The Christendom : September 2013

Tuesday, 17 September 2013

Picture: Pastor T.B Joshua With Al-Mustapha Shortly after his release

You need prayers and psychological assistance – Jonathan tells el-Rufai

President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday warned Nigerians to beware of the former FCT Minister and Deputy National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress,APC, Malam Nasir el-Rufai whom he described as “a double minded and unstable man in all his ways.”
Jonathan was reacting to an interview el Rufai granted Saturday Sun of September 14, 2013 where he said that nothing could make President Jonathan succeed because he was grossly an incompetent leader who doesn’t have a listening ear.
Jonathan in a statement issued in Abuja by his special assistant (New Media), Mr Reno Omokri, called on the public to disregard el-Rufai, who he said to be “a man in dire need of prayers and perhaps psychological assistance.”.
Omokori said, “Beyond that, Nasir el-Rufai, who had gone into voluntary exile under the presidency of Malam Umaru Musa Yar’Adua after he was accused of corruption and abuse of office while he was Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), felt safe enough to return to Nigeria as soon as President Jonathan ascended to power.
Omokri recalled that when el-Rufai returned to Nigeria a few years back, he visited President Jonathan at the presidential villa on May 11, 2010, and was the first major political figure to call on him to contest for the 2011 presidential election.
According to him, el-Rufai showered encomiums on Gen. Muhammadu Buhari in the latest interview contrary to a damning conclusion on the General in 2010.
Quoting el-Rufai thus; “I think that where Nigeria is today, it is only someone like Buhari, with the experience of having run the country before, and having run it along certain principles of discipline, integrity and accountability, that Nigeria needs,” he stated.

He further recalled that the same el-Rufai had, however, in October 6, 2010, said Buhari was not a suitable person to rule the country. Omokori Quoted him thus; “Malam el-Rufai wishes to remind General Buhari that he has remained perpetually unelectable because his record as military head of state, and afterwards, is a warning that many Nigerians have wisely heeded.
“His insensitivity to Nigeria’s diversity and his parochial focus are already well-known. In 1984, Buhari allowed 53 suitcases belonging to his ADC’s father to enter Nigeria unchecked at a time the country was exchanging old currency for new. Against all canons of legal decency, he used retroactive laws to execute three young men for drug-peddling after they were convicted by a military tribunal and not regular courts of law.
“Buhari was so high-handed that he gave himself and his officials immunity even from truthful reporting. That obnoxious Decree 4, against which truth was no defence, was used to jail journalists and attempt to cow the media as a whole. That tyrannical legislation showed the essence of his intolerance. These are facts of recent history.
“The story of counter-trade and import licensing, the cornerstone of Buhari’s stone-age economic strategy and those whose interests it served, is a tale for another day.”
The statement noted that, “It is obvious to all that there is more than one personality in possession of the mind and soul of this man called Nasir el-Rufai. Can any sane person trust the words of a man who is so unstable? Today, el-Rufai, perhaps banking on what he thinks is the short memory of Nigerians, is attempting to rewrite history. But it is such a difficult task to paint the truth with a lie.
“Nasir el-Rufai wanted something from the President which was why he visited him at the presidential villa to heap unsolicited praise on the president in 2010. When he did not get what he wanted, he became bitter and since the days of yore when the fox that could not get the grapes tagged them ‘sour grapes’ to mask its frustration, it has always been the habit of persons who cannot compete on the basis of ideas to give a dog a bad name in order to hang it.
“Thus, el-Rufai, having run out of ideas, has tagged this administration as ‘incompetent,” he said.
Culled from Daily Post

ASUU strike: Catholic bishops offer to mediate

Catholic bishops in Nigeria have offered to mediate in the face-off between the Federal Government and the striking members of the Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities.

The clerics in a communique signed by the President and Secretary, Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, Most. Rev. Ignatius Kaigama and Most. Rev. William Avenya, respectively after their second plenary (between September 5 and 13) at Otukpo, Benue State, expressed worries over the prolonged strike.

The communique, made available to journalists in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, by the Bishop of Ekiti Diocese, Most Rev. Felix Ajakaye, partly read, “We appeal to the Federal Government and ASUU to take the higher ground of mutual exchange and shifting of grounds for the collective responsibility of saving the university education and getting our youths back to the classroom.

“We, the Catholic bishops, willingly offer ourselves as a conference to mediate in order to bring this deadlock to an end and usher in a harmonious, viable and sustainable environment for university learning.”

Meanwhile, a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party being led by Alhaji Kawu Baraje, has requested all members of the party globally to embark on seven days fasting and prayers, commencing from Monday(today) to quicken the resolution of the crisis between the Federal Government and university lecturers in the country.

The faction said this spiritual intervention was as a result of its concern for the plight of parents and students in the universities.

A statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary of the faction, Chief Chukwuemeka Eze, on Sunday, said Muslims all over the nation and abroad who are PDP members should end their fasting by Friday at their places of worship while the Christians should end theirs next Sunday.

Eze added that the fasting had become imperative to seek the face of God over this matter, saying all efforts to resolve what he described as unwarranted strike had failed woefully.

Apart from this, he added that the strike was causing serious socio-economic damage to parents and their children.

The statement read, “To say the least, we are shocked that the government that is inflicting this monumental hardship on Nigerians is a PDP government popularly elected by majority of Nigerians and run by a President who was once a university lecturer.

“In this regard, we wish to plead with Nigerians for forgiveness on behalf of the PDP government at the centre, which could have avoided this costly strike.

“We wish to assure all Nigerians that as a party we will surely find a way to end this shameful situation.”

Eze added that the Baraje faction had set up a four-man committee with Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger State as Chairman, to advise the party on the best way to get the Federal Government’s Negotiating Committee and the leadership of ASUU to reach an agreement on the issues at stake and thus end the three-month-old strike.

Other members of the committee are Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State; President of UNIPORT Alumni, Mr. Chinwo Ike; and the PDP National Youth Leader, Mr. Timi Frank.

He regretted that some students, out of frustration and boredom, had turned into prostitution and armed robbery.

He said, “We sincerely solicit the patience of Nigerians while appealing to both the Federal Government and the leadership of ASUU to end this imbroglio so that our children may go back to school instead of engaging in acts inimical to their future.”

The National Chairman of the Labour Party, Chief Dan Nwanyanwu, also said there was no need for the Federal Government and ASUU to run away from the negotiating table.

El-Rufai, a political liability, CAN tells Buhari

Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has described former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, as a political liability to General Muhammadu Buhari.
CAN, while reacting to comments made by El-Rufai against Jesus Christ and its President, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, in a weekend publication, said the former FCT minister must be broke and looking for survival.
CAN, in a statement jointly released, yesterday, in Abuja, by its Head of TEKAN/ECWA Block and National Director, Research, Planning & Strategy, Rev. (Dr.) Emmanuel Dziggau and Elder Sunday Oibe, respectively, also advised General Buhari to be careful of the person of the former minister.
“We want to let General Muhammadu Buhari (retd) know that his problem with the country is El-Rufai. It was this same El-Rufai that was abusing Buhari when he was in the cabinet of ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo that is now fighting ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Obasanjo and all the fingers that fed him just because he has lost out of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), hoping that when Buhari becomes President in 2015, he would be given a job.
“Buhari should know that El-Rufai is a political liability who is looking for survival. Any politician who allows El-Rufai around him will always fail election, even before campaigns. Nobody will like to be associated with a political liability,” CAN warned Buhari.
It, however, threatened to open up on him, if the former minister, within seven days, failed to reveal the person he claimed gave Oritsejafor the private jet.
“We are giving El-Rufai seven days ultimatum to inform Nigerians and the world the person he claims to know that gave Pastor Oritsejafor his private jet. If he fails to do that, we will open up on him and his life,” it said.
It said the fact that “Christians are not violent doesn’t mean he should go far with his utterances. He is not in a position to tell us who should be the leader of Christians in Nigeria.”
Culled from Daily Newswatch

Vatican may discuss marriage for Catholic priests

Private jet: El-Rufai dismisses CAN’s threat

A former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and Deputy National Secretary of the opposition All Progressives Congress, Nasir el-Rufai, says he is not perturbed by the seven-day ultimatum given to him by the leadership of the Christian

Association of Nigeria.

El-Rufai had, in an interview with a national newspaper (not The PUNCH) described the CAN President, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, as the “propaganda chief” of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party; adding that he “knows who gave him (Oritsejafor) his private jet.”

But the CAN leadership on Sunday asked el-Rufai to, within seven days, mention the name of the person who bought a private jet for Oritsejafor, threatening that failure to do so will force the association to “open up” on the former minister’s “dirty life.”

However, some of el-Rufai’s Twitter followers have tweeted at him, saying they were worried about the ultimatum.

One of his followers with the name Demola, who tweeted at el-Rufai on Monday asked, “CAN gives @elrufai seven days or what will happen?”

Responding to this, el-Rufai tweeted, “Nothing. And I am waiting for the days to pass. Hehehe.”

Meanwhile, el-Rufai’s statement has pitched some of his social media fans against him. The former minister had posted the full text of the interview on his Facebook page.

Some of his followers on the social network described his diatribe against Oritsejafor as rude and uncalled for. According to many of them, insulting the CAN President, who is also the head of the Christian community in Nigeria, amounts to taking a swipe at the generality of Christians in the country. To this end, some of them dropped angry comments on his Facebook page.

“Look Nasir, withdraw those statements you are making against a man of God! But, if you still insist, then, the anointing upon his life will respond to you drastically. Remember that a man who makes trouble for others is also making trouble for himself. Thank you,” one Okechukwu Chukwuemeka wrote.

Osita Ndidi-Opurum described el-Rufai’s allegations as “rubbish” and one that is capable of causing disaffection between the faithful of the two main religions.

“All this lengthy speech amounts to talking rubbish and insulting Christians and their leader in Nigeria. When can you (el-Rufai) ever be a man? You don’t even have respect for those in authority. I wonder where and how you will feel in 2015 if your preferred presidential candidate does not win the election. May be you will run out of Nigeria.”

Meanwhile, some Nigerians have slammed the CAN leadership and asked it to leave its battle for God to fight. One Emmanuel Chidiogo in a Twitter post asked, “Is CAN trying to fight for God? All the rain of abuses on @elrufai is uncalled for and immature.”

Some Nigerians, while reacting to the ultimatum on various social networking sites, said the ultimatum appeared more like blackmailing el-Rufai. Those who belong to this group wondered why CAN waited for a time when “unguarded statements” were made against its president before threatening to expose the “dirty life” of el-Rufai.

“So, CAN is using it now as blackmail when they should have, indeed, exposed him as genuine Christians without giving him conditions. It shows how biased all of them are,” one Auchman stated on punchng.com.

As if that was not enough, some Nigerians said Oritsejafor made himself susceptible to such attack due to the alleged ostentatious life he lives.

A Facebook user, Augustine Oregie-Okpomeh wrote, “In the first place, what are pastors doing with private jets worth billions of naira in a country where a large percentage of your members can ill afford three-square meals daily? Christ never preached expensive lifestyles and neglect of the poor while He was alive. You (Oritsejafor) called the insults to yourself!”

Arguing in line with Oregie-Okpomeh, a reader on punchng.com, Frank stated, “Inasmuch as I don’t support El-Rufai’s statement concerning Christians, the question is: Is Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor a saint? Where does he have the money to purchase a private jet?

“The so called Pastor Oritsejafor is a disgrace to Christendom in Nigeria. Anyway, he should allow God to fight for Himself; who is he to fight for God? Our Lord Jesus Christ oversees the affairs of Christians and Muslims alike; so, allow God to fight for Himself.”

Culled from Punch Newspaper

Anti-Christ tweets: CAN prescribes psychiatric test for el-Rufai

Sunday, 15 September 2013

National CAN dissolves Plateau Exco

The National Secretariat of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has dissolved the Plateau State Executive of the body, following delay in
conducting elections to usher in a new executive, after their tenure expired in June, 2013, urging the head of the five blocs of CAN to oversee the activities of the Association, until new executives are elected.
This was disclosed by the outgoing Secretary of Plateau CAN, Ambassador Chuwang Davou, on Friday in Jos, while briefing journalists after their closed door meeting with the National Legal Adviser and one other exco member who had come to supervise the elections.
He said unfortunately they could not get to the National Secretariat, which was why the National Legal Adviser and the Director of Research came.
According to him, “The National Secretariat of CAN has taken a very serious decision by dissolving the Plateau Exco, because the tenure of office had finished since June, 2013, and the old Exco are yet to vacate their seat, but today (13th, September, 2013), the house has been dissolved.
Adding that, “The reason for the postponement of the election is that, the Exco has met and there was a withdrawal of one of the candidates from one of the blocs, leaving only one contestant, and the bloc pleaded that they should be given one week to bring a replacement.
He further stated that, the elections were not held in June because the State Chairman lost his wife and the burial took place on the day slated for the election.

Davou further stated that fresh elections for CAN in Plateau State have been fixed for 27th and 28th of September 2013, as directed by the National Secretariat, giving interested person’s eligible and willing to contest the said elections till 19th of this month to make their interest known.
Investigations by Dailypost revealed that, the outgoing Chairman had misappropriated the finances of the association, and that is why he kept shifting the election.
A reliable source in Plateau CAN told Dailypost that the embattled Chairman, Rev. Philip Dafes had sent text messages to delegates on the night of 12th September, 2013, telling them that elections will not hold on 13th September, 2013 as earlier arranged.
It was learnt that the outgone Chairman was not receiving maximum cooperation from some key officials who are considered kingmakers of the association.
It was also gathered that, he was not at the meeting with the National Executives who dissolved the Chapter; but the outgoing Secretary said he had withdrawn from the Chairmanship race.

At the CAN Secretaria, DailyPostt further gathered that, a section of some stakeholders who were said to be in the same camp with the outgoing Chairman did not attend the meeting; meanwhile others did not attend because they were not happy with what they described as a show of shame.

Kidnapped Anglican Arch-Bishop released in Rivers State, as Police begin manhunt

Unknown gunmen late Friday evening abducted Most Reverend Ignatius Kattey, the second most senior cleric in the Nigerian Anglican Communion, who is also the Dean of the Church, around Aleto-Eleme, Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Kattey, who is an Arch-Bishop of the church and the Bishop of the Niger Delta Diocese, was kidnapped alongside his wife, Beatrice. She was abandoned in the bishop’s car somewhere later.
Sunday Tribune gathered that the cleric and his wife left their country home in Eleme for Port Harcourt late because they did not want to violate the environmental sanitation exercise edict on Saturday morning. They were kidnapped on their way to Port Harcourt around 10:30p.m.
A source informed that Kattey and his wife were to receive the Primate of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Most Rev. Nicholas Okoh, who was to arrive at the Port Harcourt International Airport at 10a.m on Saturday on a visit to one of the dioceses in the Niger Delta province.
“The Arch-Bishop and his wife left their village on Friday, so they could sleep in Port Harcourt since Saturday was sanitation exercise and there would be restriction of movement.
“Being the second-in-command in the Anglican Church in Nigeria, he was supposed to be at the airport at exactly 10.00 a.m to receive the Primate,” the source said.
Immediately the people of Eleme heard about the kidnap, they mobilised and joined security agents in search of the cleric.
Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, Angela Agabe (DSP), confirmed the incident and said the police were making efforts to rescue the Arch-Bishop, as well as arrest the kidnappers.
“I can confirm that the Arch-Bishop and his wife were kidnapped on Friday at about 10.45 pm. Due to the close chase by the police, the kidnappers dropped his wife, and disappeared with him”, she said.
On Saturday, the Police Command in Rivers, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Port Harcourt that detectives and Anti-kidnap Unit were on top of the case and they had commenced serious search to free the bishop unharmed.
“No group has claimed responsibility and no ransom demand has been made,’’ she said.
Agabe urged the people to give police useful information that would assist it fight crime in the state.

Jonathan vows to secure release of kidnapped Anglican archbishop

President Goodluck Jonathan has vowed that the Federal Government will do everything possible to ensure the release of the kidnapped Anglican cleric, Most Reverend Ignatius Kattey of Niger Delta Diocese.
In making the vow, the president disclosed that he has already met the heads of security agencies in the country with a view to work out plans on how to ensure quick release of the high-ranking priest and bring the abductors to book.
Speaking while delivering a message at the standing committee meeting of St. Peter’s Deanery, Yenagoa, Jonathan expressed worry that Bishop Kattey remained in the kidnappers’ den.
He said: “Speaking of crime and insecurity in the country, it is a matter of personal pain and regret to me that the Most Reverend Ignatius Kattey, the Bishop of the Province of the Niger Delta, is not with us today because he is still being held by abductors.
“It is quite worrisome that such inhuman crime as kidnapping has now taken root in our society. It certainly calls for real soul searching and re-evaluation of our entire value system,” he added.
“I strongly condemn the continued abduction by criminal elements in our society who seek to profit from other people’s suffering and humiliation. The Federal Government and its security agencies will continue to do everything possible to rescue Bishop Kattey and other abductees and ensure that their kidnappers are brought to justice
“The gains of the state of emergency in the North East had been tremendous and felt by all. From a society that was coping with uncertainty, we are now beginning to see a gradual return to normalcy in most parts of the North and other parts of the country with greater level of certainty in our daily lives.

Oritsejafor Seeks Unconditional Release Of Archbishop Kattey

Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) President Ayo Oritsejafor has called for the unconditional release of the kidnapped Dean of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, the Most Rev. Ignatius Kattey. This call is contained in a statement issued by Mr Kenny Ashaka, the Media Assistant to Oritsejafor, in Abuja on Tuesday. Oristejafor called on Kattey’s abductors, at Eleme, Rivers, on Sept. 6, to release him as mark of atonement for their ``sacrilegious’’ act. Kattey is also the Archbishop of Niger Delta Province and Bishop of Niger Delta North Diocese of the church. The statement stated that Oritsejafor received with a feeling of dismay the news of the kidnapping Kattey. The CAN president appealed to the kidnappers to release Kattey unconditionally and unharmed as a means of atoning for the sacrilege they have committed. He said that kidnapping had taken an alarming dimension, and had become the most glaring evidence of growing insecurity in the country. Oritsejafor said while the activities of the kidnappers were awash with abducted Nigerians, the manner of abduction, the location from where those kidnapped were freed remained a mystery. The CAN president said that given the cost of freedom in some instances, government seemed to be incapable of dealing with the situation. Oritsejafor called on government and all stakeholders to match the spate of kidnappings with the necessary force and punishment. He said that kidnappers must be treated like armed robbers and severely sanctioned to serve as a deterrent to others. Oritsejafor expressed worries that if the crime of kidnapping was not matched with harsh or severe punishments, the country might be in for worse situation than it was. In the same statement, Oritsejafor congratulated the Prelate of the Methodist Church of Nigeria, Dr Sunday Makinde, on his retirement from active pastoral service. - See more at:

Pictures of Pastor Taiwo Odukoya Wedding toRosemary Simangele Zulu

Pastor Bimbo Odukoya was a source of inspiration to so many people around the world. Her “Single & Married” ministry changed lives, helped heal and build relationships.
The nation mourned when the Sosoliso crash occurred on the 10th of December 10th 2005 resulting in the loss of so many promising young lives – wives, brothers, sisters, daughters, husbands, mothers lost their lives in the crash.
Families left devastated had to rebuild their lives while honoring the memory of their loves ones.
Most of us will never know what the loss of a spouse feels like until old age. While many Nigerians lost an icon, Pastor Taiwo Odukoya lost his wife, his partner, his friend, the mother of his children.
In the midst of the tragedy, he has carried on his ministry and life with grace.
In January 2010 surrounded by his children, family members, members of the Fountain of Life Church and Ministry, friends and fellow pastors – Pastor Taiwo Odukoya married South African Miss Rosemary Simangele Zulu at the Civic Centre in Lagos – Nigeria.
The bridal train included the Pastor’s 3 children. His two daughters Tolu and Tobi were the bridesmaids. His son, Jimi was the best man and the entire wedding ceremony featured a strong show of support from fellow pastors.
Bishop Mike Okonkwo of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission Church (TREM) conducted the exchange of vows ceremony. Bishop David Oyedepo of the Winners Chapel delivered a speech, Pastor Itua Ighodalo supervised the cake-cutting session, Pastor Paul Adefarasin who proposed the toast to the couple and Pastor Enoch Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Church of God pronounced the final blessings on the couple.
Congrats to the couple and their families.Jan 22,2010

Pastor Odukoya Wedding 1

Glamorous Wedding of Toluwani Odukoya

The wedding between Toluwani Odukoya and Olumide Ijogun took place today at the Fountain of Life Church, IIlepeju. The reception took place at the Havens Events Center, GRA, Ikeja.
The bride, Tolu looked stunning in a her princess wedding gown with long veil. Olumide looked dapper in his blue suit. The colours orange and sky blue was sure a good combination as it reflected right from the aso ebi, bouquet down to the decoartaion.
The 15 bride's maid were all gorgeously dressed in orange and blue fitted gown which they complemented with orange hats and shoes. The chief bride's maid, Tobi who was the younger sister of the bride was differentiated by wearing a blue hat.
The church which was almost filled to capacity had lots of dignataries in attendance.
Tolu is the first daughter of Pastor Taiwo Odukoya and late pastor Bimbo Odukoya.

Why Olu of Warri recants his belief

The Itsekiri people hold their culture and tradition very dear. So, it was no surprise that men, women and masquerades came out to kick against the stance of the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse II, who, earlier refused to abide by his people’s tradition.

‘Ogiame’ means ‘King of the River,’ according to the history behind the Itsekiri throne.

The monarch, in a document titled, “The New Order of Iwere Kingdom,” said he had renounced his allegiance to the Umalokun (goddess of the sea, land and sky), as well as the ‘Ogiame’ title with which his ancestors had pledged allegiance to Umalokun and other deities.

Itsekiri people have a unique way of enthroning a new ruler after the death of a reigning monarch. When an Ogiame died, his head would be cut off and kept in a dark room frequented only by the initiated.

These heads were arranged in order of ascension. Tradition had it that a prominent palace chief who worked closely with the late king would be detailed to lecture, exhaustively, the one that would ascend the throne on the culture and tradition of the people.

The Iyase would then cover the new Ogiame’s eyes with a piece of black cloth. He would take him into the secret room where skulls of late Ogiames were arranged according to the order they succeeded one another.

It was in this secret, dark room, never seen or stepped in by the uninitiated that the Iyase would direct the would-be monarch to stretch his right hand forward and swing it from left to right, to feel the skulls.

Saturday PUNCH gathered that the skulls had mystic magnetic qualities that would attract the would-be Ogiame’s hand.

When his hand rests on a particular skull, the Ogiame would assume that name. The Iyase, who accompanied him into the dark room, would announce the name to the public and dancing and feasting would follow immediately.

The Olu of Warri went through the ancient initiation process. His right hand fell on the late Ogiame Atuwatse I, and so assumed Atuwatse II in line with tradition.

However, the monarch had rejected the name, thereby refusing to abide by the tradition of his people.

This led to the protest, last week. Reliable sources confirmed that the Olu of Warri claimed he received God’s inspiration to cling to his Christian faith, describing the royal stool as demonic.

The women dressed in red attires, signifying danger in the kingdom and masquerades dressed in black trooped out in large numbers. They requested for his immediate removal and dismissal from the palace since the throne was for Itsekiri sons who believe in the traditional rites and culture of the people.

They were angry that the Ogiame, wanted to single-handedly change the tradition and culture established many centuries ago.

A Palace Chief, Prince Newuwuwmi Omolubi, who spoke to Saturday PUNCH on the telephone, said, “The king did not want to answer the name ‘Ogiame’ but accepted ‘Olu of Warri’.

“In Itsekiri custom, ‘Ogiame’ is synonymous with ‘Olu’ and there is no way the two titles can be separated.”

The Itsekiri people believe that the Olu of Warri is the custodian of the custom, tradition and culture of the people.

He said, “The reason for the protest was very simple; there was an issue with the palace and the Itsekiri people. The issue was that there was a memo that the king did not want to be called ‘Ogiame’ but would want to be addressed as the ‘Olu’. So, we took to the streets to protest it since it was wrong for him to accept one and reject the other.

“Itsekiri people are known to have a national anthem and tampering with these two names or titles will affect that national anthem.

Investigations revealed that the Ogiame rejected that name because the late Ogiame Atuwatse I was one of the wicked Olus the kingdom had ever produced.

A source said that his reign was marked by terror, mysterious deaths and arrogant display of power.

Sources added that the protesting masquerades were specially prepared by the monarch’s kinsmen to throw him (Atuwatse II) out of the palace to pave the way for the ascension of a new king. The Itsekiri people built the palace for him.

But the controversial Ogiame escaped the mob action. On sensing the tension and mood of his kinsmen, he quickly recanted his anti-traditional, anti-cultural statements and said, “I must do all my predecessors did when they reigned”.

He promised his subjects that he would abide by the custom, uphold and protect the culture of the people.

All efforts to speak with the monarch proved abortive. A source informed our correspondent that the king would not speak to strange faces in the kingdom.

Culled from Punch Newspaper

Thursday, 12 September 2013

Jihadists force Syria Christian to ‘convert at gunpoint’

Jihadists who overran Syria’s ancient Christian town of Maalula last week forced at least one person to convert to Islam at gunpoint and executed another one, residents said Tuesday.“They arrived in our town at dawn on Wednesday and shouted ‘We are from the Al-Nusra Front and have come to make lives miserable for the Crusaders,” an Islamist term for Christians, said a still frightened woman who identified herself as Marie.She spoke to AFP in Damascus, where she was attending the burial with hundreds of others of three Christians from Maalula killed in last week’s fighting, the long line of mourners led by a brass band playing dirges.“Maalula is the wound of Christ,” mourners chanted as they marched through the narrow streets of the capital’s ancient Christian quarter, their voices nearly drowned out by the rattle of automatic gunfire in honour of the dead.There was an irony in that, as the assault on Maalula came only a couple of weeks before a major feast, the Exaltation of the Cross.Maalula, around 55 kilometres (34 miles) from Damascus, is one of the most renowned Christians towns in Syria, and many of its inhabitants speak Aramaic, the language of Jesus.Home to around 5,000 people it is strategically important for rebels, who are trying to tighten their grip around the capital and already have bases south and west of Damascus.Maalula could also be used as a launching point for attacks on the highway between the capital and Homs, a key regime supply route.Clashes first erupted on Wednesday, when Al-Nusra Front fighters and other Islamists attacked an army checkpoint at one entrance to the town.The advance raised fears of attacks on churches or Christians in the town, but on Friday, the opposition Syrian National Coalition said rebels had withdrawn.On Saturday, the Observatory said rebels were fighting pro-regime militias in western Maalula, and were also clashing with Syrian troops on its outskirts.Tuesday night, the Free Syrian Army said rebels had withdrawn from Maalula to spare its people and heritage, but only on the condition that the regime kept its forces out as well.Recalling the events last Wednesday, 62-year-old Adnan Nasrallah said an explosion destroyed an archway just across from his house that leads into the town.“I saw people wearing Al-Nusra headbands who started shooting at crosses,” said Nasrallah.One of them “put a pistol to the head of my neighbour and forced him to convert to Islam by obliging him to repeat ‘there is no God but God.’”“Afterwards they joked, ‘he’s one of ours now.’”Nasrallah, who spent 42 years running a restaurant in the US state of Washington named after his hometown, said he was devastated by what happened in Maalula.“I had a great dream. I came back to my country to promote tourism. I built a guesthouse and spent $2,000 installing a windmill to provide electricity in the town.“My dream has gone up in smoke. Forty-two years of work for nothing,” he lamented.But worse, for him, was what he said was the reaction of his Muslim neighbours when the town was seized by the rebels.“Women came out on their balconies shouting with joy, and children… did the same. I discovered that our friendship was superficial.”But Nasrallah’s sister, Antoinette, refused to condemn everyone.“There are refugees from Harasta and Douma (in the suburbs of Damascus) that we have taken in, and they are spreading the poison of hatred, especially among the younger generation,” she said.The most tragic story was that of Rasha, who recounted how the jihadists had seized her fiance Atef, who belonged to the town’s militia, and brutally murdered him.“I rang his mobile phone and one of them answered,” she said.“Good morning, Rash rush,” the voice said, using her nickname. “We are from the Free Syrian Army. Do you know your fiance was a member of the shabiha (pro-regime militia) who was carrying weapons, and we have slit his throat.”The man told her Atef had been given the option of converting to Islam, but had refused.“Jesus didn’t come to save him,” he taunted.

CAN canvasses punishment for kidnappers

The Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, yesterday, decried the rate of kidnapping in the country, calling for a severe punishment for kidnappers to stem the tide.CAN President, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, noted that if kidnapping was not matched with commensurate punishment, the country might be in for serious problem worse than terrorism. Oritsejafor was reacting to the kidnapping of the Archbishop of Niger Delta Province of Anglican Communion of Nigeria, His Grace, Most Reverend Ignatius Kattey, in Port-Harcourt, last weekend.Vanguard gathered that the kidnappers demanded for N250 milllion as ransom for the release of the Bishop, the demand the Church of Nigeria said it would not pay.Pastor Oritsejafor in a statement in Abuja, observed that the action or crime of forcefully taking away or holding somebody prisoner, usually for ransom, had become a showy display, a publicity stunt in ways that explained the serious insecurity in Nigeria.He said: “While activities of the kidnappers are awash with prominent Nigerians abducted, the manner of abduction, the location those taken forcefully were freed from and sometimes the cost of freedom, government seems incapable of dealing with the situation.“If the crime of kidnapping is not matched with equally harsh or severe punishments, Nigeria may be in for an even worse situation than she is with the terrorist activities.”In circumstances where kidnappers shoot and kill people before forcefully abducting the victims, Oritsejafor called on the Federal Government to treat kidnappers like armed robbers and terrorists by invoking laws that would stop crimes and criminality.However, he appealed to the kidnappers of the Archbishop to release him unconditionally and unharmed as a means of atoning for the sacrilege they had committed.The statement signed by his Special Assistant, Media and Public Affairs, Kenny Ashaka, also, wished the Prelate of the Methodist Church of Nigeria, His Eminence, Dr. Sunday Ola Makinde, farewell, as the latter retired from active pastoral service.The National Christian body congratulated former Prelate Makinde for his doggedness in the things of the Lord, while urging the New Methodist Prelate, the Most Rev. Samuel Uche, to strive to be a source of inspiration to Christians and CAN family.The statement said: “We wish that the great potentials and dynamism he is bringing into the office of the Prelate of the Methodist Church will rub off on the Church in Nigeria and all Christians.”Recently, Uche emerged as the administrative head of the Methodist Church in Nigeria during the 44 Special Conference and first Emergency Conference in Lagos.

CAN expresses shock over Anglican Bishop’s kidnap

President of Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, has expressed concern over the abduction of the Archbishop of the Niger Delta Province of the Anglican Communion of Nigeria, His Grace, Most Reverend Ignatius Kattey and his wife, Beatrice.The wife has been released.Oritsejafor has appealed to the kidnappers of the Archbishop to release him unconditionally and unharmed as a means of atoning for the sacrilege they had committed.Pastor Oritsejafor, in a statement in Abuja, said: “The crime of forcefully taking away or holding somebody prisoner, usually for ransom, has become a showy display, a kind of publicity stunt in ways that explain the serious insecurity in Nigeria.”Given the ferocious and violent manner these kidnappings are carried out, Oritsejafor is worried that if the crime of kidnapping was not matched with equally harsh or severe punishments, Nigeria may be in for an even worse situation than she is with the terrorist activities.He said: “In circumstances where kidnappers shoot and kill people before forcefully abducting the victims, we call on the Federal Government to treat kidnappers like armed robbers and terrorists by invoking laws that would stop criminality.”Meanwhile, as the Prelate of the Methodist Church of Nigeria, His Eminence, Sunday Makinde retires from active pastoral service, CAN President has wished him a fruitful and beneficial withdrawal.

Plan to sanction Olu of Warri crumbles

UNDERGROUND move by some Itsekiri opinion leaders to impose sanction on the Olu of Warri, His Majesty, Ogiame Atuwatse II, for supposedly embarrassing the Itsekiri nation with his September 4 denunciation of the ‘Ogiame’ kingship appellation that was reversed on Tuesday, has collapsed.
Lori-Ogbebor, Emami, Omolubi kick against sanction
The Igba of Warri, Chief Rita Lori-Ogbebor, who led Warri chiefs to prevail on the revered monarch to recant his position, told Vanguard, emphatically, yesterday, on phone, “The Itsekiri cannot sanction their Olu.”

His Majesty Ogiame Atuwatse II The Olu of Warri Photo by
George Osodi

Akulagba of Warri kingdom, Chief Ayiri Emami, also told Vanguard that it was a huge joke for anybody to think of penalizing the Olu of Warri over the matter that had just been resolved.
Also, prominent Itsekiri youth leader, Comrade (Prince) Omolubi Newuwumi, who led the four-day siege to the Olu’s palace, also told our reporters, “Nobody is going to sanction the Olu of Warri, he is our father, as I told you, it is no victor, no vanquished. His children spoke, he listened, and that is the end.”
Pro-sanction group meets
A powerful Itsekiri leader is understood to be behind the move to sanction the Olu for his September 4 proclamation and supposed lack of consultation with the Itsekiri leadership.
His group was said to have held a meeting outside Warri on Wednesday, but the plan is not popular.
The pro-sanction group maintained that the monarch did not consult widely as he ought to have done before he made the pronouncement and, therefore, humiliated the Itsekiri people.
It is not known if the influential leader has the support of members of his group, but some of them contended that the action of the monarch had damaged the revered position of Olu, who the Itsekiri pride as one who speaks and never recants (Afomasin).
A leader of the group asserted, “Without consultation, he (Olu) issued an edict and recants. He has embarrassed the throne and embarrassed Itsekiri. So recanting now is not enough. If he had consulted enough he would have got our (stakeholders’) explanation.
“A situation where the monarch makes a statement and recants is not desirable. He has recanted, that is fine, but the danger now is that up to now he has been acting outside the checks and balances.”
The leader said the incident makes it expedient for Itsekiri leaders and traditional chiefs to resuscitate ancient mechanism used to put monarchs in check and ensure balance in the kingdom.
His words: “The Itsekiris now have a problem of reviving their checks and balances for controlling the Olu. Itsekiris can’t have an Olu who would be behaving as a medieval tyrant.
“A situation where he makes such far-reaching pronouncement, without wide consultation is most undesirable. Recanting because of the pressure is very good; but the Itsekiris would not want such a situation to arise again.”
Misconception over ‘Ogiame’
The king had anchored his rejection of the kingship “name and title” of Ogiame, which he and his ancestors had borne for over 500 years on grounds that “it connotes allegiance to Umalokun and other deities of the sea, all of which are false gods.
“He reversed his position after Itsekiri elders and chiefs told him bluntly on Tuesday that he was in error, as Ogiame does not mean goddess of the river, but king over a region (read riverside communities), and had nothing to do with Umalokun, the water deity, which he referred to.”
Why Olu cannot be penalized—Lori-Ogbebor
However, Chief Lori-Ogbebor, who left the palace at about 1.52 pm for the airport to catch her flight back to Lagos, said in reaction to the move to sanction the monarch, “We do not have a culture of sanctioning the king, Ogiame Atuwatse II of Warri kingdom. We are completely loyal to him, he is our king.”
Her words: “We love him, we are carrying on with him, we are not prepared to subject the matter between the king and his children to any further argument, it has been resolved and there is peace.
“We, the chiefs and people of Itsekiri have reconciled with our monarch, there is nothing to sanction him for. That is the end of the matter.”
Newuwumi, who spoke to Vanguard from Sapele, said he was not part of any group canvassing sanction for the Olu of Warri, adding, “As far as I know, the matter has ended, I know that some chiefs and other people are meeting, but sanction is ruled out.”
According to Chief Emami: “If Olu says anything, he cannot take it back, once Olu has spoken, what he said cannot be withdrawn. He cannot withdraw his own words, but can take suggestions from his subjects or from people while mediating in a matter.
“That is what he had done in what took place in the last few days; he listened to his people and worked with their suggestion. Nobody, I repeat, nobody can sanction him. The main issue to me was his refusal to answer to the traditional salutation of Ogiame and cause of disagreement has been resolved.
“We have greeted Ogiame and he answered, so who is talking of sanction and what for.”
Normalcy returns
When Vanguard visited the palace, yesterday, 24 hours after the monarch bowed to the wish of his people, it was discovered that normalcy has, indeed, returned.
Everything connected with protest, including the canopies mounted for the soup kitchen and chairs had been dismantled.
Various meetings were held by Itsekiri leaders and chiefs, hours after the Olu retracted his statement up till yesterday, to reconcile their differences and point the way forward.
The open area, which was a beehive of activities since Saturday was empty and the vicinity was also swept clean of sachet waterproofs, drink cans and waste materials that littered the arena in the last few days.
Mr. John Amadu, who spoke to Vanguard at the palace ground yesterday, said: “Nobody will know that the protest that happened for four days took place the way the place is looking clean this morning (yesterday).
“You can see for yourself, the place is empty, everybody had gone home, there is no sign of protest anymore, only the Olu and his family and maybe, some visitors will be inside the palace now, there is calm.”
Former Chief of Staff, Government House, Asaba, Mr. Solomon Areyenka, who hailed the monarch for listening to the voice of the people, told Vanguard that Itsekiri people were peaceful citizens and would not do anything to undermine their monarch.
Describing the volte face of the monarch as “pleasant and marvelous”, he said: “That is the end, as long as the monarch has accepted the wish of the people, he remains our king.”
Religious leaders hail Olu
Bishop-elect and national co-coordinator of Niger Delta Ministers Peace Forum, NDMPF, Rev. Duke Akpososo, told Vanguard, “I rejoice with the Olu of Warri for the withdrawal of his statement that he should not be addressed as Ogiame anymore. Like I said in my first reaction on this matter, which Vanguard published, the Olu is a forthright man and a man of courage.
“It is only a man of courage that can do what he has done, he is a man of peace, the Bible says follow peace with all men (Hebrew 12:14). His subjects say he should stick to the title, if not; there will be problem, so he obeyed their wishes.
“This is wisdom because he cannot preside over the liquidation of his own empire. Wisdom is the principal thing (Proverb 4:5-7). If this decision will cause such an unexpected uproar in the kingdom, then a wise king should say what the people want to hear.
“He has demonstrated a great sense of wisdom for peace to reign. Heaven will not hold him guilty. However, the people won’t enter into his mind to know what is inside, Heaven bears the monarch witness that he has made his point.
“His rescinding is an outward expression and not real expression of his inner mind, the monarch has done what is right to save his kingdom. Only a man of courage can say I am sorry.”
Also, international preacher, Rev. Stephen Gbejero of the Hour of Truth Ministry, Warri, in a statement made available to Vanguard, said: “I thank God He never hardened our King’s heart, as was done to King Pharaoh of Egypt (Exodus 7) to King Rehoaboam in Ist King 12, thanks to all wonderful chiefs in Warri kingdom.”
Culled from Vanguard Newspaper

Nigerian President Flays Kidnap of Anglican Archbishop

President Goodluck Jonathan Thursday said the federal government is winning the war against insurgency and other security challenges in some parts of the country as he also condemned the kidnapp of the Dean, Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion and Archbishop of the Niger Delta Province.
President Goodluck Jonathan made the declaration in Yenago while declaring open the standing committee meeting of the Bishops Conference of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion at the Saint Peter’s Deanery.
He said the victory recorded was due to the tireless efforts by the Federal Government and the security agencies to ensure that law and order is restored in the North East.
“Already as a result of our ongoing actions and measures, the security situation in the country is steadily improving. The gains of the declaration of state of emergency in the North Eastern part of the country has been tremendous and felt by all.
“From a society that was coping with uncertainty, we are gradually seeing a return to normalcy to most part of the North and other parts of the country.
“Indeed, I can say with all humility and gratitude to God that we are winning the war against terrorism and by His grace we will surely overcome the challenges of terrorism and insecurity in our land,” he said.
President Goodluck Jonathan also condemned the recent kidnap of the Dean, Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion and Archbishop of the Niger Delta Province, Archbishop Ignatius Kattey at Aleto, Eleme, Rivers State last Friday

Tuesday, 10 September 2013

Abortion law: Why Okorocha made U-turn

Facts emerged at the weekend that the main reason the Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, hurriedly requested the State Assembly to hold an emergency session last Tuesday to repeal the controversial Abortion Law he secretly signed last year May 2012, was ostensibly to avoid being on collision course with the powerful Catholic church in state, ahead of the 2015 elections and to avoid the ugly political fate that befell his predecessor, Chief Ikedi Ohakim.

Sunday Sun findings revealed that Governor Okorocha whose relationship with the church had already gone sour over his style of administration, and apparently sensing that the controversial abortion law would further strain the tenuous relationship with the Catholic faithful that constitute over 70 percent of the Christian population in the state, had to succumb to pressure to repeal the law in view of the looming dogfight in 2015, and to placate the Catholic church which was instrumental to his gubernatorial victory in 2011.

It was equally gathered that Governor Okorocha who has since fallen out with his former political allies in the state, did not want the abortion law to be made a campaign issue by his political foes who have vowed to unseat him or his anointed successor in the next election.

Although the Archbishop of Owerri Catholic Diocese, Most Reverend Dr Anthony Obinna, said that he had nothing personal against Okorocha, he maintained that the church would continue to be involved in the political process to ensure that public interest and good was protected under any regime, stressing that the major interest of the church was to ensure that public funds were deployed for public good. He pointed out that the demand by the Catholic church for abrogation of the controversial law was driven by the concern that legalizing abortion in the state would inadvertently open a floodgate of abuses of the right of the unborn child and such law could not be tolerated.

Meanwhile, the Director Of Social Communication of the Catholic Archdiocese of Owerri, Reverend Father George Nwachukwu told newsmen that the State government had not officially notified the church if the law had actually been repealed or not.

“From our experience we are simply waiting to see what the State Assembly will do because the only thing we know is that the Governor has requested that the abortion law be abrogated and until that is done we will continue with our campaign against it in all the catholic parishes in the state and beyond,” Nwachukwu said.

However a reliable source within the Government House, who does not want to be quoted, told Sunday Sun that the governor knows the political implications of engaging the church in a fight over such a sensitive issue of making abortion legal in a state with overwhelming catholic population pointing out that it would amount to political suicide and that he was advised to repeal the law no matter the good intension behind it.

“The governor knows the implications of engaging the Catholic church in a battle because that was exactly what finished Ikedi Ohakim in 2011,” he said.

Culled from The Sun Newspaper

Ogun accuses Winners’ Chapel members of beating TV crew

Members of the Living Faith Church Worldwide, aka Winners’ Chapel, were on Friday, alleged to have descended on members of the Ogun State government television crew in Ota, beating them black and blue.

The state government, in a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information, Mr Yusuph Olaniyonu, a copy of which was made available to Sunday Tribune, on Saturday, lamented that this was not the first time members of the church would be attacking officials of the government who went on duty to the church premises.

Olaniyonu said in the statement that “members of Winners’ Chapel, once again, visited violence on another set of officials of Ogun State Government as they assaulted a reporter and cameraman of the state television station (OGTV).

“On Thursday, security personnel of the Kingdom Heritage Nursery and Primary School, a commercial venture located within the complex of Winners’ Chapel, had assaulted tax officials and damaged assets of the Ogun State Internal Revenue Service (OGIRS).

“The reporter, Peter Falomo, and his cameraman, Lekan Egunjobi, were severely beaten and their camera damaged when they went to the Ota premises of the church to cover the service of building inspection notices by officials of the Ministry Of Urban and Physical Planning. The video camera of the television crew was forcibly seized and damaged in the process. The camera was only released after the recording had been wiped off.

The commissioner said the leadership of the church was on ground while the attack on the government officials was going on, without making any move to prevent the church members from committing the act, adding that the head pastor of the church, Bishop Timothy Oyedepo, even vented invectives on the government for daring to regulate building activities in the premises.

The commissioner added that the General Manager of the State Urban and Physical Planning Board, Mr Stephen Adewolu, who was part of the team that was molested in Ota, expressed shock at “the lawlessness displayed by the Winners’ Chapel members and their leaders.”

Efforts to speak with authorities of the church proved abortive as calls made to the telephone of its Director, Media relations and Services, Deacon Anselm Opara, were not answered.

Also, a text message that read: “We need your church’s reaction. Your church members in Ota, under Bishop Timothy Oyedepo, were accused of beating up Ogun State Government officials from the Ministry of Urban and regional Planning on Thursday,’ was sent to Deacon Opara, but was not replied until press time.

Nigerian Monarch Denounces 500-year-old Tradition for Christianity, Sparks Protests

Tension and panic yesterday gripped Warri, a major town in Delta State, as hundreds of irate youths seized the palace of the Olu of Warri, Atuwatse II. The more than 500 youths said they came out to protest against alleged clandestine moves by the monarch and others to change the only recognized ancient title of “Ogiame” that represents the symbol of the Iwere Kingdom of Warri. According to some of the protesters, the traditional ruler recently issued a contentious document titled “The New Order of Iwere Kingdom.” They said the document outlined a proposal to expunge the “Ogiame” title since the kingdom had been consecrated to God. One protesting youth told reporters that the move amounted to a desecration of a title that has been in existence for more than 500 years. The protesters set a huge bonfire outside the gate of the palace, disrupting social and economic activities as well as vehicular movement in the area. A security official told reporters that Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, who was scheduled to pay a visit to Warri, scratched the visit once he got wind of the crisis. The source disclosed that the governor’s security personnel, press crew and other government officials had earlier arrived in Warri in preparation for his aborted trip. One of the government officials on the governor’s advance team told SaharaReporters that Mr. Uduaghan abandoned his plan to visit to avoid being linked to the crisis. “His Excellency had planned to visit to Warri to spend the weekend and attend to some state matters, but he doesn’t want to be dragged into the traditional crisis,” the official stated. He added, “We all know that the [traditional] title has been in existence and the governor doesn’t wish to be involved in changing it. So immediately he got wind of the disturbance in Warri concerning the issue, he decided to put off his visit.” The protesting youths vowed to resist any gimmicks employed to change the traditional title, adding that the traditional ruler was unacceptable to the Itsekiri people. One of the protesters, who simply identified himself as Ayo, stated, “Ogiame simply means ‘King of the River.’” An elderly Itsekiri chief told reporters that he was supported the youths’ rejection of the embattled traditional ruler’s plan to dump a title that has lasted five centuries. He said the monarch had recently converted to Christianity, renounced allegiance to the “Umalokun” and other gods of the sea, land and sky, and denounced the “Ogiame” title.A source learnt that, after a recent decision to become a born-again Christian, the traditional ruler renounced all “acts of idolatry within his kingdom and sanctified the land in the name of Jesus Christ.” Reporters obtained a copy of the document issued by the ruler turned Christian convert. In it, he proclaimed, “Henceforth, I submit and present the title ‘Ogiame’ to God, the creator, who made the sea and rules over all. Therefore, no Olu or person may bear the title or name that now belongs to God.” He added: “I nullify all tokens of libation poured on the land and seas or sprinkled into the air in Iwere land. I frustrate all sacrifices of wine, blood, food, water, kola nuts, and other items (known and unknown) offered in Iwere land. “In conformity with the new covenant through the blood of Jesus, I release the royal bloodline, the chiefs of the Iwere kingdom, the Iwere people and land, waters and atmosphere of Iwere kingdom from all ties to all other spiritual covenants and agreements.” The monarch’s statement invoked the authority of the blood of Jesus to “destroy all ancient and new altars in Iwere land not raised up to God.” His declarations triggered swift reactions from the Emiko royal family. In a petition signed by more than 35 members, the family contended that, when Prince Ginuwa left Benin to become the first Itsekiri monarch about 1480, he received the authority and blessing of his father (Olua, the then Oba of Benin) to reign over the river – hence the title “Ogiame.” They added that the title “Ogiame” belongs to the Itsekiri people who have used it to address their monarchs, including Christian ones, for more than five hundred years. Admitting that Atuwatse II, as the incumbent Olu of Warri and custodian of the title, has the authority to review aspects of the culture/tradition, they underlined that such reviews must follow due process and be in consultation with Itsekiri stakeholders. Contacted to comment on the protest, one Omolubi Newuwunmi, alleged to be the mastermind of the protests, declined to speak beyond stating that the matter was already being handled. Some of the protesters accused Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, an Itsekiri and National President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), as well other Itsekiri Christians of pushing the monarch to denounce all deities in the land.

God will soon expose sponsors of heinous crime of kidnapping – Prophet Samuel

The General Overseer of Christ Worshippers Church, Osubi, Effurun, Warri, Delta State, Prophet Duromola Adedayo Samuel, has always distinguished himself as an outstanding man of God in his attacks on the kingdom of darkness, with his prophetic ministry and precise visions. In this exclusive interview with MICHAEL OLANREWAJU, he bares his mind on the spiritual implications of the recent developments in the country, just as he disclosed plans for the church’s adult harvest.

Sir, what are the plans for the coming adult harvest of your church?

Thank you very much. All hands are on deck to do have a very successful adult harvest in our branches in Nigeria. Various structures like the prayer band, the choir, the pastoral council, elders and deacons, the youths have all been adequately mobilised to make the harvest successful and memorable in the sight of God and man. May God help and bless us.

When is the harvest coming up?

The harvest comes up between September 8, and December 1, 2013 in Ozoro, Akure, Ifon, Otomewho, Warri 1, Benin, Ughelli, Abraka, Ovwian, Bayelsa, and the National Headquarters, Osubi, Effurun, Warri respectively on Sundays within the stated period.

What should Nigerians expect from the harvests?

God will prove Himself as of old. Nigerians, irrespective of denominations or religion should and encounter the God of Worshippers in action as deliverance from the earthly yoke and burden shall be released by the Almighty Jehovah, sickness will disappear and blessings shall be released unto the people.

What’s your reaction to the recently-raging controversy over the release of former Chief Security Officer to the late Gen. Sani Abacha, Major Hamzat Al Mustapha, from prison?

Thank you for this question. I have always said that the ways of God are different from those of men. There is no single leaf that drops from a tree without the knowledge of God. Before Major Al-Mustapha was arrested, incarcerated for that long, and now freed, it was all known to God. This shows that power and even life itself is transient. Who could belief it that he could be incarcerated for that long in the same country where he once held so much power and influence?

However, it must be noted that there are many that were arrested like him but did not spend half of 15 years in prison like him before ailments or death set in. God might have preserved his life for a purpose. Joseph was imprisoned in Egypt by King Pharaoh but God preserved him in order to achieve greatness as he rose to the position of Prime Minister. Who knows the plan of God for Al-Mustapha? A period of 15 years is long enough to draw him closer to his creator – Jehovah, God. God is full of mercies. Even, who knows if Al-Mustapha would have died if he had not been incarcerated?

But many are accusing the founder of the Odua People’s Congress (OPC), Dr. Fredrick Fasehun, of betrayal for identifying with Al-Mustapha. What is your take on this?

It must be borne in mind that the Constitution of Nigeria guarantees freedom of association. One cannot pick an associate for a man of Dr. Fasehun’s calibre and status. Dr. Fasehun has been a victim of detention and torture in the administration of the late Gen. Sani Abacha where Al-Mustapha had been the Chief Security Officer. And in this same country, we see Dr. Fasehun identifying with Al-Mustapha throughout his trials, imprisonment and now freedom. Who knows what transpired between them during the period of Dr. Fasehun’s incarceration that have probably kept him alive till date?

The allegation of betrayal of the mandate given to the late Chief MKO Abiola against Dr. Fasehun requires some caution. This is because late the Chief MKO Abiola’s June 12, 1993 mandate is beyond any ethnic sentiment, and Dr. Fasehun, more than all the people accusing him was an active participant in the political melodrama to re-validate it. He actually got the brunt, but God kept him alive and preserved him to witness this day.

We need to realise that in the spirit of national unity, just as the mandate of the late MKO Abiola was achieved in unison as a national issue, there is also need for national re-atonement, rapprochement and re-alignment. Time, they say, is the healer of all wounds. Above all, the fraternal friendship between Gen. Ibrahim Babangida that annulled the election and the late Chief MKO Abiola remained intact, unbroken. Why does any sympathiser have to cry more than the bereaved? Nigerians should shun ethnic chauvinism and embrace national patriotism to make the country grow.

Apart from APC, another party, PDM – which used to be the name of a major group that metamorphosed to PDP has just been registered by INEC; will this not affect the chances of the incumbent President in 2015 polls?

I don’t want to start repeating myself. God has not shown me any other person on the Nigerian presidential seat of power than President Goodluck Jonathan. More political parties could and would be registered to allow more ambitious politicians have platforms to try their luck by contesting. Are they more eligible than President Jonathan? What of their leadership skills and ability? Is there any new value for the citizenry they have to offer? I am not a politician and I don’t usually want to discuss politics.

The secretary of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), Prof. Ango Abdullahi, has been vociferous in his attack on the President, calling for a power shift to the North come 2015. What do you see to this?

When Alhaji Adamu Ciroma started like that in the build-up to 2011 election, what did he achieve? What became of him today? Ethnic chauvinists cannot dictate the direction to which Nigerians should go. Some people become what they are through sentiment which Nigerians need to put an end. For your information, when Prof. Ango Abdullahi was given the mandate to manage Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, was his tenure not reputed for crisis? If he could not manage a university well without crisis then, and he is today vilifying the President on the country’s management from ethnic perspectives, then, who is fooling who? The genuine, respected Northern elders believe in national unity. They would not contribute in any way to heat up the polity. There are many statesmen in that part of the country. As I have always said, the unity of the corporate entity called Nigeria remains unshaken as it is God’s work, not man.

What is your view about the proposed merger of EFCC and ICPC?

The merger or otherwise is not the solution to the anti graft war. The merger could lead to the downsizing of the workforce in a nation full with huge unemployment of its youths. This could, however, be reduced by redeploying staffers affected to key Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDA) of the Federal Government.

All said and done, what we require in this country is the political will to arrest, prosecute and punish all corrupt practices. The introduction of politics to scuttle trials of corrupt practices is casting doubts on the country’s sincerity, seriousness and ability to punish corruption and makes it serve as deterrent to others. This trend started with the introduction of plea bargaining. To compound it all, corrupt cases especially against political office holders are being prosecuted endlessly.

Even, if these agencies are merged, is it not Nigerian personnel currently managing and running their affairs that would continue to be at the helms of affairs? Or, is Nigeria as a sovereign nation bringing foreigners to manage and run its anti graft agency for her? All these and other pertinent issues must be made on re-orientation and restructuring of the anti graft agency in preparation for genuine anti graft battle. It is an uphill task but with God, nothing is impossible.

Any further comments on the state of the nation

The rate of criminality as it is on the rise should give concern to all patriotic Nigerians. The kidnappers are now on the prowl in a nation where our leaders are struggling hard to attract investors in order to reduce the already saturated rate of unemployment plaguing the nation. The activities of the new ever rising high profile kidnappings and armed robberies are seriously denting the image of the country despite the fact that hundreds of millions are being spent daily on image laundering, branding and re-branding. The case of Barrister Ezekhome’s (SAN) kidnapping, where gunmen killed policemen, readily comes to mind as a bad omen for the country. If it can happen to such a man, what happens to an ordinary man on the street? There is need for stiffer penalty for kidnapping. I would therefore call on the federal and state governments to make kidnapping a capital offence which requires capital punishment by ensuring that culprits caught are killed and not spared to further demean the society. God is moving, and soon, the sponsors of heinous crime of kidnapping would be exposed. Don’t let the patriots be despaired as they continue praying for the corporate existence, growth and development of Nigeria.

Culled from Sunday Newswatch

‘Its time for Christian governor in Lagos’

Lagos State branch of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, PFN, has hailed the last two administrations in the state since 1999 but insists that the successor of Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola who should take over the mantle of leadership in the state should be a Christian in the interest of justice and equity.

In a statement titled; ‘The Church and Governance of Lagos State’ read by the chairman of Lagos PFN, Apostle Alex Bamgbala the umbrella body of Pentecostalism in the state, said Christians have supported the two Muslim administrations in the state since 1999 and it is only fair that they give room for their Christian counterparts to be elected in 2015.

“We note with pride that many of our people of the Christian faith, who of course, form the majority of the population of Lagos State without any doubt, have supported these two great leaders (Tinubu and Fashola) with their votes, during the past state elections since 1999.

According to the chairman who presided over a monthly meeting of all the 12 PFN provinces in the state, it is only fair and just, that in line with God’s will, “Christians, Muslims and all others of different faiths, as stakeholders, to elect a bona fide Christian of integrity, who will take over the mantle of leadership from Gov. Fashola in 2015.”

He therefore called on all Christians in Lagos to be prepared for the great challenge ahead, stressing that they must all go out during the voters registration exercise and be prepared to vote in all the elections ahead.

As part of its corporate social responsibility, the state PFN also gave out cheques to two provinces in the state to alleviate the suffering of gospel ministers in the rural areas of the state. The beneficiary included the Epe and Ifako/Ijaiye areas of the state.

Culled from Vanguard Newspaper

The Christendom