By Henry Ukazu

Dear Destiny Friends,

Happy New Year and compliments of the season!

It’s always a thing of joy to see a new day, new week, new month, new year, new decade, and a new century. The occasion really calls for celebration. At the beginning of each year, we all desire to have new blessings, new opportunities, new successes, new health and more. The big question we need to ask ourselves is how one can we attract these opportunities, and blessings attached.

I will try to be practical in my thoughts and opinions. To attract blessings into one’s life is not difficult, in fact, it is one of the easiest things to do. This is because it costs less to be healthy, and it costs more to be unhealthy. It sounds confusing right? Okay, let me explain a little, to stay healthy, one can take fruits, exercise, do a yearly checkup, sleep, meditate, think positive amidst other activities. Literally looking at it, it might appear expensive and hard to accomplish but imagine the cost it will take to visit the hospital to undergo a medical procedure just because you neglected your health.

It’s instructive to note that the human body system doesn’t ordinarily break down, it takes a little bit of process which accumulates. Imagine if one has taken time to do exercise, eat healthy, and rest, most of the illnesses we suffer will drastically reduce.

So, as already stated, to attract opportunities and blessings into one’s life is not difficult; it’s just a matter of attitude. Like I always say, you’ll get what you want faster when you help other people to achieve what they want. To attract these opportunities is not rocket science, all we need to do is to apply the right attitude.

We are just three days into the year 2025, many of us have made resolutions of what we will do and what we will stop to be productive. Do you know the fastest way to attract blessings into your life is to have a good attitude? Attitude is a currency. Net worth is a currency. Relationship is a currency. Impact is a currency. For one to tap into these currencies one needs to have a good attitude. It’s your attitude that will make people to either like or despise you.

If you don’t have a good attitude, you won’t attract the opportunity that will bless you. Let me share a little secret that has worked for me over the years. I am a very intentional person. Most times, I pay it forward without knowing. I have since discovered that when one pays it forward by helping someone in need, the blessings are usually humongous. For instance, sometimes, just because I want someone to utter a form of prayer or goodwill like it will be well with you; God bless you, you will not lack; may God provide for you and your family, I will intentionally give them money or a kind of support.

Sometimes, I may make a purchase and decide to tell the seller to keep the change if I see the seller is struggling or it will put smiles on the face of the person. This is a skill I have mastered over time. It’s not really easy I must say, but it has over time, worked for me.

So, to attract the blessings of 2025 and beyond, consider offering yourself as a life of service to people in need. Don’t do it with a vested interest. There are many people in need in our society. Find time to see how you can support people financially, academically, spiritually, emotionally and otherwise. Trust me, if you can carry out this assignment diligently, the opportunities and blessings that will come upon you will have a ripple effect.

Again, to attract opportunities and blessings into your life, consider having a mentor with a positive influence, connect with successful people, attend workshops, read voraciously, especially on areas of interest so you can gain expertise, and acquire general knowledge; practice gratitude by showing appreciation and kindness, and most importantly, pray and acknowledge the role of  God as a higher power, depending on the faith and belief you practice.

In conclusion, life is generally about you, but not necessarily about you, it’s also about others. When you focus on yourself, your rewards might be less compared to when you focus on others. So, consider having a disposition of love, genuine affection, kindness, support and appreciation mixed with gratitude, and see how life will smile at you. Trust me, the universe will conspire to support you.

The President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Nze Ozichukwu Fidelis Chukwu, has posited that President Bola Tinubu would write his name in gold if he orders the release of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

Nze Chukwu made the appeal while welcoming Tinubu to the South East, ahead of his scheduled visit to Enugu State on Saturday.

He expressed delight over the gradual attitudinal change of the Federal government under Tinubu towards the Igbo nation.

Ohanaeze spokesman, Alex Ogbonnia, quoted Nze Chukwu as saying: “It is, therefore, hoped that with the Enugu visit, President Tinubu will write his name with gold in the hearts of Ndigbo and all the well-meaning Nigerians, if he orders for the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.”

Ohanaeze insisted that national peace, unity, patriotism and sustainable economic development of any country are the outcomes, effects or products of equity, and social justice.

“In other words, there is hardly any society or group that can be complacent under severe existential threats such as orchestrated marginalization, relative deprivations, and external instigation of insecurity, conflagrations and crises,” he added in a statement.

The organisation also commended Governor Peter Mbah for his “disruptive, innovative and massive infrastructural developments in Enugu State; Enugu International Conference Centre, Enugu Smart schools in all the electoral wards of Enugu State, hospitals across the states, resuscitation of Hotel Presidential Enugu, Flour Mills, Nigergas, the construction and rehabilitation of hundreds of roads in the State, etc, within a short period of his administration”.

The statement added: “We also appreciate His Excellency, Sen Hope Odidika Uzodimma, CON, the Chairman of the South East Governors Forum and Chairman of the All Progressive Governors Forum, for the life-saving installation of Night Landing Equipment at the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport, Owerri.

“Finally, we wish President Tinubu a safe, joyous and eventful trip as he is treated with the Igbo hospitality in Enugu State.”

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called for an urgent investigation into a recent military-style parade in honour of Seyi Tinubu, the son of President Bola Tinubu.

Describing the incident as a gross violation of military traditions, Atiku criticized the display, which he said undermines the integrity of Nigeria’s Armed Forces.

His media adviser Paul Ibe, in a statement on Sunday, said Atiku expressed outrage over a video circulating online that showed Seyi Tinubu receiving military honours from a group of young men in full military regalia.

He described the act as an “aberration” and demanded accountability.

Atiku specifically took issue with the group behind the display, the so-called “Nigeria Cadet Network,” which he alleged is not a recognized body within the Nigerian military.

“It is with utter dismay and concern that Nigerians were subjected to a nauseating video where a group of young men, armed and in full military procession, bestowed upon the President’s son unwarranted military honours,” the statement read.

Atiku noted that the use of the title “Cadet,” typically associated with young, formally trained military personnel, by an unregistered civilian group amounted to an exploitation of the military’s esteemed traditions.

The former Vice President also raised alarm over the apparent use of firearms during the parade, stressing the dangers of illegal arms proliferation in Nigeria.

“In an effort to uncover the truth behind this shameless procession, we instructed our legal team and military experts to investigate the so-called ‘Nigeria Cadet Network.’

To no one’s surprise, it was revealed that the group is not a legally registered entity,” Atiku stated.

“What is even more alarming is the brazen use of firearms by civilians in this so-called parade, at a time when illegal arms proliferation is at a dangerous high in our country.”

Atiku has called on Nigerian security agencies to urgently investigate the following: The legitimacy of the “Nigeria Cadet Network” and its use of the military title Cadet, the source and legality of the firearms displayed by members of the group, and the appropriateness of granting military honours to Seyi Tinubu by non-commissioned civilians under security protection.

Atiku emphasized the importance of protecting the reputation and traditions of the Nigerian Armed Forces, urging authorities to ensure accountability for any violations of the law.

“If it is determined that any legal violations were committed by the President’s son or members of the so-called ‘Nigeria Cadet Network,’ it is the constitutional duty of Nigerian security agencies to ensure that the law takes its course and those responsible are held accountable,” Atiku asserted.

The viral video, which emerged recently, has generated widespread debate and criticism on social media, with many questioning the implications of the parade for Nigeria’s military discipline and the rule of law.