Saturday, September 23, 2017
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LASU Ex-student Reveals How Lecturer Delayed Their Results For 6 Years for Not Paying Bribe
Just like a season movie that is yet to climax, the last seems not to have been heard of the sacking of 15 lecturers, two non-academic staff and the demotion of two others by the Governing Council of the Lagos State University, as more facts have continued to emerge about the issue.
One of the sacked lecturers, Dr. Isaac Oyewunmi, who was the branch chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in LASU, said recently that the allegations against him were mere victimisation and that it was “shameful” that LASU relied on “ghost petition” to sack him.
He had said, “If you can even prove that I demanded some amount of money from those students, nothing more than that, and some people actually collected money, it is politics of activism and we are used to it. But it is actually shameful.
“When you have incidents of a ghost petition and then you use the evidence of a third party to rubbish the career of another – well, it’s interesting; we are enjoying it honestly.”
But, as it turns out, the person who wrote the petition against Oyewunmi has come out to state his side of the story...
He had said, “If you can even prove that I demanded some amount of money from those students, nothing more than that, and some people actually collected money, it is politics of activism and we are used to it. But it is actually shameful.
“When you have incidents of a ghost petition and then you use the evidence of a third party to rubbish the career of another – well, it’s interesting; we are enjoying it honestly.”
But, as it turns out, the person who wrote the petition against Oyewunmi has come out to state his side of the story...
In an exclusive interview with Punch's Tunde Ajaja earlier in the week, the petitioner, Mr. Alabi Abiodun, an ex-student of LASU, revealed how the sacked lecturer allegedly delayed the processing of the result of seven students of the (2007) set for six years because they refused to pay the N50,000 bribes he allegedly demanded from each of them.
In the course of the delay, Alabi said he lost two job offers because his result was not ready and that it took the intervention of the former governor of the state, Babatunde Fashola, to get their results.
In a narrative that turned out to be very interesting, Alabi said he gained admission into LASU in 2003 to study Political Science under the sandwich programme. It was a three-year course, but due to strike actions along the line, he graduated in 2007, instead of 2006. He noted that his experience while the programme lasted was sweet and productive.
But after graduation, that sweet experience was soon replaced with frustration, Alabi said.
He continued, “At the end of the programme in 2007, we were made to know that Dr. Isaac Oyewunmi would be the one to coordinate and process our result for onward submission, as he performed that responsibility for the entire department. We were optimistic that in no time, our results would be ready, more so that we were just seven in the class.”
Alabi noted that most of them sponsored themselves to school and so they could not wait to lay their hands on their result to start looking for job and earn better living. But throughout that year, there was no update about the result.
“By 2008, we discovered that nothing was happening as regards our result, so we approached Dr. Oyewunmi again. He said yes, he wanted to help us but that he had been using his money to make photocopies of the result, which had been delaying the work.
“On hearing that, I told my colleagues to let us motivate him and speed things up. We contributed among ourselves and gave him N10,000, even though he didn’t ask for it. We just wanted to facilitate the process and maybe that was our undoing. When we gave him the money, we then assumed that things would be faster. But sadly, that was the beginning of a torturous journey.”
Throughout 2008, 2009 and 2010; making three years after graduation, there was no update about their result. Even though they kept meeting Oyewunmi to know the update about their result, Alabi said he kept promising them he would do it and at the graduation every year, Alabi said he would always dress up like one of the graduates but would always come back deflated.
Apart from holding them to ransom, Alabi said the delay cost him two job opportunities. “In 2009, I got a job offer from the Federal Government but I lost it because I didn’t have a result to present; same thing in 2010 when I got another offer from the Lagos State government and I lost it because of no result,” he added.
When the delay became costly to bear, Alabi said himself and his colleagues went to meet the lecturer to know what was happening and that to their greatest dismay, Oyewunmi said he could not lay his hands on the result.
He said, “There was a heavy rain that period; such that it rained for about 16 hours in Lagos. Dr. Oyewunmi told us that after the rain, he could not find our result.
“On the day we agreed to meet him, before I got there, he called the two people that first got there and took them to the tree beside the three-in-one building very close to sandwich building. He told them the rain swept away our results but that he would help us out. He said each of us should pay N50,000 if we really wanted to get our result.
“When I got there and I was told, I went to his office to ask if what they said was true and he told me that each of us should pay N50,000 before we could get our result. I’m not the type to buy result, so I told my colleagues we won’t do that and we all agreed because even in our four years, I never paid any lecturer.”
Alabi, who was sponsoring himself, explained that even if he was to raise the N50,000, he would have to work for three months without eating. “We agreed not to pay,” he added.
Dazed by the delay and the unfolding drama, Alabi said he ran to one of his lecturers named Dr. Muda, who expressed shock over the report. He said the lecturer took him to the Acting Director of Sandwich Programme, Dr. MOB Mohammed, who was equally shocked by the report.
“That day, I cried because the trouble was becoming too much and then felt suddenly helpless. Why did I go to school if I had nothing to show for it. We all know the rate of unemployment in Nigeria, so when you lose two job offers, you can imagine how it feels.”
Based on the promise by the acting director that something would be done about the result, during the next convocation in 2010, Alabi said he was prepared for the programme as one of the graduands but on getting to school, he found out his name and those of his colleagues were not included. Thus, he went back home deflated.
In fact, instead of doing the needful, Alabi alleged that Oyewunmi started using an agent in the person of one of the students in the department, known as Alhaji, who gained admission the same year Alabi graduated. “Alhaji was the one encouraging us to pay the money, in accordance with what Dr. Oyewunmi had said,” he said.
In 2011, four years after graduation, Alabi took the bull by the horn when he attended the convocation of that year and found that their names were not in the programme.
He said, “Former governor Babatunde Fashola was the visitor to the school, so I got a bulletin where his name and number was. At that point, I couldn’t bear it again. After the programme, I sent a ‘SOS’ message to the governor and I titled the text message ‘LASU result only worth N50,000’. I appealed to him to save us from Dr. Isaac Oyewunmi, through his agent, Alhaji, so that they could release our result.
“As it turned out, when Fashola received that message, he forwarded it to the then VC, Prof. Obafunwa, who couldn’t hesitate, given where the message came from. The VC called the Director of External Programmes, Dr. Abanikonda, who also called Dr. Muda, whom I had reported to earlier.
“That was how investigation into the matter began. At a point, the VC (Obafunwa) called me into his office and asked if I could repeat the allegations in front of the lecturers and I told him I was ready. I didn’t have any reason to lie, not to even talk of destroying another man’s career. I wouldn’t do that. I learnt the VC ordered that our results should be retrieved from him and released as soon as possible. But the damage had been done.”
Asked why he didn’t take other steps to put pressure on the lecturer, as six years appears a long time, Alabi said they never knew it could take that long, as they renewed their hope of graduating every year. “Initially, we didn’t see the need to petition the authorities until it dawned on us and I had to involve the governor,” he said.
Overall, Alabi said he and his colleagues spent 10 years to get their first degree, as their result was eventually released in 2013 when all the joy of being a graduate had already faded out. But that didn’t seem to be the end to the drama. Alabi said in 2015, he started receiving threats as some unknown persons were visiting where he was living, telling people to warn him to desist from trying to report or implicate their boss/lecturer.
He said, “When it got to a level, I wrote LASU, notifying the authorities of the threat. And I also told them that it was because nothing was done about it that was why people could still be threatening me on his behalf. I asked the management that if someone sat on my result for six years, should threats be the next line of action?
“They acknowledged the receipt of the letter and they set up a panel. They invited me and I went there to state my side of the story. I appeared before the panel about five times, and each of those times, I used to sit beside Dr. Oyewunmi in front of the panel.
“With the things going on in LASU now, I know they would be going about, making concocted report of what did not happen and that is why I like to talk about it. I decided to say my own story for the entire world to hear and put things in perspective, without bias.
“I’m not judging him, but what he did was a violation of our rights for him as the coordinator of our results to make a demand. It is also against the teaching etiquette for a teacher to give the result of other students to somebody else to prepare, especially when the person is also a student of the same institution.”
While there have been accusations that Oyewunmi was sacked based on his union activities as ASUU chairman in LASU, given the reported disagreement between the management and the union, Alabi, while thanking the management, his “wonderful lecturers” and his colleagues for their cooperation, stressed that people should separate the individual from the union.
He said, “Was LASU branch of ASUU on trial? No. Was it LASU branch of ASUU that delayed our result? No; it was Dr. Oyewunmi. If the authorities of the school, in their own wisdom, feel that dismissing him is the best judgment for him, so be it. Whoever that wants to be the sympathiser of Oyewunmi should separate ASUU from his person. Let us judge the matter on the basis of merit, not with bias.”
Specifically, ASUU, Lagos Zone, had claimed that the exercise by the management of LASU was to implicate the leadership of the union in the school, but Alabi insisted that anyone with conscience should put his children in their shoes.
“They should imagine that a child whose fees they are paying should finish school and would not get result for six years, not to talk of people who sponsored themselves. I sponsored myself. My parents are very rich, on the other side; likewise some of us. So, you can understand our pain,” he added.
Quoting Revelation 22 to stress that Oyewunmi would get the reward of what he did to them, Alabi added that if he had got those jobs he was offered, his life would have been better than what it is at the moment.
But, while responding to the allegations, Oyewunmi said there was no substance in the allegations that he asked for money to process results. He accused the school management of paying an agent to dent his image, being the arrowhead of ASUU in the school.
Oyewunmi, in a telephone interview with our correspondent on Friday, said, “The gentleman said he was admitted in 2003 when I was not even a member of staff.
“I joined LASU in 2004. If he was admitted in 2003, he was supposed to graduate in 2007, whereas I became the subject coordinator for the political science education students in 2011. And 2007 to 2011 would give us about four years, yet, I was the one who delayed his graduation all this while.
“The point is that there is this systemic problem in LASU and not until we come to stand up to our shortcomings collectively and not use anybody as a scapegoat, we won’t be moving forward.
“There is no substance in all of these and if the school finds it difficult to reverse itself, the court of law in some days from now would look at it and we are very sure we would be victorious.”
On September 8, 2017, the institution had said that the sacking of the staff members was due to different acts of misconduct and that there was thorough investigation of specific documented allegations of misconduct levelled against them.
The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Olanrewaju Fagbohun, had also said at a press briefing on Monday that the decision was part of efforts to sanitise the system and that it was not in any way politically motivated.
In the course of the delay, Alabi said he lost two job offers because his result was not ready and that it took the intervention of the former governor of the state, Babatunde Fashola, to get their results.
In a narrative that turned out to be very interesting, Alabi said he gained admission into LASU in 2003 to study Political Science under the sandwich programme. It was a three-year course, but due to strike actions along the line, he graduated in 2007, instead of 2006. He noted that his experience while the programme lasted was sweet and productive.
But after graduation, that sweet experience was soon replaced with frustration, Alabi said.
He continued, “At the end of the programme in 2007, we were made to know that Dr. Isaac Oyewunmi would be the one to coordinate and process our result for onward submission, as he performed that responsibility for the entire department. We were optimistic that in no time, our results would be ready, more so that we were just seven in the class.”
Alabi noted that most of them sponsored themselves to school and so they could not wait to lay their hands on their result to start looking for job and earn better living. But throughout that year, there was no update about the result.
“By 2008, we discovered that nothing was happening as regards our result, so we approached Dr. Oyewunmi again. He said yes, he wanted to help us but that he had been using his money to make photocopies of the result, which had been delaying the work.
“On hearing that, I told my colleagues to let us motivate him and speed things up. We contributed among ourselves and gave him N10,000, even though he didn’t ask for it. We just wanted to facilitate the process and maybe that was our undoing. When we gave him the money, we then assumed that things would be faster. But sadly, that was the beginning of a torturous journey.”
Throughout 2008, 2009 and 2010; making three years after graduation, there was no update about their result. Even though they kept meeting Oyewunmi to know the update about their result, Alabi said he kept promising them he would do it and at the graduation every year, Alabi said he would always dress up like one of the graduates but would always come back deflated.
Apart from holding them to ransom, Alabi said the delay cost him two job opportunities. “In 2009, I got a job offer from the Federal Government but I lost it because I didn’t have a result to present; same thing in 2010 when I got another offer from the Lagos State government and I lost it because of no result,” he added.
When the delay became costly to bear, Alabi said himself and his colleagues went to meet the lecturer to know what was happening and that to their greatest dismay, Oyewunmi said he could not lay his hands on the result.
He said, “There was a heavy rain that period; such that it rained for about 16 hours in Lagos. Dr. Oyewunmi told us that after the rain, he could not find our result.
“On the day we agreed to meet him, before I got there, he called the two people that first got there and took them to the tree beside the three-in-one building very close to sandwich building. He told them the rain swept away our results but that he would help us out. He said each of us should pay N50,000 if we really wanted to get our result.
“When I got there and I was told, I went to his office to ask if what they said was true and he told me that each of us should pay N50,000 before we could get our result. I’m not the type to buy result, so I told my colleagues we won’t do that and we all agreed because even in our four years, I never paid any lecturer.”
Alabi, who was sponsoring himself, explained that even if he was to raise the N50,000, he would have to work for three months without eating. “We agreed not to pay,” he added.
Dazed by the delay and the unfolding drama, Alabi said he ran to one of his lecturers named Dr. Muda, who expressed shock over the report. He said the lecturer took him to the Acting Director of Sandwich Programme, Dr. MOB Mohammed, who was equally shocked by the report.
“That day, I cried because the trouble was becoming too much and then felt suddenly helpless. Why did I go to school if I had nothing to show for it. We all know the rate of unemployment in Nigeria, so when you lose two job offers, you can imagine how it feels.”
Based on the promise by the acting director that something would be done about the result, during the next convocation in 2010, Alabi said he was prepared for the programme as one of the graduands but on getting to school, he found out his name and those of his colleagues were not included. Thus, he went back home deflated.
In fact, instead of doing the needful, Alabi alleged that Oyewunmi started using an agent in the person of one of the students in the department, known as Alhaji, who gained admission the same year Alabi graduated. “Alhaji was the one encouraging us to pay the money, in accordance with what Dr. Oyewunmi had said,” he said.
In 2011, four years after graduation, Alabi took the bull by the horn when he attended the convocation of that year and found that their names were not in the programme.
He said, “Former governor Babatunde Fashola was the visitor to the school, so I got a bulletin where his name and number was. At that point, I couldn’t bear it again. After the programme, I sent a ‘SOS’ message to the governor and I titled the text message ‘LASU result only worth N50,000’. I appealed to him to save us from Dr. Isaac Oyewunmi, through his agent, Alhaji, so that they could release our result.
“As it turned out, when Fashola received that message, he forwarded it to the then VC, Prof. Obafunwa, who couldn’t hesitate, given where the message came from. The VC called the Director of External Programmes, Dr. Abanikonda, who also called Dr. Muda, whom I had reported to earlier.
“That was how investigation into the matter began. At a point, the VC (Obafunwa) called me into his office and asked if I could repeat the allegations in front of the lecturers and I told him I was ready. I didn’t have any reason to lie, not to even talk of destroying another man’s career. I wouldn’t do that. I learnt the VC ordered that our results should be retrieved from him and released as soon as possible. But the damage had been done.”
Asked why he didn’t take other steps to put pressure on the lecturer, as six years appears a long time, Alabi said they never knew it could take that long, as they renewed their hope of graduating every year. “Initially, we didn’t see the need to petition the authorities until it dawned on us and I had to involve the governor,” he said.
Overall, Alabi said he and his colleagues spent 10 years to get their first degree, as their result was eventually released in 2013 when all the joy of being a graduate had already faded out. But that didn’t seem to be the end to the drama. Alabi said in 2015, he started receiving threats as some unknown persons were visiting where he was living, telling people to warn him to desist from trying to report or implicate their boss/lecturer.
He said, “When it got to a level, I wrote LASU, notifying the authorities of the threat. And I also told them that it was because nothing was done about it that was why people could still be threatening me on his behalf. I asked the management that if someone sat on my result for six years, should threats be the next line of action?
“They acknowledged the receipt of the letter and they set up a panel. They invited me and I went there to state my side of the story. I appeared before the panel about five times, and each of those times, I used to sit beside Dr. Oyewunmi in front of the panel.
“With the things going on in LASU now, I know they would be going about, making concocted report of what did not happen and that is why I like to talk about it. I decided to say my own story for the entire world to hear and put things in perspective, without bias.
“I’m not judging him, but what he did was a violation of our rights for him as the coordinator of our results to make a demand. It is also against the teaching etiquette for a teacher to give the result of other students to somebody else to prepare, especially when the person is also a student of the same institution.”
While there have been accusations that Oyewunmi was sacked based on his union activities as ASUU chairman in LASU, given the reported disagreement between the management and the union, Alabi, while thanking the management, his “wonderful lecturers” and his colleagues for their cooperation, stressed that people should separate the individual from the union.
He said, “Was LASU branch of ASUU on trial? No. Was it LASU branch of ASUU that delayed our result? No; it was Dr. Oyewunmi. If the authorities of the school, in their own wisdom, feel that dismissing him is the best judgment for him, so be it. Whoever that wants to be the sympathiser of Oyewunmi should separate ASUU from his person. Let us judge the matter on the basis of merit, not with bias.”
Specifically, ASUU, Lagos Zone, had claimed that the exercise by the management of LASU was to implicate the leadership of the union in the school, but Alabi insisted that anyone with conscience should put his children in their shoes.
“They should imagine that a child whose fees they are paying should finish school and would not get result for six years, not to talk of people who sponsored themselves. I sponsored myself. My parents are very rich, on the other side; likewise some of us. So, you can understand our pain,” he added.
Quoting Revelation 22 to stress that Oyewunmi would get the reward of what he did to them, Alabi added that if he had got those jobs he was offered, his life would have been better than what it is at the moment.
But, while responding to the allegations, Oyewunmi said there was no substance in the allegations that he asked for money to process results. He accused the school management of paying an agent to dent his image, being the arrowhead of ASUU in the school.
Oyewunmi, in a telephone interview with our correspondent on Friday, said, “The gentleman said he was admitted in 2003 when I was not even a member of staff.
“I joined LASU in 2004. If he was admitted in 2003, he was supposed to graduate in 2007, whereas I became the subject coordinator for the political science education students in 2011. And 2007 to 2011 would give us about four years, yet, I was the one who delayed his graduation all this while.
“The point is that there is this systemic problem in LASU and not until we come to stand up to our shortcomings collectively and not use anybody as a scapegoat, we won’t be moving forward.
“There is no substance in all of these and if the school finds it difficult to reverse itself, the court of law in some days from now would look at it and we are very sure we would be victorious.”
On September 8, 2017, the institution had said that the sacking of the staff members was due to different acts of misconduct and that there was thorough investigation of specific documented allegations of misconduct levelled against them.
The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Olanrewaju Fagbohun, had also said at a press briefing on Monday that the decision was part of efforts to sanitise the system and that it was not in any way politically motivated.
FAST DOWNLOAD: Sammiecolt Ft. Dremo – Ibadan City (Mp3 Music)
Ibadan City is resembling the rap joint effort of the year as Sammiecolt and Dremo both conveyed a capable, exceptional and skillfully started up verse that will likewise overwhelm your psyches!
Download, Listen, Enjoy, and share your thoughts below..
FAST DOWNLOAD: Tiwa Savage Ft Wizkid x Spellz – Ma Lo (Mp3 Music)
Tiwa Savage has released her much anticipated EP which she dubbed Sugar Cane, from the EP here is a track titled Ma Lo Featuring Nigerian Afro Pop Act Wizkid.
Download, Listen, Enjoy, and share your thoughts below..
FAST DOWNLOAD: Soti Ft Banky W – No Lele (Mp3 Music)
Effyzzie Music songstress, Soti recruits Banky W for her latest single titled 'No Lele'.
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FAST DOWNLOAD: Waga G Ft Phyno X Zoro – Omandimma (Mp3 Music)
Waga G aka Onyeisinkuka has just unlocked his brand Masterkraft produced single dubbed Omandimma. The new single features Phyno and Zoro.
Download, Listen, Enjoy, and share your thoughts below..
Friday, September 22, 2017
Lawyer Got Dragged To Court Over N1 Million Alleged Fraud
The Nigeria Police Force in FCT, Abuja, on Thursday arraigned a lawyer, Clifford Eze, who allegedly forged a landed property document to defraud a man of N1 million.
Eze, a resident of Maitama, Abuja, appeared before an FCT High Court at Apo on a six-count charge bordering on cheating, breach of trust, forgery and issuance of dud cheques.
Base on Information, prosecutor Patrick Ogbele, told the court that Eze and others at large, fraudulently collected N1 million from one Mr. Asekun Adedoyin on April 16.
He said the lawyer collected the sum on the pretext of selling a plot of land to Mr. Adedoyin.
He said the land, situated at Jikwoyi, Abuja, did not belong to the lawyer.
According to him, the lawyer forged a letter of offer of terms of grant/conveyance of approval, deed of conveyance and power of attorney. He added that the lawyer presented the letter as genuine to Mr. Adedoyin and converted the N1 million for his personal use.
The prosecutor also said Eze issued two Diamond Bank cheques of N500,000 to Adedoyin which were not honoured due to insufficient funds.
He said the offences contravened the Penal Code.
The lawyer, however, pleaded not guilty, and was granted bail by Justice Abubakar Idris-Kutigi in the sum of N300,000 with one surety in like sum.
The judge said the surety must be a civil servant of Grade Level 8 and above. He adjourned the case until Nov. 14 for substantive hearing.
Base on Information, prosecutor Patrick Ogbele, told the court that Eze and others at large, fraudulently collected N1 million from one Mr. Asekun Adedoyin on April 16.
He said the lawyer collected the sum on the pretext of selling a plot of land to Mr. Adedoyin.
He said the land, situated at Jikwoyi, Abuja, did not belong to the lawyer.
According to him, the lawyer forged a letter of offer of terms of grant/conveyance of approval, deed of conveyance and power of attorney. He added that the lawyer presented the letter as genuine to Mr. Adedoyin and converted the N1 million for his personal use.
The prosecutor also said Eze issued two Diamond Bank cheques of N500,000 to Adedoyin which were not honoured due to insufficient funds.
He said the offences contravened the Penal Code.
The lawyer, however, pleaded not guilty, and was granted bail by Justice Abubakar Idris-Kutigi in the sum of N300,000 with one surety in like sum.
The judge said the surety must be a civil servant of Grade Level 8 and above. He adjourned the case until Nov. 14 for substantive hearing.
Source: Vanguard
Benefits of Being An Entrepreneur
1. You become more accountable
Entrepreneurship will help you up your accountability game. When you have your own business, you are your own boss. There is no one looking over your shoulder making sure you do the work. As an entrepreneur, you have to learn to hold yourself accountable, or you will not succeed.
2. Gain invaluable experience
Starting a business in a country like Nigeria is very tough. If you are able to navigate these challenges, you will definitely gain invaluable experience that will come handy in your future dealings.
3. You become more confident
3. You become more confident
The fear of failure will evaporate and your interaction or engagement with people will significantly improve.
4. Steady income
If you have always worked for somebody else, your employer determines your income. As an entrepreneur, there are no limits placed on what you can earn. Instead, you determine your earnings. You won't go broke.
5. Opportunity to make people’s life easier
You have come up with an idea for a product or service which can make people's lives easier. So, by putting your idea to work and starting a business, you are actually contributing to making the lives of people better.
4. Steady income
If you have always worked for somebody else, your employer determines your income. As an entrepreneur, there are no limits placed on what you can earn. Instead, you determine your earnings. You won't go broke.
5. Opportunity to make people’s life easier
You have come up with an idea for a product or service which can make people's lives easier. So, by putting your idea to work and starting a business, you are actually contributing to making the lives of people better.
3 Qualities Of A Great Leader
You may not be a school teacher or a Bible study leader, but you are a leader in some area of your life. Maybe you’re a parent or grandparent. Maybe you’re a friend or mentor to men or women in your church or community. You may not think of yourself as a leader, but we each lead others by word and deed, and we can learn from Christ’s example of leadership during his time on earth.
Looking at the life of Christ and how he interacted with his disciples, we find two important elements of great leadership. Below are the qualities..
(1). Great Leaders Submit to God
Decisive leaders are convincing. Many are self-confident and charismatic, trusting their own instincts and doing what seems best to them.
In the Old Testament, King Saul was a decisive leader to his own peril: charismatic, good-looking, and trusting his own wisdom. In 1 Samuel 13, Saul was in a bind. He did not have the authority to act as a priest and offer a sacrifice, but the people were starting to scatter. So Saul took matters into his own hands and did what seemed right to him. In the absence of a priest, this king took it upon himself to offer the sacrifice.
And it cost him. When Samuel finally arrived and saw what Saul had done, he rebuked him.
And Samuel said to Saul, “You have done foolishly. You have not kept the command of the Lord your God, with which he commanded you. For then the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. But now your kingdom shall not continue. The Lord has sought out a man after his own heart, and the Lord has commanded him to be prince over his people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you.” (1 Samuel 13:13-14)
Unlike the leaders admired by the world, Christ’s leadership is marked by his submission to God. Though he himself was God in the flesh, Jesus submitted to God the Father and did nothing that was outside of God’s will.
Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. (John 14:10)
Saul’s unwillingness to submit to God’s authority cost him his throne. Christ’s submission to God’s authority established his throne forever.
How is your leadership characterized? Do you make decisions like Saul, based on what seems right at the time? Or do you stop and submit to God’s authority in your life first?
(2). Great Leaders Invest in Others
When people ask me how I’m doing, I’m trying to break the habit of answering, “Busy.” The many demands of work, family, and ministry tug at my time. Being a task-oriented person, I can let my to-do list drive my decisions and forget that I’m surrounded by people.
Jesus was busy. So busy, in fact, that we don’t have a complete record of everything he accomplished.
Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. (John 21:25)
We get a glimpse of Christ’s busy ministry in Matthew. Chapter 4 ends with Jesus actively teaching in the synagogues and “healing every disease and every affliction.” His fame grew, and with it the crowds. The work was endless as the crowds followed him from town to town.
If I’m faced with an overwhelming work load, I’m tempted to forego rest and work as fast as I can. But the danger of getting buried in work is that I can ignore the people closest to me and let relationships wither.
Jesus handled work differently. In spite of the many, many tasks that faced him, he invested in others. He took the time to sit:
Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:1-3)
Jesus didn’t allow his ministry to the masses to prevent him from ministering to the 12. We never get the sense that Jesus was harried or overwhelmed. He didn’t short-change his disciples; instead, he sat with his disciples on the mountain and taught them.
(3). Great Leaders Love God and Love Others
These two qualities of great leadership are completely consistent with Jesus’ message to love God and love others.
“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22:36-40)
By submitting to God’s authority in our lives, we demonstrate a love for God. And by investing in the lives of those around us, we demonstrate a love for our neighbors.
With or without formal leadership roles, we each have a circle of influence. As we mentor our children, families, participants in our church groups, colleagues at work, or friends in our communities, we can follow Jesus’ example by being leaders who submit to God and invest in others.
(1). Great Leaders Submit to God
Decisive leaders are convincing. Many are self-confident and charismatic, trusting their own instincts and doing what seems best to them.
In the Old Testament, King Saul was a decisive leader to his own peril: charismatic, good-looking, and trusting his own wisdom. In 1 Samuel 13, Saul was in a bind. He did not have the authority to act as a priest and offer a sacrifice, but the people were starting to scatter. So Saul took matters into his own hands and did what seemed right to him. In the absence of a priest, this king took it upon himself to offer the sacrifice.
And it cost him. When Samuel finally arrived and saw what Saul had done, he rebuked him.
And Samuel said to Saul, “You have done foolishly. You have not kept the command of the Lord your God, with which he commanded you. For then the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. But now your kingdom shall not continue. The Lord has sought out a man after his own heart, and the Lord has commanded him to be prince over his people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you.” (1 Samuel 13:13-14)
Unlike the leaders admired by the world, Christ’s leadership is marked by his submission to God. Though he himself was God in the flesh, Jesus submitted to God the Father and did nothing that was outside of God’s will.
Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. (John 14:10)
Saul’s unwillingness to submit to God’s authority cost him his throne. Christ’s submission to God’s authority established his throne forever.
How is your leadership characterized? Do you make decisions like Saul, based on what seems right at the time? Or do you stop and submit to God’s authority in your life first?
(2). Great Leaders Invest in Others
When people ask me how I’m doing, I’m trying to break the habit of answering, “Busy.” The many demands of work, family, and ministry tug at my time. Being a task-oriented person, I can let my to-do list drive my decisions and forget that I’m surrounded by people.
Jesus was busy. So busy, in fact, that we don’t have a complete record of everything he accomplished.
Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. (John 21:25)
We get a glimpse of Christ’s busy ministry in Matthew. Chapter 4 ends with Jesus actively teaching in the synagogues and “healing every disease and every affliction.” His fame grew, and with it the crowds. The work was endless as the crowds followed him from town to town.
If I’m faced with an overwhelming work load, I’m tempted to forego rest and work as fast as I can. But the danger of getting buried in work is that I can ignore the people closest to me and let relationships wither.
Jesus handled work differently. In spite of the many, many tasks that faced him, he invested in others. He took the time to sit:
Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:1-3)
Jesus didn’t allow his ministry to the masses to prevent him from ministering to the 12. We never get the sense that Jesus was harried or overwhelmed. He didn’t short-change his disciples; instead, he sat with his disciples on the mountain and taught them.
(3). Great Leaders Love God and Love Others
These two qualities of great leadership are completely consistent with Jesus’ message to love God and love others.
“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22:36-40)
By submitting to God’s authority in our lives, we demonstrate a love for God. And by investing in the lives of those around us, we demonstrate a love for our neighbors.
With or without formal leadership roles, we each have a circle of influence. As we mentor our children, families, participants in our church groups, colleagues at work, or friends in our communities, we can follow Jesus’ example by being leaders who submit to God and invest in others.
Igbos May Stop Producing Nigeria’s President Due To IPOB & Their Biafra Fight – Okorocha
Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State has stated that the activities of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) will affect the chances of Igbos to produce Nigeria’s president.
Now you want to separate yourself from Nigeria, meanwhile, South-South will not go with you, Edo, Rivers will not go with you. If you cut us off here now as South east, if I need to go to Rivers State, I will go and ask for passport and visa, and we are keeping quiet to say this.
If there is a crisis now, there is no Hausa man in Igbo land who has a duplex, there is no Yoruba man who has a room and parlour or a N20 million investment in Igbo land, but Igbo have trillions of naira virtually everywhere.
The same people are asking for secession. If Igbo are asked to go, what happens? They would lose their property, and all of us are keeping quiet, supporting IPOB! It was very childish, and those behind this should stop, that is my advice.
South-South has produced the president, South-West has produced a president and Vice President, the north has produced many presidents, it is hoping that one day in the next shift, by whatever arrangement, the next people that should be considered is the South-East by Nigeria’s sharing formula.
So, where are we in our wisdom and the intelligence? That is my position on IPOB; my advice is that Igbo should change their style and condemn IPOB in a manner that should be done and let us flow with the rest of Nigeria for now because we shall benefit more than anyone else.”
According to him, the agitators had every right to complain about marginalization but not a call for separation from the country as they have been doing.
He told newsmen on Thursday that IPOB was not good for the South East, and it was not the best way for them to complain about marginalisation to the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Gov. Okorocha said, “There are better ways; the IPOB way is too primitive. If IPOB must do a thing like that it should have changed the name and fought the way Ijaw youths fought, Arewa youths fought, and they would have made more impact. For everything that comes from the Igbo man, we love to go to the extreme.
He told newsmen on Thursday that IPOB was not good for the South East, and it was not the best way for them to complain about marginalisation to the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Gov. Okorocha said, “There are better ways; the IPOB way is too primitive. If IPOB must do a thing like that it should have changed the name and fought the way Ijaw youths fought, Arewa youths fought, and they would have made more impact. For everything that comes from the Igbo man, we love to go to the extreme.
Now you want to separate yourself from Nigeria, meanwhile, South-South will not go with you, Edo, Rivers will not go with you. If you cut us off here now as South east, if I need to go to Rivers State, I will go and ask for passport and visa, and we are keeping quiet to say this.
If there is a crisis now, there is no Hausa man in Igbo land who has a duplex, there is no Yoruba man who has a room and parlour or a N20 million investment in Igbo land, but Igbo have trillions of naira virtually everywhere.
The same people are asking for secession. If Igbo are asked to go, what happens? They would lose their property, and all of us are keeping quiet, supporting IPOB! It was very childish, and those behind this should stop, that is my advice.
South-South has produced the president, South-West has produced a president and Vice President, the north has produced many presidents, it is hoping that one day in the next shift, by whatever arrangement, the next people that should be considered is the South-East by Nigeria’s sharing formula.
So, where are we in our wisdom and the intelligence? That is my position on IPOB; my advice is that Igbo should change their style and condemn IPOB in a manner that should be done and let us flow with the rest of Nigeria for now because we shall benefit more than anyone else.”
FAST DOWNLOAD: Mr Eazi Ft. Rhatti – Love (Mp3 Music)
Download, Listen, Enjoy, and share your thoughts below..
DOWNLOAD: Mr Eazi Ft. Rhatti – Love (Mp3)
FAST DOWNLOAD: Wande Coal – Oh No No (Mp3 Music)
The hip club banger song showcase Wande Coal’s incredible vocal dexterity and true mastery of his range keeps him constantly churning out hit after hits.
Download, Listen, Enjoy, and Share Your Thoughts Below..
Thursday, September 21, 2017
VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS: Manchester United Vs Burton Albion 4-1 EFL 2017
For the fourth time in the past seven matches, United got on the scoresheet four times, with a brace from Rashford, another goal for Martial and a first of the season for Jesse Lingard.
Rashford now has five goals in his past five games, almost half his total of 11 last season, while Martial has managed four in just 280 minutes of total, not a bad return for a player who only got eight in the entirety of the previous campaign.
Burton claimed a consolation late on when Lloyd Dyer drilled home a shot following a goalmouth scramble after Joe Mason had headed against the crossbar but it was otherwise very one-sided.
OR WATCH VIDEO BELOW..
HIGHTLIGHTS VIDEO: Arsenal Vs Doncaster Rovers 1-0 EFL 2017
Arsenal 1-0 Doncaster: Theo Walcott delivers for Arsene Wenger as Sir Alex Ferguson watches on – 5 talking points
OR Watch Video below..
FAST DOWNLOAD: May D – First Impression (Mp3 Music)
This is not his First Impression but this is worth a First Impression!. Famous musician, May D returns with this sweet tune and as usual serenading us with his trademark vocals
Download, Listen, Enjoy, And share your thoughts below..
FAST DOWNLOAD: Masterkraft Ft Olamide – OJA (Mp3 Music)
Popular Versatile music producer Masterkraft is back on the music Scene after the successful release of His UNLIMITED ALBUM featuring popular musicians. Masterkraft has decided to feed his fans again with a hit song titled OJA featuring WO!!! Crooner Olamide Ybnl Boss.
Download, Listen, Enjoy, and share your thoughts..
DOWNLOAD MUSIC: Morientez Ft. SolidStar – Ima (Prod. Kel P)
Morientez presents his latest single titled Ima featuring well known Nigerian artist SolidStar, the heavy weight tune is produced by Kel P.
Download, Listen, Enjoy, and Share your thoughts below..
FAST DOWNLOAD: Drey Tunz Ft. Yung6ix – For You (Mp3 Music)
Drey Tunz Gears up and released his second ever single titled For You Featuring Nigerian Rapper Yung6ix.
the super tune is produced by Disally.
Download, Listen, Enjoy, and share your thoughts below..
5 Ways To Stay Free From Back Pains
1. Be Active
Being active and moving your joint often helps to strengthen your muscles which helps you to easily avoid back and other muscle problems. Also, a good ‘core stability exercise’ programme can help ‘stabilize’ your spine and provide a ‘solid foundation for the rest of your body’s movement’. Aside from being active, you should ensure you avoid movements and postures that can cause back pain. When sitting down, especially on an airplane, avoid slouching on the chair or leaning forward without back support, for prolonged periods.
2. Stretch
This isn’t so much of a secret, nevertheless it is an important way to help ease or avoid back pains. Gentle exercises or light stretches that help to release tension, can be a great way to combat back pain. You can perform these stretches at different points of the day, whenever you have free time. While on an airplane, maybe when you want to use the toilet, you can use the opportunity to walk in the aisle and do some light stretches to help release tension in your back, before returning to your seat.
3. Avoid Sitting for Too Long
If you have to sit for long period of time, avoid slouching over and try to take ‘standing up’ breaks regularly. This is will help decrease the pressure on your back and help you avoid back pain. This is why during long flights, you shouldn’t just sit down all through. Get up and walk down the aisle from time to time, your back will thank you for it.
4. Lift Things Correctly
Lifting things incorrectly is the number one mistake people that ends up causing them back pain. Always use safe lifting methods, especially when doing heavy or even slightly heavy lifting. Use a ‘Knee Bend’ for lifting objects with significant weight; while you can use a ‘Golfer’s Crouch’ or ‘Golfer’s Lift’ when stooping for smaller objects.
5. Take a Nap or Go To Sleep
Surprising right? But sleep helps to facilitate the restoration of your muscles, and this can help to ward off back pain. However, for this to happen, your sleep has to be of high quality, meaning your mattress should be right for you, your pillows should not be too hard or high and should be placed properly. On an airplane, getting high quality sleep might be difficult, but you can improve the quality of your sleep largely by using a travel pillow and you should try to avoid falling asleep leaning forward without any back support.
Meet Proudly Nigerian Man Who Wins Cooking Award In The US (Photo)
A US based Nigerian, Godshelter, better known as Divine, won the 13th Vendy Awards ceremony which took place on 16th September in New York. The event is an Annual street food cook-off series showcasing the best street chefs in NYC, Philly, Los Angeles and beyond.
The winner, Divine is the owner and mastermind behind DF Nigerian Gourmet Food Truck and Divine Favored Catering Services. Congrats to him!. He was hosted and specially recognized on the popular American show, Good Morning America. See another one below..
Some Helpful Hints For All Nigerian Graduate
Nowadays, many Nigerian graduates have a false idea of life after graduating and serving. I was chatting with an undergraduate one day when she told me she can't take any job that doesn't pay at least N500,000. I was shocked to my bones.
If you're in a course where employment opportunity is limited, eg Zoology, you would agree you might not end up in a zoo or around animals.
Graduates needs to brace up to reality and accept that they have to work hard to make a successful career after school. So, below.. are 5 timeless lessons for every Nigerian graduate;
(1). Don't rely on your course of study - Be ready to diversify
More than 50% of bank workers didn't study banking and finance or related courses. Sane can be said of so many professions too.(1). Don't rely on your course of study - Be ready to diversify
If you're in a course where employment opportunity is limited, eg Zoology, you would agree you might not end up in a zoo or around animals.
The solution is to begin to diversify in your knowledge and skill acquisition or trade. Get certifications to fit in other fields or learn something, e.g. tailoring and become a fashion designer.
(2). Don't Wait for Employment
Every graduate irrespective of their final grade in the university, polytechnic or colleges expects to serve and get a job straight off. This feeling is even automatic among those finishing with first class, 2nd class upper or Higher credit.
Prepare yourself for anything, start thinking of at least a source of income, if possible more right from your final year in school or during your youth service. That dream job might not come automatically.
(3). Don't give up
(2). Don't Wait for Employment
Every graduate irrespective of their final grade in the university, polytechnic or colleges expects to serve and get a job straight off. This feeling is even automatic among those finishing with first class, 2nd class upper or Higher credit.
Prepare yourself for anything, start thinking of at least a source of income, if possible more right from your final year in school or during your youth service. That dream job might not come automatically.
(3). Don't give up
Need we emphasize this further? If you give up, your dream dies - keep going, keep doing the right things and you'll sure to stand out with time.
(4). Don't expect a bank business loan
For those who have 1 & 2 sorted out, and looking to be young entrepreneurs, don't wait for a bank loan, you might not meet their requirements, so don't wait.(4). Don't expect a bank business loan
The solution could talking to family and friends, colleagues for partnership or part sponsoring.
(5). Don't lose your school, NYSC contacts
Keep your contacts, they are your first client. It's easier to convince family and friends to patronize you, that could then build your CV, portfolio or profile which would be used to get more clients. Value your links, don't lose them.
(5). Don't lose your school, NYSC contacts
Power Of Mango Leafs In The Body System Over Kidney Treatment
An Abuja based herbal doctor, Dr Bamidele Joshua said the consumption of mango leaves helps in the treatment of kidney and gall stones, among others.
Speaking with newsmen on Wednesday in Abuja, Dr Bamidele said that consumption of mango leaves also helps in the treatment of many health conditions.
According to him, Mango leaves contain vitamins C, A and B as well as vital minerals such as Copper, Potassium and Magnesium.
He explained that the leaves could be boiled to be taken as water or dried into powder form to be used in any food or drink. He added that for medicinal purposes, the use of young and tender leaves was best for optimal benefits.
Dr Bamidele noted that the consumption of the leaves helps prevent and regulate diabetes, lowers blood pressure, fights restlessness and stops hiccups.
“Mango leaves are very useful for managing diabetes. The tender leaves of the mango tree contain tannins called anthocyanidins that may help in treating early diabetes.
“Soak the leaves in a cup of water overnight, strain and drink this water to help relieve the symptoms of diabetes. It also helps in treating hyperglycemia.
“It also help to lower blood pressure as they have hypotensive properties that helps in strengthening the blood vessels and treat the problem of varicose veins.
“People suffering from restlessness due to anxiety, should add few mango leaves to their bathing water. This helps in relaxing and refreshing the body.
“Daily intake of a finely grounded powder of mango leaves with water kept in a tumbler overnight helps in breaking kidney and gall bladder stones as well as flush them out.
“Put some mango leaves in warm water, close the container with a lid, and leave it overnight. Next morning filter the water and drink this concoction on an empty stomach.
"Regular intake of this infusion flushes out toxins from the body and keeps the stomach clean.”
“Soak the leaves in a cup of water overnight, strain and drink this water to help relieve the symptoms of diabetes. It also helps in treating hyperglycemia.
“It also help to lower blood pressure as they have hypotensive properties that helps in strengthening the blood vessels and treat the problem of varicose veins.
“People suffering from restlessness due to anxiety, should add few mango leaves to their bathing water. This helps in relaxing and refreshing the body.
“Daily intake of a finely grounded powder of mango leaves with water kept in a tumbler overnight helps in breaking kidney and gall bladder stones as well as flush them out.
“Put some mango leaves in warm water, close the container with a lid, and leave it overnight. Next morning filter the water and drink this concoction on an empty stomach.
"Regular intake of this infusion flushes out toxins from the body and keeps the stomach clean.”
He however enjoined patients with serious health issue to seek medical advice before consumption.