, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria; or call 01-4548070, 014548280; or E-mail: feedback@lfcww. org

What am I to do before saying yes? from God to do this? Not that God will come down and call your name like Samuel and tell you when or who to marry, No. But as a child of God who already has a realationship with the father, will know when the father is giving the ‘go ahead’ on an issue. However, be very careful of deception. There are many wolves out there who appear in sheep clothing. Knowing full well that majority enjoy listening to the so-called prophecy, cook up so many lies, many that are pleasing to the ears, but destructive of the future. Get to walk with God now and it will be easier and safer to move forward. 2 Cor.6: 14-18. The Divine life within us comes from God, and is entirely dependent upon Him. As you need every moment afresh, air to breathe, as the sun every moment afresh sends down its light, so it is only in direct living communication with God that the soul can be strong. The manna of one day was corrupt when the next day came. You must everyday have fresh grace from heaven, and obtain it only in direct waiting upon God Himself. Begin each day by tarrying before God, and letting Him touch you. Take time to meet God. Let your first act in your devotions be setting yourself still before God. In prayer or worship, everything de-

pends upon faith and adoration, speaking thus within your heart: “God is near. God is love, longing to communicate Himself to me. God the Almighty One who works all in all; is even now waiting to work in me, and make Himself known.” Take time, till you know God is very near.

3. Ask your Parent: For every child of God, you are expected to have both biological parents and also spiritual parents, and all parties must have knowledge of the step you are about to take. Even though all might not be in favour (so many reasons that we cannot go into now), it’s a must that all are aware. Yes, full consent is important, but it’s not compulsory, if it’s contrary to what the Lord is doing. Make sure you carry them along each step you take; however, doing all prayerfully. Most importantly, at that juncture, you must be able to get some vital generational/ancestral informations from your biological parents, mainly because most of these you must work on so as not to have a repeat of such in your own marriage.

4. Have you checked Satan?: Meaning that, have you put him in his place. You must know that anything good coming for a child of God is a good target of destruction for the devil and his agents. You must

have been able to pray yourself through, having full assurance that with God, nothing can go wrong from the devil. James 4:7, “Submit yourselves, therefore, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

Let him know that you are born to fulfil a purpose and that you will do.

5. Are you really sure of him or her: Are you sure this is of God or this is actually coming up because of late age( maybe you are a lady over 35,39,46etc), wealth, money, position, job, pity, travelling.

But open your eyes, get your facts right physically. What is the main motive behind he or she coming around? Is it really out of love? Give yourself time to check up things; don’t just because of the sweetness of the hour jump into the ditch yourself.

The Bible says “watch and pray”. As you pray, put your ears on the ground. You are about to enter into a life long journey, you can’t afford to make any mistake. The Lord will guide, lead, direct and help you. But there is an adage that says, “ Heaven helps those who help themselves.” Be careful!

•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

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Hell is real with Pastor S. A.

Asha Continued from last week

3: Worshipping for Blessings In response to Jesus offering her living waters, the Samaritan woman again states the obvious: Jesus you have nothing to draw water in and the well is deep. By asking Jesus “where can you get this living water?,” she shows she has no idea of the water’s source being offered. One thing she is certain of is that the source cannot be Jacob’s well for it is over 100 feet deep and retrieving water here was not possible with bare hands alone.

In response to her statement, Jesus tells her the water she seeks will leave her thirsty in a short while, but the water He has will be like a spring of water welling up to eternal life. He promises her that she will never be thirsty again!

This brings us to our third pitfall which is our tendency to worship and praise God with the expectation of receiving worldly blessings as payment. The Samaritan woman did not understand what Jesus was offering her. The material water would only satisfy physical thirst temporarily, but the living waters would quench inner thirst forever. She was fixated on her physical well-being while neglecting her soul! In many respects, modern day Christians have similar fixations. Pointing to Deuteronomy 27 and 28 where God outlines curses for disobedience and

Priesthood House with Pastor Bola

Bello

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nd he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week, he shall cause the sacrifice and oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations, he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate (Dan. 9:27).

The most solemn of the sacrifices of believers to God is worship in the full sense of adoration and other spiritual sacrifices. The devotion to Christ, the dedication to the instruction of the Lord, submission and supplication for the expiration of sins, and satisfying appearance in the presence of God are a rare privilege for terrestrial beings. All these spiritual activities shall be brought to an end by the wicked anti-Christ. The gathering together for fellowships, for admonitions and for prophecies shall be halted through the draconian laws and decrees of anti-Christ.

This is what was revealed to Prophet Daniel about the cessation of “sacrifices and oblation”.

The word “oblation” is rendered as offering or the priestly responsibility of believers to entirely submit self as a living sacrifice unto God which is the chore reasonable service of a true believer (Rom 12:1). This shall be the major confrontation between the anti-Christ and the believers of Christ in these last days. The assault and the martyrdom shall be more in equal to the martyrdom of the first apostles and the disciples of Christ where many of them were nailed to the cross. So many believers of Christ, who are not rooted and grounded in Christ, may deny the faith and shift their position while many more will stand bold to confront the tyrant, called the “anti-Christ”.

The wisdom for this dreadful day is preparation.

The intention of Christ is to prepare for himself through Church armies of officers and men who will stand in highest standard to the operation of man of sin. Such men and women must learn hardness, hardships and most importantly, be

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Sunday May 15, 2016

Worshipping in spirit and truth (2) blessings for obedience, Christians often believe that worshipping God will lead to some kind of reward. The problem is that we thirst for rewards that are material in nature.

4 They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong. 5 They are free from common human burdens; they are not plagued by human ills. 6 Therefore, pride is their necklace; they clothe themselves with violence. 7 From their callous hearts comes iniquity; their evil imaginations have no limits. (Psalms 73:4-7) Asaph in Psalms 73 gives an honest account of how we often feel when living in a world where blessings are given to both the righteous and unrighteous (Matthew 5:45). The Psalmist begins by stating that he believes God is good to those who are pure in heart. He then states his feet almost slipped because he envied the blessings that the wicked people of this world had received. They have no struggles, their bodies are healthy and strong. They are care-free and all day long, they amass great wealth. Even though they were pride like a necklace, cloth themselves with violence, have callous hearts and evil imaginations without limits; God still allows worldly blessing to fall on them. Reflecting on perceived injustice, the Psalmist wanted to throw in the towel and sin just like the evil people of this world.

16 When I tried to understand all this, it troubled me deeply 17 till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny. 18 Surely you place them on slippery ground; you cast them down to ruin. 19 How suddenly are they destroyed, completely swept away by terrors! (Psalms 73:16-19) He got up the courage to approach and ask Him why bless the evil of this world? God invited him to focus on eternity rather than on this temporary

world. The evil will be destroyed and swept away by terror, but the good are sealed with the Holy Spirit and will dwell with God forever. We are not to worship God to receive material blessings that are here today and gone tomorrow! Now that we know the pitfalls of worship to avoid, let’s fast forward to the end of the story and see what Jesus says about true praise and worship.

Main Theme: 13 Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life John 4:13–14 Worshipping in spirit, according to Jesus, there are two key components of worshipping God the Father His way: in spirit and in truth. When our vision team looked at this verse, God spoke very strongly to each one of our team.

This verse summarizes what we as a team want to accomplish when it comes to praise and worship: to be the worshippers the Father seeks! Let’s take both of these words and get a better understanding of what Jesus meant. First, go back a step in the story of the Samaritan woman to find out why Jesus made this statement. 16 He told her, “Go, call your husband and come back.” 17 “I have no husband,” she replied. Jesus said to her, “You are right when you say you have no husband. 18 The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.” (John 4:16-18) Jesus offered the Samaritan woman living waters that well up to eternal life in both verses 10 and 14. Both times, she did not understand what Jesus meant and instead kept focusing on her need for physical water. To get her to change her thinking

from physical to spiritual needs, Jesus asked her to go get her husband. The fact that Jesus knew she had had many husbands revealed to the Samaritan woman two important facts. First, Jesus is not just a Jew asking for water, He knows everything about her! And second, Jesus cuts to the real issue that the Samaritan woman was facing: shame from having sinned! She came in the heat of the day because of shame of her sin. She was an outcast from society and came to draw water at the well when no one was present. Jesus offered her forgiveness and inclusion into the family of God which was what she needed the most!

Like the woman at the well, we as Christians do not worship God to receive blessings, but worship Him because we have already received spiritual blessings beyond our imaginations (Ephesians 3:20). To be forgiven, to have our shame erased, to be included in the family of God; are treasures beyond anything this world has to offer! In Psalms 73, Asaph concludes that his true reward for keeping his ways pure is GOD! Our spirit must praise and worship God who is our portion of blessings forever! Within our hearts, we must come to understand that God is light (1 John 1:5), God is love (1 John 4:8, 16) and God is a consuming fire (Hebrews 12:29) that is to burn inside our hearts, guiding and directing us to praise and worship Him with our entire being.19 “Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet. 20 Our ancestors worshipped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.”

Pst Asha Adegboyega Christ Apostolic Church Mount Of Love (Aserorun) Adegboyegaasa@gmail.com

Church as God designed it – The harvest of the last day (17) skilful in knowing the agenda of God at every season. This is the season of preparation. This is the season of equipping, but Church is doing less than enough, but busy with activities of civilians which would disqualify many believers to be enlisted as soldiers in this conflict of the end-time. The clarion call from Paul to Church is; “Awake to righteousness, for some have not the knowledge of God; I speak this to your shame” (I Cor. 15:34).

Anti-Christ is a sitting principality, a warrior who would unleash tyrannical rule to hassle the Saints. No wonder, Apostle Paul warn the believers about this impending peril, when he admonished the saints to “put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil” (Eph 6:11). AntiChrist will manifest himself as the grandmaster of a terror. His influence is from Satan, and he would be desperate to make the last and final attempt to woo man to himself against the Godhead. Anti-Christ is an enforcer of Satan plans.

This is to make rebelliousness of man against God. He is a Satan in human flesh. The principles of incarnation of Christ in the human flesh is going to be duplicated and mimicked by anti-Christ in this last conflict. Satan would physically put on human flesh to fight man and demonize people. There would be a near denial of the faith of Christ. Presently, message of convenience is rife, but with at least, the signet of the name of Christ. Mentioning the name of Jesus Christ would be outlawed during these dark days. The days of Daniel was a shadow, where all must bow for the image of Nebuchadnezzar (Dan. 3:10). Anti-Christ will demand worship from man. Though, there shall be remnants standing after the order of Daniel and his men. However, only the strong believers will survive the scourge. No wonder, the Bible affirms through Daniel; “And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits (Dan. 11:32).

The critical weapon for those who will stand is the knowledge of God and ability to apprehend the end rather than the present. Most believers exert more energy on ephemerals than the eternity. For such, the anti-Christ will corrupt them with flattery. However, like Daniel’s men stood, and confronted Nebuchadnezzar, the strong and the knowledgeable ones will do exceeding exploits and confound the anti-Christ and the earth. Again, the principle of God signet or seal will play off amongst those with audacity of faith to confront the man of sin.

“Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there comes a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sits in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. Even him whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders (2 Thess. 2:3,9). Obviously, anti-Christ shall manifest some degrees of miraculous deeds, signs and wonders to sway the people away from God. Solving major economic problems and bringing the economic booms to the entire earth would drive men to him. His ingenuity, creativity and innovations amongst political class would be second to none. He will be a man of immense resourcefulness. With this shrewdness, men will begin to make covenant with him and show loyalty and allegiance. This will encourage him to proclaim himself as God and great resistance will ensue amongst the Jews and the faithful followers of Jesus Christ. Daniel, the Prophet, talked about “overspreading abomination, he shall make it desolate”(Dan. 9:32). This is abominable deeds, actions and utterances with potential to cause war, and spread it across the entire earth would be the signature of anti-Christ. Basically, this abominable deed is based on religions, and it shall affect all whose belief system shall kick against what the anti-Christ upholds. Religion is the opium

of the earth, no matter the faith. A detestable and idolatrous image would be constructed as object of worship. The image of Satan, the action that will spread and, so is the resistance to it will bring violence and utter destruction. The detestable activities of the anti-Christ would last for three and half years. In the midst of this wanton violence and destruction of the earth, Jesus Christ, the Lord and the coming King will emerge.

“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first” (1 Thess. 4:16). This scripture does not have the same interpretation with the statement of Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:51. The “dead in Christ” represents the saints who uphold the faith to the end, or till the day of their death. The word “sleep” 1 Corinthians 15:51; represents the state of spiritual death to the reality of the message of the kingdom, and Paul’s emphasis that not all the saints will experience apathy to the gospel of the kingdom, even during the era of anti-Christ. The descending of the Lord from heaven with a shout, and with a voice of archangel is to cause the resurrection of those who died in Christ to rise up for the battle against the Satan and his cohorts. Not less than 40,000,000,000 people would be mustered for that battle. “And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand; and I heard the number of them (Rev. 9:16). Basically, the figure is to reward the faithful saints, those who are martyred for Christ and those who uphold the gospel to the end. This battle is popularly known as the battle of Armageddon. We shall continue next week.

Please fellowship with us at Power and Glory Tabernacle, Futa South Gate Road, Beside Solab Hotel. You will be glad you did.

•Pastor Bola Bello – The Priesthood House, bolabelo@gmail.com 08033704564

36

From the Pulpit

Sunday May 15, 2016

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

It’s not your money

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kem Owoh composed a scammer anthem as part of the soundtrack for the movie ‘The Master,’ in which he starred. The movie, much like the song, is about duping white people out of their money. He sang: “419 e no be thief, it’s just a game. Everybody dey play am if anybody fall mugu, ha! my brother I go chop am. . . Oyinbo man: I go chop your dollar! I go take your money and disappear! 419 is just a game, you are the loser I am the winner.”

Interestingly, Nkem was arrested in Amsterdam some years ago. The police told him: “We go chop your freedom!” He was later released.

While people are trying to be careful, so they don’t fall as “mugu” to persons with such determination: “I go chop your dollar,” surprisingly, P-square came out with a hitsingle titled: “Chop my money!” They sang: “Chop my money . . . Cos I don’t Care . . . I no fear cos I get am Plenty . . . e no dey empty . . . plenty dollars in my name, plenty Naira in my name!” Woo! Well, here is my own remix: “It’s not my money. It’s not my money. It’s not my money. Jesus cares. It’s not my money; it’s not my money; it’s not my money. Jesus cares. Jesus cares. Jesus cares. I no fear. He’s got it plenty!”

I hope you buy my future record!

The Bible is adamant on the teaching that nothing you have is yours! “The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof: the world and those who dwell therein” (Psa 24:1). Paul agrees: “Who makes you differ from another?

Chapel of Holiness and Testimony with Pastor K. I.

Bona

Deliverance from the powers of marine spirit

I

hope to conclude this long teaching with steps of how to receive deliverance from the powers of marine spirits. Receiving absolute deliverance is the answer to achieving freedom from the cage of marine powers.

Our God is a God of deliverance; he has assured us of his readiness to deliver us when we approach him with a desperate heart. It is very unfortunate that many Christians end up with what I call inconclusive deliverance which is why their attacks from the marine kingdom resumes after subsiding for a while.

Such people when their attacks resume, it is worse than what it was before because the marine demons would have gathered stronger tormenting demons to torment their victims. I therefore advise, if you need total and complete deliverance from the powers of marine witchcraft, you must follow the following steps diligently and decisively. Only then would you have a desired result. As I have already said, our God is a God of deliverance, he promised us in Psalm 91:3 “Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.”

The word “Surely” which the Bible uses, de-

What do you have that you did not receive?

Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?” (1 Cor 4:7). Nothing is yours! Jesus gave a parable of a rich fool in Luke 12:15-21 whose field yielded plentifully and gave himself the credit. In verses 1-19, he uses the words “I” and “my” 11 times. “But God said to him, ‘fool! This night, your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’” (v. 20).

Nothing you have actually belongs to you! We are all stewards. “Let a man regard us in this manner, as servants of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. In this case, moreover, it is required of stewards that one be found trustworthy” (1 Cor 4:1-2).

A steward is one who manages things for another. Christian Stewardship emphasizes our management of resources for our Lord.

When we acknowledge Him as Lord and individually as Lord of our lives, we enter the realm of true Christian Stewardship.

Let me quickly call your attention to five areas for being a faithful Christian steward. They are the areas of our Treasure, Talent, Temple, Testimony, and Time: It’s not your treasure! It’s not your money! Your finances, earnings, inheritances, salaries, allowances ALL belong to God. It’s not your money! Return tithe (10%) and give generous offering. “Wherein have you robbed me? In tithes and offerings. Bring ye all tithes and offering into the storehouse” (Mal 3:8-10).

If not, you are a thief! Barawo! Ony’oshi! Ole! 419! Thieves will not enter heaven (1 Cor 6:10).

Give generously, eagerly, and joyfully. “So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Cor 9:7). It’s not your money!

The talents and spiritual gifts you have are not yours either! God gave each one

of us varieties of spiritual gifts (1 Cor 12:1-4, 30-31; Rom 12:6). There is nobody God created with zero talent. Everyone has, at least one.

Use it. Invest it for God’s glory (Matt 25:14-30).

Those who hide their talent or use it for the devil shall burn in hell fire. “And cast the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (v.

30). That would not be you in Jesus’ name!

Amen. It’s not your talent. “Whatsoever I thankfully receive as a token of God’s love to me, I part with contentedly as a token of my love to Him” (Theophilus Gale).

Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. “Do you not know that you are a temple of God, and {that} the Spirit of God dwells in you?” (1 Cor 3:16; 6:19). You cannot wear or eat or drink or smoke or listen to just anything, tattoo your body, or open your legs for just anyone! “You are bought with a price, therefore, glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Cor 6:20). It cost Jesus His life for people to become saved.

It’s not your body, it’s God’s temple.

We must bear the testimony of Jesus’s gospel everywhere and share it in season and out of season (2 Tim 4:2). “And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even to death” (Rev 12:11). Our walk with God gives us a testimony. We are to be good stewards of this testimony. It is the story of God’s love in your life.

His story becomes your story. It’s not your story, it is his story!

God wants our precious time, not our spare time. God expects us to use the time He gives us wisely. Consider your past time, your present time, and your future time sagaciously. Human life is measured by time.

Watch how you spend your lifetime. God is the creator and owner of time. He has measured out personalized undisclosed expiry

and exit dates for each creature.

The controller of time divided life into seasons. For everything there is a season (Eccl 3:1). Out of the seven-day week, God demands that all His creation must observe a day of rest from their daily labour. “Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. Six days shall you labour and do all your work. The seventh-day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall not do anything” (Exod 20:8-11). The Sabbath is unquestionably SATURDAY. Have you noticed what the devil is doing? SATAN has sandwiched the Saturday Sabbath between Friday and Sunday!

“If you turn your foot from the Sabbath, from doing your pleasure on my holy day; and call the Sabbath a delight. The holy day of the Lord, honourable and shall honour Him, not doing your own ways, nor finding your own pleasure, nor speaking your own words; then, you shall delight yourself in the Lord; and I will cause you to ride on the high hills of the earth and feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father. The mouth of the Lord has spoken.” (Isa 58:13-14). REmember: it’s not your day, it’s the lord’s day!!!

Winston Churchill opined: “You make a living by what you get; you make a life by what you give.” We are stewards, not owners of all that we have. Never allow the pace of your life to take priority over the most important things God wants us to focus on. You must be a faithful steward in the areas of our Treasure, Talent, Temple, Testimony, and Time. These are the 5 “T’s” that will lead you to eternal life!

Tunde Ojewole, PhD, is the Babcock University Pastor-in-Charge: Division of Spiritual Life. Get your copy of the newly released book: GOD’S FOOTPRINTS. For enquiries, contact:ojewolea@babcock.edu.ngor call/ SMS 08058299434/08060376577.

Marine spirits (10) notes the infallibility of the word of God and his promises. When God says surely I will deliver thee, it means the unchangeability of God personality in fulfilling what he has promised. The second person pronoun “he” refers to God himself. The snare of the fowler means the trap of the enemy. The fowlers stand for the enemy. God revealed his name as Jehovah to Moses, meaning the God of war. The God of war is a great deliverer. From the creation of the world, we have seen God at different times ministering deliverance to individuals and to nations. Even in the New Testament, when Jesus came, he announced to the world his sixfold ministry which was all about deliverance. Luke 4:16-19 “And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up for to read. And there was delivered unto him the Book of the Prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, the Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty, them that are bruised; to preach the acceptable year of the Lord.”

Jesus went to the town where he was brought up, he entered the synagogue and the Book of Prophet Isaiah was handed over to him to read. He opened to the place where Prophet Isaiah prophesized of his ministry on earth. He read it to the people, announcing to them his mandate from God to humanity. Let

us critically examine the Lord’s mandate on earth, to know if those mandates where deliverance-oriented.

The mandate of our lord Jesus to humanity on earth or his sixfold ministry 1) The spirit of the lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor: preaching of the gospel to the poor is deliverance-oriented because from preaching the gospel, souls bound in hell because of sins are delivered and are baptized with salvation.

2) He hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted. This is also deliverance inspired, because by healing those who are brokenhearted as a result of infirmities and other life challenges, their souls are delivered from devil’s torment and destruction.

3) To preach deliverance to the captive.

This is active deliverance for those held captive by the devil, and many others who are suffering under demonic affliction and chains.

4) And recovering of sight to the blind, this is deliverance through healing 5) To set at liberty, them that are bruised. This is another deliverance through healing.

6) To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

Analytically, the sixfold ministry of our Lord Jesus is all about deliverance which led us to the conclusion that our God is a God of deliverance. In the Old Testament, there were numerous instances of God conducting either nationwide deliverance, personal deliverance, or even family deliverance. There is no form

of bondage which God cannot deliver, neither is there any form of oppression which he cannot set free for them who run to him for help.

Our problem is that sometimes we cherish our chains, instead of rejecting it and hating it with perfect hatred.

Testimonies – American Visa received after many attempts Brethren, my name is brother liberty. I give this testimony on behalf of our sister, Vera.

She said for so many years, she has been making attempts to get a US visa, but all her efforts were frustrated. In one of our Sunday worship service, the word of knowledge came from the man of God, saying “somebody has been making attempts to get a visa, but you are frustrated, the Lord says, go again and you shall be granted”. She made a fresh move and went to the man of God; he prayed for her and told her that she should go, the Lord has answered her prayers. She went. Not only was she given visa, her children were also given visa. She flew out of the country, just last Friday. Brethren, shall we rise and praise the Lord with her.

Bro. Liberty for Sis. Vera Address: Pastor Kingson I. Bona, General Overseer, Chapel of Holiness and Testimonies Ministries, No. 6, David Egbetuyi Street, Fagbile Estate, Ijegun, Ikotun, Lagos.

Tel:08023404926,08075598531,08038 206508 website:wwwchapelholiness.org facebook: pstbona@chapelholiness.org

36

From the Pulpit

Sunday May 15, 2016

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

It’s not your money

N

“

kem Owoh composed a scammer anthem as part of the soundtrack for the movie ‘The Master,’ in which he starred. The movie, much like the song, is about duping white people out of their money. He sang: “419 e no be thief, it’s just a game. Everybody dey play am if anybody fall mugu, ha! my brother I go chop am. . . Oyinbo man: I go chop your dollar! I go take your money and disappear! 419 is just a game, you are the loser I am the winner.”

Interestingly, Nkem was arrested in Amsterdam some years ago. The police told him: “We go chop your freedom!” He was later released.

While people are trying to be careful, so they don’t fall as “mugu” to persons with such determination: “I go chop your dollar,” surprisingly, P-square came out with a hitsingle titled: “Chop my money!” They sang: “Chop my money . . . Cos I don’t Care . . . I no fear cos I get am Plenty . . . e no dey empty . . . plenty dollars in my name, plenty Naira in my name!” Woo! Well, here is my own remix: “It’s not my money. It’s not my money. It’s not my money. Jesus cares. It’s not my money; it’s not my money; it’s not my money. Jesus cares. Jesus cares. Jesus cares. I no fear. He’s got it plenty!”

I hope you buy my future record!

The Bible is adamant on the teaching that nothing you have is yours! “The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof: the world and those who dwell therein” (Psa 24:1). Paul agrees: “Who makes you differ from another?

Chapel of Holiness and Testimony with Pastor K. I.

Bona

Deliverance from the powers of marine spirit I hope to conclude this long teaching with steps of how to receive deliverance from the powers of marine spirits. Receiving absolute deliverance is the answer of freedom from the cage of the marine powers. Our God is a God of deliverance, he has assured us of his readiness to deliver us when we approach him with a desperate heart. It is very unfortunate that many Christians ends up with what I call inconclusive deliverance which is why their attacks from the marine kingdom resumes after subsiding for a while. Such people when their attacks resumes, it is worse than what it was before, because the marine demons would have gathered stronger tormenting demons to torment their victims. I therefore advise, if you need total and complete deliverance from the powers of marine witchcraft you must follow the following steps diligently and decisively. Only then would you have a desired result. As I had already said, our God is a God of deliverance, he promised us in Psalm 91:3 “Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.”

The word “Surely” which Bible used, denotes the infallibility of the word of God and his promises. When God says surely I will deliver thee, it means the unchangeability of God personality in fulfilling what he has promised. The second person pronoun “he” refers to God himself. The snare of the fowler means the trap of the enemy.

What do you have that you did not receive?

Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?” (1 Cor 4:7). Nothing is yours! Jesus gave a parable of a rich fool in Luke 12:15-21 whose field yielded plentifully and gave himself the credit. In verses 1-19, he uses the words “I” and “my” 11 times. “But God said to him, ‘fool! This night, your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’” (v. 20).

Nothing you have actually belongs to you! We are all stewards. “Let a man regard us in this manner, as servants of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. In this case, moreover, it is required of stewards that one be found trustworthy” (1 Cor 4:1-2).

A steward is one who manages things for another. Christian Stewardship emphasizes our management of resources for our Lord.

When we acknowledge Him as Lord and individually as Lord of our lives, we enter the realm of true Christian Stewardship.

Let me quickly call your attention to five areas for being a faithful Christian steward. They are the areas of our Treasure, Talent, Temple, Testimony, and Time: It’s not your treasure! It’s not your money! Your finances, earnings, inheritances, salaries, allowances ALL belong to God. It’s not your money! Return tithe (10%) and give generous offering. “Wherein have you robbed me? In tithes and offerings. Bring ye all tithes and offering into the storehouse” (Mal 3:8-10).

If not, you are a thief! Barawo! Ony’oshi! Ole! 419! Thieves will not enter heaven (1 Cor 6:10).

Give generously, eagerly, and joyfully. “So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Cor 9:7). It’s not your money!

The talents and spiritual gifts you have are not yours either! God gave each one

of us varieties of spiritual gifts (1 Cor 12:1-4, 30-31; Rom 12:6). There is nobody God created with zero talent. Everyone has, at least one.

Use it. Invest it for God’s glory (Matt 25:14-30).

Those who hide their talent or use it for the devil shall burn in hell fire. “And cast the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (v.

30). That would not be you in Jesus’ name!

Amen. It’s not your talent. “Whatsoever I thankfully receive as a token of God’s love to me, I part with contentedly as a token of my love to Him” (Theophilus Gale).

Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. “Do you not know that you are a temple of God, and {that} the Spirit of God dwells in you?” (1 Cor 3:16; 6:19). You cannot wear or eat or drink or smoke or listen to just anything, tattoo your body, or open your legs for just anyone! “You are bought with a price, therefore, glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Cor 6:20). It cost Jesus His life for people to become saved.

It’s not your body, it’s God’s temple.

We must bear the testimony of Jesus’s gospel everywhere and share it in season and out of season (2 Tim 4:2). “And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even to death” (Rev 12:11). Our walk with God gives us a testimony. We are to be good stewards of this testimony. It is the story of God’s love in your life.

His story becomes your story. It’s not your story, it is his story!

God wants our precious time, not our spare time. God expects us to use the time He gives us wisely. Consider your past time, your present time, and your future time sagaciously. Human life is measured by time.

Watch how you spend your lifetime. God is the creator and owner of time. He has measured out personalized undisclosed expiry

and exit dates for each creature.

The controller of time divided life into seasons. For everything there is a season (Eccl 3:1). Out of the seven-day week, God demands that all His creation must observe a day of rest from their daily labour. “Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. Six days shall you labour and do all your work. The seventh-day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall not do anything” (Exod 20:8-11). The Sabbath is unquestionably SATURDAY. Have you noticed what the devil is doing? SATAN has sandwiched the Saturday Sabbath between Friday and Sunday!

“If you turn your foot from the Sabbath, from doing your pleasure on my holy day; and call the Sabbath a delight. The holy day of the Lord, honourable and shall honour Him, not doing your own ways, nor finding your own pleasure, nor speaking your own words; then, you shall delight yourself in the Lord; and I will cause you to ride on the high hills of the earth and feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father. The mouth of the Lord has spoken.” (Isa 58:13-14). REmember: it’s not your day, it’s the lord’s day!!!

Winston Churchill opined: “You make a living by what you get; you make a life by what you give.” We are stewards, not owners of all that we have. Never allow the pace of your life to take priority over the most important things God wants us to focus on. You must be a faithful steward in the areas of our Treasure, Talent, Temple, Testimony, and Time. These are the 5 “T’s” that will lead you to eternal life!

Tunde Ojewole, PhD, is the Babcock University Pastor-in-Charge: Division of Spiritual Life. Get your copy of the newly released book: GOD’S FOOTPRINTS. For enquiries, contact:ojewolea@babcock.edu.ngor call/ SMS 08058299434/08060376577.

Marine spirits (10) The fowlers stands for the enemy. God revealed his name as Jehovah to Moses meaning the God of war. The God of war is a great deliverer.

From the creation of the world we have seen God at different times ministering deliverance to individuals and to nations. Even in the New Testament, when Jesus came, he announced to the world his six fold ministries which were all deliverance. Luke 4:16-19 “And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up for to read. And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, the Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord.”

Jesus, went to the town where he was brought up, he entered the synagogue and the book of prophet Isaiah was handed over to him to read. He opened to the place where prophet Isaiah prophesized of his ministry on earth. He read it to the people, announcing to them his mandate from God to humanity. Let us critically examine the Lords mandate on earth, to know if those mandates where deliverance oriented.

The mandate of our lord Jesus to humanity on earth or his six fold ministries 1) The spirit of the lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor: preaching of the gospel to the poor is deliverance oriented, because from preaching the gospel souls bound in hell because of

sins are delivered and are baptized with salvation 2) He hath sent me to heal the broken hearted. This is also deliverance inspired, because by healing those who are broken hearted as a result of infirmities and other life challenges, their souls are delivered from devils torment and destruction 3) To preach deliverance to the captive.

This is active deliverance for those held captives by the devil, and many other who are suffering under demonic affliction and chains.

4) And recovering of sight to the blind, this is deliverance through healing 5) To set at liberty them that are bruised. This is another deliverance through healing.

6) To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

Analytically, the six fold ministries of our Lord Jesus are all deliverance ministries.

Which gave us the conclusion, that our God is a God of deliverance. In the Old Testament, there were numerous instances of God conducting either nationwide deliverance, personal deliverance, or even family deliverance. There is no form of bondage which God cannot deliver, neither is there any form of oppression which he cannot set free for them who run to him for help. Our problem is that sometimes we cherish our chains instead of rejecting it and hating it with perfect hatred.

Reasons why God have not delivered many from their bondages 1) Many have chosen to complain to people around them instead of reporting their matters to God through prayers 2) Many are seeking help from wrong places, there by aggravating their situations.

3) Many are seeking for the man of God who has greater anointing instead of seeking the face of God and his mercies.

4) Many have become church prostitutes, they run from one altar to another seeking solution of their problems, they do not care whether such altars has the presence of God or not. Majority of them have in this manner entered into greater problem than the one they had before, thereby bringing more loads upon themselves.

Testimonies – american visa received after many attempts Brethren, my name is brother liberty I give this testimony on behalf of our sister, Sister Vera. She said, for so many years she has been making attempt to get U.S. visa, but all her efforts were frustrated. In one of our Sunday worship service, the word of knowledge came from the man of God, saying somebody, you have been making attempt to get visa, but you are frustrated, the Lord said, go again and you shall be granted. She made a fresh move and went to the man of God, he prayed for her and told her that she should go, the Lord has answered her prayers, she went not only was she given visa, but she was given with her children. She flew out of the country just last Friday. Brethren, shall we rise and praise the Lord with her.

Bro. Liberty for Sis. Vera Address: Pastor Kingson I. Bona, General Overseer Chapel of Holiness and Testimonies Ministries, No. 6, David Egbetuyi Street, Fagbile Estate, Ijegun, Ikotun, Lagos.

Tel:08023404926,08075598531,08038 206508 website:wwwchapelholiness.org facebook: pstbona@chapelholiness.org

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Politics

May 15, 2016

37

2018: Osun ’s emerging political forces BOLADALE BAMIGBOLA OSOGBO

T

hey are all in their 40s and they are the totems of impending political “war ” in Osun. On their shoulders lie what is seen, even from afar, as the epic battle for who succeeds Osun State Governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, come August, 2018.

These men cut across the two main political parties in Osun - the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, and the main opposition, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Some of them are also found in Accord Party, AP, and Labour Party, LP. Osun being a “baby ” state politically, at least when placed side by side with its more matured neighbours such as Ondo and Oyo from which it was carved out in 1991, at the moment has only three former governors and about 30 former national assembly members and ministers.

The fact that past political leaders that are still politicking are not many, somewhat robs the game of politics in the state of intrigues and high tension manipulations synonymous with the acts.

However, since the entry of the incumbent governor into Osun affairs in 2005, the intensity of the game in the state that prides itself as ‘State of the Virtuous ’ has been upped. Also, the upward trend in the rate of interactions between the office seekers and the electorate since Aregbesola became governor has further opened Osun ’s political space to more innovations.

While Aregbesola will rightly be awarded the crown of “lighting up ” the state ’s political vista, the rampaging army of fresh breed political players in Osun, who from all indications, look all set to properly affirm their presence, are also on the mission to dwarf the exploits of the older generation that is gradually fading out of circulation. The selling point of these men, the majority of who are accomplished professionals in their chosen careers, has been their near saintly political curriculum vitae. This is partly due to the fact that many of them have not held political posts before, or for their exemplary achievements in the cameo leadership roles providence thrust upon their laps in the past.

Senator Babajide Omoworare (APC) For political watchers outside Osun, Senator Christopher Babajide Omoworare is already a major force in the state ’s political circles, with his back to back victory in Senatorial elections of 2011 and 2015. But for those with deep knowledge of political trends in the state, Omoworare, the senator representing Osun East is only recently firmly establishing himself, after waiting on the wings of Gov. Aregbsola for years.

He lost his reelection bid in all the four local government areas within his hometown of Ile Ife in 2015, but he eventually scaled the hurdle with landslide victories in four local government areas in Aregbesola ’s stronghold in Ijesaland.

But since returning to the Senate for another term, Omoworare has been more

Basiru

Adag gunod do

THE SELLING POINT OF THESE MEN, THE MAJORITY OF WHO ARE ACCOMPLISHED PROFESSIONALS IN

THEIR CHOSEN CAREERS, HAS BEEN THEIR NEAR SAINTLY POLITICAL CURRICULUM VITAE.

deeply involved in activities within his senatorial district. He is no doubt building an army of followers among youths ostensibly in preparation for a bigger political post in 2018.

Barrister Kayode Oduoye (PDP) He is the eldest son of the former Administrator of Niger State, AIG Simone Oduoye, who later represented Osun Central in the Senate between 2007 and 2011. A lawyer, Superkay as many of his admirers fondly call him, made a debut in Osun political scene in 2015, when he contested the seat of Ifelodun/Boripe/ Odo Otin Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives on the platform of PDP. Though he lost the contest, since then Oduoye has not looked back and he is gradually emerging a new cult hero with massive following among youths across all political parties in the state. Clearly, he is one politician from the PDP stock with the highest risen political stock since the last general election.

His efforts at deodorising Osun ’s political space and rebranding his party have not gone unnoticed. Oduoye ’s abilities to connect with youths across all the major parties and his open-door approach to politics stand him out and he appears being primed for the ultimate job in 2018.

Dr. Suraj Ajibola Basiru (APC) He is the immediate past Osun Commissioner for Special Duties and looks

set for a return into the yet-to-be formed state cabinet. He is a personal lawyer to the son of the governor, Kabiru Aregbesola, and is believed to be part of the kitchen cabinet of the Aregbesola government.

Basiru hails from Osogbo, the state capital and the town with the largest number of voters going by the number of votes turned in from the two local government areas in the town during the last gubernatorial poll. Though he has not officially declared intention to attempt replacing his boss and friend, Governor Aregbesola in 2018, in hush tones, his town people have never hidden their desire to produce a successor to the incumbent.

Besides being a brilliant attorney, Basiru somehow appeals to the sentiment of the youthful population of APC members in the state and as a way of building on this, he has been engaging them through various means.

Hon. Soji Adagunodo (PDP) He is the newly elected chairman of the main opposition party in the state and had served as a member of the state House of Assembly between 2003 and 2007.

Soj, as he is fondly called, against all odds, warded off opposition to his ambition to emerge the leader of PDP seeking to return to power in 2018 and with the feat, the Ijesa indigene from Ilowa Ijesa, has emerged one of the new idols in

Osun politics.

Since his time as a state legislator, Adagunodo has managed to forge a personality with strong appeal to the youth.

He also makes himself available whenever needed by them and with his new assignment, he is surely one of those that will make the 2018 guber race thick in the state.

Segun Fanibe (Accord Party) The relatively unknown Fanibe is the newest bride in the political arena of the state owing to his topnotch performance in the last rerun election for Ife Central State Constituency.

He had initially nursed the ambition of running for the chairmanship post of Ife Central whenever local government election is held, but changed his strategy and contested the rerun poll for the state assembly.

Fanibe was the leading aspirant on the platform of PDP, but lost the ticket at primaries to Dipo Eluwole. Within one month, he defected to Accord Party and was close to nicking it at the poll.

Despite losing to the PDP candidate, Fanibe, a businessman with large following among youths in Ile Ife, is enjoying a rising political profile with his performance, which saw the APC candidate at the poll trailing him by one thousand votes.

Hon. Abidemi Gbenga Ogunkanmi (APC) He is one smart politician with a large acceptance among the vast youthful populace in Osun West Senatorial District of the state.

Ogunkanmi, who a few weeks ago left office as executive secretary, Ayedire local government area of the state after four years in the saddle, is no doubt carefully building political empires using his politics of inclusiveness and comradeship. He is really becoming a force to be reckoned with, especially in his senatorial district which is gearing up to succeeding Aregbesola in 2018.

38

Politics

May 15, 2016

Buhari didn ’t do home work properly before coming to power –Adebanjo Chief Ayo Adebanjo, elder statesman, is a leader of the Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere. In this interview with Robert Awokuse, he assesses the President Muhammadu Buhari-led All Progressives Congress, APC, government as the administration approaches one year in office, among other national issues. Excerpts: In less than three weeks President Muhammadu Buhari will be one year in office. What is your assessment of the president so far?

Buhari to me in the last one year has not been impressive. But he has done very well in anti-corruption crusade.

But the only reservation I have about that is that he is doing it with disregard for the rule of law which I don ’t like, for instance, the ruling on Dasuki and some others. He can still get what he wants without disregard for the law.

That is the minus I give him there.

For all the things he promised that he was going to do, I score him 95 per cent for anti-corruption. But for other promises which they made, I score him not below average but total failure.

For instance, take the question of the economy in one year, starting from the budget, how can a party and a man who has been struggling to rule for the past 16 years do not have a programme he would implement when he gets to office.

Now in office, he ’s starting campaign slogans again; all he said he was going to do which he gave to unseat Jonathan now the time has come to perform and we have not seen anything. All the excuses they are giving – the situation is very bad, the past administration has squandered the reserves and so on, is not done; that is not what we expect.

When Obama came into office in America everyone knew the mess George Bush left but he didn ’t dwell on that nor did he use that as excuses, but rather he swung into action; got them corrected and got the things done. Peoinple say a bad worker complains of in struments.

You see, I accused the APC that they have no clue to our problems. And two, that their coming together as members of the party, are birds of a feather. They have not agreed on what they are going to do in government from the beginning, all they agreed to do was to send Jonathan away.

After the departure of Jonathan, what programme are they going to execute and how are they going to do it? That is the scene we are in at the moment. They have told us that Jonathan is bad; his government is full of corruption. Alright, now that you are there in one year you can ’t even pass your budget which is critical to the economy.

Adeban njo

WHAT WE WANT IS THE CONTENT OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS TO BE IMPLEMENTED. I CHALLENGE ANYONE OF THEM TO POINT OUT IF WHAT WAS RECOMMENDED AT THAT CONFERENCE

NIGERIA, IF THAT IS NOT SO WHY DIDN ’T THEY IMPLEMENT IT?

IS NOT IN THE INTEREST OF

The stock exchange is badly unstable and many other things negatively affected. The morning shows the day.

Here is your first budget that you have spelt out your programme for the four years and you have been doing it by trial by error. Some people decided to put this, remove that. How can you say the budget is padded by civil servants?

You give directives to the civil servants and they are there to implement what you asked them to and see if they will not carry out your order if you are efficient yourself and if your ministers are efficient too.

But the National Assembly according to the executive has been the major challenge to the passage of this budget?

We are talking of Buhari-led APC government; he is the head and APC constitutes the majority at the national assembly. You see, I don ’t want to be talking of Buhari because I didn ’t support him from the beginning for obvio u s reasons. I have only held him high for his incorruptibility, for his spartan life.

No bad record, but he has always held the view that he is not a progressive.

I said by he birth is a con-

servative, by training he is a dictator.

Talking about democratic principles that were disclosed when he wanted to contest election, he does not have them.

He only said he is a converted democrat but how far has he shown it? I have refused to comment about his government because there is nothing happening now. Before he came into office I said I would want him to disappoint me by performing and do those things that I said he could not do. See what is happening now. I talked about the question of constitutional conference recommendations. I said he would not be able to do it because his people are the beneficiaries of the awkwardness of the constitution, which we had amended at the confab, which would take us to true federalism. And I said that the injustice we are talking about will continue.

Look at the bailout that was given to the governors, it favours the North because it is going to be done on the basis of revenue allocation which we say is unfair. The military, when they are in government, they created more local governments in the North than the South and they use that to distribute money and you want people in the South to say kudos? These are the things we are talking about. We want to stay together. I am not of the opinion that everyone should be on his own, no. There is a system by which people of diverse ethnicities, religion and culture live together in harmony and that is the true federal system, but which we are not practising. That is why we say we are only calling ourselves Federal Republic of Nigeria but it is a fraudulent document; we are neither federal.

We are not the people that made the constitution; it was Abacha that

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made it. The very one we made was the 2014 national conference, which is yet to be approved for implementation.

Some of his supporters in the confab at the National Assembly said some of the recommendations were not good, there is no law establishing it. So we said if you believe it is not good but technically it ’s right, then you remove what is not good there and leave the right ones. The Yorubas say ‘a woman sees a snake and kills it, a man sees a snake and kills it, what we want is that we want the snake to be killed ’. So if you say there is no law to establish the recommendations at the confab, then you lawmakers should make a law to perfect it. What we want is the content of the recommendations to be implemented. I challenge anyone of them to point out if what was recommended at that conference is not in the interest of Nigeria, if that is not so why didn ’t they implement it? So all the problems we are having now have been solved even the problem of corruption, because corruption, in essence is because there is too much money in the federal government; the confab reduced the amount of money accruable to the Federal Government and gave it to the states. The confab constitutionalised the way we shall be becoming president; how it would be rotated; when it is the North, the South and we rationalised local governments in each region; no region has more local government than the other. And revenue should be given to the states and the states are equal in each region. So there is equality. There is devolution of power. Look at the present agriculture they are talking about, where is Federal Government ’s land? There have been bombing, now they ’re talking of ranches all over the country …that the government is going to create ranches for the herdsmen. Where would the government get land to create ranches for the herdsmen? There is the Land Use Decree. Even if the Federal Government wants the lands to be used they have to get them from the states.

Your creation of land for ranches is contrary to the Land Use Decree. How can you take somebody ’s property to feed someone else ’s business? For the Fulani herdsman ’s business to flourish Fu you have to compel somebody to give up yo his land, where is the fairness there? hi Buhari doesn ’t appear as if he has got Bu a kitchen cabinet at all. If he has, all these problems will not be there. th Look at the question of fuel subsidy, something that has been there for long. so So when you thinking of coming to power, you must have been planning on po what you want to do or he is not thinkwh ing of that. The only thing they were in clamouring for was change and where cla is the change now? There is a slogan now making the rounds, maybe he no doesn ’t know, which is you have not got do the capital let alone change. Even if he th has not achieved anything in one year, ha of course I don ’t expect him to achieve much in one year, but where is the prom gramme? In health, education, works, gr nothing has since been done; no roadno map for the change that can be used to m measure you. For instance, for the first m year this is what we have achieved, for the second year this is what we will do. We are talking about fall in standard of education, how do you intend to rectify it? The question of universities closing down because of non-payment of salaries, what are you doing about it? These are the things that are dragging back the CONTINUED ON PAGE 39

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Politics

May 15, 2016

39

‘Buhari didn ’t do homework properly before coming to power ’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 38 quality of the universities now.

What I am expecting is that Buhari should have done his home work properly before coming to power. I don ’t see it strange because before the Action Group came into office in 1952, as a living witness, a year before they came into office they had their manifestoes that if the people of Western Region voted for them this is what we are going to do. That is when they brought free education. The government was voted in based on their manifestoes. It was not after they were voted in that they started the programme for all these.

They only asked the ministers to go into action, they already had the roadmap.

That is why all the projects and legacies acclaimed to Chief Awolowo in the old Western Region were just within seven years.

I will advise this government that for the first year this will be our programme then at the end of that year you can now judge them. For this government what can they say they have achieved in the last one year as to what is on the ground; when even they are unable to pass the budget. That is the guideline to progress. Anybody, investors coming will want to see the programme of the government, the economic programme which will be reflected in the budget. They have been on it for the past three months. Just last Sunday the vice-president said the budget will be ready within a week but nothing happened. So what do you want to say of their achievement in one year, which to me is non-performance. They are only harping on fighting corruption. Yes, fighting corruption is good, I support it but not at the expense of the rule of law.

Recently the South-West PDP accused the APC of destroying its accomplishments and legacies which it built for 16 years. But the APC in its defence said their action was justified because the PDP ’s legacies were worth destroying as they were characterised by corruption and bad governance. What is your view on this?

In the first place why I supported Jonathan was because he promised to implement the recommendations of the confab. I said then that between the APC and the PDP they are two evils and only chose the lesser one in PDP because the PDP gave a little hope to implement what I believe will change for the better our country. All that the APC said about the PDP I am not in defence. Of course some of the supporters of APC said why Jonathan didn ’t implement the recommendations before he left and I said well I won ’t argue that if that is the case. At the election I have two options – one says if you vote for me I will implement, the other says I have nothing to do with it. People forget what issues are critical. I discuss politics of issues not sentiments. At that time they were not looking at the message I was sending in. Oh he is a supporter of Jonathan, no. Why I am supporting Jonathan is because of the content of 2014 confab.

But unfortunately many did not know the importance of the contents of the confab. But lately many are beginning to see and push for the implementation of the conference recommendations,

Ade ebanjo

AS I SAID WHAT I AM PROUD OF IN BUHARI IS HIS PERSONAL INCORRUPTIBILITY OF CHARACTER AND

I APPLAUDED HIM WHEN HE SAID HE WAS GOING TO FIGHT CORRUPTION TO A HALT, BUT THEN I SAID CAN HE DO IT WITH THE PEOPLE AROUND

HIM?

PEOPLE SAY SHOW ME YOUR FRIEND AND I WILL TELL YOU WHO YOU ARE.

because all these problems confronting us as a nation have been solved there.

But you see the corruption problem had overwhelmed people at that time. They just want Jonathan to go. Then I asked them now Jonathan has gone what good has it translated to? Even the monies they have recovered have still not been felt, we are still experiencing all these hard times. No accountability, we only heard so much has been recovered, what effect has it got on the masses.

Has it lessen the struggle for fuel? Not even starting a refinery to give us some level of hope, which project have they started? Worse of all even the budget that will give us hope of better things to come as to what they will do has just been passed. So where are we?

Many have criticised the president ’s frequent foreign trips but the APC insists it is in the interest of the country. What is your take on this?

I will say that is his style of governance but it has not brought anything concrete yet. Even the trip to China is still a proposition for agreement. You see when you assess his achievement in a year, you ask: how many secondary schools has he improved in a year.

Is it 10? He promised to improve hospitals, he has improved 10, he promised to build roads, he has also done 10, these are what we call achievements. Everything is promises and just as the PDP said they still live on propaganda, and

if not propaganda they should say with all sense of conviction, this is what we have done. That is the only way to answer their critics.

I had said earlier that Buhari must be careful about these herdsmen and before the election everyone was accusing me about my position on dissuading Nigerians voting APC. So the greatest mistake Nigeria made was to vote APC. That is why I want to talk less about its achievements. I want to be challenged on the fact that Buhari can ’t perform.

As for his non-performance I am not surprised because I don ’t see credibility as to their composition. As I said what I am proud of in Buhari is his personal incorruptibility of character and I applauded him when he said he was going to fight corruption to a halt, but then I said can he do it with the people around him? People say show me your friend and I will tell you who you are.

How many members of his cabinet can you say are free, are clean, how many have clean hands; if the EFCC is given free hand to probe their administration, would they not be exposed?

This shows that even the fight against corruption is not balanced. It is obvious. But they will say it must start from somewhere. Even if it is going to start from somewhere, why don ’t you take two from PDP and two from APC to show that it is balanced. So there is no excuse. And the international community is beginning to doubt.

But looking at the trial of Bukola Saraki, don ’t you think he is also coming from the side of APC. Or is it politically motivated?

Yes, it is politically motivated and it is still part of the incompatibility of the composition of the party. If the people are really birds of a feather flocking together, who should be the senate president would have been settled before they get to that day. It ’s a party not an opposition. Who will take what, since it ’s a conglomeration of different parties – defunct CPC, ACN and the decampees from the opposition PDP? CPC has taken the president; ACN, vice-president; and the party that later joined, PDP, that is said to be doing badly and who made it possible for the APC to win should be given the senate president. That is the position of those that are supporting Saraki because if not for the PDP converts they couldn ’t have won the election. I am an onlooker; I ’m only giving an unbiased view. I have my view about Saraki ’s antecedents but on this course I believe it is not a fair trial.

I know some others who are enmeshed in this same allegation but why only Saraki? I ’m not saying he is right but is he the only one? Unfortunately, our media are also guilty of corruption.

The media who are supposed to be the watchdog are not living up to their responsibilities – they are supposed to be singing this song out as an independent body; criticising unfair trials and other biases. This man is wrong but is he the only one? That is why within the APC he has supporters. A house divided cannot stand; the party that is going to rule us is not united. So we have a lot of problem but unfortunately PDP itself is not gathered; just as someone wrote that PDP opposition is an absentee opposition.

Due to the poor economic situation in the country, many have criticised the Senate over the newly purchased SUVs, which cost about N3.6 billion. What is your view on this?

It is the flaw on the part of Buhari.

He is the head of the government. If you read the article by Olarenwaju Adebowale on the bailout funds given to states, you will see the way all the governors have been spending the bailout. Why didn ’t the president correct that? Again, all the jets that Jonathan left you are still using them. Why didn ’t he give up some of them? I was expecting him to dispose of some of them. He has not sold any. So where is the change even in Aso Rock?

But the Senate is an independent arm, whose affairs the executive cannot meddle with, so how can the executive influence it?

That is why I said the APC is a party of strange bedfellows. How can the legislature share a different view with the executive on such issue when you are from the same party and they constitute the majority? Why can ’t they decide it at the party level? The people are going to judge them by what they do. All those who are there went on the party platform so they should be able to unanimously agree on something decided at the party level. Buhari is the leader; does it mean he can ’t enforce order?

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May 15, 2016

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Udom Emmanuel ’s visible strides of industrialisation in A ’Ibom JULIUS ONWUMA UYO

F

ondly called Mr. Industrialization, Deacon Udom Emmanuel, the governor of Akwa Ibom Statehas left no one in doubt that his promise of turning the state from a civil service state to an industrial and commercial nerve centre is well on course to being realized.

Since his assumption in office, he has committed himself only to the multifarious task of actualizing the lofty ideal of an industrialized Akwa Ibom which he firmly believes is the only answer to poverty elimination, wealth creation, employment generation and sustainable development.

Well aware of the bottlenecks investors grapple with, Udom who is a financial expert, having worked with the prestigious Price Water Coopers and Zenith Bank, swiftly swung into action by putting in place, investment-friendly policies that would make the state more accessible and attractive to investors.

Aside the policies, the banker turned politician has channelled all efforts towards the development of road infrastructure, power, aviation and maritime with the aim of realizing what many describe as a gargantuan dream.

Conscious that power is epileptic and is bound to pose a huge challenge to the industrialization process and overall development of the state, the current government made haste to tackle the problem headlong by first, building transmission lines, linking Ibom power to the national grid at the cost of 22 million USD. This huge investment was further complemented with the approval of the state ’s proposal by the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to increase its electricity production from 190 Mega Watts to 685 Mega Watts.

On assumption of office, he immediately keyed in to the vision of a vibrant maritime sector that would galvanize economic and infrastructure revolution by setting up a 10-man technical committee to actualize the Ibom Deep Seaport project.

During the inauguration of the Barr (Mrs) Mfon Usoro-led 10-man technical committee, Deacon Emmanuel Udom stressed that Ibom Deep Seaport holds the key to the industrial revolution of the state and the tapping of the huge untapped potential abound in the maritime sector.

Strongly supported by the Federal Government, the seaport has been designed to conciliate offshore and gas development, and it has given way for a tripartite joint venture with companies in Scotland, Brazil and South Korea. The seaport will also accommodate a Liquefied Natural Gas plant that will process the voluminous associated gas production in the eastern Niger Delta for export.

Expected to come on stream in 2018, the project it is envisaged, will create over 100, 000 direct jobs and will increase the inflow of Foreign Direct Investments through freight services. Likewise, it is bound to give room for large-scale exports and imports as the seaport is naturally endowed with a depth of over 30 feet, most convenient like the Tin Can Port in Lagos to berth any kind of panama ship.

Mindful of the important role aviation plays in the maritime sector and the

Emm manuell

THE AKWA IBOM STATE GOVERNMENT IS ALSO PARTNERING WITH ROMANIAN COMPANY, BLUE MARINE ASSETS HOLDING LIMITED TO ESTABLISH A $10 MILLION LOW ENERGY DEVICE (LED) FACTORY AT IKOT EBOM, ITAM IN ITU LGA. burgeoning influx of people and goods into Akwa Ibom, popularly referred to as ‘God ’s own state ’, the current administration hasdeemed it necessary to construct a second runway that will not just accommodate more flight, but suitable for cargo planes.

Being constructed and due to be commissioned in 2017, the second runaway is being complemented with the construction of a taxi way within the premises of Ibom International Airport.

Criticized at some point for embarking on fruitless trips tantamount to waste of scarce resources amid economic recession, the foreign trips of the proud indigene of Onna overseas have finally begun to pay off, as investors have filtered into the state in droves.

While some have their industries being constructed in various local governments and will soon roll out their goods and services, many have expressed their interest to invest and are tying up loose ends to be part of the industrial revolution.

Well on course, with its industry at almost completion level and designated for commissioning this year, Metering Solutions Manufacturing Services Limited (MSMSL), located at Awa-Imam in Onna LGA is the offspring of a threesome partnership of Chinese, Pakistani and Indian investors.

It is to produce single phase and threphase electricity meters in various configurations and mountings, light weight,

slim skeletal, compact meters for pole top installation, pre-payment type meters, split type electricity meters, standard one unit electricity meters, bulk electricity meters, maximum demand meters and smart electricity meters.

Located at Ikot Ukap, Itam in Itu LGA is Merkavim Transportation Technologies Automobile Manufacturing plant.

A private partnership of the Akwa Ibom State Government and Israeli automobile company, MIMSHAC Merkavim Technologies; the company, when fully operational later this year, will assemble luxury buses, utility vehicles, ambulances and fire trucks.

The Akwa Ibom State government is also partnering with Romanian company, Blue Marine Assets Holding Limited to establish a $10 million Low Energy Device (LED) factory at Ikot Ebom, Itam in Itu LGA. With a projection of about one thousand direct and ten thousand indirect jobs, the LED factory which is billed for commissioning in 2017, will produce solar panels, lamps and other low energy devices.

Taking cognizance of its huge social and economic potentialities, particularly on the state ’s GDP index, the current government is leaving no stone unturned in ensuring that the indigenous driven petrochemical plant being built by Quantum Petrochemical Limited comes to fruition on schedule.

Although a major milestone of the Ak-

pabio era, the $1.5 billion plant was made possible because of the symbiotic relationship between the Chairman of Quantum Petrochemicals Limited, Mr. Jim Ovia, erstwhile Chief Executive Officer of Zenith Bank and Deacon Udom Emmanuel who was an Executive Director in the same bank before taking charge as the Secretary to the State Government in 2013.

Sited in Ibeno LGA of Akwa Ibom, the petrochemical plant when it eventually takes off in 2017 will create 100,000 employment opportunities for both skilled and unskilled youths of the state.

The industrial drive of the current government is also being felt in the agricultural sector as various interventions have been taken to reinvigorate the economic potential of the sector.

These interventions are already yielding fruits as the government has entered into a Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement with Greenwell Technologies, USA which is constructing a fertilizer plant in Abak LGA, due for completion towards the end of 2016.

Also expected to come on stream is a coconut refinery, located at Mkpat Enin LGA. The refinery which is expected to produce palm kernel and coconut oil is the offspring of a partnership between the state government and South African Company, H.J. Oil Food Consulting Limited.

Concerned about the perennial challenge of distribution and the revenue boosting propensity of petroleum, the Udom Emmanuel-led administration is seemingly committed to consolidating its position as the number one oil producer in the country with the status of an oil refining state.

Currently working round the clock to ensure that Rev Oil Petroleum, Resource Petroleum Limited and Amakpe Refinery Limited are all completed as planned, so that they will not only shore up government internally generated revenue, but also generate 172, 000 direct and indirect jobs collectively.

Aside the joint ventures entered by the government with some investment companies, the administration of Deacon Udom Emmanuel has taken up the lonesome challenge of resuscitating and repositioning some state-owned dilapidated corporations.

Notable among these corporations is Peacock Paints Limited situated at Etinan LGA. The paint manufacturing factory which was established by the governor of old Cross River State, Dr. Clement Isong in 1980, soon became redundant following its huge debts stemming from a N30 million loan from financial institutions.

But this is no longer the case as the banker turned politician has not only offset its debts, but has also spent N526 million to revive the industry and make it productive for good.

With a current capacity of three million litres of paints per year, the government has put all machineries in motion towards repositioning the company, a global giant in the paint industry as it is primed to produce 500 to 600 million litres a year.

Fully revitalized is Plasto Crown at Aka Nung Udoe Road, Ibeskipo LGA, which is scheduled to take off this year.

Also scheduled for rehabilitation is Quality Ceramics Limited at Itu LGA which is presently being courted by three investors that have expressed overwhelming interest to invest in the company.

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May 15, 2016

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Anambra embarks on driving school standardisation RAYMOND NNORUKA AWKA

T

he Anambra State Government in collaboration with the Federal Road safety Commission have embarked on standardisation of driving schools in the state to further entrench the culture of safety amongst the motoring public.

Disclosing this to Sunday Mirror at the commission ’s headquarters in Awka , Anambra sector commander Mr.Sunday Ajayi said that the essence of certifying driving schools is to tackle trafficrelated problems from the source. He explained that when people are properly trained before they are licensed to drive, they will

have value for life as well as imbibe the culture of safety while driving.

Ajayi further disclosed that government inaugurated a committee on driving school standardisation; saddled with the responsibility of identifying driving schools in the state as well as monitor them to ensure that they comply with government standards and

requirements in operating driving schools . He said also that the committee recommends driving schools that met the requisite standards for certification.

In another development , the FRSC boss in the state said the commission commemorated the West African Roadsafety Organisation Day which he noted

is the regional approach to solving roadsafety problems within the West African sub-region that came into being in 2008 . According to him , the organisation is an off-shoot of the United Nations programme of decade of action on reduction of road traffic crashes on the highways .

Ajayi who stated that the theme of the 2016 edition is “if we dont kill overspeeding, overspeeding will kill us ... ‘ noted that the theme

is timely considering the types of deaths on the roads in recent times stressing that over-speeding accounts for more than 60% of road mishaps . He however pointed out that the commission is strenghtening its advocacy , public enlightenment programmes as well as training of drivers in order to bring people to the level of living a life of safety devoid of road and traffic violation in Anambra state .

Infrastructure development: Nasarawa cuts worker ’s salaries by 35% asarawa state government yesterday announced the cut down in salaries of workers on its payroll by 35 percent to enable government carry out infrastructural development in the state.

Recently, Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura while signing the 2016 appropriation bill into law cut down the salaries of political appointees in the state, including him, to augment the state ’s lean revenue towards developing infrastructures in the state.

In a telephone conversation with Sunday Mirror, the state Head of Service, Joseph Isa Ancho, confirmed that the cut was the position of the state

government as political appointees in the state have equally sacrificed some percentages of their salaries to complement government ’s drive for development.

Ancho said the cut in salary was done by government for the overall interest of the state considering the economic quagmire being experienced nationwide hence the state government has to evolve a means at containing the unfortunate scenario.

But in a swift reaction, the chairman of the Nasarawa state chapter of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Abdullahi Adeka, said the decision taken by the state government was a mere flash in the pan as organized labour will resist such attempt.

in the five pillar policy thrust of the administration ” She disclosed that other sectoral allocations for the 2016 budget include Education, N12.4bn; Health, N5.8bn; Water Supply and Energy, N2.8bn; Agriculture and Rural Development, N3.3bn; Lands and Urban Developement, N5.3 bn; Tourism, Culture and Hospitality, N1.1bn. Others according to her were N3.7bn for Women, Youth and Sports Development; N1.2 bn for Commerce and Industries; N1.4bn

for Envirnment and Mineral Development among others The commissioner said that presently, the state is experiencing financial difficulties but however insisted that the budget is achievable because of the structures and planning that have been put in place.

According to her, government is working hard on the harmonisation of taxes,fines,fees and other levies between the state and local Government and between the various MDAs to enhance its revenue.

IGBAWASE UKUMBA LAFIA

N Deputy Corps Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps(FRSC), Edo State Sector Command, Mr Obisike Uchendu (second right) and other officers enlightening motorists on the dangers of overspeeding during the Annual West Africa Road Safety Organisation Day in Benin recently.

Ambode orders immediate repairs of bad portions on Oshodi-Apapa Expressway FRANCIS SUBERU

L

agos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Friday expressed dissatisfaction at the deplorable state of some sections of OshodiApapa Expressway, saying the road was too strategic to the economy of the State and therefore cannot be ignored.

Governor Ambode, who made an unscheduled inspection tour of the road while returning from the grand opening of a 70, 000 capacity Motorbikes Assembly Plant in Mile 2, directed the State ’s Ministry of Works and Infrastructure and other relevant government agencies to immediately move to site and fix the bad portions of the road.

A visibly worried Governor Ambode had stopped

his convoy and came down from his vehicles to inspect the bad portions of the road alongside top government officials who accompanied him.

The Governor specifically inspected the bad portions of the road between Berlett and Ilasa, and Cele Bus stop inward Oshodi.

Governor Ambode not only directed the officials of the Ministry of Works to immediately move to site, but also ordered that an immediate palliative measure must be put in place to alleviate the sufferings of motorists who have been complaining about the deplorable state of the road through various means.

While addressing some of the crowd that trooped out to welcome him, Governor Ambode said the bad state of the road was of serious concern to him, and that an immediate solution was coming soon.

He said: “The state of this road is just not acceptable. We are going to do something about this place immediately. The OshodiApapa Expressway is too strategic to be left like this.

“I have directed officials

of the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure and other relevant agencies to move to site immediately and see what they can do and also create palliatives in the interim to alleviate the plight of motorists.

2016 budget: Works,administration top priority in Plateau JAMES ABRAHAM JOS

P

lateau state Commissioner for Finance Mrs Tamwakat Gofwen Weli at the weekend said the state government has set aside over N45 billion for Works and Transport sub-sector and Administration during the 2016 fiscal year.

The two sub sectors got the highest allocations from over N146 billion passed by the state House of Assembly and

recently signed into law by Governor Simon Lalong for the 2016 fiscal year The commissioner who briefed journalists on the budget breakdown at the state secretariat in Jos said: “Emphasis will be on the completion of ongoing road projects and the initiation of very critical ones.The present administration is determined to make the working environment very conducive to enhance productivity particularly in the private and public sectors as contained

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Rome Masters: Murray beats Pouille to reach final

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Ikorodu Utd duo eye Rangers’ scalp

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PAGE 44

Ojo

J

Another star, Sheyi Ojo is born

urgen Klopp arrived at Anfield back in October, the question many were asking was if his coming will in any way augur well for the Nigerians in Liverpool, the same way people were asking if Kelechi Iheanacho has a role in Pep Guardiola City, when he takes over in the summer.

Before now at Anfield, the young Jordon Ibe was the beneficiary of Braden Rogers. The lively winger caught the eye under former manager bew ffore opting to represent England.

However, while Klopp’s arrival has brought a rrevival to Anfield, Ibe has been left in the lurch while another young Nigerians, Sheyi Ojo particiw pates. p The 18-year-old has been a major beneficiary of Liverpool’s run to the Europa League final.

L Since getting an assist in his first start against Stoke on the 10th of April, Ojo has taken to the S Liverpool first team with consummate ease at a L ttime when the limitations of Ibe’s one-paced ineffficiency have begun to stand out.

Ojo possesses similar speed like Ibe’s, but is much better at retaining the ball. His dribbling is m rrarely ever simply for effect, even in his eye-catchiing moments he is a very goal-oriented player, often using his strength. He actually trained with o tthe first team at at age 14, where he learns to surge powerfully towards goal. p Already, Arsenal and England legend Ian Wright has extolled his ‘beautiful left-foot’ as he W sstarred in Liverpool’s victory over Bournemouth back in mid-April. b “He’s got this calm demeanour about him,” Wright said, highlighting another key area in W which Ojo has stolen the shine from his Nigerian w tteammate. His close control and vision underpin his playmaking abilities. h He has copped three Premier League assists alrready this season, and that in just four starts.

Already, reports indicate that a move is being made for Ojo by the Nigeria Football Federation. m If he does pitch his tent with Nigeria, he can have the Olympic Games to look forward to in the h ssummer, and will be at the forefront of a new wave of exciting talent coming through. o With the likes of Alex Iwobi, Kelechi Iheanacho and Ojo from the Premier League alone, the c ffuture looks ever brighter for the Super Eagles.

Ojo started his career when he joined the academy of MK Dons when he was 10 years old. By the age of 13 Ojo had played for the Dons’ U18 side and was training with the first team squad. During his time at the club Ojo became the first MK Dons trainee to receive an international cap at youth level.

Having made a number of appearances on Liverpool’s bench over the festive period, Ojo joined Wigan Athletic on loan on February 2, 2015. Five days later, he made his professional debut coming on as a 59th minute substitute for Wigan in a Championship match against AFC Bournemouth, with Wigan naming Ojo as their manof-the-match after he had a positive impact on the game.

On August 2 o f the same year, Ojo scored the winning goal for Liverpool in a friendly against Swindon Town. Two days later, Liverpool announced that Ojo had signed a new long-term contract with the club and confirmed that he would join Wolverhampton Wanderers on a season-long loan. He made his Wolves debut on the opening day of the 2015–16 Championship season as a substitute, coming on in the 84th minute and picking up a yellow card as his side went on to beat Blackburn Rovers. Three days later he made his first start for Wolves in a 2–1 League Cup win over Newport County, assisting Nouha Dicko for Wolves’ opening goal.

He was recalled by Liverpool in January 2016.

The next day, Ojo made his first-team competitive debut for Liverpool, as a substitute in the FA Cup third round match against Exeter City that ended in a 2–2 draw. He scored his first competitive goal for Liverpool in the replay against Exeter on January 20, his goal was the second in a 3–0 victory.

Ojo made his Premier League debut on 20th March 2016, replacing Joe Allen in the 87th minute in a 3-2 loss away to Southampton at St Mary’s Stadium. He made his first start for Liverpool in the Premier League against Stoke City at Anfield on the 10th of April 2016, where he assisted Daniel Sturridge for Liverpool’s second goal in a 4-1 win, before being replaced by Divock Origi.

Ojo being born in England is eligible to represent England and through his Nigerian heritage is also eligible to play for Nigeria on International football.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sport

Sunday, May 15, 2016

43

Hamilton L takes pole in Spanish Grand Prix

Murray

ewis Hamilton secured a sensational pole position at the Spanish Grand Prix, beating Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg into second place.

Max Verstappen was fourth, 0.407 seconds behind Daniel Ricciardo having looked set to beat his team-mate.

It was nevertheless a highly impressive debut for the 18-year-old after his transfer to the Red Bull senior team.

Ferrari disappointed as Kimi Raikkonen finished fifth, more than a second slower than the Mercedes.

The Finn’s team-mate Sebastian Vettel was sixth, 0.2secs adrift of his team-mate.

It was Hamilton who stole the headlines, finding stunning pace in qualifying when he had appeared to be struggling all weekend.

The Briton had been unable to match Rosberg in the tricky final sector of slow corners throughout the practice sessions and in the first part of qualifying.

Kante

City, Arsenal chase Leicester’s Kante

Van Gaal Gaal:: Title expectations were unrealistic A Van Gaal

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anchester City have moved ahead of Arsenal in the race to sign N’Golo Kante from Leicester after holding two rounds of talks with the midfielder’s representatives.

Kante, who signed for Leicester from Caen last summer, is the subject of major interest from a number of clubs after helping Leicester win the Premier League title, but it appears the Foxes are fighting a losing battle to retain the services of one of their most important players.

According to the Express, incoming City boss Pep Guardiola is keen on the France international but a deal is far from done as Kante could opt for a switch to Arsenal instead of a move to the Etihad.

Claudio Ranieri continues to urge his new-born stars and Premier League Champions to stay at Leicester next season if for no other reason than to play Champions League football at the King Power Stadium, but Kante is increasingly looking like the name that may be hardest to keep.

Sahin S Sahi ah hin

Moyes open to Everton return

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Moyes

avid Moyes says he would be interested in returning to Everton if the club offered him “an exciting challenge”.

Roberto Martinez’s sacking means Everton go into the summer in search for a new manager to work alongside billionaire investor Farhad Moshiri.

Moyes, who managed Everton for 11 years before joining Manchester United in 2013, is still looking for an opportunity to return to football six months after leaving Real Sociedad.

He told The Times: “Would I consider going back?

I’ve said if I get an exciting challenge and something that makes me feel I could get my teeth into it then I would be really interested.

“When we took over we had 11 great and successful years but we also had to rebuild the club a little bit. I just think now the change has been made and Everton need to now go and do it again.

lready an unpopular figure among sections of Manchester United’s supporter base, manager Louis van Gaal risked further wrath by claiming it was unrealistic for the club to be Premier League champions this season.

As the 2016-17 campaign reaches its conclusion on Sunday, United are fifth in the standings and a remarkable 17 points adrift of unlikely champions Leicester City.

United’s faint Champions League hopes rest squarely on fourth-placed Manchester City, who must lose to Swansea City if Van Gaal and Co. are to book their spot in the qualification round.

But Van Gaal - facing an uncertain future amid constant speculation linking Jose Mourinho to Old Trafford - insisted it was always unlikely that United would win the league.

“We can win the FA Cup. How many are still in the race?

How many? Of course, when we don’t qualify ourselves for the top fourthen we don’t reach our aim,” said Van Gaal.

“That is true, because our aim was to qualify, but we are in the final of the FA Cup and we are in the race [for fourth] going into the last match, so mathematically we can qualify still.“How many teams can say that? Not many. Of course you can say Manchester United need to be champions. Yes, I know the expectations are like that, but I don’t think that is realistic.”

Rome Masters: A Murray beats Pouille to reach final

ndy Murray has reached the final of the Rome Masters for the first time after he swept aside Lucas Pouille in straight sets.

The Scot was only troubled by the weather in a rain-interrupted match and sealed a comfortable 6-2 6-1 win over Pouille in under an hour to stay on course for a possible final against Novak Djokovic on Sunday.

Murray had never previously played against Pouille, who qualified as a lucky loser and then benefitted from Juan Monaco’s withdrawal in the quarter-finals, but the Frenchman’s good fortune would end there.

After rain had delayed the start, Murray broke for a 3-1 lead with a fizzing forehand, before a further downpour sent the players back to the changing rooms at 4-2.Murray did not want to risk another interruption when the match resumed and quickly broke Pouille again to claim the first set. Pouille was showing glimpses of his talent, in particular with his cleverly disguised drop shot, but was only briefly delaying Murray, who broke again for a 3-1 lead.

44

Sport

Sunday, May 15, 2016

Ujah saves Werder Bremen from relegation

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igeria forward Anthony Ujah provided the assist for Werder Bremen to score a late match winner to escape relegation from the German Bundesliga on Saturday.

Senegalese defender Papiss Djilobodji scored the winning goal two minutes from time thanks to Ujah’s assist for Bremen to beat Eintracht Frankfurt at home on the final day of the season.

Ujah was a 60th minute substitute for Bremen.

Bremen thus finished in 15th place on 38 points from 34 matches, two points clear of Frankfurt, who will now play in the relegation playoffs.

Hannover 96 and Stuttgart were automatically demote

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Knockout with

IFEANYI Eduzor

08055829770 ifeduz24@yahoo.com

Group wants Fury banned from boxing

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Ujah in action for Werder Bremen

Ighalo shocked to see Flores leave

group, Campaign Against Anti-Semitism has called on various World boxing bodies to ban heavyweight champion, Tyson Fury from boxing.

Fury, 27, was filmed making homophobic, sexist and anti-Semitic comments in a video posted on YouTube last week.

The champion also voiced his views on bestiality, paedophilia and women during the 57-minute clip.

“This is not his first offence, he specialises in outrageous offensive and racist slurs,” said CAA spokesman Jonathan Sacerdoti.

“Behaviour like this should prompt his sponsors to withdraw their

backing. Britain does not tolerate or support racism.

“These specific antiSemitic slurs are centuries old, and his use of them today in 2016 shows ignorance and malice.”

Fury caused an upset by outpointing 40-yearold Wladimir Klitschko in Dusseldorf last November, with the rematch for his WBA and WBO heavyweight titles to take place at the Manchester Arena on July 9.

His previous comments on homosexuality, paedophilia and women saw more than 100,000 people sign an online petition in an attempt to get him removed from the BBC’s 2015 Sports Personality of the Year shortlist.

Ighalo in action

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igeria striker Odion Ighalo says he is shocked that Watford manager Quique Sanchez Flores will be leaving the club at the end of the season.

Flores will leave the club after their final match of the season against Sunderland on Sunday. The Spaniard, 51, was appointed in June 2015 following the club’s promotion to the Premier League.

Ighalo scored 18 goals in all competitions thus far this season under the guidance of Flores and he says the news of the manager’s impending departure left him feeling very surprised.

“It’s kind of shocking because for me Quique has done a great job for the club.

“I can remember that before the season commenced, our target was to amass 40 points to remain in the Premier League.

“We achieved that objective and even got to the FA Cup semifinals so I think he has done really well,” Ighalo told SkySports News HQ. Despite a barnstorming first half of the season, results in the second half of the campaign have not exactly mirrored the first.

The Hornets have won just four of their last 20 league games but Ighalo does not think that is enough, not to see Flores stay on.

“When we started the season, the fans were really happy… some were even say-

ing we would qualify for the (Uefa) Europa League.

“Before the season commenced, the expectation levels were not so high.

“We were just fighting to stay in the Premier League but after we started doing well, the expectations began to rise.

“The fans then wanted us to qualify for the Europa League or finish in the top-10 and I think that really messed things up.

“This was because the second half of the season was not really good for the club.

“It was also not good for me as a striker and it really affected the perception of a lot of people,” he said.

Ighalo has scored 15 league goals in 36 league appearances this season.

Ikorodu Utd duo eye Rangers’ scalp

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korodu United duo Kabiru Balogun and Michael Adenodi have said the newcomers will not come back empty-handed from the Coal City clash at leaders Enugu Rangers.

The Oga Boys are guests of the Flying Antelopes in Sunday’s Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) matchday 17 clash at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Enugu.

Balogun said Enugu Rangers will be unkind to themselves to treat them as walkovers on their bottom-placed position on the league table.

“We are not in Enugu for sightseeing, rather to win or worst case earn

for ourselves a draw at Enugu Rangers.

“Rangers are big names in the domestic scene playing in the top flight, same as ours and they will regret their action to treat us as walkovers.

“Though we occupy the bottom position at the moment that does not mean we cannot play good football.

“Lobi Stars and Heartland are big sides in the land and we were able to handle them successfully so Rangers have to watch their back.

“We will respect Enugu Rangers but will not fear them as our position makes us dangerous customers to any

side in the top flight.

“We are truly worried at our poor position at the moment but we have vowed to start picking away points starting from tomorrow’s (Sunday) clash at Enugu Rangers and after three wins we are certain to climb out from the base.

“Our confidence is rooted in the belief that we have come to stay in the top flight as relegation is not for us,” said the Ikorodu United marksman to supersport.com.

Adenodi said his side have vowed to make a break from their 100 per cent poor away record at Enugu Rangers.

Tyson Fury (L) exchanging blows with Wladimir Klitschko during their heavyweight title fight last November I Dusseldorf, Germany.

Povetkin fails drug test

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BC heavyweight world champion Deontay Wilder’s mandatory challenger Alexander Povekin has failed a drug test after the two voluntarily agreed to be tested by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA) in connection with their upcoming May 21, 2016, WBC World heavyweight bout.

VADA Friday, reported to the WBC and the fighters’ camps the results of an anti-doping test Povetkin underwent from a sample collected on April 27, 2016. VADA’s report states that Povetkin’s sample A showed an adverse result for the banned substance Meldonium.

In a statement shortly after receiving the report, WBC maintained that it’s priority is and will always be safety, fair play and jus-

tice and that in order to continue to strive for the absolute safety of the boxers and for a just and fair outcome for all parties involved, the body will conduct an in-depth investigation of the matter.

It stated that it will make a public announcement in the very near future concerning the results of its investigation and any appropriate steps that it will take.

Browne stripped of title, suspended for six months Australian heavyweight Lucas “Big Daddy” Browne, who won a version of the WBA title with a heroic upset stoppage win over Ruslan Chagaev in March, has been stripped of the title and banned for six months after he tested positive for the weight loss aid Clenbuterol shortly after the fight.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Business

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FRESH BUSINESS NEWS AT YOUR FINGERTIPS Sunday May 15, 2016

Trade liberalisation: NASCO Group gets ECOWAS certification JAMES ABRAHAM JOS

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ASCO Group of Companies,makers of various consumer goods based in Plateau state has received the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme, ETLS, approval registration

certificate,making it the first-ever ETLS certificate covering no fewer than eighteen of its products.

The ETLS which first came into existence in 1979 stipulates that for any product to qualify,such a product must pass certain criteria including possession of at least 60 percent

of its total quantity of raw materials originating from within ECOWAS region; input of other materials deployed in production has received a value -addition of at least 30 percent of the ex-factory price of the finished goods and that the product must prove substantially

changed in the tariff heading among others.

ETLS as currently configured confers several types of advantages and benefits to qualified,duly registered and Nigerian entities and their counterparts across the sub-region which include increase in market access,duty

L-R: Marketing Director, Startimes, Mr Dare Kafar; Vice President, Marketing/General Manager, Lagos, Justin Zhang; Startimes Ambassador, Mr Jonathan Akpoborie and Manager, Public Relations, Bolaji Israel, at the announcement of startime’s win of the Copa America 2016 tournament exclusive broadcast rights in Lagos yesterday.

FG warns manufacturers on standards compliance OLUFEMI ADEOSUN ABUJA

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he Federal Government has warned manufacturers and importers of goods and services on the implications of non-compliance to the nation’s industrial standards.

Minister of State, Industry, Trade and Investment, Hajia Aisha Abubakar,made the charge in Abuja during the 2016 African Standadisation Day with the theme: “Women’s empowerment and Development Towards AU Agenda 2063.”

The African Day of Standadisation is a day set

aside to commemorate the establishment of African Regional Organisation for Standadisation(ARSO) and it is aimed at raising the awareness among African regulators, industry, consumers and the entire African citizens on the benefits of Standadisation on Africa’s economy.

She said the present administration would not hesitate to deal decisively with any producer or manufacturer that tries to compromise the nation’s standadisation laws for selfish personal gains.

According to her, some of the measures put in place

to enforce compliance to standards are aimed at improving the quality of goods produced locally and those imported into the country.

She said,”Government will no longer tolerate the deliberate attempts to circumvent the rule of law in return for personal gains at the expense of destruction of lives and property, loss of revenue, shortchanging of consumers and dumping.”

The minister noted that the recent ban on Nigeria export produce by the EU should serve as an eye opener on the importance of standards.

While seeking support

for the Standards Organisation of Nigeria as it strives to enforce standards, she maintained that patronage of certified Made in Nigeria products would no doubt empower Nigerians economically, create jobs and ultimately prevent dumping.

On the significance of standidasation to the nation, Abubakar said,”In working to establish the continental Free Trade Area(CFTA) in Africa by 2017, Standadisation remains the tool to having a hitch free trading opportunity for Nigeria in the African continent as the intra and inter Africa market remains huge to be tapped.

Why power supply isn’t stable, by Benin Disco MD

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ith a drop in the daily allocation to about 129 megawatts of electricity out of the 1,175 national power generation, there is little the Benin Electricity Distribution Plc. (BEDC) could do to ensure stable power supply to its customers in Edo, Delta, Ondo and Ekiti states, the distribution companies

Managing Director, Mrs Funke Osibodu, has said.

She disclosed this during an interactive session with journalists at the Benin headquarters of BEDC yesterday.

According to a statement from the Disco, Mrs Osibodu, attributed the drop in the nation’s national output from the previous 3,000 megawatts to 1,175 megawatts to the vandalism of

power facilities, especially through the puncturing of the gas pipeline in the Niger Delta.

She explained that the Nigeria needed to generate over 8,500 megawatts of electricity to have a relatively stable power supply.

The BEDC boss said for her company to satisfy its consumers, it would need not less than 1,400 megawatts of electricity.

She said that against the backdrop of complaints arising from billing, BEDC has developed a bill calculator that would give a rough estimate of what a customer consumed in a particular household unit within a particular period with a view to addressing the controversy generated by either underestimation or overestimation of customers’ bill.

free and quota free for registered and certified products,expanded promotion of economic integration within the West African sub-region, anticipated increases in profitability margins for participating entities,participation in international trade fairs within the sub-region at Government expense as well as access to loans and grants from the federal government and other multi -lateral agencies among others.

Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of NASCO Group,Mr Attia Nasreddin who briefed journalists in Jos at the week end disclosed that the companies’ products approved and admitted under ETLS were the five cornflakes brands made up of original,va nilla,strawberry,banana and frotyz adding that in the biscuit category, were

the various brands such as short cake,Banana cream,strawber ry c r e a m , l e m o n cream,orange cream and crackers Other products according to him include the Brytex and Bonus detergent as well as Plus Lemon dish wash,plus lily dish wash,Beauty ocean hand wash,beauty Lavendar hand wash and Beauty rose Hand wash.

While thanking Nigerians and others who patronise their products for their continued support,the Chairman stressed that NASCO will continue to enhance and deliver products of the highest quality which aims to satisfy not only its numerous customers but one that will ensure value-chain addition to the over all economy.

Sent from my BlackBerry wireless device from MTN

Ortom charges Nigerians to diversify into other ventures HENRY IYORKASE MAKURDI

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overnor Samuel Ortom of Benue has challenged Nigerians to diversifies into other ventures instead of over depence on oil which is the main stead of the country,s economy where its its prices went sour at international market with a view to de-emphasis to be self reliance in the country .

Governor Ortom,Made the declaration at the weekend in Igumale, Ado Local Government council,of the Benue South West Senatorial district while on inspection tour of ongoing roads Construction as well as the Star Cement Factory in the zone .

He pledge the determination of his administration towards ensuring that work on the projected is completed and eventual commissioning before the year runs out and urge the contractor handling the project to abide by the terms of agreement .

Governor Ortom while addressing the mammoth

crowed stated that if eventually this project is commissioned the plant is capable of producing six hundred thousand tones of metric cement in a day and it would go along way in creating job opportunities to over ten thousands youths in the state .

Beside, the cement they will also use coal to generate energy and consequently the issues of intermittent power failure occasioned by the public supplier will also be a thing of the past .

According to him,this project is among others inherited from the previous administration but owing to the significant of its value to the people and also ensure additional avenue to generate beside the usual source of allocation .

The Same organization in question when we came on board there was litigation instituted by some group of persons but with God on our part we manage to scale over the hurdles and enjoined the people to always support government policies and programmes in order to move forward .

46

South News

Sunday May 15, 2016

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

2..2feared killed as rival cult groups clash in DELSU others injured

…school authorities caution students against involvement

NOSA AKENZUA ASABA

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ear now grips Abraka community and its environs as rival cult groups in Delta State University, DELSU, engage in a bitter conflict.

While the school authorities have advised

students to avoid belonging to cult groups, it was reliably gathered that two students were feared killed last Friday and two others were allegedly injured in the raging war between prohibited cult groups within the community.

Sunday Mirror learnt that the state-owned university through its public relations officer, Mr Eddy Agbure, had alerted the intelligence and security operatives in the state as well as Ethiope East Council to be on the lookout so they could contain the situation of the raging war

between the groups.

A statement made available to our correspondent warned the students to steer clear of the ongoing war and nocturnal groups in their own interest, stressing that any of them caught would be expelled.

The statement read in

Ibadan traders resist eviction from market KEMI OLAITAN IBADAN

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raders at the popular Temidire Plank Market in Ibadan, yesterday resisted an attempt to eject them by the representatives of the Oyo State government.

Sunday Mirror learnt that representatives of the state government which included some officers from the Nigeria Security

and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, were on ground to commence work on the site by putting up a fence to cordon off trespassers from the market when construction work commenced fully.

It was gathered that the traders refused the representatives an entrance, standing firm on what they termed defending their right of ownership of the land.

It was further learnt that in the process, there were bonfire on the street to scare government representatives to gain entrance while workers were not allowed access to work there.

The traders accused the state government of an attempt to take possession of the land, despite the fact that there was an existing court injunction to maintain the status quo, pending

the determination of the case at the state High Court.

Similarly, the Chairman of the Plank Sellers Association in the market, Elder Samson Adesokan Alabi, said those that came from the government were restricted from gaining entrance into the market because they came with water tanker and other materials to erect fence and deny traders access to the market.

part: “For the avoidance of doubt, students are particularly warned to stay away from the ongoing fight between Myphite and Black Axe. A word is enough for the wise.”

Police image maker in the state, Mrs Celestina Kalu, said the police were

working hard to bring to book perpetrators of the groups, adding that two persons were currently helping the police in their investigation.

My Husband is a secret cult member, Fetish; House Wife seeks divorcein Delta

Fulani herdsmen’s attacks aimed at destabilising Buhari’s govt -Community leader RAYMOND NNORUKA AWKA

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community leader in Agukwu-Nri, Anaocha local council of Anambra State, Prophet Ramas Asuzu, has said the attacks by Fulani herdsmen on communities are efforts by unpatriotic citizens to destabilise the administration of President Mohammadu Buhari.

Asuzu, who made the remark in an interview with journalists in his country home, Nri, yesterday said their mission was to cause confusion and destabilise the country.

“Some elements are camouflaging in the guise of Fulani herdsmen to cause mayhem for the government of the day.

“We don’t know the Fulani herdsmen as people who carry guns.

“I believe that these elements are strongly working mischievously to cause another civil war in the country when those who fought the previous war have not recovered from their losses,” Asuzu said.

He therefore called on security agencies in the country to investigate the attackers and bring them to book.

Asuzu, who is also an Ambassador of Peace, United Nations Positive Livelihood Award Centre (UN-POLAC), urged citizens not to take laws into their hands but volunteer information to security agencies.

“As an epitome of peace, I will not encourage people to fight back because the security agencies are well equipped to manage the situation.

Group faults hike in fuel price L-R: Great Place To Work (GPTW) Master Trainer, Olumide Ajomade; Legal, Public Affairs and Communications Director, Nigerian Bottling Company Ltd, Sade Morgan; Human Resources Director, Nigerian Bottling Company Ltd, Grace Omo-Lamai and Managing Director, Nigerian Bottling Company Ltd, Ben Langat, during the Great Place To Work Awards Night held in Lagos recently.

Herdsmen’s attack: Anambra unions blast northern governors RAYMOND NNORUKA AWKA

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ational body of Anambra State Association of Town Unions (ASATU) has condemned the attack in farmlands in South-East by Fulani herdsmen, puarticularly in Ukpabi Nimbo community, Enugu State.

In a press statement by ASATU National President and Secretary respectively, Dr J.A.P. Okolo and Mr Peter Nwagu, yesterday in Awka, ASATU decried the defence of President Muhammadu Buhari by northern governors over the bloody attack.

It further condemned the South-East Governors’

Forum for inaction over the attack.

The statement read in part: “The Anambra State Association of Town Unions (ASATU) hereby condemns in the strongest possible terms the recent attacks by the so-called cattle herdsmen at Nimbo community of Enugu State and some other parts of South-East, resulting in the deaths of scores of innocent men, women and children.

“ASATU hereby calls on the security agencies to fish out those responsible for this murderous act with a view to bringing them to face the wrath of the law.

We also commiserate with

families of those who lost their loved ones in these senseless killings.

“ASATU hereby commends the efforts of Governor Willie Obiano, the Governor of Anambra State for being proactive in forestalling such attacks and, especially in regard to the setting up of a cattle menace control committee much earlier to handle issues bordering on conflicts between herdsmen and farmers.

The group also advised the cattle owners from the North to resort to the old system of grazing in the North where there are vast areas of land from which they can now transport the cattle for on-the-spot sale or

build ranches in the SouthEast.

“By this, the menace of destroying farmlands in the South-East in the name of grazing which normally leads to conflict will be eliminated.

“ASATU is of the view that highly placed people such as governors of the North should have known how best to address such a very sensitive and highly explosive issue.”

The group holds the view that there is need for southern governors to issue strongly worded communiqué condemning the unwholesome invasion which is capable of triggering a civil strife in the country.

....Blames Nigerian leaders for Cameron’s comment OARHE DICKSON BENIN

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non-governmental organisation, Yes for Equity, Justice and Peace Initiative (YEJPI) yesterday condemned the recent increase in the price of petroleum products as an act to further impoverish Nigerians.

YEJPI in a statement issued in Benin and signed by it national president and founder, Prophet Emmanuel Ojo Akhigbe-Agge, said the unilateral decision was unfair, unjust and totally against the present state of Nigeria’s economy.

Ojo bemoaned the action against the backdrop of low purchasing power of the country’s many poor citizens.

He said if there were clear cut relief measures to cushion the adverse effect this would have on the general public it would have been tak-

en mildly.

The statement also accused Nigerian leaders which it claimed through their action sold out the country to foreign nations.

Reacting to a video footage which had British Prime Minister, Mr. David Cameron, labelling Nigeria as a “fantastically corrupt country” YEJPI accused western nations of introducing corruption into our oil, gas and mining sectors through sharp practices.

By aiding corruption, Ojo reiterated that foreign nations in the first place encouraged stolen funds to be brought into their land and after trading with it, they deny Nigerian governments plea for such fund to be returned, even at the expense of losing the proceeds of the interest accrued from trading with it.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

North

May 15, 2016

Notorious robber beaten to death, another in coma PRISCILLA DENNIS MINNA.

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n angry mob have allegedly beaten a notorious armed robber identified as Ali Ali to death at Shango, a suburb of Minna, the Niger State capital, just as another got fatally wounded by people suspected to have been frustrated by the activities of men of the underworld.

The deceased, aged 30 years, was found on Thursday morning tied to an electric pole close to the Shango Primary School

by Muslim residents who came out for early morning prayer at 5:30 am and immediately alerted the police.

Checks by our correspondent revealed that Ali had been terrorizing the community for a while and out of anger, the perpetrators of the act took the law into their hands that day and beat him to death when he came to steal alongside another member of his gang now on the run.

It was also learnt that Ali, aside from breaking

into peoples ’ home, was in the habit of raping young girls in the area.

Gambo Musa, a resident of the area said, “We saw Ali Ali ’s body tied to the pole early in the morning when we came to pray at 5:30am. We can now sleep peacefully with our eyes, at least, closed. This Ali Ali has been a problem to us for some time now; now we can rest from his activities and his gang. ” In a related development, a middle-aged man, alleged to be an armed robber and whose identity was yet to be ascertained was on Friday found in front of a Mosque at the Tunga, also in Minna, the Niger State capital.

He was discovered in a pool of blood at 6:00 am, almost bleeding to death, but for the intervention of the police that came to his rescue.

The sight of the man lying almost lifeless with his clothes soaked in blood sent jitters down the spine of residents of the area and passers-by, who reported

the case to the Police who subsequently took him away.

Eyewitnesses claimed to have seen the man gasping when residents of the area came out to say their early morning prayer at 5:30am, saying the man was not there until after they had finished their prayers and trying to return to their various houses, closing the door of the Mosque behind them.

According to Mohammed, “We were afraid because we don ’t want him to die in front of our Mosque or in our area.When we got to the police post, not a single police personnel was around. We ran to the Tudun Wada Police Station, and they came and carried him away. The man was not there when we came out to pray at 5:30, he got there after we left. That should be after 6am. ” When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Elkana who confirmed the two incidents said Ali, a hardened armed robber was suspected to have been killed by some angry

residents of the area, who took the law into their hands and currently were at large.

“The Police discovered those that masterminded the killing of the notorious armed robber during a house-to-house investigation. As I am talking to you, we have been able to ascertain who the ring leader is. It is a case of culpable homicide and the Police is presently after them.

Even though, it is a case of armed robbery, nobody is allowed to take the law into his or her hand; it should have been left for the law enforcement agency. ” On the incident that occurred at the Tunga Market in front of the Mosque, the PPRO said the case was currently being investigated to unravel the mystery that surrounded the situation and ascertain the true identity of the victim.

He explained that information on the issue reached the Police in the morning and the man was rushed to the Minna General Hospital where he was receiving medical attention.

Dankwambo wants NYSC members to integrate with host communities WILLIAMS ATTAH GOMBE

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overnor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo of Gombe State has assured members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) deployed to the state of adequate security in their various places of primary assignment.

The governor stated this through his deputy, Honourable Charles Iliya at the end of the 2016 Batch ‘A ’ Orientation Camp held in Amada, Akko Local Government Area of the state.

According to the governor, this therefore, means that the corps members should integrate well with their host communities for the benefit of the people and the corps members themselves.

He called on organizations to stop rejecting the corps members posted to

WALE IBRAHIM

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Gov Atiku warns MPAs against rejecting corps members AYO AJOGE KEBBI

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he Kebbi State Governor, Atiku Abubakar Bagudu has warned ministries, parastatals and agencies in the state against rejection of corps members posted to them saying his government will no longer tolerate such a development.

Bagudu who gave this warning as a special

guest of honour at the ceremony marking the end of the three weeks orientation camping of the 2016 Batch ‘A ’ corps members also assured them of safety throughout their service year.

He assured them further that adequate arrangements had been made to ensure their well-being and security during their service year and advised them to live

in harmony with their host communities as they went out for their primary duties.

The governor, therefore, pledged that his administration would ensure fulfilment of the statutory functions of the NYSC to ensure that objectives of the scheme were achieved.

He also tasked them on the need to acquaint themselves with the cul-

ture and values of the communities they would interact with during their service year.

In his speech, the State Co-ordinator of the scheme, Ebenezer Olusegun Olawale commended the state government for completing the construction of the permanent orientation camp as well as provision of amenities that would ensure corps members ’ comfort.

them as a way of encouraging them to be fully integrated into their new places of posting.

Gombe State Co-ordinator of NYSC, Ahmed Wada Ikaka, during an interview with newsmen said no fewer than 200 Batch ‘A ’ corps members deployed to the state for the mandatory one year service had sought for redeployment from the state.

According to him, out of the 1,716 Batch ‘A ’ corps members deployed to the state, over 200 sought for deployment, but that only an insignificant number later wanted to be redeployed out of the state.

Ikaka explained that most of the corps members came into Gombe with a lot of fear, considering the activities of terrorists in the North-East, but that after most of them discovered a more serene environment, they had withdrawn their redeployment forms.

Kogi Assembly summons tertiary institutions over alleged extortion LOKOJA

Governor of Kebbi State (left) Atiku Bagudu cuddling a baby, who was delivered shortly before his visit to Dakingari General Hospital, Suru lga at the weekend.

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he Kogi State House of Assembly has invited management of the state tertiary institutions as part of measures to address alleged extortion of money from students under the guise of purchasing educational materials.

This followed the adoption of a motion raised by Lawi Ahmed (PDP)Okene 1 on the floor of the House at plenary on Thursday in Lokoja, Ahmed stated that institutions were expected to provide the needed environment for students to develop in character and learning and obtain certificates at the end of their various programmes.

The lawmaker regretted that the institutions had been turned into “extortion grounds ” where lecturers took advantage of the helpless situation of the students to extort money, not minding the effects of their actions on the students.

Ahmed noted that in some of the institutions, books published without ISBN numbers were sold to students “by force ” adding

that lecturers often coerced students to buy the books in lieu of continuous assessment tests and assignments.

“The lecturers in most cases, threaten the students telling them it ’s either they comply or stand to lose marks and even go further to tell them to be ready to carry over the courses ”, he added.

He alleged that some lecturers went to the extent of sexually harassing female students as he emphasized the need to restore sanity on the campuses.

Ahmed noted that the action of the lecturers had made majority of the students to indulge in “ungodly acts ” and go to any extent to raise funds to buy the books while some selfsponsored students got distracted in the process.

The motion was seconded by Edoko Moses Ododo (APC) Dekina-Biraidu and it was accorded overwhelming support by members at plenary.

The Speaker, Alhaji Umar Imam adopted the motion and committed it to the House Standing Committee on Education and charged it to invite the management of the institutions for an interface on the matter at committee level.

N N II G G E E R R II A A

N141bn

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-- The amount Osun Assembly passed as the state’s 2016 budget.

Vol. 6 No. 20

Sunday, May 15, 2016

N4.85bn as budget surplus.

-The sum Lagos State recorded

N150

Looters and custodians of looted funds

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Comment

jimunahlive@gmail. com Unah is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Lagos

with Jim Unah

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www.nationalmirroronline.net

F F II G G U U R R E E S S

t is no news to the world that looters of public treasury in developing African countries launder stolen money and stash it away in British, Swiss and other European banks; whilst the political actors in those European countries which provide safe havens for looted funds go about advertizing the corruption of African leaders through global agencies, such as the Transparency International. It is also no news that leaders in countries that provide custody for stolen funds fingered for financial impropriety had tended to talk down on African leaders and African people from a pedestal of moral superiority.

What is news today is that an African leader held by public perception to be impervious to sleaze or official graft has called the bluff of the “epic hypocrisy” of Western European leaders who spit out venom against corruption from one side of the mouth and whisper to the banks to “keep the loot” from the other side of the mouth, that the game is up. What is news today is that

President Muhammadu Buhari’s anticorruption crusade targeted against corrupt public officers in Nigeria has developed a trajectory that is bound to upset the smug complacency of countries and economies that had thrived on corruption loots from developing societies.

What is indeed news is that the accusers of African governments in regard to corruption are bound to become complicit, collaborators and stand accused in the global corruption conference originally schemed to launder the battered image of the British Prime Minister, David Cameron, over the Panama scandal, and the immorality of playing host to thieves or keeping custody of looted funds from Africa.

In virtually all societies of the world, when stolen items are found in the custody of persons other than the thief who stole them, the custodians are usually treated as accomplices in the eye of the law.

The custodian is even a more dangerous criminal because he provides safe haven for stolen goods and thus promotes the culture of thievery. If there are no safe havens or fortified warehouses for stolen goods, thieves would be discouraged because of being constantly exposed by members of society who have zero tolerance for stolen items. Buying or helping to provide safety for stolen items is as criminal as

the act of stealing.

Thus, when Mr. Cameron, Prime Minister of Great Britain, currently grappling with untidy financial issues in Panama, involving members of his family, quipped and enthused, in the world conference on corruption, that Afghanistan and Nigeria are the two most corrupt countries in the world, and that Nigerians are “fantastically corrupt”, Nigeria’s President Buhari’s reaction is simply to demand his country’s looted and laundered funds safely tucked away in British banks; implying in no uncertain terms that Nigerians are so corrupt because their colonial master not only taught them to be corrupt, but also taught them how to spirit away looted and laundered funds into British banks for safe keeping, and for mouth-watering service charges!

Past Nigerian leaders had not been so blunt in re-directing the attacks against official graft back to Britain because they were complicit and, probably, had stolen assets safely warehoused in British banks and vaults.

Now, it would seem, a Daniel has come to judgement—a Daniel, presumably, without stolen assets in Great Britain!

The dimension the Buhari anti-corruption war has taken is fabulous. He has rightly carried the battle to the doorstep of the greatest motivation and incentive to sleaze—the custodians of looted funds.

The next battle against corruption would be for the retired General, now civilian president, to call on the United Nations to declare all countries keeping custody of looted public funds “extremely corrupt and pariah nations” vicariously liable for the collapse of economies and failure of states. Virtually all non-performing economies and failing states in Africa and elsewhere could parade state actors with huge stolen assets safely warehoused in British, European and American banks. Such warehouses or custodies of looted and laundered funds should be directed by the United Nations to return the assets with interest and be made to pay additional penalties.

The world should make stolen funds an albatross on the nations that warehouse them. That is the time that looters of public treasury that occasion the collapse of economies would begin to be treated as scoundrels and callous rogues who have no pity and consideration for their fellowmen. Iraq, Syria, Libya and a host of other beleaguered countries have stories of looted national treasuries in the tight grip of custodians of looted funds.

The curse invoked on the looters of public money is doubly placed on the nations that keep and benefit from such loots. Looters and custodians of looted funds are in the same category of Homo sapiens.

Suarez hat-trick clinches Liga title for Barca

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arcelona secured the Liga title on the final day of the season with a 3-0 win over Granada on Saturday, thanks to Luis Suarez netting all three goals.

Luis Enrique’s men sat just one point above Real Madrid heading into matchday 38 and with the capital club having beaten Deportivo 2-0, the Blaugrana needed all three points to win the league crown for the second time in a row.

And Suarez was the star of the show as he netted all three goals for the Catalan side to get the job done, ensuring

the attacker finished top of the goalscoring charts.

It took just 22 minutes for Barca to take the advantage.

Jordi Alba was released behind the defence after a one-

two with Neymar and he sent the ball across the face of goal, giving Suarez an easy tap-in from six yards.

Suarez added a second later in the second half when Dani

Alves charged down the right side to keep the ball from going out and sent it into the centre of the box where the Uruguay international was able to nod it home.

And the attacker wrapped things up late in the second half, with Neymar bearing down on goal late in the game before squaring it to let Suarez finish things off.

Suarez

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