The Nation Newspaper

Category: Sunday magazine

  • ‘My partying is out of obligation’

    ‘My partying is out of obligation’

    Socialite and businesswoman, Toyin Kolade, the CEO of Fisolak Global Resources, has her hands in many pies ranging from clearing and forwarding, oil and gas, pharmaceutical to household items. A workaholic, Kolade, who is motivated by her aspiration to attain greater heights, shares with Adetutu Audu how her humble beginning transformed into a big brand as well as her noticeable presence in high society events which she says is out of obligation to her colleagues and customers.

    YOU became a millionaire at 21. How were you able to achieve that feat?

    Thank God for the journey so far. When you are from a good background, it will help in shaping your life. My mother taught me how to make money early in life. So, by 21, I was already counting my millions. If I see anything that I could sell to make money, I will sell. I learnt the ropes in business from my mother. I remember that I used to travel on her behalf up north to buy these things. With time, I started doing my own personal business, buying and selling and by the time I was 21, I had almost N5m in my bank account.

    Were you not scared of amassing such kind of money?

    Never! What about Bill Gates and the owner of What’sapp? I was focused and I wanted the money to multiply. It is by God’s grace.

    You were in school when you started your business. Were you not carried away by the influence of money?

    No. It is just as if I was playing by the side. Some people like to play table tennis, football or other activities while in school. So, it was like that for me too. I used to buy corn and supply to people doing poultry. I was involved in clothing too. I studied logistics at the then University of Ife.

    Having gone this far, what were the challenges you encountered along the line?

    There are the good, the bad and the ugly. I met bad people, people that I can never trust again. Some people can lie to you. For instance, I travelled to Dubai with one of my friends. I had another business in mind, but she encouraged me that I should buy something else – that it was fast selling. After we came back to Nigeria, she started dodging me. Eventually, I sold the goods for half of the price that I bought them. She wanted to ruin me. Another challenge is to get good staff to work with. Another is electricity. But I pray we sort it out soon. Nigeria is a country that I love; if I come back again, I want to be a Nigerian

    How did you now arrive at Fisolak?

    From the little buying and selling, this is how far God has taken us. It is now a big brand in Nigeria; we are into oil and gas, shipping, clearing and forwarding, supermarket. And we are not there yet. I want my business also to be like Walmart in America and Marks & Spencer. That is my dream, which I also know that God will do for me very, very soon. It is better to be knowledgeable about the business you want to do. Also make sure it is a very good business.

    Anytime I want to take on a new business, I always take my business proposition to God in prayers. I won’t venture into anything I do not get assurance for from God, and this has helped me greatly, as I don’t invest in any business that I won’t be successful in.

    You were already in money before you got married, how easy was it for you settling down?

    It is God that arranged it for me. It was love at first sight between me and my husband. He is very trustworthy and smiles a lot. That is what I like about him. He is always advising me. We are like Siamese twins.

    What is your source of inspiration

    God.

    Many people say that women cannot be successful, except they pay with their bodies. Have you ever been harassed?

    Some people can do that. Men will only use and dump you. It is better to start small. It is because people want to be like others. There are women who are successful; so, why should mine be different?

    Don’t you feel intimidated by men in your line of business?

    As I speak to you now, it is no longer dominated by men. The ratio is now 50/50 and that is because we women are doing better than the men; people rely more on women than the men because we are good business managers.

    Why do most successful women not have successful marriages?

    Some of them have bad friends. So, when they are making money, their friends will tell them, don’t mind that man, and don’t honour your husband. My husband is my boyfriend, he is my everything. I still cook for my husband and my children. I don’t have a cook. Anything I want to do, I will first get his blessing. God is my Alpha and Omega, but my second alpha and omega is my husband and I love him so much.

    What makes a good businesswoman?

    What makes a good businesswoman is to ensure that in everything you are doing, you pray before going into it. You don’t just venture into things by saying because my friend is making money in this business, I want to do the same business. It is better to be knowledgeable about the business you want to do. Also make sure it’s a very good business. Your friend is selling clothes and you want to venture into it, no! Somebody is selling maybe rice and you jump into it, no! Any business you want to do, you pray over it. And if it is truly your line of business, God will be there to watch over you.

    As a successful businessman, why do some people attain success and lose it?

    For instance, I want to be like Shoprite, I want to become like Marks & Spencer and instead of me to be doing my business little by little, I want to make it quick. Some of them will go and collect money from the bank; maybe $1 million, $5 million, $50 million and at the end of the day, they don’t know how to control the money and no matter what happens, they are going to lose it. Let me give you an example; if I start a business with N10, I will work on how the N10 will become N20, how the N20 will become N50. But I cannot just wake up one day and say I need $50 million to start one business, which is not possible. That’s why at the end of the day they will lose.

    Aso-ebi has become a fad to the detriment of taking care of one’s family. What is your view?

    Some people want to belong. I don’t do that. I have seen people borrowing clothes, shoes and bags to go to parties.

    Do you believe in a woman being a full-time housewife?

    If the husband is ok and can take care of the family. But as for me, I can just sit at home.

    Do we see you in active politics?

    No. I will not take any elective post. But I will support any party or people I have affiliation with.

    Does your husband at any time feel threatened by your success?

    No. I have a supportive husband. He is an asset to my various businesses with his invaluable inputs.

    What does money mean to you?

    Nothing, because it is God Almighty that owns everything.

    How do you keep fit?

    I am now on fruit diet. Before now, I used to be fat, but you can see I have reduced. I don’t want to die young. I discovered that living food cure dead cells.

    You seem to love parties

    I don’t go to all parties. But I love to be in the midst of good people. Attending parties and social functions, for me, are basically out of obligation to my colleagues and customers.

    How do you relax?

    Sincerely, I don’t have time to relax.

    Many one-man businesses have collapsed after the demise of their owners. How do you think this can be forestalled?

    Try to allow your family to know about your business. Bring in your children, even if they want to do the business. Don’t keep secret about your business from your family.

  • Dewunmi Ogunsanya’s wife bows to cancer

    Dewunmi Ogunsanya’s wife bows to cancer

    SUCCESSFUL businessman and Chairman of MultiChoice Nigeria, Dewunmi Ogunsanya, is bereaved. The amiable lawyer-cum-businessman lost his wife to cancer last week in Europe. The late Ogunsanya, we gathered, had been battling with the illness for a while before finally succumbing to it last week.

  • ‘Nigeria does not need a Christian or Muslim President’

    ‘Nigeria does not need a Christian or Muslim President’

    The General Overseer of Victory Life Bible Church (VLBC), Abeokuta, Ogun State, Apostle Lawrence Achudume, believes Nigeria needs only true leaders and not religious bigots. He spoke with Sunday Oguntola ahead of the 2014 convocation of the church. Excerpts:

    We keep hearing about the God’s factor, which is the theme of your 2014 convocation. What is it really all about?

    It simply means the God’s dimension in a man’s life. I have often preached that you can succeed without God.

    So, one does not really need God to succeed?

    Sure, it is not compulsory. Man can succeed without God but many of us have chosen to succeed with God. Success with God lasts forever; it is transferable and peaceful. Success without God is never lasting. Often times, before the seemingly successful person dies, everything is gone. You may see the wreckage but the glory is gone.

    So, the God’s factor simply means choosing to succeed with God; entering a covenant of lasting success through God.

    Many have said they would want to succeed with God but He takes too much time. Why does God like to keep people waiting, almost endlessly?

    I have handled this question in several meetings with pastors. Someone sent me a message on Face book on how she has been paying her tithes and everything without results.

    First, God does not bestow wealth on people He cannot trust. He takes us through a process because many have been tested with money and misbehaved. Our souls are so important to God that He wouldn’t give us anything that will destroy them. He prefers to save souls than bless people with money.

    Two, nobody likes to wait. These days, people just love the micro-wave blessings. But God is not in a hurry. He takes time to build our capacities. Someone may have just N1 million and start acquiring more women but someone else might have dozen or more without misbehaving. God takes us through a process to test our faithfulness. He does not bless people who are not kingdom-minded.

    He wants people who will not hoard resources but choose to serve as channels of blessings to others. Anybody that will misbehave with wealth will go through a long route to get it. God simply takes His own time; it is we who say He takes time because we are counting the chronological time. If in 1994, I was given N10 million, I probably would have misbehaved. Some pastors did not even wait to have N1million before misbehaving. So, God is not in a hurry at all.

    People equate prosperity with righteousness these days. But is it possible to be rich as a Christian and not be in good standing with God?

    Yes, it is very possible. You can have money and not be a child of God though you are in the church. And also you can be righteous and have real money, stupendous money.

    Stupendous money?

    Yes stupendous money and I am using the word very deliberately.

    But some Christians say they don’t want mega wealth because it could lead to mega troubles

    Mega wealth only means you have mega mouths to feed. If God blesses you, He would place people you are to bless with it around you. If God blesses you, He sends those in needs. There are people who need the money God has given you. The more you give, the more you receive.

    But many Christians are acquiring these days and hardly dispensing. How come they are still blessed?

    They will soon run dry if they don’t dispense. The money is not for them. When God gives you money, He has an assignment for it. If you hoard the resources, you are setting yourself up for a big fall. God will not come down to dispense money; He sends it through willing vessels to the needy. If you keep it to yourself, the money will kill you because you are afraid the money won’t return. But that is not how God operates.

    What has told you about 2015 elections?

    One, Nigeria will not break. Anybody saying Nigeria will break might break but Nigeria will remain indissoluble. Nigeria will not split in any form whatsoever and it does not matter who is saying the prophecy. The elections would be peaceful. Whoever God has determined to win regardless of what people say and do. I don’t see any crisis in 2015 at all. There would be noise but then everything will end.

    There would be rumbles?

    Of course, that is normal with human beings. It doesn’t matter who wins and loses. Somebody who contests elections and does not win will cry out.

    The bother is that politicians are playing religious politics…

    … That is very childish and wicked thing to do.

    What would you be telling your members?

    From time, I have always told them to vote according to their consciences. I tell them to vote for only those they consider competent.

    You won’t endorse?

    No, I won’t because there are people of different political persuasions in my church. It won’t be fair to say they should vote for somebody. Even if God tells me who will win, I will allow people make their choices. Some of their relations are contesting and even if your brother is going to lose, you must vote for him. So I won’t bother myself. But anybody who plays religious politics is bad. We don’t need a Christian or Muslim leader but a true leader. We need incorruptible leader who stands for Nigeria, not for Muslims or Christians; not for South or the North but Nigeria.

    Religion should be a private affair. A leader should not throw his religion on people’s faces or impose it. You are voted by Christians and Muslims. Go to your church or mosque but do justice when it comes to administration. But religion has always played major roles all over the world. Check Egypt, Syria and Tunisia. Even in the States, religion plays out. But it is just getting here now because of some fundamentalists.

    If the president wants to come to VLBC between now and 2015, would you welcome him?

    Why not? He is a Christian and even if he is not, he is most welcome. The church is always wide open to people from everywhere.

    Would you allow him to canvass for votes?

    No, I won’t because the pulpit is not for campaigns. To do that is to put the church in troubles. The church is for worship. As a respect and honour, he can greet the brethren but to campaign on the pulpit is dishonourable. A pastor who does that has lost his honour.

    What vision do you have for convocation 2014?

    If you look at the crop of invited guests, you will see it is huge. From Mensa Otabil to Dr Felix Omobude, Paul Eneche and Dr Abel Damina, you see the list is really inspiring. We are bringing a generation of three ministers for a balanced diet at the meeting. My desire is that we should know God for who He is and not what we can get from Him. Until then, we cannot be serious Christians. Many of us don’t really know Him; if we do, we won’t do half of the things we do. That is why the theme is living a triumphant life: The God’s factor.

    If we know God, our politicians won’t misbehave though they come to church. I learnt in Jos that one of the people the EFCC is investigating is a board member of the commission. How can there be fairness and justice?

    You seem to be an endless builder of multi projects. What is driving you?

    I think it is just the vision. I keep building auditoriums upon auditoriums. God was dealing with me sometimes ago and He said, ‘it takes structures to make a city’. And you know the structures in a city determine the people who live in the city. For us in VLBC, we are building again not because I wanted but because I realised that God wants it. If I had my way, I won’t do it because it is costing millions.

    But I am not under any pressure because it is not my work. God is just doing it. Where we are hosting the convention is a miracle. Maybe I have the anointing of Solomon to build

    You once said you don’t hold anything against anybody. How are you able to forgive people easily?

    You know even my wife asks me whether I am a human being. Sometimes I don’t know how to explain but when people do the wrong thing, it doesn’t enter my head. I don’t know how God did it. So, it’s easily for me to forgive and move on. Till date, I don’t know how to quote people on whatever they said. I don’t know how to record wrongs.

    I know people do something but I can’t remember. I have also come to know man by nature is evil. It is only when people do right that I am surprised. I realised that when I keep malice, I am destabilised and cannot plan or pray well. A pastor has so many problems already, why add you to it? Offence is a trap to destruction.

  • Niyola’s top 10

    Niyola’s top 10

    R&B sensation and first lady of EME Records, Eniola Akinbo, popularly known as Niyola, tells Adetutu Audu her favourite things.

    Favourite shoe designer

    I love Guiseppe Zannotti

     

    Favourite perfume

    Creed; Love in Black

     

    Favourite make-up line

    Depends on what exactly; I like Mac, Imman, L’oreal and Maybeline

     

    Favourite food

    Yam and garden

    egg sauce

     

    Favourite

    designer bag

    Celine Croc

    mini luggage

     

    Favourite book

    Art lover, A Biography of Peggy Guggenheim

     

    Favourite holiday spot

    Hawaii

     

    Favourite fashion designer

    Eli Saab

     

    Favourite car

    I like mini SUVs but none in particular

     

    Favourite piece of jewellery

    Rings

  • ‘Our strategy for fighting crime in Lagos’

    ‘Our strategy for fighting crime in Lagos’

    Umar Abubakar Manko, Commissioner of Police, Lagos Command, joined the Nigeria Police as a Cadet in 1984 after he graduated from the then University of Sokoto (now Usman Danfodiyo University) where he read Sociology. His tour of duty has been interesting and varied. He has been an instructor and commissioner at the Police Academy. He has held the same post at the Lagos Airport Command, Katsina, Sokoto and briefly in Edo before moving to Lagos in December 2012. He has also worked at the General Investigation Department and an alumnus of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, Plateau State. In this interview with Deputy Editor Olayinka Oyegbile and Correspondent Jude Isiguzo, he talks about his career and what it takes to fight crime in a mega city.

    YOU have served as Commissioner in Katsina, Sokoto, Edo and the Airport Command. From all these experiences what does it take to police a state like Lagos?

    For anybody who finds himself in a position to police a state such as Lagos, the challenges are many. This is because of the nature of the state; you have different kinds of challenges everyday and you are always at your best because these challenges come every day and you must work out strategies to overcome them. If I compare Lagos with other places I have served, two things are working right here: one the authorities of the police, particularly the Inspector General. Having worked here before becoming the IGP, he takes special interest in the state. He gives pieces of advice and tells you what to do at what time. Secondly, you have a state government and a governor (Babatunde Fashola) who is so passionate about the security of the state.

    When I came here the commissioner that I took over from told me that the governor and his predecessor have never missed any security meeting for the years he spent in this command. And for the number of years I have served here too he has not missed any. In fact, he has not even asked anybody to stand in for him. If he knows he will not be around for the next one, he will either push the date forward or draw it closer so that he will be there to discuss security issue of the state. That is how important security is to him.

    Now there is this also the Lagos State Security Trust Fund, which again is the brain child of the governor. That fund has gone a long way in assisting the police in Lagos to be up and down. Because the only thing you need to do when you are in need of anything is to write, if they have it, they give to you, if they don’t have it they would source for it. That Fund has intervened in critical conditions for the police and other security agencies in Lagos.

    If you have these two things, combined it will be wrong for the authorities that put you here to see you fail. And that is why from me, as the Commissioner of Police to the last constable in this command, every day, we play our role collectively to secure the state.

    So how do you motivate your men to achieve their best.?

    (Cuts in) No, no, no. It is not a case of how do I motivate my men. It is a case of how are we being motivated? I want to state this thing clearly; for the first time in long years, an Inspector General of Police (IGP) came up and said this thing you call ‘road block’ should go and people thought he was just making an empty statement. This is two years and the heavens have not fallen, for the first time we have an Inspector-General who has taken the welfare of officers and men as a personal project. Welfare, not even about salary, we now have a Mortgage Bank where policemen can go and take loan to purchase houses without collateral; the only collateral is their salary. They do not need any other thing. We have an IGP who has taken it as a personal venture to ensure that policemen have houses while in service and out of service. Policemen now have their own pension scheme which they manage themselves for the police to be self accounting. All these things put together is what is making the policemen to be performing.

    Not only that, the Lagos State government pays allowances to policemen who go on patrol. If their allowances are paid to us we make sure that they have it promptly. I will be the last person to corner the allowances of any police officer. The only thing I will say to cap it all is that if you have a good leader, the followership would be great. I go on patrol myself, I do not go to my house to go and sleep and once a policeman knows that he can get his transportation and allowances what is more? I am not saying that there are no lapses here and there, but once they are sure that they have somebody that is fighting for their cause, it is enough motivation.

    How do you deal with bad eggs?

    Well, if they tell you follow this road, that this is the one that is good enough for you and you decide to follow the other one, whatever you get at the end of the one you chose is your own, you take it. Any policeman who decides to go against our rules will be sanctioned adequately; you remember that the IGP re-launched what we call ‘Police Code of Conduct’. How a police man should behave and carry himself, the copies (of the Code) were made available to us free of charge. Read and follow the norms of your organisation. Those that have done the right thing will be commended and those that do the wrong will be punished as stated.

    Violent crimes have reduced but what are you doing about ‘one chance’ robberies?

    There is no society that is crime free, you can only reduce it. If society becomes crime free and clean some of us will be out of jobs and I am not prepared to go home yet (laughter). We are aware of these petty robberies. Even, those ‘one chance’ you talk about, they look at the environment before they do anything because they can decide to do it and the chance will go with them. So we are working hard to see that some of these things are reduced to the barest minimum.

    Just yesterday in line with what we are talking about, I received a letter from the Secretary of the Lagos State Trust Fund, he was talking about hoodlums and street fights in Bariga, Mushin and some other places but before the letter came we had been able to deal with them. He even donated two patrol vehicles and 10 motorcycles to be added to the ones we already have for the OPS Attacks, our outfits for patrol. The people who are involved in these small robberies are just taking their chance because they know that the police are up and doing. It’s just a matter of let me see if I can succeed or not. We on our own will revisit our strategies to ensure that all these places you have mentioned will be checked.

    Recently, a ‘forest of horror’ known as Soka was discovered in Ibadan, Oyo State. Any chance of having such in Lagos?

    No! No!! No!!! So long, as I remain a Commissioner of Police in Lagos, I will fish you out anywhere you are as a criminal.

    Is this an assurance?

    (Emphatically) Yes, I assure you. You remember we have chased criminals across the borders and brought them to justice. No resting place for criminals in Lagos, I assure you.

    Tell us about your most challenging moments

    Hm… When I came in newly sometime on September 9, robbers raided the state and killed both policemen and innocent civilians. That memory has lingered; not because I have not seen more difficult situations but because I felt I was just being tested. I was just coming in and this happened and the Inspector General was in Lagos that Sunday to commission 130 patrol vehicles that were given to us by the state government and the local governments; and these people now came a day before that event. That is why the thing entered my system. But again, it was like a wake-up call and as a descendant of great warrior, I decided I was going to fight crime in Lagos. It was then that I made that resolve and I have not looked back. I want to thank particularly my men who when you give instructions will listen and chart out strategies of doing things right. Anytime I remember that incident of September 9, I feel so sad.

    What about exciting moments in the command?

    Anytime a resident of Lagos becomes a victim of these men of the underworld and the police are able to uproot it, I am so excited and I know you can count many of them.

    As at the time you joined the Police you could have joined a blue chip company. Why did you decide on the Police?

    There are two or three reasons for that. I had an elder brother who was the Chief of Native Authority Police in Bida (Niger State). In those days, Chief of Native Police is a powerful post and the guard of the royals. I used to like and admire his uniform. I grew up admiring his uniform. So that is one. Second, I came to serve in the NYSC at Force CID Alagbon, and after the service, one retired AIG, Dabo Aliu, he was an Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of General Investigations; he talked me into joining the Nigeria Police.

    His reasons were very simple: He said if I look at my locality, especially the elites were not interested in the police and if they find somebody like me a graduate and by birth a royalist (prince), I will serve as a role model for others. I happen to be the first graduate that joined the police from Bida and after me now there are lots of others. Some people will say if this man from this background can join the police, there must be something good in it.

    Do you have any regrets?

    No regrets, if I have my way, I will continue to be a policeman

    After fighting crimes, how do you relax?

    I like reading, particularly poems. I listen to soft music and I love the company of my children. I go to selected parties. I am a very good horse rider and I know how to play polo and sometimes I jog.

    You are also into philanthropy?

    Well, in the first place the police is supposed to be a service for the less privileged, it is supposed to a vanguard on the side of the weak, and by my nature, I always have the belief that whatever position you are is temporary and that God has reasons for putting you where you are and that is for you to look after the people that are down. The first day of the year is a special day whether you are a Christian or a Muslim. It’s a favour from God to see a new year. The IGP said that someone is a suspect means that he is been suspected and so deserves every right to be treated properly. Some of them have killed our colleagues but it’s a message to them that crime in whatever form is bad; it is also to tell them that those of us who have found ourselves by providence on the side of law enforcement are not their enemies, it’s just the calling. I go into the cells most times to discuss with suspects. Despite the fact that I am a Muslim, I attend their Christian services and vice versa, it’s a sign of letting them know that even though they are in detention, the society has not condemned them. Of course, you know as a royalist we also take pleasure in making people happy, when and if we can.

  • Anselm Tabansi dreams Fahrenheit Maison

    Anselm Tabansi dreams Fahrenheit Maison

    THAT Anselm Tabansi’s Fahrenheit Hospitality Group is popular in the hospitality business is no news. Well, the gist is that the brain behind Svengali Designs has his hands in a new pie. The new edifice located on the Island, we learnt, is dubbed Fahrenheit Maison. Tabansi, a lawyer-turned-interior designer is a force to reckon with in the hospitality business and many fun-lovers have high expectations of the new edifice.

  • Bamanga Tukur plans superlative wedding for son

    Bamanga Tukur plans superlative wedding for son

    COME 19 April, 2014,the Lagos social scene will be shaken to its foundation, as the former Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, plans a superlative wedding for his son, Ahmed. The younger Tukur will be tying the nuptial knot with Karimot Bamisedun, a daughter of a popular business tycoon, Alhaji Rotimi Bamisedun from Ikorodu, Lagos State, at the prestigious Eko Hotel and Suites. Many high-powered and influential personalities from all walks of life are expected to grace the occasion even as aso-ebi and invitation cards have been sent out.

  • Rededicate to divine assignments, church leaders charged

    Church leaders have been urged to win souls for God rather than engage in blind pursuit of materialism.

    The General Overseer of the Christian Pentecostal Mission (CPM) International, Dr Obiora Ezekiel, gave the advice at the last Back-to-Bible conference of the church with the theme glorious divine nature.

    The annual conference, which held at the Ajao Estate Lagos international headquarters of the church, is aimed at imparting and re-igniting the fire of Pentecost that dismantles carnal and worldly reasoning.

    Ministering at the conference, Ezekiel challenged ministers to remain steadfast and focused in their divine assignments.

    He urged them to put on the divine nature of God to enable them focus on the things of heaven.

    He said it is spiritual empowerment that will bring solution to many sick souls in churches.

    He called on ministers to improve their standard by rising to their responsibility of healing spiritual wounds.

    Ezekiel charged them to meet the need of this generation through awareness, enlightenment and unveiling the hidden truth.

    He said today’s churches need serious discipline and salvation of souls which attracts rewards.

    He tasked pastors to build and disciple believers to the level where they will know the truth and resist the love of money, killing, deceit and hatred.

  • Presbyterian Church canvasses true federalism

    The Presbyterian Church of Nigeria has challenged delegates at the on-going National Conference to enthrone true federalism and the nation’s secularism.

    It said these will form the basis for the peaceful co-existence of Nigerians.

    This was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the first quarterly meeting of the General Assembly Executive Committee (GAEC) in Calabar, Cross River State.

    The communiqué, signed by the Prelate and Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church, Most Rev. Prof Emele Mba Uka and the Principal Clerk, The Rev. Ndukwe Nwachukwu Eme, expressed delight with the commencement of the Conference.

    It urged delegates to courageously tackle the issues before them in the spirit of justice and fair-play.

    The church also commended President Goodluck Jonathan’s declaration for a possible referendum to back up the decisions of the Conference.

    It praised the decision of the Northern States Governors’ Forum to abolish the payment of secondary school fees in the northern part of the country.

    It however called for a total declaration of free primary and secondary education throughout the nation as a uniform system of investing in our children to secure their future as the leaders of tomorrow.

  • Ex-leader appeals to warring factions in CAC

    The former General Superintendent of the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) Worldwide, Pastor Daniel Oloye, has appealed to warring factions in the church to give peace a chance.

    He asked leaders of the groups to drop their personal agendas and work for the progress of the church.

    Oloye spoke last Sunday at the 26th anniversary of the Christ Apostolic Church Transfiguration Hill Zone, Ajuwon, Ogun State.

    The weeklong celebration attracted government functionaries, traditional rulers, captains of industries and church leaders.

    Decrying the disunity in the church, Oloye said the leaders must close ranks to fulfill the end time mandate of the church.

    He pleaded: “Let us reconcile with God and with ourselves without any delay because we will one day personally give accounts of our stewardship here on earth and it will be very unfortunate if, because of our quest for positions, we miss heaven and our rewards.”

    Oloye noted there would always be differences since the church is made up of human beings.

    He however said Christians must learn to resolve such differences “so as not to give room for the devil to scorn us and make mockery of our faith in Christ.”

    The Chairman of CAC Transfiguration Zone, Pastor Emmanuel Odejobi, said the anniversary was a celebration of God’s grace, love and faithfulness to the church which are innumerable.