TELLING THE STORY

Once upon a time, there was a man who had a wife and ten children. He was a happy man. Every year this man used to take his wife and children far away into the forest. And on getting there he would sit them down together, and would begin to teach them to beat the drum, to dance the dance, to sing the song and to tell the story. And they would go back home happy, for the story linked them with their beginning.  Soon, the man died. And his children came together and said: 'we do not know the way to the forest, but let us stay at home and beat the drum, dance the dance, sing the song and tell the story'. So they did, and the were happy. Soon, these children died. And their children came together and said: ''We do not know the way to the forest, neither do we know how to beat the drum, but let us stay at home and dance the dance, sing the song and tell the story''. So they did, and they were fulfilled, for they found meaning in the story. Soon, these children died, and the generation after them came together and said: "We do not know the way to the forest, nether could we beat the drum nor dance the dance, but lets stay at home and sing the song and tell the story. So they did, and they were healed, for the story made them feel at one with the cosmos. Soon, this generation died, and those after them came together and said:

"We are the most unfortunate of all. We do not know the way to the forest, neither could we beat the drum, nor dance the dance, nor sing. All we have left is the story. Let us then tell the story, so that we can be made whole. So they did, and were transformed".

We, the people of today, we have lost everything. All we have left is the story. The day we lose the story, then it is all over for us. The day we forget our story, that day is the end for us. We need the prophets, the visionaries, and the mystics to keep reminding us, to keep retelling the story, to keep on singing the song. Modern men and women need to keep on retelling their story, so that they may live.

 

WHO ARE YOU?

 So tell me, mortal man, who are you? You are nothing. Do you know that? you are nothing. A mere shadow passing by. Look at your life. What does it consist of? You are born. You grow up. You go to school. You become a lawyer, or a doctor, or a politician. You marry a wife or two. You buy a car. You build a house. You fall sick and spend your hard-earned money in getting yourself cured. Yet, you die all the same. And you are buried. Is that not all? Tell me, o mortal woman, who are you?

How proud we human beings are! We make ourselves the center of the universe. We separate ourselves from the universe, thinking that everything is under our control. We exploit the cosmos and treat it as we like, thinking that we really understand the mysteries of the world. Just because we manufacture airplanes and cars, just because we make rockets that fly in the sky, just because we manufacture atomic and chemical weapons, which can destroy our children and us, we think we are gods! Whether you accept it or not, this is the truth: You are nothing:

Sheer futility, Qoheleth says. Sheer futility: Everything is futile! What profit can we show for all our toil, toiling under the sun? A generation goes, a generation comes, yet the earth stands firm for ever...

I thought to myself, 'very well, I will try pleasure and see what enjoyment has to offer'. And this was futile too.... I resolved to embrace folly, to discover the best way for people to spend their days under the sun. I worked on a grand scale: built myself palaces, planted vineyards, made myself gardens and orchards, I amassed silver and gold, the treasures of kings and provinces; acquired singers, men and women, and every human luxury, chest upon chest of it... I then reflected on all that my hands had achieved and all the effort i had put into it's achieving. What futility it all was, what chasing after the wind! (Eccl. 1: 1-4; 2:1& 4; 8:11)

5 Things

Russian diplomats   Russia is warning it will retaliate after more than 20 countries said they will kick out more than 100 Russian diplomats. A Kremlin spokesman said Russia would be "guided by the principle of reciprocity" in its actions. The US alone is expelling 60 diplomats and closing a consulate in Seattle, the most forceful action President Trump's ever taken against Vladimir Putin's government. The mass expulsions are being done in solidarity with the UK's recent decision to throw out almost two dozen Russian diplomats after it said the Russians were behind the poisoning of an ex-Russian double agent and his adult daughter. UK Prime Minister Theresa May said the agent and his daughter "may never" fully recover from the poisoning.

Facebook

The social media site that for years could do no wrong suddenly can't catch a break. The Federal Trade Commission is investigating Facebook's data practices as the fallout from the Cambridge Analytica data-sharing scandal continues. The FTC wants to know how data from Facebook users ended up in the hands of Donald Trump's 2016 campaign consultants. Facebook's stock also is taking a beating, and the hashtag #DeleteFacebook is still on fire. If you want to know just how much info Facebook's collected on you over the years, CNN's Sara Ashley O'Brien shows you how.

Kim Jong Un   Is Kim Jong Un in China? An official "with deep knowledge of North Korea" told CNN there's a strong possibility that the North Korean leader is in Beijing. If he's there, it's the first time he's left the country since he took power in 2011. Whispers of a possible visit took off after images of a train that belongs to Kim's family popped up online. This alleged visit comes just weeks before Kim's planned summit with South Korea's President and a potential meeting with President Trump.

2020 Census   The 2020 Census will reinstate a question about citizenship, the Commerce Department says. The Justice Department asked for its inclusion, saying it's needed to help enforce the Voting Rights Act. But critics fear it will spur a huge drop in immigrant response rates and leave a lot of people uncounted. Census data is used to determine where federal money is spent and how congressional districts are drawn, among other uses. The Census is intended to count the entire population, not just US citizens. The citizenship question was dropped from the decennial count after the 1950 census.

Linda Brown The woman at the center of the landmark Brown v. Board of Education case has died. Linda Brown passed away at 75 over the weekend in Topeka, Kansas. It was there that her father, in 1951 when she was 9, tried to enroll Brown in an all-white school near their home. When the school blocked that, her father sued, sparking the case that would end legal segregation in American schools.

Security: APC’s Worst Critics Will Agree We Have Tried, Says Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has applauded the efforts of his All Progressives (APC)-led administration in tackling insecurity.

President Buhari during his visit to Taraba State on Monday said the security situation in the country has improved since his assumption of office in 2015 that even the worst critics of the party can attest to it.

This was in a statement signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mr Garba Shehu after the President’s visit to condole with the families of the victims of killings in Taraba State.

He said his administration had focused on securing the country since assumption of office, adding that the “worst critics of APC will agree that we have tried in improving the security situation in the country, right from the Boko Haram attacks.’’

Buhari during the visit said the purpose was to also meet with traditional rulers to appeal to them to continue to pursue peace in their communities.

“I came here mainly to have this forum with leaders, traditional rulers and the state government to extend my condolences to all those who have lost loved ones and properties.

“I am appealing to the traditional rulers not to give up in pursuing peace. The country has to be secured before you can manage the economy,” President Buhari said in the statement.

On his part, the governor commended the Federal Government for the ongoing construction of the Mambila Power Plant as the completion of the project would greatly impact on the economy of the state and the nation.

He, however, regretted that he inherited a state that was deeply divided along ethnic and tribal lines.

In doing that, he noted, there would be a need for the traditional rulers to support the government in terms of their structures, goodwill and experience in promoting harmony.

While warning that all the perpetrators of violence in the country President Buhari said the security situation in the country had improved upon the APC assumption of office in 2015.

I’m Going Straight To Villa, I’m The Next President – Fayose

Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, is confident of winning the coming presidential election when Nigerians elect a new president in 2019.

The governor was hopeful that if supported by his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), he would take over government from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

“I’m going straight to that Villa. I’m the next president,” he said in a statement issued on Tuesday by his special assistant on public communications and new media, Mr Lere Olayinka.

“I have a penchant for taking powers; that one in President Muhammadu Buhari’s hand, I will take it.”

Fayose further revealed plans to formally declare his intention to run for presidency in the general elections on Thursday in Abuja.

He, however, said in a letter addressed to leaders of the PDP that his ambition to be president was without prejudice to the party’s position, but in the overall interest of the party and the country.

The letter read; “It is with a deep sense of responsibility that I write to inform you of my intention to seek the ticket/mandate of our party to contest the 2019 presidential election.

“Considering your support and commitment towards our great party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), it becomes imperative to keep you informed and seek your support.

“This ambition, however, is without prejudice to our party’s position but in the overall interest of the party and our country.

“I urge that all hands should be on deck to ensure victory at the 2019 presidential election.

“Accept the assurances of my highest regards as a determined presidential hopeful.”

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— Peter Ayodele Fayose (@GovAyoFayose) September 26, 2017

I Will Defeat President Buhari In Free And Fair Election – Fayose

It is still a full year and five months to the 2019 elections, but some politicians eyeing the highest office in the land are already positioning themselves to run.

One of such is the Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose who has not hidden his desire to contest the presidency, on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party.

Today in Abuja the Federal Capital, Governor Fayose formally declared his ambition to run at a gathering of party faithful including former Aviation Minister Femi Fani- Kayode and a former Osun State Governor Iyiola Omisore.

Governor Fayose in his declaration said that he is the Nigerian man to watch out for as the nation moves into another decade.

He referred to the coming back of President Muhammadu Buhari as a sign of him attaining the seat of the President.

“Nobody like me can take out the President from his office, twice I defeated the incumbents to become governor of Ekiti State.

“I am confident with your support as my party leaders and supporters, I will defeat the incumbent President, Muhammadu Buhari in a free and fair election”.

He further noted that if elected he will ensure workers salaries are paid, exchange rate fixed at a normal rate, reduce the rate of kidnapping by herdsmen, security, the unity of the country, ensuring schools are in international standard and stop molestation of judges.

In his words, “I am the man already destined by God to take Nigeria out of its present political and economic stagnation”.

Fayose had earlier said in a Press statement by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, M. Lere Olayinka expressed optimism of winning the coming presidential election when Nigerians elect a new president in 2019.

“I have a penchant for taking powers; that one in President Muhammadu Buhari’s hand, I will take it.”

He, however, said in a letter addressed to leaders of the PDP that his ambition to be president was without prejudice to the party’s position, but in the overall interest of the party and the country.

The letter read; “It is with a deep sense of responsibility that I write to inform you of my intention to seek the ticket/mandate of our party to contest the 2019 presidential election.

“Considering your support and commitment towards our great party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), it becomes imperative to keep you informed and seek your support.

“This ambition, however, is without prejudice to our party’s position but in the overall interest of the party and our country.

“I urge that all hands should be on deck to ensure victory at the 2019 presidential election.

“Accept the assurances of my highest regards as a determined presidential hopeful.”

I Will Be President Of Nigeria, Fayose Insists

Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayo Fayose, has once again said he will become the President when Nigerians select a new leader for another four years in 2019.

He said this on Thursday in Ado Ekiti, the state capital while addressing hundreds of women at an event to commemorate the 2018 International Women’s Day.

“I want them to here in the Villa, I will be president of Nigeria Tomorrow, Fayose told his supporters at the gathering.

“Sometimes, it is difficult for people to believe but when it happens, I want you to know that I’ve said so before.”

Ahead of the forthcoming general elections, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had in 2017 zoned its Presidency to the North and its national chairmanship to the South, a position being held by Prince Uche Secondus.

While it seems that Governor Fayose’s interest to run for Presidency might be against the party’s arrangement, he informed the PDP leaders in a letter last year that his ambition was without prejudice to the party’s position but in the overall interest of the party and the country.

Delivering a speech while formally declaring his presidential ambition on September 28, 2017, in Abuja, he said had“I am confident with your support as my party leaders and supporters, I will defeat the incumbent President, Muhammadu Buhari, in a free and fair election. Nobody like me can take out the President from his office – twice I defeated the incumbents to become governor of Ekiti State.”

A Better Change

In furtherance of his show of confidence, the governor told his supporters today in Ado Ekiti that he would not be silenced by any form of pressure or intimidation from anyone or group.

I’m Going Straight To Villa, I’m The Next President – Fayose

He took a swipe at the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), alleging that they have failed to fulfill the promises made to Nigerians in the buildup to the 2015 elections.

“All I said about this present APC government; they are leaving and they have stood the test of time,” said Fayose. “For me, greater is he that is in me than he that is there, and in the world.”

“I have fought so many battles, my enemies and opponents have lost all, I’ve won all; I’ve not lost one. We will not allow anybody to cow us; there is one thing I want to remind them, power belongs to God – you are there today, we will be there tomorrow.

“Nigerians want a change, a better change, a change that is not selective; Ekiti, well-represented by Ayo Fayose will be part and parcel of the government at the centre in 2019 by the grace of God,” he added.

Governor Foyese congratulated the women in the state and assured them of the state government’s support to help improve their standard of living.

He noted that although it would be his last participation in the celebration as a governor, he would come from Abuja to attend the event as a president next year.

The event was attended by the governor’s wife, Mrs Feyisetan Fayose; his deputy, Professor Kolapo Olusola; and rights activist Joe Odumakin among others.