Metro
The ‘Heart Revolution’: Power and Dimensions of Influence! (Pt. 1)
By Tolulope A. Adegoke
Leadership is influence. Favour opens the doors, but INFLUENCE changes Nations!
When you are in a situation, and you don’t have money, please pray for influence, because if God ever gives you the influence with the people that have money, you can have or access whatever that you need.
The perfect Biblical exemplar is Christ Jesus. He never had the money, but He had influence with people that owned whatever that He needed per time. When He stepped off into His Boat, it was Peter that owned the boat, but He had influence with Peter, who later became one of His disciples.
When Jesus Christ went down to Joppa, and He needed a place to stay, He stayed in Peter’s house, because Peter owned the house, but Jesus had influence with the man who owned the house.
You don’t need to have all the stuff, but all you need is INFLUENCE with people that have the stuff, and you would realize that influence can be better than money. Even though it’s best to have both. It is favour that opens doors, but INFLUENCE is what changes nations.
Sometimes, God wants to use your influence to be able to change NATIONS. What happens on a platform can be a power of a thing; there is a difference between a stage and a platform. A stage is for performance, but platform is for INFLUENCE. A platform gives room for anyone to stage their performance(s).
Where ever you are at any level of your rising, if God calls a person to be your champion as a soccer player, baseball player, golf player, basketball player, football player or whatever it is, God would use the sport, the Hollywood, Nollywood, or the music to build the platform. Once the platform is established, then God’s purposes are done or fulfilled on the platform.
Sometimes, business is just the platform, and once God had built the platform, the opens the door and gives the influence, then the work of ministry (His Will) can be done or fulfilled. So, always ask God to give you the required WISDOM to ‘know how’ to use the platform for His glory alone. It is not a stage, it is a platform, and God will give you a ‘gift’(resources) just for the platform, because just one gift from God can revolutionize your life this way.
The word INFLUENCE comes from the Latin word ‘Influethy’ which means ‘to flow into’. It simply speaks of that which flows from the Heavenlies (Above) down into a being called you! it is the flow of God into the vessel called ‘you’. Whatever you might be doing, if you are in your ‘flow’, you become an instrument of DOMINION; you dominate in that place of ‘flow’. You are just ‘able’ to dominate in that area of ‘flow, naturally.
Do you know that you can mess up your ‘flow’? Stress, worry, weariness, bitterness are potent factors that aides such.
When you are all trusting God, to say that ‘God, I want you to use me for your glory’; it does not matter whether you are male or female, young or old. It doesn’t even matter your level of (formal) education. What matters is that your heart must be submitted to God. To say ‘God, whatever you can do in me and through me, I want you to now do through me, and let it touch the world at large; do something great in me.’ Not until God does great things in you, He cannot do anything great through you. This, is why we must ask and crave for an experience (encounter) with God, so that He can use us in a huge way, so that He can transform who we are, our age notwithstanding.
A lot of people, young among especially, have been used by God, case study of Samuel in the Holy Book. You would realize that, this is not a child talking to me, but this is God speaking to me through this child. It doesn’t matter if you are in your tender ‘teens’, your teachable ‘twenties’, your tireless ‘thirties’, your forcible ‘forties’, your ‘feelful’ (emotional) ‘fifties’, your seasoned ‘sixties’, your civil ‘seventies’, your aching ‘eighties’, your nebulous ‘nineties’ and your ‘peticious’ ‘hundreds’, where ever you are.
Whatever stage or age that you are, God can still speak to you powerfully and use you for His glory. But we just need to be determined that God should simply have His way in our lives fully, and be glorified truly.
When we talk about the dimensions of INFLUENCE, we need to first discuss the HEART Revolution (Heartwork). It is the work that God does in your heart, so as to become a good ground for His Seeds of potentials for Influence to be staged in and for all ages. Until God has done the work in your heart properly, you are not fit to use it anywhere for any purpose. If it doesn’t change our heart, our mouth would be polluted; our thinking is contaminated until God does the works in the heart. That is why, until God has washed us properly of bitterness and resentments in our HEARTS to the degree that we are no longer upset with the breakthroughs of others or because God has blessed someone else, we are not fit to fit into His Power of Influence and feature in His Dominion.
Beware! What worries or wearies you, masters you! God blesses you with what you can manage. God will never bless you with what you cannot give. For instance, if you cannot give away money, He will never trust you with it. If you never learned to give Him praises, He will never trust you with it.
God cannot trust you with what does not make you happy in others… you must be able to celebrate God’s victory in their lives.
Men of genius are admired,
Men of wealth are envied,
Men of power are feared,
But men of CHARACTER are TRUSTED!
And God does the character works in your heart. If you do not have character, nobody would want to have anything to do with your influence, no matter your level of packaging; because influence is determined by RESPECT! If you lose RESPECT, you lose EFFECT!
You have no influence if you do not have a good name, because you do not work in integrity in your heart. That is why you need to guard your heart with all diligence. Everything is trying to influence your thought patterns. Your though patterns determine your outputs in whatever form.
We need to have a God-influence in our hearts. Only the pure in heart shall see God! Everything begins from the heart and with the heart.
And this, is the HEART REVOLUTION!
Thank you all for reading
“The Power of an Empowered Zero” (From Zero to HERO) is a Book authored by Tolulope A. Adegoke, PhD. Foreword by Dr Yomi Garnett (CEO/Chancellor, Royal Biographical Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A., U.K., Abuja, Nigeria.) Edited by Ola Aboderin. Designed by Sceptirus. It is currently available on Selar, Amazon and Bambooks.
Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa of the Federal High Court in Lagos has scheduled February 27 for the arraignment of Gbolahan Obanikoro, the son of Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, and four other individuals over alleged conspiracy, obtaining by false pretenses, and involvement in a N1,356,057,330.43 billion fraud.
Others to be arraigned alongside Obanikoro are: Adejare Adegbenro, 51; Balmoral International Limited; M.O.B. Integrated Limited; and DDSS International Company Limited.
Justice Lewis-Allagoa set the date on Friday after the defendants failed to appear for their scheduled arraignment.
The Inspector General of Police, through the Special Fraud Unit (PSFU) in Ikoyi, Lagos, has accused all the defendants of conspiring between May and September 2013 to fraudulently obtain the sum of N1,356,057,330.43 from Access Bank Plc (formerly Diamond Bank). They allegedly misrepresented themselves to the bank’s staff and officers, claiming they were involved in the business of importing cars from Dubai for sale in Nigeria, and that the money was needed to finance the importation of a set of brand-new cars for resale.
The defendants are also accused of converting, transferring, retaining, or taking possession of the funds, knowing or having reason to know that such funds were proceeds of unlawful activity. Additionally, they are alleged to have unlawfully converted the sum of N1 billion belonging to the bank for personal use.
At the hearing on Friday, prosecutor M.Y. Bello informed the court that the matter was scheduled for the arraignment of all defendants. However, he requested a new date to allow all the defendants to appear in court and take their pleas.
Counsel for the defendants, Joshua A., explained that his clients were not in the country. He added that only the companies named in the charge had been served with the charge sheet. He assured the court that all defendants would be present at the next adjourned date to take their pleas.
In light of these submissions, Justice Lewis-Allagoa adjourned the matter to February 27 for the arraignment of all the defendants.
The five-count charge against the defendants reads: “That you, Adejare Adegbenro, Gbolahan Obanikoro, Balmoral International Limited, M.O.B. Integrated Limited, DDSS International Company Ltd, and other directors of the companies (now at large), between May and September 2013 in Lagos, with intent to defraud, conspired to commit felony, specifically obtaining money by false pretenses, and thereby committed an offense contrary to Section 8(i)(a) and punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud-Related Offenses Act, No. 14 of 2006.
“That you, Adejare Adegbenro, Gbolahan Obanikoro, Balmoral International Limited, M.O.B. Integrated Limited, DDSS International Company Ltd, and other directors of the companies (now at large), between May and September 2013 in Lagos, with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of N1,356,057,330.43 (One Billion, Three Hundred Fifty-Six Million, Fifty-Seven Thousand, Three Hundred Thirty Naira, Forty-Three Kobo) from Diamond Bank (now Access Bank Plc) by falsely representing through its staff and officers that you and your companies were in the business of importing cars from Dubai for sale in Nigeria. Based on this false representation, the bank released the money as a loan, which you then diverted to your personal use. This action is contrary to Section 1(i)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud-Related Offenses Act, No. 14 of 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.
“That you, Adejare Adegbenro, Gbolahan Obanikoro, Balmoral International Limited, M.O.B. Integrated Limited, DDSS International Company Ltd, and other directors of the companies (now at large), between May and September 2013, in Lagos, directly or indirectly converted, transferred, retained, or took possession or control of N1,356,057,330.43 (One Billion, Three Hundred Fifty-Six Million, Fifty-Seven Thousand, Three Hundred Thirty Naira, Forty-Three Kobo) belonging to Diamond Bank (now Access Bank Plc), knowing or having reason to know that such funds were proceeds of an unlawful act. This action is contrary to Section 18(2)(b) and (d) and punishable under Section 18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
“That you, Adejare Adegbenro, Gbolahan Obanikoro, Balmoral International Limited, M.O.B. Integrated Limited, DDSS International Company Ltd, and other directors of the companies (now at large), sometime in May 2019 in Lagos, with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of N1,000,000,000.00 (One Billion Naira) from Diamond Bank (now Access Bank Plc) by falsely representing through its staff and officers that you and your company, DDSS International Company, were in the business of importing cars from Dubai for sale in Nigeria. The bank released the money to you as a loan, which you subsequently diverted to the account of another company, Balmoral International Limited, to disguise the true origin of the funds. This action is contrary to Section 1(i)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud-Related Offenses Act, No. 14 of 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.
“That you, Adejare Adegbenro, Gbolahan Obanikoro, Balmoral International Limited, M.O.B. Integrated Limited, DDSS International Company Ltd, and other directors of the companies (now at large), sometime in May 2019, in Lagos, directly or indirectly converted, transferred, retained, or took possession or control of N1,000,000,000.00 (One Billion Naira) belonging to Diamond Bank (now Access Bank Plc), knowing or having reason to know that such funds were proceeds of an unlawful act. This action is contrary to Section 18(2)(b) and (d) and punishable under Section 18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”
Abuja, the nation’s federal capital, came alive with joy and excitement on Wednesday as a new set of winners in the ongoing Globacom Festival of Joy promotion received mouth-watering prizes they won at a special presentation ceremony held at the premises of Globacom at Aminu Kano Crescent.
A glittering brand new Toyota Prado, a brand new Kia Picanto, tricycles (Keke Napep) and scores of other prizes including power generating sets, sewing machines and grinding machines were handed over to joyful winners.
Sarah Ilya Madu was presented the keys to her brand-new Toyota Prado by Senator Simon Lalong, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Youth Development, supported by a stellar cast of celebrities and influencers.
Sarah, a federal civil servant from Borno State, who emerged winner of the Toyota Prado in the draw of the promotion held in Abuja last Friday, expressed shock when she was called up. She dropped the call from Globacom several times because the news was too good to be believed.
She said, “I was prevailed upon by my colleagues to do a video call with the Glo staff who called me. Even when I saw the office environment, I was still doubtful.” She added that when she eventually agreed to visit the Glo office, she went with a hefty colleague just in case she was being set up.
Ufot Victor, a 43-year-old businessman based in the FCT, was expectant about winning as he had been recharging regularly so as to cross the minimum requirement for a car. Winning a brand new Kia Picanto was a huge reward for his dedication.
Other lucky winners also went home with tricycles (Keke), power generating sets, sewing machines and grinding machines. Ireimiya Mallo, a SIM registration agent and native of Nasarawa State, who won Keke, said, ”I was so joyful on learning I had won a Keke”. He disclosed that he would be deploying it for commercial purpose”, while the winner of a power generating set, Felix Gabriel, thanked Globacom for always remembering Nigerians every year in its annual promos.
The Special Guest, Senator Simon Lalong, praised the Chairman of Globacom for putting the promo in place for Nigerians and also extolled his strong support for sports. He said he would love to be a winner in the Glo promo one day soon. Also Senator Yemi Adaramodu, the spokesman of the Senate and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Youth Development, said Globacom has always been a brand after his heart, adding that the network is not just attracting customers but also giving out to show that it means well not only for the customers but also for Nigerians.
In his remarks at the event, Globacom’s Head of Division, North West, Mr. Kazeem Kaka, said that to participate in the Festival of Joy promo, new and existing subscribers should dial *611# so as to opt into the promo and to keep recharging thereafter to meet the threshold for the various prizes. He added that new subscribers can participate immediately by purchasing a new SIM, registering it and dialing *611#.
Guests at the event included representatives of the National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC), Mariam Imam, Assistant Director, Consumer Affairs at the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC), Moses Iyi; comedians, Tee A, Seyi Law, and Gordons.
Others were Nollywood duo of Ebube Nwagbo and Juliet Ibrahim as well as popular content creator, Kiekie.
U.S immigration and border officials will be able to arrest migrants at so-called “sensitive” locations again, after the Trump administration overturned policies limiting where such arrests could happen.
Officers will now be able to make arrests at designated “sensitive” areas, including houses of worship, schools, and hospitals.
Officials have been prohibited from doing this since 2011.
Later, the Biden administration expanded the regulation, further restricting the authority’s powers.
“Criminals will no longer be able to hide in America’s schools and churches to avoid arrest,” the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement.
“The Trump Administration will not tie the hands of our brave law enforcement, and instead trusts them to use common sense.”
A second directive reinstates the ability for the U.S. to quickly deport any undocumented person arrested who is unable to prove they have been in the country for more than two years.
