It is no news that Zamfara State, the erstwhile tranquil and peaceful state in the far North-West of Nigeria was wantonly debased into tattered rag of its hard earned and enviable peace and promise as a young and determined state gearing into greatness; an acclaimed focused and visionary entity. This sorry state was created by poor leadership and arrogance in governance which led the state into a crisis situation of unmatched magnificence in the zone.

For nearly a decade now, the peaceful state of Zamfara snowballed into a gradual state of chaos, disharmony, crisis and death. What began like a simple cattle rustling in some pockets of villages was unwittingly left to grow into a serious situation of breakdown of law and order. In what many observers saw as deliberate abdication of responsibility, the leadership in Zamfara State then could have as well fuelled the situation by poor management of the situation. Cattle rustling turned into kidnappings and, worst, into total banditry in all the 14 local government areas of the state. Every single action taken by the then government seemed to aggravate the situation and indeed, the public faulted every aof such actions. 

This scenario translated into a total lack of security in the state and the people were left to be their own keepers and at the mercy of what came their way. Innocent souls were killed with careless abandon; many were abducted and housed in the bush for Ransom by new lords of the land, some of who were either killed in the event ransom was not redeemed or they simply died out of sheer hardship they underwent in the hands of their captors. This led to a new twist to the whole scenario. The vulnerable and potential victims decided to form their own vigilante groups in the name of “Yan sa Kai” who went after the kings of the known kingpins of the banditry world in the state.

This new twist further compounded the security situation where deaths increased, kidnappings increased and many major markets were closed and roads leading to major towns and villages were no longer safe and had to be abandoned. The situation in Zamfara was such worst that half of what was happening in the interior was better seen than imagined. That was how the administration of Governor Mohammed Bello (Matawallen Maradun)  inherited the mantle of Leadership of the state last May.

The first attempt at addressing this problem was conceived by Governor Matawalle before he took over the mantle of Leadership. He began the implementation of his conceived policies immediately by announcing his intention to call for a truce between the bandits and the “Yan sa Kai” which he did. The two sides agreed to come to the table and discuss peace. Indeed, their representatives came to the table and discussed. They all agreed to sheath their swords and listen to the Government. The Governor requested them to stop abductions and also release their victims. They all agreed. Since the first meeting of the truce about a month ago, no abductions were officially reported. The two sides also began to release their victims in batches. In about ten different batches, today, more than 170 victims have so far been released by their captors unconditionally, and without a single ransom paid!

With these developments, it is very sad some indigenes of Zamfara State boldly and unabashedly try to rubbish the initiative in the media as if they are not happy peace is returning to our dear state. It is sorry to say the least, that following the display of a corpse in front of the Government House recently by villagers from Jimmari Village, of Kaura Namoda Local Government Area, some media featured many negative responses to the entire process and wanted Nigerians to believe it is not working. Here is a state that once lost over 300 souls in a swoop, but has not lost a single life in a month now due to the peace process in place, with over 170 gaining their freedom without a ransom paid and yet, to some, the process is not working! It is very unfortunate that Malam Yushau had to die from an attack on his farm which the Executive Governor has described as very unfortunate. And of course, the family of the deceased said they were at the Government House with the corpse to draw the attention of the Government to the fact that there are people who are not happy with the peace process. They made it clear that it was the peace process that guaranteed them to be on the farm in the first place. But this was not reported by the media, unfortunately. 

Now, the State Government and all well meaning citizens of Zamfara State are not perturbed. The peace process will continue according to plan. After all the captives are released, the process of disarmament will then, begin. Most of the bandits have shown their eagerness to come back into the towns and villages and live a normal life. They assured to cooperate because they said they believed in the sincerity of the Matawalle’s administration to honor its own part of the bargain. The bargain is that when they eventually lay down their arms, they will never be harassed but will be resettled in the society. Already, the state Government has set aside funds and 100 hecters of land each for the establishment of three Rugga settlements in each of the three Senatorial districts in the State. These settlements will have all the necessary facilities required for meaningful living including water, schools, clinics, veterinary clinics and grazing lands.

One of Nigeria’s labour movements’ shining lights and President, Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, Comrade Francis Olabode Johnson, FOJ, was on Friday July 18, 2019 buried in Abuja amidst tears, emotions and encomiums.

With official development assistance under strain, achieving the Sustainable Development Goals will require developing countries to rely increasingly on their own resources. To that end, they should implement strong institutional constraints on executive authority.

– With objectives as far-reaching as ending poverty in all its forms and delivering quality education to all by 2030, the Sustainable  Development  Goals   (SDGs) are highly ambitious – much more ambitious   than their predecessor, the  Millennium  Development  Goals. Whether or not the world achieves them will depend crucially on money – particularly public finance.

Traditionally, official development assistance (ODA) would play a pivotal role in financing  an agenda like the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, which encompasses the 17 SDGs. But at a time when nationalist rhetoric and isolationist policies are gaining traction in some of the world’s biggest traditional donor countries – beginning with the United States – ODA will not be sufficient.
In fact, foreign aid has remained  flat, at best, in the last few years – and there is no increase in sight. On the contrary, the specter of global recession ,makes a reduction in donor governments’ revenues, together with increased domestic demand for public spending, a distinct possibility. None of this bodes well for foreign aid flows.

This means that, to implement the SDGs, developing countries will need to rely increasingly on their own resources. And, in fact, the 2030 Agenda anticipates this imperative: SDG17’s  first target  is to “strengthen domestic resource mobilization … to improve domestic capacity for tax and other revenue collection.” The question is how.
Poor fiscal management means that developing countries – particularly in Africa, home to 27 of the world’s 28 poorest countries  – are often plagued by debt crises and inflation, and many are at the mercy of commodity-price cycles. Tax collection is a major challenge for these economies: the tax revenues low-income countries collect  amount to about 10-20% of GDP, on average, compared to about 40% of GDP in high-income countries.

One major reason for this is that these countries tend to have large informal economies; another is that they invest little in the infrastructure needed to implement personal taxation, relying instead on sales taxes, which are easier to administer but bring in less revenue. Add to that poor management of what is collected, and these countries consistently fail to deliver needed public goods and services, let alone ensure fiscal sustainability.major reason for this is accountability. Giving a single executive virtually unchecked control over a government’s financial resources raises the risk of sudden changes in budgetary priorities, and nurtures the temptation to spend on projects that enrich a few at the expense of the public good. But when political leaders are unable to use state revenues freely – say, to enrich themselves or their cronies – they may be more likely to invest in strengthening the government’s fiscal capacity, including its ability to design, implement, and monitor the budget.

In a well-functioning parliamentary system, for example, the state budget is overseen by a group of elected authorities in a relatively transparent manner. No one person has the power to shape the process in self-serving ways. Instead, leaders are under pressure to respond to the voters’ needs and preferences.
In such a context, taxation becomes an informed, consensual transaction between citizens and the state. This bolsters trust in official institutions, in turn boosting revenues and supporting social and political stability.

According to our research, placing institutional constraints on the executive would, over about nine years, lead to a 2.4-percentage-point increase in the GDP share of both total revenues and income-tax revenues. Such changes would also raise the quality of fiscal planning – the accuracy of revenue forecasts and the effectiveness of budget implementation and debt management – above the global average.

These gains could translate into more textbooks in local schools, more vaccines for local health services, and more resources for poverty-reduction programs. In other words, a taxation system constrained by institutions that ensure transparency and accountability could support progress toward achieving the SDGs.

Of course, the effects will not be instantaneous. Institutional reform is a gradual process, and legal changes do not immediately translate into behavioral ones. But embedding checks and balances into governance – particularly to limit the executive’s discretionary budgetary authority – is integral to accomplish the kind of structural transformation developing countries need if they are to create more stable, prosperous futures well beyond 2030.

-Amb. Olufemi  Aduwo is the
President/CEO, Centre  for Convention on Democratic Integrity ( incoporated  in Nigeria & Maryland ,U.S) and Permanent  Representative of CCDI to United Nations 

President Muhammadu Buhari has sent the nominees of appointment for Ministers to the Nigerian Senate for screening.The names were read to the floor by Ahmad Lawan, President of the Senate after a closed door session.

The list contained names of some old ministers and new people.

Some of the nominees are:

Ikechukwu Oga (Abia)

Mohammed Musa Bello (Adamawa)

Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom)

Chris Ngige (Anambra)

Sharon Ikeazu (Anambra)

Adamu Adamu (Bauchi)

Maryam Katagum (Bauchi)

Timi Sylva (Bayelsa)

George Akume (Benue)

Mustapha Baba Shehuri (Borno)

Goddy Agba (Cross Rivers)

Festus Keyamo (Delta)

Ogbonnaya Onu (Ebonyi)

Osagie Enakhire (Edo)

Clement Agba (Edo)

Adeniyi Adebayo (Ekiti)

Geofrey Onyeama (Enugu)

Ali Issa Fantami (Gombe)

Emeka Nwajiuba (Imo)

Suleiman Adamu (Jigawa)

Zainab Ahmed (Kaduna)

Mohammed Mahmoud (Kaduna)

Sabo Nanunu (Kano)

Bashir Salihi Magashi (Kano)

Hadi Sirika (Katsina)

Abubakar Malami (Kebbi)

Rahmatu Ahmadu Tijani (Kogi)

Lai Mohammed (Kwara)

Gbemisola Saraki (Kwara)

Raji Fashola (Lagos)

Olorunnimbe Momora (Lagos)

Muhammed Abdullahi (Nasarawa)

Zubeira Dada (Niger)

Olamilekan Adegbite (Ogun)

Tayo Alasoadura (Ondo)

Rauf Aregbesola (Osun)

Sunday Dare (Oyo)

Pauline Tallen (Plateau)

Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers)

Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi (Sokoto)Saleh Mohammed (Taraba)

Abubakar Aliyu (Yobe)

Sadiya Umar Farouk (Zamfara)

Enquirer Magazine reports that an air mishap was Tuesday afternoon averted in Lagos when an Air Peace aircraft flying from Port-Harcourt to Lagos crashlanded at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport.

The passenger plane, B737, it was gathered, managed to crash land after dropping 20 feet above sea level into the Lagos airport runway causing substantial damage to the plane’s front wheel as a result of its burst tyres.

“For divine intervention, passengers onboard escaped unhurt as the airplane got damaged seriously.

The forceful landing led to the burst of its front tyre. As at the time of filing this report, the Accident Investigation Bureau are inspecting the accident,” the report reads.

Former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Chike Okafor, has hailed President Muhammadu Buhari for picking, the member representing,  Ehime Mbano/Ihitte Uboma/Obowo, Federal Constituency, Hon. Emeka Nwajiuba, as the ministerial nominee for Imo State.

Okafor in a statement shared on his Facebook page on Wednesday, described Nwajiuba’s nomination as a blessing to the people of Imo State, most especially those from the Ehime Mbano/Ihitte Uboma/Obowo, Federal Constituency.

The former lawmaker alongside his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) is currently in the Court of Appeal, seeking to nullify the judgment of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) which produced Nwajiuba of the Accord Party, as the member  representing, Ehime Mbano/Ihite Uboma/Obowo Federal Constituency of Imo State, he, however, stressed the need for people from his constituency and state to support the ministerial nominee picked from Imo.

 
“I have always held strongly to the view that the sole purpose of holding political office, either appointive or elective is to bring
development to the immediate constituency.  If we are indeed passionate about the development of our constituency, we cannot but rejoice at any and every prospect that has the potential of accelerating development inEhime Mbano/Ihiteuboma/Obowo Federal Constituency of Imo, fondly called Okigwe South Federal Constituency.
 

“For this, I join the good people of Ehime Mbano/Ihitte Uboma/Obowo Federal Constituency and indeed the people of Imo State to congratulate our son, and brother, Hon. Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba on his nomination as a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”, the statement read.

However, Okafor explained that he will press on with his case in the Court of Appeal, as he has a good case and his victory in the court means justice for the people.

Recall that the Abuja division of the Court of Appeal on Wednesday, July 17, reserved judgment in the appeal brought by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidate, Hon. Chike Okafor, seeking to nullify the judgment of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) which produced Emeka Nwajiuba of the Accord Party, as a member of representing  Ehime Mbano/Ihite Uboma/Obowo Federal constituency of Imo State.

The three-man panel of the appellate court, namely: Justice Adamu Jauro, Stephen Adah and Justice Wison Akomolafe arrived at the decision after rejecting moves by Barr. Kingdom Okere, counsel for Emeka Nwajiuba, to terminate the appeal.  

As the preparation for the 67th edition of the annual convention of the Redeemed Christian Church of God worldwide gets to crescendo, the mass choir of the Church is set to bring heaven down with their musical performances during a week-long event.slated for the 5th to 11th August, 2019.

A sneak preview of their rehearsals revealed that worshipers are in for the best of time musically during the convention.

Also, an encounter with the choirmaster and music director of one of the largest choirs globally, Pastor Kunle Ajayi popularly called PKA, “We have worked very hard to give the best to the Almighty God in the area of music ministration, both classical and contemporary music and, we know that His name will be glorified”.

Speaking further, ace saxophonist and acclaimed most widely traveled gospel music minister, Pastor Kunle Ajayi said, “like I used to tell people, I’m just a supervisor in the music department, my daddy is the head, we can’t do anything without his authorization and support. He select the music for us and we rehearse them”.

On whether other music ministers will come, he said, “Yes. We are expecting music ministers both within and outside the country. We are joining forces together to bring heaven down. No doubt is going to be awesome in His presence”.

When are you planning to release your next album, we asked, “In no distance time. That is in the hand of God. At the appointed time the album will be released”. However, he said, “God is moving in our direction and we give glory to Him”.

Elaborating further, he said, “for this congress, we are focusing on hymns, classical music and traditional lyrics that will change story of many” He also confirmed that the population of the choir of the Church is well over seven thousand people.

It is obviously a good news for the citizens of a typical developing country like Nigeria when a new and reasonably ‘concepted’ innovation like what Mattress.ng has brought to aid the standard of living of Nigeria rich, indigent and the general populace.    
Mattress.ng is the number 1 Nigeria online mattress retailer saddled with the task of creating and enhancing mattress shopping in Nigeria through the means of using mobile software and apps, with free delivery to consumers door step nationwide with a debut office at Lagos.

I find it hard to believe that the reign of mounting mattress on cars, Keke napep and creating scenes because of a mattress purchase has end with the advent of this innovation which runs a 24/7 services with synergic collaboration with Mouka Foam, Royal Foam, Sara Foam, Vita Foam and Winco Foam.

 
The app for the service can be downloaded from Apple store and Google play or with a visit to their website which is at www.mattress.ng.
No wonder the Chief Executive Officer of Mattress.ng, Mr. Muyiwa Lawrence while explaining the reason behind the actualization in his keynote address at the launching noted that he derived the idea late 2016 as a result to an intimidation he experienced from a mattress store as he was pushed into buying a mattress by aggressive sales person because he was not a good negotiator and a man that doesn’t  enjoys haggling.

“I ended up getting an expensive mattress instead of the one that fits my need and budget after devoted the home and energy of transporting the mattress home. I realized so many people face these challenges every day and I decided to create a platform to solve the problem and also earn a profit which offers a variety of mattress brands and styles with a transparent buying process and personalized customers services.

“Consumers  don’t have to deal with pushy sales person, they can make the decisions on their own and not caught up with assured sales antics.”
Lawrence added that this fantastic innovation will help Nigerians save money due to a massive discount attached to every sales which have a fixed price and because of the fact that the internet is not expensive as much as brick and mortal store does. 
The CEO added that In a case where customers are not satisfied with a purchase the money paid for the service can be fully refunded.

 
He further noted that more branches and 2 more brands will be added to the platform before the end of 2020. 

A member of the House of Representatives, Hon Mufutau Egberongbe, has called the attention of the Lagos governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and Speaker Gbajabiamila to the impending disaster in the Apapa and other areas of the state as a result of issues with the ‘system 5’ drain.

In a statement by his media office in Lagos, Egberongbe also urged the Lagos state House of Assembly headed by Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa to urgently rescue the situation to avoid unexpected flooding and spread of diseases.

“There is need for these leaders to, as a matter of urgency, assist in clearing the ‘System 5’ drain.”This drain travels from Onilegogoro in the Surulere area through Gasikiya Road in Apapa Iganmu and leads to the drain by Government Press in Ajeromi local government area.”It will be appreciated if the drain is cleared during this raining season to stem incidences of flooding and mitigate against polio-related ailments now that we propagate preventive health care,” the statement added.

The lawmaker noted that his decision to call the attention of the governor, the House of Representatives and state Assembly speaker to the danger lurking around the parts of Lagos was because of their zeal and passion for humanity and development of the state.According to him, it is necessary to prevent what can later become an emergency. He appealed to Speaker Gbajabiamila to help call on the federal agencies to partner with the Lagos state government in order to immediately and easily clear the drain as well as others in such condition across the state.It can be recalled that Hon Egberongbe recently called for the reactivation of the railway system in Apapa to ease movement of goods from the port in the area to other parts of the country as part of measures to resolve the traffic bottlenecks around the area.

The lawmaker, who urged the officials at the port to engage the use of modern cargo tracking equipment and scanners for their operations, had added: “I want to ask that they should accelerate the issue of the port ongoing in Badagry and that of the Lekki Free Trade zone for the decongestion of the Apapa while, in the long run, the railway and the water transportation facilities in the state should be rejuvenated.”

Nigerian veteran sports journalist and retired Director of Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Akinloye Oyebanji, has died at the age of 62.

His family confirmed to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that Mr Oyebanji passed on at the National Hospital, Abuja, on Saturday morning after a protracted battle with heart failure.

Bukoye Oyebanji and Steve Olarinoye, family member and closed friend, disclosed that Mr Oyebanji had been ill for almost four months now and the family had spent millions of naira to save his life without any improvement.

They said some time ago, he had the misfortune of losing his kidneys, and they were replaced successfully through a transplant in India.

“But one of the side effects of kidney transplant is heart failure, which he had experienced on two occasions and survived.”

NAN reports that Mr Oyebanji served the NTA for 35 years in different capacities, including being a sports broadcaster, and later as General Manager (Sports).

He retired as Managing Director of NTA Properties at the authority’s headquarters in Abuja.

Mr Oyebanji, who hailed from Kwara, is survived by four children and a wife.

(NAN)

Plans to probe the eight years administration of former Governor of former Governor Ibikunle Amosun has been uncovered during the week.

The State government during the week announced the setting up of a committee to probe the contracts and projects embarked upon by Amsoun’s administration.

According to the government, the committee is to among other things, identify all outstanding significant construction/projects in the State.

The Committee is to be chaired by the National President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Mr. Adekunle Mokuolu.

An inside source confirmed to Global Excellence that the Governor had ordered all the Ministries and parastatals to documents, including their statements of accounts that would aid in probing the activities of Amosun.

The source further confirmed that Amosun if found guilty by the committee may be either ask to return the funds or be further investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The woes of the suspended 20 Local government and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) continue as the State House of Assembly has vowed to go ahead with the probe of financial mismanagement allegations.

Recall that the 8th Assembly under the leadership of former Speaker, Rt. Hon. Suraj Adekunbi through a resolution suspended the 20 LG and 37 LCDAs Chairmen in the State. 

The Assembly also directed that the affected chairmen to hand over the affairs of the Councils to the Heads of Local Government Administration (HOLGA) and appear before the Assembly on Friday June 7 for investigation into their alleged financial misappropriation.

The 9th Assembly led by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Olakunle Oluomo gave the affected Chairmen an ultimatum to 30 copies of their report of stewardship for the last administration from 2016 to 2019 in the various councils and 2017-2019 in LCDAs to the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs on or before 25th of July, 2019.

The Assembly also noted that the report was expected to x-ray the income and expenditure of the councils as well as achievements and challenges during the period under reference.  

There are allegations that the Chairmen cannot point to a single project embarked on by them throughout their 33-month stay in office despite the billions of naira received by them.

-Akin Alade

Bala Mohammed, governor of Bauchi state, has tied the knot with Natasha Mariana, a Lebanese-Nigerian woman, in a stunning wedding ceremony in Lagos.

The lavish ceremony held at the Syrian mosque in Ikoyi, on Friday.

It attracted a plethora of political figures and bigwigs within and across the confines of the country’s upper echelon of power. Others were academicians, clerics, family and friends of the state executive.

Mariana becomes the second wife of the governor, who is already married with children.

Mohammed, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was declared winner of the Bauchi state governorship election in March 2019.

The 60-year-old former senator defeated Mohammed Abubakar, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and incumbent governor.

Worried by the security situation in Nigeria, Kano State governor, Abdullahi Ganduje has declared that banning herdsmen from migrating from place to place is one sure way of having peace in the country.

Ganduje, who was responding to questions by newsmen at the Sultan Muhammad Abubakar Sa’ad III international airport, Sokoto, added that the issue of RUGA settlements should not be forced on any state, rather states that can cater for the Fulani should willingly domesticate the policy.

The governor was in Sokoto for the wedding fatiha of Ibrahim Khalil, the son of Senator Kabiru Gaya, a former governor of Kano State.

Speaking passionately about how the Fulani have been so wrongly labelled, Ganduje noted that resettling them in a particular place, with all facilities provided for them to graze with ease, remained the best way out.

He also noted that some of the Fulani have actually become bandits and indulged in other unaccepted acts because of illiteracy, hence the need to urgently address the problem.  “No better way to improve their lives if you don’t prevent their migration from the north to the central and southern parts of Nigeria.

“That movement should be banned otherwise Fulani would continue to suffer and the security problem in the country would continue,” Ganduje noted.

On the now suspended RUGA project, Ganduje advised that it should  be restricted to states that are ready, can cater for Fulani and see herding as a social economic venture rather a socio-cultural issue.

“There is no better way to resettle the Fulani other than RUGA. But we cannot ask a state to implement RUGA where the indigenes are not Fulani. RUGA should be for states who can cater for the Fulani and improve their herdsmanship (trade).

“That is why we are developing grazing area, or RUGA, in Kano State so that Fulani can be in one place and enjoy all the social services like other people of the state, so that the type of herdsmanship they are doing will be improved so that they can produce more cows, more milk and more economic prosperity to themselves,” he said

Barely one year after the crash of his marriage, popular Lagos politician, Mr. Tayo Akinmade Ayinde, has found love again. He is romantically involved with Doyin Ojora, a popular society lady. Ayinde, who presently serves as the Chief of Staff to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos state, was the Director General of the Babajide Sanwo-Olu Independent Campaign Group between 2018 and 2019.

It was gathered that Ayinde ended his marriage to his first wife, Titilola, shortly before Sanwo-Olu’s gubernatorial project kicked off.

Sources disclosed that Ayinde decided to end the marriage to Titilola and send her packing, for the flimsiest of excuses, which continue to elude the couple’s close friends. Not satisfied with his decision to call it quit with his first wife, Ayinde, reportedly, also denied her access to their children.

Close sources disclosed that Ayinde’s decision to end his marriage with Titilola, has refused to sit well with his close friend. They can’t seem to fathom why he would dump the woman, who started from the scratch with him and made a lot of sacrifices to make him what he is today. Sources revealed that Titilola almost went into a state of depression when all efforts she made to reconcile with her family was frustrated by her estranged husband.

Left with no option, the 49-year old lady left Nigeria and relocated to the United States, where she currently resides.

Meanwhile, Ayinde has since found love in the bosom of Doyin Ojora, a party-loving society girl. The two have since consummated the affair and now carrying on as husband and wife.

Doyin is in her late 30’s, and she is the niece of Otunba Adekunle Ojora, the boardroom businessman. She once worked with Ayodeji Joseph, during his tenure as Chairman of Apapa Local Government. Later, she was appointed as a caretaker of Apapa Local Council.Ayinde, who hails from Ikorodu, Lagos State was born on the 24th of August, 1964 at Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos.

A source close to the chief of staff, however disclosed that he and his estranged wife have been separated for about three years and they finally divorced last year.

“It was as a result of irreconcilable differences, he’s a good man who has right to live,” the source said.

source- firstweeklyng

”Only the Spirit of God can probe into the future and reveal hidden secrets accurately,” noted the servant of God at INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Lagos, Primate Elijah Babatunde Ayodele, as he looked back in review of some of his divine messages now coming to fulfilment.

Aptly, the famous seer had revealed in a December 2018 press parley at his church which was published in various news mediums including on page 35 of City People magazine of January 16, 2019, thus; ”let us pray against the death of a sitting president.”

On Thursday, 25th of July, 2019, President Beji Caid Essebsi of Tunisia, died.
Prophecy, according to Ayodele, is for those who can see, belief, understand, and be habituated, with great effects. Therefore, when he prophesies, he is speaking the instruction and warning from God.
Primate Ayodele had earlier prophesied the presidencies of both the sitting American and Ghanaian’s Donald Trump and Nana Adokufo respectively, at a time even keen event analysts gave them slim chance. 
In a similar fashion, Ayodele in 2015 had warned that former President Goodluck Jonathan, would be unseated. It came to pass. He equally prophesied the presidency of Patrick Talon of Benin Republic against the choice candidate of the then ruling party. All of these prophecies came to pass.

The latest of the fulfilled prophecies by Ayodele is the appointment of Boris Johnson as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, which, interestingly, he revealed in 2017. The cleric specifically said that former PM Theresa May would not survive the Brexit conundrum.

Indeed, true prophets of God are centrally positioned by God in order to serve as the link between Him and the humankind. In some cases, however, people’s disposition to issues spiritual often fail the test of sincerity and determination.

Presidency has said the proscription of Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) has nothing to do with banning the larger numbers of peaceful and law abiding Shiites in the country from practicing their religion, instead it was to discourage wanton violence, murder and willful destruction of public and private property.

The Presidency explains that contrary to the claim by IMN that it had been banned from practicing its religion, President Buhari’s administration has not banned Shiites from observing their five daily prayers and going to Mecca to perform the Holy pilgrimage.

Their position is blatantly false and deceptive.

The IMN is deliberately changing the narrative in order to gain sympathy and divert the attention of the world from its terrorist activities, including attacking soldiers, killing policemen and a youth corps member, destroying government ambulances and public property, consistently defying authority of the state.

The Presidency notes that the banned organization was taken over by extremists who didn’t believe in peaceful protests and instead employed violence and arson, driving fear and undermining the rights of others and constituted authority.

The Presidency agrees that the constitution protects freedom of worship, but not to the detriment of the society, especially where such freedom harms others, and breaks law and order.

The Presidency insists that such criminal behavior and disregard for rights of others and human life will not be tolerated by any responsible government, explaining that everywhere in the world protesters operate within legal boundaries and conduct themselves peacefully without molesting others, or engaging in murder and killing of security personnel or destroying public and private property.

The Presidency regrets that despite all efforts by the government and other well-meaning Nigerians to make the IMN militants to see reason and abandon violence, such appeals fell on deaf ears as they killed, maimed and destroyed willfully, constituting daily nuisance to workers, commuters and other innocent citizens.

Having defied appeals to operate peacefully, and given their seeming determination to destabilize the country, the government had to act before the situation goes out of control, after admonishing many times over that people should not use religion to perpetuate lawlessness.

“We are fighting lawlessness and criminality and not pursuing a policy of discrimination against any group,” the Presidency stressed. “You cannot be in court while at the same time engaging in violent protests, molesting people and inflicting pains on others, which includes taking innocent lives.”

The long awaited nominees for the prestigious Nigeria Media Nite-Out Award has been released.

The list of the nominees which spread across the 12 categories, was released by the Media Publicity for the Award Mr. Murphy Ajibade Alabi.

The all-embracing media event which debuts thirteen years ago to recognise excellence and achievements of media practitioners in the prints, electronic and social media, is the brain child of seasoned events consultants, Sola Olugbemiro’s Solkem Entertainmen. “Now in its 13th year of successive outings, the 2019 edition of the awards event promises to be steps ahead of the previous ones both in packaging and delivery. Nominations and nominees are already rolling in, states Olugbemiro, adding that dignitaries from all walks of life including captains of industry, politicians, top government functionaries, socialites and media groups are already warming up to grace the ever glamorous event.”

Speaking on the nominees, Murphy a seasoned journalist himself says “it has not been easy to bring out the best five(5) or in most cases above five(5) in all the twelve(12) categories, but I believe what we have is good. 

Below is the full list of nominees for the award categories:

BUSINESS WRITE OF THE YEAR

Segun Adams        –        Business Day

Abdullateef Aliyu    –        Daily Trust

Shola Adekola         –        Nigeria Tribune 

Nike Popoola        –        Punch 

Helen Ojo        –        Guardian

Ayo Alonge        –        Sun

Lucas Ajanaku        –        Nation

WRITER OF THE YEAR (POLITICS)

Benjamin Alade        –        Guardian

Patrick Okohue        –        Daily Times

Temidayo Akinsuyi    –        Daily Independent

Leke Salaudeen    –        Nation

Bola Badmus        –        Nigeria Tribune 

PHOTO JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR

Godwin Irekhe         –        Telegraph 

Benedict Uwalaka    –        Daily Trust 

Bolaji Olasunkanmi    –        Daily Times

Femi Adebusin Kuti    –        Guardian

Ayodele Ojo         –        Sun

Stanley Ogidi        –        Punch

Okon Prince        –        P.P to Tinubu

SPORT WRITER OF THE YEAR

Jacob Ayom        –        Vanguard

Adeboye Amosu    –        Complete Sports

Taofeek Babalola    –        Sporting Life

Tana Aiyejena         –        Punch

Gowon Akpodonor    –        Guardian 

EDITOR OF THE YEAR (SOFT SELL)

Azuh Arinze        –        Yes Magazine

Kunle Babarinde    –        Alariya Oodua

Folorunsho Hamsat    –        Global Excellence 

Ayobami Adedeji    –        Urban Life

Adewale Adeyemi    –        Total Gossip

Joshua Okolo        –        City Pride

ENTERTAINMENT WRITE OF THE YEAR 

Benjamin Njoku            –        Vanguard

Gbenga Samuel Abelube    –        Leadership

Rita Okoye            –        Sun

Timileyin Akinkahunsi        –        Punch

Daniel Anazia            –        Guardian 

Dupe Ayinla Olasunkanmi    –        Nation

CRIME WRITER OF THE YEAR 

Eugene Agha            –        Daily Trust 

Folake Shokoya        –        National Wire

Oluwatobi Akindele         –        Punch

Christopher Orji            –        Sun

Titilope Joseph            –        Daily Independent     

SOCIETY WRITER OF THE YEAR

Seyi Abodunrin            –        Tribune

Funsho Arogundade        –        Sun

Juliet Ebrim            –        Vanguard

Bayo Adeoye             –        This Day

Paul Akpabio            –        Nation 

BRAND WRITER OF THE YEAR

Goddie Ofose            –        789 Marketing 

Princewill Ekwujuru        –        Vanguard

Joseph Ekeng            –        Marketing Edge

Melvin Udosen            –        Brand Essence

Lukman Ishau            –        Marketing Space 

AVIATION WRITER OF THE YEAR

Abdullateef Aliyu        –        Daily Trust

Maureen Ihua-Maduenyi    –        Punch

Wole Oyebade            –        Guardian 

Chinedu Eze            –        This Day

Anthony Awunor        –        Leadership

Ifeoma Okeke            –        Business Day

BEST SPORTS RADIO PRESENTER OF THE YEAR 

Murphy Ijemba            –        Max F.M

Anthony Bekederemo        –        Brilla F.M

Monsuru Karonwi        –        Bond F.M

Olusoji Ajetumobi        –        Faaji F.M

THE BEST RADIO PROGRAMME

De flower your mind with Sean Polotee     –    Jordan F.M

Rush Hour Sport Show with Murphy Ijemba 

and Sean Amadi                 –    Max F.M

Breakfast on Bed with Fola Afolayan        –    Smooth F.M

Jordan Breakfast Show with A.Y Smooth    –    Jordan F.M

Eureka with the real skillz        –     Unilag F.M

TV STATION OF THE YEAR

TVC

CHANNELS

AIT

LTV 8

ONTV

RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR

BOND FM

FAAJI FM

COOL FM

WAZOBIA

METRO

BRILLA FM

MAX FM

NEWSPAPER OF THE YEAR 

VANGUARD 

PUNCH 

GUARDIAN

SUN

THIS DAY

DAILY TRUST 

TRIBUNE

Living

Mango. If you know little about this fruit, understand this: It’s been found to prevent or stop certain colon and breast cancer cells in the lab.

That’s according to a new study by scientists, who examined the five varieties most common in some countries.

Though the mango is an ancient fruit heavily consumed in many parts of the world, little has been known about its health aspects. The National Mango Board commissioned a variety of studies to help determine its nutritional value.

“If you look at what people currently perceive as a superfood, people think of high antioxidant capacity, and mango is not quite there,” said Dr. Susanne Talcott, who with her husband, Dr. Steve Talcott, conducted the study on cancer cells. “In comparison with antioxidants in blueberry, acai and pomegranate, it’s not even close.”

But the team checked mango against cancer cells anyway, and found it prevented or stopped cancer growth in certain breast and colon cell lines, Susanne Talcott noted.

“It has about four to five times less antioxidant capacity than an average wine grape, and it still holds up fairly well in anticancer activity. If you look at it from the physiological and nutritional standpoint, taking everything together, it would be a high-ranking super food,” she said. “It would be good to include mangoes as part of the regular diet.”

The Talcotts tested mango polyphenol extracts in vitro on colon, breast, lung, leukemia and prostate cancers. Polyphenols are natural substances in plants and are associated with a variety of compounds known to promote good health.

Mango showed some impact on lung, leukemia and prostate cancers but was most effective on the most common breast and colon cancers.

“What we found is that not all cell lines are sensitive to the same extent to an anticancer agent,” she said. “But the breast and colon cancer lines underwent apotosis, or programmed cell death. Additionally, we found that when we tested normal colon cells side by side with the colon cancer cells, that the mango polyphenolics did not harm the normal cells.”

The duo did further tests on the colon cancer lines because a mango contains both small molecules that are readily absorbed and larger molecules that would not be absorbed and thus remain present in a colon.

“We found the normal cells weren’t killed, so mango is not expected to be damaging in the body,” she said. “That is a general observation for any natural agent, that they target cancer cells and leave the healthy cells alone, in reasonable concentrations at least.”

The Talcotts evaluated polyphenolics, and more specifically gallotannins as being the class of bioactive compounds (responsible for preventing or stopping cancer cells). Tannins are polyphenols that are often bitter or drying and found in such common foods as grape seed, wine and tea.

The study found that the cell cycle, which is the division cells go through, was interrupted. This is crucial information, Suzanne Talcott said, because it indicates a possible mechanism for how the cancer cells are prevented or stopped.

Dubbed the ‘king of fruits’, it has been found to reduce the adverse effects of unhealthy diets and destroy fat cells. 

It also slowed the growth of breast tumours in mice.

A study also showed the superfood boosted bowel movements in humans and eased inflammation after constipation.

The findings, presented at the Experimental Biology meeting in the United States, adds to evidence of the benefits of the tropical fruit which is rich in fibre, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fat busting phytochemicals.

In one study nutritionist Babajide Ojo, of Oklahoma State University, found mice put on less weight when freeze dried mango pulp was added to a high fat diet.

Mr Ojo, a doctoral student, said: “These findings demonstrated mango supplementation in high fat feeding modulated some of the adverse effects that accompanies high fat diet-induced obesity.”

In lab tests food scientist molecular biolgist Chuo Fang, of Texas A&M University, also found mango boosted metabolism of fats.

She said: “These results suggest a diet abundant in mango might be helpful in the prevention of obesity and obesity related diseases.”

Obesity is estimated to affect around one in four adults and one in five children in the UK and can increase the risk of diabetes, heart disease, cancer and stroke.

These results suggest a diet abundant in mango might be helpful in the prevention of obesity

A third study by toxicologist Matt Nemec, also at Texas A&M University, found a polyphenol in mango called pyrogallol, a microbial metabolite of gallotannin, suppressed the growth of breast cancer in mice.

Mr Nemec said: “It is estimated one in ten newly diagnosed cancer cases will be female breast cancer, and therefore there is an ongoing need to research novel treatment options.

“Polyphenolics are secondary plant metabolites that have been shown to have anti cancer effects in multiple cancer models without the deleterious side effects of conventional small molecules.

“Findings indicate a diet rich in gallotannins that are microbially metabolised to pyrogallol may prevent the advancement of breast cancer.”

The speaker of the Lagos state House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, has called for more cooperation between Nigeria and the government China.Obasa made the call when he received the Chinese envoy led by the country’s Consular General in Lagos, Chao Xiaoliang.

At the meeting which held at the speaker’s office at the Lagos state House of Assembly, Obasa commended the Chinese government for establishing and sustaining mutual cooperation between it and Nigeria.He also urged China to further look at ways of further boosting investments Lagos state.

The speaker also commended China for supporting and standing by Nigeria’s thriving democracy.”I know that having such cooperation between the Lagos state House of Assembly, Nigeria and the government of China and its parliament is something that would be mutually beneficial.

It will particularly be beneficial to us in Lagos state,” speaker Obasa said.He urged the Chinese government to take advantage of the many opportunities offered by Lagos for such mutually beneficial goals.Speaking earlier, Consular General Xiaoliang commended the Lagos government for supporting and protecting the country’s businesses and nationals resident in the state.

Xiaoliang, said: “I came to Lagos at the end of May, which is a very important time between the Chinese government and other countries.”

He recalled that in 2018, China held a symposium which was focused on what he described as the cooperating feature with other countries.According to him, President Muhammadu Buhari was at the summit and had discussions with the Chinese president.

The Consular General said that at the meeting, the two presidents signed an important document focusing on strengthening business opportunities between both countries.

Despite concerns raised by motorists and other road users, the Federal Government has said there is no going back on the four-month planned partial closure of sections of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway for reconstruction.

The Federal Controller of Works in Lagos State, Mr Adedamola Kuti, said on Sunday the planned partial closure starting from August 3 would not be postponed even with the next month’s Sallah holiday trips and other religious activities that would increase traffic on the road.

According to him, the aim is to complete that portion of the road before Christmas when the traffic is expected to be heavier.

“What we are doing is to finish the project before Christmas when more people will be travelling. We are not closing the road totally; we are providing routes where people will follow and once everyone is patient, everything will go well,” he said.

The Federal Road Safety Corps had last week notified the public that Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, the construction company handling rehabilitation work on Section 1 of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, had given notification of its plan to commence intensive work on the Berger-Kara end of the road on August 3, and would close some sections for four months.

In a telephone interview with one of our correspondents on Sunday, the Ogun Sector Commander of the FRSC, Mr Clement Oladele, said the partial closure of the 1.4 kilometres portion of the road had been postponed before and any further delay would affect its delivery date.

“The project is expected to be delivered by 2021 and any further postponement will affect the date,” he said.

He urged motorists to use alternative routes such as the Lagos-Ota-Itori-Abeokuta and Ikorodu-Sagamu roads during the period.

According to Oladele, palliative work is also ongoing under Ogun River Bridge at the popular Kara Cattle Market to help improve traffic flow.