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Uri Ngozichukwuka, the resolute and articulate crusader advocate for inclusion of people with disabilities, is one of Nigeria’s most prolific campaigners for the rights of people with albinism, the often-misunderstood, inherited condition characterized by abnormally light skin, eyes, and hair, limited vision, and extreme sensitivity to the sun.

Uri Ngozichukwuka has been helping Nigerians with disabilities through her foundation, Empathy-Driven Women Initiative International (EDWIIN), a leading Nigerian non-governmental organization, with evidence of immeasurable impacts in Nigeria’s course of equal treatment of People Living With Disability, PLWDs

This year, the foundation focuses on people with albinism, and educate the people with the condition get an education, protect themselves from harmful ultraviolet rays, and fight pervasive myths and stigmas, including false beliefs, propagated by rogue witch doctors, that albino body parts can bring good luck or fortune.

Over the last decade, these superstitions have led to a wave of grisly albino killings, dismemberments, and even grave robberies. At least over 100 Nigerian albinos have been murdered, while others have survived attacks, often with severe mutilations.

She convened over 500 people with albinism, on Saturday, September 14, 2019 at the Palms Mall in Lekki, Lagos for the third episode of the annual EDWINUVCARE, a movement that focus on the advocacy for wholesome inclusion of Nigerians with disabilities, and embracing all forms of physical imperfections that may be tagged as odd.

This year’s program also raised the public awareness about the new Disability Act that was signed by President Muhammadu Buhari on the 23rd of January, 2019.

Speaking at the event, Professor Fabamwo, a renowned Obstetrician and Gynacologist, and the Chief Medical Director LASUTH, discussed “The disabled, the law, his health”.

The medical expert, discussed the need to educate locals on albinism’s causes, debunk its many stigmas, and promote the well-being of the albino community, has already touched on the condition’s genetics, the recent attacks, and the many dehumanizing myths.
He also highlights policies and acts that have been passed and formulated by the Federal Government and the State to credit ample of preference for the people with disabilities at the state and federal level

He sighted that the key provision of this Act is that Persons with Disability are entitled to free medical care in every government-owned medical facility in Nigeria. Sadly, though, this key Provision has so far been observed only in the breach, as many Persons with Disability have been unable to access medical attention at these facilities without having to pay huge sums of money. He however, educated the participants on the procedure to benefit from the provisions.


He sighted cases of popular legends who were born with Disabilities but lived exemplary lives and became part of world history, sighting cases of Frida, Hobert Newton, Stevie Wonder and so on.

EDWIIN had in March, 2018 organized a Medical Fair of this kind to mark the 2018 International Year for Women. Then, as now, it enjoyed the active cooperation of the Lekki Palms management, which not only provided the venue, but also supported the event on many levels.

During the medical fair, EDWIIN provided special glasses and other aids to Persons Living with Albinism.
Mrs. Angela Emuwa, the current President of the Autism Parents Association of Nigeria, and Executive Director of the Punch Group of Newspapers, who serves as the Chairperson of the Day. I believe that people with disabilities are nor well recognized in the society, and I want that to change. I bekieve we are all the sane before God.

“I have a son with autism and I know what it’s like, but I don’t allow anybody to intimidate me, I just go out there and make sure that he’s accepted wherever he goes. So I love to associate with this kind of this because I believe that we need to wake up to the fact that people are different, so we all have to accept and understand our difference.

“While she commended the government for the approved disability act, she urged the general public to consider people with disability as human and to embrace them. This venture will make people realize we are all one, and I expect that this program will increase the awareness.

The annual event has in the past years enjoy the selfless support of The Palms Lekki, which has been making provision for venue for the EDWIIN programs
Unilever also supported with products which are made available for all participants
Zenith Bank provided glasses for PLWDs who have sight challenges, umbrellas sunscreens Omanama fabrics for runway, and Essenza beauty box for makeup.
Other sponsors include, Punch, Vanguard, The eye doctors TED, Dermatology Society Of Lagos
LASODA, Albinism Awareness Society, and LASUTECH.

Representing the Dermatology society of Lagos Dermatoligists from the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi araba include
Dr Ayesha Akinkugbe, Dr Erere Otrofanowei, Dr Oluwatoyin Adekanmbi-Akinsiku, Dr Cynthia Ebie, Dr Obumneke Ezeanyache
The EDWIIN Uvcare 2019 had a team of distinguished doctors from the dermatologist society of Lagos led by Dr Ayesha Akinkugbe. This the second time the society is partnering with EDWIIN for the Uvcare program.

They immediately set about their duties once they arrived and attended to all persons living with albinism. They further demonstrated to the patients best way to apply the SPF 50 sunscreen. Albinism affects the skin due to zero melanin they are more prone to skin cancers caused by the ultra violet rays of the sun. EDWIIN donated over 150 tubes of SPF 50 sunscreens.

The eye doctors team TED a leading eye specialist centre in Lagos owned by Dr Oyeleye was led by Dr Marigold. Albinism also affects the eyes giving them permanent low vision. They had eye care and those needing medicated glasses were pencilled down for onward collection when ready.

First impression Hair Salon team were on ground to work wonders with the wonderful hair of persons with albinism. Albinism also affects the hair. The EDWIIN Uvcare 2019 like all other EDWIIN events was well thought out. Planned and properly executed. It was a very caring atmosphere for guests, speakers, participants and beneficiaries. Indeed EDWIIN cares.

FELAMOK HR is a Human Resource company that is focused on human capital management, outsourcing and business consulting.

The company has been reiterated by many industry experts as one of the best in the country.

Since its establishment, many of its clients attest the unique ability to consistently adopt a thorough approach in understanding their peculiar needs and properly deploying innovative solutions to meet those needs.

The good news is, FELAMOK has established a partnership with Opay, a new and innovative on-demand , one-stop mobile-based platform for payment, transportation, food & grocery delivery, and other important services in everyday life., and shall be recruiting for all its platforms

FELAMOK is expected to recruit for the International brand on all fronts and shall be kicking off its recruitment trainings and interviews from Saturday, September 14, 2019.

See details below;

FELAMOK HR is still recruiting for OPay-OFood Nigeria. OPay Nigeria recently invested 50 Million USD in Nigeria.

We have successfully implemented OPay Money and Oride Platforms. We are rolling out OFood internet Application.

Interested SSCE, ND, HND, BSC applicants eager to work with O’Food Nigeria should attend the recruitment training and interviews.

ND and SSCE:

Marketers 60K

HND and BSC:

Marketing Managers 120K

Business Developers 100K

Business Development Managers 150K

Key Account Managers 150K

Brand Assistants 100K

Brand Representatives 100K

DATES

Saturday: 14/09/2019

Monday:

16/09/2019

Tuesday:

17/09/2019

Wednesday:

18/09/2019

VENUE:

OFood Centre:

Alexander House

Opposite Japaul House

Otunba Jobi Fele Way, Alausa, Ikeja

Ask for Felamok HR staff at the venue for adequate documentation.

For residents of Lagos state only.

Our module is to have our workers work in the OFood Zone closest to thier residences. We have zoned Lagos state into 8 zones for easy outreach for our staff. No matter where you live in Lagos state, you ll work in the zone closest to you.

For example, applicants from V.I, Ikoyi, Lekki, Ajah, Epe, Lagos Island, Awoyaya, Obalende, CMS etc will work at the OFood Zone on Lagos Island.

Ogba, Ojodu, Agbado, Ojota etc will work at the OFood Zone in Ikeja.

Same applies to all areas in Lagos state including Ikorodu, Epe, Badagry etc

Call FELAMOK HR MANAGER on

08060916076

08104636277

08022725736

All roads shall lead to The Palms at Lekki, Lagos on Saturday, September 14, 2019 as the annual EDWINUVCARE shall be hosting ample of disabled persons and concerns Nigerians to discuss the way forward in the mandatory inclusion of handicapped into the society and embracing all forms of physical imperfections that may be tagged as odd.


Speaking at the event shall be Professor Fabamwo, the Chief Medical Director LASUTH. He shall be the keynote speaker at the EDWIINUVcare 2019, and will be discussing "The disabled, the law, his health"



Prof. Adetokunbo O. Fabamwo is big name in the medical field. He is an academic as well as Clinical Obstetrician and Gynaecologist.



He is a Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja and Professor at the Lagos State University College of Medicine.



Vast experience as a clinician working in secondary and tertiary maternity units in the Lagos State health system.



Switched to an academic career about ten years ago even though since qualification with Fellowships in Obstetrics and Gynaecology in 1986 had kept quite close to the academic community. This was achieved by active participation in the Fellowship examinations of the National Postgraduate Medical College and the West African College of Surgeons. In addition ensuring that research work and publication of papers were done.



Passionate about Reproductive Health especially maternal mortality reduction.

Carried out with other colleagues in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, LASUTH, a widely acclaimed pioneering work on a novel way of treating uterine fibroids by carrying out uterine artery ligation. This was done and reported for the first time in the world by the team in Ikeja.



One of the publications ensuing from the work in the International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology ( the FIGO journal) won the 2005 John Sciarra award for the best scientific work from the developing world.



Also participated in the nationwide trial of the anti shock garment which subsequently led to its adoption as one of the armatorium of interventions to combat obstetric haemorrhages.



Also worked with the subSaharan Cervical Cancer Working Group to develop an African protocol for the use of the cervical cancer vaccine.



Currently involved with the National Near Miss and Maternal Mortality Network, a multi centre syndicate studying the pattern of near misses and maternal mortality in selected Nigerian tertiary maternity units.





Empathy-Driven Women Initiative International (EDWIIN), is a leading Nigerian non-governmental organization, with evidence of immesurable impacts in Nigeria’s course of equal treatment of people with disability.



It has disclosed the programme for the 3rd in its series of Medical Fairs for Persons with Disability, to be held in Lagos, Nigeria. The event, which is to take place on the 14th of September, 2019 at the prestigious Lekki Palms Shopping Complex from 9.00 am, is aimed at reviving and energizing the conversation and raise public awareness about the new Disability Act that was signed by President Muhammadu Buhari on the 23rd of January, 2019.



The key provision of this Act is that Persons with Disability are entitled to free medical care in every government-owned medical facility in Nigeria. Sadly, though, this key Provision has so far been observed only in the breach, as many Persons with Disability have been unable to access medical attention at these facilities without having to pay huge sums of money.



The theme of this year’s event is, 'Disability and Free Health Care: Hope in the Horizon?'



It will be recalled that EDWIIN organized a Medical Fair of this kind on the 8th of March 2018, to mark the 2018 International Year for Women. Then, as now, it enjoyed the active cooperation of the Lekki Palms management, which not only provided the venue, but also supported the event on many levels.



During its First Medical Fair in 2017, EDWIIN provided special glasses and other aids to Persons Living with Albinism.



According to the Convener of the event and Founder of EDWIIN, Uri Ngozichukwuka, the 3rd Medical Fair for Persons with Disability, which is being held in conjunction with the Albinism Awareness Society and the Eye Doctors and Dermatology Society of Lagos, is in furtherance of EDWIIN's advocacy for the enlightenment of the public on the urgent imperative for the enforcement of key provisions of the Disability Act by relevant authorities, for its observance by the medical institutions concerned, and for greater concern and vigilance by members of the public. EDWIIN is using the Medical Fair to highlight the importance of this issue, and its impact both for both the public in general, and for Persons with Disability in particular.



The Fair programme boasts a rich and varied menu of activities, ranging from a UVCare Health and Wellness session, a demonstration of 'Ability in Disability' by EDWIIN beneficiaries, and entertainment. Other activities include a session at the great and inspiring Safari Fitness Club - courtesy of Mrs. Angela Emuwa - which opens the programme, as well as a Runway Fashion Parade and a Drama Performance.



The event will also feature presentations and discussions by a rich and formidable faculty of influential and knowledgeable personalities, notable among them Mrs. Angela Emuwa, the current President of the Autism Parents Association of Nigeria, and Executive Director of the Punch Group of Newspapers, who serves as the Chairperson of the Day. Princess Teni Aifoyebi will be the Mother of the Day. Other notable attendees are Mrs. Rose Mordi, President of the Down's Syndrome Foundation of Nigeria and a Mentor for EDWIIN;



Air Vice-Marshall Marshall Femi Gbadebo will serve as the Grand Patron of the Day. The Special Guest of Honour at the event will be Dr. Saliu Oseni, the President of the Lagos State Chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), while the Keynote Address will be delivered by the Chief Medical Director of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Professor Adetokunbo Fabamwo.



The public is advised to adhere strictly to the dress code, which is a pair of Blue Jeans with a White Top. In addition, ladies are advised to sport a Blond or Gold or Honey Hairpiece.

#AlbinismRocks

#Edwiinuvcare

#HealthForAll

#EDWIINCares

Guaranty Trust Bank faced a worse revenue picture in the second quarter than the tight situation it experienced in the first quarter. Gross earnings reversed a 1.3 percent upward creep in the first quarter to a 2.7 percent decline at half year operations in June 2019. The bank is unable to push up revenue for the third year running and gross earnings seem to be headed for the worst growth record in three years at the end of this year.

The bank’s management is however maintaining and even reinforcing its strategy of squeezing costs to defend profit. That has been its response to revenue weakness since 2017 when it lifted net profit a clear 27 percent from a flat growth of 1.1 percent in gross earnings. The same happened in 2018 when profit grew by 10 percent from a 3.8 percent gain in revenue.

Decelerating profit is however the price the bank is paying for inability to achieve a healthy growth in revenue. Profit improvement has slowed down further to 3.7 percent as at the end of June 2019. This presents a warning signal that slowing profit may soon swing to the other side of a drop if the revenue weakness persists.

Cutting costs is increasing the ability to convert revenue into profit. The bank’s net profit margin reached a rare record in the world of banking at 44.7 percent at the end of the first quarter. It pushed it up further to a new high of 45.6 percent in the second quarter. This is the only way for management to keep profit from falling in the constrained revenue situation facing the bank.

Revenue weakness continues to come from interest earnings – the main revenue line of the bank. Continuing the drop recorded in the first quarter, interest income went down by 8 percent year-on-year to N149 billion at half year. This means a loss of N13 billion in earnings over the review period. The weakness has been on since last year when interest income went down by 6 percent.

Fees/commissions and other incomes remained the revenue stabilizers for the bank at the end of half year operations. Fees/commission income accelerated from 22 in the first quarter to 29 percent at half year but other income slowed down considerably from 67 percent to 13 percent over the same period. The slowdown accounted for the shift from a marginal improvement in gross earnings in the first quarter to a decline at the end of half year operations.

The bank’s half year audited accounts show gross earnings of N222 billion – which represents a decline of 2.7 percent year-on-year. The full year revenue expectation is N427 billion for GTB in 2019 – an expected decline of about 2 percent. Gross earnings had improved by 3.8 percent to N435 billion at the end of 2018.
Interest cost has reinforced the favourable behaviour observed in the first quarter. It extended its year-on-year drop from 23 per cent in the first quarter to 25 percent at half year – more than three times the drop in interest income. The drop almost neutralized the impact of the drop in interest income on the income statement of the bank.



The proportion of interest income claimed by interest expenses remained down from over 27 percent at the end of 2018 to 22 percent at the end of June this year. This again prevented a wide decline in net interest income at the end of the period.



A major development in the second quarter is that a sharp drop of over 60 percent in loan impairment charges in the first quarter has changed to a growth of 8 percent at the end of the second quarter. GTB recorded sharp drops in loan loss expenses for the last two years but the prospects for another drop this year have dimmed.



The bank closed half year trading with an after tax profit of over N99 billion, making an uptick from a 3.6 percent improvement in the first quarter to a 3.7 percent growth year-on-year at the end of June 2019. This remains a continuing slowdown from annual growth records of 29 percent in 2017 and 10 percent in 2018. Despite the slowdown, the bank is managing to keep profit improving against a decline in revenue by holding costs under control.



Read more here>>
https://insidebusiness.ng/83522/gtb-heading-for-worse/#.XWixb2vj-KA.whatsapp

GOV. YAHAYA BELLO AND THE NEW DIRECTION TOWARDS 2023

On behalf of Adavi/Okehi Constituency and the entire people of Kogi State, Hon. Joseph Asuku Bello, Federal Lawmaker at the 9th National Assembly extends his congratulatory message to His Excellency, Executive Governor of Kogi State Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello on the outstanding landslide victory in the just concluded gubernatorial primary election.
It is believed that with the result of the primaries, as conducted by trusted and reliable committee members of our revered party, the good people of Kogi have spoken, and have done so loudly

“The emergence of H.E, Gov. Yahaya Bello will allow the continuation of the purposeful and people-centred administration in Kogi, which he had started since 2015".

We have no doubt that he is still capable of carrying on the banner of making Kogi an enviable Centre of Business based on the existing roadmap he had drawn so far

“He has equally proved his mettle in the public and private sector in the previous positions he occupied, and has inspired many youths to actively participate in progressive politics".

Kogi State is very lucky to have Gov. Yahaya Bello as the governor at this time, and the next 4 years of prospective economic engineering.

Hon. Joseph Asuku Bello extends his hearty congratulations and pledge his unflinching support at the gubernatorial poll in November, 2019.

Once again, Sir, Congratulations.

Signed:

Hon. Joseph Asuku Bello
Adavi/Okehi Federal Constituency

Fastforward, which is Nigeria’s number one-stop-shop for high- quality Sports Brands is set to unveil their New Multi-Brand Flagship Store in Lagos.
FastForward is collaborating with a number of major Sports Brands, including Nike, Adidas, Converse, Reebok, New Balance and many more, in delivering authentic Sporting Apparel, Footwear & Accessories for the Nigerian market.
FastForward is set to reveal the news on Friday, August 23, 2019, at The Ikeja City Mall, Lagos amidst glitz and glamour. Confirming news to reporters, SmartMark’s General Manager, Oluseyi Falodun said:
“FastForward is excited and proud to launch this unique Sport’s Store in collaboration with the Best sport brands in the world as part of our ongoing mission to take over the sports brand market in West Africa”.
“We are known for our value in delivering the latest quality Performance and Lifestyle Sportswear for men and women. Our range includes tops, bottoms & footwear that cut across Football, Running, Basketball and Lifestyle Categories”.
“You’ll want to clear some space in your closet for your next purchase from the 23rd of August, 2019”. You can also visit our stores at Palms Mall, Lekki Lagos; Ikeja city mall, Ikeja Lagos; Novare Mall, Sangotedo Lagos; Adeniran Ogunsanya mall, Surulere Lagos; Jabi lake Mall, Abuja; Ceddi plaza, Abuja; and Portharcourt Mall, Portharcourt, shop online @www.fastforwardstores.com OR Call: 07031758488

Coalition of Political oppositions in Kwara has raised concerns over the alleged moves by the Counsels to the Governor of Kwara State, Alhaji Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq and the All Progressive Congress, (APC), with the support of the senior officials at the West Africa Examination Council, (WAEC) to frustrate the judicial process in the on-going election petition tribunal sitting in Ilorin.

The counsel to the petitioner, Abdulwahab Bamidele, in the statement released to journalists on Monday, June 17, 2019, noted that the trivial and frivolities adopted by the defendant is a pointer that the APC, lacks genuine evidences to present to the court and therefore trying mechanism to delay proceedings and tamper justice.

Recall that the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) and the Action Alliance, (AA) have dragged Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq to the election petition tribunal challenging the authenticity of his WAEC certificate which he submitted along with other documents to contest the March 9, 2019 governorship election in the state.

The Chairman of Election Petition Tribunal, Justice Bassey Effiong on Thursday adjourned to Friday to enable a representative of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) to present evidence of the writ commanding him to appear in court in order to confirm the authenticity of the document.

He gave the order, after PDP counsel, Paul Erokoro, SAN, requested the tribunal to stand down the case for Mr. Waheed Amode, the WAEC Branch Controller for the state to present evidence of the subpoena, proving that he was asked to represent the examination body.
Mr Bamidele added that there are claims that the officials of the West African Examination Council (WAEC) in Lagos which the tribunal mandated to produce the subpoena missed their flight to Ilorin on Friday morning.

Justice Bassey Effiong therefore adjourned the sitting to July 9, 2019 in order to enable the WAEC officials appear and confirm the authenticity of the Certificate presented by the Governor of Kwara State, Alhaji Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq.

Mr Bamidele disclosed to Journalists that all the moves by WAEC officials is an attempt to frustrate the judicial process and exhaust the time-band for the argument of the case in order to favour the respondents.
“We urge the general public to follow the process with keen interest in order to ensure that justice, and good governance prevails in the nation”, they said. Furthermore, it was added WAEC should be careful that their credibility as an international examining body is not tarnished in the quest to corruptly protect the interest of one individual.

WAEC's reputation in Nigeria is already shaky with reports of widespread cheating at examination centres and individuals parading fake results. If this sad situation is not addressed quickly, WAEC certificates will soon lose their value internationally - to the detriment of countless honest, dedicated and hardworking individuals”, he said.

The lawmaker representing Okehi/Adevi federal constituency, Honorable Joseph Asuku Bello has assured the people of Kogi, and Nigerians at large that the 9th assembly will deliver on all its promises made during the campaign period. He made this known in his acceptance speech while speaking to Journalists on Friday, June 11, 2019, as he thanked the executive Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Adaza Bello, for creating enabling political environment for youths to participate in the politics of the state, both at local and federal level.

He also thanked every indigene of Okehi/Adavi local government for their unwary support and commitment to ensure his emergence as their legislative leader at the Federal House of Representative.
The statement reads’,


Today, we have just performed the sacred duty of oath-taking as lawmakers of the 9th assembly. It has pleased God through the good people of Adavi/Okehi, that my mission to serve is being realised.

I am eternally grateful to all of you. To all Ebira people the young and elderly, widows, physically-challenged; girls and boys, and especially, the children; who followed our musical campaign with vigour; God bless you all.

Permit me to acknowledge and appreciate specially all the voters that voted for me; I equally appreciate those that did not. We are all winners. One of the instructive lessons from this last election is for all politicians never to take our people for granted again. I would, more than ever before; take you, the good people of Ebira, along with me, in this journey of renewed hope and prosperity at all times.

My appreciation goes to all our elder statesmen and women including all our senior indigenes. To all our religious leaders, I say thank you.
I must not fail to acknowledge the students, artisans, professionals, the business community, thank you very much.

From the bottom of my heart, I greet all our traditional rulers, our Royal Fathers, Chiefs and their wives. I thank you all.

To our Party Leaders and all members of our great party, The All Progressives Congress (APC); today belongs to you all. Our elected Officers, the Distinguished Senators, Honourable Members of the House of Representatives and Members of the House of Assembly; congratulations and thank you.

To my family, words are not enough; My parents, who are here today, thank you for being a very caring parent to me. All my uncles, brothers and sisters; I appreciate you. To my lovely wife, Irene, thank you so much for your sacrifices and perseverance. God bless you now and always.
I want to particularly thank my children for their love and patience, most times when daddy is not at home. You have been supportive and understanding. You shall all fulfill your destiny in Grand styles.

Thank you friends and loved ones and supporters; I really appreciate the enormity of sacrifices, pain, prayers and efforts. I remain eternally grateful.

To our leader and able governor, His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Adaza Bello; you have laid an enduring foundation for what we are all building on today. Your passion for youth empowerment and inclusion in politics cannot be overemphasized. I am proud to be one of your political proteges. When the history of the political economy of Nigeria is being written, surely it would be kind to you. Thank you so much.

As we collectively face the challenge to make out constituency a better place to live in, we must recognize our strength in diversity. Like I have said before, the 9th assembly will not be business as usual. I shall strive to ensure that matters that concern Ebira people shall be in the front burner. We will not let you down.

Our people are hardworking people. Adavi/Okehi is thriving because of its undying entrepreneurial spirit. However, we must realize that there are no short-cuts to success. To our youths, we must nurture good family values to succeed in any endeavor. I want our younger ones and children to draw some lessons from my story. Anyone of you can rise up to be the best you want to be. Your background and circumstances cannot be an obstacle to your dreams. I am ready to encourage and nurture that dream in our children, youths and every hard-working Ebira indigene.

For us to sustain the progressive and radical transformation on-going in the state, we have to redouble our efforts on all fronts for our commitment to excellence. While we must be creative and innovative;

Creativity is the most valuable asset in any public institution. Progressive governments must reward contributors to good ideas. We shall implement creative ideas that make life simpler and happier for our people.

I, therefore, invite you all, to join hands with me, to offer new ideas that will pull more resources to cater to the poor and needy amongst us
May God bless you all!

R. Kelly has pleaded not guilty today in a Chicago courtroom to 11 new felony sex crime charges.



The charges were a refiling of one of the four cases of alleged abuse that prosecutors lodged against the singer earlier this year. A grand jury last week increased the felony counts against the 52-year-old and upgraded some of the charges.



He now faces five felony counts of aggravated criminal sexual assault. If convicted of the most serious charges, Kelly would face mandatory sentences of six to 30 years in prison on each count.



Kelly, through his lawyer, pleaded not guilty during a short arraignment hearing. The next court date was set for June 26. The singer’s attorney Steve Greenberg dismissed the new charges as a rehashing of old allegations. “It’s the same case. It’s just they changed what they charged him with,” Greenberg told reporters at the courthouse, while again attacking Kelly’s accusers, saying “they aren’t victims.”



The 11 charges handed down by a Chicago grand jury are connected to the January 2010 alleged sexual assault and abuse of a person identified in court documents only as JP. Three of the charges are for the sexual abuse of a child between 13 and 16 years old. In some of the counts, Kelly is accused of having threatened or used force against JP.



The singer is currently out on bail after paying 10 percent of a $1 million bond, as is required in the state of Illinois. The presiding judge did not increase bail despite the more serious charges, because Kelly has appeared for all court dates as required.

..... as elders protest Ademowo's alleged financial impropriety

The crisis rocking the Diocese of the Lagos Anglican Communion took a new turn yesterday as the Good Friday service at the Church of Christ in Marina, Lagos, was marred by protest and scuffle. The service had started at about 9 a. m with the hymn and followed by the prayers.


The Bishop of Lagos and Dean Emeritus of the Anglican at the Marina, The Most Reverend Adebola Ademowo, as a statutory duty, was to deliver the day's sermon. However, as he was entering the church, Ademowo was met with protest by some elders and members of the church who were against him and his role in the succession plan in the church.

At issue, according to them, was the election and translation of the Rt. Reverend Humphrey Olumakaye as the new bishop of the Lagos Diocese, overseeing the Church of Christ, Marina. Olumakaye was recently translated from the Osun East Diocese to Lagos. He is billed to take over from Ademowo.

Many of the elders and members of the church had through several letters to the Primate of the Anglican Communion, Most Reverend Nicholas Okoh, rejected Olumakaye's election on the grounds that it was an imposition by the outgoing Bishop Ademowo to "cover his tracks" in an election they also criticised to have been influenced by distribution of huge sums of money. They have also accused Ademowo in a letter to Primate Okoh dated 26th February 2018 that Ademowo"s tenure was "a period of disaster filled with economic and financial recklessness

The protest letter was signed by eminent elders including Asiwaju Fola Isibo, Mr. Modupe Alakija, Chief Femi Adeniyi Williams and Chief Layi Ajayi-Bembe.Others are Mrs. Laide Sasegbon, Mrs. Dupe Sagoe, Mr. Ade Abisogun, Mr. Bukola Meadows and Ms. Molara Otuyelu. The protest on Friday had an elder of the church, Chief Yomi Finnih as spokesman as other leaders and members carried placards bearing their complaints. Some of the placards had inscriptions like "Enough is Enough...no to the looting of Lagos Diocese".

"No to bishop looter". "No to women organization looting". An indication that something unusual was in the offing was noticed early in the morning through the cordoning off of the Marina road which was occupied by several members of the Lagos security outfit, the Neighbourhood watch and the unusual huge presence of policemen in and around the church premises.

Shortly after Ademowo delivered his sermon, a man walked towards the altar and angrily threw copies of a published document detailing AdemowoI's sins and walked out. The Marina road stretch was closed to traffic for several hours while the protest lasted The protest also affected proceedings at the church as members were seen discussing the development and the way forward.

A new hospitality outfit is set to change the game in the industry as The Envoy Hotel By Mantis Abuja opens its door to guests in the heart of Abuja on Monday, March 5, 2018.

Being the first of its kind in Nigeria, The Envoy is conceived to meet the leisure and business needs of members of the diplomatic community, expatriates and other travelers to Abuja with an assurance of an exclusive, conducive and secure business/commercial environment to meet and do business.

The boutique hotel of 59 rooms but with 5-star service and bespoke up-market facilities is nestled on the exclusive and quiet Diplomatic Drive that is home to foreign embassies in the Central Business District of the city.

The hotel is set to open for business from March 5th and will certainly be home to diplomatic corps, politicians, applicants for travel visas, elites and businessmen that value leisure in a safe, secure and affluent environment.

The Security of the hotel and the safety of its guests are assured by the Level 2 Global Lighthouse Security certification which attested to its high-security concept that was taken into consideration from its design and construction stages.

Keletso Nxumalo, General Manager, The Envoy; explained that “a Global Certification company in Hotel Security was brought in at construction level to advise pointers regarding security issues, and these were taken into consideration when the Hotel was constructed. It is a multi-layer security system put in place to attract very sophisticated travelers.
The Envoy is the first hotel in Nigeria to achieve this level of certification”, she asserted



The concept includes a highly integrated security system with CCTV and intruder alarm features for the fences, baggage scanners, walk through metal detectors, automatic pop-up bollards for the gate, and security-enhanced doors with shatter-proof windows on all front ground floors together with an electric fence that envelopes the hotel.

“We are currently in the process of modifying some security aspects to enable the facility achieve Level 4 certification” noted Keletso, who said the management would do everything to secure the hotel and its guests.

“Chinwe Odife, Development Director, Hometel Developers Limited said, “one of the most intriguing and thrilling aspects of The Envoy is the transformation of the original idea (concept) into reality with a less than 5% deviation in arriving at the final product, a rare feat in the construction and hospitality industry in Nigeria. This involves a painstaking process of translating the desires of the design team to the realities of construction in Nigeria as we know it today. We are proud to have been able achieve this with The Envoy.

According to her, the success of the opening of The Envoy is rooted in proper professional and specialized planning, budgeting and implementation to ensure an owner is able to realize their required return on investment with the developed property.
“The hotel is stylish, modern, exclusive and comfortable with top-of-the-line amenities and impeccable service to give the guests reasons to come back”.

Emile Muller, Director Mantis Collection, the operator of The Envoy Abuja said the hotel would soon be the best that Nigerians have ever seen in terms of aesthetics and service delivery that is typical of Mantis across the world.

“The Envoy Abuja represents one of the finest examples of Mantis culture, gastronomy, architecture and coupled with the nature of its location which offers guests a truly authentic experience”.

The Council of Chiefs of Isheri Oke in Lagos has reacted to the purported protest staged by a group who claimed to be royal indigenes of the community who have been denied their rights to ascend the royal throne of their fathers since the last king passed on 18 years ago.
This aggrieved group who claimed to be from Olofin Royal Clan, led by one Mr Lekan Odunsi, had reportedly stormed the State House Ikeja, Lagos on Wednesday December 20, 2017, demanding that the state intervened on the ‘Obaship’ tussle.
Reacting to the protest, the council of chiefs of Isheri Oke spoke with newsmen, debunking the protest as a conscious and deliberate attempt to create discord and aggravate communal clash in the town, appealing to Lagos state government to intervene and bring all the miscreants, who are ‘evidently not from Isheri-Oke to book.

While speaking with newsmen, the chairman of the CDA Isheri-Oke, Honourable Kabir Abiodun Olonade, exposed the plot by those who sponsored the protest, to hijack the community from the true sons of the soil and override the peaceful systemic terms of rulership under the watch of Baale of Isheri Oke, High Chief Albert Oluwole Bankole.

He said;
“I am the current CDA Chairman of Isheri Oke community and I dare say that the concocted protest by the so called Olofin ruling house staged is illegal and criminal. These people don’t belong here, they are neither residents nor sons of the soil, and we are certain that their protest is directed to some other community because we don’t know them. Therefore their protest is null and void. Because we have been here for a very long time and we have had over 5 Baales in hundreds of years ago. The present Baale is the 6th and he’s been running the affairs of this community for over 38 years now.
The community has never had a king since inception, even the sons of the soil are just processing how we will upgrade to having a king.
There was a time we were invited to Alausa for a case such as this and it was the said Lekan who led the misguided protest that stood as their lawyer. It was Mr Abari that anchored the meeting and he said he’s from Agege, and Agege will not accommodate a stranger to become a Baale for over six dispensations. This is telling them that those who were at the helm of affairs were really sons of the soil. He made it clear that it was certain the Odunsi are not sons of the soil.

Another council member who spoke with City People stated
“I am Alhaji Muftau Dada Babalola. There have been six Baales since the inception. The Akinlotan family ruled twice, The Edun ruling family also ruled twice. The family ruling at the moment is Odunekun. Why would anyone attempt to deceive the government over ruling issue? It shows the height of desperation a stranger can go to cause conflict in a historically peaceful community such as ours. You can’t fight against what belongs to you, if it’s truly yours. As said earlier, we’ve had six Baales and each ruled for more than 35 years. The current Baale is spending his 38th year in power as we speak.
I will appeal that Lagos state government addresses the situation and not condone nonsense. Let’s first identify the community this group is talking about. Are they protesting over our own Isheri Oke? Do we have any other Isheri Oke? Let them show us a video of the protest and let’s identify each protester to ascertain if they are from Isheri Oke.
We have all necessary documents to show about the history and leadership of our community here in Isheri Oke. Let the intruders produce theirs and let’s see which area of Isheri Oke their forefathers belong. I am sure this group must have rented crowd to concoct the disruptive protest because no true Isheri Oke son will be part of such conspiracy. When the time comes, those who own the land knows who deserves to be the king; the government also know who deserve to become the king, because this present government is transparent and just. The government headed by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode can be trusted in all areas and even in conflict resolution such as this.
Taiwo Ogundele, the general secretary, CDA, Isheri Oke, while contributing to the matter, appealed to the government to help maintain the peace and tranquility of Isheri Oke community as conflicts that can lead to communal crisis such as this has never occurred at any time in the history of the town.
He said, “We would not want anything that will lead to breach of peace in our community that we have been enjoying for a long time now. We don’t want violence and we trust that the government also does not want and would not condone any violent tendency.” This matter can cause a major chaos if it is not addressed swiftly. We have never had a king and when it is the time for us to do so, God will lead us.

Speaking further, Hon. Kabir Abiodun challenged the protester to provide evidences that there have been a king in Isheri Oke. He said, “ Since the so called royal family claimed their king died 18 years ago, we request that they provide us with information about where his palace was located, let them tell us the family he’s from in Isheri Oke, when he became king and his chiefs”. He concluded.

Many, if not all individuals, thinks excellence and survival depends on their management skills, celestial commitments and terrestrial tries. We deemphasize that which is not compulsory, but necessary – putting smiles on the face of the have-nots around us. Committed to making life worth living, the Omoshola Assist Initiative popularly known as Mosh Assist spreads smiles through giving.

Mosh Assist is a nongovernmental empowerment and community development initiative. The initiative is basically committed to empowering incredibly impoverished persons and improving the welfare and habitation of deplorable communities across Nigeria.

Mr Taiye Oloko Nurudeen, a native of Kwara State, had a remarkable encounter with Mosh Assist. He ran into luck when one of the initiative’s Trustees sighted him walking barefooted around Bariga, Lagos State. Looking dejected as he chewed biscuit and pure-water, Mr Nurudeen’s cloth would not pass for rag in a moneyed household. He was traced to a construction site and was seen kneeling down to remove nails from used planks.


Upon interrogation, Mr Nurudeen disclosed that he is a carpenter with over 20 years’ experience, but life has been uneasy for him. Noticeably, he neither has a good working instrument, nor a mobile phone. Sober, Mr Nurudeen narrated how he sometimes trek far distances in search of work at construction sites to enable him feed his wife and only son.

Mr Nurudeen’s case was forwarded to the Mosh Assist Project Identification and Verification Committee for fact finding. The committee inquired into Mr Nurudeen’s background and lifestyle to ascertain whether he is a drug addict, chain smoker or unabashed gambler. It was discovered that Mr Nurudeen is a gentle and hardworking carpenter striving to make ends meet. He was therefore approved for assistance. Rain fell terribly on his scheduled assistance date, but the Mosh Assist team remain undeterred. His case was handled till late in the evening.


Mosh Assist took Mr. Nurudeen to the market to purchase his choice carpentry tools. He was afterwards taken to the boutique for a change of wardrobe. To enhance his communication with friends, families and customers, a new phone was purchased for Mr Nurudeen. He was also presented a Mosh Assist kit after having dinner with the team.


When asked how he feels, Mr Nurudeen went into a marathon prayer session for Mosh Assist. His prayer almost raised the roof. When he eventually made an attempt to express how he feels, tears uncontrollably flowed down his eyes as he disclosed that no one has ever rendered such assistance to him. Moved by emotions, the Mosh Assist team, especially the females, shed tears as Mr Oloko narrate his ordeal and gratitude.


Fellow Nigerians, nothing is too big or small to effect a change in the life of that incredibly poor person around you. Please trash your ego, unwillingness and reluctance to assist that your driver, cleaner, beggar, security and maid. It cost God nothing to have made you wretched and make them your boss. Show love and spread smiles always. You may never appreciate the little you have until you realize that your dissatisfaction is another man’s aim.

For inquiries, suggestions or project recommendations, please contact us via moshassist@gmail.com or moshdeji@yahoo.com

Reach out and stay with us! Like and follow Mosh Assist on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

At Mosh Assist, we make life worth living.

Civilization and modern forms of governance have drastically diminished the power and authority of monarchs. Fading, not faded, our hidden admiration for primordial values sustains the influence of monarchs on government and the governed. Monarchs currently have no constitutional role, but their grassroots prominence generates patronage from virtually all holders of public office, industrialists and dignitaries. This patronage vindicates the presence of monarchs in social and state functions.
The Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu and the Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Ogunwusi’s presence at a function recently produced a much-needed distraction. Just when Nigerians were ardently debating President Buhari’s healthiness and his ability to rule, the video of a royal discord between two Yoruba monarchs diverted public attention like an orchestrated political gimmick. Summarily, the public was enraged that the Oba of Lagos dare rebuff the Ooni of Ife.
Although different scholarly and historical account of the Yoruba race exists, the Ooni of Ife is widely acknowledged as the supreme Yoruba monarch. The Oba of Lagos is not rated among the leading monarchs. As ranked by the Alake of Egba, the top five royals in Yoruba land are the Ooni of Ife, the Alaafin of Oyo, the Oba of Benin, the Alake of Egba and the Awujale of Ijebu respectively. To bring you up to speed, a narration of what transpired in the viral video is necessary.
In accordance with the Yoruba regal heritage, some royal guards’ were eulogizing the Ooni while others hastily cleaned his reserved seat. Admiringly, people loosen their neck strings to catch a glimpse of the Ooni’s majestic entry to the occasion. Humbly and commendably, Ooni Adeyeye exchanged pleasantries with a seated monarch and was he warmly welcomed. Upon approaching the Oba of Lagos, the Ooni, an earthly king of kings, was snubbed in the most absurd manner. He was publicly rebuffed like a mere slave or palace guard.
In shock, Nigerians, especially the Yoruba’s, couldn’t rationalize the courage behind Oba Akiolu’s action. Could it be because Oba Akiolu (74) is older than Ooni Adeyeye (42)? No, that’s not cogent! Similar to the police and army, the rank of a king’s ancestral dominion determines superiority, not age.
Frightened by the overwhelming public outrage and condemnation, Oba Akiolu issued a statement denying that he snubbed Ooni Adeyeye. One of the Lagos white cap chief, Lateef Ajose, proclaims that the snub is “the culturally acclaimed way of greeting by a Lagos monarch” and Oba Akiolu is “basically trying to revive the culture and tradition of ancient Lagos”.
This fabricated response dampens the spirit of Nigerians that, like politicians, monarchs are fast going political in reasoning, actions and reactions. The general feeling on social media was that Oba Akiolu’s damage control strategy of rationalizing insult as Lagos tradition was an afterthought. It is ignoble that rather than apologize, the Lagos monarch chose to diabolically wrap his wrongs around culture and tradition revival. Appalling, his rhetoric magnetizes all the trappings of a political rejoinder. More to the point, the sharp snub and glaring hostility captured in the video negates Oba Akiolu’s defense.
Even if culture is to be revived, welcoming the Ooni at a public function should not be the take-off point. Indeed, there is more to it than meets the eye. On how many occasions has Oba Akiolu greeted dignitaries with a snub, especially in public, before the cameras? In this modern age, would he have welcomed President Trump or Queen Elizabeth to Lagos with such a hostile attitude and snub? Please recall that despite the fact that President Buhari is a Muslim and would not shake hands with his female aides, he cheerfully shook hands with the Queen of England and the Chancellor of Germany. Manifestly, the genuine reason of actions resides only in the mind of the actor.
Since Oba Akiolu’s guilefully redefines his unruly behavior as cultural revival, examining his past deeds would be a credible means of determining whether he could have intentionally snubbed the Ooni or not. Based on facts in the public domain, unlike most Nigerian monarchs, Oba Akiolu is vocal, temperamental and politically sentimental.
In the heat of the 2015 gubernatorial election in Lagos State, the Eze Ndigbos (Igbo traditional rulers) in Lagos state paid a courtesy visit to Oba Akiolu. At the meeting, the monarch ordered all Igbos in Lagos state to vote for Akinwunmi Ambode - his anointed candidate. Vibrating with anger, Akiolu threatened that anyone who flouts his order would perish in the lagoon. The monarch boasted that he owns Lagos; he handpicked Ambode and; he (Ambode) must govern Lagos for eight years (two terms).
The national tabloids quoted Akiolu as saying “If anyone of you goes against Ambode who I picked, that is your end. If it doesn’t happen within seven days, just know that I am a bastard”. The monarch further threatened that “I am not ready to beg you, if anyone of you, I swear in the name of God, goes against my wish that Ambode will be the next governor of Lagos State, the person is going to die inside this water”.
In a country of laws, it would be interesting to watch Oba Akiolu dump the Igbos into the lagoon if Ambode had not triumphed. You may term Akiolu’s statement a mere threat, but recall that a similar inciting statement made by the Zulu king, Goodwill Zwelithini, fuelled xenophobic attacks in South Africa. Won’t Nigeria shatter if Ambode had lost the election and his supporters angrily began to murder the Igbos?
Before you resolve that Oba Akiolu’s action in 2015 was a mistake, please recall that he recently vowed at the inauguration of the Nigerian Women against Corruption Initiative that he would work against former vice president Atiku Abubakar’s presidential ambition. All things considered, Akiolu’s vow would have held water if Nigeria is limited to his kingdom. Moreover, if Akiolu’s relentless attacks on Atiku were often credible and pro-masses, most Nigerians would have probably subscribed to his views, but, unfortunately, his rants were purely vengeance-seeking.
At a stakeholders meeting in Victoria Island, Lagos, Akiolu accused Atiku, Daura and other Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stalwarts of facilitating his dismissal from the Nigeria Police Force in 2002. He argued that his dismissal from service was a plot to ensure the PDP wins the 2003 elections in Lagos State.
Evidently, Oba Akiolu is more of an electoral warrior and political godfather than monarch. Being human, most monarchs have their political preference, but are often careful not to appear politically biased. They strategically play safe, so that if their preferred candidate is not elected and power change hands, they (monarchs) can easily switch allegiance and dance to the new political rhythm.
In all likelihood, most of the individuals that Oba Akiolu had ridiculed with his ego and temper have tolerated him based on their respect for royalty. For Akiolu, a less significant monarch and beneficiary of ‘royal immunity’, to now ridicule Ooni Ogunwusi - the overall leader of the Yoruba race - is unacceptable and condemnable. The catastrophic aftereffect of Akiolu’s snub is best presented in literal fiction (read slowly to grasp).
Once upon a time, there were three brothers that hardly agree on anything; they terribly hate themselves. By order of birth, James is the first born, Jack is second and Jude is the third/last born. According to their culture and tradition, once a man dies, the immediate junior brother owns the corpse and determines how it would be buried. While working on his farm, James was bitten by a poisonous snake, he fell sick and died. By right, James’ corpse belongs to Jack and he has the liberty to bury it as he wish. Based on the never-ending hatred, Jack announced that James’ corpse be sliced and fed to the vultures. People persuaded Jack to have a rethink but he refused.
For the first time in that village, human flesh was sliced and fed to the vultures. Obviously, Jack thought he has perfectly humiliated his brother because of the hatred between them. Unfortunately for Jack, he has forgotten that such hatred also exists between him and Jude and he had indirectly taught Jude the best way to handle the corpse of hated brother. The crucial message in this fiction is that we all must always use our discretion and power intelligently. Wise is the man who first orated that ‘what goes round comes round’. If Oba Akiolu fails to act cautiously and the powers-that-be fails to caution him, the law of Karma never fails.
Oba Akiolu must be reminded that today’s action is tomorrow’s history. He has set a bad example and indirectly taught other low-class monarchs that the best way to treat a revered monarch in public is to be rude. Therefore, no one should be surprised if a third class king from Ekiti State (best to use a PDP state) snubs or hiss at Oba Akiolu at a public event and later claim it is culture and tradition revival. To be honest, if the Sultan of Sokoto or the Obi of Onitsha snubs the Ooni of Ife in public, Oba Akiolu would most likely be the first to condemn such act and label it an insult to the Yoruba nation.
It is evident and non-negotiable that for Oba Akiolu to reclaim the admiration of Nigerians, especially that of the Yoruba extraction, he must melt his ego and apologize to the Ooni of Ife.
Arise, O compatriot Akiolu, humbleness call obey.
* Omoshola Deji is a political and public affairs analyst. He wrote in via moshdeji@yahoo.com

Just as you and I can’t detach from our bloods because of their imperfections, President Muhammadu Buhari (PMB) has lethargically handled the insubordination and incompetence of his appointees as if their surname is Buhari. Bit by bit, this inertness to discipline is concreting public doubts in PMB’s ability to navigate Nigeria’s sinking ship to the treasure-island of ‘change’.
This piece is of dual significance. First, it fills a crucial lacuna in the Nigerian political analysis. You may have observed that media reports, articles, protest speeches and opinion statements have largely ignored the consequence of Buhari’s appointees’ action on Buhari. Ad infinitum, the appointees orates their allegiance, while most of their actions have been returning ruins to the president. What are the aftereffects? Second in significance, this piece transcends politics to mirror our lives. It is a political surgery to unstitch how our actions bring unintended detrimental consequence to our nearest and dearest, even though we genuinely love them and sincerely wished no harm.
Not discounting the need to clarify, appointees connotes anyone appointed by PMB. This includes, but not limited to the ministers, security chiefs, ambassadors and the heads of government agencies. Please endeavor to read this piece as I will be untwisting twists, connecting the-political-dots-of-truth and capping my analysis with a political philosophy on leadership and governance. Don’t miss it!
Piloting Nigeria is herculean and PMB must delegate duties. The four months post-inauguration delay to make crucial appointments infuriated Nigerians as PMB claimed he is scouting for experience, competent, non-corrupt and dedicated persons. After the long wait, some of his appointees turned out to be people of questionable character and the most vital appointments were allocated to individuals from northern extraction. Clearly, PMB’s appointees are products of political patronage, political recommendation, personal affiliation and popular commendation.
One of the appointees who fell under PMB’s grace is Ibrahim Magu, the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). However, the Senate’s rejection of Magu as EFCC Chairman validates the existence of an antagonistic cabal in the presidency. Anyone exonerating the presidency and castigating the Senate on Magu is unobserving and soppy. Before heads roll in an anti-corruption focused government, liaising with the national-assembly to confirm the nomination of the EFCC chairman must be first accomplished.
Unfortunately, PMB crushed Magu by allowing him act for too long. During this period, Magu has stepped on some powerful toes in the presidency and have sown the prison garment of some senators, politicians and shady businessmen. This array of persons considered Magu’s confirmation an abomination. Pathetic, the DSS - an agency under PMB - helped the Senate nail Magu by submitting and resubmitting damning reports against him, even when PMB have cleared him of the corruption allegations. Please bear in mind that a mutinous act is weighty enough to award you an instant execution under Kim Jong-un of North-Korea.
Regardless of the DSS intents and purposes, their mutiny immensely diminished PMB’s reputation to the lowest low and further affirmed Aisha’s (wife of the president) outburst that her husband’s government has been hijacked by the principal officers and outsiders. To salvage the situation, Nigerians clamored that PMB should dig up the roots of conspiracy and insubordination by sacking those culpable or at least make some restructuring. Sullenly, the president have been out of earshot and his actions lethargic. The consequence of this is for Nigerians to label him weak, incompetent and indecisive.
Without a doubt, the supremacy battle between the Senate and the Nigerian Customs Comptroller-General, Hameed Ali, is one out of the many issues straining the executive’s relationship with the legislature, especially the Senate. The face-off began when Ali proposed a nationwide clampdown on automobiles that have evade the payment of customs duty. Ali was appointed to head Customs in 2015. Grading two years, Ali’s accomplishment is remarkable, but the retired military colonel refuse to wear the Customs uniform, been the outfit of a para-military agency. The Senate roar and insist Ali must appear before her in uniform. Vast in ability but limited in capacity, it is ultra-vires for me to decide the legality or illegality of Ali’s choice of outfit. Be that as it may, I have a testimony!
I appreciated Ali’s handling of Customs when I met a Nigerian business man abroad. The man, from Northern extraction, had a personal relationship with Ali and proved this by showing me photos they took together. To my surprise, the man complained bitterly about how the uncompromising nature of Ali is affecting his profit. The man had sought Ali’s intervention for a reduction in customs duty, but Ali turned down his request and insist that appropriate duty be paid. Based on this testimony with proof, Ali won my admiration instantly! However, the planned clampdown on automobiles made Ali lose a bit of my admiration.
Acting arrogant and that his inappropriate actions could set people against the government made Ali lose my admiration further. At a time when the president is battling with health issues and struggling to convince Nigeria that he is alive, able and capable to continue as president, what is needed is not an anti-masses policy that will frustrate the anger of the citizens. Ali failed to study national mood. Recall that GEJ and PMB removed fuel subsidy, but the nationwide reaction was different. At a time when recession is biting hard on the populace, food prices skyrocketing, Naira depreciating and businesses collapsing, one of the easiest ways to get people revolt against the government is the implementation of an obnoxious auto clampdown policy. Again, Ali, an appointee, carelessly fails to consider the consequence of his action on PMB.
Another worthy instance is when the Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi, tried to halt the take-off of the Nigerian Maritime University (NMU) in Okerenkoko, Delta State. In a region where the nation generates her main income and the populace are hostile to government, Amaechi should not be igniting fire, but doing all he can to increase affection for PMB and creating a political soft-landing for APC in 2019. If not for the wisdom of the Minister of State for Petroleum, Ibe Kachukwu, who immediately declared support for the NMU project, Ameachi had unintentionally, but successfully fertilized animosity between PMB and the Niger-Delta. Hostility triggering acts does not end with Amaechi.
Under a president that relegated ethnics and others trying to secede have tagged ethnocentric, the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, failed to negate the arrest of only Yoruba natives after the Ile-Ife clash between the Yoruba and the Hausa-Fulani. In truth, no one would have clamored if more Yoruba’s were arrested, but to exonerate the Hausa-Fulani’s and attempt to prosecute only the Yoruba’s is one of the best ways to declare PMB persona-non-grata in the Southwest. The Southeast and South-south are largely not admirers of PMB, if the Southwest also becomes hostile, what will be the fate of PMB’s political fortune or that of his anointed successor?
Palpably, many lives and properties would have been saved if the police handling of the Ile-Ife crisis is replicated in Southern Kaduna and Benue. Are the Fulani herdsmen under immunity? Why didn’t they carry out their black acts when PMB was on medical vacation abroad?
Indeed, salt spilled on injury when PMB’s men, Abba Kyari and Babachir Lawal, ignored consequence and got themselves embroiled in the MTN bribe and invasive-plant-species corruption scandals respectively. Also, Professor Sagay would not consider the implication of making uncouth statements on PMB’s relationship with the Senate. That’s not enough! Sagay would further display confidence by tongue-lashing anyone who dares to caution him, including the ruling All Progressives congress (APC). A right man with the wrong team, PMB’s main problem is his appointees.
Discipleship also worsens the situation. Rather than utilize their talents in the Gulder Ultimate Search, the Buhari fanatics have embarked on a no-reward mission trying to find justifications for why an ex-military head coddles insubordination and incompetence, especially when it erodes his reputation, support and political strength. It is sad that most Nigerians are yet to rise above ethno-religious and political sentiments. Unfortunately, most of this sentimental souls are the ones in dire need of PMB’s ‘change’. My support for PMB is indeed conditional. It is conditioned on him conditioning an equitable, developed and secured Nigeria. Let’s connect the political dots-of-truth.
If you are a devotee of Buharism - ardent supporters of anything Buhari - you are a genuine ‘change’ disciple if you not only applaud PMB’s strides, but also rise above sentiments to embrace steps that will make him perfect his imperfections. Deceive yourself no further! If you are not part of PMB’s immediate family, all you can benefit from is a better Nigeria.
To those who never wants to hear “Bu” not to talk of “Hari”, whether you like it or not, so long as you are a Nigerian, Buhari is your president, at least till 2019. Therefore, if your paramount interest is a better Nigeria, you need sheathe your sword and support anything that will ensure PMB succeeds in fixing Nigeria.
To the opposition parties, adopting calumny tactics to destabilize government is also to your disadvantage. You surely wish to take over something meaningful. You want to consolidate something, not nothing!
To PMB, this is a wake-up call to perfect his imperfections and be cautious of his place in history. Does history matter at all? Why must PMB not allow the insubordination, incompetence and shenanigans of his appointees ruin his administration? Let’s explore this simple interpretation of an ancient political philosophy on leadership and governance (read slowly to grasp).
Who builds the society? History books have the names of Kings as the ones who built the society. Are the Kings really the ones that built the society? The Kings were not seen ‘carrying bricks’ to build the socieeetyyyy! The King’s slaves and aides were the ones who carried bricks, toiling day and night, in the rain and sunshine, to build the society. Why should the history books not be filled with the names of this real builder of the society?
No! The history books can’t have any name except that of the Kings. The King’s initiated the vision on how to best build the society. This vision was only executed by the King’s tool - the slaves and aides. When the society was being built, the Kings were not sleeeeeping or making meeeeerrrry! They ordered and oversee the building of the society. The Kings proper utilization of their tools led to the success of the building of the society. If the building of the society had failed, the history books would document no one as a failure other than the Kings.
* Omoshola Deji is a political and public affairs analyst.

As the four year mandate Nigerians offered President Muhammadu Buhari (PMB) approaches half time, mix reactions are trailing the performance of his administration and the efficiency of his appointees. The robust pre-election crusade that the change agenda would transform Nigeria from wilderness to paradise leaves many wondering why Nigerians should still be drowning in poverty, unemployment and underdevelopment.


The Buhari apologists opines that the stern hardship is the aftereffect of the treasury looting and mismanagement by the Goodluck Jonathan administration. Oppositely, the Jonathan fanatics and opposition parties orates that PMB is incompetent and his cabinet lacks the proficiency needed to revamp the economy, education, health and infrastructure. They further question whether the change PMB promised Nigerians is positive or negative.


Ignite your interest in this piece as it covers the interest of everyone, irrespective of your political opinion, social association, ethnic affiliation, economic estimation and religious devotion. Before proceeding, let’s curtail ambiguity by approving that political patronage (in-two-words-meaning) denotes - conditional support, post-election reward, unconstitutional immunity, countenancing impunity, unjust persecution, selective prosecution, vote buying, cross carpeting, partisan actions and ethno-religious favoritism.


The word ‘change’ in the theme ‘political patronage undermining change’ serves two purposes. Change connotes the PMB ‘change-agenda’ and a ‘change-in-cabinet’. In broader terms, we are therefore exploring the extent at which political patronage is undermining the implementation of the PMB change-agenda and secondly, if political patronage is undermining a change in cabinet.


Without a doubt, if the All Progressives Congress (APC) change mantra is a saleable product, the producer’s stupendous wealth would be terribly envied by Dangote. However, because the mantra emerged as a strategic political strategy, millions of Nigerians subscribed to it and installed Buhari; after he had failed on three attempts. This failed attempts, past leadership experience, Spartan discipline and his stance against corruption foster the selection of Buhari by the political gladiators that teamed up to establish the APC. Buhari emerged president and it soon became glaring that the political gladiators are indeed strange bedfellows.


The struggle for party control, conflicting interests and the allotment of political portfolios override the speedy kick-off of the implementation of the change agenda. The president was confused on who to work with. Cries for recognition, whispers of suggestions and songs of recommendations almost deafened his ears. Six months after inauguration, PMB released the list of ministerial nominees and the political gladiators began to count their losses. Surprisingly, PMB jettisoned party stalwarts and appointed political inactive persons as the Chief-of-Staff and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).


One of the most acknowledged election victory determinant, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, was least patronized by PMB. It then dawn on the widely acclaimed political genius (Tinubu) that his input to the emergence of PMB might be a destiny-shattering political error. Rather than select Tinubu’s nominations, PMB awarded juicy ministerial portfolios to his estranging political godsons – Babatunde Fashola and Kayode Fayemi. Many wondered why? From observers lens, PMB’s nearest and dearest feels Tinubu is best tamed at the start. They cannot risk him dictating the tunes by planting his mafias in strategic government positions like he did during Fashola’s reign as Lagos governor.


Moreover, PMB’s men most likely feel that his accomplishment, authority and reputation as the former Military Governor of Northeastern State (1975) and Borno (1976), former Federal Commissioner of Petroleum (1976-78) and former Military Head of State (1983-85) would be derided should people conceive his administration is indirectly being piloted by Tinubu, a ‘mere’ elected Senator (1993) and former Lagos State Governor (1999-2007).


Many political pundits are of the opinion that PMB exploited Tinubu and other political gladiators to emerge President. Subsequently, he (PMB) acts his mind that even though Tinubu and most of the political gladiators have never been declared guilty, they are not anti-corrupt. For this reason, PMB resolved that his anti-corruption war and change agenda would be best effected if he does not patronize Tinubu and other political gladiators like Atiku Abubakar, Abubakar Baraje and Bukola Saraki. PMB was determined not to allow patronage undermine change!


Most of the political gladiators either continue lobbying or decide to start strategizing for 2019, but Saraki was distinct. He hauled the party arrangement to emerge as Senate President. One must think twice before blaming Saraki for scoring a political own-goal. Being the son of a prominent businessman and politician, Saraki is among the few who aged seeing governing Nigeria as their birthright, hence, he can only be comfortable when he is leading and not being led.


Just when Saraki thought he has successfully allotted himself Nigeria’s third most powerful position, nemesis came knocking. If political hierarchy be considered, attempts to genuinely prosecute or intentionally sledgehammer Saraki cannot proceed without the nod of PMB. Indeed, change is here! Nigeria’s incumbent Senate President is facing false asset declaration charges in court. Most Nigerians never anticipated such! Saraki is on trial and should he be found guilty, unlike Obasanjo, his own episode would be from power to prison. This clearly points out that PMB is not willing to allow patronage undermine the implementation of his change agenda that focus strongly on fighting corruption.


Let’s now shift focus from PMB’s party men to his cabinet. Just when the war against corruption was earning national applauds and international accolades, the Shehu Sani led Senate Ad-hoc Committee on Mounting Humanitarian Crisis in the North-East indicted the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, for corruption.


Babachir was accused of awarding inflated contracts to firms he has strong stakes in. He was tackled with damning evidence of - awarding N223 million contract for the removal of invasive plant species; receiving deposits totaling N200million into the account of Rhola Vision Engineering Limited (his firm) from the company that was awarded the contract; his non-resignation from Rhola Vision (RV) upon the assumption of public office and; him still being a signatory to RV’s account after he later resigned.


Lest I forget, whoever coined the term ‘invasive plant species’ as an alternative term for ‘grass’ is indeed a genius whose intellectualism is been devoured by political brigands to rob the displaced and vulnerable. A serious deliverance session is needed to navigate his intellectualism back to the path of compassionate public service.


After failing to honor the Senate’s invitation and the public awareness of the damning evidence, many thought the fear of being crushed by PMB’s anti-corruption sledgehammer would make Babachir recoil and tactfully articulate his defense. Rather, Babachir arrogantly dismissed the accusative report and declared that the Senate is “talking balderdash”. Nigerians were shocked at such display of confidence and were anxiously expecting PMB to fumigate his inner circle by suspending the SGF in order to pave way for a transparent probe and prosecution. Disappointingly, PMB failed the litmus test by skillfully absolving the SGF of any wrong doing.


If truth be told, the last time Nigerians were that disappointed was when Yakubu Aiyegbeni failed to score into an empty net at the 2010 World-Cup and when ex-president Jonathan increased the price of fuel (from N65-87) on 1 January, 2012.


PMB derided the anti-corruption war by writing a flimsy excuse to the Senate that the SGF was not granted fair hearing. Please be mindful that a Senate investigative hearing invitation was sent to Babachir and his name was listed among those invited by the Senate in the 2 December, 2016 publication of Daily Trust. Till date, Babachir is still occupying the SGF position in a government that her main qualification is anticorruption. Logically, the long-term patronage between Buhari and Babachir appears to be restricting the President from being decisive. Is patronage undermining change?


PMB has hesitate to change his corruption-tainted appointee(s) while opposing figures (like Reuben Abati, Olisah Metuh and Musiliu Obanikoro) with similar accusation and evidence are being subject to investigation, media trial, incarceration and prosecution. Before sentiment shroud your judgment, please imagine how Babachir’s case would have been handled if he served as SGF under ex-president Jonathan and such weighty evidence of corruption surfaced against him. Besides, If Femi Fani Kayode did not cross-carpet into the PDP and he successfully pilot PMB’s campaign to victory like he hoped to do for Jonathan, can you in good conscience vow that he would be answering corruption cases by now?


Let’s reason straight and retest this oppositely! Please take a moment to imagine the extent at which Rotimi Ameachi would have languished in anguish if GEJ had won the presidential election. Having imagined how miserable Amaechi’s life would have been, may I advise that you never brand a political cabal as a saint and taint the other? It is unfortunate that patronage-deciding-prosecution cut across boards, irrespective of political party.


The recent purported release of former Adamawa Governor, James Ngilari, after being found guilty of corruption and sentenced to five years imprisonment shows the extent at which patronage is fertilizing anarchy and deriding the war against corruption.


On the claim that Ngilari was terribly sick, his comrades cajoled the prison officials to illegally issue a letter recommending that he be released to seek medical attention abroad. In what appears conspiratorial, Justice Nathan Musa ordered Ngilari’s release without confirming the authenticity of the documents presented before him. Within an eye twinkle, Ngilari regained freedom without prison break, state pardon or a favorable appeal judgment. Sadly, other individuals convicted for lesser offences and awaiting trial inmates are dying of minor ailments daily, while Ngilari is been flown abroad for treatment with the public funds he stole. Is prisoner-Ngilari a special being?


Not many individuals are considering the irreparable damage Ngilari’s sleaze is inflicting on the Adamawa masses. A lot of women would have lost their lives to maternal mortality; lack of healthcare facilities would have made many families lose their loved ones to minor diseases; the non-motor-able roads would have consumed the lives of many and; unemployment would have frustrated many youths into crime. Most of this unemployed youths are not even employable because the educational system is rotten from nursery to tertiary. Imagine this horrible happenings befalling the Adamawa natives, and by extension Nigerians, because people like Ngilari have pocketed the commonwealth.


It is indisputable that Ngilari’s comrade won’t have the effrontery to commit such villainy if they don’t have the backing of prominent Nigerians and individuals within the corridors of power. Is patronage undermining change?


For how long will patronage continue to undermine change? Arise Buhari!


* Omoshola Deji is a political and public affairs analyst. He wrote in via moshdeji@yahoo.com

The return of President Muhammadu Buhari (PMB) after a 50day medical vacation in the UK have doused the tension and speculations about his health status. Nonetheless, public comments signals that many thinks he is neither incapacitated nor medically fit. Being mortal, it is not anomalous for PMB to be ill, but the inaudibility of his communication makes many cast doubts on whether communicating with Nigerians is indeed important to the president.
The thesauruses depicts inaudible as being unable to be heard, closemouthed and uncommunicative. Within the context of this piece, inaudibility connotes low output, willfully being incommunicado, communication by proxy and regarding communication with some powerful few as communicating with all Nigerians. Having clarified that, may I request that you kindly take a walk with me? Please be alerted that this literal journey is for someone who is politically unemotional, ethnically unsentimental, religiously non-fanatical and analytically proficient. If you fall short of one or more of these qualities, your limitation would certainly limit your comprehension.
The verdict of many, including PMB, his wife, the ruling and opposition party, foreign media and analysts, is that Professor Yemi Osinbajo’s performance as acting president is satisfactory. Aside expressing confidence in Osinbajo, Buhari also intuitively affirmed he is not totally fit by signaling his return to the UK soon. He said “I am feeling much better now, there may, however, be need for further follow up within some weeks”. PMB’s statement at the ‘well-wishers welcoming meeting’ held at the First lady Conference Room shortly after his arrival clearly reflects his confidence in the reviving capability of the British health system. However, the unintended after-effect of PMB’s statement is that he had unintentionally offered the British health system a free medical advert. Within an eye twinkle, there would be a remarkable hike in the number of wealthy Nigerians trooping into the UK to treat headache and toothache. Have you thought of what would have happened to PMB if the British health system and that of other nations of the world is like that of Nigeria? As you are pondering on that, I have moved on to accept that PMB is a Nigerian serving the state and he is lucky (not all are) to be adequately provided for by the state. However, it is disheartening that thousands of our people are losing their lives daily to minor ailments. The presidency is hyper-concerned about the president’s health, but inaudible on delivering the change it promised Nigerians on health service delivery.
The prolonged stay of PMB in the UK ignited incapacitation and death rumors, emergency political re-strategy, debates, sentiments, prayer sessions and public opinion. In a frantic effort to dispel any bad news, the presidency allowed few individuals visit the president at the Abuja House in London and the president personally made effort to verbally communicate with selected governors, ministers, aides and ex-president. Nonetheless, of all the categories of persons he directly reached out to, he made limited effort to directly communicate with his employers; the Nigerian populace. This doubled the president’s aides and ministers challenge to convince Nigerians that the president is hale and hearty. Enemies of the president thereafter exploit the situation to orchestrate mischiefs and the Nigerian political-class tried to avoid missed calls as the next incoming call might just be from PMB.
In a situation where the president’s health is generating confusion and emotions, ability to continue leading being questioned, economy nose-diving and legitimacy fading, the best medium of communication to adopt is not through proxies. Nigerians lamented on the need for PMB to speak directly to the citizens, but he never did. A minute Skype video call to NTA would have rest the case. If you argue PMB is free to choose his preferred means of communication, are the people he spoke directly to important than the millions of Nigerian populace? Through the likes of Lai Mohammed, Femi Adeshina, Garba Shehu and some political associates, Buhari’s mouth was moving, but his voice was inaudible.
Moreover, PMB’s advisers and political strategists are yet to realize the displeasure the president’s selective communication mode is causing in the political circle. People’s importance, closeness to the president and political relevance have now been measured by whether you are privileged to visit PMB in London or whether you received a presidential call from the UK or not. This is dangerous to the political fortunes of PMB or his anointed successor. Nigerians are sensitive and any strategy adopted by the president must always be such that cut across the majority of the populace, irrespective of cabal, party affiliation, ethnicity, religion, class and gender.
Political pressure and PMB’s inner circle may have compelled him to return. If so, it’s mindboggling the inner-circle understands the importance of power, but undermines the importance of him speaking directly to Nigerians when abroad and even upon arrival at the airport. The league of journalists present could have been utilized by the president. Rather, when a journalist loudly and repeatedly asked “…how are you” the president just responded “fine” and walked into his waiting vehicle. During such a historic return from medical exile, Nigerians do not want to listen to Femi Adeshina’s rhetoric, they wish to hear from the president himself. Speaking directly to those waiting journalists at that point in time is him (Buhari) directly speaking to Nigerians who have been bothered and praying for him to recuperate. Kicking against this view can be taken as you opining that sacrificing a minute to the media when abroad or upon arrival is too much to offer the populace on whose mandate PMB occupies the presidential seat. If that is your position, how do you justify the minutes he spent communicating with few powerful individuals via phone from abroad?
You may also want to contend that the president have addressed Nigerians at the “well-wishers welcoming meeting” held at the First Lady Conference Room. Please observe that the president was not speaking offhand, he was reading a speech most likely not prepared by him and he may have not gone through the content before the meeting. Besides, the speech is a remark to the welcome address rendered by governor(s), service chief(s), minister(s) and the acting president. He only made-use-of-the-opportunity to thank Nigerians not that he intentionally programmed himself to speak to Nigerians, having abandoned his duty for 50days. Our leaders, past and present, only communicate regularly with the public during election periods. This needs to change and the change begins with the president.
To those chanting “Sai Baba”, PMB should beware that the mind of the Nigerian political class is filled with greed and deceit; most of the ruling elites are good in programming anyone in power to accomplish their interest. If PMB is not yet healthful, then whoever have pressurized him to return are more concerned about their relevance in power than the president’s health. These people are the president’s unnoticed and most dangerous enemies. The hard truth no-one seems to be whispering to the president’s ear is that if anything happens to him (God forbid), Prof. Osinbajo would become president and most-likely appoint a new vice president from the North. Such person would in all likelihood be from Buhari’s close aides, ministers, governors or party men. For this reason, PMB must be watchful as those who his demise would make are wishing he doesn’t sees the next second, while those who his demise would mar are wishing he lives forever.
PMB must rationally consider advices and reports before taking decisions. If Judas can betray Jesus, then PMB should beware of those around him, especially during this health challenging period. The anti-corruption and anti-terrorism war is yielding results, but the president needs to be more committed to resuscitating the economy. The opposition party must also rise above politicking and complement the president’s effort to fortify Nigeria.
Surely important, Governor Fayose’s conclusion that Nigerians would believe the president is truly not incapacitated if he (Buhari) calls him from the UK can be described as self-overrating. Governor Fayose needs to desist from branding himself as the voice of the people and be less vocal as he was when PDP’s late president Yar’ Adua was ill.
The wellbeing of the president is crucial to the realization of the change agenda. His health his important to most Nigerians, especially we that presently have no political ambition or belong to any political party. May God grant PMB the grace to live long and strong. If he feels weak, he should not hesitate to return for treatment immediately. Whenever he returns to the UK for “further follow-up” he should always remember that the audibility of his voice conditions a lot in Nigeria, hence he must be audible. As PMB recuperates he must strive to “rededicate himself to serving you, protecting your interest and keeping your trust”.
* Omoshola Deji is a political and public affairs analyst.
moshdeji@yahoo.com

Beginning from the late 1990’s up till early 2000’s, the Nigerian musical entertainment scene witnessed what could be described as a ‘revolution’, as exemplified in the emergence of contemporary hip-hop artists. In 2016, these artists have become so influential on the global scene that the genre they play has acquired a fusion of various indigenous (and, sometimes, foreign) sounds. The ripple effect of this is that most indigenous Nigerian music genres like Apala, Fuji and the rest have been elbowed out of the stage.

In 2016, Juju and Gospel musicians still remain dominant forces in the entertainment industry. We bring you top 20 Juju and Gospel artistes that made the genre relevant by the number of shows they attended, their visibility in the social scene, albums released in 2016 and the promises of 2017.



MEGA 99

Prince Abel Dosumu a.k.a Mega 99 is no longer a new name in the Juju Industry. The star artist rocked 2016 with countless shows and studio works to his credit. He has got almost the entire weekends for 2017 booked with special events and also set to release another studio work by the mid-year.



The Award winning Juju gospel artist, Mega 99 dropped his widely accepted Emajo Emayo album,and also acquired an ultra-modern music equipment worth a whopping N25m in 2015.

The all-sliver out-door collapsible stage which is not common among the entertainers in the country because of his unique specification, ‘wide 24ft, length 40fts with the height of 30fts from ground level), is used for big concerts, political rallies and crusades in open fields.



FEMI SOLAR

Oladele Oluwafemi Emmanuel popularly known as Femi Solar is a native of Ipoti, Ekiti State, Nigeria. Femi Solar attended Olumide Day Primary School, Loyola College Ibadan and The Polytechnic of Ibadan where he studied Accounting. He started his career with training in Music adverts, Jingles and Scripts reading and later ventured fully into music. His musical band name is Femi Oorun Solar & The Sunshine Jasa Band. Femi is fast becoming a renowned Juju Gospel musician and he is the artist many people prefer to play at their parties and occasions in Nigeria. In 2013, he had a succesful musical tour of United States of America and South Africa.

He also organized All-white party to launch his music video in 2016 in conjunction with City People Magazine.



YINKA AYEFELE

Despite 18 years active performance, Yinka Aiyefele is still a force to reckon with in the Juju Gospel Industry. Ever since his first album in 1998, it has always been back-to-back hit for the music start. Yinka began his music career in 1997 after he was involved in an automobile accident which damaged his spinal cord and confined him to a wheelchair.

The release of Bitter experience was followed by the release of Sweet Experience. Other albums released by the gospel musician are Something Else, Divine Intervention and Life after death, released in honor of Gbenga Adeboye a Nigerian radio presenter, musician and comedian. The title Bitter Experience reflected his ordeal and Sweet Experience was the sweetness after a "Bitter Experience.

Yinka Aiyefele has a radio station called Fresh FM. Fans are assured that Yinka will make 2017 more interesting than last year.



LANRE TERIBA

Atorishe is his most popular name due to the success of his first album with the same name. Teriba, a very successful musician is another guy that conveniently ranks high above his contemporary in the industry.

He has performed in several countries and has bagged several international awards.

Lanre has also featured in several collabos with various juju artistes who are also on top of their game.

He is also said to have recently launched a N50million worth of musical instrument.



FEMI OPALEMO

The celebrated ace of gospel music is another man that conveniently falls into this category. His style of music blends traditional pattern ofpraise with contemporary beat. Opalemo, who is a protégé to Yinka Ayefele has also made his mark in the industry. He has assured his fans to watch out in 2017 as he is set to come back with a blast.



SEYI ALAPANLA

Seyi ventured into the gospel world almost 10 years ago and surely he has made a solid impact. Seyi is one gospel artiste who knows the rudiments of the industry. His first hit, Ema sope kole da went so viral beyond the shores of Africa as it became a popular demand in Cuba, Brazil and Argentina and Republic of Benin, where some of their citizen partially speak Yoruba.



TOPE ALABI

The very sonorous voiced singer would be surprise addition to this list. She is a genuine gospel artiste, only ventured into the gospel arena by divine instruction. The Amazing Grace crooner, who has been involved in many voice-over tracks for many movies, is yet to retire as she keeps producing hits after hits every year. She was recently crowned the queen of Gospel music by City People Magazine for her exceptional style music and gospel ministration.



OMOBA AND DE JUMBO BEATS

A superstar in his native Nigeria in the new century, juju bandleader Omoba was hailed by Empressive Media as one of the most influential Juju Gospel art who made exceptional impact in 2016 and the next King Sunny Ade.

While Omoba, who sings in his native Yoruba tongue, has achieved that level of popularity within the time he started singing professionally, he and his 20-piece Jumbo Beats band shook the whole of Abuja during his Thanksgiving Video/Album release.

In addition, Omoba has helped open the door for other upcoming Juju Gospel artists. He was celebrated by City people as one of the most sought-after artist in 2016.

He has promised his fans that 2016 is just a piece of the iceberg, assuring that he shall thrill Nigerians and his fans abroad with unbelievable performance and impactful songs in 2017. We look forward to it.



YOMI PETERS

Yomi Peters, who hails from Ogun state, comes from a family of musicians. He is the brother to other top Juju musicians; Sir Shi­na Peters and Gbenga Peters. He is another Juju musician worthy of mention. He is a talented multi-instrumentalist; a talent which he claims has given him an edge as a successful Juju musician.

Although he was away from the Nigerian music terrain for a while, in 2015, he released a new song titled ‘Igbeyawo’, which has so far gotten ample air-play. This song which is a wedding song, came as a re­brand or repackaging of the artiste’s style, with the fu­sion of hip-hop and African flavour. He also released the video of the new song late last month (March 2016). He has successfully released a good number of albums, which were well received.



DARE MELODY

The golden son of gospel, Damilare David Odunuga popularly called Dare Melody has carved a niche for himself and amongst the packs, he’s one artiste that is loved and respected due to his God-giving talent in singing, composing and of course preaching.

The gospel singer stated that it’s his desire to follow the path of his mentors by delivering uncompromising messages through his songs.



ESTHER IGBEKELE

Esther Igbekele was born and brought up with music in her blood. Her grandfather was the only drummer that could play to make the king of my town to get up on his throne to dance. While my father and his siblings were all singers, my father was a choirmaster for about 25 years before he finally became a pastor.

When she was five, I started leading the junior choir and they took me from junior choir when I was 7 to senior choir, because I was too sharp to be relegated to junior choir.

Esther has released several hit songs which has inspired many souls and blessed many homes. 2017 is expected to another better year for the Gospel singer and her fans.



BIYI SAMUEL

Biyi Samuel came into prominence in 2002 when he was invited to sing the title track of a movie called Igi Aruwe. Unfor­tunately, his star that shone brilliantly with the soundtrack dimmed when, Femi Fadeyi, the producer of the movie played a fast one on him and robbed him of its copyright.

For years, he groped in the dark until recently when lady luck smiled on him. Today, he has be­come a fast rising folk music crooner.

Samuel has produced four albums. His first, "Sacrifice", released on the platform of De­cross Music in 2000/2001, and following this was the song that brought him to limelight, "Igi Aruwe", produced in 2002/2003. Later, he released "Papa's Promise" for the record label of the late actor and movie producer, Muyideen (Alade) Aromire.

He also released Kabiosi for Omo Xtian Music; while his finally album, produced last year, was also under Moyinnet Entertainment.

Thirteen years after dropping his claim to fame song Igi Aruwe, Biyi Samuel returned with another banging album titled Ori Mi last year and has remained on top of his game ever since.



SOJI ISREAL

Soji Israel is a recording artiste with vast musical experience.A great composer and vocal powerhouse whose dexterity is applaud able.He is a front liner in Nigerian Gospel music and a leading Indigenous Praise/ worship leader.



He is the original writer of “BABA YE” a song that is widely used in worship and prayer in several Christian gatherings all over the world.His maiden album of nine years is still a toast of many music lovers till now.Songs like” Wonder Wonder”,”Joyfully sing” and a host of others are still very inspiring to millions of people.

He is a psalmist whose heart of worship usually reflects in his ministrations.He is also a proven music Director and choir manager who has handled a host of notable churches in his home country Nigeria. His latest music album titled ”ANYWHERE”has been greeted with a lot of anticipations from his teeming fans and followers





JIDE AROWOLO

As a naturally gifted and skilled musician and with God’s help, Jide Arowolo played guitar and bass for the then popular ‘Emerald’, a Christian contemporary instrumental jazz quartet in Ibadan in the 90s. He has featured at popular music festivals alongside many prominent christian artistes especially at the Maranatha Music Festivals in the late eighties. As a highly prolific songwriter, Jide has a vast collection of original songs set in diverse genres such as ballad, pop, reggae, R&B and some contemporary afro-rhythms. One of them is the popular ‘Ololufe’

Among the successful concerts he has held with the Samonda music team are ‘Rejoice ’97’ and ‘He is Risen ’98’. These recordings have become the favourites of many television stations within and outside Oyo State Nigeria. Jide has taught a good number of musicians, some of whom are now known producers in different parts of the world. He has been the technical adviser for many christian bands and a producer for many artistes and groups. He was a guest UK music minister at the Nigeria Turning Point Prayer Rally in Abuja Stadium in year 2005. He has delivered many seminars and conducted training programmes on praise & worship and sound management in many universities, churches and conferences in different parts of the world.





FOLAKE UMOSEN

Folake Umosen made a return after being away for a while now after she released her ever green chart buster album King’s Praise in 2004. It was the album that brought her to the limelight with the hit track ‘Kosobabire.’

For 2016, she has brought forth a single titled, ‘Na wonder o you dey do’ for her fans and gospel music lovers across the globe. According to her, “I’m not just a singer but also a minister of the gospel, who has been a blessing to mankind in homes, churches, our nation Nigeria and beyond its shores.



MIKE ABDUL

Mike Abdul has made his mark as a songwriter, singer and music producer. He has either written, contributed to or sang in the following hits: Igwe, Kene Jesu, Morire, Atobiju, SO Good, So Worthy, Yin Baba, Kabio-o-si, This Fuji Thing, Next Fuji Thing, Surulere, Your Majesty, Durotimi, Jenifa, E Gimme Money, No Evil and many album released.



Mike Abdul has worked with several Nigerian based gospel and secular artists and producers including FLO, Wole Oni, Mr Daz, BOUQUI, SheyMan, Rotimi Akinfenwa, Helen Paul, K-solo, Obiwon, Blaque Jersey, Tim Godfrey, Nomoreloss, Dekunle Fuji, SammY-Young, 1stBon, MoniQue, Rooftop MCs, Midnight Crew, Rasqie and several fantastic others making him the most featured Nigerian based gospel artist ever.



His works with Midnight Crew and other gospel music greats have seen him to many nations, enjoying several enviable platforms, media presence, awards and recognition across borders.







DAVID OJO

David Ojo is an Anointed man of God, a composer, award winning Recording Artist and an electrifying Gospel Artist.

David Ojo, was born in Ilupeju Ekiti, Ekiti State (Nigeria), and moved to Ibadan, another western state in Nigeria where The Lord gave him this band. From there he moved to Lagos,the former capital of Nigeria; now the commercial capital of Nigeria. While in Lagos the band became more solid as God's plan. He traveled extensively with the band to various parts of Africa to Minister in song. Both Anglophone and Francophone nations in Africa, e.g. Ghana, Benin Republic, Liberia, Kenya, Togo, Cameroon, etc have been really blessed with his ministrations.



After touring some of the African nations, the Lord then took him and the band to his present base in New York (United States Of America) where by God's grace, he has ministered in over 34 States which includes Washington DC, New Jersey, Michigan,Massachusetts, Maryland, Ohio, Georgia, Philadelphia, Chicago, West Virginia, North Carolina,Rhode Island and many more.



QUEEN AYO BALOGUN

Juju music icon, Queen Ayo Balogun Born Ayotunde Kofoworola Ogunlade,59, is from in Ilesha, Osun State. Her 88-year-old mother still sings in the church choir. She spent her childhood in Ibadan and had my primary education there before moving to Lagos in 1972.

She took correspondent exams from London Royal School of Music and got a Diploma in Music.

She started as a Gospel musician and later switched to Juju music when she realized that she could be an entertainer and make people dance and also gain a larger audience.

She’s a chorister at C&S Ayo Ni O Parish. Her 30-man band is named Ayo Balogun and Harmonic Voices.

She is the first woman to become the president of Association of Juju Musicians of Nigeria (AJUMN).





SEGUN OBE

Segun Obe is one of the fast-rising musicians in the country. He may not be as famous as his elder brother, Tunde, but one thing you cannot take away from him is his vocal chord.

One thing that cannot go unnoticed is Segun Obe’s vocal dexterity. As a voice coach, he has trained several individuals and choirs of churches within the country and beyond including Harvesters International Christian Centre, Guiding Light Assembly, Holy Ghost Praying Centre, Daystar Christian Centre and a branch of Winners Chapel in Maryland, USA.

He has a number of awards to his credit from his critically acclaimed albums. His recent singles include “Higher Octave”, “Aka” and most recently “God Dey”.

Segun Obe has shared stage with renowned music ministers including Dr Panam Percy Paul, Lionel Petersen, Donnie McClurkin, Kirk Franklin, Kurt Carr, amongst others. He is also one of the praise and worship lead singers of the Lagos Metropolitan Gospel Choir of The House on the Rock Church (HOTR).



SEGUN NABI

Popular Juju musician and chairman Lagos chapter of Juju Musicians Association of Nigeria(AJUMN), Segun Nabi is setting new records in the Juju music industry.

The prolific musician in 2016, launched three albums- Grip, Amin (Amen) and Appreciation 5 – at a go, a feat that has not been accomplished before in the Juju music terrain.

If theres anything Segun can do perfectly, it’s singing. He started playing music at a tender age, and has today, become a household name.

Sequel to the travails of the Convener of the Yoruba progressive movement, Ibile Assembly, Alhaji Saheed Mosadoluwa, there have been reports that the allegation of scamming his business partners is a concocted political plot to demean his hard-earned integrity and personality.


The resident of Mr Ibile as he’s fondly called was stormed by armed policemen on Saturday, December 17, 2016, and was carted away to Ikoyi prisons. He was alleged to have scammed a foreigner the sum of US$400,000 in the guise of procuring some goods which were never executed.


This allegation was not legally filed against his person before the media scooped the scandal to amplify the case on various tabloids and online platform.

Speaking exclusively with Empressive media, a close source to Mr Ibile hinted that the arrest and subsequent media attack was being plotted by a political underdog who would stop at nothing to 'soil' Mosadoluwa’s good image and what his movement represents.

Our source, who is also a staff of Mr Ibile, shed more light on the case in his testimony with newsmen where he made it known that he is ready to go full length against all the willing tool who served as an instrument to defame the revolutionist (Mr-Ibile) brand and image.

He stated:

Mr Ibile’s recent travail is concocted by some childishly obsessed politicians lobbyists in police uniform who desire to grab the headlines and insulting people at will because of their incurably boorish instincts and jungle journalist who would stop at nothing to defer every tenets of journalist for a proverbial pot of porridge.

The mix-up that occurs in his company business transactions does not warrant public exposure as we have dealt with this client with a much bigger amount.

The source stated that the question which the media should be asking is how come a crime, which is at the level of allegation be hastily projected in a manner that seems like the subject was notorious. Why do the police ceases to arraign him for a crime that cannot be proven that he committed? Why do the media cluster this case in that seem more like sponsored apprehension?

The true story

There is a company B. M. T. C Logistic Limited does custom clearing for Called Jichu Industries Nigeria Limited which is owned by a Chinese man named Wang Jei alias Jecho.

The Chinese guy, Jecho has been Alhaji Mosadoluwa’s friend and client for sometimes now and have sustained a business relationship for over a year.

Sometimes, Mr Ibile takes the responsibility to send money on Jaco’s behalf to China or Dubai through one of his clients and one Dr Ralph who resides in the UK. Whenever we gave him dollar or CFA in Nigeria here he would help make any necessary payment oversea and our company just have commission from any fund repatriation for Mr Jecho.


The last money that Jacho sent is around US$400,000. We handed over the money to Dr Ralph and after about 2 days, he called and notified us that HSBC Bank in UK stopped the payment to China. That they want him to provide the document of the previous consignment shipping from China to him in the UK to prove the invoice issue by Jecho company to substantiate that they are truly importing anything to UK.



Dr Ralph was suspected to be laundering money for some people and therefore all the transaction were stalled.

The UK bank maintained that the Chinese company he is sending money to with an evidence of invoices has never shipped any product to the UK.



Mr Ibile asked Dr Ralph what may be the outcome? He said that at times, it happens like that and within 2, 3 or maximum 6 months. They will do their investigation and refer the matter to court in the UK, which they only want to investigate if it's not terrorist money.

That if they find out with evident that its clean money that the Bank in UK will fine him and the bank will give him his money in that account and ask him to close the account. The man has never lied to us before.

Mr Ibile set up a meeting with Mr Jacho (Wang Lie) and assured him that the matter will be resolved as Dr Ralph has over time proven to be a reliable credible and transparent fellow. He reasoned with Alhaji and decided to wait as this was not the first time they are doing business.


After about a week, Wang Lie (Jecho) called my boss to ask if he knows one Chief which I do not want to mention his name for now and another politician from Ijebu.



He said they told him that our UK business partner, Dr Ralph wanted to cheat the both party, that they will assist him to take his money from my boss and ralph quickly.

One of the names he mentioned coincidentally happened to be a politician that wanted to contest House of Representative seat somewhere Ogun State that Mr Ibile stopped through Primary Election.

We wonder how come he knows them and how they find out he is doing business with us. He also wonders how they got to know he is having problem with my boss.

They both smiled and I told him these people don't know Dr Ralph that he should not mind them. I don't think Mr-Ibile know that even as at that time they have to arrange for a lawyer and even take him to SFU to meet DC Okoro and told him not to worry that they will take his money for him

The lawyer put in a petition that he has changed his number and Mr Jeco himself wrote a statement.

A close source to the plotters called him one midnight and disclosed to him how they went to Ikoyi and the plot to assassinate his character before the media.

He warned him about plot to blackmail him if he does not cooperate with them

He told Mr Ibile that they asked him to bring the police to show them his 3 houses that he knows. He said when they reached his Magodo residents, they saw him outside the main gate talking with someone and they checked the picture with them and asked him if that was Mr Ibile.

He said he wonder why they did not arrest Mr Ibile there because he was alone with his daughter and visitor.

Wang Jie (Jecho) stays in Nigeria here. He’s been a friend for close to 2 years. Some politician used him against Mr. Ibile.

Mr Ibile had already given him 60 million Naira from his own money before he even know of the police involvement, since he’s rest assured of Dr Ralph Magolis would surely send back the money.

And Jeco is indebted to Mr Ibile’s company before of about 16 million naira for the last containers we cleared for him.

We got to know their intention about police just on 1st of December and since police decide not to invite my boss and trying to humiliate him, he decided to seek redress in court to stop police from harassing his associate and the court asked us to put police and the complainant on notice and reconvene January 11, 2017. The court sheriff put them on notice on 14th December 2017.

The police still take an unlawful step to arrest him on 17th: he was detained in their cell till 28th December 2016.

SP Ngozi Braide actions are unlawful. She fault the police code of conduct for her foster interest on instruction of Deputy Commissioner of (Clientele Political Affair) in police uniform in Person of DCP DAN OKORO.

They are taken advantage of the holiday vacation. They arraigned him before the media. They don't know one of the media team they pay to defame Mr Ibile character was a close ally to him.

One of the media crew who came to cover the media parade and trial later called my boss people and confessed that they gave each one of them numbering about hundred 25,000 Naira and Bag of rice with Vegetable oil.

He said the bus that brought the rice was label PDP marked with Ogun State vehicle registration number.



About The Juju found in Mr Ibile’s Resident

When the media were romancing with the premise of Mr Ibile’s traditionally endowed status, personally, laughed because it became obvious that these people have no case.

What has Ifa (Oracle) got to do with the case on the ground? How many people have the police arrested because of their traditional religion? Will it make the news if they had found a bible or why did they decide not to parade his Quran?

Mr Ibile believes in traditional religion and trust its potency to protect him and his family and as long as human parts are not involved, he is still constitutionally rightful to practice any religion within the ambit of the law.

Is there any law that asks PSFU to queries anyone’s religion or faith?

Mr Ibile’s right to Freedom of Religion is a Fundamental Right as enshrined in the constitution and its enforcement is the requirement of the constitution, section 46 (1) provides for enforcement of Chapter IV (Fundamental Rights) of the constitution, thus: Because Traditional Yoruba Religion (Ifa) is characterized by belief in a supreme being, who created and ordered the world, but is often experienced as distant and unreachable. Therefore, lesser divinities who are more accessible act as intermediaries with the super god. Violations of taboos or social norms are widely believed to result in hardships or illness for individuals or communities and must be countered by ritual acts to reestablish order, harmony and well being.

That type of treatment, knocking down doors with heavy men foots and breaking of ceiling is reserved for only the hardest criminals in a sting operation, a sting operation is reserved for the hardest possible criminals, those in vices like: robbers, kidnappers and terrorists or organised crime. Not a mere business man like Mr Ibile in front of his children.

No sane and patriotic Nigerian deserves that type of treatment meted out to Mr Ibile and his family on 17th/December/2016 and those who have been through it recently including Judges of which the police even boasted that who was he(Mr Ibile): that when the SSS did it to a whole judge what happened? Is there any uniform man that has the prerogative to act outside Nigerian human fundamental right? It seems the lady called SP Ngozi Braide is more than the law.

She leaded close to 100 police man to Alhaji’s house blasting siren and terrorising his vicinity.

The manner in which they carried out (the arrests) and search in the house is not to be taken for granted. This case should set the record straight that there is a law in this country and the common man relies on judiciary as the last hope of mankind, the law remains, due process remains, there’s no reason why it should be change because some police want to hide under enforcement to service the desire of some group of politicians ambition.

Mr Ibile is a resolute and articulate crusader; an activist who believes in the will of the people.

Part of the reasons why Ibile Peaceful Assembly was initiated is to fight against any form class intimidation, oppression and abuse of power. It will, therefore, be ridiculous to be entangled in the same negative vices that Ibile movement exist to fight.

Those who seek Mr Ibile’s downfall are the beneficiary of the negative vices that we stand against and as long as Ibile Assembly exists, there is no longer a free meal for them. Thus, they want us gone.

We shall employ a full-fledged legal mechanism to fight this battle to the end and as Fidel Castro puts it, “History will absolve the righteous”,

Kingsway International Christian Centre, a 12,000-member mega-church in Britain headed by Nigeria’s Pastor Mathew Ashimolowo, lost $4.8 million to a Ponzi scheme after trustees carelessly invested money in it, NAN is reporting.

The scam was the brainchild of former Premier League soccer player, Richard Rufus, who used to be a defender for Charlton Athletic. He promised investors along with the church a return as high as 55 percent.

The Christian Post reporting the findings of an inquiry published 14 December by the Charity Commission for England and Wales revealed that the Kent-based 12,000 members Christian Centre suffered a net loss of about $4.8 million (£3.9 million) after its trustees invested over $6.1 million (£5 million) in four instalments between June 2009 and June 2010 . Mr Rufus was a member and former trustee of the church.

Mr Rufus had guaranteed that the investments would earn a sizeable return totalling about 55 percent in a year.He was last year found guilty of defrauding about 100 investors out of a total of $10,731,159 (£8,682,343) in the £16-million investing scheme.

Kingsway International Christian Centre was the single largest investor in the scheme.

The Charity Commission said in the report that the church’s trustees handed over an initial investment and entered into an agreement in which they were guaranteed that investment would earn a profit of about five percent per month, with the exception of August and December when they were guaranteed profits of about 2.5 percent.

“The inquiry established that in practice, however, the investments resulted in a net loss of £3.9 million to the charity,” the report explains.

The report states that the church’s trustees who handed over the funds were guilty of “mismanagement.”





The commission found that the church’s trustees did not “exercise sufficient care when making the decisions to invest £5 million of the charity’s funds through the ex- trustee's investment scheme.”

“They did not follow all the principles expected of trustees to ensure they comply with their trustee duties under charity law when making those decisions,” the report said.

The Charity Commission was first alerted to the church’s investment when it found that the church made £3 million of investments with a “qualified independent trader” who was “in a position to provide the services of an investment manager by investing in financial markets.”

After the commission contacted the Financial Services Authority to verify the trustee’s status as a trader, it found that the trustee in question was not, nor had he ever been, licensed to “carry on regulated activities in a personal capacity.”

The commission also found that the investments were paid to the trustee’s personal bank accounts. Additionally, the commission found that the investments “appeared to be a speculative and high risk in nature.”

As a result of the commission’s inquiry, an interim manager was appointed to review the trustees’ decisions to invest the £5 million and to decide whether any of the trustees should be held personally liable.

The interim manager found that the trustees did not do enough to investigate whether or not the rate of return they were promised was realistic and put too much trust in the trustee’s good standing with the church and community.

“The interim manager found that conflicts of interest were not managed properly by the decision-making trustees when making the decision to invest.

There was too much reliance on the expertise of the ex‑trustee when he was personally interested and conflicted,” the report states.

“The interim manager found that insufficient consideration was given by the decision-making trustees as to whether the guaranteed rate of return was unrealistically high, or to the potential for fraud.”

After the church entered into an Individual voluntary agreement with the ex-trustee in hopes he could pay back the money lost, the ex-trustee filed for bankruptcy and was declared bankrupt in 2013.

The interim manager also encouraged the church’s current trustees to bring a legal claim against the trustees who decided to invest the money.
http://www.citypeopleonline.com/kicc-pastor-ashimolowo-lost-5million-scammer/

The Nigeria Self Help Group Initiative (an initiative of the City People Media and RMCL Nig/UK) In its Empowerment Crusade hereby brings business training/sustainable employments tagged "Be trained, Be engaged and Be fixed". The training is in Business Growth Strategies, Customer Service, Relationship Management and Marketing. All trainees will automatically be on the employments/ empowerments list. All business owners will have access to a business Consultant to always guide them in their businesses. RMCL is an outsourcing agency for so many organizations and can also outsource products for members to sell and earn their commissions on a freelance basis.Facilitators are Dr. Seye Kehinde (City People Magazine), Dr. Wale Deinde (a United Nation Entrepreneurial Consultant) and others. This training is for business owners, customer service officers, marketers either in paid employment or in a private business and for job seekers. For more info visit www.rmcltd.com.ng or call Adetutu on..........08067843459.. The Initiative is to raise more entrepreneurs, guide the existing ones and provide sustainability for the unemployed

Please if anyone has got the invitation letter for the training..let him/her indicate here soas for us to be sure if training starts today as suggested above

Feminism is a movement that has over the years been introduced and widely adopted in Nigeria and the world at large as a mechanism that seeks justice for women and end sexism in all forms. In many of its contexts, feminism seems to involve at least two claims, one normative and the other descriptive. The normative claim concerns how women ought (or ought not) to be viewed and treated and draws on a background conception of justice or broad moral position. The descriptive claim concerns how women are, as a matter of fact, viewed and treated, alleging that they are not being treated in accordance with the standards of justice or morality invoked in the normative claim.

Together, the two claims provide reasons for working to change the way things are; hence, feminism is not just an intellectual but also a political movement. This movement has been propagated by so many illustrious personalities all over Africa such as Ghanaian-British documentary filmmaker, producer, and writer, Yaba Badoe; Liberian peace activist, women’s rights advocate and Nobel Peace Laureate, Leymah Gbowee; and Nigeria’s acclaimed author, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie; who have all identified themselves as feminists and have written and given speeches on various current topics relating to women’s issues in Africa and beyond.

In a personal, eloquently-argued essay adapted from her much-admired TED talk on “we should all be feminist” and sampled by Beyonce in her track, “Flawless”, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie defined a feminist as a “person who believes in the social, political, and economic equality of the sexes.” Does this definition reflect its true meaning? This question continues to be a boggler while observing the situation of things currently faced by men in the society. Whenever gender inequality is mentioned, our focus is usually on women; that women should receive equal respect, opportunities, and payment as men, and have the right to choose what happens to their bodies. These are terrible problems that women face to some degree in most countries around the world. However, gender inequality is an issue that affects men too. According to Emma Watson, an actress and Goodwill Ambassador for United Nations, in a speech at the UN General Assembly, “fighting for women’s rights has become synonymous with man-hating”. I may be wrong, but feminism has been so over flogged that women in some countries are now seen as superior beings entitled to some privileges when compared to men, thus losing the true essence of equality between sexes.

For recruitment in a banking sector, statistics has shown that banks prefer attractive women (and in few cases, attractive men) for posts which involve direct interactions with medium to high-profile clients. I have never been to a bank and seen more men than women on the counter accepting money and paying cheques given by the customers. I agree that this may be uncomfortable for some attractive women in question especially those who are not aware of the hidden purpose for their recruitment. But even among those who are aware, many are offended. Only a few are concerned. On one side, the banks are not necessarily at fault for being capitalistic and business minded, but it is discrimination nevertheless because there are male graduates who are good at sales and communication but left to roam the streets with their certificates all because they are not women.

Face the facts: Nowadays, women are paid more, given more second chances, sided more and are gaining too much of advantage over men. A skinny guy can be ridiculed by girls, called a wimp, unmanly, womanly and every other thing you can imagine but if he dares open his mouth and point out a fat girl eating McDonalds, he will be flamed to high hell. When relationships fail, it’s a fact that men get tragically overlooked when it comes to getting custody of their children. According to statistics, women receive custody of children 92% of the time in cases of divorce and illegitimacy. People will argue that the children need to stay close to their mothers but this astoundingly high number means that men are being denied the opportunity to become positive role models in their children’s lives. Consider as well that the average child support payment due from women is half the amount due from men. And despite this fact, women are twice as likely as men to default on child support payments. Unlike women, society prevents men from showing emotions and vulnerabilities. While it’s perfectly permissible for women to be aggressive, the moment men let down their guard and cry they are accused of being effeminate.

They have real feelings as well, but unlike women, they don’t have the freedom to express them openly without having their masculinity and even their sexuality fall under question. Women have been in space, fought in wars and have served as heads of state, so why is it that men are termed the bad guy if they fail to hold a door open for a woman? Has it ever occurred to you that the guy who devised the “ladies first” policy may have created it just to check out his girlfriend’s ass? When it comes to equal treatment and equal rights for equal pay, women make more noise than a backfiring Bulldog. So why is it that when it comes to picking up a dinner bill, these same women suddenly become mute? Ladies can’t have it both ways. Being equal means assuming equal duties. With great paychecks come great responsibilities.

Even in television series, men are mostly depicted as grossly incompetent. From Family Guy to the Simpsons to King of Queens. According to Marge, Homer “chews with his mouth open, hangs out at a seedy bar with bums and lowlifes, blows his nose in towels and puts them back, and scratches himself with his keys”. Similarly, Family Guy’s Peter Griffin is a lovable oaf who “isn’t afraid to say what’s on his mind; usually the wrong thing at exactly the wrong time”. The women in these same series, meanwhile, project an almost saintly glow as long-suffering wives and dedicated mothers. It’s a sad fact that we’re living in the world where unsubstantiated statements can be made about men when these same claims would never be tolerated if they were directed at women.
Source: http://citypeopleng.com/feminism-a-wrong-perception-of-equality-uchegbu-ndubuisi/