Thebossnewspapers vol1 issue70

Bisi Onasanya: Quintessential Success Driver

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By Eric Elezuo

The great financial brain, who is better known Bisi Onasanya was born Olabisi Stephen Onasanya, on August 18, 1961 in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

He hails from the Onasanya Family in Ijebu Land, Ogun State, but grew up in

polygamist home, he is the eldest of four children from his mother, and the third of his father’s children.

Mr. Onasanya qualified as a chartered accountant at the age of 22, and is credited with pioneering initiatives in

Pension Custodian, an outfit he served for three years, between October 2005 and December 2008, before hitting the peak of his career as the Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of First Bank of Nigeria Limited. A position

most important phases of the bank’s early transformation initiatives in response to an increasingly competitive financial services landscape.

A Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, a Member of the

Nigeria’s commercial capital, Lagos.

Bisi, as he is popularly called, attended St Paul’s Anglican Primary School (Mushin), Eko Boys High School (Mushin), and the then Lagos State College of Science and Technology. A product of a

Nigeria’s nascent pension custody industry that helped define best industry practices.

He began his career with Arthur Young, an American audit firm, and grew by the ranks to become the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of First

he held till 2015.

At First Bank Nigeria Limited where he held diverse portfolios before his appointment as Group Managing Director, he coordinated the bank’s Century 2 Enterprise Transformation Project, widely acknowledged as one of the

Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, and an Associate Member of the Nigerian Institute of Taxation, Onasanya has meticulously served as a member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers’ Sub-Committee on Fiscal & Monetary Policies, and of the

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of the

Presidential Committee on Reduction of Interest Rates.

Mr. Onasanya was not only with the First Bank. He had a professional encounter with Wema Bank as a senior accountant in 1985, and over the nine years he worked with the bank, he rose to become Head of Accounts.

Foresighte and fully envisioned, Onasanya ran First P e n s i o n Custodian,which was incorporated by the First Bank Group in response to reforms to the Nigerian pension industry which saw the actuarial system move from a “defined benefit” to a “defined contribution" basis. He took First Pension Custodian from the application stage, through authorisation by the industry regulator, and thereafter, successfully established it as the sector leader in the Nigerian pension custody market.

With solid administrative base coupled with superior wisdom, he led the company to break even with almost N400 billion pension assets under management by the time he left office in 2008. It was therefore, not in doubt where his next port of call will be.

Mr. Onasanya spent a fruitful 21 years with First Bank

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of the

of Nigeria Limited until his retirement in December 2015. This is excluding the three initiating years when he helped set up First Pension Custodian.

His ability from the moment he joined First Bank as a Senior Manager in 1994, saw him maturing into other several positions in the Bank, including that of Group Head, Finance and Performance Management Department.

After his glorious spell as Chief Executive at First Pension Custodian, he returned to First Bank as an Executive Director, Banking Operations & Services, from where he rose to become Chief Executive Officer, the

position he held until his retirement.

Bisi retired as Group M a n a g i n g Director/CEO, First Bank of Nigeria Limited, on December 31, 2015.

Besides being a fellow of the Institute

of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, he is also a member, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria as well as the Nigeria Institute of Taxation.

The Ijebu born topflight banker is highly regarded in the banking industry

markedly different tradition from the ways of his peers.

While too many of his peers, gained from their wealth the fear of law enforcement agencies and losing it, the former bank chief gained from his wealth,

as the architect of the new First Bank that is now appealing to not only young and old customers, but also the staff and management.

Mr. Onasanya today is a man of means having acquired wealth in

comfort, contentment and a deep sense of purpose.

He was a man, who understood quite early in life, that nothing is black where it shines. That is why his life is radiant with light.

According to

report on his opulence, “While he served as MD of First Bank, Onasanya worked very hard and saved very hard.

Today, he is reaping the fruit of his labour.

Indeed, Bisi is one very sharp dude who planned his retirement very well. Findings revealed that he is most likely the richest retired bank chief in the country, considering his extensive fortune and business interests.

“Besides being intimidating solvent, he lives a charmed life. No sooner did he retire from First Bank than he relocated from his Ikoyi residence to a sprawling mansion on Banana Island, in Lagos. At his new mansion, he has on display, the choicest and most expensive automobiles.

“He owns a massive farm in Epe/Lekki axis of Lagos State as well as impressive

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stakes in the coastal city’s real estate sector. This includes posh apartments in the most exclusive and highbrow areas of Lekki.

He is not known to be selfish as he has helped a lot of Nigerian magnates to stand on their on their own. For instance, it was during his tenure as MD of First Bank that the bank lent out money to the highest number of people. Thus many businessmen made their fortune via his very accommodating loan schemes.

Married to Helen Omowunmi Onasanya in 1985, the couple is blessed with three prolific children, one of whom is getting married today. Mr. Onasanya’s likeable personality qualifies him as our Boss of the Week. Congrats sir!

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World Exclusive:

Cover Story

Senate President, Bukola Saraki Joins Presidential Race

T

heBoss can exclusively reveal that Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki has joined the 2019 Presidential race.

There is no doubt that he would be a formidable force that should not be ignored because only few politicians in Nigeria today have the pedigree, the experience, the clout and the connection of Senator Saraki.

Having risen to the enviable position of the number three citizen, the only place to go for the

the Senate Leader of Nigerian under the National Party of Nigeria (NPN), but was the Chief Strategist and King Maker of Kwara Politics.

Born on December 19, 1962, Saraki went to Ivy League schools in Nigeria and United Kingdom. His parents certainly prepared him well for the tough task ahead. He attended Corona School, Victoria Island, Lagos, where he obtained a First School Leaving Certificate, attended King's College, Lagos for his West African

president should have, he is tall, urbane, suave, charismatic, cool and collected.

But behind this charm, is a man of steel who is never afraid to pursue causes that he feels are right and just.

Saraki is one of those rare breeds who is street smart as well as book smart. This was evident when he steered his political path away from his father, and triumphed without breaking up the family or the people’s faith in his leadership abilities.

That 2011 incident was a defining moment in

to support his sister, forcing his father to leave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), a party he helped to found and nurture, into political wilderness.

The Senior Saraki banked on his past record to trounce his son in the political arena during the gubernatorial elections but it was the Junior Saraki that triumphed. The candidate he backed, current Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, eventually coasted to victory.

That singular moment told many stories.

bank aground and even some say, he emptied the bank vault to run for Governor, it was to his credit that after its demise, he insisted that the bank was solid and was closed down in error.

Facts showed that he left SGBN in 2000 and in 2001, he became a Special Assistant on Budget to former President President Olusegun Obasanjo. He also served on the Economic Policy Coordination Committee, and was responsible for the formulation and implementation of

two-term Senator and former two-term governor is up! Indeed, Saraki is not new to the dynamics of power politics, he is the scion of a political dynasty that is well-known across the nation.

His father, the late Oloye, Dr. Olusola Saraki was a revered politician.

He not only rose to become

School Certificate, went to Cheltenham College in the United Kingdom for his High School Certificate.

And then studied at the London Hospital Medical College of the University of London from 1982 to 1987, where he obtained his M.B.B.S (London).

He has all the criteria that a modern Nigerian

the Senate President’s political career. Just when he was rounding off his second term as governor, his father, openly endorsed his sister, Senator Gbemisola Saraki as the next Governor.

Maybe they had a discussion privately, but the matter came to a head publicly, when he refused

That Senator Saraki is a man of principles, that he is a fearless fighter and a grassroots political force who opponents under estimate at their own peril.

Before politics, he was in the corporate world, working in the familyowned Societe-Generale Bank (SGBN). Though his enemies will say he ran the

several key economic policies for Nigeria.

He became Governor three years after leaving SGBN and his earlier belief that the closure of the bank was improper was proved right when the Central Bank of Nigeria eventually restored its licence.

As Governor, he had a clear vision to reduce

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Cover Story extreme poverty, improve education, empower women and girls and unleash Kwara’s economic potential through investment in Agriculture and infrastructure.

Under his leadership, Kwara became the first state to complete the Nigeria Independent Power Project, as well as re-energised the Ganmo Power Station, Ilorin in collaboration with PHCN, connecting over 3750 rural communities to the national grid through the development and installation of 725 transformers and 7 substations. Kwara also completed four electrification projects which meant power became stable 18– 22 hours a day. 70% of people living in Kwara had access to electricity, compared to a national average in Nigeria of 30%.

Dr. Saraki introduced a scheme that utilized the agricultural expertise of the Zimbabwean farming industry, and worked with Zimbabwe's Commercial Farmers' Union to identify highlyskilled farmers able to support Nigeria’s farming industry.

This collaboration led to the establishment of the Shonga Farms programme in partnership with Zimbabwean white farmers. The instant success of the arrangement made the farming concept a model that is now being replicated by other states across the nation.

He designed a New Nigerian Farmers Initiative that improved the technical capability of farmers and ensured that farmers had a significant financial stake in new investment in agriculture. He also created a commercial hub that was developed to build the capacity of the indigenous farming community of Kwara State During his tenure, he introduced new health programmes that included a statewide campaign in 2008 to reduce maternal and child mortality. A statewide distribution of in-

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secticide-treated nets and free malaria drugs were equally extended to pregnant mothers and children under the age of five in Kwara. Another statewide programme of hospital development was also implemented by Saraki which led to the redevelopment of hospitals in Afon, Patigi and Lafiagi. He also implemented improved training and re-training for medical staff; refurbishment of hospitals and staff living quarters. This effort was followed up with the employment of qualified medical doctors and other health workers in the state.

Performance of Saraki encouraged WHO and UNICEF to sponsor many of the primary health care programmes in Kwara state. His government pursued and signed into law, the Kwara Community Health Insurance, Kwara Safe Maternity Service and Kwara Child Rights Acts.

Saraki founded Kwara Class of Honour, a programme aimed at awarding Post-Graduate scholarship to First Class students of the state to continue their study at any institution of their choice across the federation, and over 71 First class were awarded during the first phase of the scholarship programme.

He began the Voluntary Teaching Service in which thousands of Kwara graduates were engaged and given allowances monthly after which ninety percent of them were absorbed into the state Civil Service, Teaching Service and SUBEB. In addition, his administration started the Every Child Counts programme and other policies which were adopted by Federal Ministry of Education. Perhaps one of his greatest achievements as Governor was the establishment and funding of the Kwara State University which has since stood the test of time.

He superintended over improvements at the Ilorin International Airport Cargo

Terminal, extensive road construction, and development of new sporting facilities such as Kwara Football Academy. He spent money on stateowned Kwara United Football Club and also went a step further to launch his own club, Abubakar Bukola Saraki FC, which is still in the Nigeria Professional Football League.

Dr. Sraki has no qualms about working with and giving youths opportunity to prove their mettle. He has that uncanny ability to spot and deploy good talents. For example, it was during his tenure that youths in their 30s such as Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, Zakari Mohammaed and Razak Atunwa flourished and showed their potentials.

As a result of his sterling achievements, it did not take his colleagues long to see that this was a charming gentleman with excellent leadership qualities, he was soon elected as Chairman of Nigerian Governors Forum. He was as influential as he was controversial.

The Forum under Bukola

Saraki developed a better and more extensive polio immunisation in Nigeria. A key part of this was the introduction in 2011 of the Immunisation Leadership Challenge. The Challenge rewarded states that made significant improvement in polio and routine immunisation coverage by the end of 2012. This challenge was driven in partnership with the Bill and Melinda Gates The NGF under his chairmanship signed many Memorandum of Understanding (MOUs) which included but not limited to the World Bank , DFID, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation , GAVI, UNICEF , UNDP. It was not only the Governors that saw his abilities, in 2010, the nation applauded his good work when he became the first serving Governor to be bestowed with the National Honor of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON).

Earlier he had won the following awards: Thisday Newspapers, Best Governor of the Year, 2004, Harvard Business School, Africa Club Award, 2005 and Nigeria Bar As-

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sociation Award of Excellence, 2010.

It was after he completed his two terms that he decided to join the Nigerian Senate. He was first elected to the Senate in April 2011, representing Kwara Central senatorial district.

In his first term at the Senate, he was appointed Chairman, Senate Committee on Environment and Ecology and a member of the Senate Committee on Capital Markets and Finance. It was during this assignment that Saraki showed his patriotic, altruistic and audacious streak.

He was the senator that pushed a motion in the upper legislative chamber to end the fuel subsidy regime in Nigeria. The fuel subsidy regime had constituted an excessive drain on Nigeria’s national resources.

In what subsequently became known as the fuel subsidy scam, Saraki’s alarm which led to a thorough investigation by a panel headed by Access Bank Chairman, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede showed that he saved the nation bil-

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lions of dollars that were going into private pockets.

Senator Saraki sponsored the National Oil Spill and Detection and Response Agency Amendment Bill to ensure that oil companies pay appropriate levels of compensation to communities affected by oil spills.

He also intervened in the lead poisoning crisis in Zamfara Stateand supported the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves, which ensures safe and healthy methods of cooking for millions of Nigerians while conserving the environment through reduced deforestation.

On his return in 2015, Dr. Saraki put himself forward for the position of Senate President.

For some inexplicable reason, some apparatchiks of his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) pitched their tent with another candidate, Senator, Ahmed Lawan.

When famous Russian Chess Champion and Grandmaster, Garry Kasparov said “If you're already in a fight, you want the first blow to be the last and you had better be the one to throw it. ….Attack-

ers may sometimes regret bad moves, but it is much worse to forever regret an opportunity you allowed to pass you by”. He was referring to the circumstances that faced Saraki at that period.

And that was when Saraki’s prowess as an astute politician, a consensus builder and like his father, a political strategist became public knowledge.

Against all odds, he beat his party’s candidate hands down-and has in the past three years won over even his most ardent of critics with his superb handling of his role.

Impeccable sources reveal that as he plots his move for the Presidency, he is said to be considering building alliances with all Nigerians of like minds. He is also considering using the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu as his running mate.

Having already exhibited the ability to work seamlessly with politicians from the two main political parties, it is a path he can easily thread. In political circles, the story is that Dr. Saraki has been the one that has stopped the presi-

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dent from becoming a full blown dictator. That he has been able to stand firm, stare the president in the face, eyeball to eyeball on some key issues like the appointment of the EFCC Chairman, Ibrahim Magu.

He has held firmly to the doctrine of Separation of Powers unlike the past few years.

That is not his all, his adept peoples skills has also helped him foster a smooth relationship with the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon, Yakubu Dogara.

Futhermore, those who know, say he is counting on his youthfulness and ability to connect with the youths, his strategy will be to spread the “I am one of you” message and show his track record of working with young technocrats and turning them into prolific achievers. As at today, the 8th Senate which he heads has passed 201 bills and it prides itself as the best performing senate ever.

According to Saraki in a Tweet during the week “we still have 15 months to go, yet, we have reached this milestone. I would like to thank my Distinguished

Colleagues for their hard work and cooperation over the last 33 months” He had earlier stated “On the issue of opening the lawmaking process we have not been afraid to push the boundaries of convention, that is why the 8th Senate can be credited to initiate the firstever National Assembly Joint Public Hearing on the Budget; the 8th Senate broke the 12year jinx on the PIB by passing the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIGB) that will reform the NNPC and return accountability in the petroleum industry.

“The 8th Senate scored another first as it become the first Senate to unveil and pursue a self-developed economic reform agenda to aid the ease of doing business in Nigeria and create new frameworks for creating jobs and improving Nigeria’ ranking in the global competitiveness index.

“It can be said that the 8th senate has led the way in open government and transparency, aside opening our books to the public, we have also opened what we do to the

world and we are the first to adopt live streaming of plenary and deliberations globally. "Indeed we have become the most open arm of government in the history of Nigeria till date” Apart from his unmatchable performance as head of the Legislative Arm of Government, he also has tremendous goodwill among many respected Nigerians, especially young businessmen as well as solid international connections.

A tip of his wide network came to fore at the wedding of his daughter, Oluwatosin, late last year.

The events were held in Ilorin, Lagos and Abuja.

And the calibre of guests that attended showed that he was no run-of-the-mill personality. Even Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu who many say is one of his greatest detractors was at the Lagos ceremony!

Another good thing going for Dr Saraki is his wife, Oluwatoyin. She is an excellent partner, a strong pillar of support for a man of his stature. She is a firstrate upper crust.

Mrs. Saraki is from the popular Ojora Royal Family of Lagos, and is the only daughter of The Otunba Adekunle Ojora and The Erelu Ojuolape.

Her dad is a corporate titan with interests in blue chip companies in Nigeria and across the globe. Her family has interests in companies from oil and gas, real estate, insurance, banking, ICT to manufacturing. She is well bred, highly educated, articulate and despite her privileged background, a passionate Maternal and Child Health Advocate.

Mrs. Saraki is a better half in every sense of the word. She attended the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London, obtaining the Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) degree, she proceeded to King’s College, London for a Master’s degree (LL.M) in International Economic Law. She is a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of

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Nigeria, having been called to the Nigerian Bar, about three decades ago.

In 2004, while still First Lady of Kwara State, She established the Wellbeing Foundation, unlike such pet projects by first ladies, many years she has been more passionate as ever before taking the foundation to very great heights.

It was as a result of her work that she became the inaugural Global Goodwill Ambassador for the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM). She is also the Save the Children Newborn Health Champion for Nigeria; a Fellow of the West African Acad-

navigate through thorny paths to reach the Presidential Villa, he has many challenges ahead.

The most important challenge, according to our source, is the perception that he is a corrupt individual. This has been a damaging blow to his profile, little wonder that Saraki has not taken this allegation lying down.

Angered by many false and spurious stories written by bloggers and news sites especially Sahara Reporters, he has dragged the news organization to court to clear his name. In June 2017, An Ilorin High Court judge, Justice Adeyinka Oyinloye

of offences ranging from anticipatory declaration of assets to making false declaration of assets in forms Saraki had filed with the Code of Conduct Bureau while he was Governor of Kwara state. He was also accused of failing to declare some assets he acquired while in office as governor, acquiring assets beyond his legitimate earnings, and accused of operating foreign accounts while being a public officer.

His counsel has put forward a no case submission and the case was squashed in June 2017 but the Federal Government challenged that judgment

property to hide. Speaking though his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, Saraki said the company was incorporated in 2001, before he ventured into politics.

The Senate President noted that the company had remained dormant, held no assets and he was not a signatory to the company’s account.

Another major challenge is his state of origin, he is from Kwara State which is in Nigeria’s North Central.

Though it can be said to be a part of the North, many see him as Yoruba because the capital of his state, Ilorin is predominantly Yoruba Speaking and he

emy of Public Health (WAAPH); the Chair of the National Assembly Primary Healthcare (PHC) Revitalisation Support Group; a Global Champion for the White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood and early this month was appointed special adviser to the Independent Advisory Group (IAG) of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Regional Office for Africa (AFRO). Of course, like everything in life, Saraki would have to

of the Ilorin High Court, slammed a N4 billion judgment against the publisher of the popular online newspaper, Sahara Reporters, Mr. Omoyele Sowore, over libellous stories published on Saraki. But the corruption allegation keeps mounting, in 2015, he made history as the first Senate President to be issued an warrant of arrest and was eventually docked when he appeared at the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

Saraki was accused

and the legal fireworks has now reached the Supreme court and is still raging. As if that is not bad enough, his name also popped in the Panama Papers and Paradise Papers scandals that involved hiding of assets or evading taxes through offshore shell companies.

The Senate President however, reacted to the allegation stating that he has not violated any law in the course of registering his company, Tenia Limited, adding that he has no

also has a Yoruba name.

Therefore, it is doubtful if the core North will accept him.

This seeming weakness can actually be a strength if we consider the political permutations that led to the defeat of President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015. A Saraki as Presidential Candidate has the ability to sweep his region, the North Central. He can take the South West based on his name, the South South will lean towards him and

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if he takes Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu as Running mate like it is being alleged, he would coast in the South East.

With his ability to build alliances, he may even make inroads in some North East States.

His choice of platform may pose a another problem as his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) like it did when he vied for the Senate Presidency, may have a different preferred candidate. Saraki as the savvy politician that his, is likely to choose another platform to achieve his aim and from all indications, it may be the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The PDP may present a veritable platform for him because it already has a firm nationwide structure and in the running for the same ticket is former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, whom many pundits say is not only too old and weak but has a lot of baggage.

No doubt a candidate Saraki will bring youthful energy to the Presidential race and most importantly, it may just be the tonic Nigeria needs as a nation to get out of its labyrinth of under development.

For Saraki, his network and his name will take him far; whether it can take him the distance is far from clear. For now, however, he is one of the top politicians to watch ahead 2019.

SENATE BILLS PASSED SINCE JUNE 9TH 2015 1. National Railway Corporation Act 1955 N129 LFN 2004 (Repeal & Reenactment Bill 2015 2. Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act CAP B2 LFN 2011 (Repeal and Re-enactment) 2015 3. National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (est,etc) Bill 2015 4. Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria (est., etc) Bill 2015 5. Electronic Transaction Bill 2015 6. Agriculture Credit Guarantee Scheme Act (Amend-

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ment) Bill 2015 7. Commercial Agriculture Credit Scheme (Est,etc) Bill, 2015 8. Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Bill 2015 9. National Poverty Eradication Commission (Est,etc)Bill 2015 10. North East Development Commission (NEDC) (Est,etc) Bill 2015 11. Erosion Control and Prevention Commission (Est, etc) Bill, 2015 12. Counterfeit and Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods (Miscellaneous provision) Amend-

Bill 2015 21. Witness Protection Programme Bill 2015 22. Supplementary Appropriation Bill 2015 23. Defence Space Agency (Establishment, etc) Bill 2015 24. High Court of the Federal Capital Territory Abuja (Amendment) Bill 2015 25. Air Force Institute of Technology (Establishment, etc) Bill 2015 26. Credit Bureau Reporting Bill 2015 27. 2015 Appropriation Act (Amendment) Bill 2015 28. 2016 Appropriation Bill

Governance Bill 2016 38. National Inland Waterways Act Cap N47 LFN 2004 (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill 2016 39. Nigerian Ports and Harbours Authority Act (Amendment) Bill 2016 40. JAMB Act (Amendment) Bill 2016 41. Nigerian Customs Service Bill 2016 and Nigerian Customs Service Act (Repeal and Re-enacment) Bill 2016 42. Warehouse Receipts Bill 2016 43. Secured Transactions in Movable Assets Bill 2016 44. Sexual Harassment in

Bill, 2017 53. National Institute for Legislative Studies Act (Amendment) Bill 2017 54. National Research and Innovation (Est, etc.) Bill, 2017 55. Compulsory, Free Universal Basic Education Act 2004 (Amendment) Bill 2016 and Universal Basic Education Act 2003 (Amendment) Bill 2016 56. Nigeria Financial Intelligence Agency (Est, Etc.) Bill, 2017 57. Institute of Chartered Biochemist and Molecular Biologist Bill, 2016 58. Whistle Blowers Pro-

ment Bill 2015 13. Federal University of Petroleum Resources Effuru (Est, etc) Bill 2015 14. Food Security Bill 2015 15. Nigerian Agricultural Quarantine Service (Establishment, etc) Bill 2015 16. Environmental Managers Registration Council of Nigeria (Establishment, etc) Bill 2015 17. Nigeria Institute of Soil Science (Establishment, etc) Bill 2015 18. Nigeria Football Federation (Establishment, etc) Bill 2015 19. National Sports Commission (Establishment, etc) Bill 2015 20. Federal Competition and Consumer Protection

29. Federal Roads Authority (Establishment, etc) Bill 2016 30. National Assembly Budget and Research Office (Establishment, etc) Bill 2016 31. Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Bill 2016 32. Federal Capital Territory Statutory Appropriation Act (Amendment) Bill 2016 33. Federal University of Petroleum Resources Effurun Bill 2016 34. National Lottery Act 2005 (Amendment) Bill 2016 35. Electoral Act â„–6 2010 (Amendment) Bill 2016 36. Public Procurement Act (Amendment) Bill 2016 37. Petroleum Industry

Tertiary Educational Institution Bill 2016 45. Federal University of Wukari (Establishment, etc) Bill 2016 46. Maritime University of Nigeria, Okerenkoko (Establishment, etc) Bill 2016 47. 2016 FCT Appropriation Bill 48. Appropriation Bill, 2017 49. Nigerian Peace Corps (Establishment, etc) Bill 2015 (SB 173) 50. National Unity and Peace Corps (Establishment, etc) Bill 2015 (SB 183) 51. National Open University of Nigeria Act (Amendment) Bill 2017 52. Federal University of Maritime Studies, Oron

tection Bill 2015 59. Abduction, wrongful restraints and wrongful confinement for ransom bill 2017 60. Prohibition and Protection of persons from lynching, mob action and Extra Judicial Executions Bill, 2017 61. Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation Act (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill 2017 62. Hydroelectric Power Producing Area Development Commission (Amendment) Bill 2015 63. Chartered Institute of Entrepreneurs (est., etc.)

Bill 2015 64. Chartered Institute of Capital Market Registrars Bill 2017

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65. Presidential Inauguration Bill 2016 66. National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (Establishment, etc) Bill 2016 67. FCT Statutory Appropriation Bill 2017 68. Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Act (Amendment) Bill, 2017 69. Federal University of Agriculture Kaaba (Establishment, etc) Bill 2016 70. Federal Colleges of Education Act (Amendment) Bill 2017 71. Niger Delta Development Commission (Amendment) Bill 2017 72. Nigeria Arabic Language Village, Ngala (Establishment, etc.) Bill, 2017 73. Nigeria French Language Village, Badagry (est., etc.) Bill, 2017 74. Demutualization Bill, 2017 75. The Revised Edition (Laws of the Federation of Nigeria) Bill, 2018 76. 2017 FCT Appropriation Act (Amendment) Bill, 2018 77. Arbitration and Conciliation act cap A18 LFN 2004(Repeal and re-enactment) Bill 2018 78. Emergency Powers (Repeal and re-enactment) Bill, 2018 79. Federal University Gashua (establishment, etc.) Bill, 2018 (SB459) 80. National Transport Commission (Est., etc.)

Bill, 2018 (SB. 242) 81. Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Bill, 2018 (SB. 216) 82. River Basin Development Act CAP R9 LFN 2004 (Amendment) Bill, 2018 (SB. 358) 83. National Centre for Disease Control Prevention (Establishment, etc) Bill, 2018 (SB. 256) CONCURRENCE BILLS PASSED BY THE SENATE SINCE JUNE 9TH 2015 1. Environmental Health Officers (Registration, etc.)

Act (Amendment) Bill, 2016 2. Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun Bill, 2016

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3. National Judicial Institute Act (Amendment) Bill 2016 4. Prevention of Crimes Act (Amendment) Bill 2016 5. Water Resources Act (Amendment) Bill 2016 6. Endangered Species (Control of International Trade and Traffic) Act (Amendment) Bill 2016 7. Agricultural and Rural Management Training (Amendment) Bill 2016 8. Telecommunications and Postal Offences Act (Amendment) Bill, 2016 9. Treaty to Establish African Economic Community Relating to the Pan-

(Amendment) Bill 2016 15. Bees (Import Control and Management) Act (Amendment) Bill 2016 16. Advertising Practitioners (Registrations, etc.) Act (Amendment) Bill 2016 17. World Meteorological Organization (Protection) Act (Amendment) Bill, 2016 18. Currency Conversion (Freezing Orders) (Amendment) Bill 2016 19. Builders (Registration, etc.) Act (Amendment) Bill 2016 20. Town Planners (Registration, etc.) Act (Amendment) Bill 2016 21. University of Abuja Act

27. National Archives Act (Amendment) Bill, 2016 28. Value Added Tax Act (Amendment) Bill, 2016 29. Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act (Amendment) Bill, 2016 30. Chartered Institute of Human Capital Development of Nigeria Bill 2016 31. Dangerous Drugs Act (Amendment) Bill, 2016 32. Chartered Institute of Loan and Risk Management of Nigeria Bill 2016 33. Veterinary Surgeons Act (Amendment) Bill, 2016 34. Federal Capital Territory Civil Service Commis-

41. Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act (Amendment) Bill, 2016 42. Mortgage Institutions Act (Amendment) Bill, 2016 43. National Film and Video Censors Board Act (Amendment) Bill, 2016 44. Official Secrets Act (Amendment) Bill, 2016 45. Federal Capital Territory Districts Courts Act (Amendment) Bill, 2016 46. Pensions Rights of Judges Act (Amendment) Bill, 2016 47. Anti-Torture Bill, 2016 48. Federal Capital Territory Hospitals Management Board

56. Railway Loan (International Bank) (Amendment) Bill, 2016 57. Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act (Amendment) Bill, 2016 58. Chartered Institute of Export and Commodity Brokers of Nigeria Bill, 2017 59. Avoidance of Double Taxation Between the Federal Republic of Nigerian and the Kingdom of Spain Bill, 2017 60. Avoidance of Double Taxation Between the Federal Republic of Nigerian and the Republic of South Korea Bill, 2017

African Parliament (Accession and Jurisdiction) Act (Amendment) Bill 2016 10. Utilities Charges Commission Act (Amendment) Bill 2016 11. Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers Act (Amendment) Bill, 2016 12. Petroleum Product Pricing Regulatory Agency Act (Amendment) Bill, 2016 13. Petroleum Training Institute Act (Amendment) Bill, 2016 14. Quantity Surveyors (Registration, etc.) Act

(Amendment) Bill, 2016 22. Corrupt Practice and other Related Offences Act (Amendment) Bill, 2016 23. Small and Medium Scale Enterprises Development Agency (Amendment) Bill 2016 24. National Agricultural Land Development Authority Act (Amendment) Bill 2016 25. Produce (Enforcement of Export Standards) (Amendment) Bill 2016 26. National Crop Varieties and Livestock Breeds (Registration etc.) Act (Amendment) Bill 2016

sion Bill 2016 35. Chartered Institute of Public Management Bill 2016 36. Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (Establishment) Bill 2016 37. Oaths Act (Amendment) Bill, 2016 38. Institute of Local Government and Public Administration Bill 2016 39. Chartered Institute of Project Management of Nigeria (Establishment) Bill 2016 40. Nigerian Council for Social Work (Establishment, etc.) Bill 2016

(Establishment, etc.) Bill, 2016 49. National Child Protection and Enforcement 2016 50. Police Procurement Fund Bill, 2016 51. Federal Capital Territory Water Board Bill 2016 52. Senior Citizen Centre Bill, 2016 53. Animal Health and Husbandry Technologist (Registration, etc.) Bill 2016 54. Compulsory Treatment and Care of Victims of Gunshots, Bill 2016 55. Corporate Manslaughter Bill 2016

61. National Postgraduate College of Medicine Laboratory Science Bill, 2017 62. Avoidance of Double Taxation Between the Federal Republic of Nigerian and the Kingdom of Sweden Bill, 2017 63. National intelligence Agency Pension Bill 2017 64. Nigeria Academy of Science (establishment etc.)

65. Chartered Institute of Treasury Management (Est, Etc.) Bill 2017 66. Federal School of Medical Laboratory Technology Science (Est, Etc.) Bill

www.thebossnewspapers.com

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2017 67. Franchise Bill 68. Federal College of Dental Technology and Therapy Bill, 2017 (HB1,018) 69. Federal Capital Territory Transport Authority (Establishment) Bill HB. 91 70. Nigerian Automotive Industry Development Plan (Fiscal Incentives Assurances and Guarantees) Bill, 2017 HB. 896 71. Chartered Institute of

Change Bill (HB1020) 80. National Agricultural Seeds Council Bill, 2018 (HB. 472) 81. Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport of Nigeria Bill, 2018 (HB. 973) 82. National Security Agencies Protection of Officers Identity Bill, 2018 (HB. 830) 83. Institute of Environmental Practitioners of Nigeria (HB. 1022) 84. National Biotechnol-

ing of the State Houses of Assembly directly from the Consolidated Revenue Fund.

3. Alteration of the Constitution to include former heads of the NASS in the council of state.

4. Alteration of the Constitution to reduce the period within which the President or Governor may authorise withdrawal from the CRF in absence of an appropriation act from 6 to 3 months.

5. Alteration of the Consti-

10. Alteration of the Constitution to delete the National Securities Agencies Act from the constitution.

11. Alteration of the Constitution to delete the National Youth Service Decree from the Constitution.

12. Alteration of the Constitution to delete state independent electoral commission from the constitution.

13. Alteration of the Constitution to specify the pe-

Customer Relationship Management Bill, 2017 HB. 69 72. Dishonoured Cheques (Offences) Act (Amendment) Bill, 2017 73. Vigilante Group of Nigeria (Est., etc.) Bill, 2017 HB718 74. Subsidiary Legislation (Legislative Scrutiny) Bill, 2017 HB13 75. Courts and Tribunal Fines and Financial Penalties Bill, 2017 HB 642 76. Radiographers (Registration, etc.) Act (Amendment) Bill, 2017 HB 676 77. Medical Residency Training Bill, 2017 (HB.982) 78. National Road Funds (Est, etc.) Bill, 2018 79. National Climate

ogy Development Agency (Est., etc.) Bill, (HB. 33) 85. Nigeria Aeronautical Search and Rescue Bill, 2018 (HB. 139) 86. Federal Audit Service Commission Bill (HB. 107) 87. Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (est., etc.) Bill, 2018 (HB 364 & 656) 88. Digital rights and freedom bill, 2018(HB490) 89. Energy Commission Act (Amendment) Bill, 2018(HB72 & 446) CONSTITUTIONAL ALTERATION BILLS PASSED 1. Alteration of the Constitution to provide for time passage of laws (assent) 2. Alteration of the Constitution to provide for fund-

tution to provide for immunity of legislature in respect of words spoken or written at plenary‌ 6. Alteration of the Constitution to abrogate the State Joint Local Govt Accounts and empower each local govt council to maintain its own special account.

7. Alteration of the Constitution to strengthen local govt administration in Nigeria 8. Alteration of the Constitution to provide the INEC with sufficient time to conduct bye-elections and grounds for de-registration of political parties.

9. Alteration of the Constitution to delete the public complaints commission Act from the constitution.

riod within which the President or Governor shall present the Appropriation Bill before NASS or SHA 14. Alteration of the Constitution to reduce the age for the qualification for the offices of president, house of reps and state house of assembly.

15. Alteration of the Constitution to reflect the establishment of the ISA in the constitution.

16. Alteration of the Constitution to remove law making powers from the Executive Arm of Govt.

17. Alteration of the Constitution to provide for the procedure for passing a constitution alteration bill, where the president withholds assent.

18. Alteration of the Constitution to reflect the establishment and core functions of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.

19. Alteration of the Constitution to provide time for the determination of preelection matters.

20. Alteration of the Constitution to further strengthen the judiciary for speedy dispensation of justice.

21. Alteration of the Constitution to establish the AGF and separate the office from that of the minister for justice (likewise in the states).

22. Alteration of the Constitution to establish the office of the accountant general of the federal govt separate from the office of the accountant general of the federation 23. Alteration of the Constitution to make the office of the auditor general of the federation and states financially independent by placing them on the CRF (states).

24. Alteration of the Constitution to disqualify a person sworn-in as president or governor to complete the term of the elected person from being elected to the same office for more than a single term.

25. Alteration of the Constitution to change the name of the police from the Nigerian Police Force to the Nigerian Police 26. Alteration of the Constitution to provide for independent candidature in elections.

27. Alteration of the Constitution to provide for a change in the names of some local govt councils.

28. Alteration of the Constitution to provide for the appointment of a minister from the FCT to ensure FCT is represented in the FEC. 29. Alteration of the Constitution to require the President and Governor to submit names of nominated ministers or commissioners within thirty days of taking the oath of office for confirmation.

TOTAL BILLS PASSED SINCE 2015 = 197

Pendulum

BUHARI, OSINBAJO, TINUBU, AMBODE AND THE PRESIDENTIAL VISIT

F

ellow Nigerians, there is so much to write about today, but first, I must quickly apologise for my absence on this page last week. My itinerary has been very packed lately, and last week was particularly jammed. I had crisscrossed Africa, from West to East and East back to West. I travelled from Nigeria, to Rwanda and Nairobi and then back to Nigeria. I returned last week Friday, and I usually devote my Friday evenings to writing this column. I arrived in the early afternoon, because my flight from Kigali was slightly delayed and got caught up in some really bad traffic on the way to the Island. By the time I arrived at Eko Hotel, there was barely time for me to start getting ready for an important wedding that I had to attend; that of Fatima Dangote and Jamil Abubakar. Of course, Lagos was naturally agog with dignitaries flying in from all over the world, including the boss of bosses, Bill Gates, and the famous African billionaire, Mo Ibrahim. They were in town to honour and rejoice with one of their own, Alhaji Aliko Dangote. This event reconfirmed the preeminent status of Lagos as not just a megacity, but also as the centre of entertainment and jollification in Africa. I landed in the middle of that superlative event and it became practically impossible for me to sit down and concentrate on writing my column. I took a chill and called the Editors at Thisday to pardon

By: Dele Momodu

my inability to deliver as always. I’m glad to be back this week.

A few days later, on Thursday, March 29, 2018, to be precise, Lagos again played host to an august

brought to bear in support of APC. This was what probably changed the narrative and gave the populace the unerringp belief that indeed APC could unseat the ruling party PDP. A

they would need Tinubu and others again. Now the chickens have come home to roost.

Buhari wants to contest for a second term.

That is not now in doubt.

visitor, President Muhammadu Buhari. He had come to felicitate with his friend and benefactor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Tinubu, the former Governor of Lagos State, was undoubtedly one of the strongest forces that propelled and catapulted Buhari back to power. This was not just because of the popular vote of the South West, which Tinubu delivered to a large extent, but also because of the all-pervading conventional and social media influence and presence that Tinubu

feat that had never before been achieved in Nigeria.

But, as they say, human memories are very short.

No sooner had Buhari got the golden fleece, that he had chased for eternity, that he was hijacked by a cabal.

Wittingly or unwittingly, those who starved and slaved for him were skilfully shoved aside. Tinubu was shabbily treated. And the world wondered what manner of ingratitude this was. Perhaps, Buhari and his handlers forgot that tomorrow would come so soon, and when it comes,

Everything else is shadow boxing! Politics is a game of numbers. But the figures are not adding up. They can’t add up because Buhari has not been very nice to those who showed him love and showered him with goodwill and affection. It was as if he got power by his own effort alone and the contributions of others were downplayed. To win the Presidential contest in Nigeria, a candidate needs to lock down a minimum four out of our six geo-political regions. If elections were

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held today, I doubt he would win more than two out of six, North West and North East. Whether he can win in the landslide manner that he won in the North West in 2015 is arguable.

Such an achievement in the North East is debatable, as a win might even be unlikely. I believe that if the North East should produce a formidable candidate like Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, in PDP, a spanner would have been thrown in the works.

Buhari would be forced to sweat profusely. I doubt he can win 50 percent of votes in the South West as his ardent supporters are hoping.

The electorate in the South West are too enlightened

and do not follow any leader rigidly. It is even much worse now that they feel short-changed by Buhari. The middle-belt is equally endangered. The South-South and South East regions are no-go areas. Give or take, Buhari would have to send his scavengers to scramble for whatever votes they can lay their hands on from all parts of Nigeria. They have a miracle to perform because at the best of times Buhari had failed spectacularly in the Southern parts of the country.

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This is why Tinubu has again become the new bride to be spoilt and pampered. Everything Tinubu wants, he is likely to get now. To God be the glory.

Tinubu has paid his dues.

And, say what you will, he deserves the best. His 66th birthday celebration forced President Buhari to visit

Anyway, President Buhari landed in Lagos on his two-day official visit.

One of his first duties was to commission the Ikeja Bus Terminal. Perhaps, out of deep frustration, and to some extent mischief, many Lagosians lambasted Buhari for coming to commission a bus terminal,

Lagos, a State from which he seemed to have absconded, and abandoned, all this while. Let me not go into the traffic brouhaha and the unspeakable degree of human suffering occasioned during that special visit as a result. I also will not deal with the many man hours and billions of monies lost because of the unfortunate work free day that was declared in Lagos State. According to impeccable sources, the order to shut down Lagos was a Federal Government decision and instruction. That was a most atrocious act that must never be repeated anywhere in this country. It generated and transmitted public and international odium and denigration to Lagos State, which has been working hard to bring sanity back, and restore hope in the people that government can truly work for them.

when he should be commissioning modern metrolines. That may well be so as commissioning projects go. But to the credit of Lagos State Government and Governor Ambode, the Bus Terminal project is a very good and methodical way to modernise Lagos.

You cannot climb a tree from the top. The strategy is to start from the most basic things and upgrade to the most profound. About a dozen of such terminals are being constructed. These should hopefully reduce the menace and lawlessness of Lagos transporters.

They should also ease the pain and suffering of commuters and motorists who face nightmares caused by gridlock, arising from buses misbehaving on our roads. It is usually difficult to appreciate the beginning and ultimate destination of a visionary leader. I’m reasonably convinced that

Lagos needs to be repackaged from scratch and this is what is being done meticulously. My advice to the government is to ignore distractions and remain focused.

President Buhari was also the Special Guest at the 10th edition of The Bola Tinubu Colloquium which was held at the Eko Hotel Convention Centre.

The well attended event turned out to be more of a campaign launch for Buhari’s bid for a second term as President, than a true birthday celebration of the Jagaban of Borgu Kingdom, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The organisers seized every opportunity to sell Buhari and his vision.

The Chief Marketer turned out to be the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo who delivered his best speech ever and took the PDP government under President Goodluck Jonathan to the cleaners.

He spoke eloquently from the heart and quoted copiously from a compiled data of the misdeeds of the PDP regime. For his powerful delivery, the Professor of Law received a standing ovation. Even his boss, the President, was very impressed and everyone could see him blushing with pride. For the erudite scholar, it was his glorious moment.

The Vice President sounded more convincing than all others who had previously tried unsuccessfully to say and show that the APC government and its leader, President Buhari, is far better, and doing much more, than the PDP administration, and President Jonathan. But I hope the damage has not been done already to this Buhari government. Many wondered why Osinbajo had not been used more productively and effectively in the past. How can a reasonable government refuse to put forward the brightest Nigerians? There are many Osinbajos wasting away within Government in Nigeria. There are even many more untapped tal-

ents outside of Government. These need to be harnessed if we are to make any progress as a nation.

Instead, what we have are woeful mediocres, and, sometimes even, complete ignoramuses being pushed into positions where they can never achieve anything tangible.

For the first time, I listened to the sermon of Professor Osinbajo and almost got carried away. I had to pinch myself to remind me about the different reality out there. While it is true that the PDP government fumbled stupidly and brought us to the sorry pass that we are now in, the APC government has had, and is still having, its terrible moment. The Government should realise that if PDP had performed well, Nigerians would not have resorted to the APC. Further, APC must never forget that more than 45 % of Nigerians also voted for the PDP in that election and that the margin of victory was just about 2 million voters. Therefore, there was always bound to be those who would support APC and criticise the new Government. Most people would have ignored these “wailers”, as they would have been properly characterised, if the APC Government had covered itself in total glory. However, that has not been the case. APC has been trailed by endless scandals almost on a parallel scale with that of the PDP Government that it sacked. This is sad and distressing. What is even more unforgivable is that the ruling APC has protected its sacred cows with everything, while harassing some members of its own party and those of the opposition parties merely because they offer a dissident or discordant voice. Apart from this being undemocratic, it is morally indefensible. There should be no person who is beyond reproach, simply because he belongs to a cabal that has got our country in a virtual impregnable headlock.

It is good that

Buhari looks and acts penitent, but he should be held to his promises, this time.

Before giving its blanket support again, Tinubu should drive a hard bargain for greater recognition and development of the needs of the South West. For example, with respect to Lagos State where the President has just concluded his State visit, Tinubu should ensure that the State receives approval, and instant execution, for the requests made by Governor Ambode on the transfer of the National Theatre and the National Stadium to the State. These important national monuments are presently an eyesore, just wasting away, when there is so much Lagos can do to revamp them to their old glory.

We must always remember that it is our culture and heritage that distinguishes us from other people and countries. We cannot progress as a nation if we do not showcase that cultural complexity that makes us uniquely Nigerians. We must first do so amongst ourselves before we can sell it to others. We have been complaining about the current wave of disunity that is sweeping through our nation and eating away at the very fabric of our society. These National treasures could begin to assist in the healing process that the Presidency must embrace if we are not to be torn apart. We have long known that our diverse traditions and sports have always been able to bring us together and bond us. But in recent times we have neglected and relegated them whilst pursuing fruitless and damaging ethnic and religious agendas.

If Lagos State is prepared to help nation building by restoring these edifices to their lost glory, then the Federal Government should only be too happy to oblige and encourage the State.

The Presidential visit, hopefully, would bear fruits, and not just be a mere jamboree!

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enate President Bukola Saraki and the All Progressives Congress Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, were among chieftains of the APC that shunned the 10th Bola Tinubu Colloquium, which was attended by President Muhammadu Buhari during the week.

The colloquium is organised annually as part of events to mark the birthday of a national leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, and this year’s event, as usual was held at Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, and had the theme, “Investing in people.”

Other notable APC mem-

President Buhari saw holes in the decision of the party’s NEC to grant one year extension to the party executive, citing a breach of relevant sections of the party’s constitution, as well as the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria

rescind its earlier decision so as not to give the opposition the grounds on which to reap from the crisis which is likely to result from the constitutional breaches.

Stakeholders have said that it was Buhari’s late decision to be on Tin-

bers absent were the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, and the Minister of Solid Minerals, Kayode Fayemi.

While it is still not clear why all of them were absent at the event, it is not hard to imagine that Oyegun is at the centre of a one year tenure elongation granted to the executive of the party at all levels, which Tinubu had openly opposed. Tinubu’s opposition of Oyegun’s continuation in office received a boost few days ago when President Buhari supported the move to dissolve the executive for a fresh election.

During the 5th National Executive Council meeting of the APC in Abuja,

1999 (as amended), as the ubu’s side that paved the way for him to attend the basis for his opinion.

The President therefore event in Lagos. asked the party’s NEC to

promises, gave us fake figures.”

He insisted that the APC would never stop talking about the corrup-

after taking over.

Tinubu also took a swipe at “somebody who is writing letter these days, a letter of politics, as if they’ve never been there before. Bad belle letters.”

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo had written an open letter to President Buhari in January, advising him not to seek reelection in 2019.

Tinubu pointed out that the APC was trying its best to salvage the country, stressing that Nigerians should be patient with the party as “we tion perpetrated under the didn’t form a political PDP administrations, be- party showing our logo as cause the APC had a duty honey and sugar.” to report to Nigerians what they found in office

Do Not Accept PDP’s Apology, Tinubu Tells Nigerians

T

he National Leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, as urged Nigerians to disregard Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s apology on misdeed, saying that Nigerians had seen the last of the opposition party.

According to him, the PDP, which ruled the country for 16 years, between 1999 and 2015, has had its last shot at power and will never come back.

The former governor of Lagos State advised Nigerians to focus on the APC, which, according to him, was clearly different from the former ruling party.

He urged Nigerians not to accept the apology tendered by the PDP, be-

cause, according to him, the former ruling party “lied, they falsified, they changed figures for 16 years, they made fake

News

Name PDP Looters or Keep Quiet – PDP Tells Osinbajo

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he Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Kola Ologbodiyan, has accused Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo of not being bold enough to mention names of those he claimed stole public funds.

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Mr. Ologbondiyan said the vice president was only fond of bandying figures he cannot trace to a personality in the PDP. His reaction followed Mr. Osinbajo’s speech at the colloquium organised to mark the 66th

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birthday of a leader of the All Progressives’Congress (APC) in Lagos on Thursday.

Citing differences in cash releases to three ministries as example, Mr. Osinbajo said the looting that took place in the last five years of PDP administration cost the nation dear hence, he would continue to talk about corruption in PDP’s administration.

“The corruption of the previous five years destroyed the economy,” he said. While featuring on a programme on Channels Television, Mr. Ologbondiyan cautioned the vice president to either “keep quiet” or present a list of PDP members who amassed

wealth through illegal means. “We want to caution the Vice-President that he should stop bandying figures. Anytime the Vice-President has the opportunity to face the camera, he begins to announce figures that he cannot support,” he said.

“Our advice to him is that as a professor of law, he knows the pathway to follow when you accuse somebody of corruption. We challenge him to stop bandying figures but he should mention names of those who he claimed corrupted themselves. And if he cannot mention their names and he cannot charge them to court and he cannot cause their arrest and he cannot even list these people, he should keep

quiet.” “Why can’t they come out and say in the last three years, we have done these, we have done that?

All they do is to come back and say the last 10 years of the PDP, last five years of PDP. Is that what Nigerians are asking?

“As far as we are concerned in PDP, until the Vice-President comes out clean and says that your party members by so names corrupted themselves to the tune of so amount, you don’t expect us as a party to begin to respond.”

Mr. Ologbondiyan said the APC government has not been able to convict any PDP member as the party is only engaging in ‘media trial.’

eral Government did not pay a dime for the award.

“It must be categorically stated here that the trip was totally privately funded and not one kobo was spent by the Nigerian government,” she said.

Despite DabiriErewa’s defence, the LeadersNG, in its report, alleged that the award was facilitated by Dabiri-Erewa, through a Ghanaian self-ac-

claimed foreign diplomat, Dr. Erieka Bennett.

According to the LeadersNG, a quick fact-check on Erieka Bennet revealed that she runs a non-governmental organisation, called, Diaspora African Forum, based in Accra, Ghana, and that she used her influence to facilitate foreign awards for unsuspecting African leaders.

It alleged that Bennett was contracted by Dabiri-Erewa to bring Martin Luther King Jnr’s family to Nigeria to present an award to Buhari.

In his reaction on his facebook page, An Associate Professor of Journalism and Emerging Media in the School of Communication & Media, Kennesaw State University in the USA, Farooq Kperogi, condemned the action which Buhari’s aides played in the saga.

Kperogi wrote, “Nigerian scam artists, led by Abike Dabiri, got some Black

American hustlers from Atlanta to pose as close relatives of the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jnr. and presented a fraudulent “Black History Award” to Buhari.

“First, Coretta King, Martin Luther King’s wife, died on January 30, 2006. I know Buhari gives appointments to dead people, but in America dead people don’t give awards. Second, Black History is celebrated in February, not March, in America and Canada.

“The extent the Buhari government is prepared to go to court embarrassment and ridicule Nigeria in its bid to conceal its crying incompetence is simply astounding.

Also, one Aminu Farooq, said, “This fraudulent award didn’t come to me as a surprise. Nigerian leaders are always vulnerable when it comes to these types of awards. My father had been chief executive officer in a Federal Government estab-

Fake MLK Award: Presidency Comes Under Ridicule

T

he social media space was a beehive of activities as Nigerians, big and small, took turns to unleash tantrums on the President Muhammadu Buhari led administration following an award purportedly given by the Martin Luther King Centre, and later debunked by the centre and the children of Martin Luther.

As pictures of the awards filtered into the space, the centre immediately tweeted, debunking and dissociating itself from the whole exercise The statement, released via @TheKingCenter, read, “The award given to President Buhari of Nigeria was not given by The King Center, at the request of The King Center or by the children of #MLK and CorettaScottKing.”

The development ignited a series of unfavourable comments from members of the public, espe-

cially when an online platform, LeadersNG, published on Thursday that the Nigerian government might have paid up to $3m to procure the ‘fake award’ for the President.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, had hurriedly issued a statement on Thursday to defend the award, saying the Fed-

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lishment in Nigeria.

“He said if he had paid attention to awards, he would have received hundreds of them during the period he occupied office.

There is a growing business industry in Nigeria that can be called the award industry.

Buhari’s case is only different from the ones I know about because his own award is ‘international.’ It is very sickening and sad.”

Another Facebook user, Isyaka Laminu Badamasi, said, “When a few nights ago my wife and I watched Channels TV News at 10 and saw the presentation of an award called the First Black History Month National Black Excellence and Exceptional Leadership Award by a certain falsely described ‘matriarch’ of the

King family, I smelt a rat. I told her this award is very strange though I couldn’t put my finger on why.”

Also, Musa Idris said, “The long and short of it is that the award is a big fraud, as fraudulent as Buhari’s integrity! My surprise is that it is Abike Dabiri whom we used to know and love in NTA of old that organised this heist and foisted it on the unaware President-in-atrance.” …It’s a National Disgrace - PDP However, the Peoples Democratic Party described the saga as a national disgrace and embarrassment.

The PDP, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, on Thursday

said the lie by Buhari’s handlers smacked of what it described as desperation by the presidency and the All Progressives Congress to procure international endorsement, ahead of the 2019 elections. Ologbondiyan said the embarrassing act had made the nation a laughing stock before the international community.

He said the nation was jolted when the centre distanced itself from the award and noted that, “the award given to President Buhari of Nigeria was not given by The King Centre, at the request of The King Centre or by the children of Martin Luther King jnr.”

He said, “It is now clear that this sinking, incompetent and deceptive

APC administration, in their desperation, can fabricate and stage-manage anything, including name-dropping of international figures and agencies, in their desperate attempt to delude Nigerians again, now that the 2019 general election is fast approaching. “Nigerians have discovered that having failed to gain any endorsement from reputable international figures such as Bill Gates, the APC and the Presidency have now cheapened the nation by resorting to this despicable act of name-dropping of worldrenowned human right activist, Dr. Martin Luther King jnr., further dragging down our once sterling image before the comity of nations. “The fact remains that not many Nigerians be-

lieved in the authenticity of the award in the first place, as the Buhari-led administration, by its undemocratic and anti-people proclivities, including records of violations of rights of citizens, is not deserving of any form of recognition by any human rights group, let alone the family of the world-acclaimed Martin Luther King Jnr. “Today, the PDP has been vindicated in its stand that the APC government is not only hypocritical but overtly deceptive and must not be trusted.”

In 2016, former President Goodluck Jonathan became the first African leader to be given the Martin Luther King human rights award.

ship, which shored up bilateral trade relationship to the tune of US$3 billion in 2006 from $384 million in 1998.

As the trade relationship develops, China secured four oil drilling li-

infrastructure development projects in Nigeria, and both nations agreed to a four-point plan to improve bilateral relations – a key component of which was to expand trade and investments in agriculture,

Lopsided Trade Relation: How China Feeds Fat off Nigeria

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he People's Republic of China, in recent times, has been considered one of Nigeria's closest allies and partners in terms of bilateral trade relations and strategic cooperation.

China is also one of Nigeria's important trading and export partners. According to a 2014 BBC World Service Poll, 85% of Nigerians reportedly view China's influence positively, with only 10% expressing a negative view, making Nigeria the most pro-Chinese nation in the world.

Nigeria and China established formal diplomatic relations on February 10, 1971. Relations between the two nations grew closer as a result of the international isolation and Western condemnation of Nigeria's military regimes (1970s-1998).

Nigeria has since become an important source of oil and petroleum for China's rapidly growing economy and Nigeria is looking to

China for help in achieving high economic growth; China has provided extensive economic, military and political support.

The importance of China to Nigeria’s devel-

By Eric Elezuo

when the Chinese President, Hu Jintao, made state visits to Nigeria, he addressed a joint session of the National Assembly of Nigeria – a very rare privilege. Both nations signed a memorandum of

opment necessitated that understanding on estab- censes and agreed to in- telecommunications, enin 2004 and again in 2006, lishing a strategic partner- vest $4 billion in oil and ergy and infrastructure de-

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velopment in a clear cut one sided growth. While Nigeria continued to receive, China has been giving, thereby ripping huge financial benefits from Nigeria in exchange Although Nigeria maintains trade relations with Taiwan, and has a representative office in Taipei, it issued a joint communiqué with China in 2005, reaffirming that Beijing was "the only legitimate government representing the whole of China and Taiwan is an unalienable

ernize its railway networks.

In 2005 Nigeria agreed to supply PetroChina with 30,000 per day barrels (4,800m3/d) of oil for $800 million. In 2006 the CNOOC purchased a share for $2.3 billion in an oil exploration block owned by a former defence minister. China has also pledged to invest $267 million to build the Lekki free trade zone near Lagos.

China’s growth in

balance of trade clearly favouring the Chinese. In 2011 Nigeria became the 4th largest trading partner of China in Africa and in the first 8 months of 2012 it was the 3rd.

Even though China and Nigeria have vastly different historical experiences and cultural traditions, Beijing has been remarkably successful in its efforts to promote Chinese culture in Nigeria.

Student exchanges and the proliferation of Chinese media in Nigeria have

bers of students and Nigerian government representatives. As more Nigerians learn Chinese, turnout to these events has certainly increase, bringing more financial benefit the way of the Chinese.

China’s special relationship with Nigeria, forged through deeprooted political bonds and cultural exchanges, is a major victory for its soft power campaign in Africa. As pro-Chinese sentiments in Nigeria are overwhelming at both the

and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, he said: “I can’t tell you how much until the day the loan will be signed.” Both countries will also be signing some bilateral agreements to strengthen their relationship that is all I can say for now.”

The loan was part of the about $5 billion the Federal Government intended sourcing abroad to cover part of its 2016 budget deficit. While borrowing, Buhari also signed “cooperation

part of its territory".

Furthermore, China had bought a controlling stake in the Kaduna oil refinery that would produce 110,000 barrels per day (17,000 m3/d), just as Nigeria has relinquished preference to Chinese oil firms for contracts for oil exploration in the Niger Delta and Chad Basin.

The level of China’s influence in the economy of Nigeria prompted the granting in 2006 of a loan $1 billion to Nigeria to help it upgrade and mod-

the Nigeria market led to the "flooding" of Nigerian markets with cheap Chinese goods which have reduced Nigeria’s Small and Medium Entrepreneurs and enterprises to almost nothing and adversely affecting domestic industries, especially in textiles.

The outcome is the closure of over 65 textile mills and the laying-off of not less than 150,000 textile workers over the course of a decade. In 2010, trade between the two countries was worth US$7.8 billion with the

been the primary mechanisms underpinning the increasing cultural synergy between the two countries with China having the upper hand as usual.

The Chinese film industry has been highly successful in promoting its showcase productions to a Nigerian audience as well. The December 2015 Chinese film festival in Lagos, featuring Chinese films like Chinese Zodiac, Confucius, and Monkey King, attracted large num-

elite and popular level, Nigeria is a perfect testing ground for future Chinese alliance-building efforts in other African countries in the years to come.

Recently, President Muhammadu Buhari was in China to sign a loan infrastructure projects deal worth about $2 billion and the ‘low interest’ loan was supposedly to be deployed to finance the N3 trillion deficits in the budget. According to the President’s Special Adviser on Media

agreements” which financial experts have said is laced with the trappings of master-servant relationship, the 1.5 interest rate notwithstanding. In the first eight months of 2017, China-Nigeria bilateral trade cooperation hit $2.7 billion dollars in line with the supposed fundamental and long-term interests of both countries.

According to The Consul General of the Peoples’ Republic of China to Nigeria, Mr.

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Chao Xiaoliang “ChinaNigeria bilateral trade volume reached 10 billion USD from January to August 2017, and investment from China reached $2.7 billion dollars.”

Even as China insists that the cooperation has tremendously helped in promoting peace, stability and development of Africa and the world, Nigeria is yet to have a solid base in the balance of payment and balance of trade status of both countries.

It is believe that the bilateral cooperation should result in a win-win affair; the case is different, as Nigeria remains at the receiving end without the grace of boasting of giving out anything in exchange. Most Chinese expatriates in Nigeria are in leadership position and call the shots as against Nigerians in China who are practically instruction takers. What these means is that the Chinese cooperate with Nigeria in many areas, dishes loans out and are in the forefront of executing whatever projects initiated. Nigeria is nowhere in the scheme of things other than to receive and continue to receive – no relative economic impact. The unbalance affair is what gave rise to the influx of substandard Chinese goods in Nigeria, which has basically silenced the SMEs. The Chinese CG has intimated that the two countries have gained fruitful achievements from their ‘friendly and mutually beneficial cooperation’ in various facets of the countries’ economy, the fact remains that one is far ahead of the other.

Consequently, by deepening China-Nigeria friendly relations, China has taken on arduous task of developmental strategies and has maintained very strong corresponding economic complementarities and enormous cooperative potential.

Nigeria is supposed to gain the benefits of the ‘Belt and Road Initiative’ as an ideal platform and framework to conduct cooperation with China and other countries if possible, in order to obtain more opportunities to strengthen her infrastructure, diversify her economy and integrate with the world economy. But the standpoint to achieving same has been ridiculed by its inability to call the shots in bilateral relations.

From 2014 to 2016, a total trade between China and other Belt and Road countries,

for no taker reaps. The Chinese provides the loan, and provides the execution, gets paid for the job, receives their loan back with interest and manages the project when and if completed. They have all the edges.

Until Nigeria learns to develop its SME, invest in the production and exportation of finished products, China will continue to feed fat off the nation.

The trade relation is heavily lopsided.

Reacting, an economist, Mr Emmanuel Nneke, opined that selfish interest of the political elites is the reason behind many of the

ground for Chinese government to achieve its objectives in Africa,” he said. He added: “However, in the process of eninto trade tering agreement with China, the government fails to look into how such agreement will benefit Nigeria maximally. The decision makers are only interested in what they will gain financially. Some of them have shares in many of these trade agreements. Take for instance importation of textile materials. Some government officials are involved in importation of these materials while some are shareholders in

ria bilateral trade hit N12.3 billion dollars in 2017. However, I am yet to see how Nigeria has benefitted from such trade. The questions we need to ask ourselves is how many Nigeria goods are allowed to enter China compare with Chinese goods that are flooding our markets? The money the Chinese government is making in Nigeria, how much of it are they investing back into our economy to create jobs? How many companies have they established? They get construction jobs here and repatriate the money to their country. Do they in-

Nigeria inclusive, exceeded 3 trillion US dollars and China’s investment in these countries surpassed $50 billion US dollars, detailing that Chinese companies have set up 56 economic cooperation zones in over 20 countries, and have generated 1.1 billion US dollar tax revenue and over 180,000 jobs. The fact remains that investment and production raises the bar of economic superiority, and china has remained in the forefront of investing, and that leaves Nigeria in the category of ‘crumb picker’.

Nigeria has remained the underdog in the bilateral trade relation

wrong economic decision made by government with developed countries such as China.

Hear him: “ There is nothing wrong if Nigeria has economic ties with other countries but in a situation where such ties does not favour us or we do not derive the same benefits as much as the other country does, this is where the problem lies.

China, being a superpower economically sees Africa as an avenue to rival United States in terms of trade, and Nigeria being the most populous country on the continent and a major trade partner with United States, is an attractive

Chinese owned companies in the country.

The influx of Chines made materials ranging from building materials to household items, textile, shoes, bags e.t.c, have resulted in the low patronage of our locally made goods thereby killing our local industries. Yet government turns blind eyes to these issues.”

Another financial expert, Adewale Adeoye said the volume of trade between Nigeria presently stood at $2.7billion, adding that in spite of such huge trade transaction, Nigeria has benefitted little from it.

“The China-Nige-

vest in the entertainment, sports or SMEs sector?

What impact do they have on our education sector?

These are issues for concern.”

He advised that the federal government needs to renegotiate the trade agreement in a way that it will be fair to both parties.

“What the government needs to do is to ensure there is balance in benefits that accrues to both parties. Lopsided bilateral relationship as it is now will do us no good. The Minister of Trade and Investment must renegotiate on behalf of the government and agreement that will suit both parties,” he advised.

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Events

Rotary Club Of Ikeja South Execute Star Project

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s part of its mission to support the less privileged in the society, Rotary Club of Ikeja south has donated over 400 school bags with writing materials to the pupils of Community Primary School, Temidire, Olambe, Ogun State.

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The event kicked off with the introduction of guests to the high table and followed by the recitation of the National Anthem. After the recitation of the Rotary song, the President, Mr. Azuh Arinze gave his speech. In his speech , he commended the club

members and expressed deep satisfaction that the Club had continue to promote and contributing massively to the educational sector of the society, while also urging the beneficiaries to face their studies squarely and make use of the items effectively.

Founder of Temidire Community Primary School, Mr. Adewunmi Fawole

Members of the Community were full of praises for the club's continued support. An elder statesman of Olambe community, Mr. Alarape Adewunmi Fawole, also expressed the Community's appreciation for the Club's unwavering commitment

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and support. The event witnessed Special Rhymes from pupils of Community Primary Shool, Temidire, Appreciation speeches from members of the community as well as Words of encouragement from the Grand Patron, Alhaji Ismail Bello.

Rotn. Akinwunmi Ismail Bello giving his speech www.thebossnewspapers.com

Events

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Cross session of dignitaries

Dr. Julius Nwokoro distributing gifts to pupils

Miss Azuh Lilian & Mrs. Edith Azuh - Arinze

Mr. Okey Mohay Anochuna & Ovation Magazine Editor Michael Effiong

Unit Command, FRSCN Otta, J.K Oguntoyinbo

Mr. Kunle Olume

Pa Emmanuel Olufemi Elegbede Goes Home In Style.

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By Eric Elezuo

T

wo things make people talk about the departed with fondness and they include the age at departure and how well the deceased lived.

For Pa Emmanuel Elegbede, who passed on at the age of 89.

C o n s e q u e n t l y,

friends, family members, colleagues and well wishers came out enmasses to bid him farewell. The three phased burial started with a wake keep service at the Darlington hall, industrial Way, Ilupeju, with close members of family and

friends in attendance.

The church service followed at the Araromi Baptist Church, Moloney street, Obalende before a grand reception took place at Harbour Point, Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island. At the event were first class dignitaries in-

Aremo Olusegun Osoba with Mrs. Elizbeth Elegbede (widow) www.thebossnewspapers.com

Photos: Ken Ehimen

cluding Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and his wife, Dolapo; APC National Leader, Sen. Bola Ahmed Tinubu; Former Ogun State Governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun; Sen. Tokunbo Afikuyomi, Femi falana

SAN, Lagos SSG, Tunji Bello, Aremo Olusegun Osoba, Osun state Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, Chief Adebisi Akande, Sen. Musiliu Obanikoro, Mr. Jimi Agbaje, Hon Dele Alake and many others.

Events

Pastor Danjuma Tafabalewa

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Rev. Dr. Shola Idowu

Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo

Sen. Musiliu Obanikoro

Hon. Dele Alake with His Excellency, Yemi Osinbajo

Mr. Jimi Agbaje with Elegbede family

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Former Governor Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel

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Minister of information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed and his wife

Mrs. Elizbeth, widow with Mrs. Bose Adebiyi

Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose with Sen. Gbenga Ashafa

Engr. & Mrs. Kuti

Hon. Dele Alake, Mrs. Elizbeth, widow with Bose Adebiyi

Hon. Dele Alake with Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf

Sen. Tukunbo Afikuyomi with

Mrs. Elizebeth Elegbede, wife of Late Pa Emmanuel Elegbede

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South East: In search of Political Freedom Page 23

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by Eric Elezuo

W

hen the events of Nigeria’s political independence began to unfold in the late fifties culminating in the proper independence in 1960, it looked very obvious that the south easterners of Igbo extraction were sure to lead the political affairs of the country. With the likes of Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Matthew Mbu, Michael Okpara and others, the stage was set for the very enlightened Igbo men and women to dominate the political climax of the Nigerian nation.

But the expected was not to be as the dominance of the sect was cut short with the ambition of the Northerners who took up the mantle immediately, relegating the Igbo race to playing the second fiddle then; a situation that has today worsened, rele-

gating the race further down the lane to utmost oblivion with the coming of President Muhmmadu Buhari.

Since the post-independence era, leading to the first coup in 1966 by Major Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu, the Igbo race has lost its pride of place in the affairs of the Nigerian nation, following distantly behind the northerners and the westerners, and recently, the people of the South South, which has always been known as the minority.

In 1960, the formidable, but unfavourable alliance of the National Council of Nigerian Citizens (NCNC) led by Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe and the Northern Peoples Congress (NPC) led by Alhaji Almadu Bello, the Sarduana of Sokoto created the

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way for the in balance in political leanings where Azikiwe and his bunch of followers, majorly of Igbo extracts, played second fiddle to the NPC. This imbalance was to continue in 1963 when Nigeria became a republic. Dr. Azikiwe became the ceremonial President while the north produced Abubakar Tafawa Balewa as the Prime Minister, with all the powers.

Events came to a head with the coup of 1966 which saw the killing of top government officials, notably from the north, and the counter coup six months later which claimed the life of General Aguiyi Ironsi, the first and last Igbo man to hold the exalted position of first citizen in Nigeria.

The holocaust that followed afterwards in the

north further demoralized the average Igbo man, and created an untold fear in him towards believing that someone else owns the entity called Nigeria.

This therefore, prompted the young Major in the Nigerian army, Odimegwu Ojukwu, to secede from the entity called Nigeria, creating another, called Biafra; a move that was rebuffed by Nigeria, supported by most major world powers. And for 30 months, the bloody struggle to either keep or destroyed Biafra was undertaken. In the end, Biafra was subdued!

Though the administration of General Yakubu Gowon then pledged total reconciliation, the South easterners have felt neglected political and otherwise since then.

However, on two different occasions, the geo-political zone has produced number two citizens; first in 1979 during the Second Republic with Dr. Alex Ekwueme as the Vice President to Alhaji Shehu

Shagari and in 1985 with Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe, during the Administration of General Ibrahim Babangida. On those occasions, the administrations were truncated; the first through a military coup, and the second through un-ceremonial removal.

Since then the region has been embroiled in the search for political freedom and relevance in an entity that ‘scarcely recognized their existence’.

Consequently, the craze to join the party in power has become the in thing as the politicians of the region has joined the maddening crowd in the quest to cross carpet from one ruling party to another. While on the other hand, remnant groups have been formed to bring about secession from the ‘geographical expression’ better known as Nigeria. This is the reason the most vocal of all secessionist groups ever formed, the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) led by the maverick Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, came into

Opinion

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existence.

Recently in 2016, a former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, former Minister of Labour and Productivity, Dr. Emeka Worgu and former House of Representatives Speaker, Agunwa Anakwe, defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Enugu.

Others who defected were Senators Emma Agboti, Chris Adighije, Nkechi Nwogu and Ifeanyi Ararume. Senator Jim Nwobodo, Nweke Gbazuagu Gbazuagu, former Imo State House of Assembly Speaker, Benjamin Uwajumogu, and Dr. Ezekiel Izuogu also joined the ruling party.

On hand to receive the decampees, which has hitherto become the name of most Igbo politicians, were chieftains of the APC in South-East including the national vicechairman and convener of the meeting, Emma Eneukwu; National Organising Secretary of the party, Senator Osita Izunaso; National Auditor, George Moghalu; Deputy

camping according to one of the South East political Emma heavyweight, Eneukwu, is principally for the benefit of becoming politically relevant, saying that most of the juicy positions due the South-East were “being denied us because of our poor performance in 2015 elections”.

“With the array of prominent politicians from South-East joining us now, we shall work hard this time and turn things around,” he assured.

Enekwu’s assertion has been an age long thing which happens dispensation after dispensation in the political circuit, yet nothing of repute since to take place.

The frustration of the political alienation has therefore created agitations and agitators for the defunct state of Biafra.

According to a political analyst, Dike Uguru, based in Aba, the rise of various State of Biafra agitators is as a result of the hard to swallow knowledge that nothing positive can happen to the Southeasterner again in the Nigerian society so the

National Women Leader, Tina Adike and the standard bearer of the party in Enugu State, Okey Ezea, men and women who at one time or another been in the PDP. The reason for this de-

desire to have a separate state.

“The frustration of alienation is the only reason for the renewed call for the state of Biafra. The Igbo man is sadly aware that there is no future for

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lord, who claimed to have come to give the Igbo man identity. APGA, as a party, is only alive in Anambra State where Chief Willie Obiano is the governor.

The other states that make up the five states in the region are also separated along party lines. While

would be actualized? The easterners are not just ready to free themselves.”

With the sound of discordant tunes coming from all quarters of the South East, stakeholders believe that it will take forever before the political liberty the region so much de-

man to gain the political Rochas Okorocha of Imo freedom he so much de- State belongs to the APC, Dave Umahi, Okezie Iksired.” peazu, and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Ebonyi, Abia and Enugu states respectively belong to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

This inability to forge one common front in spite of the of the existence of the Ohaneze Ndigbo, a pan-Igbo cultural organization, led to the formation of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) led by Ralph Uwazuruike.

Uwazuruike’s movement was still in existence when Nnamdi Kanu founded the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

Hear Uguru: “One would have expected that Nnamdi Kanu would meet Ralph Uwazuruike, since he was there before him, It will be recalled and robbed minds as to that if not for the home how their quest could be town of Odumegwu actualized. But because Ojukwu, who founded the everyone wants to be the All Progressives Grand very leader, that was not Alliance (APGA), no done, and today, both are other state considered it at each other’s throat. Tell wise to follow the war- me how the mandate

mand will belong reality.

“I think this issue of political liberty is within our finger tips, and we are busy searching for it far away from where it is.

There are sovereign governors among us, who have been bestowed with political powers but lack something very minute but important – political will power; the governors lack political willpower. If they do, they would have come together, not minding party affiliation, and forge a way forward for the geo-political region,” said Innocent Egbuchu, a Political Scientist.

He added that though it is fair in all its ramification if the Southeast is given a shot at the Presidency, they don’t however, need the Presidency to do their region well. It is only then that the expected desire of the region for 2023 will become a reality as in the word of the National Vice Chairman of the APC, Emma Eneukwu: “We believe by 2023, the President of a united Nigeria will be a Nigerian of Igbo extraction from the South-East.”

him in the Nigerian entity, politically, so the desire to create his own state,” he said.

However, he added, “the disunity and lack of trust that has come to become a trademark among the collective body will surely not allow the average Igbo

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Sermon

THE PURPOSE OF LIFE

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By Babatunde Jose

“Through the wise ordering of Creation man has been given the power to shape conditions for himself with the Power of the Creator. Happy is he who uses it only for good! But woe unto him who succumbs to the temptation to use it for evil!” ― Oskar Ernst Bernhardt (Abdrushin): In the Light of Truth When we ask: "What is the goal and purpose of life?" And we get many different answers; it is because people are confused; they don't really know. Is our purpose in this world simply to eat, sleep, dress, work, acquire some material things and enjoy ourselves? Is this our purpose? Why are we born?

What is the object of our existence? What is the wisdom behind the creation of man and this tremendous universe?

Man, by default and by nature, contemplates life and death and his own relevance and place in this vast and expanding universe. Are we here and now by chance or are we for a purpose?

Though there is complete agreement between science and religion about our biological nature and our interconnectedness with the rest of the animal world: But there is a sharp divide and divergence of opinion between biology and philosophy, religion and materialism when the destiny of Man is the focus.

It is also impossible to explain human behavior in accordance with the theory of natural selection or, in other words, is he tailored according to Darwinian logic. There are so many dimensions of Man that simply defy any kind of Darwinian reductionism and the popular attempt of biological determinism to explain man's nature.

It is not so much the physical attributes that differentiate Man from Ape. It is his

inner world of cult, prohibition, taboos, beliefs and superstitions, aesthetic creativity and spiritual anxieties, and his relentless quest for meaning and purpose that make the difference between Man and ape.

Man shows an innate sense of right and wrong irrespective of culture, language and faith. It is because the human soul is the theatre of God and his conscience is His signature. Man is not only a physical being; he is also a spiritual being. There are two states of man, his body and his soul.

The longing for God, the quest for meaning, an innate sense of right and wrong, selfawareness, death consciousness, freedom of choice and free will, the power of articulation, willingness to self-sacrifice and aesthetic, ethical and spiritual concerns are some of qualities of Man that materialists cannot comprehend .

Man is not here by chance but for a purpose. What does the dignity of Man mean?

It means that Man is different and human life is sublime and sacred. Allah said: “I have created the jinn and humankind only for My worship.” (Quran 51:56) However, the concept of worship has a deeper meaning, as espoused by the prophets of God including Jesus; worship, according to the final revelation, means obedient submission to the will of God: In other words, ‘keeping the commandments.

The equality of Man is also a metaphysical concept and appears to be mere wishful thinking if we can't accept the fact that we are created quintessentially equal by one God. If people are judged by their talents, physical attributes, charm, grace and level of accomplishments, certainly they are un-

equal; but if we accept the presence of a divine spirit that radiates equally in all of them, then we are equal.

The search for the Absolute and the innate sense of right and wrong are the striking features of Man. The first Man was born the moment he directed his gaze onto the firmament, started wondering about himself and his surroundings and began his relentless search for God: Even the Cave Man was no less spiritual. Man is therefore, naturally inclined to be a believer. God-consciousness is deeply imprinted and soft wired into our DNA. Man is not linear, his progress is also not and there is a steady regression in the fields of art, culture, religion and philosophy. Just as science and technology is consistently progressing, better means of communications, the Internet and all, the spiritual quality of Man is suffering a decline as a result of his aggrandizement. Today, man spends less time to reflect on himself and his God; hence he has moved away from the Source and is prone to much deviancy in both behavior and character.

At the root of the chasm between religion and materialism is the question of Man's place in the universe. The religious view is that Man has another dimension beyond his biological existence and his presence here is with a purpose and for a mission.

Man still remains unknown to the men of both science and religion and the correct balance between faith and reason is the way forward, but how to reach and maintain that dynamic balance is a challenge to everyone and every community...

It is said that Man’s lust for the treasures of life began

with the offer and his acceptance of the Apple in the Garden of Eden. He became conscious of the effect of the charm of the woman and their intentional exploitation. “With this began the cultivation of the intellect, with its accompanying manifestations of greed, falsehood and oppression, to which men finally subjected themselves completely, thus of their own free will making themselves slaves of their instrument. But with the intellect as ruler it inevitably followed that, in accordance with its very nature, they also chained themselves firmly to time and space, thereby losing the ability to grasp or experience anything above time and space, such as everything spiritual and ethereal. Abdrushin But now at last we are very near the hour when the next great epoch in Creation sets in: The birth of the fully spiritualized man! Then there will be no more room for the oppressive materialist, chained to time and space. He will be a stranger in all the lands, homeless. He will wither away and perish like chaff that is sifted from the wheat. Take care that in this sifting you are not found too light! Abdrushin With the end of the Holy Week and the ushering of Eastertide, we call on all those engrossed in greed, falsehood, and oppression to seek and emulate the abiding words of Jesus in Matthew 19:16-17 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?

17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good?

There is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.

Barka Juma’at, Happy Easter and a happy weekend

Gele Styles That

Fashion

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Stand You Out

magining this present fashion world, people are gradually going back to preserving culture and heritage. Stepping into occasions like weddings, burials, investiture, convocation, coronation, birthdays, house warming and the likes, people dress gorgeously in native attire. Not only that, they complement it with accessories like beads, chains, various shades make ups and the most hilarious part is their head tie known in local parlance as Gele.

Gele is a cloth for covering head for women. In other words, it is a specific head scarf, widely used by women predominantly in Western and Southern Nigeria. It is a part of the dressing which has lately become one of the most popular fashion accessories for women of

Adedayo Christiana

different ages, and it is worn as a matching piece. Gele is made from different and special fabrics like: sego, jubilee, basin, damask, asooke, Ankara, brocade etc.

The gele does not just end in the kind of fabric made from, some women also go extra mile to design the fabrics to their taste and this designing includes the stoned gele, beading gele and sequined gele.

Speaking of the amazing styles these gele are folded and warped on women’s’ head includes some of the popular ones which are: Small gele, Sideway gele, Infinity pleats gele, take bow gele, icon gele, butterfly gele, double gele, knot gele, aso-oke gele, orente gele, rose gele etc. Trying these styles will leave you wawoo! And draw attention your way ‌surely!

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10 Cancer Causing Foods You Must Avoid

Health

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s you well know, cancer is a very serious problem. Not only does it take a mental, emotional, financial and physical toll on you, but it also profoundly affects those close to you.

Because of that, you need to do all you can to prevent it from taking a hold on your body.

Part of the prevention is avoiding these 10 commonly used and widely available foods that either contain carcinogenic substances, or are suspected of causing cancer themselves.

1. Canned tomatoes Fresh tomatoes are one of your best allies in the fight against cancer.

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The same cannot be said about the canned variety. Because of their inherent acidity, canned tomatoes have the bad habit of leaching the BPA from the lining of the cans they are stored in.

2. Farmed salmon As with any other force-fed fish, farmed salmon is pumped full of chemicals, antibiotics and pesticides.

And if that is not enough, it’s been shown that farmed salmon meat contains high levels of PCBs (that’s plastics), mercury and dioxins (carcinogenic toxins). If it’s not freshly caught, don’t eat it.

3. Highly salted, pickled or smoked foods Nitrates

and/or nitrites are widely used as food preservatives by the food industry. Although they do not directly cause cancer, they can react with other chemicals in the body to form the Nnitroso compound, which is directly associated with an elevated risk of cancer.

4.

Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) Although not shown to directly cause cancer, most GMOs can have undesired effects on the human body, including increased incidence of cancers. This is due both to their genetic structure, which the body is not prepared to assimilate, and to the chemicals they are treated

with during production. If possible, avoid GMOs completely, and try to eat healthy, clean, organic-certified foods.

5. Microwave popcorn Word of advice: don’t eat it! Even if it is much easier to prepare, you should stick to popping classic corn in a pan with some butter or ghee. Microwave popcorn bags contain perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), known to contribute to infertility in women and to raise the risk of liver, pancreas, kidney, bladder and testicular cancers.

6. Potato chips If you start reading the list of ingredients on a potato chip bag, you are in for a long lec-

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8. Refined sugars By feasting on foods containing refined sugars, you’re basically asking for cancer. Nowadays, sugar is in most of the food products available out there.

Aside from heightening insulin resistance, refined sugars are the food of choice for cancer cells. Read the labels carefully, and choose foods without refined sugars (that includes sorbitol, maltitol and other chemicals ending in -ol).

9. Soda drinks We’ve just said that refined sugars are really bad. Well, take a lot of refined sugar, add water, carbon dioxide and a bunch of other carcinogenic chemicals and you get soda drinks.

10. Vegetable oils You will find high levels of Omega-6 fatty acids in all vegetable oils. In small doses, they are not harmful, especially when combined in the right ratio with Omega-3 and Omega-9 fatty acids, but in higher doses they can cause serious health problems: heart disease and an increased risk of certain cancers, especially skin cancers.

ture. Industrially produced potato chips contain artificial flavorings, preservatives, additives and other chemicals your body really doesn’t need. Also, because they are fried in vegetable oils at high temperatures, they contain acrylamide, a known carcinogenic substance, also found in cigarettes.

7. Processed meats These are a definite no-no.

They usually contain a lot of chemicals and preservatives (including sodium nitrate) very harmful to your whole body.

If you want meat, get a fresh cut and prepare it yourself, at home. This way, Culled from Betyou know what you terme are eating.

Owu Water Falls: Wonder in the Wilderness

Tourism

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Compiled by Donald Asakitikpi

K

wara state prides in itself, the highest and one of the utmost spectacular natural waterfalls in West Africa, located in the Ifelodun Local Government area. Owu Water Fall stands as a magnificent natural wonder nestled in the naturally beautified environs of Owa-Kajola. However, this but can only be treasured and quite stimulating by sightseeing. The water curtain is 120m above stream level and cascades, 330 feet down a cliff with rocky protrusions to a lake of ice cold water below. The water falls is well surrounded with a beautiful natural atmosphere and hills which make the sightseeing act an unforgettable experience.

The waterfall is characterized with fall of ice cold water, beautiful rocky part and walk ways, and an evergreen surrounding. This

beautiful scene is composed of stretch of mountains outspreading to Ekiti and Kogi States, which makes for an eye-catching environment to visitors and offers them the opportunity to participate in the sighting of creatures, such including birds, monkeys as well as reptiles. The natural wildlife has turned the falls into a delight for lovers of nature. At some point, rumour had it that the falls bred giant snakes and birds that threatened the lives Owu Water Falls is always at its best during rainy season which spans 200 meters across, making it a wonderful vacation spot. For tourists, there is an experience of a fine mix of awesome attractions and access to top quality accommodation as Owu Falls offers a range of quality assessed accommodation with good quality restaurants.

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Meet Female Celebrities With Crashed Marriages

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The

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M

any have argued that the entertainment industry has no room for sincere marriages

after children were involved.

INI EDO Ini Edo Ekim is an actress, producer and

while a great many others have debunked the assessment. It is on record that so many female entertainers have called it quit with their marriages for one irreconcilable differences or another. However, the likes of Joke Sylva, Chioma Chukwura, Mercy Johnson and Omotola JoladeEkeinde are still waxing strong in marriage just as the likes of Chika Ike, Tonto Dike and many others have given up on the institution. Check out a few entertainment figures who had failed to handle marriage even

politician born on April 19, 1982. Since she began her film career in 2000, she has featured in over 100 movies. She is known for her role in the movie, Worlds Apart.

She is an award winning actress. She delved into politics in 2016 when she was appointed the Special Assistant to the AkwaIbom State government on Culture and Tourism by Governor Udom Gabriel Emmanuel. She was married to Philip Ehiagwina from 2008 to 2014. She is now divorced and single.

To the onlookers, Ini’s

www.thebossnewspapers.com

By Eric Elezuo

six years sojourn in marriage was unprecendented as many never expected the marriage to last that long. Today, the young woman is back on the spinster’s list.

IYABO OGUNRO

Alice Iyabo Ogunro formerly known as Alice Iyabo Ojo is a filmmaker, actress and director, born on December 21, 1977. She has featured in more than 150 films, 14 of which she produced on her own. One of her movies, Silence, which featured Doris Simeon, Fathia Balogun, Alex Usifo amongst others was premiered in January, 2015. She is known for movies like Arinzo, Silence and Beyond Disability. After she got married to a Lagos-based marketer, she took a break from her busy career.

The union was blessed with a son and a daughter. However, she is now divorced from their father. She has now officially dropped her former husband's surname, Ojo. It is confirmed that the actress is finding solace in England.

TOKE MAKINWA Toke Makinwa is an

On-Air Personality, Youtube Vlogger, Television Host and Bestselling Author born on November 3, 1984.

She is a television presenter on Moments with Mo on the EbonyLife TV net-

work. She owns a Youtube channel called TokeMoments.

She is also known for being a co-host on Rhythm 93.7 FM’s The Morning Drive.

She has also been a brand ambassador for brands like Maggi, Payporte, Ciroc and Mecran Cosmetics.

She is a best-selling author of On Becoming, a book which served as a platform for the media personality to shed the light on her failed marriage with Maje Ayida. On 15 January 2014, Toks as she is fondly called had a private wedding ceremony with her lover of eight years, Maje Ayida. However in 2015, she had a divorce from her marriage which was caused by a scandal revealing that her husband had impregnated his ex-girlfriend.

Since then, the Youtube Vlogger has remained single and dedicated to her work.

FATHIA BALOGUN. Fathia Williams Balogun as she is formally called is an actress, di-

rector and producer.

She was born on the February 5, 1969. She is a Delta state indigene from Ethiope East local government. The 48 year old award winning actress is known for movies like Ishanna, Ohun Oko Somida and Awawu. She was married to Saheed Balogun, her fellow Nigerian actor. The marriage was blessed with three kids before it headed for the rocks. Since then, the light-skinned actress has remained single and focused on her work.

DORIS SIMEON

Doris Simeon is an award winning Nollywood actress born and bred in the Ojota area of Lagos State. The

Yoruba and English actress started her successful career in the popular Papa Ajasco series. However the PEFT institute graduate got her big break in the movie, Oloju Ede. She is now known for movies like Modupetemi and Ten Million Naira. The light skinned actress got married to Nollywood producer, Daniel Ademinokan.

The union was blessed with a beautiful son, David. The marriage however, crashed in May 2013.

Entertainment

Watch Me Unleash Musical Page 30

The

BOSS NEWSPAPER

Talents from the Slum – K-Merit

T

By Eric Elezuo

he musical airwill waves definitely be lacking in content without the contributions of this maverick songster, Kabir Abodunrin, better known by his stage, K-Merit.

In this interview, KMerit revealed the details that have shot him to the level of international just less than three years into the industry.

Could you kindly trace your background?

I was born as Kabir Abodunrin on February 17, 1993.

Today I am better known by my stage name - K-Merit. I am Yoruba speaking Nigerian from Idiroko, one of the border towns in Nigeria; Idiroko. I am a qualified Economist having studied Economics at the Universite Polytechnique Internationale du Benin, Cotonou. I graduated in 2016.

Well, I have told by not a few who has seen me perform or heard my music that I am a prolific artiste, and apart from my mother tongue – Yourba, I also speak English Language, Hausa, and Jamaican Patois.

Apart from music, what else do you do I am a professional a calligrapher I addition to drawing.

All in all, I am a very creative person as I am proficient with whatever has to do with the use of my imagination.

I had to some-

how deviate from what we do at Idiroko where I come from. There, the people mostly smuggle to earn a living. This

is because we live in a nation where border towns are deprived of social amenities and industrial development.

The government seems to be concerned about customs excise duties/tariffs and nothing more.

I have therefore taken

it upon myself to let the world know that we are talented, educated, and exposed, and with a bit of government attention, we

can do more than what we are doing today. Watch me as I unleash talents from my slum.

What kind of songs do you sing and what impact do you hope to make?

Basically, I do dancehall and Afrobeat sounds. The intention is to preach harmony and love through my music.

When and why did you start playing?

I started doing full time music in shortly after my graduation from the university in 2016. I had to exercise enough patience before going into the musical field, and in between, I worked hard to obtain educational degree before exploring my talents and passion. This was even made more possible because I have a principled father who believes so much in education. He has been very supportive.

My voyage into music also has a root in my love for unique fashion style. I am a fashion freak. Even before I started music as a career, many people had asked me one common question "Are you into entertainment?” They said I dress like one.

This persistent question made me discover myself. People saw it in me even before I realized it, and when I finally did, I knew I had to use it to preach unity, love and peace.

Who was your biggest influence?

While grow-

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ing up, I listen to a lot of Bob Marley, Fela Kuti, Sean Paul, 2face, and they seemed to have shaped my outlook to the musical world.

How have you developed your career and who or what are your greatest assistance?

In the course of my sojourn, I have come to realize that I alone can decide to succeed or fail based on the determination I have and the decisions I take. All in all, my family, Olisa Adibua’s mentorship and fatherly advice, as well as my team, Crystals Media Empire, and my fans have been a pillar of assistance in my road to success.

What strategies do you use in seeking out opportunities to project your work I am an Economist, remember. I know the basic tool of every venture is to always minimise cost so as to maximise output or profit. This has been the reason I always optimize my musical parameters. Opportunities don’t come after artistes rather the artiste, especially up and coming ones like us stay alert to identify the opportunity when it comes, and grab its full potentials. I place my strength and weakness side by side and weigh every option.

Secondly, as a supplier of exceptional musical content, I had to understand the kind of people I am relating to. Again, I conduct researches about the market I am dealing with in terms of the hows, wheres and whys. I know how to make optimal use of scarcity. I knew Jamaican patois music is appreciated all around the globe, but there are few artists who deliver their message in this genre. So with the privileged ability to speak Patois, I quickly joined this group. I knew it would be easier to be heard outside the country. I kept on churning out borderless music, and in no time, I started gaining support from outside the country; even before I was known as an artist in Nigeria.

I didn’t just sing and wait, I also wrote a lot of proposals to music labels, and before one could say ‘jack’, Bentley Records New York was on my trail.

Today, I have a Publishing/Distribution deal with them.

Is there anybody in the industry both home and abroad that you may wish to do ‘collabo’ www.thebossnewspapers.com

with

Yes, Burna Boy because of his versatility. Again, there is Stromae (Belgian Musician) so as to hit the European (especially francophone) market. Damian Marley is also on my list so as to produce an epic prophetic song.

Which of your songs can you de-

afterwards has been massive.

This was what inspired me to do the song ‘Fame’. In this song, I explained all the bitterness and sweetness that my musical career has enjoyed. How the value for freedom is being yearned for, but it is too late.

How do you rate the Nigerian

scribe as a hit and what inspired the song I can confidently say ‘Fame’. FAME is the single I dropped after the success of GIMME LOVE. It all started when my previous work made me visit Beat 99.9FM. I was interviewed by Olisa Adibua on the morning rush. It was a dream come true, because as a kid, I had enjoyed watching Olisa on the terrestrial TV. Everything that happened to me that day was remarkable. The treatment and hospitality I have been receiving

music industry?

There has been a massive improvement. Music generates gross revenue in Nigeria now, compared to some years back.

Back then, youths were scolded for choosing music instead of white collar jobs. African sounds, especially Nigeria sounds, are being recognized in the world today. The likes of Olamide, Reminisce, Wizkid, Davido are better appreciated outside the country. They enjoy sold out concerts all around the globe.

How challenging is the music

industry?

It is as challenging as any other industry, and because it is a creative based industry, government should invest more in it.

Good policies should be formulated and implemented to deal with piracy. Piracy is killing pure arts. Knowing the right plug is the problem, and this makes upcoming artist suffer a lot during the climb to greatness.

What should we expect from KMerit in the coming years?

I intend to churn out more quality music this year. The Video to Fame drops this April, which is in a few weeks’ time. I therefore, enjoin all my fans and music lovers to be on the lookout.

I will also be dropping an Extended Play (EP) later in the year.

Do you wear tattoos or have something odd like most musicians (Laughs) well, there is a sort of tattoo on my chest, but I already had it even before I dreamt of stepping into the booth.

Let me tell you a little about my tattoo: My tattoos; my life! I see this ink on my chest a highlights of my whole life.

My tattoos; my pride!! It reminds me that I am surrounded by an amazing family.

My tattoos; my strength!!! It motivates me in millions of ways whenever I have a reason to quit.

The "Hail Mary" stands for my mother (Mariam), she was a virtuous lady.

The "Proverb III: XXIV" stands for the day she left this cruel world - March 24, 2008, which happens to be an Easter Monday.

The five boxes stand for me and my four siblings. It reminds me that all my mum’s seeds are going to be stars in their own right.

Any advice for as many that will wish to tow your path Yes, they must realize that they path to glory is very challenging because you are not the only one on it. But with focus, determination, commitment and discipline, one can achieve any good thing he wishes to achieve.

So be focused.

Where do we see K-Merit in the next five years At the top! At the very top!

MARKS OF A GOOD CHURCH

Faith

- Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching

Ref:Hebrews 10:25null Don’t just assume any close to your house should be alright. When you want to choose what hospital or school to attend, you don’t just pick the one closest to you.

Although you’re more likely to choose one that friends or family members attend, that is not your major motivation.

If you care about the standard of education and health care you and your family are subject to, how about the standard of spiritual health and education?

That said, today, we will discuss one thing that you must look out for before deciding what church to attend; it is the understanding of the gospel portrayed there.

This is both fundamental and crucial.

Your understanding of the gospel is the centrepiece of your Christian Faith. Jesus died for our sins. Those who believe in Him have eternal life, not by any qualification of theirs but by faith. To be indifferent about it is to betray the history of the Church and to despise the labours of our heroes of faith many of whom gave their lives for the gospel.

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it

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is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9). Don’t give this up for anything in the world!

DO THIS: Before choosing a local assembly, investigate its understanding of the gospel.

Another thing worth considering when choosing a church is its theology about money.

Paul’s instruction in Titus 1:7 is clear. “As God’s steward, an overseer must be above reproach — not self-absorbed, not quick tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not greedy for money.” He also reiterates this in 1 Tim 1: 3.

Jesus never asked anyone to ‘sow’ into his life so he could bless or heal them. This does not mean that you should not give to your church or to your pastor. The bible actually instructs us to do so. However, when greed is the motivation, please run far away. We are urged in 1 Timothy 6: 3-5 to withdraw from anyone who teaches that godliness is a means to financial gain. In verses 6 & 7, Paul the Apostle admonishes us thus: “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.”

There are all manner of extremes out there. Some even say that people who do not tithe will not make it to

heaven. Beloved, we are saved by grace through faith alone. Nothing we do can qualify us for heaven. However, we see an even greater example of generosity in the New Testament, with people selling all that they had and giving towards the work of the gospel. So, you see, the issue is not with giving but with the theology of money.

On a general note, any church that appears to make making money 'the aim' should be avoided. That's an express instruction from Paul the Apostle himself.

If week in week out, you cannot tell if you're in church or in an entrepreneurship class, you should be wary. Church is not designed to feed your pocket or fuel your covetousness, but to grow your spirit.

DO THIS: Choose a local assembly that does not make money the aim.

Some people think that they should choose a church based on their countenance.

After all, if you’re such a quiet person, shouldn’t you just attend a quiet church where there isn’t much ‘Holy Ghost noise?’ No you shouldn’t. You should attend church based the criteria given by the word of God. One criterion of a New Testament church is Charisma. The New Testament Church lives in the fulfillment of the prophecy of Joel. Peter quoted it thus: "And it

shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon ALL FLESH: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams" (Acts 2:17).

Gone are the days when only Kings, Priests, prophets and judges were filled with the Spirit. Gone is the day that young man ran to report to Moses about Eldad and Medad prophesying, to which he responded: "...would God that all the LORD'S people were prophets, and that the LORD would put his spirit upon them!" (Numbers 11:2729). Moses’ prayer is answered in Christ. We no longer go to church to be spectators but to participate. Paul says: "How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, EVERY ONE OF YOU hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying" (1 Cor 14:26).

DO THIS: Attend a Church that fans the flame of your charismatic ministry.

Another thing you must look out for in a church is mission-mindedness. I have always said that the vision of every church is Matthew 28:19 rebranded. The instruction of the Lord is clear in that text. It says: "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of

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the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost."

There is a difference between being ambitiously desirous of a ministry empire and being truly mission minded. Does the church emphasize your responsibility to the great commission? Some have said horrible things like, the days of one-on-one evangelism are past.

They say your results should do the talking.

But that is not the instruction Jesus gave us.

His instruction is that we go into the world and preach the gospel. You have a personal ministry of evangelism as a Christian. It is your pastor’s job to equip you for it.

“And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ;” (Ephesians 4: 12,13).

You must leave church every time with one mission in mind-To make Christ known. We must never attend Church for sentimental reasons. We must make sure that our fellowship with other believers fulfills the purpose that God intends.

DO THIS: Attend a church that is missionminded. If you already do, get involved in the activities of your church to spread the gospel.

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BOSS NEWSPAPER

Osinbajo’s Speech: Mockery of The BOSS Buhari’s Government or Fact NEWSPAPER The

Editorial

ISSN-2052-1979

EDITORIAL TEAM ISSN-2052-1979

PUBLISHER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Dele Momodu momodudele@yahoo.co.uk

ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Mobolaji Momodu EDITOR Michael Effiong

mikeffiong2009@yahoo.com mikeffiong@ovationinternational.com

ASSISTANT EDITOR Eric Elezuo, Bamidele Salako PHOTO EDITOR Adekoya Adegbite

I

n a five page speech delivered by the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, during the 10th Bola Tinubu Colloquium to mark the former Lagos State’s governor’s 66 years anniversary, the Professor of Law hinted on certain issues bordering on the way the government is run as well as the receptive nature of the beneficiaries.

When the Vice President hinted on the achievements of the Buhari government in agriculture he quoted categorically from story he claimed the President told of how in ‘his own village’ everything seems to have changed as no farmer leases out his farm anymore. He added however that ‘the more interesting part of the story is that not only are more people now going to Hajj, they are also taking new wives’.

The statement may have elicited laughter from the capacity filled auditorium, but Osinbajo, in characteristic nature of releasing serious matter through mild means, may have thrown a salvo telling that the farmers are not educated on what to do with their proceeds other than marrying wives and going on religious pilgrimage. The government owes it to the citizens to continually provide mentorship on reinvestment for higher yields and profitable existence, not allowing people to waste hard earned resources in acquiring new wives, which may take them back to where they were coming from – poverty.

In his story where Tinubu stormed out of a deliberation while he was still governor, Osinbajo presented the birthday boy as someone who is not at home with other peoples’ views so long as they are different from his. Anyone who reads between the lines will understand Osin-

PRODUCTION MANAGER/ART DIRECTOR Isaac Edoh-Philip

DESIGNER Adekoya Abiodun Afeez Kwaku Yeboah Darteh

bajo’s line of reasoning.

In another instance, while blaming PDP’s 16 years of misrule for the woes of today Nigeria, Osinbajo noted that ‘the reason why we will talk about it is, first, we must let our people know that we cannot afford to go this way again; never again should we allow a system where people take the resources of this country and skew the resources of this country, use the resources against the people of this country, and at the same time, they want to continue in ruler-ship.”

Note that Osinbajo did not say ‘…they want to return to ruler ship’, he said ‘they want to continue in ruler ship’. The VP could only be talking to someone who is already in power and obviously wishes to continue. This is a case of pointing at someone with one finger while the other four are pointing at oneself.

He added yet another, calling on the ruling party to live up to expectation when he noted ‘we as a party and your government, must show the difference between us and the party and government that impoverished our nation. We must show that difference.’ For the Vice President, after three years in power, to still be calling on the party to show the difference could only mean he understood the party and the government have not lived up to expectation. As a result, there is need for resurrection of ideas to take Nigerians out of the quagmire of misrule of both before and now.

If the VP intended a lampoon against his party and government, it is in order, and if he intends stating a naked fact, it is also in order. Whoever therefore, is affected, is prevailed upon to do the right thing for the collective good of the nation.

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