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Tag: god-sent

  • ‘Ambode is God-sent’

    ‘Ambode is God-sent’

    Hon. Mustain Tobun is a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly. He represents Epe Constituency 1 on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC). He is the Chairman, House Committee on Works and Infrastructure. In this interview with MUSA ODOSHIMOKHE, he speaks on the various projects being executed by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode and why the governor deserves a second term. 

    How will you assess Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s performance in the area of infrastructural developments?

    Let me begin by saying Governor Akinwunmi Ambode is a God-sent leader. God indeed sent him to Lagos State to come and serve as a public officer and bail us out of infrastructural deficiencies that we have been witnessing over a period of time. He is somebody who has a mission, vision and a set target to deliver on everything he has promised Lagosians during his electioneering campaign. Ambode is a leader who is interested in doing projects that will impact positively and add value to the lives of the people wherever they may be. Whether you are in the village or city, as long as you are residing in Lagos, you will feel the impact of Ambode’s government. One of the success story of this government is prompt, quality and optimal service delivery where projects are concerned. The governor will always ensure that any contractor given a job must not only do a satisfactory job, but must also deliver on time. Also, he runs a government of inclusion whereby the opinion of the people and their leaders are sought before any project is embarked upon. So, as the  Chairman of the House Committee on Works and Infrastructure, I make bold to say that the governor has done excellently well in the area of infrastructure. In the last two and half years, he has touched every nook and cranny of Lagos State. If you visit all the 57 local governments and LCDAs today, you will see the presence of Ambode there. In him, I see a governor who is hungry for development and ready to do  a lot even with the little resources at his disposal. I believe by the time he completes his tenure, there is no area in Lagos that will be considered as being backward in terms of infrastructural developments.

    You are from Epe where the governor also comes from. Some critics have argued that though the governor has really done a lot in terms of infrastructural developments, most of his projects are concentrated in Epe. What is your take on that?

    That is not true! Those saying that are being economical with the truth. First and foremost, Epe has been neglected since independence. Since 1967 when Lagos became a colony, it’s like Epe has been abandoned. As one of the divisional headquarters, it is expected that what Governor Ambode is currently doing should have been done long ago.  Just imagine a situation where we are just having a trunk A road.  I think what Governor Ambode is doing is to ensure that there is even developments across the state. He doesn’t want a situation where one area is relegated while others enjoy government’s presence. The governor has done well for us in Epe and we are eternally grateful to him. He has opened up our community, making it to become a centre of attraction and at the same time allowing the residents to enjoy dividends of democracy. He has taken us from an agrarian community to a modern city. As the Chairman of the Committee on Works and Infrastructure, I can authoritatively tell you that the governor is doing wonders in other parts of the state. If you go to Alimosho axis, look at Aboru Link Bridge, about eight adjoining roads were developed. If you talk of Abule Egba, you will definitely see the flyover which everyone is commending the governor for. That is not Epe and there is no flyover in Epe as we speak. If you go to Ajah, you will see the beautification, expansion of roads and so on from Abraham Adesanya to Eleko junction. That is not Epe.  See what is going on in Kosofe today. There is no BRT in Epe today. Look at the bus terminals everywhere. He has developed one in Ikeja which is a beautiful edifice. There is also another one in Oshodi. There is no bus terminal in Epe.  Abule- Egba to Oshodi BRT lane is ongoing, Pen Cinema Flyover Bridge is also ongoing. He constructed pedestrian bridges across the state, especially in Ojota, Ojodu  Berger, Fadeyi, even in Alimosho axis, we have four in that axis alone.  We have not gotten one pedestrian bridge in Epe. Go to Ikorodu in Isawo and Igbogbo roads, monumental projects are going on there. He gave two roads each to the 57 local governments and LCDAs.

    How will you rate him in terms of security?

    You can see that crime rate has greatly reduced.  There is no part of the world that is crime-free, not even in Western countries with their advanced and sophisticated technologies. Here in Lagos, the governor has come up with different initiatives which have turned the minds of youths away from crime. Look at the One Lagos Fiesta. Many youths had the opportunity to  showcase their talents. Also, a lot of petty traders made money. Highway robbery has reduced reasonably and people can now move about freely. The governor has invested a lot in security. He has judiciously maximised the Security Trust Fund, equipped the Police, Task Force  and Rapid Response Squad (RRS). Look at the way the Badoo menace in Ikorodu was swiftly curbed.

    There is no hiding place for criminals in Lagos again under the Ambode government.

    Does he deserve a second term?

    Second term in office for Governor Akinwunmi Ambode is sacrosanct. There is no question about that. If you go to the streets of Lagos now, what you will hear is ‘Ambo Leekan si’ (Ambo one more time). You see it is unusual. We have less than a year to the submission of the party’s flagbearer for governorship election, nobody has been bold enough to come out both within and outside of APC and say I want to contest as the governor of Lagos.

  • Mbaka: Ugwuanyi is God-sent

    Mbaka: Ugwuanyi is God-sent

    Charismatic Catholic priest and Director of the Adoration Ministry (AMEN) in Enugu, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka, has described Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi as an answered prayer to the people of Enugu.

    Speaking at a mass to mark the beginning of the 2015/2016 Legal Year, Mbaka said the governor needed God’s protection to be able to execute his good plans.

    He warned judicial officers to shun occultism, as involving in it is risky for their lives.

    The reverend father urged them to remember God when delivering judgments, knowing that whatever they say in court would come back to their families in keeping up with the law of spiritual justice.

    The fiery priest admonished them to depend on God and speak for the oppressed because when justice is denied, God is annoyed.

     

     

  • Cecilia Akpan: My husband is God-sent

    Cecilia Akpan: My husband is God-sent

    Nigeria table tennis star, Cecilia Otu Akpan opens up like she has never done to MORAKINYO ABODUNRIN on those intimate things: hubby, son, and other passions aside table tennis.       

    SOME marriages were indeed made in heaven and tellingly, that of Mr. and Mrs. Ime Edet Akpan has some divine backing following the dramatic manner they came together.

    Mrs. Edet Akpan for a start was before known as Miss. Cecilia Offiong Otu – one of the poster girls of the ping-pong game (table tennis) in Nigeria with a career spanning over a decade.

    Cecilia in a landmark interview with The Nation Sport & Style admitted that she was blessed by God for the timely meeting of her husband and proves that being a sports woman is not a barrier to marriage.

    “I actually got married at about 24 years of age in 2009,” Cecilia volunteered in the presence of her dotting four-year-old son, Edidiong.  “We’ve never had any problem  since we got married because we have mutual respect for one another; he’s so caring, kind and above all, God fearing, ” she noted  while opening up on how fate dragged her to the man of her dream.

    She revealed: “There is no doubt that I got my kind of man in my husband; Mr. Ime Edet Akpan. He’s such a wonderful person. He’s a God fearing person and right from the day we met such a person that has no privacy with me. I’m so happy to be his wife because he’s God-sent.

    “His life is an open book to me and there is genuine love between us. He is a deeply religious person and he’s always putting God in the forefront of whatever he wants to do.  Actually, he didn’t set out to have a relationship with me and that he was interested that I dedicate my life to God; and make sure I go to church.

    “Frankly, I didn’t have  a permanent church I was going until I met him because it is not everywhere one can call the house of God because  we have heard stories of some places using diabolical means. It was at that point that I needed to get closer to God and he really encouraged me to be closer to God. He helped me to throw my burden unto God and somehow along the line, we became close.

    “He was more or less the janitor in the church, but along the line, he got a job at the NNLG in Uyo. He went off shore for the first time for about six months; and I thought he was playing when he told me we were going to get married immediately he came back.

    “About two months after, he called me one day asking me to tell my parents to get ready for our marriage and to cut a long story short, that was how we got married. I’m so happy to marry him because he has not changed ever since we got married and even when he’s comfortable now,” Cecilia said with some candour, among sundry details about her life. Excerpts…

    The Beginning

    I actually started playing table tennis when I was in primary school under the influence of our present coach in Rivers State, Richard George Edem. Actually, we had a table tennis board in our compound then and I had the habit of joining others to play after coming back from school and it was there coach Edem noticed me. It was at his instance and pressure that I featured at a local tournament hosted at the African Club within the south-south zone. He more or less forced me to take part in the competition because I didn’t think I was good enough but he encouraged me after seeing the entry and the standard saying  I have the quality to beat the rest judging from what he had observed and there was opportunity for me to make money by playing table tennis. My late sister also encouraged me and told me that there was nothing to lose for me since I was not paying anything to feature in the competition. By the grace of God, I won bronze in that competition and that was how my journey into table tennis began. I used the little amount of money I won in that competition to buy my wears because I actually wore gown to feature in the competition. The prize money was eight hundred naira(N800) which was a decent amount of money then to me in 1997 and that really encouraged me to play the game because making as much just in a three-day competition just within Calabar was huge to me. The coach kept reminding us that if we were on top of our game, we would be rich and famous by travelling to so many places while representing the country.

    Challenges

    It was not easy at all because I started playing while in school and it was a big challenge to me then because I would have to go for training on a daily basis. At some point, there were changes about when we go to school as we were doing morning and afternoon shifts; and this actually affected my training programme. But by the grace of God, I was able to complete my secondary school because it wasn’t easy. I also had to battle with the challenge of having good equipment to play with, but to the glory of God, I still did well irrespective of the kind of racquet (bat) I was using much to the surprise of many people. I remember playing at a tournament in Abeokuta; one guy commended my ability to beat everybody despite the fact that I used an inferior racket. It was God that made all of this possible and I really have reasons to thank God for where I’m today.

    Pre-match rituals

    Prayer is my key before playing any match or any competition. Even when I’m sure of beating my opponent, I don’t forsake praying and I can pray anywhere. Sometimes, I would go into the toilet or any quiet place to pray before playing in order to commit the match into the hands of God. Thereafter, I would do some light exercise in order to keep myself warm. I don’t underrate anybody even if the person is not older than my son.

    Best moments

    My best moments are usually when I have money and that does not mean that I’m crazy about money. I’m the type that loves to give and assist others, as such I always like to have money on me to assist others who are in need. I like to make people around me happy, but how would they be happy if I don’t have money? I don’t have a charity organisation yet, but I do as much as I can to help others. I give as much as circumstance demands; whatever I can give, I do. I derive joy in giving and I’m guided with the principle that a giver never lacks. Sometimes when I run into cash problem, people give to me even without asking and that is just God’s favour.

    Growing up

    It was fun growing up because I started earning money playing table tennis since I was young. Again, I was always in the national camp because we were having a lot of competitions then. We were always in camp preparing for All Africa Games, Commonwealth, Olympics and so many others, so I grew up in the game, as such it was fun for me. We had the opportunity of going on training tours outside the country for several competitions and for several months I was always not around. Before you know it, I have already grown up and I eventually got married in 2001.

    Marriage

    I used to hear that it is difficult for athletes, especially sports women to get married. But it sounds funny because that is a wrong perception since being an athlete is not a deformity. There is this erroneous belief that athletes are morally loose because they spend so much time in camp.

    Of course, we have heard cases of some athletes sleeping with their coaches in order for them to be picked and I think it is the same thing with a secretary sleeping with her boss in order to gain some undue advantage over other workers. So it has to do with the individuals that are involved. It doesn’t make anybody a good girl for that matter and that sort of thing never happened to me.  I was so good and on top of my game to the extent that there was no way anybody could drop me from the team because I didn’t have a relationship with him. I can go to any length to ensure that the right thing is done and I never condoned such with anybody; nobody has done that to me and it is therefore wrong for anybody to have the impression that it is difficult for sports people to get married.  Immorality has nothing to do with sports; it is either you are a good girl or you are not.

    Valuable possession

    First and foremost, my family is my greatest possession but if you are talking about what I have been able to do with what I have earned playing table tennis, I have reasons to thank God. I have properties here and there; as well as landed properties. Much of what I have been able to acquire today was through the help of God and my husband because initially, I was just getting and spending the money. But since I met my husband, I have been able to do so much and today, I have rented apartments.

    Advice to fans and upcoming athletes

    Whether you are Christian or Muslim, my advice is that we must all ensure that we live a good life. We should also embrace God so that we can all live with the fear of God.  I have lived a decent life in spite of the fact that I’m a sportswoman. I’m proud to say that even when I was single, no one can say that I had a relationship with him and if there’s anyone, let him step out.  I’ll advise that my fans should live a good life so that God can bless them.

     Scotland Commonwealth Games

    By the grace of God, I would be part of the team to the Commonwealth Games in Scotland and I’m really looking forward to it with great optimism. I have been training hard, but there is nothing much we would have been able to achieve without the blessings of God. I’m praying and working hard to ensure that I come back from the Commonwealth Games with a medal. All things are possible by the grace of God.

    My other passion and rivals

    I think another sport I would have done if not table tennis is squash. I’m very good at it; I play it once in a while and I do play with some of our players. I think if I put as much commitment to squash as I do to table tennis, the sky would have been my limit.

    Really, I don’t fear anybody even on the African table tennis circuit. Fear can rob anybody of success, as such I don’t give in to fear but I respect anybody I’m playing against. Among my contemporaries, I respect Offiong Edem because she’s my closest rival; I believe she is capable of winning if she is in best form when she faces anybody and the same thing is applicable to her when playing against me. We have much respect for her.

    My favourite places

    Outside Nigeria, you know the standard we get in many countries is almost the same because we are put under good care and training in good facilities, But I like China because it is a clean city. It is an organised place despite their huge population. I love the skyscrapers in China; and I love the fact that their old people are still very agile by participating in sports.

    Bu I love Calabar because it is a peaceful city and that is why it is convenient for our state to host many sporting activities.  I’m fine and happy always because it’s my town. I love it here and I want to use this opportunity to invite my friends to come and visit Calabar.

  • Our governor is God-sent, says party stalwart, Osogbo chiefs

    Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola has been described as “a rare gift sent by God to give the people a new lease of life”.

    This is the view of a stalwart of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Ilesa East, Mr. Michael Ashaolu, who spoke in Ilesa at the registration of amputees to benefit from the free artificial limbs to be provided by the Eni Aponle Foundation.

    Ashaolu, who is the founder of the foundation, said he was motivated to support the less privileged because of the governor’s “unique style of governance” and the amazing projects of his administration.

    Urging the people to support Aregbesola’s “visionary administration”, Ashaolu said the artificial limbs would be provided by his foundation in collaboration with some foreign partners and the Osun State Ministry of Youths, Sports and Special Needs.

    He said measurement of the limbs of beneficiaries begins tomorrow at the Foundation Hall, Ido-Ijesa, and ends on Friday.

    Also at the weekend, traditional chiefs in Osogbo, the state capital, hailed Aregbesola for improving the aesthetics of the ancient town.

    The chiefs include the Ajaguna; the Akogun, Chief Gabriel Oparanti; the Otun Ajagun, Chief Sule Agbola; the Eesa, Chief Bolarinwa Popoola; the Olonga, Chief Nasiru Odelola; the Iyalode, Chief Bakare Adeola; the Baale Gbonmi, Chief Alake Kolade; the Babakekere, Chief Aliu Sonibare and Chief Sule Olanipekun, among others.

    The chiefs, led by the Ajaguna, who is second-in-command to the Ataoja, spoke with reporters at the Ataoja’s palace in Osogbo.

    Ajaguna said: “Since Osun’s creation in 1991, it remained sadly underdeveloped until the emergence of the Aregbesola administration. The powerful cerebral endowment, passion, vision and tireless energy with which Aregbesola has been executing the well thought out Six Integral Action Plan of his administration are gradually turning Osun into a modern, progressive and economically viable state.”

    He said the quality of roads built by the administration could be compared to those in developed countries.

    The chief hailed the governor’s efforts to restore Osogbo to its former status as the third commercial hub in the Southwest through the establishment of the multi-billion naira Ayegbaju Market and the Aje International Market. Both are almost completed.

  • Ekiti elders: Fayemi is god-sent

    The Ekiti Council of Elders has said Governor Kayode Fayemi is “God’s answer to the prayers of senior citizens”.

    The elders, led by a First Republic Minister, Chief Joel Babatola, spoke at the weekend during a visit to the governor at his office in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.

    They said Ekiti was “very fortunate” to have Fayemi as governor.

    The elders said the values for which Ekiti people are known are being restored by his administration and urged indigenes to support the government’s efforts to improve the state.

    Praising the governor’s administrative style and “passion for development”, they said his emergence as governor was “clearly God’s answer to their prayers for someone who would be a unifying factor and a supporter of development”.

    The elders included former Governor of Old Ondo State, Evangelist Bamidele Olumilua, and Chief Deji Fasuan.

    Fasuan, who played a major role in the creation of Ekiti State in 1996, said the council is non-partisan but passionate about the state’s development.

    He said the first half of Fayemi’s tenure was “characterised by integrity, hard work and performance” and urged the governor to continue to make these values the watchword of his administration.

    Olumilua assured the governor of their support and urged him to continue to consult the elders on challenging issues.

    Describing the visit as “a meeting of great minds”, Fayemi said the council was an opportunity for any governor to get good counsel.

    He said he would continue to consult the council in “a well-structured and non-partisan manner”, adding that there was need to “bridge the gap between the energy of the youth and the wisdom of the elders”.