The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Take it to the Supremest Court

    Take it to the Supremest Court

    • Text:”…..ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good….” (Genesis 50:20)

    By Venerable Henry O. Adelegan

    At what crossroad are you presently in life? Have you lost out in the last Presidential or National Assemblies elections? It is needless to call people out in protest or resort to violence. If you are not in agreement with the verdict of INEC, you are at liberty to seek redress through the Judiciary process. Are people ganging against you because of your “coat of many colours”? Are you being maligned and destroyed by people who are close to you as a result of your dreams? Has opposition been stirred against you by agents of darkness and the kingdom of wickedness? Have you been sold out to a location where they opine that your star will never shine? Are you in trouble without having your hand in sin? Have you, even in your innocence, been convicted by powers that are superior to you or have you been consigned to the prison and it looks like all is lost? Is your business venture not working? Don’t lose hope. There is hope for you! The Almighty God has the final say, and not any man. Take your case to the Supremest of heaven. He is fair and just.

    That you have lost does not qualify you to be referred to as a failure because the swing of life pendulum is managed by the mighty hand of the Almighty – He oscillates it to whatever direction it pleases Him (Ecclesiastes 8:3b; cf 1 Sam 2:6-8). In His scheme, He can qualify an “unqualified” to become the Queen of the most powerful kingdom on earth (Esther 2:17), by His prerogative, the elder person can serve the junior (Romans 9:12), in His wisdom, a chronic stammerer can lead a battalion (Ex. 3:7-10, 4:10), and He can choose a man with a jaundiced background to be the most successful Evangelist in biblical history (Acts 9:1-7; Mark 5:1-20). It is never over with anyone that is in Christ until it is over. Take wisdom from the 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln, he failed several times in business, relationship, physically and politically but remained undaunted and he made it eventually. Beloved, it is not over with you too. “A fowl that is not dead is at liberty to eat corns”, say the elders. God asked me to inform you that it is not over with you. Where you have failed, you are going to be celebrated, and where you have been hatred and forsaken such that no man comes to you, you are returning to reign there.

    Paul, in his epistle to the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 3:6-7 cf Philippians 4:13) elucidated that inasmuch as determination, discipline and diligence are principal to success in life, they are of no consequence without the backing of the Almighty God (John 15:5). When God backs a person up, the backing of men, amounts to nothing. It therefore does not matter how much of conventional efforts one puts into the things of life or the atrociousness of opposition from close or far quarters aimed at eliding God’s purpose for man, life or nation, the Almighty God has the final say, and His will superimposes other wills, schemes and desires (Romans 9:15-16; Ecclesiastes 9:11).

    When God steps into your life, He suspends opinion polls that have confirmed you a failure and changes you from a perceived underdog to the favourite (Isaiah 60:15); when He steps in, He changes stories and reverses everything that have previously been against you. Besides, He will ensure that as people associate themselves against you, they are broken in pieces and as they gird themselves, the anointing of God breaks them into irreplaceable pieces. As they gather to take take counsel against you, their counsel shall come to nought and whatever evil word they have spoken or are speaking against you and God’s plan for your life shall be made ineffective (Isaiah 8:9-10).

    What you need to do at this time of Lent for you to come back is to come to Jesus Christ and confess your sins to Him, depart from every evil ways, stop mourning your losses, trust in God with all your heart, look up in faith towards a more glorious tomorrow (cf 1 Samuel 2:9), do not lean on your own understanding, In all your ways, acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths. You must also ensure that you are not wise in your own eyes, fear God and depart from evil (Proverbs 3:5-7). I can assure you that God shall frustrate every evil counsel against you and all yours. Your dead bones shall rise again and His name shall be glorified in the lives and works of all that are precious to you and definitely yours too in the name of Jesus. Remember that It is not over with you. You are bouncing back. The world is waiting for your manifestation and you are not stoppable by the plans of hell and the schemes of men in the name of Jesus Christ.

    Prayer: Father, intervene in my life situation and turn things around for my good today in the name of Jesus

  • Fayose, others root for governor

    Fayose, others root for governor

    FORMER Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, has called on Lagos residents to vote Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat, on Saturday

    Fayose, joined by Sanwo-Olu at the local wing of Murtala Muhammed International Airport, spoke to airport taxi drivers, urging them to come and vote candidates of All Progressives Congress (APC).

    “Sanwo-Olu is our candidate. Let us all come out on Saturday to re-elect him,” Fayose said.

    The partiy’s National Special Intervention Committee Chairman in Lagos State, Olorunnimbe Mamora, also appealed to residents to re-elect  the governor to guarantee continuity.

    Sub-committee Chairman on Media and Publicity, Seyi Bamigbade, while addressing reporters, quoted Mamora as saying ‘Lagos cannot be entrusted to inexperienced persons’.

    “Taking cognisance of how strategic Lagos is, it is only wise we continue on the path of success which Sanwo-Olu has demonstrated.

    “His leadership has brought development to our people, as seen in the improved living standard of Lagosians. We cannot reverse these gains by trading the future of Lagos with uncertainty when we choose those whose records are not known.

    ‘’’Sanwo-Olu is the only guarantee we have for a secured and prosperous Lagos, let us support his ideas,” Mamora said.

  • Sanwo-Olu is ‘friend of real estate’

    Sanwo-Olu is ‘friend of real estate’

    ASSOCIATION of Real Estate Developers of Lagos State (AREDOLS) has thrown its weight behind re-election of Governor Babajide  Sanwo-Olu, urging Lagosians to come out on Saturday and vote for him.

    In a statement, group Chairman, Adeniyi Lawal and its Public Relations Officer (PRO), Fatai Quadri, said none of the candidates can beat the track record of Sanwo-Olu..

    They said the governor’s T.H.E.M.E.S’, an acronym for his administration’s six development agenda of making Lagos a 21st Century Economy is, perhaps, the best in the country.

    Both dubbed Sanwo-Olu a friend of real estate, noting as a former  chief executive officer of Lagos State Development and Property Corporation (LSDPC), he has shown his knack for growth and development of the sector.

    Lawal and Quadri praised the computerisation of Lands Bureau, which makes it easy for Lagosians to access information on their land from homes and offices.

    They also hailed the governor for granting their request by retooling Lagos State Estate Regulatory Authority (LASRERA) to regulate and sanitise the sector and kick out quacks giving the profession a bad image.

    Thus, they said, the conferment of ‘Real Estate Governor of the Year’ on Sanwo-Olu and ‘Number One in Housing Development in Nigeria’ awards on Lagos by City People was fit and proper.

    The association added the construction of 318 roads, Lagos-Ogun boundary roads, Lekki-Oniru circular projects, Pen Cinema Flyover and roads in Somolu, Ikoyi and Victoria Island as well as the delivery of Red Line Railway were testaments of Sanwo-Olu’s achievements aimed at boosting real estate.

  • Firm’s chief ‘supports’ governor

    Firm’s chief ‘supports’ governor

    Real estate developer, Tayo Sonuga, managing director of Haven Homes, has endorsed re-election of All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate and incumbent governor of Lagos, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, for a second term.

    In an interview in Lagos, he said Sanwo-Olu’s administration, through innovative policies, has positioned the sector on the path of sustainable development.

    “Policies of the administration have opened up Lagos real estate to development as never before,”  Sonuga said.

    Speaking further, he lauded  Sanwo-Olu for creating an enabling environment that addressed safety of residents from the sharp practices of the past.

    “In the last four years, efforts by the governor and his team tackled quackery and fraudulent activities in the sector. An impressive initiative is the partnership between the state and EFCC.

    “Also, early last year the governor signed a bill to regulate real estate transactions. If you look at that law, what it seeks to do is regulate real estate transactions to protect unsuspecting residents who in the past fell prey to quacks.

    In infrastructure,  Sonuga noted “the administration has built roads and infrastructure that added value to the sector, and made movement easier for residents.”

    “For instance, regional road connecting Ajah to Lekki Phase 1. The ripple effect of that construction is it opened up real estate in that axis to more developments.”

    “To sustain these developments in the  sector, a government of continuity under Sanwo-Olu is needed.”

  • ‘Why Lagos Muslims endorse Sanwo-Olu’

    ‘Why Lagos Muslims endorse Sanwo-Olu’

    EXECUTIVE Chairman of Lagos Central Mosque and Baba Adinni of Lagos State, Sheikh AbdulAfeez Abou, yesterday, said Muslims in  the state endorsed Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu re-election for continuity of  projects.

    Abou said Muslims cannot sacrifice the state’s achievements on the altar of religious bias.

    The cleric said: “It is true we have Muslims contesting against Sanwo-Olu; our interest lies in the continuity of the agenda started by Asiwaju Bola Tinubu as governor. We believed with him at the Presidency and his party, All Progressives Congress (APC), retaining Lagos, development in the state would be fast-tracked.

    “We considered Sanwo-Olu’s passion for the growth of the economy coupled with an experienced deputy, Dr Obafemi Hamzat.

    “Our declaration to support the governor was to see the progress of the state not stunted and the dream of Tinubu comes to fruition. Tinubu’s blueprint for the state has made it an envious one for others to emulate.”

    Sheikh Abou enjoined the government to enlarge membership of Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) to include Muslim professionals.

    Executive Vice Chairman of Lagos Central Mosque, Alhaji Sikiru Alabi-Macfoy, enjoined Lagosians to vote for Sanwo-Olu.

    Alabi-Macfoy, Bashorun of Lagos, assured the governor of the votes of the Muslim community.

  • Cash, others for children’s home

    Cash, others for children’s home

    A non-governmental organisation (NGO), 6 Futas Club International, has donated gifts to underprivileged children at Mother Theresa Children’s Home in Gwarimpa, Abuja.

    This is part of activities to celebrate the 2023 International Women’s Day. 

    Some of the items donated include foodstuff, cartons of bottled water, boxes of noodles, cartons of spaghetti, detergents and others.

    The NGO promised to come back every month to take care of some of the recurrent bills of less privileged children.

    Speaking at the centre, the President and Founder, Kemi Olowoyo-Otegbade, said the visit was part of the decision of the organisation to impact on the lives of children, who deserved attention, care and protection.

    She said the organisation deemed it feet to come this time to celebrate with them, as the nation is facing economic challenges occasioned by the naira redesigned.

  • Emefiele urges central bankers on tighter banking regulation

    Emefiele urges central bankers on tighter banking regulation

    The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor,  Godwin Emefiele, has urged the governors of central banks and other African financial sector regulators to be more vigilant in their regulatory and supervisory roles to forestall any run on banks in their respective jurisdictions.

    A statement from the CBN said Emefiele gave the advice yesterday at the opening of the  African Central Bank Conference held at the Global Leadership Centre, Johannesburg, South Africa.

    Speaking on the global dynamics and specific policy developments in Nigeria to address emerging shocks, he advised central banks on the continent to draw lessons from the recent failure of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) and Signature Bank in the United States, by putting in place regulations that would prevent any run on banks in their countries.

    Emefiele, while sharing Nigeria’s experience in regulating banks, noted that the threats posed to the financial system necessitated the release of new guidelines and regulations to tackle potential infringements and, in the process, protect depositors’ funds as well as promote greater transparency in the sector.

    According to him, regulators must be alive to their responsibilities by ensuring that banks under their regulatory watch are financially healthy and do not suffer a similar fate as the Silicon Valley Bank, which, until its collapse recently, catered to many of the world’s most powerful tech investors.

    Topics discussed at the conference, declared open by the Prime Minister of Namibia, the Rt Hon. Saara Kuugongelwa, centred around “African Solution for African Problems” and “Africa’s  Seat at the Table,” among others. Other deliberations at the two-day confab, also addressed by Lesetja Kganyago, Governor, Reserve Bank of South Africa, bordered on “Calibrating for a New World Order” and “Unlocking Development Finance and Mobilising Institutional Investors for Development in Africa”.

  • Kagame, King Mohammed VI get CAF President’s Outstanding Achievement Award

    Kagame, King Mohammed VI get CAF President’s Outstanding Achievement Award

    The CAF President’s Outstanding Achievement Award 2022 was  yesterday  conferred on President Paul Kagame of Rwanda and King Mohammed VI of Morocco in recognition of their track record and extensive and far-reaching contributions to football in their countries and to making African Football Globally Competitive and Self-Sustaining.

    President Motsepe said: “Today’s CAF President’s Outstanding Achievement Awards 2022 Ceremony is important and historic because CAF, on behalf of the 54 African Nations that are its Members is expressing its gratitude and appreciation to President Paul Kagame of Rwanda and King Mohammed VI of Morocco for their passion and significant support for the development and growth of Football in their countries as well as their contributions to making African Football globally competitive and self-sustaining. CAF is also conferring these Awards in recognition and appreciation of the support and partnerships that exists in many African countries between the Head of State, the National Government and the Football Leadership in each of the 54 Nations that are Members of CAF.”

    President Kagame, the Representative of King Mohammed VI, President Infantino joined President Motsepe in recognizing the unique role that football can play in uniting and bringing together people from different races, ethnic groups, languages, religious affiliations and backgrounds in Africa and Worldwide.

    Motsepe added: “We have a clear objective of ensuring that an African Nation wins the FIFA World Cup and we are confident that this will happen. In order to achieve this, the partnership between the Local Football Leadership and the Government of each of the 54 CAF Member Associations is important and essential.”

    The CAF President’s Outstanding Achievement Award 2022 Ceremony was attended by President Paul Kagame, the Minister of National Education, Preschool and Sports Chakib Benmoussa who was representing King Mohammed VI of Morocco, FIFA President Gianni Infantino, CONMEBOL President Alenjandro Dominguez, FIFA Council Members and other FIFA representatives, Ambassadors and Diplomats of the Diplomatic Corps residing in Rwanda, the Presidents and Secretaries General of the 54 African Nations that are Members of CAF and the CAF Executive Committee.

  • FIFA controls African football, says former CAF boss

    FIFA controls African football, says former CAF boss

    FIFA’s ethics committee lacks independence and the game’s governing body is controlling Africa for strategic reasons, claimed  former Confederation of African Football (CAF) president Ahmad following the end of his two-year ban from football.

    The 63-year-old, who took charge of CAF in 2017, prior to his 2020 suspension for breaching various Fifa ethics codes, says he wants to help local football in his homeland Madagascar after returning to the sport in December.

    Meanwhile, his former ally Gianni Infantino will be handed another four-year term since the FIFA president’s control of world football is such that no rival candidate was prepared to contest today’s elections, the first on African soil, in Rwanda.

    Ahmad believed  his ban came after refusing to follow Infantino’s desired aims, chief among them the February 2020 decision to cancel the assistance Fifa was then giving CAF at its headquarters in Egypt.

    “My suspension was political,” Ahmad told BBC Sport Africa, while recalling a heated meeting between CAF and  FIFA in Morocco.

    After African football’s ruling body chose not to extend its unprecedented deal with Fifa – with secretary general Fatma Samoura having served six months as the ‘general delegate for Africa’ in Cairo in a bid to improve governance – Infantino stormed out and headed straight to the airport.

    “Fatma really helped but in six months we had what we wanted so did not extend the mission, but it angered the people of FIFA – Gianni was angry,” said Ahmad.

    “Upon leaving the meeting, some Fifa people were telling my colleagues that I had signed my death warrant. What is a death warrant in football? It is surely to use the ethics committee, the lethal weapon they were using at the time.”

    A month after Africa rejected FIFA’S offer, Ahmad was told an ethics investigation had been opened against him, as the Zurich body finally acted on information received from a whistle-blower (then CAF secretary general Amr Fahmy) one year earlier.

    In November 2020, the ethics committee then served Ahmad with a five-year ban (and $200,000 fine) after ruling he had breached codes relating to duty of loyalty, offering and accepting gifts, abuse of position and misappropriation of funds.

    Now far removed from football administration, Ahmad claimed  evidence of the political nature of his ban came when sport’s highest legal body, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), reduced his sanction by over half in 2021.

    “It proves that the errors I am accused of were subject to interpretation,” he claimed.

  • Cannavaro, ‘Calamity’ James for Dare’s awards in The Maldives

    Cannavaro, ‘Calamity’ James for Dare’s awards in The Maldives

    Former  FIFA World Player of the Year  Italian Fabio Cannavaro  and former goalkeeper  David James (often called ‘Calamity’ James in his heyday), are  some of the football legends expected to be in attendance as Minister of Youth and Sports Development , Sunday Dare, will today  receive a special recognition award  in the Republic of Maldives for his contribution to sports development in Nigeria and African region.

    The Minister of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment, Republic of Maldives, Ahmed Mahloof, stated that the award is being conferred on  Dare, not only for his contribution to the development of sports in Nigeria but to the African region as a whole.

    “In recognition of the work you have carried out for the development of sports in your country and African region, we will be conferring the ‘Special Recognition Award’ on your Excellency,” he said

    The conferment ceremony will  also be attended by the Maldivian President, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, world renowned athletes as well as Maldivian athletes, among others.

    Nigeria’s  football Ambassador Nwankwo Kanu is also expected to be in attendance for the special recognition award ceremony .