AFTER a long hiatus from the social radar, Take, the fun-loving daughter of former Delta State Governor, Chief James Onanefe Ibori, has finally returned to the social space. At the moment, things are really looking good for her. She was full of life in the midst of other dignitaries who graced her father’s 55th birthday last year. Ever since, Take has continued to let her air down. Prior to her appearance at the event, her whereabouts had been a subject of speculations, following the collapse of her planned marriage to Abisoye Suenu.
Category: Sunday magazine
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Olowo of Owo honoured
The Olowo of Owo, Oba Victor Folagbade Olateru- Olagbegi (III) and his wife, Olori Ololade, were honoured as Life Members of Lagos Country Club. The event took place penultimate Friday during the club’s New Year party.
By TAIWO ABIODUN
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Femi Lasode returns
THE Chief Executive Officer, Even Ezra Studios, Mr. Obafemi Lasode, who also served as one time President of the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN), is back in Lagos after concluding his PhD at the University of Abuja.
Lasode is not just returning, he is returning big as he plans to establish a film village in Lekki. Already, we gathered that the venue is already being weeded in preparation for the construction.
Lasode, who produced the music programme, Afrika n Vogue, has been off the entertainment circuit in recent times. Sango the Legendary Afrikan King, a movie that he also produced years ago, was screened during the Film Society of Lincoln Centre, New York, USA as part of the Fourth New York-African Film Festival. It was also screened at the Brooklyn Museum of Arts, and the Chicago Museum of Arts. It was also screened in 1999 during the 7th Pan African Film Festival in Los Angeles, California.
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Bridget Awosika rocks fashion world
SINCE her incursion into the Nigerian fashion industry, Bridget has evolved and has not disappointed those who believe in her and identify with her brand. The brand in the last three years has become a favourite among fashion lovers both within and outside Nigeria. Her aesthetics and approach to fashion has also, no doubt, earned her good nods. Star actress, Genevieve Nnaji, and former Miss World, Agbani Darego, are among the patrons of Bridget’s designs which have been sending tongues wagging.
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Ene Lawani single again
EX-MISS Nigeria, Ene Lawani, is single again after seven years of whirlwind romance with fun-loving businessman and Polo Boss, John Obayuwana.
It was gathered that the relationship crashed last year when the suave businessman could not make up his mind to settle down with the former beauty queen. And Ene was said to have called it quits because she was tired of waiting.
While the relationship lasted, the head honcho of the luxury shop spoiled the former Miss Nigeria with love and gifts. On her birthday last year, she got a brand new BMW 5 Series, though she already drives a G-Wagon Benz 550, which we learnt was also a gift from her man.
Not only this, Ene Lawani’s party train, we gathered, started with breakfast at Radisson Blu Hotel, then a party later at night at Sip Lounge.
The former beauty queen and the Polo boss were an item despite their age differences. The easy-going Obayuwana is a respected figure. He built his world from his knowledge of fashion and he is a self-confessed lover of good things. While Ene, since she was crowned in 2004, has maintained an almost permanent presence on the social milieu.
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Raji Rasak’s son, Habeeb, weds
Former Military Administrator of Lagos State, Brigadier-Gen. Raji Rasaki (retd), and former Executive Chairman, Oil Mineral Producing Areas Development Commission (OMPADEC), Chief Albert Korubo Horsfall, played hosts to the Cream-de-la-Creme of the society as their children, Habeeb Olasunkanmi and Braibbi Boma, took marital oaths. The church service was held at Our Saviour’s Church, Tafawa Balewa Square, while reception followed at The Ark Centre, Lekki Lagos.
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At 83 Equatorial Guinea returnee cries ‘Hungry dey wire me’
THE sight of Nna Madam, 83, and his four children, to many residents of Port Harcourt has become common. On a daily basis he walks the streets of the city in search of alms to feed himself and his children.
At his age, his waist barely holds his trousers; a rope goes for a belt, and the tattered, ash-coloured, short-sleeves shirt never leaves his body. Madam, who is popularly called “India,” stands beside a flower garden, near Garrison branch of First Bank, Port Harcourt. He shouts out to pedestrians, “Hungry dey wire me!”
When his shout does not seem to galvanise anyone into tossing a naira note to him, he would simply add: “I dey beg, help me for chop (food), hungry dey wire me!”
The pedestrians, to whom he shouts, often greet his pleas with different attitudes. While some pity and toss naira notes to him, others respond with indifference and mockery.
Madam’s situation has become a source of worry to many pedestrians, they seem to have ceased from seeing Madam’s persistent cry for help as a sign of his plight.
Asked why he resorted to begging, Madam, who only speaks pidgin English, said by reason of old age and an accident he had years ago, he is no longer a complete man that can afford picking up a job. He added that his wife is late and that he has four unemployed children to feed and cater for.
Struggling to live
Mma, 23, Madam’s eldest child, said apart from her, due to financial reasons, none of her siblings has successfully finished senior secondary school.
Sorbariko, 20, the second child, said, “I dropped out because there was no money for school fees and other requirements. Right now, I am considering doing welding as a trade, but there is no money to pay for apprenticeship.”
Nbani, 16, said he has finished his junior secondary education, but lack of funds has stopped him from registering for senior secondary and as well sew his uniform. “I have finished my JSS3, but there is no money to register for SSS1.”
Speaking about his life, Madam said he never had any formal education, and that the quest for survival pushed him to Equatorial Guinea in his early twenties. He spent over 30 years in Equatorial Guinea working as a cook for the whites.
Upon his repatriation to Nigeria in 1975, he had nothing to show for his 30-year sojourn. A situation he attributed to low payment and lack of care for workers in Equatorial Guinea, at the time.
“I have known him since he returned. I was small then, but I can remember he came back with nothing much. People were just happy that he returned home alive,” said Barisuka Nsam. Most tragic was that Madam returned from Equatorial Guinea to see that his parents were dead. He was shown where they were buried while the land he hoped to inherit was seized and sold by his relatives, leaving him with no land for habitation or agriculture.
All the years he spent in the Equatorial Guinea he was not married and after his return at the age of fifty-seven he decided to get married. According to one Kabine Kariko, “He married a few years after he returned, by then, he was already fifty-something years.”
The result of that late marriage was the birth of Mma, 23 (female); Sorbariko, 20 (male); Nwi-wa, 18 (female) and Nbani, 16 (male).
According to him, his three most serious problems are: his failing health, lack of money to feed as well as training his children, and the constant influx of flood into his house and compound.
“As you can see, there is no money, no food, that is why he is begging. My elder sister (referring to Mma) is trying, but she is not doing anything meaningful. And again, when it rains, it floods into our house and we would be forced to pack to our family house,” said Nbani..
On whether there is no well-to-do relative to help, Kariko said there is none willing to help. In affirmation, Mma echoed: “I don’t know any relative; the ones I used to know were the ones that contributed to our sufferings. So, I don’t think there is anybody to call a relative.”
Madam is constantly crying out for help, praying the government and well-meaning people to come to his aid. He has, no doubt, become part of the statistics of the 2013 National Bureau of Statistics which says 112 million people, out of the over 170 million in Nigeria, are living in abject poverty.
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‘I married Tade knowing he would need someone to trust’
Mrs. Basirat Aina Tade is married to Ladipo Tade. In this interview, she talks about what motivated her to marry him
IT’S not every time that a sighted woman falls in love and marries a blind man. What was the attraction?
I first met him the day he came to see one of his family in-laws, with whom I worked then as a caterer at Texaco Club, Surulere. Later, he approached me and made his intention known. When I got home, I told my father and my siblings, because my mother was no longer with us then. Somehow, they all encouraged me, telling me it all boiled down to me and if I’m interested, then it’s okay by them. The only question my father asked me was, “Are you sure you’d be able to cope and live the rest of your life with him?” I remember telling my father then that this is a gentleman who will need somebody he can trust in life, and knowing myself, especially that I am not someone who could become promiscuous, I just felt that I was the right person for him. I felt he would need my trust and support. My mother also expressed her fears about the hardship that lay ahead, but gave her blessing all the same.
How about your friends? What were their reactions to your decision?
It so happens that I am not someone that keeps friends. I am an introvert. I don’t go out and I hardly visit people except my parents. Having said that, the few people around me actually encouraged me.
How fulfilled are you, and do you have any moments of regret?
I feel fulfilled marrying him. And as for regrets, I’d say none; except that we, of course, have the usual husband and wife differences and issues.
Does he over-react? There is a tendency for people like him to over-react?
He does. Usually when he is in such mood, I just leave his presence and go and stay outside. And if I notice that he just doesn’t want me around at all, I just go to my parents place in nearby Jakande Estate; until a time when I’m sure his anger would have subsided.
Tell us of the challenges of taking care of the children alone
That, I can tell you, is not easy. Was it when I had my first issue; when it was literally just me, himself and the baby? Then we were at Idi-Araba, and I somehow didn’t like the area, so I would take the baby and go to Surulere to spend the weekend with my father, just so that I could have people to help me with the baby, while he would go to the training centre at Oshodi.
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‘Some pastors are more corrupt than politicians’
The minister-in-charge of the fast growing Episcopal Church of Zion Abuja, Rev. Babatunde Oguntimehin, is also a personal assistant to the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe. He spoke with Sunday Oguntola on the church and national issues
What is the origin of the Episcopal Church?
Episcopal Church is a group of Christian faithful, not just a mere gathering of people but saints – those who have genuinely given their lives, times, sanctified and consecrated to do the works of God. It originated from the Cherubim and Seraphim founded by Apostle Moses Orimolade, led by Most Reverend Mafo in 1951.
Most Rev. Mafo was second-in-command to Apostle Orimolade when God called him out and led him to found the Episcopal Church at Ile-Pepe, a riverine town in Ilaje Local Government of Ondo State.
So, how did you find yourself in the church?
First of all, I was born into the Episcopal Church Okitipupa branch 48 years ago. My parents were devoted members. My father was the head of the first branch of the church at Okitipupa. We now have eight branches at Okitipupa. They used to tell me those days that I would be a big prophet and a leader of the church but I would never put a thought to it until some years now when I started seeing Jesus in my dreams.
Sometimes, he would decorate me with big garments and always presented me with the Bible. But I was frightened one night when he said if I don’t hearken unto his voice, he would throw me into the dust bin of history. I woke up and wept. I knew what he was saying but I felt timid to be a servant of God because of issues like consecration, perseverance and commitment which I didn’t want to shoulder.
Considering the frightening statement ‘I will throw you into the dustbin of history”, I decided to visit our headquarters church at Ile-Pepe in Ondo State. After explaining the unusual dreams to our spiritual leader and the father-in-the-Lord, he urged me to start the work of God as a branch head immediately, not just a member of the church anymore. He warned that any procrastination on it would lead me into doom.
He asked me to stay with him for three weeks which I did and after the end of the training, he poured upon me anointing and commissioned me to go and work for Jesus. Since then, I have never been the same again.
How was it like starting the church?
We faced a lot of challenges which I cannot explain here. Four years ago, we secured a place at Danlandi area of Maraba after paying a huge amount of money. But as we were building, there came a serious controversy. But with prayers and fasting, God led us to the present place at Nyanyan where we are now putting up a beautiful and befitting edifice for the service and the glory of God.
Unlike in the southern Nigeria, to build a church in Abuja requires big money, commitment, perseverance and real prayers. One thing is sure when God commissions you for His work and service; no one or forces can stop you.
How do you react to developments as the nation edges towards 2015?
Firstly, let me tell you this: Nigeria will not break up, as some people have predicted, come 2015. There will be some violence but there will be no civil war. I want to warn the politicians who are planning chaos and to win elections at all costs, to stop it otherwise the repercussions will be very severe upon them, their businesses and their families.
God has revealed to me the president of Nigeria in 2015 but I won’t reveal it now until during our convention later in the year. But let me say this here categorically that the next Governor of Delta State is Elder Godsday Orubebe.
Anyone or group of people who are challenging him are just wasting their times and resources because God has ordained him as the next governor, not man.
Is the government winning the war against corruption?
Yes, I agree with you, corruption is the number one problem in Nigeria. Fight corruption and other things will follow. In fact, anyone who cannot fight corruption has no business in the governance of Nigeria. Governments at all levels, especially at the federal level, have no option than to fight corruption not by merely saying it, but by doing it.
I always pinpoint the church, especially these so-called mega churches and big pastors and Bishops to be more corrupt than the governments. Any pastor who fails to expose corrupt members of his church is a corrupt person. Imagine, directors or even assistant directors are donating millions of naira to these churches and nobody is asking them where they’ve got such money. The rogue politicians are attending these churches weekly, nobody is preaching to them to stop stealing and killing people.
These so-called men of God are spiritually empty. They only preach inspirational messages that encourage them to continue to steal and give them their own shares. But hell is real and Heaven is real, unfortunately.
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Engaging the power of praise for turnaround!
Praise is a proven spiritual weapon for a turnaround. It gets God triggered to unleash signs and wonders. Through praise, our battles are transferred to God.
We saw a graphic picture of praise at work in 2 Chronicles 20: 1- 23, when three kings came against Judah to utterly destroy it; but Judah had no power or might against that great army. Then in 2 Chronicles 20:17, God said, ‘Set yourself’ and Jehoshaphat understood the meaning. ‘Set yourself’ meant, ‘Create the platform for Me to step in.’ He lifted up his hands with all of Judah, and worshipped God.
As they began to sing praises to God,
God stirred up a turnaround. Though the three kings were each mightier than Judah, they faced themselves and levelled themselves out. That is the turnaround mystery of praise in action (2 Chronicles 20:19-23).
Paul and Silas also applied this spiritual weapon. They sang praises aloud and immediately, the foundation of the prison was shaken, every man’s band was loosed and all the gates opened on their own accord (Acts 16:25-26).
What Is In Praise That Provokes Supernatural Turnaround?
•God is in praise: God naturally inhabits the praise of His people. Praise is one invitation God cannot turn down. So, when you get to a crossroads and you don’t know what to do, praise God. But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel (Psalm 22:3).
When we pray, the angels attend to our prayers, but when we praise, God Himself attends to our praise (Exodus 15:11).
•Revelation: Praise facilitates revelation. In 2 Kings 3:15-20, a minstrel was brought at the request of Elisha. As the minstrel played, the hand of God came upon Elisha, revelation began to flow and there was a turnaround (2 Kings 3:15). That is the connection between praise and revelation. Undoubtedly, every striking revelation provokes a turnaround (Isaiah 30:29-30).
David the great ‘praiser’ was a man of strange insight; he praised God seven times a day. Concerning him it was said: I have more understanding than all my teachers… (Psalm 119:99). Also, he had the revelation of the messianic ministry of Christ (Acts 2:30). Furthermore, he was as smart as an angel of God (2 Samuel 14:20).
So, revelation is in praise, and when you lay hold on the right Word, every uprising must surrender. Therefore, in this great month, you will access the striking light that will put you in command of all uprising of the powers of darkness in your life!
•The Anointing of the Holy Ghost (Psalm 92:1-3, 10): This is why the devil wants us depressed, so as to rob us of the oil on our heads. Men and women of praise don’t lack oil on their heads. Fresh oil is the entitlement of addicted ‘praisers.’
•Signs and Wonders (Exodus 15:11): Praise is the spiritual platform for the fearful acts of God in our lives. The Israelites shouted and God came down and levelled the walls of Jericho (Joshua 6:20). Don’t join the company of those who murmur, because the devil is using such people to break our joy and oppress us with the spirit of heaviness.
Also, when we do not know what else to do, praise is the sure recourse. Put differently, when we have prayed, fasted and have reached a point where we don’t know what else to do, praise is what else to do (2 Chronicles 20:10-12, 17). This is because by praise, we bring God in, and God can never be stranded, for He always knows what to do.
Friend, the praise power for a turnaround, is the preserve of those who are children of God. You become a child of God, by confessing your sins and accepting Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. You can be God’s child now, if you haven’t been, by saying this prayer: Lord Jesus, I come to You today. I am a sinner. I cannot help myself. Forgive me of my sins. Cleanse me with Your precious Blood. Deliver me from sin and satan, to serve the Living God. Today, I accept You as my Lord and Saviour. Thank You, for saving me! Now, I know I am born again! I will continue with this teaching next week. Exceeding Grace and the Unspeakable Gifts of God are your portion this year!
Every exploit in life is a product of knowledge. For further reading, please get my books: Understanding The Power Of Praise and Wonders Of Praise.
I invite you to come and fellowship with us at the Faith Tabernacle, Canaan Land, Ota, the covenant home of Winners. We have four services on Sundays, holding at 6:00 a.m., 7:35 a.m., 9:10 a.m. and 10.45 a.m. respectively.
I know this teaching has blessed you. Write and share your testimony with me through: Faith Tabernacle, Canaan Land, Ota, P.M.B. 21688, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria; or call 7747546-8; or E-mail: feedback@lfcww.org