"Religion has become very oppressive.quot; – Kirk Franklin

                    
Kirk Franklin’s title for his 11th studio album "Losing
My Religion" sparked a mixed reaction. Last month, the 45-year-old took
to Instagram to reveal the title of the album, writing:

"In the beginning religion
created a mask … for generations church was where we went to go hide
…. rules without relationship is empty inside. … There’s room at the
cross for everyone even me … religion is a prison, but truth sets us free. The preacher
isn’t God, religion’s first mistake … I’m losing my religion, Thank God … Helping you lose yours is my job." their relationship with Christ more than anything else.

　

"Religion,
throughout the years, has become a very oppressive thing that doesn’t
allow people to get to know the God it was created to try to lead them
to. So basically, it’s just like marriage cannot guarantee intimacy,
religion doesn’t guarantee relationship," the recording
artist and songwriter said.


"It doesn’t guarantee you’re going to have a
loving relationship with God. So God becomes this distant person that’s
always pointing at my sins, always beating me up and you never know Him
as a friend and as a father."

On the contrary, Franklin made a point to speak about how much God loves people, despite their sins.

"We
don’t have to try to be perfect. We’ll never be," he said. "It’s really only one person that has lived the Christian life and
that was Christ Himself."

According to the songwriter and former
choir director, people should not rely on man to determine their
personal relationship with God.

"We think we need man and
these
systems to make us right with God and it’s not that. It’s when we accept
His gift, we’re right. Right there and then, we’re right. We’re getting
rid of the systems and all the rules, and the processes,
and it’s like, let’s fall in love with the Father and see Him as a
father that loves us, as flawed as we are."

Source: Christian Post

Huge welcome for Ooni

Ile Ife, the historic town in Osun State, was aglow on Wednesday as it welcomed home its monarch, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi.

Ogunwusi will bear the title of Ojaja II. He was named the Ooni on Monday to succeed Oba Okunade Sijuwade Olubuse II, who died on July 28.

Ife was in a festive mood. Men, women and children were gaily dressed. Markets and shops were closed.

There were no vehicles on the road. It looked like a public holiday in the ancient town.

Oba Ogunwusi, in immaculate white, arrived at Moro Junction where he had his first stopover, around 1pm.

He proceeded to the Ife-Ibadan toll gate, where many of his subjects joined his motorcade.

The Ooni swept into town in royal splendour, passing through May Fair, Lagere, Iremo, Enuwa, Moore to get to his Agbedegbede Ojaja family compound in the Giesi Ruling House, where he was installed as Sooko.

Ife tradition demands that he should first be Sooko (head) of his ruling house before mounting the Ooni stool.

The Ooni was received by the Ife Traditional Council led by the Lowa of Ife, High Chief Joseph Ijaodola, at the Ile-Ife end of the Ibadan expressway.

At the toll gate, Ogunwusi switched cars.

He stood on the open roof of the car to acknowledge cheers from the mammoth crowd.

Before his arrival, all the roads leading to the Ooni Palace, Lagere area, Giesi Ruling House, among others, were filled with his subjects.

Security was heavy. The police, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the Federal Road Safety Corps and local vigilante were at strategic locations to prevent a breakdown of law and order.

The security agents had a hectic time controlling the crowd.

Two persons died in a head-on collision between an Honda Saloon car and a motorcycle on Ibadan road. The men on the motorcycle died on the spot; the motorist was injured.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo was in the Giesi Ruling House to witness Ogunwusi’s installation as Sooko.

Obasanjo was accompanied by his friend, Otunba Oyewole Fasawe.

The Ooni raised clenched fist to acknowledge cheers as he moved to the Obalufe’s palace at Iremo to perform some rites before going to his family compound.

He arrived at the Giesi ruling house few minutes after 5pm and was installed the Sooko. The installation was held in the inner room of the hall at the ruling house. It was conducted by Sooko Adeleke Adewoyin, who led all Ife Sooko to the ceremony.

After the ceremony, the Ooni was led to an unknown destination.

But it was gathered that he retired to his private residence last night before moving into Iledi, at a forest on Ilesa road, where some rituals will be performed till 2am.

The other rituals and rites, according to a source, will continue at the Ilofi, where a series of initiations and further rituals will be done in the next 21 days.

During his stay at Ilofi, the Ooni will be taken through the rudiments of his duties as the custodian of Yoruba culture and tradition.

Ogunwusi will bear the tittle Ojaja II, Secretary to the Giesi Ruling House, Adelowu Ogunleye, announced yesterday.

The Ojaja family is part of the Giesi ruling house.

"The Kabiyesi has promised to further the development of Ife and provide jobs for the unemployed," he said.

"I am sure he will explain better when he is finally installed."

Immediate past Chairman of Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) Olajide Adeniji, yesterday congratulated the Ogunwusi on his appointment.

He urged the Ooni to see the unity of the Yoruba nation as a priority, adding: "The role of traditional rulers in nation-building cannot be over-emphasised. Of course, our traditional rulers should use their good offices to minimise the use of religion and politics as instruments of violence. I humbly urge your imperial majesty to please see your appointment as a call to service and to the upliftment of humanity.

"Build a solid super structure on a super foundation laid by your predecessors, Oba Adesoji Aderemi and Oba Okunade Sijuwade."

Also yesterday, Sooko Adewoyin said it was time to support the Ooni in the interest of Ife and the Yoruba race.

Speaking with reporters at the Giesi Ruling House Compound, he said he had come on behalf of all Sooko of Ife to solidarise with the Ooni.

According to him, the Lafogido Ruling House,where he hails from went to court to establish that there was error in using the 1980 ife Chieftaincy Declaration in selecting the candidate for the Ooni stool and the court ruled against it.

Also, Sooko Bunmi Adegoke of Lafogido, said: "We believe we have been cheated and the court is the best place to judge whether we are right or wrong and the court has spoken. Let us all Ife support the new Ooni, you can’t be a rebel because anything can happen. Reason for our acceptance and support."

Lesbian Scandal Rocks Kogi University: Sex Video Goes Viral

                       
Lokoja—Once again, Kogi State University is in the news for unpleasant reasons as lesbian sex videos involving students of the university recently emerged on the campus.
Some of the students involved are those of Economics and English Education departments.

The two students in one of the videos monitored by Vanguard, revealed how deep the culture of lesbianism had infiltrated the female hostels in the school.

One of the students is considering leaving the school to avoid possible stigmatization as the videos
had gone viral.
A female student in the Department of Zoology who craved anonymity, told Vanguard that lesbianism was becoming a big issue in the university.

　

She said young, fresh undergraduates were lured into the immoral club as many of them do not know what was in it before joining the lesbian ring.
"Kogi State University is fast becoming the comfort zone for lesbians. Many Jambites are lured into the ring because they don’t even know what it is all about.

‘’What they do now is to relocate off-campus in order to enjoy the privacy needed for their illicit and immoral act. Once in it, it is so difficult to renounce because lesbians share a lot of gifts to keep victims in it.
‘’The authorities of this school may need to take drastic steps to restore the moral integrity and discipline for which we were known," she said.

When Vanguard got in contact with one of the lesbians, she said she was lured into lesbianism in her first week on campus by a very wealthy 300 student.
She said she was not aware that their sex escapades were recorded, threatening to quit the university in order to save the integrity of her family.

"My attention was drawn to the video in circulation by one of my friends. When I watched it, I knew that was the end of my stay in this school.
‘’Many of my course mates already have the video, so it will be difficult for me to continue my academic programme because of possible stigmatization. I have brought shame to myself and my family," she lamented.

Although the school authorities are yet to release an official statement on the scandal, sources close to the authorities said investigations into the issue of lesbianism among the students had commenced.

Nollywood Actress, Stephanie Okereke Linus welcomes baby boy

 

                                               

&.;

Stephanie Okereke Linus just announced..;that she has..;given birth to a son. Congratulations!!!! The announcement below…

 6  0

 

 

Nigerian ‘local gin’ makers stand firm despite ban

                      
In many parts of southern Nigeria, no traditional ceremony or ritual is complete without a tot or two of locally brewed alcohol or "ogogoro".

"It’s the drink of the elders," said Godwin Masi, a 72-year-old bricklayer in the southern state of Rivers. "The gods also accept it for libation in cultural ceremonies."

Nigerian states have been trying to crack down on the production and consumption of "ogogoro" for months, after dozens of people died earlier this year. Some states imposed a ban on the liquor but enforcement is problematic.

Mechanic Wasiu Adegbite believes any attempt to outlaw the drink is doomed to failure.

"It’s the drink for the poor. With just 20 naira (less than 1c), you get the feel you can never get from other drinks," the 32-year-old told AFP.

"It energises us and improves our productivity at work and enhances our libido. It [a ban] is a sheer waste of time. Let the government focus on other serious national issues.

"Fighting to eliminate ‘ogogoro’ is the least of its problems."


Health effects
"Ogogoro" or locally made gin was banned during British colonial times but legalised after independence in 1960.

Since then, there have been several unsuccessful attempts to outlaw the drink.

The latest comes after 23 people died in April from "ogogoro" believed to have been laced with methanol in Ode-Irele town in southwestern Ondo state.

About 40 others then died in June in Rivers state.

"Many of them [the victims] became blind after consuming the highly concentrated liquor," the Ondo state health commissioner Dayo Adeyanju told AFP.

"Other effects of the liquor consumption are damage to the liver, brain, nervous system and heart. It causes dementia, hypertension and cardio-vascular disease."

But Independence John, sweating profusely from the scorching heat of a wood fire cooking the liquid in a big iron container, isn’t concerned.

"It is safe to drink," said the 22-year-old, taking a sip from a 200-litre drum of "ogogoro".

"It is not dangerous. After distilling, we sell it in its raw form to companies that repackage and sell them to the public."


Molasses and sugar
John abandoned schooling in the Ikorodu area of Lagos and took up a new career by joining a team distilling the drink, which typically has more than 20 percent alcohol by volume.

Police often turn a blind eye. "Policemen come here to collect drinks. We give them to drink. They drink then go back," he added.

Despite this tacit backing – and protection – by law enforcement, distillers are still guarded about their operations.

In Ikorodu the distillery, ripe with an overpowering, sweet smell of fermentation, is strewn with dozens of plastic drums, a generator, pumping machine and hoses criss-crossing the land outside.

Benson Esiekpe said molasses – refined sugar cane – is the main ingredient and is chosen because of its easy availability.

More sugar is then added and the mixture is left to ferment for at least a week.

Then it is poured into a large iron container that can hold up to 8 000 litres. Logs of firewood are burnt to heat up the liquid.

"We allow the vapour to cool through a cooling process. The vapour comes out in trickles and it takes about 30 minutes to fill a drum of 200 litres," said John.

"Thereafter the ‘ogogoro’ is ready for sale to companies, not individual buyers."


‘Propaganda and blackmail’
According to the World Health Organisation, about a quarter of worldwide consumption of alcohol in 2010 was from illegally produced alcohol or alcohol sold outside normal government controls.

Deaths caused by contaminated booze are frequent: 100 people were killed by so-called country liquor laced with methanol in the Indian city of Mumbai earlier this year.

Similar cases have been reported in Kenya while in the past, consumers have died in Cuba, Libya, Ecuador and Pakistan. Poverty and lack of regulation have been blamed.

For the boss of John and Esiekpe’s distillery, who asked not to be identified, lack of oversight is not the cause.

He blamed unfair competition from major drinks companies whose inroads into the Nigerian market have changed Nigerians’ relationship with liquor and made it a multi-billion dollar industry.

"I think what is at . here is the propaganda of those who trade in foreign-made drinks and who try to blackmail, run down and undervalue locally-made ones," he said.

Several multinational drinks majors – SABMiller, Guinness and Heineken to name a few – have set up shop in Nigeria and pursue aggressive marketing. Where once liquor was only taken during ceremonial occasions, there’s been a push for more regular consumption through sponsorship and promotions.

Spirits exporters have also seen a big African boom and analysts frequently cite populous Nigeria – where just over half the people are Muslim – as one of the markets with the highest potential for growth.

Data at Vinexpo, the world’s largest wine and spirts fair in Bordeaux, France, in June said Nigerians spent $700 million on spirits in 2012 and are expected to double that by 2017.

"Government is encouraging locally-made products but discourages the production of ‘ogogoro’. This is pure contradiction," said the distillery boss.

"The ‘ogogoro’ that kills is the one adulterated or laced with ethanol."
Source-Scoopng

My man doesn’t have to be good in bed – Liz Anjorin

                     
Pretty actress, Elizabeth Anjorin, popularly known as Liz, has won for herself fame and popularity through her unique acting talent. The Badagry, Lagosborn belle is the producer of great films such as Iyawo Ojo Kan, Gold and Kofo The First Lady, among others. She surprised many when she went ahead to drop three hot musical singles, a venture that has caused ripples in the entertainment circles. In this interview with our reporter, this unassuming thespian talks on her new venture, career, private life and future plans. Excerpts:

You recently released a couple of songs; why the sudden diversion into the music world?

I’m just trying to work around the entertainment sector, and also trying to give more to my fans. I love acting, singing and dancing. How has the response been so far? Well, I can tell you categorically that people love it. My fans really love it. I’ve been getting good comments from people on the two tracks – Sabadasa and Orombo Mi – and the comments have been very impressive. This has made me to buckle up more, knowing fully that people appreciate hard work and good products.


So what next are we expecting from you in the music world?
At the moment, I’m working on the video shoot of Sabadasa, and don’t forget that the Orombo video, featuring Jhybo, is still making waves. But before I release the Sabadasa video, I’ll be releasing a new song, featuring Pasuma. The title is Owo. Apart from music, what else are you working on? Right now, I’m working on Kofo Playhouse. It’s going to be a comedy soap of a Yoruba character. Shooting will start soon.


These are good things. Are you facing any challenges currently?
I don’t see anything as a challenge because there must be difficult moments. You can’t get everything on a platter of gold. The bad makes you stronger and the good keeps you going. Even if you are working in a bank or a firm, some people may like you while some may be jealous of you. Our main problem in Africa is jealousy. If 95 per cent of people love me and five per cent don’t, I don’t care because the five per cent is insignificant to me. And apart from jealousy, another challenge that entertainers face is piracy


Is it true that you have re-married?
I’ve not remarried. I’m still single but not searching. Who will I marry? Jhybo? Jhybo is my brother. People only thought that I got married again because of the marriage picture we took together in the video shoot of Orombo Mi.


I’m not talking about Jhybo. There was this report that you secretly got married to an Alhaji, which is why you converted to Islam…
No, I didn’t marry any Alhaji anywhere. I’ve been Aisha for long. I’ve been a Muslim for long. But you were born Elizabeth … Yes, you are right. I’m from Badagry, and I was born into the Celestial Church of Christ. But we have Muslims and Christians on my father’s side. My mother is from a Muslim home and I love my mum. I love my dad too, but I chose to practise my mum’s religion about 20 years ago.


What kind of man would you like to settle down with?
Any good man. I’m not the creator; I don’t have hands to create anybody. I love any good man that is hardworking. I don’t care if a man is ugly or handsome; all that I care about is that you should be hardworking and God-fearing.


Some women believe that marrying a super stud brings more satisfaction in marriage; do you also think so?
We all have different opinions. Whether my man is good in bed or not, mine is that I want my man to have a good behaviour and to be hard-working. Okay, what if you marry a sex machine and later on, something happens to him that hinders his performance, will you divorce him? So, you have to take your woman or man as he or she is. Whether good or bad, you have to take them as they are.


From your experience, why is it that most celebrities’ marriages don’t last?
It’s not only celebrities’ marriages that don’t last; it’s everywhere. And the reason for this is that modern technology has separated many homes. Before the advent of the internet, the phones and the social media generally, marriages were not breaking up like this. Today, you have people flaunting their wives and husbands on social media. At every given opportunity, they flaunt what is supposed to be hidden. And when you do this, someone, somewhere, with an ulterior motive, who is looking at those pictures, will start making moves to have him or her. And before you know it, the family is apart. More so, I think many ladies of nowadays are more hardworking. But some good for nothing guys are out there to exploit these ladies under the pretence of marriage. After marriage, both partners will be expecting more from each other; but when both cannot live up to expectations, they part ways. It’s not that artistes don’t have good characters, no! It’s a global menace. Some are not artistes but are extremely wayward.

In all, what do you think is the secret to a successful marriage? There must be trust, and more so, endurance.


You look ageless and beautiful, what’s the secret?
It’s God and good heart. When you have a good heart, you will be younger. When people do good things and you are happy for them, you will be happy too and it will reflect on you. When you don’t harbour resentments, you will be happy. This way, when you eat or take anything, it will work on your body. But if you are the type that is always embittered about things, even when you use all the supplements in this world, it won’t work for you. On a lighter note, I cream my body with a good lotion, eat balanced diet and exercise regularly.


What would you say life has taught you?
So far, so good. Life has taught me that people want you to succeed but they don’t want you to outshine them. I also know that what you keep between you and your God is what you can call a secret.


Are you talking from experience? Have you ever been betrayed?
Betrayal happens everywhere. That’s why you see people saying I don’t have friends. A Yoruba proverb says that even an Ajiroba (the king’s closest chief) wants to become an Oba (king). Such is life and that is what life has taught me. But I thank

Election Tribunal Annuls Wike’s Election, Orders Rerun

                      
The Rivers State Election Petition Tribunal has sacked Nyesom Wike as the Governor of Rivers State.

The tribunal, which delivered its ruling in Abuja on Saturday, also ordered that a fresh governorship election be conducted in the state.

The petition challenging the election of Mr. Wike as Rivers State Governor was filed by Dakuku Peterside, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the election.

The Rivers governorship election, which was criticised by local and international observers, witnessed the largest amount of violence both in its build-up and after the elections.

Why Should A Woman Dress like This To A Public Event?

Ministerial screening: Fresh plot to stop Amaechi thickens

                    
•APC, PDP senators flex muscles

Senators elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) are fuming over fresh plot by their Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) counterparts to stop the Red Chamber from approving the nomination of former River State Governor, Mr. Chubuike Rotimi Amaechi, as minister.


The PDP Senators are understood to have returned to the drawing board to restrategise after Amaechi appeared before the Senate on Thursday for screening.

Amaechi responded to questions from only All Progressives Congress (APC) senators, following the decision of the PDP Senators to abstain from asking him questions because, according to the Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio, "we have just received Senator Samuel Anyawu’s report on the petition on corruption against Amaechi."

This sparked a war of words between Senate Leader Mohammed Ali Ndume and Akpabio.

Amaechi’s screening was delayed until Thursday on account of opposition by the PDP Senators.

Reports from their camp yesterday suggested that they are not prepared to back down from their opposition to Amaechi who defected from the PDP to the APC in 2014 and went on to play a key role in the defeat of the PDP in the last elections.

They are still bitter that Senate President Bukola Saraki ignored the consideration of the Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions report on alleged fraud against Amaechi and called him for screening.

The committee’s report, presented by Chairman of the panel minutes before Amaechi was ushered into the Senate chamber for screening, is said to have recommended that Amaechi be advised to go and clear himself since issues in the petition against him is in court.

It was also gathered that the issue of Amaechi was discussed at a closed door meeting the Senate held before the screening began.

The opposition Senators accused Saraki of breaching Senate rules by side tracking the report, and opted for Amaechi’s screening.

A reliable source in the Senate said: "It was the consensus that Amaechi should be advised to go and clear himself of allegations of fraud, according to the recommendation of the Ethics Committee."

He added: "We believe that Amaechi should not have been screened in the first place.

"That he was screened does not give us a good image especially in the light of the fight against corruption.

"What impression have they created by screening him? What image have they given to the Senate? Are they saying that the petition has no merit?

"These are some of the issues."

The South-South senator said that they met after plenary on Thursday to decide "our next line when the actual confirmation comes up next week."

Their decision is to oppose Amaechi’s confirmation next week.

He noted that "Amaechi has only been screed in fragrant abuse of our rules but he has not been confirmed.

"We will still raise our voice to oppose his confirmation because his screening did not follow due process. The screening cannot past due diligence test."

He said that "even if the Senate President does not mention the report whenever Amaechi’s confirmation comes up, we are going to raise the issue of the report and the consideration of the report because we have the right to be heard."

But an APC senator close to the leadership of the Senate dismissed the PDP Senators’ move to frustrate Amaechi’s confirmation as a non-issue.

The North East lawmaker insisted that "when we get to the bridge we’ll cross it.

"We are not new to all these schemings and attempts to force back the hand of the clock.

"Do the PDP senators you are talking about have the number to block the confirmation of any nominee? Even if we go for division of the house, do they have the number to stop the confirmation of any nominee not just Amaechi?

"Politics remains a game of number and as at today, the APC has the ace in the Senate. Nobody can take that away from us. PDP senators or the party itself cannot stop the confirmation of any nominee because they remain the opposition in the chamber."

He noted that the Senate could not have stopped the screening of Amaechi based on "mere allegation."

Rivers governorship election: Anxiety in Wike’s camp as tribunal delivers judgment today

                  
There is palpable tension in the camp of the Governor of Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike, ahead of the delivery of judgment today in the state’s governorship election filed by the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Dakuku Peterside.

The Rivers State Elections Tribunal is led by Justice Mohammed Ambrosa and has been sitting in Abuja.

The exchange of addresses by counsel to the petitioners—Peterside and the APC—as well as the respondents—Wike, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)—took place on Thursday, with the tribunal adjourning indefinitely for judgment.

Information, however, filtered out in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital yesterday afternoon that the tribunal would deliver judgment in the case at 10 a.m. today.

Some international observers and other stakeholders who monitored the April 11 governorship election in Rivers State, as well as eminent personalities who testified before the tribunal had described the poll as a sham, saying that it was characterised by violence, massive rigging, intimidation of voters and snatching of ballot boxes.

Wike, a former Minister of State for Education, and the Rivers State Chairman of the PDP, Chief Felix Obuah, however, maintained that the election was free, fair, credible, peaceful and violence-free, describing the turnout of the electorate as impressive, massive and unprecedented.

The Publicity Secretary of the PDP in Rivers State, Samuel Nwanosike, said yesterday that he and other members of the PDP in the state were awaiting the tribunal’s judgment, stressing that the lawyers to the Rivers governor, PDP and INEC had done a good job.

Asked what Wike and other members of the PDP in Rivers State would do if the judgment went in favour of the governorship candidate of the APC, he said that it would be subjudice to comment on a matter before a court or tribunal.

On his part, the Publicity Secretary of the APC in Rivers State, Chris Finebone, said he had no comment."

Sanusi to Buhari: why fuel subsidy must go now

 

 The Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi 11 said yesterday that President Muhammadu Buhari should remove the subsidy on fuel if the economy must be saved.
"This fuel subsidy has to go," the former Central Bank governor declared at the All Africa Business Leaders Award West Africa held in Lagos.

Sanusi, who spoke extensively on the state of the economy, said the country can no longer afford the many leakages that have battered the economy over the years.

Quoting CBN figures,he said: "in the first two quarters of this year, this country spent over 500 billion naira on debt servicing. At end of this year, it will be over 1trillion which is more than the amount of money budgeted for health, education and defence combined.

"There is no room in the government’s balance sheet for borrowing and spending. We have no option but to block leakages and to stop non-priority expenditures.

"It is for this reason that we cannot afford to spend all our time talking about the past. It is time to look at what we are doing now and ask ourselves if the fiscal stance and monetary stance are the appropriate stances for the situation we are in.

"Does it make sense at this time for the government to continue paying petroleum subsidy? It does not, and we must say it.

"When you need fiscal consolidation, when you cannot borrow, when you are not earning because oil prices are down, you have to shut down, especially those expense lines that have been known historically to be the sights of those seeking rent.This fuel subsidy has to go."

He also called for the expansion of the tax base and an increase in VAT.

" Our tax base has to expand, VAT have to go up. We can’t continue having an economy where we collect tax from oil companies, collect tax, maybe, from the telecoms companies, and then 60, 70 per cent of the GDP does not pay taxes. This is something that has to be looked at."

He expressed disgust at some of the anomalies in the economy, saying: "we are Africa’s biggest oil producer but the biggest export from the United Kingdom to Nigeria is petroleum products. We don’t refine our own crude. We don’t have a petro-chemical industry. We burn our gas and we don’t have enough electricity.

"We produce cotton and import textiles from China. We have a large tomato belt and we import tomato paste. Everywhere you turn…we produce cassava, we don’t produce starch. And what we don’t have we export. It is so bad that we had a military government that conducted free democratic elections in Liberia. We exported democracy when we had a military government."

Speaking on his personal experience as CBN governor, he said: "The biggest challenge I had as Governor of Central Bank was convincing politicians that there would be a day when we will regret not saving the money when oil price was high. That the leakages in the oil sector could not continue; that oil was a commodity whose price goes up and goes down and when it comes down, if you don’t have the buffers, you are going to suffer.

" It is one of these moments where if you were not a Nigerian, you would say well, I told you so. But you can’t, because it is a very sad story. It is very obvious and it has happened over and over again. You have high oil prices, high oil revenues and you blow the money away, and when oil prices crash, you don’t know how to face the situation.

"In 2009, we had a huge crisis. Oil prices crashed from 140 dollars to less than 40 dollars. That was the time I was coming to the Central Bank. But at that time, the government had a number of advantages. The previous administration had saved a lot. There were physical buffers. The Central Bank and the Ministry of Finance could pursue countless fiscal and monetary policies, even though we had devaluation, even though we had some inflations, even though we dealt with the biggest banking crisis in our history, the economy continued to grow and people continued to be employed.

"The situation today is different. We spent years deceiving ourselves, calling ourselves the 21st biggest economy in the world based on something called rebasing. We said our debt to GDP ratio was 11 per cent and that the ratio looked very good. Yes we had a debt to GDP ratio of 11 per cent, but we were spending 33 per cent of government revenue servicing debts."

Besides,he asked the federal government to devalue the naira and warned that Africa’s biggest economy is in danger of a long term slump unless the government confronts slowing growth.

"Let’s stop being in denial, we cannot artificially hold up the currency," he said.

He said President Muhammadu Buhari, who is against a weakening of the naira, "needs help on the economy."

Under current Governor Godwin Emefiele, Nigeria’s central bank has virtually fixed the exchange rate since March.

Rationing dollars and limiting foreign-exchange trading have stabilized the naira, which has remained at about 198-199 per dollar since declining 8 percent in the first quarter.

The central bank’s moves are hurting the economy, said Sanusi, 54. It expanded 2.35 percent on an annualized basis in the second quarter, the slowest pace since at least 2010.

"We are depriving certain key industries of imports," he said. "If we have to make a choice between economic growth and a devaluation, my recommendation is that we protect growth."

"The portfolio flows are gone," he said. "Inflation is already upon us. You have fiscal consolidation. It is time to loosen monetary policy. Otherwise we compound an exchange rate crisis for businesses with high borrowing costs and declining demand."

Some portfolio investors have withdrawn from Nigeria, with foreign holdings of naira government bonds falling to less than 10 percent of the total from 27 percent in 2013, according to Standard Chartered Plc. In September, JPMorgan Chase & Co. kicked Nigeria out of its local currency emerging markets bond indexes, tracked by more than $200 billion of funds, saying exchange controls made it difficult for international investors to buy and sell naira debt.

Sanusi said ministers acted like "courtiers" under previous administrations and shouldn’t do the same in Buhari’s cabinet.

"I hope people will have the courage to know that loyalty is about telling your boss the truth," he said.

Buhari, who came to power in May, has nominated ministers, although he hasn’t announced their portfolios and the Senate still has to approve them all.

I' ve never taken bribe in my life-Amaechi

                    

Former Rivers Governor Rotimi Amaechi, appeared before the senate for screening as a ministerial nominee, condemning acts of corruption and revealed that had never taken bribe in his life either as a private person or public official.

Amaechi who was asked to define corruption said, "Corruption is very difficult to define. If you are a public officer and you don’t take bribe, I’ve never taken bribe in my life but if they send a girl to you and you sleep with the girl and do her favour, you are corrupt."

According to him, "Corruption is a very wide concept. If people are contesting for a position and you offer your son, brother or sister an opportunity to hold that position, probably the person is not qualified, you are corrupt. So, it is difficult for me to define corruption."

Buhari Appoints Mahmood Yakubu As INEC Chairman

                     
President Muhammadu Buhari has announced a professor of political history and international studies, Mahmood Yakubu, as new chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The appointment which is to be ratified by the senate was made on Wednesday by the president at the council of state meeting in Abuja.

Yakubu, who is a former executive secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund is to take over from the acting chairman of the commission, Amina Zakari.

Following Yakubu’s appointment, Amina Zakari, is now the INEC Commissioner representing the North-West.

Clark, the father; Jonathan, the son, by Reuben Abati

                              
I have tried delaying the writing of this piece in the honest expectation that someone probably misquoted Chief E.K. Clark, when he reportedly publicly disowned former President Goodluck Jonathan. I had hoped that our dear father, E.K. Clark, would issue a counter statement and say the usual things politicians say: "they quoted me out of context!" "Jonathan is my son". That has not happened; rather, some other Ijaw voices, including one Joseph Evah, have come to the defence of the old man, to join hands in rubbishing a man they once defended to the hilt and used as a bargaining chip for the Ijaw interest in the larger Nigerian geo-politics.

If President Jonathan had returned to power on May 29, 2015, these same persons would have remained in the corridors of power, displaying all forms of ethnic triumphalism. It is the reason in case they do not realize it, why the existent power blocs that consider themselves most fit to rule, continue to believe that those whose ancestors never ran empires can never be trusted with power, hence they can only be admitted as other people’s agents or as merchants of their own interests which may even be defined for them as is deemed convenient. Mercantilism may bring profit, but in power politics, it destroys integrity and compromises otherwise sacred values.

President Jonathan being publicly condemned by his own Ijaw brothers, particularly those who were once staunch supporters of his government further serves the purpose of exposing the limits of the politics of proximity. Politics in Africa is driven by this particular factor; it is at the root of all the other evils: prebendalism, clientelism and what Matthew Kukah has famously described as the "myownisation of power". It is both positive and negative, but obviously, more of the latter than the former. It is considered positive only when it is beneficial to all parties concerned, and when the template changes, the ground also shifts. As in that song, the solid rock of proximity is soon replaced by shifting sands. Old worship becomes new opportunism. And the observant public is left confounded.

Chief E.K. Clark? Who would ever think, Chief E.K. Clark would publicly disown President Jonathan? He says Jonathan was a weak President. At what point did he come to that realization? Yet, throughout the five years (not six, please) of the Jonathan Presidency, he spoke loudly against anyone who opposed the President. He was so combative he was once quoted as suggesting that Nigeria could have problems if Jonathan was not allowed to return to office. Today, he is the one helping President Jonathan’s successor to quench the fires. He always openly said President Jonathan is "his son". Today, he is not just turning against his own son, he is telling the world his son as President lacked the political will to fight corruption. He has also accused his son of being too much of a gentleman. Really? Gentlemanliness would be considered honourable in refined circles. Is Pa E.K. Clark recommending something else in order to prove that he is no longer a politician but a statesman as he says?

As someone who was a member of the Jonathan administration, and who interacted often with the old man, I can only say that I am shocked. This is the equivalent of the old man deleting President Jonathan’s phone number and ensuring that calls from his phone no longer ring at the Jonathan end. During the Jonathan years, Chief E. K. Clark was arguably the most vocal Ijaw leader defending the government. He called the President "my son", and both father and son remained in constant touch.

There is something about having the President’s ears in a Presidential system, elevated to the level of a fetish in the clientilist Nigerian political system. Persons in the corridors of power who have the President’s ear- be they cook, valet, inlaws, wife, cousin, former school mates, priests, or whatever, enjoy special privileges. They have access to the President and they can whisper into his ears. That’s all they have as power: the power to whisper and run a whispering campaign that can translate into opportunities or losses for those outside that informal power loop around every Presidency, that tends to be really influential.

Every President must beware of those persons who come around calling them "Daddy", "Uncle", na my brother dey there", "my son", "our in-law": emotional blackmailers relying on old connections. They are courted, patronized and given more attention and honour than they deserve by those looking for access to the President or government. Even when the power and authority of the whispering exploiters of the politics of proximity is contrived, they go out of their way to exaggerate it. They acquire so much from being seen to be in a position to make things happen.

Chief E. K. Clark had the President’s ears. He had unfettered access to his son. He was invited to most state events. And he looked out for the man he called "my son", in whom he was well pleased. Chief Clark’s energy level in the service of the Jonathan administration was impressive. Fearless and outspoken, he deployed his enormous talents in the service of the Jonathan government. If a press statement was tame, he drew attention to it and urged a more robust defence of "your boss". If any invective from the APC was overlooked, he urged prompt rebuttal. If the party was tardy in defending "his son", he weighed in.

If anyone had accused the President of lacking "the political will to fight corruption" at that time, he, E.K. Clark, would have called a press conference to draw attention to the Jonathan administration’s institutional reforms and preventive measures, his commitment to electoral integrity to check political corruption, and the hundreds of convictions secured by both the ICPC and EFCC under his son’s watch. So prominent and influential was he, that ministers, political jobbers etc etc trooped to his house to pay homage.

In due course, those who opposed President Jonathan did not spare Chief E. K. Clark either. He was accused of making inflammatory and unstatesman-like statements. An old war-horse, nobody could intimidate him. He was not President Olusegun Obasanjo’s fan in particular. He believed Obasanjo wanted to sabotage his son, and he wanted Obasanjo put in his place. Beneath all of that, was an unmistaken rivalry between the two old men, seeking to control the levers of Nigerian politics.

Every President probably needs a strong, passionate ally like Chief E. K. Clark. But what happened? What went wrong? Don’t get me wrong. I am not necessarily saying that the Ijaw leader should have remained loyal to and defend Goodluck Jonathan because they are both Ijaws, patriotism definitely could be stronger than ethnic affinities, nonetheless that E. K. Clark tale about leaving politics and becoming a statesman is nothing but sheer crap. If Jonathan had returned to office, he would still be a card-carrying member of the PDP and the "father of the President" and we would still have been hearing that famous phrase, "my son". Chief E. K. Clark, five months after, has practically told the world that President Buhari is better than "his own son".

It is the worst form of humiliation that President Jonathan has received since he left office. It is also the finest compliment that President Buhari has received since he assumed office. The timing is also auspicious: just when the public is beginning to worry about the direction of the Buhari government, E. K. Clark shows up to lend a hand of support and endorsement. Only one phrase was missing in his statement, and it should have been added: "my son, Buhari." It probably won’t be too long before we hear the old man saying "I am a statesman, Buhari is my son." I can imagine President Obasanjo grinning with delight. If he really wants to be kind, he could invite E.K. Clark to his home in Ota or Abeokuta to come and do the needful by publicly tearing his PDP membership card and join him in that exclusive club of Nigerian statesmen! The only problem with that club these days is that you can become a member by just saying so or by retiring from partisan politics. We are more or less being told that there are no statesmen in any of the political parties.

It is not funny. Julius Ceasar asked Brutus in one of the famous lines in written literature: "Et tu Brutus?" President Jonathan should ask Chief E. K. Clark: "Et tu Papa?" To which the father will probably tell the son: "Ces’t la vie, mon cher garcon." And really, that is life. In the face of other considerations, loyalties vanish; synergies collapse. The wisdom of the tribe is overturned; the politics of proximity dissolves; loyalties remain in a perpetual process of construction. Thus, individual interests and transactions drive the political game in Nigeria, with time and context as key determinants.

These are teachable moments for President Jonathan. Power attracts men and women like bees to nectar, the state of powerlessness ends as a journey to the island of loneliness. However, the greatest defender of our work in office is not our ethnic "fathers and "brothers" but rather our legacy. The real loss is that President Jonathan’s heroism, his messianic sacrifice in the face of defeat, is being swept under the carpet and his own brothers who used to say that the Ijaws are driven by a principle of "one for all and all for another", have become agent-architects of his pain. The Ijaw platform having seemingly been de-centered, Chief E.K. Clark and others are seeking assimilation in the new power structure. It is a telling reconstruction of the politics of proximity and mimicry.

Chief E.K. Clark once defended the rights of ethnic minorities to aspire to the highest offices in the land, his latest declaration about his son reaffirms the existing stereotype at the heart of Nigeria’s hegemonic politics. The same hegemons and their agents whom Clark used to fight furiously will no doubt find him eminently quotable now that he has proclaimed that it is wrong to be a "gentleman", and that his son lacks "the political will to fight corruption". There is more to this than we may ever know. Chief Clark can insist from now till 2019, that he has spoken as a statesman and as a matter of principle. His re-alignment, is curious nonetheless.

 

Associated Airline Plane Crash: Deji Falae’s Wife Demands N245.5 Million For Husband’s Death

                   
The widow and children of Deji Falae, a son of one of Nigeria’s former Finance Ministers, Olu Falae, are demanding N245.5 million from Associated Airlines and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) over the death of their bread winner in a plane crash.

In a lawsuit, the widow, Ese Lynn Falae, and her three children stated that their demand represents compensation for the earnings Mr. Deji Falae would have made over the next 15 years less living expenses, cash discount and the statutory limit of one hundred thousand dollars.

Olajide Oyewole filed the statement of claim on behalf of the plaintiffs at a Federal High Court in Lagos. Apart from the late Falae’s widow, the other plaintiffs are Ayomide Falae, a 15-year old student at Day Waterman College in Abeokuta, Omowonuola Falae, a 13-year-old girl, and Oreoluwa Falae, a 7-year old pupil at Corona Schools in Lagos.

Deji Falae, whose father, Mr. Olu Falae was recently freed by abductors who demanded and received a significant ransom, was 42 years old at the time of his death on October 3, 2013. A lawyer by training, he died in an aircraft owned by Associated Airline that was conveying the remains of former Governor Olusegun Agagu from Lagos to Akure, the Ondo State capital, for burial. At the time of his death, he was the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism in Ondo State.

Apart from his legal practice, the late Falae also owned a construction firm named West-One Resources Limited.

In addition to Deji Falae, staff of a funeral company, some members of former Governor Agagu’s family and staff of the airline also lost their lives when the plane crashed shortly after takeoff at 9.32 a.m. on October 3, 2013.

The lawsuit asserts that the aircraft crashed due to the defendants’ wrongful acts, neglect or default.

According to the lawsuit, some of the defendants breached their statutory duties by allowing Associated Aviation Nigeria Limited to operate its ill-fated Flight 361 in a manner that endangered the lives of passengers and indeed caused the death of Mr. Falae. The plaintiffs claim that the NCAA’s delinquency enabled the airline to fly without procuring a legally binding insurance policy covering its liability under Nigerian law as well as its liabilities for damages that may be sustained by third parties such as the plaintiffs.

The lawsuit stated that the deceased made N10 million annually from his law firm practice at the time of his death, adding that he received N5 million annually as a commissioner in Ondo State. The lawsuit also listed the deceased’s income from his construction firm at N20 million. It added that                           
The widow stated that the late Falae paid rent on a five-bedroom duplex at Dolphin Estate, Lagos where he and his family lived until his untimely death, adding that the burden of paying the rent had fallen on her since her husband’s death. She added that, if he had not died, Mr. Falae would have paid the school fees for their children till the completion of their education.
The lawsuit also stated that the late Falae used to pay for the plaintiffs’ vacation outside Nigeria every year.
The lawsuit disclosed that the plaintiffs spent N2.5 million on the funeral of Mr. Deji Falae on November 14, 2013. In addition, they incurred legal fees of N5 million in prosecuting the current lawsuit, they stated.

The lawsuit urged the court to declare the defendants culpable in the death of Deji Falae. They are also petitioning the court to award N108.5 million, £160,740, and $19,000 against the defendants.

In its own statement, Associated Aviation Nigeria Limited described the lawsuit as gold digging. Represented by the law firm of M.A. Bashua, the airline denied the plaintiffs’ claims that the airline was negligent in the handling of the plane that crashed.
A sworn statement by the airline’s Chief Operating Officer, Taiwo Raji, declared that the doomed aircraft had nothing wrong with it at the time of takeoff, adding that it never developed any mechanical fault.

Declaring that the plaintiffs were neither aviation experts nor the statutory body responsible for investigating airline accidents, the airline argued that there was no evidence before the court to prove negligence on its part.

According to the airline, the plaintiffs were not qualified to claim damages under common law, the Fatal Accidents Act 1846 and Fatal Incidents law of Lagos State.

The defendants also stated that Mr. Deji Falae’s widow had picked up agreement forms to receive initial immediate payments of thirty thousand dollars, adding that she had failed to return the forms with necessary documentation establishing her relationship with the deceased.

In addition, the defendant contended that the plaintiffs were not entitled to the reliefs they were seeking since they were not legitimate administrators of the estate of the late Mr. Deji Falae. The defendants’ attorneys asked the court to dismiss the lawsuit and award substantial costs against the plaintiffs for bringing a case that was frivolous and lacked merit.

The court adjourned further hearing till November 4, 2015.

Source: SaharaReporters

FCMB, Peugeot Automobile Launch Customer-Friendly Auto Acquisition Scheme

                    
Nigerians who desire to own any of the latest brands of Peugeot cars without hassles now have an opportunity to do so. This is because, First City Monument Bank Limited (FCMB) Limited and Peugeot Automobile Nigeria (PAN) have launched an auto finance and acquisition scheme. The development is part of efforts of the Bank to help individuals, (including the self-employed) and employees of organisations, corporate bodies and institutions within the public and private sectors, become car owners in convenient manner.

Under the scheme, which was unveiled on Thursday (October 15, 2015) in Abuja, qualified customers of FCMB would be able to own a brand new Peugeot for a low as N80,367.68 under a monthly repayment plan up to five years. The new generation Peugeot brands on offer in the scheme, with varied monthly instalment payments, are the 301 ranges (Access, Active, Allure PRS, LXP); the 308 models (Allure Executive and Allure PRS); the 3008 (Active and Active LXP); 4008 and 508 (Active and Access).

Speaking at the launch of the alliance in Abuja on Thursday (October 15, 2015), the Regional Director, Abuja and North of FCMB, Mr. Lukman Mustapha, said that the partnership is a value-added consumer loan offering aimed at expanding the scope of vehicle ownership in the country. He added, ‘’we have designed this scheme to enhance the lifestyle of our existing and potential customers through discounted pricing, flexible repayment and other benefits associated with it’’.

Mustapha stated that as an inclusive lender with a strong retail franchise, FCMB is committed to create opportunities for not just its customers, but all segments of the society in line with its values as a simple, reliable and helpful financial institution.

Also commenting on the auto finance alliance, FCMB’s Divisional Head, Retail Banking, Mr. Olu Akanmu, explained that apart from the flexible and convenient repayment plans, the scheme offers many more benefits. Among these are free vehicle registration and tracking, 3-year extended vehicle maintenance service, discounted insurance premium and discounted interest rate.

Mr. Akanmu assured that, ‘’throughout the period of this scheme, our customers who sign-on will not have to worry about releasing bulk cash to acquire a brand new Peugeot vehicle. With this offering, they will be able to meet other needs at the same time’’.

On his part, the Managing Director/Chief Executive of Peugeot Automobile Nigeria (PAN), Mr. Ibrahim Boyi, said that the auto maker is excited to partner FCMB to make the acquisition of vehicles easier for Nigerians. ‘’This is a partnership between two notable and viable brands. The auto finance scheme offers new evolutions of Peugeot cars that are durable, provides safety, comfort and fully adapted to Africa’s climate’’, he stated.

While advising potential beneficiaries of the scheme to live within their means and, ‘’avoid abusing the credit facility which the Bank will provide to them’’, Mr. Boyi expressed optimism that, ‘’many Nigerians will take advantage of this opportunity to become car owners’’.

FCMB has over the years partnered leading automobile firms to finance vehicle ownership schemes. For instance, the Bank in collaboration with Hyundai Motors has introduced a car ownership scheme known as the ‘’Power of 2’’ to help Nigerians procure new generation Hyundai cars of their choice without necessarily paying the full value of the car in one fell swoop. The incentives associated with this initiative ranges from comprehensive insurance cover for the loan tenor, free registration, free maintenance service for six months/10,000kms and a free tracking devise.

FCMB and Dana Motors Limited also launched an auto alliance scheme last year under which qualified customers were able to own brand new KIA for a low as N47,400.00. All these are in line with the commitment of the Bank to distinguish itself by delivering exceptional services, while enhancing the growth and achievement of personal and business aspirations of its customers.

First City Monument Bank (FCMB) Limited is a member of FCMB Group Plc, which is one of the leading financial services institutions in Nigeria with subsidiaries that are market leaders in their respective segments.

Senate recieves Buhari 's ministerial nominees second list

 Fresh information coming in has revealed that President Muhammadu Buhari has forwarded a second batch of ministerial nominees to the Senate.
Mr. Buhari sent the list this afternoon.

The Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari, submitted the list to the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki.

The president had, on Thursday, September 30, sent the first batch which comprised 21 nominees.

The second batch, according to a source, has 15 names.

The Nigerian Constitution requires at least one minister to be named from each of the 36 states of the federation.

Details of National Team Peace Meeting With Vincent Enyeama In Belgium

   

                

 Vincent Enyaema, Amaju Pinnick, Seyi Akinwunmi, Shehu Dikko
Vincent Enyeama returned to Belgium (Brussels) early yesterday (Saturday) and met with NFF leadership to discuss all issues. He was remorseful and stated really what irked him was the removal as captain without first having a private conversation with the coach which is what he expected.
His attention was drawn to the fact that when he was appointed captain neither the coach or NFF had any private conversation with him thus this shouldn't be an issue as a professional. Serious advice were offered to guide him going forward and the decision of the coach including how the coach intervened on behalf of Enyeama to get the NFF to drop the disciplinary hearing after the Kaduna issues were all explained to him.
Enyeama too offered his own side. He has realized his mistakes and he has spoke to coach Oliseh (via phone as the team was in a different hotel). They both laughed over the issues. Enyeama indeed expressed his firm commitment for the good of Nigeria and has confirmed that his interest is to support/motivate the young ones in the team and thus he has been speaking to AHMED Musa to advise/guide him in his new role as captain to ensure the team does well.
After all seemed settled and everyone was laughing, they had lunch and Enyeama returned to France (note it's about 3-4 hours drive or less, from France to Belgium depending on the city) and promised to make a decision soon whether to call off his retirement or not.
The NFF big wigs also spoke to his wife via Skype and thanked her for being by her husband.They also invited her and Enyeama back to Belgium today to watch the Cameroon game at NFF cost, all as part of the process to smoothen issues.
(Source: one of the attendees)
In conclusion, the door to the national team is still open to Enyeama but strictly under the coach terms, and with Ahmed Musa remaining captain. - Credit: George Iniabasi Essien.