KOGI: HOW APC GOVERNATORIAL CAMPAIGN FLAG-OFF SHOCK PDP

KOGI: HOW APC GOVERNATORIAL CAMPAIGN FLAG-OFF SHOCK PDP

By Amuda Dan Sulaiman Fab

If the mammoth crowd that attended the governatorial campaign flag-off of Prince Abubakar Audu in Lokoja is a yardstick to determine who wins an election, the former Governor and his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) is on course towards capturing the Conflence State on November 21.

The 25,000 capacity Lokoja Confluence Stadium was filled to capacity as early as 7.30am. Thousands of APC supporters who arrived the venue late squatted outside the stadium complex and the major road leading to the Kogi State House of Assembly.This development led to a serious traffic gridlock as motorists battled for hours before they could wriggle out of the hold up.

The campaign committee and the leadership of the party in the state appeared to have done their homework very well preparatory to the rally as the party was able to mobilise youths, men and women across the state to attend the rally.

Prior to the October 31date of the rally, the state APC took adverts in almost all the electronic media in the state announcing the date for the rally and the need for the people of the state to attend the rally. The jingle ran for almost one week. The print media also had a fair share of the deal as adverts were placed in select national dailies and some local tabloid to announce the rally and also welcome the August visitors and supporters of the APC.

It was an electrifying moment as shouts of "Audu oyoyo! Audu oyoyo!, APC... Change" rend the air. The atmosphere was fully charged as the APC National Chairman, Cheif John Oyegun and other dignitaries that attended the rally took turns to make their speeches.

Oyegun and all the speakers at the event spoke on the need to effect a change in Kogi State.

Audu, who was the first to fire the salvo, said he would transform the state's ailing economy when elected and would provide jobs for the masses of Kogi.

He said, the fundamental issues facing this state is infrastructural decay and the problem of economy which was being made worse by the present administration. "I assure you that we are going to finally assemble a competent team of Kogites to efficiently manage the state. I am appealing to you; the damage done to this state is great. The level of unemployment, level of non payment of workers salaries is intolerable. The journey has begun. It will take time, it will take patience, it will take support from you to make sure that we succeed."

Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, who thrilled the audience with his rave song "Wada comot for road, Audu na buldozer" said change was necessary in Kogi State. He said change in Kogi would come through the APC governatorial candidate and called on APC supporters to vote for Audu.

Also speaking, Isah Jibrin Echocho, explained why he defected to the APC.

He said progress for Kogi State would come faster with the APC than with the ruling PDP, stressing that the Wada-led administration was not serious about government business.

Echocho said, "I am impressed by what I am seeing here today. This is a clear testimony that indeed the good people of Kogi State will come out en masse and overwhelmingly vote Prince Abubakar Audu.

The highly elated APC national chairman, Chief John Oyegun applauded the choice of Audu as the APC governoship candidate, saying that Audu was deliberately chosen to move the state forward.

He said, "The train of change is setting out from Kogi State. Great people of Kogi State, are you happy? Who is your governor? Audu, "the crowd answered." Let me present to you the Governor-in-waiting of Kogi State. Do you want good roads, do you want better schools, do you want to wipe out corruption? Then, take a good look at Prince Audu. He is as straight in character as his figure is in figurative terms.

Dignitaries at the flag-off include governors of Imo state, Rochas Okorocha, Nasarawa state, Tanko Almakura, Benue state, Samuel Ortom, Senator George Akume, Jide Kosoko, other national leaders, party faithfuls and supporters.
Amuda Dan Sulaiman Fab lives in Kogi
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Are you looking for a child? This testimony will convince you that you can still have a baby despite all negative reports

Ogunbotu Comfort Abosede shared her testimony on how God blessed her with a baby despite negative medical reports, plus steps she took... Enjoy

I got married in 2012 and had been trusting God for the fruit of the womb. Then my menstrual periods became irregular. Sometimes, it will show up once in 6 months. I was advised to run fertility tests by my gynecologist and to my amazement, the results were terrible. I was diagnosed of blocked fallopian tube, PCOS(ovarian cysts) and annovulation( meaning I was not ovulating). I was so depressed and I wondered how on earth I would conceive without menstruating not to talk of ovulating. So we commenced treatment and I had to use many drugs, we spent so much yet there were no changes, infact the monthly periods stopped totally. We moved from hospital to hospital and from pillar to post.One fateful day in church(Daystar Christian Centre), I came across an invite to baby showers by Joyful mothers and fathers forum.My attendance at the program marked a turning point in my life. I discovered that the forum was for couples that were trusting God for the fruit of the womb and couples that were already pregnant who were trusting God for safe carriage and delivery. That day was awesome. I heard so many testimonies and I realized I wasn't alone. I learnt meetings were held every saturday so I made up my mind to start attending.
The very 1st saturday I attended, I was presented a book titled God's waiting room written by Yewande Zaccheus. Then a spirit filled teacher revealed so many scriptures to us concerning what God had said about conception and I was extremely blessed that day. That book took my breath away, I devoured it in a day as soon as I read the first page. The teachings at the meetings every week and that book multiplied my faith. I went to the bookshop and realized the book even had other parts so I bought more copies and sowed them into the lives of other waiting couples.
My husband and I kept on attending JMJF forum in church and usually got inspired through the uncountable testimonies that were shared and the teachings and our faith was strengthened by them all. At the end of that year,we still had not conceived and my younger sister had her baby. Pressure started mounting from all sides but I won't stop thanking God for the encouragements he brought our way and for not letting us fall into depression. Our thinking had changed and our faith had been renewed. So many scriptures kept me going when I felt low especially Gen 1:28 and Ps 128:3. I and my hubby used to feel bad before whenever we heard someone had conceived or had a baby and we would avoid the naming ceremonies so that I would not start crying as usual. I can't begin to say all the trauma, insults and embarrassments I experienced from various people just because I wasn't yet pregnant. In 2014,We kept on attending JMJF, observed the fasts, and in faith, we obeyed the instructions to buy our baby things, we put our baby's bed permanently on our bed and I remember friends used to giggle at the sight of our empty baby's bed when they had the chance to enter our room. They wondered what had come over us.We prepared a list of our baby's name and put it on the bed,someone once gave us money for our kids so we put the money in the bed too.
We had a prayer meeting at the forum and an instruction was given to us all that we should not doubt God by trying to help God and that we should put our total trust in him. So we keyed in and started declaring that we want all the glory to be to God when our prayers get answered. We didn't want any doctor or drug to share God's glory. Why would we have to pay for what God gives free of charge?
2014 was our year of enlargement and we had many testimonies of people conceiving and having their children at the forum. We intensified our faith and joined service units in church because we knew that if we worked for God, he would reward us. We read our pregnancy confessions every morning before leaving the house and we wore customized shirts with our baby's names. In my service unit, we use code names rather than real names and I chose fruity as my name so that I will be called by what God called me. God had called me fruitful and not barren. So people called me fruity though they didn't know why and I used to say amen on the inside.
On bbm, I changed my name to a long list of my baby names and people wondered why.Our mindset had changed. We attended many baby namings and rejoiced with all we heard had babies and gave them gifts. As it is written in God's word that we should give thanks in all things, we started thanking God over our situation and stopped complaining and we rejoiced with those rejoicing. We refused to focus on what we didn't have but on all what God had given us. We started attending service at the church annex where couples with babies sat even though we did not have any physical baby. I used to take communion twice there, one for me and for my baby in faith.
Over time, people said all sorts, some advised us to go to prayer warrior churches because they felt our church prayers were not spiritual enough. Some gave us addresses of some so-called excellent hospitals, some people even suggested spiritualists and traditional midwives. Others advised different types of herbs but we stood on God's word that promised us conception and the fact that we would not help God.
When it was Dec 31st, I was a bit discouraged that my prayer did not look like it had been answered because I had made a pledge to God which I promised to redeem if I could conceive in 2014. But then, I still glorified God and danced like never before at the watchnight service because I still had my life. Meanwhile, the last time I went for a pregnancy test was in April 2014 and it came out negative. When we got home that day, I took my biro, cancelled the negative result and wrote positive. I remember my husband smiled and said Amen o and he prayed that the next test I would do would be positive so he stapled that result to the wall in our room. I made up my mind not to go to the hospital again till it will be time for antenatal in faith so I substituted hospital visitations with JMJF meetings and substituted drugs with holy communion. Pastor Kenny declared in church one day that the money we were supposed to spend in the hospital will be used to buy clothes and to enjoy ourselves and I keyed in. I drained my account and went to shop for more baby things, then I went to family first bookshop in church and bought many pregnancy books based on healing by faith.I kept on sowing, I gave out more copies of God's waiting room book and September baby shower JMJF DVDs.
In 2015, our year of promotion, on the 24th of January, on our way to JMJF meeting, I had to attend to some issues so my husband got there before me. On my way back, I called him to find out which class he was in and he said he was in expectant class( for those yet to get pregnant) and I replied him that we were pregnant already in faith and pleaded with him to move to pregnancy class. The meeting had ended by the time I got there so I just knelt in the pregnancy class and prayed to God to put me there in this year 2015.
On the 26th of January which was a Monday, I felt so sick and my hubby suggested anti malaria drugs but I just insisted on paracetamol . When there were no changes he dragged me to the hospital and everything happened in a flash, I was confirmed pregnant in the same hospital that had told me it would not be possible if I did not undergo treatment. Me that I had no menses,i did a scan and did another test to confirm and all came back positive. Joy overflowed in our hearts and tears of joy filled my eyes. At last! God had answered our prayers. My husband then took that result and placed it beside the one that had been on the wall in 2014 and we realized that it was exactly the same 26th, 9 months ago that I cancelled that negative result with my pen.
Truly, God is awesome because the scan revealed that I conceived in 2014 so God answered my prayers afterall in our year of enlargement and I went to redeem my pledge. My pregnancy journey was wonderful and God blessed me with extra ordinary strength. I didn't experience most of the negative predictions by experienced mothers, infact I was glowing. God was faithful till the end and he blessed us with a bouncing baby boy in September 2015. God truly makes everything beautiful in his time because in this same 2015, he bIessed us all round and opened greater doors to us miraculously.
I thank God for giving me a very wonderful and supportive husband who never made life miserable for me because I couldn't conceive on time. I thank Pastor Sam and Nike Adeyemi of Daystar Christian Centre for helping me to know that I could communicate with God directly without having to consult any medium. I thank the teachers in Joyful Mothers and Fathers forum at Daystar for opening my eyes to the power of faith.I also thank those who prayed with us and called us fruitful in our service unit(Starguard) in church. God bless my home fellowship members for their endless prayers. I thank Pastor Moses Oyerinde of EFCC church, Ago-Iwoye for his encouragement, support and prayers from school days till now. He even honored me by presiding over the naming of our son. I thank my beautiful mother and my sisters for their unending support. God bless my friends, my colleagues at Grand Oak Ltd and all those I can't mention who stood by me. God bless Mrs Yewande Zaccheus for writing that book.
My brothers and sisters, with God, nothing shall be impossible! Don't compare yourself with others, we all have our individual races to run. At the end, only God will do what only he can do. He is the one that can do all things. He makes a way where there seems to be no way and he honors our faith.
Part of the pledge I made to God if he answered my prayer was to proclaim his goodness far and wide and to testify to his faithfulness which is what I am doing. Please don't hesitate to help me spread this message to encourage a soul. There is a beautiful future for all those who put their total trust in God. Don't let that negative report depress you. It is what God says that is final not what that negative situation says. God still answers prayers so don't give up. Just believe!
I and my husband did a lot of fasting and praying and God did not let all be in vain. We even prayed for our son all the time when we had not yet conceived. What would we have done if nothing happened after everything? Many people have been trusting God for one thing or the other for decades and they are still waiting. God will have compassion on who he will have compassion on. It has not been by our power or might. Please praise the Lord on our behalf for his faithfulness. I pray that whatever it is you are trusting God for will be given unto you. God will honor your faith and you will not wait in vain. You will have a reason to testify in Jesus name.
Please join me in praising the Lord of Hosts! The God that changed my name, the Father that took away my reproach, the one that disgraced my negative medical report by giving me a wonderful son without any man's intervention, Awimayehun, Alagbada ina, Asoromatase, the King of kings, Lion of Judah, Rose of Sharon, Balm in Gilead. Oba awon Oba, Oyigiyigi Glory! Halleluyah. God that turn impossibility to possibility, may ur name be praise!
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WHERE DID WE GO WRONG? WAKE UP NIGERIAN YOUTHS

Awolowo was (37), Akintola (36), Ahmadu Bello (36) Balewa (34)
and Okotie-Eboh (27), Enahoro (27) led the struggle for
independence after the death of Macaulay. Only Zik was 42 at the
time.
In 1966, the first coup was led by: Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu
(29) and countered by Murtala Mohammed (28), Theophilus
Danjuma (28), Babangida (25), Nanven Garba (23), Sani Abacha
(23), Shehu Musa Yaradua (23), and brought into power Gowon
(32), Ojukwu (33), Obasanjo (29), Buhari (24).
Most of the military administrators who governed the states under
the successive military regimes, most of whom are governors now,
were under 30 years.
The brief democratic dispensation which interjected the military
interregnums also saw the House of Representativesin particular
populated by majority of members under 30 years as well as some
senators.
Under 30s were also not in short supply with appointments, we
have examples of MT Mbu who became foreign affairs minister at
23 and Pat Utomi who became a presidential adviser at 27 and so
on and so forth.
NOW:
Why is it that this age bracket is today still sleeping in 3 seater
chairs in their parents' homes?
Why is it that this age bracket is today still collecting pocket money
from their parents?
Why is it that this age bracket is today still writing JAMB?
Why is it that this age bracket is today still sagging their trousers?
Why is it that this age bracket is today still searching for jobs, not
yet married?
Why is it that this age bracket is today no longer qualified to even
be leaders of youth wings of political parties?
Why is it that this age bracket is today so docile?
Why is it that this age bracket is today still incapable of feeding
itself?
Why is it that this age bracket is today barred by law from even
aspiring to certain political offices?
Why is it that this age bracket is today incapacitated, unwilling,
unable and incapable of asking questions?
GOD BLESS NIGERIA!
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What did Azikiwe do for the East?

The first thing Azikiwe did on becoming premier in Enugu was to design the Eastern Nigerian Economic Reconstruction plan (1954-1964) as the blueprint for Eastern Nigerian development.

It is now on record that published accounts placed the Eastern Nigerian economy as the fastest growing economy in the world by 1964. It was based on the Zik plan that the Industrial Estates at Enugu, Trans-Amadi (PH) and Aba were built.

The Agricultural and industrial policies later implemented by Okpara was at the core of that program. There was not a single city in the East that did not become an industrial hub - from the Modern Breweries, Ceramics, and so on in Umuahia, to the first integrated Gas plant, the Niger Gas, or even the Niger Steel plant, which was billed to be integrated with the proposed Onitsha integrated Steel corporation that was later moved to Ajaokuta, as the first of such in the continent, and which was, with the Tri-city industrial Gas pipeline already laid between Port-Harcourt and Aba, with the Owerri end at foot, to be the hub of Eastern Nigerian Industrial and Technological development. All these were destroyed by the Civil war.

The Eastern Nigerian Pharmaceutical Laboratories and Corporation, which later partnered and became Pfizer (WA) was established in Aba by Zik. It became Pfizer's West African Operational Headquarters until it was moved to Lagos in 1970 at the end of the war.

As at 1967, Aba stood on same footing with Lagos as an industrializing city: whatever industry was established in Lagos was also established in Aba - the Nigerian Breweries, Nestle's first production HQ, Lever Brothers, Proctor & gamble etc; all had Aba operations to serve Central West Africa, all because of the great Zik.

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3,000 displaced persons faced starvation in Kuka Reta

3,000 displaced persons faced starvation in Kuka Reta

About 3,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) whose camp is in Kuka Reta town are currently in serious danger. Kuka Reta Town is about fifteen (15) kilometers from Damaturu, the capital of Yobe State. Reliable sources confirm that the camp has run out of food supply, drinkable water and drugs.

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) is constrained to raise the alarm on the frightening situation in Kuka Reta IDP camp in view of the dangers inherent in the exposure of IDPs to such inhuman conditions. Apart from hunger, starvation, malnutrition and the likelihood of deaths, diseases such as cholera and diarrhea are likely to spread within the camp.

MURIC is confounded by the enormity of the danger and hardship to which IDPs in Kuka Reta camp are exposed. We condemn this culpable negligence on the part of the authorities. We therefore call on the Yobe State Government, the state's arm of the National Emergency Agency (NEMA) and all aids groups in the state to address the issue with military dispatch.

In addition, we appeal to international donors and the world community at large to come to the aid of the traumatized people of North East Nigeria as it now appears the Nigerian government alone cannot bring succour to the more than 1.5 million people displaced by the Boko Haram insurgency.

In conclusion, we reiterate the need for the Federal Government of Nigeria to establish the North East Development Commission (NEDEC) to cushion the effects of economic degradation of the region after four years of brutal attacks, deliberate destruction of infrastructure and the attendant cessation of socio-economic life.

Professor Ishaq Akintola,
Director,
Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)
08182119714
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Former Rivers state Governor, Rotimi Amaechi can become a Minister without undergoing Senate Screening.

According to the Nigerian Constitution, if the Senate
does not confirm or reject Amaechi within twenty-one
working days of the receipt of nomination he
automatically becomes a Minister of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria.
See excerpt from Nigerian constitution below:
147. (1) There shall be such offices of Ministers of
the Government of the Federation as may be
established by the President.
(2) Any appointment to the office of Minister of the
Government of the Federation shall, if the nomination
of any person to such office is confirmed by the
Senate, be made by the President.
(3) Any appointment under subsection (2) of this
section by the President shall be in conformity with
the provisions of section 14(3) of this Constitution:-
provided that in giving effect to the provisions
aforesaid the President shall appoint at least one
Minister from each State, who shall be an indigene
of such State.
(4) Where a member of the National Assembly or of
a House of Assembly is appointed as Minister of the
Government of the Federation, he shall be deemed to
have resigned his membership of the National
Assembly or of the House of Assembly on his taking
the oath of office as Minister.
(5) No person shall be appointed as a Minister of the
Government of the Federation unless he is qualified
for election as a member of the House of
Representatives.
(6) An appointment to any of the offices aforesaid
shall be deemed to have been made where no return
has been received from the Senate within twenty-one
working days of the receipt of nomination by the
Senate.

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ReF-Predictor to Boost Cash-less Economy, Promotes Mobile Money

Ayodele Samuel,Lagos
Towards achieving a cash-less society and Promoting Mobile money usage, ReF-Predictor, a football gaming site has promised Nigerians that its platform will drive a cash-less society and encourage mobile money usage.

ReF-Predictor, an online innovative football contest that allows to anticipate outcomes of football matches. It adopts a novel league ranking format that rewards top 500 players every week with guaranteed prizes and special awards.

It is a unique and highly social football community that brings the latest in the football world alongside the most exciting and competitive football predictive league contest.

Speaking at it official launch in Lagos recently, The Chief Executive officer, Meidjai Nigeria Limited, Mr. Dare Lawanson assures Nigerians of imbibing cash-lite with the platform.

He said, "ReF-Predictor is the easiest way to enjoy your football with cash-lite lifestyle even without a bank account.

"We help you leverage on the ever growing relationship between mobile network operators and banks in Nigeria; an estimated 170 million people, over 140 million phone lines and 75 million bank accounts.

"ReF-Predictor format is an indigenous research and development project that promotes Zero/ low risk, high reward gaming philosophy, numerous and guaranteed winnings, social and responsible gaming, leisure options, job and self employment opportunities, wealth creation and re-distribution, and mobile money adaptation.

"The platform primary objective is to address the religious, moral, social and cultural challenges associated with predictive gaming, that influence over 27 million everyday people in our society. ReF-Predictor will promote social and responsible gaming, a will become a culture phenomenon". Dare assures.

The main objective of this ReFPredictor community is to promote Zero/ low risk gaming philosophy, guaranteed rewards to numerous winners, social and responsible gaming, leisure options, self employment opportunities, wealth creation & re-distribution, and mobile money adaptation (CBN's cashless society).

ReFPredictor addresses the religious, moral, social and cultural challenges associated with predictive gaming, that influences over 27 million every day people in our society.