BRIEF EULOGY TO MRS. GLADYS UZOAMAKA ONYEMAECHI (NEE IHEJIRIKA) DUE ON SATURDAY, 18TH MAY, 2019

Though she was older than I, Uzoamaka and I were close in age. Because of this, we shared a lot of the same friends. As siblings, we were mistaken for twins because we were in the same class. We started school in the same year and finished together (apology to our parents who had to buy double of all the books and other school materials when they had no twins).

Amaka was a very brilliant girl (or rather "woman") who was successful at everything she attempted. She married soon after school and raised a lovely family.

Hearing the news of Amaka's passing away was a sad event for us. It is hard to accept that she will no longer be with us. She once quoted while advising me: "Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass; it is about learning to dance in the rain". Although incredibly difficult, this saying reminds me not to feel sorrow for her demise, but instead to feel grateful that her presence has blessed our lives.

Nevertheless, I admit that it is not pleasant that Amaka's life ended so early when she had so much life left to live. I take solace in knowing that she is now in heaven and God knows the best for us. The memory of her will continue to be in our hearts.

Adieu!

Elections: FG Begins Payment Of February Salaries

The Federal Government has commenced the payment of February salaries to the civil servants ahead of the scheduled elections on Saturday.

This was disclosed to journalists by the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in Abuja.

He said the payment of salaries to the civil servants is meant to ease the burden on those who want to travel for the Presidential elections.

“On the part of the Federal Government we decided that to make it easy for those who will want to go back to vote, salary payment started on Tuesday as opposed to the normal 25th of every month.

“This is just to ease the burden of people who want to go back and cast their vote”.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had last Saturday announced the postponement the general elections by a week, less than five hours to the start of the polls.

READ ALSO: INEC Postpones General Elections To February 23

According to the commission, the Presidential and National Assembly elections, initially scheduled for, February 16, will now hold on February 23, while the governorship and state houses of assembly elections will take place on March 9.

INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, announced the decision at a short press briefing in the early hours of Saturday.

He explained that after a careful review of the implementation of its logistics and operational plan, and the determination to conduct free, fair, and credible elections, the commission came to the conclusion that proceeding with the elections as scheduled is no longer feasible.

The INEC boss also noted that the postponement will afford the commission the opportunity to address identified challenges in order to maintain the quality of the nation’s elections.

¬ChannelsTV

Npower Extends 2016 Batch A Volunteers Programme

Mr Afolabi Imoukhuede, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Job Creation and Youth Empowerment, has said that the 2016 batch ‘A’ Npower volunteers programme has been extended.

Imoukhuede disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja while featuring on the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) forum.

The 2018 Npower volunteers recruited into the scheme in 2016 were earlier scheduled to exit the programme in 2018.

According to him, although two years was originally designed for them to exit, the volunteers will now remain due to critical needs of their services in some sectors.

He said that the volunteers were filling a lot of gap, especially the N-teach who have had to make up for the shortfall of teachers in most schools across the country.

“What we have found out is that they are filling a lot of gaps in some places like schools, where they do not have enough teachers.

“In some schools where the Npower are posted to, you discovered that it is only the principal and some NYSC members that are teaching students, the Npower teachers have helped to compliment their efforts,” he said.

Imoukhuede added that these among many others were the reason they were asked to continue their job, adding that the programme had been of greater value to the country.

He, however, said that some volunteers had voluntarily exited the programmes as a result of new jobs, self employment among others.

According to him, about 10,000 of the volunteers have exited the job because some of them gained full employment.

“We often celebrate such exit or resignation in Npower,” the official said.

Imoukhuede said that the Job creation and youth empowerment office had been able to employ graduates without problem because of its use of technology.

The SSA to the President on Job Creation disclosed that states like Plateau, Edo and Kaduna were already mulling the idea of employing the volunteers as teachers in their schools.

He noted that Npower remains the largest youth employment initiative in the country, adding that the volunteers earned a tax free N30, 000 per month.

He said that, so far, N15 billion had been paid as stipends to the volunteers in the last 26 months of the scheme, adding that the Federal Government had been proactive in terms of job creation.
(NAN)

P

Man Writes Application Letter For Post Of Prisoner To Presidency

The claim by the Nigerian Minister for Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed that the Nigerian Government spends N3.5 million per month to feed the detained leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) also known as Shiites has continued to generate reactions among Nigerians.

For some people, being a prisoner in the custody of the Nigerian Federal Government might be the new cool because free people were till struggling to be paid only N30,000 per month contrary to N3.5m used to feed a prisoner who has been granted his freedom three times by the court.

Consequently, this young man wrote a passionate letter of application to President Buhari applying for the seemingly juicy position of Prisoner of the Federal Republic.

Read the Contents of the Letter Below;

#1000 Ali Akilu Road
Kaduna
08/11/2018

The President
Federal Republic of Nigeria
Abuja – Nigeria

Through;
The Minister of Information
Federal Minister of Information
Abuja – Nigeria
Sir,

APPLICATION FOR THE EXALTED POSITION OF A PRISONER

With reference to your amazing revelation that El-Zak Zaky is fed with 3.5million naira monthly and the other equally amazing revelation by the Minister of Interior, General Danbazau, that 14k is used to feed one prisoner a day, I wish to apply most honourably for the position of a prisoner in any of the prisons where this 14k is used to feed the inmates.

I am a harmless person and ordinarily I have no business with the prisoners and would never have any reason to sleep there, but with the “good” life the prisoners are enjoying under this regime, and considering that the daily feeding per prisoner costs only 4k less than the national monthly minimum wage, I have decided to submit myself for consideration to enable me enjoy with the inmates.

I am sure you will soon see more applications than you can handle after giving my application a favourable consideration. You may wish to be sending 10k of my own portion of 14k daily to my GTB Account of 0021732123 and use the balance of 4k to feed me. I always love to use JW wine when I eat. Please I am not comfortable with anything other than Bottled water.

I have studied up to first degree and am currently enrolled for an MSc programme. Find attached copy of my curriculum vitae.
I look forward to your invitation for interview.

Yours faithfully,

Emmanuel J.Z.

Culled from Herald.ng

Another bridge built by Gov. Okorocha collapses in Owerri

The bridge at the Children’s Amusement Park located at the Ikemba Ojukwu Centre in Owerri, Imo, built by Gov. Rochas Okorocha’s administration has collapsed.

Witnesses at the scene told the News Agency in Owerri on Wednesday that nobody was killed or injured in the incident.

The incident which caused pandemonium in the area, gave room for criticism by some parents whose children visited the place on May 27 during the 2018 Children’s Day Celebration.

The bridge, being a major tourism site, has been used to generate funds for the state government.

When contacted, the State Commissioner for Happiness and Purpose Fulfillment, Mrs Ogechi Ololo, said that she had yet to be briefed on the cause of the incident.

Mr Collins Ibe, who witnessed the incident, told NAN that the windstorm that accompanied the downpour might be responsible for the collapsed of the bridge.

Another witness, Mrs Mary Nlemadim, said: “It is unfortunate that this is happening in the state, especially at a place that is supposed to be a recreation centre.

“I thank God that it happened in the night when people were not around; otherwise, there might have been casualties.

“I urge the state government and engineers working on construction projects in the state to be more dedicated and thorough,” she said.

Also, an Engineer, Mr Okechukwu Uba said: “There is need to critically look at all the construction projects going on in the state.

“This is necessary to avoid unnecessary waste of resources, time and human capacity.

“These projects need to get proper approval from professional hands or bodies; they also need to be properly supervised by qualified and experienced personnel.

“Again, they have to be done systematically and not many things at the same time.

“These projects need to be finished up in a tidy manner and subjected to stress tests where necessary, before being opened to the public,’’ he said.

NAN reports that the state Chairman of the Nigeria Society of Engineers, Mr Emeka Ugoanyawu, had earlier warned against substandard engineering work in the state.

Also, the National President of Council for the Regulation of Engineers in Nigeria (COREN) Mr Kashim Ali, had recently faulted the quality of a flyover constructed by the Okorocha administration, located at Orji.

Ali, as a matter of urgency, urged Gov. Okorocha, to stop work on the flyover.The bridge at the Children’s Amusement Park located at the Ikemba Ojukwu Centre in Owerri, Imo, built by Gov. Rochas Okorocha’s administration has collapsed.

Witnesses at the scene told the News Agency in Owerri on Wednesday that nobody was killed or injured in the incident.

The incident which caused pandemonium in the area, gave room for criticism by some parents whose children visited the place on May 27 during the 2018 Children’s Day Celebration.

The bridge, being a major tourism site, has been used to generate funds for the state government.

When contacted, the State Commissioner for Happiness and Purpose Fulfillment, Mrs Ogechi Ololo, said that she had yet to be briefed on the cause of the incident.

Mr Collins Ibe, who witnessed the incident, told NAN that the windstorm that accompanied the downpour might be responsible for the collapsed of the bridge.

Another witness, Mrs Mary Nlemadim, said: “It is unfortunate that this is happening in the state, especially at a place that is supposed to be a recreation centre.

“I thank God that it happened in the night when people were not around; otherwise, there might have been casualties.

“I urge the state government and engineers working on construction projects in the state to be more dedicated and thorough,” she said.

Also, an Engineer, Mr Okechukwu Uba said: “There is need to critically look at all the construction projects going on in the state.

“This is necessary to avoid unnecessary waste of resources, time and human capacity.

“These projects need to get proper approval from professional hands or bodies; they also need to be properly supervised by qualified and experienced personnel.

“Again, they have to be done systematically and not many things at the same time.

“These projects need to be finished up in a tidy manner and subjected to stress tests where necessary, before being opened to the public,’’ he said.

NAN reports that the state Chairman of the Nigeria Society of Engineers, Mr Emeka Ugoanyawu, had earlier warned against substandard engineering work in the state.

Also, the National President of Council for the Regulation of Engineers in Nigeria (COREN) Mr Kashim Ali, had recently faulted the quality of a flyover constructed by the Okorocha administration, located at Orji.

Ali, as a matter of urgency, urged Gov. Okorocha, to stop work on the flyover.

-NTA News

Okorocha bows to pressure, restores Assumpta Avenue name

Imo State Government has bowed to the superior force of the Catholic Church and restored Assumpta Avenue street name.

The government action came barely a few hours after Vanguard hit the news stand with growing tension generated by what some respondents called “the unwholesome renaming of Assumpta Avenue”.

Confirming the restoration of the street name, the Commissioner for Information, Professor Nnamdi Obiaraeri, said that it was never government’s intention to rename the said strategic road, which he claimed spans from Assumpta Cathedral and terminates at Warehouse Roundabout.

“Assumpta Avenue is symbolic for both religious and historic reasons in Imo State, and these facts are not lost on the government and people of Imo State.

All inconveniences occasioned by the initial oversight or error of wrongly installing a Street sign, suggesting a renaming of the street is highly regretted”, Obiaraeri said.

In his own reaction, the Catholic Archbishop of Owerri Ecclesiastical Province, His Grace, Dr. Anthony J. V. Obinna, said that there was no need to celebrate the restoration of the street name by Governor Rochas Okorocha.

“Catholics were already putting heads together to face the unwarranted and most uncharitable frontal attack on the Church, when he retraced his locus. His misdeed had already reached the ends of the earth before he did the needful”, Archbishop Obinna said.

Answering a question, the cleric wondered why Okorocha wants to destroy everything that predated his administration, including Assumpta Avenue.

In his own reaction, an Owerri based legal practitioner, Mr. Chikaodi Igbokwe,reasoned that “if a rabbit enters a hole with speed and jams a snake in that hole, it will reverse with a turbo speed”.

While saying that any leader who plays God will certainly commit deadly blunders, Mr. Igbokwe also opined that “this mistake exceeds the allegation of slapping a Revered Father”.

“After that rumour gained ground, nothing could save that government. As I said earlier, time will tell”, Igbokwe said.

Reacting also, a Catholic Knight, Sir McDonald Ebere said: ” Rochas
Okorocha has finally bowed to the power of Catholics. This is the beginning of the end and there shall be no end until the beginning ends”.

Meanwhile, Catholic laity have declared three days of fasting and prayers in Imo State.

According to an online directive, Catholics and their well wishers were asked to do this “for God to manifest His power in Imo State, and deliver His children from the evil leadership of Governor Rochas Okorocha”.

Catholics were asked to begin the fasting and prayer from December 29-31, starting from 6am-12noon, while recitation of the Rosary starts 12noon.

“Strict adherence to this call will go a long way to salvage Imo State.

Our Lady will surely crush the ugly serpent that is raising its head in Imo State now. Catholics stand up to your faith and win this spiritual battle. God is with us. We shall live to see the end of this evil. The heavenly beings are greater than all the principalities here on earth. We will surely overcome”, the directive added.

-Vanguard

Domestic Violence: British High Commissioner Says Men Also Have To Speak Out

The British High Commissioner to Nigeria Mr Paul Arkwright has advised women, as well as men, to speak out against domestic violence.

He said men, just like women are equally being abused and it has become a matter of urgency to bring an end to gender-based violence of any form and stigmatisation.

He made this position known while addressing the issue on Channels Television’s Sunrise on Saturday.

He explained further that while women are victims 90 per cent of the time, men are also vulnerable to various forms of abuse.

“The prevalence of violence in the society is huge; the prevalence of violence against women and girls, in particular, is very worrying – across the world but here in Nigeria it is a particular problem.

“A lot of that is violence within the family, people that they know and I think it is time to speak out, it is time to say: this has to stop and it is really important that men say that as well as women – so this isn’t a women’s issue, this is an issue about society.

“The perpetrators of violence against women and girls are almost by definition men and I think that is something that men need to recognize and stand up and say this has got to stop.”

He, therefore, asked that government at all levels must also act quickly to stop domestic violence in whatever form.

“It is a really important debate – a difficult debate. It cuts across boundaries of culture, ethnic groups. It is a debate that really has to be brought out in the open and discussed properly and then society, the government at all levels has to take action to stop it,” he stressed.

-ChannelsTV

Unity Must Exist Before We Talk About Restructuring – Saraki

Senate President Bukola Saraki has asked advocates of restructuring in Nigeria to prioritize the unity of the nation.

This, according to him, is because there must be unity before talks about the structure of the country can be held.

The Senate President said this on Saturday at the Southern Senators Forum’s retreat in Calabar, the Cross River capital.

“Indeed, unity must exist before we can even talk about restructuring or reform,” Saraki said, adding, “One of my messages to you today as I declare this retreat (open) is, how do we stay together? How do we deliver on the task entrusted to us at this critical time?”

There have been calls from across the country for the restructuring of the country with some arguing that doing that would bring an end to agitations in parts of the country.

Saraki, however, called for focus on unity.

“The only way for us to see ourselves is, first and foremost, as Nigerians; not as language, not as tribe, religion or region or any other consideration out there that serves to deflect our attention from national unity. We must see ourselves as Nigerians first,” he said.

The Chairman of the Forum, Senator Hope Uzodinma, told those at the retreat that its aim is to find solutions to issues threatening the nation’s unity.

“We in the Southern Senators Forum are using this unique platform to arrive at the surest and the most peaceful means of achieving national unity on all issues capable of destabilising our polity,” he said.

“A clamour for the restructuring of our federal structure is on the front burner at the moment. However, the Southern Senators Forum has an equal stake in every national, political, and economic challenge. As legislators, we cannot afford to be indifferent to any national issue.”

The host, Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River, who is a former Senator, said the retreat is timely as it addresses many concerns.

He commended the forum for discussing major issues in the country, especially restructuring, stressing that it is the duty of elected officers in the country to create a direction and provide the focus it needs to thrive.

-ChannelsTV

PASTOR CHRIS CORRECTS APOSTLE SULEMAN'S WRONG TEACHING

I am here to correct an error made by one Pastor Suleman Johnson. I watched one of the videos where he spoke on divorce. He actually encouraged divorce and I cried in my heart.

I was so shocked when I watched the video. The most annoying part of it is the fact that he used the law court to support his teaching. In Christianity, it is very wrong to use the law as your basis of teaching. In Christianity, we use the Holy Bible as our basis of authority. So let us go to the Bible and correct the wrong teaching.

What has the Bible got to say concerning divorce? The first thing I would like you to know about marriage is that marriage is a covenant, a covenant between a man and his wife, and God confirms it. What I have just said now, can it be found in the Bible? Yes! In the book of Malachi 2:14, the Bible says that marriage is a covenant between you and the wife of your youth. And the Bible also says in that verse that the God is a witness in the covenant. In other words, when a man gets married, he has entered into a covenant with his wife and in that covenant, God is a witness. God confirms the covenant.

The next question is: Can a lie before a marriage dissolve the marriage covenant? The answer is no. The moment a person enters into a covenant, nothing can dissolve it. A covenant simply means an agreement. Once you enter into an agreement with someone and another person signs as a witness, then nothing can dissolve that covenant. So what I have just said, can it be found in the Bible? Yes!

In the book of Galatians 3:15, the Bible says, though it be but a man’s covenant yet if it be entered into and is confirmed, it can no longer be disannulled. The moment you enter into a covenant, it can no longer be dissolved. That is the simple truth.

The next question I would like to answer is this: is there any one that was deceived into marriage in the Bible? Let’s find out if someone like that exists and let’s find out whether the marriage was dissolved after the deceit or the marriage stayed. Somebody like that exists and his name was Jacob. Jacob was deceived into marrying Leah. He didn’t want to marry Leah. He hated Leah. He loved Rachael. He thought he was getting married to Rachael. He did not know it was Leah because Leah’s face was covered. In the morning, he realized it was Leah he got married to and there was nothing he could do about it because he was already married. He had already entered into the covenant, so he couldn’t do anything about it and the marriage stayed. It is very clear. In Christianity, we do not support people to divorce because the woman does not have a womb or because the man is impotent. That is very wrong. Rather than teaching them to divorce, it is better you pray for them. You should pray for the woman to have a new womb. You should pray for the impotent man to impregnate his wife. God is still in the business of performing miracles. He has not stopped performing miracles. Rather than asking people to divorce, pray for them and they will have their desired miracles. That is what Christianity is all about, especially if you are a man of God. You should pray for people to have their desired miracles rather than teaching them to divorce.

Do you know the extent of damage this wrong teaching has done to the kingdom, in the Christian community? Do you know how many people are planning to divorce now because of this wrong teaching?

I would like to state here that this is not a personal spite against Pastor Suleman Johnson. No! It is not at all. I don’t even know him personally. All I am doing is to correct the wrong teaching so that people are not led astray.

So why am I correcting it? Because it is a mandate from God. The next question is: Is this mandate in the Bible? Yes! It can be found in Book of 2 Timothy 4:2. In that scripture, the Bible says rebuke and correct wrong doctrines and that is exactly what I am doing. I also want to use this opportunity to sound a note of warning to others. Make sure you don’t teach wrong doctrines, especially in the area of marriage. Because if I hear any wrong doctrine that is being taught, I will correct it. And I will not correct it in the secret. I will correct it in the openly just as the Bible prescribes. Enough is enough! We are tired of wrong teachings. They are too many. The marriage institution has been destroyed today because of wrong teachings. Enough is enough! Let’s make sure that every message we teach is correct before teaching. If you are not sure it’s correct, please don’t teach it.

If you are not yet married, please understand that when you get married, you are not going to divorce. Divorce is not an option. Make sure you have understood it before going into marriage. Don’t just go into marriage if you are not sure. But if you are sure, then go ahead and get married understanding that you are not going to divorce your spouse.

And if you are married, please do not divorce your spouse because your spouse is impotent or because your spouse does not have a womb. God can give your wife a new womb. God can heal your husband if your husband is impotent. There are so many impotent people who have impregnated their wife. There are so many women who do not have womb but today God gave them new womb and they have children. There are so many like that.

Divorce is never the solution. Please don’t divorce your spouse. If Jacob was deceived into marrying Leah and that marriage stayed. The marriage was not dissolved because Jacob had already entered into the covenant. If you are already married, do not divorce your spouse. Look for solution to your problem. God will help you. Our God is a God of miracle. He will intervene and help you in the name of Jesus Christ. Don’t forget what Jesus said. He said for this reason shall a man leave his father and mother and shall cleave unto his wife and they two shall be one flesh. And he said, wherefore they are no longer two but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let no man put asunder?

God bless you.

Reactions Trail Lawmakers’ Decision To Probe MMM Operations

Hours after the House of Representatives in Nigeria initiated a
process to probe the operations of a Ponzi scheme, MMM, Nigerians,
apparently those engaging in the scheme, are reacting to the decision.

The House had mandated its committee on banking and currency and
financial crimes to investigate the operations of the internet based
wonder bank, known as "MMM Nigeria scheme".

But some Nigerians took to Twitter, posting different tweets in
response to the initiated probe.

One of the tweets read: "Leave us alone…. We want to be scammed by
MMM. Our Reps have been scamming Nigerians ever since. Probe
yourselves".

Another tweet read: "MMM has kept the unemployed out of the street
seems they want them back@to be queening before their industry for
employment?".

-ChannelsTV

Reactions Trail Lawmakers’ Decision To Probe MMM Operations

Hours after the House of Representatives in Nigeria initiated a
process to probe the operations of a Ponzi scheme, MMM, Nigerians,
apparently those engaging in the scheme, are reacting to the decision.

The House had mandated its committee on banking and currency and
financial crimes to investigate the operations of the internet based
wonder bank, known as "MMM Nigeria scheme".

But some Nigerians took to Twitter, posting different tweets in
response to the initiated probe.

One of the tweets read: "Leave us alone…. We want to be scammed by
MMM. Our Reps have been scamming Nigerians ever since. Probe
yourselves".

Another tweet read: "MMM has kept the unemployed out of the street
seems they want them back@to be queening before their industry for
employment?".

-ChannelsTV

Cattle On The Loose Compete With Vehicles In Nigeria’s Capital

The indiscriminate movement of cattle around the Nigeria's Federal
Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, has attracted a warning from the
administration of the FCT.

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mr Muhammed Bello,
issued the warning on Saturday while reacting to the increasing
movement of herdsmen and their cattle within Abuja.

Mr Bello was reacting to the increasing presence of cattle in the city
centre of the nation's capital, which he said must not compete with
vehicular movement.

He asked the herdsmen to move only within bush paths and not in the metropolis.

The minister further assured Abuja residents that the FTC
administration was accelerating the development of the grazing
reserves for cattle.


Muhammed Bello says animals should not compete with vehicular traffic
on the street
While the residents express displeasure with the movement of cows in
the city centre, herdsmen say they have nowhere else to go, requesting
that the government should create grazing areas for them.

Movement of cattle within Abuja has become a familiar occurrence for
many residents of the FCT.

Cattle now co-habit with human beings, disrupting car movements and
littering the streets with their dung.

This has raised serious concerns among residents, with some insisting
that animals should not be moved around where people live and a city
like Abuja, the nation's capital where foreign could come into at any
time.

Cattle grazing is illegal in Abuja's city centre, but the recent surge
has raised questions on what the FCT administration is doing to
address the menace.

The Abuja Environmental Protection Board put together a taskforce that
includes security operatives to enforce the directive of the FCT
administration. But that has not yielded much result.

A total of 33,485 hectares have already been earmarked for grazing
reserves to cater for about seven million herds of cattle.

The reserves are Paikon Kore – 8,500 hectares, Karshi – 6,000
hectares, Kawu in Bwari – 9,000 hectares and Rubochi in Kuje which is
9,985 hectares.

==ChannelsTV

Tough Journey Through Owerri-Port Harcourt Expressway

A journey to the state through Imo State in the east use to be an
excitement in the minds of whoever decides to travel, but this joy and
excitement are gradually fading and turning into sadness, as a journey
to the oil city through Imo State now leaves commuters exhausted.

What use to be an exciting journey has now left residents of Umuapu in
Ohaji Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State as well as commuters
in lamentation, with a passionate appeal to the Federal Government to
make their journey exciting once again.

Work had been abandoned for over four years, with the road now in ruins.

The users are asking the government to mobilise the contractors and
ask them to return to the road and resume work.

At a time that the Nigerian government is pushing economic
diversification, with so much focus on agriculture as the way out of
the economic recession, residents in the area are finding it had to
move their farm produce to cities where they can sell them.

The condition of the road is causing untold hardship for us, as it is
now difficult for us to transport our farm produce to consumers,
residents of the area said.

While farmers lament the hardship, commuters, who ply the road daily,
said the bad state of the road had made it easier for criminals to
perpetrate their evil acts on the road such as kidnapping, car
snatching and armed robbery.

They called on President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government to
come to their aid and fix the road for the good of the people.

Over Four Hours Journey

The Owerri-Port Harcourt federal highway is one of the important
highways in the southern region of Nigeria, as it connects Imo State
to other South South states like Rivers, Cross River and Bayelsa.

During its good days, which is about five years ago, travelling from
Owerri to Port-Harcourt takes less than an hour.

Sadly, the once motorable federal road has now become a nightmare and
death trap on the Imo end of the road. One of such spots is the Umuapu
community in Ohaji Egbema, about four kilometres to the Rivers State
boundary. To get to Port Harcourt, it now takes over four hours with
heavy traffic.

A private car owner, Mr Derrick Nnamdi, told Channels Television that
"ordinarily, though, I drive fast, it takes me approximately 45 to 50
minutes between Owerri and Port Harcourt, but now it takes over two
hours to get to Port Harcourt.

"Sometimes if the community here have their market, you may spend
about 50 minutes' stand still in this community before you can pass.

"After the boundary, to Port Harcourt, it is a pretty smooth drive".

A public bus driver, who plies the roads on a daily basis said: "We
need road. No road for us. Every time we are suffering, especially on
this federal road. They told us that within eight years this project
will be completed when they started, but since that time and now there
is no difference and we are still suffering. Rain or no rain, every
day we suffer.

"If we buy car parts today after two days we go back to get new ones,
but before now when the road was good at least our shaft use to last
between four to five months before we get new ones but now only two
months we buy new shaft.

"So, we need help. They should help us. From Port Harcourt the road is
nice but once you enter Imo State, it is bad".

According to reports, the road was said to be awarded in 2009 by the
Goodluck Jonathan's administration through the Ministry of Niger Delta
Affairs to Arab Contractors at the rate of 23.1 billion Naira.

The people of the area claimed to have only seen Arab Contractors
working on few kilometres of the road from Owerri to Umuagwo, a
neighbouring community, where they stopped work. While the residents
of the area continue to wait for the contractors to resume work on the
remaining portion of the road, their wait has been to no avail.

An Indigene of Umuapu Community, Andrew Enyinnaya, gave his own side
of the story.

"Infact we have been dying not even suffer for this road. Arab
Contractors have been working on it. Two years ago, they stopped by
three to four poles away from here. And since they stopped work, we
have been dying not suffer. Even though the old road we use for
by-pass is bad, trailer and big lorries have spoilt everything. There
is no road, no way, no nothing. So, we have been suffering much"

"Please, you people should come and rescue us from this bad road and
many things come from here, food, garri, Akpu, cassava, everything but
no road to bring it to town. We are not receiving anything from the
government. I am telling you the fact. Without being told you can see
for yourself," Eyinnaya said.

Other commuters appealed to the Federal Government to resume work on
the road especially as the yuletide season is drawing closer so people
can travel freely to enjoy their Christmas and new year season with
their families.

In a quest to know what could be the challenges holding the execution
of the project, Channels Television visited the office of the
contracting firm handling the project but could not get any useful
information, as the public spokesman for Arab Contractors in the
state, Mr Mark Eke, refused to speak, maintaining that he had no
authority to speak on the matter.

Fortunately, the crew stumbled on the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs,
Usani Uguru Usani, at a workshop he attended in Owerri the Imo State
and he said that paucity of funds due to the dwindling nature nation's
resources has hampered the commencement of work on the road.

The minister said: "The development of infrastructure is not a moral
responsibility, it is a responsibility and duty anchored on variables
which cannot be assessed in casual terms. So, when I talk about budget
and development in building and construction, as a journalist, you do
not expect me to begin to give you time lines. You know our budgetary
allocation, It is in the website of budget and planning. So, we are
dispensing resources according to what is available and according to
certain laid down criteria. If we have all the money, we will give to
all the contractors but even the Federal Government doesn't have all
the money to sponsor all the projects that is why they are ongoing
projects.

"So, we are assigning resources as we receive. knowing fully well that
you cannot carry out anything beyond the budget line. All I can say is
that money given to us to work we will continue to apply it. We should
also be able to appeal to contractors sometimes to be able to execute
according to what they get, because sometimes the work is
under-performed relative to resources received."

"The situation about each road in Nigeria is not in isolation. It is
the fate of collapse of infrastructure in the country. So, that this
project is under the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs is only by
assignment of responsibility.

"But it is not in any way different from what is happening about
infrastructure in the entire country. You know for more than seven
years the total infrastructure collapse has been there and you can see
that the government has made tremendous effort beginning from budget
appropriation to give 30% to infrastructure, rehabilitation and
development.

",So our situation is just the same but handicapped as you know our
work is determinable by availability of resources or lack of same" the
minister said.

When asked if there was any appeal the Federal Government had for the
commuters who have been complaining of the hardship experienced on the
road, the minister said:"Complaining about the Federal Government's
inefficiency in working on the road is loss of sense of history. How
long do you expect the road that has been dilapidated for 10 years to
be taken to repairs. Meanwhile, you know that the resource base of the
nation has dwindled for over many months, therefore it is difficult to
expect that the hen will lay eggs for the goose, each animal species
will lay its own egg, so if the public is quarrelling it is because
you the journalists are telling them to quarrel".

If there is anything to go by with what the minister has just
revealed, surely there seems to be no end in sight to the sufferings
and hardship of commuters plying the Owerri-Port Harcourt expressway,
as they will need to wait for a longer time before this road receives
attention of the Federal Government.

-ChannelsTV

Pastor Adeboye Promotes MMM in RCCG Church

For those that are still doubting the authenticity and spirituality of
MMM, hear from Pa Adeboye
General Overseer of Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, Pastor E.A
Adeboye, has said the Church is meant to take care of all aspects of
members life, both spiritual and physical and not one sided as against
the opinion of some people that the church is turning to a market
place.

He made this reaction days after outspoken OAP, Freeze called him out
over the activities of some of his parish pastors who allowed
marketing of money lending/interest platform called, 'Mavrodi Mondial
Movement' (MMM) inside one of the parishes of Redeemed church during a
Sunday service.
One of Daddy G.O's media aides, Pastor Olakunmi Oyewale, told Celeb
Police on Thursday November 3, 2016, after the complain got to the
hierarchy of the church that is not absolutely wrong to do so if it's
not against the law of the country and if the purpose is to empower
the members of the church.
"It depends on the purpose. If it's actually to empower the people of
the church, I don't think there's anything wrong with that. I saw
something similar to that MMM you mentioned online, facebook, but I've
not been able to analyse it very well. If it's not against the law and
it's not something that is dubious, but to empower the church I don't
think it's bad because, you should understand that the church is not
just about taking care of the spiritual needs of the people alone. The
church cuts across every spheres of the member's life and so far it's
not something that's illegal or something that is not unscriptural."
On the allegation of turning the church to a market place, Pastor
Olakunmi said, "It's not really about turning the church to a market
place, people should understand that, like I said, the church is
multi-faceted, and when they focused on just one aspect of member's
life and does not take care of the other aspects, then the church
becomes one sided. So the church should be balanced in all areas."

Freeze had blasted the reverend man of God over the activities of his
pastors saying "The love of money and religion remain Nigeria's
greatest problems. If I talk now, you people will start saying
rubbish, if I call their G.O out, you people will say "touch not my
anointed, saying many of these churches are leading their members to
the slaughter, not the pasture."
MMM is real. MMM pays.

Give and Receive Financial Help: Join MMM Today

It's often difficult to easily accept new ideas especially when it
involves parting with money. I had my doubts too, until I gave it a
trial. Now I urge everyone to give it a trial too. Join MMM, you can
start with providing a little help if you have doubts. I assure you
that your confidence in it will grow, just like mine. Click on the
link below and register or contact me for guidance . God bless you
all.
http://nigeria-mmm.net/?i=ucheihejirika9@gmail.com

MMM is a community of people on internet, just like the Facebook is
online. In this case, registered participants provide financial help
to one another. The rule is that a participant must provide help
before he or she qualifies to receive one. A participant is qualified
to receive the amount he/she provided as help, plus 30% of it, plus
huge bonuses, especially if one refers other persons to join. For
example, if a participant provides nelp of N200k today to another
participant who needs it, in 30 days time, he will be qualified to
request for help as follows:
N200k+N60k+50 dollars welcome bonus + more bonuses if he/she referred
others to join.
You can register by clicking on "Register" after the link above opens.
The link contains my email address as the one who referred you to
join, also, I will help you register if you want to. I don't see
anything to fear in it, since there is no central fund that can be
stolen. People just pay the money into one another's bank accounts. I
assure you that you won't lose any amount you invest in it.. Do not
worry about whether you can refer people to it or not, as it is a
matter of choice.