At last, Senator Agboola (Hallelluyah) begs Akala

After about three years of rebellion, Senator Hosea Agboola yesterday apologized to his former boss, Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala. 

Agboola, who is the Deputy Senate Whip, went to beg the former governor of Oyo State in his Ogbomoso home yesterday in company of some traditional rulers in Oke-Ogun area of the state.

It was learnt that the senator, who represents Oyo North  at the Senate, took the decision after series of consultations with opinion and traditional leaders in his constituency who were uncomfortable with his continued rebellion against his former boss.

It is believed that Alao-Akala paved way for Agboola's emergence as the senatorial candidate and his ultimate victory at the election. The senatorial district consists of the 10 local governments in Oke-Ogun and three local governments in Ogbomoso, including Ogbomoso North Local Government, where Alao-Akala hails from. 

But the senator rebelled against the former governor shortly after the latter's loss in the 2011 governorship election to the incumbent, Abiola Ajimobi.

It is believed that Agboola chose to rebel to prevent the former governor from dislodging him in the 2015 election, basing his permutation on the fact that Alao-Akala might not get the governorship ticket in the next year election. Such loss, he reasoned, could make him fall back on senatorial ticket in which Agboola is still keenly interested. 

Their rift reached a crescendo at the Southwest congress of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ibadan at the weekend when the former governor reached for the ballot paper in the hands of party delegates and tore them to prevent them from voting. Senator Agboola was among the victims. 

It was leant that the senator had colluded with some governorship aspirants of Ibadan extract and the Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory, Oloye Jumoke Akinjide to replace Alao-Akala's candidate at the congress with that of the minister. 

In an interview with reporters, Senator Agboola described Akala's action as a "show of shame," recalling that the former governor grabbed him from behind,snatched his ballot paper and tore it. He said the action was unbefitting of a former governor.

Alao-Akala has since denied the act.

But the senator prostrated before his former boss yesterday, begging him for forgiveness.

The reason for his apology is unclear. Could it be that the senator wants to warm himself into the heart of the former governor to prevent him from joining the senatorial contest should he lose the battle for governorship ticket? Or could it be that he still needs Akala's support to garner enough votes to return to the Senate?

Whatever may be the motive, what is clear is that Alao-Akala is regaining his political strength, particularly within the PDP where Ibadan aspirants are ganging up with a view to preventing him from flying the party's flag for the third time.

ENDS

Still from Molete tanker fire incident

Oyedepo, four Nigerian pastors among world's 10 richest pastors

The Presiding Bishop, Living Faith World Outreach Ministry (aka Winners Chapl), David Oyedepo, has been rated the world richest pastor with an estimated net worth of $150 million!

Four other Nigerian pastors made the list of the world' stop 10 richest pastors.

According to a list just published on RichestLifestyle.com, Rev. Chris Oyakhilome comes in a distant second position with an estimated $50 million worth.

The Israli-American tele-evangelist, Benny Hinn stands as the third richest with $42 million net worth.

Coming fourth is Creflo Dollar with $27 million while Billy Graham is rated the fifth richest with $25 million net worth.

T. D. Jakes comes sixth with estimated $18 million net worth while Nigerian prophet T. B. Joshua, who is said to be worth $15 million stands as the world seventh richest preacher.

London based Matthew Ashimolowo occupies the eight position with $10 million worth while Lagos-based Chris Okotie, who is also estimated to be worth $10 million, is rated the ninth richest.

Joseph Prince of Singapore is rated to be the 10th richest preacher with $5 million net worth.

The world's richest preacher, Oyedepo, founded his ministry in 1981. It has since grown to become one of Africa’s largest congregations. He hosts three services every Sunday in The Faith Tabernacle, Otta, Ogun State Nigeria. This prosperous pastor owns private jets.

According to the website, Chris Oyakhilome’s church, Christ Embassy, has more than 40,000 members, several of whom are successful entrepreneurs and politicians. This pastor’s diversified interests include magazines, newspapers, a TV station, a record label, hotels, satellite TV and real estate.

Benny Hinn is well-known for his regular miracle healing crusades, which are held in large stadiums in major cities and broadcast on the TV.

Creflo Dollar is an American televangelist, pastor and  is also a Word of Faith teacher. He is a founder of the non-denominational World Changers Church International. He has built a multimillion dollar ministry on the message “It is the will of God for you to prosper in every way.”

Billy Graham is a southern Baptist. He earned celebrity status when his sermons were broadcast on radio and TV stations all over the USA. He founded the Billy Graham Evangelist Association in 1950.

Bishop T. D. Jakes is the apostle/bishop of The Potter’s House, a non-denominational American mega-church that has over 30,000 members. His ministry’s annual revival MegaFest draws more than 100,000 people.

Prophet Temitope Balogun Joshua is a Nigerian controversial preacher rekniwned for his miracles. He heads the Synagogue Church of all Nations (SCOAN), a congregation he founded in 1987. The christian minister, televangelist and faith healer is a big giver; his humanitarian works include education, healthcare and rehabilitation programs. He is the owner of Emmanuel TV, a Christian television network.

Matthew Ashimolowo’s Kingsway International Christian Center is the largest Pentecostal church in the United Kingdom. It has assets worth more than $40 million and earns profit of more than $10 million.

Chris Okotie was a pop musician in the 1980s. He embraced the Bible and set up the Household of God Church, one of Nigeria’s most flamboyant congregations. He is an automobile lover and owns several posh cars which include a Mercedes S600,  Rolls-Royce, Hummer and Porsche.

Pastor Joseph Prince is the Senior Pastor of the New Creation Church in Singapore. According to the website, Joseph Prince earns $550,000 per annum. The New Creation Church’s financial income was reported at $44.7 million US dollars in 2008. He hosts a religious program called “Destined to Reign.” He has addressed many congregations worldwide.

Meanwhile the website also named President Goodluck Jonathan as the 6th richest President in Africa with an estimated $100 Million Net Worth.

ENDS

Behold 30-year old billionaire

Microsoft Founder and philanthropist Bill Gates took the top spot for the 21st year in a row on Forbes 400 richest Americans list with a net worth of $81 billion. Warren Buffett, Chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway ranks second with a net worth of $67 billion, and Oracle CEO Larry Ellison is in third place with a $50 billion fortune. But in addition to these long-time heavyweights, 27 new names grace this year’s list, and Abram Brown, associate editor at Forbes, describes nearly all the newcomers as “self-made, entrepreneurial capitalists.”

A standout member among the new-editions to this very elite club is 30-year old college dropout Elizabeth Holmes. Holmes reportedly “labored in secret” for almost a decade while developing a revolutionary new blood-testing technology. In 2003 she took her findings to the public and founded Theranos-- the company announced partnerships with Walgreens and other major drugstores to bring a new type of blood testing to consumers. Holmes’ technology calls only for a single finger-prick and a very small amount of blood for medical testing—as opposed to the full vial (or vials) of blood typically drawn for testing in most labs and medical offices. The prick is said to be painless and Theranos’ testing-methods only a fraction of the cost of commercial labs.

The biotech founder is the youngest self-made woman on the Forbes 400 list with a net worth of $4.5 billion. Holmes dropped out of Stanford University her sophomore year as a chemical engineering major and used her tuition money to found her company. Holmes’ tests do not have to be performed in a doctor’s office, and by skipping the big labs most results can be ready in a few hours. “She could totally overturn an entire industry if Theranos is as successful as it seems to be,” says Brown.

Other new names of note on the 2014 list include video game king Jon Yarbrough, who got his start as a college kid in Tennessee by renting out his foosball table to a local bar for a 50-50 split of the profits. He expanded into video gaming machines and his business grew with the Tribal Casino business. Yarbrough’s current net worth is $1.66 billion and in June he announced plans to sell his company to an Australian firm for $1.28 billion.

Rockstar Energy Drink creator Russ Weiner also made his debut into the 400 with a $2.5 billion net worth. He founded the Red Bull and Monster Beverage competitor after learning the beverage industry-ropes while working for the founder of Skyy Vodka and expects 2014 sales of his drink to reach $713 million.

Brown points out that there are 133 American billionaires “too poor for the rich list.” This year the average net-worth of members of the Forbes 400 Richest list is $1.55 billion up almost 14% from last year, a number Brown says “generally rises as the stock market rises.”

Alao-Akala floats private radio station in Ogbomoso

Alao-Akala

Former Governor of Oyo State, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala, has established Parrot FM, the first private radio station in his hometown, Ogbomoso, a large town in the northern part of the state.

Speaking at the inauguration, Alao-Akala, who last month in Ibadan launched his bid to return to Government House, said the radio station was established to fill the communication gap in the area and that a television station would be established soon.

The former governor’s son, Olamijuwonlo, who is the chairman of Parrot FM, said the station was established to facilitate information dissemination to the people of the area.

He said: “Parrot FM is the first private and independent commercial radio station in Oyo North Senatorial District of Oyo State.

“We shall uphold the tenets of the practice of journalism and abide strictly by the ethics of the profession.

“We will provide a veritable platform for young artistes in the communication industry living within the community to showcase their talents.”

Olamijuwonlo said it was disheartening that a greater part of the people’s cultural values was unknown to the younger folks, while the youth appeared to have been indoctrinated by foreign culture.

The chairman said the radio would promote local folklores and cultural heritage to enhance the knowledge of the young people in the areas.

Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oke-Ogun, Oyo State, at a meeting in Oje Owode on Friday, endorsed Alao-Akala for the 2015 gubernatorial election.

Stakeholders in the area, who described the ex-governor as the only candidate that can beat incumbent Governor Abiola Ajimobi “hands down”, lamented the “non-performance” of the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration in the state.

- See more at: http://qed.ng/?p=2820#sthash.BQUZYW4L.eXrUw9XN.dpuf