By Henry Ukazu

Dear Destiny Friends,

Each delay is perfectly fine, for we are within the safe hands of God – Madame Guyon

Many principles, other than perception, govern life and living, and they include, no pain, no gain; seed time and harvest time; Karma and gravity. There’s however, another principle called delayed gratification. A thorough understanding, and successful application of these principles will yield positive results.

But uniformed minds are still at sea as regards how the principles of life work. They feel and think life is a function of chance, connections, forces of the universe and divine providence. Yes, all these acts play a role in influencing how life operates, but the ultimate and universal truth is that, apart from God, life is governed by principles. Even nature made it possible for a woman to conceive for nine months all things being equal, before she is delivered of her child.

It is worthy of note that there principles that are endearing to the heart. They are the principles of honesty, integrity, courage, humility, love, responsibility, service, and discipline; all these makes one to be unique. People will respect and work with you when they know you, and what you represent. They will adjust to suit you.

Here are a few examples that illustrate life as governed by principles:

Spiritual Growth Principle:

This principle refers to a belief in something greater than oneself. It involves finding purpose, meaning, and inner strength through connecting with a higher power or connecting with one’s own inner wisdom. It is what you believe that will work for you. If you keep thinking about lack, the spirit of lack will gradually come to you without knowing. But if you are thinking about wealth, riches, abundance, the spirit of greatness will gradually attract opportunities that will usher you into the reign you desire and deserve.

Did you know one can have spiritual delays? You may be wondering how spiritual delay can affect you. You may have received a prophecy or proclamation from someone in authority, revelation via dream or even parental blessing; that’s very okay, but its manifestations will come through if you abide by the rules governing the revelations or proclamations. But when you decide to do otherwise, the blessings and opportunities will be delayed.

Spiritual principles work with the mindset. It attracts what it likes. Spiritual growth encourages individuals to cultivate gratitude, find peace within, and seek guidance and support in their recovery process.

The Principle of Service:

One of the best ways to get an opportunity is through service. Sometimes, opportunities come to you when you decide to intern, volunteer or even within communities. Trust me, people see people who participate. This principle works with leadership. You can’t be a great leader without being a good servant.

Through service, individuals not only assist others in their own recovery journey but also experience personal growth and fulfillment. By extending a helping hand, individuals create a sense of community, find inspiration, and reinforce their own commitment to sobriety. Service can take various forms, such as sharing experiences, providing support, or volunteering organizations.

These principles serve as guiding lights for individuals navigating the path of addiction recovery, emphasizing self-reflection, spiritual growth, and helping others.

One of the principles of life that is not properly understood is the principle of delayed success. As human beings, we sometimes experience delays in our business, academic, marriage, career or vocation. We may be thinking it’s over, but it’s not yet over, rather, it’s been packaged for a better time. One may be thinking life, and circumstances may be working against their interest, but that’s not the true position of things. According to Joel Osteen, it’s a setup for success. When life doesn’t go as planned, instead of questioning the moment, learn to appreciate the moment, especially when you have done what you are supposed to do.

To understand the relativity of destiny and delayed success, one’s destiny can’t be denied, at most, it can be delayed, and if it’s delayed, it’s for your own interest. One may be exploring an opportunity which is yet to manifest, rather than become anxious and desperate, be happy it didn’t happen yet because you may not know what would have happened assuming it happened.

Furthermore, to appreciate how delayed success works, as human beings, sometimes, waiting can be traumatic. This is because delays can make one to be unnecessarily anxious, impatient, and annoying. If it is not properly managed, it can cause more harm than good. Sometimes, we may ask ourselves, for how long will this suffering end, we fail to understand that delay can be orchestrated by the creator or universe to teach us humility, serenity, strength, and patience.

Did you know that delayed success if not properly managed can affect future opportunities especially when one is concerned about the past as opposed to enjoying the present? If you live in the past, you are likely to be stuck in the “why” mode. That means you always think about why things happened. That’s a recipe for unhappiness.

If you live in the future, you live in the “what if” mode. That state of mind causes anxiety about everything that might happen in the future. Again, that’s a recipe for living a timid life. How about living in the present mode and enjoying the vicissitudes life is bringing to you? You may stand a chance to learn one or two things.

In conclusion, as you journey towards life, endeavor to learn the associated principles, and one you experience delay, also learn the associated lessons because, above all, the principles will help you to relate with any situation.

Henry Ukazu writes from New York. He works with the New York City Department of Correction as the Legal Coordinator.  He’s the founder of Gloemi. He’s a Transformative Human Capacity and Mindset coach. He is also a public speaker, youth advocate, creative writer and author of Design Your Destiny Design Your  and Unleash Your Destiny .  He can be reached via info@gloemi.com

The much awaited annual National Security Conference and Awards of the National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP), has finally arrived with the who is who in the Nigerian Security, cybersecurity, media and technology sector headlining the all important intellectual discourse.

Scheduled to hold at the Ballroom of the prestigious Oriental Hotel, Lekki, Lagos, on Wednesday, October 9, 2024, the Conference, with the theme, CONNECTING THE DOT BETWEEN IDENTITY TRACKING AND NATIONAL SECURITY, has been described by the Association’s national president, Mr. Oki O. Samson, as the mother of all Security discourses in recent times.

Speaking in a statement signed by the Association’s Public Relations Officer, Mr. Eric Elezuo, the president noted that security giants in the Nigerian body polity are expected to grace the event. Some of them are the Honourable Minister of State for Police Affairs, Hajia Imaam Sulaiman-Ibrahim, who will be the Distinguished Keynote Speaker, having dedicated her service years to projection of intelligence gathering and extraordinary policing, and the hardworking and he for she Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun.

Others are the Executive Governor of Kogi State, His Excellency, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, Board Member of Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF), Dr. Ayo Ogunsan, who has remained a Security giant, leading Lagos State to the forefront of perfect safety and funding of agencies through provision of apparatuses and equipment required for excellent policing; the Executive Vice Chairman and CEO, Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC), Dr. Aminu Maida and Chairman, Ovation Media Group, Aare Dele Momodu.

Also making the list of notable personalities expected at the meet are Commandant General of NSCDC, Dr. Ahmed A. Audi; Executive Secretary/CEO of LSSTF, Dr. Abdurrazaq Balogun; the Managing Director, Executive Trainers Ltd, Dr. Mrs. Ajoke Ogunsan; Comptroller General of Nigeria Customs, CG Bashir Adewale Adeniyi; Executive Vice Chairman/CEO, NASENI, Engr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu and Senator Aliyu Ahmed Wadada.

Also confirmed among the attendees are Corps Marshal of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), CM Shehu Mohammed; GMD/Chairman of Adron Homes and Properties, Aare (Dr.) Adetola Emmanuel-King; Assistant Inspector-General of Police, AIG Zone 2, AIG Adegoke Fayoade; Chairman of Police Service Commission (PSC), DIG Hashimu Salihu Argungu (Retd); Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Ishola Olarenwaju Olawale; MD/CEO, Lagos State Bus Service Limited, Mr. Idowu Oguntona; CEO, Lagos Computerised Vehicle Inspection Service, (LACVIS), Prince Segun Obayendo; Board Member of Abia State Security Trust Fund, ASSTF, Mrs. Ngozi Ekeoma; and Commander, TRACE Ogun State, Commander (Dr.) Abdulfatai Olaseni Ogunyemi.

The statement hinted that the 2024 National Conference, which is in its 5th edition, is an avenue for the stakeholders in the private and public security sectors to brainstorm, and proffer solutions to the perennial security challenges that have bedeviled the nation across the regions.

“This is going to be a total shutdown in security conferences as an array of security giants are scheduled to attend and lend their professional opinions to the rising insecurity in the country, and provide sustainable solutions.

“The Association has put in so much in organizing the conference, and the impact is expected to arouse a new consciousness in safety, and a redefinition in security awareness.
“It is about connecting the severance dots that exists between identity tracking and national security towards ensuring that diverse security agencies synergise to protect the security architecture of the nation,” the statement noted.

Other personalities expected at the annual fiesta are GMD/CEO, Zenith Bank Plc, Dame (Dr.) Adaora Umeoji; MD/CEO, Access Bank Plc, Mr. Roosevelt Ogbonna; GMD/CEO, UBA Plc, Mr. Oliver Alawuba; GMD/CEO, Fidelity Bank Plc, Dr. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe; Founder, Mountain of Fire Ministries (MFM), Prof. Daniel K. Olukoya; Head of National Office, WAEC Nigeria, Dr. Amos Josiah Dangut; Hon. Mohammed Bello El-Rufai, Special Adviser to the Senate President on Legal Matters; Dr. Monday Onyekachi Ubani, SAN.

Executive Chairman of Agboyi-Ketu LCDA, Mayor Hon. Dele Osinowo; Commandant, NSCDC, FCT Command, Commandant (Dr.) Olusola Odumosu; General Manager, LASTMA, Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki. Evangelist Ebuka Obi of Zion Movement, CEO, Badinson Security Services, Dr. Matthew Ibadin and Force PRO, Nigeria Police Force, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi.

The event starts at 10am prompt.

Rivers State governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has declared Thursday, October 3 and Friday, October 4 as public holidays to enable residents travel to their various communities to participate in the October 5 local government elections.

The governor also announced restrictions of vehicular movement from midnight on Friday, October 4 to 5pm on the election day.

Fubara made the declarations during a statewide broadcast at the Government House in Port Harcourt on Wednesday.

Fubara said the local government elections became necessary following the expiration of the three-year tenure of the chairmen and councilors of the 23 local government councils on June 17, 2023.

He said he lawfully instituted caretaker committees to temporarily administer the 23 local government areas pending when the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) would conduct the elections.

He said the judgment of the Supreme Court delivered on July 11, 2024 effectively outlawed the administration of local government councils with unelected officers and made several orders including the immediate stoppage of statutory allocations to local government councils without democratically elected officials.

He said: “Following Mr President’s intervention, the period for compliance with the Supreme Court’s judgment was graciously extended by three months, which will expire on the 31st of October 2024.

“On the strength of these positive developments, I directed the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) to take definite steps to conduct local government elections for the 23 local government councils of Rivers State.

“Acting on this directive the RSIEC has since fixed and concluded all arrangements to conduct the Local Government Council election on Saturday, October 5, 2024.”

Fubara highlighted the legal impetus of RSIEC to conduct the local government elections saying it was further strengthened by the judgment of the Rivers State High Court delivered on September 4, 2024.

He said the judgment positively directed the Governor of Rivers State, the Government of Rivers State and the RSIEC to conduct the scheduled local government elections on the 5th of October 2025 using the 2023 Independent National Electoral Commission’s Voters’ register already in the custody of RSIEC.

He said: “As of today, RSIEC has expressed and demonstrated concrete and verifiable capacity and readiness to conduct the 2024 Rivers State Local Government Elections on the 5th of October 2024.

“As of today, 17 out of 18 registered political parties, including the All Progressives Congress, have expressly and actively demonstrated their willingness to participate by filling candidates with RSIEC for the election.

“As of today, over 10 States in Nigeria have conducted local government council elections using the 2023 INEC Voters’ Register since the Supreme Court’s judgment and Rivers State cannot be an exception.

“As the Governor of Rivers State, I swore to uphold the Constitution of Nigeria and abide by the rule of law and the principles of democracy.

“Any failure on our part to conduct the Local Government election would be a clear disobedience of the Supreme Court’s mandatory order that no State Government must administer the Local Government Councils in Nigeria with unelected officers with the attendant consequence of the State and the people being denied the statutory allocations due to the 23 local government areas of the State.

“The Rivers State Government would also be acting in contempt of the judgment of the High Court of Rivers State in Suit No: PHC/2696/CS/2024, which restrains the Governor, the State Government, and RSIEC from scuttling the conduct of the local government elections scheduled for October 5th, 2024.”

Fubara insisted that on the strengths of the provisions of the Constitution as amended, the Supreme Court Judgment and the judgment of the High Court of Rivers State, the government remained irrevocably committed to conducting the election.

“Any failure on our part to conduct the local government election would be a clear disobedience of the Supreme Court’s mandatory order that no State Government must administer the local government councils in Nigeria with unelected officers with the attendant consequence of the State and the people being denied the statutory allocations due to the 23 local government areas of the State.

“The Rivers State Government would also be acting in contempt of the judgment of the High Court of Rivers State in Suit No: PHC/2696/CS/2024, which restrains the governor, the State Government, and RSIEC from scuttling the conduct of the local government elections scheduled for October 5th, 2024.″

Fubara insisted that on the strengths of the provisions of the Constitution as amended, the Supreme Court Judgment and the judgment of the High Court of Rivers State, the State government remains irrevocably committed to conducting the election.

The governor said: “Against these backgrounds, I wish to assure every resident that the election for the 23 Local Government Councils in Rivers State shall be held on Saturday 5th October 2024 throughout the State.

“The State Government has provided the necessary funds and logistics for RSIEC, which has assured me that it is fully prepared and ready to conduct and deliver a fair, free, and credible local government council election as scheduled.

“Therefore, I wish to advice and request all registered voters to go to their polling units to exercise their franchise by voting for the candidates of their choice, as security personnel would be there to maintain order and ensure peaceful polls as a matter of constitutional duty.

“We are leaving no stone unturned to enable all registered voters to travel to their communities to participate and peacefully exercise their civic responsibility at their polling units.

“To this end, I hereby declare Thursday and Friday, the 3rd and 4th of October 2024 as public holidays for citizens to travel to their communities and participate in the election.

“Furthermore, I hereby place a total restriction on vehicular and human movements into, within, and out of the State, and the local government areas, from midnight of Friday 4th October 2024 to 5.00 pm on Saturday 5th October 2024, except for persons and vehicles valid identifications who are on election and other essential duties.”

Fubara said the police and other security agencies had clear directives from the State’s Security Council to arrest and prosecute any person or group attempting to violate the restriction on human and vehicular movements on election day.

The governor said appreciated the State’s Security High Command for their cooperation and commitment to effectively secure the state and ensure peaceful trouble-free local government elections.

“As citizens, we all owe our State the commitment to support the RSIEC to succeed in delivering on its constitutional duty to conduct a free, fair, and credible local government council election to usher in a new set of democratically elected leaders to administer the 23 local government councils,” the governor said.