Thisday Tell:

Nigerians mock David Oyedepo’s daughter for performing ‘fake’ miracle Social media is agog with criticism and counter-criticism of Joy Oyedepo, one of the daughters of popular Nigerian preacher, David Oyedepo, over the video of a ‘miracle’ she performed on Facebook. In the clip, Joy can be seen ordering each one of her arms to grow longer. She has since deleted the video which went viral, after her followers called it ‘fake’ One Facebook user with the name Terry Adido wrote: “Don’t you know that Winners Chapel is a family business registered in their names? The kids have to start practicing to take over from their parents”. Another called Tito Kinder said: “A fool at 10. Birds of the same feather. Arrant fraudulent nonsense”.

Nigeria is world’s most dangerous place for Christians – US lawmakers United States House of Representatives says Nigeria has been cited as the most dangerous place for Christians in the world. The Chairman of its Sub-committee on Africa, Global Health, Human Rights and International Organisation, Christopher Smith, made the assertion as former President Goodluck Jonathan made a presentation to the Sub-Committee on the challenges faced by Christians in Nigeria. Smith said: “My subcommittee has broadly investigated the crises facing Christians in Nigeria today”. “My staff director, Greg Simpkins and I have made several visits to Nigeria, speaking with Christians and Muslim religious leaders across the country and visiting fire-bombed churches, such as in Jos. “Unfortunately, Nigeria has been cited as the most dangerous place for Christians in the world and impunity for those responsible for the killing of Christians seem to be widespread”, he declared. Th

DSS operatives pick up James Ibori on arrival in Nigeria Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) have reportedly picked up former Delta State Governor, James Ibori, who arrived back in Nigeria in the early hours of Saturday . An official who spoke with TheCable, said it should not be interpreted as an “arrest”. “It was pre-arranged that he should have a chat with the DSS director-general, Lawal Daura, upon his arrival.” “He will not be detained. His appointment was for 12:00 hrs so the operatives went to pick him up and drove him down for the meeting,” the operative said. Ibori touched down at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja and was scheduled to travel to his hometown in Oghara, Delta State. He was convicted of fraud in 2012 and handed a 13-year jail term, which he finished serving last December .  

*TAKE A BREAK AND LAUGH* Baro went to His Pastor one Hot Monday Night . *Baro:* Pastor, the Enemies are after Me! *Pastor:* My Son, what is it?  *Baro:* My Business is going down. *Pastor:* Ah! That's a small issue! Kneel down and let me Pray for you. Aahhhhh, your business will surely rise Again! Our church members will buy from you! My family will buy from you! I will visit to patronize u soon! Aahhhhh, the neighbors will buy from you. Aahhhhh, Say Amen. *Baro:* Amennnnnnn ooooooh Pastor! Thank you very much Pastor. *Pastor:* You're welcome my Son. By the way, what do you sell? So that I can announce it on Sundays and Weekdays Services. *Baro:* Oh Sir, I make and sell Coffins. *Pastor:* Fireeeeee!!! Nobody will buy from you!!! I shall not know your shop!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My family will Never see your Shop!!! Our members will never buy from you!!! I Decree and Declare, that your business will run dry in Jesus Christ Mighty and Most Powerfull Name....... Amen! A

How to stop killings in Southern Kaduna – Goodluck Jonathan The immediate past President, Goodluck Jonathan says the solution to ending the killings in Southern Kaduna crisis are already included in the 2014 National Conference held on 2014. In his presentation to the United States House Sub-Committee on Africa, the former President said failure to arrest perpetrators of previous religious crisis had emboldened those who engaged in such acts. The former President’s presentation was contained in a statement by his media aide, Ikechukwu Eze. Jonathan also declared that if Nigeria failed to address religious violence and extremism, the menace will destroy the country. He said, “If, as a nation, we do not kill religious persecution and extremism, then religious persecution and extremism will kill Nigeria. “The potential danger associated with the level of conflicts going on across the country is so glaring that no sane mind can ignore.

Trump pledges to end political limits on churches WASHINGTON (AP) — Declaring that religious freedom is "under threat," President Donald Trump vowed Thursday to repeal a rarely enforced IRS rule that says pastors who endorse candidates from the pulpit risk losing their tax-exempt status. "I will get rid of and totally destroy the Johnson Amendment and allow our representatives of faith to speak freely and without fear of retribution," Trump said at the National Prayer Breakfast, a high-profile event bringing together faith leaders, politicians and dignitaries. Trump's pledge was a nod to his evangelical Christian supporters, who helped power his White House win. So far he has not detailed his plans for doing away with the rule, which he has previously promised to rescind. Named after then-Sen. Lyndon John

Kerosene Explosion Claims Pregnant Woman, Son-Nigeria The Enugu State Nigeria Police Command has confirmed the death of a pregnant woman and her son after a kerosene explosion in Ngenevu axis of Coal Camp within Enugu metropolis. The command’s spokesman, Mr Ebere Amaraizu, disclosed this in a statement issued to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Enugu. Amaraizu said that the incident occurred at about 7.30 p.m. on Jan. 30, when a kerosene lantern exploded. He said that several other family members, who sustained fire burns, have been hospitalised. “It was gathered that on that fateful day, one Hillary Ugwuoke, also from Ngenevu axis of Coal Camp community had allegedly bought kerosene from a neighbour in the evening. “He later poured it into his lantern and in the attempt to lit the lantern, the kerosene exploded and went into flames. “In the process, the said Hillary Ugwuoke, his pregnant wife and his children were burnt by the inferno and sympathisers

Diezani: Why I returned N9.08b to EFCC, by bank chief AN Executive Director of First Bank Plc, Dauda Lawal, has accused Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of falsifying the circumstances under which he surrendered N9.08 billion to the commission. EFCC had urged the Federal High Court in Lagos to order the forfeiture of the money allegedly laundered for former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke. But Lawal, in a counter-affidavit filed in opposition to EFCC’s prayers, said there was a desperate bid by the commission to obtain an order of forfeiture from the court. He denied ever being in possession of property suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activity held or laundered on behalf of Mrs. Alison-Madueke. Lawal said following his arrest on May 9, 2016, he cooperated with EFCC and made a full admission to having received $25 million. “Having provide

Buhari Medical Vacation If President Muhammadu Buhari arrives in Abuja tomorrow, and regales the nation with phenomenal sprints, reminiscent of an Olympic athletics gold medallist, the lingering controversy about his health status and rumoured death will remain with us for several months to come. Traumatised, along with Buhari’s family members, is a nation agog with rumours and social media frenzy announcing the President’s death or abject health status, painting scenarios of every conceivable stripe. New websites sprung up to amplify deafening rumours about the coming Armageddon in the event of the President’s death. It is difficult to know what to believe in the midst of so much conflicting information, official denials through photographs dismissed by some as exhumed from old files and other photographs circulated on social media showing Buhari as vegetating. Rumour, communication scholars tell us, pr

Religious extremism could kill Nigeria, Jonathan warns  Former President Goodluck Jonathan has said if Nigeria fails to address religious violence and extremism, the menace will destroy the country. Making specific mention of the unending killings in Southern Kaduna, the former President also declared that the solution to the Niger Delta crisis was already included in the report of the 2014 National Conference, held in Abuja. He contended that military action would not solve the agitation in the region, stressing that it would create secessionist groups in the region. Jonathan, in his presentation to the United States House Sub-Committee on Africa, on Wednesday, said failure to apprehend culprits of previous religious killings had emboldened those who engaged in such acts. In his presentation, he grouped sensitive issues the sub-committee invited him to speak on as ‘Challenges facing Nigerian Christians and t

Okorocha challenges Obiano to present his scorecard • Okorocha Imo State Governor Nigeria Rochas Okorocha yesterday challenged his Anambra State counterpart, Willie Obiano, to announce his achievements for the people to judge who has performed better. The two governors have been locked in a war of words following Obiano’s attack on Okorocha over his comments on the likely defection of three Southeast governors to the All Progressives Congress (APC). A statement by Okorocha’s Chief Press Secretary, Sam Onwuemeodo, said: “For the second time in 48 hours, Governor Obiano has engaged in an unwarranted and unprovoked media attacks against Governor Okorocha. “The first attack was when he took on the Imo State governor over his claim that two governors in the Southeast would soon join APC. Obiano said the Imo governor was not what a good leader should be. “To us in Imo, we saw that statement as callous, especially when it was from a governor. We had no

Obiano to Okorocha: you don’t deserve to be governor Obiano Anambra State Governor Nigeria Willie Obiano has said his Imo State counterpart, Rochas Okorocha, does not deserve to be governor because of his alleged antics. In a statement yesterday in Awka, the state capital, by Obiano’s Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Media, Strategic Communication and Legislative Matters, Prince Oliver Okpala, the government accused Okorocha of playing to the gallery. The statement reads: “The attention of the Media Directorate of the Anambra State governor, Chief Willie Obiano, has been drawn to the gratuitous diatribe by a fellow Southeastern Governor Okorocha of Imo State against his person and the government of Anambra State. “It is not in our tradition to respond to such issues, but since silence in the face of such grave claims often amount to guilt, we are, therefore, duty-bound to make our position known to properly guide the public.  “Okorocha mischievously titl

Norway donates N3.6bn to victims of Boko Haram Norway has donated $11.5m approximately N3.6bn to improve basic education, support girls and women who have been victims of sexual violence by Boko Haram in conflict-affected northeast states. The United Nation’s Children Fund Chief of Communication, Ms Doune Porter, in a statement on Saturday said that the benefiting states are; Borno, Yobe, Adamawa and Gombe. She said that the fund was part of the Safe Schools Initiative in the northern Nigeria. She said that in 2013, Norway was a pioneer member of the Safe Schools Initiative Committee established in response to Boko Haram attacks on schools in the areas. Porter said that UNICEF, however, noted that there was an urgent need to provide a safe learning environment for children in northeast. She said that through the support of UNICEF about 100,000 children were currently accessing education through Temporary Lea

TRUMP: 'When you hear about the tough phone calls I'm having, don't worry about it' (President Donald Trump delivers remarks at the National Prayer Breakfast.REUTERS/Carlos Barria) President Donald Trump told Americans at a prayer breakfast Thursday not to worry about the "tough phone calls" he's having with world leaders. "The world is in trouble, but we're gonna straighten it out," he said at the National Prayer Breakfast. "That's what I do. I fix things. We're gonna straighten it out." He continued: "When you hear about the tough phone calls I'm having, don't worry about it. Just don't worry about it. They're tough. We have to be tough. It's time we're gonna be a little tough, folks. We're taken advantage of by every nation in the world, virtually. It's not gonna

Man’s hand, leg chopped-off for trying to renounce Boko Haram membership A 31 year-old Boko Haram insurgent, Muhammad Abubakar, on Thursday said his hand and leg were chopped off because he was planing to surrender and quit the battle in Sambisa forest. Abubakar disclosed this to newsmen in Maiduguri during briefing organised by the Theatre Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, Maj.-Gen. Lucky Irabor, to update journalists on ‘Operation Rescue Finale’. Abubakar said he was punished because his decision to renounce his membership of the group and embrace peace. He said, “I had told a friend, Hassan Dan-Guduma, that I was going to surrender as the movement had no meaning to me anymore. “Hassan Dan-Guduma initially bought my idea but later betrayed me. Shortly after our discussion, he went and came back with three others whom I am sure he must have told them about our plan to surrender. “They said I was planing to exp

Rooney will remain at Man Utd – Mourinho Jose Mourinho has confirmed Wayne Rooney will remain at Manchester United for the rest of the season despite reports linking him with a move to the Chinese Super League. The Chinese transfer window does not close until the end of February and the England forward’s name has been linked repeatedly with astonishing offers from a country where professional football is enjoying an explosion in financial investment. But Mourinho insisted Tuesday that Rooney, 31, will stay in his squad until at least the end of the season, despite having long since lost his status as an automatic first-choice at the club where he has been such a key player for the last 13 years. “Yes,” said Mourinho when asked if Rooney, who recently became United’s all-time leading goal-scorer, will see out the season at Old Trafford. “We don’t have players in, we don’t have players out, we lost two players from the squad,” the Unit

One Task at a Time I recently read a story about famed coach Nick Saban. Saban has won five national championships. Four at Alabama and one at LSU. This makes him the most successful active coach in college football. His secret to success is something he calls, The Process. One of Saban’s signature wins took place while he was the head coach at Michigan State. They were pitted against No. 1 Ohio State. Prior to the game, Saban instructed his team to forget about winning or losing and to instead focus on one play at a time. Michigan State went on to defeat Ohio State 28-24 and that win introduced the world to The Process. The Process requires that you shift your focus away from the outcome you desire, your dream, to the action steps that will produce the outcome you desire. Define your dream, create action steps around your dream, or tasks, and then single-mindedly focus all of your attention on each individual task, one at a time. It’s great to have dreams. Drea

Riot as Hausa trader kills driver over N30 Nigeria There was chaos on Monday on Mojeed Sanni Street, in the Igando area of Lagos State, after a 40-year-old Hausa trader, Ibrahim Adamu, allegedly killed a bus driver, Lekan Adeleke. Some residents and friends of the victim made a bonfire on the road as they chased away Hausa traders in the community, threatening to avenge the killing. The men were on the rampage when policemen from the Igando division, led by the Divisional Police Officer, Olatunji Ajimuda, stormed the area. The police team reportedly took Adeleke’s corpse to a mortuary, while the suspect, who was saved from being mobbed to death, was taken to the Area M command. It gathered that the deceased had bought noodles worth N230 from the suspect’s son on Sunday around 10.30pm. He was reported to have paid N200 and promised to pay the balance of N30 the following day, which didn’t go down well with the

The Key to Financial Success – Business Ownership Every year the Internal Revenue Service issues a report that shares data on the top 400 taxpayers. This report focuses on those returns with the largest Adjusted Gross Income. In 2014, you needed $126.8 million to make it on their list. Here’s how the top 400 made their money: 4.47% – Wages & Salaries 4.24% – Interest Income 10.89% Dividends 16.24% – Profits from Partnerships and Corporations 65.16% – Capital Gains Most of the capital gains were the result of selling all or part of some business interest owned by the taxpayers. When you combine the last three categories, this equals 92.29%. This 92.29% is income derived from business ownership.  Owning an interest in a business, either as a stockholder, partner or sole proprietor, was the key to accumulating most of their wealth. The odds of getting rich are sta

Apostle Suleman quizzed, freed by DSS General Overseer of Omega Fire Ministries, Apostle Johnson Suleman, was on Monday night allowed to go home after being quizzed by the Department of State Services for about three hours. THE PUNCH learnt that the cleric secured his freedom about 10:45 pm amidst cheers from members of his congregation, friends, family and some of his pastors. Suleman was invited by the Department of State Services based on his recent alleged inciting comments  that Christians should defend themselves against attacks by Fulani herdsmen. His Communications Adviser, Phrank Shaibu, confirmed his release in an interview with our correspondent on Monday night, but promised to give the details tomorrow. ( Tuesday morning). “Apostle Suleman has been allowed to go. The DSS exhibited high level of maturity, competence and professionalism.”, he stated. But on his Facebook page, he simply wrote: “Jesus is

Those wishing Buhari dead should confront God-Ortom The Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has asked those who are behind the rumoured death of President Muhammadu Buhari to go and confront God who made it possible for him to become the President. Ortom said this when he paid a solidarity visit to the Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Monday night. He said he decided to visit and show solidarity to Osinbajo and wish Buhari who is on vacation good health and safe return home. He prayed that God would help the present administration, which he said came on board at a time that Nigeria is in recession occasioned by bad leadership by past administration. The governor said, “Those that are wishing Mr. President dead should go and confront God who brought Mr. President to be President of Nigeria. “It was not his making. When that time came, God made it possible, just like some of