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Tag: difference

  • Defection: What difference can Dogara make?

    House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara has a decision to make. Will he defect to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) or remain in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)? Group Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU examines the implications of the options he may embrace for his political career.

    Yakubu Dogara, lawyer and House of Representatives Speaker, may be in a fix. A cloud of uncertainty appears to be hovering on the political career of the eminent politician from Bogoro Local Government Area of Bauchi State. He has a decision to make. Will the number four citizen defect from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as being speculated? Will he embrace reconciliation and keep his APC membership card?

    Before last weekend’s senatorial by-election result, the Speaker was said to be in a dilemma. Judging by the results of the election in his native Bogoro/Dass/Tafawa Balewa Constituency, is defection still a viable option? If he jumps ship like Senate President Bukola Saraki, who dumped the party penultimate week, what future awaits him?

    APC National Chairman Adams Oshiomhole has said that the party has confidence in him. But, does he have confidence in the platform? Will the chairman succeed in persuading him to jettison his defection plan? If he defects or does not defect, what future awaits him?

    Observers say the outcome of the by-election may be a pointer to 2019. It shows that APC is still in control of Bauchi. Apart from the candidates of the APC and the PDP, their parties and leaders were also on the popularity scale during the exercise.

    The election, in part, could be described as a referendum on President Muhammadu Buhari, Governor Mohammed Abubakar and the APC. The poll, just like the ones that took place simultaneously in Cross River, Katsina and Kogi states, was a litmus test. The Bauchi exercise showed that voters were still emotionally attached to APC, despite the propaganda of defectors who have sought to dent the image of the party.

    APC candidate Lawan Gumau won the Bauchi South by-election with 119,489 votes. According to the Returning Officer, Prof. Ahmed Sarkin-Pagam, he defeated eight other candidates, including the flag bearer of the PDP, Ladan Salihu, who polled 50, 256. The margin is wide. Interestingly, former Governor Isa Yuguda, who ran on the platform of the Green Party of Nigeria (GPN), also lost his deposit. He got 33, 079 votes.

    If the votes of the PDP and GPN are combined, it will still be a far cry. The result is a worthy tribute to the memory of the late Senator Alo Wakili, who died on March 17. He was a chieftain of the APC. The result affirmed that Bauchi is an APC stronghold.

    But, Dogara is not a paper weight politician at home. The mark of departure is that the Bogoro/Dass/Tafawa Balewa Federal Constituency, which he represents in the Lower Chamber, has been polarised. The constituency is made up of Bogoro, Dass and Tafawa Balewa councils. In his native Bogoro council, the poll result reflected his leaning to the opposition. Since it is an open secret that the federal legislator and his supporters swung the pendulum to the direction of the PDP, the opposition party defeated the APC in the council. This is a confirmation that Dogara is the undisputed political leader of Bogoro. The PDP got 6,646, APC secured 3,992. However, the jubilation across the wards in Bogoro council was short-lived. Outside Bogoro, voters sang a different tune. At the end, it was evident that the Speaker had a potent, but a narrow base. Therefore, analysts suggested that Dogara would need APC just as the party needs him to win Bogoro in next year’s polls.

    Also, the two APC senators who have defected to the PDP – Isa Misau and Nazif Gamawa – could not spring any surprise. Their defection did not create a bandwagon effect during the by-election.

    In Dass council, APC got 7, 432 votes and PDP polled 4,028. In Tafawa Balewa, APC also defeated the PDP, garnering 14,309 votes to PDP’s 8,528. In other councils, APC maintained a peculiar pattern of electoral victory.

    The trend affirmed APC as the party to beat in Bauchi. It may also be the signpost to next year’s election. Indeed, the Bauchi poll was full of drama. As women cast their ballot, they also shouted the usual slogan of Sai Baba, echoing their nostalgic commitment to President Buhari and reiterating their determination to build on their fraternal goodwill, solidarity and loyalty to the president in February, next year’s election. It was an open endorsement of his second term bid. The scenario may mean that the president is still popular at the grassroots in many of the northern states.

    The poll result was also reminiscent of the 2015 governorship and presidential elections when voters endorsed the APC at the polls. In 2015, the APC won in 19 of the 20 local governments in Bauchi during the governorship poll. The councils are: Alkaleri, Bauchi, Dass, Tafawa Balewa, Kirfi, Misau, Darazo, Katagun, Itas-Gadau, Toro, Ganduwa and Dambam. Others are Giade, Ningi, Jama’re, Shira, Warji, and Zaki. Instructively, the ruling party lost in Bogoro council.

    Abubakar, the former Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, garnered 654, 934 votes to emerge winner. His rival, Mohammed Jatau of the PDP, polled 282,650 votes. In fact, Abubakar defeated the PDP in Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area, where the former PDP national chairman, Alhaji Adamu Muazu, hails from. He also won in Zaki Council, Jatau’s birthplace.

    In the 2015 presidential election, President Buhari’s APC got 931, 598 votes. Former President Goodluck Jonathan of the PDP got 86,085 votes. If Dogara defects and teams up with Misau and Gamawa in the PDP, can they alter the trend and pull the rug off the feet of the president and governor in Bauchi?

    As an APC chieftain, Dogara is not perceived as a difficult politician who is aloof to compromise. Despite the circumstances surrounding his emergence as Speaker, he was conciliatory after the controversial election of House of Representatives principal officers.

    He beckoned to his rival, Femi Gbajabiamila from Surulere Constituency and the candidate of party leaders, urging him to vie for the position of Deputy Speaker. Unlike the Senate President Bukola Saraki, there is no deep-seated hostility between him and the APC national leadership. However, there is no love lost between Dogara and the Bauchi governor. They seem to have an axe to grind over local matters at the home front. Efforts to resolve the differences in the last three-and-a-half years have proved abortive.

    Dogara, a Christian from a predominantly Muslim state, has an ambition to occupy the driver’s seat at the Government House in Bauch. It is a legitimate aspiration. He may still be a candidate of the future, if he plays his card very well.

    Governor Abubakar is interested in a second term. This may jeopardise the Speaker’s governorship ambition on the platform of the APC. But, if he defects to the PDP, can he also get the ticket of the rival party?

    Two options are open to Dogara in the APC as the polity warms up for next year’s polls. If he does not defect, no chieftain will struggle for the House of Representatives ticket with him in his constituency. He may also vie for the Senate, although the primary will be a bone of contention between him and the new senator.

    If he decides to remain in the APC, R-APC or nPDP forces may brand him a traitor.

    If Dogara defects to the PDP and gets its governorship, senatorial or House of Representatives ticket, can he win at the poll?  Can he defeat Governor Abubakar in next year’s election?

  • Everyone can make a difference

    TO demonstrate the importance of giving and why some people give so much, the President of a humanitarian organisation, Air Vice Marshal Olufemi Soewu (rtd), said every human being has the capacity to change the world.
    Soewu, who spoke at the fourth annual general meeting (AGM) of the Oasis Association in Lagos recently, added that while all human beings do not have the same amount of money, they do have the same 24 hours every day and can give by providing service to others.
    He said: “Though some people have much less free time than others, nearly everyone can carve out some opportunity for giving. The gift of time can sometimes be more satisfying and more valuable than money.
    “For people suffering from depression, all they probably require is companionship; somebody to show love, by giving of their time, to encourage the person concerned. So, we look at the needs of each person and try to give. But, our help is always guided, so that the recipients do not become dependent.”
    Soewu said the Oasis Association has recorded some modest achievements in the last three years, including their regular outreach programmes, the publication of its newsletter, The Oasis Voice, and collaboration with other organisations.
    He said: “For instance, in 2014, the focus of our outreach efforts was healthcare in our neighbouring communities of Ajuwon and Akute. A free health screening exercise for the Human Immune Virus (HIV) and tuberculosis was conducted in collaboration with the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research and the people who were found positive were treated free of charge.
    “In 2015, we focused on the internally-displaced persons (IDPs) in Nigeria, narrowing it down to IDPs in Borno State. With the collaborative assistance of Vitafoam Nigeria Plc, we donated relief materials to the state government, through its liaison office in Lagos.”
    He said the Association will be focusing on the healthcare sector once again this year, in collaboration with Rotary International.

  • Making a difference (4)

    DEAR Reader, It is a good thing to be with you today. I have taught on the woman as the last born of God, a productive woman and what a woman of difference can be called.

    This week, I will be concluding this teaching with the topic: Possessing a Heart for God.

    To make a difference in life, you need to possess a heart for God. God does not need your money, He does not need your possessions; all He truly wants is your heart. How do you give Him your heart? You let His Word dwell richly in your heart. The Word of God says: Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord (Colossians 3:16). You consciously put the Word of God into your heart. Spend quality time with the Word, in prayer and fellowship with God then you will find the Word dwelling richly in your heart that will help you to make the difference in your world. You need the Word of God to rule your world.

    What you put inside your heart is what determines your character, just as it is said in the computer world, “Garbage in, garbage out”. Don’t read all those filthy pornographic books, because what you put inside is what will manifest outwardly. Hide the Word in your heart and it will generate the fear of God in your heart. So, whatever temptation you are faced with, like Joseph you will say: There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God? (Genesis 39:9).

    Be Purpose-Driven

    Until you discover your purpose for living, building a godly character might be a difficult task. When you discover your purpose, it gives you direction and focus  and you know that focus is power (Hebrews 12:2). Men of sound character are usually men of purpose and vice versa.

    Be Mindful Of Your Association

    The association you keep will always affect your behaviour; it does not leave you neutral. If your close friend is a liar, gossip, fornicator, etc, you will invariably get involved in the same vices. This proves true in the adage that says, “Show me your friend and I will tell you who you are”. Who is your friend?

    Depend On The Holy Spirit

    The Holy Spirit is the agent of change. Without Him, your character cannot be moulded, because developing a godly character is not by power or might. The Word of God says:  For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the Lord, which run to and fro through the whole earth (Zechariah 4:10).

    It is not enough to be baptised in the Holy Spirit and speak in tongues; you must constantly go to Him for help. At any point you feel you’ve missed it, return to God; let Him know that you are sorry. Then, give the Holy Spirit the opportunity to supply the strength you need, so that you will not miss it again. The Holy Spirit is always there to help you, so don’t grieve Him with sin (1 Thessalonians 5:19).

    To possess a heart for God, you need to surrender your heart to Christ. If you are ready for this new birth experience, please say this prayer: Dear Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You today as a sinner. Forgive me of my sins. I believe You died and rose on the third day for my sins. I accept You as my Lord and Saviour. Make me a child of God today. Thank You for accepting me into Your Kingdom.

    If you prayed this simple prayer, you are now a child of God. He loves you and will never leave you. Read your Bible daily, obey God’s Word and seek Christian fellowship (John 14:21).

    Congratulations! You are now born again! All-round rest and peace are guaranteed you, in Jesus’ Name.

     

    Call or write, and share your testimonies with me through contact@faithoyedepo.org; OR 07026385437 and 08141320204.For more insight, these books authored by me are available at the Dominion Bookstores in all Living Faith Churches and other leading Christian bookstores: Marriage Covenant, Making Marriage Work, Building A Successful Home and Success in Marriage (Co-Authored).

  • Making a difference (3)

    DEAR Reader, It is a good thing to share God’s Word with you today. I have discussed with you the woman, as God’s last born and the productive woman. This week, I will yet go further to share with you what a woman of difference can be called. Her Children Call Her Blessed.

    One of the qualities that a woman with a difference has is the ability to train her children as described in Proverbs 31:28. The Word of God says: Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her (Proverbs 31:28). God expects that every remembrance of you by your children should be for good. They should someday rise up and without being compelled to, call you blessed.

    I want you to know that your children have been given to you as gifts from God (Psalm 127:3). God has entrusted their lives into your hands, giving you the privilege to steer them towards their destinies in life. You are, in essence, a privileged caretaker. The Word of God says:  Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it (Proverbs 22:6).

    From the above scripture, you will discover that every child has the way he should go; it is the responsibility of the parents to put him on the right track. As women, we are generally closer to our children, and by nature, are very perceptive beings. It is, therefore, necessary for us to observe our children to know what they do best, where their strengths lie and what their weaknesses are, and help them discover the right vocation to pursue.

    Many women want to live out their dreams in their children. They want the child to be what they never could be. Others want to have a professional they can boast about: “My son is a doctor”. They compel the child to do what he has no liking and flair for.

    God is not a wicked God; He will not ask you to do what He has not given you the ability to do. All that is required to train up those children has been deposited into you. You need to arise to your responsibility as a woman and stop shifting your responsibility to others. Be determined to do what you must to bring them up aright. The Word of God says:  The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself brings his mother to shame (Proverbs 29:15).

    There is a need for women who do not want to be ashamed in the future to nurture their children in the fear of the Lord. I have discovered that although child-training should be a joint responsibility, the lion’s share of the work has to be done by mothers. Unfortunately for many ‘busy’ women, their children are a burden. So, you hear them say, when the children approach them: “Ah, you have come again; let me rest please!” But those children are blessings not burdens. The Word of God says:  See, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. Happy is the man that has his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate (Psalm 127:3, 5).

    The children God gave to you are supposed to make you happy. However, if you neglect the requirement of training them, rather than experience joy over them in the future, it could be regrets. That shall not be your portion in Jesus’ name! Some mothers blame their children’s misbehaviour on the bad company they keep. But they keep bad company because they cannot see good examples! Was Daniel not in the corrupt land of Babylon? Yet, the good example he received at home enabled him to purpose not to defile himself. What about Joseph? Even in Egypt, far away from the watchful eyes of his parents, he still would not sleep with Portiphar’s wife.

    To effectively raise your children as a woman, your feminity is a great asset. This is the quality that makes you tender-hearted, more compassionate and caring than a man. With it, you can meet the emotional needs of your children. Touch them, care for them, hug them and compliment them. It is the nature in a woman that makes her unable to bear the cry of her baby in the night. A man may sleep through it, but not a mother. The Word of God says:  Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yes, they may forget, yet will I not forget you (Isaiah 49:15).

    When Abraham sent Hagar and Ishmael away, she got to a point where her water finished and she did not know what to do. The Bible says she moved away from the child, so that she will not watch him die. That’s feminity! It is a powerful tool in raising our children.

    The grace to carry out your responsibility as a good mother is available when you receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour. If you are ready for this, please say this prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me of my sins and cleanse me with Your Blood. Deliver me from sin and satan, to serve the living God. I accept You as my Lord and Saviour.  Make me a child of God today. Thank You for accepting me into Your Kingdom

    If you prayed this simple prayer, you are now a child of God. He loves you and will never leave you. Read your Bible daily, obey God’s Word and seek Christian fellowship (John 14:21).

    Congratulations! You are now born again! All-round rest and peace are guaranteed you, in Jesus’ Name. Call or write, and share your testimonies with me through contact@faithoyedepo.org; OR 07026385437 and 08141320204.

     

    For more insight, these books authored by me are available at the Dominion Bookstores in all Living Faith Churches and other leading Christian bookstores: Marriage Covenant, Making Marriage Work, Building A Successful Home and Success in Marriage (Co-Authored).

  • Making a difference (2)

    DEAR Reader, You are welcome into God’s presence! May you be blessed as you read this article in Jesus’ name! My focus is still on Making a Difference. Last week, I shared with you, woman as God’s last born. This week, I will teach on the Productive Woman.

    Every woman is created to make a difference and not to be a burden. God’s intention is that wherever a woman is found, she becomes an asset, not a liability. Remember, when Eve joined Adam, life was supposed to be better for him; she was to be an asset to him, a help not a hindrance. The Word of God says: And the Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed (Genesis 2:8).

    Some time ago, God spoke these words to my heart, “Faith, you are born a blessing not a burden”. I picked up my Bible and wrote those words down. In every new Bible I get, I write them down on the first page, because I am determined to be a blessing to my world and not a burden.

    No matter your status as a woman, you must be productive and work with your hands, in order to make a difference. You are a creature of value. As I said in the first segment of this teaching, you are God’s crown of creation. As a crown of His creation, you have been made perfect. You have all it takes for you to be productive. Your beauty, value and worth are determined by how productive you are. There is no man who wants a wife that is a burden; every man wants to marry a woman who is an asset. If a woman is not productive, she will invariably be burdensome to her husband.

    There are many things your hands can find to do; all you have to do is open up your heart to God for divine ideas. When those ideas come, arrest them and don’t let them go. What I do is that wherever I am, I have a piece of paper and a pen to write down ideas that may drop into my spirit. Sometimes, certain ideas come to me while in church. The virtuous woman is productive; her hands are never idle. She is creative; her hands are ‘finding hands’. The Word of God says: She perceives that her merchandise is good: her candle goes not out by night (Proverbs 31:19).

    Productivity Entails Diligence

    I talked about Lydia in the first part of this teaching. She was a productive woman. She was a seller of purple (Acts 16:14). A productive woman is also a diligent worker. She rose up while it is still dark and went about her household chores. The Word of God says: She rises also while it is yet night, and gives meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens (Proverbs 31:15). This means that at the time other women were still tossing and turning in bed, she has awakened and begun seeing to the affairs of her home.

    The productive woman is orderly and organised. …And giveth meat to her household… In essence, she programmes her day by the help of the Holy Spirit. God believes in planning; that is why He allocated a particular time to sleep and a time to awake (Ecclesiastes 3:1).

    When it is time to work, go about your job, business or ministry diligently. Never let a day come and go, when you cannot define clearly what you accomplished. If your type of job gives you a lot of extra time, invest that time; don’t while it away.

    Perhaps you are a homemaker, that is, you are at home, full-time. Don’t say, “I don’t have a job”. A wise man once said, and I believe it very strongly, that the greatest factory where the most important product on earth is manufactured, is the home. That is true, because the home is where the next generation of human beings are produced.

    If you are a homemaker, be one with a difference! Let your family feel your impact. Be up early, tidy up the house, prepare sumptuous meals and get their clothes ready. Be diligent at your chores. Let your home be an example for others to follow.  The Word of God says: Seest thou a man diligent in his business? He shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men (Proverbs 22:29).

    As a woman, see whatever is committed to you as a business, and be diligent at doing it. Sometimes, except you see your assignment at home as a business, you will not be diligent at it. Don’t only see it as a business, however, approach it as such. So, be diligent!

    I have discovered that diligence begins from the thoughts, then reflects in the words of the mouth and then shows up in the actions. The Word of God says: The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenty; but of every one that is hasty only to want (Proverbs 21:5). If you are lazy in the thoughts of your heart, you will find out that all you do is complain about your job and plan ways to rest at home. You may even pretend to be sick, just to get away from your place of assignment.

    However, it is important to know that the thoughts of the diligent lead to actions of diligence and those actions lead to God’s blessings. Diligence and productivity are essential tools for making a difference in our generation; we must embrace them. Peace!

    To be productive, you need God. To have access to God, you have to confess your sins and surrender your life to Christ. If you are ready for this new birth experience, please say this prayer: Dear Lord Jesus Christ, I come to you today as a sinner. Forgive me of my sins. I believe You died and rose on the third day for my sins. I accept You as my Lord and Saviour. Make me a child of God today. Thank You for accepting me into Your Kingdom.

    If you prayed this simple prayer, you are now a child of God. He loves you and will never leave you. Read your Bible daily, obey God’s Word and seek Christian fellowship (John 14:21).

    Congratulations! You are now born again! All-round rest and peace are guaranteed you, in Jesus’ Name. Call or write, and share your testimonies with me through contact@faithoyedepo.org; OR 07026385437 and 08141320204.

    For more insight, these books authored by me are available at the Dominion Bookstores in all Living Faith Churches and other leading Christian bookstores: Marriage Covenant, Making Marriage Work, Building A Successful Home and Success in Marriage (Co-Authored).

  • Making a difference

    HELLO Reader, I welcome you to this wonderful time in God’s presence. All through this month, I will be looking at the topic: Making a Difference. This week, I will be sharing with you a very vital topic which I titled, “The Woman as God’s Last Born”.

    It is very important that as a woman, you must know the purpose for which you are created. You are created to make a difference in your world. From Genesis Chapter 2, you will discover that after God created the woman, the work of creation stopped. God was satisfied. God saw His mission as accomplished. He knew that if the woman would perform her role as God’s last born, the world would become a different place.

    The woman at creation was the last to be created. She was not an after-thought. God made her last for specific reasons and purposes. We all know that naturally, the last born of a family enjoys more than the others. That is exactly what God has done with you as a woman. God has prepared you, the woman, as His last born and has prepared the best for you.  You will enjoy it!

    As a woman, you are the crown of God’s creation. For instance, if a king wants to put on his crown, he has to be completely dressed. His clothes, shoes and everything must be on; the last thing he put on is the crown. God has created you as His last born; you must make a difference. You will not be a misfit to God’s purpose.

    When you get born-again while your Father is a King, who are you as the King’s daughter? You are a princess. Every woman that is born-again is a princess and among other things, you are meant for honour. You will not miss the honour that is due to you in Jesus’ name!

    If you know that you are a princess, there will be differences between you and the people of the world. Your life and character will reflect Christ. If you see a woman that dresses carelessly, showing her total nakedness, she doesn’t know the daughter of whom she is.  If she knows, she will take proper care of her body as the temple of the Living God.  A woman that messes herself up with men, sleeping with any man she sees on the street, is taking away the honour that God has for her in marriage. Every honour that is due to you, from the beginning of creation, will not elude you in Jesus’ name!

    Women That Made Positive Difference in Their Days

    Sarah:   In the Old Testament, we see a woman known as Sarah; she was the wife of Abraham. Sarah was a woman of honour. The Word of God says: Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised (Hebrews 11:11). God honoured her by giving her strength to bear a child, even though she has passed the age of child-bearing. God will honour you in Jesus’ name!

    Hannah: She was a woman of prayer (I Samuel 1).  Rather than going from house to house, gossiping all about, Hannah went to the house of God, prayed and her story changed.

    Elizabeth: She was the mother of John the Baptist. She was a woman of great character. She was barren, but she did not stop serving God.  She refused to give up and at the right time, God visited her (Luke 1).

    Priscilla: Her husband’s name was Aquila. The two of them were co-labourers in the Gospel (Acts 18). She was always working with the apostles. In several places in the New Testament, we see Paul mentioning her name, “Greet Priscilla and Aquila my co-labourers in the Kingdom”. She was a worker in the house of God and at the end of it, made a difference.

    Lydia:    She was a business woman. The Bible calls her a seller of purple (Acts 16).  She was a business woman that made the difference in her generation. She was useful. God opened her heart to receive the Word of God and she ministered to the apostles. The same way, God is looking for more Lydias in the Church today. May you be one!

    The Women Who Made Negative Difference in Their Days

    Job’s wife: The Bible simply called her Job’s wife because her name was not mentioned. Rather than being a help to her husband when he was undergoing challenges, she was a minus. She looked at her husband in the face and said, “Curse God and die!  What are you living for?” The spirit of the wife of Job will not find expression in your life in Jesus’ name!

    Portiphar’ Wife:                There is also this woman that the Bible calls Portiphar’s wife. We were not told her name. The problem of this woman was sex. She had the spirit of Jezebel. This woman was comfortable and all that she needed was available. She descended so low as to running after her house-help. She did not know that the beauty in Joseph’s life was the beauty of the inner man and thank God for Joseph, a man that has the fear of God. You will not end up as Portiphar’s wife! You are not married, what are you doing having sex? You are removing your honour with your hands. There are still some married women like Portiphar’s wife, who leave their husbands at home to go after small boys.  They are women without dignity.

    If you need God to make a difference in your life, then you must surrender your life to Christ. Please, say this prayer and be born again: Dear Lord Jesus Christ, I come to you today as a sinner. Forgive me of my sins. I believe You died and rose on the third day for my sins. I accept You as my Lord and Saviour.  Make me a child of God today.  Thank You for accepting me into Your Kingdom.

    If you prayed this simple prayer, you are now a child of God. He loves you and will never leave you. Read your Bible daily, obey God’s Word and seek Christian fellowship (John 14:21).

    Congratulations! You are now born again! All-round rest and peace are guaranteed you, in Jesus’ Name. Call or write, and share your testimonies with me through contact@faithoyedepo.org; OR 07026385437 and 08141320204.

     

    For more insight, these books authored by me are available at the Dominion Bookstores in all Living Faith Churches and other leading Christian bookstores: Marriage Covenant, Making Marriage Work, Building A Successful Home and Success in Marriage (Co-Authored).

  • Making a Difference with soft skills

    Making a Difference with soft skills

    Business and professional women from different parts of Nigeria came together recently in Lagos to examine the challenges, prospects and how to make use of soft skills competencies to make a difference.  Yetunde Oladeinde  was there and she reports.

    Over the years, women from different spheres of life have sought for ways to empower themselves, their communities, families as well as looked for ways to hone their leadership skills. In the process, a number of brilliant and dynamic women are changing the space with brilliant ideas and carving a niche for themselves.

    Some female pace setters came together at the national conference and annual general meeting of the Business and Professional Women (BPW) which took place at the MUSON Centre in Lagos. The event, which was chaired by Sir Festus Oluremi Omotoso and Samuel Obafemi, the keynote speaker, x-rayed the challenges for women in the 21st century and how women can make the best in spite of the odds.

    According to Angela Ajala, BPW national president, the theme, “Developing 21st century competencies for making a difference”, was carefully chosen to reflect the current dynamics and competencies that are essential in the work place and in the business world. “Success is no longer what you pursue: it is what you attract by the attractive person you become. For things to change for you, you have to change. The best investment you can give yourself is investing in your personal and professional development.”

    Ajala continued: “We contribute to the society by assisting women to overcome their limitations, protect their rights, and create a nurturing environment in work, education, health and empowerment for women development. The conference is an opportunity to connect with a community of business and professional women through unmatched networking opportunities.”

    Life, Ajala stressed, does not get better by chance, it gets better by change. “That is why our annual conference is always packed with new knowledge, information, competencies, skills that empower and develop women to move to the next level and be current wherever they find themselves. Continuous learning is key to unlimited success; you must take on the responsibility for your own education. Too many people are attracted to their distractions, don’t wish it was easier, wish you were better, don’t wish for less problems, wish for more skills, how else will you sharpen yourself.”

    To get the best out of life, women, she stated, should not think about short cuts or cut corners. “There is no such thing as overnight success: we achieve success through consistency and discipline. The best education you can give yourself is self education. Formal education would get you a job but self education gives you an income. Your income is determined by your philosophy not the economy. In addition, a positive attitude is important. Negative attitude is part of life but don’t dwell in it, learn to handle it. You also need to be meticulous about your goals and deliberate in setting your goals is to compel you to become the person it takes to achieve them.”

    Ajala added that “It is not where you find yourself that matters, but where you see yourself. Where you see yourself today is where you find yourself tomorrow. If you can’t see yourself in your tomorrow, you won’t be able to escape today. Vision gives you the capacity to escape. The best form of service is service to human satisfaction without thinking of gain. Your service must be of impact to humanity anywhere you find yourself, give it the best, don’t think money all the time because impact is superior to income and impact will eventually bring income. Be ready for opportunities, prepare yourself, and even if opportunities don’t happen, you generate them. Those who succeed in life don’t wait for things to happen, they make things happen.”

    On her part, Adenike Adeyanju Osadolor, BPW African regional coordinator, it is important for women to develop and keep rediscovering themselves on a continuous basis. “The theme of the conference, developing 21st century competencies for making a difference, reminds of the need to prepare ourselves for the challenges that come with the 21st century, to keep ourselves updated and informed of new developments around us grabbing the available opportunities to update our skills so as to meet these challenges.”

    Osadolor declared that “We have therefore lined up topics and resource persons who will be sharing with us from their wealth of experience. I enjoin all of us to open our minds not just to receive from them but also to go back and make a difference by putting to use what we have learnt.”

    Some women achievers and members who have proved their mettle were also recognised with awards of excellence at the event. Mary Adeola Babalola whose focus is on entrepreneurship and management was one of those honoured. “My focus is on fashion and clothes manufacturing for export. I am currently working on a project that will produce conventional clothing to the United States of America under AGOA (African Growth and Opportunity Act). The US State Department sponsored me for internship training programme on AGOA in 2002. I had previously benefitted from Netherlands-sponsored internship programme to attend a management course specially designed for female executives of businesses in developing countries in Africa and Asia.”

    Justina Obehi Ogbeh, a pharmacist and wife of the current Minister of Agriculture, also got an award of excellence. “We have five lovely children and six fine boys as our grandsons. Right now, we live in Abuja where I run my community pharmacy. I am also an entrepreneur. I joined BPW at the inception in Abuja where I became the second club president for Garki club in 2002.”

    Also recognised for dedication, hard work and excellence was Modupe Onabanjo Obazee, a stained glass artist and actress in the Village Headmaster cast, Mo Abudu, Adanna Ifeoma Enwezor, Alaba Alozie, Winifred Ezekiel, Chioma Onoshakpor, Adedoyin Erinle and Princess Adetope Adebola Kosoko.

    The Federation of Business and Professional Women Nigeria started in 1961, and is a member of the International Federation of Business and Professional Women (BPW) which was founded in 1930. It is one of the most influential international networks of business and professional women with affiliates in eighty countries on five continents.

    The main aim of BPW is to develop the professional and leadership potential of women at all levels.

  • A birthday celebration with a difference

    A birthday celebration with a difference

    Every September 21, family members, friends and associates join Dr. Seinye O. B. Lulu-Briggs to thank God for keeping  her life for another year. While they celebrate, dance, praise and worship God together for her, she is busy celebrating the old people who she and her husband, High Chief O.B.Lulu-Briggs, carter for, under their “Care For Life” programme, of the O.B. Lulu-Briggs Foundation.

    Mrs. Lulu-Briggs, a pastor, while speaking on her 57th birthday celebration and 14th year anniversary of the foundation held in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital , said: “I normally do not celebrate my birthday, I started celebrating my birthday when I had these wonderful senior citizens, who became so attached to me and it is like a new life is giving to them when we signed them on.

    “Every year on my birthday, I will say I celebrate them; so I look forward to my birthday every year when I will gather old people, those from 70 and above, bring them, see them dressed very cleanly, we praise, worship God and danced together and I see joy in their faces, by this they know that truly there is God in heaven that cares for the affairs of His people down here on earth.”

    O.B.Lulu-Briggs Foundation, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), was inaugurated on September 21, 2001, her 43rd birthday. The vision has since then been active and making impacts across states and in communities.

    Mrs Lulu-Briggs said the Foundation started very small in their living room with just one programme,  “Care for Life” and 10 old people (beneficiaries) to cater for.

    Fourteen years after, the Foundation has expanded to five programmes comprising Care for Life, in which over 200 indigent elderly people are registered and are being taking care of by the foundation.

    The quarterly five-day rural free medical care mission of the foundation has become a house hold name across states and communities of the Niger Delta, especially Rivers State where almost all the 23 local government areas, have been visited. Several community dwellers have benefitted from this gesture that cannot be repaid by human.

    The Foundation also runs a scholarship scheme through which it offers opportunities for both local and overseas studies. It also carries out water purification and access to good water programme, as well as skill acquisition/ empowerment programme, all for the indigent members of rural communities.

    The celebrant, who desires to love more, care more and give more to the old people and humanity at large, said her joy is always complete each time they are around her in any occasion.

    This claim clearly played out at the event on Monday, when she directed that the birthday/vision day celebration service be delayed for a while to allow the beneficiaries arrive from their various communities.

    She had earlier sent vehicles to convey them to the new building of Chapel of God International Worship Centre in Port Harcourt, venue of the event.

    Speaking on her 14 years of service to humanity, the celebrant was not fully satisfied with the time she has so far spent on serving humanity when compared with the number of years she has spent on earth. She wished the foundation had started earlier and more grounds already covered.

    “Today I am very happy, but the way I feel now, if I have to think of using 14 years out of 57 years to start a foundation and keep it running till today, serving humanity, I will say one could have done more because 14/57, I don’t think that is a pass mark; in all however, I give God the glory.”

    She called for people to partner with the foundation to provid more care, hope and health to more persons.

    At the thanksgiving service, the guest minister, Apostle Zilly Aggrey, speaking on the topic entitled, “Grace for purpose”, said obedience of the celebrant to the call of God on her life attracted the grace of God upon her for that purpose.

    •Apostle Aggrey and others praying for the celebrant
    •Apostle Aggrey and others praying for the celebrant

    Apostle Aggrey noted that without the incredible grace of God it is impossible for anyone to do good.  According to him, God created everybody with purpose and the earlier each person discovered and runs with his/ her purpose in life while there is yet time, the better for him and humanity.

    Speaking about the celebrant, the preacher, described her as a gift from God, a woman of great passion in good doing.

    “Pastor Mrs. Seinye O.B. Lulu-Briggs is a gift from God, to her husband, children and humanity. From the little I know about her is that she lives her life, working and praying every day to figure out what she can do to make someone happy.

    Also speaking on how the giving lifestyle of his boss, Mrs. O.B.Lulu-Briggs and her husband  has impacted his life and that of his other colleagues in the last 14 years, the programme Director of the Foundation, Miebaka Nabiebu, a lawyer, said: “I have learnt life transforming lessons over this years, one of the very crucial one being the ability and willingness to give. I have learnt through my mentor in the school of giving and boss in service, the Executive Director of the Foundation whom we are celebrating today, to give, give and always give, without any afterthought.

    •High Chief and Mrs. Lulu-Briggs
    •High Chief and Mrs. Lulu-Briggs

     

     

  • Easter retreat with a difference

    Easter retreat with a difference

    The Gospel Faith Mission International (GOFAMINT), Ikere district, held its annual Easter retreat on its campground along Ikere-Akure highway, Ikere-Ekiti, Ekiti State between 2nd and 5th of April, 2015 where participants received numerous spiritual and physical blessings. ODUNAYO OGUNMOLA reports.

    Ikere-Ekiti in Ekiti State was agog during the Easter weekend when the Gospel Faith Mission International (GOFAMINT), Ikere District with branches in Ekiti and Ondo States held her annual Easter Retreat.

    Ministers, workers, members and other residents of the town had cause to thank God for witnessing another Easter period in which they experienced a special spiritual treat.

    They utilized the opportunity to gather themselves together, spend quality time in the presence of God for a spiritual exercise to enrich their lives and renew their relationship with God.

    To make the period a fulfilling and rewarding one, they held their annual Easter Retreat from the 2nd to the 5th of April at GOFAMINT Ikere District Campground, located at Asu Area, on the outskirts of

    Ikere-Ekiti, along Ikere-Akure Highway.

    The venue of the retreat is a serene place away from the hustle and bustle of the city centre giving participants an opportunity for maximum concentration to receive rich blessings from God for the

    four-day event.

    The Retreat which featured sermons, lectures, group seminars and workshops, choir ministrations, drama, choreography, among others had as its theme: “Building for Eternity.”

    The  Retreat Planning and Working Committee Chairman, Pastor Sunday Ajala, in the address he delivered at the opening service gave glory to God for giving members the opportunity to witness this year’s edition.

    The committee chair expressed profound gratitude to the GOFAMINT Ikere District Pastor, Pastor Joseph Akinduntire and the Assistant District Pastor, Pastor Olumide Akinrotohun for their unflinching support for the acquisition and development of the campground.

    Ajala said the theme of the programme was timely as many Christians have lost the focus of their eternal abode due to pursuit of mundane things.

    He said the theme was also necessary to equip the participants to retain and regain their credibility, honour, integrity and holiness which are needed to enjoy personal relationship with God and be qualified for a place in the kingdom of God after their sojourn on earth.

    The special guest speaker at the event was the Deputy General Overseer of GOFAMINT, Professor Samuel Ewuola.

    The Retreat was a special one for Professor Ewuola because the last time he ministered at the Retreat as the guest speaker was in 2005 when the District used to hold event at one of the public schools in Ikere-Ekiti.

    The GOFAMINT Deputy General Overseer described the acquisition of the campground by the clergy and laity of Ikere District as historic, wonderful and a great miracle.

    Delivering the Retreat Lecture entitled: “Building for Eternity: The Foundation, The Structure and The Finishing,” Professor Ewuola described eternity as a dateless period which has no beginning or end.

    He also said that eternity as a large mass of time in which time is not measured by years, century, millennium, decades, years, months, weeks, days hours, minutes and seconds.

    In building for eternity, Professor Ewuola harped on the need for a solid foundation on which a Christian builds a strong personal relationship with God that will qualify him for admission into the kingdom.

    He said: “Foundation is a major part of any structure. It is the most important as it is the one that determines, to a large extent, the height, the structure, the weight, the utility and the life of the building.

    “That is why the Bible declares that if a house is built on mere soil or sand without a foundation, when the rains descend, the floods arise and the winds blow, the house will fall.”

    The cleric identified components of the Christian life’s structure to include truth, diligence, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, charity, righteousness, good works, prayer, avoidance of sin and watchfulness.

    According to Professor Ewuola, there must be recourse to old time Christianity which produced better, more matured and strong Christians who have the stamina and ability of finishing their heavenly race well than modern Christianity.

    He explained: “Modern-day Christianity relies more on elegance in dress, status, in titles and social standing among others. It is more decorative than transforming. It seeks conformity rather than confrontation armed with the truth.

    “Present-day Christianity is more accommodating in pride, lies, ungodliness, hypocrisy, fraud in high places when social and material benefits are at stake. But can an individual or organization take fire in his/its bosom and not be burnt?

    “The love for position and struggle for posts are more common in the church today. Self-imposed positions, lobbied promotions to places of high responsibility are the order of the day.

    “On the contrary, old time Christianity never idolized money and wealth. Old-time Christians had developed through thick and thin, they knew the importance of relying absolutely on God in prayers and ministration of the word.

    “They relied less on sight and walked more by faith, unshaken by trials and tribulations, enjoyed less of pleasures and labour more for the Lord. For modern Christianity to last till eternity, it has to look farther ahead, change its orientation and start building for eternity.”

    Apart from spiritual sermons, teachings and messages, resource persons were also invited to treat topics relating to family, education and health matters.

    At the youth seminar during the Retreat, Dr. Kola Ayeni, a lecturer at the Department of Economics, Ekiti State University (EKSU), Ado-Ekiti spoke on “Biblical Panacea to All Academic Marah (Bitterness)”.

    Dr. Ayeni identified academic bitterness to include cultism, examination malpractices, bribery and corruption, prostitution, Internet fraud, among others.

    He identified dependence on God, diligence, doing the right things at the right time and prayer as some buttons to press to achieve victory in such a situation.

    Another resource person, Dr. Oke Ajogbeje, a lecturer in the Department of Mathematics, College of Education, Ikere-Ekiti spoke at the Family Seminar at the Retreat.

    Speaking on the topic “Your Children and Modern Technology,” Dr. Ajogbeje said although the world has benefited immensely from technology, caution should be exercised over the negative influence it is having on the youth.

    He tasked parents to be watchful and not allow their children to be driven by urge to misuse technology but to use it to benefit humanity and positively contribute to the development of the family, the church and the society.

    The importance of developing good eating habits formed the kernel of a lecture delivered by a seasoned nurse, Mrs. Abimbola Alagbo, at the Health Seminar.

    Mrs. Alagbo who works at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH), Ado-Ekiti spoke on the topic “Your Food and Your Habit.”

    She identified the right habits of feeding to include ensuring that food eaten contain balanced diet and that such food are of good quality.

    While advising against taking heavy dinner, Mrs. Alagbo charged her audience not to take anything in between meals noting that once the breakfast is taken, nothing should be taken in between until the lunch and the dinner are taken at the appropriate times.

    The closing service at the Retreat was held on Easter Sunday and it featured variety of programmes including drama, special song ministrations, family meeting.

    The farewell sermon was delivered by Pastor Akinduntire who charged participants to be serious about running the race to heaven.

    Quoting from First Corinthians 9:24-27, Akinduntire likened a Christian to an athlete running a race who must be disciplined to win laurels.

    He said sacrifice, commitment, focus and dedication are needed by the Christian to finish his race on earth well.

    The District Pastor appreciated all minister, workers and members who contributed immensely to the success of Easter Retreat 2015 organized by GOFAMINT, Ikere District.

  • ‘I can make the difference’

    ‘I can make the difference’

    Super Eagles new invitee, Kingsley Sokari has promised to make the difference in today’s make or mar African Nations Cup qualifier against the Red Devils of Congo in Port Noire.

    Speaking exclusively to Sportinglife, the Enyimba International mercurial midfielder said “first, I have to thank God and the Coaches for giving me the opportunity to be called to camp. The first day I arrived camp, I was a little jittery, because I had the opportunity of interacting with some of our big players thatI have been watching on television for a long time. But, after that day, I made up my mind to take the bull by the horns, and decided to establish myself in the team, and I have seen that I have all it takes to make maximum impact in the game.

    This is to say that If I am given the opportunity in today’s match, I will surely make the difference”.

    Continuing, he said “I watched the Congolese when they came to play us here in Calabar, and I want to tell you that I know their weak points and will surely capitalize in it when the need arises. I know very well that the match would not be an easy one, but I want to assure all Nigerians that the Super Eagles would surely come out victorious at the end of the day”. He appealed for the support of all Nigerians in the match.