2023 Elections: Abuja Online Publishers bond for nation building

By Favour Nnabugwu

 

 

 

Abuja Online Publishers, AOP, have bonded to build the nation as the 2023 general elections will commence next month.

Even as the the body has put on hold further admission of members to allow the forum focus on the all important task of General Elections.

This position was reached by the Steering Committee after the Association reached 50-member milestone barely a week after its inauguration.

The Steering Committee unanimously resolved to temporarily suspend membership admission to allow us concentrate on the onerous task of Nation Building weeks to the General Elections. During this window, we will perfect our incorporation and compile our digital register for reference purposes.

Also, the various adhoc committees are working assiduously to meet their timelines. The Finance Committee had turned in its recommendation, the draft constitution will be out next week as well as our logo which will be ratified in a General Meeting to be announced soon.

Overwhelmed by the wide acceptance of the association by all online Publishers, the Acting Chairman of the Association, Martins Odiete thanked all members for hearing the calls and heeding with their presence.

“On behalf of the Steering Committee, I would like to extend my utmost gratitude to you and your hard work.
Your dedication helped us reach our goals. I deeply appreciate every member of this team for showing relentless effort for this project.

“This progress would not be possible without your contributions. I value your commitment to this vision and look forward to achieving all our milestones together” he said.

Four weeks to the polls, we will devote our far reaching platforms to educate, inform and sensitize Nigerians and the global community about the activities of all stakeholders as we count down to the general elections with a view to reporting: fair, balance and accurate updates.

Abuja Online Publishers is an association of all online media with the aim of advocating the invaluable place of verifiable and trusted online news media in a democratic society, encourage diversity, inclusion and to be a reference point for high editorial standards.

World Bank, IMF invite Jimoh İbrahim for ancillary meeting in Washington in October

By Favour Nnabugwu
Dr. Jimoh Ibrahim, CFR has been officially invited by World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) to attend and participate in their ancillary meeting in Washington, United States in October.
The invitation personally addressed to the billionaire business mogul was jointly signed by the two international monetary bodies: World Bank and IMF.
The letter reads in part :  “We are pleased to inform you that you have been registered to attend the 2022 Annual Meetings and other
related ancillary meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group, which will take
place in Washington, D.C. from October 10 – October 16, 2022.”
The Ondo South All Progressives Congress, APC Senatorial Candidate was invited in his capacity as a globally recognized entrepreneur and a scholar in the field of Business.
Recall that Barr Jimoh Ibrahim was recently awarded the first ever Doctor of Business of the prestigious Cambridge University, a feat that has been commended by other scholars across the globe.
Jimoh Ibrahim, PhD will be participating in the Washington meeting from his position as a business scholar, an international tax expert and renown investment entrepreneur
Facebook introduces Community Chats 

By Favour Nnabugwu

 

 

Facebook Chief Executive Officerr and Co-founder, Mark Zuckerberg, has introduced Community Chats on Facebook.

Zuckerberg said that Community Chats let people to connect more deeply with communities in real time around the topics they care about in multiple formats, including text, audio and video.

He explained: “The experience seamlessly blends Messenger and Facebook Groups to allow people to connect when, where and how they want.”

Talking about how it works, he said:
“Admins can now start a conversation about a topic and get in-the-moment responses instead of waiting for people to comment on a post. And, rather than navigating multiple topics in a single Messenger group chat, the person who creates the Community Chat can organize chats into categories so group members can easily find what’s most interesting to them.”

According to him, “We have helped more than a billion people connect with loved ones in a trusted space on Messenger, and we know that people want to engage in real time with larger communities over shared interests.

“For example, a band’s fan group could have a “Breaking News” category with chats dedicated to new album drops, tour dates and group activities.”

“Admins can choose from several options to help their communities connect. They can start a chat for group members around a specific topic, an event chat for an outing or meetup, a view-only broadcast chat for admins to announce group-wide updates and an admin-only chat to collaborate with admins and moderators.

“Admins can also create audio channels so group members can share live commentary or receive real-time support. Participants also have the option to enable video once they’re in the audio channel.”

Zuckerberg added: “Given the more public nature of Community Chats, we have developed a robust suite of tools to help admins easily manage both chat and audio experiences”

“This includes moderation capabilities like blocking, muting or suspending group members, and removing members or messages, as well as Admin Assist, which allows admins to set custom criteria that will automatically suspend users, remove reported messages, and stop messages from ineligible authors or containing violating content from being sent.

“Members of Community Chats can also report messages to group admins or Meta, block users or leave a chat at any time. Learn more about privacy and safety controls in Community Chats.”

He concluded: “We are committed to building messaging experiences that help people connect with their communities, friends and families.

“As Community Chats rolls out to more people and groups around the world, we’ll continue exploring new features and capabilities to make it easier to connect with one another.

Akeredolu @ 66: A Hegemon With Collaborative Praxis, says Jimoh Ibrahim

By admin
Business mogul and All Progressives Congress’ senatorial candidate for Ondo South in the forthcoming general elections, Dr Jimoh Ibrahim, CFR, has described Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, as a hegemon  with collaborative praxis.
He stated this on Thursday while congratulating the governor on his 66th birthday anniversary.
Ibrahim said what God has been using the Chairman of  Southwest Governors’ Forum for in the country, particularly in the Souh-West, on security would remain indelible in the history of the nation.
He commended Arakunrin Akeredolu for the industrialization projects which manifested in Ondo State Industrial Park at Omotosho in Ore, Odigbo Local Government Area of the state.
The popular senatorial candidate noted that the series of industries established in the park has reduced the hitherto high rate of unemployment in the state, particularly in Ondo South.
Jimoh Ibrahim explained that the efforts of the governor in attracting investors to the state paid off through world standard economic policies introduced by his administration in the state.
He said the thoughtfulness of the governor made him decide to construct flyover at Ore, which has brought an end to the ghastly accidents that usually occurred on the busy Ore/Benin highway.
According to Ibrahim, “Arakunrin is a hegemon with collaborative praxis. He ensures unity in our party, APC and members are working collectively with the governor for the success of the party in the forthcoming general elections and beyond.
“He carries everyone along and he’s a good leader who puts all his followers into consideration in all his decisions.
“We thank God for what he has been using him for in Nigeria, Ondo State and Ondo South senatorial district.
“He stands against insecurity in the country because he knows as a governor, the onus lies on him to ensure the protection of lives and property of his people irrespective of their political leaning.
“The governor is well red and enlightened. He is of the view that there’s no way any investor would put his money where security of life and property cannot be assured.
” I commend him on what he had done at the  Industrial Park Omotosho, which has reduced unemployment drastically in the state and Ondo South.
“He constructed the Ore flyover to stamp out avoidable ghastly accidents in which several lives had been lost in the past.”
Ibrahim, therefore, prayed to God to give the governor a long life and sound health to fulfill God’s desires upon him.
From Bondage to Freedom (Numbers 33:38) by Pastor Favour Onoja

FROM BONDAGE TO FREEDOM (NUMBERS 33:38)

 

Introduction
Bondage is the state of being bound usually against your will. It’s when someone is bound by a particular habit or character. Bondages are like little, little foxes that destroy the vine if they are not checked.

Bondage can hinder you from serving God effectively and becoming all that God has purposed for you. Beware of bondages. It is a weakness that must be expose and dealt with so that your work with God shall not be destroyed like Samson (1Samuel 16:1-25).

TYPES OF BONDAGES:

1. Fornication And Adultery.
The sin of fornication and adultery has bedeviled our generation today. These has led to so many homes being destroyed (1Corinthians 5:1-2; 6:15-20).

2. Fear.
Fear is false evidence appearing real. It is a torment that can paralyze and cripple your abilities and initiatives. It hinders you from taking a step of faith. Fear also hinders you from operating in love (Job 3:25; Matthew 8:26).

3. Greed And Covetousness.
This is when you are never satisfied with what you have and want to collect what belongs to others (1Timothy 6:10; Matthew 26:15).

4. Worry And Anxiety.
It is a state of being anxious or troubled about actual or potential problems. Worrying is a sin, so be anxious for nothing (Philippians 4:6-8; Luke 21:34)

5. Addiction.
This limits and contradict moral beliefs. It also destroys good health. Examples can be seen in taking of hard drugs, illicit sex, masturbation, social media, etc. It can lead to the waste of lives.

6. Materialism.
This is the attitude of someone who attaches a lot of importance to riches and wants to possess a lot of material things (1Timothy 6:9; Matthew 16:26).

7. Pornography.
This is the depiction of sexual behaviors in books, pictures, statues, films and other media that is intended to arouse and sexually satisfy the viewers (1Corinthians 6:9, 13, 18-20; 2Timothy 2:22; Colossians 3:5; Galatians 5:19-21; Job 31:1; Proverbs 7:21-27).

THE WAY TO FREEDOM FROM BONDAGES:

1. Knowledge.
The first step to your freedom is knowing who you are in Christ Jesus. 2Corinthians 5:17 says “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature, old things are passed away, behold all things are become new”.
Therefore, if you are in Christ, you cannot be bound by any inhibiting forces of darkness. Also Proverbs 11:19b states that “but through knowledge shall the just be delivered” John 8:32 says “you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free”

2. Walking In The Spirit.
Walking in the spirit is something that cannot be brought about by our own volition but is something only the Holy Spirit can give. Galatians 5:22-23 talks about the fruits of the Spirit. Fruits in the life of the believer is something only the Holy Spirit can give.

3. Declaration.
A closed mouth is a closed destiny. You can enforce your freedom through the declaration of the Word of God through your mouth (Isaiah 43:26).

4. Stand In Your Authority.
Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage (Galatians 5:1).

5. Service.
Service to God is a platform through which your liberty can be established. The reason for their freedom primarily from bondage in Egypt is to serve God (Exodus 4:23).
In the place of service, your character and weakness are exposed, molded and handled.

6. Prophetic Decrees.
The ministry of the prophets are veritable tools and instruments for your liberty and freedom from every bondage and oppression (Hosea 12:13).

7. Prayer And Fasting.
This kind goeth not but by prayer and fasting (Matthew 17:21). Prayer and fasting energizes your spirit to deal with the works of the flesh and it’s desires.

8. The Word Of God.
The Word is a deliverance tool. It purges, purifies and cleanse you from every form of defilement, dirt and guilt.
Therefore, arm yourself with the Word of God (Psalm 119:9; Proverbs 3:1-4; 7:1-5).

9. Counseling.
This is a way of seeking spiritual or professional guidance in solving personal/psychological problem. Victory can be achieved by this means (Proverbs 11:14; 15:22).

10. Fellowship.
It is a place of communion/ renewal of strength. Church is a service centre where you are serviced, ministered to, refreshed and transformed. Therefore, do not neglect the fellowship of the brethren. It is where you are loved and valued despite your infirmities (weakness)- Hebrews 10:25; Psalm 84:7; Obadiah 1:17.

If you are bound by any of these bondages and you want to give your life to Jesus Christ, kindly pray this prayer with me:

Lord Jesus, I come before you today to surrender my life completely to you. I have lived a self-centered life that is far separated from God. I have had priorities that are not eternity-centred. I have always lived in rebellion, disobedience and sin up till now.

Lord, I am sorry for the way that I have lived and I ask for your forgiveness and mercy. Lord, please cleanse my sins by your Blood and take your place in my life. Fill my heart Lord with the right desires and priorities. Give me the grace to live in righteousness and represent you well to my world.
Help me escape the tragedy of eternity in hell. Help me to make Heaven at the end of my journey on earth.

Thank you Lord for hearing and answering me in Jesus Name, I pray. Amen.

If you pray this prayer, kindly reach me through these platforms:

PASTOR FAVOUR ONOJA

+234(0)805 584 2594

+234(0)703 489 3375
E-mail:onojaaf@yahoo.com
Twitter/Instagram

Nigeria, Germany to sign agreement for return of Benin bronzes in Berlin

By admin

 

An agreement between the governments of Germany and Nigeria on the return of the Benin artefacts in German museums to Nigeria will be signed today in Berlin.

The historic signing of the ‘Joint Declaration on the Return of the Benin Bronzes and Bilateral Museum Cooperation between Germany and Nigeria’ is the culmination of years of agitation for the return of the cultural goods – famous Benin bronze heads and other artefacts – that were pillaged from the royal palace of the Oba of Benin in 1897 during a punitive expedition of the British Army.

The Nigerian delegation to the event, holding at the Federal Foreign Office, includes Information and Culture Minister, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Zubairu Dada, Nigeria’s Ambassador to Germany, Alhaji Yusuf Tuggar, and Professor Abba Tijani Isa, Director General of the Nigeria Commission for Museums and Monuments. The German government will be represented, among others, by Minister for Foreign Affairs, Annalena Baerbock, and Minister of State for Culture and the Media, Claudia Roth.

After Germany announced that it would return its collection of the world-famous artefacts early last year, a Nigerian delegation, led by Alhaji Lai Mohammed, visited Berlin in July to conduct negotiations with their German counterparts. Other members of the high-powered delegation from Nigeria were Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State, Professor Isa, and the Benin Crown Prince, HRH Prince Ezelekhae Ewuare.

It was at the meeting of the Nigerian delegation with German officials that a firm commitment was made by Berlin on the return of the artefacts.

In October, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Nigeria and Germany in Abuja on the repatriation of the about 1,130 pieces of artefact.

“The German Government and the German people have taken a bold step by agreeing to voluntarily, without too much coercion on the part of Nigeria, to return these artefacts. Because what the return of the artefacts will do is that it’s going to really cement further relationship between Nigeria and Germany. Culture today has become one of the effective tools for soft diplomacy,” Culture Minister Mohammed said at the event, at which a visiting German delegation, led by the Director General for Culture and Communication of the German Federal Foreign Office, Dr Andreas Gorgen, participated.

In his remarks, Gorgen said the release of the artefacts was part of a cultural policy that would contribute to healing the wound inflicted by the looting of the artefacts from Nigeria and to establishing new relationship between Germany and Nigeria.

In a related development, the Berlin-based Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation has announced that it would return artefacts taken from three African nations during the German colonial era.

The Foundation, which manages the city’s various museums, said on Monday it had begun negotiations to return the artefacts to Namibia, Tanzania and Cameroon.

Among the artefacts is a goddess statue, known as Ngonnso’, which will be returned to the kingdom of Nso’ in northwestern Cameroon.

“Bring Back Ngonnso,” a civil society initiative, has been campaigning for the statue’s return for years, as the Nso people say they have suffered numerous calamities since the statue was stolen. “The Ngonnso’ has a central role for the Nso’, as she is considered a mother deity,” the foundation said in a statement

Felix Agiwegbemi Ayole ‘Big Felix’ laid to rest in Warri, Delta State

By Favour Nnabugwu

 

 

The burial of late Mr Felix Agiwegbemi Ayole a.k.a. Big Felix who died on May 1, 2022 and was laid to rest on June 24, 2022 at the age of 65 years in Iffie Tsekiri Warri, Delta State

CAPTIONS 

R – Mr Eyituoyomi Felix Ayole, the first son of late Mr Ayole, wife of the deceased, Mrs Rosemary Ayole; daughter, Miss Orighonisan Rosemary Ayole and Miss Rune Oghoghome, a niece to the wife and a daughter to Mr Ayole during the ceremony at Anglican Church Egbokodo, Warri, Delta State today

The late Mr Felix Ayole at the Anglican Church Egbokodo, Warri before he was buried.

This was at St Andrew Anglican Church at the Songs of Service at Okere Road in Warri, Delta State

Hoodlums attack Lagos Governor’s Press Crew bus In Tinubu’s Convoy, Two Injured

By admin

The bus conveying press crew covering Lagos State Governor’s Office on Sunday was heavily attacked by thugs between Ebute-Ero and Adeniji, Iga-Iduganran axis on Lagos Island, leaving no fewer than two journalists wounded with others sustaining various scars on their bodies.

The press crew bus which was in the convoy of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, was attacked by the thugs who threw heavy stones repeatedly as it joined other vehicles conveying dignitaries, including Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Kano State Governor Abdullahi Ganduje; and others, who had just left the palace of Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwanu Akiolu.

Tinubu, who arrived at Lagos Airport at around 3:40 pm, to the waiting hands of an enthusiastic crowd of party loyalists and supporters, had immediately headed to the palace of Oba Akiolu on a courtesy call.

The press crew bus was heavily attacked by the hoodlums, as it drove with high speed to escape while journalists had to lie low in it for many to escape being injured, but still few others still had bruises.

However, a Western Post correspondent, Adeola Ogunrinde and Omatseye Atsenuwa of Smooth 98.1FM got wounded, while Adedoja Salam of TVC went into shock due to the heavy bombardment of stones and bricks thrown at the press crew bus, leaving the windscreen and nearly all the side screens were broken.

Ogunrinde got wounded in the face, while Atsenuwa had his arm hit directly by one of the heavy stones thrown at the press crew bus.

Nigeria woman in California returned $36,000 found in Sofa to owner

By admin

 

Vicky Umodu, a Nigerian woman who lives in San Bernardino California has shown an exemplary display of honesty after she returned (36,000) N14.9m she found in a sofa.

The honest Nigerian woman was said to have moved into a new home in California and was checking on Craigslists for new furniture to buy.

How it happened

The honest Nigerian woman was said to have moved into a new home in California and was checking on Craigslists for new furniture to buy.

She found out that there is a family who wants to give out furniture belonging to a late relative.

She picked up the chairs and had them delivered to her new home. When the chairs arrived, she was checking them out when she found a huge sum stashed in one of them.

Umodu said:

“I just moved in, and I don’t have anything in my house. I was so excited, so we picked it up and brought it in.

‘I was just telling my son, “Come, come, come!” I was screaming, “This is money! I need to call the guy!”’

She returns the money

They made contacts with the kind family that gave them the chairs and had the money returned. She said:

‘God has been kind to me and my children. They’re all alive and well. I have three beautiful grandchildren, so what can I ever ask from God?’

After returning the money, she got the sum of N900,000 in return for her honesty.

When Umodu spotted a Craigslist post advertising free furniture, she said, she felt as though she’d won a jackpot.

Then she learned that she’d actually taken home a jackpot.

It was May 18, and she and her son, Oly Umodu, 29, had collected the free furniture and moved the pieces into their living room. Vicky Umodu said she felt something unusual as she was placing the upholstered cushion on an oversize, cream-colored armchair.

The money stucked in envelopes

 

The seat cushion seemed off.
She thought perhaps there was a heating pad inside, so she unzipped the cushion, stuck her hand in and felt around.

“It wasn’t a heating pad, but I could feel there was a bunch of paper,” she said. “When I pulled it out, I was shocked.”

“I was happy to help Vicky and put the furniture and other items to good use,” he said. “When she called me about the Craigslist ad, she told me she had nothing and needed everything that I was posting.”

“My heart went out to her, but you also wonder if somebody is going to turn around and sell everything for a profit,” he said.

When he drove to Umodu’s house and saw there was nothing inside except the furniture she’d picked up at his uncle’s house, it was a validation of her honesty, he said.

“I was appreciative that they truly needed everything they’d taken,” he added.

By Favour Nnabugwu

 

A Nigerian-born Irish politician, Rotimi Adebari, who was a former Mayor of Portlaoise, Ireland, is among 50 prominent people, whose panel decorates train stations, in Ireland.

This was revealed in a publication by Turtle Bunbury, an Irish author, historian, podcaster, publisher and public speaker
Bunbury partnered Iarnród Éireann Irish Rail to produce 50 history panels installed across train stations in Ireland with each panel telling a brief history of past events and people connected with each vicinity.

Bunbury partnered Iarnród Éireann Irish Rail to produce 50 history panels installed across train stations in Ireland with each panel telling a brief history of past events and people connected with each vicinity.
Good job Turtle Bunbury Histories and Iarnród Éireann Irish Rail with the Past Tracks initiative

“I remain appreciative to the people of Portlaoise for making the history of electing me into Portlaoise Town Council in 2004, and to my colleagues in the council, for pushing the boundaries and elected me the Mayor of the town in 2007, I say; go raibh maith agat!!!

Adebari was elected as the first black mayor in Ireland in 2007. He was born 1964 in Okeodan, Ogun State, and studied economics at the University of Benin
He is a convert from Islam to Christianity, he fled Nigeria in 2000, and made a claim for asylum on the grounds of religious persecution.

His application was rejected because of a lack of evidence that he had personally suffered persecution, but he gained residency because his third child, another boy, was born in Ireland.

Adebari and his family settled in County Laois. Adebari completed his master’s degree in intercultural studies at Dublin City University and set up a firm called Optimum Point Consultancy