Triumphant Company

YOU CANNOT GET BY PRAYER WHAT YOU SHOULD GET BY CHARACTER & OBEDIENCE

2019-01-23T04:20:00.003-08:00

A man’s character is his fate Heraclitus Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the United States (US), said: “Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal; nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attitude.”

As a clergyman, I have watched pitiably how people self-sabotage themselves by seeking spiritual solutions to character-deficit issues. They look around at everybody as suspects for their predicaments when their greatest demons lurks within them- their character.

What we often call our destiny is truly our character, and since that character can change, then destiny can be altered. Character is destiny.

Is prayer actually EVERYTHING? Many would begin to argue back and forth on this intriguing question, but my main purpose of writing this piece is not to get involved in arguments. Arguments don’t improve the validity of a ‘truth;’ they only determine how long it would take before you realise it.

Most people believe that we can pray ourselves to success and get away with virtually anything if we become a stickler to some prayer routines. There is no amount of spiritual penance that can substitute for character. Sometimes, you need character, not prayer.

Dutch Sheets said: “Prayer is not a check request asking for things from God; it is a deposit slip- a way of depositing God’s character into our bankrupt souls.”

British writer and politician, Thomas Macaulay (1800-1859), said: “The measure of a man’s character is what he would do if he knew he never would be found out.” I have often said that what would ultimately destroy a man going to high places in life is not really the enemies that are waiting for him there, but the character that followed him there.

I want to emphatically underline the fact that this write-up is not meant to trivialise prayers in any way. I have observed that many people take character for granted, while overzealously tuning on into their spiritual mode.

We have become so spiritually in tune through prayers that we neglect the place of character and our relationship with people. Many are actually ‘heavenly’ bound, but with no earthly relevance. You can speak with spiritual eloquence, pray in public and maintain a holy appearance, but it is your behavior and character that will actually trigger the manifestation of all that God has for you.

You must learn to treat people with courtesy.
The Shunammite woman must have been praying for a child all through her life. By being hospitable to a man of God, she eventually got her much-awaited miracle. It wasn’t prayer that opened the door for her; it was her character. Assuming she wasn’t hospitable, she would have missed a critical miracle.

Many times, we pray, fast and bind demons that don’t exist when our real demons are just our greatly flawed character. Many have insulted people that were divinely placed and orchestrated to help them fulfil their destiny. Some people are keeping malice with their destiny helpers.

Treat people with respect. Treat strangers with courtesy. Never look down on anybody. God can use anyone to change your story.

Abigail Van Buren said: “The best index to a person’s character is how he treats people who can’t do him any good, and how he treats people who can’t fight back.”

You can easily judge the character of a man by how he treats those who can do nothing for him. The way we treat people we think can’t help or hurt us, like housekeepers, waiters, and secretaries, tells more about our character than how we treat people we think are important. How do you treat people?

One of the most impressive architectural feats and the greatest military defence project in history is the Great Wall of China. In 1987, UNESCO designated the Great Wall a World Heritage site, and a popular controversial claim that emerged in the 20th century holds that it is the only man-made structure that is visible from space.

Originally conceived by Emperor Qin Shi Huang (c. 259-210 B.C.) in the 3rd Century B.C. as a means of preventing incursions from Mongolians and barbarian nomads into the Chinese Empire, the wall is one of the most extensive construction projects ever completed.

History has it that when the ancient Chinese decided to live in peace, they made the Great Wall of China; they thought no one could climb it due to its height. During the first 100 years of its existence, the Chinese were invaded thrice and every time, the hordes of enemy infantry had no need of penetrating or climbing over the wall, because each time, they bribed the guards and came through the doors.

The Chinese built the wall, but forgot the character- building of the wall-guards. Though the Great Wall has over the years become a powerful symbol of the country’s enduring strength and spirit, but it has actually been a good reminder to the Chinese of the superiority of human character.

The Chinese realised much later that the best defence against the enemy is not a fortified wall, but a fortified character. Thus, the building of human character comes before building of anything else.

Prayer is not EVERYTHING! Build relationships, and don’t ever forget that God will always use man. Be mindful of your words and how you speak to people. Work seriously on your character and attitude towards life.

I want to say emphatically that character is not optional; it is sacrosanct to the future that God has planned for you. No matter where you place prayers, character matters. The greatest fraud in life is religion without character. A man without character is recklessly alive.

William Shakespeare captured it succinctly when he said: “The fault is not in our stars, but in ourselves.” Peter Schutz, the former chief executive officer of Porsche said: “HIRE CHARACTER; TRAIN SKILLS.” Back in the days when Germany was divided, a huge wall separated East and West Berlin.

One day, some people in East Berlin took a truck load of garbage and dumped it on the West Berlin side.

The people of West Berlin could have done the same thing, but they didn't.

Instead they took a truck load of canned goods, bread, milk and other provisions, and neatly stacked it on the East Berlin side.

On top of this stack they placed the sign:

“EACH GIVES WHAT HE HAS"

How very true! You can only give what you have.

What do you have inside of you?
Is it hate or love?
Violence or peace?
Death or life?
Capacity to build or capacity to destroy?

What have you acquired over the years?
Team spirit or pull down architecture ?

"EACH GIVES WHAT HE HAS"

Think about it!
Please give out the good in you always.

MY PANTS ARE USELESS; I'VE ALREADY BEEN USED.

2019-01-23T04:19:00.001-08:00

MY PANTS ARE USELESS; I'VE ALREADY BEEN USED.

...Abiodun Emmanuel Oyedele

The noise is everywhere. Ladies now walk around with fear, but not her. Anytime they arrive with another latest news, she is usually quiet, as though she is not affected by the whole noise. Sometimes she tries to talk to some of her friends around her, but the noise they make give her no chance of communicating her own perspective about the matter.

Everyone in her house have been discussing the subject over and over again, and they are even thinking of how to get a machine that would be able to dry their undies without them spreading the stuffs anywhere another eyes could see. She spreads her undies at the usual place without any fear, and walks around the street without ever getting worried about how to escape from the "pants snatchers".

She is too nonchalant when it comes to responding to trends. She is of the opinion that, being worried about the stuff is adding no value to her, and so, she pushes aside the fearful thoughts; walking so majestically like the daughter of The Owner of the land. But then, where has she got her confidence from? Why would she not be afraid like others are.

At some points, the news began to spread wider. Guys were allegedly reported to be breaking in to hostel rooms of students that were home for the compulsory holidays in search for the logo of a car brand. Yet, as soon as the news get to her, she would respond as though she was not a lady, and just wave it off her mind; changing the subject of discussion.

Meanwhile, she is the voice that sings in the early hours of the morning, when others are sound asleep. She is the one that others wake up to see studying "The Living Book" and laughing ecstatically in the Holy Ghost. She shakes the foundation of her house whenever she prays, that other ladies envy her for being committed to God. The truth is, most of these ladies that are protecting their undies are into relationships with the guys that need their underpants. She had been convinced over and over again to say YES to suitors who will spoil her with money, yet, she had refused to be spoiled. Many at times had she been referred to as proud, just because of her straight NO, whenever guys come to her to know if she would love to travel on the journey of love with them.

To the lover of trends, she is not very friendly at all, hence, those who want to be sincere with themselves can boldly testify of her kindness, friendliness, and display of virtues. The only accusation they usually hold against her, is that she had decided to remain on the boring side of life; where there are restrictions to what a person can do with her life. The kind of males that you see her relate with, are those other type of guys that have refused to respond to winks and openings; those ones that cannot touch her and spoil her with cash.

And just like they had always told her, the day finally came. She was returning from one of her friend's birthday party, with lots of cakes wrapped in her bag for those she promised back home. Of course, they didn't need to follow her to the party; for they had concluded that such a party would be too dry, and to them, "life would be missing". Walking home tired on her lonely street, two guys appeared before her from different directions. She startled, and got a bit confused. Before she could think of the question to
ask, one of them had already pulled out a gun, and was now pointing it towards her. "What do you want from me?" She asked without too much of confidence. The other young man brought out a parcel, and opened it to show her. "Take off your pants now, and have this money; lest we shoot this gun and waste you."

At that time, she found herself in the reality of all the gist that she ignored and never paid attention to. "Come on, remove the stuff and let us leave as soon as we can; you are wasting our precious time!" Still standing like a statue, she tried to silence her fears and began to mumble words that even her chin could not hear her speak. "Haha! Do you want us to waste you? We will just waste you, and still use your pants. Don't let us waste you, just give us the stuff in peace, take the money, and both parties just depart in peace". And that was how she gave a response that shocked the whole world.

"You can't waste me, for I am already a waste. Tell me, how can you kill with a gun, a lady that was nailed on the cross? My pants are useless; I have already been used."

Like morons, the two guys looked at themselves, and the one pointing the gun dropped his hand dead. "How can you be already used and you are still standing to tell us?"

Now with much more confidence, she moved closer as they moved backwards. "You see, I am a Living Sacrifice, Holy and Acceptable unto God. I have given my life to Jesus Christ as My Lord and Saviour, and I have offered my body unto Him as a Living Sacrifice".

The two guys could not believe their ears. They have never heard that before from any lady. No lady had ever resisted them with such level of audacity. They looked at her again, and could no longer stay. One of them gave her a parting shot; "I wish I had known this as a church boy. I wish my younger sister could respond this way last month; she would just had escaped death. We have approached many ladies, uncountable, with their Bible in their hand, they gave us what we requested for without wasting our time. You spoke to us today as though the whole Bible dwells inside you. Indeed we can't use you, for it is obvious that you had already been used".

*

Wait. What do you think about the account given above? I'm sure you wanna ask me where it happened and the lady that made it happen. Well, to the best of my knowledge, it will happen when we stop spreading the fear, and start instilling the Faith. Enough of this fearful circulation of what is in vogue! I heard that it had even become a prayer point in some settings; "Oh Lord, keep the pants of all our ladies safe!"

What?! Enough! Let's teach our ladies Faith and not fear. Let's teach them good character, that they will stop falling into the hands of those that want to use them. Let's teach them contentment, so that they will not be carried away by money and possessions of men. Let's encourage them to carry the fire of God, and make them understand the authority of A Believer! For how long shall we continue to pray based on situations and not by the inspiration got from revelation?

Wise up believers! Let's exercise the authority that we have in Christ, and stop panicking about this noise that will soon fade away. Let's hold unto that which abides forever.
Your response to this post will go a very long way to reveal the category that you belong; whether you are a fear spreader or a Faith booster.

A Living Sacrifice cannot be used for any other sacrifice.

MY PANTS ARE USELESS; I'VE ALREADY BEEN USED.

...Abiodun Emmanuel Oyedele
(c) January, 2019.

The Nails and Fence

2014-01-28T01:41:00.000-08:00

Please read the following story. I hope you'll find it interesting.
Make sure you read all the way down to the last sentence.
(Most importantly the last sentence)

There once was a little boy who had a bad temper. His Father gave him a bag of nails
and told him that every time he lost his temper, he must hammer a nail into the back
of the fence. The first day the boy had driven 37 nails into the fence. Over the next
few weeks, as he learned to control his anger, the number of nails hammered daily
gradually dwindled down. He discovered it was easier to hold his temper than to
drive those nails into the fence.

Finally the day came when the boy didn't lose his temper at all. He told his father
about it and the father suggested that the boy now pull out one nail for each day that
he was able to hold his temper.
The days passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his father that all the nails
were gone. The father took his son by the hand and led him to the fence He said, "You
have done well, my son, but look at the holes in the fence. The fence will never be
the same. When you say things in anger, they leave a scar just like this one. You
can put a knife in a man and draw it out.
It doesn’t matter how many times you say I'm sorry, the wound remains. " A verbal
wound is as bad as a physical one”.
Friends are rare jewels, indeed. They make you smile and encourage you to succeed.
They lend an ear, they share words of praise and they always want to open their hearts to us."

Greatest Christmas Reunion

2014-01-27T07:05:00.001-08:00

A pastor and his wife, were posted to a remote village to reopen a church in suburban Brooklyn , arrived in early October excited about their opportunities. When they saw their church, it was very run down and needed much work. They set a goal to have everything done in time to have their first service on Christmas Eve.
T hey worked hard, repairing pews, plastering walls, painting, etc, and on December 18 were ahead of schedule=2 0and just about finished.
O n December 19 a terrible tempest - a driving

rainstorm hit the area and lasted for two days.
O n the 21st, the pastor went over to the church.
His heart sank when he saw that the roof had
leaked, causing a large area of plaster about
20 feet by 8 feet to fall off the front wall of the
sanctuary just behind the pulpit, beginning about head high.

The pastor cleaned up the mess on the floor,
and not knowing what else to do but postpone
the Christmas Eve service, headed home.

On the way he noticed that a local business was
having a flea market type sale for charity so he
stopped in. One of the items was a beautiful,
handmade, ivory colored, crocheted tablecloth
with exquisite work, fine colors and a Cross
embroidered right in the center. It was just
the right size to cover up the hole in the front
wall. He bought it and headed back to the church.

B y this time it had started to snow. An older
woman running from the opposite direction was
trying to catch the bus. She missed it.. The pastor invited her to wait in the warm church for the next bus 45 minutes later.

She sat in a pew and paid no attention to the pastor while he got a ladder, hangers, etc., to20put up the tablecloth as a wall tapestry. The pastor could hardly believe how beautiful it looked and it covered up the entire problem
area..

T hen he noticed the woman walking down the center aisle. Her face was like a sheet. 'Pastor,'
she asked, 'where did you get that tablecloth?'
The pastor explained.. The woman asked him to check the lower right corner to see if the initials, EBG were crocheted into it there. They were. These were the initials of the woman, and she had made this tablecloth 35 years before, in Austria

T he woman could hardly believe it as the pastor told how he had just gotten the Tablecloth. The woman explained that before the war she and her husband were well-to-do people in Austria .
When the Nazis came, she was forced to leave.
Her husband was going to follow her the next week. He was captured, sent to prison and never saw her husband or her home again.
T he pastor wanted to give her the tablecloth;
but she made the pastor keep it for the church.
The pastor insisted on driving her home, that
was the least he could do. She lived on the other side of Staten Island and was only in Brooklyn for the day for a housecleaning job.
W hat a wonderful service they had on Christmas Eve. The church was almost full. The music and the spirit were great. At the end of the service, the pastor and his wife greeted everyone at the door and many said that they would return.

One older man, whom the pastor recognized
from the neighborhood continued to sit in one of the pews and stare, and the pastor wondered why he wasn't leaving.

T he man asked him where he got the tablecloth on the front wall because it was identical to one that his wife had made years ago when they lived in Austria before the war and how could there be two tablecloths so much alike.

H e told the pastor how the Nazis came, how he forced his wife to flee for her safety and he was supposed to follow her, but he was arrested and put in a prison.. He never saw his wife or his home again all the 35 years in between.
T he pastor asked him if he would allow him to
take him for a little ride. They drove to Staten
Island and to the same house where the pastor had taken the woman three days earlier.

H e helped the man climb the three flights of
stairs to the woman's apartment, knocked on
the door and he saw the greatest Christmas reunion he could ever imagine.

What Has He Been Telling You...

2012-10-23T00:04:00.001-07:00

His mother saith unto the servants, WHATSOEVER HE SAITH UNTO YOU, DO IT...John2:5(KJV)......

What has God being telling you about that situation, relationship, job, person, finance, etc...please stop procastnating DO WHATEVER HE has been telling you...it may sound foolish but just do it...because HE knows the end before its begin's...

FORGET ABOUT YOUR PAST, GOD CAN STILL DO IT! GIVE NO MORE EXCUSE!

2012-09-11T10:10:00.003-07:00

"I didn't even complete my University Education" - Bill Gates

"In my childhood days, I stitched shoes" - Abraham Lincoln

"I struggled academically throughout elementary school" - Ben Carson

"I used to serve tea at a shop to support my football training" - Lionel Messi

"I used to sleep on the floor in friends' rooms, returning Coke bottles for food money, and getting weekly free meals at a local temple" - Steve Jobs

"My teachers used to call me a failure" - Tony Blair.

Life is not about what you couldn't do so far, it's about WHAT YOU STILL CAN DO !

Every King was once a crying & helpless baby & every great building was once a picture. It's not about where you are today but it's about where you will reach tomorrow. I pray for you…. The Lord will take you to where you belong this season!

FOOD FOR THOUGHT!

2012-09-11T10:08:00.000-07:00

There was a rich merchant who had 4 wives. He loved the 4th wife the most and adorned her with rich robes and treated her to delicacies. He took great care of her and gave her nothing but the best.
He also loved the 3rd wife very much. He’s very proud of her and always wanted to show her off to his friends. However, the merchant is always in great fear that she might run away with some other men.
He too, loved his 2nd wife.
She is a very considerate person, always patient and in fact is the merchant’s confidante. Whenever the merchant faced some problems, he always turned to his 2nd wife and she would always help him out and tide him through difficult times.
Now, the merchant’s 1st wife is a very loyal partner and has made great contributions in maintaining his wealth and business as well as taking care of the household. However, the merchant did not love the first wife and although she loved him deeply, he hardly took notice of her.
One day, the merchant fell ill. Before long, he knew that he was going to die soon. He thought of his luxurious life and told himself, “Now I have 4 wives with me. But when I die, I’ll be alone. How lonely I’ll be!”
Thus, he asked the 4th wife, “I loved you most, endowed you with the finest clothing and showered great care over you. Now that I’m dying, will you follow me and keep me company?” “No way!” replied the 4th wife and she walked away without another word.
The answer cut like a sharp knife right into the merchant’s heart. The sad merchant then asked the 3rd wife, “I have loved you so much for all my life. Now that I’m dying, will you follow me and keep me company?” “No!” replied the 3rd wife. “Life is so good over here! I’m going to remarry when you die!” The merchant’s heart sank and turned cold.
He then asked the 2nd wife, “I always turned to you for help and you’ve always helped me out. Now I need your help again. When I die, will you follow me and keep me company?” “I’m sorry, I can’t help you out this time!” replied the 2nd wife. “At the very most, I can only send you to your grave.” The answer came like a bolt of thunder and the merchant was devastated.
Then a voice called out : “I’ll leave with you. I’ll follow you no matter where you go.” The merchant looked up and there was his first wife. She was so skinny, almost like she suffered from malnutrition. Greatly grieved, the merchant said, “I should have taken much better care of you while I could have !”
Actually, we all have 4 wives in our lives
a. The 4th wife is our body. No matter how much time and effort we lavish in making it look good, it’ll leave us when we die.
b. Our 3rd wife ? Our possessions, status and wealth. When we die, they all go to others.
c. The 2nd wife is our family and friends. No matter how close they had been there for us when we’re alive, the furthest they can stay by us is up to the grave.
d. The 1st wife is in fact our soul, often neglected in our pursuit of material, wealth and sensual pleasure.
Guess what? It is actually the only thing that follows us wherever we go. Perhaps it’s a good idea to cultivate and strengthen it now rather than to wait until we’re on our deathbed to lament.
Mark 8:36 “For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?” Please surrender ALL to Him today and it shall be well with you!

Israeli Sets Self On Fire, Ignites Protest

2012-07-16T09:16:00.002-07:00

.

Culled from http://news.naij.com

What Moshe did represents the whole range of problems of our society when a person loses everything and comes to authorities to get help and they deny him,” Alon Lee-Green, an activist with the social movement in Tel Aviv, told Al Jazeera.

“And then he cried out for help. They told him, we can’t help you. But this was not a personal problem but a national problem,” he said.
Crowds swarmed around Silman on Saturday evening, trying to douse the flames with shirts and water. But the fire engulfed his body, and his suicide note was left to indict the system for what it had done to his life.
"I accuse the state of Israel, Netanyahu and [Finance Minister] Yuval Steinitz, the bastards, for the humiliation that the weakened citizens of Israel endure on a daily basis," the letter said

Court Orders Mental Examination Of Customs Service Man

2012-07-16T09:09:00.000-07:00

Culled from http://leadership.ng

An Ebute Meta Magistrates’ Court in Lagos on Friday ordered mental examination of a Nigeria Customs Service man who was alleged to possess a liquid suspected to be acid.

The Magistrate, Mrs Joy Ugbomoiko, gave the order after Cletus Chibuzor was arraigned on a two-count charge of unlawful possession and breach of peace.

She also remanded the defendant at the Ikoyi Prisons, pending the confirmation of his mental state.

"The defendant should be remanded and not to be granted bail until the adjourned date.

"His mental state should be confirmed in the prisons before the next adjourned date," Ugbomoiko ordered.

The prosecutor, Insp. Idowu Onime, had told the court that the defendant had in his possession a chemical substance suspected to be acid on June 8.

"Also in his possession was one container of tear gas.

"He instilled fear on members of Wazobia Cool F.M Radio Station situated at Etim Iyang Crescent on Victoria Island,’’ Onime said.

He told the court that the defendant was attached to the Tincan Island Command of the Nigeria Customs Service and that the service confirmed that he was mentally ill.

Although, the prosecutor presented a letter from the service to that effect, the court did not accept it but requested Chibuzor’s mental examination by a medical expert.

Onime said that the address of the defendant had not been known.

He noted that the offences contravened section 338 and 404 of the Criminal Code Laws of Lagos State, 2011.

The court adjourned the case till Sept. 12 for the confirmation of the mental state of the defendant.

SPARTACUS

2012-07-16T08:21:00.002-07:00

Watch out for the naija version....

Forgive Us, Church Robbers Beg God

2012-07-16T08:17:00.002-07:00

It was like a scene from Nollywood movies as three men, who robbed a church in Enugu burst into tears confessing their sins and asked God for help at the State Criminal Investigation Department, SCID, of the Enugu State Police Command.

Relating their nefarious activities in the house of the God, the suspects, who gave their names as Efe Best, Nester Uvieghara and Ben Kalu, said they had robbed St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Trans Ekulu, Enugu State on July 9, through the invitation of one of the parishioners who is said to be a member of Knight of Saint Lumumba.

The long arm of the law caught up with them when some members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, suspected their movememt as they stopped over at Ore Ondo State, on their way back to Lagos, and alerted the police who rounded them up.

Roger Federer Set New Record As World No 1

2012-07-16T07:55:00.002-07:00

Roger Federer's reputation as one of the finest tennis players of all time was cemented on Monday, as the Swiss broke Pete Sampras' record for the most number of weeks at the top of the world rankings.
Federer returned to the No. 1 spot for the first time in over two years with a record-equaling seventh Wimbledon men's singles triumph, a victory which was also gave him an unparalleled 17th grand slam title.

The 30-year-old has now spent 287 weeks at the summit since turning pro in 1998, one more than 14-time grand slam winner Sampras managed between 1993 and 2000.

By comparison, Steffi Graf holds the women's record total of 377 weeks at No. 1, with Martina Navratilova second on 332.

"It is really an amazing feeling for me to have regained the No. 1 ranking," Federer said on the ATP Tour website.
"I had set a goal with my team to try to get back to the top of the rankings, but I never thought with the depth in the game this year that I would have been able to get it back so quickly.

DONT GIVE UP

2012-07-16T07:48:00.001-07:00

A lady was driving along with her father. They came upon a storm, and the young lady asked her father: "What should I do?" He said: "keep driving"... Cars began to pull over to the side as
the storm was getting worse. "What should I do?" the young lady asked. "Keep driving",

her father replied. A few kilometres later, she noticed that even 18 wheelers were also pulling over. She told her dad: "I must pull over; I can barely see ahead. It is terrible, and everyone is pulling over!" Her father told her: "Don't give up, just keep driving!" Now the storm was terrible, but she
never stopped driving, and soon she could see a little more clearly. After a couple of kilometres she was again on dry land, and the sun came out. Her father said: "Now you can pull over and get out". She said: "but why now?" He said: "When you get out, look back at all the people who gave up and are still in the storm.
Because you never gave up, your storm is now over. This is a testimony for anyone who is going
through 'hard times'. Just because everyone else, even the strongest, gives up, you don't have to... If you keep going, soon your storm will be over and the sun will shine upon your face again. This story touched me! I hope it touched you! Feel free to pass it on to some people you know. Tell them: "Never give up, because GOD will never give up on
you...

Of Lawan’s tragicomedy and Obasanjo’s vindication

2012-06-21T10:16:00.000-07:00

This article is culled from dailypost.com.ng website

When former President Olusegun Obasanjo lambasted the National Assembly a few weeks ago, I was a bit worried. In fact, I wanted to respond to him and suggest that such a sweeping statement should be received as a hasty and inappropriate generalisation. At least, there are a few people who are currently in the federal legislature and whose pedigrees still remain impeccable. It is public knowledge that some current legislators actually made decent names and impressive fortunes before their foray into politics and one could make an exception for them in terms of integrity and commitment to service.

Views about the Obasanjo era remain very diverse and contentious. There are those who strongly see him as someone on whose shoulders history bestowed an important opportunity to change Nigeria but who squandered it due to an uncanny lust for power. Clearly, Obasanjo did implement a few laudable reforms in this country but along the line, analysts argue that he lost his vision and betrayed his mission. However, I must also say that the former president has three things that no one can wish away — age, courage and experience. Obasanjo is an old man. He is very courageous and has many years of experience at the highest levels of politics in Nigeria. When such a man makes a statement, the best approach is to watch events further with studied silence rather than take him on tactlessly as is often fashionable.

Today, we now know that Obasanjo might have known little more than many of us as he was allegedly privy to the shameful solicitation and collection of a bribe by someone who is ‘famous’ for anti- corruption posturing in the parliament. Even as we wait for the final pronouncements of investigating agencies, it is believed that the unfolding drama in the House of Representatives has exposed the selfish and unpatriotic character of the Nigeria political class and the decay in an institution constitutionally empowered to provide an anti-corruption check on democracy.

I have watched the fuel subsidy probe sessions repeatedly, followed up the reactionary ostrich games that trailed the leakage of the video footages to the media. I wish therefore to draw attention to four issues apparently dominating the arena of debate in order to situate a more nuanced conversation.

The first is that contrary to popular pretence, the evidence ostensibly gathered from the recordings purportedly painted Farouk Lawan as a politician many believe to be experienced in the business of extortion and bribery. Many of us who publicly expressed disappointment at his action were told clearly that the apparent evidence did not portray a man who has (or had) any leftover integrity. How could he have allegedly visited Otedola’s house at such an odd hour? How could he have allegedly packed part of the money, rather shamelessly, into his cap, if he was not a master of such games? Could such a stunt be pulled by an alleged first timer? There are already stories flying in the air. With hindsight, the question on the lips of every one is whether his leadership of the so-called Integrity Group might have been all about –to collect, share and clean mouth? But again if his supposedly putrid pedigree is known to the leadership of the House of Representatives, how come they still went ahead and gave him such a sensitive job to do? I will come back to this later.

My second point is in relation to the report itself. The decision to probe the subsidy payments was a very noble one. I have perused the report and I am prepared to argue that it contains mind-blowing revelations about the extent of corruption in the downstream sector and a glimpse at the perpetrators in government and their collaborators in the private sector. It remains a potent ammunition and background material for anyone who wants to lead knowledge-driven advocacy in the oil and gas industry. However, with the purported action of Lawan, my confidence in the report has been punctured as its credibility now appears severely tainted. We might have heard of Otedola and Zenon Oil, what of many other companies who we do not know and who might have made similar or even greater payments to get their names removed but were not smart enough (or may be not interested) to get him on tape? I agree that those who have been indicted should be made to face the law but how can anyone convince Nigerians that the list is a complete one? Do we ignore the blow that this scandal has landed on the report and go ahead to insist on the prosecution of the companies including (or excluding) Zenon Oil and Synopsis Enterprises Limited?

My third point is about the trend of the drama. Did Lawan act alone as being alleged? Or, better still, could he have possibly acted alone? We were told by those who watched the video that he (Lawan) boasted that he knew the right buttons to press to get the companies removed. What are those buttons? What was the role of the House Committee on Financial Crimes and Narcotics in a desperate attempt to save Lawan? Many observers who reviewed the debate on the day that the report was submitted on the floor of the House insist that the obvious body language of both the Deputy Speaker and other committee members spoke volumes. In fact, many commentators wonder why the presiding officer gave Lawan an unnecessary opportunity to repeat the possibly rehearsed motion of amendment while other committee members were in a visible haste to second the motion. Many have highlighted the fact that Emeka Ihedioha even sought further clarifications as to whether the amendment was the view of Lawan alone or that of the entire committee. Could all these be considered coincidental or can we envisage that a few more chapters of the drama may yet unfold in the near future?

My fourth and final point is on the growing legitimacy deficit of the House of Representatives as an institution. The parliament is (or ought to be) a very important institution in a democracy by providing the requisite oversight aimed at curtailing the excesses of the executive arm of government. At the core of this role is to lead the fight against corruption on behalf of the people they represent. With the scandals opening up in the last three months, there is a need to pause and rethink how the House has fared in discharging this essential role. Are they really fighting corruption or aiding, abetting and deepening it? Who will watch the watchdog? Now let me come back to the statement of Obasanjo in the context of all of these. Clearly as someone who superintended over civil rule in Nigeria for eight years, one cannot dismiss his comments with a wave of the hand. He might have had some first-hand experiences or at least seen a few more things from his vantage position as former President. If therefore the emerging verdict is that the House of Representatives is filled with thieving legislators and dull bribe takers as Lawan is being alleged, even with their fat salaries and allowances, what then is the hope of the common man in Nigeria? It is very sad to note that Obasanjo might have once again been vindicated.

Uche Igwe, a governance expert based at the Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex, United Kingdom, wrote in via ucheigwe@gmail.com

Zebbook: The Gospel according to Saint Farouk (Lawan)

2012-06-21T10:11:00.001-07:00

I saw an article on dailypost.com.which i would like to share with you..please enjoy it.

1) And it came to pass after these things, on the first day of the first month of the twelfth year after the second millennium, that king Jona son of Bele announced to the people saying; there is no money left in the royal treasury, and the future of the kingdom is in great danger.

2) Therefore, a measure of oil shall no longer sell for three scores of silver and seven, but shall now be seven scores of silver and one. But the people grumbled aloud, and said unto another, what shall it profit our king to gain all these oil money and lose his throne?

3) For it is appointed unto him to reign but once, and after this prison, for many are the atrocities which he has committed.

4) So they said unto the king, eat thou thy food in peace in the palace, and surround thou thyself with thine women, only touch not our oil price and do thy people no harm.

5) But the king would not listen, and said unto himself, I know my people, they shall only grumble for a while and soon they shall forget.

6) But the people would not forget, for the burden was too much for them to bear, and they said; now unto him that is able to increase the price of oil exceeding abundantly above all that his people can bear or think, according to the greed which worketh in him;

7) Unto him be curses in the streets by the masses throughout all ages, protests without end.

So they took to the streets and gave the land no peace, and there was no going out or coming in throughout the kingdom for two weeks, and the king feared greatly and said to himself, surely these people shall overturn me if I answer them not.

9) So he called the head of the labourers unto the palace, and gave him bags of gold, that he mayest turn off the wrath of the people against the king.

10) So the king assembled the people and said unto them; a measure of oil shall no longer be seven scores of silver and one, but shall now be four scores of silver, one dozen and five, to this your leaders have agreed. Praise me now therefore for I am a benevolent king.

11) And after all these, the Loudspeaker of the House of People said, let us inquire into the king’s claim that there be no money in the royal treasury. So they appointed Farcrook, son of Lawal.

12) And said unto him, gather ye now all the oil sellers, that we may know who stole from the kingdom. This did him with diligence, and came back with his report saying

13) Thieves abound in the land, and so have the oil sellers stole from the people, and gave them not oil, this they did with the help of Aliyaro the king’s mistress; and the amount he mentioned was unheard of in the land.

14) When the people heard this, they were dismayed, and sorrow gripped their hearts.

15) But the oil sellers went in unto the king in his chamber, and said; rememberest thou O king that the what we stole did we make available to thy campaign, and by thus did we make you king.

16) If thou deliver us unto the people that they may punish us, we will hold not our tongue to tell the people that thou art one of us.

17) And they said unto him, how else shall we destroy the message if not to destroy the messenger? Let us therefore implicate Farcrook the son of Lawal in this matter.

18) So they sent a certain rich man from the West by the name Otedollar, and he took Farcrook into his house and gave him some money, that he may alter the report which he had set before the people.

19) And it was that Otedollar went before an assembly of the people and said unto them, trust ye this man who said we stole from the treasury? Surely he is one of us, for he came unto me in the middle of the night, and he left with his pockets full of money.

20) And the people where amazed, and their hearts bled, for Farcrook was a man in whom they had put their trust.

21) So Farcrook arose, and said; Otedollar is my briber, I did not request. He maketh me to sit down in his Maitama house; he leadeth me beside the chilled champagne.

22) He exploited my greed; he leadeth me in the path of marked dollars for subsidy’s sake.

23) Yea, even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of EFCC, I will fear no arrest: for bribes are with me; my loots and my kickbacks they comfort me.

24) Thou preparest the dollars before me, in the presence of the SSS: thou anointest my mouth with wine; my pocket runneth over.

25) Surely the shame and reproach shall follow me all the days of my life, but I will dwell in the house of PDP forever and ever.

26) And the people wept, but there was no one to console them.
This piece was first published on Omojuwa.com by Zebbook

Nokia Cuts 10,000 More Jobs

2012-06-18T04:28:00.003-07:00

Nokia Corp. NOK1V.HE -16.28% on Thursday unveiled sweeping plans to reshape the Finnish company's ailing handset business, cutting 10,000 jobs, closing factories and research facilities, and replacing the long-standing heads of mobile phones and sales.

The company also warned its loss in the second quarter would be higher than it previously forecast—its third cut in earnings outlook in a little over a year. Nokia shares plunged following the announcement.

Nokia's Chief Executive Stephen Elop said Nokia's transition to a new phone software is taking longer than he initially thought and he stressed that all the changes under way are vital for the company's future.

The 10,000 job cuts, to be achieved by the end of next year, will help Nokia reduce costs by a further €1.6 billion ($2 billion) by 2013, Elop said. The company says they will cost some €1 billion to implement. The staff reductions come on top of close to 14,000 job losses announced last year.

Under Mr. Elop's watch, Nokia's staff count, including those at NSN, has fallen by almost 40,000 people. By the end of the first quarter, Nokia had 122,000 employees, 53,000 of working at Nokia's mobile devices business.

Nokia will close a research and development site in Germany, and another in Canada. It will also shut its biggest Finnish manufacturing plant at Salo, though it will keep its research and development operations there.

The company also made changes to its management lineup, losing a number of heavyweights. Head of markets and sales Niclas Savander, mobile phones head Mary McDowell, and recently appointed chief marketing officer Jerri DeVard will all step down by the end of this month.

Chris Weber, currently Nokia's North American head and a former Microsoft Corp. MSFT +0.48% veteran, will become head of markets and sales, while Timo Toikkanen, Nokia's head of business development, will take over as head of mobile phones. Tuula Rytila, head of business management at Nokia's smartphone unit, will be Nokia's new marketing officer.

Nokia held €4.87 billion in net cash by the end of the first quarter this year, down €709 million from the end of the fourth quarter and down 24% from the same time last year.

"If you don't want to gamble, stay out," the bank said.
—Denise Wall and Gustav Sandstrom contributed to this article.
http://online.wsj.com

Do you know

2012-06-18T03:49:00.001-07:00

YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY UNIQUE!

2012-06-13T05:45:00.001-07:00

Think what a remarkable, unduplicatable, and miraculous thing it is to be you! Of all the people who have come and gone on the earth, since the beginning of time, not ONE of them is like YOU!
No one who has ever lived or is to come has had your combination of abilities, talents, appearance, friends, acquaintances, burdens, sorrows and opportunities.

No one’s hair grows exactly the way yours does. No one’s finger prints are like yours. No one has the same combination of secret inside jokes and family expressions that you know.
The few people who laugh at all the same things you do, don’t sneeze the way you do. No one prays about exactly the same concerns as you do. No one is loved by the same combination of people that love you – NO ONE!
No one before, no one to come. YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY UNIQUE!

Enjoy that uniqueness. You do not have to pretend in order to seem more like someone else. You weren’t meant to be like someone else. You do not have to lie to conceal the parts of you that are not like what you see in anyone else.
You were meant to be different. Nowhere ever in all of history will the same things be going on in anyone’s mind, soul and spirit as are going on in yours right now.
If you did not exist, there would be a hole in creation, a gap in history, something missing from the plan for humankind.
Treasure your uniqueness. It is a gift given only to you. Enjoy it and share it!
No one can reach out to others in the same way that you can. No one can speak your words. No one can convey your meanings. No one can comfort with your kind of comfort. No one can bring your kind of understanding to another person.
No one can be cheerful and lighthearted and joyous in your way. No one can smile your smile. No one else can bring the whole unique impact of you to another human being.
Share your uniqueness. Let it be free to flow out among your family and friends and people you meet in the rush and clutter of living wherever you are. That gift of yourself was given you to enjoy and share. Give yourself away!
See it! Receive it! Let it tickle you! Let it inform you and nudge you and inspire you! YOU ARE UNIQUE!

You are Special

2012-06-13T05:26:00.000-07:00

A well known speaker started off his seminar by holding up a N1000 note.
In the room of 200, he asked, “Who would like this N1000 note?”
Hands started going up.

He said, “I am going to give this N1000 note to one of you but first, let me do this.” He proceeded to crumple the naira bill up.
He then asked, “Who still wants it?”
Still the hands were up in the air.
“Well,” he replied, “What if I do this?” And he dropped it on the ground and started to grind it into the floor with his shoe.
He picked it up, now all crumpled and dirty. “Now who still wants it?”
Still the hands went into the air.
“My friends, no matter what I did to the money, you still wanted it because it did not decrease in value. It was still worth N1000 note.
Many times in our lives, we are dropped, crumpled, and ground into the dirt by the decisions we make and the circumstances that come our way.
We feel as though we are worthless. But no matter what has happened or what will happen, you will never lose your value. You are special – Don’t ever forget it!”

PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

2012-06-07T02:33:00.001-07:00

As a Father, a Pastor, a Leader, at a time like this, one is looked up to for comfort and guidance but I must say the recent events involving the Dana Air crash and the bomb blast in Northern Nigeria has touched me deeply from different angles. The loss of fathers, mothers, daughters, sons, brothers, sisters, innocent children, RCCG members, non-members, and my beloved fellow Nigerians saddens me. Words fail me, but GOD Almighty knows best. My Family and I are praying for ALL the victims and most especially their relatives and loved ones. May the true comforter comfort you, guide you, be with you, heal your hearts and take the pain away in JESUS name. Amen.

Patrick Obahiagbon Speaks On Unilag’s Change Of Name

2012-06-06T08:49:00.002-07:00

The annoying little things: Lessons from 03-06-12

2012-06-06T04:30:00.001-07:00

As you might know, the head of a major company survived the tragedy of “Diana Plane Crash” in Lagos because of his son who made him missed his flight.

Another fellow was alive because it was his turn to bring to do some minor chores that took time.
One woman was late because her alarm clock didn’t go off in time.
One was late because of being stuck on the Abuja traffic because of an Okada accident.
One of them missed his bus.
One was watching the Super Eagles match.
One’s car wouldn’t start.
One turned back from the airport because he remembered something he forgot.
One went back to answer the telephone.
One had a child that dawdled and didn’t get ready as soon as he should have.
One couldn’t get a taxi.
The one that struck me was the man who put on a new pair of shoes that afternoon, took the various means to get to the airport but before he got there, he developed a blister on his foot. He stopped at a drugstore to buy a Band-Aid. That is why he is alive today.

Now when I am stuck in traffic…
– miss an elevator…
– turn back to answer a ringing telephone…
– all the little things that annoy me…
– I think to myself…
this is exactly where God wants me to be at this very moment.
The next time your morning seems to be going wrong,
– the children are slow getting dressed,
– you can’t seem to find the car keys,
– you hit every traffic light…
– don’t get mad or frustrated;
God is at work watching over you.
May God continue to bless you with all those annoying little things – and may you remember and appreciate their possible purpose.

03-06-2012..What a Day...

2012-06-05T04:21:00.000-07:00

I want to express my sincere condolences to families and friends who lost loved ones on Dana Airlines flight 0992. Nigeria lost some of the best and brightest lives in that ill fated flight. May the Almighty God give the Families the fortitude to bear the lost and may the souls of all who died in that accident rest in peace.

More pictures as go on...

It was indeed a sad day ...

MAULAG Students sue President Jonathan over name change

2012-06-05T03:46:00.005-07:00

Students of University of Lagos (UNILAG) renamed by President Jonathan as Moshood Abiola University (MAU) have dragged the President before a Federal High Court in Lagos for renaming the university.

The students who filed the suit are Sunday Asaolu, Julius Ayoola, Idowu Odumosu, Seyi Olowu and Oladapo Obasa, Idowu Awopeju, Adebanjo Sunday, Femi Omotosho, Segun Ogunjobi and Aiyelabola

The students asked the Federal High Court to declare that the power to change or amend the name of University of Lagos being a body corporate, having perpetual succession with common seal as provided under the University of Lagos Act 1967(as amended) belongs to the national legislatures.

The students are also praying the court to declare that the announcement contained in the President’s May 29, 2012, broadcast, changing the name of University of Lagos to Moshood Abiola University, is unconstitutional, ultra vires, null and void and of no effect whatsoever.

    The two questions put before the court by the students for determination reads:

    1. Whether the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in his capacity as the visitor to University of Lagos has the power under the University of Lagos Act, 1967, to unilaterally change the name of the institution to Moshood Abiola University.

    2. Whether the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the exercise of the executive powers of the federation vested in him in Section 5 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria can unilaterally change the name of University of Lagos without recourse to the National Assembly.

In an 11-paragraph affidavit in support of the originating summons deposed to by one of the students, Sunday Asaolu, of UNILAG’s Faculty of Law, it was averred that the unilateral change of the name of the University of Lagos sent great alarm and panic to the entire community of the institution.

Besides, it was stated that the alarm and panic generated led to spontaneous protests.

Asaolu further averred that the protests had led to the suspension of all academic activities and the sending home of the students with its attendant costs to all the students.

The case is before Justice Mohammed Liman of the Federal High Court, hearing of the matter has been fixed for July 10, 2012.

Syria rebels give regime Friday deadline

2012-05-31T04:20:00.001-07:00

Armed rebels have given Syria's regime until Friday 0900 GMT (5pm Singapore time) to observe Mr Kofi Annan's plan for ending bloodshed in Syria, warning they will take 'courageous decisions' if the deadline is not met.

The ultimatum by the Free Syrian Army (FSA) was followed by a demand from United Nations (UN) chief Ban Ki Moon that the regime implement Mr Annan's six-point plan, which includes a ceasefire that should have taken effect on April 12 but has been violated daily.
A statement issued by the Free Syrian Army command inside Syria said that if the regime 'does not meet the deadline by Friday midday, the command... will no longer be tied by any commitment to the Annan plan... and our duty will be... to defend civilians.'