The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Kidnapped Ekiti petrol dealer freed

    Kidnapped Ekiti petrol dealer freed

     Rasaq Ibrahim, Ado Ekiti 

     

    THE kidnapped petroluem product dealer in Ekiti State, Alhaji Suleiman Akinbami has been freed after eight days in custody of his abductors.

    Akinbami was abducted at one of his petrol stations along Ado-Ijan Road around 9pm penultimate Sunday.

    The abductors had on Wednesday contacted his family demanding N60 million ransom.

    Read Also: Fed Poly Ado-Ekiti resumes Jan. 18 – Registrar

    Police spokesman Sunday Abutu, who confirmed his release, said Akinbami was freed around 3pm on Sunday.

    Abutu added that no ransom was paid to secure the release of the business tycoon, saying it was as a result of concerted efforts of the police, hunters  and the Amotekun corps.

    Abutu said, “The man had reunited with his family. We assured the general public that we will get him out unhurt the very day he was kidnapped and that was exactly what we did”.

    But a source close to Akinbami’s family said the man paid ransom running into millions, which was raised  by combined efforts of the victim’s family, friends and business associates.

     

     

  • Bello bags award for most gender-sensitive Governor

    Bello bags award for most gender-sensitive Governor

    Agency Reporter

    Dr. Gloria Laraba Shoda, President, National Council of Women Societies (NCWS) has said that the political will exhibited by Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State in the area of women empowerment remains unprecedented in the history of Nigeria’s politics hence, the need to celebrate his deed which represented a milestone worthy of emulation by other chief executives in the country.

    She made this known on Saturday on the occasion of the conferment of  a Goodwill Ambassador  of Nigerian Women on Kogi State Governor by the National Council of Women Societies (NCWS) and an award presentation as the most gender sensitive governor in Nigeria

    Dr Gloria noted that an organization, Global Gold Consult approached the NCWS on the need to honour Governor Bello and that after carrying out their own independent findings, they all concluded that such honour was the least they could do in recognition of the laudable inclusive governance by the governor.

    She noted that the required action to put women on the spotlight for effective governance was being experienced under the leadership of Governor Bello in Kogi State, pointing out that “by his (Bello) sheer penchant for good governance, has taken bold steps to ensure women had fair share in the governance structure in the state.”

    She added that it was the wish of all women in the country that the governor takes up higher opportunities and responsibilities after his tenure as Governor so that the Kogi model could be replicated at the national level.

    Governor Yahaya Bello in his remark after receiving his ambassadorship and award, affirmed that his good conducts both in public and private were largely shaped by the good women who surrounded him during his early life, as an adult and a family man.

    The governor who was emotional while speaking, noted that his mother and late matriarch of his home, Hajiya Hauwa’u Bello, right from when she gave birth to him up till March 15, 2020 when she passed on, dedicated her life in raising him and his elder siblings after her husband and their father, Alhaji Bello Ipemida Ochi died relatively early in life.

    He added that in a similar vein, the women of his family have been a great source of direction and compass for him.

    “The matriarch of my home, Hajia Amina Bello; the First Lady of Kogi State, Her Excellency, Hajiya Rashidat Bello and my other wives, all of them and equally, my beloved dear daughters and my sisters are all in the forefront of shaping my private and public conduct”, he said.

    Governor Bello alluded to the fact that women are indeed powerful given his experience with them.

    Bello said “happy is the man who finds himself under the influence of good women at every season of his life”, noting that he has been fortunate to be one of such men and took pride in describing himself as a product of the combined love, strength and sacrifice of many wonderful women.

  • Membership drive: How far can APC go in Southeast?

    Membership drive: How far can APC go in Southeast?

    As All Progressives Congress (APC) makes final preparations for its national membership registration and revalidation exercise, Associate Editor, Sam Egburonu, examines the chances of the party in the Southeast zone

    With this week’s inauguration of the party’s Women and Youth Mobilisation Team, preparation for All Progressives Congress’ forthcoming nationwide membership registration and re-validation exercise has taken a new leap.

    While inaugurating the mobilisation team at the party’s National Secretariat in Abuja on Tuesday, Yobe State Governor and Chairman of APC Caretaker and Extra-Ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), Mai-Mala Buni, said the appointment of the tentative ten-member committee is an extension of his team’s reconciliatory moves and “breath of new life into the party.”

    He said: “You are expected to mount a rigorous sensitisation programme to effectively mobilise every member of the party, especially women and youth, to either revalidate their membership or register afresh.

    “You should leave no stone unturned to ensure effective mobilisation for every member to take advantage of this opportunity to register.”

    In his remarks, Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, who was appointed the Chairman of the newly inaugurated sensitisation committee, said, “By the time we are done with the registration of all members, APC will not just be the largest in Africa, we are going to call on developing nations to come and learn from Nigeria.”

    It would be recalled that the APC national membership registration, update and revalidation exercise was earlier scheduled for December 12, 2020 but later postponed to January, 2021.

    While taking delivery of the party’s membership registration materials on November 5, 2020, Buni had said it was “the beginning of efforts at repositioning APC as a viable, consistent, cohesive and coordinated political party in the country.”

    What hope in the Southeast?

    Although most of the Southeast states have, since 1999, been governed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the rate at which All Progressives Congress (APC) has, of recent, attracted prominent politicians from the Southeast zone, suggests its prospect in the zone has suddenly become very high. The Nation investigation confirms that in virtually all the Southeast states, many strong grassroots political leaders have joined the APC; a development that confirms possible electoral victory if the political leaders would forgo personal ego and work together as a team in their various states.

    Already, out of the five Southeast states, two; Imo and Ebonyi states are currently governed by APC governors. Two; Abia and Enugu, are currently governed by PDP governors and one; Anambra, is ruled by All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) governor.

    APC also boasts of elected senators and members of House of Representatives, who, together with appointed ministers, former government functionaries and other officials form the top leadership expected to influence acceptance of the party in the zone.

    It is believed that the outcome of the exercise and the fortunes of the APC in the zone, in future elections, depend, to a very large extent, on these identified leaders, especially on their ability to carry the people along. It also depends on their ability to relate with and work with each other.

    Abia:

    Although Abia State is currently governed by Dr Okezie Ikpeazu-led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), it is one of the states in the Southeast zone where All Progressives Congress’ prospect is considered very high.

    This is mainly because of the calibre of top political leaders from the state that are now in APC.  They include the Leader of Abia APC caucus, the former governor of Abia State and now Senate Chief Whip, Orji Uzor Kalu; former governorship candidate of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and Group Managing Director of Diamond Bank Plc, Alex Otti; former governorship candidate of APC in the state and current Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development, Uche Ogah; and Donatus Nwankpa, the Chairman of the state APC, among many others.

    Chief Ukaegbu Onuoha, an APC sympathiser in Abia North said if these leaders could eschew personal interest and work together, the party is solid enough to contest against the ruling PDP. “I can confirm to you that APC today has the best of Abia political leaders in its fold. If the top politicians in Abia APC unite, no one can stop them from taking over the Government House in Umuahia. Abia APC leaders today are real grassroots politicians who have visible structures. The Leader, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, for example, has visible followership across Abia State. Alex Otti built APGA and with it ran the most formidable and successful campaigns during the last two governorship polls in the state. It is interesting to note that he joined APC with that structure intact. The other leaders also have followers. If these structures are united across the state, APC is sure to win. So, the fortunes of the political party in future elections depend on these leaders and their supporters,” Onuoha said.

    Our investigation shows that even before the formal membership drive exercise, APC leaders in Abia have sent their men to the villages to help recruit new members.

    Okoronkwo Eleanya, a teacher from Item in Bende Local Government Area, said political mobilisation at the grassroots is already high in the area. “Everywhere you go in Item and its environs, you will hear loud political mobilisation. APC and YPP are particularly aggressive here,” he said.

    Ebonyi

    Even before Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) last year; informed observers have noted the party’s relative strength in the southeast state.

    Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, who was the undisputed leader of APC in the state before the defection of the state governor, is one of the pioneer national leaders of the party. Onu, the current Minister of Science and Technology, was the first Executive Governor of Abia State, when Ebonyi was still part of Abia.

    Now that Governor Umahi is in APC with his supporters across the state, it is certain that if the two leaders unite and lead their supporters to work as a team, they stand a very good chance of retaining the state for APC in future elections.

    But a source, a pioneer APC member in the state, who pleaded not to be named, confided with The Nation that the challenge would be how to unite supporters of the two leaders. “The situation here in Ebonyi remains dicey. We, who have laboured to nurture APC in this state, are yet to be convinced that we are not going to be short-changed at the long run. Remember that as soon as the governor joined our great party, the Buni-led Extraordinary Committee dissolved Ebonyi’s APC’s State Working Committee and handed over the party to the governor. There is something wrong with the way the transition was carried out. So, except the fears of the old members of the party in the state are allayed, very little would be achieved here in Ebonyi State. Ordinarily, with the presence of the executive governor, APC stands a good chance of making Ebonyi a truly APC state if genuine reconciliation is made before the new membership drive,” he said.

    Enugu

    In Enugu, the exercise is also likely to be interesting because the long term effect of the prolonged internal wrangling in the state chapter that dragged up to late last year (2020) is expected to impact on the outcome of the exercise.

    The leaders in the state whose cooperation or otherwise will impact significantly on the exercise include the current Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, the governorship candidate of the party in the 2019 elections, Senator Ayogu Eze, influential State Chairman of the party, Dr Ben Nwoye, and of course Emperor Chris Baywood Ibe and the former Senate President, Ken Nnamani.

    It would be recalled that by late 2020, the crisis in the state chapter of APC had degenerated so much that the national leadership of APC reportedly directed the Enugu State chapter of the party to initiate the process of sanctioning seven of its members who allegedly refused to withdraw matters in court against the party, contrary to the national leadership’s instructions.

    APC leadership had on June 25, 2020, passed a resolution, directing all its members across the country to stop instituting court actions and to withdraw cases pending in court so as to explore internal means of sorting out the conflicts.

    As at then, the members that still had cases in the court against the party included Okey Ogbodo; Chike Omeje; Rufus Nwagu, Rev. Onuora, Ndubuisi Ani, Chinedu Okosisi and Nonye Okoro.

    The State Chairman of the party, Dr Ben Nwoye, after constituting a three-man disciplinary committee, headed by the Enugu East Zonal Vice Chairman, Chief Anike Nwoga, with the State Legal Adviser, Benjamin Nebe as Secretary and Benson Eze as a member, regretted that several efforts made earlier to resolve the issues were unsuccessful. He also said the decision to set up a disciplinary committee was in line with the directive of the national leadership of the party but that affected members would be given fair hearing.

    At Southeast APC caucus meeting held at the party secretariat in Enugu on September 2, 2020, and chaired by the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu; Nwoye said there was a “newfound unity in the party,” adding that such wouldn’t have been possible a few months ago, “but we must build this house together and all the issues have been resolved and we now have one APC in Enugu State.”

    Nwoye also said the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Onyeama, who he referred to in his speech as “my leader”, Emperor Chris Baywood Ibe, former Senate President, Ken Nnamani, and the governorship candidate of the party in the 2019 elections, Senator Ayogu Eze, among others, were not only aware of the development but that they were also party to the reconciliation process.

    Anambra:

    With the coming together of most of the leaders of Anambra State chapter of All Progressives Congress at the special stakeholders meeting in Awka, earlier this month, informed observers said there may be hope of a more united outing both in the forthcoming registration and revalidation exercise and in the elections proper.

    The meeting convened at the instance of the Executive Chairman of the party’s State Caretaker Committee, led by Chief Sir Basil Ejidike (Ikwelle Nnabuenyi), had in attendance the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Senator Chris Ngige, Senator Andy Ubah, Dr Tony Nwoye, Chief George Moghalu, Nze Chidi Duru, Dr Chidozie Nwankwo, Hon Olisaemeka Onyeka, the Southeast Zonal Youth Leader and Chief Ben Etiabah, among others.

    There were also members of the state executive committee, zonal working committee, 21 local government chairmen of the party and the secretaries, chairmen of wards, gubernatorial aspirants and other important stakeholders.

    Ejidike, in his welcome speech, said pointedly that the time of ‘blame game’ was over. He added that time has come “to unite and build a virile and enduring party capable of making a loud statement in the state politics, most especially during the 2021 governorship election.”

    He listed as challenges of the party, “mistrust among key leaders, funding, non-recognition of the party in government affairs, absence of reward system and adequate visibility.”

    In their reactions, the leaders of the party at the meeting pledged to unite in order to take over Anambra State’s Government House.”

    For example, Senator Andy Uba in his speech said: “Nobody should see himself as bigger than others. We must see ourselves as equal. We can’t afford to allow the governance fall into the hands of our enemies.”

    Former House of Representatives member and APC Governorship Candidate for 2017 Election, Dr Tony Nwoye also towed the line of reconciliation. He said he has forgiven all the people that offended him and called on those he offended to forgive him. On the performance of the party in previous outings, he said: “We must tell ourselves the truth, we didn’t perform well in 2019; we couldn’t win any seat in the house. I don’t want to talk about 2017 because I was directly involved. “Let’s leave acrimony and embrace unity and oneness. We need people and must review our process,” he said.

    He also directly called on Dr Ngige to take the party message to Buhari to make the house fertile to take over the state.

    Reacting, Dr Ngige assured party members of improvement in the reward system, calling for patience.

    If the outcome of the meeting is anything to go by, it seems, Anambra APC, which has all along paraded influential politicians, is set to make impact.

    Imo

    Imo State is one of the Southeast states that have been governed by APC governments. Since former governor Rochas Okorocha, a pioneer leader of the party, introduced the party to the state, it has enjoyed great followership in the state.

    Now still under Governor Hope Uzodimma-led APC government, it is expected that the party’s membership drive is poised to be successful.

    Except the opposition parties like the PDP and APGA buckles up further, APC’s prospects in the party will remain very bright. “APC, as a party, has come to stay here in Imo. This state is the home of APC in the Southeast and from here; we are set to grow the party in the whole of the Southeast,” says Benjamin Ibe, a member of the party in Owerri.”

  • COVID-19: Like the Boys Scout, ‘be prepared’

    COVID-19: Like the Boys Scout, ‘be prepared’

    By Edward Ihejirika

    AS a public health physician, development and health policy management consultant I like to state unequivocally that vaccines save lives and clearly people need to take vaccines this time to stay alive but what is more important are the protocols advised for prevention. This alone can cut down the spread of Covid in great proportions.

    In 2010, then as Program Coordinator in a US Dept. of HHS funded program in the Upper Valley Region comprising the states of New Hampshire and Vermont we supervised the administration of ‘seasonal’ flu shots and people would turn up and take them. Even then, there was mild suspicion about vaccines and low turn out on some days but overall more people got immunized. Although not everyone got vaccinated, these flu viruses eventually would not do much harm and medically the teaching has been that the concept of developing ‘herd immunity’ is responsible for conferring immunity on the rest of the population against viruses. What is worthy of note here is that in two seasons in which I participated, I found that some of the same people responded and brought their kids and got vaccinated each time on each of those calls. So I got thinking, why would every flu season the same kids always get vaccinated? This clearly is due to the willingness of the receiver, knowledge base of the receiver especially that Viruses mutate and this can happen very fast or slow depending etc. thereby providing the incentive to get the shots. This job coincidentally led us at the MVHI to participate in the planning and design process of a board game at the Tiltfactor Laboratory in Dartmouth University known as “POX: save the people”. POX was developed to help teach the 1-4 players on board to stop the spread of disease, herd immunity and the need to vaccinate. Ultimately, that prevention is key and vaccines work!

    For this we received a State Award in 2011, “Excellence in Immunization Partnerships’. Maybe today we deserve the ‘nobel prize’ =ØÞ

    While settling down in 2013 as the Honorable Commissioner for Health in Imo State and taking charge at the Ministry, the Ebola virus in early 2014 was before us and eventually arrived in Nigeria. We applied the same practices of public health hygiene (sanitizers, hand washing, no hand shaking, use of PPE’s by health workers etc), health promotion and we demonstrated these prevention techniques at several fora (from screening for Temperature at Airport to conferences we hosted in Imo) all in a bid to prevent entry and stop the spread of the EBOLA virus. We never got to the point of Vaccine but Ebola was contained and if it mutated, is a story for another day. Perhaps for this in 2015, I was appointed to represent the Southeast in the technical working group (TWG) for the implementation and operationalization of the National Health Act.

    First in 2019/2020 and now a second wave in 2021 we are dealing with Covid 19.

    There are high numbers and numbers could even be higher if more people are testing.

    What are we faced with? There are behavioural issues, uncertainty, fears, Economic considerations, work life imbalance. Poor Healthcare infrastructure, Funding, World Events etc.

    The more people are in denial about this Covid-19 the more the risk of spread especially with and by the asymptomatic carriers and hence all hands must be on deck to continue the promotion of social distancing, use of hand sanitizers and other protocols in place. How do we tackle the fears of Vaccination in the face of several conspiracy theories flying around; theories of birth control, demographic control, 5G to mention a few? Education, education and more education using available tools, engagement of all stakeholders at the grassroots level to bring the information home and better prepare them for uptake or acceptance of the vaccine when it is available. All who have received can serve as sources of feedback to several people who look up to them, agencies of Government like the National Orientation Agency can also move with their equipment to sensitize fully the people on what is to come, incentives have been known to work where less understanding, culture or cooperation are issues.

    In this period of economic uncertainty the people are unlikely to fully observe these prevention protocols due to the fact that the majority of the population run on daily take home pay and income. This has certainly created a lot of work-life imbalance since from the first wave and any further disruptions can be met with negativity therefore targeted incentives again come to mind or palliatives as it were.

    There is no gain saying the fact that our healthcare infrastructure is poor. When analysed in terms of our GDP and population served, it is clear we need to do more in this sector. What is of most significance is that we lack the robust infrastructure to adequately deal with vaccine distribution effectively and of note is this Covid Vaccine which requires very cold temperatures for some of them. The multi-departmental approach of government agencies is trying to address this.

    I have been privileged to attend just five days ago the first ever “National Stakeholder Engagement with Medical and Health Associations on Covid- 19 Vaccine Introduction ” hosted by the NPHCDA.

    These efforts by the Government to introduce the vaccines certainly will require huge funding not only for purchase of the vaccines but also for the logistical infrastructure that comes with its distribution and at this point in time if you evaluate what is on ground, while the State Capitals may be ready with their cold stores, in the 774 LGA’s up to the PHC’s it is doubtful that we can cope without some stroke of ingenuity at this time.

    Although the world is now plagued with this Covid pandemic, for some reason Africa has again shown some difference in its response to the virus perhaps due to the strain (not clear) but in the face of all the attendant uncertainties it continues to record lower mortalities and if the World is going to support us as has been proposed, it will look at some of the ways in which we have helped ourselves through governance structures in place, prevention protocols, Governments priority to health budgets and healthcare spending. That said, It is still going to cost a lot to get vaccines to arrive here and based on ‘purchase orders’ time is of significance and procrastination is unhelpful since the manufacturers must satisfy quotas or prioritized orders while initiating delivery of our requests. Is this a call to action for our scientist to go into the labs and see why and how and perhaps come up with vaccines peculiar to Africa? Very expensive venture we all know and unprepared for. Perhaps someday the private sector may play here.

    What happens in the event that there is a shortfall in vaccine supply and cases or even mortality rises? I don’t want to imagine the scramble that ensues due to panic and a fight for survival.

    What should our deliverables be? Resource mobilisation from the private sector players to compliment or enrich a national vaccine development, storage, distribution and administration and reporting plan. Furthermore, we should obey the authorities and laws of the land by avoiding unnecessary crowds, do social distancing, wear you face masks, wash hands often, use hand sanitizers, cough or sneezing hygiene, travel only if absolutely necessary, Sensitization towards vaccination. Should vaccination be voluntary especially where still in doubt? I think it depends on social responsibility, knowledge and exposure to know that what affects one can affect all and therefore the common good of all starts with the interest of one. A good number of people still think Covid is a medical or political stunt and have adopted practices like steam inhaling and so on, the goal being to stay protected and it may be working for them.

    In conclusion, either way we see it for or against Vaccines lets stay with the science, stop the spread! For now we must do with the prevention protocols and hope that the vaccine will reach everyone willing when it arrives or better still, may God let the virus mutate into a less harmful strain and finally nail this Covid to the dustbin of history.

    In retrospect, chance favors the prepared mind.

    • Dr. Ihejirika, is a Senior Legislative Aide to the Deputy Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives, is a former Commissioner for Health in Imo State.

  • Amotekun ‘rescues’ two cemetery guards

    Amotekun ‘rescues’ two cemetery guards

    Osagie Otabor, Akure

     

    Two security guards at a public cemetery in Ondo town have been rescued from being lynched by men of the Amotekun Corps in Ondo State.

    The two men were accused of exhuming corpses from the cemetery they were employed to guard.

    An eyewitness said an alarm was raised that the two men were in possession of human heads severed from buried corpses.

    The source said: “Very early today (Sunday) somebody went to defecate in a bush beside the cemetery and he saw Alhaji with a sledge hammer and he broke one of the tombs in the cemetery.

    “After some minutes he came out with a bag . So the person that saw him raised the alarm and we rushed to the scene. When we checked the bag Alhaji carried, we saw a human head in the bag.

    Read Also: Amotekun operative dismissed for killing man in Ibadan

    “When we went round the cemetery, we discovered that about 44 tombs have no dead bodies inside them. They have been exhumed by ritualists. So we have handed them over to the Amotekun corps.”

    But the State Commander of Amotekun Corps, Chief Adetunji Adeleye, who confirmed the arrest, said they were rescued when the residents were about to lynch them.

    He said no human heads were not found on the suspects.

    “The suspects were rescued by our men when the residents were about to kill them. We have handed them over to the police.”

    But the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Mr Tee- Leo Ikoro, said the suspects have not been handed over to the police.

     

  • Woman needs N14m for kidney transplant

    Woman needs N14m for kidney transplant

    Alao Abiodun

    A 34-year-old woman, Oluwamayode Bunmi Naomi, has cried out to Nigerians for help to raise N14 million for her kidney transplant.

    Naomi was diagnosed with kidney failure on 23rd June, 2020.

    She said he had spent so much on weekly dialysis, which she must continue till the surgery is done.

    Naomi is seeking support to raise N14 million cost for the surgery.

    According to a medical report dated November 27, 2020, signed by a Consultant, Dr Odeyemi Ayoola of Zenith Kidney Centre, Surulere, Lagos, Naomi is at the end stage renal disease to hypertension.

    Donations can be forwarded to her account details: Polaris Bank – 1120650983, Oluwamayode Bunmi Naomi.

    She can be reached via – 08035865610.

     

  • Boldness: A requirement for Securing answers on the prayer altar!

    Boldness: A requirement for Securing answers on the prayer altar!

    Bishop David Oyedepo

     

    WELCOME to another exciting week! I hope you were blessed by last week teaching. This week, we shall focus on: Boldness: A Requirement for Securing Answers on the Prayer Altar!

    We discovered from Scriptures that to receive answers to our prayers, we must pray according to the set rules. The Bible says, Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts (James 4:3). To receive, we must ask and for what is received to be delivered, we must ask aright. So, it is not enough to ask, it is very important to ask aright (John 10:35; Acts 10:34). Asking entitles us to receiving and asking aright delivers the goods. Every prayer that must be answered must be accompanied with thanksgiving. As it is written, Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God (Philippians 4:6). For instance, we have eleven digits on our telephone lines, if we dial only ten digits for the next one year, it would never go through. Thus, there is the prayer and supplication, which must be accompanied with thanksgiving for our calls to go through to God. Furthermore, we must approach the throne of grace boldly and confidently, not beggarly or uncertainly. It is written, Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need (Hebrews 4:16). This is one of the fundamentals of any prayer that must be answered.

    How do we Cultivate the Boldness Required on the Prayer Altar?

    • Confidence in God: The Bible says, The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion (Proverbs 28:1). Some have been forgiven long time but they do not know. So, they are being tormented by their past; thereby, losing their future. It is written, Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous (1 John 3:7). So, we do not say we are forgiven and then start doing whatever we want; we must become righteousness conscious to be bold on the altar of prayer. David said, If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me: But verily God hath heard me; he hath attended to the voice of my prayer (Psalm 66:18-19). Every time God forgives, He forgets. Every genuine repentance guarantees genuine forgiveness from God. When that happens, our righteousness is restored, but we need to build that righteousness consciousness to regain our confidence in our walk with God (Romans 8:1-2; Hebrews 10:35).
    • Continuous Flow of Revelation: It is written, And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits (Daniel 11:32). This is how the Word helps build our boldness in God, Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts (Jeremiah 15:16; see also Nehemiah 8:10). David the bold said, I rejoice at thy word, as one that findeth great spoil (Psalm 119:162). He was an addict of the Word (Psalm 119:97-100). God’s Word was David’s lifestyle; so, the joy oozed forth and the strength kept building up.
    • Through Testimonies: The testimonies of the past embolden us for victory in the next battle. The Bible says, David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee (1 Samuel 17:37). It was testimony that spur the boldness of David in confronting Goliath. Therefore, we should not be tired of documenting our encounters with God because it prepares us for the next battle.

    In summary, Hezekiah boldly confronted the verdict of death and prevailed (Isaiah 38:10). He used the power of confidence and righteousness consciousness (Isaiah 38:3). Also, Elijah prayed confidently and the heavens gave rain (1 Kings 18:44). Therefore, we must travail in order to prevail in prayers. Jacob was left alone; he would not let go until he returned with a change of name (Genesis 32:24-28). However, you must be born again. If you are not, this is an opportunity to do so. Simply say the following prayer: Lord Jesus, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me of my sins. Cleanse me with Your precious Blood. Today, I accept You as my Lord and personal Saviour. Thank You Jesus for saving me! Now, I know I am born again! For further reading, get my books: Winning Prayer, Satan Get Lost and Born to Win.  I invite you to fellowship with us at the Faith Tabernacle, Canaanland, Ota, the covenant home of Winners. We have four services on Sundays, holding at 6:00 a.m., 7:55 a.m., 9:50 a.m. and 11:45 a.m. respectively. Also, you can join our live services via Facebook: David Oyedepo Ministries International, Twitter: @Davidoyedepomin, Instagram: davidoyedepomin, YouTube: Living Faith Church Worldwide, Hebron 95.9 FM, Winners World App, Impact Africa TV (on Startimes and NigComSat), Domi Radio and via the Church Satellite. I know this teaching has blessed you. Write and share your testimony with me through: Faith Tabernacle, Canaanland, Ota, P.M.B. 21688, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria, call 01-4548070, 01-4548280, or E-mail: dphprints@gmail.com.

  • Life is not a party, its a battle

    Life is not a party, its a battle

    By Lekan Otufodunrin

    My very sincere condolences to the family of a Digital Strategist,  Ayodele Bandele who reportedly committed suicide last week.

    He was initially declared missing only for his body and a suicide note to be found later indicating why he took his life.

    According to the late Bandele, he had battled depression for seven years and previously attempted suicide thrice,  but was discouraged by the consequences on those around him, particularly his mother.

    “Now that battle is over. l couldn’t continue to live the way l did and make the same bad choices again. The noise got too loud but now the noise can stop again.

    “Like l have always said, ‘life is like a party, when you stop having fun, leave’. So it had to be today, a week after my birthday. Please pray for my soul. Pray that l finally find peace and rest. It’s all I ever wanted. I love you dearly. Goodnight,” Bandele wrote.

    It is very unfortunate that Bandele had to opt for taking his life to find the peace he desired when whatever noise he mentioned got too loud for him.

    While depression is easily written over some people, others can mask their troubled state of mind without those around them knowing.

    There are many people like Bandele who desperately needs help in our communities due to whatever trouble they are trying hard to cope with, but when they don’t get the required attention, they resort to suicide which appears as the easy way out for them.

    Indeed the times we live are troubling and it takes a lot to cope with all kinds of challenges people have to contend with.

    It is against this background that life cannot be a party as Bandele suggested in his suicide note.

    According to Bandele, Life is a party, when you stop having fun leave.

    Instead of being a party, I would rather align with those who say life is a battle in many ways.

    The battle to be born, the battle to live. If life was a party, life would be fun all through. People would not have to battle to survive.

    Life is indeed a battle. There are many times to fight to get what we want and may never get. Some are lucky to get what they deserve, many don’t.

    Whatever the case, the option is not to easily give up. This may seem to be easier said than done, but people must not easily give in to challenges.

    The battles of life are meant to be fought with all our being,  but it will be easier when we get the love and care of those around us.

    Depending on what people believe in, there are real and imagined battles to be fought and won or lost.

    The energy of flesh may fail us, but we must trust in the almighty, the creator of heaven and earth who knows our end from the beginning.

    While those who have challenges must try hard to open up to those around them no matter what they are going through, its important for all to be more aware about the mental health issues.

    Mental disorder is not only about extreme  cases when people are no longer in control of their senses, but lesser instances of depression that can lead to suicide. There is need for more awareness about mental health to enable more people to know how to respond early enough when the signs begin to show.

  • Uzodimma’s one year of excellent service to Imo

    Uzodimma’s one year of excellent service to Imo

    By Declan Emelumba 

     

    EXACTLY one year ago yesterday, on January 15th  2020,  Senator Hope Uzodinma was sworn in as the seventh executive Governor of Imo State after a tortuous judicial process that led to the recovery of his stolen mandate.

    The supreme court declared Uzodinma the validly elected governor of imo State after the independent national electoral commission (INEC) had wrongly donated victory to the opposition PDP. Although it took almost seven months to recover the stolen mandate, the brand new Governor hit the ground running in his bid to fulfill the social contract he had with Imo people.

    In his acceptance speech, Governor Hope Uzodinma unveiled his prosperity agenda anchored on the three Rs of recovery, reconstruction and rehabilitation.

    Quite aware of the infrastructural deficit the state had suffered under an unconventional and emperonic leadership, Uzodinma realised that he needed to move fast to restore the confidence of people in Government as a prelude to rebuilding the state.

    He started with the civil service which had been bastardized by emperors who had no regards for the rule of law. The reform of the civil service which saw to the physical rehabilitation of the state secretariat and provision of water and power supply was rounded up with provision of official cars for permanent secretaries and free buses for civil servants.

    Aware of the debilitating effect of corruption in the payroll system, the Governor embarked upon a holistic review of nominal roll of both civil servants and pensioners. This was followed by automation of government financial services. A total of ¦ 2 b was saved monthly from the exercise. That was the amount the cabal had been stealing from Imo people for  many years.

    Thereafter Uzodinma moved quickly to address the sorry state of the roads neglected by past administrations. As at today, a total of 57 road projects have been embarked upon by Uzodinma. Out of these, 8 have been completed and commissioned,25 are  nearing completion while the rest are actively on going, including the dualization of Okigwe.. Owerri road and Owerri…Orlu road.

    The economic importance of these roads cannot be over emphasized.

    Many Imo indigenes and regular visitors to Owerri, the state capital, who were in the state for the Christmas season, confessed to the fact that the roads in the state capital,  which were utterly umotorable a year before, had all been fixed and now motorable.

    Just as the roads were being done, the Governor who was welcomed into office by the dreaded Covid 19 pandemic, saw to it that the lives of Imo Citizens were secured against the virus. It is to his credit that through his dogged efforts which gulped billions of naira in provision of health facilities, Imo is one of the states with least infection rates and death.

    Arising from that, the Governor also launched  free mobile clinics services for the  rural people in addition to the on going rehabilitation and equipping of the 305 health centers in all the wards in the state.

    There are  indeed  even more impressive strides in the health sector. The government has put in place an Emergency Operation Centre(EOC) at Umuguma General hospital, adjudged as one of  the best in the country  by the federal government. There is also an on going 250 bed Specialist hospital for infectious deceases at Orlu   attracted by the State government from the federal government agencies. The government has  built 4 state of the art Isolation and treatment centres in different parts of the state in addition to the provision of 34 ambulances for the 27 local governments and Abuja

    On education, the governor has secured a new university for the state,the University of Agriculture and environmental sciences, while Imo State University is being repositioned to return it to its premiership position among the comity of institutions of higher learning in Nigeria.

    The building of 305 classroom blocks in all the wards in the state is ongoing while all the schools of nursing in the state de- accredited since 2005 have been re- accredited under Uzodimma’s watch.

    It is instructive that long before the endsars protests and the attendant Government’s response, Governor Hope Uzodinma had seen the need to empower the youth to end restiveness and criminality. As at the last count, no fewer than 10,000 youths have undergone skills acquisition programme and empowered by the administration. A hefty ¦ 6billlion naira has been set aside for that purpose.

    The governor also rehabilitated the moribund Adapalm Nig ltd ,thus creating jobs for imo youths and stimulating the state’s economy. Through his network of connection, Senator Uzodinma attracted the establishment of a modular refinery in the state, with the attendant employment and economic benefits to the state. A gas plant by SEPLAT was also attracted to the state by the government

    It is noteworthy to emphasize that the decadent, corruption ridden manual payroll system which the Uzodinma administration inherited has given way to an automated system which has reduced corruption to its minimum while ensuring that workers and Pensioners are paid upto date.

    Apart from these tangible achievements of Governor Hope Uzodinma in just one year, he has reduced the political tensions that pervaded the state before his emergence. And this is  because he is running an  inclusive governance where everyone is carried along. In just one year, he held three stakeholders meeting to ensure that everyone was carried along in government’s policies. Consequently, the fear of domination and marginalisation has been erased because Governance is no longer a personal and family business.

    The palpable dominant political culture that His Excellency Senator Hope Uzodinma has entrenched in imo State within one year in office is that of vision, honesty   accountability   accommodation, service delivery, courage and above all the fear of God.

    As he marches on confidently to his second year in office it is certain that Imo is not only looking up but is set to be counted among the leading lights of the nation.

     

    • Emelumba is Imo State Commissioner for Information and Strategy

  • Human Trafficking: Serious crime with long term effects

    Human Trafficking: Serious crime with long term effects

    CLEEN Foundation recently organised a media chat to mark the Human Trafficking Awareness Day to deliberate on the rising crime. Gboyega Alaka reports.

     

    IN commemoration of this year’s Human Trafficking Awareness Day, CLEEN Foundation, last Monday, January 11, held a media chat among major stakeholders in the country to deliberate on the rising menace of human trafficking and chart the way forward.

    Present at the event, which held at the CLEEN Foundation Lagos Office, included Mrs Josephine Effah-Chukwuma, a director of CLEEN Foundation, who moderated; Mr Aganran Ganiu Alao, Zonal Commander, NAPTIP (National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons) Zonal Command, SR Patricia Ebegbulem, Coordinator of BAKHITA Empowerment Network, DCP Margaret Ochalla, Force Gender Coordinator and Adviser to the Inspector General of Police on Gender Matters and Elder Ademola Osibeluwo, CDC Chairman, Igando Ikotun LCDA, Alimosho LGA, Lagos, as discussants.

    CLEEN Executive Director, Benson Alegbuo  speaking from Abuja via Zoom, disclosed that the foundation “on the 25th of June, 2020 launched the “Preventing forced migration and trafficking of women and girls in Nigeria: Build resilience, promote sustainable development” project in response to the worrisome rates of trafficking of women and girls and the harsh realities they face especially during and at the destination countries.”

    He said the project is supported by the UN Women and is essentially to identify a range of gaps, challenges and priorities for future policy programmes towards increasing gender-sensitive information and awareness., working closely with NAPTIP.

    Stressing that human trafficking in persons is a serious crime with negative long-term effects on the victims and society at large, Alegbuo said the media chat was to promote an understanding of critical trafficking issues and expected roles of stakeholders in its prevention.

    In what looked like a frank assessment of the state of affairs in the country, Sr. Ebegbulem said the rise and continued rise in the cases of human trafficking, which has been described as the second largest crime in the world, is the loss of the right values in our homes and society.

    She said a situation where the society only celebrates wealth, without bothering about the source is dangerous and would not augur well for the country.

    Stressing that majority of the children in her organisation’s home are products of broken homes, she said, “Parents should make every effort to bring up their children properly, including the sacrifice to stay together in spite of any kind any differences that may arise.”

    She said the children should be taught to respect the opposite sexes, stressing that when this is properly inculcated, the boys would have respect for the female-folk and not see them as mere objects of pleasure.

    Laying more emphasis on the home, she said, “It is the home that gives stability during time of crisis.”

    While commending Ebegbulem’s delivery, Effah-Chukwuma however sounded a note of caution on the emphasis on home, saying homes where fathers molest their daughters do not qualify to be addressed as such.

    On his part, the NAPTIP Zonal Commander, Aganran Ganiu Alao said the agency  is adopting the five P-approaches, namely: Policy, Prevention, Prosecution, Protection and Partnership; towards countering the menace.

    He said his emphasis on the day would be on prevention, which bothers on awareness creation. This, he said entails adequate communication.

    He said part of what the agency does is to bring up a communication policy and ensure that its officials go into the communities to sensitise them through rallies. This, he said the agency does, by involving stakeholders, including traditional rulers, community leaders, youths trade unions and market leaders.

    “The essence of this whole effort,” he said, ” is to ensure that the agency reaches the victim before the traffickers.”

    Describing what the victims go through, Alao said, “Apart from the fact that their rights are taken away from them when they are trafficked, they are subjected to a lot of degrading conditions that make them to look like slaves.”

    Speaking on the topic: ‘Promoting community engagement and awareness creation, Elder Ademola Osibeluwo said, while the government may be trying its best possible, it has failed largely because it has failed to realise the importance of community leaders.

    He said the government unfortunately believes in speaking English, well above the understanding of the people, rather than coming to their grassroots level, adding that there are lots of things the government can achieve, if it allows the community members to be part of the system.

    He commended the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) for bringing the whole human trafficking menace to the attention of the community leaders through NAPTIP.

    He blamed a lot of the crimes going on in the society on the misuse of the social media, even as he recognised its positives and called on parents to monitor their children’s activities on the social media.

    He therefore recommended community dialogue as a way forward because, according to him, community leaders are more suited to reach out to the people because they don’t expect anything in return other than the wellbeing of their children.

    DSP  Ochalla expressed hopes that the media chat would further raise awareness on the crime. She said there is need for a synergy among a stakeholders and security agencies in the country to effectually combat the crime.

    She cited women subjugation and lack of funding on the part of the police as factors enhancing the unsavoury act.