Two Meetings with Two Local Government Bosses, Two Different Results

The Chairman said to us:

"Don't market me.... I don't care about people's perception about me. I don't need to be marketed."

I remember leading a courtesy visit to one Local government Chairman in my days as an undergraduate. This Chairman, drew his seat very close to us in order to hear us properly. When it was time for our presentation, without mincing words, we told him our mind.

However, the Chairman also told us his mind. He doesn't care about what the people take him for. We returned.

What his story later became:

*After his term as Chairman, nobody has ever heard about him in the political arena.

*As a Local government chairman, he was not able to construct the road that leads to his home where his magnificent building still stands.

*As a Chairman, a refuse bin beside his compound was never evacuated.

*Today, nobody talks about him. He was of no value to his people and nobody wishes to be like him.

Funny enough, a few weeks after leaving the office, I returned to same office for a meeting with a new Local Government chairman. We really understood each other in the course of the meeting. This Chairman was later made a commissioner in the State.

The difference is clear.
My people talk say if a man take his hand bury himself, if his hand no comot, his leg go comot.

#servethepeople

FAYOSE WRITES CHINA IN DEFENCE OF NIGERIA

Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State has written the Chinese government, seeking the stoppage of the $2 billion loan being sought by the Federal Government, saying that “the government of China should be mindful of the fact that Nigerians, irrespective of their political and religious affiliations are totally opposed to increment of the country’s debt burden, which is already being serviced with 25 per cent of the Federal Government annual budget.”
In the letter dated April 12, 2016, with reference number EK/GOV/28/10, addressed to President Xi Jinping of China and delivered by Chief of Staff to the governor, Barrister Dipo Anisulowo in Abuja on Thursday, through the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Gu Xiaojie, Governor Fayose said some of the projects for which the loan was being sought were not captured in the controversial 2016 budget, which has been sent to the President by the National Assembly for his assent. Anisulowo, who was accompanied by Deputy Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Hon Segun Adewumi, Chairman House Committee on Information, Gboyega Aribisogan, Chairman House Committee on Health, Dr Samuel Omotosho and Special Assistant to the Governor on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, said Governor Fayose, who is in China will also deliver a copy of the letter directly to the Chinese President. The letter read; “I write as one of the major stakeholders in the project Nigeria, and a governor of one of the federating units making up Nigeria, to draw your attention to report that the Federal Government of Nigeria is on the verge of obtaining a $2 billion loan from the Export-Import Bank of China. “This $2 billion loan is part of the N1.84 trillion the Federal Government of Nigeria has proposed to borrow to finance the 2016 budget, which is yet to be signed by the President, Muhammadu Buhari, owing to unending controversies between the Executive and Legislative arms of government. “According to reports, Nigeria desires to raise about $5 billion abroad to cover part of its 2016 budget deficit. This is projected to hit N3 trillion ($15 billion) due to heavy infrastructure spending at a time when the slump in global oil prices has slashed the country’s export revenues. “While conceding that all nations, especially developing ones need support to be able to grow because no nation is an island, I am constrained to inform you that if the future of Nigeria must be protected, the country does not need any loan at this time. “The government of China should be mindful of the fact that Nigerians, irrespective of their political and religious affiliations are totally opposed to increment of the country’s debt burden, which is already being serviced with 25 per cent of the Federal Government annual budget. “It will interest the government of China to know that some of the projects for which the loan is being sought are not captured in the controversial 2016 budget, which has been sent to the President by the National Assembly for his assent. For instance, the Lagos–Calabar Rail project was not included in the budget proposal the President presented to the National Assembly and it was not included in the Appropriation Bill passed by the National Assembly. “Most importantly, Nigeria is presently servicing debt with about 25 per cent of its annual budget and what will happen to the economy in 2017, when the country will begin to service the additional debt to be incurred this year is better imagined than experienced. “The Chinese government must also be aware that some western nations approached by the Federal Government for loan diplomatically and cleverly declined. “This must have been informed by the suspicion in the present government’s capacity to salvage the nation’s economy, as well as the sincerity in the fight against corruption. More so that Nigeria’s Foreign Reserve, which is the only guarantee for foreign loan has declined to a very uncomfortable level. “For instance, the UK Telegraph Newspaper reported today that hundreds of millions of pounds of British foreign aid given to Nigeria to help combat Boko Haram terrorists is instead being used to fund a witch-hunt against opposition politicians. “Therefore, like the foreign aid that is reportedly being mismanaged, whatever loan that is granted to the Federal Government of Nigeria by the Chinese Government may be mismanaged too. “In my opinion, Nigeria needs the collaboration of the Government of China in the area of technology transfer, rather than granting loan that will be mismanaged under the guise of building infrastructure. “It is also important for the Government of China to note that the Federal Government of Nigeria claimed to have recovered and still recovering trillions of Naira allegedly looted from the treasury. For instance, over $200 billion is expected to be recovered from Dubai, the United Arab Emirate while N3 trillion was said to have been saved from the Treasury Single Account (TSA). “The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has also said that it will generate not less than N4.5 trillion this year. What then is the rationale behind the $2 billion loan from China? “As a result of the government’s bad economic policies, the middle class has been eliminated, power supply is at its lowest ebb, petrol is not available and by the time fresh loans begin to pile up, 95 per cent of Nigerians will definitely be pauperised. “Particularly, by the autocratic nature of our president, the Federal Government is not prepared to listen to wise counsel, hence the desperation to take unwarranted loans even if the future of Nigeria and its people will be mortgaged. “It will also interest Your Excellency that our president’s visit to china will be his 28th trip outside Nigeria since he assumed office 10 months ago and this unnecessary foreign trip is estimated to have cause the country $50 million. “I therefore appeal to Your Excellency to assist Nigeria and its people in the area of technology transfer so as to limit importation of goods and services, rather than granting the country unnecessary loan. “In conclusion, I wish to state that this letter and information became necessary for posterity sake and to put it on record that when the future of Nigeria and its people was going to be mortgaged through loan from the People’s Republic of China, I stood up to be counted in defence of our country.”

THE NIGERIA -CHINA CURRENCY DEAL: THE GOOD AND THE BAD

THE NIGERIA -CHINA CURRENCY DEAL: THE GOOD AND THE BAD

One good thing about economics is that no answer to any economic problem can be generally accepted. When economists fail to have divergent views about a policy or the process of its implementation, the policy must be the one thrown down from heaven.

It's not a very bad idea to go to China. The West had disappointed us in several ways. The West, through the assistance of today's ruling party abandoned Nigeria in the face of sectional terrorism. How can we explain the arms embargo when our innocent brothers are killed and our sisters turned into sex slaves in the Sambisa forest? America is mean. Any leader in Nigeria that decides to move Eastward, may be right.

Among other things, the journey to China and the currency deal would reduce the effects of dollar on the Nigerian imports. Definitely, the prices of commodities will systematically fall. This will surely favour the informal sector. While you jubilate, there is one question that should be answered here. Does Nigeria wish to have China as the only trading partner?

However, while we perceive the deal as a movement from dollar bondage, we also know that it is a new movement to Yuan bondage. China is the biggest threat to our GDP. Definitely, the deal will not encourage our manufacturing sector. What then is the cause of our jubilation?

In conclusion, the Nigerian government should pay attention to the policies that encourage the rise in value of the American dollar in terms of the Nigerian naira. Unless this is done, any other measure taken with China and yuan is simply temporary.

Senators Fear Gender Equality Bill Will Turn Women To Prostitutes, Lesbians –Senator Abaribe

Senators Fear Gender Equality Bill Will Turn Women To Prostitutes, Lesbians –Senator Abaribe

The senator representing Abia South Senatorial District, Eyinnaya Abaribe, has said the Senate rejected the Gender Equal Opportunities Bill because some lawmakers feared the legislation could give women unfettered freedom to engage in immoral activities.

Mr. Abaribe said many senators expressed deep concerns over the blanket freedom the bill would give women because many of them would ignore their immediate responsibilities and turn to prostitutes and homosexuals, urging the proponents of the bill to find a way of replacing some of its languages.

Mr. Abaribe spoke during a forum on political rights of women in Nigeria organised by the Civil Resource Development and Documentation Centre (CIRDDOC) on Wednesday in Abuja.

“The bill was defeated at the second reading when its details were highlighted to the senators,” Mr. Abaribe said. “Some lawmakers started expressing deep worries about some parts of the bill that they think could give women too much freedom and lead them to prostitution, lesbianism and other social vices.”

Mr. Abaribe called on all those championing the bill to make efforts at modifying some aspects of it in order to make it acceptable to all lawmakers for passage.

“The reason why we’re here is that we think that we should be able to restrategise, we should be able to look at the bill again and see those contentious areas we may need to modify. We should be able to find those critical constituencies within the senate that we must have to address.

“We should be able to look at the narrative of the bill and how it is being presented to the public and change that narrative and make it a positive narrative.

“For example, the bill is not a north versus south bill. The bill is not a Christian versus Muslim bill. The bill is not a male versus female bill. The bill simply seeks to extend to every Nigerian all the rights that are they should enjoy. And if women by virtue of our culture, by virtue of our historic antecedents are being behind, then we need to also drag them into the economy by giving them every right that they can use to be productive members of the society and that is all that we’re trying to do.

“It has been rejected but we’re talking to the senators who are supporting the bill to know how we could move forward. It’s not easy to say the bill can pass tomorrow, but we will continue to plead with other members for their support on this bill.

Mr. Abaribe, who is a member of the Senate Constitutional Review Committee, also said the bill may need to be incorporated into the Constitution as part of the ongoing constitutional amendment process in the National Assembly.

“Since we’re doing constitutional review, I will advise that we find a way of putting this bill directly into the Constitution because if we just make it as part of electoral law, it could be challenged at the courts and get struck down.”

The bill, which has continued to stoke widespread emotions amongst women, was introduced by Senator Biodun Olujimi and it aimed to achieve, among other purposes, equal access to education, strengthening of the laws on violence against Women, ending abduction of girls, sustenance and promotion of entrepreneurship opportunities, gender mainstreaming and gender equality, as well as female participation in governance.

:Premium Times

God of Economics Part 2

GOD OF ECONOMICS (2)

God and the forces of demand and supply....

2nd Kings 7:1 Then Elisha said, Hear ye the word of the Lord ; Thus saith the Lord , To morrow about this time shall a measure of fine flour be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria.

The story is a popular one. There was famine in the land. As a result, there was shortage of supply of goods and services. This resulted to the worst record of inflation in the bible. If we decide to  describe the situation from today's economic dictionary, the situation can be referred to as RUN-AWAY INFLATION. The situation got to the extent that people started seeking for unnecessary alternatives to survival. The people of God. Apart from the unfavourable economic situation, the land was also faced with a threat from the Syrian government. As a matter of fact, the mighty Syrian Army had already camped waiting to destroy the land.

Four lepers who could no longer bear the situation made a decision to embark on an adventure. God made the Syrians to hear the sound of mighty Army approaching, they fled leaving the materials they brought along to execute the war with.

HEAR THIS: THE LORD WILL MAKE THE ENEMIES OF YOUR LIFE TO HEAR A STRANGE SOUND AND FLEE FROM YOU IN JESUS' NAME. AMEN!

Back to the story, the proclamation made by the man of God was that the prices of goods and services will fall within 24 hours. Remember that inflation is a continuous rise in general price level.  Ordinarily, this is impossible to solve within 24 hours. The man that doubted him was right as an ordinary man. Inflation is never handled like that. The man's only mistake was that he failed to recognize the power of the Almighty.

SPIRITUAL ANALYSIS:

One can simply analyse the event spiritually by concentrating on the efficacy of the words of the man of God. He made a proclamation and gave time, it came to pass. There is a relationship between the words and the fleeing of the Syrian soldiers. That is God. I hereby proclaim that same God will fulfill His promises in your life in Jesus' name. Amen!

ECONOMIC ANALYSIS:

The aim of this article is to show how God can use economic tools to achieve spiritual results. In this biblical event, God used the forces of demand and supply to restore the economic situation of Samaria. There was shortage in the land, it resulted to continuous rise in general price level, God supplied food for three days. On the first day, inflation disappeared. From the knowledge of primary economics, EXCESS SUPPLY has a behaviour of bringing price down to equilibrium. The tool used by God here is supply. To understand this the more, the following points have to be considered:

-God knows that excess supply forces price down to equilibrium.
-God orchestrated the war to solve that particular situation.
-God ensured that the Syrians brought enough food in order to achieve that price proclaimed by the man of God.

One may ask,  was God the owner of the Syrians' materials? The earth is the Lord's and everything in it.

WHAT CAN WE MAKE OUT OF THIS?

When petroleum marketers hold  a nation to ransom, apply supply and stability will be achieved. In this case, increase in supply may also involve increasing the number of refining capacity. It may also mean the encouragement of the illegal refiners with licences to do proper businesses.

Finally, I pray that same God that supplied food to His people through the Syrians will supply your food in Jesus' name. Amen!

Same power that favoured Jesus in the grave will favour you in Jesus' name. Amen!

Watch out for part 3

7 Reasons to Avoid Beef

You’re an individual. That means, no matter what the latest study says, it may or may not apply to you since your body chemistry is unique and may react differently than what is reported. Most of us have (or know) some crazy uncle who smokes, drinks, and eats hamburgers daily and he just turned 95 and still there’s no sign of dementia, heart disease, cancer — nothing. (Why researchers don’t do studies on people like him, instead of the ones who get sick, I’ll never know.)

But, if you are trying to decide whether red meat is safe to eat, ou should know that the following seven red flags have been raised. Still, it’s up to you to decide. Is it worth it? How much is too much?

Reason 1: Red Meat May Increase Alzheimer’s Disease Risk

Scientists believe when proteins called Tau and beta-amyloid accumulate in the brain they either disrupt nerve cells or kill them — and this may be the cause of Alzheimer’s disease. A new study from UCLA, though, suggests that iron accumulation is another possible contributing factor. Using an unusual MRI technique, researchers found that iron had begun to accumulate in the brains of 31 Alzheimer's patients. Specifically, they discovered this build-up in a part of the brain which is generally damaged in the early stages of the disease. How does this connect to red meat? Well, it's full of iron, and a high-red meat diet can lead to iron build up. 

Reason 2: Red Meat Can Cause Cardiovascular Disease

Time and again scientists have demonstrated a connection between eating large amounts of red meat and an individual’s risk for heart disease. Now, a recent study suggests this link between red meat and disease does not derive from the saturated fats and cholesterol, but the fact that your gut microbes break down a compound found in the meat known as carnitine, which in turn produces trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO). And TMAO has been associated with atherosclerosis, the fatty build-up in your arteries which in turn may cause a heart attack.

Reason 3: Your Risk of Colon Cancer Goes Up With Your Red Meat Consumption

Quite a few studies have provided evidence of red meat potentially causing colon cancer, and a U.S. study which involved 148,610 participants between the ages of 50 and 74 showed that a high consumption of red and processed meats substantially increased the risk of colorectal cancer. Fish and fowl, though, had the opposite effect: long-term consumption of large amounts of these appeared to ward off cancer of the colon and rectum.

Harvard says so.

Reason 4: Lots of Beef --> Type 2 Diabetes

According to recent research, red meat consumption is associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes and three extra servings of red meat every week increases the risk of developing diabetes by 50 percent. That’s a pretty disheartening statistic. And you thought it was the cake and ice cream that would get you.

Reason 5: Mad Cow Disease. Obviously.

Mad cow disease was first discovered in the United Kingdom in 1986 and after that, it blossomed into a full-scale epidemic, affecti g about 180,000 cattle over the next fifteen years. There is mounting evidence that it may cause variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease, which is not only fatal but kills you within fourteen months of diagnosis. So far, only three cases in the U.S. (227 worldwide) have been reported… but that number will eventually rise.

Reason 6: Meat Just Ain’t What It Used To Be

Unlike the steak mom and dad used to cook up on weekends, the meat you eat today has probably been pumped full of hormones to make it grow faster and antibiotics to prevent disease. Although such drugs have all been individually tested and approved by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration), what has never been tested is whether these drugs may be harmful in combination. Meaning, in combination with all otherchemicals and drugs you unknowingly absorb, breathe, and drink every day, including those in the air and those in the water. So whether or not an individual chemical, hormone or antibiotic has been proven to have a harmful affect or not, no one really knows what a combination of several chemicals, hormones and antibiotics will do to you.

Reason 7: Cows Are Nice

In all likelihood you drank their milk as a child and I'd bet anything your first coloring book had outlines of cows on its pages. Has a cow ever done one mean thing to you? 

I thought not.

Sources: Pan A, Sun Qi, Bernstein AM, Manson JE, Willett WC, Hu FB. Changes in Red Meat Consumption and Subsequent Risk of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Three Cohorts of US Men and Women. JAMA Internal Medicine. 2013.

Raven EP, Lu PO, Tishler TA, Heydari P, Bartzokis G. Increased Iron Levels and Decreased Tissue Integrity in Hippocampus of Alzheimer’s Disease Detected in vivo with Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease. 2013.

God of Economics part 1

GOD OF ECONOMICS (1)

The Difference between WANTS and NEEDS 

The book of Philippians 4:19 gave one of the most important promises in Christianity. The scripture is a special source of hope to every Christian. The bible said that the LORD shall supply all our need according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus.

The bible is very clear about it. He shall supply our NEEDS not WANTS. In the order of importance, NEEDS  are ahead of WANTS. 

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A NEED AND A WANT?

From simple knowledge of primary economics, wants are those things man desires yet he can still survive without them. Good examples include: wrist watches, handsets, air conditioner, cars, education etc. These things are important but a careful observation around you will prove that many people have lived their lives long without them. These things are the ones God has placed in your hands to chase. They are of less important than the needs. However, needs are those things a man desires and he CANNOT do without them. The economists identified three as the major ones. They are: FOOD, SHELTER AND CLOTHING. No living being can avoid them. As a result of how important they are, God in Phil 4:19 has absorbed them as His responsibilities to supply them to you.

ONE OF THE GREATEST MISTAKES MAN MAKES:

The inability of many to distinguish between want and need causes delay in the answering of prayers. While God concentrates on the needs, He empowers the man to chase the wants by nursing ambitions. Remember the prayer of Jacob as he was fleeing from his brother. He asked God for two major things: bread and clothing. Man makes the mistake of placing his concentration on less important things in the stead of the things God wishes for him as a result of their multiplier miraculous effect on man. He supplies our needs according to the riches of His glory.

ARE NEEDS OF A SPECIFIC NUMBER?

No. Needs are as numerous as they can be identified. Despite the fact that we have always discussed the three basic needs as identified by the economists, WANTS have a special ability to transform into needs. Hence, as wants are numerous, so are needs. One may ask how a want can become a need? A man that travels from Aba to Port Harcourt on daily basis for his work NEEDS a car. To the footballer, a boot is a need. If higher qualification is required for promotion, education becomes a need. Wants can transform into needs.

However, it requires a good presentation ability to drive it home to God for answering. This is because He supplies our needs.

WHAT CAN WE MAKE OUT OF THIS?

God knows economics more than any economist. He knows what you really need and He is waiting for you to do your part. For that reason, use this beautiful opportunity to communicate with Him. 

-Try to distinguish between the wants and the needs in your life.

-Try to identify those wants that have transformed into needs.

-Communicate them effectively to God in prayer.

He has promised to supply our needs according to His riches in glory through Christ Jesus.

May same power that favoured Jesus even in the grave favour you in Jesus' name. Amen!

Watch out for part 2