PDP Will Win Kogi Governorship Election Come November 2nd – Comrade Alfa Fidelis, PDP Chairmanship Aspirant

The Kogi State People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has predicted an overwhelming win in the Governorship election come November 2nd, 2019 when Governor Yahaya Bello would be voted out.

A PDP chairmanship aspirant comrade Alfa Fidelis from Igalamela/Adolu Local Government has given the assurances that the party would bounce back in November.

Fidelis is contesting in the party’s Congress billed for next month where he hopes to win and take over the leadership of the party in the State.

The aspirant who spoke at the PDP secretariat in Lokoja yesterday when he came to declare his intention to vie for the position said the party was overwhelmed by militancy, thuggery and rigging deployed by the ruling APC in the last general election.

He said to achieve that feat is not going to be a tea party but it would happen through a dint of hardwork.
The aspirant said due to leadership failure there was no person to stand in for its members who were chased with guns at the polling units and hence were not allowed to exercise their franchise.
“It is an obvious fact that the last election was militarised. I also want to say that the PDP did not have someone who could stand and fight for them. “If I become the party’s chairman, I will fill in that gap and fight for the party, stand for the party and I will not allow anybody to bring in thugs to chase our people away, kill and maim them.”
According to him, there is nothing enticing him other than just service.
“We have looked at the happenings around the State and it is very appalling and there is something inside of me to steer the party to have a new party in the state.
“If you look at the PDP in the State it looks like there is no opposition party in the state. So one of my first obligation is to give the party members the confidence with programs lined when we come on board.”

He said if the members have a leadership they can truat they would come out without fear to vote a PDP Governor because the State remains a PDP State.
“Let me give you an instance, in Kogi State the PDP does not even have a secretariat, they just have a place politicians come use to win election and after they win they abandoned it.
“My vision is to build a party that would be self sufficient, a party that can run itself and that can happen by bringing on board competent chairman, the party on the long run can even sustain itself.
“Leadership is the major setback of the party because the people don’t have where to turn to. They need to have a leader with a vision so that they can have a solace.”
He appealled to the delegates to look at everyone that is trying to get the job and what they can offer.
Fidelis said from his experience he is assuring them that if he becomes the chairman he will create avenues for the party to generate it’s own resources as the party needs resources.
Having worked with Almond Ali when he was national chairman of the party as a Personal Assistant on special duties for two years he would bring that experience to turn around PDP in Kogi.
“Ahmodu Ali taught me discipline, transparency and hard work and these are what I want to bring into the party at the State level as the party at the State level lacks discipline, transparency and the urgent need for reconciliation.”
He said he would initiate a genuine reconciliation to bring back all aggrieved members to the fold.

Under his leadership he said he would initiate empowerment programs for the party’s youtgs to keep them engaged and way from thuggery.

Kogi Governorship: Central Senatorial District Youths Endorses Alhaji Hassan Yakubu Enape

The Governorship aspiration of Alhaji Hassan Yakubu Enape, yesterday received a boost with his endorsement by Agassa Youths Development Initiatives.

The organization at an enlarged quarterly meeting observed that Alhaji Hassan Yakubu Enape has the requisite experience, and capacity to take the state out of its present challenge.

The organization in a statement after meeting held in Okene yesterday called on the Kogi state Peoples Democratic Party to ensure that only men as Alhaji Hassan is given the ticket, insisting that he has what it takes to lead the state in 2020.

The spokesman of the group, Iliyasu Usman pointed out that having come to the realization that the state has not faired well, attributed the slow pace of development to inexperience, thus the need to look outside the box.

Towards making the aspiration of Alhaji Hassan Yakubu Enape a reality, the organization reiterated their support by setting up local government coordinators in all the local government areas of central senatorial district, with a charge to the local government to quickly constitute Ward coordinators.

Highlights of the meeting was the endorsement of the aspiration of Alhaji Hassan Yakubu as their sole candidate and the unveiling of campaign materials like banners and face caps with inscription of Alhaji Hassan Yakubu Enape.

Incredible; Bayo Olumoko(LABO) welcomes bouncing baby boy after 12 years of first Girl Child.

In most cases especially in an African setting, marriage is only deemed complete with children. Little wonder then most couples break up or opt for side plans after failing to get the desire number of children years after marriage, mostly a male child. It really takes some patience and tolerance to keep up.

However, the stars seemed to have shined upon Mr. Bayo Olumoko, who hails from Ekinrin-Adde Kogi State and who had only a girl child but could not get another one for 12years.

Mr and Mrs Bayo Olumoko finally welcomed a bouncing baby boy today after waiting for 12yrs.

Mr. Olumoko took to his facebook to announce the good news to his followers, Friends and well wishers, he said

“God is Well Able to do What He Promises.
People may make promises they cannot keep, but God is not like that. He is both reputed and capable to keep His promises. For about 12 years after God gifted my family with a little baby girl who’s now grown to a woman, I named her Iyanuoluwa(The Miracle of God) considering the fact that we waited 4 years after our Marriage before God miraclelously gave us this wonderful woman. But little did I know or envisaged that we were going to wait another twelve years. Twelve years of Nightmare, anxiety and occasional depression. Finally, God’s unfailing love  re-activated my belief that sooner or later, another child will come without seeking for, Medically assisted conception. Finally, it  happened naturally. God has blessed me and my family with another child. This time around, It’s a Boy !.  I’m a big testimony’’

Why I'm Passionate To be Next governor of Kogi State - Alhaji Hassan Yakubu Enape

Why I'm Passionate To be Next governor of Kogi State - Alhaji Hassan Yakubu Enape


Profile of Alhaji Yakubu Hassan Enape: Peoples Democratic Party 2019 Kogi State Governorship Aspirant.

A New Dawn For Kogi State.

Vision.

To Reposition Kogi State to be amongst three top States in Nigeria.

Mission.

To offer leadership, good governance that would improve the wellbeing of the people of Kogi State through the development of world class - Education, infrastructure, industrialization, social services, food security and repositioning of the  Civil service for effective service delivery, with a view to restoring its lost glory in Kogi State.

Early life.

Alhaji Hassan Yakubu Enape was born in 1959.

Alhaji Hassan had his primary education between 1966 – 1973 at the LGEA primary school, Ankpa, Kogi State. He gained admission into Okene Secondary School, Okene, Kogi State in 1973, and graduated in 1978.
His guest for more academic pursuit saw Alhaji Hassan enrolled at school of preliminary studies Bayero University Kano 1978 to 1979. He was later admitted into Bayero University Kano in 1979 where he graduated in 1982 with a B.A (Hons), English/History. Alhaji Hassan had his mandatory National Youths Service Corps (NYSC), at the Borno State Teachers College between 1982 and 1983.

Alhaji Hassan Yakubu Enape worked as a research officer with the then Benue State Arts Council, Makurdi, between 1983 and 1984.

Fired and striving with a passion to better the society, Alhaji Hassan went into private practice and established YANAPE Company Limited in 1984, an outfit he successfully managed as the General Manager.

Towards answering the clarion call, having been noticed as a natural leader by the people, Alhaji Hassan joined partisan politics in 1988, a vocation he has accepted and practiced with the fear of God and service to humanity.

Alhaji Hassan has in the last 30 years consistently been involved in the Kogi project and prides himself as having resided, and lived with the people of the State within these period in question, thus making him to have a clear-cut understanding of the yearning and aspiration of Kogi people.

A man whose public and private life has been committed largely to service, his vision to reposition Kogi State made him aspire to be Governor under the platform of the Social Democratic Party in 1991, gave a good account of himself in a contest where the forward looking, charming, principled, but humble Alhaji Hassan could not pick the party’s ticket; but however finished as a runner up.

Alhaji Hassan Yakubu Enape served as Special Adviser to the Military Administrator of Ondo State 1994 -1996, and Special Adviser also to the Military administrator of Oyo State between 1996 and 1997.
Having done successfully well in his private and public life, Alhaji Hassan was overwhelmingly democratically elected as Council chairman, Ankpa Local Government Area between 1999 and 2001, a position he held that has left him with many unbroken records till date as Council boss in Kogi State. As Council Chairman, Alhaji Hassan established Primary Health Care Centres in every ward in the LGA, constructed a befitting staff residential  quarters for staff of the Area, made the security of lives and properties as well as the welfare of the people a topmost priority like has never been witnessed; this spectacular performance earned him the award of the best Council Chairman in Kogi State by the Prof. Jerry Gana organized media tour, under the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo, in 2002.

Alhaji Hassan Yakubu Enape is a man widely travelled within and outside the shores of Nigeria; As chairman of Council, College of Education (Technical) Kabba, he led the College to achieve a 100% accreditation from the National Board for Colleges of Education, thus putting the College on sound footing in providing qualitative education.

Alhaji Hassan Yakubu was a Member of the Kogi State Economic Team on Obajana to UK, Isreal, China in 2001.

With a career that has been remarkable, outstanding in every role played by Alhaji Hassan, he has had the privilege to have attended several seminars and workshops, nationally and internationally, thus placing him in a good stead for visionary and effective leadership.

Alhaji Hassan is a man of many parts, served as Director General Campaign-ANPP Governors- election in 2004. He was governorship aspirant of Action Congress Party in 2007. Driven by passion in the 2011 General election, he aspired to be a Senator in the General election.
Alhaji Hassan later joined the People Democratic Party, has remained unflinching in his quest to offer leadership, good governance that would improve infrastructure and the people’s wellbeing .

Honours and Awards.

Alhaji Hassan Yakubu Enape is a titled Chief in the palace of the Ejeh of Ankpa; holds the Ogala Ejeh of Ankpa title, has by his hard work, service to humanity, unblemished credentials, won many awards and recognition.  Prominent amongst these awards are those of Excellence by Igala Cultural Development Association (ICDA), Igala Students Association (ISA), Ankpa Youth Movement (AYM), and the Kogi State Chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), as Best Performing Local Government Chairman in 2001.

With a vision to place good governance, the wellbeing of the people and development of infrastructure for the people to be above all considerations, Alhaji Hassan, motivated by passion has the potential and has articulated programs that would take Kogi State to its land of peace and prosperity.

There is no gainsaying the fact that with Alhaji Hassan’s robust leadership experience, his mission to unlock the potentials of the State from poverty has no doubt began.                                  
Alhaji Hassan Yakubu Enape is the man that would take Kogi State Development to the Hillcrest of development and prosperity for all in line with the manifesto of the Peoples Democratic Party.

--end--

Kogi APC Battles Oshiomhole Over Plot To Deny Yahaya Bello Ticket...

Ahead of the November 2 governorship election in Kogi state, some members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state will today storm the National Headquarters of the party in Abuja to protest alleged plans by the party leadership to deny the state governor, Yahaya Bello the party’s ticket.

Daily Independent gathered that the protesters, who are staunch loyalists of the governor are drawn from the 21 local government areas of the state.

Speaking to Daily Independent, Jonah Adavi, one of the protesters who claimed to be a card-carrying member of the party said he would join other loyalists of the governor to “caution Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and other members of the party’s National Working Committee to refrain from carrying out the wishes of some powerful individuals outside the state who are hell-bent on denying Governor Bello a second term”.

According to him, some of them have already left Kogi for Abuja on Tuesday where they will be joined by indigenes of the state residents in Abuja.

“We are protesting because we don’t want the politics of Kogi to be determined by some outsiders who are not even residents in Kogi. Even before the primary, we are already getting feelers that Governor Bello would be denied the party’s ticket. That is what we don’t want”.

“If the party wants direct primary in Kogi, we are okay by it. If it is by delegates voting, we are also comfortable with it. If Yahaya Bello lost in a free and fair primary, we have no problem with that. After all, he didn’t win the primary in 2015 but God ordained him as the governor,” he said.

Reacting, Governor Bello who spoke through Onogwu Mohammed, his Chief Press Secretary (CPS) said he was not aware of the development, directing our correspondent to speak with the state executives of the party.

“We are not aware of that. Since they are not going for a government function, we cannot be in the picture. If it has to do with the party, then it is the party people that will be in the best position to explain, not the state government”.

On whether he has started reaching out to party leaders who are rumoured to be opposed to his reelection bid, Mohammed said the governor is focused on governance is eight months away and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has not given the go-ahead for campaigns in the state.

HOW COMMISSIONER OF FINANCE TURNED KOGI STATE INTO A FAMILY BUSINESS

It’s no longer a news that the adminstration of his Excellency Governor Alhaji Yahaya Adosa Bello has spent over 3years in office haven’t resume the mantle of leadership in Kogi state on 26th January 2016 after the demise of Late Prince Abubakar Audu of the blessed memory. The Advent of Yahaya Bello was perceived to be a new Dawn in the Kogi political space been the first minority to lead the state since the return to Democracy in 1999.

Kogites were overwhelmed, Most especially from the central senatorial district of the state. During the inauguration speech, the young and  dynamic governor was quoted of saying ” The Elephant ‘State Resources will not be shared amongst themselves but will be rare for the benefits of all kogi citizen” it was a powerful speech that reawaken the spirit of patriotism and togetherness amongst the youths of kogi state.

However, unlike other Senatorial districts like KOGI EAST that has the likes of the workaholic and the ever progressive Chief of Staff, Chief David Edward Onoja and Kogi Central which also produces progressives like Eng Abubakar Ohere and Pharmacist Asuku, that of kogi West self-aclaimed leaders has witness a tremendous political fall and has shortchanged  their immediate communities by massively investing and empowering their family members both within and outside the state.

The political injustice and economy unfairness orchestrated by the Commissioner of Finance Honorable Asiwaju Asiru in kogi west has never been heard of or witnessed from any of the past and serving political appointees in the state since the creation of kogi state. 

In a bid to empower all his relatives and shortchange his Senatorial districts politically, the Honorable Commissioner of finance appointed his blood Brother As the Sole Administrator of Yagba East, His wife as Director in the State Board Of Internal Revenue,  one His Brother Head of Department Kogi state internal revenue, he awarded a N9 million monthly contract of cleaning the Commissioner quarters, His Sister who stayed in Kaduna and has no electoral value in the Senatorial districts handled and executed all the Kogi SUBEB contract meant for Kogi West Senatorial District, one of his relation is in charge of forestry in Yagba East and SDGs contracts for Kogi West allocated to one of his sister from Lagos. ” HABA, NA ONLY YOU WAKA COME?”

It will interest you to know that these and many more are some of the atrocities committed by the Honorable Commissioner of finance are what led to the dismal performance of the APC in Kogi West in the last general elections and most especially the Okun speaking side of the Senatorial district.

I wish to use this medium to call on the attention of all APC stakeholders within and outside the state to caution the Honorable Commsioner of Finance to stop shortchanging his community and Kogi west in general for his own personally interest.

Honorable Ahmed Tijjani Farouq is APC Youth Leader he writes from Lokoja

NASSLAF fitness programme: Sam Melaye commends the beautiful start says Sport is the most unifying tool for peace in the world

By Gideon Ayodele

The chairman National Assembly Legislative Forum today commends the members for attending the first NASSLAF fitness programme and hails the effort put together by the chairman of the sports committee to ensure that the programme takes off on a good note.
Melaye said "for the first time in my life, I was struck by the thought that sport is the most unifying and inspiring development and peace tool in the world".

"other social activity brings people together in such great numbers, and with so much passion and enjoyment.

The sport chairman, Mr. Kigsley Nchor stated that Regardless of age, gender or ethnicity, sport is enjoyed by all; its reach is unrivalled. More importantly, though, sport promotes universal values that transcend language and culture.

I saw this again today with the beautiful initiative of the Comrade Sam Melaye led NASSLAF Executive at the first legislative aides fitness programme.
By playing together, these legislative aides were unwittingly learning the universal values of respect abd tolerance.

It was a victory for NASSLAF and sport.
Moments like these show that sport has huge potential to effect social change. Sport and physical activity improve individual health and wellbeing, both physically and mentally, and teach important values and social skills. But sport doesn’t just empower on an individual basis; it also unites and inspires people collectively, which builds organisations as well as communities.
The chairman therefore urge other members to join the programme as its going to be a continuous excercise.

OMALA ATTACKS, INSECURITY IN KOGI: FAILURES OF GOVERNMENT - SKM

The attack on Kogi State leading to loss of casualties in lives and properties have been decried by Save Kogi Movement as unacceptable and a failure on the much touted security measures put in place by government.

The Save Kogi Movement, (SKM) an umbrella body of concerned citizens of the state, irrespective of political affiliation, lamented the continued attack on the state, lamented particularly the recent attack on Omala, the third in quick succession, as a failure on the part of a state government that prides itself to have spent so much on security.

In a statement signed by Hon. Commodore Folorunsho Daniel, Acting Coordinator, Save Kogi Movement, decried the incessant attacks on Omala by herdsmen, said it is worrisome that the government still lacks the capacity to check the wanton loss of lives after several attacks.

The Movement described the attacks by herdsmen, alongside increased rate of kidnapping, armed robbery in the state, with people no longer able to sleep with their two eyes closed, as a mark of failure on the part of government, alleging that the huge amount claimed to have been spent on security with no tangible result, points to wide scale corruption and misuse of such funds.

The Save Kogi Movement described as unfortunate the level of insecurity Kogi state is presently witnessing, lamented that states that are largely peaceful in the country today do not spend what Kogi state is spending on security, called for a genuine and sincere rethink that would make living in the state habitable.

The Movement notes that the support the state government is seeking by asking for the establishment of special forces military barracks, forward bases, despite having several other military commands in the state as a hallmark of insecurity on the part of government having claimed to have spent so much on security with failed impact.

The Save Kogi Movement pointed out that the state has produced past governor's in Alhaji Ibrahim Idris and Capt. Idris Wada who today freely visit the state without security personnel, asked Governor Yahaya Bello to imaging in his dream if after leaving as governor he can visit the state freely, asked him to learn from their examples.

The Save Kogi Movement, urged for sincere security measures, warned the governor to beware of fair whether politicians displaying four leprous fingers, stating also that another four years for Governor Yahaya Bello, would be naked disaster, tyranny, and heights of dictatorship.

Kogi guber: Plot to replace Bello thickens

Only Buhari can save him now – party chieftain 

By YUSUF MOHAMMED

Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State will find re-election very difficult. The first hurdle for him would be to secure the ticket of the All Progressives Congress, APC for the governorship race.The governorship elections across the country, was an eye opener for the APC and they may not be willing to take any chance in the Kogi governorship election which will take place before the end of the year.
The governorship results were quite different from the results of the February 23, Presidential election.

Some states went the same way. Oyo State governorship election went the same way with the presidential election. While the presidential candidate of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP AtikuAbubakar defeated his main opponent, President MuhammaduBuhari of the All Progressives Congress APC, in Oyo State, the same feat was achieved by the gubernatorial candidate of the PDP in Oyo State, SeyiMakinde who defeated his closest rival, BayoAdelabu of the APC.

In Bauchi State, while Buhari defeated Atiku in the presidential election, APC governor, MuhammedAbubakar was not able to repeat that success in the election as he lost to PDP’s Bala Mohammed.

The performance of Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano State, a stronghold of the APC in the just concluded elections has also become a source of worry for the party.

While the APC won the presidential election in Kano State convincingly, the party was unable to repeat that feat in the governorship race. Political analysts are of the view that residents of Kano voted along personality lines rather than party lines. They considered the candidates in the presidential and governorship elections respectively.

The APC presidential candidate was Buhari. That of the PDP was Atiku. When it comes to the presidential election, Kano has been a stronghold of Buhari since he started running in 2003. He has never lost Kano. February 23, was no different as he defeated his closest rival, Atiku with a wide margin. It was clear that Buhari is a darling to the people of Kano.

Two weeks later, it became a different tale for the APC during the governorship election. Many people of Kano decided to vote the PDP governorship candidate Abba Yusuf.The reason is not farfetched. Last year, a video of Ganduje allegedly receiving kickback from contractors trended on social media.

Many thought that it would rub off onBuhari and affect his chances of winning Kano. That had no effect, as the love for Buhari could be seen from the results.
However, Ganduje does not have the same love from the streets. Before the election was declared inconclusive, it looked like he was not going to win as he was trailing behind. It took voter intimidation for Ganduje to reverse it.

In Kano, Buhari polled 1,464,768 (78.9%), while Atiku scored 391,593 (21.1%). The difference was 1,073,175.In the governorship election in the same state, PDP won with a margin of 8,982. Ganduje got a total of 1,033,695 against Abba Yusuf of the PDP who got 1,024,713 votes.

In Kogi State Buhari got 285,894 votes while Atiku got 218,207 votes. Some stalwarts of the APC are of the view that if Buhari could defeat Atiku with that kind of margin in Kano and for the APC to almost lose the governorship election, then there is little hope that APC would be able to defeat the PDP with Bello as candidate.

Ganduje who is not from a minority ethnic group in Kano, is said to be unpopular in the state just because of how is being perceived. Bello is even more unpopular in Kogi. Bello comes from Kogi Central. He is the first Ebira man to be governor Kogi since Nigerian became a democratic country in 1999. He became governor by chance.

The manner in which he emerged as governor left a sour taste in the mouths of many of his adversaries. Till date, many of them still feel the taste. They are aggrieved with Bello and he has not done much to appease most of them.

In 1999, PDP which was the ruling party fielded a candidate from Okun land. While All Nigeria’s Peoples Party, ANPP fielded Prince AbubakarAudu from Igala land who easily defeated the candidate of the PDP.
In 2003, the PDP picked Ibrahim Idris, an hotelier, who had no prior interest in politics. With him being an Igala man, they were able to defeat Audu.

The PDP has resolved to use the same strategy this year. They are not considering anyone who is not Igala. Even within the Igalas, they are looking at Dekina Local government. Before Wada emerged as governor in 2012, no one from that local government had governed Kogi. As a result, stakeholders from the East zoned the governorship position to this local government area.

Wada who is from Dekina also fancies his chance to pick the PDP ticket. As far as the PDP is concerned, it is a Dekina affair because that is the arrangement of Kogi East stakeholders. All those who have indicated interest under the PDP are from Dekina.

Most political analysts are of the view that the only way for victory for the APC is for the party to field someone from Igala land and also from Dekina who would be able to rival PDP’s candidate.

What are Bello’s chances some people may ask? 

The reality is that he has a very slim chance. His attitude and the fact that he is from a minority ethnic group has not helped him. He has burnt his bridges in just three years. The people’s major grouse with Bello is that he has failed to pay worker’s salary in the state despite receiving bailout funds from the federal government.

“It would take a miracle for him to emerge victorious. I don’t think that’s a risk APC is willing to take,” said Unekwu Danlamin, a resident of Lokoja.

According to a reliable source, Bello is hoping for Buhari to influence the election. It is one of the reasons he spends most of his weekends in Abuja. He has also visited the Villa more than any other governor in Nigeria.When Buhari returned from the United Kingdom last year, Bello declared a public Holiday in Kogi State to celebrate his return. Many felt that he went overboard with that.

He has also been present at the airport whenever Buhari returns from his trip abroad. Last year, Yusuf Buhari, the son of the president had an accident and was flown to Germany for treatment. When he returned to Nigeria in March, Bello who has become a regular face at the Presidential Villa went to receive him at the NnamdiAzikiwe Airport in Abuja and accompanied him to Aso Rock to meet the president. That act by the governor got many Nigerians furious, especially residents of Kogi State.

Bello, it was gathered by this newspaper, also has the ears of the first lady, Mrs Aisha Buhari. The national women leader of the APC, HajiaSalamatuBewa is also on the side of Bello.On the other hand, the National Chairman of the party, Adams Oshiomhole is well aware of Bello’s lapses and weaknesses. He is also aware of the peculiarities of Kogi politics.

A former aide to APC national leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu who pleaded for anonymity, said there are plans to deny Bello the party’s governorship ticket.

“Apart from Oshiomhole, Tinubu is also not willing to lose Kogi and they are already holding talks on replacing Bello with someone acceptable, a man with a clean track record that could easily be sold to the electorate. That would be a lot easy for the party going into race than a Bello option,” he said. He made it clear that “they are looking for someone from the eastern part of the state.”

He however noted that the only thing that may hamper this plan is if Buhari interferes. He continued: “If Tinubu and Oshiomhole are allowed to run the show, be rest assured that Bello will not return.”

At the time of filing this report, efforts to reach Kingsley Fanwo, the Chief Press Secretary failed. Phone calls were also put to Governor Bello’s Chief of Staff, Edward Onoja to get his reaction, but he did not respond.

Mr. and Mrs Sam Melaye Dedicates child to the Lord By Gideon Ayodele

Mr. Sam Melaye while dedicating his child says Christian parents who dedicate a child are making a promise to the Lord before the church congregation to do everything within their power to raise the child in a godly way, prayerfully, until he or she can make a decision on his or her own to follow God.

According to him, as is the case with infant baptism, it is sometimes customary at this time to name godparents to help raise the child according to godly principles. Parents who make this vow, or commitment, are instructed to raise the child in the ways of God and not according to their own ways.

Some of the responsibilities include teaching and training the child in God's Word, demonstrating practical examples of godliness, disciplining the child according to God's ways, and praying earnestly for the child.

Senator Dino Melaye in his goodwill message thank God stating that times like this give opportunity to appreciate God.

He congratulates the family of Mr. and Mrs Sam Melaye as well as everyone present. He said that the Melaye's family is the most favoured family for receiving God's grace everyday.

He prayed that everyone present will receive God's favour especially in the course of the new week for identifying with the family.