6 Inexpensive Ways to Celebrate Workers

Workers are the life wire of any organisation. They are the ones who ensure that your day-to-day business operations work smoothly and uninterrupted. Hence, it is important to celebrate your workers so that they will continue giving their best. There is an opportunity now for you to appreciate them. It is worker’s day which is usually commemorated on the 1st of May of every year. So, if you have been wondering how to celebrate your employees or workers, Jumia Travel and Jumia Mobile Week share inexpensive and affordable ways to do this.

Say ‘thank you’

Saying thank you to workers may be considered as one of the most ridiculous and simplistic ways to celebrate workers. Regardless, if you have a boss that has never said thank you for a job well done, you will definitely be happy if he or she unexpectedly says thank you. It can go a long way in encouraging your workers to do more. However, do not to restrict your thank you to May 1st only.

Throw a party or take them to lunch

You can also throw a small office party where there will be music, foods and drinks. And if you don’t want to throw a party, you can take all of them for lunch at one of those fancy restaurant located in Niger Palace. You will notice the excitement and glow on their faces.

Host a friendly contest

Hosting a contest in the office can also be a way to celebrate employees. This will give them the opportunity to bond and get to know more about one another.

Present personalised gifts

You can also go out of your way to present personalised gifts to workers. Be assured that anything you present no matter how small will be appreciated. A greeting card wishing them happy worker’s day can go a long way.

Offer them shopping discount

Depending on your business, you can create a link specifically for your workers. Through the link, they can shop for any discounted items of their choice. Of course, they cannot get these items at that same discounted price elsewhere.

Take them to the beach

Workers day is a public holiday in Nigeria. You can invite all your workers and support staff for a beach party at Elegushi among other beaches in Lagos. Ensure you give them a treat!

By Adeniyi OGUNFOWOKE
PR Associate at Jumia Travel
+2348090747241

6 Ways To Deal With Insecurities

Insecurities have a way of interfering with our lives in very inconvenient and sometimes frustrating ways. This is why the need to deal with them can’t be overemphasized. Jumia Travel and Jumia Mobile Week share 6 ways to successfully deal with insecurities.

Vocalize Your Self-Critical Thoughts

The primary fuel for insecurities is the critical inner voice people have formed concerning certain area(s) of their lives out of painful or difficult life experiences. You need to learn to vocalize these self-critical thoughts or write them down in the second person, so rather than saying “I’m fat. I’m ugly”, you would instead say, “You’re fat. You’re ugly”. This process will help you separate these vicious attacks by seeing them as an external enemy or force, rather than your real point of view.

Expose the Critical Self Thoughts

What insights and reactions do you have when you separate yourself from those critical self thoughts? Do they remind you of anyone or any specific thing from your past? Asking yourself these questions will eventually help you discover the relationship between these insecurities and early life experiences. After this, it will be easier to understand why they are there and will be much easier to address them, reject them and move on from them.

Make Connections

After exposing the critical self thoughts, you should settle down and make connections between the voice attacks and your present day behaviors. You need to ask yourself, “How are these voice attacks or critical thoughts influencing my behaviors?”, “What are these attacks or insecurities making me do, or what are they holding me back from doing?”, “What events trigger these voice attacks?”, “In what areas are my insecurities most influential?”.

Stand Up to Your Insecurities

People often struggle with this process, but it requires determination and a strong will to be free of these insecurities. You have to decide that enough is enough. Once you’ve exposed the critical self thoughts, it’s time to confront them and respond to these critical voice attacks. You respond to these voice attacks strictly and confront them with statements about who you want to be, not what the voice says you are. You can also respond to the attacks the way you would a friend – with compassion and kindness.

Your Feelings Don’t Dictate Your Reaction

Standing up to your insecurities means that you understand that the fact that you might still feel insecure doesn’t matter. Insecurities aren’t feelings; they are mindsets you have to deal with. Stop being emotional about it and concentrate on getting rid of that mindset. Keep saying ‘no’ to the mindset, keep rejecting the insecure mindset until it’s gone.

Avoid Your Triggers or Learn to Live With Them

Once you’ve identified your triggers of insecurity, it will be easier to avoid them if you can. However, if you can’t avoid them, the next thing is to learn to live with them. This is also easy but requires a bit more effort. We are not born with insecurities, insecurities are learned behaviours; it’s only that they are learned unconsciously. Learning to live with your insecurities means taking active steps to learn new behaviours around your triggers to override the ones that fuel your insecurities. Over time (30 days according to scientific research), the triggers will lose their effect on you. But you have to be determined and not give up throughout the process.

By Damilola Ojo
PR Associate Jumia Travel
+2348101556883

Birthday Message To Eyitayo Jegede by Yemifash

BIRTHDAY LETTER TO THE MAN OF THE PEOPLE, EYITAYO JEGEDE SAN.

April 26 2017.

Dear Sir,


I am writing to wish you a happy birthday and to thank you for your service to Humanity, thank you for your brave and fearless leadership you are an inspiration and I hope you have many more years to keep the good work.

You are a fantastic role model for all those seeking to understand how to make an impact with their life, you have proven yourself to be a leader of ethics and morality.

You have exhibited uncommon wisdom, remarkable vision, and exemplary leadership, you have been a role model and an example of selfless giving to this generation and I am proud to hold you as someone worthy of emulation.

You have been an inspiration to progressive youths like me as we strive to improve our democracy, there is no better time to appreciate and congratulate you than on the occasion of your birthday.

Today I join other well-wishers to celebrate your life, I wish you many more years in your mission to change lives. HAPPY BIRTHDAY sir.


Oluyemi Fasipe
@YemieFash

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/04/encomium-eyitayo-jegede-marks-birthday/

Niger Delta, maginalisation and marginal oil fields

Written by the Editorial Board of The Guardian Newspaper

The report the other day that the Federal Government plans to defuse tension in the oil-rich but volatile Niger Delta area by awarding indigenes of the region marginal oil fields, is not just intriguing, it leaves a sour taste in the mouth as it represents another tokenism to which the marginalised region has been historically treated.

According to the strategic peace and conflict resolution plan, the deal is said to be in line with the government’s larger objective of reducing major incidents of restiveness by about 90 per cent by next year. Over the years, there have been agitations over oil resource ownership, which have become intense with reports backed with data that about 90 per cent of deep-water viable oil blocks and marginal oil fields are in the hands of elements from parts of the country other than the oil bearing area.

If the plan comes through, the ownership structure of the nation’s petroleum assets will begin to change hands and subsequently the restive host region, which has for decades suffered economic deprivation and environmental degradation on account of these resources, will be part of the ownership structure. Besides, the security of the assets will be guaranteed, in this connection.

This is the new gospel of peace building in the volatile region, according to the Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, who disclosed the deal recently in Lagos at the Oil and Gas Trade Group Roundtable organised by the Nigeria-British Chamber of Commerce (NBCC). According to the minister, the plan is part of the larger “stability incentive scheme” under “a harmonised holistic development plan for the Niger Delta.”

On the big plan, Kachikwu said: “This will include creating stability incentive schemes – jobs, investments, contracting opportunities for the zone, and the use of marginal fields’ allocations to state governments and indigenes to help reduce tension and get buy-in without excluding the rest of the country.” The minister also promised that government would sustain institutional engagements with stakeholders in the Niger Delta region to nip agitations in the bud, while promising greater transparency in the industry’s operations.

Despite these sweet promises, Nigerians are concerned about the sustainability and viability of government’s efforts to sustain peace process in the area. What is more, while the gesture to include indigenes in the allocation of marginal oil fields seems desirable, how far can such allocations go in this age when the oil industry is facing various strains and stresses in the international market? This gesture, therefore, is mere tokenism when it is considered that it is only the power elite in the region that may be the beneficiaries of the new deal. The same big men in the area have been advocating this sharing formula instead of pursuing a strategic development agenda that will make the Niger Delta region a reference point in the development of critical infrastructure as in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital built from scratch since 1976 with revenue from the Niger Delta area. There are, indeed, no reasons to trust the power elite from the area, as they have been the major drivers of the ad-hoc development plans from OMPADEC through the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to the Ministry of the Niger Delta Affairs. All of these interventionist establishments have not made much difference in the area.

Unfortunately, at this time when the bait of marginal oil fields is being dangled before Niger Delta’s elite, the future of the oil sector is uncertain as inherent challenges are mounting with volatile prices and disappearing markets. Besides, alternatives to petroleum are being developed and some old buyers (importers) of the products such as the United States have become exporters.

Government can aim for peace in the Niger Delta region, but it should not seek to achieve that without dispensing justice. Without justice and equity for the area, the peace process will not endure.

In the main, the emphasis being placed on oil blocks by the government should be seen for what it is: a blackmail against the Niger Delta people.

Sixteen demands were presented to the President when the area’s elders met the president a few months ago. Some of the major demands included the community’s involvement in oil management, relocation of corporate and operational headquarters of multinational oil companies to Niger Delta, fiscal federalism, among others.

The demand for oil blocks was just a subsidiary. The basis for the subsidiary demand is that over the years when the military was in power, leaders used their discretional powers to award so many oil blocks to certain people while the Niger Delta people who own the oil did not have the same privilege.

The weightier matter of governance is how to dream big for the Niger Delta and all of Nigeria beyond oil resource appropriation, allocation and sharing unjustly by the central government in a warped federal system. Even as posterity or indeed history reserves a harsh verdict for past leaders of Niger Delta extraction who have wasted unlimited opportunities to improve the lot of the people, there should be a realistic and big agenda for the Niger Delta. Above all, political leaders from the area and those who desire peace in Nigeria should also note that the most pragmatic solution that all Nigerians will benefit from is a recourse to (fiscal) federalism that will make regional development plans easier within the context of resource and land ownership in a proper federation.
Nigeria is a member of the Forum of Federation with its headquarters in Canada. But what is practised in Nigeria today is still too far from federalism. It is over-centralisation. And that is why a leader can sit down in Abuja and allocate oil blocks to privileged citizens at his own whim and caprice.

Even if most of the oil blocks are allocated to Niger Delta, that will not bring peace and justice to Nigeria. Only federalism in its purest form can.

6 Things To Consider Before Renting An Apartment For The First Time

When you become a part of the private rented sector for the first time, there are a number of things you have to consider to ensure you are not cheated and that you’re in a secure and safe tenancy. Jumia Travel, the leading online travel agency, shares 6 things you as a first time renter should consider before renting an apartment.

Tenancy Contracts

Though they tend to be long, confusing and full of legal jargon, it is important to avoid the temptation of just skipping to the end and signing it without reading. A tenancy contract is a legally binding document that mandates your landlord to do certain things that you definitely should be aware of to avoid being taken by a rude surprise.

Upfront Costs

It’s easy for first-time renters to forget that aside monthly or yearly rent, there are also upfront costs of renting an apartment and you’ll almost always have to complete the payment of the costs before you can move into the apartment. You should prepare and plan ahead for these costs to avoid a rude shock in this area.

Long Term Costs

Aside monthly or yearly rent, there are other utility payments like electricity, water etc. that you have to consider. You need to be sure if certain utilities are covered by your rent and provided for or if you will have to either source for them or pay for them.

Take a Meter Reading Before Signing on the Dotted Line

Landlords are fond of passing on previous electricity bills to new and unsuspecting tenants. Ensure you are not a victim of this by taking a meter reading of the electricity meter when you come to inspect the house. You can also request to see evidence that electricity bills have been paid to date and there are no outstanding bills left for you to shoulder. Please ensure you do this to avoid being charged by PHCN for electricity previous tenants used.

Safety and Appearance of the Neighbourhood

Many first-time renters often get carried away with the excitement of renting their first apartment and forget to assess the safety of the neighbourhood their renting the apartment in. Please ensure you do not make this mistake. Landlords will hardly be truthful or sincere about the safety of the neighbourhood of their apartments, so you have to ask around and make necessary enquiries. You can talk to one or two people who live and work around the area to get information about what the area is really like.

Accessibility

Try to get an apartment that has an easy or relatively easy access to public transportation, provision stores, medical facilities or anything else you consider important to your living situation. This will help make life in the apartment easier for you.

By Damilola Ojo
PR Associate Jumia Travel
+2348101556883

READ MORE Who is Emmanuel Macron, favourite to become France's next president?

• READ MORE

Who is Emmanuel Macron, favourite to become France's next president?

Many of the wives of French leaders have found a place in the history books: Queen Marie-Antoinette’s lavish spending contributed to the fall of the French monarchy in the late 18th century and Empress Josephine was divorced because she couldn’t give Napoleon an heir. In 1914, Prime Minister Joseph Caillaux’s wife Henriette killed the editor of the newspaper Le Figaro because he was a political threat to her husband.

If the Macrons become the next residents of the Elysee palace, Brigitte will join a list of colourful first ladies.

In the 1980s and 1990s, while Socialist president Francois Mitterrand led a double life with the mother of his illegitimate daughter Mazarine, his wife Danielle had a love life of her own. Bernadette Chirac suggested to a biographer that she silently put up with the many infidelities of her husband Jacques, while Nicolas Sarkozy’s wife Cecilia left him for her lover just six months after he took office in 2007. In 2014, President Francois Hollande’spartner Valerie Trierweiler published a bitter tell-all book on him after his liaison with actress Julie Gayet became public.

For Macron and his wife, the challenge if he takes office in May will be to not let their unusual personal history — the couple’s age difference is the same as Donald and Melania Trump, only in reverse — become a distraction. The next French president enters a post-Brexit vote, post-Trump-election world facing a domestic economy that has made an anaemic recovery with an unemployment rate still at 10 percent.

An outspoken 5-foot-4 inch former high school French literature and Latin teacher, Brigitte comes from a bourgeois family, named Trogneux, renowned for its chocolate factory in the Northern French town of Amiens. She was a drama coach at the private Jesuit school in the town in 1992 when she met 15-year-old Macron. He acted in her theatre pieces, with their association slowly developing into a romance that pushed her to divorce her husband and the father of her three children. 

“We don’t have a classic family, that’s an undeniable reality”

Even after more than a decade-long marriage, their extraordinary union raises eyebrows and is bound to draw attention if and when the Elysee palace spotlights are turned on them.  

Source: Independent 

God Loves You

God Loves You

Author: Emode Victor

A Promise For You From Bible Promises:

Topic: God Loves You[24/04/17]

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16. Read: Jn 3:13-19

The best person to explain the wrath of God better is the one that has experienced it before being saved. Invariably, the best person to explain the Love of God is the one who has or is experiencing it. Beloved, I (I don't know about you) have experience God’s love practically, in fact, I am the embodiment of God’s love. Apart from dying to save me on the cross, He has so much lavish His love on me beyond my comprehension. Has anyone ever told you "God loves you"? Just as we said yesterday that, when God blesses you, He causes everything to work for your good even in famine. Also when God loves you, He makes everyone to be in love with you and when this happens, help naturally comes your way.

God loves you more than you love yourself. His love for you caused Him His only begotten son - Jesus Christ. No one can love you like the way God does. His love for you is eternal, nothing can diminish it. He doesn't want you separated from Him, He wants you saved to escape Hell-fire prepared for Satan and his fallen angels. God needs you in heaven, therefore, disappoint Satan (who doesn't want you to make heaven) who is desperately waiting for you in hell by giving your life to Jesus now. Run for your life and embrace the Love of God today.

#BiblePromisesDeclaration

* Father, thank You for Your love for me, help me to appreciate this love by living my life for You. Help me not to disappoint in Jesus name

9 Right Ways to Take Risks

9 Right Ways to Take Risks

Risks are a part of life you can’t avoid, especially if you want to be successful. As a result, you have to learn the secrets of taking risks that will help you yield the best results. Jumia Travel, the leading online travel agency, shares 9 of these secrets to help you learn to take risks the right way.

Weigh the Risks and Benefits

Before taking risks, you have to ask yourself if the risk is worthwhile. You should consider and understand how much a risk taking ventures involves and its potential benefits. Always compare the possible consequences to the possible benefits of the risk to determine if the risk is worthwhile to you.

Be Realistic About What Could Go Wrong

You should remember that it is possible for your risk not to pay off and you should thus put the consequences in perspective. You should be sure you can deal with these consequences before moving forward with the risk.

Never Put Everything on the Line

This might seem counter-productive, but taking risks does not translate into recklessness. You have to be smart about it. Avoid over stretching yourself in the name of taking risks, and avoid putting all your time or cash into one venture, the odds of ruin are just too high. Always have a ‘safety net’ and a plan B for if the risk fails.

Always Have a Plan B and Even C

This can sincerely not be over-emphasized. You should always prepare for and think of a way out of or a way to deal with any negative consequence of your risks. Please do not take risks that end up leaving you trapped in unhealthy or inhumane situations. Always plan a way out or a way to deal with the consequences before-hand. It doesn’t have to be something so elaborate; it can be as simple as thinking of and having someone to go to if things go south.

Think For Yourself

You are the one taking the risk, it is therefore only appropriate that you learn to think for yourself and use your common sense to reach a conclusion before moving forward. You can listen to others advice and opinions or contributions, but ultimately the decision to take the risk should be yours and should be based on your judgement and assessment of all circumstances involved. If you feel you can’t trust your own judgement, seek the face of someone whose judgement you trust.

Take One Risk at Time

This goes without saying. You can go ‘big’ but don’t go ‘overboard’; this should be your rule for taking risks. Taking more than one risk at time is like being a woman who decides to wear bold makeup with bold jewelry, sky-high heels and a sequined shinny dress all at once. You’re going overboard and like the woman, you’re more likely to fail in risk taking.

Know Your Limits

Before taking risks, you should adhere to some personal guidelines. You should understand how much you are willing to tolerate and what will cause you to stop or back out completely from the venture. Adhering to safety standards that are comfortable for you, is what will keep you ‘alive’ during the ‘dangerous’ and ‘uncertain’ periods of your risk taking venture.

Remember that Risk Taking is Relative

Everyone has different tolerance to risk taking; you should therefore never compare your risk taking tolerance to that of another person. You can push yourself beyond your comfort zone, but never do so beyond what you can handle if things go wrong.

Be Positive

Once you’ve judged a risk as worthwhile, have planned a reasonable way to go about the risk taking venture and have prepared the appropriate safety net, try to be positive and picture everything going well. Positive thinking will help you build the confidence you need to go through the risk.

By Damilola Ojo
PR Associate Jumia Travel
+2348101556883

Queen of England, Elizabeth II turns 91 ysterday

Elizabeth Alexandra Mary the Queen on England born April 21, 1926 is a year older yesterday.

It has been 65 years since Queen Elizabeth II, the longest-reigning monarch in British history, ascended to the throne, she has been Queen of the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand since 6 February 1952.

On 6 February 2017, she became the first British monarch to celebrate the Sapphire Jubilee marking sixty-five years of her reign.

LIB

Governor Fayose of Ekiti state ask where is Buharii

Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose has questioned President Muhammadu Buhari’s persistent absence from state functions, especially the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meetings, asking whether or not the president was now governing the country by proxy. He said; “Every day, what we hear is President said this, President said that without seeing the President in any official function and one is prompted to ask; where is the president?” Fayose in a release issued in Ado Ekiti on Thursday, by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, said it was becoming obvious that a group of cabal is exercising the powers of the President. “I saw the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Babachir Lawal on television responding to his suspension and what came to my mind was that there could actually be many presidents operating in the Buhari’s presidency. “Perhaps, it is for this reason of possible existence of governments within the government of Buhari that confusion pervades the polity, with the President himself writing letter to the Senate to clear someone of wrongdoing and the same person being suspended three months after on the basis of the same allegation. It is also for this reason that the President nominated Ibrahim Magu to the Senate for confirmation as EFCC Chairman and the DSS, an agency under the Presidency wrote the Senate not to confirm him. “Most importantly, the President did not attend the FEC meeting last week and the meeting did not hold this week under the flimsy excuse that Easter Break stalled it. How could Easter Break that ended on Monday be responsible for the inability to hold FEC meeting on Wednesday? Definitely, there is more to this than meets the eye. “It has therefore become necessary that Nigerians hear the voice of their President and see him physically, not through surrogates or the cabal operating behind the scene,” the governor said. Speaking further, Governor Fayose, who described a President as the face and image of a nation, urged President Buhari to hold regular media chat in which Nigerians can ask questions and offer suggestions on the running of the country. “Since his first and only media chat was held in December 2015, Nigerians have not had opportunity of seeing their President address them directly and this is not the best approach to governance in a democracy,” he said. http://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/04/hear-president-said-said-president-buhari-fayose/

Re: Where Is President Buhari? – Fayose bylwise(m): 8:43pm On Apr

Limitation Of Riches

Limitation Of Riches

Author: Emode Victor

A Promise For You From Bible Promises:

Topic: Limitation Of Riches [21/04/2017]

There is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither hath he power in the day of death: and there is no discharge in that war; neither shall wickedness deliver those that are given to it. Ecclesiastes 8:8. Read: Lk 12:16-21

Pastor E. A. Adeboye told a story of a particular musician who sang a song to praise one honourable chief who was stupendously rich. "Honourable chief you will not die" the musician sang. Barely one month after that day, the honourable chief died. My friend the king called me and said, Adeboye, honourable chief died, I said yes your highness. Adeboye, "Money is shamed" the king exclaimed. Money has been disappointed.

As good and important as money is, there comes a time in life it becomes helpless, unimportant and useless. With money, you can do more here on earth, but it also has limitations. For instance, money cannot buy you joy, peace, true love and faith. When you put your trust in uncertain riches, you are heading for destruction when it finally develops wings and flies away. Money is handicapped on the day of death. When the owner of life finally requires His breathe, money becomes worthless. Finally, money cannot buy you salvation and secure heaven for you. In heaven, money cannot buy you justice before the Lord Jesus Christ. Don't put your trust in uncertain riches but in God Almighty. Those that trust in riches are like the rich fool in our Bible reading. Don't be fooled!

#BiblePromisesPrayer

* Father, as you bless me financially, help me not to put my trust in riches in Jesus Mighty Name

As Revealed: Names Of Occupants Of Osborne Towers Ikoyi Where $50m Was

 SaharaReporters has obtained the full list of occupants of a swanky apartment building in Lagos where operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) found close to $50million last week.

 The building, located at 16 Osborne Road in Ikoyi, has nine floors of 19 Apartments and two penthouses.

It is owned by a former Peoples Democratic Party chairman, Ahmed Muazu, who retained for himself the penthouses, 10A and B; as well as Apartments 11A and 11B.

 Since the raid became public, the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) has laid claim to the funds, its Director-General Ayodele Oke saying it was meant for covert operations authorized by President Goodluck Jonathan during his tenure.

 SaharaReporters, however, reported on Monday that the woman who was discreetly ferrying the money into the apartment in bags was Mr. Oke’s wife, Folashade. According to the apartment ownership list obtained by SaharaReporters, other owners include:

 1A - A former Guaranty Trust Bank chairman, Fola Adeola, who owns Apartment1A.

 1B - Former Anambra Governor, Peter Obi and his wife, who own Apartment 1B.

 2A - Ahmed Kida 2B - Ahmed Kida but apartment occupied by Esther Ogbue (a recently retired MD of NNPC)

 3A - Kayode Sonaike 3B - Sterling Assets

 4A and 4B - Leo Stan Ekeh

 5A - Sterling Bank 5B - Damian Dodo, SAN

 6A - Mo Abudu 6B - Career Terminal and Logistics Ltd.

 7A - Mr. and Mrs. Edo-Osagie (Daughter of PDP Chieftain Anthony Anenih and her husband) 7B - Chobe Ventures Limited (Controlled by Folashade Oke, wife of DG, NIA) apartment where $50m was found by EFCC) 8A - Chikki Foods 8B - Mr. Balogun 9A - Damian Dodo, SAN 9B - Alhaji Tukur 10 A & B - Ahmed Muazu 11 A & B - Ahmed Muazu. The NIA has claimed that it warehoused the funds at the apartment, which is under the control of the wife of its DG, as a “transit” arrangement, as it planned to move it to a more permanent location. http://saharareporters.com/2017/04/18/names-lagos-luxury-apartment-owners-address-where-50m-was-found-efcc-revealed

SGF, NIA chief’s suspension an afterthought – Fayose

SGF, NIA chief’s suspension an afterthought – Fayose

Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, has described the suspension of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir David Lawal and Director General of National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ayo Oke, as an “afterthought and a prelude to the official cover-up of the N13 billion cash found in a residential apartment in Lagos.

Fayose slammed the Federal Government for setting up a three-man committee to investigate the crime and sidelining the anti-corruption agencies like the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Department of State Services (DSS).

The governor wondered why the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Administration unleashed EFCC and DSS on opposition figures and judges under investigation while setting up a committee to investigate its officials accused of corruption.

Accusing the Buhari government of becoming an embarrassment to Nigerians with what he called the macabre dance of shame, Fayose alleged that the President is fast losing control of his administration, accusing it of hypocrisy in its fight against corruption.

He wondered why the same President that wrote a letter to the Senate exonerating Lawal and clearing him of any wrongdoing now came back to suspend him from office over alleged involvement in the Presidential Initiative for the North East grass cutting scam.

In a statement issued on Wednesday by his Special Assistant on Media and Public Communication, Lere Olayinka, Fayose said: “Would the President have set up a probe panel if these scams were linked to anyone in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) or those members of his party that are not in his good books?

“Most importantly, what business does Presidential Committee have with investigation of crime? Are they telling Nigerians that they have lost confidence in all the intelligence and investigative agencies of the government, including the EFCC and DSS?

“The Buhari-led Federal Government is operating like many governments within one government. There appears to be many Presidencies within the Presidency and this is the reason for the confusion everywhere.”

“Nigerians can no longer be deceived by a government that protects its own people whenever they are accused of corruption while setting the DSS and EFCC to invade houses of members of opposition parties, especially those perceived as having presidential ambition in 2019 in the night to arrest and detain them indefinitely even when corruption allegations against them have not been proved.”

“Did the President not write a letter dated January 17, 2017, to the Senate, exonerating the SGF? So what has changed in the case of the SGF? Was his announced suspension just for balancing?

“Why waiting for this messy OsborneGate to act on the Presidential Initiative for the North East (PINE) grass-cutting scam? Could it have been a case of one Presidency (Buhari) writing the Senate on January 17, 2017 to clear the SGF and another Presidency suspending him today?

“Whichever way one looks at it, it gives no other impression than that of confusion in the government.”

“Is their presidential committee also going to tell Nigerians those who abandoned N49 million cash in an airport that has CCTV cameras? What the owner of the N448 million the EFCC said it found in a shop at LEGICO Shopping Plaza, Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island, Lagos?

“In all these, what I see is a government trying frantically to cover-up corrupt acts of its functionaries but like I said before now, even though we know that the APC-led federal government has the capacity to sweep it under the carpet like many others before it, Nigerians will have it on record that they are being ruled by a government of the more you look, the less you see.”

Real Madrid beats Bayern Munich To Reach UCL Semi- Fiinals

As culled from LIB, Cristiano Ronaldo's three goals ensured Real Madrid despite some fightback from Bayern Munich defeated the German club to qualify for this year's champions league Semi-final.

Zinedine Zidane’s men were forced into extra-time at the Bernabeu Stadium with Bayern dominating at full time with a score line of 2-1, but three goals in the final 30 minutes and a red card for Arturo Vidal sees them qualify into the next stage. More photos after the cut.

Our Daily Bread Devotional, April 19, 2017 - Sweet Scent

Topic: Sweet Scent [Wednesday April 19, 2017]

Read: 2 Corinthians 2:14–16, Bible in a Year: 2 Samuel 6–8; Luke 15:1–10

Thanks be to God, who . . . uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. 2 Corinthians 2:14

Author Rita Snowden tells a delightful story about visiting a small village in Dover, England. Sitting outside a café one afternoon enjoying a cup of tea, she became aware of a beautiful scent. Rita asked a waiter where it was coming from, and was told it was the people she could see passing by. Most of the villagers were employed at a nearby perfume factory. As they walked home, they carried the fragrance that permeated their clothes out into the street.

What a beautiful image of the Christian life! As the apostle Paul says, we are the aroma of Christ, spreading His fragrance everywhere (2 Cor. 2:15). Paul uses the image of a king returning from battle, his soldiers and captives in tow, wafting the smell of celebratory incense in the air, declaring the king’s greatness (v. 14).

We spread the aroma of Christ in two ways. First, through our words: telling others about the One who is beautiful. Second, through our lives: doing deeds of Christlike sacrifice (Eph. 5:1–2). While not everyone will appreciate the divine fragrance we share, it will bring life to many.

Rita Snowden caught a scent and was driven to seek its source. As we follow Jesus we too become permeated with His fragrance, and we carry His aroma into the streets through our words and deeds.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, make us carriers and communicators of Your beauty to the people in our homes, offices, and neighborhoods.

We are the aroma of Christ to others.

INSIGHT:

When a Roman general won a significant victory, he would be granted the honor of a triumphal parade in the streets of Rome. Citizens of Rome would line the streets and shout words of praise. Pagan temples would offer up fragrant incense that flooded the parade with sweet-smelling aromas in honor of the event. Paul uses this imagery to stunningly illustrate the spiritual victory of Christ in securing our redemption. Having won the victory over sin and death, Jesus is our triumphant leader. The spiritual aroma of Christ is sensed by the spiritual condition of those we encounter. For those who are to be saved, new life in Christ carries spiritual vitality. But for those who reject God’s light, the aroma is objectionable.

What are some ways you can spread the aroma of Christ to others?

This message was written By Sheridan Voysey [Our Daily Bread Ministries.]

What Is Your Salary?

*WHAT IS YOUR SALARY ? PLEASE BE SINCERE …*

Sorry I am not interested in the amount but the type of salary.

My friend, there are different type of salaries.

You will not understand unless you read to the end

There is no average income.

The rich are becoming richer,

while the poor are getting poorer.

There is no middle class

cos it has completely disappeared.

Salary, is a specific amount
of money that an employee is paid for work done.

The big question is Which type do you earn?

1. *Onion Salary:*
You grab it, you open it, and you cry.

2. *Storm Salary:*
You don’t know when
it’s coming or going.

3. *Menstrual Salary:*

It comes once a month
and lasts only four days.

4. *Magic Salary:*

You touch it and
it disappears.

5. *Amnesia Salary:*
You can’t remember
what you spent it on.

6. *Time Travelling Salary:*

You spend it paying various debts even before you
collect it.

 7 *RESIDUAL INCOME*
You work once, and it keeps paying you over and over again even AFTER you have stopped working.

whether it's magic salary, amnesia salary or onion salary, it STOPS coming and your life becomes unbearable.

Financial LITERACY is the tool needed to TRANSFORM your salary to a RESIDUAL INCOME, so you can create financial freedom and time freedom.

ONLY YOUR INVESTMENT can keep you going even after all the onions, amnesic, traveling, active salaries have left you drenched.

Research had it that the poorest groups of people in the world are *Salary earners,* next to beggars.

They live in a vicious cycle of poverty managed on 30 days. Salary is continuously being awaited every month and any slight delay brings about heartbreaking anxiety, pressure and disappointment.

*Salary Is a short term solution to a life time problem.*

Salary alone cannot solve your money problems. You need multiple Sources of  income to balance.

The tax return form contains about 11 income streams, salary is just one.

Don't live Your Life fishing with just one hook, there are many fishes in the ocean.

Salary is the MEDICINE for managing POVERTY, not to CURE it. Only your BUSINESS or INVESTMENT Cures Poverty.

Most investors are not salary earners.

The difference between those beggars on the street and salary earners is *one month salary.*

Truncate the flow of their salary for one month and you would realized majority belong to the lower class.

If you divide your salary by the rate of exchange, you Will discover that you are poorer relative to when you started work.

Or divide your salary per annum by 2,000 hours to know what your one hour is worth.

If you do not have 3 months salary in savings, you are already poor.

Being a salary earner is a mentality, break it!
Your worth Is far more than your salary.

Salary Is the value someone has put on your effort, How much do you value yourself?

You can't increase in value, unless you VALUE yourself differently.

Life Is a trade off between time, effort and reward. To be rewarded more, you have to become more valuable.

Most salary earners end up poor in the long and short term.

I therefore urge every one of us to be FINANCIALLY INTELLIGENT, FINANCIALLY LITERATE and TRAIN OUR EYES TO SEE OPPORTUNITIES IN PROBLEMS. Delve into entrepreneurship because Salary is a lifetime disappointment.

Being a salary earner or investor is a décision.
Life Will not change until you decide.

Make the MOVE !!! To be a *RESIDUAL INCOME EARNER.

Just Think About This!

Winning Wisdom: Into The Most Holy Place

Winning Wisdom: Into The Most Holy Place

Author: Ese Ehimare Dave

Topic: Into The Most Holy Place [Monday, 17th April 2017]

“Don’t cling to me,” Jesus said, “for I haven’t yet ascended to the Father. But go find my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” John 20:17

The event captured in the that scripture did not take place on a Monday morning, but on Sunday, even though you are reading it on a Monday. But it is a very significant event in the whole redemption package.

The Ark of the Covenant Moses built for the children of Israel was a replica of what is in heaven. And just like the priests go to the holies of holy to make atonement for the children of Israel, so also Jesus, our High Priest, had to go into the Holies of Holies to make atonement for you and I.
No one touches the high priest before he goes in. He must not be defiled if not he will die in there. This is why Jesus told Mary Magdalene not to touch or cling to Him. He had to first present, before the mercy seat of God, the blood of atonement for the sins of the world. This was very important, if not, the whole process of Jesus' death and resurrection would have been of no effect. Easter which we celebrate is actually the feast of atonement.

So Jesus had to present the blood of atonement as a payment for the sins of the world. But unlike the Jewish high priest that goes in every year, Jesus entered once and for all times. Scriptures say in Hebrews 9:12 that "with his own blood—not the blood of goats and calves—he entered the Most Holy Place once for all time and secured our redemption forever”. Jesus won't be going in there again. Our redemption have been secured forever. And with this a better covenant is now in place between God and us. A covenant that is far more glorious and have better promises than the covenant of old (Hebrews 9:15). Hallelujah!

Keep winning daily.

Prayer:

Thank You Jesus for Your blood that is the atoning sacrifice for my sins. With Your blood, You procured my eternal redemption and established a far better covenant for me. I experience to the fullest the blessings of the new covenant always, in Jesus' Name. Amen.

Our Daily Bread Devotional, April 16, 2017 - He Understands and Cares

Our Daily Bread Devotional, April 16, 2017 - He Understands and Cares

Topic: He Understands and Cares [Sunday April 16, 2017]

Read: Isaiah 53:1–8, Bible in a Year: 1 Samuel 30–31; Luke 13:23–35

Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering. Isaiah 53:4

When asked if he thought that ignorance and apathy were problems in modern society, a man joked, “I don’t know and I don’t care.”

I suppose many discouraged people feel that way about the world today and the people in it. But when it comes to the perplexities and concerns of our lives, Jesus fully understands, and He deeply cares. Isaiah 53, an Old Testament prophecy of the crucifixion of Jesus, gives us a glimpse of what He went through for us. “He was oppressed and afflicted . . . led like a lamb to the slaughter” (v. 7). “For the transgression of my people he was punished” (v. 8). “It was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand” (v. 10).

On the cross Jesus willingly bore our sin and guilt. No one ever suffered more than our Lord did for us. He knew what it would cost to save us from our sins and, in love, He willingly paid it (vv. 4–6).

Because of Jesus’s resurrection from the dead, He is alive and present with us today. Whatever situation we face, Jesus understands and cares. And He will carry us through.

Prayer: Lord, we give thanks for Your knowledge of our circumstances and Your care for us. Today we want to walk with You and honor You in all we do.

 He is not here; He has risen! Luke 24:6

Insight: As Isaiah prophetically describes the crucifixion of Jesus, we see it all from the perspective of people at the foot of the cross. In verse 3, “we” held Him in low esteem. In verse 4, He bore “our” suffering. This perspective is critical because Isaiah anticipates the hostility with which Jesus would be viewed. As Jesus died for the sins of the world, the anger directed at Him by the people for whom He died brings new significance to His loving words, “Father, forgive them . . .” (Luke 23:34).

This message was written By David McCasland [Our Daily Bread Ministries.]