Interesting Things A Good Wife Wants From Her Husband

What does my woman want? What is she thinking? Some men seem perplexed by the complexities of women’s “spaghetti” minds. You’ve heard that term, right? Men’s minds are like waffles; compartmentalizing thoughts into boxes. Women’s minds are like spaghetti; with thoughts connecting all over the place.

I want to help the guys out today; give you a bit of insight into your woman’s mind. What is it she truly craves from you?

What do we (women) long to hear you (our men) say to us? I know sometimes women can make it hard for you; we expect you to pick up on our cues and read our minds. It’s not fair and I get it. So, let me help you out today with things your woman loves.

1. Let’s pray! 
Or another way to phrase it: “How can I be praying for you?” More than anything in this world, a good wife desires a husband that leads the family in godliness. Who sets the example for righteousness. Who serves as the priest of the family.

Studies have shown that couples who pray together and read the Bible regularly are overall more satisfied and less likely to get divorced. Which is why setting Christ at the center of your family is vital to a healthy marriage.

So, dear men, take the initiative to be the prayer warrior in your family. To lead in reading the Bible, going to church, and serving others. It’s so important for a good wife that she hear you offer prayer. To suggest prayer when things are not smooth, or you have a tough decision to make as a family. This will be one of the most important phrases you could ever utter in your marriage if you are truly married to a good woman.

2. How can I help you? 
Nothing says romance like serving! Whether your wife is in the workforce, a stay-at-home mum, or a bit of both, there is much to do around the house. Offering to make dinner one night, or put your kids to bed, or to do the grocery shopping for the week goes a long way to make your wife feel more loved.

3. I love you. 
For many, these three words are perhaps our favorite. As you desire respect, we desire love. And when we don’t hear these words, our hearts break. We feel lonely. Forgotten.

Don’t neglect the power of these words. Furthermore, don’t forget to use them frequently with your wife. Let her know she is loved by you. Don’t stop there, either. Let your actions show her that she is the apple of your eye. When your wife feels loved, she feels safe. And when she feels safe, she is freed up to be open and vulnerable with you.

4. I know you’re trying. 
Your wife could be feeling undervalued or overlooked at work. She might feel like she doesn’t have much purpose among the dirty dishes, clothes, etc. Perhaps there’s some conflict among a friend or family member that is causing a lot of stress. Whatever difficulty she may be going through, you’re someone she’s going to turn to. And when she does, be there for her.

She doesn’t need someone to fix it it for her. Or make suggestions. Not quite yet, anyway. She may want those things but it’s hard to accept help unless she feels supported first.

Before doing anything, just say the words. Empathize. Your wife wants to feel like she’s not alone or crazy in her difficulty. Acknowledge her emotions and feel the trial with her. If you can do this, she will be much more open to receiving the help you want to offer.

5. I got you. 
Just being there and letting your wife know that you have her back in the midst of her ups and downs is incredibly valuable. In this chaotic world that can beat us down, sometimes it’s nice to know you’re not alone. Which is why letting your wife know that you got her back – that you are right by her side, through thick and thin – is such a comforting reassurance.

6. You’re beautiful. 
I’m not gonna lie – it’s tough out there. Women are often left to feel not pretty enough, valued enough, good enough, etc. It’s why comparison and gossip is rampant in our gender.

When she’s making coffee in her messy pj’s, tell her she’s beautiful. When she’s covered in spit-up and wrangling your baby, tell her she’s beautiful. When she gets all dolled up for a long-anticipated date night, tell her she’s beautiful. If she feels beautiful in your eyes, she’ll feel much more confident and beautiful in this world.

7. Let’s go. 
Romance. Surprises. Date nights. Extending your hand out to her and taking her by your side for a fun time alone is exciting! Remember there was a time when it was just the two of you. When you would do whatever you wanted, whenever you wanted. Memories were created!

Nobody wants the romance to die. Don’t underestimate the power of a surprise, romantic date. So tell her to throw on a dress and say, “let’s go!” once in a while.

8. Your dreams matter to me. 
Our dreams matter to all of us – men and women – and it’s a dream that makes the heart race with excitement! Find out what your wife’s dreams are and help her find a way to flourish in them.

I can’t tell you what it means to me that my husband has supported my passion for writing. He has basically kicked me out of the house on his days off and taken care of our newborn so that I could work on my book at a coffee shop. Those moments have made me feel so loved!

Take up your wife’s dream as your own; let her know that you believe in her and that you want to help her flourish in that dream.

9. Life is good with you. 
Not much more needs to be said about this phrase. A good wife is a gift from God and being married to her a blessing. Let her know that you enjoy her and your life together!

[written by Mrs. Brittany Rust, a female pastor]

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Meet Beautiful Nigerian Graduate Who’s Making Her Money As A Shoemaker (Photos)

A young Nigerian woman, Nkiru Emodi, has rattled many on the social media space after showcasing her works as a professional shoemaker in Lagos. She’s a graduate of UNIBEN.

Emodi, popularly called ‘the shoe doctor’ make different shoe patterns for men and women. Check out the photos…

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This Young Nigerian Artist’s Works Are So Realistic

23yrs old Ken Nwadiogbu is a visual artist based in Lagos, Nigeria, who specialises in 3D hyper-realistic drawings done with pencil and paper, creating pictures and portraits so realistic that you have to look twice to make sure they aren’t photographs. Check out more of his works…

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Young Man Dupes His Friend of N2.4m, Sets Him Up At Computer Village, Lagos

A suspected conman, Eruagah T. has been arrested after he duped his bosom friend, Vitalis Darlinton to the tune of N2.4m and set him up at the computer village in Lagos.

The incident happened in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where both the suspect and the victim resided. But the suspect tricked the victim to Lagos and set him up.

According to PM Express, Darlinton had informed Eruagah that he had raised enough money to travel abroad for greener pastures. It was when Eruagah discovered that the victim actually had such huge money that he promised to assist him to procure travel documents.

It was gathered that after the victim gave him the money, he procured fake travel documents and brought him to Lagos having convinced him that he had already paid for the ticket for his travelling.

However, when they got to Lagos, Eruagah paid for an accommodation in a hotel at Iyana Ipaja area where they lodged. The next day, he took Darlington to computer village to buy a phone as he would travel the next day.

When they got to Computer Village, he bargained for a phone for N100,000 and told the owner of the phone that he wanted to withdraw money from a bank nearby and that Darlinton will wait behind at the store till he returned from the bank. He collected the phone and pretended as if he was going to the bank but escaped to Ikotun to sell the phone.

He was unlucky after he had negotiated with the buyer who demanded for a receipt and he could not produce any. He was handed over to the police at Ikotun Division who detained and interrogated him.

Before then, Darlington has been rounded up in the market as a criminal and was about to be lynched after they had waited for Eruagah to no avail.

However, the victim was lucky as the police used Eruagah’s phone to call him. The victim picked the call and narrated to the police what Eruagah had done and that his life was in danger at the Computer Village.

The police then rushed down to Ikeja, rescued and brought him to the police station with the owner of shop, where the phone was recovered and given back to the owner.

During the interrogation, Eruagah confessed that he procured fake papers and as such the victim cannot travel abroad with the documents.
He was charged before Ejigbo Magistrates court for stealing the phone and for defrauding his friend.

He pleaded not guilty.

The Presiding Magistrate, Mr. F.J. Layeni granted Eruagah bail in the sum of N300,000 with two sureties in like sum.

He was remanded in prison custody pending when he will perfect his bail condition.

The matter has been adjourned till 28 February, 2018, for trial.

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Soldiers Arrest Native Doctor Who Makes Charms For Gana, The Notorious Criminal

The Army said it had arrested a native doctor, Tordue Gber (Tiv Swem), who allegedly acted as spiritual counselor to the wanted armed criminal militia, Akwazar Terwase (alias Gana), in Benue.

A statement by Brig.-Gen Sani Usman, the Director of Army Public Relations, on Tuesday, said the suspect was picked up in Tor-Dunga town in Katsina-Ala area of the state during a raid on his shrine.

Usman said troops of 707 Special Forces Brigade arrested Gber on Monday during the operation.

It will be recalled that Terwase was declared wanted by the security agencies and has been at large since 2016.

“Preliminary investigation shows that Tordue Gber (Tiv Swem) acts as spiritual counselor that provides Gana with “diabolical” powers and the shrine serves as hideout for wanted armed militia, meeting and planning point for operations and logistics base for the criminal armed militias that operate in Benue, Nasarawa and Taraba States.

“The native doctor was arrested along with one of his accomplice, Atoo Kuwe Francis, while planning to carry out an attack and abduct one Mr. Zaya at Tse Bente village in the same local government area,” he said.

The army spokesman, however, said Tordue was shot dead “during the struggle to disarm him.”

Usman said the troops recovered a locally fabricated pistol, two baretta Pistols, 11 rounds of 9mm ammunition, three motorcycles and assorted charms from the shrine

Other items recovered, he said, include clothings for concealing weapons, two mobile telephones and three power generators, amongst other items at the hideout.

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2 Nigerians Executed In Saudi Arabia For Drug Trafficking

Nearly four months after a Nigerian was executed in Saudi Arabia for alleged drug-related offence, two more countrymen have been killed in a similar manner, sending fears to no fewer than 15 others being detained in parts of the Middle East country.

Prison Sources in Saudi Arabia confirmed to Vanguard that the two Nigerians, whose names have been given as Ibrahim Ciroma and Maimidu Issah, all from the Northern part of Nigeria, were executed last week.

The prison source said that while one was brutally terminated on Tuesday, the other Nigerian faced the hangman’s noose on Thursday.

The summary execution of the two Nigerians came nearly two weeks after a prison source in Medina leaked the names of 15 Nigerians, who are currently on death row at the Medina Prison, awaiting the long knife any moment from now.

Vanguard had on January 13 this year, published a Save-Our-Soul letter despatched by the embattled Nigerians awaiting execution in Riyadh to President Muhammadu Buhari and pleaded with him to intervene and save their lives by repatriating them home to serve their jail terms in their father land or be killed at home and given decent burials instead of being killed as cows in a foreign land.

In response, the Federal Government, through the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, affirmed the determination of the government to wade into the matter and save the lives of the imprisoned Nigerians in Saudi Arabia.

The Minister promised to dispatch officials from the Nigerian Embassy in Riyadh to liaise with their Saudi counterparts so as to prevent the inmates from being executed.

‘’The Minister of Foreign Affairs has directed the Nigerian Mission in Riyadh to look into the detained suspects’ case urgently,” the Spokesman for the Ministry, Dr. Tope Adeleye Elias-Fatile, said in response to Saturday Vanguard’s enquiry on the matter.

“The Nigerian Government will continue to engage the Saudi authorities in negotiations so that they will not be executed,” the Foreign Ministry assured.

However, more than two weeks after the report was made to the Nigerian Government and with no action coming from Abuja, the additional two Nigerians drug suspects were sent to their early graves.

It was learnt that following the directive of the Federal Government to the embassy in Riyadh to intervene and save the troubled Nigerians from death row, the Nigerian embassy simply requested for the file numbers of the inmates from the prison officials and nothing else was done about it.

One of the suspects told Vanguard that an indication that more of the detainees might be executed any moment from now was that their files had been removed from the prison in Medina and its computer system.

“For your information, the removal of the inmate files from the system in Saudi means that the affected persons could be summarily executed any moment from now. Please plead with President Buhari and the government of Nigeria to save us from being killed this wicked way. Delay is dangerous,” the suspect pleaded.

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Wonderful Prayers Good Wives Should Pray Over Their Husband

Through God’s work in my heart, I discovered the importance of praying for my husband and the power of praying for him. Over the years, God has shown me his work in my marriage through prayer time and time again. Prayer is a life-changing, uninterrupted connection to our heavenly Father and oh how he loves to hear his TRUE children pray!

Check out these prayers to pray over your husband using God’s Word…

1. Pray for his work 
“Lord, I pray that You would bless my husband’s work. That he would be diligent and prosperous. That You would give him wisdom and discernment. God, I pray You would give him strength to walk the opportunities you provide. Thank you, Lord.”

Do you see a person skilled in his work? He will stand in the presence of kings. He will not stand in the presence of the unknown. Proverbs 22:29 CSB

2. Pray for his heart, soul and mind 
“Father, I praise You for my husband, Your unique creation. Please guard his heart and mind, Jesus. Protect him from temptation and fill him up with the good things he needs. You’ve promised to fill his soul with what he needs and I ask You to do just that.”

For he has satisfied the thirsty and filled the hungry with good things. Psalm 107:9 CSB

3. Pray for healing from the past 
“God, would You heal the wounds of my husband’s heart? You’ve promised healing to those who submit to You. Lord, please smooth the scars of past hurts and brokenness. May Your healing permeate his being, inside and out.”

Heal me, Lord, and I will be healed; save me, and I will be saved, for you are my praise. Jeremiah 17:14 CSB

4. Pray for courage 
“Lord, You are gracious and merciful, yet You are all-powerful and understanding. This world can be a fearful place and I pray that You would give my husband courage. Lord, infuse his character with courage for daily decisions and the difficult ones as well.”

The fear of the Lord leads to life; one will sleep at night without danger. Proverbs 19:23 CSB

5. Pray for his leadership 
“God, You have provided Your Word and I am so grateful. May Your Word guide my husband as the leader of our home. May his leadership skills be empowered by your wisdom. I trust that You will lead in his hand and heart in our relationship, his work, our home, community and church.”

Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God — who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly — and it will be given to him. James 1:5 CSB

6. Pray for wisdom in finances 
“Lord, money yields the greatest potential to cause problems in a home. Please give my husband wisdom as he seeks to honor You with finances. I praise You for the blessings You’ve provided and I pray that You would help him, help us, to always honor You first.”

Keep your life free from the love of money. Be satisfied with what you have, for he himself has said, I will never leave you or abandon you. Hebrews 13:5 CSB

7. Pray for a heart for the Lord 
“Father, please give my husband a pure heart for You. May he seek to love You and trust You with everything he has and is. Protect him from opinions intended to sway him from Your Word.”

Don’t work only while being watched, as people-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, do God’s will from your heart. Ephesians 6:6 CSB

8. Pray for his speech 
“Father, in a day when the world speaks with complete corruption, keep my husband’s words pure before You. I pray that he would use his words just as You would have him to. I praise You for his personality and pray for purposeful conversations in our marriage.”

No foul language should come from your mouth, but only what is good for building up someone in need, so that it gives grace to those who hear. Ephesians 4:29 CSB

9. Pray for his friendships 
“Lord, I pray that You would provide encouraging friendships for my husband. That he would know he is never alone because You are with him, but I ask for others to speak into his life and sharpen him as he sharpens them.”

Iron sharpens iron, and one person sharpens another. Proverbs 27:17 CSB

10. Pray for your husband to be a good father 
“God, I thank You that You are the good, good Father. Would you help my husband’s parenting to reflect You? May his children know Your heavenly love personally and experience it through their earthly father.”

Fathers, don’t stir up anger in your children, but bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. Ephesians 6:4 CSB

If you know someone struggling or feeling disconnected in their marriage, share these powerful prayers with them and use this article to encourage their hearts. Maybe you know someone who longs to strengthen her marriage and build up her husband, these prayers would be the perfect tool to do so!

[written by Rachel Wojo]

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Obasanjo”s Letter To Buhari: Matters Arising

Obasanjo and The Extent Of Presidential Powers – by Reuben Abati 
More than a week after President Olusegun Obasanjo released his state of the nation commentary and devastating assessment of the Buhari administration, it has remained the main subject in the public arena in Nigeria. It is a measure of the stature, influence and capacity of the elder statesman that whenever he intervenes as he has done, he sets the tone for public debate and the country’s future political direction. 

I have already commented at length on the appropriateness, timeliness, depth, brutal honesty and shortcoming of that statement on both television and radio, more than twice, but there is an additional aspect that the statement further throws up, namely the nature and extent of presidential powers to wit: should Obasanjo blame Buhari?

It is common practice in Nigeria for political commentators, either on the streets or in formal situations to make excuses for Presidents, either serving or retired. You are likely to hear statements such as: “The President is a good man, it is just that he is surrounded by bad advisers and ministers”, or something like “Buhari is not the problem, the problem is that he has been hijacked by a cabal, or as the view was once expressed – “a cabal is now in charge!” The powers, style and limitations of the President are hardly ever placed in proper context. Proponents of the positivism of Presidential powers always speak in terms of “Good President, bad aides” in the Nigerian Presidential system, contrary to the norm that the buck stops at the President’s table.

President Obasanjo’s various assessments of sitting administrations adopt a different orientation. He holds the President personally responsible for the performance or non-performance of his government. In his recent statement on the Buhari administration, he thus characteristically accused President Buhari of nepotism, lack of understanding of the internal dynamics of Nigerian politics, blame-passing, condoning of misconduct and outright incompetence. He more or less ascribes to the President of Nigeria the powers and the responsibility to provide leadership and ensure good governance. In his view, in areas where the President lacks capacity, it is his duty to recruit competent persons to assist him and where and when he fails, he is still the one to be held responsible.

The underlying principle in Obasanjo’s statement is that those to whom power is bequeathed must be accountable for the exercise of such power. In his only reference to advisers in his intervention, Obasanjo uses the word “so-called advisers.” It is most unfortunate that in the various responses from government and its agents to the Obasanjo statement, there has been no attempt to take on Obasanjo on the issues. He has been called names by hired voices, or system sycophants, and all he got from the Minister of Information was an acknowledgement note and a patronizing “Baba-is-a-patriot”, tepid climb-down, without a word of defence on the substantial question about how the incumbent President has abdicated responsibility and failed the leadership test.

For me, there are a number of projected questions: Can a President actually be held responsible for the failings of the government he heads? Should the blame for an administration’s failures be heaped on the head of a past government and its officials? Who can be held liable in the circumstance – a cabal, former Ministers, or those exercising delegated authority? For whereas Obasanjo holds every President accountable, I have heard persons claim that he has no moral right to do so. It is even alleged that President Buhari cannot be questioned because he is answerable only to the people whose sovereignty he personifies.

President Obasanjo, by heaping the blame and the responsibility on the head of President Muhammadu Buhari, is drawing attention to the full extent of the ascribed and inherent powers of the President under the Constitution. The Nigerian Constitution in letter and spirit makes the Nigerian President an Emperor with near-absolute powers. There may be checks and balances on his powers here and there, in terms of his having recourse to the National Assembly on certain issues and having to make consultations, but in totality, the Constitution confers on him a kingly prerogative, especially on matters of policy and its execution. His powers are extensive and expansive. Under Section 5(1) of the Constitution, he is empowered to either exercise his powers directly or to delegate. His relationship with those to whom he delegates authority is akin to that between an agent and a disclosed principal.

Section 5(1) is instructive: “Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, the executive powers of the Federation – (a) shall be vested in the President and may, subject as aforesaid and to the provisions of any law made by the National assembly, be exercised by him either directly or through the Vice-President or Ministers of the Government of the Federation or other officers in the public service of the Federation; and Section 148(1) adds:

“The President may, in his discretion, assign to Vice-President or any Minister of the government of the Federation responsibility for any business of the Government of the Federation, including the administration of any department of government.”

It stands to reason therefore that whatever is done by those agents, lawfully and within the bounds of Presidential approval, are within the scope of the responsibility of the President. In other words, the President cannot pass the buck. So, is it right to say Buhari is a good man, but the problem is the cabal? Or to hold heads of MDAs liable for acts that were carried out with Presidential authority and approval? The President is the custodian of the social contract with the people as defined in Section 14, and where there is a failure of consideration in this regard, the government is deemed not only to have lost legitimacy, the President is deemed to have failed. This is a key point in Obasanjo’s statement, which makes it notably different from similar interventions by him in the past.

The term or the group known as “cabal” is unknown to the Nigerian Constitution but the Constitution knows the President. Section 148 also recognizes that Ministers are appointees of the President, exercising delegated authority. This is why the National Assembly cannot impeach Ministers; they can only be sanctioned or relieved of their duties by their appointor, namely the President. Where the conduct of any government official is in question, it is important to establish whether or not such a person acted beyond the scope of the approval or directive given or whether or not such was ratified by the President. However, no public official is allowed under the law to carry out an unlawful directive, where such happens, such a person is personally liable. In practical terms, this has been a source of problem. Nigerian Presidents function like Emperors. How many appointees can stand in front of a President and query his authority, or turn down his directive?

I align with the definition of responsibility in Obasanjo’s review of the exercise of presidential authority. For instance, there are cases in court against Ministers and advisers who served under the Jonathan administration over matters such as the spending of security votes and sale of oil blocks, but to what extent can they be held responsible for obeying presidential directives? Today, in President Buhari’s Aso Villa, the Chief of Staff in particular has been accused within the public domain of many things. Does anyone really believe that a Chief of Staff can act on his own without Presidential backing and not lose his job?

When the matter of MTN’s underpayment of sanctions sum came up and the penalty sum was allegedly reviewed downwards after some consideration, the MTN Executive that was involved was sanctioned, and Nigerians asked that certain government officials should similarly be sanctioned, but to date, nothing has happened. Could that have been the case without the President’s knowledge? In the more recent controversial case of Abdulrasheed Maina, the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami who was accused of protecting a man who had been sacked from service on the grounds of embezzlement, pilfering and corruption, had said that he acted with the knowledge and approval of the President.

Can he possibly in the future be called to account for his action even when he was carrying out a Presidential directive, apparent or otherwise? Afterall, his explanation was further confirmed from the statement of the Head of Service to the Federation who said when the issue came up, she notified the President of the likely backlash. When the National Assembly summons a prominent government official and he or she refuses to honour the invitation, can it be assumed that any Presidential appointee can be so dismissive of the legislature without Presidential concurrence? 

When recently there was a face-off between the Department of State Security, the National Intelligence Agency and the EFCC, with the intelligence agencies insisting that they or their former bosses cannot be questioned by the EFCC, could they have gotten away with it without Presidential approval? It is noteworthy that the intelligence agencies report directly to the President and take directives from him. They relate to other departments of government only on a need-to-know basis. There is also that other matter between Dr Ibe Kachikwu and NNPC GMD, Kanti Baru, with the latter insisting that he had Presidential approval. Can either party be arrested in the future for “alleged corruption” in the light of the revelation by the Vice President, then acting as President, that he only gave “non-financial approvals?”

Our point therefore is that everything in our Presidential democracy revolves around the President. Whereas the Constitution, upholding the separation of powers, vests the authority of the other two tiers of government: the legislature (Section 4) and the judiciary (Section 6) in institutions, the 1999 Constitution vests executive authority not in any institution, but the person of the President. The Presidency is not a collegiate; technically, even the Vice President has no powers. He can only function to the extent of powers delegated to him by the President, and even the very limited powers assigned to him can only be exercised under presidential directive.

This is partly why when President Buhari went on a medical vacation and Vice President Osinbajo acted as President, there were persons who accused him of becoming ambitious and trying to seize Presidential powers even when he had been granted delegated authority. The second time the President travelled, the Vice President was directed to act only as a co-ordinator! The President is granted immunity from prosecution; while in office, he is regarded as a Messiah, such that even the powers of the National Assembly to impeach him in the event of “gross misconduct” or “incapacitation” are difficult to execute.

More than at any other time, the Buhari administration has further problematized the extent of the powers of a President by calling to question virtually every act and directive under the preceding Jonathan administration. If a President gave a directive and it was lawfully carried out, without the agent going on a frolic of his own, and without any willful act of criminality, should such agents become the target of a witch-hunt? By stretching the matter in this direction, the Buhari administration may have created the basis for the growth of a political culture based on vendetta and the source of its own lack of vibrancy.

This probably explains why under this administration, delegated authority is being exercised with so much fear. The Ministers and heads of parastatals and agencies are so scared because they imagine that even when they carry out directives, they may be held liable tomorrow by a different government. Already, they are being told that they are the problem and not the President. Why shouldn’t a future government arrest and detain them and tell them that the execution of a Presidential directive is no protection? They may ultimately end up as victims of their current triumphalism.

By demonizing former public officials, and undermining the powers of a past President to exercise power and authority through legitimate and lawful delegation, the Buhari administration may unwittingly make public service unattractive and set a disturbing precedent. Be sure, however that the Nigerian public in the future will still argue that “Baba is a good man, it was the cabal that caused his problems.” Good intentions alone do not guarantee good leadership: this is the underlying moral of the Obasanjo statement. Whether or not he can mount the high horse to say this is beyond the purview of this present commentary.

But here is the long-term challenge: Can a President who has been given so much powers under the Constitution be allowed to abdicate responsibility? Section 5(1) and Section 148, and other relevant sections of the 1999 Constitution on Presidential powers present grey areas that throw up jurisprudential questions that should be clarified and resolved. It is an issue on which Nigerians must make a value judgment: do we need to preserve the status quo or is there a need to review the extent of Presidential powers? There are two ways forward: a constitutional amendment of Presidential powers to make Presidents more accountable, more institution-based and less omnipotent, or a resolution of the dilemma through the jurisprudence of our courts.

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We Don’t Have Any Data on Buhari’s Government Claim of Creating 7 Million Jobs – NBS

Nigeria’s statistician general of the federation, Mr. Yemi Kale, says the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has no data on the job creation claims made by Chris Ngige, minister of labour and productivity.

The data chief made this statement in an interview with Abang Mercy.

Ngige had earlier said the Muhammadu Buhari-led administration has created seven million jobs through its programmes.

But Kale said during the interview: 

“We don’t have the data anyway, that data of is 6 or 7 million, we don’t have that. I can’t comment on what other data users or data producers say but I can comment on what we produce here as the official source of data.

“We have not produced any data on job creation, we produced data on people that were unemployed at the particular time and that is what we are sticking to.

“We don’t do politics at the NBS, the National Bureau of Statistics is the official source of data. Our law does not allow us to be countered. The law says very clearly that NBS is the official source of Nigerian data.

“Everybody else can have their opinion, they can do their own computations if they want to but when it comes to national data, the authoritative source, the custodian of all data is the NBS.

“So we don’t comment on what other people even ministers say as far as data is concerned. Our data is for evidence based policy and decision making and that is what we do.”

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Petrol Crisis May Worsen As Depot Price Hits N165 Per Litre

Despite what seems like the best efforts of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to end the protracted petrol scarcity in the country, the fuel supply situation may worsen as the price has hit N165 per litre at the depots, against the official price of N133.28.

According to ThisDay investigation, this is coming as two petrol vessels imported by the NNPC discharged simultaneously in Lagos at the weekend.

Petrol scarcity, which had marred the Christmas and New Year celebrations, has persisted despite the efforts of the NNPC to successfully perform the onerous task of meeting the country’s fuel need, following the refusal of the private marketers to import on account of unsustainability of the official pricing regime.

A market survey conducted by ThisDay showed that only seven out of over 30 depots had stock of petrol at the weekend.

The depots include Folawiyo, Fatgbems, Aiteo, Bovas, Heyden, Rainoil/First Royal and NIPCO.
However, the major marketers had stock of NNPC’s petrol, which the corporation was dispensing to only the major marketers’ dealers and their branded filling stations at official price.

It was gathered that the petrol in these depots belong to the NNPC under throughput arrangement with these depot owners.

Worried that the petrol it imported and allocated to marketers did not get to retail outlets and motorists at official price, the NNPC had since stopped allocating product to marketers and resorted to throughput arrangement with selected marketing firms to have effective control of supply and distribution.

However, to address the challenges, two vessels imported by the NNPC discharged simultaneously in Apapa at the weekend.

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Frequent Corruption Probes By National Assembly Distracting Me – Fashola

Nigeria’s minister for Power, Works, and Housing, Babatunde Fashola has cried out that the frequent probes by the House of Representatives on issues affecting the Ministry are distracting him.

On Wednesday, Fashola vented his frustration to the assembly while facing an investigative hearing on the transmission company of Nigeria (TCN) organized by the House Reps committee on power.

“We closed here last week and we are resuming this week with this committee. Committees of the House also will be asking us of our budget performance and we just need to work in the office so that we can also perform. So, I think there’s a sense here that I respectfully ask you to sufficiently use this time so we can also work to serve the Nigerian people.

“We have a letter dated December 20, 2017, and that letter was issued under the name of one Nnamdi D. Onuigwe Esqr, Committee Clerk. And, it’s from the House of Representatives, saying the House has constituted an ad hoc committee on the need to investigate the Fiscal Responsibility and Procurement Acts by the TCN. It was pursuant to House resolution 114/ADHOT/TCN2 of December 20.

“Now, we were waiting to be invited by the ad hoc committee when we got this letter asking us to come today, signed by Ibrahim Sidi, Committee Clerk pursuant to House resolution 189 of December 5, 2017. Although, it’s headed as ‘Need To facilitate Swift action on management of TCN Electric Power Reforms’, it goes in the body to ask us to come and explain to this investigative committee the interim management of TCN on the delay in the implementation of projects such as the Nigerian Electricity Gas Improvement project that will improve power sector in Nigeria.

“So, I seek clarification in order to assist the committee in its work and if it’s possible, to harmonize all of what we want to do together, bearing in mind that this House substantially is handling some possibly over-lapping issues.”

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RIP! Nollywood Actress Nkiruka Is Dead

A rising Nollywood actress Nora Nkiruka Ugo has reportedly died over the weekend in Lagos, while battling a yet to be disclosed ailment, according to reports.

The sad news has left her colleagues in the movie industry shocked. Some have taken to social media to pen down emotional tributes.

One of the first to react to her death is actress Juliet Ibrahim who wrote:

“I’m so scared of putting this picture up, not sure if it’s the right thing to do. You were that girl that made my life change. U where that girl that made me laugh a lot you where that girl that I got so mad at. You where that girl that was friend to all. I spoke to u last. Week. You were the strongest sick person I know. I’m hurt by your death. My head still aches. Wish death was a thing that could be undone. I know God will have a new angel that makes him laugh all day and puts a smile on his face. Gone too soon. Rest in peace Nora. And look over all on earth that were genuinely connected to you. #RIPNora”

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Christians Should Participate In Politics, It’s Not Sinful – Pastor Makinde

The Prelate Emeritus, Methodist Church of Nigeria, His Eminence Dr. Sunday Ola Makinde, says Christians can no longer distance themselves from politics if the country must have a positive change of fortune.

He said it was high time Christians got involved in politics and help make Nigeria truly better.

Failure of Christians to participate in politics, Makinde warned, would continue to make them victims of irresponsible governance, which they would have no control over.

The cleric argued that “it is not a sin for Christians to take active part in politics.”

Makinde said this on Monday in his sermon at the 65th birthday celebration of the Prelate, Methodist Church of Nigeria, His Eminence Dr. Samuel Kanu Uche.

The event held at the Methodist Cathedral of Peace and Excellence, Opebi, Ikeja, Lagos.

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Woman Who Retired from Nigerian Army Killed by Her Security Guard & His Gang in Benin (Photos)

Police operatives over the weekend at the Upper Ugbor Road area of GRA, Benin city, Edo State, arrested a security guard and his gang, who organized the brutal murder and incineration of his employer, Major Afisatu Ajuya, elder sister to Mrs Usoh, wife of Chief Douglas E Usoh, the Odobaewu of Benin Kingdom.

According to Jefferson Uwoghiren, the gang numbering over nine broke into the apartment of the retired Army Officer in the early hours of the morning, strangled he and set her ablaze before disappearing with her properties.

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Female Senator Slapped By National Assembly Staff In Abuja?

It was pure drama that was recorded on Monday at the new wing of the Senate complex in Abuja after a National Assembly official physically assaulted the senate deputy minority whip, Abiodun Olujimi.

The incident happened shortly before the commencement of a public hearing of the committee on petroleum (downstream).

Trouble started when an official of the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) rode in the same elevator with the lawmaker, Premium Times reports.

Lifts in the assembly are installed in pairs, one reserved for lawmakers (Senators and House of Representatives members), and another for other users.

The senator was on her way to the petroleum committee public hearing while the PASAN member, who was not immediately identified, was to attend a meeting of his association.

The PASAN meeting was in preparation for a strike which the association is about to commence.

A witness said when the lawmaker saw the PASAN staff in the elevator reserved for lawmakers, she demanded to know why he used the same lift with her.

The witness said the lawmaker directed her aide to “slap” the legislative official, who immediately responded in kind.

The PASAN staff however slapped the senator and not her aide.

Neither the senator, her aide nor the PASAN staff gave further details of the incident as journalists inquired.

Mrs. Olujimi left the elevator and challenged the PASAN official, who was immediately shielded by his colleagues.

The PASAN staff refused to apologise, and it took the intervention of National Assembly security officials to rescue her from the scene.

Other PASAN members declined comments and refused to give the name of the official involved.

The senator thereafter attended public hearing.

In a chat with some journalists after the hearing, she vowed to take up the case with the National Assembly security.

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3 Interesting Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Quit

I’m not going to say “Don’t Quit.” After all, some of you should quit, if you’re doing something you shouldn’t be doing or that doesn’t fit with your gifts. 

I would ask you though, before you quit, to consider some things I’ve found helpful.

I’ve learned much from leadership expert Seth Godin, with perhaps the most important thing being this: “Winners quit all the time. They just quit the right stuff at the right time.” This is the thesis of Godin’s The Dip: A Little Book That Teaches You When to Quit (and When to Stick). Godin is not, to my knowledge, a believer. But his insights on human nature often resonate with a biblical vision of the way of wisdom. Moreover, I like his writing because he’s not the typical leadership guru, saying “You can do it!” He doesn’t know if you can do it or not. He just offers tools to help you determine whether you can or not.

Godin identifies “the Dip,” what he calls the sinkhole that causes people to give up. At the beginning of a project, it’s fun. After years and years, there comes expertise and wisdom. In between, though, is “the dip.” Godin writes: “The Dip is the long slog between starting and mastery; a long slog that’s actually a shortcut, because it gets you where you want to go faster than any other path.”

We fail, Godin writes, when we don’t quit the things we shouldn’t be doing. This is consistent with what the Bible tells us about the Body of Christ: the various gifts are distributed, all for the upbuilding of the church. Someone who tries to use all of the gifts, or those he or she doesn’t have, will not succeed. My deciding that I shouldn’t be a church planter isn’t a failure. The only way I can succeed at what God has gifted me to do is by letting others do the things I’m not gifted to do.

At the same time, though, Godin says that failure comes from people who quit things they should be doing too soon. If something is consistently easy, it’s probably something that doesn’t need to be done. A ministry, for instance, that is “safe” is probably a ministry that isn’t challenging problems, just repeating comfortable patterns that confronted problems already gone, or that belong to someone else. The resistance and discouragement you face is not necessarily a sign that you shouldn’t be doing what you’re doing. In many cases, it’s merely a sign that you are actually leading, doing something not currently existing in your context, and thus needed. Godin tells us not to be the woodpecker who pecks twenty times on a thousand trees and gets nothing, but rather the woodpecker who pecks 20,000 times on the one tree and gets dinner.

If it weren’t for “the Dip,” everyone would be doing what you’re attempting. There would be no need for you. Your value comes in surviving that Dip, for the sake of the future. The way one tells the difference between a Dip and a cul-de-sac is the question. Godin answers that with three questions.

1. Am I panicking? 
People often quit when they hit resistance, and are scared. I’ve known pastors who quit when certain people in their congregations start grumbling, only to then go to other congregations and start the cycle all over again. They have in mind the kind of ministry they want, that they see one of their heroes having. That hero, though, didn’t get there without grumbling and resistance. Read biographies. Or talk to your heroes. Or read the Bible!

2. Who am I trying to influence? 
No place of service will please everyone. You shouldn’t quit teaching Sunday school because some of the teenagers in your class yawn and roll their eyes. You shouldn’t quit the literacy project for the poor because some people think it’s a waste of time. Whatever it is that God has called you to do, recognize that if there weren’t people who hate what you’re doing it would only be because you were not doing anything needed. You endure the naysayers for the sake of those God has called you to serve (sometimes the future selves of those same naysayers!). Paul did not yield to the opponents of the gospel of grace, “so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you” (Gal. 2:5).

The false gospel seemed “normal.” Paul didn’t care about being in the mainstream of his immediate context. He knew the Law and the Prophets, and the gospel he received from Jesus. As Godin put it elsewhere: “If you cater to the normal, you will disappoint the weird. And as the world gets weirder, that’s a dumb strategy.” Actually, it always was (1 Cor. 1:21-31; 4:1-20)

3. What sort of measurable progress am I making? 
This is easier, of course, in a business than it is in an endeavor with intangible, spiritual effects — like serving in your church or leading a neighborhood ministry. Have people in your life that can counsel you — people that you respect for spiritual maturity, and seek their input. I’ve found some people who quit too soon did so because they were listening to advice about themselves from people that they would never listen to on any other topic, while ignoring those they did listen to on other matters who were encouraging them to keep going.

Discouragement is no sign you should quit, and, in fact, might be a sign that you are doing exactly what you should be doing. In that case, press through the Dip, carry the cross, and walk on to the crown.

[written by Russell Moore]

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Buhari’s Government Is Failing Nigerians, Very Insensitive

Popular Lagos pastor, Tunde Bakare, has described the Government of President Muhammadu Buhari as a ‘Failure’, even as he slammed the presidency for being insensitive to the plight of Nigerians.

In an interview with a Television station in Lagos last night, Bakare disclosed that the Federal government has failed in meeting up to the expectations of many Nigerians, highlighting the incessant killings by Fulani Herdsmen in the North, especially in Benue state.

He also condemned the Burning of Chief Olu Falae’s farm by the herdsmen, describing it as ‘wicked’. The Latter rain assembly general Overseer also weighed in on the recent letter written by ex-president, Olusegun Obasanjo to President Buhari, advising him to bury any plan of recontesting in 2019. Bakare said that it was the president’s constitutional right to contest, adding that getting the support of the people was a ‘different kettle of fish’.

“It’s his fundamental constitutional right to run or not to run but whether it would now be accepted in the way it was accepted before…He came as military Head of State, he has come as civilian president, Jesus himself is only coming twice”.

He, however, denied joining any third force party;

“I’ve not joined any Third Force. I’ve not been part of any force. At the right time, we will know what to do because what I see now is what I can envision in the days to come, it’s that this chicken that you see, they are about to eat, they are on intestine

Most of these people don’t really care about the development of the government of our nation. They seek power for self, not for service.

This is why it hurts me deep, that such crisis will hit Benue state and the leadership of the nation will not move there, go there. Rather, they invited them to come to Abuja.

The most painful to me was that an American leader would not do that; the British leader would not do that; who are the ones we are emulating. You are not a king, you are a servant of the people and you are to to know that you really are serving the interest of your people.

The Inspector General of Police showed up and he said it’s communal clash. he even said that before he got there! In a decent nation, he would have been fired by now.”

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Naija Big Boy Who Recently Had A Big Wedding Shot Dead With His Robbery Gang

A Nigerian big boy from Imo State, who recently returned from Malaysia and had a high society wedding, has been shot dead alongside his robbery gang by operatives of SARS.

A source, Akpos Godwin, took to social media to share the graphic photos of the notorious criminal identified as Collins Ezenwa, and his gang members who were killed in a robbery scene by Police men from the Imo State command.

Multiple reports reveal that the robbery kingpin who had his talk-of-the-town wedding recently, had earlier resigned from Nigerian Police Force and SUDDENLY became rich, claiming that he made his money in his travels to Malaysia.

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Yahoo Boy Fights Friends Who Abandoned Him After Going Broke

An alleged yahoo boy (fraudster) identified as Jeff Egbadon, reportedly took on one of his former friends, Zion, in a dirty street fight in the Idi oro, Mushin area of Lagos.

It was gathered that Jeff who is frustrated, once made about $150,000 through Yahoo fraud but lavished the money within a short time.

The broke and sad young man is now taking out his anger on those who spent the money with him, but stopped talking to him as soon as he spent all the money.

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Nigeria Passing Through Turbulent Time, says CAN

President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Dr. Supo Ayokunle, yesterday said the killings and bloodshed across the country is without comparison in Nigeria’s history. He said things are not working well in the country.

The CAN leader, who is also the President of Nigerian Baptist Convention, spoke in Sagamu, Ogun State, in his sermon at the 13th annual New Year Thanksgiving and Memorial service organised by former Ogun State Governor Gbenga Daniel.

He advised Nigerians to desist from politicising the killings and urged them to close ranks and prevail on President Muhammadu Buhari and his administration to take decisive steps to arrest the situation.

The service, which took place at Abraham’s Tabernacle, Sagamu,was attended by prominent traditional rulers, eminent personalities and political bigwigs.

Ayokunle lamented the almost routine clashes between herdsmen and farmers in some parts of the country, saying without peace, the nation would not experience genuine progress and development.

Ayokunle said: “Things are not working in the best way we have thought of. This is a very difficult time in the history of Nigeria, especially the continuous bloodshed. Communities decimated and human beings killed like chickens.

“The way it is happening now, it has almost not happened before. It is so barbaric, so unbelievable that in a nation with government, things like that will continue to happen with reckless abandon. It is so unacceptable.

“We have been speaking about it. It is not a matter of politics, you don’t play politics with the lives of human beings. We have no other life to live. So, all of you (Nigerians) have to be praying that our government is going to do the best and what is right so that this nation can experience peace because without peace, there won’t be progress.”

He urged politicians to respect and heed the admonition of the clerics.

He said: “We are the conscience of the nation. Politicians need to humble themselves when we speak to them. It is because we look for the good of this nation. Not everything we say to you, you will want to hear. Not everything will be palatable but we are responsible to God and to all these people, we are accountable.

“The life of every individual is very important. And God has created each person to live his life to His glory. Nobody can give life and nobody has the right to take it. Therefore, beloved people of God, let us say no to the evil in our midst. It is not a matter of politics. It is happening to some people now, who knows the next person? I pray that evil will not swallow us up.”

Ayokunle, who revealed that yesterday (Sunday) marked the end of the one-week national prayer declared by CAN, appealed to Christians to donate to the association’s relief fund for victims of ethno-religious crises.

In his remarks, Daniel said his experience during the campaign for national chairmanship of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had further opened his eyes to different perspectives of the challenges confronting the country.

He, however, pointed out that Nigerians must have the spirit of thanksgiving irrespective of the prevailing challenges.

In Abuja, the President of the Youth Wing of the Christian Association of Nigeria (YOWICAN), Apostle Nyeneime Andy urged the President to end killings by herdsmen in some states.

Nyeneime gave the advice in his address after he was elected.

Other elected officers are: Vice President, Pastor Adegbegi Ayodeji, General Secretary, Abel Ogwuche, Treasurer, Ekom Lydia and Peter Galdzana as Assistant secretary.

He urged Buhari to involved Christian youths in all his plans to bring about peace in the country.

The YOWICAN leader expressed sadness the way at which youths are engaged negatively to perpetrate violence during elections, adding that he will soon tour all the 37 states of the federation to admonish the youth on the need to shun violence and reject being used as political thugs during the forthcoming 2019 elections.

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