A Nigerian newspaper and Online version of the Vanguard, a daily publication in Nigeria covering Niger delta, general national news, politics, business, energy, sports, entertainment, fashion,lifestyle human interest stories, etc
Notjustok.com, a leading African Music online, has revealed the year's most downloaded singles in African Music and the site recorded over 60 million individual downloads in 2016. According to the site, 2016 was a big year in African music consumption.
Kiss Daniel
Kiss Daniel dominated 2016 with Mama at 1.8 million downloads, Tekno's Pana which dominated the latter part of 2016 closed the year out with 1.7 million downloads, while Diamond Platnumz who is arguably the biggest artist in East Africa sits comfortably at #5 with 950k downloads with his Kidogo single featuring P-Square.
Other singles that featured in the top ten includes;Patoranking ft. Sarkodie, No Kissing Baby in third position; Diamond Platnumz Ft. P Square – Kidogo in fourth; Eugy x Mr Eazi – Dance For Me in fifth; Davido Music Worldwide/HKN presents: MaYorKun – ELEKO in 6th; Ycee-Omo Alhaji _ @Iam_Ycee in seventh; Harmonize – Matatizo in ninth and Raymond- Kwetu in 10th
Surprisingly, at the just concluded 11th edition of the Headies Awards held on Thursday night at Eko Hotel and Suites, Penthehouse rapper and Fada Fada singer, Phyno, got shocking nods of disapproval and dissatisfaction from his fans as he walked back to his sit after receiving his award for Song of the Year. In what seemed to be a surprising change of fortune, Phyno who had received a massive applause from his fans and other guests at the event while he was called upon to receive his award, was later massively booed as a result of the physical and general disposition he displayed to and after receiving the award.
Phyno
Phyno who went to receive the award in the company of three associates, displayed an attitude which suggested pride and arrogance. After receiving the award, he proudly claimed he had nothing to say but "Thank you", dropped the microphone and walked off the stage in the wrong direction, instead of going backstage just as other award recipients. Dissatisfied with his actions, his fans and other guests booed him while urging him to go back and pass through the backstage as his other colleagues. Instead, Phyno turned a deaf ear and walked back to his seat in a rather proud manner.
Words on the mouth of many of his fans suggested that it is possible he wasn't satisfied with the award category he won or he was beginning to feel too big for the prestigious Headies award just like his industry colleague, Tekno, who was disqualified from the Next Rated nomination list because of his arrogance.
Thursday night, at the Headies awards, winner of the Artiste of the Year award category, Wizkid, pulled an extremely funny and questionable stunt on Eva Alordia's fiancée for reasons yet to be confirmed. The Baba Nla hit-maker who waltzed in with his manager, Mr Sunday Are, and talented beat-maker, Legendary Beatz, shortly before his label act, Mr Eazi, was presented with the award for Next Rated, practically ignored the wide open arms of Eva Alordia's fiancée who had wanted to give him a brotherly hug while he was called up on stage to receive his award for Artiste of the Year category.
Wizkid
While walking up to the stage to receive his award, Wizkid sighted an excited Eva, who was in the company of her fiancée on the front row not too far from where Wizkid was sitting. He decided to exchange pleasantries with her before walking up the stage. Just then, Eva's fiancée opened up his arms to hug Wizkid, but the star boy totally ignored him, walked past him and hugged Eva, then walked up the stage to receive his award.
Totally confused at what just happened, Eva's fiancée stood stupefied for some seconds trying to figure out what just happened, but shortly afterwards he recovered from the shock and sat down. As at press time, why Wizkid acted in such a manner to the apparently innocent gentleman is still unknown. Efforts to reach Wizkid have proved unproductive.
Super Eagles striker, Odion Ighalo could be "rested" by Watford manager, Walter Mazzarri for the club's English Premier League clash with Crystal Palace on Boxing Day.
Ighalo has struggled for form this season, failing to hit the heights of the last campaign where his goals attracted interest from Manchester United.
Mazzarri admits that Ighalo's form could be better and that he may not select the striker for the lunch time kickoff against Palace as the festive programme kicks off in England.
Odion Ighalo
"For strikers not to have positive moments during the season, it can happen.
"We've had problems with many injuries which hasn't helped (club captain), Troy (Deeney) or Odion (Ighalo) as they haven't had a chance to rest, we couldn't take them out to play other players.
"Troy has always been playing and when Ighalo went out the team for a couple of games, then he came back more rested and he was more positive and he is getting his form back.
"Now we're hoping to get (Nigerian striker), Success (Isaac) and (Stephano Chuka) Okaka back, and this will help both players to rest and come back in form," Mazzarri said in his press conference on Friday. Ighalo has scored just one league goal in 14 matches this season.
Jose Mourinho has led a chorus of dismay among Chelsea’s title rivals about the festive fixture schedule after accusing the Premier League of “choosing to give rest for some and to create problems for others”.
Premier League leaders Chelsea play three games in 10 days whereas Manchester United, Manchester City and Spurs play three matches in eight days and Liverpool have three fixtures in seven days.
Chelsea – who are six points clear in the title race and have no European football to contend with this season – also have longer rest periods between matches and comparatively short distances to travel whereas Arsenal, whose manager Arsene Wenger has also denounced the schedule, play two games in three days at the start of the new year.
Manchester United’s Portuguese manager Jose Mourinho (L) shakes hands with Chelsea’s Italian head coach Antonio Conte (R) after the final whistle of the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Manchester United at Stamford Bridge in London on October 23, 2016. / AFP
Mourinho did not name Chelsea but it was clear the United manager had his former club in mind as he launched a fresh attack on the fixture list. The Portuguese has already complained publicly this season about the scheduling of United’s Premier League matches either side of Europa League ties.
“The busy period is for some clubs, not for everyone,” Mourinho said. “If you analyse the fixtures there is no congestion for them. It looks like the fixtures are chosen to give rest for some and to create problems to others.
“But we are used to it because we are in the Europa League and the Europa League is a competition that creates more difficulties.”
Meanwhile, Mourinho has said Morgan Schneiderlin has asked to leave Old Trafford and that he will not stand in the France midfielder’s way if an acceptable offer is forthcoming.
Nigerian reggae star, Rassam Wiliki, popularly called Orits Wiliki, and his singer wife, Becky, have come a long way as a couple, having been married for 22 years now. But while their marriage have continued to wax strong, and blessed with beautiful kids, what many don't know about their union is that they were mere friends before they became husband and wife. Becky reveals that, even before she met her husband, she was one of his secret female admirers, just as Orits Wiliki describes his wife as his best friend, his kid sister, saying,"I was lucky that I married my mother's last born". The wife spoke first.
22 years of marriage
I will say that a good marriage is like the saying, "The higher you go the cooler it becomes". The challenges are actually the ingredients you need to make a good home. A marriage without challenges is not a healthy marriage. This is so because each time you overcome a challenge, it makes the relationship tighter. It helps you to correct the wrongs of each other with the hope for better understanding. So I will say challenges are the litmus test for a true relationship.
Fear of the unknown
Of course, there would be such moment when you ask yourself if you were sure you are doing the right thing or making the right decision. But when you weigh the positive side against the negative side of a person, the answer puts you a step closer to making the right decision. We were lucky to have dated for five years before going into marriage. That, to me, was long enough time to understand each other.
The battle for love
Did l hear you say battle? I don't think there was any battle but, yes, there were many women around him. But being myself was one of the things I think separated me from the other women aside praying to God because I am from a Christian background.
Uppermost in mind
I was into singing and acting. I saw it as a springboard to move to the next level. He was somebody I really admired from a distance even before we met. I loved his songs and creativity. So I looked up to him as a mentor.
Making up mind
It wasn't easy from the beginning because my family belonged to Jehovah's Witnesses. He used to attend Baptist Church. So to break such news to my father was a huge challenge. But, notwithstanding, things started falling into place and we later crossed that bridge when we got there.
What I don't like about him
He can be a handful when he is in his off moments.
The eve of wedding
I can't remember anything really. I was full of excitement. Preparations going on here and there, cooking, the family all around you; it was fun.
Williki & Becky
I was lucky that I married my mother's last born — Orits Williki
First five years of marriage
It was boring. It was the time I said my career was my wife and my works, that is, my songs, were my children. Then I was always on the road, touring and performing at musical concerts. When I was not on tour, I would be in the studio. Then some journalists used to call me a studio rat. I really didn't have much time for other things.
Love life before marriage
My love life was actually boring. I remember saying my career was my wife and my works, that is, my songs, were my children. I spent most times touring and when I was not on tour, I was a studio rat as some writers then used to describe me.
The many women around
Certainly so, but, at the same time, I had lots of female friends and admirers. I was able to define my relationship with them. I respect and treasure friendship, so I wasn't the type that was sleeping around because I was a musician. So, when that time came, it wasn't a task as they were indeed very few.
Casanova?
No way. I was brought up by disciplinarian parents who taught me how to respect the virtues of true friendship. And that's why I choose my friends, whether male or female. One best way of losing good friendship is when you begin to mix the whole thing up with affairs; you lose your respect, you lose your dignity and friendship becomes a bargain. I am not saying I was a saint but, indeed, I was a disciplined musician.
The first time of meeting wife
My experience was nothing spectacular because we met in a strictly business situation where everyone had to be very professional. I called for an audition for back up female singers and she was one of them that turned up. So, you can understand what it was like, strictly business.
22 years in marriage
Trust, respect for each other, fear of God and love have been the strength of our marriage. One thing you need to know is that we think and act alike, so there is hardly an hour without getting on each other's neck but that again is one of the reasons we can't stay without each other. So we miss each other dearly whenever any of us is not at home.
Dream woman while growing up
I wanted a tall, beautiful, intelligent and God-fearing wife. I wasn't particular about colour, she must have good legs, good carriage. She must also be a good cook because I love good food, clean and can hold her own in most circumstances.
Married friend
I was lucky that I married my mother's last born, my kid sister, my best friend, my mother and my confidant. If the adjectives to describe the closeness between me and my wife are kid sister, my mother's last born, my best friend…I think it is simple enough to understand what we mean to each other.
ADELE Adaeze Oni Anyasi was born on October 27, 2016. On Saturday, December 17, 2016, her parents, Mr. & Mrs. Andrew Osita Anyasi of Aniocha North and Ughelli North local governments of Delta State, in recognition of the importance of baptism as one of God’s great gifts to mankind, joined other 13 parents who brought their kids for baptism at the St. Agnes Catholic Church, Maryland in Lagos.
The ceremony which involved the use of salt, white cloth, candles, prayer of exorcism and anointing on the chest, head, ear and mouth of the baby, was conducted by Rev. Father Dominic Onuoha who welcomed the children, except one whose parents were asked to represent for a misconduct, to the Christian Community with great joy ahead of the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ.
The priest after the almost two-hour service culminating in dipping a cup into a bucket of water and pouring same on the baby’s tender head amidst other rituals, enjoined all the biological and spiritual or God parents to bring up the children in the fear and nurture of God. “By water and the Holy Spirit they are to receive the gift of a new life from God who is love.
*Rev. Father Dominic Onuoha (l) pouring water of baptism on Adele’s head while the mother, Mrs Blessing Eloho Anyasi and the sponsor, Mr. Gabriel Irene watch with keen interest.
“On your part, you must make it your constant care to bring them up in the practice of the Faith.msee that the divine life which God gives them is kept safe from the power of sin, to grow always stronger in theIt hearts. If your faith make you ready to accept this responsibility, renew now the vows of your own baptism. Reject sin; profess your faith in Chrost Jesus. This is the faith of the church which these children are baptised,” he stated.
According to him, children learn better from what they see much more than what they are told, stressing “let the children learn to do things when they see you do the right things. Help the children to know more about Christ. Your primary responsibility is to help them grow up spiritually.”
Admitting the newly baptised children, including Adele, who was asleep althrough the programme, into the Family of God, the officiating priest further counselled the parents, saying: “In confirmation they will receive the fullness of God’s Spirit; in Holy Communion they will share the food of Christ’s sacrifice, calling God their Father in the midst of the church.”
In another development, the church’s Society of St. Vincent De Paul took time to put a smile on the faces of less privileged in the neighborhood for the Yuletide season. Described as Christmas Sharing, the group doled out 200 bags of rice, 120 cartons of chicken/turkey, 100 cartons of food seasoning, 30 bags salt, 10 bags onions, 100 cartons of tin tomato in addition to new and used clothes.
The event took place at the open space behind McGovern Hall of the church where the group’s president, Mr. Femi Adekogbe and the coordinator of Christmas Sharing, Lawrencia George supervised the distribution to the army of less privileged persons including those with various health challenges.
Akinlolu Akinlaja, son of the Chairman, House Committee on Petroleum Resources Downstream, Rep. Joseph Akinlaja, married his heartthrob, Omolabake, on Saturday, December 10.
People from all walks of life gathered at Eagle Club, venue of the marriage ceremony, where the love birds tied the nuptial knot amid pomp and pageantry. On hand to witness the occasion were diplomats, politicians, technocrats, businessmen, captains of industry, stalwarts of NUPENG and PENGASSAN, who trooped out in their hundreds.
•Mr & Mrs Akinlaja
The dignitaries at the occasion include Hon. Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Chief Ifeanyi Uba, Chairman/CEO, Capital Oil and Gas, wife of the Governor of Ondo State, Her Excellency, Mrs. Olukemi Mimiko, Ondo State liaison officer in Abuja and SSA to Governor Mimiko, Barrister Toyin Aladegbami, Mr Goddy Nnamdi, GM Corporate Services, NNPC, Engineer Ladenegan Adewale, MD-NNPC Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company limited, Mr. Henry Ikem Obih GED/COO Downstream, former Chairmen of Ondo East and West Local Governments, Hon. Wale Akinlosotu and Hon Biola Peter Makinde.
Members of the House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Resources Downstream were also present, led by the deputy chairman, Hon. Danlami Mohammed Kurfi. Others were, Hon. Mayowa Akinfolarin, Hon Michael Omogbehin, Hon Maasu Lawal, Hon. Onagbule Jimoh, Hon. Danladi Baido. Also present was a member, representing Amuwo-Odofin Federal Constituency, Hon. Ogene Egoh. Also in attendance were President of NUPENG, Comrade Igwe Achese, Infopreneur and online publisher, Mr Emmanuel Ajibulu, among others.
Abakaliki – Gov. David Umahi of Ebonyi has distributed 18 Prado Jeep vehicles worth N279 million to 18 traditional rulers in the state.
The governor, who made the announcement during the distribution at Government House, Abakaliki on Saturday, said that about 80 traditional rulers in the state would benefit from the largesse.
He appealed to traditional rulers who have not collected their Jeep to be patient or indicate the vehicles of their choices for money to be provided to buy them.
"The Prado Jeeps cost N11.5 million each when we assumed office, but currently they cost N25 million each and they are scarce.
"We have made the necessary commitment to the supplier as the vehicles might not even be purchased at that amount in 2017," he said.
The governor said the vehicles would give the traditional rulers a sense of belonging and instill the required confidence on them to enhance their status.Umahi
He said: "the vehicles will enable you compete favourably with your counterparts across the country.
"When you travel to zonal and national meetings, our image will reflect positively.
"The vehicles will assist you in achieving our agricultural policies as you are the lead farmers and chief security officers of your various domains.
"In our desire to make the vehicles assist in achieving our agricultural policies, they will not attract Value Income Taxes and other levies."
Umahi commended the state House of Assembly for approving the funds for the purchase of the vehicles and the local government area caretaker chairmen for their commitment.
"Most of the House members have not received their official vehicles, but they still approved the purchase of the vehicles for the traditional rulers.
"It is hoped that traditional rulers will reciprocate the gesture at the appropriate time as the local government chairmen also showed avid commitment in achieving the objective.
"The funds for the procurement were shared on equal basis between the state government and local government council.
"We will also offer wardrobe or inconvenience allowances to traditional rulers," the governor assured.
Chief Samuel Okoronkwo, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, thanked the governor for the gesture and applauded his commitment to enhance the status of traditional institution in the state.
"You graciously approved the increase of their allowances to N100, 000 monthly and currently redeemed your pledge of presenting vehicles to them.
"The traditional rulers have unanimously endorsed you for a second tenure in office and will ensure the objective is achieved," he added.
Charles Mkpuma, the Chairman of the State's Traditional Rulers Council, also thanked the governor for the gesture and promised to ensure Umahi completes his good works for the state.
"We assure you that security will be adequately ensured in our various localities especially during this yuletide while working assiduously to achieve the government's agricultural programmes," he said.
Chi Limited bagged two awards at the just ended Global Quality Excellence Awards 2016 held in Lagos.
Chivita 100% was named the winner of the 'Best Quality Fruit Juice Excellence Award 2016' for the juice category while Hollandia Yoghurt won the 'Best Quality Yoghurt Excellence Award 2016' for the drinking yoghurt category.
The occasion organized by the African Quality Institute as part of this year's World Quality Day celebration and in line with the resolution of the United Nations, has the objective of ensuring that quality remains an important tool for national growth and prosperity.
Said Desmond Esorougwe, a member of the Organizing Committee for the Awards, "In a global economy where success depends on quality, innovativeness and sustainability, the award is our chance to reinforce these virtues as the foundation of organizations and brand's requirement for achieving improved business performance. After a painstaking review of brands in the fruit juice and yoghurt categories, Chivita 100% fruit juice and Hollandia Yoghurt came tops in recognition of their capacity to deliver authentic consumer experiences".
Speaking on the awards, Managing Director of Chi Limited, Mr. Roy Deepanjan, said: "We are delighted with this honour from the organizers of the Global Quality Excellence Awards 2016.The award underscores our dedication to giving 100% to every stage in the production process of our brands from sourcing of raw materials to packaging and delivery. We constantly review our processes to ensure that only the best quality of our products in the fruit juice and dairy category finds its way to shelf".
THREE years after the murder of their breadwinner, the family of Pa Samuel Ebhosele Philip of Warri is inconsolable.
And to make matters worse, the family says one of its sons, Jerry, is still being sought by the people it believed murdered its breadwinner.
The matriarch of the family, Felicia, who narrated the October 1, 2013 incident, said: "My husband was bubbling in the euphoria of his in-laws' visit from Lagos that fateful October 1, 2013 when some gunmen walked in.
Pa Samuel Ebhosele Philip
"The gunmen demanded that papa should produce his first son, Jerry Philip, who came from Lagos with his wife, children and in-laws. Jerry was in one of the bedrooms in the house as this happened. He hid in the room while the gunmen threatened papa to produce him. Fearless as papa was, he refused to tell the gunmen where Jerry was hiding in the house following which papa was shot in annoyance by the gunmen.
"The gunmen subsequently ejected all of us remaining in the house and set it ablaze. We couldn't even carry the corpse of papa before the gunmen torched the house. And what was more worrisome was the fact that we were not sure whether Jerry escaped or was still in the house when it went up in flames.
"It was not until about one hour later that Jerry telephoned to say he escaped before the assailants set the house ablaze. I informed him about the fate that had befallen his father and that the gunmen threatened to get him at all costs."
The widow lamented that whereas the family had been rendered homeless on account of the burning of their home, the incident has forced her only son, Jerry, into exile.
The Alaege of Orile-Agege Kingdom, Oba Ambaliu Agbedeyi, has urged men across the country to shun violence against women, asserting that true men stand-up for women rather than mistreat them.
The monarch who spoke during an advocacy visit by the Women Advocates Research & Documentation Centre, WARDC, and Voices4Change, V4C; led by Mrs Yinka Onabolu, Programme Manager, V4C Project, pledged his support for womenfolk within and outside his kingdom, especially in their quest for greater representation in politics.
Speaking on the rationale behind the visit which was part of activities marking the 2016 United Nations 16days Activism on Violence Against Women, VAW, Onabolu said, "We are meeting with key male influencers and traditional rulers in Lagos State, including the Baale of Okooba, the Oba of Agege, Oba of Mushin and the Eze Ndi'igbo of Lagos, so they can support more women to participate in politics and governance.
"As focal points in their communities also, we are trying to make them understand issues that constitute violence against women so that when these issues come before them, they are not dismissed as private family affairs but as crime against humanity which must be referred to appropriate authorities."
By Sam Eyoboka with Agency reports The Pew Research Center, Nigeria has put the population of Nigerian Christians at over 85 million. According to the research, Nigeria has the largest Christian population of Christians in Africa with various denominations, saying that the number of Christians in Nigeria has grown from 21.4 per cent in 1953 to 49.3 per cent in 2010.
The above figure may not be backed by any empirical data because nobody knows how many Nigerians there are. The authorities have been too afraid to find out. Every headcount held in Nigeria in the past 30 years has ended in national controversy and with strong allegations of population inflation. The last census was carried out in 1991.
But how many of the above figure will be able to answer the question: "Why do you celebrate Christmas?" Many would say Christmas honors the birthday of Jesus. Others feel that Christmas is a good Christian family get-together. Many do it simply because they've always done it.
Christmas can appear tantalizing to the eye and ear. People appear happy, generous, full of good cheer. Twinkling lights decorate many houses. Santa Claus and his reindeer are pictured as poised to lift off from snow-covered front yards or rooftops, although in the southern hemisphere and tropics there is no December snow. The colorful, peaceful-appearing Christmas scene can be intoxicating, addicting.
Shoppers pack stores, browsing for gifts they hope to buy at bargain-basement prices. Soaring strains of White Christmas, Silent Night or Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer resonate everywhere.
The December weather of the northern hemisphere might be frightful outside, but the feeling and warmth inside is delightful. Christmas trees with twinkling lights and bright, sparkling ornaments create a mystical and glowing environment. Entire families want to experience the special mystery that only comes with the Christmas season. There is no religious holiday quite like it for the millions everywhere who observe it.
Jehovah’s Witnesses
Over four million Nigerian Christians will regard Sunday, December 25, as any other Sunday and go about their normal Sunday business without the fanfare associated with the season. About 300,000 Jehovah's Witnesses in Nigeria will not be part of the Christmas celebration because they believe in Jesus and God (Jehovah), and follow God's teachings but do not celebrate religious holidays or birthdays. Instead, Jehovah's Witnesses celebrate milestones like anniversaries and graduations.
One of the reasons they don't celebrate Christmas is because December 25 is not the birthdate of the historical Jesus. In fact, according to Jehovah's Witnesses belief, Jesus' birth date can't be narrowed down to any specific date but can be estimated counting back from the day of his death when he was 33 1/2 years old.
Jehovah's Witnesses believe December 25 being recognized as the birth day of Jesus came from the Pagan tradition of the birth date being near the winter solstice. Pagans worshipped the sun god and tried to convince Christians to observe their tradition by telling them it was Jesus' birthday.
Seventh-Day Adventists
Seventh-day Adventist Church, which was started in Nigeria in 1914 by a Missionary David C. Babcock after coming from mission in Sierra Leone, does not celebrate Christmas. About 278,000 Adventists live in Nigeria. They do not celebrate any religious holidays or festivals. The only time that Seventh-day Adventists set apart as holy is the weekly Sabbath, which occurs from Friday at sunset to Saturday at sunset.
One reason that Seventh-day Adventists cite when explaining why they do not celebrate Christmas is that the date of December 25 has no biblical basis. They also do not celebrate Christmas because they believe that Christmas is a holiday that encourages materialism and consumption. While Seventh-day Adventists do not officially celebrate religious holidays, they do use holidays to focus on biblical messages.
God’s Kingdom Society, GKS
For God's Kingdom Society, a church founded by a Nigerian, Saint Gideon Urhobo in 1934, that parades over three million population, the reverse is the case. Members of the church believe that Christ, the reason for Christmas celebrations, was not born in December but rather in October. They do not also call their commemoration of the day Christmas but Freedom Day celebration.
Accrding to the church with headquarters in Warri, Delta State of Nigeria, there are geographical evidence to prove that Jesus Christ was not born in December, stressing that Christ was not born in winter and “judging from the time that Zachariah officiated in the temple, we can count the time that his wife got pregnant and that was from the month of July, which is Tammuz.
“From the month of July to December is six months and in the sixth month of Elizabeth's conception, the angel went and told Mary that she would be pregnant. Mary's conception started from the month of January. January to September, we have nine months and every matured child will be in the mother's womb for at least 280 days or nine months and anytime in the 10th month, he will be born.
"So it was with John the Baptist, the angel having told the father that his wife would be pregnant in the month of July. Then, in December, which was the sixth month, her cousin Elizabeth went and stayed with her for three months. Six plus three gives us nine and anytime in the tenth month, April, John the Baptist was born. Having known that John the Baptist was born in April, we only need to add six months giving us October when our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, was born."
According to GKS, Freedom Day Celebration is to tell mankind that God has been so kind to man that he sent his son, Jesus Christ, to liberate the world. Christmas to members of GKS is a misnomer. To them Freedom Day Celebration is not Christmas but a celebration of Christ's liberation.
"Christmas is a misnomer, I am not just saying it, scholars have said it," Adedokun said. "In the West African Pilot of 1937, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe said: 'Three days from today, the Christian world will celebrate Christmas, although scholars and those with academic training know that Christmas is a misnomer. In so far as December 25th is concerned, it not being the date of the birth of Joshua, Emmanuel, Benjamin, David, Christ whom the Greeks call Jesus, yet, we follow in the medieval origin of this neo-pagan festival to associate ourselves with the message of glad tiding and peace.'
"Astronomers and scholars know that Jesus was not born on December 25, if you go to the internet, you will see for yourself," the GKS minister stated.
Was Jesus really born on December 25?
Please pause for a moment and ask yourself: Was Christ really born on Christmas Day? After all, the Bible nowhere tells us the day of His birth.
In fact, most credible secular historical writings tell us that Christmas, more than 200 years after Jesus' death, was considered sinful: "As late as A.D. 245 [the early Catholic theologian] Origen … repudiates as sinful the very idea of keeping the birthday of Christ" (Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th edition, 1910, Vol. 6, p. 293, "Christmas").
In A.D. 354, a Latin chronographer mentioned Christmas, but even then he did not write about it as an observed festival (ibid.).
There is no biblical evidence that December 25 was Jesus' birth date. In fact, the Bible record strongly shows that Jesus couldn't have been born then.
For example, Luke tells us that the shepherds were keeping their sheep in the fields at night when Jesus was born. "And she [Mary] brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night" (Luke 2:7-8, emphasis added throughout).
But late December is Judea's cold and rainy season. Would shepherds actually keep their fragile flocks out in the open fields on a cold late-December night near Bethlehem?
No responsible shepherd would subject his sheep to the elements at that time of year when cold rains, and occasional snow, are common in that region.
"The climate of Palestine is not so severe as the climate of this country [England]; but even there, though the heat of the day be considerable, the cold of the night, from December to February, is very piercing, and it was not the custom for the shepherds of Judea to watch their flocks in the open fields later than about the end of October" (Alexander Hislop, The Two Babylons, 1959, p. 91).
Luke also tells us that Jesus was born at the time of a census ordered by the Roman emperor (Luke 2:1-3). The Romans were brilliant administrators; they certainly would not have ordered people to journey to be registered at a time of year when roads would have been wet and muddy and traveling conditions miserable. Such a move would have been self-defeating on its face.
The belief that Jesus was born on or around December 25 simply has no basis in fact, even if 2 billion people have accepted it without question. As the famous playwright George Bernard Shaw said, "If 50 million people believe a foolish thing, it's still a foolish thing."
Does Christmas really honor Christ?
If the Christmas holiday is an important celebration to honor the birth of Jesus Christ, why is it nowhere mentioned in the Bible? Why didn't Christ instruct His closest followers, His 12 chosen apostles, to keep Christmas? Why didn't they institute or teach it to the early Church?
Before you answer, consider that Jesus gave great authority to His 12 apostles, assuring them that they will hold positions of great importance and responsibility in His Kingdom (Matthew 18:18; Matthew 19:28; Luke 22:29-30). But since Jesus never taught His apostles to keep Christmas, nor did they ever teach it to the Church though they had years of opportunity to do so, shouldn't that make us question whether Christmas is something Jesus really wants or appreciates?
So how did Christmas become such a widespread practice if the Bible doesn't sanction it, if Christ didn't observe it and if He never taught His disciples and the early Church to celebrate it?
The Western Marine Command (WMC) has intercepted cannabis sativa estimated at the monetary value of about N250million, imported into the country through the creeks, along Badagry axis of Lagos.
The Customs Area Controller (CAC) of the Command, Umar Yusuf, who displayed the items in the open, said that the prohibited items packed in 43 large bags, were intercepted by his men, while the suspects escaped through the creeks.
Bags of Canabis
He said, "This seizure of this cannabis makes the forth in the last six months. This time around the seizure was made at Agbara/Badagry axis by our patrol team after we got a security alert that the unscrupulous elements were about entering our country with the items from Ghana. Immediately, we swung into action and intercepted the boat fully loaded with the items, but the suspects jumped into the water to evade arrest. We will continue to fight smuggling activities as long as smugglers refuse to turn away from this illegal business".
He added, "Our officers have done tremendously well in improving the seizure profile of Western Marine, which recorded seizures valued at N3.3billion in 2016. This is against a total of 13 seizures estimated at N6.5million, and the Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N8million, the same period in 2015."
Petroleum service giant Halliburton said it has reached a $54 million settlement in a class action lawsuit related to asbestos liability disclosures.
The Houston-based company said in a statement that without admitting guilt, it reached an agreement to settle the Erica P. John Fund class action lawsuit that has been pending in Texas courts for over 14 years.
The class action lawsuit was originally filed in 2002 asserting claims in connection with accounting for long-term construction projects, and was amended in 2003 to include claims related to asbestos liability disclosures.
The case was brought by a group of investors who claimed they lost money when Halliburton’s shares plunged, accusing the company of erroneous earnings reports.
“Halliburton will fund approximately $54 million of the $100 million settlement fund, and its insurer will fund the balance,” the company said in a statement late Friday.
One of the world’s largest providers of products and services to the energy industry, Halliburton was led from 1995 to 2000 by Dick Cheney, who became US vice president in 2001 in the George W. Bush administration.
A blast ripped through a police car outside a Catholic church in the southern Philippines late Saturday, authorities said, wounding 13 people including a police officer.
The explosion hit churchgoers attending a series of Christmas Eve masses at the Archdiocesan Shrine of Santo Nino in the farming town of Midsayap, a priest who present at the service said.
“The communion was ongoing when the explosion took place,” Father Jay Virador told reporters.
The blast occurred about 30 metres (98 feet) away from the church’s entrance and caused panic, he added.
The regional police spokesman, Superintendent Romeo Galgo, confirmed the blast which he said was caused by an unspecified explosive device.
Thirteen people were wounded by the explosion and treated at nearby hospitals, including a police officer and an unidentified person, according to an updated police tally.
Authorities did not immediately say who was responsible for the blast. No group has claimed responsibility.
A police investigator who asked not to be named told AFP it appeared the suspects had initially targeted the church but later settled for a patrol car assigned to guard the building instead.
“It seems they wanted to get closer but due to heavy security they opted to throw the explosive at the police car blocking the road,” the officer added.
The explosion damaged the police car and a pickup truck parked nearby, police said.
The town, about 900 kilometres (559 miles) south of Manila, is located in the middle of the large Philippine island of Mindanao, home to a Muslim minority and decades of armed rebellion.
However the main Muslim guerrilla group in the area has signed a ceasefire with the Philippine government.
Government forces continue to fight smaller Muslim armed groups on the island, some of whom have pledged allegiance to Islamic State fighters in Iraq and Syria and have been blamed for bombing civilian targets in the past.
Frank Lampard admitted on Saturday he would relish a return to Chelsea as a player and is keen to rejoin the Premier League leaders in some capacity even if he is not offered a deal.
The former England midfielder is Chelsea’s all-time leading goalscorer and is keeping his options open after leaving New York City FC following a two-year spell with the MLS side.Lampard
Appearing alongside Blues captain John Terry on Sky Sports, Lampard said: “Myself and John are Chelsea through and through so whatever happens, in some capacity I will be at Chelsea.
“Whether it’s with my season ticket, watching them, I don’t know yet, I’ll have very close contact. Whether I’ll have the role (as a player), it’s not all in my hands so I can’t go any further on that.
“I’m very relaxed about it, which is a nice place to be. If the right thing comes, I’ll take it. Obviously Chelsea, I’d love that, but it doesn’t work that way always.”
The 38-year-old left Stamford Bridge in 2014 after scoring 211 goals in a 13-year spell at Chelsea, briefly playing for Manchester City before heading to the United States.
He scored 15 times in 31 appearances for New York City and has yet to decide whether he will retire or not.
“I feel fit, I’m fresh in the mind,” Lampard added. “I understand when you get even past 30, you start to understand things are different.
“What I would say is, if I was to carry on playing, it would have to be perfect. I’m not being snobby and hand-picking what I want to do but perfect for my family, for me and all those things.”
For many Nigerians, 2016 Christmas is more of economic hardship and hunger than the usual celebration. While some people described it as the worst Christmas Nigeria has experienced since 1999, when democratic government came into being, others said, it is the time for Nigerians to think outside the box, on what they can do to boost economic activities in the country, rather than depending on excessive importation of items that can be produced locally.
When Sunday Vanguard visited some markets within Lagos metropolis, it was observed that some areas were very scanty. For instance, Ojigbo market, which serves as the depot for food items coming into Lagos from other States was scanty. Only few people were seen buying and selling along the railway area of the market that is known to be a very busy place for people coming from different locations to buy food items.
File: Tomato market
Also, food items were sold at very exorbitant prices when compared to last year Christmas. For example, A plastic paint measurement of crayfish previously sold for N1.200, went for N3,000; small measurement of garri sold for N800, instead of N300, five litres of palm oil sold for N5,000, instead of N1,500; a kilo of turkey went for N1,000 instead of N500 and four litres of vegetable oil sold for N6,000 instead of N2,000.
At ketu/Mile-12 market, a tuber of yam initially sold for N300 went for N800; a medium size basket of tomato sold for N20,000 instead of N8,000; chilli pepper sold for N18,000 instead of N10,000 and a basket load of onion sold for N15,000 instead of N7,500.
At Agege abattoir where meat is often sold at wholesale prices to retailers, buyers were very few. At the abattoir, a disagreement ensued between two women over the price of a piece of meat, and it took the intervention of the workers around to calm the situation.
Some people who spoke with Sunday Vanguard at Oyigbo market, called on government to intervene and improve the economy, in order to alleviate poverty in the land.
In a chat with Sunday Vanguard, the Chairman, Toiletries & Cosmetics Group of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, Mr. Ikpong Umoh, called on President Muhammadu Buhari to pursue economic diversification vigorously, notwithstanding the little increase in crude oil prices at the international market and relative peace in the Niger Delta region.
BENIN-CITY – Dr Chris Ogiemwonyi is a guru in the oil industry where he spent 34 years in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, before joining politics. He was one of the governorship aspirants of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State. In this interview, Ogiemwonyi breaks his silence on issues regarding the politics of Edo and Governor Godwin Obaseki.
He also speaks on some national issues, including alleged plot by some groups in the APC to remove the National Chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, saying those calling for Odigie-Oyegun's removal are actually angling for the head of President Muhammadu Buhari ahead of the 2019 presidential election.
Excerpts:
You have been out of the political scene since after the APC governorship primary in Edo which you participated in. How has it been?
Well, I had to go back to re-organize my business. The Edo primary of June 18 has come and gone and I have since moved back to my oil and gas consulting business. And if you talk about the primary, you saw that the sitting governor then wanted somebody and he worked for it. Secondly, looking at the various primaries within and outside Edo State, I can see the high level of opaqueness, that is, the more you look the less you see. There is a mind-set of who will win any of the primaries from the onset and that is why today people are clamouring for independent and I pray that our politics will evolve to that level so that people who have the capacity can come out as independent candidates and run for elections.
What do you say to Godwin Obaseki who eventually won the election?
It will be difficult to talk about the government that is barely two weeks old; the only thing one can say is to wish the governor goodluck and a good tenure. During my campaign, I discovered that youth unemployment is still very high; so Obaseki needs to work on that. And as you know we have no industries, we need to create jobs, invest in agriculture. The issue of education is very pertinent', I have heard the opposition saying we have only five physics teachers, 10 chemistry teachers in Edo. I don't know how true it is, but I want to say that the number of 'Red Roofs Schools' we have may not be enough; we must have qualified teachers so that pupils and students can do well. We believe that these are areas Obaseki will address and I have no doubt that he will do a good job, realizing his noble family background and the industry he is coming from. He is well read, he has the experience, so I believe he knows what to do.
What is your take on the seeming crisis in the APC and the call by some party members for the removal of the National Chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun?Chris Ogiemwonyi
You will recall that when I joined the APC in Nov 20, 2014, I said two individuals made me to join the party: President Buhari and Chief John Oyegun because of their respective individual characters. Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, a brilliant and principled public servant, is well read, an economist from the premier university who spent all his years in the public service. A man who at the age of 36 rose to the position of Permanent Secretary at the federal level, taking charge of key ministries. He challenged the money bag in the then Edo State and their collaborators in Abuja to become the first civilian governor. This is a man who could have clinched a key ministerial position in Gen Abacha's government but instead opted out to become the NADECO Secretary in exile. For 16 years that PDP was in power, Oyegun was wooed and cajoled to join "the biggest party in Africa" but he refused to bulge and abandon his progressive position in partisan politics. So having Oyegun as the National Chairman of APC is a blessing.
I don't know what Nigerians want; we have this 'pull him down syndrome'. Who are the people calling for his removal? They are some over- ambitious APC chieftains; some of them are not well read. Oyegun is a quiet and amiable gentleman with capacity to work. The Nigeria media must not join this people in flying kites; some of them have resorted to all sorts of propaganda so that Mr President will take action against Chief Oyegun. We urge President Buhari and APC to be wary of these overzealous politicians that want to destroy the APC.
What they are doing today is not really Oyegun, rather they are throwing stones at Mr President and that is because, before they get to Mr President, they want to get Oyegun out of the way; they see him as a buffer for Mr President and ultimately for 2019. We are barely two years into the Buhari administration and they are already fighting ahead of 2019. Their desire is to discredit Oyegun so that their plot against Mr President can work; so it is not Oyegun, after all, they are fighting but President Buhari.
Pressure on Buhari to reshuffle cabinet
Nigerians are too much in a hurry, asking Mr President to remove a minister that has served less than 18 months is unfair. When I was Group Executive Director in the NNPC, I went for a meeting with some Algerians, little did I know that the Algerian minister that led the delegation had PhD in gas engineering and had been there for 12 years; he became an authority on gas but we don't do that in Nigeria. You put a man in office and under one year people start fighting to remove him. To me, Mr President has a good team.
But my advice to him is to realign their portfolios. Today people are talking about many lawyers in his cabinet. What Mr President should do is to look for core professionals and move them to their related ministries, that is square pegs in square holes. People are speculating that immediate past Edo Governor Adams Oshiomhiole is coming in; he definitely can do well as Labour Minister considering the fact that he was a strong unionist as NLC President. People should be appointed in such a way that they can add value. Look at the two Ministers of Health being core medical personnel. So, Mr President can look inward and see how he can rejig and realign Ministers to ministries related to their fields of study.
Economic recession and way out
Truly, we are in recession caused by several factors: Poor leadership by the previous government, oil price drop, Nigeria's over- dependence on foreign products, corruption, mono –economy (over dependency on oil and gas), the activities of militants and pipeline vandals, unstable monetary policies, unemployment. Corruption grew like an oak tree and we allowed it to grow.
Today, we import all kinds of things into the country, including tooth picks. Now, the question is, how do we come out of it? In short term, I recommend to Mr President that we should quickly resolve the Niger Delta issue. Recently, some Niger Delta leaders met with Mr President but I want to differ because I feel the governors should be the arrow heads of such meeting because they know the people. Secondly, what we need to do by way of moving our nation forward comprises the following:
Put in place strong institutions that will ensure proper implementation and interpretation of our laws, it must be mentioned that waste must be cut in government. Security vote must be reduced both at the federal and state levels; promote "made in Nigeria" goods; we should encourage new businesses by lowering our interest rates, tackle job creation through agriculture and solid mineral development. We must as a matter of urgency encourage all tiers of government to embark on road construction to ease transportation of goods and services. In the medium and long term, the railway sector should be developed.
Selling national assets
We hear people talk about selling of national assets and people are pointing at NLNG. I am completely opposed to the sale of our asset, there are alternatives. If you look at the NLNG model today is a 51% IOC and 49% Federal Government Joint Ventures. Instead of just selling my take is that government should go and borrow with good interest rates. Borrowing is not bad but it should be well utilized. This is where good leadership with clear vision comes in. And that is why we are lucky with President Buhari and his zero tolerance to corruption. With President Buhari we can borrow, and tie the funds to capital projects.
Buhari's war on corruption
There is corruption everywhere, even the cook you send to the market, driver you send to buy fuel are all corrupt. We allowed it to grow to a cancerous stage; we just have to quickly strengthen the security agencies especially the EFCC. I have also heard that people are saying it is one-sided and only targeted at the opposition. Look at cases of the Judges, corruption has eaten into the very fabric of our nation. But the EFCC is not doing badly. If I have my ways, I will expand EFCC to be like a ministry and as such have EFCC czar in every state just like we have Commissioners of Police. We just have to expand it, the cases before the commission are too many. The judiciary again is not helping matters; I think there should be legislation where no case will exceed six months. And the EFFC boss, Mr Magu should be confirmed to immediately give him confidence.
Reforms in the NNPC
Once the leadership is properly placed, the tendency is that the company will run well. I must commend Mr President for appointing Dr Baru, as GMD. He is a fantastic Engineer, courageous and fearless, he went through the various sectors of NNPC and emerged unblemished. Many of the issue confronting the NNPC, like restructuring, the PIB, JV funding, with Baru, we can go to sleep, I see a better NNPC under him. For once, this is a round peg in round hole. I will urge government to support him and allow NNPC to run as a business outfit. The only issue we are yet to address now has to do with the refineries; government should also have the will to do a complete deregulation in the downstream; once we do that, the issue of corruption in the downstream could be eliminated. I also think that we should start having local refineries because if you see what we are doing, we take crude out and refine in some neighbouring countries and bring back refine products; we need to put in place modular refineries just as it is done in Niger Republic.
By PRISCA SAM-DURU, PRINCE OKAFOR & VERA ANYAGAFU- PRESENTATION
In recent times, the importance of history as a tool for proper documentation of vital facts, has been emphasised so as to enable people keep good memory of those facts. Historians though a hand full of them are prominent in Nigeria, have made efforts to document facts as well as past events for future purposes while publishing has remained a key method of preserving those useful materials.
Recently, one of Nigeria's brilliant historian, lawyer and 2014 recipient of the African Society of Cambridge University Award for research in African History, Ed Emeka Keazor, gave Nigeria, Africa, Germany and the entire world, what was generally described as a Christmas present in Lagos. It was a book titled, " The Lagos-Hamburg Line – A Brief History of German Companies in Nigeria", documenting the history of business relationship between Nigeria and Germany since the 17th Century. The book also traces the tribulations and triumphs of German business in Nigeria during and after the World Wars.
The public presentation of the book held at Metropolitan Club, V/I, Lagos, courtesy of the Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany in Lagos in collaboration with the Delegation of German Industry and Commerce in Nigeria attracted the presence of dignitaries from the German Consulate, delegation of German Industry and Commerce as well as some Nigerian business moguls.
From left; Hon Justice k k Keazor, (retd), Author Ed Emeka Keazor, German Consul General, Lagos, HE Ingo Herbert; Prof Fabian Ajogwu, Dr Marc Lucassen Head of German Trade Delegation, Nigeria.
Consul General of the Federal Republic of Germany in Lagos, Mr Ingo Herbert who congratulated the author for his "tremendous and substantial work", said that "the book not only reflects the manifold history of German companies, but also explains the historic background of the time of engagement in Nigeria and Germany. Not surprisingly, he points out that the business relationship was often closely linked to the overall political and economic developments, with the two world wars of the 20th century as major setbacks.
However, Keazor's research reveals that there was a lot of continuity by companies, due to their established contacts and knowledge of the Nigerian business environment…I'm confident that this book will encourage German companies in their interest to invest in Nigeria and Africa."
"German and Nigeria have enjoyed long business relationship. The book is a wonderful initiative to build more relationship with Africa and the need to get more Germans back into Nigeria business."
Responding, the author appreciated the Germans for being very open and proactive in the process of publishing the book noting that rather than insist on or choose a German to write the book, allowed a Nigeria, "They were very open minded and keen on encouraging whoever that will do a good job."
He said the only thing Nigerians and investors need to do business in the country is an enabling environment, adding that this will boost trade and investment between Nigeria and the rest of the world. Nigeria needs to provide a conducive environment for business to thrive.
He noted that his father Justice Keazor who was also present at the book launch, has been a source of inspiration to him. " He made sure that reading books instead of watching TV, formed part my growing up. I was inspired to write on Germany- Nigeria business relationship after reading books in my father's library." Keazor said.
Reviewing the book, Professor Fabian Ajogwu, a Professor of Corporate Governance at the Pan African Atlantic University and the Lagos Business School, described the author as a great man.
Commending Keazor for his efforts at documenting such important book, Ajogwu said "The book is written in third person narrative and simple language which makes it readable for all. "This is so much knowledge packed in one book rather than have volumes. We must commend the author for lighting up a candle with this interesting book that takes readers down memory on the kind of business relationship that has existed between the two countries."
