Pix by: Ini Ekpo
SOCIETY
Hon. & Mrs Tulutu Briggs & Children
Ecstasy and Fanfare as Hon. Victor Briggs Takes Baby Janelle to Church
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t was thrills, buzz and excitement galore when prominent Niger Delta Youth Leader, Hon. Victor Briggs, in a gleeful show of gratitude, took his baby, Janelle Damiete Briggs, to D/Line based God's Heritage Church in Port Harcourt, to be dedicated to God. Janelle, Brigg's third child and only daughter, teams up with elder brothers, Fubara and Isosiya Tulutu Briggs, to raise the family tally to five. After proceedings at the Heritage Church,
well-wishers, relatives and friends which included some notable Nollywood stars, John Okafor, Francis Duru and Victor Osuagwu, moved over to the lavish Tevit Home, near Port Harcourt Club, for a sumptuous Briggs orchestrated Kalabari patterned reception. Hon. Victor Briggs also used the event to celebrate his recent appointment as the Nigerian Regional Representative (SouthSouth Zone), of the Pan African Youth
Council. The event was not bereft of personalities as Briggs political associates teamed up with the Nollywood actors to give the celebration a classy touch. Some of those present include: Assembly Member, Hon. Onari Brown, Hon. Elemchukwu Ogbowu, State Sanitation Authority boss, Hon. Isobo Jack, Austin Bobmanuel, House of Representative Member, Hon. Dawari George, Hon, Tammy, Chief F. Ana and several others.
Mrs Briggs with her Daughter
Tulutu Briggs & Children
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SOCIETY
Mrs. Briggs in her elegant traditional outfit
Mrs. Briggs in an elegant pose
Ibifubara Tulutu Briggs
Victor & wife in a lighter mood
Janella Damiete Tulutu Briggs
Hon. Victor Tulutu Briggs
The Briggs on the Dance floor Dr. (Mrs) Akani
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www.xcelmediaonline.com
Janelle Damiete T. Briggs
Father & Son
Mrs. Asikiya Lawson & Son Victor Tulutu Briggs
Mrs Amelda Tulutu Briggs
Mr. & Mrs. Tulutu Briggs
Ibifubara & Isosiya Tulutu Briggs Victor Briggs & wife in their Indian attire
Mrs Amelda & Madam IB Tariah Pst. Felix Akara Dedicating Janelle
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SOCIETY
Hon. & Mrs. Victor Briggs & Madam IB Tariah
Pastor & Pastor Mrs Felix Akara
Hon. Elemchukwu Ogbowu, Hon. Victor Briggs & Hon. Onari Brown
Mr Tubonimi & Hon. Onari Brown
Mr & Mrs Sunday Odonebo
Madam IB Tariah & Madam Grace Erekosima
Mr Femi, Hon. & Mrs. Briggs, Mr Chinedu with Mr Zikora
Tulutu addressing the Press
John Okafor Aka Mr. Ibu, Francis Duru, Tulutu & wife with friends
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Victor Briggs & friends dancing at the Thanksgiving Service
Mr. Peters Awoala, Hon. & Mrs Victor Briggs with Ofia
Hon. Victor Briggs, Wife & Grandma Sisi
Hon. Israel & Hon. Tulutu Briggs
Mrs Lilian Fidelis, Mrs Amelda, Mrs Precious, Mrs Pheobi
Dr. Chris & Hon. Victor
Hon. Austin Bobmanuel, Hon. Isobo Jack & Hon. Victor Briggs
Chief F. Anabraba & Mr. Obi
From left: Mrs Amelda, Chief F. Anabraba, Hon Victor, Dr Chris, Chief Okoroma, Hon. Otele, Mr Obi, Pastor Smart
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SOCIETY
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Hon. Otele & Wife
Captain & Wife
Dr. Chris & Hon. Victor
Alabo Briggs & Son, Hon. & Mrs. Victor Briggs with Grandma Sisi
Hon. Norman, Hon. Hillary, Hon. Victor & Hon. Tammy
Mr. Awoala Peters and Friends
Hon. Dawari George, Hon. Victor T. Briggs & Hon. Onari Brown
Hon. Victor & Friends
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Hon. Victor & Friends
Mrs Briggs Dancing With Her Father
Mrs Briggs Having a hanshake With Dr. Chris
Mr. Kingsley, Hon. & Mrs. Victor Briggs, Mr. & Mrs Emmanuel
Mr Victor Osuagwu & Hon. Victor Briggs
Mr Dozie, Victor & Wife with John Okarfor
Sandis & Amelda Briggs
Mrs Jossy & Mrs Israel
Sibo-ofori Lawson & Ebikebina Kubuye Delight & Sister
Mrs. Briggs & Friends
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SOCIETY
John Okafor (2nd left) flanked by admirers
Hon. Israel, Hon. Victor, Mr Jossy
Alali, Emeka aka Zaza & friend
Hon. Victor Briggs & Hon. Austin Bobmanuel
Junior, Somina, Alaso, Alali & Ebi
Kala & Belema
Hon. Dabo, Mr & Mrs.Stowe Ibiwanghi & Ken
Friends of Mrs Amelda Briggs
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From left: Ibalafa, Mr. & Mrs. Alali, Pamela, Ebimo, Bogo & Ebi
Mr Lorenz & Mr & Mrs Obi
Mr Lucky Emekeme & John Okafor aka Mr. Ibu
Mr Princewill, Hon. Victor & Mr. Henry Isobeye Clime
Mr. Mike. Prof Akani, Victor Briggs & Francis Duru
Guest, Shola & Are 1
Standfast & Kelvin
Ken, Nelson, DPO, Victor, Sunny, Albert & Lucky
Time for a sumpteous meal Soso & Belema
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Hon. Victor & members of God’s Heritage Church
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EMMANUEL AMEH
Moving Up The Ladder
adoyimotivation@yahoo.com
WHAT ARE YOU BRINGING INTO 2012? What you bring into the new year has a great deal to do with what the new year will give to you.
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nother calendar year is rolling bye. We are on the threshold of another year and most minds are filled with all kinds of thoughts and emotions. Many hope the year will bring the desired change, some are filled with fear and uncertainty and others are indifferent; this all boils down to our attitude. Williams James is said to be one of the wisest man America has produced. He said “the greatest discovery of my generation is that human beings can alter their lives by altering their attitudes of mind”. It is possible to remake your life. It is possible to make 2012 your best year ever. This has nothing to do with government policies or your circumstances. It has more to do with your attitude of mind; your thoughts. Our thoughts shape our lives. This is not a new concept but it is true. The greatest asset you are bringing into 2012 is your thought; The world in which we live is not primarily determined by outward conditions and circumstances but by thoughts that habitually occupy our minds. Marcus Aurelius, one of the great thinkers of old said, “Man's life is what his thoughts make of it”. You may not be able to control what happens to you or around you but you are completely responsible for your reaction to what happens to you. It is not what happens to you that count, but what happens in you that count. The calendar changes to 2012 from 2011. That does changes anything much. The real change will come if there is a change in your thoughts. So flush out all old, tired, worn-out thoughts. Fill your mind with fresh, new creative thoughts of faith, love and goodness. It has been said that thoughts are things, that they actually possess dynamic power. Thoughts are powerful. The point is if you don't think different in 2012 the New Year will not offer you anything new. Think positively and you set in motion positive forces which bring positive results to pass. Positive
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thoughts create around you an atmosphere propitious to the development of positive outcomes. On the contrary, think negative thoughts and you create around yourself an atmosphere propitious to the development of negative results. To change your circumstances, first start thinking differently. Do not passively accept unsatisfactory circumstances, but form a picture in your mind of circumstances as they should be. Hold that picture, develop it firmly in all details, believe in it, pray about it, work at it, and you can actualize it according to that mental image emphasized in your positive thinking. Your thinking produces your attitude. John Maxwell, the leadership expert said “when our attitude out distance our abilities, even the impossible becomes possible”. Your attitude, not intelligence, talent, education, background or even hard work is the main factor that determines your success. Attitude determines how far you can go on the journey of success. A positive thought leads to positive attitude. A positive attitude is the winner's edge. Your attitude can
SEVEN SIGNS OF A POSITIVE ATTITUDE 1. Believe in yourself many people succeed when others do not believe in them but rarely does a person succeed when he does not believe in himself/herself. Believe in yourself, you are not there yet, but you are on your way. 2. Willingness to see the best in others: positive people make the decision to expect the best and look for the good instead of the bad. People generally rise t o meet your expectation. 3. Ability to see opportunity everywhere: 4. Focus on solutions: positive people maintain a solution mindset. They see a
make or break your rise to the top. The past is gone and outside your control but you are responsible for not allowing it control you in the present or future. We are all confronted with some kind of limitations. Limitations should be guidelines not stop lines. Our attitude towards life determines our life outcome. What you believe about life determines what you receive from life. If you expect the best, even when negative circumstances come your way (and they will, because positive attitude doesn't stop them), you can make the best of it and keep going. The better your attitude, the farther you will go in life. You can go further, live longer with a good attitude than you can without one. The New Year will be better with a better attitude. A positive attitude gives you fuel so that you want to pursue your purpose, grow to your potential and sow seeds benefiting others. It gives you staying power to improve and makes the journey more enjoyable. Things turn out the best for people who make the best of the way things turn out. It takes a positive attitude to do that.
solutio n in every pro blem and a possibility in what is considered impossible 5.
Desire to give: people who have a giving spirit are some of the world's mos positive people. Generous people are rarely negative people.
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Persistence: positive people are persistent. They don't give up easily. Ability to keep going in the face of disappointment are all results of a good attitude.
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Responsibility for their lives: they don't play the blame game.
Let me conclude by stating categorically, that it is expedient that you enter 2012 with fresh positive thoughts; keep a positive attitude and do have a prosperous fulfilling year. You shall make it.
Pix by: Eke Okoro & Austin
MEMORIAL
MIC Undertakers doing their thing
WHEN NIGERIA’S FORMER DEPUTY SPEAKER
HON. AUSTIN ADIELE OPARA LAID FATHER TO REST IN OIL-RICH RIVERS STATE
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t was a celebration of life and a joyous expression of gratitude to the Creator for a life well spent when friends and well wishers joined Former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Austin Opara to make merry over the lifetime of his father and bosom friend, the late Pa Hanachor Opara who passed on at an iconic age of 110. The societal funeral took a three-day event format, which commenced Thursday, November 3rd 2011 with a Service of Songs at the St. Thomas Anglican Church, Diobu, Port Harcourt, after which friends and relatives proceeded to Hon. Opara's GRA residence to observe a wake keep for the belated senior Opara. Funeral Service held on Friday, 4th November at the St. Thomas Anglican Church, which could easily have been mistaken to be hosting a joint session of the National Assembly, because of the heavy presence of Federal Lawmakers including Former Senate President and Deputy Senate President, Senator Adolphus Wagbara and Senator Ibrahim Mantu, Present and Former House of Representatives Speakers,
Rt. Hon Aminu Tambuwal, Rt. Hon Aminu Masari and Former Deputy Speakers, Rt. Hon. Austin Opara and Rt. Hon. Chibudum Nwuche. A purgation of alluring encomiums, showered on Opara's deceased father by several notable dignitaries in and around Nigeria who graced the burial reception that followed at Community Secondary School, Nkpolu, Mile III, in Port Harcourt gives testimony to the truly fulfilled life worthy of emulation that Pa Opara lived. Describing Pa Opara as a philanthropist whose funeral is a celebration of life, Minister for Labour & Productivity, Emeka Worgu who represented President Jonathan in conformity with several other dignitaries at the Funeral, prayed that the bereaved family should take solace in God and bears the irreparable loss caused by the death of their father. Highlights of the occasion was a roll call of Rivers Politicians, including the Former Governor of Rivers State, Sir (Dr) Peter Odili and his wife, Justice Mary Odili, the wife of the Rivers State Governor, Dame Judith Ameachi, the Former Governor of Rivers
State, Sir Celestine Omehia and wife Dr. (Mrs.) Tonia Omehia, former Governor of Bayelsa, D.S.P Alamieyeseigha, Former Transport Minister, Dr Abiye Sekibo, Former Minister of Petroleum, Hon. Odein Ajumogobia (SAN), a member of the National Assembly, Senator David Brigidi and the National Organizing Secretary of PDP, Prince Secondus. Others include State Chairman of PDP, Chief Godspower Ake, Former Managing Directors of NDDC, Chief Emmanuel Agwarivhodo and Chief Timi Alaibe, Former Reps member, Hon Emma Deeyah, Mayor of Port Harcourt City, Akarolo Chimbiko and a host of others. Finally, on Sunday 6th November, all roads led, once more, to St. Thomas Anglican Church for a family thanksgiving, which again paraded an intimidating list of dignitaries and well-wishers. Later that afternoon, there was so much to eat and drink again at Hon. Opara's GRA residence where he hosted his guests to a sumptuous reception.
The Oparas: Joyce, Sam, Austin, Rose & John Mrs. Dave Oparaodu & Joyce
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Hon. Minister, Emeka Wogu representing President Jonathan
Her Excellency, Judith Amaechi & Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha
Mama (Centre) with sisters
Bishop Kattey delivering the sermon at the funeral service
Rt. Hon. Austin Opara & wife, Justice Meg Opara
A cross-section of Pa Opara’s Grand Children
Dr. Peter Odili & wife, Justice Mary (JSC)
Their Excellencies, Peter Odili & DSP Alamieyeseigha
Arch. Bishop Oglass (Rtd.), Arch. Bishop Kattey & Bishop Gbaragbara
His Excellency, Sir Celestine Omehia & wife, Dr. (Mrs.) Tonia with Dr. Abiye Sekibo & Odein Ajumogobia
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King Edward Pepple & Rt. Hon. Austin Opara
The Oparas presenting Communion Elements
Justice Agumagu, Prince Uche Secondus & Sen. Ibrahim Mantu
Alabo Graham Douglas & Hon. Lasbry Amadi
B.M. Wiffa (SAN) & wife
Hon. & Mrs. Mao Ohaubunwo & Chief Ben Okoko
Justice Ihieme & Justice Mary Odili (JSC)
Hon. Bennard Udoh & Hon. Emma Deeyah
Hon. Olaka Wogu & Dr. Austin Austin Opara & DSP Alamieyeseigha XL
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MEMORIAL
Chief G. U. Ake
Hon. Jerimon Manwe
Hon. Chimbiko Akarolo (Mayor, Port Harcourt)
Sir Chika
Chidi Chinwo
Ven. Opara
Mr. Akin of Rotary Club of Abuja
Sen. Osita Osinazo
Dame Aleruchi Cookey-Gam
Dame Hannah Aguma, JP
Joyce Dame Chukwigwe (centre) with others
Chief Anthony Akarolo (right) with another Rebisi Chief
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Hon. Minister, Emeka Wogu & Rt. Hon. Tambuwal (Speaker, House of Reps.)
Emeka Wogu, D.S.P. Alamieyeseigha & Sen. Wagbara
Hon. Austin receives Her Excellency Judith Amaechi
Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha & Emeka Wogu
Rt. Hon. Tambuwal & Hon. Bethel Amadi
Sen. Adolphous Wagbara & Sen. David Brigidi
Rt. Hon. Tambuwal & Hon. Chibudom Nwuche
Hon. Austin chats with Hon. Ike Chinwo & Leo Ogor
On the dance floor with Honourable Members
Speaker, Tambuwal flanked by members of the House of Reps
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MEMORIAL
His Excellency, Sir. Celestine Omehia & Emmanuel Agwarivhodo
Arch. Bishop Nglass & other members of the Clergy
Sen. Adolphous Wagbara (r) & Hon. Linda Ikpeazu
Clergy: Prof. Ngochindo & Ven. Iwuji
Chief Joel Opara
Odien Ajumogobia with Justice & Mrs. Amadi
Nobel Abe of Ocean Free Zone
Chief Glory Emeh & wife
Isaac Okemini & wife
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R-L: Rt. Hon. Opara & Gbenga Ibikunle of BATF
Rt. Hon. Massari, Sen. Wagbara, Sen. Mantu & Hon. Opara
From 2nd Left: Dr. Sekibo, Mercy, Lasbry, Emma, Mao & Linda
Rt. Hon. Austin Opara & Jimmy
Hon. Chinyere Igwe, Hon. Austin Opara & Barth (XCEL Publisher)
Hon. Austin Opara & Prince Uche Secondus
Hon. Austin Opara & Hon. Farouk Adamu
Dr. Abiye Sekibo with Hon. Austin Opara
Hon. Austin Opara & Barr. Emma Okah
Hon. Pascal Adigwu & Hon. Mike Kalango Hon. Igo Aguma, Chief Godfrey Ohabunwo & Chief Akin Rickett XL
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MEMORIAL
Pa Opara’s children at the Thanksgiving: Joyce, Samuel, Austin, Rose & John
Mama with Austin & John
Sydney & Azeru
Mr. & Mrs. George Igbo
Hon. Austin Opara with Herbert Wigwe & wife Joyce, Sam, Rose, Austin & Meg
Austin with members of Port Harcourt City Council of Chiefs
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Larry Pepple, Marvin Yobana & Keneth Kobani
Rt. Hon. Opara, Ugo (2nd right) & Charles (right)
Chinedu & Barth (XCEL Publisher)
Hon. Chinyere Igwe & Hon. Austin
Hon. & Mrs. Ayi Pepple (RSHA)
Chief Ekine Harry, Austin Opara & Chief Bekwelle Amadi
Ikechi Chinda, Dammy, Anyakwe Nsirimovu, Sir. Allwell Ihunda & Senibo Cookey-Gam
Hon. Opara with Enithonia High School Old Boys Association From 2nd left: Sam, Chinyere, Tonye, Buchi, Obi, Charles, Sodi & Victor
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Rt. Hon. Opara & Planning Committed Members
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