BOMBSHELL BUHARI'S ADMIN. IS CURRENTLY PROSECUTING FORMER APC INTERIM GEN. SEC. BUT CORRUPTION WORSHIPERS ARE SILENT: THEIR NARRATIVE OF SELECTIVE PROSECUTION HAS BEEN PUNCTURED.

 Bunmi Awoyemi Divinewealth.

BOMBSHELL BUHARI'S ADMIN. IS CURRENTLY PLEASE READ ON ...
Chief Okoi Obono-Obla-led Special Presidential Investigation Panel on the Recovery of Public Property has seized 86 cars, houses:charges civil servant, North-East presidential committee for corrupt practices

The Federal Government on Thursday arraigned a federal civil servant, Mr. Ibrahim Tumsah and his brother, Mr. Tijani Tumsah, before the Federal High Court in Abuja with failure to declare their assets to the Chief Okoi Obono-Obla-led Special Presidential Investigation Panel on the Recovery of Public Property.

Ibrahim is the  Director of Finance and Account in the Federal Ministry of Power, Works, and Housing, while his brother, Tijani, is a member of the Presidential Committee on North East Initiative and a former Interim National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress.

The Federal Government had on January 18, 2018 filed a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CR/4/2018 containing two counts of failure of the defendants to declare  their assets “without reasonable excuse and upon the notice to declare” them before the panel.

Earlier on December 6, 2017, Justice Muawiyah Idris of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Apo, Abuja, had ordered hat 86 luxury vehicles together with four houses and a quarry plant in Abuja, all of which the panel allegedly seized from the two defendants.

The PUNCH had exclusively reported that the seized 86 vehicles, 23 of which were said to be armoured, were brand new.

 The court’s forfeiture orders also affected four houses, two of which were located in Wuse II, one in Wuse Zone 7, and the other in Jabi, all in Abuja.

The two brothers pleaded not guilty to the two counts when read to them before Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday.

The offences were said to be contrary to and punishable under section 3(3)(1)(a) of the Recovery of Public Property (Special Provision) Act 2004.

Their lawyers, Abdul Mohammed (for Ibrahim) and Kehinde Ogunwumiju (SAN)  (for Tijani), applied for their clients’ bail.

The prosecuting counsel, Mr. Festus Keyamo (SAN), did not oppose the bail application.

The judge subsequently granted bail to the two defendants by adopting the bail conditions agreed upon by the prosecution and the defence.

Part of the conditions was a bail sum of N20m."

Source: Punch.

AN ADDRESS PRESENTED BY THE CATHOLIC BISHOPS’ CONFERENCE OF NIGERIA (CBCN) ON THE OCCASION OF A COURTESY CALL ON HIS EXCELLENCY MOHAMMADU BUHARI, PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, THURSDAY, 8 FEBRUARY 2018*

Your Excellency,

*Preamble*

We, the representatives of the Catholic Bishops of Nigeria, bring you our cordial greetings and blessings. We desired this meeting, in order to continue the dialogue we initiated with you even before your election as President. We therefore thank you for granting us this audience, which affords us the opportunity to share with you, once again, our thoughts and concerns on some issues affecting our dear country, Nigeria.

 First, we thank God for bringing you back to us healthier and stronger after a period of ill health. We hope and pray that you continue to make progress on the way to full recovery, in order to be able to face the enormous challenges emanating from your exalted office.

 Your Excellency, needless to say that, as President, you are the Father of our dear country Nigeria. It is therefore pertinent that as loyal citizens as well as informed members of the society we come to you from time to time to express not only our willing cooperation with the government in working for the progress of our country, but also to share with you the feelings of the multitude of Nigerians at this moment. We work with the people at the grassroots and, therefore, have first-hand information about what they are going through.

There is no doubt that when you came into office, you had an enormous amount of the goodwill of Nigerians, since many saw you as a person of integrity who would be able to bring sanity into a system that was nearly crippled by endemic corruption. Nearly three years later, however, one has the feeling that this good will is being fast depleted by some glaring failures of government which we have the moral duty to bring to your notice, else we would be failing in our duty as spiritual fathers and leaders.

*Our Concerns*

Your Excellency, there is too much suffering in the country: poverty, hunger, joblessness, insecurity, violence, fear… the list is endless. Our beloved country appears to be under siege. Many negative forces seem to be keeping a stranglehold on the population, especially the weaker and defenseless ones. There is a feeling of hopelessness across the country. Our youths are restive and many of them have taken to hard drugs, cultism and other forms of violent crime, while many have become victims of human trafficking. The Nation is nervous.

 Just as we seem to be gradually emerging from the dark tunnel of an economic recession that caused untold hardship to families and individuals, violent attacks by unscrupulous persons, among whom are terrorists masquerading as herdsmen, have led to a near civil war situation in many parts of the country. We are saddened that repeatedly innocent citizens in different communities across the nation are brutally attacked and their sources of livelihood mindlessly destroyed. Property, worth billions of Naira, including places of worship, schools, hospitals and business enterprises are torched and turned to ashes. We are still more saddened by the recent massacre of unarmed citizens by these terrorists in some communities in Benue, Adamawa, Kaduna and Taraba States which has caused national shock, grief and outcry. What is even more distressful is that the government, whose responsibility it is to protect the life and property of every citizen seems either incapable or unwilling to do this. The silence of the federal government in the wake of these horrifying attacks is, to say the least, shocking. There is a feeling of helplessness among the people and the danger that some people may begin to take laws into their hands.

We therefore earnestly urge the government to take very seriously its primary responsibility of protecting the lives and property of its citizens and ensure that such mindless killings do not reoccur. Herdsmen may be under pressure to save their livestock and economy but this is never to be done at the expense of other people’s lives and means of livelihood. We would like to add our voice to those of other well-meaning Nigerians who insist that a better alternative to open grazing should be sought rather than introducing “cattle colonies” in the country. While thinking of how best to help cattle owners establish ranches, government should equally have plans to help the other farmers whose produce is essential for our survival as a nation.

In a similar vein, daredevil kidnappers, who at present are having a field day, with a feeling of invincibility, must be made to understand that there is a government in this country. Government should invest more in equipping our Police Force with modern high-tech devices that will help them track down and arrest these criminals and make them face the wrath of the law.

The Federal Character Principle is enshrined in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria:“_The government of the Federation or any of its agencies and the conduct of its affairs shall be carried out in such a manner as to reflect the federal character of Nigeria and the need to promote national unity and also to command national loyalty, thereby ensuring that there shall be no predominance of persons from a few states or from a few ethnic or other sectional groups in that government or in any of its agencies_” (Section 14, Sub-section 3-4). Disregard for this Principle in some federal government appointments as well as perceptible imbalance in the distribution of federal amenities has created the loss of a sense of belonging in many parts of the country, hence the constant cries of marginalization, agitation for secession and calls for restructuring.


*Conclusion and Assurance of Prayers*

Our Church has always complemented the efforts of government in such areas as providing quality education and primary health care services to our people. We shall continue to support the effort of the government in nation-building. As the voice of the voiceless, we shall therfore continue to highlight the plight of our people and play our prophetic role of sensitizing the government, thus promoting national unity and cohesion. As we encourage you to spare no effort to build a new Nigeria, we reassure you of our support and prayers for your success.  On the long run,Government under your watch must do all in its power through good policies to restore confidence that government is for all and sundry. Our collective efforts must be seen in the desire to return to the fine principles of democracy such as true federalism, negotiation and consensus building as means of achieving a more equitable distribution of the resources of our country.

Thank you, Your Excellency, for the audience and may God bless you.


*Most Rev. Dr. Ignatius Ayau Kaigama*
Archbishop of Jos President, CBCN

*Most Rev. Dr. William Avenya*
Bishop of Gboko
Secretary, CBCN

NOW THAT THE PRESIDENT IS BACK.

By: Eddy Ogunbor.

Rab-ble-rous-er: (noun) : a person who speaks with the intention of inflaming the emotions of a crowd  of people typically for political reasons.

En-fant-terr-ble: (noun) : a person whose unconventional or controversial behavior or ideas shock, embarrass, or annoy others.

Ebun Adegboruwa first caught my attention some years ago when he and some other residents around Lekki and VGC Estate led protest against Lagos State government in an attempt to stop or disrupt the Toll Gate project on Lekki/Epe Express Way.

The reason, understandably, was the fares  residents in the area will have to always pay daily at the Toll gate, especially to and fro work places for those working in Victoria Island, Ikoyi, Lagos Island and Mainland. Residents demanded for alternative routes away from the Toll gate and possibly through VGC Estate.

As credible and justifiable as their demands were, it was of opinion that Adegboruwa and protesters (including Nollywood actress, Kate Henshaw and CSO activist, Yemi Adamolekun) should have constructively engaged Lagos State government stating their demands. Whatever it was, the state government stood its grounds. Though the project was temporarily stalled, Adegboruwa and Company had successfully shot themselves into limelight and consciousness of the Nigerian public. Mission accomplished for them.

When, however, Kate Henshaw and Yemi Adamolekun eventually had to appear on national TV to present Nigerians the reasons for their protest and opposition to the Toll gate project, they sadly sounded not convincing.

Cast your mind back to when same group of supposed activists ( Adegboruwa & Co) took on the NASS, and complaining that salaries and emoluments of NASS members were grossly bloated and thereafter led a protest to the NASS. It was a pathetic sight when Senator Udoma Egba, Senate Majority Leader at the time, gave the protest leaders a lecture of their lives that made Yemi Adamolekun speechless and could not thereafter make any meaningful response to Senator Udoma Egba.  They dispersed with their tails in between their legs. The point is that they failed to articulate their position with informed evidence and facts against NASS members before embarking on the protest. Again, they gained an undeserved public recognition, limelight and cheap popularity.

Ebun Adegboruwa is, according to him, a member of the RCCG and “adopted son” of Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, G.O of the RCCG. When, unexpectedly Pastor Adeboye decided to step aside as the G.O of the RCCG some few months ago, Ebun Adegboruwa, again hit the limelight  immediately  by writing a piece on the “Pastor Enoch Adeboye I know”. He poured encomiums on Pastor Adeboye almost to a point of sycophancy. He and some members of the RCCG took on the erstwhile C.E.O of the FRCN, Mr. Jim Obazee, questioning his audacity to take on the G.O and forcing him to step aside. They saw it as witch hunting, even though the orthodox Churches had complied with the financial regulation in question. They blackmailed Mr. Obazee in both print and social media.

Few days later, when Pastor Adeboye had to make some clarifications on his “stepping down” statement, Adegboruwa threathened a court action against Pastor Adeboye. Another limelight and cheap popularity stance. I am yet to read about the outcome of his publicized court action.

On January 19, 2017, President Muhammadu Buhari wrote to the Senate President that he was proceeding on a 10 day medical leave and in his absence, the Vice President will act as President. This was followed thereafter, on the expiration of the initial 10 days, by another letter requesting for extension of leave on the opinion of his Doctors. All hell was let loose by Adegboruwa  and he came firing from all cylinders.

Adegboruwa circulated on the print and social media an alarming and disturbing article with false information, alerting Nigerians that a vacuum will be created in the Executive and Judicial arms of government leading to a total breakdown of law and order in the country. Gullible Nigerians, home and abroad bought into his argument, hook, line and sinker without properly informing themselves of the relevant constitutional requirement/position, the steps taken by the President and the prevailing situation on ground.

There were however, three issues at stake that Adegboruwa mischievously hammered on:

-          Confirmation of the appointment of the acting CJN.

-          Confirmation of appointment of the acting Chairman of the EFCC

-          The tenure of the VP in acting capacity would have lapsed without renewal.

Adegboruwa ignored facts therefore insinuated that a vacuum will be created in the Executive and Judiciary arms of government and the EFCC. However, there was indeed a letter from the President to the Senate requesting for extension of his leave. But Senate was on recess and the letter could not be read at the time, though the letter was delivered and received at the NASS. That does not create a vacuum in the Presidency, as there was an acting President on ground, therefore by implication should continue in the acting capacity until resumption of the NASS.

Secondly, the acting CJN had acted for a period of 90 days and the NJC, not the Presidency, headed by the acting CJN was supposed to have written to the Presidency requesting for an extension for a further 90 days for the acting CJN. This the NJC did in the last minute of the first 90 days. This, also was in order avoiding a vacuum and ensuring continuity.

The Senate, before the recess, had rejected the confirmation of DCP Ibrahim  Magu as substantive Chairman of the EFCC as requested by the President. The rejection of Magu’s confirmation by the Senate does not foreclose the issue of confirmation as the President can resubmit his name. This, we are informed has been processed by the acting President.

The acting President has sworn in the CJN after confirmation received from the Senate. And the letter requesting confirmation of Ibrahim Magu will be attended to eventually by the Senate. Magu stays on as the acting EFCC Chairman. Curiously, Adegboruwa has withdrawn his case from the courts following superior opinion of his lawyer over his(Adegboruwa) opinion.

At every point and every issue of national interest, Ebun Adegboruwa misleads and misinforms Nigerians for self-interest. Nigerians should watch him closely and not take him seriously. He is not the defender of the masses he wants us to believe.

The often used cliché of “take the message and not the messenger” in the case of Ebun Adegboruwa should be discarded.

The issue of the acting EFCC Chairman will be addressed.

The CJN has been confirmed and sworn in.

There was/is an acting President and

The President is back.

Long live President Muhammadu Buhari!!!

Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria!!!

Nosak Group holds management retreat

By Editor   |   29 January 2017 

The Chairman of Nosak Group, Dr. Toni Ogunbor

Introduces Nosak Family Vegetable Oil
Nosak Group, a diversified business group with interests in agriculture, manufacturing, logistics, pharmaceuticals and supermarket, recently held a two-day management retreat in Lagos.
Speaking at the event, the Chairman, Dr. Toni Ogunbor, said hard work and commitment are essential values that can take the company to a higher level.
Enjoining staff to be focused and achieve the company’s objectives, he noted that the global economic recession that occurred about 10 years ago is still having its negative effect in many countries’ economy, including Nigeria. He added that the 2009 banking sector reforms carried out by then CBN Governor, Malam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi (now Emir of Kano) aimed at strengthening Nigerian banks, but in the end it saw stronger banks taking over weaker ones.

Commending staff for their cooperation during the company’s trying period, he stated that Nosak Group has built structures that help it ‘weather the storm,’ saying that over 80 per cent of businesses lost out during the global recession, but Nosak Group survived, as a result of judicious management of its resources and the diversification of its business interests. Urging members to embrace hard work, the Group Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Thomas Oloriegbe, said doing this would enable staff to run with the company’s vision and mission statement of fostering an environment of success.
Highlight of the event was the introduction of Nosak Family Pure Vegetable Oil.
Speaking on the product, Managing Director, Nosak Farm Produce, Mr. Robert Ogiri, said although there is stiff competition in the vegetable oil sector in the country, the company’s latest product would lead others because of its premium nature. Ogiri disclosed that the product is cholesterol free and has zero trans fat, apart from its triple filter.

The Guardian

Agribusiness Workshop Opens In Benin City

By: By RICHARD EWEKAon: January 27, 2017

BENIN CITY:A 3 day workshop on Agricbusiness Organised by Edo State Government in line with the vision of the Godwin Obaseki led administration of creating jobs for Edo youths in the Agricultural Sector has commenced in Benin City the Edo State Capital.
Delivering a key note address at the workshop with the theme : “Harnessing Resources And Opportunities To Optimise Agricbusiness in Edo State” the Chief of Staff to Edo State Government Mr. Taiwo Akerele thank participant in the Agricbusiness for desiring to join the government of the state to develop it through Agriculture. He said the government is ready to invest in the Agricultural sectors to create job for the people of the state saying that the government is ready for the business of developing the state.
Akerele said the government is ready to create an enabling environment for investor to come into the state to invest without fear of being harassed as the Obaseki’s administration has put modalities on ground engaging with communities that have crises with investors encouraging such communities to ensure they create the enabling environment and atmosphere for business to thrive in the state.
“Edo state is an investment friendly state and the governor is investment friendly. He is set to position Edo on the part of process as he assured the people that in 3 years Edo will be made one of the biggest competing state in the area of Agricbusniess with Lagos or Ogun State”.
He urged the participants to take the workshop seriously as the Agricbusiness in the state is for serious investors that will join hands with the government of the state to develop the state. He wishes the participant a fruitful deliberation.
Earlier the chairman of the occasion Mr. Tony Ogunbor commended the governor of Edo State Godwin Obaseki for organizing this workshop barely 70 days in office. He said the governor has done well in the few steps he has taken including organizing this Agricbusiness workshop, he has hit the ground running.
Ogunbor x-ray the Journey of Lagos Industrialization to the input of experienced men from the private sectors bringing their wealth of experience to bare in developing the state. He said people like Babatunde Fashola contributed to the development of Lagos. Ogunbor said Obaseki is in the line of such great men coming from the private sector who can use his wealth of experience to turn the fortune of Edo State around for the better.
“Translating the management skills in the private sectors to the public sectors is what is needed to transform Edo state; Obaseki has that skill to move the state to enviable height in the country. This is not the time to lament in missed opportunity but to harness the Agricultural potentials of the state and put it to good use creating jobs for the youths.
Speaking further he said in time past Edo State was in the fore front of oil palm, rubber and cassava production. If we develop the Agric sector, it well leads to industrial development. “Edo State can become the food basket of the nation if we all put effort to develop the Agric sector and through this sector we can equally generate revenue for the state” he concluded.
The Agribusiness workshop which commenced today 26th will last till 28th of January 2016.
Nigeria Observer

Meet the Bush-nominated federal judge who halted Trump’s executive order

By Avi Selk February 4.
 

Watch the ruling temporarily blocking Trump’s trPlay Video4:48

U.S. District Judge James L. Robart on Feb. 3 issued a ruling temporarily blocking the enforcement of President Trump’s executive order barring entry to the United States for citizens from seven Muslim-majority countries and refugees. (U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington)

Judge James Robart wore a bow tie to the hearing, opened with a joke and finished with a thunderclap.
He was known for that sort of thing.
“The amicus law professors,” Robart said Friday, noting the many groups that waited in his Seattle courtroom to argue for or against a motion to halt President Trump’s travel ban. “Sounds like the three amigos.”
People laughed, despite the tension. The federal judge had a habit of mixing soft speech and extraordinary pronouncements.
At the end of the hearing, with no jokes or spare words, Robart halted Trump’s ban and potentially changed the fate of tens of thousands of refugees, Muslims and others around the world who had been denied entry into the United States.
His order challenges a White House that had spent all week defending the ban.
“The opinion of this so-called judge, which essentially takes law-enforcement away from our country, is ridiculous and will be overturned!” Trump wrote in a tweet Saturday morning.

But Robart had been called judge for more than a decade. President George W. Bush nominated him to the federal court for Washington’s western district court in 2004. Though he had held no judgeship before, senators of both parties praised him.
Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) introduced him to the judiciary committee as a man who had fostered six children with his wife.
Sen. Patrick J. Leahy (D-Vermont) went over Robart’s 30 years as a lawyer — up to his work at the time as managing partner at Lane Powell Spears Lubersky, where he handled mostly commercial law cases.
Utah’s Sen. Orrin G. Hatch noted Robart’s “representation of the disadvantaged” — including his work representing “southeast Asian refugees.”
“I was introduced to people who, in many times, felt that the legal system was stacked against them or was unfair,” Robart replied.”Working with people who have an immediate need and an immediate problem that you are able to help with is the most satisfying aspect of the practice of law.”
“Well thank you,” Hatch, a Republican, said. “That is a great answer.”
No one opposed his confirmation.
In his 13 years on the federal bench, the judge handed down criminal sentences no lighter than the law recommended — 78 months in prison for a crack dealer, life for a man who murdered a woman on a Native American reservation two decades earlier.
His job as a federal judge got more complicated after Seattle police shot and killed John T. Williams — a partially deaf woodcarver who did not put down his carving knife one day in 2010.
Hundreds surrounded a Seattle police station to protest Williams’s death, which had followed other accusations of police brutality in the city. A Justice Department investigation “found routine and widespread use of excessive force by officers,” the Seattle Times reported. That led to a long series of settlements and lawsuits — the bow-tied Robart presiding.

“Well, there certainly are a lot of you!” he said last August. His tie was green, his beard as white as ever.
In the years since Williams’s death, the Seattle case had evolved from passionate protests and a federal investigation into an endless string of hearings to oversee police reforms.
August’s hearing was one of many, and Robart gave no indication at the beginning that it would be anything of special note. He listened to each side argue, as he had done many times before. When it was his turn to speak, he went over schedules, comments and consent decrees to come.
Then he took a deep breath.
“I will now step back from my very precise legal practice and give you the following observation — from me,” he said.
He spoke of the police — training and accountability and leadership: “The men and women who go out and walk around Seattle and proudly wear the Seattle Police Department uniform,” he said. “They are entitled to know what they may and may not do.”
He breathed in again. Then he spoke of protests against police that had spread across the country, and FBI statistics showing that black people are twice as likely to be shot dead by police as their share of the population would warrant.

[President Trump’s do-it-himself approach just suffered a big — and unusual — early setback]

“Black lives matter,” the judge said.
His words, the Seattle Times noted, caused “a startled, audible reaction” in the courtroom. Here was a federal judge echoing a slogan used by protesters.
Robart was not done. “Black people are not alone in this,” he went on. “Hispanics, Asians, Native Americans are also involved. And lastly and importantly: police deaths in Dallas, Baton Rouge, Minneapolis and let’s not forget Lakewood, Washington, remind us of the importance of what we are doing.”
If his words were extraordinary, he gave no indication that day. Robart thanked everyone before him “for your hard work” and walked out the door behind him.
Half a year later, a country troubled by different matters waited on the judge’s word.
Robart listened for nearly an hour to arguments of the federal government and to those who oppose its travel ban, then thanked everyone for their “thoughtful” remarks.
He tried to tramp down any anticipation. A judge’s job, Robart said, “is not to judge the wisdom of any policy,” but only whether it was legal.
He would not even do that at the moment, he said, but merely consider whether Trump’s order should be blocked temporarily to prevent “immediate and irreparable injury” to the people it affects.
Robert looked down at his papers and issued his order.
The travel ban must be halted not just in Washington, he said, but for all “federal defendants and all their respective officers, agents, servants, employees, attorneys and persons acting in concert … at all U.S. borders and port of entry, pending further order from this court.”
No one said a word. In his manner, Robart recessed and walked away.

The Washington Post

A BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION.

Yesterday was a blessed day for my family and myself because, by the special grace of the Almighty, one additional year was added to my life and sojourn on earth.

To God be the glory and honor.

Remarkably, I received two  WhatsApp messages from two different persons. These, I will like to share with you.

1.       The first message came from Venerable O.U Igbinosa, the presiding Pastor of St. Peters Anglican Church, Benin City. This is my Church and my fellowship place when in Benin City. The message is not really a surprise because, every morning, Venerable O.U Igbinosa sends to me The Daily Devotional Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion). However, this particular message is very instructive and the reason I will share it with you all today: –

“THE DAILY DEVOTIONAL CHURCH OF NIGERIA (ANGLICAN COMMUNION)
DATE: SATURDAY, JANUARY 28,2017
BIBLE READING: HEBREWS 11:13—29
TOPIC: EMBRACE GOD'S ASSURED PROMISES

During the time of these heroes of faith, God revealed the future to them and they identified with it. Though God's promises to us in life most times manifest in the future, we should firmly relate to them. The secret of success in the faith life is to see the promises of God, embrace them, be assured of them, and confess (acknowledge) that we are people on our way to inheriting the said promises.

Had the heroes of faith reminded themselves of the things they gave up, they would have had the opportunity to return. Through the Word of God, let's follow their footsteps and desire something better than we have at present. Let's follow the example of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob who bequeath to their descendants the faith to believe God for their inheritance which was still in the future. Let's learn from Joseph who prophesied the future deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt. Let's forsake the enticements of the present world like Moses did. By faith, we too can INHERIT His promises.

Prayer:-  "Lord, let me see, be assured of, embrace and acknowledge Your word".

2.       The second message came from my political friend and associate, Comrade Godwin Erhahon, former Edo State Chairman of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC). The message also is very instructive and I share with you :–

“God is Faithful! - The Best Piece I've Read This Year!

In the country of Armenia, in 1988, Samuel and Danielle sent their young son, Armand, off to school. Samuel squatted before his son and looked him in the eye. "Have a good day at school, and remember, no matter what, I’ll always be there for you." They hugged and the boy ran off to school.

Hours later, a powerful earthquake rocked the area. In the midst of the pandemonium, Samuel and Danielle tried to discover what happened to their son but they couldn’t get any information. The radio announced that there were thousands of casualties.  Samuel then grabbed his coat and headed for the schoolyard. When he reached the area, what he saw brought tears to his eyes. Armand’s school was a pile of debris. Other parents were standing around crying.

Samuel found the place where Armand’s classroom used to be and began pulling a broken beam off the pile of rubble.  He then grabbed a rock and put it to the side, and then grabbed another one.

One of the parents looking on asked, "What are you doing?"   "Digging for my son," Samuel answered. The man then said, "You’re just going to make things worse! The building is unstable," and tried to pull Samuel away from his work.

Samuel just kept working. As time wore on, one by one, the other parents left. Then a worker tried to pull Samuel away from the rubble.  Samuel looked at him and said, "Won’t you help me?"   The worker left and Samuel kept digging.

All through the night and into the next day, Samuel continued digging.  Parents placed flowers and pictures of their children on the ruins.  But, Samuel just kept working.  He picked up a beam and pushed it out of the way when he heard a faint cry. "Help! Help!"  Samuel listened but didn’t hear anything again.  Then he heard a muffled voice, "Papa?"

Samuel began to dig furiously.  Finally he could see his son.  "Come on out, son!" he said with relief.
"No," Armand said.  "Let the other kids come out first because I know you’ll get me."  Child after child emerged until, finally, little Armand appeared.  Samuel took him in his arms and Armand said, "I told the other kids not to worry because you told me that you’d always be there for me!"

Fourteen children were saved that day because one father was faithful.

How much more faithful is our heavenly Father!  Whether trapped by fallen debris or ensnared by life’s hardships and struggles, we are never cut off from God’s faithfulness.  He is true to His character.  He is reliable and trustworthy and can always be counted on.

Deuteronomy 7:9 "Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; He is the faithful God, keeping His covenant of love to a thousand generations…"

1 Corinthians 1:9 - God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.
Psalm 37:28, "For the Lord loves the just and will not forsake his faithful ones. They will be protected forever" .

Keep trusting God to the end.”

The two messages preached the following:-

(i). Promise of the Father (God)

(ii). Faith/belief in the Promise of the Father (God) and

(iii).The fulfillment of the Promise of the Father (God).

The salient point in Venerable Igbinosa’s message is that:-   “God's promises to us in life most times manifest in the future, we should firmly relate to them. The secret of success in the faith life is to see the promises of God, embrace them, be assured of them, and confess (acknowledge) that we are people on our way to inheriting the said promises.”

Likewise, in the second message from Comrade Erhahon, Samuel’s promise to his son Armand, was also in the future. However, just hours later, there was an earthquake in Armand’s school, that is, hours in future. In comparison, the future in both cases were just moments in time.

Samuel kept his promise to his son, Armand and Armand kept faith and belief in his father’s promise.

In the presence of God and His promises, a thousand years in the human eyes is only a passing second or moment for God.

How often do we question God? How often do we think God is not answering or will not answer our prayers? How often do we not have faith in the Promises of God? And thinking that He has abandoned us?

In our Bini language, we say -
Egheosasere, meaning, God's time is the best.

I therefore wish to thank you all that sent birthday messages through facebook, WhatsApp, SMS, telephone calls, etc and pray that God will meet you all positively at your point and hour of needs.

TO GOD BE THE GLORY AND HONOR.

Eddy Ogunbor.