₦airaland Forum

https://nextedition.com.ng/2019/07/14/confusion-in-mararaba-nasarawa-state-as-vigilance-group-traders-clash/

The ever-busy Mararaba area in Nasarawa State was on Saturday night thrown into confusion when members of a vigilance group stormed the area to dislodge traders that had displayed their wares under the overhead bridge.

The vigilance group, said to be working for the state government, had insisted that the traders must halt their trading activities, a directive the traders resisted, leading to a clash that sent the fear-stricken traders and their customers scampering in various directions for safety.

A correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, who was trapped in the melee, reports that many of the traders and other passers-by took to their heels, running into each other in the process.

NAN also reports that many traders lost their goods as they were either destroyed by the vigilance group members or trampled upon by people fleeing the scene.

The situation got even worse when hoodlums took advantage of the confusion to make bonfires in the middle of the busy road, an action that disrupted vehicular movement and caused heavy traffic gridlock.

Many vehicles were destroyed in the confusion as drivers abandoned their cars in the middle of the road and ran away to avoid being caught in the crisis.

NAN further reports that Policemen arrived at the scene in about five pick-ups vans and shot tear gas canisters into the crisis area to disperse the protesting traders and members of the vigilance group.

One of the traders, who spoke with NAN, said that the fight over the “night trade” between the traders and the Nasarawa State Government officials had been on “for more than three weeks now.”

He said that the street traders were given notice to move to the new Mohammadu Buhari’s International Market, and warned against displaying goods on the roads which had often affected human and vehicular movements.

“Government’s argument is that night business usually gives bag and phone snatchers the opportunity to perpetuate their evil deeds. Some traders complied, but the majority of them ignored the directive,” he said.

A resident of the area, who refused to disclose his name, told NAN that the traders usually come in the evenings when they believe that the task force members had closed for the day.

“They (traders), mass into this place every evening with their wares. This evening’s raid caught them unawares,” he said.

As at the time of filing this report, Policemen were seen trying to clear the roads of the debris of burnt tyres, woods and other dangerous items used to block the road, so as to ensure the free flow of traffic.

https://nextedition.com.ng/2019/07/14/undp-poverty-report-atiku-calls-for-urgent-action/

Former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar has called for urgent action to prevent Nigerians from being decimated by poverty.

Mr. Atiku who stated this in a press release signed by his Media Adviser, Paul Ibe, was reacting to the recent report by the United Nations Development Programme, UNDP, which established that over 98 million Nigerians are living in multidimensional poverty.

He expressed fear that if solutions were not found and urgently too, the number could increase from 98 million to all 198 million Nigerians.

The Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in last elections, said the report is a frightening corroboration that poverty has become the fastest-growing venture in Nigeria over the last four years.

He alerted that: "There is an urgent and compelling need for institutions of the Nigerian state to understand that it is an appalling dereliction of duty to stand idly by and allow misery multiply in the populace.

Atiku noted that "This is no longer a grassroots problem. The failure of our economy over the last four years affects everyone from top to bottom.

He recalled that four years ago, Aliko Dangote, Nigeria's richest man, was worth $25 billion. "However, his net worth in 2019 is less than half that. He joins thousands of industrialists whose wealth and their ability to produce, has become eroded in recent years, and continues to do so.

"With the National Bureau of Statistics reporting a net job loss of over 6 million since 2015, we see that if industrialists have their wealth eroding, it affects their ability to create opportunities, which means that the trickle-down effect gradually dries.

Atiku maintained that the greatest national security threat Nigeria faces in 2019 is not Boko Haram/ISWAP or bandits but that "we have created the largest wave of poverty in human history. And the world is noticing, hence Foreign Direct Investment is shifting from Nigeria to Ghana, making Ghana the top recipient of FDI in West Africa in the last year.

He regretted that despite the report by the UNDP, Nigerian leadership has shown nonchalance as though to say that as long as they and their families are not amongst those 98 million extremely poor Nigerians, things can carry on as before.

"But that cannot be allowed to be the case. Those who have the ability, including the Council of State, all former leaders, elder-statesmen, and especially the other arms of government, must begin to collaborate for solutions, before the number increases from 98 million, to all 198 million Nigerians.

"We must remember that we are stakeholders in the Nigerian project. Stakeholders who must speak up for those 98 million people who are losing their voices to poverty," he said.

https://nextedition.com.ng/2019/07/14/police-speak-on-alleged-bomb-explosion-in-enugu/

The Enugu State Police Command has debunked the rumor in the social media of a bomb explosion in the state.

The Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Ebere Amaraizu, in a statement on Saturday in Enugu said that the video circulating in some sections of the social media was “an attempt by mischief makers to instill fear in the minds of the public’’.

The statement read in part: “The attention of the Command has been drawn to the misleading and false video in circulation in some sections of the social media on an alleged bomb blast at Otigba Junction within Enugu metropolis.

“The Command, hereby, wish to inform members of the public particularly those who may have been misinformed with such that there is no bomb incident and explosion in entire Enugu State.

“Hence, members of the public are advised to ignore the misleading information and go about their normal lawful businesses.

“This false information is an attempt by mischief makers to cause panic and fear in the minds of law-abiding members of the public,’’ he said.

Amaraizu assured of the Command's commitment to ensuring the safety of lives and property of the residents of the state.

https://nextedition.com.ng/2019/07/14/fg-panel-seals-senator-nwaoboshis-properties-in-lagos-delta-abuja/


The Special Presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property has sealed off assets and property belonging to Senator Peter Nwaoboshi, in Warri, Asaba in Delta State, and Lagos State.

The Presidential Panel carried out the action on the premise of last week’s ruling of a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja which ordered an interim forfeiture of property belonging to Nwaoboshi, who represents Delta North senatorial district.

Ruling in the suit filed by the Special Presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property on behalf of the Federal Government, Justice Taiwo O. Taiwo also placed a post-no-debit order on 22 bank accounts linked to Nwaoboshi.

The senator was recently referred to the Office of the Department of Public Prosecutions, Federal Ministry of Justice by the Special Presidential Investigation Panel led by Chief Okoi Obono-Obla for allegedly making false assets declaration in his Form CCB1 submitted to the Code of Conduct Bureau.

According to the ruling, 14 properties and 22 bank accounts linked to the senator are to be temporarily forfeited to the federal government.

Besides sealing off the properties, the Panel also wrote to several banks including Zenith International Bank Plc ; United Bank of Africa ; Sterling Bank Plc and Access Bank Plc to block Senator Nwaoboshi from operating multiple accounts maintained by him in these banks pursuant to the Order of the Interim forfeiture given by the Court.

Some of the properties sealed by the Presidential Panel are:

*Summing Electrical Company located at Asagba along Asaba Airport Road, Asaba, Delta State;

*PON filling station along Asaba Airport Road, Asaba, Delta State;

* A Multibillion Naira Estate under construction at Maryam Babangida Road, Asaba, Delta State;

* Carthage Cinema located at Okpana Road beside Rain Oil Petrol Station, Asaba, Delta State;

*Newbridge filling Station along Airport Road, Warri, Delta State;

* A house at No 8 Monu Olanrewaju Crescent, GRA, Asaba, Delta State;

* Guinea House, No 27, Marina Road, Apapa;

*A multi-billion building at 41, Burma road, Apapa, Lagos;

* House No 25 6932 road, Adban Estate, Gwarimpa, Abuja;

* Plot 3011B Kuranakh Close, Maitama were sealed;

*Plots of land in Abuja.

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https://nextedition.com.ng/2019/07/05/alleged-assault-senator-elisha-abbo-granted-conditional-bail/

Senator Elisha Abbo, the lawmaker representing Adamawa north, has been granted conditional bail by the Federal Capital Territory police command.

Abbo had turned himself in on Thursday evening following an invitation by the police headquarters in Abuja, for assaulting a lady at an adult intimacy gadget shop in Abuja.

A CCTV video of the assault which took place in May, had gone viral in the course of the week.

According to Channels Television, Sen. Elisha Abbo was granted bail at about noon on Friday after meeting the conditions for his bail.

The bail conditions however, were not disclosed.

It also remains unclear if the lawmaker will be charged to court.

A video which went viral all over social media had shown the lawmaker hitting a lady following some misunderstanding at the adult toy store.

The Inspector General of Police (IGP) M.A Adamu, had earlier ordered a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the assault.

The Senate, had also set up a committee to investigate the matter.

DETAILS HERE> ]https://nextedition.com.ng/2019/07/05/nafdac-intercepts-21-containers-of-spoilt-frozen-fish-in-lagos/

vegafbs:
https://nextedition.com.ng/2019/07/05/nafdac-intercepts-21-containers-of-spoilt-frozen-fish-in-lagos/


National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control, NAFDAC, on Thursday said it intercepted 21 containers of spoilt frozen fish at Tincan Island Port in Lagos.

The Director General of NAFDAC, Prof. Moji Adeyeye, who disclosed this in a statement in Abuja, therefore urged members of the public to be cautious and not to consume frozen fish that would be harmful to them.

Recall that fish is among items banned for importation into the country by the Federal Government.

The agency also said it seized four trucks of bottle water imported from China, adding that the water was concealed in hair attachment cartons.

According Adeyeye, other items seized included imported fruit juices labelled in Chinese language.

She added that the seizures were made recently at Seme border post in Lagos.

The Director General assured that NAFDAC would continue to work with other security agencies to ensure that no harmful food items, illicit or unregistered drugs or water among others, found their way into the country.

https://nextedition.com.ng/2019/07/05/the-story-of-busola-dakolo-unknown-cousin/

Busola Dakolo has a cousin she has never met and might never even meet. They don’t share blood ties, of course. But like tens of hundreds of victims of sexual abuse, there’s a common thread of grief that binds in a way that only those who feel it know.

Since last week, we have been caught in the throes of the grievous charges of sexual predation levied against the pastor of the Commonwealth of Zion Assembly (COZA), Biodun Fatoyinbo, by Mrs. Dakolo. It’s a sad and pathetic story which has left its victim scarred for nearly 20 years, until recently when she summoned the courage to confront the demon.

But this other victim, whom I described as Dakolo’s unknown cousin, may never be able to tell her own story. Not now, maybe never. I may never even have been able tell this story for her, if our paths did not cross in a most unusual way. Fate made our paths cross.

For nearly two years now, I have been involved with OpenFees, an NGO dedicated to paying the fees of destitute children in public schools in Abuja and for proper basic education funding.

Basic education (beginning from primary up to three years of junior secondary school) is supposed to be free. But it’s free only on paper. Schools still find ways to extort all kinds of levies from parents, forcing millions of them from very poor homes to do all kinds of menial jobs after school to help their parents meet up.

Some manage to get through junior secondary school, but the financial toll often becomes unbearable when they have to register for external examinations, the cost of which is higher than the national minimum wage.

It was in the process of finding a way to bridge the gap for these extremely vulnerable ones that OpenFees met with the young girl whom I described in the opening as Busola Dakolo’s cousin. But she’s not, only their stories are similar in an agonizing way. I’ll just call her Asabe.

She’s 15 and an SS3 student of Government Secondary School, Dangara, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Asabe was one of the 97 indigent, but promising students that we identified with the help of school authorities. Each one of the 97 – and God knows how many hundreds of unreached others – has a heart-breaking story of personal struggle against destiny-threatening odds to share.

To paraphrase Leo Tolstoy in Anna Karenina, all destitute students are alike, but each story of destitution carries its own peculiar misery. Asabe lost her father three years ago, at about the time she was moving from junior to senior secondary school. When her father died, she nearly gave up hope. The burden of looking after herself and her two younger siblings fell squarely on her mother.

Her mother was a petty trader, making barely enough to put food on the table on some days. In spite of that, Mama Asabe was determined to see her daughter through school. But she was also concerned about how to keep an eye on Asabe who was in boarding school in Abuja. She made enquiries and later found out there was someone in GSS Dangara, who comes from Ilorin like themselves, whom she could ask to be Asabe’s guardian in school.

Things seemed to go well for a while – and why not? Asabe’s new guardian and staff of GSS Dangara was not just a distant “relative” from Ilorin, he is also married and has children. On the face of it, he is just the kind of guardian in whose care an unsuspecting parent might entrust a child.

Believing that her daughter was in safe hands, Mama Asabe scraped all she could from her petty trade and sent to Mr. Guardian for Asabe’s upkeep in school from time to time. But Mr. Guardian nursed other ideas of his own. He was only waiting for a moment to strike. He was waiting for Asabe’s vulnerable moment.

In September, Asabe’s mother took ill. No one was sure exactly what it was, but Asabe suspects it was dementia. Her mother went out one day and has not returned since that fateful September day. With no father and her mother now missing, Asabe was bereft. Paying fees became a problem. Because of cost, she could also not afford the cost of travelling to her ancestral Ilorin home, where her grandmother stays.

Perhaps she was also thinking of the burden that grandma currently bears. Her grandmother, who is still in Ilorin, took over the care of Asabe’s other two siblings after Mama Asabe went missing. Asabe had to start fending for herself, to lessen grandma’s burden.

Mr. Guardian at GSS Dangara knew when to strike and chose Asabe’s dire moment of need sometime in April. When OpenFees first met Asabe and enrolled her as one of our 97 scholars, she was doing quite well in school in spite of the mountains she had to climb. The alarm bells went off when she failed her JAMB, scoring 144 when her peers on the same programme scored between 292 and 301.

She said that in June, a member of her church called her aside and suggested to her that she might be pregnant. She said she did not know and wasn’t sure. But she remembered that day in April when things might have gone awry.

She had complained to Mr. Guardian that she had leg pain and he gave her money to go and buy a drug, “Chaptetizercyproheptadine”, from a pharmacy. He administered the drugs, enough doses to knock Asabe off to sleep. In her text message to us later, she said when she woke up the next morning, she found blood stains and was frightened. Mr. Guardian had apparently raped her but warned her never to tell.

When we received the report during the Sallah break, we quickly moved Asabe from her friend’s place where she had taken shelter to a safe and secure place temporarily and followed quickly with a report to NAPTIP, the agency for the prohibition of trafficking in persons.

You would think that everyone up the food chain would be outraged. We thought so. NAPTIP weighed in and invited Mr. Guardian to a meeting over the matter. He turned up kicking and generally behaving in a manner that suggested he would stop at nothing to obstruct the investigation. His employer, GSS Dangara, initially appeared genuinely contrite and determined to root out the randy staff – until the Ag. Director FCT Secondary School Education Board, Nanre Emeje, stepped in.

She pilled obstacles in the way and tried to block access to Asabe, a girl desperately in need of help. At one point, she threatened us and the school authorities took a cue and mounted their own obstacle in our way; only NAPTIP’s unwavering commitment for justice brought relief. Yet, there’s still a long road ahead.

The pregnancy test on Asabe before she was returned to school was negative but her physical appearance has changed remarkable, stoking fears of ectopic pregnancy. Her emotional scar is indescribable, and her future may have been blighted forever. And how many more of such cases litter the land?

Will Emeje spare a thought for this 15-year-old orphan, carrying a burden many times her age and yet living daily in fear and hopelessness? Will Emeje let justice take its course? Who will speak for Asabe, Busola Dakolo’s unknown cousin?




Ishiekwene is the Managing Director/Editor-In-Chief of The Interview and member of the board of the Global Editors Network

Busola Dakolo Finally Files Complaint Against Biodun Fatoyinbo

GISTS> https://nextedition.com.ng/2019/07/04/breaking-busola-dakolo-finally-files-complaint-against-biodun-fatoyinbo/

Breaking: Busola Dakolo Finally Files Complaint Against Biodun Fatoyinbo

GIST> https://nextedition.com.ng/2019/07/04/breaking-busola-dakolo-finally-files-complaint-against-biodun-fatoyinbo/

https://nextedition.com.ng/2019/07/05/nafdac-intercepts-21-containers-of-spoilt-frozen-fish-in-lagos/


National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control, NAFDAC, on Thursday said it intercepted 21 containers of spoilt frozen fish at Tincan Island Port in Lagos.

The Director General of NAFDAC, Prof. Moji Adeyeye, who disclosed this in a statement in Abuja, therefore urged members of the public to be cautious and not to consume frozen fish that would be harmful to them.

Recall that fish is among items banned for importation into the country by the Federal Government.

The agency also said it seized four trucks of bottle water imported from China, adding that the water was concealed in hair attachment cartons.

According Adeyeye, other items seized included imported fruit juices labelled in Chinese language.

She added that the seizures were made recently at Seme border post in Lagos.

The Director General assured that NAFDAC would continue to work with other security agencies to ensure that no harmful food items, illicit or unregistered drugs or water among others, found their way into the country.

[b]Frank Lampard Becomes Chelsea Head Coach

DEATILS>> [/b]https://nextedition.com.ng/2019/07/04/breaking-frank-lampard-becomes-chelsea-head-coach/

https://nextedition.com.ng/2019/07/04/breaking-frank-lampard-becomes-chelsea-head-coach/

Frank Lampard was appointed Chelsea head coach on Thursday, confirming a dramatic return for one of the club’s greatest ever players.

Lampard has signed a three-year contract with Chelsea, where he spent 13 years and became the team’s all-time leading scorer with 211 goals.

https://nextedition.com.ng/2019/07/02/actress-regina-daniels-congratulates-billionaire-hubby-on-newly-acquired-private-jet/

Baby wife of billionaire politician, Ned Nwoke, and popular Nollywood actress, Regina Daniels, is definitely living it up.

She is truly basking in and enjoying her husband’s wealth. Luxury has become a way of life for the young actress ever since she crossed paths with the 59-year-old billionaire.

For Daniels, life has become all about fancy cars and private jets.

Just recently, the newlywed shared photos of herself posing inside her husband’s most recently acquired private jet on social media.

She captioned the photos; “Congrats mi amor.”

Regina and Ned got married in a colourful traditional marriage ceremony in late May 2019.

https://nextedition.com.ng/2019/07/03/benue-tanker-explosion-death-toll-rises-with-over-100-critical-in-hospitals/


The Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, Benue State Command, Mr. Aliyu Baba has said the death toll from Monday’s Tanker explosion in Ahumbe Village in Gwer East Local Government Area of the state has risen to 37.

Speaking to newsmen in his office in Makurdi on Tuesday, Baba said the number could be more as 101 casualties with various degrees of injuries, were evacuated from the scene of the incident and taken to eight hospitals in the state for medical attention.

Recall that a tanker carrying fuel exploded on Monday evening at Ahumbe Village along Aliade–Makurdi highway in Gwer East Local Government Area of the state after it skidded off the road and fell.

Eye-witnesses said the the explosion occured twice. Following the first explosion, villagers had gathered to lend helping hand to the victims when the second one occured leading to the high number of casualties including travellers and passers-by.

The Sector Commander also disclosed that people who were taking pictures to post on the social media and two firemen who had gone to the scene to put out the fire were also caught in the second explosion.

He said his men and the Police were immediately deployed to clear the heavy traffic, while 35 dead bodies were removed from the scene to the mortuary as at Monday evening.

At the time the Next Edition visited the Benue State University Teaching Hospital, BSUTH, on Tuesday, more victims who were referred from other hospitals were still being brought in by their relatives.

READ ALSO Chrisland Supervisor Defiled More Children, Prosecution Alleges
Speaking with newsmen, Chief Medical Director of BSUTH, Prof Terrumun Swende, said all the victims being treated in the hospital sustained more than 75 degree burns.

He said “Monday evening, we started receiving victims of the fire incident between Makurdi and Aliade. We have received up to 10 patients and one of the victims died early hours of today (Tuesday).

“All of them came in in very critical condition and the least degrees of burns was 75 percent.

“A good number of them have what we call inhilational injuries and are kept in the Intensive Care Unit, ICU, and our surgeons and team have long swung into action.”

Dr Swende said the hospital is working with international organizations like the Red Cross, Doctors Without Borders, state government and others to care for the victims.

He said because of the high number of casualties, other victims were taken to the Airforce Hospital, Federal medical Centre, FMC, Makurdi, General Hospital Aliade and St. Vincent Hospital.

“As time goes on, the most critical ones will be moved here so that they can get the attention they deserve,” he said.

He said the hospital has deployed all resources available to caring for the victims while hospital staff have been on their toes since Monday evening to ensure the situation is salvaged.
Meanwhile, Gov. Samuel Ortom has expressed deep sadness over the loss of many lives in the tanker explosion in the state.

https://nextedition.com.ng/2019/07/02/2019-bbnaija-nigerians-express-shock-over-choice-of-housemates/

Some Nigerians have expressed their shock over the choice of housemates in the ongoing fourth season of the BBNaija reality show.

Some viewers said that it was puzzling how Manchester-based Mike, London police officer Khafi and Ike, who said this was his first one in Lagos, made the cut while thousands of Nigerians flooded audition centres in February all in vain.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that audition centres across the country were crowded with people struggling to get in by scaling the fence.

Viewers felt it was unfair to have people risk lives to audition and then pick Nigerians in the Diaspora.

@Omojuwa said, “I have a problem with everyday Nigerians struggling across the country to audition for this thing, yet it appears they stood no chance from the beginning.

“That should have been made clear to them from the start. Big Brother Phonetics. It appears this is Big Brother Nigeria Diaspora.”

@BabaRoyan tweeted, “Too much handpicking! Connection is the main thing to strive In Nigeria, while the main people who went for d audition were selected to become #BBNaija NINJAs.”

@Ibidunmary said, “I said it to someone all those people jumping fence, crossing hurdles to make it to the audition none of them is in the house, all these ones are imported.”

@DesmondAyotunde wrote, “I doubt if most of this contestants in the house really participated in the audition.”

Meanwhile, Instagram sensation, SimplyTacha who was the last housemate announced on Sunday, has remained a strong talking point for the viewers as she was recognisable from several audition clips.

https://nextedition.com.ng/2019/07/03/im-upset-stupefied-by-what-i-heard-omoni-oboli-on-busolas-rape-allegation/

The recent allegation of rape against the senior pastor of Commonwealth of Zion Assembly, COZA, Biodun Fatoyinbo, by Busola Dakolo has continued to garner reactions.

Nollywood Actress and Producer Omoni Oboli, reacting to the whole saga, said she was upset and stupefied by the whole incident.

Omoni Oboli also noted some ‘incoherency’ in Busola’s story.

The mother of three made her views on the issue known in a lengthy statement on her Instagram page.

She wrote: “I don’t know where to start concerning the story that’s still unfolding as I write.

“The Bible warns us to “be quick to hear, be slow to speak, and be slow to wrath,” and going by my personal experience of seeing how quickly many took sides without first getting all the facts, weighing it against the character of all the parties involved, given our antecedents, and then drawing conclusions from evidence and an objective comparative analysis of the accounts, rather than from emotions, envy, the thrill of seeing strife, I have waited to digest the whole matter first.

“What’s her motive for speaking out? Was it just to spite the pastor in question? Was it to destroy his reputation, or gain some financial advantage? Was it to build followership through the scandal that would surely come, not knowing that the pendulum could swing in either direction, for or against her?

“What exactly would spur a wife of a reputable and beloved entertainer, a mother, a business woman, with a beautiful life coveted by many, to come out to make this kind of accusation?

https://nextedition.com.ng/2019/07/03/ortom-counters-presidency-offers-evidence-benue-included-in-ruga-settlement/

The Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has said the Presidency lied in its claim that the state is not included in the controversial Ruga settlements plan of the federal government.

Mr. Ortom said the statement by Presidential Spokesperson, Garba Shehu on Channels TV on Tuesday was not only contradictory but also false, misleading and lacking in honour.

Mr. Shehu, who was a guest during a breakfast show on the independent television channel had criticised Mr. Ortom for rejecting the Ruga settlement plan, adding that Benue State was not included in the programme.

But responding to the presidential aide, Mr. Ortom, who spoke through his Chief Press Secretary, Terver Akase, said there is ample evidence to show the Presidency is lying.

He recalled that the Federal Ministry of Agriculture had written to the Benue State Government informing it of the decision to establish Ruga Settlements in the three senatorial zones of the state.

“Our Ministry of Agriculture which received the correspondence responded that Benue has no land for the Ruga Settlements,” the governor said.

“It added that the state only has land for ranches as stipulated by the state’s Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law, 2017.

“The Benue State Government subsequently made public its rejection of the Ruga model of animal husbandry and reminded those pushing for the illegal settlement patterns about the provisions of the country’s Constitution and the Land Use Act.”

The governor said he was shocked to hear Mallam Shehu’s claim that the state was not included in the Ruga project and, therefore, had no right to speak about it.

READ ALSO Failed Prophesy: Ebonyi Pastor Blames “Deceitful Spirit’’ for Prediction on Super Falcons
Mr. Ortom wondered why the Federal Government sent contractors to mount project’s signposts in parts of the state if it was not included in the controversial project.

Continuing, he argued, “If Benue was not included in the Ruga settlements, why did the Federal Government say it has gazetted lands in the 36 states for the project?

BREAKING: Pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo of COZA Steps Down From the Pulpit Over Rape Allegations

GISTS>> https://nextedition.com.ng/2019/07/01/breaking-pastor-biodun-fatoyinbo-of-coza-steps-down-from-the-pulpit-over-rape-allegations/

https://nextedition.com.ng/2019/07/01/breaking-pastor-biodun-fatoyinbo-of-coza-steps-down-from-the-pulpit-over-rape-allegations/

Pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo has finally bowed to pressure and stepped down as the senior pastor of Commonwealth of Zion Assembly, COZA, over alleged rape allegation by Timi Dakolo’s wife, Busola Dakolo.

Fatoyinbo took to his official Instagram account to release an official statement, stating that he is stepping down from the pulpit following the rape saga.

According to him, he has sought spiritual counsel from christian leaders all over the world before taking his final decision.

He wrote:

“The past few days have been very sobering on me I have taken time to seek spiritual counsel form Christian leaders around the world who feel very concerned about the ongoing report in the media.

“I have solicited their guidance on actions I should take that is honoring to our Lord Jesus Christ and the work he has called me to do.

“Drawing from their counsel and that of the leadership of COZA and owing to my love for Lord’s work and the sacred honor of my calling I have decided to take a leave of absence from the pulpit of the church.”

Pastor Fatoyinbo took this decision after a massive protest was carried out by some Nigerians Sunday, June 30, at Coza church in Lagos and Abuja, asking the Pastor to step down over the rape allegations by Busola Dakolo.

https://nextedition.com.ng/2019/07/01/dele-sobowale-old-age-without-wisdom/

The Yoruba language is rich and considers even inconceivable things in its linguistic code. For instance, an old man with childish proclivities is called “agbaya”. The word is loosely translated as “childish old man”, implying that despite the man’s advanced age, his conduct is childish. It is not complimentary.

The actions and conducts of Dele Sobowale on many occasions tempt many young people to compromise the time honoured value of respect for elders as they are compelled to address him with lexical items that are reasonably unsuitable for his age but fittingly apt for his indiscretions. Whether these actions are geared towards pecuniary gains as there are obvious, they convey the fact that Dele Sobowale has no integrity or honour and so could pass for a man who has encountered old age but without the requisite wisdom to give him fulfilment. According to the celebrated Swiss writer, Henri Frederic Amiel, “To know how to grow old is the masterwork of wisdom…”

Has our elder statesman, (the word is only accorded his age, not his conduct) grown in wisdom? Any affirmative answer arising from this question is suspect and vacuous, Ecclesiastes 11:9 upholds and expatiates on this, “when I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child. But when I became a man, I put away childish things”. Interesting! But has Sobowale put away childish habits? The answer is, NO! It is why greed is still an integral part of his life. It is also why he is uncompromisingly pecuniary without regard to self-respect, integrity and personal honour.

Sometime in 2018, he wrote a book entitled: ATTAH ON RESOURCE CONTROL, ostensibly as a public relations booster for his friend and contemporary, His Excellency, Obong Victor Attah, former governor of Akwa Ibom State. Again during Obong Attah’s 80th birthday, a biographical work on the one time governor debuted with the title “It is well with my soul” and Dele Sobowale was touted to be the spirit behind the book. As expected of his cantankerous self, he devoted his contribution in the book to slandering. He extended his calumniation to even persons that had managed to reach a convenient relationship with his friend and are currently in cahoot to boost an instinctive agenda of hate. His description of Governor Udom’s tenure as incompetent and a monumental failure and the obvious volte face upon his realization of the sizzling romance between Attah and Udom underscore Sobowale as a disciple of “your enemy is my enemy”. But is that the kind of conduct that one expects of a man of his age? In the book as expected, Akpabio formed the past time of the septuagenarian’s excoriation. He satiated himself in fabricating falsehood about a man he delights to hate.

Dele Sobowale’s recent diatribe against Senator Godswill Akpabio, CON, and published in Vanguard Neswpapers, a frontline national mainstream medium that should lead the ethical rebirth of journalism, further fuels the fear that Sobowale is a mere agent provocateur doing the bidding of some elements. But the shock is how a septuagenarian could lend himself and career to such behest and accept to be an undertaker against an innocent man, young enough to be his son, at worst, a younger brother.

To please his paymasters, Sobowale in the article, is combative, pugnacious and mischievous with reason and logic banished in the hate driven piece. Perhaps the heartrending part is the ease of liberty with truth which this grandfather exercises without restrain or compunction. The hate for Akpabio which Sobowale has inherited from his paymasters is eloquently manifest in his many descriptions of Akpabio in the article and the attempt to erode his legacies with shocking falsehood and barefaced lies.

Because Sobowale is ignorant of the politics of Akwa Ibom and lacks indepth knowledge of the person of Akpabio, he has made egregious false claims. The claim that the Ibibios constitute 67% of Akwa Ibom voters leaving other groups with a paltry 33% is false and deficit of any truth. If he conducts a more diligent study of our demography, he would realize that the margin of votes between the Ibibios and the aggregated votes of other ethnic groups is numerically superior in favour of the latter and against his spurious claim. Sobowale also noted that Akpabio in 2007 received total support from the State Government. Again this is far from the truth. Then governor, His Excellency, Obong Victor Attah, covertly supported the Action Congress (AC) candidate in the person of James Iniema, who lost the election to Akpabio with gaping margin.

Indeed, of many claims Sobowale has made, some are so strange and curious that they offend public sensibilities and agitate the minds of many, especially those who are eye witnesses to activities in the State. Sobowale, who has never lived in Akwa Ibom and who only used to come to the State to cart away our common patrimony, lied that Attah had done 85% of work at the airport and that Akpabio used only 4 months to complete the 15% level of work that was left by the Attah administration. This type of audacious claim is provocative and disturbing to those who saw the cleared site for the airport and professionally adjudged the amount of work done to be 10%. They also know that an airport cannot be built in 4 months as claimed by Sobowale. Perhaps for him, volunteering that time duration would support the claim that Attah built the airport having credited him with 85% of the work. As a veteran journalist that has been around, Sobowale should know that facts are sacred. Akpabio assumed office in May 29, 2007. The airport was inaugurated on September 23, 2009, meaning that two and a half years were used by Akpabio in the airport project. If Sobowale had done proper findings as expected, he would have known that DNYCORP, an American company that was engaged, confessed that they did only 10% of work at the airport before Akpabio reviewed and revoked the contract because of obvious irregularities.

Sobowale, in the article also made the unfortunate insinuation that under Akpabio, the hitherto peaceful Akwa Ibom State became the nation’s leading crime State – as kidnapping, murder and arson, etc. became common decimals. While kidnapping and other violent crimes had become a national malaise at that period, the Akpabio administration distinguished itself in pro-activeness by investing enormously in security infrastructure in the State. The truth is that the rate of crime nationally was at its peak but was curbed and controlled by the Akpabio administration with incomparable deftness. Today, the results of Akpabio’s rigorous efforts are seen in the investigation and arrest of criminals who have equally confessed to the crimes, especially the kidnappings and murder of some persons that Akpabio was directly alleged to be complicit. Yet none of them has indicted or incriminated Akpabio. Sobowale, who also wrote articles with damning verdicts of accusation of Akpabio is also yet to see the need to apologize to the innocent man.

Sobowale’s contempt for Akpabio lacks reasonable basis. His attempt to impute a presumed act of ingratitude on the part of Akpabio to his predecessor is untenable. For years, every of Sobowale’s writings about Akwa Ibom or his friend have always explored for ways to bring Akpabio into the equation for excoriation which he has stated is currently his past time.

The many fallacies contained in Sobowale’s article suggest that it was sponsored with the intent to calumniate as well as distort facts. The case of the dialysis centre built and equipped by the Akpabio administration and confirmed to be so by the hospital management points to an attempt to sacrifice truth for pecuniary gains. Knowing that this is done by a septuagenarian that should actually hold the pride of place of doyen of the profession makes it more heart breaking. To find a man of the standing of Sobowale abetting falsehood with such audacious gusto is proof that morality is actually in flight in our land.

Sobowale in the article erroneously alluded that Akpabio destroyed the legacies of his predecessor. Need he be reminded that Akpabio completed all of Attah’s projects with style and grandeur except the Science Park which cogent reasons were adduced. Apart from the suspected financial malfeasance noticed in the payment procedure which witnessed the swoop payment of NGN5.3billion of the NGN5.6billion contract value, ICT infrastructure are dynamic and have short life span. The delay had therefore made some of the equipment ordered obsolete. The Akpabio administration did not only complete the projects Obong Attah left behind, it added several others attracting the fitting sobriquet of Uncommon Transformation.

https://nextedition.com.ng/2019/07/01/buhari-condoles-nge-over-death-of-deputy-president/

President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed sadness over the death of Deputy President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, Malam Umar Tudunwada.

Tudunwada, the immediate past Managing Director of Kano State Broadcasting Corporation, died on Sunday in a ghastly motor accident on his way back to Kano from Abuja.

In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, in Abuja on Sunday, Buhari described the late journalist as a gentleman and thoroughbred professional, who lived up to the standards of professionalism in his career.

He said: “Journalism is service to humanity because it serves as a watchdog of society by holding leaders accountable for their actions.

“I am proud that the late Tudunwada played his role very well, with an unblemished career record.

“Let me use this opportunity to extend my sincere condolences to the Guild of Editors, Kano State Government and family of Tudun-Wada. May Allah grant them fortitude to bear the loss, and reward the deceased with aljanna.’’

News Agency of Nigeria reports that Tudun Wada had the fatal accident while returning from Abuja with one of his wives and a daughter.

https://nextedition.com.ng/2019/07/01/police-arrest-three-suspected-producers-of-adulterated-drinks-in-lagos/

The Lagos State Police Command says it has arrested three suspects allegedly engaged in the production of adulterated drinks at Apongbon area of Lagos.

The Command’s Spokesperson, DSP. Bala Elkana, said on Sunday in Ikeja, that the suspects were arrested based on a tip off received by the police.

According to Elkana, on June 20, at noon, the command received an information about illegal production of alcoholic beverages at No. 5 Chapel Street, Off Apongbon, Lagos Island.

He said: “A team of operatives from the State Intelligence Bureau was deployed to the area on surveillance patrol.

“The operation led to the arrest of three suspects. Large quantity of alcoholic beverages suspected to be adulterated were recovered.

“The beverage brands include: Hennessy Vsop, Hennessy Xo, Moet Chandon, Jack Daniel, Remy Martins, Red label and others.

“Also recovered from the illegal production mini-factory were gallons of substances suspected to be ethanol, cognac coloration, rubber cocks, top cocks, labels, stickers and other instruments used in the illegal business.

“The suspects confessed to the commission of the crime and police are on the trail of one suspect believed to be leader of the gang, who is still at large.”

There Will Be No ‘RUGA’ in South-East, South-South - Gov. Umahi

https://nextedition.com.ng/2019/07/01/there-will-be-no-ruga-in-south-east-south-south-gov-umahi/

https://nextedition.com.ng/2019/06/30/ecowas-adopts-eco-as-name-of-single-currency-elects-niger-president-as-new-chair/


The Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government has adopted ECO as the name of the single currency to be issued in January 2020.

The leaders at their 55th Ordinary Session in Abuja endorsed the name while congratulating the Ministerial Committee on the Single Currency for the considerable progress recorded in the implementation of the revised roadmap.

In the communiqué read by Mr. Mustapha Suleiman, Nigeria’s Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Authority instructed the ECOWAS Commission to work in collaboration with West African Monetary Agency.

The leaders also instructed the commission to work with West African Monetary Institute and the central banks to accelerate the implementation of the revised roadmap with regard to the symbol of the single currency.

The Authority also directed the commission and the central banks to accelerate the operation of the Special Fund for financing of programmes in the revised Roadmap for the ECOWAS Single Currency Programme.

“It further directs the commission to ensure implementation of the recommendations of the meeting of the ministerial committee held in Abidjan on June 17 and June 18 as well as preparation and implementation of the Communication Strategy for the single currency programme.

“The Authority takes note of the 2018 macroeconomic convergence report. It noted the worsening of the macroeconomic convergence and urges member states to do more to improve on their performance in view of the imminent deadline.”

Furthermore, the ECOWAS Chairman President Issoufou Mahamadou said the revised roadmap still stipulated that the single currency would be issued in Jan. 2020.

“We have not changed that but we will continue with assessment between now and then.

“We are of the view that countries that are ready will launch the single currency and countries that are not yet ready will join the programme as they comply with all six convergence criteria.”

He also said that there was “a real firm political will” for the region to hastily achieve the single currency.

Meanwhile, the ECOWAS Heads of State and Government have elected President Issoufou Mahamadou of Niger as the chair of ECOWAS for a one-year term.

He takes over from Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari, whom the leaders lauded for his unrelenting commitment to regional integration.

The authority also agreed to hold its next ordinary session on Dec. 21 in Abuja.

The presidents of 13 of the 15 heads of state were in attendance for the session.

https://nextedition.com.ng/2019/06/30/why-your-heart-needs-extra-love-after-menopause/

You likely know that lifestyle choices like smoking and inactivity affect heart attack risk for men and women. But you may not realize that, for women, hormones also play a role when it comes to heart health.

Estrogen is your friend
Estrogen, the primary female sex hormone, has a positive effect on your blood pressure and cholesterol, and both are beneficial when it comes to heart disease.

“Estrogen is a great benefit to the heart,” says Leslie Cho, MD, Director of Cleveland Clinic’s Women’s Cardiovascular Center.“ The reason that women tend to develop heart disease 10 years later than men is estrogen.”

It makes sense, then, that the onset of menopause and the resulting decrease in estrogen can boost your risk of heart disease. And hormone replacement therapy (HRT) might seem like an obvious solution — but Dr. Cho urges caution.

“There’s never been a study that shows that HRT makes you live longer,” she says. “In fact,the opposite‘s been shown. It increases your risk of blood clots and cancer.”

Dr. Cho recommends that at most HRT be used as a short-term treatment to deal with the unpleasant effects of menopause.

Hormones behind heart palpitations?
One of the other ways that hormonal changes can affect your heart is by causing palpitations. Women often become anxious when they feel their hearts fluttering, but Dr. Cho says palpitations typically are nothing to worry about.

“During menopause, women often experience heart palpitations,” she says. “Women also often experience palpitations during or after birth, or during breast feeding. Some people feel like they experience more palpitations at certain points in their menstrual cycle. But it’s very benign.”

The sensation that palpitations cause is sometimes alarming, but they don’t actually tell you anything about your heart health, she says. Try cutting back on caffeine if you find palpitations uncomfortable, though.

Your heart and your monthly cycle
There is some evidence that there’s a relationship between heart health and your menstrual cycle.

One study has shown that women who have regular menstrual cycles are at lower risk for heart disease than women who don’t. Another small study found that women are at higher risk for myocardial ischemia (reduced blood flow to the heart) right after they complete their menstrual period — when estrogen levels are at their lowest.

Hormonal contraceptives can play a role, too. “There are people who have genetic cholesterol defects in whom oral contraceptives really negatively affect their cholesterol level,” says Dr. Cho.

Managing your risk
While estrogen does play a protective role when it comes to heart health, there are other factors that are more important. Quitting smoking, getting regular exercise and eating a nutritious diet are all steps that are proven to significantly reduce the risk of heart attack.

Be grateful for the benefits of estrogen, but don’t rely on it to keep your heart healthy — especially after menopause.

I have Never Raped Anyone, Even As An Unbeliever – Pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo

DETAIL (> https://nextedition.com.ng/2019/06/28/i-have-never-raped-anyone-even-as-an-unbeliever-pastor-biodun-fatoyinbo/

https://nextedition.com.ng/2019/06/28/i-have-never-raped-anyone-even-as-an-unbeliever-pastor-biodun-fatoyinbo/


Pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo of Commonwealth of Zion, COZA, has refuted claims by Busola Dakolo that he raped her when she was young.

Busola had set the social media on fire, Friday morning, with the release of a videoed interview where she alleged to have been raped by the popular pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo .

Following the release of the video, many had called out the pastor, insisting he must speak up. While many had accused him of being guilty as accused, some have defended him.

In a statement which was posted on his personal account on Instagram on Friday evening, the embattled pastor vehemently denied raping Busola.

He said further that he had consulted with lawyers and would be pursuing legal action.

“Unlike previous statements where innuendos were used and there was no direct mention of myself and the church, the recent video of YouTube has now made direct criminal allegations against me in an interview granted by Busola Dakolo which are fallacious, non-existent and which are all denied in every measure.”

He goes on to say Busola and her family attended his church, which was situated in Illorin in 1999 and he never related with her outside his pastoral duties.

CRAZY

vegafbs:
https://nextedition.com.ng/2019/06/27/stop-lying-lawan-senators-monthly-take-home-pay-is-n15m-sagay/

The Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption, PACAC, Prof. Itse Sagay, said the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan was being economical with the truth when he said his monthly salary as a senator was N750,000.

According to the controversial Constitutional lawyer, a senator takes home N15 million monthly.

He therefore asked the Senate President to stop misleading the public with his half truth.

Recall that Lawan had on Tuesday in Abuja said that there was no ‘jumbo’ salary for senators as was being claimed and that they earned N750, 000 monthly.

Speaking to the Punch on Wednesday, Sagay noted that Nigerians were more interested in how much senators take home monthly in both salaries and allowances.

He pointed out that it was public knowledge that the bulk of the money earned by senators come from their allowances.

He was quoted as saying: “He (Lawan) knows that nobody will take him seriously. I respect and like him, but what he has done is to give half-truth. He is telling us the actual salary without mentioning anything about the allowances.

“That’s where the jumbo pay comes in when you talk of building, furniture, domestic this or that, 15 items and those items alone bring everything up to N13.5m a month. So, simply mentioning the base salary, which brings it over N14m, is not sufficient.

“So, technically, he’s right, that’s their salary. But what is his income, take-home pay, at the end of the month? It’s about N15m and we are not including so many other things we need not talk about now.”

https://nextedition.com.ng/2019/06/27/stop-lying-lawan-senators-monthly-take-home-pay-is-n15m-sagay/

The Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption, PACAC, Prof. Itse Sagay, said the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan was being economical with the truth when he said his monthly salary as a senator was N750,000.

According to the controversial Constitutional lawyer, a senator takes home N15 million monthly.

He therefore asked the Senate President to stop misleading the public with his half truth.

Recall that Lawan had on Tuesday in Abuja said that there was no ‘jumbo’ salary for senators as was being claimed and that they earned N750, 000 monthly.

Speaking to the Punch on Wednesday, Sagay noted that Nigerians were more interested in how much senators take home monthly in both salaries and allowances.

He pointed out that it was public knowledge that the bulk of the money earned by senators come from their allowances.

He was quoted as saying: “He (Lawan) knows that nobody will take him seriously. I respect and like him, but what he has done is to give half-truth. He is telling us the actual salary without mentioning anything about the allowances.

“That’s where the jumbo pay comes in when you talk of building, furniture, domestic this or that, 15 items and those items alone bring everything up to N13.5m a month. So, simply mentioning the base salary, which brings it over N14m, is not sufficient.

“So, technically, he’s right, that’s their salary. But what is his income, take-home pay, at the end of the month? It’s about N15m and we are not including so many other things we need not talk about now.”

https://nextedition.com.ng/2019/06/27/interview-it-takes-time-hard-work-for-marriage-to-work-folashade-ajayi/

To say that the marriage institution is under stress may not truly capture the enormity of challenges facing it. Marriage break ups, separations, divorce, have become the norm. A glance through the papers or a visit to the courts will confirm the depth of the challenge the marriage institution is up against.

Mrs. Folasade Ajayi, is a counsellor, a relationship and life coach and a career woman in the Insurance industry. She has been married for 20 years. In this interview with Assistant Editor, CHINWE MADUAGWU, she examines the challenges of present day marriages and proffers some solutions.

TNE: Why are many marriages collapsing?

I would say there are a lot of reasons and one of it is the lack of understanding of the makeup of either the man or the woman.

Talking about the men, women must understand how men are wired and be able to relate with them appropriately, same for men. Take the issue of domestic violence for instance, it is not all men who get involved in such, does it then mean that their wives are perfect? The answer is no. However, some men, who have made up their minds not be involved did so because they have seen the results of domestic violence and they have learnt patience. So if anyone wants to be successful in their marital relationship, patience and understanding are key.

There are times you see things and pretend you don’t see, not because you don’t want to make noise, but because you want your marriage to last.

Also, lack of understanding in knowing how to relate is a problem, a lot of people do not have relational skills, the way you relate to your colleagues is not the way you should relate to your spouse, for example, in the office you would not like to get fired so you try to manage your emotions appropriately, but at home people take their spouses for granted; talk to their spouses however they like, and those things affect them and the marriage relationship. When it gets to a certain point they will react and this can cause a breakup.

Lack of understanding about what the marriage institution is all about is why marriages are failing.

TNE: What then should drive a marriage and sustain or keep it?

What keeps marriages together is far beyond love. What keeps marriages is a sense of purpose; if I know that marrying a man would transform me physically, mentally and intellectually then we have a purpose together, but if I feel that this person is higher than me intellectually, is more buoyant than me financially and as a person, I can’t see myself managing that personality, then there’s no purpose bringing us together. So, purpose is something that even when the love is being affected by the trials of life, the purpose will keep you two together. For example, my husband is a pastor and we do a lot of counselling; some of the things we treat in counselling, we go through. We, therefore, think to ourselves that we can’t teach against that thing and be guilty of practicing it, that alone has been a guide and it can only be a guide because we understand that marriage is all about the purpose that brought us together. After marriage we waited for seven years before we had our first child, if there wasn’t a purpose, a lot of things that happened during that period could have ended the marriage.

Also, couple should try and learn what their partners like and what they do not like. With that, you try to build on the things they like and project them and play down on the ones they don’t like.

Again, I stopped wearing Iro and Buba because my husband does not like it. I realised that if we want to go out and I wear Iro and Buba, he will cancel the outing or tell me not to worry. He won’t bother saying it’s because of what I’m wearing, but I knew because he had already warned me. So, for peace to reign, I stopped wearing Iro and Buba and I’m a Yoruba woman.

There are a lot of things we can do for peace to reign in our. These are little foxes that we need to fight in out marriages.

TNE: Doesn’t love have any role to play in marriage?

I can’t even tell you that it was love that made me marry my husband. For me what, attracts me to a man is intelligence not even money. I want a man that I can brag about; I want a man that can be proud of whatever little gift I am endowed with; I want a man that can take the little I have and turn it to a big thing. I can tell you that before I talk to any audience, I first deliver the talk to my husband, and he’d advise me on what to say and what not to say to a particular audience. My point is, it is the purpose that actually brought us together. We have been through a lot, but we keep remembering that a lot of people will be affected if we part ways because of the challenge.

The purpose is always putting us to check, reminding us that we have a mission together and that our marriage is not temporary, but for life. We equally realise that there is no challenge that we’re going through that others have not gone through and even worse cases. It’s about your attitude when you are going through those challenging times.

One of the things that cause problems in a marriage is people having negative attitudes when they are going through challenges. For instance, when we were waiting for a child I always suggested that we should go see a doctor, but my husband was always confident and reassured that we would have our child at the right time. When his family began to make an issue out of it, he stood by me. It takes a very patient and brave man to do that, you know some men are their mother’s pets. It’s about marrying someone who understands your personality and has the skills to manage it.

TNE: If a woman finds herself with a mommy’s pet how does she handle such a man?

There is a time you get to in your relationship that communication would have to move to the next level. There are situations you need to see a counsellor because you can’t manage, the counsellor would be able to provide practical life experiences to show you why at a certain stage in a man’s life he needs to stop being his mother’s pet. Sometimes if you’re trying to talk it out and it’s not working you can seek counsel, I realise that in this part of the world we don’t go for counselling, but there’s nothing wrong with seeking help to sort out certain issues in your life and in your marriage.

Again, in relationships, we must realise that there is a place for forgiveness and that there is no sin that is too grievous not to be forgiven.

TNE: Even domestic violence?

Why I said there’s no sin too grievous not to be forgiven is because most times what brings about separation is infidelity, so for me, it’s not really a big deal to forgive infidelity, but anything that has to do with threatening life, I don’t support. So, domestic violence I do not support in any way. In fact, there is a campaign I am putting together against domestic violence and it is going to be a very big and serious one. We are going to be saying no against domestic violence, to the extent that even people around an abused person can get arrested for failing to report it. So everyone will be aware that they have a mission to protect women, even men. Most times we don’t talk about men that go through violence, but we have a portion that go through domestic violence. I’ve seen a woman beating her husband and it was a sorry sight.

TNE: You said something about relationship skills, what are some of these skills and how does one acquire them?

Sometimes we learn on the job, sometimes you learn deliberately by reading, researching or going for counselling. One relational skill that is very important and which everyone must have is communication skill. There’s a way women communicate that doesn’t augur well with the men. There’s what we call ‘half plastic communication’; women talk half way and we want the man to understand from beginning to end and to act which is not possible. Then there’s another we call ‘sandwich communication,’ using sandwich as an example, we know it comes in layers, with different things. The sandwich style of communication does not work in a marital relationship. Putting too much information at a time, for example, the woman goes -‘my husband, the children have brought the paper for school fees; I saw the landlady walking up and down, I’m sure it’s because we are owing her; that reminds me, NEPA has brought the bill for the month,’ all in one sentence. Believe me, no man can process that. Women may be able to process it but not men. A man is wired to listen to one thing at a time and women know how to pack information. If you go on like that, before you know it, he will say you’re nagging.

Also in communication, you must learn the right body language, the tone of the voice is important. I can say ‘I’m sorry’ in different ways, so, if there’s a fight or an argument and you want to apologise, if you do it in a calm and remorseful manner then it is okay, but if you apologise in a rash manner, it’s not okay, you have not done anything.

Remember, it’s good to do to others what you want to be done to you. We take our spouses for granted. What we can’t do to our bosses at work, we do to our spouses and expect them to take it.

TNE: What is the impact of constant friction and failed marriages on children?

The impact on children is that we start breeding children who will not have marital skills too because children learn by what they see. At the end of the day, the children learn from their parents’ examples. When they grow up, they replicate what they have seen and it keeps going on like that.

There must be a time that we should say no and look for avenues to change for the better and it is never late. We should stop fighting.

TNE: What in your view is the greatest challenge in raising children these days?

I think creating the right self-identity in the children is one of the problems parents face in raising children. As the children are growing, we must make them to realise who they are, once that message is not deliberately passed on, then there is a problem of self-esteem. They start looking for what is not lost. Someone who is a girl will start thinking she is a boy, before you know it lesbianism and homosexuality creep in. Self-identity and self-awareness are important.

Every family must have a routine while the children are growing up, a kind of system that is building a child up to form his or her own personality. We have parents who are career people, but with children to raise, they must sit down and plan. Both parents cannot be career people. One should have a flexible job. One parent must sacrifice for the children.

Every couple has to sit down and know what works. The manual in my home will be totally different from the manual in another person’s home because our husbands do not have the same personality. For example, I didn’t marry a man that can cook, but there’s no house chore that he cannot do. So, I can’t be fighting him because he doesn’t cook. There are some men who know how to cook, but cannot do any house chore. So we should accept what God has given to us. The best thing to do, therefore, is to look at what you have and plan. There must be this mutual communication, understanding and agreement.

TNE: A lot of men believe it’s the woman that ought to sacrifice for a marriage to work. Is that how it should work?

It’s lack of understanding. Let me use the issue of family planning as example. Most men will not do family planning, but the truth of the matter is that I’ve seen few, maybe one percent of our men that would say, I prefer to do a vasectomy than to put my wife through any kind of family planning.

Some married men would also prefer to use condom than have their wives do artificial family planning, so, it’s understanding. If we come up with programmes that will educate men - television programmes, radio programmes, seminars, conferences, then things will start changing. The next generation won’t be like that.