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Food for Living: Of Fear and Faith
By Henry Ukazu
Dear Destiny Friends,
Fear and faith are two great rivals in the affairs of man. Where one is found, the other takes a leave. They can either make or mar any progressive being, and anybody who truly wants to succeed must know how to activate and control the inherent powers of these two great forces.
According to Dr. Yomi Garnett, “viewed from a spiritual perspective, fear and faith can be said to be opposites…and what each of them brings to our life is also opposites. Fear can lead to failure, while faith will lead to conquest”.
Question: Do you want to live in fear, or would you like to be associated with a conquered fellow?
One of the major killers of vision is fear, and one of the enablers of life is faith. When one is possessed with the spirit of fear, it will be difficult for that person to achieve their heart desires, but when one’s spirit is activated with the right amount of faith, even the highest fear will fade out.
One may be wondering, how fear and faith can be positively activated to attract success, ab at the same time be the destruction of man, if not properly managed.
What actually inspires a success-oriented mind? Obviously, several things activate one’s mind. To a lot of people, their greatest fears in life is poverty. These sets of people abhor being poor can mitigate their success in life, and as such they put in all their efforts to succeed.
To some, their greatest fear in life is failure. They can’t imagine the shame and defeat that come with failure, and as such they put in their best in whatever productive work they engage in.
Wen fear becomes extrem, it turns to phobia and dreaded. It’s instructive to note that some people have the phobia of height and flying. Some others have the phobia of pregnancy, traveling on water, approaching, or talking to people due to rejection, making mistakes, threading on new ground, among others.
To conquer this fear however, one needs to activate the inherent power of faith. Faith is the belief in what is not seen but hoped for. Any creative mind that wants to succeed in life must have faith not only in themselves, but in their businesses, academics, personal and professional developmental endeavours.
No great person has ever succeeded in life without faith. They believed in the possibility of their business even when there’s little or no hope of survival. They dared to succeed.
In contrast, fear has been th singular reason for most of the failures men have recorded. Some people even give up before they begin their project because of lack confidence and hope.
In some cases, this fear is projected by friends, family members, mentors or even trusted persons who don’t really know or understand what the person is working on. They just simply believe the project is bound to fail based on the prevailing circumstances or challenges surrounding the person or business.
This is how to activate and stimulate the subconscious and inherent power of faith. Imagine as a young man, you have interest in a lady, but you are wondering how to approach her considering her perceived response. It is not out of place to have a perception of the kind of respinse expected, but then, nothing ventured, nothing gained.
One of the best things the guy can do is to dare to succeed by reaching out to the lady. In the worst-case scenario, the lady might say no. In that case, the man will be satisfied he tried his best because the worst feelings to have in life is the feeling of regret.
Alternatively, the lady might like the guy and just play to the gallery just to gauge the man’s intent and seriousness. If the latter is true, the man is deemed lucky for daring to ask.
As a student, business owner, parent, teacher, government official, or pastor just to name a few; if you have a project or task in mind, don’t allow the fear of failure, disappointment or obstacles to weigh you down, look into the future with bold eyes, and with the mindset of faith in the impossible.
In conclusion, fear and faith are two necessary criteria needed in the journey of life. The ability to nurture both will go a long way in shaping not only our personal lives, but also our professional lives.
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 and Unleash Your Destiny. He can be reached via info@gloemi.com
The Head of the Rivers State Civil Service, Dr George Nwaeke, has resigned his appointment.
The resignation of the HoS, who served under the suspended Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, was contained in a statement issued by the Chief of Staff to the Sole Administrator and obtained by newsmen on Tuesday morning.
The Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), thanked Nwaeke for his service to him within the short period since he assumed office and wished him well in his future endeavours.
The statement reads, “The office of His Excellency, the Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral (retd.) Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas CFR, is saddened to announce the resignation of the Head of Service, Rivers State, Dr George Nwaeke, FCA, Mni.
“His Excellency, the Administrator appreciates the immense contributions he has shown this administration in the short period he served and wishes him well in his future endeavours.”
Meanwhile, Ibas has appointed Prof. Ibibi Worika as the new Secretary to the Rivers State Government.
Worika’s appointment was also contained in a statement from the office of the Sole Administrator also obtained on Tuesday morning.
The statement reads, “His Excellency, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (retd.) CFR, the Administrator of Rivers State, is pleased to announce the appointment of Professor Ibibia Lucky Worika as the new Secretary to the Rivers State Government (SSG).
“His appointment follows careful consideration of his credentials, extensive experience, and performance during rigorous selection process.
“Professor Worika’s distinguished career spans academia, international legal practice, and high-level policy advisory roles, making him uniquely qualified to support the administrator in the onerous task of achieving Mr President’s mandate. His appointment takes immediate effect.
“Professor Worika’s appointment reflects the administrator’s commitment to harnessing the great human capital of the Rivers’ people to work with him to achieve the much-needed peace, stability and security.”
The Punch
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Yes, We Collected $5000, But for Sallah, Not Bribe to Support Tinubu’s Emergency Declaration – Reps Member
The Chairman, House of Reps Committee on the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mukhtar Aliyu Betara, has denied that the $5,000 given to each member of the House were bribes to secure support for President Bola Tinubu’s emergency rule in Rivers State.
Investigative journalist, Jaafar Jaafar, said in a post on X (formerly Twitter) that Betara reached out to clarify that the $5,000 given to lawmakers was merely a “Sallah Gesture” and not an inducement.
According to the journalist, Betara said it is part of a long-standing tradition, adding that has nothing to do with the ongoing political crisis in Rivers State.
“The chairman of the House Committee on FCT, Mukhtar Aliyu Betara, has clarified to me that he only shared $5,000 to each member of his committee as a ‘Sallah Gesture’ not an inducement to support emergency rule in Rivers State. According to him, he maintains the tradition – like Santa Claus – every year. As we say in Hausa, not thigh but hind leg,” Jaafar posted.
However, this explanation corroborates previous media reports, which claimed that substantial sums were handed out at Senate President Godswill Akpabio’s Guest House in Maitama, Abuja, to sway lawmakers in favour of the emergency rule.
President Tinubu, last week, declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, citing political instability and security threats, including recent oil pipeline vandalism.
However, the revelations of cash-for-support allegations raise serious questions about the move’s legitimacy and the extent of the political manoeuvring behind it.
There is palpable tension in the ancient city of Kano following a parallel Sallah Durbar festival scheduled by the 15th Emir, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, and the 16th Emir, Khalifa Mohammadu Sanusi II.
The prolonged emirate tussle in the city is taking another tough dimension amidst a legal battle, as both contenders have mapped out separate lines of events with the full backing of the Federal and State governments.
In a letter signed by Bayero’s Private Secretary, Abdullahi Haruna Kwaru, addressed to the Commissioner of Police, the 15th Emir has notified the authorities of the plan and arrangements to conduct the traditional festival, including Hauwa Nasarawa and Daushe, to commemorate the end of Ramadan.
According to the schedule, Bayero’s festivities will feature Hawan Sallah, Hawan Daushe, and Hawan Nassarawa on the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd days of Shawwal 1446 AH, followed by a cultural event on the 4th day.
Kwaru noted that this year’s celebrations mark a significant milestone, coinciding with the Emir’s fifth anniversary on the throne of his forefathers.
“The purpose of this letter is to formally notify the security agencies in Kano State, particularly the Police Force, that this year’s Sallah events coincide with the five (5) years anniversary of His Highness on the throne of his forefathers, with the assurance that all activities will be conducted peacefully,” the letter read.
He expressed hopes for a peaceful celebration and prayed for protection, good health, and harmony in society, adding that the Emir’s office sought the cooperation of security agencies to ensure a peaceful and successful celebration.
Incidentally, Bayero’s notice of the event emerged on social media. Soon after, the Kano State Government directed the four recognized emirates, under the leadership of Khalifa Muhammadu Sanusi II, the 16th Emir of Kano, to commence full preparation for the Durbar festival.
Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf gave the directive while hosting the first and second-class emirs to a special Ramadan Iftar at the Government House, insisting that residents would not be denied the opportunity to relish the colorful traditional activities at the end of Ramadan.
The Kano Sallah Durbar festival is a famous tourist attraction that gathers visitors from within and outside Nigeria to witness the heritage of Hausa/Fulani culture at the Emir’s palace.
The Durbar features a colorful horse ride by the Emir, accompanied by district heads, traditional titleholders, and hundreds of their subjects, where they display ancient shows of strength and warrior traditions.
Besides the horse rides, the Sallah festival also witnesses the honor of homage by the Emir to the Government House (Hauwa Nassarawa) on the second day of Sallah, after the Governor would have paid a similar visit to the palace on Sallah day.
Coincidentally, while Governor Yusuf is scheduled to receive the homage of Muhammadu Sanusi and other second-class emirs at the Government House, The Guardian reliably gathered that Bayero would pay a similar visit to Federal Government delegations, including top members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) from Kano, at a local venue yet to be unveiled.
As at Sunday night, the Kano Police Command in Kano was yet to issue an official statement on the rising apprehension in the State.
However, the newly posted Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, upon his arrival, pledged to ensure the protection of lives and property.
Meanwhile, the police had banned the celebration of the Sallah Durbar festival last year following the emirship crisis and the attendant tension of a possible security threat in the city.
