Aiteo grows production to record 90,000bpd

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By Sebastine Obasi

INTEGRATED energy group Aiteo said it has grown its oil production to 90,000, barrels per day, bpd just one year after its acquisition of sub-Saharan Africa’s reputed largest onshore oil bloc oil mining lease, OML 29.

Aiteo acquired OML 29 in September, 2015 when oil major Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) fully exited the facility. At the time of the divestment, average production was 23,000bpd, but the company said it has tripled this figure leveraging the diversity and skills of its work force and bona fides as a dynamic international energy conglomerate.

Aiteo’s Chief Executive Officer, CEO and Vice Chairman Benedict Peters said the company grew production from 25,000bpd upon takeover of operations to a peak of 90,000bpd in one year. He also highlighted several existing and developing projects that could potentially grow Aiteo’s asset production to over 150,000bpd and 200 million standard cubic feet of gas daily, SCF/D.

He said: “Our outlook is bright with 3 producing oil fields and viable crude exports via Bonny terminal. We also have contingent resources to appraise and prospective ones to explore in the medium-to-long term, including full 3D (Three dimension) coverage and 2P NNS reserves at 1.6 billion barrels. Put simply, we have a clear vision for the future with the experience and assets crucial to providing oil and gas consistently on a regional and global scale.”

Aiteo’s ambitious five-year objectives include tackling the power challenges in Nigeria head-on through its legacy investments in the gas-to-power value chain. “This is a testament to our commitment to the transformation of the entire oil and gas value chain into a world-class landscape,” Peters added.

The company’s main subsidiary Aiteo Eastern Exploration and Production is also a major infrastructure provider for Nigeria’s oil industry as the operator of the 97kilometre Nembe Creek Trunk Line, an industry-wide evacuation pipeline for produced fluids covering much of the country’s Eastern Delta region.

Aiteo’s Group Managing Director Mr. Chike Onyejekwe said: “Our growth drivers remain strong leadership, high commitment and motivation, technical and commercial excellence and superior asset base. In the next five years, our operations will continue to be guided by these qualities as we leverage our capabilities comparable to oil majors elsewhere in the world. Indeed, the future is Aiteo.”

In the interim, Aiteo said it is developing a pipeline of power generation projects across Nigeria. According to the company, it is confident that its significant gas resources at OML 29 will transform the country’s oil rich Niger Delta region into a power generation hub of repute before long

 

The post Aiteo grows production to record 90,000bpd appeared first on Vanguard News.

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Actress, Stephanie Linus, becomes UNFPA Regional Ambassador

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By Juliet Ebirim

A-List Nollywood actress, StephanieOkereke Linus was on Wednesday, March 8, 2017, unveiled as the UNFPA Regional Ambassador for West & Central Africa. The United Nations Population Fund made the appointment at the Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

“It is my aspiration that access to reproductive health care for women and girls, especially family planning, will be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for,” said the elated Stephanie as she received the honour.

She expressed  willingness to partner with UNFPA in order to create an enabling environment for women, girls and every young person to fulfill their potential. “We fought for, not just because of equality, but because we are tired of women dying while giving birth; tired of teenage girls dropping out of school because they got pregnant too early; tired of women not having a choice to decide if, when and how many children they wish to have. I know I am tired of this. This is why I feel honoured to partner with UNFPA and to use my network to make these issues widely known” she said.

As an ambassador of the UNFPA, Stephanie Linus will help raise awareness on these several issues. She will also help to encourage laws to protect the girl child as well as aid investments for young people.

Some of her movie colleagues including Yemi Blaq, Femi Branch, Funke Adesiyan, Gabriel Afolayan were present to support her.

The post Actress, Stephanie Linus, becomes UNFPA Regional Ambassador appeared first on Vanguard News.

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The concert: Fela music can never die — Omawumi

I arranged armed gang to rob my brother for cheating me on family land he sold – Generator repairer

Connect the anointing; get a miracle

Tiwa Savage scores Korede Bello’s debut album ‘Beloved’ high

NUPTE, PTECSSAN tango over ZTE Nigeria check-off dues

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The current crisis plaguing the umbrella labour union in the country is taking its toll on ZTE Nigeria Limited, as two workers’ unions pledging allegiance to Aliyu Wabba and Joe Ajaero are laying claim to the company’s check-off dues.

The unions- National Union of Postal and Telecommunications Employees (NUPTE) and Private Telecommunications and Communications Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PTECSSAN)- have been at daggers drawn, culminating in PTECSSAN, under the Ajaero-led United Labour Congress (ULC) picketing ZTE Nigeria on Wednesday.

Lamenting disruptions in the company’s operations due to the picketing, the firm’s Country Human Resources Manager, Brielle Gao, said as embarrassing as the action was, PTECSSAN did not follow due process, as there was no warning whatsoever to the firm.

According to her, ZTE Nigeria has been remitting appropriate labour dues to NUPTE since 2011, as its local staff belong to the union.

She noted that for GTE Nigeria to embrace the change being sought by PTECSAN, due process must be followed.

Debunking claims that the local staff had notified NUPTE of their intention to switch, Gao said: “The management contacted NUPTE immediately it received the mail regarding the changes, but we were told that they (NUPTE) are not aware of anyone leaving their union.

“The law is very clear on the matter. Every individual member has to write to the union and copy the management if anyone desires to opt out of the union.”

In a response to a PTECSSAN mail on the issue, Gao added: “The management, as required by law and practice, sought the comments of NUPTE towards the request of the staff of ZTE Nig Ltd.

“This request was made to NUPTE to avoid double payment that may result from NUPTE and they wrote to inform us that no such information has been given to them by any of the staff of ZTE Nigeria Limited.

“They further insisted that remission of dues should be made to NUPTE.”

She added: “While management does not intend to infringe on the right to freedom of association, it would take steps to protect the rights of others who may be forced to belong to where they do not want to belong.”

Head of Department, Admin/Finance of NUPTE, Mary Nwosu, in a letter to ZTE Nigeria dated February 28, noted: “The Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment is in a better position to address this issue, since it has taken a dimension of your organisation receiving threats from an association on labour related issues.”

Vía The Guardian Nigeria http://ift.tt/2mtNj1i

Sokoto guber: Court strikes out suit seeking to remove Tambuwal

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Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State.

Justice Gabriel Kolawole of the Federal High Court, Abuja, yesterday struck out a case seeking to remove Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal.

The dismissed motion on notice dated January 30, this year, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/09/2017, followed an earlier suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/11/2015, and filed on January 27, 2015 by Senator Umaru Dahiru and Mr. Aliyu Abubakar Sanyinna.

Both were seeking Tambuwal’s removal from office on the basis that the governor was wrongly nominated by the All Progressives Congress (APC) as its governorship candidate in the April 2015 elections.

The Supreme Court had last year sent the case file, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/11/2015, back to the Federal High Court for a fresh trial on the ground that “there is life” in the case, in spite of the conduct of the governorship election that produced Tambuwal.

The apex court had then disagreed with Tambuwal in his claim that the case of the plaintiff challenging his nomination by APC had become “academical and hypothetical.”

Following the Supreme Court’s order for retrial, however, Dahiru, through his counsel, Ikoro N. Ikoro, filed a motion on notice, dated January 30, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/09/2017, seeking the variation of his pleadings in the motion on notice.

Specifically, the plaintiff was seeking the nullification of the return of Tambuwal as the governorship candidate of APC in the 2015 election in Sokoto State.

The application also sought the return of Dahiru, in place of Tambuwal, as governor of the state.

The first defendant (APC) and second defendant (Tambuwal) vehemently objected to the application.

But ruling on the application for amendment filed by the plaintiff, Justice Kolawole, aside dismissing the application, equally struck out the motion on notice.

The court agreed with APC and Tambuwal that granting the application for amendment of the reliefs would change the “nature and character” of the case file, which the Supreme Court had remitted to the court for retrial.

“The application of the plaintiffs is an ingenious attempt to have a second bite at the cherry. It is inconsistent with the reliefs sought in the motion on notice remitted from the Supreme Court,” the Judge ruled.

The court also noted that the plaintiff had in his motion on notice, filed on January 27, 2015, claimed that the December 4, 2014, primary election conducted by APC, which produced Tambuwal, was “hallowed ritual, a sham and in gross violation of Section 87 of the 2010 Electoral Act and the APC 2014 election guidelines.

Justice Kolawole said granting the amendment would amount to revalidation of a primary said to be flawed by the plaintiff and occasion injustice on the part of the first and the second defendants, because the motion on notice did not intend to cure any misnomer.

Justice Kolawole, in dismissing the application, stated that changing the case file is a fundamental issue of professional impropriety, which must be not be tolerated.

“The amendment is malafide, dishonest, an abuse of court process and intended to over-reach the Supreme Court and outsmart the second defendant.”

Consequently, the court ruled: “The application for amendment is hereby dismissed. The instant motion on notice, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/09/2017, is not the one remitted by the Supreme Court for retrial.

“The case file that migrated from the late Justice Evoh Chukwu of the Federal High Court to the Supreme Court was marked FHC/ABJ/CS/11/2015.

“In view of the fact that the application is dismissed, the case file has become empty and there is nothing to adjourn for or to be heard. Consequently, the case file is struck out.”

In opposition to the application of Umar, counsel to the APC, Jibrin Okutepa (SAN) urged the court not to grant the application, describing it as “strange” and if granted, would change the character of the plaintiff’s suit, already decided by the Supreme Court.

Vía The Guardian Nigeria http://ift.tt/2mvqThS

Bash Ali sues sports minister, seeks N1 billion damages

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Bash Ali

International boxing champion, Bash Ali has filed a N1 billion suit against the minister of sports before a High Court of Abuja, over the alleged violation of his fundamental human rights.

Listed as respondents in the suit, apart from the sports minister are, Nansel Nimyel, Inspector General of Police, Charles Boga and one Mr Joseph.
The athlete is asking for the sum of N1 billion as compensatory damages and public apology in two national newspapers for the violation on February 13, 2017. He is also asking for the sum of N8 million as cost of litigation.

In his affidavit in support of the application, the plaintiff claimed that Police officers attached to the office of the minister assualted him on that date.

He averred that he had been frequenting the office of the minister in respect of an International Boxing event billed to be hosted in Nigeria.

“On February 10, 2017, I and my Local Organizing Committee went to the office of the Minister where we were told by the acting Permanent Secretary that the Minister has asked that I should come on February 13, 2017 and that everything will be resolved on
that day.

“By 8am on February 13, we again went to the office of the Minister and we were asked by the 2nd respondent to wait as the Minister was very busy in his office. And we waited till 1:45pm when a foreign visitor walked in and after exchanging pleasantries with me, the doors to the office of the Minister were thrown open to him,”he alleged.

Ali stated further that he protested and was shouted down by the 2nd respondent and was pushed out of the office before the policemen attached to the office pounced on him.

“Members of the police led by the (second respondent) Special Assistant to the Minister of Youth and Sports, Nansel Nimyel, assaulted and beat me up. They hit me to the ground with the butt of their guns and pummeled me into a state of unconsciousness,”he claimed.
No date has been fixed for hearing.

Vía The Guardian Nigeria http://ift.tt/2mcUACp

Another 171 Nigerians deported from Libya (Read full details)

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Barely a week after 161 Nigerians returned from Libya, another batch of 171 Nigerians were yesterday deported from the troubled North African country.

The 171 Nigerians landed at the cargo section of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, at about 4p.m, courtesy of the Federal Government and International Organisation for Migration’s (IOM).

Among the returnees were 109 female adults, two female children and one infant. Males were 49 adults, five children and five infants.

The Federal Government however, assured that the evacuation programme from Libya, being the seventh in about 14 months, will not continue endlessly, but would soon be wrapped up.

Unlike the 161 that voluntarily returned last week, yesterday’s returnees were actually forced out of Libya by the hostile treatment meted out to blacks by Libyan citizens and the authorities.

Senior Special Adviser to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, who was on ground to receive the deportees, said that government valued their lives, hence had partnered with IOM and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to ensure their safe return.

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Lori-Ogbebor sues DESOPADEC, others over development funds (Read full details)

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Human Rights activist, Chief Rita Lori-Ogbebor, has instituted a suit against the board members of the Itshekiri Regional Council (IRC), management of Chevron Nigeria Limited and the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC), before a Federal High Court in Warri.

She is asking the respondents to explain how funds meant for community development in Delta State have been spent over the years.

Speaking at a press briefing in Lagos yesterday, Ogbebor said she also joined the Delta State government in the suit, which is scheduled to come up tomorrow.

The Igba of Warri said she was not happy about the abject condition in the Niger Delta and especially among the Itsekiri people where poverty, youth unemployment and other vices were not supposed to be if the 13 per cent derivation meant for the development of the rural communities were judiciously spent.

Her words: “There is little the region could blame President Muhammadu Buhari or past leaders of the country for without first asking its leaders to account for the huge funds voted for the development of the area.

“There is no reason Delta State should be poor if it has judiciously managed the 13 per cent derivation as established in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with oil companies, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and the Amnesty programme.”

On the MoU between Chevron and the Niger Delta communities, Ogbebor pointed out that the aim of that agreement was to bring some hope and development to the area.

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Reduce bride price for Tiv women, governor’s wife pleads

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Eunice Ortom

Wife of the Benue State governor, Eunice Ortom, has appealed to Tor Tiv-elect, James Ayatse, to review bride prices in Tiv land, to enable young men get married “when due”.

Mrs. Ortom made the appeal yesterday when she paid a courtesy visit to the Tor Tiv-elect in Makurdi.
She decried the high demands made on young men seeking to marry Tiv daughters, and described the situation as “very discouraging”.

“Such high demands discourage many bachelors from even attempting to get married; the result is that many young girls cannot find husbands,” she said.

While noting that bride price payment was sacrosanct, she cautioned parents against selling their daughters “especially since the relationship between in-laws remains, long after such marriage rites”.

She regretted that many young men now preferred to elope with their loved ones owing to such huge monetary demands, and stressed the need to make the process affordable so as to restore the sanctity of the marriage institution.

Responding, the traditional ruler promised to work toward a united Tiv nation, and promised to be truthful, transparent and promote the fear of God at all times. He also promised to uphold valuable cultural practises and repeal negative ones.

Vía The Guardian Nigeria http://ift.tt/2lE6nM1

Group links unemployment in Kogi to insecurity

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Youths

A group, yesterday, attributing growing insecurity in Kogi State to unemployment has called on the Federal Government to urgently complete the Ajaokuta Steel project to create jobs.

The group, the Ebira People’s Assembly (EPA) said that the Ajaokuta Steel project when completed is capable of generating over 3 million jobs, especially for those in the state, which will help address the insecurity challenges that are crippling its economy.

At a briefing in Abuja yesterday, the President-General, EPA, Dr. Musa Abdulrahman Adeiza said the association is seriously concerned about the rampant cases kidnapping, robberies and other violent crimes defining every day life in the state, despite government’s efforts at all levels.

Adeiza said, having examined the issues critically, the group has unequivocally linked the causes mostly to youth unemployment.

Vía The Guardian Nigeria http://ift.tt/2l7HhEu

Siddiqui lists benefits of Arsenal/MTN partnership to Nigerian football

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Head, Partner Services, Arsenal FC, Gordon Tannock (left) presenting the club’s jersey to Chief Operating Officer, MTN Nigeria, Muhammad Siddiqui at MTN office… at the weekend.

English Premiership side, Arsenal FC, recently entered into a deal with MTN Nigeria, a relationship that makes the firm the club’s official telecommunications partner in the country. Speaking after the partnership was unveiled in Lagos on Saturday, MTN Nigeria CEO, Muhammad Siddique, revealed his firm’s reasons for choosing Arsenal and the benefits of the deal to Nigeria. Excerpts:

Nigerians participate and follow so many sporting events, but you chose football, why.?
Connecting to the passion points of our esteemed customers is not negotiable, and football being a key passion drive for larger proportion of our subscribers is the reason for the partnership with Arsenal Football Club.

Why is MTN partnering with Arsenal FC and not a local team side.?
The decision to partner Arsenal FC is based on the intrinsic value the collaboration will bring to our over 58 million subscribers in Nigeria. But more significantly, it is to tap into the passion that connects them to the rest of the world when it comes to sports in general and football in particular. While addressing the rationale for the selection, it is also important to note that Arsenal FC has the highest number of fans in Nigeria; with this we will be able to share in the passion of such fan base and further explore opportunities that will help redefine the lifestyle of our various customers.

What is the value of this partnership to your subscribers and football lovers in Nigeria.?
MTN has the mandate of enriching the life of its customers through various initiatives. One of such initiatives is to bring quality international football experience by a way of partnering Arsenal FC and connect Nigerians to the love and passion for football. Arsenal fans and football lovers will have access to match and player contents which include match highlights, club news, interviews and club imagery to subscribers.

Aside the Arsenal partnership, what other initiatives is MTN involved in.?
Aside the Arsenal FC partnership, we have been involved in series of football initiatives such as the MTN Football Scholars, Traders Cup, Lagos Street Soccer, African Cup of Nations 2008, and 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.

What other ways is MTN Nigeria looking at assisting the development of sports in general?
We have been involved in the development of sports and continue to do more in the area of sports that best connect to the passion of our customers. For instance we sponsored the Lagos marathon, polo and golf tournaments across the country.

The partnership also includes soccer clinics for coaches. Will this initiative serve as a platform from which we can begin to groom coaches for football teams in the country.

As we know, without training the trainer, it may be difficult to have fruitful in football. We appreciate that it is vital for our coaches to be abreast of modern football coaching techniques hence, the reason MTN is seizing this opportunity to present a platform for our local coaches to learn from the very best.

Aside the coaching clinic and the trials what other benefits are there for MTN subscribers and Football lovers in Nigeria.?
Through the partnership, we will offer exclusive Arsenal benefits to all our subscribers. We will also offer a range of match and player contents, which include match highlights, club news, interviews and club imagery. In addition, there would be football coaching clinics facilitated by Arsenal FC, talent scouting and periodic all-expense paid hospitality trips for subscribers to watch Arsenal play at their home ground, Emirates Stadium.

Is the coaching clinic a one-off or are there plans to sustain it.
The partnership is a thought-through initiative, and so it won’t be nice to start a project of this nature and then abandon it. Not having continuity for the coaching clinic will not help achieve our desired outcome of improving the quality of Nigerian coaches.

Vía The Guardian Nigeria http://ift.tt/2kUTDAj

What runs the world?Thoughts!

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Lanre Olusola

“YOUR worst enemy cannot harm you as much as your own unguarded thoughts”

– Buddha
Your LIFE is the product of your thoughts. If you think negative thoughts your LIFE will consist of negative experiences; if you think positive thoughts your LIFE will consist of positive experiences.You have to rewire your brain to eliminate negative thoughts.

Research now proves that on some days we each process approximately 50,000 thoughts and on other days 70,000 thoughts, this means that on average we daily process approximately 60,000 thoughts daily.

Research further reveals that 30% of our daily thoughts are daily general, functional and recurrent thoughts that keep you going daily, thoughts that we have rolled over and over again for days, weeks, months and years; However a whooping 75% of the rest of our thoughts are negative, limiting and disempowering thoughts.

This presupposes that we are ‘nurtur-ally’ wired to think negative and thereby experience negativity most of the day and most of our lives if care is not taken.

Several people even beat themselves up for their “negative thinking,” because they have heard many motivational speakers allude to the fact that to succeed one MUST think positively.

Negative thinking patterns also create negative emotions that ultimately create negative health; Hence your biology also corresponds with your psychology.

Bruce Lipton says that “95% of Dis-ease is caused by stress and 100% of stress is caused by a wrong belief”BEaWARE – Wrong beliefs are as a result of negative thinking patterns or wrong thoughts. They create 95% of Dis-ease in the body.

“A sick thought can devour the body’s flesh more than fever or consumption”.

– Guy de Maupassant
“Every cell in your body is eavesdropping on your thoughts”

– Deepak Chopra
If it were that easy to just stop thinking negative thoughts as recommended by motivational speakers and positive thinking enthusiasts we will ALL be doing it, and living great lives, but it’s simply not that easy.

For example; How do you just switch off constant feelings of frustration or irritation; How do you just get out of negative patterns of thoughts, that create negative emotions such as anger, rage, sadness, loneliness, fear, anxiety, guilt, shame, depression; How do you suddenly stop procrastination?

To change your negative ‘nutural wiring’ (a habit you’ve had all your life or something you’ve done all your life) and REWIRE your brain thereby eliminating your negative thinking patterns and switching your brain to positive thinking patterns require techniques based in neuroscience, psychotherapy and energy psychology.

According to Emile Coue “Every thought good or bad becomes concrete; It materializes and becomes a reality”.In the last 2 decades as a Life, Mind, Emotions and Behavioural Change Coach, I have successfully helped people REWIRE their thinking patterns using EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) with Matrix Re imprinting. These technique work like magic (Testimonies abound – Go to my website to verify http://ift.tt/2lq9i7B).

We must never underestimate the IMPORTANCE of thinking right ALL the time, your LIFE depends on it.To create the life that you want tomorrow, you’ve got to think and feel right today. Your thoughts and emotions principally rule your world – No wonder even the good book says in proverbs 23:7 “As a man thinks in his heart so is he” …..

If you look at this profound statement closely you will see that it is a paradox, this is simply because you don’t think with your heart…. You think with your head and you feel with your heart…. Hence the message from this statement is that;

“Your thoughts influence your emotions and your emotions influence your life”.“Your thoughts kick start the creation process of your experiences and your emotions fuel the process of your daily life experiences, manifestations and existence”.

Changing our negative thinking patterns and rewiring our brains to conform to positive thinking patterns is particularly very important if we are serious about consistently achieving our new year resolutions, visions and goals.

Goals and Visions are like destination points in our brains which are arrived at based on neurological pathways created and travelled over the years based on our habitual thinking patterns.

For example; Neuropathways in our brains work like a plane flight to an exotic destination – Once you board the flight you’re at the mercy of the pilot and his flight plan and path…. you have yielded all control and you will simply arrive when the pilot determines you do.

So when you set a new goal and vision, to achieve it you ‘nuturally’ travel along your already existing neuropathway(s) in your brain, which are mostly created by negative thinking patterns and a few positive thinking patterns; hence you hit and miss most times.

With our Re-Wiring techniques we literally help you eliminate the existing neuropathways of your brain and create new Positive and Empowering ones that instantly guarantee consistent success and create the life that you want and this has been scientifically proven.

Call or email us today (info@olcang.com or 08077077000) if you know someone that needs help with addiction, cycles of failure and near misses, procrastination, anger, fear, phobia, depression, rage, sadness, loneliness, anxiety, guilt, shame, uncontrollable conflict patterns with loved ones, irreconcilable differences in your marriage etc

“We are addicted to our thoughts. We cannot change anything if we cannot change our thinking”.
– Santosh Kalwar

Here’s the reality about negative thinking patterns, it’s hard-wired in our brains and it’s not easy to overcome but HELP is here make that call NOW.
From now begin your day with a positive thought, a grateful and thankful heart.
Shalom
The Catalyst

Vía The Guardian Nigeria http://ift.tt/2lqfhcx

Groups decry hardship, seek employment, unicameral legislature

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Reflecting on hard times

Some youth groups yesterday staged a peaceful protest in Benin City, Edo State to vent their anger over the ‘biting hunger’ in the land, just as another set sought for employment and a unicameral National Assembly In Akure, Ondo State.

The Edo groups, under the aegis of Concern Youth Leaders, carried various placards with inscriptions like “Give Us Jobs”, “What happened to Our Economy, “ Where is the change we voted for”, “ Rescue Us from Recession and “ Stop Herdsmen Attack” among others. They alleged that the hardship nationwide was due to inappropriate policies.

The spokesperson, Dr. Carl Oshodin, noted: “Today, Nigerian youths after graduating from universities don’t have jobs. Workers are owed months of unpaid salaries. We want to convey the message to Nigerians that enough is enough. We want the government to return Nigeria of yesterday back, we want good governance.”

In Akure, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), Enough Is Enough, (EiE Nigeria), joined others to demand for a referendum on a unicameral legislature in order to cut overheads

In a letter addressed to Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, the NGO’s Media Manager, Media Manager, Debisi Alokolaro, faulted the existence of the current two chambers of the National Assembly.

His words: “The size is no longer affordable as it operates today. The structure that supports 469 individuals cost us N115 billion a year of which they provide no record of how the money is spent.

“There have been several reports on eliminating duplicate agencies. They need to be implemented to reduce cost and increase efficiency. Our budget process is poor and allows for fraud. We have not learnt from last year’s debacle.’’

Vía The Guardian Nigeria http://ift.tt/2liElmx

Good people should be interested in politics, says Omobude

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Rev Felix Omobude

As the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) prepares for its biennial conference, holding in Benin-City, Edo State, from February 7 to 9, 2017, President of the organisation and General Superintendent of Gospel Light International, Rev. (Dr.) Felix Omobude, spoke on a range of issues at a media chat with press men at the PFN House, Isolo, Lagos. DANIEL ANAZIA was there.

• ‘Pentecostal Leaders Are Encouraged To Obey The Laws Of The Land’

Recently, Pastor Adeboye urged members of his congregations to join political parties and be card-carrying members. What is PFN’s position on this?
FIRST and foremost, those who pray, ‘Oh Lord give us David’ should also be ready for a David that will commit adultery with Uriah. I think we have gone past that. The PFN’s position is that we are encouraging the Pentecostal to be interested in their country’s politics. Gone are the days, when we say we are not of this world, and that we are going to heaven. And then we spend our time in the prayer room and allow those who don’t know God to play politics the way they like. I believe if we want to change this nation, Christians must be willing to get involved in politics. Good people must go into politics. That is PFN’s position.

The Church has continually said Nigeria cannot be islamised. Recently, some churches in Jigawa State were burnt and the trend continues unabated. Should Christians continue to pray and do nothing to counter such moves?
I appreciate the passion behind your question. What do you recommend that the Church should do? Would you recommend we take up arms or we come up and say, ‘let us take up arms and fight?’ Let me also tell you that the Church is not scared. Go back to memory. Those who fought against the Church, some even said, ‘let the Bible be completely amended.’ But the Bible outlived them.

Our taking a position of peace does not mean weakness. The Church is not sleeping. We are called to pray, we are called to evangelise. So, we are not going to raise an army with bows and arrows, and I do hope they don’t push this nation to that point. I’m as worried as you are, but let me tell you, when it comes to a man’s faith; he can give his life for it. So, we are peaceful. We are not weak. And I think this is just the best way I can say it for now.

Let nobody count it as weakness on the part of the Church. No one actually has a monopoly of violence. We are restraining our people. If we want a developed society, if we want an atmosphere that will allow us to be progressive, we must work for peace. And those using religion to fan embers of disunity must realise that it’s an ill wind that will blow no one any good. I would like to call on our government to be fully in charge. That’s why we have the police, the SSS and the military. If any group chooses to be criminally minded, it should be brought to book; except we are saying we don’t want any government, let’s have a jungle kind of life, which will set us back.

When Christians come under attack, what do you advise them to do?
There is no law, whether in our law books or even in our faith, that forbids you from defending yourself. Of course, if you have the capability to defend yourself, why won’t you? Especially when those who ought to defend you are not doing so. So, our leaders that have called those at the centre of this crisis to defend themselves are not out of place. We cannot just watch and just allow these things to continue. If government cannot rise to its responsibilities, there are lots of communities in this country that have Civilian JTF. What are they doing? They are defending themselves.

The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) code was recently suspended by government, apparently for further review. Would there be input from the PFN?
I am not aware that it is for further review. However, PFN’s position is that we are not stopping government from doing what it is constitutionally empowered to do. We only feel that it is none of government’s business to tell us who to employ, how we employ him and his length of service. That is an internal affair of the church.

The PFN has nothing to hide. We submit ourselves to the laws of the land. And I would like to stress it again: all our Pentecostal leaders are encouraged to obey the laws of the land and pay their taxes and rates, as and when due. But to tell us how to run the church, how to preach and how long to preach, we don’t believe that is what government should be doing.

Our expectation is that government will call on the various interest groups to make inputs before coming up with the code. I didn’t hear the details of what the G.O. said, but I do not think it is because of the financial code that he asked his members to go into politics. That has been a standing instruction from the PFN. We are encouraging all our people to be interested, and participate in the nation’s politics. We have drummed that loud and clear.
After all, the Vice President is a member of the RCCG.

In any case, this current issue about the code is also a wake up call for the Church. We at the PFN are putting measures in place for our churches to be accountable, at least to keep their books safe. I think it is a wake up call and we will positively use it.
There is suffering in the land. Employment is on the increase, just like the prices of food items, while cases of kidnapping and rape of minors are also on the rise. What is your take on these?

The PFN is honestly concerned that the living standard of the average Nigerian has gone so low. I would like to call on Nigerians to hold their elected officers accountable. If when you were assuming office, the price of a loaf of bread was one naira and you promised to bring it down, but instead of it coming down, it’s going up, Nigerians should learn to ask appropriate questions.

When this government came in, one dollar was about N180, now it’s almost N500. We were here, when the campaigns were on. Some campaigned that they were even going to bring it at par. I’m not saying they are all at fault in everything, but Nigerians should learn to ask and hold their elected officers accountable, whether at the local government level, the state or federal.

Vía The Guardian NigeriaThe Guardian Nigeria http://ift.tt/2kFTduj