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  • Kumuyi urges members, others to conquer with Christ

    Kumuyi urges members, others to conquer with Christ

    The General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry, Pastor William Folorunsho Kumuyi, has said would-be participants at the church’s national Easter retreat of God’s special empowerment should conquer life’s challenges in these perilous times.

    Pastor Kumuyi, who expressed optimism that the power that raised Jesus Christ from the dead will liberate participants from bondage, announced that the event with the theme, ‘Conquering with the Crucified King’ will  take place from Thursday, April 23 to Sunday, April 26, 2017 at the Deeper Life Conference Centre (DLCC) on KM 48, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

    According to the cleric, the programme will take place simultaneously in all the states, regions and local government camp grounds within Nigeria, other locations in Africa and beyond.

    In a statement signed by him, the General Superintendent promised that just as Christ conquered death and all his enemies when he declared “it is finished” on the cross of Calvary, even so shall all participants have their life challenges torn asunder and uprooted at the retreat.

    “We live in perilous times, when societies are filled with cries of agony, stories of anguish, terror, sadness and of hopelessness; when frustration is driving many people to take their own lives; when people are having their expectations and hopes dashed; miseries and confusion have become the order of the day, and governments of many countries have come to a crossroads.

    “It has become clear to many people that there is no solution from man. We hear about cases of kidnapping, assassinations, bare-faced wickedness, even as many experience insecurity and extreme poverty. The world at best is in turmoil. These are the fulfillments of the scriptures. But we are not alarmed because, Christ our mighty Captain declared with a loud voice on the cross of Calvary that ‘it is finished’. We have nothing to fear,” Pastor Kumuyi further added.

    According to him, “the theme of this year’s Easter Retreat, like others before it, has been carefully thought through, given the goings on around the globe. What this retreat means to us as members of the church is to take a break from the prevailing hustling and bustling  for spiritual rearmament and refocusing . This is because, no one can be triumphant in this sin-filled and challenging world without divine empowerment. Again, for visitors, the retreat will help them to discover themselves and then realise that by strength shall no man prevail. The retreat promises to be a time of refreshing for both old and new, members and non-members alike.”

    He urged Nigerians to “look up to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith”, particularly at a time when the country is ploughing through one of its worst epochs since Independence.

    “The point at which we are in the country demands divine intervention. That may not be quick in coming unless we all intercede for Nigeria and resolve to do things in a better, different way.”

  • Minister warns against neglect of APC members by FG

    Minister warns against neglect of APC members by FG

    Minister of Women Affairs, Senator Aisha Alhassan has warned against the alleged neglect of  members of the All Progressive Congress (APC) who contributed to the success of the party in the 2015 poll in Taraba State.

    She stated that unless the party members are compensated by the federal government, their support may not be guaranteed in the next election.

    The Minister who spoke when she led a delegation of APC members in Taraba state complaining of being marginalized in the scheme of things by the APC led federal government, said apart from constitutionally mandated appointment, no APC member in the state has been given appointment by the government since coming into power in 2015.

    She stressed that even in the execution of federal projects in the state, the leadership of the APC in Taraba state are not being carried along, pointing out that the state chapter of the party has practically been abandoned.

    She said : “I have come as a party member and a leader, together with my brothers from Taraba state to voice out our problems.  The APC people in Taraba state are very worried. The government in the state is controlled by the PDP and we expect that as our parents and as a government, you should have helped us especially since you knew that we were muscled out, even though we did our best. 

    “No opposition party in the state has performed as good as we did since 1999. Unfortunately, apart from my appointment which is statutory and constitutional and that of the ambassador, we still don’t have any meaningful appointment from this government.

    “Many of those who participated in APC campaign  in Taraba state are still there without appointment. That is why I took the pains to introduce some of the people that accompanied me here so that you will know the caliber of people that we have in the state APC. We have capable hands in Taraba APC. So, please remind the people that make these appointments.

    “We have to take care of our people. Otherwise, we will not know our faith when the next election comes. Even in the federal government projects, they do not involve us. it was only yesterday that I met the state party leader and was told that there is a federal government project going on and they are not involved. It is not that they don’t have qualified persons to handle those projects.

    “Even the struggle to live right, according to the dictates of religion is because of the expectation of Heaven which is the reward. Taraba state APC should be remembered. This is our plea. If projects are sent to the state which is controlled by the PDP, our people should not be left hanging.

    “They are saying that this is a federal government thing which we worked for, but are not gaining anything from it,” she said.

  • Trump rally: Army didn’t kill 11 IPOB members

    The 6 Division has described as false and malicious a statement credited to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) that the Army killed 11 members of the group during a rally on January 20 in Port Harcourt.

    In a statement by the Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, Col Aminu Illyasu, the Army described as  baseless and unsubstantiated “allegation by Emma Powerful, who claims to be the Media and Publicity Secretary of a criminal gang in which he claimed that 11 of its members were killed by soldiers on January 20 in Port Harcourt during a solidarity rally to commemorate the election of Donald Trump as President of the United States of America”.

    Colonel Iliyasu said: “We, therefore, wish to warn Emma Powerful and other likeminded mischief makers that the Army will no longer tolerate such spurious and unfounded allegations that are injurious to its hard-earned image and reputation, its selfless and dedicated officers and soldiers by any group of criminals regardless of their appellation.”

    He said the choice of Port Harcourt as the epicentre of the protest has left much to be desired,  adding that in line with its constitutional mandate, troops of 29 Battalion were deployed with officers of other sister security agencies to prevent any loss of life or property with strict adherence to the established rules of engagement.

    “Despite all provocative attempts occasioned by the stoning of security agents and the smashing of commuters’  windscreens by the violent protesters, troops refused to be cajoled into the criminal gang’s trap to fire a single shot.

    “This is indicative of the troops’ total compliance with their rules of engagement. The violent protest was subsequently subdued with the use of tear gas and arrests were made by a sister security agency with no casualty recorded on either side,” Illiyasu said.

    He, however, described as “worrisome and disturbing for anyone to falsely accuse troops deployed in support of civil authority who conducted their duty professionally under the beaming lenses of cameras of allegedly killing 11 citizens of our great country.”

    He claimed that a well observed trend of this “criminal gang” is the malicious posting of old videos and pictures on social media platforms, which have no bearing on their claims to attract public sympathy and whip public sentiments.

    “To this end, 6 Division headquarters wishes to inform the public that the allegation is not true and should be dismissed as mere propaganda by the separatist group.

    “We wish to restate our total commitment to the protection of lives and properties within the Division’s area of responsibility,” the statement reads.

  • Two feared killed, scores injured as NURTW members, tricyclists clash

    Two feared killed, scores injured as NURTW members, tricyclists clash

    Two persons were feared killed and several others injured when National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) members and tricycle operators clashed in Abule Egba, Lagos.

    Residents of Owode Street and environs have fled their homes following the incident.

    The casualities were said to be passersby hit by stray bullets. Two tricyclists, Michael Taiwo and Komolafe Lekan, were allegedly shot by soldiers attached to Operation (OP) MESA patrol vehicle marked LSD529CX.

    The soldiers, said to have been invited by NURTW, allegedly fired sporadically.

    Taiwo and Lekan have been undergone surgery at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja.

    The Nation gathered that the clash followed the tricyclist’s union’s disengagement from NURTW.

    Two NURTW loyalties were apprehended and handed over to policemen at Meiran. A pistol was recovered from one of them.

    Owode Community Development Association Chairman Baba Seriki, who confirmed that people were fleeing their homes, urged the government to resolve the crisis.

    He said: “There has been tension in this area since Monday. But it was on Saturday night that the two groups fought. We have been seeing thugs carrying cutlasses and bottles roaming the street. In fact, a young boy who came to live with a relative ran away that same day after seeing the thugs.

    “Since Saturday night, people have been leaving. It was a terrible experience. I went out and was coming back around 6pm, but was greeted with gunshots. People were just running towards different directions to avoid being caught up in the war.

    “This is something the government is aware of. They know about this crisis and so, I don’t understand why they can’t find a solution to it.”

    Abule Egba Tricycle Operators’ Union, Chairman Lukmon Ogede said one of those arrested claimed that they were sent to kill him.

    According to him, the suspect mentioned the name of an NURTW chief who hired them for the job.

    He said: “They were sent to kill me. One of the suspects was caught with a pistol and he confessed that they asked them to kill me.

    “The only problem is that we have said we want to be on our own. We have our own certificate and are now affiliated to Trade Union Council (TUC). But NURTW wants us to still be under them so that they would be taxing us heavily as they usually do.

    “We refused and they have been going round our parks, causing trouble. We didn’t fight back. They were the ones that attacked us. Two of our men are in the hospital battling for their lives as I talk to you.

    “The thugs still came today (yesterday). My people told me they are at Kola. We have informed the police and we hope that those behind the crisis would be arrested and prosecuted.”

    Police spokesperson, Dolapo Badmos, a Superintendent (SP), said the matter was being investigated.

    She confirmed that the police recovered a locally made cut to size pistol and a live cartridge.

  • Rivers APC raises alarm over killing of members

    Rivers APC raises alarm over killing of members

    The Rivers State chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday raised the alarm over the killing of its members in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area (ONELGA) and other parts of Rivers State.

    Gunmen at the weekend, killed APC Ward 5 Secretary Emmanuel Obuozo at Ovor in Osomini area of ONELGA.

    It was learnt the APC chieftain was killed at his home where the gunmen shot sporadically to scare the residents.

    Addressing reporters yesterday in Port Harcourt, the state capital, APC’s Publicity Secretary Chris Finebone said the killing of the APC members showed the state government’s Amnesty Programme was dubious.

    Finebone said: “We in APC have always said Rivers State government’s Amnesty Programme is dubious and characteristically questionable. We continue to hold the opinion that government simply created the so-called amnesty to shield crooks.

    “It was just to shield them from clampdown by Federal security agencies by surreptitiously legitimising the criminalities perpetrated by the criminal associates who shot and killed to climb to power.”

    Also, ONELGA APC Chairman Felix Ejechi said the killings required Federal Government’s intervention.

    Ejechi said what was happening in ONELGA was beyond the party, adding that if something urgent was not done, the situation might spread to other places.

    The APC chairman said the party’s national leadership to address the “insecurity that is threatening the unity and affecting the membership strength of the party”.

  • Bayelsa APC to reconcile aggrieved members

    Bayelsa APC to reconcile aggrieved members

    The Bayelsa State  All Progressives Congress (APC) has inaugurated a 12-member reconciliation committee to resolve its protracted crisis within its rank ahead of the 2019 general elections.

    Crisis erupted in the party following the outcome of the last governorship election, which the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Seriake Dickson, won.

    APC was further polarised after some members of the executive committee, led by its Chairman, Chief Tiwe Oruminighe, publicly disagreed with the defeated candidate of the party, Chief Timipre Sylva, over  federal appointments.

    But, Oruminighe assembled 12 elders at the party secretariat, Yenagoa, and mandated them to take appropriate measures to resolve the problems.

    The chairman relieved the party’s ordeal in the last election and blamed the electoral misfortune of the APC to what he referred to as “small carelessness”.

    He said: “We have been into some serious issues. We came with a platform promising to change Bayelsa State. We are still on that course. We went to the election and from election we went to the court. We are done with the court.

    “We failed the election because of small carelessness because Bayelsans were behind us. We promised Bayelsans that we are going to get it right and I am still promising you that we are going to get it right”.

    The party leader acknowledged that after the election, the party was plunged into an internal crisis, adding that there was need to reconcile all aggrieved members to forge a united front.

  • Jolly Xmas as COSON shares N200m among members

    Jolly Xmas as COSON shares N200m among members

    •Announces acquisition of multi-million naira ‘COSON House’

    In its annual tradition, Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) has again disbursed royalties to the tune of N200million naira, as approved by the Board of the society on December 15, 2016.

    The unanimous approval of the proposed distribution took place at the Extra-Ordinary General Meeting (EGM) of COSON held at Niteshift Coliseum, Opebi, Ikeja, Lagos.

    The Collective Management Organisation (CMO) collects royalties for the use of musical works and sound recordings in Nigeria on behalf of its members.

    Shortly after the approval, members had not departed the venue when they started receiving alerts of payment from their banks. Several members of COSON at the venue confirmed receipt of royalty payment.

    For the EGM, the gaily dressed musicians, young and old, from across the country thronged Niteshift Coliseum in a celebratory mood. There was so much singing and dancing as several musicians performed at the event, turning the general meeting into a carnival.

    Chairman of COSON, Chief Tony Okoroji, thanked the members for their continuous support of the society since its inception. According to him: “Despite what is a very hostile environment under which your society has had to operate and an economy hit by severe recession and despite the acquisition of the multi-million Naira ‘COSON House’ which is fully paid for, your Board is today putting before you a scheme for the distribution of a record sum of N200,000,000.00  (Two Hundred Million Naira), a 42.86% increase on the sum of N140,000,000.00 (One Hundred & Forty Million Naira) which you approved for distribution last year”. The information was received with huge applause.

    Shedding light on the acquisition of the new COSON property, Chief Okoroji said, “I am pleased to announce to you today that in keeping with your mandate, your society has acquired and fully paid for a big multi-million Naira property at No 41 Oluwaleyemu Street, off Allen Avenue, Ikeja. When fully renovated, the property to be known as “COSON HOUSE” will have state of the art facilities for the operation of any modern organisation and provide sufficient accommodation for our growing work force. It is our hope that by time the next AGM takes place, we would have moved from Omodara Street to COSON HOUSE”.

    Commenting further, the Chairman said, “I want to congratulate every member of COSON for this historic achievement not made by any organization in the creative industry before now. Let me remind you that none of us can truly say anymore that he or she is not a landlord because we are all owners of COSON HOUSE”

  • Niger NAWOJ trains members

    The Niger State Chapter of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) has trained its members on the production of petroleum jelly. The state Chairperson, Hajiya Halima Bawa said that the training was to equip the women in the fundamentals of making some home essentials to save money especially in the face of  current economic challenges.

    She said now is a good time to produce jelly as the wet season gives way to a dry spell.

    The chairperson said that NAWOJ intends to broaden the knowledge of its members and prepare them for  multiple sources of income.

    Bawa urged the members not to take the training with levity calling on them to practice it continually and also to try various ways that will enable them have their trademark.

    The Resource Person, Amina Garba explained to the members the precautions to be taken during the production of the vaseline, the forms of production, apparatus and chemicals to be used for production.

    A member of NAWOJ, Maureen Dibie said the training will give the members a feeling of belonging to show that they have an association that shows concern about them. She urged the executives to be more proactive in organising more training that will benefit the members and the society at large.

    The association had earlier trained its members on liquid soap making.

  • APC members hail EFCC’s probe of Fayose

    EKITI State All Progressives Congress (APC) has hailed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for probing Governor Ayo Fayose for alleged money laundering and purchase of assets after assumption of office.

    The party leaders and members in Ado Ekiti Local Government, who rose from their monthly meeting at Ward 5 in Ado-Ekiti yesterday, urged the anti-graft agency to ensure that all Ekiti funds and assets purchased with state funds are recovered.

    Fifteen people were empowered with cash in aid of their businesses by a chieftain of the party, Faleye Rotimi.

    He said the gesture was to assist the less-privileged in line with the party’s manifesto.

    Party leaders, who attended the meeting, include ex-Ekiti House of Assembly Speaker Femi Bamisile; ex-House of Assembly member Tope Olanipekun; ex-Commissioner for Culture Alhaji Jinadu Ayodele; ward and local government executives.

    Addressing the gathering, Ayodele said the people were happy with the EFCC probe, maintaining that illicit funds traced to the governor must be recovered.

    Ayodele said: “We are happy with EFCC for investigating Fayose and what is happening to our treasury. Fayose must face the music for the way he has been handling our funds and the arms funds diverted to his campaign.”

    Former Chairman of the State Sports Council Ade Adetola called for the understanding of Nigerians.

    He said the 16 years of “destruction of the economy by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) administration” could not be rectified within two years by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Ward Chairman Olumide Ajibade said the recession was not caused by Buhari, but by “unprecedented corruption wreaked on Nigerians by the PDP government”.

    He urged Nigerians to repose their confidence in the President.

  • Alasoadura urges APC members to unite

    The senator representing Ondo Central, Tayo Alasoadura, has urged All Progressives Congress (APC) members not to allow alleged imposition of aspirants to cause disaffection among them.

    He spoke on a private radio station, Adaba FM programme, monitored in Akure, the state capital, against speculations that one of the 25 governorship aspirants had been endorsed by the party’s national leaders.

    Alasoadura, who is also a governorship aspirant on the platform of the APC, said only delegates would determine who flies the party’s flag in the November 26 election.

    The senator said he had nothing to fear since APC leaders had assured the aspirants that free and fair primary would hold.

    He said he had worked hard for the party’s nomination, saying it was only lazy aspirants that called for zoning or desperately sought endorsement from leaders.

    “We need unity in our party to win the governorship election. So, we should not allow any rumour that can cause disaffection among our members.

    “Leaders of our party have assured us of fairness in the  party primaries. I must say that I believe them. They cannot veer off the path of fairness they have chosen to trek.

    “Becoming Ondo State governor is not a walk in the park. You must work for it. I think I’ve worked hard to deserve the ticket of our party. If I eventually clinch it, I will surely crush the candidate of any other political party that stands in my way to the Alagbaka Government House.”

    The former commissioner for Finance promised to revive the Olokola Free Trade Zone project started by the last administration, but now abandoned by the incumbent government.

    He promised to diversify the economy to create jobs and wealth for the citizens.

    He said: “We will do our best to grow the economy. We will revive Olokola with a view to industrialising the state. This will scale down the rate of unemployment.”