The Cross River of Life

This river, no doubt, is the source of livelihood for those on its bank as they depend on it for fishing, transportation, irrigation farming during the dry season and logging of wood from the mangrove forest. The communities this river runs through have become so used to it that without it they cannot survive. Thus, just as the saying goes, no Nile no Egypt, so it is in Cross River State with Cross River. This river is the livewire of the coastal economy of the state.

The Cross River, which takes its source from the Republic of Cameroon and covers an area of 39,000 square kilometres, is one of the largest and longest rivers in the country. Incidentally, Cross River State derives its name from this river. This river which has the largest drainage basin in the state accounts for over half of the state’s total river flow. Because of its vast dimension, it is fed by other rivers and streams all of which at the peak of rainfall increase the volume of water in the river.

Cross River is crossed by four bridges: Ikom, Itigidi, Itu and Adiabo in Odukpani Local Government Area. The river narrows at some point and expands in others but its four nautical miles width ensures that a modern bridge could span easily even as the length of the river flows through tropical rainforest where there are many communities.

There are 18 local government areas in Cross River State. Out of this number, the river flows through 13 in the Central and Southern Senatorial Districts. They include: Etung, Ikom, Obubra, Yakurr, Abi, Biase, Akamkpa, Odukpani, Calabar Municipality, Calabar South, Akpabuyo and Bakassi. It has a confluence at Ikom with the Afi River.

The river’s sandbanks, reed swamps and water lily lagoons are breeding grounds for numerous birds and aquatic animals. The birds loom and sing to build up a detailed picture of bountiful nature and its generosity to man. The picturesque scenery of the banks of this river as it courses through the landscape provides a tourist site that is good for sun bathing and relaxation generally.

Before the advent of western civilisation, this river was the only means of transportation. Traders from Ogoja and its environs transported their goods including slaves through Afi River to Cross River en route Calabar. The goods were conveyed in hand dug canoes. Natives of the aforementioned local government areas used the same means of transportation for their goods too. Till date, communities on the bank of this river where there is no bridge still use canoes or speed boats to transport goods and people across.

From Etung to the Atlantic Ocean where the river empties into, it is common to see heaps of sand on the banks packed by the natives for sale to property developers. Every day, trucks nose their way to the river banks to tip sharp sand. Those who pack this sand are making a fortune from it. Mr. Osim Erim of Okuni community in Ikom said over the years, they who are into the business have been making money from it.

“My brother, you see, without this river life would have been difficult for some of us. We come here every day to pack sand from the river so that it gets dried before selling. We sell one tipper load for N20, 000. Some of us bring our wives and children to help in excavating sand from the river. Through this, we’ve been able to build our houses and send our children to school. There is no way this sand would finish because every raining season, as we pack, so the water brings fresh sand,” he said.

Mr. James Ovat of Appiapum Community in Obubra, Ndodeye Mbang of Ekori, Yakurr and Etim Asuquo of Bay Side, Calabar South echoed the views of Erim when they said the river is their employer as they earn a living by packing sand to the shore. But the price of sand per tipper in the two senatorial districts varies based on the factor of urban development. More people are building in Calabar, the state capital than in other places.

In Calabar, Abomeghe in Abi and Ekori in Yakurr, water transportation is still the order of the day. In these places like in others, canoes and speed boats are used to ferry passengers and goods across. In Calabar, speed boats convey passengers to Oron in Akwa Ibom State and Creek Town in Odukpani Local Government Area. It’s a common sight seeing mechanically propelled boats gliding along the river at the Marina beach in Calabar.

The distance by water from Calabar to Oron is shorter than that by road. Before now, there was a ferry owned by the Inland Waterways that was the cheapest means of transportation to Oron. The Nigerian factor which is unfavourable to maintenance culture ensured that all the ferries on the fleet are now grounded. Today, speed boats owned by private transporters are making brisk business at the Marina. And passengers are always available to and from Oron.

Irrigation activities go on at the banks of this river during the dry season. Communities on these banks take to the cultivation of vegetable, maize, melon and more during this season. They water the crops from this river. This explains why in places like Ikom, Obubra, Etung and Abi, maize, vegetables like pumpkin and spinach are cultivated all year round. Those who can afford, use machines to channel water to their crops.

This river has made its beneficiaries take to fishing as occupation. Thus, natives of such communities (both males and females) are experts in fishing. They fish everyday for sale to hoteliers, restaurant operators and private individuals. Fishermen use canoes along the banks of the river for fishing. There is no fishing trawler in use here. Those who go fishing are great swimmers too. They can easily dive into the river to haul their catch into the canoe if too heavy.

Fishing is the predominant occupation of the people of Bakassi. They sail into the Atlantic Ocean to fish. They have no other source of income outside this river. Early in the morning, market women and men into this line of business leave Calabar for Bakassi for fish, periwinkle, crayfish and more. Fishes in Bakassi are bigger than those from other places for obvious reasons.
The mangrove vegetation on the banks of the river is also a source of income. In Calabar especially, the natives use canoes and speed boats to fetch fire wood for cooking or support for decking of storey buildings. At the Marina Beach in Calabar, those into this business cross to the other side of the river to fetch wood.

This has attendant consequences on the environment as it facilitates deforestation.
This river has its merits and de-merits. At the peak of the rainy season, it overflows its banks causing destruction to houses and farms. At Okuni on Ikom-Calabar highway, water from the river covesr the entire road to obstruct traffic for days. When this happens owing to the proximity of the river to the road, vehicles from both sides stop with passengers disembarking to board canoes across to continue the journey. This is one period of job for Okuni boys.

There are also religious activities around this river. Some indigenous Christian churches perform their rituals here. Ditto the traditional African religion faithful, who visit this river to perform sacrifices to the water gods. On the bank, eggs, feathers, food could be seen after the sacrifice had been made.

Over the yearsW, the Cross River has brought tears to many families as canoes and speed boats capsize easily killing passengers on board. No year passes without accidents taking place along Calabar-Oron and Calabar-Creek Town routes. This may not be unconnected with the overloading of the boat, engine developing fault mid-stream or the boat hitting obstruction underneath. Some operators do not bother to provide their passengers with life jacket which can keep them afloat for some hours in the event of an accident.

In Calabar, Akpabuyo and Bakassi, this river aids and abets smuggling and all activities bordering on economic sabotage. Nigerian goods are easily smuggled to Gabon, Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea from these places. The smugglers also use these routes to bring in arms and ammunitions. Illegal oil bunkering thrives on this river too. Just last month, following intelligence reports, Governor Liyel Imoke led a combined team of security operatives to raid Esuk Mba in Akpabuyo and Ikang in Bakassi where illegal refineries, bunkering and illegal petrol depots had mushroomed.

The smuggling on this river is done in active connivance with the police and other security agents. At the Inland Waterways in Calabar, boats heading for Equatorial Guinea are loaded to the brim with made-in-Nigeria goods in the full glare of police and Customs Service officers. Foreign contraband goods also come in through these routes. There is a high level of corruption at all the entry and exit points.
In the Imoke-led raid, over 300 giant size drums used for smuggling of fuel, 104 trucks for loading of fuel were impounded. Barges used in bringing in fuel were riddled with bullets making them to sink.

The barges were loading petroleum products from Rivers State and would discharge the contents in the above mentioned locations where trucks waited. Since the invasion of these locations, sea piracy has reduced drastically in the state. Dealers in petroleum products now go the NNPC and other tank farms in Calabar for their purchase.

The Cross River that comes from the Republic of Cameroon and boosted in volume by Nigerian rivers, streams and rivulets is one natural resource that has since creation made those on its banks to engage in one form of economic activity or the other. Without it, life would probably have been difficult for them and the state government. Through this river, the Calabar Export Free Zone and the Tinapa Business and Leisure Resort are supplied their needs.

culled from Thisday

3rd Mainland Bridge: Lagos Unveils Alternative Routes

The Lagos State Government Wednesday unveiled alternative routes, which motorists and road users could ply pending when the repairs of the Third Mainland Bridge would last stating that the bridge would only be partially closed.

Some of the alternative routes to include Herbert Macaulay, Carter Bridge, Funsho Williams Avenue, Eko Bridge, Ikorodu Road, Agege Motor, Iddo Road and Ijora Olopa road among others.

The routes were unveiled at a news conference, which the state Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, addressed yesterday along with his counterparts in the Transportation Ministry, Mr. Kayode Opeifa and that of Information and Strategy, Mr. Aderemi Ibirogba, among others.

Hamzat said that the Federal Government “has already awarded the contract to repair the bridge. In the course of the repair works, there are eight joints on the bridge that would be affected, and three of the joints are on the lane moving from Oworonshoki to the Island.

“While five is on the other side of the road, that is driving out of the Island to the mainland. So, it is these eight expansion joints that need repair. When the bridge was constructed, it was designed as a county leaver, meaning that there is a structure which two different structures are hanging on it.”

In his address, Opeifa said the bridge while going towards Oworonshoki “is at 20 percent utilisation. What the state government is doing is just to divert the 20 percent of road users to join the 10 percent on the diversion roads.”

Giving details about the alternative routes, Opeifa said the traffic management strategy “is structured around the current use of the bridge. The direction of traffic flow determines the strategy we will adopt. We have examined other roads that will be used during the period and structured our strategy around other roads”.

Opeifa said that the repair works will commence on the Third Mainland Bridge on July 1, stating that the motorists coming from Lagos Island to the mainland at Adeniji Adele “are expected to divert to Carter Bridge and other
roads. When one gets to carter, the motorists are expected to proceed to Iddo.

“From Iddo, the motorists can proceed to Herbert Macaulay down to Jibowu and link either Agege motor road or Ikorodu road. From Iddo, the motorists may link Ijora Olopa and will need to link Eko Bridge.

“From that bridge, the motorists one can get to Funsho Williams avenue.  From Funsho Williams avenue, between Ojuelegba and Moshalasi, the motorists can decide to use either Ikorodu road or Agege motor road. That would afford motorist the opportunity to link Alimosho, Iyana-Ipaja and others”.

From Ijora, the commissioner further explained that the motorists could decide “to drive through the Badagry expressway and drive through Mile 2. The road is always free. Because one will exit before getting to Mile 2 on to Apapa Oshodi expressway, which will afford one to move to Okota link bridge and get to Oshodi.

“Alternatively, the motorists can use the Murtala Mohammed airport road to link Ikeja, Alimosho and others. From Adeniji Adele, I can link Iddo on getting to the carter bridge and join the Ijora bridge at 7up and link the Apapa Oshodi express way which at that time is very free than it was in 2008.

“Instead of coming to Adeniji Adele, I will drive to Marina which is always free at this time of the day. From Marina, one can link the Eko Bridge and link Funsho William road or Apapa Oshodi. During the period, these are roads that are always free. And they are at 10 percent utilisation,” the commissioner said.

Raw Honey And Ulcers (2)

RAW honey is the only sure bet to crush stomach ulcers and avoid the risk of cancer.  Since ancient times, raw honey has been used to cure ulcer as part of folk medicine. Though modern man or woman especially educated ones may take anecdote from folk medicine with a pinch of salt, there is avalanche of science-validated evidence about honey’s potent antibacterial, stress-busting, anti-inflammatory and cholesterol-lowering effects.

Raw honey’s anti-bacterial powers inhibit helicobacter pylori, which makes ulcer festers and incurable. While many strains of bacteria can resist synthetic antibiotics, no bacteria can resist antimicrobial powers of raw honey. Researchers at Hebrew University of Jerusalem in Israel proved that raw honey wipes out the toughest-to-treat ulcers. Also, a publication Honey the Gourmet Medicine says, “A man suffering from severe possibly terminal stomach ulcers hated doctors, so he stayed at home and suffered. A friend told him about a Russian study showing that raw honey cured ulcers. The man used honey and was miraculously cured”.

Stomach ulcer is also characterised by high acidity, which triggers pain especially when acidic foods and drinks are consumed. But raw honey contains potassium and sodium, two powerful acid-neutralising agents.

Beyond its antibacterial powers, raw honey can also be used to redress other conditions that may trigger ulcers or warrant taking medications that can trigger ulcers. For instance, doctors often prescribe anti-inflammatory drugs for asthma and arthritis patients even when these drugs are known to cause ulceration in the bowel sometimes leading to bleeding problem. But both asthma and arthritis can be redressed with anti-inflammatory powers of raw honey.

In other words, with honey as part of their treatment protocols, asthma and arthritis patients need not take synthetic anti-inflammatory drugs that could cause ulcer and also aggravate their initial disease conditions.

More often than not, people suffering from hypertension also take aspirin or other cholesterol- lowering drugs to prevent stroke, but these medications make them susceptible to ulcers. Life can be awful with fatal side effects of anti-hypertensive drugs, but gastric ulceration causing pain and bleeding can bring additional agony when aspirin is added.  But with right use of honey, there may not be need for drugs with fatal side effects to lower high blood pressure and bad (LDL) cholesterol.  Honey improves blood circulation through the coronary artery by causing the veins to expand, thus lowering high blood pressure. Honey also contains calcium and potassium, two minerals that are critical to having normal blood pressure and sound sleep.

Honey also fights high cholesterol, which undermines the normal workings of the heart and prepares the ground for heart attack or stroke. A study done by Dr. Nicki Engeseth, an assistant professor of food chemistry at the University of Illinois, Chicago, USA confirmed that honey contains high level of plaque-fighting antioxidants to protect the heart against disease.

Stress is another cause of ulcers but a study at the University of Waikato in New Zealand found that diet sweetened with honey reduced stress. The use of honey for the treatment of ulcer gives tonic effect, improves gastric acidity and blood composition plus a tranquilizing effect on the nervous system

However, the efficacy of raw honey for cure ulcers is based on certain protocol and dosage, otherwise, honey can increase acidity, slows down digestion of the contents of the stomach and irritates the intestines

Raw Honey And Ulcers (1)

IT’S amusing hearing many people talk glibly about ulcers as if it is not a life-threatening disease. Yet, ulcer is an insidious and deadly disease often underrated by most sufferers.

What is ulcer? It is a break on the skin surface or a mucous membrane, which is inflamed and fails to heal. Ulcers can develop in the colon, mouth, duodenum, stomach and leg in the case of diabetics.

The most common form of ulcer is gastric that affects the lining of the stomach. Most often, gastric ulcer occurs during stress, when the body’s defence of the lining of the stomach is damaged and the stomach cannot secret sufficient mucous to protect it against the strong acids essential for digestion.

Other causes of gastric ulcer are aspirin often prescribed to prevent stroke in people at risk, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for people suffering from asthma, arthritis and other auto-immune diseases.

Latest studies showed that 90 per cent of all stomach ulcers are caused by a bacterium known as Helicobacter pylori.

But why does ulcer fester and remain incurable with conventional medicine? Most doctors do not factor the involvement of bacteria in the treatment protocols for ulcers. Even when antibiotics are part of the treatment regimen for ulcers, helicobacter pylori resist the medications, thus making the ulcers fester.

Synthetic antibiotics also kill all the bacteria in the gut, both good and bad, thus distorting the natural flora in the gastrointestinal tract. This distortion, according to John O. Hunter, a gastroenterologist at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge, England, can throw the whole body system off balance causing a vicious cycle of infections.

Most ulcer medications also reduce or neutralise hydrochloric acid, thus encouraging the growth of bacteria.

However, helicobacter pyloric does not only make ulcer incurable, there is also a solid link between this bacterium and stomach cancer. Evidence is mounting that this bacterium causes most stomach and gastrointestinal problems, which are precursor to stomach cancer.

As a matter of fact, the World Health Organization WHO has classified helicobacter pylori as a Class 1 carcinogen. For instance, Japanese researchers studied 544 patients with early stomach cancer, half of whom received helicobacter pylori eradication regimen, while the other received standard care.

After three years, the researchers found that eradicating helicobacter pylori after stomach cancer surgery reduced the risk of recurrence by about 65 per cent.

Asset declaration: Jonathan violates PDP manifesto – Investigation

  The refusal of President Goodluck Jonathan to openly declare his assets was against the Programme and Policy Trust of the Peoples Democratic Party, 

Jonathan during his Sunday’s media chat broadcast on television said he did not declare his assets publicly and that he only did so as Vice President because his late boss, Umaru Yar’Adua, compelled him.

“The issue of asset declaration is a matter of principle. I don’t give a damn about it, if you want to criticise me from heaven. The issue of public declaration I think is playing to the gallery. You don’t need to publicly declare any assets. If I am somebody who wants to hide it is what I tell you that you will even believe,” the President had said.

The PDP states in its Manifesto, Programme and Policy Trust for 2011-2015, committed that it will work to ensure that its elected officials openly declare their assets.

Under its Anti-Corruption Policy Thrust, the party promises that the primary objective of a “PDP-led government is to substantially reduce corruption in Nigeria and to develop and promote the mechanisms and institutions for preventing, detecting, and bringing offenders to justice.”

It says that one of the road maps aimed at achieving this will be to “persuade officials to make public their assets declaration records and support a legal backing for compulsory open declaration of assets.”

It was, however, not clear if the party persuaded the President to openly declare his assets and he refused.

However, a former Minister of Defence, Dr. Haliru Bello, who was a former Acting National Chairman of the party when the document was produced, also failed to openly declare his assets.

Bello even wrote the foreword to the booklet.

“This manifesto and Policy Thrust will continue to guide the party and PDP government at all levels to build on the successes of the party and procure a safe, stable and prosperous future for Nigeria,” Bello writes in the foreword.

A member of the National Working Committee of the party, who spoke on the issue on condition of anonymity, however frowned on the refusal of both Jonathan and Bello to openly declare their assets “as a good example for others.”

The anonymous PDP chieftain wondered how the leaders who failed to obey party guidelines would be able to impress it on others to also toe the path of openness by openly declare their assets.

But the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Olisa Metuh, on Monday said the said Programme and Policy Trust of the Peoples Democratic Party did not pass through the party’s National Working Committee. He also defended Jonathan’s refusal to openly declare his assets when he became President on May 29, 2011.

Metuh said, “That document did not pass through the NWC. But let me say that the President has not done anything wrong constitutionally by not publicly declaring his assets.

“The President did so as vice-president and has also acted as the law requires now. He has not done anything wrong constitutionally.

“Like he said, open declaration of assets has nothing to do with fighting Boko Haram.”

Meanwhile, the Congress for Progressive Change has faulted the President over his statement on the declaration of assets.

It expressed concern about Jonathan’s assertion that he was forced as the Vice- President to declare his assets against his desire.

“Should this mean that this President is not principled, otherwise he ought to have resigned his appointment if he was forced to act against his desire,” the CPC argued in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Rotimi Fashakin.

Fashakin said that the President’s demeanour on the issue of asset declaration left many questions unanswered.

He said that the president had not even told the nation that he declared his assets after his inauguration on May 29.

Also, the Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders, and Education Rights Concern on Monday in Abuja condemned the refusal of Jonathan to declare his assets openly.

This CACOL said the President’s refusal to declare his assets publicly was a deliberate act of justifying corruption.

The Chairman of CACOL, Debo Adeniran, noted that the President’s action smacks of disrespect.

culled from The Punch...

Shank - Ghetto (Video)

Blessing Okagbare wins N2m jackpot Blessing Okagbare wins N2m jackpot

 

Nigeria’s fastest woman, Blessing Okagbare, on Thursday leapt to a new 6.97m personal best in the long jump event to win the gold  medal as the 66th Cross River State/All Nigeria Open Athletics Championships ended in Calabar.

The jump was not only 6cm better than her previous personal best which fetched her the bronze medal at the 29th Olympic Games  in Beijing, China four years ago, it also fetched her the N2m jackpot prize set by the Athletic Federation Nigeria.It was reserved for athletes who achieved the best performance, based on the IAAF Scoring (Hungarian) table of athletics.

In the men’s version, Stanley Gbagbeke shrugged off injury worries to leap to a new personal best of 8.20m to retain his title. The feat pushed him up to number four in the Nigeria all-time list and just seven centimeters short of Yusuf Ali’s 8.27m national record set in 1989 in Lagos.

In some of the other events also decided on the last day of competition, former Commonwealth Games shot put queen, Vivian Chukwuemeka made a triumphant return to the national stage by reclaiming her title with a new personal season’s best of 18.18m. It was also her 14th gold medal in the event at the championships.

In the men’s 200m, Obinna Metu ran 20.91 seconds to successfully complete sprints double and announce his arrival as the undisputed king of sprints in Nigeria. He had a day earlier reclaimed the 100m title with a new 10.11 seconds lifetime best. US-based Noah Akwu (20.98) and Elvis Ukale (21.28) settled for second and third positions respectively.

“Trust me; I am going to London to do Nigeria proud. Forget the time here as you can see that this track is not the type  anyone should expect any new record,” stressed the sprinter who earlier this year was in Jamaica to train with world record  holder in the 100m and 200m,Usain Bolt.

In the women’s version of the race, USA-based Lawretta Ozoh dashed to the finish line in 22.73secs while Gloria Asumnu (22.89) and Christy Udoh (22.91) placed second and third respectively.

The race was however not without drama. Asumnu who was judged to have beaten the starter’s gun stayed put, arguing she did not commit the offence. She was however allowed to run under protest.

All Africa Games double champion, Oludamola Osayomi was as disappointing in the 200m as she was in the shorter sprint.

After getting off the block clumsily, she lost interest in the race and just stayed on, jogging to the finish line in the last position.

In the men and women 400m hurdles, Amaechi Morton and Ajoke Odumosu were crowned king and queen respectively. Morton, who arrived in Calabar late on Wednesday night from the USA ran 50.3 to win the race.

Doreen Amata also retained her long jump title, soaring over 1.86m to claim the gold medal. USA based Uhunoma Naomi Osazuwa  was second in 1.80m while Young Esiekpe (1.67m) was third.

The African champion was however impressed with winning despite not meeting her target of 1.95m. “ It is still ok. I know I will get there before leaving for the London Olympics,” observed the mother of one who finished overall 8th at the last World Championships in South Korea last year.

Amata promised to retain her continental title at the African Championships scheduled for next week in Porto Novo, Benin Republic.

In the Half Marathon, Nigerian Army long distance runner, Stephen Jurbe clocked 1hr.07;16.38secs to win the race leaving  Tokbe Givet of Borno (1hr.08:35.62secs) and Danjuma Gyang (1hr.09;07.16secs) to settle for the silver and bronze respectively.

Pastor Chris Okotie, Popular Nigerian Televangelist Dumps Second Wife

Funky Pastor and head of Household of God Church, Lagos, Rev. Chris Okotie has announced his marriage break-up.

The glamorous marriage between Kris Okotie and his beautiful wife, Stephanie, has crashed less than four years after their big wedding, the funky preacher announced today.

In a dramatic announcement after a moving ministration, the controversial pastor of the Household of God Church and three-time presidential candidate, told his church their differences were irreconcilable and the couple had divorced.

“Stephanie and I are no longer married. We have separated. You can see she’s not in church today. It’s due to irreconcilable differences and you should please respect our wishes at this time because there is no going back.” With this terse statement Okotie announced the break up the marriage.

P.M.NEWS learnt that the congregation couldn’t believe the shocking news they had just heard from the charismatic former pop star turned cleric and politician.

Okotie reportedly made the announcement which invariably spoilt the day for most of the worshippers who had earlier had a very memorable brethren’s’ birthday celebration characterised by soul lifting songs, dancing, prayers, ministration and cutting of the cake.

While Okotie is divorcing for the second time, Stephanie has now been married three times and has three children from her first two marriages.

The break-up also puts an end to dream twins that Okotie expected her to deliver someday.

On 7 August, 2008, Okotie married Stephanie Henshaw, the woman he described as the most beautiful on earth, in a glamorous wedding attended by a horde of journalists and celebrities.

The funky preacher and celebrity singer had directed wealthy members of his church to donate millions of naira in gifts and cash and they made it one of the biggest and most-talked about wedding that year.

There were 12 committees made up of members born in each month of the year. Members born in the month of June, Okotie’s birth month, contributed the most. The eloquent preacher was born on 16 June, 1958, in Delta State.

Aside this, Okotie had selected 120 members, 10 from each month to form the wedding train. Each of them wore aso ebi.

The celebrity pastor also invited two journalists from each media organisation in the country to give total coverage to his second marriage.

Okotie’s traditional wedding took place on 7 August, at 6 George Street, Ikoyi, Lagos, by 2 p.m. while the registry ceremony followed the next day, Friday, 8 August, at the Ikoyi registry, at 4 p.m, and the thanksgiving and benediction took place on Sunday, 10 August, at the Household of God Church, Oregun, Ikeja, Lagos.

The clergyman told his church members early that year that he would be getting married to Stephanie because of her beauty which he described as angelic.

The eloquent preacher had also said that Stephanie has been under his watch for five years and did not mind the number of children she had from her previous marriages.

Mid-2007, when Okotie made his choice public, his church almost broke up as some female celebrities who thought they were the favoured candidates for ‘the post‘ of Mrs. Okotie, received the shocker of their lives when he settled for Stephanie, the unassuming woman in his glamorous church.

Ladies like Sola Salako, church administrator for several years and Okotie’s close aide; Vien Tetsola, a former Miss Nigeria; Ure Okezie, daughter of former minister, Dr. Okezie, and others, were rumoured to have left the church because of the announcement.

Celebrities such as Mofe Damijo and many others were also said to have simply quit Okotie‘s church then, while some have reluctantly returned.

Okotie’s marriage to Stephanie was his second attempt at matrimonial life. He was first married to Tyna his long time friend, but the marriage packed up after 17 years without any child.

Okotie loved his first wife so much that there was hardly a sermon in which he did not mention Tyna.

Long after they separated, he still spoke about her with deep emotions as if they were still married.

So much did Okotie talk about Tyna that some of his admirers in the church became jealous. But when he announced that he was set to marry Stephanie, he hardly mentioned the name of his first wife publicly.

Stephanie then became his centre of attraction.

On one occasion, Okotie invited Stephanie to the altar for a formal introduction.

After dancing around her for some minutes to the delight of the congregation, Okotie looked at Stephanie as she was going back to her seat, looked at the church and looked at Stephanie again and said in Igbo language, “Lekwa nwanyi nka marama” meaning “Look at her, isn`t she beautiful?”

Pastor Chris Okotie, founder of Household of God Church, Oregun, Lagos, is another firebrand preacher that often sends his audience into ecstasy.

He is also known for televangelism, and for preaching the end times which he titles The Apocalypsus.

In his messages, Okotie always reveals his knowledge of the book of Revelations beyond the ordinary and in a very complicated language which has prompted many to go to church with one or two dictionaries!

 

Woman arrested for calling ex-husband a Boko Haram member on Facebook

 23-year old mother of one has been arrested by policemen from Ipaja Police Station, Lagos State, Southwest Nigeria, for calling her ex-husband a member of the Boko Haram sect on Facebook, the social interaction site on internet.

The suspect, Afolakemi Mojisola Adeniyi, was arrested following a complaint lodged at the station by her former husband, Alfa Umar Gobir, that his ex-wife posted his picture on facebook and tagged him a member of the Boko Haram.

Umar told the police that he received several calls from friends and associates throughout the weekend, asking him why he joined the sect and that he kept telling them that they were mistaking him for someone else until one of his friends told him to check Facebook.

Umar said he was shocked when he saw his picture on facebook and the words written below the picture read: “This is one of the Boko Haram any time you have contact with him, bomb him.”

Umar further explained: “I was sleeping on Saturday night when I started receiving calls from my friends asking me why I joined the Boko Haram sect. I was surprised since I did not belong to the sect, but one of my friends called me again and said I should go to Facebook. He told me that my picture was there as a member of the sect.

“I was shocked when I saw my picture on the social networking site.”
Umar told the police at Ipaja that very early that day, he went to Ipaja where his ex-wife lived with her parents and reported the case to them.

His ex-wife confirmed to him that she posted the picture on Facebook because he told her that she and her child would die. Umar told the police that few hours after the parents of his ex-wife begged him to forgive her, she posted another one on Facebook saying she did not regret her action.

The second posting reads: “Am nt regrtn of d pic upload by me 2 any 1.”
When Afolakemi was arrested and the police asked her why she did it, she simply said that Umar told her that she and her child would die.

The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Ipaja Police Station, Titiladayo Segun, after listening to both parties, advised Afolakemi and her parents to go and beg the complainant for forgiveness because of the little child they have, adding that with the evidence before him there is no way she would not go to jail should the complainant insist on going to court.

Gobir told the police that he is yet to decide whether to take his ex-wife to court, adding that he needed to consult his family over the matter.

Chioma Ajunwa-Opara: From Olympics Success to Busting Crime

What on earth could an Olympics gold-medalist be doing behind a desk at a police station tucked away in a Lagos suburb? That’s the jolt you’ll get if you had any reason to request to see the divisional police officer of Meiran Police Station, writes Raheem Akingbolu

We often tend to forget that stars once had a life where they were anything but the centre of attraction. The name Chioma Ajunwa-Opara conjures images of that remarkable athlete who gave Africa its first Olympics gold medal in the female category of a track and field event. That was at the Atlanta Olympics, in 1996. Only a few would remember that before she shot herself into the record books with that 7.12m jump in the long jump finals, she was a cop.

She still is as a matter of fact. And her star power (she is a National Merit Award recipient) is giving the force a positive sheen. Ajunwa-Opara who once played for the force’s female football team, Police Machines, before making the switch to athletics is doing that without qualms – almost like the girl next door.

Still the girl next door

Humble and pleasant, she seems aware of how immense success can breed a standoffish attitude and is determined to keep such tendencies in check. It took four visits to the station and two personal chats for her to commit to an appointment. Even then, she would apologize profusely. “As much as I would have loved to talk to you, I have a lot of things to attend to and the truth is if I have not sorted them out, it will be difficult to concentrate on the interview. I suggest we fix another day,” she said during one such encounter.

The administrative officer at the station, an assistant superintendent of police identified simply as Mr. Ojo, tried to cheer up this reporter after the disappointment. “Journalist, you are disappointed, I guess. Well, whichever way, I can assure you madam would make you happy the next time you come around and I can bet that you will like to meet her again after the first meeting,” he said with a reassuring smile.

When the interview finally held, Ajunwa-Opara’s attitude confirmed her admin officer’s earlier statement. “For me, it was sport before police force. I loved sport and gave it all my attention as a young girl. But it would surprise you that my parents didn’t oppose my decision to join the force the way they resisted my participation in sporting activities as a young school girl.”

She simply pursued her passion, never imagining it would someday propel her to stardom. But the Atlanta Olympics changed all that. “Honestly, when I started, I never thought of such. I did not know that it would make me to be known worldwide. Moreover, I was just running for the fun of it. But I thank God, having realised that whatever one is doing, it is important that you do it well.”

Perks of an Olympics gold

Ajunwa-Opara, a native of Umuchukwu in Orumba South Local Government Area of Anambra State admitted that her exploits in sport have given her career and image some positive nudge. For instance, she was promoted two ranks ahead of her contemporaries immediately she returned from the games by the Nigerian Police.

“I became a star,” she said smiling. “The name Chioma Ajunwa then started opening doors. Frankly, I wonder sometimes whether I would be so popular without that achievement in sport.”

Such philosophical thoughts prompted another: What vocation would she have chosen if she wasn’t a policewoman? “There are other things I would have done. There were so many opportunities, while I was running, from which I would have picked. After I made it big in the Olympics, there were offers from a few countries, including the United States, where I was invited to come and work in the sports café or coach their athletes. Also, members of the Nigerian community in the US whose children were into sports asked me to come and be their director of sports. As you know, some of them came here for championship and they were also doing well up there.”

Indebted to the force

For her, she felt indebted to Nigerian Police for the support it offered and for the window of opportunity a career with the organization opened. “I believed I owe the Police, otherwise I would have been earning better salary than what I’m earning now. But believe me, I derive pleasure in what I do and I work hard every passing day to leave the police better than I met it.”

There is no question of dictating career choices for her children. “Gone are the days where parents dictate to children on what to do; whatever they chose to do, my role is just to advise them and counsel. I can’t impose.”

Sixteen years after her Olympics gold and national award, she still gets the winks of recognition from star-struck fans. But she would never be carried away by such outpouring of affection. “Honestly, I know some people are always elated whenever they meet me, but I must confess that I don’t think I am a star. I made name – there is no doubt about that – and when I walk on the street I get some respect and it makes me happy. But that is not enough for me to feel more important than anyone else.”

Recipe for success

Speaking on why Nigerian sports have been in one faltering step after another, she said: “One of the problems we have here is that people think they are better than their coaches, which is the beginning of failure. Don’t forget the first law in the 48 Laws of Power is ‘don’t overshadow the master’. To me, the moment you try to flex muzzle with your boss or superior, you are missing the target.”

As a woman in a vocation dominated by men it’s easy to feel intimidated by the sheer gender disparity both in number and achievement. Not so for the athlete. “I don’t feel intimidated because I have always loved to work hard and follow police ethics.

Again, I believe I have a God and He is the one doing the job. I am just sitting here doing what God wants me to do. I can’t be intimidated because of a mortal man. Don’t forget police job is very simple: everyday you get signal on what to do and if you follow the steps that your boss has outlined, you won’t have any problems. Some people get into problems because they are doing the opposite of the instructions they have been given. Anywhere I am, I follow the rudiments of the job and every instruction and, most importantly, I put God before me.”

One word that seems not to exist in her lexicon is relaxation. Her job gives her little room for relaxation. “It is not easy; you come to work every day and work from morning till late in the night. That is why you see some officers that slump and died in the office. The stress is intense. But as a woman, we believe that what a man can do, a woman can do even better. In fact, there are some issues in this job you can use motherly advice to handle. There are complaints you can handle better as a woman than your male counterparts.”

Bolstered by family’s understanding

“I am privileged to come from a civilised family even though we were not rich. My mother never asked me not to join the police. At a time, I was the one running when the police was chasing me. But when I could not run any longer I succumbed. But they discouraged me totally from sports. Sometimes they had to lock me indoors and I had to jump out through the window.

“They never knew that sports could bring me this glory. The perception then was that if you are into sports, there were possibilities that you would be wayward. But the story later changed. Today, I thank God that He is using sports to bring some families out of poverty. When you look at people who have made it or making it in sports, they are not from rich homes, simply because the rich hardly allowed their wards to be involved in serious sporting activities in the years past.

“After God, it is my husband. Of course, there are so many men, but it’s not easy finding a husband amongst them. If you are able to find one, you should be thankful to God. If one comes across a man who is not hers, it will be stress all through. If my husband is not my own, I don’t think I would take this post. I leave the office at 10pm or 11pm and there are times I sleep there, but he shows remarkable understanding. This is possible because he is my own husband. Come to think of it; we never dated. We met and married and have since remained like siblings. He is not a police officer but he is quite discerning. There was a time I wanted to resign to take up appointment in the US; he said ‘no, you must stay put in the police.’”

But she still has to find a way to multi-task: to combine her schedule as a police officer with the demanding role of motherhood. “I don’t think I am the only career woman that is married. So mine should not be an exception. I need to earn a living and at the same time I need my marriage. It is not a hard thing to do, but it depends on the individual involved.”

Thrill of national honour

Just like memories of her effort in 1996 that fetched Nigeria its first individual Olympics gold medal still bring immense joy, so too does she feel recalling the National Merit Award conferred on her by the federal government a few years ago.

“The merit award gladdens my heart because it happened while I’m alive. When I learnt that 50 people, both dead and alive, and I would be honoured, my joy was immeasurable. It was when I got there that I knew the scale of the award. It didn’t take long before I started shedding tears of joy. When I saw the names of the people on the list, I asked how many people were still alive and I discovered we were few. Just like when I won the Olympics medal; I never knew it was a big thing, until I got back to Nigeria and I saw crowds awaiting me.”

She is particularly bothered by the negative public perception the Nigerian police gets. But she is optimistic it would change with time. “Some people think the police are hungry people; I don’t think so. Some people have the perception that policemen are wicked; again, I don’t believe that. Rather, I believe what we are doing is a humanitarian job. Whatever challenges that come with it, we take it. We have to be tolerant. I believe the police job comes after God’s work and I don’t have any regret to be one. It is also an individual thing: somebody may be here and be doing the wrong thing, definitely people will talk and equally when you are doing the right thing, people will also commend you.”

3rd Mainland Bridge Closure to Affect Ogudu, Oworonsoki Traffic

The Federal Road Safety Corps, Lagos State Sector Command has said that the proposed closure of the Third Mainland Bridge for repairs will affect traffic in and out of Lagos from Ogudu and Oworonsoki expressway. Work on the repairs of the Third Mainland Bridge, Lagos would begin on Sunday, July 1, 2012. The repair work is expected to last till November 6, 2012.
 Corps Commander, Sector Commander, Lagos State Sector Command, Nseobong Akpabio, said in a statement yesterday that the specific routes where there would be traffic restriction would be communicated to the public soon.  He said there would be diversions and delays during the period within the work area and advised road users to strictly adhere to road signs, traffic rules and regulations to avoid hitches.
 Adequate arrangement, he said has been put in place for a coordinated traffic information management which would be communicated from time to time via radio, television, newspapers and the social media during the period. “The corps further advices that motorists should ensure adequate planning of their trip and utilise designated alternative routes to avoid undue delays,” the statement said, adding that the measure is to help alleviate the movement of the people.
Akpabio said the Federal Road Safety Corps, as the lead agency in traffic management in Nigeria, would coordinate the various traffic agencies involved in the exercise. He said, “Appropriate traffic management measures aimed at improving the safety and flow of traffic, reducing traffic emissions and utilising traffic artery capacity more effectively will be in place throughout the duration.” Officers and Marshals from all FRSC formations in the state, he said would be deployed to strategic designated locations in conjunction with other security and safety personnel to form good synergy.

culled from Thisday...

Nigerians, top users of bleaching creams - WHO

A World Health Organisation report on the danger of mercury in skin lightening soaps and creams has revealed that over 77 per cent of Nigerians use such products on a regular basis.

The report, published this month by the organisation on its website, further shows that it is followed by Togo with 59 per cent; South Africa, 35 per cent; and Mali, 25 per cent.

In a similar vein, the organisation has issued a warning against skin lightening soaps, creams and cosmetics like eye makeup, cleansing products and mascara, saying they could be containing mercury.

It cites the adverse effects of inorganic mercury — a common ingredient found in skin lightening soaps and creams. The effects include kidney damage, reduction in the skin resistance to bacterial and fungal infections, anxiety, depression, psychosis and peripheral neuropathy.

Others are skin rashes, swelling of the skin, irritation, seizures, numbness, pain tremors and memory loss. According to WHO, once the chemicals get absorbed into the skin and enter the blood stream, the complications are worse.

Carolyn Vickers of WHO Chemical Safety Department says, “Mercury in soaps and creams eventually enters waste water and then enters the food chain as highly toxic methyl mercury.

“The mercury enters environment, where it becomes methylated, and enters the food chain as highly toxic methylmercury in fish. Pregnant women who consume fish containing methylmercury transfer the mercury to their foetuses that can later result in neurological deficits in children,” the report states.

It adds that lightening soaps and creams are commonly used in some African and Asian nations and dark-skinned populations in Europe and North America. Mercury salts work by inhibiting the formation of melanin, resulting in a lighter skin tone.

It is also reported that some women use these products for as long as 20 years. The number is growing by the day. Ehowhow.com says “ It is generally believed that this practice is influenced by deep racial inferiority, ignorance of identity or a crisis of identity but it is important to note that there is more to it than this. For some of the women,  skin lightening satisfies their need for attention, their desire for beauty as seen in magazines where models and celebrities have light colored skin. It can be seen as perpetuating the colonial belief that being lighter is better.”

In many countries, this deadly substance has been banned.

“Some manufacturers are no longer using mercury as a preservative in mascara and eye makeup cleansing products as a result of consumer pressure. However, most jurisdictions still allow the sale of makeup products containing mercury compounds. The soaps contain approximately one to three per cent mercury iodide, and the creams are composed of one to 10 per cent mercury ammonium. It is imperative to check for mercury content on the packaging of the soaps, creams or other cosmetics before getting hooked to them,” the report says.

Part of the consolation, however, is that despite a deliberate ploy by some manufacturers to conceal the presence of mercury in their products, there are a few ways by which consumers can confirm when in doubt.

According to WHO, the amount or concentration of mercury in a product may be labelled on the packaging or in the ingredient list. Names to look for include mercury, Hg, mercuric iodide, mercurous chloride, ammoniated mercury, amide chloride of mercury, quicksilver, cinnabaris, hydrargyri oxydum rubrum (mercury oxide) and mercury iodide.

Skin lightening products are manufactured in many countries like China, the Dominican Republic, Lebanon, Mexico, Pakistan, the Philippines, Thailand, and the USA.

These products come in different forms, including soaps and creams; the soap is often sold as “antiseptic soap”. These products are supposed to be applied to the skin to dry overnight. Women use the soap to wash their hair, arms or face or their entire body. Products with very high levels of mercury contamination look grey or cream coloured.

When the product manual reads, “Directions to avoid contact with silver, gold, rubber, aluminum and jewellery’’, this may indicate the presence of mercury. However,  it is important to note that companies selling products that contain mercury do not always list it as an ingredient.

  ... culled from Punch

Lawan surrenders to police

Otedola wants bribery video made public

Presidency denies link, House decides lawmaker’s fate today

Lawmakers meet today, Braithwaite doubts probe’s integrity

PRE-EMPTING a joint security move to launch a hunt for him owing to his failure to submit himself for interrogation by the police, Farouk Lawan, a major player in the bribery saga over the probe into the management of oil subsidy, yesterday surrendered himself at the Police Headquarters in Abuja.

Earlier in the day, the police had planned to track him down through a joint operation comprising the State Security Service (SSS) and the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) after the emergency session of the House of Representatives, which holds this morning.

At the time of filing this report, Lawan was being grilled by the police and he was still writing his statement. Indications emerged yesterday that he might be released for him to appear at the House of Representatives deliberations on the saga today.

The other key player in the bribery affair, Femi Otedola, is angry at the insinuation that he framed Lawan and that he (Otedola) is just as guilty. He believes the failure of the police and the SSS to make public the video recording he gave them is causing him a lot of damage. He is said to have approached a lawyer to seek  an order  compelling the SSS to publish the audio and video recording to show who did what and when. He wants the case handled on merit and not on sentiments.

Piqued by the bribery allegation, frontline politician and former presidential candidate of the Nigeria Advance Party (NAP), Dr Tunji Braithwaite, has described the probe as lacking in credibility.

Speaking as the guest of honour at a lecture titled “Democracy, Good Governance and Development in Nigeria since 1999,” organized by the University of Lagos’ Department of Sociology yesterday, Braithwaite noted  that while there had been a total absence of infrastructure to support basic living standard in the country, corrupt politicians had continued to pauperise the people.

He said: “The figures thrown up by the ad hoc committee as having been stolen were not in billion but trillions of national and foreign currencies. Despite the billions successive corrupt Nigerian governments claimed to have spent to provide amenities like electricity, there is hardly anything to justify the huge expenditure. The country remains largely in darkness. This is but only one of the many travails induced and inflicted by corruption.”

Expressing hopelessness in the outcome of the probe, he said:  “If such a weak probe could throw up such horror, what would a thorough investigation and probe throw up? How much worse could a cruel and evil cabal in power get?”

Braithwaite also condemned the University of Lagos’ change of name by President Goodluck Jonathan “without consultation,” describing the action as a penchant for stirring the hornet’s nest.

He stated: “I recall the thoughtless timing of the painful burdening of the Nigerian people, by his so-called subsidy removal from petrol price, resulting in over 100 per cent hike in the price of petrol in one fell swoop on the first day of the year 2012, exactly a week after the Christmas Day terrorist attacks of Boko Haram on Christians in Abuja, killing innocent souls and injuring hundreds of others. Here we are now with another insensitive and dubious national gift.”

It was learnt yesterday that over half of the 360 members of the House of Representatives have endorsed the suspension of Lawan.

At a crucial meeting allegedly held at the residence of a prominent principal officer of the House in Abuja yesterday afternoon, it was learnt  that more lawmakers had joined in the demand for the suspension of Lawan pending the outcome of an independent investigation that might be conducted by the House on the matter.

According to some lawmakers who volunteered information regarding decisions arrived at in the meeting, those canvassing the suspension of Lawan were swelling in number by the day and they cut across the six geo-political zones in the country.

The Guardian learnt that having waited for Lawan for two days without his appearance, security agencies have resolved that the best way to track him down  is to put up surveillance around the National assembly with a view to getting the lawmaker to appear before the police who have begun investigation into the matter and are waiting for him to  give his own version of the allegation.

It was also learnt that the police do not want to dramatise the issue by declaring him wanted because of the chain reaction such approach might generate. A source told The Guardian that “considering the calibre of people we dealing with in this case, we do not want a situation where people will begin to read a different meaning into the matter.”

According to another source, since Lawan cannot be arrested within the precincts of the National Assembly because no court of law has pronounced him guilty, the only way is to wait for him until after the session and get him outside the premises of the National Assembly.

Another option being contemplated is that it is likely the House of Representatives suspend him pending the outcome of an investigation that would be carried out with a view to getting to the root of the matter. If this works out, it is hoped that Lawan might be arrested immediately after the session.

At the Force Headquarters, expectations were high yesterday that Lawan would appear to face the Special Task Force headed by Ali Amodu, a Commissioner of Police (CP).

Amodu was sighted moving in and out of the office of the Acting Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, obviously to keep him updated on the matter.

Deputy Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, told The Guardian yesterday that the police would carry out a thorough investigation and assured that the outcome would be known to everybody.

Lawan and other members of his panel will know their fate today during the emergency plenary session called by the leadership of the chamber.

There have been more allegations that about N11 billion was collected in bribe from oil marketers during the probe, and shared among members of the committee, a development that has further angered members of the House.

Lawan had run into stormy waters following the public disclosure by Chairman of Zenon Oil and Gas Limited, Otedola that he demanded a bribe of $3 million, and collected $620,000 out of the sum.

Top on the options of the lawmakers is whether to disband the subsidy probe ad-hoc committee, suspend  Lawan, and relieve him of the Chairmanship of the Education Committee of the House. He and members of the committee would subsequently be investigated by the Ethics and Privileges Committee of the House.

It was learnt yesterday that a motion to the effect that disciplinary steps be taken against Lawan and other members of the committee has already been drawn up. But a member of the chamber who does not want his name in print ruled out the option of suspension, as according to him, such  a move would amount to pronouncing him guilty before any investigation is carried out.

The member also noted that the House would still insist on the full implementation of the ad-hoc committee’s report by the Executive arm. “You do not throw the baby with the bath water for whatever reason,” he said while declining further comments on the matter.

On its part, the Presidency yesterday described as “lame and diversionary” reports in some newspapers (The Guardian not included),  which linked the person and office of the President into the bribery scandal involving Lawan and Otedola.

Stating that the reports are “totally false and baseless”, the Presidency said that neither President Goodluck Jonathan, nor anyone around him had any direct or indirect role in what is unfolding in the House of Representatives, adding that the attempt to drag the Presidency into the matter “is entirely speculative and without factual foundation.”

In a statement by Presidential spokesman, Dr Reuben Abati, the Presidency therefore urged the media to allow members of the House and law enforcement agencies to conduct and conclude investigations “without further unhelpful distractions.”

“Recent developments notwithstanding, President Jonathan’s directive to the Attorney-General of the Federation on the report of the Ad-Hoc Committee on Fuel Subsidy, as adopted by the House of Representatives, subsists and he fully expects that all those indicted in the report will be duly investigated and prosecuted if a prima facie case is established against them, “ the statement noted.

Also, former Second Republic Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Dr. Junaid Mohammed, yesterday asked Lawan to quit the lower legislative chamber.

Mohammed who incidentally is from Kano, in an interview with The Guardian noted that the call was based on the fact that the honour and integrity of the embattled lawmaker had not only been damaged, the development was capable of reducing the House to a laughing stock if Lawan remained in the House.

Mohammed who is the National Chairman of the People’s Salvation Party (PSP) called on members of the House to take stiffer measures against   Lawan who represents Bagwai/shanono Federal Constituency of Kano State.

GRAND PRIX: Athletes From 20 Nations To Burn Warri Tracks

The 1st Warri Relays fashioned after such great forebears like the American Penns and Texas relays will be the focus of track & field aficionados in the country today as invited foreigners and top Nigerian stars battle for honours.

Of course, today’s fiesta also incorporates the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) Grand Prix which makes it one at which Olympic qualifications can still be achieved.

At close of entries on Monday, 61 foreign athletes from over 20 countries from around the world had confirmed their participation at today’s event.

Some of the countries where the athletes are from include: USA, Jamaica, Bahamas, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Vincent, Egypt, Cameroon, Botswana, Morocco, Algeria, Senegal, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Kenya, Ethiopia, Liberia and Uganda.

The setting presents a beautiful atmosphere for Nigerians to see their top athletes compete for honours before heading to Calabar for the final Olympic selection trials. Although the sprint may not be as competitive with the absence of world rated stars like Blessing Okagbare, Gloria Asumnu and Oludamola Osayomi, other events will be full of shocks and upsets.

It will be interesting to see how Olympic bound stars, fresh from the Atlanta Camp in the United States of America will compete with those who have been running the local circuit here. The quarter mile presents one of such events.

At the last leg of the AFN/NDDC Golden League in Warri last week Wednesday, Police athlete, Olusegun Ogunkole posted a 46.17 to win the men’s 400m while Tobi Ogunmola who won the invitational category meant for Team Nigeria dipped in at 46.21. Saul Weigopwa (46.22) and Godday James (46.96) followed in that order to leave the category an open one.

But the arrival of Abiola Onakoya, the University of Texas in El Paso (UTEP) undergraduate that holds the fastest time by a Nigerian so far this year at 46.08 seconds has now made it more interesting.

With the quartet, there is the possibility of Nigeria running a faster time here in the 4x400m to make the cut of the first 16 countries to be selected for the London 1600 men’s event.

The women version presents similar scenario with the rivalry between IAAF World Junior 4x400m silver medalists, Bukola Abogunloko and Margaret Etim becoming fierce. At last week’s meet in Warri, Etim upstaged Abogunloko to win with a 51.67. Abogunloko has a Personal Best of 51.57 with which she won the All Nigeria/CRS Championships last year. Cache Ambrister of Bahamas and Ndeye Fatou Soumah of Senegal cannot be ruled out of springing surprises.

In the women high jump, two-time All Africa Games high jump champion, Doreen Amata needs to begin to look over her shoulder for Uhunoma Osazuwa. Osazuwa is not your regular high jumper. She is the national heptathlon record holder but last month cleared 1.84m at a meet in Canada to be in contention for podium placement here. Ahounoawan Odile of Benin Republic and Marie Michael of St Vincent are other outsiders for the title.

Amata, who last year in Maputo, Mozambique successfully defended the high jump title she won in 2007 at the Algiers All Africa Games has been struggling with injury since the start of the season but the mother of one insists there is no cause for alarm.

“ I am fit and battle ready’’, observed the athlete who is on record as the first Nigerian woman high jumper to make it to the finals of the prestigious IAAF World Championships in Athletics last year in Daegu, South Korea.

“Things have not particularly gone as I wished it to be this season, especially after I came back from childbirth to have what is definitely my best season last year,’’ continued Amata who holds the national record at 1.95m and has been dubbed Nigeria’s greatest high jumper of all time.

‘’I will be competing first at the Warri Relays/ CAA Grand Prix. I intend to prove my fitness and battle-readiness there before heading to the Calabar championships’’, she said.

Ajoke Muizat Odumosu appears to be in a world of her own in the women 400m hurdles. Her 55.03 personal season’s best run and the 55.07. She clocked in Baie Mahault last month weekend is the fastest time by a Nigerian over the distance so far this year and among the top 11 fastest times in the world so far this term. Neither Liberian Kou Lougon (57.13) nor American Angela Cooper (57.65) is anywhere near Odumosu’s mark.

8 cut off penises, testicles for Kingdom of God

An online journal, the World-science.net has reported a bizarre trend of body mutilations being inflicted by some people upon themselves, in order to make the Kingdom of Heaven as instructed in the Gospel of Mathew.

Quoting medical researchers at the St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Centre in Phoenix, Arizona, in the United States, world-science.net reported overall 23 cases of people who have cut off their penises or hands or removed their eyes, because they felt they had caused them some sins. Three of these lot who self-severed their penises believed their action would make them live a sinless life and as transformed eunuchs, make them live in line with the injunction in Mathew 19:12. Four others also cut off their testicles, believing same sentiments.

The Biblical verse reads as follows:

“For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother’s womb; and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men; and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. He that is able to receive it let him receive it.”

Worldscience.net reported that these incidents of self-mutilation and penis cutting happen on average of one every three years, ‘’judging by published medical reports—but that makes it no less disturbing each time for hospital staff faced with the situation.’’

One of such rare penis cutting happened last month when a 62-year-old man whom physicians dubbed Mr. P to protect his privacy, showed up at the emergency room of St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix, Arizona, complaining of a case of “Matthew 19:12.” Asked to clarify, he just kept repeating the same thing: Matthew 19:12.

The nurse on duty searched the Internet for Matthew 19:12. What she read was worrisome, worldscience.net reported.

“As it quickly became clear, Mr. P had made this hospital visit unaccompanied by his penis. That, he explained, he had flushed down the toilet three days ago after severing it with a pocketknife. His testicles were also absent—removed four years earlier at Mr. P’s request by a doctor in Mexico.

“Although his speech and thoughts appeared muddled, Mr. P did state that he had “done this because his penis had caused him to sin and as an eunuch he could be closer to God as described in Matthew 19:12,” three researchers affiliated with St. Joseph’s wrote in a report describing the incident. Mr. P also claimed to have pondered the decision for months before acting.

“Mr. P. received urgent medical treatment at St. Joseph’s, including a skin graft onto the stump. He was then confined to a local psychiatric hospital by court order, leaving little but questions behind.

“The three investigators proceeded to search an online medical literature database, PubMed, for other cases of this nature. They discovered that the Bible—indeed, the Gospel of Matthew specifically— has left a trail of self- mutilations inspired largely by four of its verses.

The bloody toll listed in case reports dating back to 1967—PubMed doesn’t go back much further—included three partially or fully amputated penises; four pairs of castrated testicles; three amputated hands and 11 severely damaged eyeballs. Saws, circular saws, screwdrivers and pencils were among the tools used for the horrifying procedures, although several patients put out their eyes with their fingers alone.

“Our literature review revealed 16 patients in addition to [Mr. P] who had injured themselves in connection with specific religious text,” the researchers wrote.

Their review of the cases is published in the May 29 online issue of the research journal Psychosomatics, worldscience .net reported.

‘’All but one of the patients were diagnosed with psychiatric disorders or psychotic disorders or had substance abuse issues, they wrote; Mr. P., for example, “had a long history of severe bipolar illness marked by hyper-religious delusions.”

“And every case was connected with at least one of four verses in Matthew’s Gospel: 19:12, 18:8, 5:29 and 5:30.

“The three latter verses are more cryptic than the first, referenced by Mr. P. What they have in common is that they appear to suggest that if a hand, foot or right eye are somehow offensive, cutting them off is the way to go, because at least, that much less of the body will end up in Hell.

“Several biblical verses reference self-mutilation as metaphoric acts of sacrifice or contrition,” wrote the researchers, who included psychiatrist Jason P. Caplan of St. Joseph’s and the Creighton University School of Medicine in Omaha, Nebraska. “Some individuals may interpret these passages literally and act on them, causing significant injury and even inadvertent death.”

“Psychiatrists should be aware of the content of these four verses to aid in timely diagnosis and intervention if they were to arise in discussion with a patient,” they added. “It is interesting to note that no cases cite the Gospel of Mark despite very similar content (i.e., Mark 9:43, which reads ‘And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched’).”

“Individuals who rationalize their actions through biblical verses appear to have a series of features that make them a unique cohort with specific challenges regarding prognosis and treatment,” Caplan and colleagues wrote.

Many of them have no regrets about their actions; deliberately destroy the body part to prevent its reattachment; resist efforts to successfully reattach it when that is possible; and are uncooperative with other aspects of treatment, they added.

A 37-year-old man was quoted in the 1967 report saying: “Even if I do get certified [insane] and in the eyes of the world I am mad it is far better for me to have cleansed myself.”

“Ideas of reference (specifically, that the Bible directly refers to them) is a repeated theme in this group, underscoring a common thread of psychotic disorders,” Caplan and colleagues wrote.

“Guilt over sexual acts or desires is another recurrent theme… Recent homosexual experiences occurred in three of the cases of genital self- mutilation.” Four of the 17 self-mutilators were females; they had poked out their eyes or, in one case, amputated a hand.

Many patients had self-amputated after failed attempts to persuade doctors to do the deed, the researchers wrote, indicating a need for doctors presented with such requests to refer cases to a psychiatrist immediately.

Caplan disclosed in the paper that he is affiliated with Aliso Viejo, Calif.-based Avanir Pharmaceuticals. The report did not recommend any specific drug treatments, however. As for how Mr. P is doing currently, Caplan said he doesn’t know. “Once they leave the acute care hospital, we get no further update,” he wrote in an email.

The contentious worrisome verses in the Gospel of Mathew

Matthew 19:12

For there are some eunuchs,     which were so born from their moth!er’s womb; and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men; and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.

Matthew 18:8

Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire.

Matthew 5:30

And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy         members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

Matthew 5:29

But if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

TGIW...

  

To all my Fans who can't Wait for the Weekend to come ..Our Prayers have been answered once again...

Meet the Adebanjos

Hilarious! She said

Somehow, there are certain trends I do not react to or acknowledge until it catches the eye of certain members of my social network at which point my curiosity might be engaged to have a look just to appreciate what might have piqued their interest.

This topic had been around for over a week until it came up on the status of a Facebook friend with the text “Hilarious!!!” so I clicked on it.

The first minute presented jocular hilarity and elicited my comment – Hilarious indeed but looks like the over-acting I see on Turkish soaps.

Usually, after such a comment, I would have looked for other activity to engage myself but there was something familiar about the plot, the characters, the script and the setting, I was drawn in.

A British-Nigerian sitcom

Meet The Adebanjo’s [1] according to its website is a feel-good upbeat scripted sitcom, in reality whilst it seemed to be written in similar context as Desmond’s [2] which had a mainly West-Indian influence depicting the life and struggles of immigrants and their children, it was difficult to claim any real affinity with that situation comedy apart from the fact that it shared an immigrant subculture.

In Meet The Adebanjos, it is essentially Nigerian and quite particularly representative of the Yoruba predominantly from Western Nigeria but with the standard fare of one generation of parents who were born in Nigeria that have settled in Britain who now have teenaged children who are essentially British and the traditional, cultural, societal, religious and economic ructions that break-out as the family unit attempts to thrive with extended relations who take liberties and the parents maintain a semblance of harmony and success to the wider community.

The stereotypes are obvious in the roles and the attitudes of the cast; the father whose notion of headship of the family has hardly shifted from one-time traditional expectations that he is unschooled in contemporary romantic engagement of his long-suffering wife who now demands “All I want is one day when you will quality (sic) me.”

A familiar subculture

That is a quintessentially Nigerian line and usage where a noun or adjective can become a verb carrying its meaning with it when there is a more appropriate word, such malapropisms to the facetious are accepted usage within the community that everyone fully understands the context – in this case quality is used for appreciate with emphasis.

The children are caught between the cultures of home, school and the street, the domineering influence of the parents almost always becoming a source of familial conflict until they become wily enough to work around the sometimes absurd restrictions.

However, the genuineness of these depictions must not be lost and needs to be discussed because this British-Nigerian construct is a subculture that is neither fully representative of the Nigeria the parents left decades before nor fully integrated in the Britain where their children were born and buffeted by nostalgia, aspiration and circumstance to the point that it appears ghettoised.

Typically Nigerian

As objective decision-making and reasoning succumbs to subjective community ties that trust is misplaced and taken advantage of as it extends to relations, friends, religious circles, fellow countrymen and other cohesive forces; you have the makings of what can be termed “typically Nigerian” that could be set up anywhere in the world but in Nigeria itself.

I digressed; this is a nicely written script with usefully engaging plots all addressing serious matters with humour and hilarity that it is certainly and definitely more watchable than Nollywood at its pretentious best.

The 1^st episode is built around the man forgetting and at loss at what to do for their wedding anniversary, it aired on the 26^th of June 2011, the 2^nd will air on the 10^th of July 2011 and the last on the 24^th of July 2011.

Altogether funny

There will be 8 episodes in all available for purchase as a DVD box set at some later date.

From what I have seen of the published episodes, the team behind this venture are talented, creative, interesting and fun, I would expect that this sitcom would find a good primetime slot on television or at the least with a cable or satellite channel with an ethnic audience – a few tweaks and less over-acting can make it mainstream enough to put the Channel 4 reality TV Series 3 of The Family [3] featuring the Adesina’s playing to the gallery in the shade.

Episode 1 is required viewing and if you surf the website or follow them on Twitter or Facebook, you might get to watch parts of Episode 2, which at the time of this review was password protected but compulsive viewing, I got to see it.

I do not know what else I should write to get you having a belly full of laughs. One line I cannot forget. “Will you insult the Lord?”