The Nation Newspaper

Category: Weekend Treat

  • Major stimulants for men: A lady’s body or mind

    Major stimulants for men: A lady’s body or mind

    By Vera Chidi-Maha

    IT is soothing to know how much time and money women now spend on their looks and physique. It is even more soothing to know that the aftermath of the ‘investment’ is paying off; ladies in relationships now keep their homes. Most men no longer stray and even when they do, they oftentimes come back home. Suffice it to say then that the modern women have come of age. Women now watch what they eat. We are now more conscious of our weight especially the tummy which is very key. Our armpits are always shaved.

    Our nails are often fixed or at least trimmed. We are conscious of using tissues after we urinate to avoid status on our undies and to avoid offensive odour when we open to our men. We wash thoroughly during bath. And oh, our hair do’s? Our greatest asset ever! We braid, we fix weave-on, we perm, and the list is endless. In fact, sometimes we dye our hair to darker shades to give it vitality.

    We are more conscious now of the type of brassier we wear. Women now put on firmer bras that will change and enhance their looks. Most women now attempt to put on very crazy high heeled shoes it is the trend now. As I write this piece, not a few women would be unhappy leaving their homes without either a roll on or perfume/ deodorant in their bags. Of course, we need to smell good at all times.

    These measures, most women have taken in order to consolidate their relationships. The clause here, however, is that these might not be enough to get and keep a man.

    Oh, no doubt about it; men are indeed wired by sight, studies have shown. In fact, to buttress these findings, try and conduct an experiment on your own. Notice that a man that is chatting with you and is so engrossed in the conversation can easily be distracted when a pretty lady walks past. As a matter of fact, if they don’t stare out of respect for you, they struggle to ignore the lady, if one is observant she can tell easily. I have an admirer in my office that will oftentimes tell me how much he loves to see my face but as soon as a pretty lady passes by he will forget me for that split second and stare at the lady. It is not right, but it is the way men are. If your man does that sometimes, please do not be upset, it is their nature. Beauty attracts them and they react on impulse, they do not mean any disrespect to the lady they are with.

    Having said that, I have also observed that a lady’s good looks may attract a man but it may not be enough to sustain the relationship for long. Oftentimes, to keep a man, women need to be intellectually sound. This is where our mind come-in. studies have shown that most men prefer women that can either match them intellectually or at least have something upstairs. Findings has shown that outward beauty can only keep a man temporarily but hey want more for an enduring relationship.

    There are many misconceptions about what sort of women, men prefer. Not all men are the same and their preferences depend on their personalities. Men make different choices depending on the long and the short term relationship. Let’s consider the long term aspect which is more important. Men hate nagging women. Men simply cannot stand chatter boxes. As human beings, there’s always a limit to what men can take and communication is always the key when it comes to a long term constantly nag and argue are disliked by men.

    Men love decisive women. – when it comes to long term relationship, men always prefer women who are good decision makers and who can help men with their problems. Men do not like to lead all the time therefore a decisive woman who can occasionally lead rates high on their most wanted women list.

    Beauty with brains. The aspect of attraction cannot be taken out of account here. Men prefer women who are attractive to them. But beauty alone cannot induce them into a long term relationship rather brains and intelligence is something which keep them strongly attracted to a woman for a long term. Problem solvers – men prefer women who are smart enough to solve their problems. Men prefer women who are more intelligent than them and can act as problem solvers when it is necessary.

    Should be a mother – long term relationship is all about having a family and taking care of the house. Therefore, most men prefer to have a woman that can take care of them like their mother. Men love to be pampers them more but their mothers.

    Therefore, if you give them a caring touch like their mother, men would find you more attractive and would be more attractive and would be more than willing to get into a long term relationship with you.

    But these tips do not guarantee success with men but I assure you it is a great start.

  • Why we launched whistle-blower policy at Nasarawa State University –VC

    Why we launched whistle-blower policy at Nasarawa State University –VC

    On the occasion of his second anniversary as the Vice Chancellor of Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Prof Suleiman Bala Mohammed spoke with LINUS OOTA on the journey so far and his efforts to transform the university into world class standard.

     

    You recently introduced the whistle blowing policy in the university. How well has it worked so far?    

    The whistle blowing policy is one of our overall agenda. It falls under the context of trying to fight unethical conduct on the campus because we observed that there were lots of unethical conduct going on among the staff and students. We don’t have so much worry about students, because they appear to be powerless. Once a student engages in exams malpractice you can bring him/her before the committee, and if found guilty, we can expel them.

    But for staff it is a bit difficult. For lecturers who lecture through proxy and there are those who mark exams through proxies while some don’t even submit results on time. What we have done is to look out for such lecturers and non-academic staff. We must be ethical and must do our jobs properly. If we don’t, the victims are the students and the general public and they should have the courage to complain. It is a policy that was launched with the aim of exposing our teaching and non-teaching colleagues who are unethical in what they do.

    Has it yielded any result?

    Fantastic results! In fact, we have seen results that are very impressive. One, I like to say that it has already been able to serve as a deterrent. The mere fact that we launched that policy has made a lot of our colleagues to retract from what they were doing, and I have evidence all over. People have come here to thank me for what I have done.

    Number two, from the dedicated ones, we are able to receive quite a number of complaints and we have been able to track some of them and found them to be genuine. They are now at various levels of investigation. We will investigate them and those found culpable will be put through the disciplinary process.

    Do you have the specific number of culprits?

    I don’t have the number, because it is Deputy Vice Chancellor Academics that is handling it. But approximately, about five or six are under investigation.

    Recently you constituted two committees; one for the Faculty of Engineering and the other for the College of Medicine. How far with the two committees?

    So far, so good. The committees are actually not meant to submit any final reports. We are actually supposed to be working with them until we admit students in October, 2021. It is a committee that is supposed to assess what we are doing and submit reports. They have submitted their first report, which actually dealt with the schedule we submitted to them and their overall observations about our regulatory agencies. We have got those reports and we are working with them.

    Our plan is that the committee is made up of experts—professors as well as practitioners—and we are supposed to be working with them based on what we have in place. They will make their own observations and contributions so that by the time we set or we begin these programmes, they will be among the best in the country.

    We have received one observation, which is very good. They told us that Edo State University has one of the best faculties of engineering and medicine, and I have sent a delegation comprising the Deputy Vice Chancellor Academics, the Registrar and the Dean of Engineering to go and observe it, and they said it is marvelous. We are going to pick some of the best practices there.

    So, are the faculties taking-off in 2021?

    Yes, they are taking off by 2021. We have done a schedule, where we hope that between now to the end of the year, w are going to advertise and recruit staff. We are also going to work on the take-off sites, and by early next year, we will invite the NUC (Nigerian Universities Commission) to come and do visitation. Once they visit, hopefully they will give us the go ahead so that JAMB can include them in the brochure for next year’s admission, and we will admit by October, 2021.

    How many people do you intend to recruit?

    There is usually what we call BMIS (Basic Minimum Standard) that NUC normally put in place, which deals with the number of staff, equipment, library materials and so on per department. We are actually guided by that. In addition to that, we are also guided by the professional body for engineering, which is COREN. For Medicine, it is Medical and Dental Council. The two have to come and do our accreditation and we are working closely with them. In fact, in our steering committees, we had representation from these two professional bodies.

    From experience in other state owned and private universities, they would admit students into the college of medicine and by the time they get to 300 level, they switched them to other disciplines related to Medicine. What is the guarantee that such will not be the case in this university?

    Incidentally, I had that kind of experience at University of Abuja where I came from. At the University of Abuja, we set up the College of Medicine. We were very ambitious. We also set up faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Agriculture and Faculty of Engineering. Four at the same time! And we ran into the problem of funding and facilities, and the students wanted to demonstrate on the Abuja-Lokoja highway. It caused a lot damages. The federal government had to intervene and they assisted us in solving the problems.

    And the problems we also had, we cannot fund the students in other universities because there is a limited number that every college of medicine can accommodate. So the option we had was to distribute them. Of course, we had candidates who will tell you I have been admitted into MBBS and I won’t do any other thing except MBBS. Of course, they have the right to ensure justice.

    In our own case, we are thinking not of that. We have done our planning in terms of staffing. We are able to work with the government and we have the approval of the government and that of our visitors. In fact, when the conference of Nigeria Alumni Association went for a meeting, what they said is that they are going to give 100% support to ensure that our programmes in engineering and medicine take off. So we have that support and we don’t have any issue with recruitment of staff.

    The other one is the issue of building. For engineering, our site is in Gudi. A complete school structure was handed over to us. The state government built that structure for the disabled, but they have handed over the structure to us. So what we require in that place is simply to realign the structure to meet the need of engineering and make additional workshops. So we have a good structure for engineering.

    For medicine, we have awarded the contract for the construction of the first phase of the college of medicine. Meanwhile, we have identified a new site for the faculty of environment. So we want to use the old site for the faculty of environment as the take-off site for the faculty of medicine. So we are going to sort the issue of staffing, we are going to sort the issue of facilities and we are going to sort the issue of  books. We believe that we are good to go. We are going to have this inspection early in the year 2021 and we can now have approval to start.

    The state government has just given directives that tertiary institutions in the state should resume. How prepared are you?

    We are prepared. We have been working with the state government, first as a team with all the tertiary institutions in the state. We are also working together with the ministry to ensure that there is safe resumption. In the course of our working together, we discussed with the government on the need to assist the institutions to get the health protocol facilities required by the task force of the state and the federal government. We have worked with the government and I want to report that they have given us that assistance.

    Government has also taken up the responsibility of fumigation or disinfection of the environment. They have also taken the responsibility of training our health staff and others on the health protocol. That is why virtually all the tertiary institutions in the state have announced the dates for their resumption. College of Education Akwanga, the polytechnic and College of Agricultur, have announced their dates of resumption.

    In our case, we are having a challenge with the strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). We are hopeful that this strike will end very soon. They are meeting soon and we hope that they will find a common ground. I am sure the pressure is on both ASUU and the Federal Government. Our students have been at home for a very long time now. Once the strike is suspended, we will call the Senate meeting to look at the calendar. We have to amend it.

    Looking at your five-point agenda for this institution and considering that you have three years left, which of them have you achieved to the letter?

    Well, there are supposed to be ongoing projects which we were supposed to achieve at the end of the first year. Some of them are not something we can conclude, but we have set the machinery in motion. For example, we want to build a university system. Building a university system, you have to have a system which is guided by the rule of law. Being guided by the rule of law means that the regulations that are so stated are the ones that will guide the relationship between all the staff of the university.

    We also said the system has to be based on accountability and transparency. In building that kind of system, it is not something you can say will be done at the end of one or two years. Our expectation is that over time, we will be able to have a university where people can say if you come to Keffi, your ward, I’m sure, can go to class based on timetable, take his/her lectures, write exams based on timetable, if he/she deserves accommodation, he/she will easily get accommodation, and if you graduate from Nasarawa State University and come to collect your transcript, you will just go online and get it.

    In other words, we want to see a system that is guided by rules and regulations and there is some openness in what we are doing. This is one of the core tasks that I set for myself. We have been working on it and it is really work in progress. My expectation is that we will keep improving until the time it becomes so obvious to the public.

    Another issue is on ICT. You cannot build a 21st Century university without having an effective ICT unit. It is work in progress. I want to place our appreciation to TETFUND who gave us a new befitting ICT block. We have an ICT block that can sit about one thousand

  • It’s been a tough year, but e-commerce helped out — Jumia Nigeria CEO Spalazzi

    It’s been a tough year, but e-commerce helped out — Jumia Nigeria CEO Spalazzi

    The Chief Executive Officer of Jumia Nigeria Massimiliano Spalazzi was barely a month in office when the business world was ravaged by the Coronavirus pandemic. Appointed in January to head the Africa’s largest e-commerce giant, Spalazzi, in this interview with select journalists, spoke about the challenges facing the business world. TAJUDEEN ADEBANJO was there.

     

    BUSINESSES are facing some challenges at this time due to the pandemic that has hit the global space. In Nigeria, there is currently a recession. Do these pose any challenge for e-commerce operations in the country?

    I think we need to split the macroeconomics and what is happening online. So, I’m clear of the view that the situation is hard for many businesses. But at the same time, the penetration of e-commerce in the country is actually increasing by the day. So I would say that the key impact of the current recession on e-commerce is probably a slower growth which is contrary to what was forecasted. Not to cut numbers but I recently read an article about the penetration and the increase of mobile subscriptions in the country, which means that more subscribers are actually using phones to engage Jumia platform. It’s a really powerful moment and potential for growth for brands to come from offline to online. So answering your question, it is a tough time. But e-commerce is growing and that is probably why more brands and vendors are dealing online now.

    There has been a record of low patronage from brick and mortar stores. Do you think e-commerce has an impact on this?

    For us, it is more like a change. We can’t say that things are not fast actually but rather maybe a change in what people have been buying. So right now, online, they are buying foodstuff like rice which is very scarce in the market and we offer some great deals on the platform. I would admit that the amount of excitement that there was last year, for example, the need to acquire devices e.g. laptops, phones, TVs, is not as profound. Nevertheless, the platform has been consistently growing. Jumia is putting in good work with local vendors, offering them more engagements for the goods and services they offer.

    How are the vendors reacting to these changes? Has there been an increase in sales?

    There is inflation in the market, but at the same time, it is a moment in the year where consumers are coming on board because of the festivities. We’ve done Black Friday and now Christmas sales. Vendors who understand this also understand the potential of e-commerce. Let’s keep in mind that this year has been very important for brands because we did see a shift in their interest and much more focus on what’s happening online and in the e-commerce sector. Every brand started doing their marketing and commercial e-commerce strategy and started thinking with Jumia on how to achieve this strategy. But then they understand that the highest number of consumers are actually ready to buy during this period. Vendors understand the importance of giving the right prices and offerings to the consumers. So I would say, to a fault sometimes, of course, you have to adjust the price and understand the trend and also understand that volumes will make a difference, which is what’s happening now with Christmas sales. They maintained the prices and people have been really happy about it.

    There’s this transition of moving an offline business online. Do you encourage vendors to trade on Jumia platform?

    Absolutely, this has been a trend that started in March and kept going throughout the year. There’s the first part of this trend where we simply endorsed vendors for regular online selling on Jumia. They understood that wow this is actually what’s happening, there’s an increased growth of digitalization happening both for the consumers and vendors. I noticed that quite a number of vendors were selling essential goods and day to day needs—groceries and the likes.

    It was also discovered that some vendors and also most of the big brands did not have a strong online presence. They started shifting to e-commerce faster in the second half of the year. Presently, we have wonderful conversations with brands thinking about what we can offer next year. Some of the examples to make you understand how fast this is going and how we are adapting to the consumer needs of our vendors now is a kind of offer we are giving not only in our prices but also their official needs which brands are responsible for, like good quality products which is really appreciated by customers, thus creating engagement and as a result, all parties are very happy.

    Is there something you’ll like to share on e-commerce?

    Yeah, what we’ve seen at least this year has been how relevant and important e-commerce was in serving the population during these tough times. We’ve seen many different situations happen from COVID-19 which obliged people to be locked down and having to purchase their goods in a safe way. On the other side, as a result of the fostering of local businesses online, they can make more sales now because of less dependency on the dollar. I think all of these have been happening in an advanced system, which is good for Jumia, and is still happening online. What we saw also was that people wanted to start using Jumia Pay. They found a lot of safety in it because of our push towards contactless payment with Jumia Pay and ensuring that these customers use it. I think we’ve experienced a tough year, absolutely, but a very relevant year where e-commerce, I’d say helped it.

    How did Black Friday improve your sales, considering that people waited for the big moment to shop for themselves, their families, friends at the best prices?

    People have been waiting even more than before for this year’s event and they have been really engaging with Jumia these last months. What did change though is the kind of products that were being bought; the kind of good and services within the past months and this year in general as a result of how COVID has impacted everyone’s life and people started to buy much more essential goods and day to day needs, and this has reflected in the kind of goods they were looking for when shopping during the Black Friday campaign.

    We saw how Jumia exceeded and created adoption with customers and vendors and as a result of this, more vendors began engaging much more with our platform. They’ve seen the strength of users buying online and they wanted to partner with Jumia and build their presence online. And Black Friday has been an enhancer and an enabler for this strength.

    So I’d say that the trend didn’t change but the nature of products changed. We sold much more essentials and day to day goods, for example fashion, beauty, groceries. Of course, you have to use your phones, TVs and laptops. But there’s practically more attention on this site and brands understood this and came onboard offering the right things which customers can experience.

    This takes us to the question: was there any need to reduce or increase discounts during this Black Friday?

    I think in general, Jumia has vendors that are selling on their platform and prices are changing every day because vendors are changing prices every day. This is the same across all months. However, what we do ensure that for the Black Friday specials there are certain things and certain goods and certain services which we discussed with the vendors for long. We started this conversation in the first half of the year.

    We make sure these goods are secured and actually in the warehouse where we can offer customers JumiaExpress(faster delivery) and we keep the prices at the same level throughout the whole campaign. So, typically, the flash sales, the treasure hunt; the biggest viewers will find and keep those prices. But in general of course, Jumia is a reflection of the economy. As a result of the pandemic, vendors are changing prices.

    How did this affect consumers’ reaction?

    I think the top deals, we call them the anchor deals, the deals that we think are the biggest ones, they kept to their pricing during the event. So, actually, we saw customers engaging with their brands more, finding the offers on Jumia very interesting even more than usual, because the context we actually described exceeded their expectations while on the other side, we were trying to keep to the schedule offering discounts for our Christmas campaign, which is ongoing right now.

  • Behold Blackman in European kitchen

    Behold Blackman in European kitchen

    Emmanuel Eni, aka Blackman in European Kitchen, is a Nigerian poet and multi-media artist based in Germany. He speaks with Prof. FRANK UGIOMOH on his professional practice in Europe, #ENDSARS protest in Nigeria and more.

     

    CAN you compare studio pedagogy in art institutions in Nigeria and the London institution you attended, considering that Nigeria’s studio pedagogy is conservative and remains so up till now?

    Studios pedagogy are alike, though I must say that Nigerian studio pedagogy is more solid, challenging and motivational in the sense that you are trained with the most serious  and important skills and academics to make you a successful artist.

    How do you combine the mechanical dimensions of art with the literary and performance aspects?

    I have united all aspects of art which I practise under my discovered “Contemporary Barock Art” which has poetry and philosophy as the meeting point in my skill and inspiration in sculpture, painting, installation art, performance and music.

    Your responsiveness to wanton conflicts and their consequences regarding safety has become an identity for you. You must have followed the #ENDSARS protests in Nigeria recently. What is your take on the protests?

    ENDSARS is a movement of dis-satisfied Nigerians.Until the government on Nigeria gives reasonable remedies to these demands there will be more intense agitation and civil strife. Endsars is also flames from the burning questions and which in some major quarters in Nigeria and their stringent call for restructuring of the nation.

    As a Nigerian in the diaspora, what is your take on lousy governance complaints and the suggestions to ease them, which the youth in Nigeria presented to the government and the suppression and carnage that followed?

    A country with a suppressed people cannot have a government that survives if suppression remains.It is best when the government makes brave moves to bring all bad eggs in government to justice by showing them the book. Nigerians want to see  punishment for looters and very many such scape-goats.

    The Japanese Kamikaze projected a preference for their fatherland’s defence, protection, and sanctity, identified with the slogan “living for something and dying for something.” Do you think that such a commitment to Nigeria is realisable in Nigerian youths?

    Living and dying for motherland is a kind of mindset that an opportunistic agitating leader might mis-use. This is the bedrock of most reclusive like socialist and communistic governments. Democracy must be liberal and the citizens like their leaders must grow a liberal mindset of responsibly advancing the nation, without Kamikatze doctrines on both sides.

    What does the protest tell about the Nigerian youths today considering their organisational ability during the protests?

    Nigerian youths are more sensible than in the past. They have forfeited the unwittingly corrupt and vain nature of some the older generation and seem to be talking in a united tone and voice.

    Recall the famous allegory of an Andrew checking out of Nigeria in the 1980s? Can that scenario be accountable for your diaspora status?

    No, I was never an Andrew, I just had and still have a lot of desire to carry my body as well and as far as my mind, doing all in my might to spread African civilisation to the world and learn more about the entire world and mankind.

    What unique attraction made you relocate to Germany, especially in the regions of Berlin and Munich?

    Thinking of it, it is rather where my work finds me at the particular time, as much as it keeps me pleasantly entangled, progressive and busy.

    The word success is relative. However paint a picture of your stay in Germany so far.

    That’s a good one. Well, I will leave that to you. An eye sees not itself but by reflection.

    You studied art in Nigeria and at the London’s Royal Academy of Art. How did these institutions impact your career as an artist?

    Being in these universities reading art was like incubating an already hatched egg. The strong drive and divine inspiration and hunger for ground breaking inspiration was like a deep fire in my heart and mind, which showed later in the over three decades of my art career as an iconoclast of uncommon proportions. As a poet and philosopher whose art is feeding all branches of the creative tree, ultimately with philosophy and poetry as underlying root of my sculptures, paintings, installations and performance; thus, creating some unique and patented discoveries, like my “New light paintings art”. And for instance, “Basic metric scale for art products, (BMSFAP) is a scale which ascertains the price of a work of a given art and “Contemporary Barock” Art, the amalgamation of every form of art.

    I am happy to be listed in Forbes and IMDB in 2020, under the category of most successful, most popular, amongst others ratings. These are made possible by decades of a hunger for ground breaking inspiration.

    As a writer and performer, I sort to outline the differences and similarities of culture; and in the creator of “Israel and Palestine installation”, another of my works in iconography which is my first, I express the “mother” and key  example of dis-harmony and that of war-fare whose characteristics reflect in many different wars worldwide.

    Apart from these so-called iconic works of mine, there is also more to enjoy from my one million works on paper stretched over 30 years, such as 1200 sculptures in Terra cotta, re-enforced concrete, fibre glass and bronze and over 300 framed paintings on canvas including some of “The New light paintings art”.

    One of my iconic works includes “Junking of the Elephant” (a live destruction of a 30-ton heavy elephant sculpture I made from reinforced concrete, as an ecological statement). There is also “Emmanuel Eni water for nature preservation” (an art, music, fashion and charity work) and “Death of the Curator” Installation (de-mystifying and debunking art curatorial practice) which toured many European museums.

    Some of my publications include: “Masquaradeundressing” Poems collection, Cpn Publishers England, “Universes of Water” poems, “Death of the curator” Drama, “Kindonkind” Poems on Duality, “Fallandstand” Poems.

     In 2006, you featured at the Dak’art biennale with an installation entitled Israel and Palestine, which became comprehensible when you performed it. In that installation, you alluded to the “wanton cruelty in conflicts.” Can you provide more enlightenment on this piece, looking at its metaphorical scheme or approach?

    Israel and Palestine wars and conflict is the key war example that can apply as example with many characteristics in common as in their wars. In my installation, the concrete visual presence of the colossal dynamite contraption wall is to confront the viewer and bring them face to face with happenings of the war, instead of the safe distance of the news from Television and radio.

    Another work you created “The Death of the Curator (2005) showed at Leipzig’s Museum of Ethnography. I am concerned about the curatorial strategy. Why a contemporary work of art on display in an ethnographic museum? Has it to do with its context and content, and what does the work address?

    The installation Death of The curator is not a clinical death. Rather it is the critic with pros and cons of The curating Art practice. Museum being described as a play for housing and displaying art, it fitted in as much as in other museums. For the fact that the museum has vast collection of African Art taken away at the colonial period is timely as to the position or question about how the installed art came into the museum, and also a question of what will come into the museum when the curator is dead.

  • When a woman wants something

    When a woman wants something

    By Vera Chidi-Maha

    There is a general misconception that for a woman to get to the top of her career, she must use what God has endowed her with or what people call bottom power. This is so wrong. The truth is you can take everything away from a woman, but never underestimate a woman’s determination.

    When a woman wants to succeed, nobody can stop her. Have you ever seen a desperate woman looking for the fruit of the womb? I tell you, she will move God to give her the baby even if it is not His will! A woman can get to any length she desires to achieve what she is determined to get.

    Below is a true life story of a woman that decided and actually succeeded against all odds: After I left my last place of work, I promised myself two things. First, I will not to be a small fish in a big ocean and second fiddle again. I decided that neither my gender nor the erroneous but common perception of career women will ever deter me.

    So, when the opportunity came for me to occupy the position of Managing Director in Adreality Limited, I saw it as a chance to prove myself as a first-class career woman. Of course, I don’t expect you to believe that it was easy getting my husband’s consent, though he eventually succumbed.

    What I did not expect was the total opposition of the management and staff to a female MD. Not that they cared much about my capabilities, their problem was my gender: the fact that I am a woman. My greatest support came from the Board of Directors, which was actually worried about the survival of the company, and whose members were very pleased to find in me a trustworthy and seemingly capable hand to manage the affairs of the company.

    The chairman’s wife was another potential opposition, but I just refused to get personal with her, no room for anything else but business. The dissidents, as I call them, are my management team, the staff and the male chauvinists among us. Because I was fully aware that people generally resist change, I did not allow any distraction to make me lose focus. So, I decided to take all of them in my strove, the more they strife with me, the more I went about doing what I was employed to do. I am of the view that I can achieve what I put my mind to achieve. Gender, to me, has never and will never be a barrier. I practically moved the staff to work because I know it is the price for success.

    The women in my office were not left out of this group. As a matter of fact, they were the leaders of the dissident group. We have only three of them, but they were enough to cause chaos if given the chance. My secretary, the chief protagonist, refused totally to understand and accept that a woman like here, in Africa, should be at the helm, other than in the ministry or somewhere else but in Adreality.

    What does such a woman know? To her, it is not right, something is wrong somewhere. The present persistent rumour is that my humble self, the Managing Director of Adreality, is having an affair delves with my chairman. Why me? How did it come to this? Have they forgotten so soon that I am a married woman with kids? What is my sin? I can answer this question in one sentence, simple; I am a woman that is trying to succeed in a world where men failed.

    How dare I attempt to aspire? There is no room to consider excellence, academic qualifications, not brilliance nor could success be deducted for making a woman an MD. She can only be seen as a harlot who got the job because of her wayward lifestyle. Of course, it is only men that have all the outstanding qualities of an MD.

    You see, the absurd raffle draw that apportioned the destinies of Africa women: two people (male and female) starting off even as identical twins in the morning will quite easily find themselves in the evening, one as president dishing out instructions to the people and the other, the female, a house warmer or maid, jumping at the whims and caprices of the President.

    I know I am not in the first list of women to be so achieved. As a matter of fact, I have read severally, of how women at the helm both young and old have been ceaselessly accused of sleeping their way to the top. Especially in show business, no one is believed to have gotten up there without one godfather or the other.

    Sometime ago, there was a paid advert by a former top Nigerian official refuting allegations of the rumour of having affairs with somebody inside Aso Rock Villa. At that time, she was in her fifties. But for goodness sake, was the rumour intended to smear her reputation because she took the bold step of aspiring to an elite position? This is a woman that went through trials before the senators and successfully justified her position.

    Ironically, women oftentimes are the reason for most of these attacks. We are very unfair to ourselves. Take my secretary for instance. To appreciate her role in all this, let me give you an insight into how we work. My chairman has closed for the day. As a matter of fact, my employment interview took place long after working hours, 7:30pm, to be precise so it has been the usual practice for me to stay behind after others had closed. And to make the job easier, I usually ask my secretary to wait behind also. Now, because my secretary is from the old school, I am planning to review their salaries upward, of course, and it will need a little bit of arm-twisting to get my chairman to approve it.

    So, if it means sitting up with the chairman all night to defend this budget proposal, I will do it. And guess what? The secretary will not be staying behind with me; the last thing I need is a nosy secretary who would tip toe into the boardroom halfway through my presentation.

  • Gaining respect in your relationship

    Gaining respect in your relationship

    Rois Ola

    Being respected by your partner doesn’t just come to you like a free recharge card, you have to earn it and earn I mean work for it. It is everyone’s desire to be respected and not taken for granted by the one they love. Lack of respect kills intimacy, it destroys so many things and can crash all the precious things you have built with your partner.

    Respect is a powerful tool in every relationship. It is one of the major things that keep people happy together. Sometimes, people confuse respect and love as the same thing.

    In fact, they are two different things. Love and respect are two key ingredients of a healthy relationship. The following tips will help you to gain respect from your partner; In some relationships there is an equal amount of power and respect, and in others, one partner holds most of the power. To make things even more complicated, the power can shift at different points in your relationship. Maybe in the beginning you two never thought of power and respect because it felt equally distributed. But then, as time went on, you noticed things shifting and you felt like your boyfriend or girlfriend somehow had more power. Wait a second, weren’t you the Beyoncé of this couple? Or the Angelina Jolie? Power tussle sometimes can be complicated. Pride too causes power tussles and respect easily can be undermined making the other person feeling used and foolish.

    It’s normal for the power dynamic to shift in a relationship. Many things could have made the partnership structure change. But once it has swayed into a new direction (one that you may not love), how do you get on equal footing?

    Below are some ways you can gain some respect in your relationship, it may not address all, but it will address some aspects. I hope you gain some things from it to do better in your relationship

    1. Learn to speak up

    One way to become more powerful is to use your voice. Be clear about your wants and needs. If you don’t speak up for yourself, who else will? Remember, your partner ain’t no Syliva Browne, he or she can’t read your mind. Therefore, you need to use your words and tell him/her what you want and need in your partnership. One very good way to gain your partner’s respect is to speak up. People that are vocal always find it easy to gain respect everywhere. You can also apply this to your relationship. Use your voice. Your partner can’t read your mind. Therefore, you have to speak for yourself. When you are offended, let them know. And it’s very important to learn how to communicate with your partner effectively. As this will improve your relationship and help you gain respect from your partner drastically.

    1. Learn to be more independent

    It should not be mistaken that being strong and independent doesn’t mean you don’t need your partner in any way, it just shows that you are capable of doing things on your own, as a powerful individual. Being able to be self-sufficient while in a relationship is very important. Your partner will admire you for this strength which in turn will favor you.

    1. Learn to have boundaries

    Having boundaries is important Everyone has their own set of rules and boundaries that they are comfortable with. You will have boundaries in your relationship and it’s vital you keep them. There are some things that will cross the line for you and you need to be able to draw that line firmly.

    1. Learn to treat yourself the way you want others too

    Instead of following the yellow brick road, how about you follow the golden rule. An easy way of gaining respect is to treat your partner the way you would like to be treated. If you want respect and consideration you have to give it to your partner as well. If you don’t respect yourself, then who else will? It starts with yourself. You have to show how you want to be treated. This will come through with how you treat yourself. How do you talk about yourself? Do you give yourself any power? How do you view yourself? Take a moment to truly think about how you respect yourself. Remember, confidence is contagious.

    1. Learn to keep your word

    Saying something and doing the opposite is one way to quickly lose respect. Actions speak louder than words, this is not a new phrase to you I believe.  especially in relationships. So, if you tell your partner that there will be certain repercussions for something and you don’t follow through, he or she won’t take you seriously, ever again . so follow through all the time. Or even if you make a small promise to your lover, you must keep it. Say what you mean, and mean what you say.

    1. Learn to not settle for less

    There’s nothing more confident and attractive as somebody who knows what he or she deserves. If you’re in a relationship where your partner knows he or she can get away with anything, well then, your power and respect have already gone out the window. Stand up for yourself and don’t be afraid to walk away from a relationship that isn’t beneficial to you.

    No one wants an indolent partner. A hard-working partner is always respected. Ensure that you do well at work and gain more accomplishment. Give your partner a reason to be proud of you. Give them the opportunity to show you off. You can’t gain your partner’s respect if you are indolent. The hard truth is that no one likes to be associated with a loser. Your partner wants to look at you and be proud. This will boost your confidence and respect with your partner. I wish you all the best

  • Guys can be virgins till their wedding night!

    Guys can be virgins till their wedding night!

    DEAR Aunty Temilolu, I am 30 and a virgin! I just got out of a 3-year-toxic relationship late last year. Whenever I was under pressure to compromise and fornicate, I will visit your face book timeline/Google-search your articles and my brain will immediately reset. I have since vowed to remain a virgin until marriage. Thank you for all you do ma. May God bless you!

    Doyin

     

    Dear Aunty Temilolu,

    At age 22, I have no girlfriend because I desire a great future and to be sincere, things are really working out for me. I see great things happening in my life every day. My friends mock me for not having a girlfriend and some have even gone further in their thinking believing I’m a gay but I know myself, I trust God and I know I’m very fit! How do I stand these friends who taunt me every day for not having a girlfriend?

     

    Emmanuel

    Dear Emmanuel,

    I must commend your stand in a depraved world as this and at a time when most of your age mates have been overcome by the spirit of the world and fleshly lust and can’t but sample as many ladies as they can! If only they knew what they were doing to themselves! You can’t imagine the beautiful foundation, you’re laying for a glorious and most enviable future, you can’t imagine the altitude you would find yourself in life someday neither can you fathom the power of God welling up in you. I KNOW WHAT I’M TALKING ABOUT!

    I tell you a lot of men would have fared better in life if they guarded their loins jealously. A real man is one who cannot be controlled by that which he should be master over! Most guys have gotten themselves embroiled in an emotional/spiritual quagmire which has hampered their development and growth at a time when they should be concentrating on their studies, self-development and laying a solid foundation for a successful life!

    A lot have had their virtues and what should make them shine in life practically swallowed by demonic ladies. A lot are under curses from girls they raped, deceived, slept with and dumped! With God’s stamp on those curses! If only some guys knew what covenant they were entering into while deflowering girls, they would be more careful! Not everyone gets away with things that weigh heavily in the spirit realm!

    Asides that, an average lady you sleep with would expect you take care of her material needs as well as her emotional needs. You begin to stress and drain yourself of what should give you the much-needed comfort to pursue your education/career. What if she gets pregnant? Are you ready to have a baby? Why go through the hassles of becoming a baby father or having blood in your hands as a result of terminating a pregnancy? You are too wise my brother! Forget about your ignorant friends and face the wonderful future ahead of you. By the time God starts revealing the glory ahead of you, you won’t remember anything they said. You would instead laugh at their stupidity! You certainly don’t need their approval. Believe me, once you get into premarital sex, I’m afraid you become unstoppable and eventually give the devil too much access into your life!

    The whole world lies in great mystery and wickedness and the devil-our common enemy is raging so wildly and wishes to have a grip over as many destinies as possible and dispossess them of their natural entitlements. One of such ways as I emphasize here is ungodly sex. Why would you want to go against your source-God and live a life of struggle and hardship? The devil has turned too many girls and women to weapons of mass destruction because they refuse to have a deep relationship with God and have a grip over their souls. The devil cashes in on their superficiality and possesses them with all sorts of bad spirits that they might not even be aware of. And just one of these bad spirits which are virtue vamps, could divert the course of a man’s destiny.

    Generations are in trouble today and till eternity, because one man could not bridle his loins! Fantastic stars have been shot down and rendered useless on earth because their father slept with and married a strange woman who wanted to reign supreme! There’s much more on this coming your way to encourage guys out there to remain chaste till their wedding night! May The Power Of God Overshadow The Life Of Every Man Reading This In Jesus Mighty Name!

    • To be continued!

  • Gaining respect in your relationship

    Gaining respect in your relationship

    By Rois Ola

    Being respected by your partner doesn’t just come to you like a free recharge card, you have to earn it and earn I mean work for it. It is everyone’s desire to be respected and not taken for granted by the one they love. Lack of respect kills intimacy, it destroys so many things and can crash all the precious things you have built with your partner.

    Respect is a powerful tool in every relationship. It is one of the major things that keep people happy together. Sometimes, people confuse respect and love as the same thing.

    In fact, they are two different things. Love and respect are two key ingredients of a healthy relationship. The following tips will help you to gain respect from your partner; In some relationships there is an equal amount of power and respect, and in others, one partner holds most of the power. To make things even more complicated, the power can shift at different points in your relationship. Maybe in the beginning you two never thought of power and respect because it felt equally distributed. But then, as time went on, you noticed things shifting and you felt like your boyfriend or girlfriend somehow had more power. Wait a second, weren’t you the Beyoncé of this couple? Or the Angelina Jolie? Power tussle sometimes can be complicated. Pride too causes power tussles and respect easily can be undermined making the other person feeling used and foolish.

    It’s normal for the power dynamic to shift in a relationship. Many things could have made the partnership structure change. But once it has swayed into a new direction (one that you may not love), how do you get on equal footing?

    Below are some ways you can gain some respect in your relationship, it may not address all, but it will address some aspects. I hope you gain some things from it to do better in your relationship

    1. Learn to speak up

    One way to become more powerful is to use your voice. Be clear about your wants and needs. If you don’t speak up for yourself, who else will? Remember, your partner ain’t no Syliva Browne, he or she can’t read your mind. Therefore, you need to use your words and tell him/her what you want and need in your partnership. One very good way to gain your partner’s respect is to speak up. People that are vocal always find it easy to gain respect everywhere. You can also apply this to your relationship. Use your voice. Your partner can’t read your mind. Therefore, you have to speak for yourself. When you are offended, let them know. And it’s very important to learn how to communicate with your partner effectively. As this will improve your relationship and help you gain respect from your partner drastically.

    1. Learn to be more independent

    It should not be mistaken that being strong and independent doesn’t mean you don’t need your partner in any way, it just shows that you are capable of doing things on your own, as a powerful individual. Being able to be self-sufficient while in a relationship is very important. Your partner will admire you for this strength which in turn will favor you.

    1. Learn to have boundaries

    Having boundaries is important Everyone has their own set of rules and boundaries that they are comfortable with. You will have boundaries in your relationship and it’s vital you keep them. There are some things that will cross the line for you and you need to be able to draw that line firmly.

    1. Learn to treat yourself the way you want others too

    Instead of following the yellow brick road, how about you follow the golden rule. An easy way of gaining respect is to treat your partner the way you would like to be treated. If you want respect and consideration you have to give it to your partner as well. If you don’t respect yourself, then who else will? It starts with yourself. You have to show how you want to be treated. This will come through with how you treat yourself. How do you talk about yourself? Do you give yourself any power? How do you view yourself? Take a moment to truly think about how you respect yourself. Remember, confidence is contagious.

    1. Learn to keep your word

    Saying something and doing the opposite is one way to quickly lose respect. Actions speak louder than words, this is not a new phrase to you I believe.  especially in relationships. So, if you tell your partner that there will be certain repercussions for something and you don’t follow through, he or she won’t take you seriously, ever again . so follow through all the time. Or even if you make a small promise to your lover, you must keep it. Say what you mean, and mean what you say.

    1. Learn to not settle for less

    There’s nothing more confident and attractive as somebody who knows what he or she deserves. If you’re in a relationship where your partner knows he or she can get away with anything, well then, your power and respect have already gone out the window. Stand up for yourself and don’t be afraid to walk away from a relationship that isn’t beneficial to you.

    No one wants an indolent partner. A hard-working partner is always respected. Ensure that you do well at work and gain more accomplishment. Give your partner a reason to be proud of you. Give them the opportunity to show you off. You can’t gain your partner’s respect if you are indolent. The hard truth is that no one likes to be associated with a loser. Your partner wants to look at you and be proud. This will boost your confidence and respect with your partner. I wish you all the best

  • Separate bedrooms for couples?

    Separate bedrooms for couples?

    By Vera Chidi-Maha

    Marriage is a very sensitive institution. In marriage, every little thing matters. From the way spouses welcome each other back home after a hard day’s job to the way they say good night. From the way wives and husbands address each other; to an issue as minute as thanking each other after a meal.

    A man ought to shower his spouse with compliments, making her feel like a queen at times. In return, a woman should always treat her man as if he is the only man in the room; treating him like; ‘oh king! Live forever! Those little gestures go a long way to spicing a marriage. But the focus of this piece is on the deal way for couples to sleep; whether it is desirable for them to share the same bedroom.

    Sharing the marital bedroom and sleeping on the conjugal bed is usually an important part of my idea for a perfect marriage. Ironically, however, things are fast changing because, according to a research finding, some couples who have healthy and loving marriages do not even share the same bedroom, yet they are happy.

    A particular claim that the reason why they sleep better is because they share separate bedrooms, sharing a bed with someone who snores, has restless legs, brings work or food to bed and watches the TV till the early hours is difficult. To have a good night sleep is not only essential for a person’s well-being, but it can also reduce the daily tensions that a couple could find themselves enveloped in.

    A person who has had a refreshing night sleep is ready to face the day in a good mood and cope easily with the everyday’s vicissitudes.

    Another reason why couples sleep in separate bedrooms is that it affords them the privilege of breaking the routine. Having separate rooms allows the couple to be in need of each other, making the time together more enjoyable.

    The scenario painted is that it should not just be a matter of a wife going to her spouse’s room for a ‘quickie’. No, it means the wife would start thinking about how to go about it; how to lure her partner to her room.

    You prepare yourself for the encounter; you bathe, shave, cream, perfume; it becomes like a date where you want to look your best to leave a long-lasting impression.

    Another surprising reason given by couples sleeping in separate bedrooms, according to the research finding, is that it gives them the opportunity to recover some of the freedom of being single.

    They claim that having your own private space can make you recover your own self since you don’t need to think about the other person when you are there. (But is this not risky?) They also claim that having a private space at home could be very relaxing. Respecting each other’s taste and having the opportunity to decorate their own rooms to taste is also a form of love.  They also claim that having separate bedrooms makes them love each other the more. Staying in separate rooms has become to them a pleasure, not an obligation. You sleep with your partner because you want to.

    However, sleeping in separate rooms leads to the disappearance of spontaneous sexual encounters. You should sleep in the same room with your partner whether he or she snores or not; that is why it is called marriage; it is a union, be reminded that it is ‘for better for worse’, besides, physical connection is very key in marriage.

    Cuddles, touches, companionship etc. should come naturally and not only when one of the spouses feels for such. Sometimes, sleeping, separately could lead to problems in marriage. This can be the case when partners are avoiding spending time together or having different expectations.

    According to Weiner-Davis, a marriage and family therapist and author of ‘The Sex Starved Marriage’, “if couples are sleeping apart all the time; it can create problems, if one person thinks that isn’t how a marriage should be, it’s a problem”.

    Clinical psychologist, Dr. Joy Browne, says “Sleeping together is important because it is about being together as a couple, it is a statement of compromise and also gives one the chance to at least cuddle, and there is that closeness. Pepper Schwartz agrees that couples who find each other moving apart may have ‘a troubled relationship’. Generally speaking, married couples may find sleeping in separate beds or separate rooms an effective way to handle different sleep patterns, snoring or tending to young children. Partners must ensure that communication lines and intimacy are not negatively impacted by the separate sleeping arrangements. I encourage married couples to sleep together on same bed in same room. As a matter of fact, many marriage experts believe that sleeping together could keep a marriage healthy.

    Couples should do whatever makes their relationships work. Some people like to sleep with the lights on wile some like to sleep with the lights off or at least a little dim, this is where the issue of compromise comes in.

    For most couples who sleep apart; it is practical decision. They know they will never get to sleep with their partners in the bed due to snoring, restless legs or opposing schedules, many couples have submitted that rather than suffer through the effects of sleep deprivation, separate bedrooms allow them the opportunity to rest well.

    In my growing up years, I saw my parents share the same bed all through. We lived in a three bedroom apartment; I never saw them or heard them suggest sleeping separately, no matter what. I concluded by asking again; is separate bedrooms for a husband and wife a good thing?

  • Day magic show with my husband went awry — Prof Peller’s widow

    Day magic show with my husband went awry — Prof Peller’s widow

    Alhaja Silifat Peller, aka Lady Peller, is one of the widows of famous Nigerian magician, Alhaji Moshood Abiola Peller, popularly known as Professor Peller. Like her late husband, Lady Peller was also popular for her feat in magical shows, particularly in the 1980s. Now 73 years old, she spoke with GBENGA ADERANTI on life without her husband and why the family chose not to probe his assassination, among other issues.

    • Recalls how she became co-magician with deceased spouse

    • Blames journalists for his assassination

    At 73, you still look active and agile. What is the secret?

    I have to thank God for giving me strength, and my children for rallying round me.

    Considering how close you were with Professor Peller, how has life being without him?

    At first, his death was a great blow. But as they say, time heals wound. It has been 23 years, and I thank God and my children for giving me the strength to move on.

    One would think that you would give marriage another shot after a while. Why didn’t you re-marry?

    I was already 50 when Professor Peller died, and I had got all my children. What would I be looking for in another marriage? I don’t think it is a good advice. I was satisfied being with him and I am satisfied with my life.

    You celebrated your 70th birthday three years ago. What do you think Prof would have done on that occasion if he was alive?

    Wow! The children would have had two celebrants on that day. They would have celebrated both of us. And after the celebration, Professor Peller, I trust him, would have taken me around the world. I know that is what he would have done.

    How did the two of you meet?

    We met about 50 years ago when I was at Iseyin District Grammar School. He came to perform in my school and we became friends. Later on, we got married, and I joined him as an assistant magician.

    You come from a family of Muslims. How did your parents react when you introduced a magician as your fiancé?

    I was already an adult and a practising Muslim. Professor Peller was also a Muslim. My parents were happy to see me marrying a Muslim. I did not have any problem with my parents marrying him.

    How easy was it to combine your religion with magic?

    My religion is Islam while magic is an art. They are different things. Magic is my work, Islam is my religion. The two do not conflict at all.

    You were not a magician until you got married to Prof.  How did you learn the art?

    After we got married, we went to America and he enrolled me at Colon Michigan School of magic. I learned the art at that place. I joined him and we started together.

    Your fashion sense is regarded in many quarters as unique. What is the secret?

    Don’t forget that I was an artiste and I used to go on stage. Don’t also forget that I have travelled all over the world, like a quarter of the globe. I have seen different cultures and different dresses, and I know what suits me for any occasion. If I am in the house, I know what to wear, and if I am going out, it depends on the occasion.

    There was a show in which Prof put you in a coffin and cut it into two. Did you nurse any fear when he performed such deadly shows?

    No. You know that before we left home for a show, I always had the confidence. And I trusted my husband a lot. Don’t forget that I was his wife. He would not allow anything to happen to me. We were always very careful. That was just for the television.

    It was only one day that something happened at the Cultural Centre. I am sure some people will still remember. The cutting we did that day was not the cutting we were doing on the television. The heat was too much on that day and I couldn’t come back until we finished the show. Some people said they didn’t want to see anything again and they left. The second day, people were saying, ‘we just want to see Lady Peller’. Some people were even spreading rumour that they saw a convoy following a corpse to Iseyin.

     It would seem that magic show died after Professor Peller’s death and none of your family members was interested…

    Professor Peller has a son, Zeeto Peller. He is a lawyer and a good magician. He has been doing magic. Maybe you have not come across him. In the family, we don’t force anybody on the career to pursue. Everybody has their own fields. All Professor Peller’s children are doing well. There is still magic in the family.

    Why didn’t you continue the shows after his death?

    Before his death, I had already retired from magic.

    Why?

    Won’t you retire when you have done a job until you are 50 or 60 years old? I have to rest. You know magicians travel a lot. We travelled from Nigeria to all the countries in West Africa, all by road. I have to rest.

    Politicians from different party platforms attended your 70th birthday. How do you manage to relate with them without having a clash of interests?

    Political parties apart, I move with people with good character; people who have the love of other people in their minds. If you are in a political party and I see that you don’t have the love of your people in your heart, and I call you and you refused to change, I will move aside.

    I move with people with good character and love of people in their hearts. You can be in any party.

    In Nigeria, if all of us can love one another and put ourselves in the shoes of other people, there would not be hatred. I think we are getting to that. I would not move with anybody I cannot talk to or have confidence in. You can be in APC or PDP, but you must have a good heart. What we want is a good Nigeria, so I love everybody that is doing good.

    What is that experience of life you are not likely to forget in a hurry?

    All the things that God has done for me. God has been good to me. I can’t forget my children. All I have is my children. If you love them, you love me.

    Any regrets?

    Not much. There is nobody who does not have up and downs, but they are not regrets. What you call regret is when something happens to you and you can’t move forward. If you can move forward, you forget that one. By the grace of God, I don’t have regrets.

    How is it to live in a polygamous family?

    You know we have different types of polygamy. I thank God for where he put me. In a polygamous setting, you build yourself. If you build yourself, there is a way for you. And if there is love, you overcome the challenges. That is the most important thing. The head of the family should teach love.

    I’m the mother of the children of my husband. They love me with their hearts. I am plain to them and I love them and they know that I love them. That is how I cope.

    What are you missing about your late husband?

    I missed my husband. I missed my love. Professor Peller was a man of great wisdom. I missed his parables and proverbs. I missed him a lot. He is still in my heart. Although he is dead, they only killed the body and not the soul. I hold him in so much esteem in my heart. I still prefer to refer to him in present. He is till with me in spirit.

    Nobody would have believed that Professor Peller could be killed the way he was. What really went wrong? Why didn’t you probe his death?

    You know we are Muslims. As Muslims, we believe that whatever that happens, God knows about it. It was his time, but God used somebody or the devil in this case to perform that task.

    It was you journalists that sold him out. It was while they were interviewing him like this that he revealed too much about himself. He said if he was praying, there would be nothing in him. But after his prayer and he put on his agbada, if they faced him, nothing would happen to him.

    But we thank God for his life. He came and he saw. He has left but he is still in our hearts. God knows best. We don’t know those that killed him. How many people have been assassinated in Nigeria that they got a clue about those that killed them? Have you seen any? Is it Professor Peller alone that has been assassinated? No. But if nobody sees people that are doing all these things, God is seeing them and He knows everything. We thank God for his life.