THE FISHERMAN AND THE SKYFATHER (a tribute to fatherhood ) A father’s Day Tale from the Creeks by Linda Somiari-Stewart in the voice of Kombare, Keeper of the Tide-Songs. In time before timepieces , when the tide carried secrets instead of plastic, there was a village called Opu-Toru-Piri,nestled in the belly of the Delta where the Lufafa River split into seven winding tongues. The people of this village were born with salt in their blood and paddle-strokes in their hearts. They spoke to the spirits with drums and fetched fish with prayers. In this famed village of fishermen lived a young man named Biebuma- sharp-eyed, hot-blooded, and full of questions. His father, AyibaTonye, was once the most respected fisherman on the Lufafa River. His canoe, Ebiegberi, had once sliced through the waters like a blade of light. His nets returned with fish so fat, you could hear the fat sing while melting on the kitchen altar. But time, as it does even to crocodiles, bent AyibaTonye’s back. It drained the fire from his bones. His boat groaned with every journey. His nets came up empty. His hands, once sure, trembled like leaves in Harmattan. Biebuma watched in silence. Then in anger. “You say the river blessed you,” he spat one night, “but all I see is a weak old man who sits in the dark, clinging to ghosts of old conquests, past glories “ AyibaTonye did not raise his voice. He only looked into the boy’s eyes and said: “The day you understand the cost of keeping a household afloat, you will speak with softer lips.” Biebuma turned away. That night, when even the moon slept and only the fireflies kept watch, he paddled silently into the outer river and called upon Opu-ama-so—the Skyfather, the Spirit of winds. The father of the firmament, whose voice shakes palm trees and whose eyes see the beginning and the end. “Skyfather!” Biebuma cried, standing in his canoe. “I am the son of a broken man. It is shameful. Grant me the strength he never gave me!” The river stilled. The stars blinked once. Then came the Skyfather’s reply, low and vast: “You ask for strength. But do you know the shape of sacrifice? Here, carry this little burden for one tide.” A calabash rose from the river, sealed with threads of lightning and marked with ancestral art, than it looked. Skyfather warned: “Do not spill even one drop.” Biebuma took it, laughing. What weight could break the arms of a youth who paddled against the tides? He paddled home and carried the calabash on his shoulder. But as he walked the narrow footpath to his father’s compound,the calabash grew heavier. It whispered. It wept. It spoke in the voices of many distraught of fathers. His arms ached. His legs trembled. The trees watched in silence. He staggered and fell! The calabash shattered into several pieces. From it poured a vapor of visions - not water, not smoke, but a vapor of remembrances. As the vapor rose skyward, Biebuma saw his father - young, fierce, strong; *trading his only canoe to pay for Biebuma’s medicine during the Great Fever. *Selling the sacred necklace from his grandmother to buy books for Biebuma. *Wrestling the river god Owoi-Tuburu at midnight, so Biebuma would not drown during his naming rites by the river. And finally; *AyibaTonye declining an invitation the Council of Elders feast just to stay home and sing his son to sleep so his wife could rest. Biebuma fell on his face on the footpath, breathless. “I did not know,” he whispered. The Skyfather’s voice returned, gentle now- like rain on old roofs: “Fathers do not always explain. Some carry the world in silence. Some love with backs bent, not with words spoken but with their stoic presence ” Biebuma became a changed man. When he got home he didn’t find his father in their house . He found him at the riverbank,mending a net with cracked fingers. His father did not look up. But when Biebuma knelt, AyibaTonye’s hands paused just for a moment. Then he smiled. From that day forward ,Biebuma fished with the soul of his father in his heart. His nets filled not only with fish, but with understanding. He built a new canoe for AyibaTonye but the old man never used it. He only smiled and said, “The river gives… when the son learns to paddle with both arms.” And the griots still say today in the creeks of Lufafa: “To know the weight of a present father’s love, you must carry what he carried… and listen for the silence he bore.

Come and carry your huncle 🤣🤣🤣🤣 It was Friday night. Baba Tunde had been sampling his homemade gin Ogogoro mixed with energy drink and pride for hours. By the sixth bottle, his eyes started seeing things his brain didn’t approve.🤣 He turned to his wife, Mama Tunde, who was wearing her regular wrapper and watching Zee World, and said with slurred confidence: Fine girl, how much you go charge me for one night🤣🤣🤣 Mama Tunde blinked.🤣🤣 She dropped the remote, removed her headscarf slowly, and shouted: Are you mad. You’ve been drinking inside this house all day. THIS IS YOUR WIFE🤣🤣 Baba Tunde squinted harder and replied, Wife ke.. E be like say I jam sugar mummy today o🤣🤣🤣 Mama Tunde chased him around the house with her head tie shouting, By the time I finish with you, your ancestors will sober up too🤣🤣🤣 Drink responsibly before you toast your own wife like a stranger🤣🤣🤣🤣

Women with absent fathers often become beggars for love, safety, and security. It’s heartbreaking how deeply they invest themselves in others, hoping that their love will be returned, hoping to finally feel chosen, protected, and seen. They carry a silent ache—an invisible wound that whispers....Maybe if I give more, they’ll stay. Maybe if I’m good enough, they’ll love me. This voice doesn’t come from who they are today, but from the little girl inside them who kept looking out the window, waiting for someone who never came. Their love becomes a currency—they trade affection, loyalty, and even their own boundaries just to feel held. They over-give, over-function, and over-apologize, hoping that one day, someone will finally choose to stay without conditions. The absence of a father doesn’t just leave a physical void—it creates emotional gaps that women often try to fill with partners, friends, or even strangers. But what’s missing isn’t just a person—it’s the early belief that they are inherently worthy of love without having to earn it. She often becomes hyper-independent, saying she doesn’t need anyone. But behind that strength is exhaustion—from carrying her own pain, from pretending she’s okay, from surviving in a world that never taught her how to receive. When she finally does meet love, she may not know how to trust it. Her nervous system doesn’t recognize consistency. It feels foreign. Unsafe even. She might push it away before it has a chance to hold her. This woman is not broken. She is someone who has been asked to mother herself before she was ever truly mothered. She’s someone who has built a heart out of scars and silence. Healing for her doesn’t come from finding the perfect partner. It comes from finding herself. From meeting the little girl within and telling her, “You don’t have to beg anymore. You are already enough.” When a woman with an absent father begins to reclaim her worth, she stops performing for love and starts attracting it from a place of truth. Her healing isn’t just hers—it becomes a ripple that touches every generation after her. And maybe for the first time, she finally breathes deeply… not because someone stayed, but because she stopped abandoning herself. If you belong to this story, know that healing is possible. I’m here to help you on this journey—just reach out to me. - Abhikesh

Babe, being apart feels like forever, but knowing you're mine and I'm yours keeps me going. I promise to hold on tight, trust deeply, and stick together through this distance. My love for you is stronger than any space between us. You're my home, my heart beats for you. 🤍

My Husband's Wife Is His Mother (EPISODE 1) If someone had told me that I wouldn’t get to spend my wedding night alone with my husband, I would have laughed in disbelief. But that night—my wedding night—was the first time I realized something was very wrong. And it all started with the sound of her slippers. Flip. Flop. Flip. Flop. I was in the bathroom, changing into my silk nightgown. I had planned this night down to the details. Candles. Perfume. The perfect playlist. After all the stress of wedding planning, I just wanted to hold the man I loved and breathe in the beginning of forever. But the knock came. It was soft at first. Then firmer. Then the voice. “Oya open the door jare, make I lie down small. My waist is paining me.” My husband laughed. Laughed. “Shey I told you my mama doesn’t like hard beds,” he said, already heading for the door. I peeked out from behind the bathroom door, confused. “What do you mean lie down?” “She’ll just rest a bit. Don’t worry,” he said, brushing it off like it was normal. “She does this when she travels. The bed in the guest room is too small.” “But... this is our wedding night,” I whispered, heart sinking. He looked at me like I was being unreasonable. “Babe, it’s just for a bit. You know she’s old.” Old? His mother was barely 60. Active. Loud. Controlling. She ran a shop, led the women’s group in church, and made sure to remind everyone that she raised her son "without a single coin from any useless man." Still in disbelief, I watched as he opened the door and let her in. She entered like she owned the room. Like she built it with her hands. She didn’t even look at me. Just removed her wrapper, fluffed a pillow, and slid into the middle of our bed. My side. “Put off that candle abeg,” she said, fanning herself. “You want to burn this house?” I stood there frozen. My chest tightened. I looked at my husband, silently begging for support. He sat beside her and smiled. “She’s just tired. Tomorrow, everything will be normal.” But it wasn’t. I barely slept that night. The three of us lay in that bed like sardines in a can. Every time I shifted, her leg brushed mine. At one point, she even snored. Loudly. I turned to face the wall, hot tears forming in my eyes. This wasn’t what I signed up for. --- The next morning, she woke before us and clapped her hands loudly. “Wake up, wake up! This is not honeymoon o, this is my son’s house. I want to boil water.” I sat up, dazed. My husband stretched lazily and gave her the same smile he gave me during our vows. “Mama, you want me to carry the pot?” “Ehen, now you’re talking.” And just like that, they left me in the room. Alone. In my own marriage. --- Later that day, I tried to talk to him. “Why did she sleep in our room?” I asked gently, not wanting to seem disrespectful. He sighed. “Babe, you know how close I am to my mom. It’s just for a while. She said she wants to be around until you're strong enough to manage things.” “I’m not sick,” I replied, trying to control my voice. “And we just got married. Shouldn’t we be alone?” He shrugged. “Just give her time. She’s adjusting too.” Adjusting? She was adjusting? What about me? --- That evening, it happened again. She brought her wrapper, pillow, and blanket. No questions asked. She even had the audacity to say, “Ah, I like this mattress. Very firm. Good for my back.” I stood by the bed, still in my wrapper, and didn’t know what to do. “Mama,” I tried to speak, “maybe you can try the guest room again? We just—” She turned her head sharply. “You want to chase me away from my son’s room? Is it now a sin for a mother to sleep beside her child?” My husband kept quiet. Dead silence. I looked at him, pleading with my eyes. He avoided my gaze and said, “Let’s not make this a big issue tonight. We’ll talk about it tomorrow.” But tomorrow never came. --- I started noticing little things. How she always sat between us when we watched TV. How she would call him to come lie down beside her during the day and rub her back. How she took over my kitchen and rearranged everything without asking. How she spoke to me like I was the house girl. I wanted to be respectful. I was raised to honor elders. But this? This was not honor. This was intrusion. This was something else entirely. A twisted triangle. A marriage with three corners. And somehow, I was the outsider. --- That night, I called my elder sister. “Sis, she sleeps between us. Every night. She won’t leave.” She paused. “What does your husband say?” “Nothing. He acts like it’s normal. Like I’m overreacting.” She hissed. “That’s witchcraft. Or madness. Or both.” I laughed bitterly. “It’s not funny.” “No, I know. But you need to take control before it gets worse.” “How?” I whispered. “How do I fight a mother-in-law on her son’s bed?” There was silence. And then her voice was firm. “You’re the wife. Start acting like it. Don’t let her settle.” But it was already too late. She had settled. She had brought her pillow. Her slippers. Her authority. And on the first night of my marriage, I learned that love is not always a fairytale. Sometimes, it’s a bed with three people—and one of them isn’t going anywhere. End of Episode 1 To Be Continue in Episode 2 ©️ Mummy Moreni

Bishop David Olatunji Abioye: The Pastor of Generals By Daniel Breakforth In the year 1983, a new church called the Living Faith World Outreach Centre was commissioned by Pastor Enoch Adeboye in Ilorin, Kwara State of Nigeria. Shortly after the commission date, the Church moved by divine instruction to Kaduna instead of the initial plan to start off at Jos, Plateau State. The new Church was led by Pastor (later Bishop) David Oyedepo. Oyedepo was not a stranger to Kaduna. In the year 1973, he had attempted to join the Nigerian Air Force at the age of 19 through the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) just after the Civil War. Now a young pastor, he sometimes visited his military friends at the NDA as well as other collocated units within the massive Ribadu Cantonment. However it appears that God had other plans for Oyedepo. In 1987, one of his young pastors, David Abioye who had joined the Church as a staff at the end of his National Youth Service Corps period was sent to Maiduguri to open up a new branch. Shortly after this, by 1988, Living Faith was considered the largest Pentecostal Church in northern Nigeria. In 1989, Bishop David Oyedepo announced to the 3000 members that the Church intended to build Garden of Faith-the largest Church auditorium in Northern Nigeria. The Church opened up a new branch at Iyana Ipaja in 1989 called Winners' Chapel in response to a divine call to Oyedepo-Get down to Lagos and raise me a people. That was not all, in his own words, Bishop Oyedepo explains the change of baton that soon transpired. THE CHANGE OF THE KADUNA CHURCH PASTORATE "In view of the enormous work on ground at Kaduna in the early days of the Lagos church, I was shuttling between Lagos and Kaduna; Lagos this Sunday, Kaduna next. I was always in Kaduna anytime I had any outreach up north. On a particular day in May 1990, concluding a seminar in the city of Jos on Saturday night, I started racing down to minister at the Sunday service in the Kaduna church. Suddenly, I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, ‘When you were the Pastor of the Kaduna church’. Immediately, I questioned, ‘Were?’ I did not have the patience to listen to what followed; I shouted, ‘Who then is the Pastor?’ And God said, ‘Send for my servant, David (Abioye), he shall be the shepherd of the flock’. While I ministered at the church that Sunday morning, in my characteristic manner, I shared with the congregation exactly what the Lord told me, and that was how the pastorate of the Kaduna church changed hands by divine order. From that very day, I ceased to see myself as the Pastor of that church. The good news is, there was no rethink or regret but testimonies of growth and expansion. Today, the Kaduna church is a beauty to behold". Pastor David Abioye was then transferred from Maiduguri to Kaduna in the early days of the Living Faith Church’s national expansion. This seemed like a routine ministerial reassignment. However, what followed was not just a chapter in church growth—it was the quiet unfolding of a legacy that would deeply influence Nigeria’s military elite. Kaduna is home to several of Nigeria’s most critical military institutions, including the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Armed Forces Command and Staff College (AFCSC) Jaji, Infantry Centre and School Jaji, Headquarters 1 Division Nigerian Army, Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Base, Training and Tactical Group (TTG), other NAF units, and the famed Depot Nigerian Army in Zaria, among others. Into this unique military atmosphere, Pastor Abioye was posted as resident pastor of Living Faith Church Barnawa—popularly known as the Garden of Faith. He was then consecrated Bishop in 1993 at the age of 32. He remains the youngest to be consecrated Bishop of a mainline Church globally Humorously, Abioye just like Oyedepo had also previously attempted to join the military from Kaduna. At a time when spiritual depth and moral guidance were quietly sought by many gentlemen officer cadets of the NDA and in fact, many young and seasoned officers alike, Bishop Abioye’s life and message stood out. His disciplined lifestyle, gentle demeanor and commanding yet humble pulpit presence drew men and women in uniform to the church in large numbers. For almost two decades, the Garden of Faith remained the largest megachurch in northern Nigeria and one of the most spiritually influential. NDA was, very tough...to say it very nicely. Consequently, week after week, cadets from the NDA having endured grueling training sessions all week, would find refuge and refreshing on Sundays at the Barnawa church. Midweek services were an unaffordable luxury! For the gentleman officer cadet, 'Heaven at last' was simply not enough as the daily sufferings and challenges otherwise known as Punishment Tutorials Endurance ( PUTTEE) always stretched them physically and spiritually to the limits. They needed reassurance, they needed words of Hope, they needed encouragement and they needed a purpose to stay alive. The Catholic Church is known to be very disciplined with time. Service times are fixed and start and end promptly. However majority of Christian cadets at the time were either non Catholics or at least did not attend the Barracks Catholic Church. Imagine a situation where a Rev Father complains during mass of sounds of 'up, up, up, up up...while voices under duress were counting...33, 34, 35...101, 102 etc behind the Altar (Very few, will understand this). The only other church which had the combined qualities of timeliness and promptness at the time was 'Living Faith'. The cadets could not afford a church that had no respect for time. Time was of essence and the time to come out through Abakpa, Equitation, Kurumashi or Silver Jubilee Gate was not fixed. With the 3 services at Garden of Faith which was the only Living Faith Church at the time, one could always find an early or late morning service that would fit into their 'Up' plans and Bishop Abioye was always on hand and bellowing... There is Hope for you! At the time Bishop Abioye took over in Kaduna, members of the NDA 37RC were passing out cadets. General Gwabin Musa would have been a 4th termer and gradually transforming from 'Kati Kati' to Acting Period. Also by the time Bishop Abioye was moved to Abuja in 2004, the members of 55th RC were second termers. This implies that Bishop Abioye oversaw about 18 Academy (Regular) courses (asides various short service courses) as the longest serving Living Faith Church pastor over Garden of Faith. Bishop Abioye’s messages were not only encouraging—they were stabilizing. They offered hope, moral clarity and spiritual courage, reinforcing the discipline instilled during military training but anchoring it in godly values. His altar call would always begin with... Say with me Dear God... Beyond the cadets, officers stationed across military formations in Kaduna and beyond—AFCSC, ICS, NAF Base, Depot NA Chindit Barracks/NASMP Zaria and even more remote military units—made it a routine to worship under his leadership. His consistency, integrity and rare ability to relate the gospel to leadership and purpose earned him the respect and loyalty of Nigeria’s rising military brass. In 2002, he was invited to minister at the Fellowship of Christian Cadets within the NDA. That service made history: For the first time, the NDA’s garrison protestant church auditorium was filled to overflowing. Cadets, officers, administrative staff and even civilians came en masse to hear him minister—a moment that solidified his role as a spiritual compass to many within the armed forces. Though eventually represented by one Pastor Victor Olafisoye, the message he personally sent was well received. Over the years, many of those cadets have risen through the ranks to become 1-star, 2-star, 3-star and even 4-star generals in the Nigerian Armed Forces and many other countries within Africa. Yet, they continue to hold Bishop Abioye in the highest esteem—not just as a preacher from their youth, but as a father in the faith whose words and character deeply shaped their journey. Some regularly consult him for prayer and counsel; others simply draw strength from his continued presence, teachings and landmark example of stewardship and loyalty. The Transfer of Bishop David Abioye to Abuja Bishop David Abioye was transferred from Kaduna to Abuja during a period of rapid church expansion and reactions as well as to douse some inflammable situations that had arisen. At the time, the Church was transitioning from a regional ministry centered in northern Nigeria to a national and international force and strategic placement of senior leaders was essential. Bishop David Oyedepo, founder and presiding bishop of the Church, needed to solidify the church's presence in Nigeria’s new Federal Capital Territory and neutralise efforts at rebellion in some quarters. He appointed Bishop Abioye to lead the growing work in Abuja, a move that proved to be both strategic and transformative. Upon arriving in Abuja, Bishop Abioye began pastoring at Durumi which was then the only branch in Abuja. This would eventually lead to him pioneering the Church work in the suburbs at Goshen City, the church’s massive 700 acre mission headquarters in the northern region which was built within 13 months with no assistance from the International headquarters and broke the record of Garden of Faith, Kaduna as the largest Church facility in northern Nigeria by 2010 However, even before the establishment of the Goshen facility in 2010, Abioye’s ministry had already gained deep roots in Abuja. His influence in the city, particularly among military officers and senior civil servants, began to grow in a quiet yet profound way. This rise in influence among military personnel can be attributed to several factors. First, Abuja is not just Nigeria’s administrative capital—it is also home to major military installations, including the Defense Headquarters, Army, Navy and Airforce Headquarters, National Defence College and numerous officers’ quarters. The proximity of Abioye’s ministry to these centers meant his church was physically accessible to officers seeking spiritual direction and balance amid the demands of national service. After his move to Goshen, they were also willing to do the 30km+ drive out of Abuja metropolis to Goshen on Sundays. Second, and perhaps more critically, Bishop Abioye’s personality and leadership style deeply resonated with military culture. He is known for his calm demeanor, disciplined approach to ministry and unshakable loyalty to his spiritual leader, Bishop Oyedepo. These traits mirrored the military’s values of order, hierarchy, loyalty, and self-control—values that often determine who an officer chooses to follow or confide in. Abioye’s messages frequently emphasized honor, service, integrity, and responsibility—not only in spiritual matters but in daily life and leadership. His teachings avoided controversy and remained grounded in scripture and character development. For many officers, this was both refreshing and reassuring. He did not pander to status or power but modeled consistency and humility, which earned him long-term trust. Moreover, the structure of the Living Faith Church itself—with its protocol-driven services, cell systems and clear chains of authority—created an environment that felt orderly and familiar to those from military backgrounds. It’s no surprise that over the years, many high-ranking officers not only became members of the Abuja church but developed close spiritual affiliations with Bishop Abioye himself. Essentially, Bishop David Abioye’s transfer to Abuja was a pivotal moment in the growth of the Living Faith Church in Nigeria’s capital. His personal integrity, disciplined leadership and spiritual consistency made him a natural magnet for military officers and government elites alike. Today, he remains one of the most respected spiritual voices in the region—both within and beyond Pentecostal circles. Remarkably, his influence has grown beyond church walls. Bishop Abioye has ministered and lectured at the National Defence College in Abuja, addressing elite military officers from Nigeria and across the world. He continues to engage actively in both physical and virtual fora where military personnel seek spiritual and ethical guidance. Recently, Nigeria’s only serving 4-star general was spotted worshipping at the Living Word Conquerors Global Assembly, the new phase of Bishop Abioye"'s ministry—an unassuming but telling sign of how enduring and respected Bishop Abioye’s pastoral role remains within military circles. Yet, in all of this, he has remained profoundly humble. Never one to boast or seek titles, Bishop Abioye continues to walk with quiet dignity, reflecting the servant leadership he has modeled for about 4 decades. His life is a testament to the truth that divine influence is not always loud—but it is lasting. Indeed, his posting to Kaduna and later Abuja was more than a church assignment; it was a divine deployment. In the process, Bishop David Abioye became, almost inadvertently, the Pastor of Generals. #ChurchGist

💔The Man Who Loved Deeply: Arjunbhai’s Story Arjunbhai Manubhai Patoliya was a devoted husband, a caring father, and a hardworking man originally from Vadiya, a village in Gujarat, India. In search of a better life, he moved to London, where he built a home with his beloved wife, Bharatiben, and their two young daughters. Life in London wasn’t always easy, but Arjunbhai was known among friends as someone who smiled through struggles. He worked hard, loved harder, and kept his roots close. But fate had other plans. --- In early June 2025, tragedy struck—Bharatiben passed away, leaving behind a grieving husband and two heartbroken daughters. Her dying wish was simple, yet sacred: she wanted her ashes immersed in her hometown river in Gujarat. Arjunbhai, despite his own grief, honored that wish. He traveled thousands of miles back to Vadiya with her ashes, leaving his daughters temporarily in the care of relatives in London. Back in his homeland, surrounded by mourning relatives, he carried out her besnu and other final rituals with a heavy heart. Every step was a tribute to the love they had shared. --- On 12 June 2025, having fulfilled his wife’s last wishes, Arjunbhai boarded Air India Flight AI171 in Ahmedabad, bound for London. He was eager to reunite with his daughters—to hold them, to grieve with them, to begin rebuilding their lives. But fate, once again, was cruel. Just 30 seconds after takeoff, the aircraft crashed into a building near B.J. Medical College in Ahmedabad. 241 people died that day. Only one person survived. Among the victims was Arjunbhai Patoliya. --- His two daughters in London—already mourning their mother—were now orphaned. Friends and family were shattered. One friend said, “He was a pillar of strength for his daughters. He lived for his family. What happened is beyond cruel.” His story spread across India and the UK, not just as a statistic, but as a reminder of the human cost of tragedy. --- Arjunbhai’s life was one of devotion, responsibility, and quiet strength. He didn’t just bury his wife—he buried a part of himself, only to unknowingly walk into the arms of fate. Now, his story is remembered as a heartbreaking symbol of love and loss—a man who honored every promise he made, until the very end.🕊️ #ArjunbhaiPatoliya #GoneTooSoon #InLovingMemory #RestInPeace #FamilyMan #DevotedHusband #LovingFather #ForeverInOurHearts #TrueLoveStory #TragicLoss #AirIndiaAI171 #FlightAI171 #AhmedabadCrash #PlaneCrashVictims #NeverForgotten #HumanCostOfTragedy #RealLifeHero #HonorHisLegacy #LoveBeyondLife #HeDidItForHisFamily #FathersLove #FamilyFirstAlways #WidowedFather #DaughtersOfStrength

*SOME NIGERIAN NEWSPAPER HEADLINES+, 14/06/2025* June 12: MKO Abiola’s family demands N45bn contract debt details Knocks as N’Assembly inserts N10.96tn into budgets in four years Rivers: Wike, Fubara in fresh reconciliatory meeting Again, herders kill 25 in Benue communities Only 2025-elected LG officials can run Osun councils – Electoral chair Viral Video: FCT Police arrest officers, launch investigation into alleged harassment Naira strengthens to ₦1,590/$ in parallel market, narrows gap with official rate NPFL announces August 22 new season kick-off date Bassey wins Fulham’s Player of the Year award Man who survived 1998 plane crash reacts after Air India survivor sat in same seat At least 78 killed by Israeli air strikes on Tehran Iran fires back at Israel after onslaught targets nuclear facilities Ukraine receives 1,200 dead soldiers’ bodies from Russia 1,150 Nigerians studied in France, says French envoy ----------------------------- *DID YOU KNOW?* * The first political party to be founded in Nigeria was the Nigerian National Democratic Party (NNDP). It was established on 24 June 1923 by Herbert Macaulay, who is often referred to as the father of Nigerian nationalism. * A rainbow on Venus is called a glory and they appear as a series of coloured concentric rings. ----------------------------- Tinubu, Oborevwori, Mbah, others celebrate ‘Uncle Sam’ at 90 Senate urges FG to regulate cryptocurrency Bill for South-East sixth state passes second reading in Senate Rivers State NASS caucus condemns Senator Dickson’s remarks on emergency rule Radio Biafra: Court admits transmitter allegedly smuggled into Nigeria by Kanu Kanu incited IPOB’s sit-at-home order, DSS tells court Appeal Court acquits Ex-NIMASA DG Akpobolokemi of N754.8m fraud Court jails four Filipinos, eight Nigerians for internet fraud, cyber-terrorism Court jails Canada returnee three months for assaulting KAI official N976m subsidy fraud: EFCC declares oil firm boss wanted Chinese national arrested over terrorism Bauchi police nab notorious online scammer behind 40 fraud cases Military deactivates 21 illegal refineries, nabs 23 oil thieves FG engages Chinese firms to revive Ajaokuta Steel Keyamo orders probe of Air Peace/Oshiomhole face-off Umahi: Enugu-Onitsha dual carriageway to last 50 years as work begins on second lane Umahi defends Tinubu, says North has 52% of legacy projects Nigeria now reaching stability, after fuel subsidy removal — Minister Pipeline Surveillance: FG to go tough on saboteurs, prosecutes over 100 vandals FG inspects South-South annex of national cybercrime centre in Bayelsa Human trafficking: NAPTIP, DIA rescue 20 foreign victims, arrest three suspects Row over disruption of NDDC projects launch in Cross River I have no regret naming international conference centre after Tinubu – Wike Soyinka, Osoba, Fashola, Olu of Warri, others grace Uncle Sam’s 90th birthday Jonathan denies social media post on 2027 presidential bid Declare Ken Saro-Wiwa innocent, Amnesty International tells President NMA FCT threatens strike over sacking of three doctors PMAN CRISIS: Police probe exonerates Pretty Okafor of financial misconduct Health workers who contracted COVID-19 were abandoned – Forum chair Nigeria needs decentralised government — Agbakoba Only Tinubu can revive Nigeria – Tompolo Ikoyi Club hosts Phil-Ebosie Swimming Competition SUNU Assurances pays N3.28bn claims, records N3.59bn profit Bolt Drivers protest murder of member in Bayelsa Lagos Airport Drama: Oshiomhole unruly, attitude unacceptable — Airline operators I’ll sue if Tinubu lists me for national award – Sowore Obidient Movement slam Tinubu over ‘opposition’ in disarray’ comment Abure’s LP faction faults court ruling on Lagos council polls Katsina gov hails Abdulsalami’s statesmanship at 83 Soludo: Tinubu rescued economy from collapse, restored financial solvency Mutfwang pardons two convicts, calls for efforts to strengthen democracy Ondo gov unveils N1.2bn conditional cash transfer scheme Anambra unlocks ₦12bn UBEC grant with Soludo’s ₦6.154bn release Cross River clarifies NDDC project inauguration, says no disruption occurred Lagos harmonises school calendar Imo Govt plans to relocate Owerri street traders Sokoto, UNICEF launch polio OBR round 2, deploy over 2,700 teams for campaign Windstorm destroys NYSC camp facilities in Gombe 14 arrested in Jigawa over fake currencies Police arrest two as Anambra security operatives kill 17-year-old Bandits kill one, kidnap nine in two Niger communities Police arrest 19-year-old for kidnapping, murder in Anambra Outrage as P’Harcourt realtor strips female birthday celebrants naked at nightclub ----------------------------- *TODAY IN HISTORY* * On this day in 1982, the Falklands War ended. After 74 days of fighting, British troops captured the capital, Stanley, prompting the Argentine forces to surrender and return the islands to British control. ----------------------------- No one is any more or any less important than you are. – Marianne Williamson Good morning *Compiled by Hon. Osuji George [email protected], +234-8122200446*

Italian Relationship: 1st day= S€x 2nd day= S€x again. French Relationship: 1st day = movies & kiss 2nd day = S€x 3rd day = S€x again British Relationship: 1 day= hangout & kiss 2nd day = kiss & hug 3rd day= kissing, hug and smooching 4th day = s€x and more s€x American Relationship: 1st day= Date 2nd day= Hug 3rd day= Hug again (warmly) 4th day= Kiss 5th day= Long kiss 6th day= S€x Nigeria Relationship: 1st day= Toast 2nd day= Toast 3rd day= Toast again 4th day= Agree 5th day= Date 6th day= Date again 7th day= Date again with three of her hungry friends or cousins. 8th day= Date & Hug 9th day= Tried to peck but failed. 10th day = Peck 11th day= Tried to kiss but failed. 12th day= kiss 13th day= Long kiss 14th day= Tried to have s€x but failed. 15th day= Tried to have s€x but quarrelled 16th day= Didn't talk to each other 17th day= Malice till the next day 18th day= The man called but the woman didn't pick 19th day= The man called, the woman picked and asked: "what is it?" The man apologize and the Ital replied: "Leave me alone, am not that type of girl" The man continued to beg till the next day. 20th day= The woman accepted the unwarranted apology 21st day= Hug 22nd day= Long hug 23rd day= Kiss 24th day= Long kiss 25th day= Tried to have s€x but the woman complains that her phone is bad. Guy promises to buy her a new one. 26th day= Tried to have s€x but the woman said until he buys the phone 27th day= Tried to have s€x but the woman asked: "where is the phone? U are not serious, call me when you are serious" 28th day= R@pe. 29th day= Police c@se 😅😁I tire hmm

BEAUTY FROM THE ASHES Episode 6 The women’s conference stretched across the week like a divine unfolding, each evening a sacred appointment that Amara hadn’t even known her soul had been craving. It wasn’t just a program; it was an invitation. An invitation to heal, to awaken and to breathe again. The first night had left her in tears. The speaker, a soft-spoken woman with eyes that seemed to hold the weight of a thousand stories, had shared her journey from despair to deliverance. Amara sat quietly in the third row, tears slipping down her cheeks as the words struck something deep, something raw within her. She wasn’t alone. Not in her pain. Not in her confusion. Not even in her silence. Every session after that peeled back another layer of pain, of pride, of fear. Like an onion shedding its skin, Amara found herself slowly unraveling. The masks she had worn for years...the brave wife, the silent sufferer, the spiritual martyr, began to fall. With every worship session, with every testimony, the walls she had so carefully constructed began to crack. Each night, she came home lighter. And each morning, she woke with a little more clarity. It was as if her heart was remembering how to feel again, how to hope. By Thursday, something inside her had shifted. That night’s message felt like it was delivered straight from the throne room of heaven to her wounded heart. The speaker, a fiery preacher with a voice that could calm storms or rouse an army, stood with authority and grace. She read from Isaiah 61:3: “…to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness…” The words echoed through the hall, soaking into the atmosphere like rain on dry soil. Amara closed her eyes and let them wash over her. Beauty for ashes. Joy for mourning. Praise for heaviness. She didn’t know when the tears had started, but they came in quiet streams, not of sorrow, but of release. For the first time in a long time, Amara allowed herself to believe that maybe, just maybe, her story wasn’t over. That perhaps God hadn’t abandoned her in the wreckage of her marriage, but had been waiting in the wings for her to find the strength to choose. Later that evening, Amara sat in Chinwe’s cozy living room, cradling a warm mug of ginger tea. The lights were dim, the air fragrant with the scent of cinnamon and honey. Chinwe sat across from her, legs tucked under her on the couch, listening intently. “I feel like I’ve been sleepwalking for years,” Amara began, her voice barely above a whisper. “I was so sure I was doing God’s will by marrying Eddy. Everyone said I was. And when things turned ugly, I thought... maybe this was my cross. Maybe I was supposed to endure it.” Chinwe reached out and gently took her hand. “Amara,” she said, her tone gentle but firm, “God never asks us to stay in darkness and call it faith. He’s not glorified by your suffering. He’s glorified by your healing, your wholeness, your courage.” Amara looked down, tears pooling again. “But how do I just walk away? I made vows. I kept hoping he’d change. I didn’t want to give up.” “Walking away from abuse isn’t giving up,” Chinwe replied. “It’s waking up. It’s choosing life. God is not a taskmaster. He’s your Father. And He loves you far too much to watch you slowly die in a house where your soul can’t breathe.” A long silence passed between them. “So what do I do now?” Amara finally asked, her voice cracking. Chinwe squeezed her hand. “You choose,” she said softly. “You choose light. You choose life. You choose you.” That night, Amara didn’t sleep much. She lay in her room, staring at the ceiling, thinking of all the moments she had silenced herself for the sake of peace, all the prayers she had whispered in the darkness, asking God to change Eddy, to save their home. But something had shifted. She realized she had been praying for resurrection in a grave she was never meant to lie in. The next morning, the storm arrived. Eddy came home with a man and started raining abuses on Amara; " See this idiot! You think you can come from African part of Nigeria to outsmart me that came from American part of Nigeria? It's either you hand over the school to me, channel all income to my account or I make sure the school is closed down completely." Her children, all came out to watch helplessly as usual. As Amara was trying to explain to the man he came home with, Eddy rushed Amara and started pounding her, targeting her face and bragging that he must make sure Amara becomes useless to any other man in this life; "By the time I'm done with you, people would spit on you at sight" Eddy continued hitting Amara until she collapsed on the floor. The poor man that came to ask for money to feed his family couldn't help the situation. When Amara regained consciousness, she saw only her children crying and waking her up. She sent for Chinwe. Chinwe immediately and secretly arranged for a drop that took them to Divine Mercy Hospital. The doctor was furious and demanded for his presence. When he arrived, he pleaded with the doctor that it's devil's handwork. As soon as he sighted Amara's brother, he begged Amara not to tell her brother but mocked her immediately her brother left. It's already few days Amara returned from hospital. Pastor Dickson visited their house. Bro Eddy pls kindly tell your wife what you shared with me. Eddy hesitated. "Sister Amara, your husband impregnated a lady called Jacinta and asked her to keep the baby. Although the lady insisted he must furnish a flat for her otherwise she will terminate the pregnancy. He was mad against you because he was having a showdown financially and couldn't meet the lady's demands and you refused to hand your income over to him." Pastor Dickson explained. Amara was lost in thought...so this man wanted me dead because of women. She remembered how he was bashed by one of his customers when she visited at the hospital. "Eddy, were you not the one that that told me this woman gave up her 12month salaries for you to have an English machine? Why are you treating this woman as if she worths nothing?" Mrs Aleme queried "How dare her say no to my order, a woman that bends to urinate? She must hand over the school to me. My account must be used for all income!" he thundered. But she has left the factory for you. The woman reminded And then? Eddy persisted. To Be Continued 🙏 What do you think that happened next? Find out in the next episode 🤔 Pls encourage me with like, follow, comment and share. God bless you 👏 ©️Grace Amarachi #teacherwritersingerlover #BeautyFromTheAshes #ChristianFiction #FaithAndResilience

These inventions seem to be designed to replace natural wives, since they can do everything wives can do as well as bear children; the inevitable collision of nature and technology may be more catastrophic than our apriorism. However, in the homing decades or homing years if you wished, there could be a catastrophe of juxtaposition between the human exordium and biculturalism. Technologies these days seem to challenge the works of our CREATOR, THE ALMIGHTY GOD. The annihilations of our God's creations by this transient world would be the prelude of the coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for the final judgement for the people of this transient world! With the way this transient world creates artificial human beings to replace human beings and what humans do for a living, the wars all over this globe, these killings all over this globe, hatred all over this transient world, sins of all sorts all over this transient world, disunities in the families, disunities in the kindreds, disunities in the villages, disunities in the towns, disunities in the states, disunities in the nations, and disunities between the continents in this world; I would not hesitate to implore everyone who is breathing now to accept our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and confess his/her sins to our Almighty God. You have to do that and sin no-more and wait for the coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for the final judgement. It's only the righteous soul that will enter into the HEAVEN 🙏! Share!

*POISON THAT KILLS MEN* *Once upon a time a beautiful girl got tired of her marriage life and wanted to murder her spouse.* *One morning she ran to her mother and say to her " mother, I am tired of my husband I can no longer support his nonsense. I want* *to kill him but I am afraid Law of the land will hold me responsible, can you please help me mother?"* *The mother answered:* - *Yes my daughter I can help you, but, there is a little task attached.* *The daughter asked "what task? I am willing and ready to assume any task attached in order to get him out"* *OK, said the mother,* *1..You will have to make* *peace with him, so that no one will suspect you when he is dead.* *2.. You will have to beautify yourself in order to look young and attractive to him* *3.. You have to take good care of him and be very nice and appreciative to him* *4.. You have to be patient, loving and less jealous, have more listening ears, be more respectful and obedient* *5. Spend your money for him and don’t get angry even when he don't give you money for whatever* *6. Don’t raise your voice against but encourage Peace and love so that you will never be suspected when he must* *have died.* *Can you do all of that?* *Asked the mother.* *Yes i can. She replied* *OK, said the mother.* *Take this powder and pour a bit in his every day meal, it will slowly kill him.* *After 30 days the lady came back to her mother and said.* *Mother, I have no intention of killing my husband again. As of now I have grown to love him because he has completely changed, he is* *now a very sweet husband than I ever imagined.* *What can i do to stop the poison from killing him?* *Please help me mother.* *She pleaded in a sorrowful tone.* *The mother answered;* *Do not worry my daughter.* *What I gave you the other day* *was just Tumeric Powder. It will never kill him.* *In reality, you were the poison that was slowly killing your husband with tension and dispassion.* *It was when you started loving, honouring and cherishing him that you saw him change to a nice and sweet husband.* *Men are not really wicked, but our way of relating with them determines their responses and feelings towards us.* *Women if you can only show respect, dedication, love, care and commitment to your husband he will 100% be there for you.* Happy Father's Day in Advance😍