TODAY marks the 49th day of the Redeemed Christian Church of God’s declared 50-day fasting and prayer which began on January 11, this year and the seven prayer points for the day include:

For the journalists covering the Federal Ministry of Transport, last week was spectacular. It was the week the Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi, dropped his executive regalia, preferring rather to play the role of a reporter.

She was full of life, even when her situation looked unenviable.

Date was Sunday, February 14, 2016. It was a day the world was celebrating love. They call it Valentine’s Day.

Assistant coach Fatai Amoo will now lead the country’s Olympic team following the elevation of Samson Siasia to the Super Eagles, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) have announced.

A NIGER-DELTA youth leader and activist, Comrade Sheriff Mulade, has advised President Muhammadu Buhari to be careful in handling the ‘thorny’ issues against former `General Officer Commanding’, Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND, High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, to avoid giving room for the emergence of more dangerous militants in the region.

Fear has gripped top officials of the Budget Department of the National Planning Ministry as President Muhammadu Buhari returns to the country this week after spitting fire abroad over alleged padding of the 2016 Budget.

The spate of new monarchical regimes and celebrations in the last decade or so does reflect the deep contradictions of the Nigerian state and the ambiguity of Nigeria’s national character as a modern republic. A great roll of drums was just heard all over the conservative press on the recent installation of an Ooni in Ife, Ooni Ogunwusi. The drama did not stop there. The new Ooni declared that his new “regime” was “a new era for the Yoruba” and was intended on “unifying the Yoruba.”

Joyful Homes, this week, shares with readers what I describe as the “star testimony “ of a couple at the last Laughter Day of Laughter Foundation Christian Ministry, Lagos.

Last week, I stated that the money allocated to Aso Rock clinic was 3.4 billion naira. I later discovered that 4.8 billion naira was actually set aside for both capital projects and recurrent expenditure for it, the clinic used by the President, Vice-President, their families and close associates. That amount competes favourably with the total allocation usually earmarked by the Federal Ministry of Health for tertiary health institutions nationwide which serve thousands of Nigerians annually, while only about N2.66 billion is to be spent on building new hospitals all over the country.

Saturday’s Benue South senatorial rerun election between Senator David Mark of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and Daniel Onjeh of the All Progressives Congress, APC, may have come and gone, but issues arising therefrom, before, during and after the poll will continue to generate controversy.

Prophet Samson Oluwamodede heads the Prayer Centre Church of God, PCCG, with headquarters in Akure, the Ondo State capital and branches within and outside the country. He established the church 14 years ago after receiving divine instruction from God. But the unexpected happened recently when an ex-convict, Festus Balogun, allegedly blackmailed him and 11 other notable clergymen, accusing them of ritual killings and other fetish activities.

This year’s governorship election in Edo State to fill the vacancy that would result from the end of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole’s tenure will no doubt be keenly contested. For the first time in recent years, many well tested citizens have already shown interest in the position. In particular, the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) and the main opposition party- the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are set to give each other a hot chase as both parties are strong in the state. But before the political scene begins to boil, no one should forget that the state has so much to thank God for.

24 hours after the Supreme Court upheld death sentence on Rev Chukwue­ meka Ezeugo, a.k.a. Rev King, members of his Christian Pray­ ing Assembly (CPA) in Ajao Estate, Lagos, yesterday, were making preparations to celebrate the convicted pastor’s birthday today in their service.

In this first of a three-part article, my aim is to get President Muhammadu Buhari to re-evaluate his obvious discomfort with the workings of a market economy and change; so that he can effectively lead the CHANGE agenda that he promised Nigerians. To the extent that the engine of wealth creation and poverty reduction is the private sector when enabled and not when crippled, this intervention is necessary to lend my voice to that of other concerned Nigerians.