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My name is Maxima Zambrano Mora and we attend the "Casa de Oracion" Church in 
My name is Angelica Elizabeth Zambrano Mora. I am 18, and study at the "Colegio José María Velazco Ibarra", here at El Cantón, El Empalme, Ecuador. I first accepted Christ when I was 12, but I told myself, "None of my friends were evangelicals and I felt strange amongst them", so I walked away from God, and lived a bad, terrible life. But God pulled me out of there. On, my 15th Birthday, I was reconciled to the Lord, but I was still double-minded. The Bible says, "A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways" (
When I heard this I said, "Amen...but I don't want to die, I can't die! No, Lord, I'm afraid, very much afraid, terrified!" The servant of the Lord said, “Let's pray that your fear will leave now in the name of our Lord." I said, "Amen" and we prayed. Soon I felt all fear leave me, and an indescribable joy came, thinking that death was the best thing that could happen to me! I started to smile and laugh while everyone was looking at me. They could all see that I went from being dismal to joyful. I was smiling, jumping and singing. 
When she fell down, we tried to stand her up, but she was unable to stand on her own. At this time, we were able to touch her. She was saying, "Pray. I don't have strength, Mommy, I don't have strength and I feel pain." First, she felt pain in her heart, and then it went down near her abdomen. We kept on praying and pleading with the Lord. The Lord took her life!
Suddenly, as He was speaking, everything started to move. The Earth shook and split open, and I saw a very dark hole below. 
Time was going by, and my daughter was still lying there. "Lord, what is happening?" Tears were coming out of her eyes, but when I wiped them away, they would just come again. I placed a mirror to her mouth to see if she was breathing, there was nothing. We checked her pulse, nothing. We placed a hand on her stomach, nothing. The servant of the Lord said, "The place where she is, is not a place of smiles but a place of torment."
When the Lord weeps, it's different than we do. He would weep with this pain in His heart and He would sob profoundly. "I did not create hell for humanity," Jesus said. So I asked Him, "Then why is humanity here, Lord?" He answered, "Daughter, I created hell for satan and his angels, who are the demons; (
Being with Jesus, made me feel safe. I thought, "If I let go of the Lord, I'll be stuck here!" I asked, "Jesus, do I have relatives in this place." He looked at me as I was crying and He said, "Daughter, I am with you," because I was so scared. He took me to another cell. I never could have imagined seeing a relative of mine in that cell. I saw this woman being tormented, she had worms that would eat her face off, and demons would plunge a type of spear into her body. She would scream, "No, Lord, have mercy on me, forgive me, please, take me out of this place for one minute!" (
She saw me and said, "Please, I beg you, go tell people about this, please speak out and do not be silent; go and tell them not to come to this place; go and tell them not to listen to my songs, nor sing my songs." (
why he is here, because he used to preach to multitudes of people!" And Jesus responded, "Yes, Daughter, he may have said many things, but he would never speak the truth as it is. He never said the truth and they know the truth and although he knew the truth, he preferred money over preaching about salvation. He would not offer reality; would not say that hell is real and that heaven also exists; Daughter, now he is here in this place."
Jesus told me that many famous people were walking to that place, famous and important people. Take for example, 
Humanity has been deceived believing in an assumed saint, which is not, but is a demon, working through an idol made by the hand of man. But, let me tell you that the Lord wants to give you the best. He wants you to enter the Kingdom of Heaven; to repent and to leave idolatry. Because idolatry will not save you. Jesus Christ of Nazareth is the one that saves, who gave His life for you, for me and for all humanity. The Lord has a great message for humanity. As He wept, He told me, "
Then the Lord told me that I had to return to Earth. I said, "Lord, I don't want to go back to Earth! What do you mean – Earth? I want to stay with You. You brought me here and I'm not going anywhere because I am with You!" Jesus said, "Daughter, it is necessary that you return to Earth to go and testify that My glory is real, that what I am going to show you is real; that what you have seen is real – so that humanity will come to Me, repent and not perish." Weeping, I fell to His feet; there I saw wounds on His feet. I asked, "Lord, what are these wounds here?" He answered, "Daughter, it's the scar from that yester day, when I gave My life for humanity.
What my daughter went through was not easy. She was given a profound message to all humanity, to seek God. But humanity thinks that what it is doing is alright. Youth that are into drugs and alcohol, they think that's OK, but it's not. One of the greatest experiences that my daughter had was when she saw many entertainers in hell, including dancers, and also 
The Lord told me, "Daughter, in those days the Holy Spirit will no longer be on Earth. In those days, He will no longer be on Earth."(
Angelica:He was described by London Marathon race director David Bedford as the greatest male marathon runner the world has ever seen but Olympic champion Sammy Wanjiru was unable to outrun his turbulent private life.
The athletics world was in shock on Monday after the 24 year-old, who became the first Kenyan to win an Olympic marathon in Beijing three years ago, leapt to his death from a first-floor balcony at his luxury house in the Rift Valley town of Nyahururu.
According to regional police chief Jaspher Ombati, Wanjiru’s wife, Triza Njeri, had returned home unexpectedly in the early hours to discover her husband in bed with another woman. It is understood she locked the pair inside and left the house.
Minutes later Wanjiru was dead after jumping from a balcony, plunging six metres and apparently striking his head on the concrete floor below.
“It is not yet clear whether it was a suicide or if he jumped out of rage, or what caused him to fall to the ground,” Ombati said.
“He jumped from his first-floor balcony to the ground. He was bleeding from the nose and the mouth, and may have suffered internal injuries.”
Wanjiru’s Italian agent, Federico Rosa, said yesterday he was “100 per cent certain” that the athlete had not committed suicide, insisting that he had seemed happy and relaxed when he spoke to him over the weekend.
Investigations into the circumstances of his death were continuing on Monday as police interviewed Njeri and Wanjiru’s unnamed female companion.
But the athlete was no stranger to domestic bust-ups, having been charged with the attempted murder of Njeri in December after allegedly assaulting her and threatening to kill her with an AK-47 assault rifle.
The pair were later reconciled and the allegations were withdrawn, as was a charge of wounding a security guard by hitting him in the face with the butt of the rifle. However, a charge of illegal possession of a firearm was still outstanding and was due to be heard next week.
To add to Wanjiru’s problems, he had also been involved in a car accident on the Nairobi-Nyahururu road in January, rolling his four-wheel drive vehicle several times while trying to avoid an oncoming truck. He was forced to pull out of last month’s Virgin London Marathon, citing a knee injury.
Wanjiru’s tempestuous private life was at odds with the polite, mild-mannered figure he cut during his media appearances at the big-city marathons.
But during races he was an aggressive competitor, launching attack after attack to try to break the resolve of his opponents. His greatest moment came in Beijing, when he ran away from his rivals to claim the gold medal in 2hr 06min 32sec — a remarkable time given the absence of pacemakers and the intense heat and humidity in the Chinese capital.
Many observers believed it was only a matter of time before he lowered Haile Gebrselassie’s world record of 2-03-59. Their showdown on the streets of London next year was set to be one of the highlights of the 2012 Games.
The year after his Olympic victory, Wanjiru won the London Marathon in what was then a course record of 2-05-10, and he also triumphed twice in Chicago, the last time in a thrilling duel with Ethiopia’s Tsegaye Kebede in October. His big-city successes brought him two overall World Marathon Majors titles, earning him an extra million dollars in prize money.
Bedford said Wanjiru’s death was a sad day for London — the Kenyan also finished runner-up in the capital in 2008 — and promised to create a lasting memorial to honour his contribution to the event.
“Like the rest of the world of athletics, and in particular marathon running, I am absolutely shocked to the core,” said Bedford.
“Samuel was, in my opinion, the greatest marathon runner that we have ever seen. That’s based on his amazing performance at the Olympics but also the fact that he then went on to win two Chicago Marathons and one London Marathon.
“He was viewed by most people in the game as the person most likely to break Haile Gebrselassie’s world record. He was a class athlete and a class human being. He had a great amount of fun in his character and was kind and generous with his time. He will be sadly missed.”
Gebrselassie, winner of Sunday’s Bupa Great Manchester Run, posted several tweets expressing his sadness at his young rival’s death. “I am totally shocked by the death of Sammy Wanjiru,” he wrote, adding: “Of course one wonders if we as an athletics family could have avoided this tragedy.”
In a statement, Kenyan prime minister Raila Odinga said: “Wanjiru’s death is not only a loss to his family and friends but to Kenya as a whole and the entire world athletics fraternity.
“As an athletics nation, we looked forward to a sterling performance in the Olympic Games in London next year. Mr Wanjiru was one of our sure bets for gold in the contest. His death is therefore a big blow to our dreams.”
He was described by London Marathon race director David Bedford as the greatest male marathon runner the world has ever seen but Olympic champion Sammy Wanjiru was unable to outrun his turbulent private life.
The athletics world was in shock on Monday after the 24 year-old, who became the first Kenyan to win an Olympic marathon in Beijing three years ago, leapt to his death from a first-floor balcony at his luxury house in the Rift Valley town of Nyahururu.
According to regional police chief Jaspher Ombati, Wanjiru’s wife, Triza Njeri, had returned home unexpectedly in the early hours to discover her husband in bed with another woman. It is understood she locked the pair inside and left the house.
Minutes later Wanjiru was dead after jumping from a balcony, plunging six metres and apparently striking his head on the concrete floor below.
“It is not yet clear whether it was a suicide or if he jumped out of rage, or what caused him to fall to the ground,” Ombati said.
“He jumped from his first-floor balcony to the ground. He was bleeding from the nose and the mouth, and may have suffered internal injuries.”
Wanjiru’s Italian agent, Federico Rosa, said yesterday he was “100 per cent certain” that the athlete had not committed suicide, insisting that he had seemed happy and relaxed when he spoke to him over the weekend.
Investigations into the circumstances of his death were continuing on Monday as police interviewed Njeri and Wanjiru’s unnamed female companion.
But the athlete was no stranger to domestic bust-ups, having been charged with the attempted murder of Njeri in December after allegedly assaulting her and threatening to kill her with an AK-47 assault rifle.
The pair were later reconciled and the allegations were withdrawn, as was a charge of wounding a security guard by hitting him in the face with the butt of the rifle. However, a charge of illegal possession of a firearm was still outstanding and was due to be heard next week.
To add to Wanjiru’s problems, he had also been involved in a car accident on the Nairobi-Nyahururu road in January, rolling his four-wheel drive vehicle several times while trying to avoid an oncoming truck. He was forced to pull out of last month’s Virgin London Marathon, citing a knee injury.
Wanjiru’s tempestuous private life was at odds with the polite, mild-mannered figure he cut during his media appearances at the big-city marathons.
But during races he was an aggressive competitor, launching attack after attack to try to break the resolve of his opponents. His greatest moment came in Beijing, when he ran away from his rivals to claim the gold medal in 2hr 06min 32sec — a remarkable time given the absence of pacemakers and the intense heat and humidity in the Chinese capital.
Many observers believed it was only a matter of time before he lowered Haile Gebrselassie’s world record of 2-03-59. Their showdown on the streets of London next year was set to be one of the highlights of the 2012 Games.
The year after his Olympic victory, Wanjiru won the London Marathon in what was then a course record of 2-05-10, and he also triumphed twice in Chicago, the last time in a thrilling duel with Ethiopia’s Tsegaye Kebede in October. His big-city successes brought him two overall World Marathon Majors titles, earning him an extra million dollars in prize money.
Bedford said Wanjiru’s death was a sad day for London — the Kenyan also finished runner-up in the capital in 2008 — and promised to create a lasting memorial to honour his contribution to the event.
“Like the rest of the world of athletics, and in particular marathon running, I am absolutely shocked to the core,” said Bedford.
“Samuel was, in my opinion, the greatest marathon runner that we have ever seen. That’s based on his amazing performance at the Olympics but also the fact that he then went on to win two Chicago Marathons and one London Marathon.
“He was viewed by most people in the game as the person most likely to break Haile Gebrselassie’s world record. He was a class athlete and a class human being. He had a great amount of fun in his character and was kind and generous with his time. He will be sadly missed.”
Gebrselassie, winner of Sunday’s Bupa Great Manchester Run, posted several tweets expressing his sadness at his young rival’s death. “I am totally shocked by the death of Sammy Wanjiru,” he wrote, adding: “Of course one wonders if we as an athletics family could have avoided this tragedy.”
In a statement, Kenyan prime minister Raila Odinga said: “Wanjiru’s death is not only a loss to his family and friends but to Kenya as a whole and the entire world athletics fraternity.
“As an athletics nation, we looked forward to a sterling performance in the Olympic Games in London next year. Mr Wanjiru was one of our sure bets for gold in the contest. His death is therefore a big blow to our dreams.”
The veteran actress, real name, Abiola Atanda, was visited by armed robbers in the early hours of last week Monday at her Iyana Ipaja residence and carted away money, valuables worth hundreds of thousands of naira and even smashed the actress' end of discussion car before leaving. She was home with her three children when the sad incident occurred, but nobody was hurt.
started cashing into Dagrin's death by recording "Tributes" and this guys went as far as creating a movie that does
not reflect the true Dagin, checkout this writeup by NET, there is no way to summarize that - so read if you are
interested!.
QuoteThe producers of Ghetto Dreamz, the Dagrin biopic, will forever be remembered as the first organization to deliver
a movie on the life and times of a Nigerian musician. And they deserve commendations for not just the initiative,
but also for successfully premiering the movie on the anniversary of the death of the rapper.
No sponsorship or product placements or third party funding. The entire project, running into almost N20M, was
funded by Stingomania, a fast-growing entertainment company owned and run by Ope Banwo – a lawyer and entertainment
enthusiast who first came to our attention as the head of RCCG’s Dove Media.
And the buzz leading to the premiere of Ghetto Dreamz was massive. Everyone that had ears and eyes knew a Dagrin
movie was in the works. And fans waited; eager to hit the cinemas and enjoy Stingomania’s portrayal of the dead
rapper.
Sadly, many who attended the premiere on Friday, April 22 2011, left the Silverbird Cinemas, not with tears in
their eyes or smiles on their faces, but with disappointment and lamentations.
Director Daniel Ademinokan tries to tell the story of a young man we knew so well; and most of the time, he missed
the point. For example, the ‘Yahoo-Yahoo’ period in the rapper’s life was not more major than, say, the periods
when he roamed the streets, hustling the way an area boy would; he was violent at a point and gave his parents more
headache than just not passing his exams. And you didn’t have to know Dagrin personally to know all these. Just
like most great rappers, his lyrics were autobiographical. And he told it the way it was.
Doris
The casting director chose a wrong lady to act as the rapper’s girlfriend. Doris Simeon, Ademinokan’s wife who
played the role carried it well and delivered her part. But it was glaring all through that she was too old for the
role. At that point, in Dagrin’s life, his girlfriend could not have been more than 19-22. Doris didn’t look that
young; and she was not made up to. Add that to the fact that, as the lead actor Trybson admitted himself, there was
a serious disconnect between Doris and Trybson. The young man found it difficult holding, hugging and kissing the
actress, when her husband it was, who was calling the shots!
For a man who used music to escape a lot of trouble, one would also have expected to see in Ghetto Dreamz, Dagrin
hitting stages as much as he was hitting studios. Dagrin performed a lot; most times for free. The story of his
life cannot be complete without these moments. He was also a womanizer, as many of his friends would tell you. Why
was Ghetto Dreamz silent on this? Why was he already using a Blackberry Bold 2 (as seen in the movie) far back in
his “Yahoo Yahoo” days when that phone model was only released last year?
The blunders in this movie are legion; including the very lazy portrayal of his accident; time in the hospital, and
eventual death. This newspaper broke the story of Dagrin’s accident and eventual death, even dedicated an entire
print edition to the late rapper. And his tragic passing was generously covered by all Nigerian media. For the
producers to have resorted to what’s on the movie, is not just a shame; but also a hoax; a fraud; reeking of not
just disrespect, but a disdain for the Nigerian media which gave his movie tremendous support.
No one can tell for now, why Dagrin’s parents were absent at the Premiere, or why most of his colleagues did not
make it down. Ordinarily this should not take anything away from the project. But how can Dagrin’s father, who
enjoys publicity; craves and thrives in it, not make it for the Premiere where there’ll be dozens of Cameras ad
many reporters? Why was Dagrin’s manager Tunde Peters missing? Is there anything we’re not being told?
And we’ve been told by those close to the producers, as well as insiders at the cinemas that Ghetto Dreamz is still
performing far below the expectations of the producers. The figures are disappointing for now – many fans are yet
to see the movie; as well as many of Dagrin’s colleagues.
But, the plethora of flaws notwithstanding, Ghetto Dreamz is worth seeing. Especially for those who scarcely knew
the man or his music. Apart from the continuity and other minor issues, they won’t notice most of the blunders
critics are crying over. Just like Fela! which missed the point on many sides, but gave fans a great set and a
great show, Ghetto Dreamz will give you cause to think and ponder. And you’ll almost shed a tear for the star that
was to be; and then was not. You’ll also stand up and clap, in recognition of the excellent delivery of Pa Kasumu,
Rachel Oniga, Aremu Afolayan and debutant Trybson who obviously gave his all and more…
The story of Saheed Balogun and Fathia’s failed marriage is still afresh in our minds, no doubt. Then, the love birds were always the cynosure of all eyes at every function they attended; even their colleagues in the acting world envied their inspiring relationship. But all of a sudden, the rhythm of the song changedthe two had to part ways based on adultery and fornication charges on both sides. Even spirited efforts by notable politicians like Remi Adikwu-Bakare, Remi and Bola Tinubu and several others to mend fences between the two hit a brick wall.
As keen watchers of the drama were contemplating on what would happen to the two former lovebirds owing to their separation, gist started flying around that a sizzling romance had erupted like a volcano between Saheed and an upcoming actress called Funke Adesiyan. And in just a twinkle of an eye, the two had started attending gigs together and were seen at movie locations grinning from ear to ear as old time lovers. Hence, family, friends and well-wishers bent on their knees praying that the purported romance would lead to the altar, at least to heal the wound left by his estranged lover, Fathia. But it tuened out to be a dream as it never came through. Just recently, news filtered out again that the two have gone their separate ways.
It seems that Al Qaeda is so mad at President Obama ordering the killing of Osama bin Laden that they are threatening to kill his grandmother in Kenya.
The home of Sarah Obama has been under round-the-clock security according to ABC News.
“We received reports of plans to attack the home of Mama Sarah Obama, and we immediately put in place adequate security measures,” local police chief Stephen Cheteka told the African Review, a Kenyan paper.
Al Qaeda has battled with several U.S. backed governments in the past, mostly Somalia.
Extracted from newsone.com9jabook MonDay Feed
Going Going Gone ! .....
YOUR M.O.N.E.Y B.A.C.K A.N.Y T.I.M.E ! Own a facebook like site 9jabook.com See list of those who have PAID .http://bit.ly/hARciM
9jas Most Wanted Man in Police Net: Ebulu aka Stone Cop Killer captured, ADC to Late osisikankwu: The Police have...http://bit.ly/jZwSaKStanding vs Sitting While working ! Try this this week if you are not weak ! http://bit.ly/mg0hX5
US Cancel 2012 Visa Lottery… Over Computer Malfuction or could they be worried about "the man" they just killed ? http://bit.ly/llXM1cGive alms to beggars, go to jail -Lagos State Authority http://bit.ly/lWK8rN
U.S. strengthens Nig.eria's security, donates two warshipshttp://bit.ly/mkLBAk
Asleep for 19 years Two men's Tales of Miraculous awakening from coma http://bit.ly/mA0kUH
Woman Beheaded in Supermarket Killer runs into street with Severed Head !: A man has killed and beheaded a Briti...http://bit.ly/ik2ak4
Sunday Sermon: The Way, Truth & The Life John 14:6http://bit.ly/jbHlQN
Previously:
Airtel Staff Cry Out http://bit.ly/kfN4BN
15 first class graduates of various universities get car gift http://bit.ly/lgSlsV
Funeral Thieves Nabbed: As you mourn they Steal
Army clashes with militants in oil delta..after months of "vacation"
Man kills mother in Church Premises
9jabook MonDay Feed
Going Going Gone ! .....
YOUR M.O.N.E.Y B.A.C.K A.N.Y T.I.M.E ! Own a facebook like site 9jabook.com See list of those who have PAID .http://bit.ly/hARciM
9jas Most Wanted Man in Police Net: Ebulu aka Stone Cop Killer captured, ADC to Late osisikankwu: The Police have...http://bit.ly/jZwSaKStanding vs Sitting While working ! Try this this week if you are not weak ! http://bit.ly/mg0hX5
US Cancel 2012 Visa Lottery… Over Computer Malfuction or could they be worried about "the man" they just killed ? http://bit.ly/llXM1cGive alms to beggars, go to jail -Lagos State Authority http://bit.ly/lWK8rN
U.S. strengthens Nig.eria's security, donates two warshipshttp://bit.ly/mkLBAk
Asleep for 19 years Two men's Tales of Miraculous awakening from coma http://bit.ly/mA0kUH
Woman Beheaded in Supermarket Killer runs into street with Severed Head !: A man has killed and beheaded a Briti...http://bit.ly/ik2ak4
Sunday Sermon: The Way, Truth & The Life John 14:6http://bit.ly/jbHlQN
Previously:
Airtel Staff Cry Out http://bit.ly/kfN4BN
15 first class graduates of various universities get car gift http://bit.ly/lgSlsV
Funeral Thieves Nabbed: As you mourn they Steal
Army clashes with militants in oil delta..after months of "vacation"
Man kills mother in Church Premises
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Dimeji Bankole, may have owned up to borrowing N10bn from a commercial bank to manage the affairs of the lower arm of the National Assembly, investigation has revealed.
Mr. Dimeji Bankole
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A member of the House leadership, told our correspondent that Bankole, who was absent at Wednesday's plenary when the issue came up, gave satisfactory reasons for the loan during a closed-door session by the House leadership on Thursday.
The member said, "He gave reasons why the loan was taken. We were satistified. In fact, most of us who make up the House leadership were in the know about the loan.
"We just agreed that he should convey our decision at the plenary which will have all members in attendance. The decision was to prevent a row in the House."
Bankole had come under fire during Wednesday's plenary with members giving him till Thursday (yesterday) to explain why the loan was taken by the House leadership without carrying them along.
The bank had reportedly withheld the second quarter allowances of members on account of the loan, resulting into anger and anxiety in the chamber.
But on Thursday, rather than hear the speaker in the open, the House went straight into the closed-door session, which lasted for nearly two hours.
When it reverted to plenary, Bankole read out two resolutions he said were taken at the closed-door meeting.
He claimed that the members "discussed House matters and issues and the Speaker offered satisfactory explanations."
The speaker added that the meeting also resolved that the remuneration of the 11 re-admitted lawmakers led by Mr. Dino Melaye should be paid to them immediately.
However, mixed reactions greeted the resolutions. Some lawmakers shouted "no", "no", indicating disagreement, while others shouted "yes", "yes" as Bankole asked whether what he said was the true reflection of the resolutions of the meeting.
Findings however revealed that at the closed-door session, the speaker clarified that the loan was an institutional loan as against the rumour that he used the name of the House to take a personal loan.
He was reported to have said that the money was used to manage the affairs of the House.
The development confirmed allegations that lawmakers jacked up their entitlements, collecting jumbo salaries and allowances.
A disgruntled member said that the loan was used to fund the "recklessness" of lawmakers, who raised the quarterly allocation of each member from N28.9m to about N42m in July last year.
The decision, in addition to other "unnecessary expenditure", reportedly left the accounts of the House in the red, necessitating the pressure to resort to borrowing.
One of the lawmakers told our correspondent after the plenary that the loan would have been as high as N60bn if not for conditions set for banks by the Central Bank of Nigeria.
The lawmaker, who did not want his name in print, said, "Besides the N42m, they were even demanding other money. The real loan would have been N60bn; but any bank doing this type of transaction needed the approval of the Central Bank of Nigeria.
"It was because there was no CBN approval that they were left with what they got (10bn)."
The money for the repayment of part of the loan was said to have been built into the 2011 budget which is yet to be singed by President Goodluck Jonathan.
Another member of the House disclosed that one of the decisions taken at the closed-door session was that the leadership would "meet with the Presidency to find ways of freeing the allowances of lawmakers being held by the bank."
The loan was allegedly taken in three tranches of N6.1bn, N2.5bn and N1.5bn in May 2010.
However, some lawmakers were said to have insisted that the leadership was also reckless on its part by undertaking certain expenditure that they were not briefed on.
One of them said, "We are funding the recklessness of the leadership. What pains me most is that the people who will suffer for this recklessness are the Nigerian tax payers.
"We are kept here at the expense of the tax payers who are suffering. The speaker did not say it all; the loan was taken to fund their own recklessness, which they can no longer defend.
"What they have decided to do is to roll the loan over in the budget at compound interest."
On the separate case involving the allowances of 11 suspended members, Bankole allegedly appealed to them to exercise patience.
"He was practically begging; he assured us that something would be done very soon to pay the money," one of the 11 re-admitted legislators confided in our correspondent.
Each of them is said to be owed about N120m for allowances covering 11 months.
As the House rose, Melaye stormed out, still protesting that Bankole did not offer satisfactory explanations.
"No sinner will go unpunished, I repeat. I have been vindicated. I have always shouted that this House has lost focus," he said.
A four-time member and Chairman of the Integrity Group, Mr. Farouk Lawan, blamed the development in the House on "communication breakdown."
Lawan, whose group ensured the exit of a former Speaker, Mrs. Patricia Etteh, from office in 2007, claimed that there had been a communication breakdown between the leadership and members over the handling of House finances.
He said, "What has happened today is that the communication channels were opened and people aired their views. The leadership also took time to explain a lot issues aggitating members, with the result that people left the meeting satisfied."
But, the Chairman of the House Committee on Rules and Business, Mr. Ita Enang, who later briefed journalists on the outcome of the meeting, tried to douse the seriousness of the matter.
He was, however, unwilling to admit that a loan was taken on behalf of the House by the leadership.
Enang also claimed that the withholding of lawmakers' allowances by the bank was "a temporary, normal bank-customer issue, which the House is working to resolve."
He said, "Whatever is happening between any bank and the House is a domestic banking transaction between a bank and a customer.
Almost two months ago, I decided that I wanted to try working standing up, rather than sitting down. When sitting in my comfortable, reclining office chair, my posture was terrible, my attention span was narrowing rapidly, and I was constantly battling fatigue. After looking around online a bit, it sounded like standing was the way to go.
So I propped my keyboard and mouse up on a few encyclopedias and gave it a go. The first week was rough on my feet and legs, which ached constantly. I kept a bar stool handy for resting periodically on, but I really tried to stand at least 80% of the time. After that first week, though, things improved rapidly.
My attention span improved, too. I noticed an immediate increase in my ability to focus on a problem for longer, and with greater clarity. When I was blocked by some problem, I was able to just walk away from the desk, whereas before the effort of getting up from my chair often made me prefer to just sit and stew in my frustration.
So now, nearly two months later, I am able to replace my book-stack keyboard platform with a real stand-up desk, and I love it. When I was shopping around for a new desk, I quickly realized that I didn’t want stainless steel or plastic. I wanted wood, being the xylophile that I am. And of all the places that sold wooden stand-up desks, Standupdesks.com(the web outlet for Amish Country Furniture Sales) was the most compelling. I purchased a 4-foot-wide variant of this computer desk, and am very pleased with it so far (it just arrived yesterday). The workmanship is top-notch, and I love its simple elegance.
The Police have arrested the most wanted criminal in the country who killed over 50 victims, including policemen in Abia and Imo states and in other South-South states. The kingpin, Emmanuel Nnamdi Ebulu, alias "Stone" aged 32 years, was the second in command to one "Osisikankwu," the notorious armed robber and kidnapper who was killed in Abia in 2010, while his lieutenants continued the mayhem.
The suspects arrested with others are Chidi Udochi (30); Chukwuma Anueze (48) and Igwe Okechukwu (25).They were arrested after killing three persons in Akwa-Ibom State in a daredevil robbery attack last week.
The AIG, zone 6, Muhammed Abubakar, who paraded the suspects at the force headquarters Abuja, on Wednesday said they were heavily armed and shot sporadically at motorists and passengers alike and at the end of the operation, three persons were killed.Their names were given as Emmanuel James Akpan (53), Archibong Akpan Udoette(45) and Bassey Okon Ekpenyong (45).
The bandits also dispossessed people of their money and other valuables and snatched a Toyota Hilux vehicle with registration number AE675KTS, belonging to Ibom Power Company Ltd. after killing the driver. Police investigation commenced immediately and with the assistance of the tracking technology, the Toyota Hilux vehicle was traced to Omasi Street, Rumuomasi Port- Harcourt, wherein three suspects were arrested excluding the receptionist of the guest house which made the number.
According to him, they were: Emmanuel Joseph Ebulu alias "Stone" aged 32 years and hails from Ozatta in Ukwa West LGA of Abia State, Chukwunna Anueze aged 48 years, a tanker driver by profession who hails from Atta village in Njaba Local Government Area of Imo State, Chidi Udochi aged 30 years, a motor conductor who hails from Owerri Obiuno in Orlu LGA of Imo State and Igwe Okechukwu Gift, aged 25 years, a receptionist attached to Fson Guest House, Port Harcourt.
in command to Osisikankwu, the notorious gang leader in Aba who met his waterloo recently.
Stone, before his arrest presided over an expansive criminal empire made up of over 50 gang members with unparallel sophistication weaponry and has made useful statements to the investigators including confessions to the following armed robberies; armed robbery at Union Bank, First Bank and Zenith Bank at Osisioma in 2010 during which they made away with over N30 million.
Other banks they attacked include; First Bank Abak, Akwa-Ibom State, where they made away with N10 million but lost two gang members namely Lucky and Danga in January 2010, First Bank Ikot Abasi, the operation was foiled and they lost nine gang members including Owem who brought them to Ikot Abasi in December 2009, Fidelity Bank Flyover Aba in 2010 and First Bank Ikot Ekpene in 2007.
The Lagos State Government on Thursday said giving alms to beggars on roadside is an offence punishable by two years imprisonment without an option of fine.
It further stated that instead of risking jail term, the citizens of the state could give such alms to churches, mosques, registered orphanages, motherless babies homes or social welfare institutions in the state.
The Special Adviser on Youth, Sports and Social Development to the governor, Dr. Dolapo Badru, said this at a news conference in Alausa, Ikeja on the performance of the ministry in social care.
He said the government was determined to take beggars and the destitute off the street and provide them vocations and shelters.
He said, "Lagos State frowns on giving alms to beggars. It is punishable under the law and you can get up to two years imprisonment for giving money to beggars.
"We have places where such money could be put to good use. The government is committed to best practices in social care."
He said that the government had formulated policies and established institutional care services in order to ensure proper rescue and integration of beggars and the destitute.
He said that 72 complaints on begging and destitution were received and attended to in 2010, adding that government's efforts were aimed at reducing crimes in the state.
"We are concerned about it and other issues of abandoned babies and child abuse and lack of care for people living with disabilities. Hence, we have telephone lines people can call in case they notice some of these things including 08097226696 for beggars and 08096777389 for abandoned babies," Badru said.
AS part of its renewed military assistance to Nigeria and to help monitor the Gulf of Guinea more effectively, the United States (U.S.) is transferring the ownership of two of its well known warships to the Federal Government today in California, U.S.
The two ships - Chase and Hamilton, regarded as high endurance warships, which had been in the service of the U.S. Coast Guard in the last 43 and 44 years respectively, were recently decommissioned - (stepped down) by the U.S. authorities in March and are now being donated to Nigeria, according to a spokesperson of the U.S. Coast Guard who spoke ahead of the event where the ownership would be transferred to Nigeria.
A team of Nigerian diplomats, Federal Government and military officials are already in Alameda, California at one of the bases of the U.S. Coast Guard service to receive the offer from the Americans. Led by the Nigerian Ambassador to the United States, Prof. Ade Adefuye, the team includes the new Nigeria Defence Attache to the U.S. Navy Captain Adefemi Kayode.
According to Sondra Kay, a spokesperson of the U.S. Coast Guard Services, two separate events will take place today, one by 9 a.m. and the other by 2 p.m. where both ships would be handed over to Nigeria one after the other in California. According to Sondra Kay, the names Chase and Hamilton which the ships bear have now been dropped since Nigeria will now have to give the ships new names.
Both Chase and Hamilton are veterans of the US Coast Guard fleet and have been in service for 43 and 44 years and both ships have a wide capacity and weighing about 378 feet in length, according to the spokesperson.
Both ships were actively used by the US military during the Vietnam war and while Chase was engaged as surveillance ship when the US declared the war on terror after 2011, Hamilton has also been engaged on several missions including recently helping out in Haiti after the disaster of last year.
According to the US Coast Guards Services, CGC Chase-(CGC meaning Coast Guards Cutter) "is designed as a "high endurance" cutter. Her crossing range of 9,600 miles at 20 knots, and 80 foot flight deck, capable of handling both Coast Guard and Navy helicopters, make the Chase an ideal platform for extended patrol missions.
Besides, Chase's regular missions include "enforcement of all U.S. maritime laws and treaties, fisheries conservation, marine pollution response, defence readiness, and search and rescue. CGC Chase was one of the first naval vessels built with a combined diesel and gas turbine propulsion plant."
It was added that Chase's engineering plant "includes two 3,500 horsepower diesel engines, and two 18,000 horsepower gas turbines, which can achieve a top speed of 28 knots. Two 13-foot diameter controllable pitch propellers, combined with a retractable and rotatable bow propulsion unit, give Chase high maneuverability."
When they were decommissioned in March, the Commandant of the US Coast Guards Services, Admiral Bob Papp commended both ships generously. In a statement from the US Coast Guards, Admiral Papp said Hamilton which is 44 years old, having been commissioned in 1967 was the first US military vessel to employ aircraft gas turbine engines combined with diesel engines.
According to him, its motto , "Always first", truly reflects the ship's history. For instance Papp said Hamilton was also the first US military vessel to arrive in Vietnam during the war. Last year, the ship sailed for 205 days and covered over 50,000 nautical miles according to Admiral Papp.
On the other hand Papp disclosed that Chase won the Navy Meritorious unit commendation and the Vietnam Service Medal. Commissioned in 1968, he said Chase had been part of "virtually everyone of the US Coast Guards challenging maritime missions. Chase's motto was "There is no work better than ours!"
Valued at several millions of dollars both ships are said to be part of renewed US military assistance to Nigeria. For instance US news agency report yesterday cited a Pentagon counterterrorism training and equipment initiative known as the Section 1206 programme , which has funnelled aid to 53 countries including Nigeria.
Funding for that initiative has risen to $500 million in the Obama administration's request for fiscal year 2012, which starts October 1, and under the programme, Nigeria reportedly got maritime surveillance gear to monitor traffic in the Gulf of Guinea.
Also in 2003 and 2004, the US also gave several ships to the Nigerian military, but Chase and Hamilton are said to be some of the highest capacity ships donated to the Federal Government by the Americans.
Man after coma of 19yrs Jan Grzebski (1942 – 12 December 2008 :"Now I see people on the streets with cell phones and there are so many goods in the shops it makes my head spin. What amazes me is all these people who walk around with their mobile phones and never stop moaning. I've got nothing to complain about."
Note:Tayo Aderinokun MD of GTBank is in a coma in a London Hospital. His achievements have led to various Milestones in the Banking industry of Nigeria. Pray for his quick recovery .
Ist Man: Terry Wallis
Man wakes after 20 years in a coma
It sounds like the plot of a movie, only it's completely true. Terry Wallis lapsed into a coma over 19 years ago after a car wreck near his home in Arkansas. He's been in a comatose state at the Stone County Nursing and Rehabilitation Centre for most of the time since that day. Last month, he opened his eyes and slowly regained the power of speech and a consciousness of the world around him.
His first word was, "Mom," which was received with delight by his mother, Angilee Wallis, who aptly called her son's recovery "a miracle." David Good, a neurological rehabilitation specialist from Wake Forest University Medical School commented that Mr. Wallis' recovery after almost two decades is so rare that statistics aren't even kept on the event.
Terry's long-term memory seems to function normally, but appears to have been frozen back in 1984. He awoke believing that Ronald Reagan was President, and asked for his grandmother who had died several years ago, remembering her phone number which everyone else in the family had forgotten.
Jerry Wallis, Terry's father commented, "You see, he's still back in 1984." James Zini, Wallis' family physician instructed the hospital to treat Terry as though he were awake and functioning, and his family took him home with them for periodic visits.
The few memories that he formed over the years were likely the results of conversations he overheard as he drifted in and out of the coma. One example of this was that Terry awoke knowing what a cell phone was, even though he had never seen one. Terry hadn't spoken to his family since 13 July 1984 when he said goodbye to his 17 year old wife and six-week old daughter and left for a drive with his close friend "Chub" Moore. Their truck smashed through a guardrail several miles out of town and plunged 25 feet before landing upside down in a creek bed below the road. They were found the next morning by the local police. Eight days later, Moore died.
Terry was placed on a ventilator, heart monitor and a feeding tube for long term maintenance care. There was nothing more the doctors could do for him. The family is understandably ebullient over Terry's miraculous recovery. Terry awoke unexpectedly when his mother entered the room and asked the question she'd become accustomed to asking on her daily visits, "Who's here? Who is it who came to visit you today?" To her amazement, this time he answered. His first words were soon followed with a torrent as he struggled to get a grasp on the changes that had taken place. Terry's language skills recovered slowly at first, a few words at a time, but now, according to his family he talks almost full time and has given interviews with reporters from around the world. His reunion with his family also included meeting his 19 year old daughter Amber, who was born just before the accident. For the first time, he was able to tell her, "You're pretty" and "I love you."
One can only imagine the difficult adjustments that lie ahead for Terry, as he adjusts to the world that is suddenly reappeared before him, and, simultaneously grapples with the challenges of his remaining medical problems. He remains a parapalegic with almost no use of his arms or legs. He is working with a speech therapist and has said that he hopes to work on walking again one day.
The coincidence that the original car wreck and Terry's awakening both occurred on Friday the 13th is an anomaly within a miracle.
Update, January 2004
It has now been almost six months since Terry Wallis unexpectedly woke up from his 20 year coma and began to talk. His friends and family have rallied around the cause of his physical and psychological rehabilitation and good progress is being made towards Terry's reentry into a world that has changed dramatically around him.
Terry's story dropped quickly from the news but the real struggle to begin his new life has just begun. Here are a few of the developments since he awoke: - Terry's language skills continue to improve and he is now able to initiate conversations with his doctors and family members. According to his father, his personality has also changed a bit. When he was asked by his female speech therapist, what she could do for him, "He told her, "Make love to me."
- Terry's wife Sandi is still estranged from the family, the result of her lack of faith that Terry would eventually emerge from his persistent vegetative state. His daughter Amber has taken an active role in Terry's rehabilitation and participates in his daily care.
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The costs of Terry's care have been an enormous burden to his family, but relief may be on the way in the form of a movie deal. Scott Bakula Productions has agreed to a six-figure contract for the movie rights to Terry's story. Bakula is pitching the story to television networks in the hope of producing a show in time for the first anniversary of Terry's awakening. Rumor has it that the ubiquitous Ben Affleck will be cast as Terry and Jennifer Lopez will play Terry's estranged wife Sandi. - The Wallis family has established a fund for those wishing to contribute to Terry's care. Details can be found at www.TerryWallisFund.org
- The controversy surrounding the Terri Schiavo case in Florida has reawaken some interest in Terry Wallis. Terry's family heard about the Schiavo case and contacted Schiavo's family to offer support. Schiavo, also 39 years old, has been in a coma since 1990. Her husband has requested that her life support systems be withdrawn, allowing her to die, but her family and other supporters, including the Governor of Florida, Jeb Bush, have fought the move.
The Terry Wallis and Terri Schiavo cases are both in the spotlight of the difficult moral and ethical questions surrounding "personhood theory. Under this theory, people who are diagnosed with permanent loss of consciousness and the ability to think and communicate with others are defined as "nonpersons." These "human nonpersons" are theorized to have lesser rights and value than full and equal members of the human community. Other nonperson classes include embryos, fetuses, those with severe mental disabilities or advanced Alzheimer's disease. 2006 Update
Terry Wallis plans to spend the Fourth of July 2006 listening to country western music and watching fireworks at his brother's house in Harriet, Arkansas.
The miracle of his recovery has continued to impress and confound his doctors and delight his family. Since his re-awakening in 2003, Mr. Wallis' speech and memory have continued to improve, providing scientists with an opportunity for new insights into neurology and cognitive processes. A recent research paper published in The Journal of Clinical Investigation uses advanced brain scanning techniques to explore the progress of Mr. Wallis' recovery and concludes that his brain is forming new neural connections. This is contrary to the accepted medical belief that few if any neurons regenerate after severe brain trauma.
These findings could have important implications for the estimated 100,000 to 200,000 Americans currently in states of partial or minimal consciousness. Mr. Wallis' case is also often referenced in discussions of the case of Terri Schiavo, a Floridian who was removed from life support last year after years in a persistent vegetative state. Ms. Schiavo's injuries were significantly more profound than Mr. Wallis'.
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2nd Man:
Jan Grzebski (1942 – 12 December 2008)[1] was a Polish railroad worker who fell into a coma in 1988 and woke up in 2007. Although widely reported as a delayed effect of being hit in the head by a train's hinged car side, the coma was actually the result of a 5-centimeter brain tumor. Over time, Grzebski's aging caused the tumor to shrink enough to relieve pressure on his brain stem, and he eventually regained full consciousness. Grzebski began to wake from his coma in 2006. Doctors had not expected Grzebski to survive, let alone emerge from the coma. He credited his survival to his wife, Gertruda Grzebska, who cared and prayed for him. Grzebski was a father of four at the time of the accident. While in a coma he gained eleven grandchildren. In an interview on 1 June 2007, with the Polish news channel TVN 24, wheelchair-bound Grzebski described his recollections of the communist system's economic collapse. "When my family spoke to me, I could actually hear them but I could not talk back. I could not send them a signal to tell them that I was still alive".
“ When I went into a coma there was only tea and vinegar in the shops, meat was rationed and huge petrol queues were everywhere.
Now I see people on the streets with cell phones and there are so many goods in the shops it makes my head spin. What amazes me is all these people who walk around with their mobile phones and never stop moaning. I've got nothing to complain about."
A U.S.-based Christian group took to the streets of Manila earlier this week to preach that the end of the world is fast approaching — on May 21 at sunset, to be precise.
Volunteers from the religious group Family Radio, a Christian radio network in the United States, donned neon-coloured t-shirts and walked along Manila’s main thoroughfares, handing out pamphlets to passerby with warnings of impending Judgement Day.
The designation of May 21 came from Family Radio president Harold Camping, who predicted that date through a series of mathematical calculations and the unravelling of codes behind the Bible story of the great flood.
He was convinced that God gave hints of doomsday in the scriptures and that it was their job to decode them.
One volunteer, Kenji Hoffman, left his family and his successful job as a mechanic in the U.S to join the Family Radio crusade around the world, used his savings to get to the Philippines.
He said he believed God had left clear signs that the world was coming to an end.
“He gave Abraham warning, he gave Noah warning, he gave Lot warning and he gave Ninevites warning, and so he’s giving us warning that he is about to come,” Hoffman said.
Camping had also predicted that the world would end in September 1994, following previous calculations. After this prediction failed, he said his prediction for 2011 would definitely come true.
But few people in this majority Catholic country appeared to be paying much attention to the warnings.
“It might really happen since there’s a lot of sin in the world. It will happen, but not in the way they were predicting,” said bus inspector Rico Almasan.
“Judgement Day can’t happen on May 21.”
Gerardo Lanuza, a professor at the University of the Philippines specialising in the Sociology of Religion, said that Judgement Day groups had increased in recent years due to the unstable political and economic climate around the world.
“They want to offer people some kind of security, a type of security amidst an insecure world. It’s like okay, the end of the world is coming, what do we do?” he said.
“It’s like they’re saying we have to convince people that they have to change their way of life.”
Despite the sceptical response, members of Family Radio — which was founded in 1959 — remained unfazed.
“The world is temporal. We are seeking for an eternal one, eternal things,” said Leo Arenas, a recent convert.
REUTERS
The Basis of Christianity is Simple, From The first Prophet in the Bible to The very Last .Man Needs God & God has stipulated simply I have sent many prophets but My son I have now sent to You . You have killed Him.He is risen & seated at my right hand in Heaven . So if you are looking for the Way or are surrounded by Lies and you need a Real Life . You will Find all Three in one ."Buy" One Get Three Free
Jesus Christ aka Yeshua The King of Kings & Lord of Lords . The Lamb of God who was Slain .
Article
John 14:6 is frequently used in sermons, signs and brochures. We wonder if it is really understood. Most often it is cited to affirm that Jesus Christ is the only way a person can be reconciled with God. We agree this verse does teach this. Without Jesus, there is simply no hope for mankind. But is that the main focus on what Jesus was saying?
"Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me." John 14:6
"1 "Let not your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.
2 "In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.
3 "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.
4 "And you know the way where I am going."
5 Thomas *said to Him, "Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?"
6 Jesus *said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me.
7 "If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him."
8 Philip *said to Him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us."
9 Jesus *said to him, "Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how do you say, "Show us the Father"?"
John 14:1-9, NASB.
We need to look at the context as well as the words.
Jesus is the Way.
We find that Jesus is clearly discussing the way a person can find union with God. There is no doubt that a person can find God the Father through Jesus Christ. We must go beyond this. He is the exclusive way. We might fear there are not many roads, but why? If there is one well–marked road, is this not sufficient.
Jesus is the Truth.
He is the full revelation of God. The word 'truth' is used 22 times in the Gospel of John. If we know the Son, we also know the Father. This thought seems to tie back to John 1:1-3.
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being by Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being."
Just as Truth is the very principle of God, so is Jesus Christ. Jesus was/is the Word (logos) of God. He never was created but always existed. Instead we see all things were made through Him. Everything is totally dependent upon Him. So just as truth is the backbone of creation, so is Christ. Without Him, one is simply living outside of God's revelation.
Our sinful world is much like a virus threatening to occupy God's kingdom. The world has different operating rules. It tries to usurp God's creation because it has nothing of its own.
We do not hear people saying that a virus should have equal footing with their regular genetic code. People want to get rid of the virus invasion and allow their body to normally function. We might look at all of the human race as invaded and occupied and only by being freed and restored by Christ can we be restored. The sin–sick and wayward thoughts of man are not normal. They are twisted and perverted.
Jesus is the Truth. He fully reveals the Lord's way and wonderfully enables us to be restored to it. Other religions are simply man's way of justifying their twisted lives. Only Christ leads back to God the Father. Let us not be ashamed of the Truth. Only here will we find the glorious path to true freedom.
Jesus is the Life.
He also is the Life. If we continue to use the illustration of the virus, we see that the virus lives off of what is already existent. Its path is destruction: occupy and destroy. We might live seventy years before our bodies give in to its full destructive path. But this is totally different than Life. This Life was shown in Christ who healed the sick, cast out demons and rose men from the dead. The Life is the main operating energy source.
So again, we ask, "What would we do without Christ?" We would perish. We already are perishing. Our time is limited before what was given to us at birth is wiped out. The evil operating principle of destruction is fast gaining its killing hand upon our lives. Medicines merely hold back the destructive process. We need life!
Summary
We might ask what this truth has to do with living godly lives. We need to be embrace the truth with much more confidence. We cannot think that others apart from Christ have a solution. We dare not stand around doing nothing when people are perishing. The truth is worth living and dying for. We have one life, and we must quickly eradicate every compromise of this truth. Each compromise is a twisting of the truth so that it is no longer truth. In order to be men of the Truth, we need to allow Jesus Christ fully reign in our lives. This is when the Spirit of Truth has full reign in our lives and in our sin–affected bodies.
"That is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not behold Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you, and will be in you." (John 14:17)
"When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, He will bear witness of Me." (John 15:26)
The Lagos State government has in a bid to check the menace caused by the influx of beggars in the state deported some 3,105 beggars and lunatics to their states and countries of origin.
The special adviser to the governor on youth and social development, Dolapo Badru, disclosed this during a briefing on Thursday in Lagos. He said about 3,044 of the beggars arrested in raids on lunatics have been deported in the last one year.
Mr Badru revealed that Sokoto State had the highest number of beggars, with 196, arrested on Lagos streets, followed by Oyo State with 83; Kano State - 75, Osun - 67, Ekiti - 21, and Ondo State - seven.
He added that a breakdown in the number of lunatics showed that Niger Republic had the highest number of beggars and lunatics arrested, with 12; Chad Republic - two and Côte d'Ivoire - one.
Mr Badru reiterated the state government's zero-tolerance for begging and destitution in the state, adding that the exercise of picking up unwanted persons from the streets of Lagos would be a continuous exercise.
He said his office would continue to work with security agencies to rid the city of the unwanted persons, adding that it is an offence to indulge the beggars who troop to the state on a daily basis to beg for alms.
On the essence of the state's rehabilitation centre at Owutu, Ikorodu, where beggars, destitutes, the mentally-challenged and drug addicts picked off from the streets are taken, Mr Badru said that the state government would continue to make provision for facilities to help rehabilitate them.
He said the mentally-unstable picked up across the state would be given adequate medical attention, while the 38 able-bodied among them suspected to be criminals have been handed over to the state task force for prosecution.
To effectively tackle the problem in the state, Mr Badru appealed to members of the public to desist from giving alms to beggars on the streets, pointing out that giving them alms would only encourage them to remain in the act which according to him has become a profession for many disguising to be beggars.
He urged members of the public to contribute their quota to the government's initiative by instead making donations to only registered orphanages, motherless babies home, churches, mosque or any other recognised social welfare institution in the state.
Adoption
On adoption and fostering, Mr Badru disclosed that many applications were received from prospective adopters, locally and internationally. He said they have been screened to determine their suitability for adopting children, with 177 granted letters of approval.
He disclosed that 126 children were adopted by members of the public, with 11 released for fostering. He added that 174 children have had their adoptions legalised through the juvenile court. Furthermore, an additional 161 babies were rescued and referred to various government homes and private orphanages.
The special adviser stated that his office was currently working on new guidelines for adoption and fostering, saying it was presently relating with some countries in respect of international adoptions. The countries are Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden, France, Spain, Belgium, Denmark, Switzerland, United States of America, United Kingdom, Germany and Canada.
"International adoption gives succour to children with medical challenges," Mr Badru said, adding that screenings were conducted for international adopters who wanted to adopt children from Lagos.
He said 152 children have so far been adopted by persons from a total of 10 countries, as follows: Italy - 20; the Netherlands - 41; Spain - 15; Switzerland - 12; Denmark - 25; Belgium - eight; United States - 16; United Kingdom - eight; Germany - two, and Canada - five.
He appealed to people who had applied for the 50,000 visa slot to wait, as the agency start over the selection process.
Donahue, in a press statement issued by the state department said, “We regret to inform you that, due to a computer programming problem, the results of the 2012 Diversity Lottery that were previously posted on this website have been voided. They were not valid and were posted in error.
“The results were not valid because they did not represent a fair, random selection of entrants, as required by U.S. law.
“If you checked this website during the first week in May and found a notice that you had been selected for further processing or a notice that you had not been selected, that notice has been rescinded and is no longer valid.
“A new selection process will be conducted based on the original entries for the 2012 program.
“If you submitted a qualified entry from October 5, 2010 to November 3, 2010, your entry remains with us. It will be included in the new selection lottery. Your confirmation number to check results on this website is still valid.
“We expect the results of the new selection process to be available on this website on or about July 15, 2011.
“We regret any inconvenience this might have caused”.
