Mr Olumide's Blog .com |
- How To Overcome Struggles In Life and Become Successful
- Why Fuel Scarcity Persist, by petroleum unions
- 2019: Buhari, Obasanjo and The Future Generation
- 7 Ways To Make Your Life More Meaningful Than It Is
- SOAR TO SUCCESS with Pastor Olu Famous
| How To Overcome Struggles In Life and Become Successful Posted: 13 Feb 2018 03:22 AM PST  But there is a better way. I'm very grateful that the Lord called me as a Prosperity Pastor, as it is affording me the opportunity to deliver people from Struggles and help them start making Real Progress and become Rich legitimately. Did you know? In every generation, no matter how hard everybody works, only about 10% will become Rich and just 1% becomes Very Wealthy. If your family is not among the rich, it takes EXTRAORDINARY EFFORTS to achieve success and stay successful, especially because many people in our country are still suffering from spiritual attacks leading to poverty. How can you become one of the 10% who will become Rich/Wealthy legitimately? You need the Right Prayers. Also read a short piece on overcoming... Often in our darkest seasons, we find that the most difficult days we face can become pivotal times that mark our lives and even our future. If you've lived long enough, you may know what it is to struggle through deep loss, brokenness, and pain. Most all of us have been there at some point along the way, and though our personal times of great darkness may look different, it always offers the greatest potential in our lives to change us. Because the person that walks out of the storm, out of the fiery trial, or straight out of the deep, is different than the one who first walked in. We're changed. We've battled. We've struggled. We've wrestled with ourselves, with others, and even with God. And maybe we even still have some scars. Often it takes time to fully understand and begin to see how God will turn it all around for goodness and purpose. Because that dark season so deeply affected us. But through Christ, we have the assurance and hope that only He can give, knowing that He will indeed use our dark days for ultimate blessing in this life. Every single one. We may not see it yet, but we can fully trust that He will strengthen our faith, deepen our roots, and build greatness within us when the strong winds blow. A few things I've learned along the way, and still am learning when difficult days come, are these truths that God gives us, so that we can rise above the difficult times. He reminds us not to be surprised when the fiery trials come. Though it may be hard, and our feelings might try to steer us other directions, we have to determine to keep walking in light and truth, refusing to listen to the enemy's lies. It's crucial to be anchored deep in Him, so that we can grow stronger through the storms we face and emerge victorious. [written by Debbie McDaniel]  culled from Olu famous Mr Olumide's Blog |
| Why Fuel Scarcity Persist, by petroleum unions Posted: 13 Feb 2018 12:32 AM PST  they are pushing for a friendly Foreign Exchange (forex) rate, a good road network and reduced security checks, among others, writes The Nation's Emeka Ugwuanyi.There seems to be no letup in the blame trading game over who should be held responsible for the perennial fuel scarcity. Since the queues returned to filling stations across the country at the turn of last year, the Federal Government and those in the distribution chain of petroleum products have been passing the bucks. The supply flow has been unsteady following the withdrawal of oil marketers from importation, leaving the business to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). The fuel queues, which began on December 7 in Abuja, eased on January 2 but re-surfaced on January 5. They have been off and on in the FCT and many parts of the country. The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) said the petrol supply and price situation deserved an urgent and lasting solution. Its local chapter chairman in Anambra State Jerry Nnubia said it was expected that the price of petrol would return to normal soon after the Yuletide period but the crisis had lingered. According to him, the unofficial hike in the price of petrol was having a severe effect on Nigerians, especially workers. Nnubia said: "The Federal Government should ensure that the sector returned to normal through massive supply products. "You are aware that petrol is the driver of every other sectors of the economy and you can see the suffering this hike has brought to the people. "The labour is holding government responsible for what is happening because they are the only people that can save the situation." Some unions have warned that Nigerians may have to contend with irregular supply for now. They blamed persistent queues on Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN), Foreign Exchange (forex) rates, decaying infrastructure and security checks, among other factors. According to them, the insatiable quest of DAPPMAN members for maximum profit as major players in the distribution chain has not been helping matters. They alleged that the depot owners sell product to others for distribution above the rates fixed by the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA). The development, they explained, leave with two options. They either stop restocking their filling stations or retail at above the litter price. To them, the second option is the devil's alternative as officials of the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) deployed to enforce compliance with the PPPRA ceiling constantly sanction erring stations. More than 78,000 litres of petrol were dispensed free of charge to motorists in Abuja from the various stations that were caught selling above the approved pump price of N145 per litre during a six-day monitoring by the Joint Task Force at the turn of last year. Seventeen fuel stations were at the weekend sealed in Niger and Anambra states by DPR monitors. Isah Jankara, Operations Controller of DPR in Niger State, where 13 stations fell under the hammer, told reporters: "If you want to sell petrol in Niger make sure you sell at government's approved rate of N145 per litre. Also, make sure that you don't divert the product because if you are caught you must face the penalty." Jankara said that all the affected stations must pay necessary fines before they would be allowed to re-open for business. He said: "All marketers whose stations have been closed down for violation of the N145 pump price per litre are to pay the sum of N100, 000 per pump as penalty through the TSA (Treasury Single Account) and submit receipts of payment and bank teller to the Head of Operations before their stations will be re-opened for sales to the public at N145 per litre." Jankara said that before now earring filling stations were only compelled to revert to government' approved rate without sanction. Two of the four filling stations sealed in Anambra State were for alleged fuel diversion and the operators of the two other outlets were reprimanded for selling the product above N145. The DPR officials forced five other stations to sell at the approved pump price. In Awka, Nnewi and Onitsha, fuel sells for between N185 and N200 per litre. DPR Head of Safety, Environment and Health Department, Linus Ikegbunam, who led a five-man enforcement team, said the marketers were suspected not to have discharged products meant for their stations accordingly. Ikegbunam said the filling stations sealed for suspected diversion had the product designated for them as contained in their manifests. He said DPR was worried over the rising cases of product diversion, especially at this time of supply challenges but assured that the agency was ready to combat the menace. Ikegbunam wondered why a marketer who procured as much as between 40,000 and 50,000 litres of petrol would not sell to the people rather divert them to other locations. He said the stations would remain closed until investigations were concluded on them and warned that those found culpable would be made to face the full wrath of the law. "Selling above government approved price of N145 is an offence and that is why we enforced compliance at some stations. Those who are habitual offenders were also sealed and penalised," Ikegbunam warned. The Chairman of Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Salihu Butu, confirmed to reporters at the weekend that the retail business has become unprofitable for his members. Besides paying higher for products at the depots, IPMAN, which accounts for 80 per cent of the retail outlets in the country, get 10 per cent products to sell, Buto told reporters on the tarmac of the Pipelines and Product Marketing Company (PPMC), at Suleja depot, Niger State. According to him, they buy above the ex-depot price to keep their stations open and remain in business. DAPPMAN, it was learnt, gets the product at N117 from the NNPC, the sole importer, and sells to marketers at N152 as against the approved ex-depot price of N133.80. Butu said: "The private depot owners do not sell to us at the official price. We buy at the unofficial price. How do we break even? "Our stations sell at N180 – N190 because when you get to the depots, you are presented with two accounts for payment: one for the actual price and the other for the extra, otherwise you cannot lift." On the way forward, Butu said only President Muhammadu Buhari and the National Assembly could intervene in the fuel situation. He said: "Only President Muhammadu Buhari can solve this. He should come in, people trust him. When he increased price, people accepted, no questions asked. We knew it was for the better. "The National Assembly also should invite all aggrieved members to get to the bottom of this. There should be equity in distribution. NNPC depots should be stocked back to back. Only Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN) is loading. "Mr Umar Ajiya of PPMC held meetings with us. We decided to cooperate and so, I went to Aba, Warri, Mosimi and found that our members are given two-three trucks to share. "To keep their stations open and stay in business, our members have to buy. All these should be looked into." A marketer at Seaman's Petroleum in Anambra State, Geoffrey Anioke, said it has been difficult procuring products in the last two months, making it impossible to sell at the government approved price. Anioke said selling petrol at N145, when the landing was between N165 and N170 was a huge loss for them. He urged the Federal Government and the NNPC to supply enough petrol to eliminate the black market and artificial price increase. He said: "We get fuel from N165 to N170 at the moment and it is not possible to sell at N145 and forcing us to sell at that price is punishing us and driving us out of business. "We are ready to serve the people and keep the economy going and that is why we are making extra efforts to have product, we expect government to address the shortage rather than making us suffer." DAPPMAN, MOMAN: we're not saboteurs Two major stakeholders in the fuel distribution chain – Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association (DAPPMA) and Major Oil Markers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN) – have distanced themselves from the perennial queues in some parts of the country. They described as untrue the allegation of their involvement in acts of sabotage. DAPPMAN Chairman Prince Dapo Abiodun, told The Nation that it will amount to standing logic on its head to accuse his members of selling above approved ex-depot price when "they don't even have products." To him, to solve the recurrent fuel scarcity, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has to use all distribution channels (depots) including MOMAN, DAPPMAN and Independent Petroleum Marketers of Nigeria (IPMAN). Abiodun: "These are false and baseless allegations sponsored by IMPAN. The truth is that DAPPMA has hardly gotten product allocations. Almost 90 per cent of the total product from NNPC is being given to MOMAN including Total, Forte, MRS, Mobil, Oando and Conoil. "The fuel scarcity is because of supply gaps. If petrol supply is enough and consistent all these stories will fizzle away. The question to ask is, why didn't this situation happen before December last year?" The Secretary of MOMAN in Suleja, Niger State, Femi Akano, said the association was not involved in any act of sabotage. "Our members have complained of gridlocks, infrastructure and security checks as reasons for delays and we have cooperated with the government. So, acts of sabotage on our part are untrue'', he said.  culled from Olu famous Mr Olumide's Blog |
| 2019: Buhari, Obasanjo and The Future Generation Posted: 13 Feb 2018 12:02 AM PST  The reason the letter former President Olusegun Obasanjo wrote to President Muhammadu Buhari, urging him not to contest the 2019 election, elicited huge interest was not because of its content, but because of Obasanjo's stature and his efforts in making Buhari President. Before Obasanjo, many Nigerians had said things weightier than his. But Obasanjo is one Nigerian who is always at the right place at the right time... except when he was roped in a coup d'état in 1995 by Gen. Sani Abacha and sentenced to 30 years imprisonment, which was later reduced to 15 years. In addition, while his friend, Maj. Gen. Shehu Musa Yar'Adua, died in prison, he was lucky to survive. That same luck that has worked in Obasanjo's life smiled on him again with the death of Abacha in 1998, which led to his prompt release. Shortly after that, without any plan to be President, Obasanjo became the President of Nigeria through the decision of the powerbrokers. A similar scenario had played out earlier in 1976 when Gen. Murtala Muhammed was assassinated six months into his tenure, and Obasanjo suddenly became the military head of state, even though he was one of those marked for death by the coup plotters. Again in 1970, even though he was not known to have played a critical role in the Nigerian-Biafran War, Obasanjo had the honour of receiving the secessionist Biafran surrender. So, Obasanjo's middle name should have been Goodluck or Lucky. But his place in Nigeria's political history goes beyond mere luck; Obasanjo should be commended for his ability to read situations well and know which way the cat will jump and align himself with that angle. Some could interpret it as opportunism, for Obasanjo has a track record of reaping where others sowed. For example, even though Obasanjo worked against the struggle for the reversal of the annulment of the 1993 presidential election won by his kinsman and friend, Chief MKO Abiola, he became the beneficiary of that annulment in 1999 when he was chosen by the military powerbrokers as the person to be made President to compensate the South-West for that unjust treatment meted out to Abiola. Similarly, without being a founding member of the Peoples Democratic Party, Obasanjo was drafted in and made the presidential candidate of the PDP in 1999. He ended up taking over the party and edging out most of the founding members of the party or making them irrelevant. Eventually in 2015, he publicly tore the membership card of the PDP which gave him the presidential mandate. Having studied the tenure of Buhari for over two and half years, many Nigerians – especially those who campaigned for him – have been disappointed with his leadership style and have been voicing out their frustration. The editorials of some notable national newspapers like The Punch, BusinessDay, Vanguard etc have constantly criticised the way the President has been handling the economy, his lopsided appointments, his lack of firmness when dealing with his appointees accused of graft, his aloofness to killings in the land, and other issues. So, Obasanjo chose an opportune moment to write that letter to Buhari, and it got the deserved attention. He deserves to be commended for speaking out. But some days before Obasanjo's letter to Buhari, the keynote speaker at the Handshake Across the Niger summit in Enugu, Mr Alban Ofili-Okonkwo, seemed to have pre-empted Obasanjo in an interview he granted the Sunday Vanguard of January 21, 2018, which had the headline "Time-up for the Buharis, the Obasanjos, others." According to the Delta State-born entrepreneur and thinker, the youths of Nigeria should no longer leave their fate in the hands of those who do not understand it. In the words of Ofili-Okonkwo, the man behind the Keke-NAPEP project, "Competence is what we are looking for because we live in an international highway of knowledge. No matter anybody's pigmentation, height, size or where he comes from, if a company is looking for someone to be employed, a competent person will be the one to be employed, no matter where the person is. That is tomorrow's world and the world that Nigeria needs to join. Unfortunately, our leaders, till now, are giving us what they can. I think it is time for this generation to say no to that. "President Muhammadu Buhari was in his 30s when he started handling the affairs of Nigeria and in his late 70s he is still handling the affairs of Nigeria. For God's sake, he should give us his son and go home. Whether his son is Fulani does not matter, what matters is competence. If he has trained a son to the extent that he understands and can connect with my children and convince them to come to Nigeria to build a new nation, he should give him to us. We need a new nation where we can get more money than our oil wealth can give us through quality leadership. "The new Nigeria should not be a nation where we will depend on what we dig out from the ground to survive. If at their own time it was good for a 36-year-old boy to become a leader, why can't it be possible now? I am in my 60s and I am in retirement. The minimum I can do is to make sure that those in their 30s and 40s take their turn by saying enough is enough. That will enable people who can create value to multiply. "We need a President who would understand the importance of knowledge and infrastructure, who will no longer look at tribe, tongue, and faith, who will understand the landscape of Nigeria and seek inspiration from the wonders of nature. And I think the time for that has come. But if we reduce it to the past where Buhari, Obasanjo, and others are coming from, we will be condemned. These people represent the Old Testament. "All I am saying is that the youths should claim their tomorrow. What we are doing is an advocacy for tomorrow so that there will be a different narrative. It is a vision shaped by knowledge, wisdom and shared humanity. This is something the Buharis and the Obasanjos can't see because they don't have it." Nigeria seems to have been condemned to the rule by the same set of people who started ruling Nigeria when they were in their 30s. Anyone who looks critically at what Nigeria has become will see a trend. There is a group of people who are within the 65 and 85 age range who believe that only their age-mates know what is best for Nigeria. Obasanjo, for example, ruled Nigeria for 11 years but believes that he knows what Nigeria needs best. He unilaterally chose Umaru Yar'Adua and Goodluck Jonathan to succeed him, when his third-term agenda failed. He also fully supported Buhari's emergence as President. Given their antecedents and performances in office, if Yar'Adua, Jonathan and Buhari were the best Obasanjo could give to Nigeria in a nation with an abundance of human resources, it is obvious that Obasanjo has poor judgement. By spearheading the launch of the Coalition for Nigeria Movement, it is clear that Obasanjo wants to also decide who will be Nigeria's next President. Buhari, on the other hand, after ruling as military head of state and also a civilian president, is keen on retaining his position in 2019, not because of what he has in store for Nigeria, but because the Presidency gives him the power to pursue his personal dreams. The fate of Nigeria cannot be in the hands of those who contributed to Nigeria's destruction, but in the hands of the young generation whose future is being toyed with by the same set of people. Those who have been ruling Nigeria will never accept to implement any policy that will change the way Nigeria is run. But it is left for the youths, who are more in number, to take over the nation and pull it back from the precipice. - by Azuka Onwuka  culled from Olu famous Mr Olumide's Blog |
| 7 Ways To Make Your Life More Meaningful Than It Is Posted: 12 Feb 2018 03:59 AM PST  But if we really want meaningful change in our lives, we'll need to move beyond wishful thinking in pursuit of deeper work. We'll need to recognize that writing a fresh chapter still involves the same old you and me, with all our quirks and flaws. We'll need to make choices that lead towards lasting transformation. Are you ready to make the change? Here are seven steps you can take towards a more meaningful life. 1. Process Your Past Your mother's drinking problem. The love that got away. The friend that betrayed you. Your divorce. Time may have moved you on physically, but did you ever give yourself a chance to get past your past? Or have your experiences and relationships come to define who you've become? Our hurts can form habits and hang ups that are difficult to break away from. Furthermore, past difficulties can leave an imprint on our sense of worth and value. And since we never rise above what we believe about ourselves, the past dictates our present and determines our future. As you set out to create meaningful change in your life, begin to process your past and give yourself a new future. Get help. Speak with a friend, or see a qualified therapist. It's not too late. 2. Review Your Relationships There's an African Proverb that says, "If you want to go fast, go alone; If you want to go far, go together." We're designed for meaningful relationships and our lives are weaker without them. Review your relationships and consider how you can make time to invest in and enjoy the relationships that matter to you the most. Surround yourself with people who encourage and inspire you to go far. Take note of the toxic relationships too. The "friends"who put you down, the people who manipulate you and use you. It might be time to walk away. 3. Listen to Your Body If your body could have a conversation with you, what would it say? Would it tell you how neglected it feels? That anxiety keeps it up at night, and leaves it exhausted in the morning? That it needs more water, nutritious meals, regular exercise? Listen to your body, and show it some love. 4. Invest in Learning Learning is a catalyst for growth and opportunity – so make a plan to invest in a pattern of life-long learning. Learn something new. There are multiple ways to invest in your learning. It might be returning to academic study, taking online classes, listening to a new podcast, or visiting the library. It could be a course that creates possibilities for career advancement. Learn a new perspective. Instead of reacting to the latest "conversations" on society or on social media, try a different approach. Let your learning lead you to new voices. Books and podcasts can certainly help, but new people and places can inform you at a more personal level.Spend time in different parts of your town or city. Build genuine relationships with people from different cultures, ethnicities, economic backgrounds. Listen to the stories of people who do not live or look like you. Listen and learn. Our world needs that right now. 5. Handle Your Business This section doesn't feel s*xy or inspiring, but it's necessary. Handle your business — the unglamorous everyday things that make your life work. Take a long hard look at your bank balance and your financial habits. Pay your bills. Make a plan for your debt. If you don't have a will, make one. Handle the things you wish someone else would handle for you but are actually your responsibility. 6. Discover What Makes You Feel Alive Life is challenging, but it's also inspiring. Hard, but also wonderful. Mundane at times, yet achingly beautiful. And you get to live it. There are the inevitable days when you're surviving — not thriving — or just existing. But take some time to discover what makes you feel alive too…and do something about it. Volunteer at a shelter or mentor a young person. Enjoy art in all its forms. Take up a sport. Enjoy nature. Create a magnificent meal for your loved ones. Allow curiosity to lead you to explore your purpose. You have skills and abilities and passions that can help other people flourish. Make your contribution. 7. Break Up with Perfectionism The dream of who we long to be often stays a dream because we expect perfection. We silence our goals because we feel if we can't be perfect, it's not worth trying. Moving forward, it's essential you know that perfectionism is not your friend: it's the enemy of the life you were made for. So, as you begin the journey toward a more meaningful life, break up with perfectionism and take your life back. Instead of trying to prove your worth and perform your value, practice your dreams and goals in small ways. As with any practice (like music scales or training for a 5K), you have good, bad, and ugly days; but if you keep at it, eventually you will get stronger. Practice and celebrate your progress. Then keep going. [written by Jo Saxton]  culled from Olu famous Mr Olumide's Blog |
| SOAR TO SUCCESS with Pastor Olu Famous Posted: 12 Feb 2018 03:59 AM PST  Do you have Skill(s), Idea(s) and/or Certification(s) but lack what it takes to overcome every stumbling-blocks preventing you from achieving Outstanding SUCCESS? The Lord called me as a Prosperity Minister and I've been helping people move to the next level of their life to start making consistent progress. Nothing is impossible with God! Contact Pastor Olu Famous: 08032272037  culled from Olu famous Mr Olumide's Blog |
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