The Nation Newspaper

Tag: red

  • From Blue to Red

    From Blue to Red

    • Lagos forges ahead with transformation of its transportation system

    On October 15, Lagos State took another giant leap in the radical modernisation of its transportation landscape when Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu launched the first phase of the Lagos Red Line mass transit scheme. The facility, which will move commuters from Oyingbo Station to Agbado, is serviced by state-of-the-art stations located at Yaba, Mushin, Oshodi, Ikeja, Agege and Iju, and is expected to move between 100,000 and 150,000 passengers daily on what is one of the busiest transit routes in the Lagos metropolis.

    That the Sanwo-Olu administration, to facilitate the commencement and operation of the Red Line, had constructed five T-shaped flyover bridges at Mushin, Yaba, Oyingbo, Ikeja and Agege to prevent vehicular obstruction of the rail routes, is an indication of the project’s multifaceted contribution to the expansion of road infrastructure in Lagos.

    Another noteworthy feature of the Red Line project is the Intergovernmental cooperation between the federal and Lagos State governments in its operations, as it shares the tracks of the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) on the section from Agbado to Ebute-Metta.

    The phenomenal import of the continuing systematic uplifting of transportation modes and facilities in Lagos is better appreciated against the backdrop that Sanwo-Olu had, on September 4, 2023, inaugurated the first phase of the Lagos Blue Line Light Rail project which covers 13 kilometers and runs from Lagos Marina to Mile 2. The immense capacity of rail transportation to move people on a mass scale, which is one of its advantages, is illustrated by the fact that the first phase of the Blue Line is meant to move at least 250,000 persons per day.

    On its maiden pilot trip which had the governor, some state officials, invited dignitaries and members of the public on board, the Red Line train’s movement from Oyingbo to Ikeja took 34 minutes and it was in Agbado within one hour. To move from the same route by road from Oyingbo to Agbado would require a  travel time of no less than two and a half hours. The faster transportation time will help reduce wasted man hours with positive impact on economic productivity.

    Apart from the greater convenience and safety testified to by those who had patronised the rail services, the Lagos light rail project is also reasonably more affordable compared to road transportation, especially when the quality of the facilities and services rendered are considered. For instance, a trip from Oyingbo to Agbado costs N1,200 and N500 from Oyingbo to Ikeja. Although we can’t put figures to these for road transportation because the fares vary depending on the time of the day, it is still far cheaper by rail.

    We commend Governor Sanwo-Olu for meticulously pursuing and actualising these projects which had been envisioned and commenced by his predecessors, notably former governors Bola Tinubu and Babatunde Fashola. The path breaking projects are testimonies to the virtues of visionary thinking and continuity in the implementation of policies by successive governments. This is unlike the case of Cross River State, to cite just one example, where former Governor Donald Duke’s ambitious Tinapa tourism project on which humongous amounts had been expended, was abandoned and allowed to go to waste by his successors.

    Read Also: ‘Marine, Blue economy to unlock economic potential’

    It is remarkable that the idea of a metro line project for Lagos was first conceived as far back as in the Second Republic (1979-1983) by the governor at the time, Alhaji Lateef Jakande. The project, which had commenced with advance payments made by the state government was however inexplicably cancelled by the succeeding military administration of General Muhammadu Buhari, with the country paying huge amounts in compensation to the affected contractors for breach of legal agreements. There can be no better example of why accountable elected governments are infinitely preferable to arbitrary military regimes.

    However, the greatest challenge of the Sanwo-Olu administration is to ensure the widely commended high quality of the light rail facilities and services are maintained. We urge the public to heed the governor’s admonition that these facilities belong to them and they must play their role in protecting them from abuse and vandalisation.

    The governor must now set his sights on the second phase of the Red Line which runs from Oyingbo to Marina and that of the Blue Line from Mile 2 to Okokomaiko.

  • Flourish in red

    Flourish in red

    Valentine’s Day has come and gone. Yet, the colour red is timeless when it comes to female fashion. Everyone remembers the deep romantic song, Lady in Red by Chris de Burgh a British Irish singer and songwriter.

    Beyond Valentine’s Day vibes, trends, and memories, you can continue to mesmerize your fans and admirers looking radiant and magnetic.

     Some of our celebrities look good in the color any day. You can also flourish in these timeless pieces in style

    Iyabo Ojo

    • Iyabo Ojo’s red combination is hot. She steps out looking like a queen in her red spaghetti dress. The fabric, design, hairdo, and accessories all blend perfectly.

    Omotola Ekeinde

    • It’s a simple red dress, yet it looks magical on the seasoned actress.  The cape done creatively with lace brings a classy contrast, flowing midway in front and longer at the back.

    Toyin Abraham

    • You cannot miss Toyin Abraham in any crowd. This red silk jumpsuit is amazing. The contrasting sleeve design and embellishment make her look sensational. She also adds a  dramatic hat to seal the deal.

    Beverley Naya

    • Awesome. That is what comes to mind as you admire Beverley Naya in her off-the-shoulder dress. The creative addition of big sleeves and white embellishments by the side is beautiful.

    Nancy Isime

    • Nancy’s red evening wear is a delight.  She rocks the long flowing chiffon gown effortlessly. It is a sleeveless gown with a high neck design and attractive slit.

    Read Also: Two retired soldiers, others nabbed for alleged robbery in Osun

    Tiwa Savage

    • Tiwa stands out looking glamorous in her red dress. It is a combination of leather, organza, and satin. The hot point is her big red hat, bow around the sleeves, and the powerful slit which shows off her beautiful legs.

    Toke Makinwa

    • Sophistication all the way. Toke rocks her red dress in style.  It is curvy and has a creative neckline, sleeves, and bow that makes her look superb.

    Stella Damascus

    • Stella radiates charm in her simple red sweater jacket with a black camisole. Her gold curly hair, lipstick, and smile are a  delight.

    Mercy Aigbe

    • Mercy thrills in her green and black outfit.  The shimmering fabric is a delight.  It’s a combination of long and short sleeves, creative pattern that runs across and a bold black belt. Her gold accessories is a perfect blend.
  • A mere red herring

    A mere red herring

    This past Sunday I wrote as follows on these pages in the article: ‘The Unabating Kidnapping in The North: Price We Are Paying For Long Years Of Feudalism’:”Knowing how much insecurity can imperil its economic programmes, especially its drive for foreign investors, the Federal government must now,

    put in place, appropriate measures to nip the terrible situation in the bud. The place to start, however, will be to seek the support of both the Northern elite and that of its traditional authority, both of which have demonstrated unbelievable equanimity in the face of massive insecurity in that part of the country”.

     “This  level of insecurity could not be happening in any other part of the country without the people becoming thoroughly agitated, and showing appropriate concern. It is time Northern leaders are roused from their lethargy even if it means that President Tinubu would have to specially appeal to them.

    Enough is enough”.

    As if the Northern eminence grise ever stooped to read  columns like this one, newspapers were awash  this past week, with phographs of Northern leaders, His Eminence the Sultan of Sokoto inclusive, meeting under the auspices of the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG), to discuss what they described as “Multidimensional Approach to Tackling Insecurity in Northern Nigeria”.

    God be praised: President Tinubu no longer needs plead with them to join hands with his government to rein in the insecurity conundrum which, for 8 years, a retired general  could not tame.

    This will only happen, though,  if respected Fulani leaders will tell their compatriots, whether as herdsmen, or foreign Fulanis who are keen only on forcefully taking over other peoples’ ancestral lands, that enough is now enough.

    Not even the highly regarded, but sanctimonious President  Buhari who Nigerians believed would do so, did. Which is why I hope that this current meeting  would not be an exercise in futility  as”their shared goal, according to General Abdulsalami Abubakar is “to foster a secure environment that enables the prosperity and well- being of the people of the region”, as against what my people, the Yoruba, would have done in similar circumstances: call a spade a spade, apportion blames as they deem fit, and ask the aggressor in the long running ‘war’, to stop their aggression. Simple.

    How exactly do you “secure an environment where one group is doing everything to dispossess another group of their ancestral lands, whose original names they promptly change, while security people never ever effect a change to the status quo ante? This is a group, it is alleged,  that comes in fully armed, at night, completely ransacks the place, leaving the land free for some people to do illegal mining.

    It’s a joke.

    Any attentive Nigerian would know that the uproar in the North concerning the anticipated transfer of a department of  the Central Bank of Nigeria and the headquarters of the Ministry of Aviation from Abuja to Lagos, is a mere distraction, a  precursor to what could be a far worse brouhaha; the only surprise being that it is coming this late in the Tinubu administration.

    This should, however, be understandable since all the efforts to see a Northerner succeed Buhari after 8 years, came a cropper. And some people sure still hate that to their stomach.

    When the North moved, therefore, it was not just the Arewa Consultative Forum(ACF). Her normally, self -serving senators who have never shown any concern for the parlous material condition of the region, except when they want to make mischief like now, had to roar too with Ali Ndume, as usual, arrogantly grandstanding, telling Nigerians – on television for good measure – to expect political consequences arising therefrom. What cheek! Worse though, was the claim by the senators that the National budget was lopsided against the North.

    How rich?

    Were they sleeping in their huge, but hardly effective numbers, while the budget exercise lasted?

    What a self – indictment.

    This is a group of individuals who have refused to express any tangible concern regarding the horrendous Christmas Eve slaughter of over 100, some reports put it at 195 persons, in the Bokkos and Barkin-Ladi Local Government Areas of Plateau state. Also, hearing nothing from these pretending Northern zealots, the killing armada again went back to work, last Wednesday, mauling another 30, even though a state of emergency was declared by the Plateau state governor. The Mangu CAN Chairman has just now made a public announcement to the effect that the state of emergency was effective only in the Christian area where security men looked askance as their houses wee being reduced to rubble. He even suggested that soldiers should better be withdrawn from their area so thar they too could face their attackers. Suffice to say that the military has since described the announcement as malicious.

    All these remind me of my article of 10 December, 2021.

    Titled: ‘Nigeria at 61:The North Must Restrategise’, it reads as follows:”I have severally made the point here that for Nigeria to make any meaningful progress, we all must tell truth to both power and to ourselves, no matter the risk. One of the weaknesses  of the current  administration  (Buhari’s), derives from the fact that those closest to the president, and should always tell him the truth, are somewhat precluded from doing so, either because of the Rankadede culture, or for fear of  his larger than life persona.

    This has led him into making some avoidable mistakes which have, in turn, negatively impacted not only  him, personally, but also on the North as a whole – cronyism being a good example.

    For changes to happen in the North, deliberate effort must be made by its leaders, especially the state governors, to reduce poverty by aggressively investing in education rather than just trying to grab power for the mere sake of power. As you read this, 65 per cent of Nigeria’s 86 million poor live in  Northern Nigeria, complete with millions of out – of – school children.

    Education is the fundamental tool of reducing the intolerable insecurity currently threatening the very survival of the region. Appropriate attention must be devoted to it.

    Let us now hear from Minna-based, Dauda Hussaini Paiko, a Northern activist, public affairs analyst, social commentator and motivational speaker who, in a trending WhatsApp post wrote as follows:“Northern governors are the most unhelpful set of people in the world. They don’t meet to discuss how to improve life, or add value, to their citizenry. The only time they meet is when they gather to discuss Social Media Bill or zoning of the Presidency. We have 19 Northern States out of which only two, Kano and may be, Kaduna, are viable. The others merely survive on federal allocation. They don’t meet to end banditry, or terrorism, let alone talk of economic development, and growth, or how to foster good governance across the region. Rather they will come and threaten everyone on how power must remain in the North, claiming they have the numbers. Yes, you have the highest number of out of school children. With time, Boko Haram and banditry will be a child’s play because those you fail to educate, and empower, will have no option than to take up arms. Yes, you have the highest number of Girl child marriages. In some states, girls aged between 10 – 12 years are married off, the reason VVF has become prevalent in North West States.

    You have the lowest GDP in the country because you produce nothing of commercial value. Your land that could have been used to produce large farm products to be used for industrial  production are now  homes to terrorists. The only thing you know is Power. Power without value. Power without making a difference. Power without control.

    I am a Northerner. And I speak for majority of the sane ones. Power sharing is not our problem. Our problem is lack of Peace, Progress and Prosperity. We want industry, trade, tourism and employment. Anyone parading himself as my leader should share that common interest with us. I want food, employment, education, roads and access to credit to establish myself. I am tired of running about”.

    Paiko has said it all, and everything he said concerning  state governors are true of most Northern leaders who deliberately feign ignorance of all the atrocities that have continued to make life there short and  brutish.

    Read Also: Naira redesign, ‘Emilokan’ speech, excerpts from Femi Adesina’s ‘Working with Buhari’

    This current noise is intended to maintain the unearned, and totally unmerited advantages which President Buhari  gifted the North and it is  quite unfortunate. Whatever people like senator Ndume see  affecting the North, no matter how tangentially during the present administration is wrongly taken as politically targeted at it which is why he was talking about political cartels as if every President must be sucked in by a cabal.

    Meanwhile, Kaduna state alone, is home to more federal agencies than 10 southern states put together.

    All put together it is refreshing to conclude this piece with the elevated views of one who should know.

    I had intended to end it with an advisory from

    Mohammed A. YAKASAI, a former CBN director. That is now being replaced by the  very authoritative views of Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, a former CBN Governor and one time Emir of Kano.

    He wrote:”There are a number of errors in the previous write ups on the CBN’s initial strategy on departmental locations.

    I did not demolish the old building. The credit for the design and the contract for the new Lagos building goes to Charles Soludo. But it is true that I did the formal foundation laying ceremony when JB brought the building to ground level, and I opened the building and used it before I left the CBN.

    There was no “blue print”.  Yakasai may have been informed by someone of conversations among the governors ( and he was not present in those conversation) in which we proposed that DG FSS and his departments move to Lagos and he could come to Abuja anytime for meetings.

    Kingsley Moghalu was happy with the arrangement but we did not have time to come round to it. Having said that – moving certain functions to the Lagos office ( which is bigger than the Abuja head office) is an eminently sensible move. In my mind what I would have done was to move FSS and most of Operations to Lagos such that the two Deputy Governors would be largely operating out of Lagos or, even if they were more in Abuja , the bulk of their operational staff would be in Lagos. Economic policy, Corporate services and all the departments reporting to the Governor directly such as Strategy, Audit, Risk management, Governors’ office etc would remain in Abuja.

    It makes eminent strategic sense. And I would have done this if I had stayed.

    All this noise is absolutely unnecessary.  The CBN has staff manning its branches and cash offices across the Federation. Moving staff to the Lagos office to streamline operations and make them more effective and reduce cost is a normal prerogative of management. The problem we have now is that many employees are children of politically exposed persons ( no thanks to Emefiele – Columnist) and their Abuja life and businesses are more important than the CBN work. 

    The CBN is just an address for them and if they have to choose between their spoilt Abuja life and the job, they would gladly leave the CBN.

    All the more reason for the Governor to put his foot down and get rid of those elements they are dangerous for the bank’s future. Having said that I think the CBN needs to get a few things right.  First, the question of locating functions is a STRATEGIC and not tactical one. A proper analysis should be done to identify which roles are best suited to Lagos and which to abuja.  Once the logic is clear the people then follow. Non communication of strtategic intent opens the door to mischievous misrepresentation and arbitrariness.

    I dont like the idea of arguing that the office structure can not handle the staff numbers. I am sure Julius Berger would refute that if they wanted to engage. Second, individual situations should be considered. As much as possible we should be empathetic. For example young mothers with kids in school who do not need to move can be prioritised to stay in Abuja or those with medical conditions etc. Third the CBN needs to focus on the exchange rate and inflation. Once it has control of these it earns credibility. Once CBN has credibility the Governor is untouchable.

    So long as people think CBN has lost control of its key mandate everyone can make it a target and simple things like this- staff movement- become  an issue it has to defend itself on. When the CBN delivers on its mandate it can push through any changes no matter how tough and ignore the noise.

    *My advice to the Governor is to go ahead with his policy.* Once the CBN starts bending to political pressure on one thing it will continue doing so.

    Northern policians will shout that this is moving from Abuja to Lagos. Abuja is a federal capital not a northern issue. So long as this is a principled decision the noise should be ignored.

    When i was about to license Jaiz bank there was a lot of religious noise from CAN etc. Even enlightened people like Okey Emelamah were going to sue me to court on religious grounds. I ignored it and licenced the bank. Nothing happened.

    A christian Governor after me licenced at least two more non- interest banks. No one is even noticing again. Ethnic and religious bigots will always shout. The CBN should rise above it and just do what needs to be done. It is a very unpopular and difficult job and the Governor needs to be tough”.

    May his tribe increase.  

  • ‘Nature of African elections is fundamentally changing’

    ‘Nature of African elections is fundamentally changing’

    In the last two presidential elections in Nigeria, the duo of Chude Jideonwo and Debola Williams, co-founders of RED, have played a decisive role for two candidates who will go on to win the elections and become presidents of the federal republic.

    First in 2011, they oversaw the youth communication of former President Goodluck Jonathan. In 2015, they supported Muhammadu Buhari against Jonathan whom they had previously worked to get into office. With Buhari, they oversaw the entire communication process, rebranding a three-time failed presidential candidate and former military dictator, and realigning his entire campaign message. Nigerian youths fell in love with Buhari and went on to elect him president.

    To prove that their work is not a fluke, Williams and Jideonwo, through their governance communication agency, Statecraft, went into the Ghanaian election, there they represented the main opposition candidate, Nana Akufo-Addo – who will also go on to win the election.

    Taking lessons learnt from these elections and drawing a parallel with the 2016 upsetting election of Donald Trump, Jideonwo and Williams co-authored a book: How to Win Elections in Africa. Just as its name suggest, the book is really all about winning an election in Africa, but still underneath the tips and lessons, the book is a hat tip to the important role of the citizen (or as Oby Ezekwesili would say: the office of the citizen).

    In the 2012 fuel subsidy protest that pitied Nigerians against the Jonathan administration, the duo of Jideonwo and Williams played a role in mobilizing young people to protest the price hike and so it comes as little surprise when the authors, despite being businessmen, make the case for the citizens and argue on the importance of activist and social engineers.

    The book lets go of any academic, jargon filled rhetoric, and instead makes a case for an electioneering process in Africa that puts the center focus on the citizens. In it, the authors lay down series of formulas on winning elections, abandoning political correctness for a realistic point of view: ideology politics doesn’t win election, money doesn’t matter anymore, youths matter, change is important.

    Every page in the book drips with optimism and hope for Africa–even the cover design, which depicts a hand making peace sign. It must be said that this book, which appears to have been written majorly by Jideonwo, is an ode to hope and acknowledgement that Africa is raising, on the cusp of greatness, and the importance of democracy for the growth of the continent.

    Despite the optimism, the authors go on to warn that regardless of the recent “proliferation of elections” and the successful defeat of longstanding regimes/administrations in Africa, which has gone on to steadily solidify the place of democracy on the continent, “the narrative of these elections being seen as consolidation of democratic principles is early and might be misguided.”

    They go on to checkmate and warn against rejoicing for a new Africa built on democratic principles, noting that democracy doesn’t automatically translate to good governance – Nigerians should know this, after all the last two elections reflected how hopeful the country was for change and better leadership. We got neither.

    As a possible litmus test to the authors arguments on democracy not translating to good governance, reflect for a second on the fact that the Mo Ibrahim Foundation has been unable to award the Mo Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership in the last two years. The awarding body has been unable to find a fitting former head of state across the length and breadth of Africa.

    But in reading the book, one begins to see that the authors idealize the concept and place of democracy, drawing only two possible forms of leadership for countries in Africa: democracy or dictatorship. The gun or the ballot? Nothing else. African countries have always reflected a western bent. Country such as Nigeria borrows an idea from the west-in our case, the U.S-and attempt to replicate it on the continent. At times, it works, other times it doesn’t. One begins to ponder the often asked question: is democracy the best for Africa? Bearing in mind sociological difference, should all African countries be purely democratic?

    After all, there are countries around the world practicing different forms of government and still developing in different spheres–and in some cases, becoming a crucial player in the international community, wielding enough influence to awaken western superpowers from slumber.

    In the book’s introduction, Williams writes that: “… in winning these elections we learnt the timeless truth about the essential character of the African voter–truths that cut across the continent, and that we also understand and connect with viscerally because we have a stake in this continent’s success.”

    By making this submission, the authors tow the dismissive line of packing the African experience into one box as if saying ‘Africa is a country when it comes to lived experiences.’ Can the experience and needs of a Nigerian be the same as that of a Kenyan? Are our political and leadership aspirations the same as that of a Namibian?

    Fundamentally, ‘change’-just like in the Buhari and Nana-Akufo campaigns-is the central message of the book and it is the bedrock modern electioneering should be built on. It hammers, repeatedly, that electorates are tired and increasingly distrustful of the same type of politicians running for office, reciting past achievement rather than addressing the present and future fears of the people. It is tempting to engage with the authors on what happens after elections, do we still hold the politicians responsible for their campaign promises and messages?

    While, of course, one might expect this book to be a memoir of sorts, recalling and giving inside stories – told from the first person perspective – from the campaign trails of three presidential elections. It isn’t. Instead it is a manual that questions and offers answers about democracy in Africa and how one should go about the process of winning elections. Hope, the authors write, is the best message.

  • Red Kidney Bean Pod may help kidney traumas

    The Red Kidney Bean Pod has kept pretty too long in my view to raise its beautiful head in the Nigerian Alternative Medicine health store shelves. About 10 years ago, a traditional Nigerian gentleman, Oyeniyi Azeez, tried to bring this heart and kidney herb from under the bushel but gave up the struggle soon after because too many hurdles littered the way. The Red Kidney Bean Pod has the reputation of helping out where many kidney herbals give up, especially in cases of dropsy and water logging which may also involve the heart. Thus, in years gone by, if herbs such as Mistletoe, Dandelion, need an extra hand, the Red Kidney Bean Pod was there to think about. But the trouble always was that, in Nigeria, it was not readily available, although it was abundant in the hinterland of south-western Nigeria and in eastern Nigeria. The Yorubas of southwestern Nigeria call it epo ewa popondo (d:r d:d d:d:m). Pastor Jude Ashikodi, an Igbo, says his people call it Okpodu and often cook it over about two days before it is ready for the dinning-table. For this reason, this bean is not popular in Nigerian traditional cuisine.

    Many people in Nigeria have seen the Red Kidney Bean, but not the pod. The bean is one of the ingredients of salads, and often comes canned from Europe. It is a much bigger bean than the average well-known bean. It is red like the human kidney and has the kidney’s shape, two herbal signature tunes which suggest it is both food and medicine for the kidney. It is less popular for the dinning table than other varieties of beans because it takes much, much longer to cook. The pod which houses it is the most medicinal part for kidney and heart conditions associated with accumulation of fluids in the body.

    According to NEW WAY HERBS, the goal of which is to find new ways out of old ideas: “Bean Pod Extracts are diuretic and anti-rheumatic, and is good for dropsy (water accumulation in the tissues). At the same time, it calms the spasms and normalises urination. As a direct consequence, the body loses a great amount of toxins, an important result for the amelioration of rheumatic states.”

    Many people are troubled by fluid accumulation in soft tissue. Usually the water logging takes place in the legs because of the force of gravity which forces everything downwards. Sometimes, this swellings are caused by a failing heart. Sometimes, also, they are caused by failing kidneys. If the heart is the problem, this swellings soon disappear when the legs are raised on a plane higher than the rest of the body, or when one goes to sleep at night and the legs and the body are on even plane. If the kidneys originate the swellings, the water logging hardly abate or disappear unless the kidneys are stimulated to do their job. Sometimes, the heart and the kidneys may have no hands in these matters, especially if the swelling is in one leg, such as is caused by Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT).

    According to NEW WAYS HERBS:

    “Bean Pod has been shown to be effective in loweringblood sugar levels and can be used (with the concurrence of a doctor) for mild cases of diabetes.

    “Bean Pod extract naturally blocks the absorption and expulsion of the carbohydrates eaten as part of a daily diet. Bean Pod has, in recent years, has been propelled into the limelight as an effective agent in the fight against weight gain and obesity. Other health benefits include its ability to lower triglycerides and scientific studies have shown it effectiveness in relieving the symptoms of arthritis and also in the prevention of coronary heart disease. Bean Pod herbal extract is good for states of dropsy (water accumulation in the tissues), kidney and urinary bladder diseases, such as cystitis. At the same time, Bean Pod helps calm spasms, normalize urination and increasing the quantity of urine, removing excess water from the body. Bean Pod has a safe profile with no reported adverse effects or contraindication with other drug regimes.

    “A rich source of cholesterol-lowering fiber, and increased dietary fiber is thought to be an excellent way to promote good cardiac health. The contribution to heart health lies not just in the fiber but in the significant amounts of antioxidants, folic acid, vitamin B6 and magnesium.

    These herbal benefits of Bean Pod lower levels of homocysteine, an amino acid that is an important metabolic process. Elevated blood levels of this amino acid are an independent risk factor of heart attack, stroke, or peripheral vascular disease.

    “In regard to regulating healthy blood sugar levels, the starch blocker extracts in Bean Pod have also been shown to reduce or prevent the rise in blood sugar levels after the meal in both healthy people and diabetics. This effect may be helpful in the treatment of blood sugar disorders, including those with insulin resistance or hypoglycemia. Research has been done at UCLA School of Medicine, and it was found that Bean Pod decreased the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. It was also confirmed that Bean Pod extracts help the body stop carbohydrates from breaking down sugars. Patients in the study who took Bean Pod liquid extract lost body fat, not lean muscle.

    “Bean Pod benefits the immune system through its anti-infectious effect, destroying injurious microorganisms in the body. The effect is present because of chromium, a substance present in beans with the role of stimulating the lymphatic system. Bean Pod contains organic and mineral substances, vitamins and fiber that play an important role in the body. Intake of Bean Pod herbal liquid can also protect against cancers such as breast, lung and colon cancer. The pro-vitamin B5 helps block the growth of tumors.

    “Researchers found a significant reduced frequency of breast cancer in women who consumed a higher intake of beans. And is believed to be a benefit in the alternative treatment of lung cancer. Research suggests that men and women who consume a higher amount of dietary phytoestrogens, such as isoflavones from beans, have a 44 percent to 72 percent lower risk of developing lung cancer compared to those who consumed less.

    “Bean Pod extracts are diuretic and anti-rheumatic, and is good for dropsy (water accumulation in the tissues). At the same time, it calms the spasms and normalises urination. As a direct consequence, the body loses a great amount of toxins, an important result for the amelioration of rheumatic states. For those suffering from hyperglycemia, the consumption of Bean Pod tincture is recommended. It has been used to treat urinary bladder diseases, such as cystitis.

    “Bean Pod can also be applied directly to the skin for moist eczema, eruptions and itching, and has been able to promote the healing of ulcers, acne and sores.

    “Prolonged use of the extract made from the Bean Pod is highly recommended for difficult cases of acne. Bean Pod tincture is comprised of a combination of pods of kidney, white, navy, great northern, and baby lima beans. It contains the following amino acids: tyrosine, trytophan, arginine plus the B vitamin choline and enzyme betaine.”

  • Tiwa Savage goes RED

    Tiwa Savage goes RED

    First lady of the Supreme Mavin Dynasty, Tiwa Savage, is leaving no room to chance in promoting her sophomore album, RED. RED, an acronym for Romance, Expression and Dance, was released on Saturday and has 16 tracks. The songs also features collaborations with Don Jazzy, Olamide, Dr Sid, Iceberg Slim, 2Face, DPrince, Busy Signal and Reekado Bankz.

    As part of the promotion of RED, Tiwa and the entire Mavin crew, on Saturday, began spurring their fans on an ‘I am RED’ campaign on social media.

    “We want you all to join us in the #RED movement,” Tiwa who had a baby this year tweeted.

    “Create your own by visiting http://www.i-am-red.com “

    On the website, fans’ images are uploaded and using words beginning with R, E, and D, define their essence.

    Creating his own, Don Jazzy, with a picture of himself, set in a hue of red, got a display of ‘I am Razz, Enigma, Dorobucci.’

    Though the music is available on the mtnonline platform, the artiste said that physical copies of the album are not out yet.

    ‘Physical copy will be out next week,’ tweeted Tiwa.

    SMD seems intent on painting the town red as the twitter handles of members of the Record label (Don Jazzy, Di’Ja, Korede Bello), were in red colour.

    Di’Ja tweeted from her account, @aphroDIJA, ‘I am Renewed EveryDAY R.E.D @tiwasavage album is red hotttt!!!! donjazzy @altimsmavin @freshmavin… ‘

    Although Reekado Bankz Twitter account was his picture, the artiste nevertheless showed love.

    ‘#R.E.D ALBUM NOW OUT. GO COP OUT. Watch out for Go Down ft Me. My personal Fave’

    On Sunday, the campaign continued as Tiwa took to twitter to say, “Happy Sunday Everybody” with the image of a clasped hand as if in prayer and the hashtag #IamRED.

    Tiwa’s debut album, Once Upon A Time, came out on in July 2013.

     

  • Spout in red this festive period

    Spout in red this festive period

    One wonders why red lipstick never seems to go out of fashion; the fact is that it is a universal classic and has yet to go out of style. Many women assume they cannot pull it off but they are wrong. Here are some tips to follow.

    *The secret lays in the rest of your face  The paler your skin, the bigger the pop. You should go light on the eyes and blush; otherwise, you will risk looking like a clown. You can skip the eyeliner and make do with only mascara and make sure to apply to bottom lashes, this opens up your eyes. Dust your face with powder and cheeks with a soft blush

     

    *Line inside of the lips  The lipstick tends to bleed, so fill in the lips with the lip liner first before any other thing.

     

    *Pick the right colour  If you are light-skinned, you will look better in plum shades, darker girls would be flattered by warmer reds that have a brown base.

     

    *Do not let nails clash  Contrary to what you might think, it is better to go for non-red nail polish when going on red lipstick. A clear and light polish is cool and dark polish is a trend that will not go away anytime soon. If you really want to go with the red polish, then make sure the colour matches your lips.

    *Blend it well  You do not have to stick to one shade of red, try to blend and create the perfect colours. If you buy a red lipstick shade that is too bright or dark, do not dispose it, instead, experiment with other lipstick shades that you have to create the perfect shade of red.

     

    *Do it light if you are older  The lips get thinner as we age and dark lips accentuate them. To prevent your lips from looking too stern, try a rosy red lipstick shade or you can avoid the red lips altogether and opt for a neutral shade then go ahead and play up your eyes.

  • Let your face do the talking this season

    Let your face do the talking this season

    GREEN, red, yellow and gold are the colours that hit you right in the face at every turn. Here are some ideas for translating the Christmas vibe and let your face do the talking this season.

    Make-up looks to try

    • Smokey eye make-up: The smokey eye looks great on any eye shape. When blended properly with good blending brushes, one can create a sultry sexy look, perfect for the season.

    •Enhance your brows: It is important to have perfectly groomed eyebrows because this can give your makeup application cleaner and more structured. Use a good brow pencil, but be careful not to make liner darker than your eyebrows.

    • Glitter eye look: This just screams “It’s Christmas” without saying a word. With glitter adhesive or eyelash glue you can pack on some glitter on your lid without looking overdramatic.

    • Ombre lips: Create the illusion of a gradient effect on your lip with the mix of two or more colours like dark purple, red and pink.

    • The pin-up look: Made popular by Marilyn Monroe, the pin-up look has gained popularity over the years. Being simple winged eyeliner and red lips, it has become any diva’s go-to style for this festive season.

  • ‘Political Red Herring’

    ‘Political Red Herring’

    Today’s article in this column is not through the pen of yours sincerely. It is written by a well known Nigerian journalist and front line human rights activist, Richard Akinola, of the Christian faith.

    The article which is originally entitled ‘Pastor Bosun Emmanuel: The Political Red Herring’ was first published in The Sun earlier this week. It is being republished here because of its relevance to the current situation in the country. However, it had to be sub-edited to reduce its length and get it accommodated within the limited space in this column. Thus, the sub-headings in it are as a result of editing. Every other thing is quoted verbatim. Here it goes from the horse’s mouth:

    “In the long term, we can hope that religion will change the nature of man and reduce conflict. But history is not encouraging in this respect. The bloodiest wars in history have been religious wars”

    Richard Nixon (the 37th American President, January 1969-September 1974)

     

    Preamble

    Richard Nixon was being futuristic when he made this statement several years ago. He apparently never knew that there would come a time in the history of one country called Nigeria, where political actors, buoyed by some of their friends in cassock, would be fanning the embers of religious war.

    I am not by any stretch of imagination, discounting the several human and material losses of Christians in several sectarian crises in the Northern part of the country over the years, accentuated by the Boko Haram insurgency, which unfortunately had been used to misinform people as being programmed against President Jonathan, being a Christian. Boko Haram did not start under President Jonathan. As a matter of fact, late president Umaru Yar’Adua had a running battle with this bunch of demented terrorists. The insurgency actually gained prominence with the killing of its leader, Mohammed Yusuf by security forces in 2009 under the government of Yar’Adua. In 2009, following various assaults in Yobe, Bauchi and Borno states, the security forces killed over 1000 of the insurgents. It would therefore be false, to claim that Boko Haram insurgency is as a result of Nigeria having a Christian president.

    As l have always argued, the Boko Haram variant of Islam is antithetical to the mainstream Islamic teachings, just like Uganda’s terrorist group called the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), purporting to be fighting for my Jehovah God, cannot be representative of Christians.

     

    Satanic CD

    There is this CD that is being well-circulated among Christians in various churches. It’s a political message by a pastor in the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Bosun Emmanuel, where he launched into an Islamophobic tirade against Muslims and the All Progressives Congress (APC), which he declared as the Islamic Brotherhood of Nigeria.

    The General Overseer of Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor E.A. Adeboye had denounced this divisive message and directed his church members to discountenance the message. Unfortunately, the message has gone viral. It was soap-box rhetoric, using the pulpit as a campaign platform for President Goodluck Jonathan, urging Christians to vote for Christian candidates.

    Using the pulpit to campaign for either PDP or APC or any other party for that matter is an abuse of the pulpit. We need to be careful and circumspect, particularly religious leaders in their association with politicians. Religious politics is dangerous, like Roger Ebert once said: “Lebanon was at one time known as a nation that rose above sectarian hatred; Beirut was known as the Paris of the Middle East.

    All that was blown apart by senseless religious wars, financed and exploited in part by those who sought power and wealth”.

     

    Religion in the Southwest

    Over the years in the South West, religious politics had never been an issue. When Chief Olagunsoye Oyinlola was the Governor of Osun State, Erelu Olusola Obada, a fellow Christian was his deputy, in a state that has a preponderance of Muslims. In Edo State, both Governor Adams Oshiomhole and his deputy, Dr Pius Odubu are both Christians in a state where there is a substantial percentage of Muslims, particularly in Edo North. But because religion had never been an issue in electoral contests in Edo State, it was difficult for anyone to make a political capital of a phantom marginalisation of a religious group in the state.

    Due to their cosmopolitan nature and level of political awareness, Lagosians have never really bothered about the religious faiths of their governors, until the politics of 2015 crept in. Yes, in fairness to the proponents of this move, there has been the preponderance of elected Muslim governors in Lagos State. However, my take is that l would rather prefer good governance, bolstered by a didactic leadership, than pander to religious sentiments. And l say this with due respect to the proponents of Christian governor.

    Come to think of it, if we look at it from the time of Alhaji Lateef Jakande, till now, with the exception of the lackluster government of ‘Baba go slow’, Chief Michael Otedola, (a Christian) of blessed memory, the state has witnessed remarkable developments and giant strides. And this has nothing to do with the religious persuasion of Tinubu and Fashola but the product of good leadership.

    The current magnificent edifice of TREM headquarters at Anthony, Lagos, could not have been today if not for Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, a Muslim, who overruled his ministry of environment which had wanted to stop the construction based on the discovery that the property stood in the path of a major drainage.

     

    Use of Hijab

    Interestingly, it’s another Muslim governor, Raji Fashola that banned the use of Hijab in Lagos public schools, a move that irked the Muslim faithful who dragged the governor to court on the issue but the court ruled in favour of the state government. And this is despite the fact that both the Governor and the Speaker, Adeyemi Ikuforiji are both Muslims. Of what use is having a Christian governor while it is possible to have a Muslim-dominated House of Assembly which if it wants to push for Islamic-inclined laws can easily do it and the Christian governor would have no choice but to implement? Since the tenure of Tinubu till date, Lagos State’s annual thanksgiving service, organised by the governor every January, has always been anchored by Pastor E.A. Adeboye. Yet, Tinubu and Fashola are Muslims. Pastor Emmanuel uncharitably branded APC as ‘Islamic Brotherhood of Nigeria’. I am not a member of APC. But by using the pulpit to preach hateful politics, he had removed whatever credibility that may be attached to his said message. I would have taken the same position if he had used the pulpit to promote APC and demonise PDP. And his premise for labeling APC an Islamic party was so puerile, disingenuous and downright illogical. He went on to authoritatively state that the chairman and all other officers of APC are Muslims….”

     

    Religious Politics

    “If we assume for the purpose of argument that APC is a Muslim party, are we then to assume that PDP is a Christian party led by an Alhaji Mua’zu, a Muslim. Isn’t that preposterous? I ask because Pastor Emmanuel said that in 2015, Lagos Christians should vote for a Christian candidate for governor but with a caveat that they should not vote for a Christian candidate from an Islamic party!

    We are playing a very dangerous religious game here. That was how the Hutus and Tutsis pogrom in Rwanda started in 1994, leading to the extermination of over 800,000 Rwandans, to the extent that even the priests became victims- massacred by fellow Christians inside the church….”

     

    Problem of religion

    The problem of Nigeria is not the religious persuasion of our leaders but that of leadership deficit. It is only when you have nothing to offer that you resort to religion and ethnicity. No government has raised the bar of religious politics like the current Jonathan government and some pastors and Christians unfortunately fell for this bait. That is why Pastor Emmanuel can state with temerity in the CD that President Jonathan was not elected to fight corruption or tackle the economy but there to fulfil God’s mandate. Really? What balderdash! No wonder he went on to declare with magisterial candour that the best leader this country ever had was General Sani Abacha because he deposed the Sultan! Can you imagine such gibberish?

    So, as long as you are a Christian by name, we should support you. It doesn’t matter if you had used a seven-day old child as ritual to get into office. Or was it not in this same country that a Southwest governor(now an ex-governor) forced all members of the House of Assembly into a ritual process which was done with all of them naked before a shrine, just to extract oath of loyalty and allegiance from them? And this same governor would always grace the Holy Ghost night at the Redemption Camp with his plastic permanent smile for the cameras to show that he is Christian. If just being a Christian is a yard stick to win election, how do you situate the case of a prominent Christian woman banker, who was convicted by the EFCC for fraud and had to do a plea bargain with the EFCC to return N191 billion to the government coffers?.

     

    Boko Haram Insurgents

    When the demonic Boko Haram insurgents entered Mubi and people were running out of town, nobody asked the drivers if they were Muslims or Christians. All they were after was to get out into safety. Both Muslims and Christians are victims of the scourge. Or how many air travellers, upon entering an aircraft, insist on knowing the religious persuasion of the pilot and the co-pilot, whether Muslim, Christian or Atheist? How many Christians and Muslims have resigned from their jobs because their bosses are of different religious faiths?

    If we stretch the argument further, are we saying Uganda’s Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) led by a lunatic called Joseph Kony, who had waged over 20-year war of attrition against Uganda, raping, maiming and terrorising people, are fulfilling God’s mandate just because their creed is to rule by the Ten Commandments? These brigands are like the Boko Haram of Nigeria. (Yet, Muslims did not say they were fighting for Christ).

     

     

    Neither Cross nor Crescent

    It is not about the cross or crescent but about leadership qualities.

    The Dubai that many of our Christian brethren go and spend holidays, are they being ruled by Christians? In 1991, Dubai was just bare. But with visionary leaders, it has been turned into a tourist haven. North Korea, China and Russia are advanced technologically but they are not Christians. Many of them don’t even believe in God. Moammar Ghaddafi turned a desert country into a well-irrigated country. After the first Gulf War in 1990 and despite all the massive bombings by the allied forces, there were still street lights working on the streets of Baghdad. Go to Egypt, Morocco and other North African countries, they look like Europe. Yet, they didn’t carry the Bible to build their countries. Please, don’t get me wrong. Being a good Christian with leadership potentials is an added advantage. Core competence should override any religious or tribal consideration.

    Our problem is that we are so religious but not godly. Our values are warped and upside down. We go to churches and mosques but our hearts are very far from God. On December 31 of every year, we fill up the churches for the cross-over night to the New Year but by the 1st of January, we start plotting the downfall of our fellow human beings.

    The fact is that our hearts are very far from God. Most times, we shift our responsibilities to God. I believe so much in prayer. I do pray a lot but there is a time to pray and a time to use your head. To whom brain is given, sense is expected….”

     

    By God and not by Man

    “The truth of the matter is that from being a deputy governor, to governor, to vice president, to acting president, up to being a president, God went ahead of President Jonathan. He didn’t fight anyone before he got there and nobody then talked about him being a Christian or a southerner. But now, out of desperation, his Christian cheer leaders are deceiving him as the anointed, using the religious mantra. But the man himself knows that God is not in this his current agenda, irrespective of what his spiritual consultants tell him; because his current endeavour is all by flesh. That is why just like when God left Saul, he went to seek the witch of Endor when the Philistines came after him. Our dear president too, surrounded by his Philistines, this time the opposition, has resorted to self-help by also seeking from his own variant of witch of Endor- police and other arms of security forces, to fight his opponents through dictatorial tendencies and resorting to religious and ethnic sentiments, which he did not do before he got to the throne….”

    “God is still God. He can use anyone to accomplish His purpose. What

    we need are visionary and competent leaders, and being a good, God-fearing Christian would be an icing on the cake. But insisting on a Christian president or governor, even if he is a cultist and the most corrupt person, would be stretching it too far. And mischievously labeling a party as an Islamic party is pure hogwash.  Fela Anikulapo-Kuti once titled one of his albums, l would tell Pastor Bosun Emmanuel, ‘Teacher, don’t teach me nonsense”.

     

    • Akinnola is of Christians in Politics Initiative.

  • The woman in red

    The woman in red

    ALL over the world, across different regions and cutting across different groups of the people, the colour red has different meanings and symbolizes different things. In the world of fashion, a red dress is super hot, sexy and produces a look that you will like to have for that date or occasion.

    Anything red, regardless of colour, race or ethnicity, commands an attention that is beyond words. If you rock a red dress and rock it well, trust me, you can command a way significant respect. You can call for such an attention, make heads to spin, necks to turn around, winks thrown all at you, all for a red dress.

    Red is hot, sexy and cute. You should lace up your wardrobe with two or three. Celebrities all over the world and even in Nigeria rock red dresses. Ini Edo in particular seems to really love red. She wears a red dress often, guess she understands its power because she looks really hot in it.

    To rock a red dress, ensure you blend it with colours that are cool and avoid heavy neck accessories. You could rock a black or blue heels.