Israel faces growing US calls for restraint amid renewed Gaza fighting

Israel faced growing U.S. calls to avoid further harm to Palestinian civilians in its fight against Hamas militants in Gaza, as the warring sides on Sunday showed no sign of moving toward reviving their collapsed truce.

As Israeli forces pounded the enclave following the breakdown of a temporary ceasefire, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris said too many innocent Palestinians had been killed in Gaza, and U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin deemed it a "moral responsibility" for Israel to protect civilians.

The senior U.S. officials' remarks on Saturday reinforced pressure from Washington for Israel to use more caution as it shifts the focus of its military offensive further south in the besieged Gaza Strip.

With renewed fighting stretching into a third day, residents feared the air and artillery bombardment was just the prelude to an Israeli ground operation in the southern strip that would pen them into a shrinking area and possibly try to push them across into Egypt.

The Gaza health ministry said at least 193 Palestinians had been killed since the weeklong truce ended on Friday, adding to the more than 15,000 Palestinian dead since the start of the war. Israel has sworn to annihilate Hamas following its Oct. 7 rampage in southern Israel in which it says 1,200 people were killed and more than 200 taken hostage.

Speaking in Dubai, Harris said Israel had a right to defend itself, but international and humanitarian law must be respected and "too many innocent Palestinians have been killed."

"Frankly, the scale of civilian suffering, and the images and videos coming from Gaza, are devastating," Harris told reporters.

Austin weighed in with perhaps his strongest comments to date on Israel's need to protect civilians in Gaza, calling it "moral responsibility and strategic imperative."

"If you drive them into the arms of the enemy, you replace a tactical victory with a strategic defeat," Austin told a defense forum in Simi Valley, California.

Austin, who pledged that the U.S. would stand by Israel as its "closest friend in the world," also said he pressed Israeli officials to dramatically expand Gaza's access to humanitarian aid.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, at a news conference in Tel Aviv on Saturday, said Israel was continuing to work in coordination with the U.S. and international organizations to define "safe areas" for Gaza civilians.

"This is important because we have no desire to harm the population," Netanyahu said. "We have a very strong desire to hurt Hamas."

The United States has been increasingly vocal that Israel must narrow the combat zone during any offensive in southern Gaza and ensure safe zones for non-combatants.

Israel has vowed to wipe out Hamas once and for all. The Iranian-backed Islamist group is sworn to Israel’s destruction. One of its officials has said Hamas would repeat the Oct. 7 attacks if possible.

The Israeli military said it had killed Wessam Farhat, commander of a Hamas battalion who sent fighters to hit two kibbutzim near the Gaza Strip on Oct. 7. It also described him as one of the planners of the raid.

'NEW LAYER OF DESTRUCTION'

Mark Regev, a senior adviser to Netanyahu, said Israel did not want to see Gaza's civilians caught in the crossfire and was making a "maximum effort" to safeguard them.

He said that when the war was over, Israel would seek a "security envelope" to prevent Hamas from positioning itself on the Gaza border.

Robert Mardini, head of the International Committee of the Red Cross, told Reuters the renewed fighting was "a new layer of destruction coming on top of massive, unparalleled destruction."

Gaza health officials said that in addition to the death toll, 650 people had been wounded since the truce collapsed.

With conditions inside Gaza reaching the "breaking point," in Mardini's words, the first aid trucks since the end of the truce entered from Egypt through the Rafah crossing on Saturday, Egyptian security and Red Crescent sources said. Some 100 trucks passed through, the sources said.

A senior official said Israel would facilitate the provision of humanitarian aid to Gaza's civilians.

The warring sides blamed each other for the collapse of the truce, during which Hamas had released hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.

Israel said it had recalled a team from Qatar, host of indirect negotiations with Hamas, accusing the Palestinian faction of reneging on a deal to free all the women and children it was holding.

French President Emmanuel Macron, meanwhile, said he was heading to Qatar to work on a new truce.

The deputy head of Hamas, however, said no prisoners would be exchanged with Israel unless there is a ceasefire and all Palestinian detainees in Israel are released.

Saleh Al-Arouri told Al Jazeera TV that Israeli hostages held by Hamas are soldiers and civilian men who previously served in the army.

But Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Hamas breached its commitment to free 17 women and children still held in Gaza.

SOUTH TARGETED

The southern part of Gaza, including Khan Younis and Rafah, where hundreds of thousands of people displaced from the north of the enclave had sought refuge, was pounded on Saturday.

The Palestinian News Agency quoted local sources as saying warplanes bombed two homes in the Nuseirat refugee camp, killing at least 13 people. Gaza health officials said three Palestinians were killed in an Israeli air strike on a house in Rafah.

Reuters could not independently verify the accounts.

Hamas said it targeted Tel Aviv with a rocket barrage. There were no reports of damage, but paramedics said one man was treated for a shrapnel injury in central Israel.

Reuters

RUSSIAN PERSPECTIVE

Russia’s army to add some 170,000 people to its ranks

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed an executive order to increase the number of military personnel in the Russian Armed Forces by nearly 170,000.

According to the decree, which was posted on the Kremlin website on Friday and comes into effect on the day of signing, the total number of people serving in the Russian Armed Forces has been set at 2,209,130, including 1,320,000 servicemen.

Under the previous decree, which has been in force since January 1, 2023, this figure was 2,039,758 people, including 1,150,628 servicemen.

WESTERN PERSPECTIVE

Russians ease attacks in eastern Ukraine, Kyiv still may hold Maryinka

Russian forces eased attacks on the beleaguered eastern Ukrainian town of Avdiivka on Saturday and unofficial reports from the region suggested they had failed to capture the devastated town of Maryinka to the southwest.

Russia's military has focused on eastern Ukraine since abandoning an advance on Kyiv in the first days after the February 2022 invasion. Since mid-October, the military has set its sights on seizing Avdiivka and its vast coking plant.

Russian reports on Friday suggested Moscow's troops had taken control of Maryinka, 40 km (25 miles) to the southwest, engulfed in fighting for well over a year. But unofficial Ukrainian reports on Saturday said its forces were holding some districts.

Ukrainian military spokesperson Oleksandr Shtupun told national television that Russian attacks on Avdiivka had halved over the past 24 hours, largely as a result of heavy losses.

"The coking plant is controlled by the Ukrainian armed forces," Shtupun said. "Enemy forces are trying to make their way inside, but are suffering losses in infantry and equipment."

Fighting was still intense, he said, in an adjacent area outside the town centre known as the "industrial zone." Russia's popular war blog Rybar said the zone had fallen under Russian control.

Reuters could not verify accounts from either side.

Vitaliy Barabash, head of the town's military administration, told Channel 24 television that Avdiivka was "starting to look like Maryinka, a settlement that basically no longer exists. It has been razed to its foundations."

There were no official Ukrainian reports on Maryinka, but military analyst Oleh Zhdanov said reports of its capture by Russian troops were untrue.

"We acknowledge that there was an advance there of the Russian military," Zhdanov said in an online presentation. "But the southwestern and northwestern parts of the town are under the control of Ukrainian forces."

Deepstate, an unofficial Ukrainian war blog, quoted Ukrainian servicemen as denying any notion that Russian forces had secured full control over what was once a town of 10,000.

Russia's Defence Ministry made no mention of Maryinka.

Russian war blog Rybar referred to photos on social media of Russian flags in the town, but added: "Nevertheless, several buildings remain under the control of the Ukrainian military."

Another Ukrainian spokesperson, Volodymyr Fitio, told national television that Kyiv's forces had repelled 21 Russian attacks in areas surrounding Bakhmut. The town, also shattered by months of fighting, was captured by Russian forces in May, but Ukrainian troops have since taken back nearby villages.

Ukrainian forces have focused on recapturing occupied villages in the east and south in a counteroffensive launched in June, though President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has acknowledged that advances have been slower than Kyiv wanted.

Last week, in the ancient city of Ibadan, Oyo State, two bedfellows, journalism and history, became objects of attraction. The duo have always existed in Siamese matrimony. As a way of emphasizing this liaison, some scholars have defined journalism as history in a hurry. So, this day, Thursday, November 30 to be exact, inside one of the halls of the University of Ibadan, everyone gathered waited for the arrival of Olusegun Osoba, former governor of Ogun State. It was akin to waiting for history and journalism entrapped in the personage of a single individual. Osoba worked with the Daily Times as trainee reporter covering crime bits. In 1966, he was made the newspaper’s diplomatic correspondent and by August 1975, became the editor of the then foremost newspaper in Nigeria. He later became the General Manager of Ilorin, Kwara State-based Nigerian Herald and Ibadan-based Sketch. There is thus no denying the fact that Osoba is a living legend, an undying testament to the glory of journalism and reason to query its fading star today. 

Each time some Nigerians, probably out of an upswing in emotional adrenaline or pent-up tribal animosity, attempt to politicize memory by problematizing the unfortunate January 1966 coup, Osoba, like a matador, always jumps on the scene to perform the ritual of bridging leaking memories. Osoba, you will recall, was the reporter who saw the corpses of two Nigerian leaders, Prime Minister Tafawa Balewa and Okotie Eboh, the Finance Minister. While Okotie-Eboh was renowned for his flamboyance, Balewa was highly respected, within and outside government, nationally and internationally. Recall his official state visit to the United States in July, 1961, at the invitation of President John Kennedy. After the welcome remarks delivered by Vice President Lyndon Johnson, Balewa's response speech has been an evergreen storage in the archive, especially the standing ovation given him at the Capitol, leading to his subsequent stops at other sites in Washington, D.C., stops in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, Chicago, Illinois, Knoxville, Tennessee, and New York City. Till date, America and the UK are being fingered for either complicity, condonation or connivance with the coup of 1966.

A commonwealth conference was held in Nigeria, despite the political upheaval in the country from January 7 to 12 1966. It was a Commonwealth Prime Ministers' Conference and the 15th Meeting of the Heads of Government of the Commonwealth of Nations. Nigeria hosted the first of such meeting to be held outside of the United Kingdom, in Lagos, Nigeria, with Balewa hosting it. it was an emergency meeting held to discuss the Rhodesian crisis. Heads of government of Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Britain and other countries from all over the Commonwealth were in Nigeria. Thus, it was a huge surprise that the British intelligence wasn’t abreast of the coup that took place three days after. Harold Wilson, famous British PM, was in Nigeria until a day before the coup, with Balewa seeing him off few hours to his killing. Then Cyprus Head of government, on a tour of Nigeria, was also in Enugu as guest of Michael Okpara, Premier of the eastern region.

The bodies of both Balewa and Okotie-Eboh were dumped at a spot called Iyana Ilogbo, on the Abeokuta-Lagos road, in today’s Ogun State. In a report he did in the January 23, 1966 edition of Daily Times, Osoba provided an account of what he saw, detailing how Okotie-Eboh’s body had begun to decompose, his head mangled, probably out of maltreatment and manhandling of his body. Balewa, reported Osoba in the Times, had no sign of gunshots on him. He was however left seated on the bare floor, his back leaning to a tree. Later when M. T. Mbu claimed that rather than having been killed by the Chukwuma Nzeogwu coup plotters, Balewa died of asthma and some revanchists attempted to retell, from ethnic and emotional prisms, the story of his death, Osoba’s journalism emerged as saving grace to retell the story of these killings that have proven to be the foundation of the ethnic disaffection that Nigeria found itself today. “The body (of Okotie Eboh) I saw close by was already being infested by maggots and ants such that you had to be careful so that the ants would not get into your body... It was not an environment that you could ever carry out autopsy,” he recounted that encounter, some years ago.

Grim as it may sound, Osoba’s reportorial intervention at a moment of grave historical challenge situates the place of the press in Nigeria’s history. So when the audience waited for him in Ibadan last Thursday, they awaited a historical masterpiece and the correct situation of the press’ place in Nigeria’s yesterday, today and tomorrow. It was at the launch of another media mogul, Folu Olamiti’s book.

Of all Osoba said as Chairman of the book launch, the one I found most instructive was his fabulous rendering of the importance of the journalist. Paraphrasing a thesis he said was propounded by Ralph Akinfeleye, Osoba said that in heaven, there will be no security man, no road safety, no policeman because there will no crime and no offence, but there will be journalists. Osoba extrapolated this to say that when he dies, he would continue his job as a reporter, he would report events in heaven and send to earth for humanity's entertainment and education. Looking at the man beside him, Osoba said he was sure Olamiti would go to heaven, being one of the few journalists of his time who harboured none of the infamous journalists’ fleshly tripodal baggage of women, cigarette and alcohol. The 84-year Osoba said he would report the beauty of his own mansion in heaven, as well as Olamiti’s, for the world to see. Of all Osoba’s earthly acquisitions, topmost of which was being governor of his Ogun home state, he relishes the affix and prefix of a journalist.

Whether out of immodesty, reality or the historical pride of place they once occupied in Nigerian history, journalists believe that, though they may be poor competing with rats of the Cathedral, no profession compares to theirs in might and mirth. The truth is, history abets that seeming immodesty. History, for instance, tells us that, what is today known as the Nigerian press is older than and predates the Nigerian state, especially with the installation of the first printing press in 1846 by the Presbyterian Church in Calabar and the founding, eight years after, precisely in 1854, of the Iwe Irohin (Iwe Irohin fun awon ara Egba ati Yoruba) by the Reverend Henry Townsend of the Church Missionary Society (CSM) who inaugurated a printing school in Abeokuta. Placed side by side a Nigeria that came out of the 1914 amalgamation, this contraption called Nigeria is far younger than the Nigerian press.

The press may have been a formidable influence in the growth of Nigeria but its work casts it as an enemy of wielders of power. Writers and scholars on the Nigerian press have written copiously about the critical role played by the Nigerian press, especially the early press, in crusading, nationalism advocacies, awakening racial consciousness and generally, as an important factor in colonial society and politics of the time. In fact, the press of this period became an alternate government, so to speak, offering the public political awareness and involvement in the polity and providing a platform for the criticism of official government policies and providing alternatives to them. Nationalists who got Nigeria her independence were also fiery journalists. People like Herbert Macaulay, Horatius Jackson, Adeyemo Alakija, Azikiwe, S. L. Akintola, Obafemi Awolowo etc got their renown through the instrumentality of the Nigerian press. 

But the journalist next door is no one's friend, especially if there is a work to do. To the journalist, good news is no news; bad news is good news. And it is not because he is a sadist; it is the nature of the job. He is not his own friend too. In his reportage of the January 2001 plane crash which involved editors of the Thisday, ex-presidential spokesman and columnist, Segun Adeniyi, in his offering entitled Face to face with death, chronicled the life of a typical journalist. Waziri Adio, our friend, who Adeniyi reputed with “a sense of humour that sometimes borders on the morbid,” had, a little before the ill-fated flight departed Lagos on a tour the newspaper tagged ‘THISDAY Meets the Nation’, reportedly said: “If this aircraft crashes, THISDAY would be re-enacting the Zambia national soccer team tragedy scenario.” On the near-tragic leg of this journey, about 80 minutes after their flight took off, with the crème-de-la-crème of Nigerian editors on board, the aircraft was suddenly subsumed by a deadly turbulence which made the pilot lose control. This tragic drama led to the aircraft being tossed around in the air, with a big bang erupting which ripped it apart, submerging the passengers in sand dunes of a forest at about 11pm. As eerie as the event was, as they flew back home, the journalists cracked jokes, composing what headlines Nigerian newspapers would have given their deaths and stories of what would have been their ‘last moments’. As they headed home, Segun was still at his reportorial best as he interviewed the ill-fated aircraft pilot, Captain Shina, on what actually transpired; a human error or human risk of flying in the night? The journalists, according to Adeniyi, “as reporters… also spoke to one of the men at the Control Towers. We asked the Airforce Commandant a few questions too.” Dying they report; even in death, they will write stories. That is the undying spirit of the journalist, as propounded by Osoba.

Military president, Ibrahim Babangida, had an eerie coinage for the Nigerian journalist. He called us “celebrators of personal tragedies.” And he was right. The truth is, there is no journalist worth his onions who, at a one time or the other, would not have cast the headline of their own death, their obituary and how the press would report the passage. Our friend and brother, activist and columnist, Yinka Odumakin, I was told, on his death bed, pleaded with his doctors to allow him write his Sunday Tribunebackpage column before he was attended to, his computer by his side. Many times, after writing my column, I imagine if death comes suddenly whether what I last wrote would not be lost in the mire. I often comfort myself that two colleagues I send it to for proof-reading would release it to the world if the end prevented me from sending it. 

Reckoning with our tag by Babangida as “celebrators of personal tragedies,” when they are appointed into government, ex-journalists’ colleagues scarcely trust journalists. They believe that they would have leaked “exclusive” stories of happenings in government before they realized that they were part and parcel of the government themselves. I have been in governmental meetings where attendees reminded the principal that journalists were in attendance and such, the need for caution. If the news ever leaked, even if he did not author the leakage, the journalist was the first suspect.

Still as celebrators of tragedies, I always remember the day I walked into the Owo, Ondo State home of Michael Ajasin, Second Republic governor of old Ondo State. It was 1997 or so. The old Action Group politician had been ailing for a while but played active role in the then Abacha government-resented NADECO. My editors at Omega Weekly, Segun Olatunji, Adeolu Akande, Wale Adebanwi and Bode Opeseitan felt an interview with Ajasin would be a hot sell. So I got to the old man’s house. Before proceeding to enter the old house, I had to double-check with a neighbor. Was I indeed in the famous Ajasin home? This was because the house had no trapping of power or ostentation. The gate was ajar, there was no guard, no gate or gateman. So I walked in, unaccosted, walked up the stairs and was face to face with the legend, Ajasin who sat on a wheelchair. I introduced myself and, in spite of himself, the former governor was on the verge of granting me an interview when his wife walked in and literally bundled me out. "Young man, what are you trying to do?" Didn’t I see that he was ill! I got up, a failure. When I arrived Ibadan, downcast and narrated my disappointment, Adebanwi shouted that Ajasin being on wheelchair was the story! He sounded so elated. Curried with scenetic description of Ajasin’s living room and his house, my one-page feature became a celebrated story in the newspaper’s edition. In place of the old man's photograph, our cartoonist helped etch the picture of an Ajasin on wheelchair.

At a time like this however, the media has to do a quick rethink. As it is today, gone are the days when the newspaper press played the pervasive role it used to play in the pre-colonial, immediate post-colony and even up to the early 1990s Nigeria. The truth is that, by the late 1990s, the newspaper press had lost its mass appeal due to the downturn in the economy which affected the purchasing power of the people. It is so bad today that you can count on your fingertips Nigerians who sight, not to talk of who read a hard copy of a newspaper. While the print in Nigeria (newspapers, magazines, etc.) recorded over a century of pervasive influence, respect and contributions to communication, there is no doubting the fact that the influence of newspapers has waned considerably. Some extremist views even submit that newspaper press is nearing its extinction.

The radio is the only medium, the most formidable of the media of mass communication, not only in Nigeria but the world over, that still plays that role. Indeed, when reference is made to the mass media, the only medium that bears that appellation and ascription of communicating en-“mass” is the radio. This is because information disseminated on the radio is available to a multiplicity of audience in multiple locales and instantaneously.

Due to this awesome power of the radio, runners of the Nigerian state have tended to put much pressure into squeezing the jugular of the Nigerian radio broadcasting. The Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) is the official weapon government uses today to put the radio inside its pockets. Punitive sanctions that range from audacious fines and withdrawal of licences are wielded by the Federal Ministry of Information, through the NBC against “offending” radio stations.

However, not minding the above, the role that the Nigerian media, being the fourth estate of the realm, should play at this crucial time in the life of Nigeria and the democratic continuity in Nigeria, is by that very fact, the role that the radio should perform. From time immemorial, the press has been saddled with the onerous responsibility of acting as the watchdog between the legislature, executive and the judiciary. The media can only act as watchdog to these other three estates if it guides the truth as sacrosanct. Thus, the media owes the generality of the people the responsibility of responsibly interrogating the truth that can move society forward.

Due to its awesome reach and capacity to influence a large number of people across locales, the press is sought after by all and sundry, especially politicians. Its power in a moment of crises like the one being faced by Nigeria now is incontestable. Though reference is often made to Rwanda about the radio’s negative contribution to the escalation of violent conflict that resulted in about one million deaths in a few months, there is no doubt that a fair and accurate journalism reports are vital for the democratic development of any nation and in the de-escalation of violence. 

In the midst of the Nigerian crises and democratic challenges, the role of the Nigerian media must never change. There is no doubt that the media has a very critical yet delicate role to play in resolving Nigeria’s teething problems and tottering walks on the democratic aisle. In playing this role, journalism must seek a practical and functional form of truth. Journalists need to be armed with the value of transparency as a major weapon of reporting the Nigerian crises.

Yes, there are pressures to subjugate journalism to several publics because of the nature of the world today, chief among which is global economic realities. However, the media, the radio, has a very critical yet delicate role to play. Due to vanishing funds, the advertiser has become a major public in the media. Government is another major public because it has a huge war chest from which media houses can benefit. So also are the politicians as a public. However, our ultimate allegiance must be to the people of Nigeria. We must strive to ensure that we place the public interest – and the truth – above all these publics, no matter our individual or organizational self-interests. No matter the push, the media must be committed to the people and do its job without fear or favor.

Adedipe: Still space at the top

In 1995 when I joined the Tribune newspaper and “squatted” with a friend in Odo-Ona, one of Ibadan’s slums, I met one young boy in whom I took interest. His mother was a dedicated teacher and a devout Christian. His father then lived in the northern part of the country. He was a second year student of Government College, Ibadan. He was precocious, inquisitive and held promise of a tomorrow. In decades to come when we met, he reminded me that he was then a science student and that, perhaps seeing beyond 1995, I foretold that the law would be his right profession. You know children have the memory of a dolphin. Last week, Adeola Oluwaseun Adedipe was one of the 58 lawyers who the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC) elevated to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN). I am overjoyed.

Oluwaseun proceeded from the GCI to the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife from 2001 to 2007 where he bagged a 2nd Class Honours, Upper Division and then the Nigerian Law School. He was to work at Ahmed Raji & Co. where he occupied the position of Head of Chambers, for 8 years. In years, he garnered the renown of, apart from myriads of cases that he handled, which were reported and which became utilized today in the legal field, the face of the leading decision on garnishee proceedings which he argued and won at the Supreme Court, now reported as CBN v. Interstella Communications & 3 Ors. (2018)7 NWLR (Pt. 1618) 294. He has also consulted for several organizations on arbitration cases, for AMCON, in and out of court and has been involved in very high-profile litigations and commercial transactions.

The morale of this short story of climb to the pinnacle of one’s career by Adedipe is that there is still space at the top for a man of determination. He is just 40 years old.

Congratulations, Learned Silk.

The vine is dried up, and the fig tree languisheth; the pomegranate tree, the palm tree also, and the apple tree, even all the trees of the field, are withered: because joy is withered away from the sons of men ~ Joel 1:12.

Introduction

Real life experiences show that one’s attitude to life is  paramount to his/her accomplishments on earth. This is so because the way we think will, by and large, determine the way we perform.

Your attitude defines your general outlook: how you see things around you, how you feel about what you experience, how you deal with the situations you face, and what you think about life in general.

A positive attitude of gratitude, thankfulness, optimism and joy in the Holy Ghost works like a magnet in attracting supernatural help to you, and positioning you to experience the wholeness you are frantically looking for, regardless of the situation you presently find yourself.

I am aware that you may not always be able to instantly control all the issues around you, but you can receive grace to control your attitude while they last and give thanks to God in everything.

What Is Gratitude?

From the perspective of men’s mental health, a popular  magazine, “MensLine Australia”, recently made the following basic observations on this subject, saying:

“Gratitude is pausing to notice and appreciate the things that we often take for granted, like having a place to live, food, clean water, friends and family. It's taking a moment to reflect on how fortunate we are. Being grateful for all that we have in life is one of the keys to true happiness”.

Gratitude is an attitude in acknowledgement of a benefit that you have received from God, or hope to receive by faith. It is a deliberate and sincere appreciation for the blessings or help we have received or will receive from the Lord.

No doubt, the El-Shaddai God is the Selfless Giver of all good things, and our gratitude is an acknowledgement of this divine generosity (James 1:17). A clear understanding of this should shape our thoughts and actions at all times.

Gratitude is a basic Christian attitude and an essential part of true worship. It is at the heart of the gospel; Christians are therefore strongly encouraged to constantly express gratitude to God as their Creator and Redeemer.

We must acknowledge Him for Who He is, and for all He does for us, especially in Christ Jesus. You cannot truly or spiritually worship the God, whose peculiar goodness or matchless assistance you don’t acknowledge to start with.

Gratitude is a powerful force that opens the door to God’s greater blessings of grace, favour and supernatural empowerment. It should be a part of our everyday lives.

Constant gratitude also showcases real humility. When you walk with the spirit of gratitude and thanksgiving, you cannot walk with arrogance, self-conceit and egotism at the same time.

Understanding The Mystery of Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is always good and highly commendable (Psalm 92:1). More so, giving thanks to God is the will of God for us in Christ Jesus (1Thessalonians 5:18).

Irrespective of our circumstances, class or social standing, we must recognize that God is pleased to demand of us to give Him thanks in all situations. “In everything give thanks” is a clear command from God, not a piece of advice or a suggestion.

Please understand that God has no special relish for praise singing, neither does He savour, enjoy or take undue pleasure in the praises of men. But, being our Creator, He certainly knows best what is crucial to our total wellbeing (Proverbs 17:22).

He knows that the grateful heart is akin to godliness. The command to be grateful and thankful to God is like His command for us to be holy, godly, spiritual and genuine in our walk with Him, to activate His supernatural provisions in our lives.

You can never give thanks to God in error, and your thanksgiving can never be too much. Gratitude supernaturally takes you into higher altitude, and establishes you in supernatural platitudes in life. The more you give thanks to God, the more of His glory you access and the better your destiny becomes.

We Must Embrace a Lifestyle of Constant Gratitude

As mentioned earlier, we are unequivocally and expressly commanded to “give thanks unto the Lord” (1Chronicles 16:34). Why? The command came with the answer: “for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever”!

No matter what may be happening in the world around you, you can always find something good to thank God for. Please, search out and think deeply about that (Habakkuk 3:17-19).

Moreover, constant gratitude proves your faith in God. Not only should you thank Him for what He has done in the past, including the gift of eternal life, you should also thank Him for what He will do in the future. And, it’s that kind of faith that pleases God.

Again, the attribute of gratitude makes whole. The ten lepers were cleansed by Jesus, but it was the only one that returned with thanksgiving that was made whole (Luke 17:11-19). Obedience may attract the power of God, but it’s our grateful hearts that attract wholesome interventions.

Whatever we duly thank God for is what He protects, prospers and multiplies. Jesus gave thanks for seven loaves of bread and small pieces of fish. Thereafter, He comfortably fed a great multitude of hungry people, and they still had several baskets full of leftovers (Mark 8:1-9).

He also gave thanks for His privileged access and powers with God in prayers, and none of His prayers ever lacked potent answers (John 11:41-42).

Yes indeed, God vigorously intervenes in the affairs of those who demonstrate the attribute of gratitude: “But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel” (Psalms 22:3).

Friends, as you choose the attitude of constant gratitude, you’ll experience His mercy and loving-kindness in greater ways. You’ll also be filled with His peace, joy and such other benefits of abundant life He has prepared for you!

Please always keep in mind that ingratitude comes with immense dangers. It is the reason behind the sorrow and dryness of many people. Everything around them is dried up, having been cut off from the Source (Joel 1:12).

Most times, God wants to step into our situations, but it is our attitudes of gratitude and thanksgiving that will create that necessary atmosphere for His intervention. Besides, whatever is done grudgingly attracts no return because it is totally unacceptable to God.

Be ever grateful and thankful, cheerfully. Don't wait any longer; start thanking God for His goodness and mercies, right now! Start praising the Lord with great joy in the Holy Ghost.

Soon and very soon, the outstretched arms of the Almighty God will appear for you in all dimensions of your destiny. You won’t miss it, and you shall not fail, in Jesus Name. Amen. Happy Sunday!

____________________

Bishop Taiwo Akinola,

Rhema Christian Church,

Otta, Ogun State, Nigeria.

Connect with Bishop Akinola via these channels:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/bishopakinola

SMS/WhatsApp: +234 802 318 4987

We all know God is love and loving. His love for the redeemed is everlasting. Nevertheless, it is also imperative to know that God can be terrible.

God does things that are terrible and awesome. That is why Moses says He is “fearful in praises.” (Exodus 15:11). The writer of Hebrews warns: “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” (Hebrews 10:31). Paul says: “Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men.” (2 Corinthians 5:11).

Most Christians see God in one-dimension. We see Him as a goody-goody God. But God Himself warns against this. He says:

“It shall come to pass at that time that I will search Jerusalem with lamps, and punish the men who are settled in complacency, who say in their heart, ‘The Lord will not do good, nor will He do evil.’” (Zechariah 1:12).

It is the same loving God that proclaimed these terrible curses and more in the scriptures on those who failed to obey His commandments:

“The Lord will send on you cursing, confusion, and rebuke in all that you set your hand to do, until you are destroyed and until you perish quickly, because of the wickedness of your doings in which you have forsaken Me. The Lord will make the plague cling to you until He has consumed you from the land which you are going to possess. The Lord will strike you with consumption, with fever, with inflammation, with severe burning fever, with the sword, with scorching, and with mildew; they shall pursue you until you perish. And your heavens which are over your head shall be bronze, and the earth which is under you shall be iron. The Lord will change the rain of your land to powder and dust; from the heaven, it shall come down on you until you are destroyed. (Deuteronomy 28:20-24).

Evil Foundations

Many Christians do not seem to know that the evil in the world is the result of God’s judgment against the sins of the world. This means we often suffer for the sins of others. A drunk driver maims an innocent bystander. An armed robber kills even the righteous.

Moreover, we are afflicted for our own sins. “Whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.” (Galatians 6:7). If we do not repent, we will perish. (Luke 13:1-5).

But equally devastating are the sins we inherit: “Our fathers sinned and are no more, but we bear their iniquities.” (Lamentations 5:7).

This is because God is a jealous God: “Visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Him.” (Exodus 20:5).

David asks: “If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?” (Psalm 11:1). When Jesus inaugurated His ministry, He read from Isaiah. The scripture He read details what the Messiah would do. It then goes on to declare what is expected of the redeemed:

“They shall rebuild the old ruins, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the ruined cities, the desolations of many generations.” (Isaiah 61:4).

Many are suffering needlessly the evil foundations inherited from their ancestors. When you tell them they have to uproot these foundations, they argue with you. Thus, God warns about generational curses:

“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.” (Hosea 4:6).

God says: “Your covenant with death will be annulled, and your agreement with Sheol will not stand.” (Isaiah 28:15). Jesus reiterates this: “Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted.” (Matthew 15:13).

This expedient is the basic assignment of the prophet. God says to Jeremiah: “See, I have this day set you over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out and to pull down, to destroy and to throw down, to build and to plant.” (Jeremiah 1:10).

This is the promise of God our Redeemer: “On Mount Zion, there shall be deliverance, and there shall be holiness; the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions.” (Obadiah 1:17).

“Those from among you shall build the old waste places; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; and you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach, the Restorer of Streets to Dwell In.” (Isaiah 58:12).

Confessions

O Lord. rebuke my evil foundations and cast them into the sea of forgetfulness forever in Jesus’ Name. O Lord, deliver me from every evil foundation that my ancestors have created for me in Jesus’ Mighty Name. I break myself loose from every inherited evil curse in the Name of Jesus.

O Lord my God, by the authority you have given me in the Name of Jesus I pull down, demolish, and destroy every evil foundation fighting against me and my family in Jesus’ Name. From today, I declare that I and my family are free from every foundational problem created by my forefathers in Jesus’ victorious Name. Amen and Amen!

Generational Problems

Eliphaz says: “Affliction does not come from the dust, nor does trouble spring from the ground; yet man is born to trouble, as the sparks fly upward.” (Job 5:6-7).

Men are often born to trouble for generational reasons. There are afflictions that come down from fathers and grandfathers as far as to the fourth generation. This is why David makes the curious observation that: “The wicked are estranged from the womb; they go astray as soon as they are born, speaking lies.” (Psalm 58:3).

Abraham lied to Abimelech that Sarah, his wife, was his sister. (Genesis 20:2). Abraham’s son, Isaac, also lied to the men of Gerar that Rebekah, his wife, was his sister. (Genesis 25:6-7). Jacob, the son of Isaac, lied to his father that he was Esau. (Genesis 27:19). The sons of Jacob lied to Shechem and Hamor and had them killed. (Genesis 34:13-17).

This pattern of telling lies becomes a cycle of life passed on from generation to generation.

Evil Inheritance

“Then one from the crowd said to Him, ‘Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.’ But He said to him, ‘Man, who made Me a judge or an arbitrator over you?’” (Luke 12:13-14).

Just as people inherit lands, houses, money, shares, cars etc., even so they inherit curses, barrenness, poverty, familiar spirits, ill health, and premature death.

Jesus has come to give us a better inheritance: “The Lord said to Aaron: ‘You shall have no inheritance in their land, nor shall you have any portion among them; I am your portion and your inheritance among the children of Israel.” (Numbers 18:20).

We must acknowledge in the altar of prayer that: “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs — heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ.” (Romans 8:16-17).

Therefore, Jesus enjoins us: “Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven.” (Matthew 23:9).

Confessions

Every evil family inheritance in my life, let it be flushed out by the blood of Jesus and destroyed in Jesus’ Name. I release myself from every inherited bondage in Jesus’ Name. I uproot every evil plantation in my life in Jesus’ Name.

I break and loose myself from every inherited evil covenant in Jesus’ Name. Let the resurrection power of Christ overshadow me in Jesus’ Name.

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; www.femiaribisala.com 

We all crave respect. It’s a universal desire, isn’t it?

But how often do we feel truly respected in our day-to-day lives?

You put in the effort, act kindly, work hard, and what do you get in return? Sometimes, it feels like nothing.

It can seem like the respect you so desire is always out of reach, like you’re always trying to catch up with it.

If this resonates with you, you’re not alone.

Many of us feel this way. We feel as though our actions aren’t valued or respected.

But here’s the kicker… maybe it’s not about others not respecting us. Maybe it’s about certain behaviors we need to let go of.

And that’s exactly what we’re going to delve into today.

I’m going to share with you seven behaviors you might need to say goodbye to if you want to gain the respect you deserve.

Now, I’m not saying it’s going to be easy – some of these might be tough pills to swallow.

But, if we’re talking real, true respect? It’s worth it.

So, are you ready? Let’s dive in.

1. Being defensive

We’ve all been there. Someone criticizes us or points out a mistake, and our immediate reaction is to get defensive.

I remember once, in my early career, my boss pointed out an error in one of my reports. Instead of accepting it, I immediately started making excuses and blaming others.

It was a knee-jerk reaction to protect my pride.

But in hindsight, I realize how this behavior could have been perceived as immature and disrespectful.

Over time, I’ve learned that the key to earning respect is to take responsibility, accept criticism gracefully and use it as an opportunity to learn and grow.

2. Constant negativity

I’ll admit, I used to be a bit of a ‘Debbie Downer’. I’d find fault with everything–the weather, my colleagues, even the coffee in the break room. It was draining, not just for me but for those around me too.

But then a friend pointed out how this constant negativity was impacting others and my own mental health. It was a wake-up call.

I started making conscious efforts to be more positive and appreciative. It was hard at first but gradually, I noticed a shift in the way people interacted with me.

The more positive I became, the more respect I received.

This taught me that respect isn’t just about what you do; it’s also about your attitude towards life and those around you.

3. Gossiping

Did you know that people instinctively associate the traits they hear described with the person discussing them?

This phenomenon, known as spontaneous trait transference, means that if you’re often caught gossiping about others, people may begin to associate the negative traits you’re discussing with you.

So, if respect is what you’re after, it might be time to step away from the office gossip.

Not only does it show a lack of respect for others, but it can also negatively impact how others perceive you.

Strive to be someone who spreads positivity and encouragement instead of rumors and negativity.

4. Not keeping your word

Promises are powerful. They’re the invisible threads that bind relationships, whether personal or professional.

When we give our word, we’re establishing trust, setting expectations, and creating a sense of security.

But what happens when we break that promise? That trust, those expectations, that sense of security – they all crumble.

I remember a time when I promised to help a friend with a project. But due to unforeseen circumstances, I couldn’t follow through. The disappointment in my friend’s eyes was heart-wrenching.

From that day forward, I made a pact with myself – if I give my word, I will keep it. If there’s even a sliver of doubt, I won’t make the promise in the first place.

This approach has helped me earn respect from my friends, colleagues, and even from myself.

Because at the end of the day, respect is about trust. And trust is built on keeping your word.

5. Always needing to be right

Oh boy, this one hits close to home. I used to be that person who always had to have the last word. Whether it was at work, in discussions with friends, or even during trivial arguments about who’s the best football player, I always felt the need to be right.

It wasn’t until a close friend pointed out how this behavior was affecting our relationship that I realized the problem. She said it felt like I was more interested in winning the argument than understanding her point of view.

That conversation was an eye-opener for me. I started working on listening more and arguing less. I realized that it’s okay to not always be right and that sometimes, understanding is more important than winning.

And you know what? It made a huge difference. Not only did my relationships improve, but I also noticed a newfound respect from people around me. Turns out, being open-minded and willing to learn from others is a surefire way to earn respect.

6. Over-sharing personal information

We live in a world where it’s all too easy to share every aspect of our lives. Social media has blurred the lines between what’s private and what’s public.

I remember when I shared everything, from what I had for breakfast to my deepest feelings, on my social media platforms. It felt like being open and transparent.

But over time, I realized that there’s a fine line between being open and over-sharing.

Over-sharing can make people uncomfortable and lead them to question your judgment.

It’s crucial to maintain some level of privacy, not just for your own sake but for the comfort of those around you as well.

7. Lack of empathy

Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of others. It’s a trait that is deeply connected to respect. One cannot exist without the other.

People who display empathy are more likely to be respected by their peers.

When we show understanding and compassion towards others, we are acknowledging their feelings and validating their experiences, which in turn breeds respect.

8. Disrespecting others

The golden rule of respect is simple: treat others as you want to be treated. If you want to be respected, you need to show respect towards others.

This includes respecting their time, their boundaries, and their feelings.

No one likes to feel disrespected or taken for granted.

So next time you’re in a situation where you’re tempted to disregard someone else’s feelings or boundaries, remember – respect is a two-way street.

In conclusion, gaining respect isn’t about changing who you are. It’s about letting go of behaviors that can hinder your relationships with others.

So take a step back, evaluate your actions, and see if there’s anything you need to say goodbye to.

You might just find that the respect you’ve been seeking has been within your reach all along.

Ideapod

Nigeria’s manufacturing activity shrank for the second straight month in November, affected by rising price levels that kept customers at bay.

This is contained in the Stanbic IBTC Bank Nigeria Purchasing Manager Index (PMI) released Friday.

PMIs track the prevailing direction of economic trends in manufacturing and service sectors, providing credible data on business conditions to analysts, decision-makers and investors.

A reading above 50 indicates an improvement, while that below that threshold means a contraction.

The report said Friday that the country’s PMI for November was 48, down from 49.1 the month before.

New orders and output both receded in the face of surging purchase prices, which accelerated at the quickest rate in two years, spurred by exchange rate volatility and jumps in fuel and material costs.

All that happened as Nigeria’s inflation hit its most elevated level in 18 years, setting business activity up for its sharpest decline since the cash crunch early in the year.

“The heightened inflationary environment appears to depress consumer demand considerably as lack of customers was a reason for the reduced output,” Muyiwa Oni, head of Equity Research West Africa at Stanbic IBTC Bank, said.

“Sharp increases in prices deterred clients from making new orders during November. As a result, new business decreased for the second consecutive month.”

Wholesale and retail companies were most hurt by the slump. Meanwhile, agriculture was the only sector that reported an expansion in output.

Companies jacked up selling prices significantly again apparently in response to soaring input costs, passing costs on to customers. That could increase the inflation rate for the month further when the consumer price index is issued later in December.

Stanbic IBTC Bank Nigeria PMI observed that roughly half of the purchasing managers it surveyed increased their charges during the month.

Business confidence was at its lowest ebb since July, caused by anxieties around the effects of inflationary pressure on demand.

On the upside, staffing levels increased for the seventh successive month in November.

“Wages also increased as companies looked to help staff with higher living and transportation costs,” the document said.

Another bright spot was that business investment and plans to start new plants strengthened the hope that output would improve in the year ahead.

PT

Naira dropped to a record low against the dollar on Friday on the official market, close to the rate at which it trades on the unofficial parallel market.

The currency of Africa's biggest economy fell as low as N1,160 to the dollar, LSEG data showed, before recovering to around 800 naira.

The naira's official exchange rate has been drifting towards the parallel market level as the Central Bank of Nigeria is yet to clear outstanding foreign-currency amounts owed in forward deals.

Last week, CBN Governor Olayemi Cardoso said he would allow market forces to determine exchange rates while setting clear, transparent and harmonised rules governing market operations.

The currency sold at around 1,165 naira on the parallel market on Friday.

Reuters

Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) says accounts without a bank verification number (BVN) or national identification number (NIN) will be restricted from March 1, 2024.

In a circular on Friday, CBN said a “Post No Debit or Credit” will be placed on funded accounts without BVN or NIN on March 1, 2024.

CBN said it has also amended the regulatory framework for BVN operations and watch-list for the Nigerian banking industry to strengthen the know-your-customer (KYC) procedures in financial institutions.

“As part of its effort in promoting financial system stability, it becomes necessary to strengthen the Know Your Customer (KYC) procedures in financial institutions under the purview of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN),” CBN said.

“Accordingly, the CBN hereby issues an amendment to Section 1.5.3 of the Regulatory Framework for Bank Verification Number (BVN) Operations and Watch-List for the Nigerian Banking Industry (The Guidelines).”

CBN said part of the amendment includes mandatory BVN and NIN for all tier-1 bank accounts and wallets for individuals.

Also, the apex bank said it remains mandatory for tiers two and three accounts and wallets for individual accounts to have BVN and NIN.

In the circular, CBN said the process for account opening would commence by “electronically retrieving BVN or NIN-related information from the NIBSS’ BVN or NIMC’s NIN databases and for same to become the primary information for onboarding of new customers”.

The amendment also requires all existing customer accounts and wallets for individuals with validated BVN to be profiled in the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) industry customer account database (ICAD) immediately and within 24 hours of opening accounts and wallets.

“Effective immediately, no new Tier 1 accounts and wallets should be opened without BVN or NIN,” CBN said.

“For ALL existing Tier1 accounts/wallets without BVN or NIN: Effective immediately, any unfunded account/wallet shall be placed on “Post No Debit or Credit” until the new process is satisfied.

“Effective March 1, 2024, all funded accounts or wallets shall be placed on “Post No Debit or Credit” and no further transactions permitted.

CBN said all BVN or NIN attached to all accounts and wallets must be electronically revalidated by January 31, 2024.

The Cable

A member of the House of Representatives, Yusuf Galambi, has accused President Bola Tinubu of presenting ’empty’ boxes supposedly containing the 2024 budget to the joint session of the National Assembly.

Galambi, a member of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) representing Gwaram federal constituency of Jigawa State, made the allegation during an interview with BBC Hausa Service on Friday.

The lawmaker, in the interview, said Tinubu read out his budget speech including proposals for sectors but did not give the lawmakers the documents as was the tradition by previous presidents.

The president, on Wednesday, presented the N27.5 trillion proposed budget for 2024 to the joint session of the National Assembly co-chaired by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen.

Christened ‘Budget of Renewed Rope’. the proposal was designed to address economic growth, human capital development, poverty reduction and insecurity, according to Mr Tinubu.

Procedurally, after reading his budget speech, Tinubu laid two boxes containing the budget documents on the table in front of the presiding officers.

The boxes had the colour of the Nigerian national flag of green-white-green.

Both chambers read the budget for the first time on Wednesday shortly after Tinubu presented it.

They also passed the document for a second reading on Friday after two days of debate and subsequently referred it to their committees on appropriation.

Empty boxes

Galambi said the boxes Tinubu ‘bowed’ and kept for the lawmakers were empty.

“The president read out to us his speech on the proposed budget but we’ve not seen the document to work on.

“Of course, he read the estimates for the various sectors. But as it has always been the tradition, a document is always presented (to the lawmakers) but he (Tinubu) didn’t do that,” he said.

When the BBC reporter insisted that the president was seen laying the “document”, Galambi said when the lawmakers checked they couldn’t find anything in the boxes laid by Tinubu.

“We’ve checked but there was nothing inside. We checked it. In the history of the National Assembly, this was the first time such a thing happened.

“The constitution has made it clear (that a document must be presented) but this time, it was only a reading on paper. They didn’t provide the document for us to go through and see what is proposed for each sector. Maybe they’ll bring it later,” Galambi said.

The opposition lawmaker, who was first elected into the House in 2007, said the decision by Tinubu to present empty boxes surprised the lawmakers because “we never expected it even in our wildest dreams.”

Galambi accused the president of deceit.

“If he (Tinubu) was not ready, if the budget proposal was not ready to be presented, he shouldn’t have come and said he was done. We could have given him more time, why the haste? Why would he come and read something and even say he has kept it (document) when it’s empty,” he said.

Cover up

The lawmaker alleged that the leaders of the National Assembly are covering up Tinubu’s act.

“They (leaders of the National Assembly) don’t want anyone to talk about it. Maybe they were not informed or were possibly aware of what was planned and they decided not to inform us,” he said.

When contacted, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Print Media, Abdulaziz Abdulaziz, said the allegation was aimed at misleading the public.

“It’s a nonsensical allegation aimed to mislead. The president is never expected to present the whole haul of heavy documents. What happened at the laying is like the presentation of dummy cheques at award ceremonies. The real thing always follows,” Abdulaziz said in a WhatsApp message sent to PREMIUM TIMES on Friday.

PT