The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Boys

  • Sexually-pure boys, guys, men fare better in life! (III)

    DEAR MADAM, I have heard so much about you, especially on chastity! Unarguably, sexual immorality is a destroyer of destiny of which I am a victim till now. You are a gift to humanity; please keep up with your good works and save more souls from destruction.

    Chima

    Dear Madam,

    I just read your article about the effect of sexual immorality on a man’s destiny. I’m 41-years-old but nothing to write home about. I have no wife and children, no progress, no house of my own. I’ve experienced failure for years. My uncontrollable desire for sex started in my teens- from fornication to watching of pornography but I thank God still as God has been merciful to me over the years. A good number of times in 2017 I almost committed suicide because I was depressed but God saved me. I’ve become so much less of a man as I can hardly afford my basic needs least of all plan to settle down in marriage. My question is what I can do to overcome my fleshly lust and make progress in life. Please help.

    Dear boys, guys, men,

    To start with I’d like you to Google the last two editions of this series to have a background information which you can also relate with! In a depraved world where most of you see women as sex objects and especially where women brazenly run after you for validation, money, favor etc. you see no wrong in sampling this and that one not knowing the more you do, the more the spirit of lust consumes you. Asides, super determination on your side, it would also take the mighty power of God to ensure great deliverance on your souls. Sadly, a lot of you are immersed in the spirit of the world which is in contention with the spirit of God! You’d rather hang around all that’s unholy than holiness. And because you are not possessed by the spirit of God, you are easily moved by diverse shades of yellow skin color, curvy body shapes especially big behinds and massive chests such that you lose all sense of reasoning and fall into the arms of someone who could and in fact would determine the course of your life! Many times you walk into fire with your eyes wide open! Don’t be fooled by the softness, weakness or charming looks of a woman and when I mean woman- girls inclusive! If you think you have the power to conquer them emotionally and physically, they have the power to tear you apart spiritually and mess you up forever-even without them knowing! I must have given some examples in the last 2 weeks. For my brothers who have found themselves in unsavory situations as a result of their fleshly lust, here are a few sure-fire tips that could liberate you from every satanic stronghold and align you with God’s divine agenda for you!

    1. You have to be very determined and angry with the devil that has used your favorite pastime/enjoyment to punish you!
    2. Imagine all you have lost as a result of your unbridled passion and all that you would have gained if you had not allowed the devil gain access into your life!
    3. You need to do away with ungodly friends who womanize, drink alcohol, club, gamble etc. and fraternize with burning spirits!
    4. Spend quality time with God! Worship at churches which hammer on the narrow way and drive the word of God into the souls of congregants- not churches which dwell on life nuggets etc. The point is for you to fight any form of fleshly lust; you must be possessed by the spirit of God! Without the spirit of God, it’s just impossible because if you abstain today, you’re likely to fall back tomorrow. However, if the fire of God is burning in you, it will keep away every spirit that tempts you to sleep with every girl that comes your way or wants you to pick up your phone and watch pornography etc.
    5. You need to form a habit of reading your bible not even every morning and night but at every free time instead of surfing the internet and lounging on the social media all day! You are trying to get rid of evil spirits controlling you and you need fresh fire to assist you over and over again!

    Studying the word is also rubbing minds with God and before you know it, you begin to see God’s glorious plans for you and they eventually manifest, including all your lost and wasted years! Believe me, you’d be pleasantly amazed at how your life would suddenly begin to glow and dazzle like a mirror in the sun. You’d have the much needed peace, more than enough money and all things bright and beautiful would be at your beck and call! May the fire of God envelope your life in Jesus mighty name!

    I invite you to follow me on Facebook –TEMILOLU OKEOWOInstagram @ Okeowo Temilolu.

     

    I invite you to follow me on Facebook –TEMILOLU OKEOWO Instagram @ Okeowo Temilolu.

  • Sexually-pure boys, guys, men fare better in life! (II)

    DEAR Temilolu, I just went through your post on Punch online newspaper about sexually-pure boys, guys, men faring better in life. Sincerely, what you wrote is nothing but the truth! I am a victim of sexual-immorality and it has really dealt with me. I have been struggling for long to overcome it by fighting the spirit of lust. However, whenever the urge comes, sometimes my body vibrates as if I want to run mad and I tell you every woman looks beautiful to me. It’s so bad to the extent that I think about women every minute and now lack concentration in life. This has deprived me a lot of success and breakthrough. I am only struggling to survive at the age of 38 without a wife, children and job. Please help me in prayers. Thanks and may God continue to empower you more and more.

    M.

    Dear Aunty Temilolu,

    I’m a 17-year-old guy and currently a student. I read your article in the Punch newspaper.I’m going through a lot right now, especially with pornography. It’s a really terrible thing and it has been the major tool the devil has been using against me in my life’s journey! I’ve dropped it on several occasions but later on I just find myself going back to it! I’m sorry if my message is voluminous. Please bear with me; I’m in dire need of your help! I’m a very sound person physically, spiritually and mentally but porn is a major headache in my spiritual race. I’ve read in several books and articles that sexual sin is something you fight against with the support of people who are spiritually mature. I have such people around me but I’m scared to discuss with them as I don’t know how they’ll react to it.

    I know u can be of great help to me in this situation. I am not someone who really buys newspapers considering the fact that the one I read your article from is 2 years old. I would be grateful if u replied me through a mail, and soonest too.

    G.

    Dear M & G,

    I repeat, A REAL MAN IS ONE WHO CANNOT BE CONTROLLED BY THAT WHICH HE SHOULD BE MASTER OVER! Most people are of the opinion that it’s natural for men to be full of fleshly lust and be quicker to fall into temptation, while this may be true, it’s also easier for them to decide not to be moved depending on the spirit directing their lives! To be frank, any man, in fact, anyone not possessed by the Holy Spirit CANNOT subdue his flesh. So, I really wonder what my 17-year-old is talking about when he said he’s spiritually-sound! You CANNOT be spiritually-sound and be addicted to pornography! If you are indeed spiritually-sound, you’d hate every form of sin with a passion and the spirit of God in you would not only detest watching porn, it would pre-occupy your mind with glorious things which would move your life forward; you’d be too engrossed in the supernatural and not inanities! You may be tempted sometimes because you are human but certainly not to the point of addiction! I thank God though that you’ve spoken out soon enough!

    Stupid, bad devil is so smart such that it can capture a glorious life into his net through sexual immorality and drag it round and round in circles in the mud of life. It could turn that life to ping pong and ensure that person experiences nothing but hell on earth! There’s a certain man who was on the brink of committing suicide because his life was stagnant and full of frustration for 16 years. After prayers and inquiry from God as to the cause of his unfulfilled life, it was discovered that he raped a girl in 2002 and he had been bearing the brunt of his action! What a waste of life! Sheer stupidity! His lack of self-control brought the beast out of him and I tell you he’s yet to recover because he was told to apologize to the lady he barely remembers! If he can’t find her which is likely, he has SERIOUS WORK to do to get God on his side and have his life restructured and enjoy all that accrues to him! Of course, God is quick to forgive but what about the multiple attacks and injury his destiny has suffered because of his lack of self-control? 16 years…16 years…16 good years! Can you imagine all he has lost? Can you imagine all he would have achieved?

    Next weekend by God’s grace I shall give you some sure-fire solutions and the spirit of God which birthed this column shall move over your life and right all wrongs in Jesus name!

    This is Girls Club but we have no choice but attend to our brothers as well. May God bless us all!

    • To be continued.

     

    I invite you to follow me on Facebook –TEMILOLU OKEOWO Instagram @ Okeowo Temilolu.

  • Sexually-pure boys, guys, men fare better in life!

    DEAR Temi, I loooooveeee you for doing the work the Lord has placed in your hands faithfully without any barrier. Saying it the way it is can be very liberating. Please don’t stop telling the youth to stay away from illegal sexual activities. It cut short one’s life and discolors destiny! May God continue to empower you.

    Ololade Ayanniyi

    Dear Ma,

    I can’t stop thanking you! You’ve been my strength in spite the temptations around me, I can still stand out pure. God bless you ma!

    Ruth Ene Ene

    Dear Ma,

    Is Secondary Virginity only endemic to females and what does a sexually-active man stand to gain by abstaining from sex?

    Anonymous

    Dear Anonymous,

    Secondary Virginity is certainly not for girls only but for both gender, unmarried and whatever age! 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 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 YOU KNEW WHAT COVENANT YOU WERE ENTERING INTO WHILE DEFLOWERING THAT GIRL, YOU WOULD NEVER HAVE GONE NEAR HER! DO YOU KNOW THE TYPE OF SPIRIT SHE CARRIES?

     

    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 need to be wise my friend! 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. Now, can you imagine what happens to a man who would sleep with anything in skirt? He’s finished because he’s sleeping with multiple partners with probably a legion of demons. What a waste of life!  No matter how successful a man is, as long as he is still engaging in ungodly sex and fighting the source of his existence, he isn’t where he is destined to be yet! If he he’s diabolic and thinks he’s fortified enough to keep sleeping with various ladies to enjoy their virtues by having them transferred through sexual intercourse, one day…one day… one day…he would come in contact with a devil in an extraordinarily beautiful human skin who would topple his life over!

     

    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 so much more gist on this coming your way! MAY THE POWER OF GOD OVERSHADOW THE LIFE OF EVERY MAN READING THIS IN JESUS MIGHTY NAME!

     

    • To be continued!

     

    I invite you to follow me on Facebook –TEMILOLU OKEOWO Instagram @ Okeowo Temilolu.

  • Updated: 2 blind men bag 6 years for sexually abusing 2 boys

    A Minna Magistrates’ Court on Thursday sentenced two blind homosexuals to a total of six years imprisonment without an option of fine for sexually abusing two boys.

    The Magistrate, Hajiya Hauwa Yusuf, handed down the verdict after the duo of Idris Usman popularly called Bagobiri and Abubakar Sadiq pleaded guilty to the charge.

    She sentenced each of them to three years in jail.

    Earlier, Police Prosecutor Abdullahi Mayaki told the court that the accused committed the offence sometime in December 2016.

    Mayaki said the accused had enticed two boys of ages 10 and 12 with N50 and N100 respectively before assaulting them sexually.

    The offence, he said, contravened Section 19 of the Niger State Child Rights Law (Sexual Abuse and Exploitation).

    Mayaki said under the law the accused should have been sentenced to 14 years imprisonment but noted that the sentence was reduced to six years because the accused persons had pleaded guilty and asked for leniency.

    The Director General of the State Child Rights Agency, Hajiya Mairam Kolo, who was in court, applauded the judgment.

    She commended the magistrate for ensuring that justice was done which, she said, would serve as a deterrent to others.  (NAN)

    RIS/ORO/DA

  • Police arrest 11 ‘one million-boys’ gang members

    Eleven suspected members of One Million-Boys cult group arrested for terrorising Badagry residents in Lagos are being interrogated before being charged to court, the police said yesterday.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) learnt that the suspects were apprehended while trying to rob residents of Toga area of Badagry.

    Residents of Ajara, Ibereko, Lopo and Aradagun areas of Badagry in Lagos have been living in fear because of the gang’s activities.

    Last Wednesday, The Nation reported that 40 hoodlums armed with guns and machetes always laid siege to Badagry.

    Shola Odunade, a victim, told NAN that the gang came under the pretence of seeking assistance before hitting its target.

    The hoodlums, he said, usually attacked their victims with machetes.

    He said: “I was in my house when I heard some people shouting for help and I opened my door so that I could render help. That was when they descended on me.

    “They stole my money, cellphone and laptop and they still inflicted injuries on me after they had robbed me of my valuables. There is need to beef up security around here because we are living in fear and this is not good at all.”

    Segun said he was beaten into a pulp when the hoodlums searched him and found nothing on him.

    Segun said: “I was returning from an outing when I was accosted by the gang and they demanded that I must give them everything I had on me. When they realised I did not have anything on me, they began to beat me but I just managed to escape.”

    The 11 suspects, who claimed to be students, were arrested by vigilante youths on Friday and the timely arrival of the police prevented them from being lynched by a mob.

    The police took them to the Badagry Police Station.

    A police source told NAN that the suspects would be interrogated and those found culpable would be charged to court.

    “These suspects are claiming to be students, not robbers, so we are going to interrogate them properly to get to the bottom of the matter.

    “Those of them we find culpable would be charged; we would make sure that we rid this area of hoodlums because Badagry is known to be a peaceful place and we intend to maintain that.

    “People must learn not to take laws into their hands, but always report suspected cases to the police,” the source said.

  • If ‘press boys’ were patriots…

    This year, our practiced clasp may gather into a punch, if we let it. This is the year in which we accord our leaders their rights to everlasting madness – that they may see the bite of the frost against their naked butts, as much as they feel it.

    This year, we birth the truth, or learn to silence it, as usual. I could plead that we summon our will to defend the interests of our people and State but that would be tantamount to imploring the pirate to pilfer riotous raindrops from the Pacific, wouldn’t it?

    This year, our practice lumps together, two crucial yet haunting questions into some tiresome rhetoric: (a) As the polls approach, what should our values be? (b) Who should be the beneficiaries of such values? Predictably, we pervert the first to foster an even more insidious perversion of the second, as usual.

    Thus we evade the task of evolving and defining a rigid code of moral values that we could be led by. Hence the appalling immorality, chronic injustice, gross double standards and the insoluble conflicts and contradictions that plague journalism practice in the 21st century as it does the Nigerian society, under all questionable variants of leadership and altruist ethics.

    Observe the indecency of what characteristically, passes for our moral judgement and the consequences today: self-acclaimed democrats and looters who rigged their way to power, political thug-fathers and gangsters who shot their way to power and then, out of it – having amassed their fortune by looting state coffers, are enabled and patronised by us as the next best elements to happen to the Nigerian state. Even so, we ignore the promising aspirant who gives up the pursuit of peace and fulfilment in order to support our dreams of bliss and realisation of it. Such an aspirant is regarded by many of us as a hopeless radical; a tiresome irritant to our democratic process.

    Ultimately, we label wearisome tyrants and desperadoes, beacons of hope, while explaining unspeakable atrocities they commit as their altruistic contributions for the love of the good and the benefit of all. Observe what this leadership and beneficiary criterion does to the life of the average man on the street. The first thing he learns is that morality is his enemy. He has nothing to gain from it as he can only lose in his pursuit of it. And were he to challenge the system by seeking to pursue such ideal or propagating it, self-inflicted loss, agony and the gray, debilitating pall of an incomprehensible citizenship is all that he gets.

    Were he to hope for that proverbial leadership that might occasionally sacrifice itself for his benefit as he endeavours, grudgingly, to attempt likewise in the interest of others, the shortfall will foster ceaseless agony and resentment instead of pleasure and gain.

    If we could endeavour to rise to fulfil the duties characteristic of natives of the Fourth Estate, we could among other things, assure our poor and helpless compatriots that even though citizenship they endure hardly provides them with benefits of nationality and an automatic form of survival, we – that is, natives of the Fourth Estate – could serve as the means to the attainment of our proverbial vista of progress and abundance.

    If we could rise to truly observe our role in Nigeria’s democratic process, we could teach the citizenry to discover among other things, the fraudulence implicit in such politics as our redefinition of President Goodluck Jonathan as a true democrat; an impractical sloth as a brilliant Statesman.

    It’s about time we taught the citizenry to identify the fundamental moral differences between leadership that seeks its effluorescence in rampant corruption, treasury looting, politics of death and institutionalised violence vis-à-vis leadership that has the interests of the poor hapless masses at heart.

    We could teach Nigeria to understand that the evil of such soulless leadership hardly subsists totally, in its bid to perpetuate itself in power eternally but also in what it considers as its interests for doing so; it lies not in its tenacious cling to the reigns of power but in its practice of the science and art of leadership at a sub-human level.

    In the flurry of currency-activated campaigns and shallow-talk, we could shun the envelopes that bind to pay good mind to the issues that matter. We could acknowledge our premises and inclinations for or against every aspirant as the products of our inherent values and evasions and thus understand that the electorate in turn chooses its values by both a conscious and probably more hyper-active subconscious process of thought and acceptance by default.

    This is oft predicated on some form of social osmosis or blind imitation thus the urgent need to educate the electorate to fashion the measures by which the patriot-leader we seek shall emerge. It is the simplest measures that get to count, like the institution of the primacy of rule of law and frank talk.

    Shall we now institute a worthy flagship with platform upon which we would challenge our self-appointed Messiahs, drill them, analyse them and beam as much of their adroitness as their incapacities through the country, across the continent, to the whole wide world.

    So doing, we could teach the nation to support our dreams of bliss and its realisation by no other means but dint of our heartfelt efforts. We could help natives of our failing state to understand that the politics that leadership we loathe and endure seek to perpetuate permits no view of us except as clueless bums and sacrificial lambs, hapless victims and parasites; that it permits no concept of beneficent co-existence with us.

    We could educate the electorate to understand that among other things, the reasons for our dumb acquiescence to cynicism and despair and rebel against them: cynicism, because we neither practice nor accept the incumbent leadership’s debilitating inhumanness and  despair, because we lack the courage and will to reject it.

    We could inspire Nigeria to rebel against such devastating evil by urging the citizenry not to be deceived by promises of unblemished altruism for if anything, the advocates of such altruism are often times and right now, still unable to base their ethics and projections on any dependable philosophy of human existence and politics. For instance, President Jonathan still offers “life-boat” solutions as lifelines from which to derive his philosophy of governance and moral conduct even as he pays lip-service to his much-publicised bid to actualise our most unrealistic fantasies.

    For all our vaunted ability to challenge the worst of tyrants and speak truth to power, we are yet to get the hang of it, although we love to beat our chests that we do. If we do really, then we would have enlightened the electorate to identify the candidate whose politics deserve our mandate and patronage. If we do, we would have alerted the electorate to those expectations and demands we are meant to enshrine and perpetuate in the flurry of political campaigns primed wholly to befuddle and entertain.

    It is time we affect such dauntless courage, professionalism and understanding of our socio-politics, that we may in good time teach the nation to explore the politics and soul of at least one candidate in order to trust him.

  • Agbim to lead home boys

    Agbim to lead home boys

    Gombe United goalkeeper, Chigozie Agbim will lead the Super Eagles Team B in an international friendly to commission the Akwa Ibom International Stadium, Uyo on Friday, November 7.

    Coach Stephen Keshi has also called up Emem Eduok and Mfon Udoh, the two men in the hot chase for the top scorer’s award in this year’s Premier League, as well as Gbolahan Salami, Rabiu Ali, Christian Pyagbara, Bright Esieme, Umar Zango, Solomon Kwambe and Azubuike Egwuekwe in a 24 –man squad.

    The players are to report at the Le Meridien Hotel, Uyo on Monday, November, 3.

  • Boko Haram abducts 30 boys, girls in another raid

    Boko Haram abducts 30 boys, girls in another raid

    Cameroon kills 39 sect fighters

    No fewer than 30 boys and girls were at the weekend abducted in a Borno State village as BokoHaram continued to violate the “ceasefire” it allegedly reached with the government.

    Some government officials had a discussion with some Boko Haram representatives in Saudi Arabia two weeks ago after which a ceasefire was pronounced by Chief of Defence Staff Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh.

    Talks are going on in N’Djamena, the Chadian capital, believed to be coordinated by President Idris Derby.

    The release of the abducted 219 Chibok girls, since April, is believed to be top of the discussion.

    But the sect has continued its violence without let, although its representative at the Saudi talks said the attacks were being carried out by “armed robbers”.

    Boko Haram at the weekend killed 17 in attacks. It abducted 30 girls and boys in a Borno village and killed four Nigerians in an attack on a Nigerian refugees’ camp in Cameroon. The Nigerians in the camp were those who fled Boko Haram’s attacks.

    A local chief confirmed the attack and abductions to reporters yesterday.

    “The insurgents… grabbed young people, boys and girls, from our region,” said Alhaji Shettima Maina, who is in charge of the Mafa village around 50km east of Maiduguri, the Borno State capital

    “They took all boys aged 13 and over… and all girls aged 11 and more. According to our information, 30 young people were abducted in the last two days.” Another village elder, Mallam Ashiekh Mustapha, confirmed the account to the French News Agency (AFP)

    Both men said 17 people were also killed in recent days in a Boko Haram attack on the nearby village of Ndongo.

    Kidnapping young women and girls — as well as forcibly conscripting young men and boys to fight for Boko Haram — is a well-established tactic by the militants.

    Some estimates put the number of women held by the group in the high hundreds. Most are believed to be forced into marriages with rebels.

    Mr. Maina said his village and areas around it were targeted in nearly daily raids by Boko Haram, prompting many residents to flee to the city of Maiduguri for safety. He said he had pleaded for help from the government but that so far none had been forthcoming.

    The sect members also attacked a refugees’ camp, where Nigerians running from insurgency are camped in Cameroon. Four Nigerians were killed. A Cameroonian was injured. It was one of the three raids they carried out on Cameroon territory.

    But Cameroonian forces subsequently killed 39 Boko Haram men. Cameroon’s Defence Ministry, in a statement yesterday, said Friday’s fighting in the far north of Cameroon near Nigeria also claimed four civilian lives.

    Their latest attack targeted the village of Glawi, “killing four Nigerian refugees and wounding one Cameroonian, before being pushed back by defence forces which pursued them until the borders,” the ministry said, adding that a dozen militants were killed by troops.

    Another two groups of Boko Haram Islamists entered Cameroon at around the same time, but were “immediately intercepted and neutralised by our defence forces who destroyed three 4×4 vehicles equipped with machine guns, killing 27 assailants,” said the ministry statement.

    The toll issued by the ministry has not been confirmed by independent sources. There was also no details on any casualties suffered by the army.

    The Cameroonian army regularly issues updates on the number of Boko Haram fighters it has killed.

    Last week, it said it killed 107 Islamists during fighting that also saw eight Cameroonian soldiers dead.

    Cameroon President Paul Biya has vowed to “totally wipe out” the Islamist group, after 27 Chinese and Cameroonian hostages kidnapped in May and July on Cameroon’s territory by suspected Boko Haram Islamists were released.

    Cameroon shares a border of more than 2,000 kilometres (1,200 miles) with Nigeria, where Boko Haram has been waging a bloody insurgency since 2009 in which 10,000 people have died.

  • Falconets beat Codiac AAA boys 4-3

    Falconets beat Codiac AAA boys 4-3

    Nigeria Under 20 women’s team, the Falconets, continued their build-up to the FIFA U-20 World Cup by coming from behind to defeat the U-16 Codiac AAA boys of Moncton 4-3 in a test match with Courtney Dike grabbing a brace.

    The match is the first the Falconets have played since their arrival in Canada on Sunday.

    Two goals from Heritier Massimengo and Jonathan Kalulumia and an own goal from defender Ibrahim Mariam saw the U-16 Codiac boys lead 3-0 in the first half.

    The second half was a different ball game. Two minutes into the second, the Falconets got a penalty that was converted by Oshoala Asisat to put the scores at 3-1.

    The second and third goals also came through penalties that were converted by Halima Ayinde and US-based Courtney Dike.

    The decisive goal came through Courtney Dike putting scores at 4-3.

    Coach Peter Dedevbo said the girls were complacent in the first half.

    “It is a good match for the girls. It showed they are ready for the World Cup. The player from USA (Courtney Dike) performed beyond my expectations. I like the game as the young boys put the girls on their toes,” Dedevbo stated.

    The Falconets’ coach said the team have one more test match with a yet to be named U-16 boys’ team. This, he hinted, will afford him the opportunity to ascertain how balanced the squad is.

    Nigeria will begin their World Cup campaign on Wednesday against Mexico.

  • ‘The state in which I met Oredo was appalling’

    ‘The state in which I met Oredo was appalling’

    That was the state of Oredo when you came in?

    It was nothing to write home about but because of my orientation, I swung into action. I felt that before we start our environmental sanitation outside, we must have our environment clean. That is what informed the renovation and the building of more offices around the council secretariat.

    How much was the IGR when you assume office and what is the amount presently?

    When I got in, there was nothing in the IGR account because they said some group of people who felt they have monopoly of power put a stop on the revenue collection hence there was no money in the treasury. I immediately called the staff and they briefed me on what had been happening. I then set-up an 18-man committee to serve as agent to collect the revenue and in the first month we got over N7m. We are still trying to improve on it. I actually met nothing in the account.

    You said nothing from IGR but there were revenue from the cemetery, marriage registry and others. What happened?

    Money was paid in from these areas but there was nothing in the IGR account. The hand-over paper was clear about it. The money from those areas I guess was being used to manage the day to day running of the council.

    When are we going to start seeing the council working on the streets?

    I am barely four months old in the office and the season will not allow me embark on grading and road construction. We just awarded construction of six roads including drains to create a long term span for them. We intend to do more as the cash comes in. We have also awarded (contract for) the renovation of the cemeteries. In three months, you will begin to see work going on.

    We see agents harassing people to pay taxes against your campaign promise that individuals would not be used to collect revenue for the council.

    I didn’t say I was not going to give revenue to agents but I promised to eliminate monopoly when one man will hold onto the resources of the local government. I said the idea of paying council 10% of the revenue whereas they got 80% will not be tolerated. When I got here there was nothing but today I have been able to generate N7m in the second month from the day to day collections. We have gotten N30m from tenement rate we collect yearly. We have billboards which we have given to a consultant to handle for us because of the fraud taking place before now. We have the liquor committee being put in place. By next year, our IGR would have improved. I did not meet any structure on IGR.

    What about what you get from the federation account?

    That is nothing to write home about. A lot of people read on the papers that Oredo got over N100m from the Federation Account and they would not put into consideration the presence of teachers which collect N118m as salaries and the wage bill is about N53m. By the time these monies are paid out, I am left with nothing to deliver on my electioneering promises. I decided to look inwards in line with the law in trying to ensure we tap our IGR legally to enhance the financial situation of the council. I believe in effecting change.

    What legacy do you want to leave?

    We have awarded contracts that will bring better life to our people. This is the first time Oredo local council is awarding road construction contracts after a long time. With what we have done, we are going to leave a beautiful council in a positive aspect. What I intend doing is to create accessible road during the dry season to the rural areas. We want to open up the rural roads. My programme for agriculture is to create a processing factory and a ready market for the products. I am discussing with a company in Italy to set-up a processing factory. We have also discussed that our equity would be the land we are giving to them. In another few months, go to the cemetery and you will appreciate what we are doing. We are emulating the western standard of how cemetery should look. We want to create a different dimension.

    Are you taking your boys off the street following directives by the Ministry of Transport in terms of wrong parking charges?

    I looked at the law and it was clear that wrong parking charges are a function of the local government and not the state. There is a misinterpretation of wrong parking charges and traffic control by the Ministry of Transport. Anybody that parked in a place not designated for parking, it is the local government purview according to Local Government Law as amended. The Permanent Secretary should look at the law before making comments.