The Nation Newspaper

Tag: POWER

The amazing power of a Spirit-filled girl (VI)
Because she’s constantly flowing in the super-natural, nothing takes her by surprise. She already knows her examination questions long before the time-table is set. She’s more intelligent than her teachers and is wiser than her ancestors.

(Excerpt of a poem-“The Amazing Power of A Spirit-Filled Girl)

Hello Aunty Temilolu,

Thanks for raising a voice for the Nigerian girl. This page has always been my reason for reading The Nation newspaper on Sundays. Honestly, I believe that this inspirational column of yours would change many young minds including parents who have been misled by the traumatic side of life. I pray God will continue to give you the wisdom to accomplish this great task. May God bless you ma.

Sarah, Enugu

Dear Aunty Temilolu,

Please how can I be a devoted woman of God? Love you!

Anonymous

How to be a devoted woman of God-
1. Be a friend of God, receive Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Saviour
2. Live your life strictly according to His principles as written in the Holy Bible like the only reason you are in the world is to please God.
3. Ensure you receive the baptism of the Holy Ghost.
4. Renew your mind and ignite your spirit daily by studying and meditating on the scriptures.
5. Be determined to live a holy life. Be disciplined. Guard your heart with all diligence.
6. Do something to promote the kingdom of God. In your church, school, office or anywhere you find yourself – be an ambassador of God, win souls and preach the gospel.
7. Pray at every given opportunity. Form a habit of constantly communicating with God.
8. Be the first to get to church, fellowship etc.
I love you too. May God bless you and make you VERY GREAT. May He make you an unusual weapon in His hands and make all your dreams come true in Jesus name.

My darling sisters and every wonderful fan of this page – God’s page,

Last week, I began discussing a weapon of mass destruction which a lot of Christians have at their disposal but just ignore, a shield for our defenceless heads, our power generator, a balm of Gilead which would soothe us and free us from every burden, God’s pronouncements upon our lives which no devil can alter unless we don’t put them to use, the key to unlocking the greatest and darkest mysteries, the solution to the vagaries and vicissitudes of life, the lamp for our feet and the light on our path through life, the wisdom we need to coast through life, our strength, the enemy’s dread, our spiritual sword, sharper than any double-edged sword – the word of God. When last did you study it outside church? How many verses can you recite offhand? I welcome you all to school on Sunday!

“The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.”

Psalm 119:130 KJV

The word of God is so powerful that it has the antidote to every difficult situation we may ever find ourselves in life, situations which all the money in the world and even your G.O. cannot solve. When you allow the word of God to saturate your senses, the power of God moves over your life and His light beams upon your life. You instantly become your own prophet because it opens up your understanding and reveals all you need to know about your life and the paths to follow to your promised land while showing you pitfalls to avoid and traps set by the devil. It even reveals to you the mind of others towards you and a lot of things which don’t even concern you because you are already carrying God Himself. Doesn’t He know everything? When you begin to soak yourself in the word, believe me, you will always know the examination questions even before the time-table is out because the Holy Spirit will always act as your spy. Whoa! Now, can you ever fail? You will always cart all the prizes on the prize-giving day. How I wish I knew all of this as a teenager!

When you are daily loaded with the word of God, you will always be surrounded by the angels of God and they would always bring you super information which all the world’s greatest G.Os put together can never give you. That one information could be all that you need to become that which you are destined to be in life which is why the enemy has fought you tooth and nail and thrown all sorts your way just to ensure you don’t get to your beautiful throne; the reason why your life has been like “hell on earth” so far. God wants you to be what He created you to be. You need to start getting all the information and your weapons and ammunition right away. Time is running out fast. What would make you shine now may never make you shine later in life – in fact, you may never have the energy to pursue it. Pick up your bible and start digging deep. Refuse to be distracted by anything. Forget your friends on face book etc. and concentrate please. By the time your glory arrives, they’ll be the ones to broadcast. Pick up your bible now and draw up a daily reading plan. I pray the mighty power of God rests upon your life and open up your understanding in Jesus name. AMEN!
November 15, 2015
The amazing power of a Spirit-filled girl (V)

She feeds on the word of God which transmits divine energy into her and gives her fire to fly. The word of God is constantly in her heart shut up in her bones like a burning fire.” (Excerpt of a poem-“The Amazing Power of A Spirit-Filled Girl)

Hello friends, I’m happy to be in touch again with you all today. I pray God’s mighty power rests upon your life and part a way to your long-awaited promised land even before the end of this year in Jesus name. No matter what disappointment this year has brought you contrary to what you expected, I implore you in the name of God to be happy and hopeful against all odds. There’s nothing strange about your predicament, hold on to your faith, thank God from the bottom of your heart and watch how God will turn around your situation and push you to outstanding greatness and everlasting joy much to the enemy’s chagrin. So shall it be in Jesus name. Amen!

Before I discussed the International Day of the Girl 2015 some weeks back, I started enlightening you on the above topic. I hope you’ve learnt something so far. The year is running to an end and you could still make use of this power to achieve all that you were set out to achieve in this year. I welcome you all to school on Sunday.

“This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.” Joshua 1:8 KJV

In one of the text messages I get daily, a young lady wrote that she didn’t think being chaste and keeping one’s virginity till marriage still exists and according to her she had always thought it “old-fashioned.” And the first thing that came to my mind was could the word of God be old-fashioned? Are today’s teenagers and youth generally acquainted with the word of God? Sadly, I doubt.

“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

Hebrews 4:12 (KJV)

“Soul and spirit” are like “bone joint and bone marrow.” “Soul” is that invisible dimension of our life that we are by nature. “Spirit” is what we are by supernatural rebirth. Jesus said, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit”. Without the awakening, creative, regenerating work of the Spirit of God in us we are merely “natural” rather than “spiritual.” We must not forget that the bible tells us we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities, against powers and spiritual wickedness in high places. What this means is for us to enjoy life and wade through the mysterious ocean of life, we need to be very spiritual. Unfortunately, too many people only start becoming spiritual when they get into trouble and I tell you sometimes it may be too late. They may not even have the required energy to fight such battles.

The best thing that can happen to any girl right now is to love reading the word of God like love letters and let it imprint on her soul to carry her through life. The word of God is light and darkness can never over-shadow light. The word of God is reading God and communicating with Him. Before you know it, you are carrying Him in you. The bible tells us our God is a consuming fire. Therefore, any life daily soaked in the word of God is resistant to the wiles of the devil. A lot of afflictions which manifest in our lives later in life were already planted when we were young. And I must say, you never know the type of star you carry. The greater your star and greatness, the greater the battles you have to contend with such that you could fight the same battle for years and wish you were never born. The only way out is to be plugged to God our source. Remember, “…not by power, nor by might but by my spirit saith the lord of Hosts.” Zech.4:6

These are the last days when the bible says wickedness will wax stronger and stronger. Which power, my darling sisters, do you have against the enemy? The earlier you kit yourself the better. The earlier you begin to eat the word of God the better for you. What accrues to your destiny in life is much too great and beautiful to be missed. Learn to daily memorise scriptures and see the power of God move in your life. As you master these verses and they resonate in your spirit, your mind would be illuminated and your senses would be sharpened. As you daily rub minds with God, you know God more and would start doing exploits! Daniel 11:32. All your divine abilities, gifts and talents would explode and manifest with speed. You will not only display unusual intellectual prowess, you will develop prophetic gifts, have revelatory knowledge almost about everything through dreams and visions. And if you get used to this daily exercise, you can never miss a step in the journey of life. Also, your imagination would carry so much power that whatever you imagine will come to pass because it’s incubated in the Holy Spirit.

November 8, 2015
‘PDP can’t retain power in Ondo’

Omooba Abayomi Adesanya is the Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State. He spoke with DAMISI OJO on preparations for next year’s governorship elections and others partisan issues.

What are the challenges confronting the APC in Ondo State?

Constructive criticism and objectivity are our watchword in the APC. The task of being the party’s spokesman in Ondo State, as an opposition political party, is enormous and very challenging, because of the maladministration of the Mimiko-led government in the state. There are so many ills of the government that need our attention and that of the public. The present government has deceived the people with a lot of failed promises and programmes; with directionless and clueless policies. More importantly, our people were hoodwinked and bought over with cash, ranging from between N2,000 to N5,000 during the April 11, 2015 House of Assembly elections. This attitude of the people must change. We need to re-orientate and change their psyche, reactivate their consciousness and educate them on the power of their votes.

So, being in the opposition is tasking, especially when the government in power is under-performing. My team and I are proactive and have been forced to be on internet almost all the time, reading through pages of newspapers everyday, monitoring all government policies and reaching out to the grassroots. For sure, the feedbacks indicate that the people are reacting positively to our criticisms.

The governorship election is scheduled for next year. How prepared is your party?

Our strategy is simple: The people; the electorate. As a party, we do not have any other plan or strategy outside and beyond the people of Ondo State, both at home and in diaspora. They have been misruled and misled all this while by the present Mimiko-led PDP administration. The good people of Ondo State are now yearning for change. Mind you, their votes have started counting since the 2015 general elections, thereby making rigging unfashionable. Once again, our strategy centres on the people of the state. Thanks to the ‘almighty Card Readers’

Is the APC on ground in Ondo State, going by dismal outing during the April 11 House of Assembly poll?

We are on ground. Let me tell you — and you even know better than I do — that the APC is a party to beat in this state. With the numerical strength of our membership of over 400,000 and still counting, we are battle ready to defeat and beat the PDP blue and black come 2016 governorship election. I remembered when we held the second APC State Publicity Secretaries Summit hosted by Lagos State Chapter, from March 18 to 20, 2015; prior to the 2015 presidential elections. It was titled “Ready For Change”. A Professor of Political Science from the University of Lagos, delivered the keynote address. With statistics, he rated Ondo State political parties as follows: APC 20 per cent; PDP 70 per cent; others 10 per cent, but I quickly disagreed with him and told the gathering that, the Ondo State APC garnered between 60 per cent and 75 per cent votes for Buhari during the presidential election.

You were aware of the boasting and bragging of the PDP Southwest Coordinator for Goodluck Jonathan 2015 Presidential Campaign, Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State, that he will return one million votes for Jonathan in Ondo State. Probably that was the yardstick the Professor used and because Mimiko is a sitting governor, the Professor must have put this into consideration when ceding the state to the PDP. But, what happened? The PDP was defeated disgracefully in the state. Not only that, Mimiko was beaten in his polling unit and ward; he couldn’t wait for the votes to be counted, before he drove off with his entourage.

The April 11 House of Assembly election was a charade, characterised with violence, intimidation, killing, snatching of election materials, especially in South and Central senatorial districts of the state. The situation was so bad that a first class Oba in Ondo South was fingered in the case of hijack of election materials.

You always describe the Mimiko administration as non-performing. What do you think the APC has in stock to change the tempo, if it comes to power?

My criticism of this administration has been constructive and issue-based. Exposing the ills and anti-people policies of Mimiko’s government. He runs the state like an emperor and with deceit. Our governor has failed in all his electoral promises. His regime has been a dark period in the history of Ondo State. Nothing is working. Ondo State has about 11 state-owned industries or more, but today none is working. Oluwa Glass Factory, Igbokoda, with 5,000 workforce is moribund, Okitipupa Oil Palm Plantation with about 1,600 staff strength is dysfunctional, Owena Mass Transit is in extinction, Ifon Ceramics is history, the state Forest Reserve (afforestation) has been deforestated, Owena Dam and the water cooperation that usually supply pipe-borne water to every home in the state is now a dream. The ever functional General and Specialist Hospitals, Clinics and Maternity Homes built in all the villages and towns across the state now exist in the imagination, Bolorunduro Timbre is gone, to mention but a few.

All these we are going to resuscitate and bring back to life when we get to power. Resuscitating them will create thousands of jobs opportunities to our teaming jobless youths. The APC government in Ondo State will build confidence and hope for the people. We are also targeting between 300 and 500 kilometres of roads in each of the 18 local government areas of the state, to open up the rural areas. We will also abide by our party’s manifesto to the letter.

What is missing in Ondo APC?

Every political party has peculiar make-up and challenges. Our dear country, Nigeria, has been faced with leadership challenges that has burrowed deep into the marrows of all spheres and departments of our lives. This leadership brouhaha has really affected every home; that is, the component units of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and as an entity. But, with Muhammadu Buhari as President, things are taking shape now.

The APC in Ondo State needs a more formidable and collective leadership than ever. A sincere leadership fulcrum and pivot with political patronages now that we are going into another governorship election. We cannot afford to disappoint our teaming supporters and sympathisers that are clamouring for change, because of selfish and petty issues. The people see us as the last hope; an alternative to the PDP.

The electorates are tired of the wasteful government of deceit that has held our state for ransom since it came on board in 2009.

November 4, 2015
Arrogance, power and security

Leaders of the two global power blocs supervising the carnage and murder of innocent citizens in Syria, this week held a meeting in Vienna – the old but well known   home of such cloudy diplomacy for long- this time to determine the fate of Syrian dictator Bashar Assad whose rule has led to over half the population of Syria, put at about 12m fleeing or trying to leave the country for Europe. That such a meeting could be convened at all beats the imagination given the fact that there is no love lost amongst those who gathered in Vienna for the meeting. It is even an understatement to say that they are strange bed fellows as some of them loath each other even more than the opposition in Syria hate their blood thirsty president, who has refused to relinquish power because he believes the weight of leadership of Syria can only be carried on his rather peculiarly   narrow shoulder and thick neck. Which really is not only pathetic but a great pity indeed as his narrow will and perspective have prevailed and dominated his nation so far, at such great human cost and the destruction of the security of his nation which is quite an ancient country.

Today we shall consider the Vienna talks on Syria together with the result of the referendum in Congo Brazaville which overwhelmingly gave veteran President Sassou Nguesso the needed go ahead to contest for a third term which the constitution of his country expressly forbid. We will round up with the news that I have just seen on the internet that the Court of Appeal has dismissed by a spilt decision the appeal by the Nigerian Senate President Bukola Saraki against the Code of Conduct Tribunal – CCT – in which he questioned the jurisdiction of the tribunal to prosecute him for false declaration of assets.

We shall look at these issues in the light of the topic of the day. The import here is to show that when power, legitimate or not, exceeds its bounds and limit, it overheats the socio economic and political environment because to sustain it will require additional political will and drive which inevitably   affect the peace and sanctity of the polity, as legal authority     recedes   or is lost   in hubris and arrogance. Ultimately collective security whether local or international becomes a culprit that takes flight in the face of the creation of a violent and insecure   environment similar to the Hobbesian theory of ‘ might is right’ and where life is’ brutish and short.’

No nation illustrates that   vividly in today’s world more than Syria and Iraq where Islamic State –IS has taken more territories than in any other part or nation of the Middle East just as we know the participants in the Vienna Talks at first treated the issues involved with kid gloves. Now that they are ready to tackle IS, it is as if they are reacting to close the stable after the horses, this time horses of war, have simply vanished into   the thin air of Arabia. This is because those at Vienna have very irreconcilable differences within themselves and do not even agree on the status of Bashar Assad the dictator of Syria and the destroyer of his nation and people.

Just listen to their plea on Bashar Assad. The US says Assad cannot be part of the solution and should leave power although the US has no stomach or will power so far to execute that fantasy. Russia says he cannot go because that would create a power vacuum similar to the removal of Saddam Hussein in Iraq which destroyed the sovereignty, peace and stability which Saddam assured albeit as a ruthless dictator. Saudi Arabia wants Bashar Assad to leave at all costs while Iran, the sponsor of Hizbollah in Lebanon and traditional supporter of Assad will have nothing to do with the Saudi wish. Indeed Saudi Arabia will have nothing to do with not only Assad but also Iran, as they are ancient enemies on the brand of Islam they practice stemming from the succession of the Holy Prophet ages ago. That the two nations are in Vienna is because the Russians and US are there to keep them at arms length as there is no way they can back down on their take on Assad, so boldly and eloquently spoken and backed with violence so far before their journey to Vienna. So on that score nothing good can come out of Vienna over the removal of Assad from power in Syria.

That notion is further buttressed by the acrimony that has ensued between the US and Russia over Syria, and the glaring fact that the Russians have established a military presence in Syria whose sole aim is to keep Assad in power. So who is fooling who over the Vienna Talks on Syria? Not many analysts and people are deceived on the use of diplomacy to buy time on both sides but Syrians are not deceived and that is why they are fleeing their nations in droves, while confirming the well known truism that life has no duplicate, no matter the manner and level of diplomacy in Vienna.

With regard to the referendum giving President Dennis Sassou Nguesso the right to contest for a third term one only needs to state facts of the Congolese president’s life to show that he has no intention of dying out of power and I will explain. If he rules for a third term he will be ruling for 21 years since he has ruled for two terms of 7 years so far from 2002. Before that he ruled from 1979 to 1992 when he was defeated in a presidential election. There was a civil war in his nation before he won the first of the three 7 year terms in 2002. Nguesso is over 70 and the constitution has been shunted aside to allow him to contest as the constitution had a two term limit and age limit of 70 on presidential candidates. Please reach your conclusions on how he will ever contemplate dying anywhere other than in the Presidential Palace in Brazaville.

Lastly the decision of the Court of Appeal that the CCT has the jurisdiction to try the senate president is a boost to the rule of law in our nation. The Senate President has said in the dock when his plea of guilty or not was sought that he was being tried because he was president of the senate. Now the Court of Appeal has ruled he could be tried and the CCT has such jurisdiction. This is a victory for the rule of law in Nigeria even though his lawyers have vowed to go to the Supreme Court to contest the verdict of the lower court on the jurisdiction of the tribunal. That too is a healthy legal and political development as nobody is above the law according to our constitution, which also states clearly that an accused is assumed innocent until proven otherwise in open court. This too is applicable to our present Senate President.

We wish the Senate President a nice day in court at the Supreme Court as his lawyers have given notice as this shows that our separation of powers is not only working but working well. Nigerians are being shown that in our constitution the judiciary adjudicates in disputes between the executive and the legislative but more specifically this time around between a former governor and the President of the senate from the ruling party and the state. Definitely Nigerians are watching to see that justice is   not only done but must be seen to have been done. Again long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

October 31, 2015
‘PDP can’t retain power in Ondo’

Omooba Abayomi Adesanya is the Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State. He spoke with DAMISI OJO on preparations for next year’s governorship elections and others partisan issues.

What are the challenges confronting the APC in Ondo State?

Constructive criticism and objectivity are our watchword in the APC. The task of being the party’s spokesman in Ondo State, as an opposition political party, is enormous and very challenging, because of the maladministration of the Mimiko-led government in the state. There are so many ills of the government that need our attention and that of the public. The present government has deceived the people with a lot of failed promises and programmes; with directionless and clueless policies. More importantly, our people were hoodwinked and bought over with cash, ranging from between N2,000 to N5,000 during the April 11, 2015 House of Assembly elections. This attitude of the people must change. We need to re-orientate and change their psyche, reactivate their consciousness and educate them on the power of their votes.

So, being in the opposition is tasking, especially when the government in power is under-performing. My team and I are proactive and have been forced to be on internet almost all the time, reading through pages of newspapers everyday, monitoring all government policies and reaching out to the grassroots. For sure, the feedbacks indicate that the people are reacting positively to our criticisms.

The governorship election is scheduled for next year. How prepared is your party?

Our strategy is simple: The people; the electorate. As a party, we do not have any other plan or strategy outside and beyond the people of Ondo State, both at home and in diaspora. They have been misruled and misled all this while by the present Mimiko-led PDP administration. The good people of Ondo State are now yearning for change. Mind you, their votes have started counting since the 2015 general elections, thereby making rigging unfashionable. Once again, our strategy centres on the people of the state. Thanks to the ‘almighty Card Readers’

Is the APC on ground in Ondo State, going by dismal outing during the April 11 House of Assembly poll?

We are on ground. Let me tell you — and you even know better than I do — that the APC is a party to beat in this state. With the numerical strength of our membership of over 400,000 and still counting, we are battle ready to defeat and beat the PDP blue and black come 2016 governorship election. I remembered when we held the second APC State Publicity Secretaries Summit hosted by Lagos State Chapter, from March 18 to 20, 2015; prior to the 2015 presidential elections. It was titled “Ready For Change”. A Professor of Political Science from the University of Lagos, delivered the keynote address. With statistics, he rated Ondo State political parties as follows: APC 20 per cent; PDP 70 per cent; others 10 per cent, but I quickly disagreed with him and told the gathering that, the Ondo State APC garnered between 60 per cent and 75 per cent votes for Buhari during the presidential election.

You were aware of the boasting and bragging of the PDP Southwest Coordinator for Goodluck Jonathan 2015 Presidential Campaign, Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State, that he will return one million votes for Jonathan in Ondo State. Probably that was the yardstick the Professor used and because Mimiko is a sitting governor, the Professor must have put this into consideration when ceding the state to the PDP. But, what happened? The PDP was defeated disgracefully in the state. Not only that, Mimiko was beaten in his polling unit and ward; he couldn’t wait for the votes to be counted, before he drove off with his entourage.

The April 11 House of Assembly election was a charade, characterised with violence, intimidation, killing, snatching of election materials, especially in South and Central senatorial districts of the state. The situation was so bad that a first class Oba in Ondo South was fingered in the case of hijack of election materials.

You always describe the Mimiko administration as non-performing. What do you think the APC has in stock to change the tempo, if it comes to power?

My criticism of this administration has been constructive and issue-based. Exposing the ills and anti-people policies of Mimiko’s government. He runs the state like an emperor and with deceit. Our governor has failed in all his electoral promises. His regime has been a dark period in the history of Ondo State. Nothing is working. Ondo State has about 11 state-owned industries or more, but today none is working. Oluwa Glass Factory, Igbokoda, with 5,000 workforce is moribund, Okitipupa Oil Palm Plantation with about 1,600 staff strength is dysfunctional, Owena Mass Transit is in extinction, Ifon Ceramics is history, the state Forest Reserve (afforestation) has been deforestated, Owena Dam and the water cooperation that usually supply pipe-borne water to every home in the state is now a dream. The ever functional General and Specialist Hospitals, Clinics and Maternity Homes built in all the villages and towns across the state now exist in the imagination, Bolorunduro Timbre is gone, to mention but a few.

All these we are going to resuscitate and bring back to life when we get to power. Resuscitating them will create thousands of jobs opportunities to our teaming jobless youths. The APC government in Ondo State will build confidence and hope for the people. We are also targeting between 300 and 500 kilometres of roads in each of the 18 local government areas of the state, to open up the rural areas. We will also abide by our party’s manifesto to the letter.

What is missing in Ondo APC?

Every political party has peculiar make-up and challenges. Our dear country, Nigeria, has been faced with leadership challenges that has burrowed deep into the marrows of all spheres and departments of our lives. This leadership brouhaha has really affected every home; that is, the component units of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and as an entity. But, with Muhammadu Buhari as President, things are taking shape now.

The APC in Ondo State needs a more formidable and collective leadership than ever. A sincere leadership fulcrum and pivot with political patronages now that we are going into another governorship election. We cannot afford to disappoint our teaming supporters and sympathisers that are clamouring for change, because of selfish and petty issues. The people see us as the last hope; an alternative to the PDP.

The electorates are tired of the wasteful government of deceit that has held our state for ransom since it came on board in 2009.

October 30, 2015
‘Improved power key to business growth’

Stakeholders have agreed that improved power supply is vital to business growth in Nigeria.

They gathered at a seminar organised by Mantrac Nigeria Limited to inform its customers about Caterpillar products, facilities, product support services, and new product options.

The event, held in Lagos emphasised the growing need for improved power supply in the country. Speaking on “Power to grow your business,” the stakeholders applauded the country’s quest for improved capacity to generate power, maintaining that in the interim, private power solutions remained the most viable option open to business to augment the shortfall in power supply.

The Managing Director of Mantrac Nigeria Limited, Caterpillar’s sole representative in Nigeria, Mr. Edmund Martin-Lawson, said: “The focus of the seminar is to enlighten the business community on the power to do business. Without power we won’t have energy; without energy we can’t produce. We need power everywhere and what we are saying today is that we have the power systems to grow business and move forward.”

He noted that the world was now moving forward so rapidly and hybrid power systems that utilize solar energy and battery are now available to support the power needs of businesses. “Nigeria needs over 20,000 megawatts (Mw) of power but unfortunately what is being generated now is far too low. That is why there is need to bridge the gap between what is available and the power goals the country wants to realize in future,” he said, noting that the available products which meet customer needs ranged from hybrid, fuel to heavy diesel sets.

“Definitely it is important for Nigeria to have power. The country has been growing steadily for some time. If we have increased power supply capacity, the growth rate which is currently in single digits will definitely be in double digit. What that means is that this country and economy definitely need extra power to move industries and businesses forward.

“In the interim, that shortfall will come from power systems providers who have the capacity to provide the needed power equipment that will add more power through the country’s IPP project,” he said.

Caterpillar’s Territory Manager, Stefan Laszenwski who is based in Geneva, Switzerland, assured of his company’s readiness to assist the country with power solution equipment to help in realizing her ever growing power needs. He said the in-thing in the world at the moment was progress, emphasizing that Nigeria needed to move forward and availability of power was key to such forward move.

Laszenwski praised the country’s determined drive towards improved power generation, and noted that the country’s Independent Power Project (IPP) initiative could be enhanced with the latest range of equipment in his company’s stable. He said businesses and local communities could be boosted with products that could power several thousands of homes, islands, marine installations and Central Business Districts (CBDs). The products he said could run on gas, and with improved gas supply in the country, the era of poor power generation might be over soon.

“I believe that what we at Mantrac are bringing in will improve the capacity of most Nigerian companies to do business,” he said. The option of gas-powered generators gives industrial customers up to 70 per cent savings on running cost.

October 29, 2015
Osun gets micro-grid solar power

As part of efforts to stem rural-urban migration, the Bank of Industry (BoI) has inaugurated a 24kilowatts (kw) micro-grid solar solution in two communities in Osun State.

BoI Managing Director Mr. Rasheed Olaoluwa, said the project is in furtherance of the United Nations campaign for eco-friendly sources of energy. With this initiative, Osun is the first state to benefit from Bol’s intervention in the provision of renewable energy in Southwest, he added.

The solar electrification project is located in Idi-Ata and Onibambu communities in Osun State. Olaoluwa, however, lamented that rural communities are the worst hit in terms of poor access to electricity, especially the off-grid arrears, which have always been without power supply and have resigned their fate to the use of kerosene lanterns, oil lamps, and other types of dangerous and unhealthy sources of light to be able to live daily.

The development, he said, has hampered the socio-economic development of the nation as it has created an atmosphere that is not conducive for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), which are the drivers of the nation’s economic growth.

He stated that the situation remained one of the main factors responsible for the concept of rural-urban migration. Olaoluwa noted that the 4,500 megawatts (Mw) of electricity generated from the national grid was grossly inadequate for a leading African economy like Nigeria with a population of about 170 million people, hence the intervention of Bol and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

The Bol chief said the bank is starting off with the provision of long-term financing for the installation of off-grid solar home systems in six communities in a pilot phase, as part of its Solar Energy Partnership with UNIDO.

He said: “These communities with an average of 200 homes each are located in Anambra, Edo, Gombe, Kaduna, Niger and Osun States. Today, we have come to Osun State in partnership with Arnergy Solar Limited to commission a 24kw micro-grid solar electrification system in Idi-ita/Onibambu, a community which hitherto had no access to electricity.”

The Governor of the State of Osun, Rauf Aregbesola urged the leader of the two communities to judiciously protect the installation and ensure that payments are promptly made for energy consumed so that the scheme can be self-sustaining to encourage the investor replicate such in other locations within the state.

Aregbesola, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Moshood Adeoti said: “As a responsible government, I want the Ministry of Water Resources, Rural Development and Community Affairs to carry out due diligence on the issue of appropriate pricing and adequate supply to each household. This is to ensure consumer protection against exploitation.”

The Chief Executive Officer of Arnergy, Mr. Femi Adeyemo, said the application of technology for industrialisation is key to enthroning sustainable economic growth and development, adding that the off-grid solar rural electrification is to help reduce the wide gap/deficit in the energy sector in the country.

October 29, 2015
‘PDP can’t retain power in Ondo’

Omooba Abayomi Adesanya is the Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State. He spoke with DAMISI OJO on preparations for next year’s governorship elections and others partisan issues.

What are the challenges confronting the APC in Ondo State?

Constructive criticism and objectivity are our watchword in the APC. The task of being the party’s spokesman in Ondo State, as an opposition political party, is enormous and very challenging, because of the maladministration of the Mimiko-led government in the state. There are so many ills of the government that need our attention and that of the public. The present government has deceived the people with a lot of failed promises and programmes; with directionless and clueless policies. More importantly, our people were hoodwinked and bought over with cash, ranging from between N2,000 to N5,000 during the April 11, 2015 House of Assembly elections. This attitude of the people must change. We need to re-orientate and change their psyche, reactivate their consciousness and educate them on the power of their votes.

So, being in the opposition is tasking, especially when the government in power is under-performing. My team and I are proactive and have been forced to be on internet almost all the time, reading through pages of newspapers everyday, monitoring all government policies and reaching out to the grassroots. For sure, the feedbacks indicate that the people are reacting positively to our criticisms.

The governorship election is scheduled for next year. How prepared is your party?

Our strategy is simple: The people; the electorate. As a party, we do not have any other plan or strategy outside and beyond the people of Ondo State, both at home and in diaspora. They have been misruled and misled all this while by the present Mimiko-led PDP administration. The good people of Ondo State are now yearning for change. Mind you, their votes have started counting since the 2015 general elections, thereby making rigging unfashionable. Once again, our strategy centres on the people of the state. Thanks to the ‘almighty Card Readers’

Is the APC on ground in Ondo State, going by dismal outing during the April 11 House of Assembly poll?

We are on ground. Let me tell you — and you even know better than I do — that the APC is a party to beat in this state. With the numerical strength of our membership of over 400,000 and still counting, we are battle ready to defeat and beat the PDP blue and black come 2016 governorship election. I remembered when we held the second APC State Publicity Secretaries Summit hosted by Lagos State Chapter, from March 18 to 20, 2015; prior to the 2015 presidential elections. It was titled “Ready For Change”. A Professor of Political Science from the University of Lagos, delivered the keynote address. With statistics, he rated Ondo State political parties as follows: APC 20 per cent; PDP 70 per cent; others 10 per cent, but I quickly disagreed with him and told the gathering that, the Ondo State APC garnered between 60 per cent and 75 per cent votes for Buhari during the presidential election.

You were aware of the boasting and bragging of the PDP Southwest Coordinator for Goodluck Jonathan 2015 Presidential Campaign, Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State, that he will return one million votes for Jonathan in Ondo State. Probably that was the yardstick the Professor used and because Mimiko is a sitting governor, the Professor must have put this into consideration when ceding the state to the PDP. But, what happened? The PDP was defeated disgracefully in the state. Not only that, Mimiko was beaten in his polling unit and ward; he couldn’t wait for the votes to be counted, before he drove off with his entourage.

The April 11 House of Assembly election was a charade, characterised with violence, intimidation, killing, snatching of election materials, especially in South and Central senatorial districts of the state. The situation was so bad that a first class Oba in Ondo South was fingered in the case of hijack of election materials.

You always describe the Mimiko administration as non-performing. What do you think the APC has in stock to change the tempo, if it comes to power?

My criticism of this administration has been constructive and issue-based. Exposing the ills and anti-people policies of Mimiko’s government. He runs the state like an emperor and with deceit. Our governor has failed in all his electoral promises. His regime has been a dark period in the history of Ondo State. Nothing is working. Ondo State has about 11 state-owned industries or more, but today none is working. Oluwa Glass Factory, Igbokoda, with 5,000 workforce is moribund, Okitipupa Oil Palm Plantation with about 1,600 staff strength is dysfunctional, Owena Mass Transit is in extinction, Ifon Ceramics is history, the state Forest Reserve (afforestation) has been deforestated, Owena Dam and the water cooperation that usually supply pipe-borne water to every home in the state is now a dream. The ever functional General and Specialist Hospitals, Clinics and Maternity Homes built in all the villages and towns across the state now exist in the imagination, Bolorunduro Timbre is gone, to mention but a few.

All these we are going to resuscitate and bring back to life when we get to power. Resuscitating them will create thousands of jobs opportunities to our teaming jobless youths. The APC government in Ondo State will build confidence and hope for the people. We are also targeting between 300 and 500 kilometres of roads in each of the 18 local government areas of the state, to open up the rural areas. We will also abide by our party’s manifesto to the letter.

What is missing in Ondo APC?

Every political party has peculiar make-up and challenges. Our dear country, Nigeria, has been faced with leadership challenges that has burrowed deep into the marrows of all spheres and departments of our lives. This leadership brouhaha has really affected every home; that is, the component units of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and as an entity. But, with Muhammadu Buhari as President, things are taking shape now.

The APC in Ondo State needs a more formidable and collective leadership than ever. A sincere leadership fulcrum and pivot with political patronages now that we are going into another governorship election. We cannot afford to disappoint our teaming supporters and sympathisers that are clamouring for change, because of selfish and petty issues. The people see us as the last hope; an alternative to the PDP.

The electorates are tired of the wasteful government of deceit that has held our state for ransom since it came on board in 2009.

October 28, 2015
‘PDP can’t retain power in Ondo’

Omooba Abayomi Adesanya is the Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State. He spoke with DAMISI OJO on preparations for next year’s governorship elections and others partisan issues.

What are the challenges confronting the APC in Ondo State?

Constructive criticism and objectivity are our watchword in the APC. The task of being the party’s spokesman in Ondo State, as an opposition political party, is enormous and very challenging, because of the maladministration of the Mimiko-led government in the state. There are so many ills of the government that need our attention and that of the public. The present government has deceived the people with a lot of failed promises and programmes; with directionless and clueless policies. More importantly, our people were hoodwinked and bought over with cash, ranging from between N2,000 to N5,000 during the April 11, 2015 House of Assembly elections. This attitude of the people must change. We need to re-orientate and change their psyche, reactivate their consciousness and educate them on the power of their votes.

So, being in the opposition is tasking, especially when the government in power is under-performing. My team and I are proactive and have been forced to be on internet almost all the time, reading through pages of newspapers everyday, monitoring all government policies and reaching out to the grassroots. For sure, the feedbacks indicate that the people are reacting positively to our criticisms.

The governorship election is scheduled for next year. How prepared is your party?

Our strategy is simple: The people; the electorate. As a party, we do not have any other plan or strategy outside and beyond the people of Ondo State, both at home and in diaspora. They have been misruled and misled all this while by the present Mimiko-led PDP administration. The good people of Ondo State are now yearning for change. Mind you, their votes have started counting since the 2015 general elections, thereby making rigging unfashionable. Once again, our strategy centres on the people of the state. Thanks to the ‘almighty Card Readers’

Is the APC on ground in Ondo State, going by dismal outing during the April 11 House of Assembly poll?

We are on ground. Let me tell you — and you even know better than I do — that the APC is a party to beat in this state. With the numerical strength of our membership of over 400,000 and still counting, we are battle ready to defeat and beat the PDP blue and black come 2016 governorship election. I remembered when we held the second APC State Publicity Secretaries Summit hosted by Lagos State Chapter, from March 18 to 20, 2015; prior to the 2015 presidential elections. It was titled “Ready For Change”. A Professor of Political Science from the University of Lagos, delivered the keynote address. With statistics, he rated Ondo State political parties as follows: APC 20 per cent; PDP 70 per cent; others 10 per cent, but I quickly disagreed with him and told the gathering that, the Ondo State APC garnered between 60 per cent and 75 per cent votes for Buhari during the presidential election.

You were aware of the boasting and bragging of the PDP Southwest Coordinator for Goodluck Jonathan 2015 Presidential Campaign, Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State, that he will return one million votes for Jonathan in Ondo State. Probably that was the yardstick the Professor used and because Mimiko is a sitting governor, the Professor must have put this into consideration when ceding the state to the PDP. But, what happened? The PDP was defeated disgracefully in the state. Not only that, Mimiko was beaten in his polling unit and ward; he couldn’t wait for the votes to be counted, before he drove off with his entourage.

The April 11 House of Assembly election was a charade, characterised with violence, intimidation, killing, snatching of election materials, especially in South and Central senatorial districts of the state. The situation was so bad that a first class Oba in Ondo South was fingered in the case of hijack of election materials.

You always describe the Mimiko administration as non-performing. What do you think the APC has in stock to change the tempo, if it comes to power?

My criticism of this administration has been constructive and issue-based. Exposing the ills and anti-people policies of Mimiko’s government. He runs the state like an emperor and with deceit. Our governor has failed in all his electoral promises. His regime has been a dark period in the history of Ondo State. Nothing is working. Ondo State has about 11 state-owned industries or more, but today none is working. Oluwa Glass Factory, Igbokoda, with 5,000 workforce is moribund, Okitipupa Oil Palm Plantation with about 1,600 staff strength is dysfunctional, Owena Mass Transit is in extinction, Ifon Ceramics is history, the state Forest Reserve (afforestation) has been deforestated, Owena Dam and the water cooperation that usually supply pipe-borne water to every home in the state is now a dream. The ever functional General and Specialist Hospitals, Clinics and Maternity Homes built in all the villages and towns across the state now exist in the imagination, Bolorunduro Timbre is gone, to mention but a few.

All these we are going to resuscitate and bring back to life when we get to power. Resuscitating them will create thousands of jobs opportunities to our teaming jobless youths. The APC government in Ondo State will build confidence and hope for the people. We are also targeting between 300 and 500 kilometres of roads in each of the 18 local government areas of the state, to open up the rural areas. We will also abide by our party’s manifesto to the letter.

What is missing in Ondo APC?

Every political party has peculiar make-up and challenges. Our dear country, Nigeria, has been faced with leadership challenges that has burrowed deep into the marrows of all spheres and departments of our lives. This leadership brouhaha has really affected every home; that is, the component units of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and as an entity. But, with Muhammadu Buhari as President, things are taking shape now.

The APC in Ondo State needs a more formidable and collective leadership than ever. A sincere leadership fulcrum and pivot with political patronages now that we are going into another governorship election. We cannot afford to disappoint our teaming supporters and sympathisers that are clamouring for change, because of selfish and petty issues. The people see us as the last hope; an alternative to the PDP.

The electorates are tired of the wasteful government of deceit that has held our state for ransom since it came on board in 2009.

October 27, 2015
Power of written words

Two books written by Victoria Praise Abraham were launched last week at the Terra Culture in Lagos. The books titled, “The Tiny Big First Step and 100 Life’s little Lessons were reviewed by Kingsley Opia Enwemuche and Simbo Olorunfemi.

Excerpts from the books were taken by Victor Olojo and Funke Treasure Durodola. The subtle messages being passed across to the reader were motivational and inspirational. The focus encouraged readers to make bold steps in life, achieve so much against the many odds as well as avoid procrastinating what can be done today.

Using simple language and an insightful approach, the writer introduces the first book, “The tiny big first step with her personal story of how she had so far overcome procrastination by taking big first steps over the last few years. The author goes further to highlight procrastination scenarios that almost all of us find ourselves in our daily routine. “Procrastination is within us and around us on a daily basis”, she says.

Victoria adds creativity to the book in Chapter 2 with a short drama on procrastination written by Oluwatobilola Obaromi. The short drama further drives home the central focus and message of the book. Chapter three on the other hand provides the readers with a mirror wherein they can see themselves while in chapter 5 she takes you through the experiences of 20 people with diverse backgrounds on the issue.

In the second book, 100 Life’s little lessons, the content is as simple as it sounds. Here she shares with the reader the pillars of a meaningful life as handy nuggets which we can easily run with. Here she gently lets you into her world, the challenges she has been confronted with and the heroic solutions and actions that helped in tackling them.

Guests present at the launch included Bolanle Austen Peters, Ayo Awe Daniels Yinka Ogunde, Pastor Dipo Ojutiku, Ikechi Odigbo and Pastor Inkky Olayiwole.

October 25, 2015