Seven Chinese men have been arrested for oil theft by officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, at the Federal Housing Authority, Diamond Estate, Isheri area of Lagos State, South West Nigeria.

P.M.NEWS gathered that they were arrested at Road 20, block 11 of the estate after a thorough search was carried out on their apartment which led to the discovery of seven drums fill with refined fuel scooped from an oil well in the area.

The suspected culprits are Lu Di Sheng, Lu Yun Di, Guan Ping Man, Wang Dong, Cheng Chao, Li Xia Tao and Yang Zhao Ye.

The suspects were arrested around 3.00 pm on Thursday and detained at the NSCDC Headquarters, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos.

The raid and arrest of the suspects was led by the Assistant Commander General, NSCDC, Lagos Command, Mr. Samuel Onyemachi.

Public Relations Officer, NSCDC, Lagos Command, Mrs. Folashade Vera-Cruz told P.M.NEWS that the suspects would be handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, today for prosecution.

According to her, the suspected vandals were scooping fuel from the oil well in the area and had successfully fill seven drums through a hole dug in their compound where they passed a pipe to connect the oil well and then scoop the fuel.

She stated that the anti-vandal squad of the command acted on a tip off and carried out a survey on the area and discovered that an oil well was in the area.

“While our men were surveying the area, they heard that there was a well filled with PMS and our men decided to go there. On getting to the estate, they used a bowl to fetch the fuel from the well and found out that it was pure PMS.

“They decided to carry out a search in some of the apartments close to the oil well. When they got to the flat where the Chinese live, they saw that it was very dirty. Our men were made to know that the Chinese import generators and as we searched the house, we discovered seven drums filled with pure PMS which led to their arrest,” she explained.

Security Chairman of the estate, Alhaji Yusuf Abdulhadir told P.M.NEWS that he was in the house when he was informed that some Chinese men living in the estate had been arrested.

“For a very long time, we have been having fuel smelling in our estate and residents in the estate have not been able to use their boreholes because of the fuel except those who dunged very dip into the ground.

“Behind our estate is a swamp and last December, there was fire outbreak behind the estate and it took the intervention of NNPC officials and fire servicemen from the Lagos State Government to put out the fire,” he said.

According to him, “70 percent of residents of the estate could not use their boreholes because of the contamination by fuel. These Chinese men living near the swamp dig holes where they scoop fuel.

“When we approached the NNPC about the fuel problem in our estate, they told us that the vandalisation of their pipeline 15 years ago led to oil spill in the area and that it will take some time before the spillage will go,” he stated....

He said it was very common to discover fuel in the area after digging a little, adding that even while digging for gutter, fuel was always discovered.

However, one of the suspects, Yang Zhao Ye told P.M.NEWS that only four of them lived in the house and that the other three were their visitors.

He confessed that fuel was found in drums in their apartment which led to their arrest and detention.

— Kazeem Ugbodaga

President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday won the Peoples Democratic Party's presidential primaries. His victory came after a spirited contest with former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, and veteran aspirant, Sarah Jubril. Tunde Adeniran,

the Chief Returning Officer of the party who declared the result said out of the total valid vote of 3, 542, Mr Jonathan pulled 2, 736 while his closest rival Mr Atiku scored 805. Sarah Jubril got only one vote. Defeat at home The significant loss for Mr. Abubakar was in his home state of Adamawa where Mr. Jonathanscored a whopping 76 votes to Mr. Abubakar's paltry 31. Mr. Jonathan in his home state of Bayelsa got all the 67 votes of the delegates. Last night at the Eagles Square where the event held, Mr. Abubakar, for the umpteenth time, furiously deplored alleged disrespect for the party's zoning policy by his "main opponent",

Mr. Jonathan, a theme that has stood central to Mr. Abubakar's months of campaign, and laced his last speech to the delegates, and the nation, shortly before the voting began. "In 2002, an expanded caucus of our great party met and reaffirmed that policy," he read from a prepared speech. "My main opponent was at that meeting and voted in favour of that resolution. He signed as number 35 on the list. Today,he pretends that that ..meeting never took place and that the resolution never happened.

"Yet, he would not summon a meeting of our party to discuss that issue and if deemed appropriate jettison it. In fact, on October 27, 2010, he publicly declared that zoning does not exist in our party. Talk about throwing away the ladder that got you up there! That is not the kind of person you would entrust the fate of this country," Mr. Abubakar said. In a bellicose speech, he warned that "If rules can be thrown away by just anyone who feels that he is powerful enough to do so, then it is an invitation to lawlessness and anarchy. Nobody wants that. "Our word must be our bond. But my main opponent believes in doing things simply because it is convenient. He does not seem to care if the country is thrown into chaos and anarchy as long as he remains in power.

This is dangerous," he stressed. The long-awaited event earlier billed for 10am yesterday, set off later actually late afternoon amid strict security presence that frisked every entrant to the venue ranging from party locals from the states, governors, and federal lawmakers. Officials of the State Security Service, police, Civil Defence Corps, mounted security with sniffing dogs and bomb detectors while two police helicopters hovered above the venue as the event held.

After a long wait, Mr. Abubakar and Mr. Jonathan arrived at 4.22pm and 5.30pm respectively, long after Ms. Jubril had arrived and taken a seat up front within the glassed compartment. The president, walking apart with his wife, Patience, sauntered in and shook hands with both contenders before the events began seven minutes later. After months of intense campaign of harsh rhetoric between the two main aspirants, the convention provided the chance for a

face-to-face meeting between the current president and the former vice president. Both men spoke after Ms. Jubril, who rallied the women folk to set in a new era of equal balance in politics between both genders. Full of energy and appeals to the women and underprivileged in society, she says with a female president, Nigeria will not be considered a corrupt country any more. She dubbed herself ‘Mama President' and ends her address with a rendition of ‘We shall overcome'. That set the stage for Mr. Abubakar, who for a while after aonfrontational beginning, directed his address to appealing to delegates and Nigerians to view him as the tool for a change, promising jobs, better security, power, education, and peace in the Niger Delta. Mr. Jonathan paid tribute to the late Mr. Yar'Adua first as he began a speech that clearly cashed in the temperamental start of his chief challenger.

"I will not join issues with anybody because I believe Nigerians know all of us and our history and they will choose who they like," he said. "Dear delegates, if you give me and Architect Namadi Sambo your mandate, we will give this country a strong leadership and we will never let you down," he added. He said Mr. Abubakar's, whom he referred to as "some other contributors" questioning of insecurity in the Niger Delta, was misplaced since rising oil output in the region showed that security in the area had improved. "I will give this country a strong, strong leadership to be a greater nation,"

Military authorities handling the peace operations in Plateau State have announced the arrest of five soldiers over Tuesday's attacks on Kuru-Tasha village in Riyom Local Government. Charles Ekeocha, the spokesman for the Special Task Force (STF) charged with maintaining peace in Jos said on Wednesday that the attacks carried out by unidentified persons between 1 a.m. and 2 a.m. left some 13 people dead and many others injured.

The military spokesperson, who confirmed that the soldiers were just few metres away from the scene of the attack, but chose to be unconcerned and "refused to act as expected," said the military authorities were shocked by the soldiers' behaviour and promptly reported the matter to the Defence Headquarters, who ordered their arrest, detention and investigation. "We have also arrested five soldiers for ‘laxity' during the attacks.

They have been locked up and are being investigated. They shall be court-martialed if we have found them truly culpable. That prompt action only shows that the military authorities cannot condone such behaviour by its men. If they are indicted, you can be sure that they shall be dealt with decisively," he said. Mr Ekeocha, however, rejected the suggestions that the soldiers took part in the killings.

He also denied allegations that soldiers were using maximum force on helpless civilians and also dismissed as "simply impossible" the allegations that the soldiers were "bias" in the handling of the crisis. Political crisis
The governor of Plateau State, Jonah Jang described the recent spate of bombings across the country as political. He also said those behind the crime are only trying to paint a picture of insecurity to achieve political gains.

Speaking to journalists at the presidential villa, yesterday, Mr Jang painted a picture of a secure state, stating that security operatives are looking into all the security issues and hopefully they will come out with measures to apprehend those behind the atrocities. Speaking on the turn of events in the state, the governor said those behind it intend to make the country ungovernable for the government.

"Let me just say this, these bombing across the country is deliberate, to create an impression that the country is ungovernable so as to stop the general election," he said. "It is the plan of some desperate politicians who feels that if they don't get it, the whole country should go down but I can assure you that the government is in control." The governor, who also admitted that there is still some element of suspicion in the state assured that the situation in the state is getting better as calm is gradually returning to the once peaceful state.
Meanwhile, a Magistrate's Court on Wednesday granted bail to seven officials of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) who were arrested and charged to court over Saturday's violence in Jos. They were arraigned on a five-count charge of unlawful assembly, falsehood, public disturbance, negligence and conspiracy.

The suspects were said to be responsible for the violence that rocked parts of Jos in the last four days. The Chief Magistrate, Ishaku Kunda, who granted the suspects bail, adjourned the case to February 10.
The suspects include: the state's CPC Chairman, Mudashiru Aliyu; Deputy Chairman, Sunday Dul; Vice-Chairman, Henry Nenyel; Secretary, Johnson Podak and Legal Adviser, Paul Kopdin. Others include Assistant Publicity Secretary, Jamilu Baba, and the Organising Secretary, Mr Labaran Antashi.
The counsel to the suspects, Garba Pwol, described the ruling of the court as "very fair."

One of the least understood aspects of entrepreneurship is why small businesses fail, and there's a simple reason for the confusion: Most of the evidence comes from the entrepreneurs themselves.

I have had a close-up view of numerous business failures -- including a few start-ups of my own. And from my observation, the reasons for failure cited by the owners are frequently off-point, which kind of makes sense when you think about it. If the owners really knew what they were doing wrong, they might have been able to fix the problem. Often, it's simply a matter of denial or of not knowing what you don't know.

In many cases, the customers -- or, I should say, ex-customers -- have a better understanding than the owners of what wasn't working. The usual suspects that the owners tend to blame are the bank, the government, or the idiot partner. Rarely does the owner's finger point at the owner. Of course, there are cases where something out of the owner's control has gone terribly wrong, but I have found those instances to be in the minority. What follows -- based on my own experiences and observations -- are my top 10 reasons small businesses fail. The list is not pretty, it is not simple, and it does not contain any of those usual suspects (although they might come in at Nos. 11, 12 and 13).

1. The math just doesn't work. There is not enough demand for the product or service at a price that will produce a profit for the company. This, for example, would include a start-up trying to compete against Best Buy and its economies of scale.

2. Owners who cannot get out of their own way. They may be stubborn, risk adverse, conflict adverse -- meaning they need to be liked by everyone (even employees and vendors who can't do their jobs). They may be perfectionist, greedy, self-righteous, paranoid, indignant, or insecure. You get the idea. Sometimes, you can even tell these owners the problem, and they will recognize that you are right -- but continue to make the same mistakes over and over...

3. Out-of-control growth. This one might be the saddest of all reasons for failure -- a successful business that is ruined by over-expansion. This would include moving into markets that are not as profitable, experiencing growing pains that damage the business, or borrowing too much money in an attempt to keep growth at a particular rate. Sometimes less is more.

4. Poor accounting. You cannot be in control of a business if you don't know what is going on. With bad numbers, or no numbers, a company is flying blind, and it happens all of the time. Why? For one thing, it is a common -- and disastrous -- misconception that an outside accounting firm hired primarily to do the taxes will keep watch over the business. In reality, that is the job of the chief financial officer, one of the many hats an entrepreneur has to wear until a real one is hired.

5. Lack of a cash cushion. If we have learned anything from this recession (I know it's "over" but my customers don't seem to have gotten the memo), it's that business is cyclical and that bad things can and will happen over time -- the loss of an important customer or critical employee, the arrival of a new competitor, the filing of a lawsuit. These things can all stress the finances of a company. If that company is already out of cash (and borrowing potential), it may not be able to recover.

6. Operational mediocrity. I have never met a business owner who described his or her operation as mediocre. But we can't all be above average. Repeat and referral business is critical for most businesses, as is some degree of marketing (depending on the business).

7. Operational inefficiencies. Paying too much for rent, labor, and materials. Now more than ever, the lean companies are at an advantage. Not having the tenacity or stomach to negotiate terms that are reflective of today's economy may leave a company uncompetitive.

8. Dysfunctional management. Lack of focus, vision, planning, standards and everything else that goes into good management. Throw fighting partners or unhappy relatives into the mix, and you have a disaster.

9. The lack of a succession plan. We're talking nepotism, power struggles, significant players being replaced by people who are in over their heads -- all reasons many family businesses do not make it to the next generation.

10. A declining market. Book stores, music stores, printing businesses and many others are dealing with changes in technology, consumer demand, and competition from huge companies with more buying power and advertising dollars.

In life, you may have forgiving friends and relatives, but entrepreneurship is rarely forgiving. Eventually, everything shows up in the soup. If people don't like the soup, employees stop working for you, and customers stop doing business with you. And that is why businesses fail.

Jay Goltz owns five small businesses in Chicago.

Names of these Old Self Acclaimed Godfathers from our sources are Hon Oyon Asuquo & Chief Okon Osung Have been known for causing troubles in the ranks of the PDP . On finding out that the Young Guns in the PDP echelon are seriously throwing their weight as the Primaries results have shown. They have now decided to retaliate with the help of unscrupulous INEC officials by going underground and calling for the scrapping of these results .They have targeted Mr Robinson Uwak whom our sources claim has been instrumental in the Akpabio PDP led machine.

What an Old Man Can Do A young Man can do it even better and for much Longer  

Attention: Akwa Ibom PDP Primaries: Acclaimed Winner of AKwa ibom's Oron LGA Robinson Uwak under Pressure from  unscrupulous INEC officials & PDP "Godfathers" to scuttle and cancel his ticket . INEC must do the Right Thing This Time . We the youths are watching Akwa Ibom is not for Old men only but the Young. "Foot Soldiers" are Human Beings .Mr President please intervene Gov. Akpabio take note .

Winners & Losers Rundown From the Nation:

FORMER Speaker of the House of Representatives Hon. Ghali Umar Na’abba at the weekend withdrew from the Kano Central Senatorial race.

His withdrawal paved way for the emergence of a Kano-based businessman, Alhaji Basheer Garba.

Na’abba gave no reason for his decision.

Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe, head of the PDP National Assembly Electoral Panel, confirmed that Na’abba withdrew from the contest.

Senator Bello Hayatu Gwarzo floored the former Managing Director of Urban Development Bank Alhaji Rabiu Bichi to emerge the flagbearer for Kano North.

The Chairman of the House Committee on Education, Hon. Faruk Lawan retained the ticket for Shanono/Bagwai Federal Constituency election.

Meanwhile, in the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) House of Representatives primaries conducted in Kano yesterday, Hon. Haruna Fatahi from Kano Municipal Federal Constituency and Hon. Ibrahim Balla from Kumbotso Federal Constituency retained their seats.

Two other serving members of the lower chamber, Hon. Ibrahim Mu’azzam Bichi from Bichi Federal Constituency, and Hon. Abuduwa Mohammed from Gezawa Federal Constituency suffered defeat at the primaries, losing to Alhaji Lawal Shehu and Abdullahi Tsamiyar-kara.

House of Representatives spokesman Eseme Eyiboh at the weekend lost his bid to return to seek a fresh mandate.

Two persons were also feared killed during the exercise in the Eket and Ukanafun Federal Constituencies of Akwa Ibom.

A supporter of Eyiboh was said to have been beaten to death by armed security agents guarding the venue at Esit Eket.

The deceased, according to a source, hails from Etebi, in Esit Eket Local Government Area.

Eyiboh lost to one Bassey Abia.

Another lawmaker, Bassey Etim, also lost his bid to return to the House of Representatives to Ekere Afia.

Incumbent House member for Ikot Ekpene Federal Constituency, Pat Etete Inemeh, said he was forcefully asked to step down by Governor Godswill Akpabio.

Only one incumbent member, Prof. Ini Udoka, who was returned by consensus, got the party ticket.

Those who won include Emmanuel Ekon for Abak, Ekere Afia, Uyo, Ikot Ekpene, Savour Udoh, Ikot Abasi, Francis Uduyok, Eket, Bassey Dan Abia Junior, Etinan, Dan Akpan, Itu, Kenneth Archibong, Oron, Robinson Uwak and Ukanafun, Emmanuel Ukoette.

In the three Senate slots, Helen Esuene defeated incumbent Mrs. Eme Ufot Ekaette in Eket; Ita Enang beat incumbent Senator Effiong Bob to pick the ticket in Uyo, while Senator Aloysius Akpan Etok was returned by consensus in Ikot Ekpene.

Also Special Adviser to the Speaker of the House of Representatives (Political) Nuradeen Usman also won the Kogi Central Senatorial District ticket.

He defeated Senator Salihu Ohize, his predecessor, Senator Mohammed Salami Ohiare, former Deputy Governor Patrick Adaba and others.

He won the race with 237 votes, to beat his closest rival, United States-based , Alhaji Ahmed Ogembe who got 228 votes.

Senator Ohiare scored 120 votes.

The incumbent House of Representatives member of Adavi /Okehi Federal constituency, Alhaji A K Salihu had 94 votes.

Adaba got 15 votes while Ohize scored 32 votes in the contest.

http://thenationonlineng.net/web3/news-update/24250.html

The family of late Uche Okafor has rejected police report that the former Nigeria international defender committed suicide, insisting he was murdered.

Okafor’s body was discovered last Thursday afternoon by his wife in their house in Little Elm, a town about 30 miles northwest of Dallas, detective Oscar Hinojosa said.

The Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office later said that the former World Cup star hanged himself in an upstairs hallway.

However, family spokesman, Ugochukwu Nwaokoro, said Okafor could not have taken his life.

“There is no iota of truth in any stories that Uche died by hanging. This is because the Uche we all knew cannot kill himself,” maintained Nwaokoro...

“We shall get to the root of the matter. Very soon autopsy report will reveal the truth of how Uche really died to the whole world.

“Police investigations are ongoing. For now, we are still in deep shock over this strange death and we are not going to make any further comments until the autopsy report is made available to us very soon.”

The 43-year-old former central defender is survived by a wife, Ifeyinwa, and a 15-year-old daughter, Tochukwu.

Thirteen people were killed in Wereng village, Riyom local government area near Jos, by men wearing military uniforms in the early hours of Tuesday, according to officers of the Plateau State Police Command.

PHOTO:Cross section of Igbo community in plateau at a news conference on Jos crisis in Jos on Tuesday photo: NAN  Burnt Trailers in Metropolis

The police also confirmed that attacks were also reported in Fagawang where two persons were killed, and Nyarwai, both in the Barkin Ladi local government area, where three persons were killed.

According to a police statement issued yesterday, 11 houses were burnt during the attack in Nyarwai, and three in Fagawang villages, while a church was burnt down in Ding village. A police source who preferred to remain anonymous confirmed that the attackers used weapons including guns, machetes, daggers, bows and arrows to attack their victims who were reportedly taken unawares.

Cold blood murder

According to the police source, the dead, who were slaughtered and left lying in their own blood, had several knife cuts on their bodies. The corpses still lay out in the open in the villages Tuesday morning as government officials were awaited. An official statement by Obinna Simon for the state police commissioner, Abdurrahman Akano, said no arrests had been made, but urged “all those concerned to refuse burial until we perform the autopsy.”

He said that the autopsies would help authorities ascertain the source and types of the weapons used. This, he said, would aid investigations and help ascertain whether the attackers were real military officers.

A city shuts down

Meanwhile, business activities were non-existent in the city as banks and other businesses remained closed throughout Tuesday. With freezing temperatures around 16°C, the streets have remained empty, with only a few vehicles venturing along specific routes. The city’s business nerve centre, popularly known as Terminus, has become a ghost of itself. Ahmadu Bello Way, Rwang Pam, Church, and Langtang Streets, and Old Bukuru Road, routes that experience heavy traffic daily, are deserted.

Powerless Special Task Force?

The Ndigbo, the umbrella body of the Igbo community in Jos, said that it has lost confidence in the Special Task Force headed by Hassan Umaru, a brigadier-general.

A statement by the group’s president-general, Richard Wayas, and its secretary, Serbinus Anyanwu, said that the Ndigbo condemned the cycle of crises, killings, and the Christmas Eve bombings and called on the federal and state governments to initiate urgent measures to end the violence.

“At the last count, we have well over 40 corpses of our people deposited both at the Bingham University Teaching Hospital, Jankwano, and Jos University Teaching Hospital mortuaries, with several hospitalised,” the statement read.

“It is also regrettable that a luxury bus (EKWOS) carrying mostly Igbo passengers was attacked and burnt down by the same Hausa-Fulani youth along Bauchi Road, Jos.”

Simon Mwadkon, chairman of Riyom local government, described the incident as “very unfortunate,” saying that injured persons had been taken to the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH). He said that the attackers invaded the villages between 1 a.m. and 2 a.m. on Tuesday, setting houses ablaze and killing the fleeing owners of the houses. Among the victims, he said, were children and nursing mothers.

The chairman alleged that security personnel were stationed “just 200 metres to where the attacks were carried out but they did nothing to stop it. In fact, a traditional ruler and the councillor, representing the area, Mr. Victor Davou, rushed to the STF soldiers just by but they bluntly refused to go to the scene after claiming that they were not given such an order,” Mr. Mwadkon said.

Mr. Mwadkon, however, promised that the council would do everything possible to assist victims of the raid, and called on the state and federal government to rise to the challenge and “do something drastic about the incessant crises on the Plateau.”

Averting another crisis

The Bauchi State Police Command said it has taken steps to prevent a spillover of the Jos crisis into the state. The command’s public relations officer, Mohammed Barau, an assistant superintendent of police, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Bauchi yesterday that security was being beefed up in all parts of the state, especially in towns close to the state’s border with Plateau.

“The police have taken proactive measures to prevent a spillover of the Jos crisis into the state. We are ready to take action to forestall any breach of law and order,” he said.

He added that there was now a better understanding between muslims and christians in the state.

The nation’s inspector-general of police, Hafiz Ringim, urged residents of Jos to resolve their issues without resorting to violence. Mr. Ringim made the plea in a statement issued in Abuja by the force’s public relations officer, Olusola Amore.

“The crisis in Jos should not be seen as a police/security problem but a community/political problem which all peace-loving people should strive to resolve without resorting to rancour,” he said.

“Nigerians should learn to live together in peace in spite of differences in tribe, language and religion,” he added.

The inspector general assured the people of the state and its environs of 24-hour patrols to forestall the breakdown of law and order in Jos. He said the police and other security agencies have been doing their best to contain the crisis and that 15,000 police officers and other security personnel had been deployed to Jos to restore peace since the crisis began.

With less than 48hours to the presidential primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, on Tuesday received anunusual endorsement when a gay group, the National Gay Forum, declaredtheir support for his bid to rule the country. Addressing journalistsyesterday at the Agura Hotel in Abuja, the spokespersons for the group,Victor Labelle and Freedom Awuke, urged Nigerians to provide supportfor Mr Atiku, whom they said .was “committed to turning the fortunes ofthe country around for the better.”

“In view of themeaningful contributions of Atiku to national development, it hasbecome imperative for PDP delegates to cast their votes for him attomorrow’s party primary election as well as in the April elections,”Mr Labelle said.

He said that his group was “exercising its fundamental human right of freedom of association.”

“Not too long ago,in the United States, gays made their voices heard,” he said. “It wasthe same in Germany, France and other parts of the world. We affirm ourposition and have decided to identify with our own dear former vicepresident of Nigeria, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar as our own presidentialcandidate. We derive our consent from our constitutional right andobligation and urge well-meaning Nigerians, delegates and our fellowgays to throw their support behind Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. Let us joinhands and make good things happen.”

He stated that thegay movement had decided to take an interest in political developmentsin the country and would henceforth make significant contributions tothe political development of the country.

“In an attempt tomake meaningful political, social and cultural transformation, we havechosen to air our political views so as not to be left in a moribundcondition,” he said.

Unwanted endorsement

Garba Shehu,spokesperson for the Atiku Abubakar Campaign Organisation, howeverexpressed his surprise and dismay at the endorsement.

“Honestly, we don’t want to get involved in this kind of story...”he said. “However, we believe that lesbianism and sodomy are unlawfulacts in this country, so we are surprised that law and order have sobroken down in this country that gays will organise freely, address thepress and the police did not arrest them. Law and order has broken downcompletely and the next thing we will be hearing now is that of armedrobbers and the kidnappers that will organise — then bombers will alsoorganise their press conference tomorrow. So one, we detest this kindof journalism; two, we say this is an illegal society organising freelyin this country. Then that tells us the kind of government that wehave.”

Rumours Are at it again ! This is the cover of news of the people magazine published in Lagos Nigeria this week. One of the major stories talked about the story of pregnancy rumour trailing star actress, Genevieve Nnaji. ..

In recent times, there have been speculations that she was dating D'banj. Personally, i have heard this pregnancy tail about two months ago from a cvlose source in the Mohits camp, but did not give it much thought, but for it to surface again, and this time on tabloids, hmnnn, only time will tell, after 9months na!

Mr. Soyinka made this known at a press conference held at the party secretariat, Abeokuta, yesterday. The aspirant who is contesting for the ticket of the party for the third attempt, said he has resolved to remain committed to the party’s ideology in spite of his earlier loss, just as he gave credit to the leaders of the party. He rolled out his manifesto at the declaration, which covers health, education, agriculture, housing, poverty eradication, pension, industrialisation, women and youth development, childcare support and welfare of elderly, sports development, and safeguarding of treasured past.

The aspirant said he has the qualities it takes to rule the state successful, adding that the state at this point need a person of his status.

“That is why, with all humility and high sense of service, I, Oluwakayode Adedeji Soyinka, offer myself to our noble state as the man with all these attributes,” he said.

“And, therefore, with the grace of God and the support of our people, present myself for the job of the governor of Ogun State in 2011. I am a man of very high standards, simple lifestyle, single-minded, and highly focused. I have the ability to look at problems, analyse and find the most practical solutions to them, and seek new horizon for our people,” he added.

Sincere politician

Mr. Soyinka, who said Ogun State is one with a proud tradition and an unbeatable record of achievements, said: “I believe that Ogun State has a lot to gain from my wealth of national and international experience and clout.” The publisher of Africa Today magazine and politician said it was high time his party, the Action Congress of Nigeria {ACN}, flush out the ruling Peoples Democratic Party {PDP} from power.

“Kayode Soyinka is tailor-made for Ogun State governorship. This indeed is the unity candidate our great party needs to flush out the discredited PDP government from the state and bring the ACN back to recover our hold on and lost glory of our noble state,” Mr. Soyinka said

Chairman of the party, Tajudeen Bello, described Mr. Soyinka as a sincere politician, noting that despite his two earlier attempts which did not yield positive results, he did not take offence and was still committed to the party.

“Soyinka is a politician of and with honour,” he said. “He contested twice for the party governorship ticket, but didn’t get it, yet he is not disturbed nor take offence with anybody, but remains committed to the party. This is an indication that he is a genuine loyal member of the party, and deserves and qualifies to lead the party for the race,” Mr. Bello said.

Author's comment.

I am sure they (pastors)  wish they had thought of it first .

Christ Embassy Claim they Were trying to Raise funds not Crowd Control .

However we look at it .

What is IS . What will Be,WILL BE.Rumour even indicates that Pastor Chris was not aware of this development as many other issues that have plagued the reputation of the church . What is 25million to Christ Embassy compared to their efforts to portray the Church as custodians of the poor and Role models to the Pentecostal Congregation in Nigeria . No one Likes Bad Publicity.We can Condemn,Applaud & Judge All We Like but the Motives of the Heart are in God's Hand Alone.

Prominent pastors in the country and readers of P.M.NEWS have slammed Pastor Chris Oyakhilome and his Christ Embassy Church for imposing a N1,000 toll fee on worshippers who attended New Year’s Eve service at the Christ Embassy Headquarters in Lagos, South-West Nigeria.

P.M.NEWS had reported in its 5 January 2011 edition how Christ Embassy pastors sold tickets valued at N1,000 each to worshippers who wanted to attend the crossover service in their church.
Indigent worshippers who could not afford the money were denied access and sent back by security men at the gate. The church explained that it collected gate fees from worshippers to control the huge crowd that always besieges Christ Embassy on New Year’s Eve service.

This development has outraged many Nigerians, including prominent pastors, at home and abroad.
The pastors who spoke with P.M.NEWS yesterday and readers, who reacted on , described the imposition of toll fee by Christ Embassy as a sacrilege.
The Prelate, Methodist Church Nigeria, Dr. Ola Makinde, described Oyakhilome’s action as anathema and abuse of Christianity.

“It is a sacrilege and commercialisation of religion. It is an abuse of Christianity,” he lamented.
Founder, Soul Winning Chapel, Rev. Moses Illoh, said that such an act “is sacrilegious,” adding that the gospel of Christ is supposed to be free and not to be paid for.
“There is no excuse for this. The church of God is for everybody, both for the poor and the rich. The church where they collect money before you can go in to worship is not a church.”
According to Primate Elijah Ayodele of the INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, such pastors who collect money from worshippers should be stoned to death or be crucified.

“Is this possible? Such church should be destroyed and such pastors should be stoned to death. Pay N1,000 to enter a church? Is the church in heaven? It is never done.
“If it is possible, let the government intervene. These pastors are for Satan and such pastors should be crucified. It is embarrassing,” he lamented.

lso reacting to the incident, General Evangelist of Christ Apostolic Church Worldwide, Prophet Samuel Kayode Abiara, said collection of money as gate fee for church service is unbiblical.
“Collecting money as gate fee before a church service is unbiblical because there is nowhere in the Bible where it was recorded that Jesus collected money from the multitude who listened to His sermon and benefited from His miracles.

“Salvation is free. You receive it free and you give it free,” he said.
Abiara added that he cannot judge Pastor Oyakhilome because he doesn’t understand the circumstances under which money was collected.

“It’s not impossible that they must have used the event to raise money,” he said.
To Rev. Oladapo Daramola, Media and Public Relations Officer, Methodist Church Nigeria, it is not right to collect money from worshippers before allowing them inside the church.
“This is not right because despite the number of people that came to worship at the feet of Jesus Christ, there was no barrier for them to come closer. Anything that will bar people from receiving the good news should not be allowed. It is not Christ-like,” he stated.

Also, Rev. Akintoye Braimoh, Special Assistant to the Lagos State Governor on Christian Religious Matters, frowned at Oyakhilome’s act, saying it was very wrong.
“A place of worship is a place for all, even for a Muslim. PFN has already rejected Oyakhilome and he is not recognised by the body; he is on his own,” she added.
Dr. Sam Ogedengbe, Special Assistant to the Governor on Christian Religious Matters also stated that it was not right for any pastor to act that way.

“Why should you collect money before one can be allowed to enter a church? Is the place really a church? It is wrong to do that,” he said.
Some readers who reacted on our website, condemned Oyakhilome’s act, saying that it unscriptural.
Mike said: “Church has become big business in Nigeria. Now, they have introduced gate fee to church, very soon, they will introduce gate fee to heaven before someone dies. May God have mercy on them.”
According to Kayode, “the church should have thought of a bigger venue for this service. The National Stadium for instance would have accommodated a lot of people. The church should know that a special service like this will attract a lot of people, sinners and the saved, the rich and the poor, the genuine and the fake, but give an opportunity for all to meet with Christ. It was a rash strategy to control the crowd.”

Gloria said: “This news should have been best tagged ‘Pastor Oyakhilome deprives the poor of the gospel’. He’s unbelievable. Jesus Christ welcomed the crowd even when the apostles wanted to stop them. He went as far as feeding them with five loaves of bread and two fishes. We should learn from the bible, this is not crowd control, but daylight robbery.”

According to Jedidiah, “when the church becomes over crowded and the senior pastors don’t have a seat for themselves on such occasions, it becomes a good problem and for this reason, the church should pray to God to provide a bigger church for them. Such services are not for the so-called ‘true members’ to be comfortable but for the unsaved to be shown love, thereby winning them over to the winning church.”

Olo said: “it still beats my imagination to hear that such a thing actually happened in Christ Embassy, and at the headquarters for that matter. What’s money turning man of God into?”
Temmy reacted this way: “slowpoke, idiots and silly people will always continue to follow a silly pastor. When Jesus referred to his people (including me) as sheep, He did not mean  sheep like most Nigerians who are following those money worshipping and 419 pastors of nowadays.”
Thousands of readers, who reacted in various websites and blogs, including social networks such as Facebook and Twitter, also expressed shock and disappointment..

— Simon Ateba

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