Church protests against the citingof motor park on her premises

IBADAN— A Pentecostal Church, Gospel Faith Mission International, GOFAMINT, has urged the Oyo State Government to intervene towards resolving the problems arising from the citing of a motor park at the entrance of the worship centre by members of the Ojoo Unit of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, in Ibadan.
In an appeal letter signed by the General Secretary of the church, Pastor Ezekiel Ade Ojo and the Legal Officer, Sam Adegbite, which was sent to Governor Abiola Ajimobi of  Oyo State  and the Chief Controller of Federal Ministry of Works in Ibadan, the church said members of the NURTW forcefully occupied the entrance of the church premises overlooking the Ibadan/Ilorin main highway in Ibadan on Tuesday, May 14, 2013 and turned the place into their park.
According to the church, the union came in with the support of some staff of the Akinyele Local Government Area in Ibadan and Oyo State “YES O” Corps members and destroyed the gate, the fence and other valuable property put on to protect the church premises before they moved in.
The presence of the members of the NURTW at the entrance of the Church and their characteristic motor park behaviours, such as smoking of Indian hemp, defeacating around the premises and noise pollution, have since been intimidating members of the Church, leading to a reduction in worshippers and causing tension in the area.
The place has been the location of the Church’s National Headquarters for over three decades, long before the recent construction of the new Ibadan/Ilorin dual carriage way. Apart from the large over 10,000-capacity worship centre, the Church has within the said premises a National Secretariat building, a Press, a Bookshop, a Nursery/Primary school, a Prayer house, a Hostel and some residential buildings.
Noting that the presence of a motor park is incompatible with the serenity expected around a Church and a nursery/primary school, the Church urged the Oyo State government to speedily intervene in this situation to prevent violence, as the leadership of the church may not be able to restrain the youths who feel constantly harassed by the presence and operations of the NURTW at the entrance of their place of worship for too long.

‘My eyes are on the prize’, warns Bolt

Bolt

OSLO (AFP) – Usain Bolt on Tuesday fired out a broadside at potential rivals at August’s World Athletics Championships, saying that despite indifferent early season form his “eyes were on the prize”.
The Jamaican has six Olympic gold medals to his name, and is reigning double world 200m champion and also world record holder in both the 100m and 200m.

But he sustained a blip in his exemplary career when he suffered a surprise defeat to American 2004 Olympic champion Justin Gatlin over 100m at the Rome leg of the 14-meet Diamond League circuit last week.
Bolt was quick to laugh off critics, saying that although a hamstring teak had set him back somewhat, he was not concerned about going to the worlds having suffered a loss, only his fourth in competition since 2008.
“This season started off pretty good, but I picked up a slight hamstring problem which was a slight setback for me,” he said ahead of Oslo’s Bislett Games on Thursday.
“It’s all about training to determine if I can get back to where I need to be to try to get back breaking records.”
Bolt added: “It’s too early in the season to say what will be needed.
“Tyson (Gay)’s already there, Gatlin’s running good but got beat by (Christophe) Lemaitre, and (Yohan) Blake’s coming back from injury.
“We’ll see what happens in the coming weeks.”
Bolt, who dominated both the Beijing and London Olympics but lost his world 100m crown in Daegu in 2011 to compatriot Blake after a false start, said he was keen to notch up some more competitive racing after a prolonged period of training.
“I’ve trained very well. My legs felt great so I’m really happy,” he said. “All I need right now is some races under my belt before the national trials.”
The national Jamaican trials are where Bolt was infamously out-trumped in both the 100m and 200m by training partner Blake in 2012, just before the London Games.
That remains a fact important to remember, he stressed.
“At the end of 2008, I lost one race and won the Olympics that year. In 2010, which was my year off … Tyson beat me. Last year, Blake beat me at the national trials and I won the Olympics again, so it doesn’t say much.
“All I’m concerned about is the championships.
“For me it’s all about eyes on the prize, the 100m and 200m at the world championships at Moscow.
“I never try and think about one person. I’m definitely confident I can defend my titles.
“As I said, my eyes are on the prize.”

Gunmen kill man, steal 43 cows in Benue

Makurdi – One person was killed and 43 cows stolen when gunmen invaded a farm  belonging to Bishop Solomon Apochi of the Catholic Diocese of Otukpo .
The  incident took place on June 10, at Ichama in Okpokwu Local Government Area of Benue.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Daniel Ezeala, who confirmed the invasion and killing of one person in the attack on Tuesday.
Ezeala also confirmed that the gunmen took 43 cows belonging to the bishop.
The Chairman of Okpokwu Local Government, Mrs Juliana Obeta, told newsmen that there was an unconfirmed report of a truck load of Fulani herdsmen brought to Ichama last week.
Obeta said that she promptly alerted police but there was no trace of the alleged invaders.
“Unfortunately, the herdsmen later attacked on Monday night killing one person and carted away 43 cows belonging to a bishop.
“As I’m talking to you now, many people mostly children and women, are fleeing the area while we are trying to calm them down.
“The corpse of the victim has been deposited at St. Mary Catholic Hospital in Okpoga,’’  Obeta said.
She further said that police authority had dispatched their men to the troubled area to beef up security.
The chairman called on the people of the area to remain calm as the council was on top of the situation.
The state Secretary of Myettiala Cattle Rearers Association, Malam Garus Gololo, said that the Fulanis had no problem with Ichama people.
Gololo denied that the crisis was orchestrated by the Fulanis, saying that it was unknown gunmen who invaded Ichama. (NAN)