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Food for Living: Success and the Laws of Karma
By Henry Ukazu
Dear Destiny Friends,
Success is something everyone of us aspire to achieve. While some of us will achieve success, some others will only attempt. There are variable factors which lead to success and there are variable factors which contribute to failure. If you do all you are supposed to do, you are likely to attain success, and if you don’t get it, that’s simply because it’s not yet time for you to get the desired success. You will get what you deserve only when you have earned the capacity to receive it. For instance, as a man, to get married, you must be of full age and capacity. However, you might have these two qualities, but ladies might still reject you for reasons best known to them.
It is instructive to note that if you prepare for your exam or any work, you’ll reap success, if you sow gratitude, you will reap appreciation. You can’t sow hatred on earth and expect to reap love. You can’t sow rice and reap beans. It’s simply against the law of nature.
Success neither depends on karma or luck. It is completely based on how you define it. Just like there are positives and negatives that associate any law that comes into existence, success also has its own advantages and disadvantages. For instance, when you attain a particular height in life, you have more expectations and responsibilities. It is not just about coming first in class, nor becoming rich, you are expected to maintain it, otherwise it will creep away.
The Karma of success works in different ways. It can prevent you from disaster when the force of the universe is working in your favour as a result of good deeds. For instance, if you are supposed to travel or win an election and God knows that if you travel by flight or road, your plane or car might crash, He will command the force of the universe to prevent you from making that trip. Do you know that sometimes God prevents you from attaining success because destruction might be waiting for you at the seat of success?
To succeed in life, you must know how to attract success like a magnet, and this entails laying a solid foundation. It is important to note that, “any seed you sow, you must reap it”. You can’t sow a bad seat and expect to reap a good seed, neither can you sow a good seed and reap a bad seed. However, there are situations when you sow a good seed and you reap a bad harvest, if that happens, just know that life happens to everyone. The good news is that the universe has a way of compensating you in ways and manners you won’t comprehend. The universe can pay you back via your child, family member, relative, unmerited opportunity, grace or even favour. All these might take years to happen, but when it does happen, you might not know it’s the good you sowed many years ago.
Let me share a practical experience with you. Many years ago, while in college, I once requested money from my late dad and he said, if he gives me money, I will use it for politics. I told him, if I take an extra penny from him, my child or children will take double from me even though I’m the richest man in the world, but if I save a penny for him, my child or children will save two pennies for me even though I’m the poorest man in the world. Do you see how good deeds can come back to you in the nearest future through your children because you have paid it forward? That’s simply how the Karma of success works.
Sometimes in life, you might do all you are expected to do, and don’t get the desired result. The question you should be asking yourself is, what seeds are you sowing? If you are determined to succeed in life, you must be extremely careful and intentional in how you approach the process. For instance, if you are seeking promotion in any company, you must be careful not to play odd cards to get the position. This is because when you destroy someone to get to a position, destruction surely awaits when you get to that position. When you pull people down to get an opportunity, be assured there are people waiting to pull you down when you get that opportunity. That’s simply how life and nature work.
To understand how the law of Karma works, any young lady who desires for her mother in- law to pass away before she marries her son should know that such fate awaits when her son wants to get married. It’s very sad and unfortunate to know that some women want to marry a man whose mother is dead. Again, it simply means that you’ll die before your son marries.
Many people who succeeded in life did not succeed on their own accord, strength, knowledge or connection. Sometimes their success is a result of the good deeds they have done for family, friends, or strangers for many years and that person either prayed for them or wished them well. Alternatively, it can be the law of nature or the universe working on that person for their past deeds and that person might not know. To understand how this works, have you noticed that, sometimes when you apply for a job, you might not have the best performance during the interview or even have the best grade, but for reasons beyond your comprehension, you were favored. That’s how the positive act of Karma works.
In conclusion, just like Isaac Newton stated, “whatever goes up must come down”. That’s Karma’s way of paying everyone of us back in due time for any deeds we commit. So, I charge you to sow good seeds as you journey through life because you don’t know the seeds that will germinate and sprout out into a mighty tree.
Henry Ukazu writes from New York. He’s a Human Capacity & mindset coach. He’s also a public speaker, youth advocate and creative writer. He works with the New York City Department of Correction as the Legal Coordinator. He’s the author of the acclaimed book Design Your Destiny – Actualizing Your Birthright To Success and President of gloemi.com. He can be reached via info@gloemi.com
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Tuesday laid before the Lagos State House of Assembly a N4.237 trillion Appropriation Bill for the 2026 fiscal year, describing it as an ambitious, future-driven financial plan aimed at solidifying his administration’s legacy in its final full year.
Presenting the proposal, titled the “Budget of Shared Prosperity,” the governor said it reflects the collective optimism that Lagos will continue to expand opportunities, strengthen its leadership role, and reinforce its status as Africa’s foremost megacity.
Sanwo-Olu disclosed that the budget projects total revenue of N3,993,774,552,141, comprising N3.12 trillion in Internally Generated Revenue and N874 billion in expected Federal Transfers. The funding structure, he noted, leaves a deficit financing requirement of N243,332,457,167.
For the 2026 fiscal year, capital expenditure is set at N2,185,085,419,495, while recurrent expenditure stands at N2,052,021,589,812. He explained that the recurrent component covers overheads, personnel costs, and debt obligations.
A breakdown of recurrent spending shows total overhead costs of N1,084,245,843,091, including general overheads, subventions and dedicated expenditures, while personnel costs amount to N440,494,339,384. Recurrent debt charges are projected at ₦143,876,701,943, with debt repayments estimated at N383,404,705,394.
Sanwo-Olu also outlined the sectoral distribution of the 2026 budget. General Public Services will receive N847,472,071,966; Public Order and Safety, N147,040,088,897; and Economic Affairs, N1,372,307,808,626. The Environment Ministry is allocated N235,957,235,138, while Housing receives N123,760,310,429.
The Health sector is earmarked N338,449,258,945; Education gets N249,132,921,287; Social Protection, N70,024,171,038; and the Recreation and Culture sector will take N54,682,339,586.
The governor said the year 2026 carries special weight as the last full calendar year of his administration, describing it as a period crucial for consolidating achievements and ensuring a “strong, successful finish.”
He reaffirmed his commitment to completing all ongoing and newly initiated projects, adding that his administration will continue to prioritise citizen engagement to ensure government decisions reflect the needs of Lagosians.
According to him, Lagos is entering a new phase of “accelerated impact,” driven by sustained investment in infrastructure, human capital, social welfare and governance systems that are “intentional, inclusive and future-oriented.”
Sanwo-Olu reiterated his administration’s core mission: “To keep Lagos secure, to keep Lagos working, to keep Lagos growing, and to make sure the prosperity we build is shared by everyone who calls this centre of excellence home.”
He commended the Lagos State House of Assembly for its consistent partnership, describing the lawmakers as steadfast allies in the state’s development journey. He also praised the civil service for its hard work in translating government vision into measurable progress.
DailyPost
The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Olohundare Jimoh, has disclosed that armed personnel have been deployed to all parts of Lagos State to protect schools and other public places.
CP Jimoh disclosed this on Monday while briefing journalists on the activities of the command in the last few months.
He also disclosed that no fewer than 56 criminals have also been arrested for different crimes in the last few months.
The police, however, stressed that the crime rate in the State has gone down significantly during the period under review.
The reinforcement of the security around the State may not be unconnected with the recent resurgence of kidnapping and violent attacks in some parts of the country.
According to police boss, the command also recovered ten exotic vehicles from robbers in different parts of the state.
CP Jimoh said: “The security situation in Lagos is not alarming, and we are firmly on top of the situation. During the period under review, there have not been any extraordinary or significant security problems throughout the bigger city.
This is not due to the police effort alone, it is due to the whole population and the collaboration and support of the public, individuals and other members of the public that have come to identify with the police and ensure the safety and protection of life and property throughout the State.”
CP Jimoh continued: “We are making significant progresses in the area of crime fighting and prevention. This with the introduction of new strategies.
It is due to the positive result that has led to the recovery of about 10 vehicles within the last few weeks.”
He stressed that during the month under review, the command recovered 10 vehicles stolen and one motorcycle removed from park.
Across multiple operations in November, the Command recovered six firearms, including locally made pistols, cut-tosize guns, a single cut-to-size barrel gun, multiple live cartridges, dangerous weapons such as a machete, a battle axe, and an assault dagger, as well as Nigerian military m camouflage, charms, and fake currency valued at four thousand dollars. ”
“These achievements are a testament to our sustained November strategy aimed at dismantling criminal gangs, intercepting stolen property, removing illegal firearms from circulation, and strengthening public safety across Lagos State.
“The total number of weapons and items recovered are: one machete, one battle axe, one assault dagger, one Nigerian military camouflage, one charm, and fake 4,000 USD,” the CP also stated.
He added: “These items were seized during intelligence-driven operations aimed at neutralising gangs responsible for violent crimes and coordinated attacks in different parts of Lagos State.
The recovery of these weapons and materials significantly disrupts the capabilities of criminal groups and enhances the overall security landscape of the State.”
CP Jimoh also urges people who may want to come and celebrate the Yuletide period in the state not to entertain any fear.
He noted that increased police surveillance had been put in place to prevent any breakdown of law and order during the celebration.
He added that he had also directed all Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers, Tactical Squads, and Unit Commanders to fortify worship centers with adequate security during services.
The United Kingdom Government has rejected Nigeria’s request to deport former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, to serve the remainder of his prison term at home, insisting he must complete his sentence in Britain.
Ekweremadu, 63, is serving nine years and eight months after he, his wife Beatrice, and their associate, Dr Obinna Obeta, were convicted in 2023 for conspiring to exploit a young Nigerian man for his kidney. The organ was intended for transplant to Ekweremadu’s ailing daughter, Sonia, in what became the first conviction for organ trafficking under the UK’s Modern Slavery Act.
While, Beatrice, who received a four-and-a-half-year sentence—with half served in custody—was released earlier this year and has since returned to Nigeria, however, a delegation led by Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, met with officials of the UK Ministry of Justice (MoJ) last week to discuss the possibility of transferring Ekweremadu to Nigeria. A report by The Guardian UK, said a senior MoJ source confirmed the request was declined. The UK was reportedly concerned that Nigeria could not guarantee that the former lawmaker would continue serving his sentence if deported.
While the UK government declined to comment on the specific case, a spokesperson stressed that prisoner transfers are approved only when they align with the interests of justice. Another official added: “The UK will not tolerate modern slavery and any offender will face the full force of UK law.”
