Nigerian Gospel Singers Jahdiel ,Eben To Tie The Nuptial Knot Nov.30

By November 30, Eben and Jahdiel won’t only be sharing the title ‘Gospel Music artiste’, but also the same surname, as both artistes will be getting married in Lagos, Nigeria. Eben and Jahdiel who have been rumoured to be dating for a long while now, would finally bring to rest the rumors by tying the knot. The wedding ceremony is scheduled to take place at D.G.M, Plot 4, Off Road 16, Ikota Villa Estate, Lekki Ajah Expressway. Reception follows at The Manor Event Centre, Admiral Ayinla Way, Lekki Phase 1, 3rd Round about, Opposite Treasure Garden Estate, Lagos. Jahdiel recently released a single ‘Jara’ (DOWNLOAD HERE). Well, this is obviously one of the “jara’s” that follows seeking God’s Kingdom. The ‘heritage’ crooner Grace Okoduwa, popularly known as Jahdiel, is a Nigerian gospel musician, Chemist and entrepreneur. She started singing as young as age five when she joined her Church’s choir and started playing the piano/keyboard at age 13. She attended Aunty Ayo primary & secondary schools and she was senior prefect in her final year. Emmanuel Benjamin, popularly known as EBEN, is a gospel rock artiste who has become a household name in Nigerian gospel music. EBEN started singing in the youth choir of Winners’ Chapel in 1997, from where he went on to establish himself as one of the major vocalists in the mass choir. This resulted in him being a regular feature in the annual Shiloh events from 1999 – 2005. In 2006, he joined Christ Embassy, and almost instantly became one of the regular faces on the Loveworld platform. Eben has appeared often in major events hosted by the ministry like the Night of Bliss held in major cities across Nigeria, and South Africa. In May earlier this year, Eben released his third studio album ‘Justified’, a 15 track album that has caught the fancy of his fans across the globe. Culled from Praiseworld Radio.

Terrorism: Anglican Bishop Urges More Prayers

Nigerians have been urged to intensify prayers so that terrorism in the country can be curbed. The appeal was made by the Bishop of Ijebu North Diocese, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Commun-ion), Rt. Rev. Solomon Kuponu at the silver jubilee celebration of Young Men and Women Christian Association, YMWCA, of St. John Anglican Church, Iju-Ishaga, Lagos on Tuesday. Speaking on a topic “Terror-ism as it affects social and political life of Nigeria: Christ-ian perspective”, Rev. Kuponu said, “Nigeria is a multi-religious country. The problems of Nigeria are many but the deadliest and most worrisome is terror attacks. From its inception, Boko Haram viewed Nigeria as a state run by non-believers and made the government its main target, even when the country had a Muslim president. The effect of this insurgency on the social and political life of the people cannot be over emphasized.” Rev. Kuponu added that the challenges facing Nigeria are serious, and the solutions are scarce. He warned that inviting foreign aid as solutions will compound the problem as there are only few countries with the capability to help. He suggested solutions to the menace of terrorism in Nigeria to include: “we need to intensify prayers; ban activities of Almajiris in the North.” Thuggery is rampant, espec-ially around politicians, who use political thugs to terrorize their opponents and rig elections, he said. Continuing, Rev. Kuponu urged religious leaders to stop preaching hatred, instead they should preach love and encourage followers to live in peace. According to him, Nigerian government should reach out to the poor countries where the terrorists come from and lend a helping hand. “Let them sow seed of love and people can see that there is no need for violence, provide food and medicine and their major problem will be solved. “Government should deal with corruption, poverty and hope-lessness and above all let dialogue be used to settle differences,” he stated. In his welcome address, the president of the Young Men Christian Association of St. John Anglican Church, Mr. Elijah Oni said, “the YMWCA is a non-denominational organisation committed to providing charity works.” Culled from Vanguard Newspaper

Pastor’s Wife Jailed 2 yrs Over N4m Dud Cheque

An Asaba High Court, Tuesday, sentenced the wife of an Asaba-based pastor to two years imprisonment with hard labour for issuing a dud cheque worth N4 million to a bank where she obtained an overdraft facility. Convicted was Mrs. Esther Onekpe who is also the proprietress of Bukky J. Nursery and Primary School, Asaba. Prosecution stated that Mrs. Onekpe, aged 38 years, had on October 8, 2012 at Asaba within the Asaba judicial division issued a Wema Bank cheque NO 1182114718 of N4 million to UBA Plc which was dishonoured when presented on account of insufficient fund in the account and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 1(b) of the dishonoured cheque (offences) Act Cap D11, Volume 5, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004. It further told the court that the woman obtained an overdraft of N4million from the Asaba branch of the United Bank of Africa (UBA) PLC but instead diverted into another purpose of which the loan was obtained and in trying to pay back, according to prosecution, a dud cheque was issued. In sentencing her, the court ruled that “she knew that the cheque when presented will be dishonoured. she knew that there was insufficient funds in her Wema bank account. I therefore hold that prosecution had proved beyond reasonable doubt essential ingredients of the offence. I hereby convict the accused accordingly” . Culled from Vanguard Newspaper

Oritsejafor Grants Scholarship Awards To 40 Indigent Students

WORD of Life Bible Church, Warri in Delta State, recently gave scholarship awards to 40 indigent students to study courses of their choice ranging from mechanical engineering, petroleum engineering, medical sciences to economics at different tertiary institutions of higher learning in the country and overseas. The list included 36 fresh students in 100 level, three in 200 level while the remaining one is a 300 level student. One of the lucky students, Toritse-weju Mene is admitted to read Economics at Memorial University in Canada. Speaking at the award presentation ceremony which took place during the 26th Jubilee Word Festival at the church headquarters in Ajamimogha, Warri, the general overseer, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor said the scholarship was a way the church encourages the growth of education in the society, stating “it is better to have many unemployed graduates than to have a society with uneducated people. “I believe we are coming to a time when graduates will be proud to work in every sector of the society,” the National President of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) said, adding that he had a covenant with God to empower as many indigent students in and around Delta State as long as possible. He therefore enjoined the benefitting students to take advantage of the opportunity to study hard and carve a niche for themselves because very soon they would be the persons who would determine the future of this country. Stressing the need for the Christians to be their brothers’ keepers, Oritsejafor warned that “the underprivileged children you fail to help today may be the ones that would torment your privileged child-ren tomorrow”. The Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan who handed the awards to the 40 recepients, congratulated the Word of Life Bible Church on its 26th anniversary. He commended the church for awarding scholarship to 40 indigent students, noting that an educated society is that which can grow positively. The governor also commend-ed the first family of Word of Life Bible Church, Pastor and Pastor (Mrs.) Ayo Oritsejafor for their unrelenting desire to always lend a helping hand to the underprivileged in the state and the nation as a whole. He warned that disciplinary measures would be taken against any primary and post-primary school head or teacher who is found to be charging fees in any form from students, pointing out that a task force has been set up in the state to monitor activities of teachers to ensure that his administration’s free education programme was not sabotaged, stressing that education is free at primary and post-primary levels in the state. The governor warned that anyone found wanting would be made to face the full weight of the law, adding “we lay a lot of emphasis on education that is why we instituted a free education policy but our efforts are being sabotaged.” Continuing, Dr. Uduaghan said: “Some teachers and school heads are still collecting fees illegally despite the fact that government pays all fees for students including fees for external examinations. We have a task force that is going round and any teacher or school head caught would be disciplined and if you are not caught, God is watching you and will punish you.” He admonished the recipients of the scholarship to be good ambassadors of the church by avoiding unholy activities in their respective schools, stating that the students will also benefit from the state government’s bursary programme if they meet the required grade points. Earlier, Prof. Gabriel Yomere who interviewed the candidates affirmed that their parents cannot sponsor their wards to school. Culled from Vanguard Newspaper

Angola Bans Islam, Destroys Mosques

Announcing plans to eradicate the world’s fastest growing faith from its territories, Angola has become the first country in the world to ban Isalm and has taken preemptive steps to enforce it by actually destroying mosques. This action comes by popular demand of the Angolan people because “they see what Muslims are doing to non-Muslims, especially in Africa, and are taking steps to prevent the same from happening in Angola.” This spate of demolitions started in October when Muslims residing in Luanda woke up to a demolished mosque without prior notice or permission. Other occurrences in the same month included the destruction of the mosque Zango located in the urban district of Viana and a radio broadcast by the Governor of Luanda, Bento Francisco Bento, announcing “that radical Muslims are not welcome in Angola and the Angolan government is not ready for the legalization of mosques in Angola.” And on Tuesday, November 19, the Minister of Culture, Rosa Cruz e Silva said. “Regarding Islam, the legalization process has not been approved by the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights. Therefore all mosques would be closed until further notice. “ It should be noted that the Angolan government has made closing of all mosques a priority. The only two mosques located in Luanda have already received a warning document signed by the mayor of the municipality of Viana José Moreno. The provincial governor of Luanda, Bento Bento, said on the airwaves of local radio that “radical Muslims are not welcome in Angola and the Angolan government is not ready for the legalization of mosques.” Minister of Culture, Rosa Cruz e Silva explained that the law on freedom of religion will be reviewed given the current national context , noting that the Government will redouble its efforts to fight relentlessly against religious cults like Islam which are contrary to the customs of Angolan culture. 95% of Angola’s population is Christian. A quarter belongs to Protestant churches founded during the colonial period, including congregational evangelical church. This decisive action taken by the Angolan head of state is based on a desire to guard against the rise of theWahhabi ideology that has created havoc, death and destruction in Africa and elsewhere. And as rightly explained Tunisian philosopher Mezri Haddad: “Islamism and Islamophobia feed each other. Worse, long-term Islamism as an ideology destroy Islam as religion. “ According to the International Religious Freedom Report 2008, Islam in Angola is a minority religion with 80,000 – 90,000 adherents, composed largely of migrants from West Africa and families of Lebanese origin. The Muslims comprise between 2.5 to 3 percent of Angola’s overall population of 17 million people, most of them Christians. In the last decade, but especially during the last few years the Muslim community in Angola has grown appreciably and Islamic activities have become more common in major cities. Mosques have sprung up in a number of places and Qur’anic schools have been built to provide Islamic instructions and teach Arabic language to adherents. Public attitudes toward Islam have been generally negative. Cultural differences between Angolan and Muslim immigrants have been the basis for negative views toward Islam, as was the perceived link between Islam and illegal immigration. Since the September 11 attacks, there has been a deliberate attempt to link Muslims with terrorism. It has become a matter of routine at Luanda airport for security officers to detain Muslims arriving from Sahelian countries. On September 1, 2008, a Muslim mob attacked non-Muslims in the community of Andulo. The school-age daughter of a deacon at one of the churches was decapitated. Forty Christians were assaulted or tortured. The mob burned three church buildings. They also went to non-Muslim houses to intimidate them or destroyed items of property. Stones were thrown at the headquarters of a local Christian project, causing some damage. An Angolan Christian leader said that the local police were unable to stop the attack and fled the scene. Culled from ynaija.com

Bola Are kickstarts 40 years on stage anniversary

Preparatory to her 40 years on stage anniversary, Evang. (Dr.)Bola Are is set to hold a thanksgiving on October 5, 2013, at Jogor Centre in Ibadan. The gospel musician expressed her profound gratitude to God for keeping her this long in the music industry, just as she thanked the Nigerian media for helping to build her career to this height. “There is no time I don’t say it that God used Nigerian journalists to assist me in propagating the gospel through music. It is only appropriate that I hold a thanksgiving to let God see how grateful I am for his mercies and blessings,” she said. Another celebration will hold at her church before the end of this month. Bishop David Oyedepo will minister at the gospel music icon’s 40 years on stage celebration from 12 noon Saturday.

Suspension: Bishops threaten legal action against S/South CAN

SOME Bishops from the Niger Delta zone have decided to take on the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the zone after they were suspended for allegedly soiling their hands in the murky water of politics South South CAN chairman, Archbishop God-Dowell Avwomakpa, had, last week, announced the suspension of the bishops from the zone after they attempted to broker peace between the G7 governors, who are threatening to dump the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and the Presidency. Reacting to their alleged suspension, leader of the bishops, who attempted to settle the political crisis on the platform of Global Peace Relief Initiative, His Eminence, Prophet Jones Ode Erue, on Thursday, threatened legal action against Avwomakpa and CAN, saying that the archbishop had no capacity to suspend them. “Avwomakpa has no capacity to suspend us. He is not our member; we only invited him to join us when our delegation visited Governor Rotimi Amaechi. “We give him 48 hours to retract the announcement of our suspension and all the bad things he said about us on Delta Television or else we will institute legal action against him and CAN”, Erue said. Continuing, he added that, “These eminent clerics and their affiliate, Global Peace and Relief Initiative, have taken on a laudable project of consulting across all interest group and stakeholders concerning the Nigerian project. Nigeria is the only country we can call our own and as fathers we cannot fold our hands and watch intolerance and impunity destroy our nation. “To place the records straight, we have not made promises to any persons and we have not used the name of CAN, we have an affiliate whose mission and vision best defines our activity. We are noble men and do not rail accusation on authorities. The group also justified their action by saying “This is a faith based non-governmental organisation with memberships spread across the nation. Our main business is advocacy, conflict prevention/ resolution and facilitation of peace projects whether individual, group, organisation or government. We create a good soil for developmental projects and people-oriented policies to thrive.” They added that they would continue with their consultation of what they described as “the task of putting Nigeria back on the road to national unity and development.” Culled from Tribune Newspaper

CAN, NOSCEF Set Agenda For National Dialogue

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) representing the 19 Northern states in the country, in association with the Christian Elders Forum of the Northern States (NOSCEF), have sent the agenda for the upcoming nation conference. The bodies, earlier in a statement co-signed by the president of the northern CAN, Archbishop P.Y. Jatau, and the NOSCEF chairman, Mr Olaiya Philips, had thrown their collective weights behind the conference, saying it was a “visible evidence of an intent to establish a society in which the will of the people is the foundation from which all else flows – the fount of legitimacy.” Believing that the “inadequacy” of the 1979 constitution, upon which the 1999 constitution was based, was “imposed by a military government and was founded on a lie,” the bodies believed that with the coming of elections in less than eighteen months, the deliberations should not be totally divorced from the hustle and bustle of politics. Therefore, “what can be done is the setting of clearly stated time lines that will be vitally important in ensuring that the national conference is not supplanted by the coming elections in the national psyche.” According the bodies, the prospect of the National Assembly retaining the capacity to further amend the deliberations of the people runs counter to the reasons for the conference, as there could not be “two masters on a ship. The Nigerian ship of state is about to set course on the journey that is the future of this country, and in so doing its people have effectively taken back their sovereignty over their affairs from their representatives. Those representatives are, therefore, honour-bound to listen to those that elected them rather than seek the cover of their elective positions to obstruct and frustrate the will of the people.” They, therefore, urged that during the deliberations, the secular nature of the Nigerian state must remain sacrosanct, saying that the “security of minorities (including religious minorities) has continued to be a thorny issue and the last decade has shown what manner of whirlwind can be unleashed by religious intolerance. Religious minorities, especially in the North, have a long history of being persecuted, discriminated against and excluded from the affairs of their states of origin; that type of marginalisation cannot endure in the kind of society we look to shape. “Whether or not Nigeria is to continue as presently structured (36 states) has to be addressed. It is difficult to see how a country with our developmental needs can be expected to persist in spending prodigious amounts of money on the administrative machinery of governance. There is little or no benefit correlation between the efficacy of governance and the cost of running 37 legislatures, over 37 judiciaries, 37 executives and all the paraphernalia that accompany these. We do not believe that there is a perfect number of administrative units but we do know that as presently configured we have too many.” Culled from Tribune Newspaper

‘Unless there is spiritual revolution before 2015 elections, there will be blood bath’

Rev. Emmanuel Adetunji Adeonigbagbe is the founder and Spiritual Head of Celica Church of Christ (CCC) Ibadan. Adeonigbagbe is not happy with the political trend in the country. He was taken up on many issues, including the conflict and tension in the polity after a special programme of his church. The clergy told OLUSAKIN BABALOLA that most of the leaders in the country are in public offices to feather their own nests, and not to serve the masses. Excerpts: We recall that some years ago, you have a cause to counsel those in power on how the problems of the country could be tackled. But those problems are still there what else are you doing? Most of the advisers through whom our messages were sent to the President did not allow such messages to get to the rightful leaders. It was not during the tenure of this President alone. Even before, we did send to past governments but we did not receive any feedback or action on what we suggested to them. You talked of revolution recently during one of your programmes. Is it the conventional revolution like the French Revolution, Russian Revolutions or…prayer or political manoeuvring? I will refer you back to 1992. We sent a letter to General Ibrahim Babangida (Rtd) that he should not conduct Presidential election in 1993, that if there was election that year, it would not be the best for Nigeria. God gave us a framework sent to me that there should be military and ceremonial President. That they should conduct election after 1996 and that after then, there could be any Presidential election. We did say that there should be Council of Obas – traditional rulers and council of religious leaders, we told them that it should be both Christian and Muslim leaders. But we stressed that they are not just academic ones, except those who were called directly by God because there are three types. But those selected were the academicians who went to study theology. The issue was that the mediator between God and people should be selected. We felt we needed spiritual council that can mediate and we said they should go back and select those called by God. The letter we sent was not acted upon. The mistake he made was that when somebody made a proposal, such a person should be invited but he did not. He would elaborate and tell you the details even without being a partaker of that programme. You would remember during that time, he selected Ernest Shonekan but what was the result? Didn’t any of the leaders accept your counsel? It was only one person and that was Late General Sani Abacha. Though I didn’t like him for anything , God sent me to him thrice and this man responded by getting back to me with gifts which I rejected. What I needed was the growth and peace of the country and not money. I rejected the money because money was not the basis of my work to him. He was the only leader who appreciated God in that respect. Others rejected such leader. Is the incumbent Governor included? Yes, definitely. President Goodluck Jonathan is surrounded by mediocre. We have academic mediocre, political mediocre and even spiritual mediocre. These mediocres cannot tell them the truth. God told me that 1993 election would kill peace in Nigeria. Did it not happen? God told me there was going to be revolution when I started praying for Nigeria, if these people refused to hear his voice. This revolution is not going to be by guns, matchets, bombs as being experienced in Egypt and other places. But you will definitely see it one day when God strikes. What is happening now was seen in January that the big political parties will be divided. There would be crisis in the PDP and the APC. Would there be no resolution? There would be. But if care is not taken, God was telling us that Nigeria would be or not be. What does that connote? The meaning of my revolution is a spiritual one that God would fight for his people because Nigeria leaders have no interest of the governed. Is this realisable with our state of sins? Let me refer you to the city of Sodom and Gomorrah in the Bible. They sinned but God still fought for the nation. Likewise Nigeria, because there are some people that are still devoted and have given their lives to God. I am not talking of Christianity or Islam but people who have devoted their lives to God and God alone. God will not watch these people suffer in the hands of the wicked leaders all over. What is your prediction on 2014 election in Osun and Ekiti states? I am not in politics but at the same time, one should give kudos to those who deserve it. In Osun State, Rauf Aregbesola is trying one way or the other to make the State better, others also tried – Oyinlola was a very good administrator though surrounded by mediocre and liars during his tenure. The way he handled LAUTECH issue was good. Aregbesola is a motivator. You can clearly see his impact. The next year election will be tough – a strange thing will come up because of the two parties – PDP and APC – giant ones. Both would want to win at all costs. This is the area we should watch very well. The ACN, ANPP and CPC leaders who teamed up to take power from PDP are arrogant men and strange bed fellows. They will have problems in due course because their ideas are not the same. Even if they desire to produce Presidents, their interests would clash. The leaders are enemies joining together and at the end of the day, there will be problems. The leaders are arrogant. PDP leaders too are arrogant and power hungry. All of them are arrogant and ambitious to be in government at all costs. Do you support the two-term policy as enshrined in the constitution? The issue of second term by executives has been causing crisis and ripples for public office holders. Appointing them for a second term always makes them turn to something else, using public money to meet their personal needs. Look at Lagos State, where during the first term Governor Raji Fashola did extremely well. But his performance in this second term is very low by my judgment. Look at Governor Segun Mimiko of Ondo State too. He also started well but now, what is he doing? The workers are not being paid as and when due. That is the problem we are facing with second term. In other words, you are against second term for our leaders? I don’t support it for anybody. Let them use a term and go away. Four years is a long time enough to do good work and bring dividends of democracy to the people. It is greed and desire to loot that make them insist on second term. It should be live and let others live. I repeat, four years is enough for anybody to do whatever he wants to do. This is because we don’t have God-fearing people with the love of masses in their minds. In Nigeria, it is not possible for our leaders to do well during their second term. Their fear is that when some other people come in, they may forget the programmes which they started. But in most cases, it is not true. They can select a good candidate. You are yet to talk on the next election in Osun and Ekiti States? Osun and Ekiti people are peace-loving. The people are now wiser and I don’t see anybody sending out thugs to go and attack people because of desire to acquire power at all costs. If anybody wants to send out others for violence, he should be asked where his own children are. Let the youths be civilised to tell leaders where their children are if they wanted to send them death errand. Parents in particular should educate their children to let them know that they cannot gain anything in violence. Nobody compensates those sent out by politicians and killed in the process of fomenting trouble. Our people in Osun and Ekiti have learnt from the bitter lessons of the past, the houses that were burnt and other bad acts were not compensated for. What would you say about insecurity, terrorism, kidnapping and robbery that pervade the clime? Our security agents are corrupt. It is not peculiar to Nigeria alone. This is because they are in a corrupt society. They have failed us like politicians, the academic and even the clerics. Even the traditional leaders as well, and this is why we should go back to our root, God. We ought to have got over this issue of Boko Haram. That is why I agree with Late Chinua Achebe in his book that things have fallen apart and the centre cannot hold. As a cleric, what is your vision and advice on the 2015 general elections? What advice would you give to people who did not like the masses who voted them in and from whom they still expect vote for 2015? These are leaders who use the masses money for rituals to get back to power. Your church is Celica Church of Christ. I know of Celestial Church of Christ. Any nexus? I was born an Anglican. After that, I joined my brother, a member of Cherubim and Seraphim. Later, in my dream, God showed me Celestial. I joined Celestial and was working as a Shepherd when revelation came in 1980 that God wanted to use me in another denomination entirely. I rejected it till 1992 because of my love for Papa Bilewu Oshoffa, the former Spiritual Head of CCC. He, Papa Oshoffa, told me in my dream that I should accept the call. What is unique about your life and ministry? God used me to heal my mother who was on the verge of death. Time may not permit me to elaborate. Even when I was in the Anglican Church, I was seeing visions. When I started in Celestial, Jesus Christ descended and asked Papa Oshoffa about an object kept with him and he said I was the one

Cleric tasks populace on offering, tithes

The founder of Christ Apostolic Church, Wonderful Palace of God, Ikotun, Lagos, Pastor Chris Daramola, has urged Nigerians especially those in leadership positions to learn to offer sacrifices to God in form of giving. Speaking at the 7th annual harvest and thanksgiving service held at the church last Sunday, on the theme: ‘Food of God’, the founder said the only food that God eats is the thanksgiving people offer to Him with their substances. According to him, the theme came as an inspiration from God to give unto Him the honour due for Him and that is why he has urged every member of the church who desires one thing or the other from God to learn to give sacrifice. “The traditional believers know the importance of sacrifice that is why anytime they are being confronted with difficult situation, they resort to sacrifice. The same thing should go for Christians who do not have to offer sacrifice in form of killing animals but by honouring God with their substances, this will challenge God and move Him to action,” he said. Daramola also said sacrifice brings promotion, citing the case of Abraham, Solomon among others, who offered sacrifices to God. The cleric regretted that Nigerian leaders are not offering sacrifice to God anymore but out of their selfish desires to retain power and positions, they have turned their hears away from God and are now sacrificing to Satan. According to him, “that is why there is a lot of ritualists today because of greed for money, power and position; our leaders have turned their hears away from God and have decided to sacrifice to devil, who in turn demands for items like parts of human beings, animals and other items. The real sacrifice that is acceptable to God is the one that people bring with hearts of gratitude and a holy heart,” he said. He spoke further that the miracles that prayer and fasting will not achieve, sacrificial offering will go a long way in achieving them, stressing that, sacrifice opens door of mercy for an individual as he added that God commanded it in the book of Psalms 50 verse five and Proverbs three verse nine. “Why our country is faced with myriads of problems is because our leaders are seeking individual favour and not the favour of God. For instance, which country is Nigeria paying its tithes to, we make so much money from our crude oil yet we don’t pay our tithes to any country like America is paying its own to Israel, and that is why the country is controlling the world today,” he said. On the vision of the church, the cleric explained that is going to be a church of revival after the order of the late Timothy Obadare, saying the harvest will launch him to a radio presentation that will be exactly like the one the late C.A.C Evangelist was having then. Share !

500 bishops vow to join G7 governors

The Bishops and Eminent Clerics Forum of Nigeria, Niger Delta chapter, has vowed to join the G7 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors to end “impunity in national institutions.” The group said that it would no longer fold its hands, and allow few individuals to run Nigeria into tribal and religious war based on religion affiliation. The leader of the group, His Eminence, Jones Ode Eruie, made the disclosure, yesterday in Yola during his visit to Governor Murtala Nyako. He said that the traditional institution in the country has failed completely by engaging in partisan politics which has made it impossible for them to call leaders that are beating war drums to order, because of selfish interest. He revealed that 500 clergymen in the country, under his organisation have dedicated their lives to fight for the unity of the country stressing that they are ready to sacrifice their lives in the struggle because they would go against the powers that be in the process of pointing accusing fingers. “We are bishops, the highest body in the Christendom and we have enlisted no fewer than 500 bishops to champion our cause. As stakeholders in the Nigeria Project, we are troubled in our minds with the situation in the country and without mincing words, our traditional rulers have failed us by routing themselves to tools of politicians. We clergymen have made up our minds to join forces in the crusade with those who are fighting impunity in the nation’s interest.” The leader of the group said that one of the reasons they visited Governor Nyako in their consultation process was because of the leadership trait he displayed as a detribalised Nigerian, adding that when Nyako was a young man, he joined the military to protect the sovereignty of the nation and as a political leader, he also championed war against impunity in the country. “You chose Amaechi, a young man from Niger Delta, to join forces and fight impunity in our country. We were challenged as religious leaders that we must protect the country and join forces with you to fight enemies of democracy that are leading the country to doom. “We Christians believe that there are three judgments: Judgment of the people, judgment of prosperity and judgment of God. We don’t want God to condemn us because we have only one life to live and that is why we stand by you in the fight against evil.” He reiterated that religious leaders in the country are tired of politicians who have been using ethnic, tribal and religious sentiments to promote their evil agenda to the detriment of the larger interest of the country. He, however, blamed the government for using police and other government apparatus undemocratically to victimise their perceived enemies, stressing that as men of God, they will stand in the way of such politicians. According to him, “Nigeria has two laws and one of them is selective. Olagunsoye Oyinlola was removed as the National Secretary of the PDP, based on court judgment and another man was sworn-in less than 24 hours. When another court reinstated him, the second law applied, as they refused to honour the court order. I met somebody in Ghana when I went for a seminar who told me that Nigeria has invented a new mathematics formula, where five is greater than 27 and 16 is greater than 19.” In his response, Nyako said that the religious leaders must supplement prayers with action. He blamed the extension of the emergency rule in the state on the hand work of “the evil few” Abuja politicians from the state, who are hell bent on causing calamity and destruction in the state. The Governor said the people of Adamawa State are tired with moving alongside the evil men, who will never be tired of causing havoc and calamities in the state and the nation at large. From Sunday NEwswatch

105-foot statue of Jesus appears in Syria

In the middle of a brutal civil war, a bronze statue of Jesus has appeared on a Syrian mountain side. The 105-foot statue has taken eight years to complete, and stands on Mount Sednaya. Although its safety is not guaranteed, it has been in place for three weeks in an area where some Al-Qaida fighters have little sympathy for Christians. Syrian Christians believe that the second advent of Christ will happen on the mountain, on the route that pilgrims took from Jerusalem to Constantinople. Backers say it is there simply because ‘Jesus would have done it.’ The main armed groups in the area halted fire while organisers set up the statue, which was assembled from two pieces. Backers said it is there simply because ‘Jesus would have done it.’ The main armed groups in the area halted fire while organisers set up the statue which was assembled from two pieces. Smaller statues of Adam and Eve stand close to the work which was inspired by Rio de Janeiro’s Christ the Redeemer statue. The project, called ‘I Have Come to Save the World’, is run by the London-based St. Paul and St. George Foundation, and was financed by private donors from across the globe. The plans were started in 2005, but were hit by many setbacks including the deaths of key backers and the 2011 uprising against President Assad. And for as long as it is there, the statue will offer some support to the region’s besieged Christians. Sunni Muslims dominate the revolt, and jihadists make up some of the strongest fighting groups. Other Muslim groups along with the 10 per cent Christian minority have stood largely with Assad’s government, or remained neutral. Churches have been vandalised, priests abducted and last month the extremists overran Maaloula, a Christian-majority town, so old that some of its people still speak a language from Jesus’ time.

How to prosper through the Bible –Ibrahim

The Group Managing Director of Energy Group of Companies, Dr Jimoh Ibrahim, has said that the word of God is far more profitable than the riches of this world. The business tycoon with investments in the energy, media, banking, insurance, education and real estate sectors of the economy said this at the Adult Harvest anniversary of the Omnipotence Mission of God, held in Lagos last Sunday. Speaking on the topic, ‘How to become a millionaire’, the tycoon emphasised that keeping of the precepts of the Bible is indeed the shortest cut to becoming a millionaire, billionaire or trillionaire. Ascribing the powers to make and unmake anything unto the Almighty God, Dr. Ibrahim said that anyone who observes the word of God would not have to struggle to possess the goodies of the world. His words: “The Bible, the written word of God, is the greatest key to resounding success. If you follow it well, you will enjoy huge success.” Taking his text from the book of Isaiah 46: 9-10; he pointed out that God is God; and that there is no one else who could do all things. “God will always remain God. He is God yesterday; he is God today and he will remain forever more. Whether you are rich or poor, God will remain God no matter your situation. Whether you are in pain, suffering, making it, whatever your situation, God is God and will remain because he is the owner of the universe. “He can do anything. He can bless you. He can curse you. He can prosper you and he can suffer you,” Ibrahim said. He also noted that pride makes people to forsake God. According to him, the sins of pride made God to wipe the country of Tyre out of the surface of the earth. He stressed that whoever allowed pride to lead him or her into disobeying the Lord was asking for the dangerous side of God. “I want to prove to you that God is an organiser. God is a planner; that God has planned everything on earth from the beginning and he has revealed all things by the word of prophesy. He further noted that God alone knows the future; so let Him reveal it to you; adding that it is wise for everyone to embrace the teaching of the Bible to avoid the wrath of God. “Jesus is coming very soon,” he said from National Mirror

Anambra church stampede tragedy: Politicians in blame war

Even up till this moment, the actual cause of the stampede that claimed no fewer than 28 lives and left scores of others worshippers injured last Saturday at the Holy Ghost Adoration ground, Uke in Idemili North Local government Area of Anambra State, is yet to be ascertained. For all who cared to know, they are being furnished with one gory tales or the other. While some said that the sight of a snake inside a nearby gutter cause the stampede, others had it that a flame of fire in a firewood raised up by a woman frying Akara was responsible for the mayhem. Some equally attributed the incident to Governor Peter Obi’s attendance to the adoration ground with the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) campaign train for purposes of campaign, while others said Obi’s visit had nothing to do with the stampede. On the other hand, both Governor Obi and the Governor candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Chris Ngige had traded blames against each other over the incident but no matter how defensive each of them was, the dead can no longer come back to life. Already, the incident has elicited many reactions from far and near, including some human rights group, the bereaved victims and ordinary individuals, among whom are Mr. Izundu Ajah, the bereaved husband to one of the dead victims, Mrs. Adaobi Ajah. The body of all the deceased victims were scattered in various hospitals, including the Immaculate Heart Hospital, Nkpor- Agu, St. Vharles Borromeo Hospital, Onitsha and Crown Hospital, Nkpor-Uno and as at the time of filing this report, the medical Director in-charge of Crown Hospital, Dr. Edwin Emegoakor, told newsmen that out of the 21 injured persons brought to his hospital, 20 of them had been discharged after recovery, while only one was still responding to the treatments. The bereaved Mr. Ajah, a Lagos based businessman from Uburu community in Ohaozara Local overnment Area of Ebonyi State, told newsmen in Onitsha on arrival that his late wife, Adaobi who was until her death, was doing her youth service at Onitsha High School, Onitsha, called him on phone at about 5 p.m. the previous day being Friday to inform him that she would attend the night vigil at the adoration center. Ajah noted that at about 10 p.m., she called him against to inform him that she was already there at the adoration ground, bu that little did he know that the 10 p.m. call would be the last to hear from her again. He said he started calling her in the morning hours without any response until one Achebe, a coordinator at the adoration center who picked up her phone, responded and said that he did not know her whereabout, but after a while, another caller informed him that she was dead in a stampede that occured early in the morning. He said he sent his brother-in-law and elder brother who were with her in Onitsha to go to the adoration ground to find out what was happening and they went and confirmed her dead, adding that she had been deposited at the Immaculate Heart Hospital, Nkpor. Ajah who recalled that his marriage with the late Adaobi was less than two years old, noted that he would like to bury her as soon as possible and forget the death, adding that the most painful aspect of her death was that she was six month old pregnant. He said the coordinators of the adoration center had just intimated him that the Catholic Archbishop of Onitsha, Most Rev. Dr. Valerian Okeke would conduct a solemn mass for all the deceased worshippers on October 21, after which he would like to bury her at once. He said he was looking forward for the compensation which Governor Peter Obi promised in his broadcast to the people of the state, last Sunday. Meanwhile, the Campaign for Democracy (CD) has urged Bishop Emmanuel Chukwuma, South-East Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), to constitute a 7-man investigative committee to unravel the circumstances surrounding Uke tragedy. CD said the essence of such committee was to ensure equity and also to check any possible manipulation, adding that Anambra government should hands-off the panel of inquiry and investigation into the mysterious tragedy. The statement, which was issued to newsmen in Onitsha, was jointly signed by Dede Uzor A. Uzor and Dr. Jerry Chukwuokolo, who are the Chairman and Secretary of CD South-East Region respectively. The statement noted that the state government sponsoring an inquiry and investigation would bias the outcome of the remote and immediate causes of the incident which would further infuriate the minds of the public especially the Christian community. “A tragedy that led to a loss of more than 25 lives in a holy and safe place, which included a six-month pregnant woman, Adaobi who is a corper currently serving at Onitsha High School, Onitsha, should not be swept under the carpet”. CD warned politicians to henceforth, stop using churches and prayer grounds for their political campaigns and rallies in Anambra in the interest of God and humanity. CD, however, urged Anambra government to ensure a free treatment for injured survivors of the tragedy, while due compensation should be paid to the families of the victims who lost their lives. “Anambra government should as a matter of necessity pay a minimum of N20 million to the families of each of the dead victims of the tragedy and at the same time, erect a long lasting monument at the entrance of the Uke adoration ground to serve as a memorial for the souls lost so far. The statement also urged Anambra government to construct more than two leading roads to the adoration ground. Authorities of the Catholic Archdiocese of Onitsha, Anambra State had disclosed that they have launched a full blown investigation into the stampede that claimed 28 lives and left scores of other worshippers critically injured at the Holy Ghost Adoration Center, Uke in Idemili North local Government Area of Anambra State , early Saturday morning. The Archbishop of Onitsha, Most Rev. Dr. Valerian Okeke who disclosed this yesterday while briefing newsmen at the Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity, Onitsha, said the Archdiocese had just inaugurated a team of investigators to unravel the circumstances surrounding the matter, adding that more efforts are being intensified to protect the lives of all worshippers at the center. Archbishop Okeke who spoke through the Archdiocesan Director of social Communications, Rev Fr. Pius Ukor, noted that he was deeply saddened by this ugly incident, after visiting the dead in the morgue and the injured in the hospitals, expressed his sincere condolence to the families and relations of those who lost their lives in the incident. He explained that save for the unprecedented crowd, the vigil started and ended normally, adding that the stampede was reportedly caused by a false alarm raised by somebody in the crowd along one of the narrow roads out of the town. According to him, “The crowd was so much that all the people wanting to leave at the same time made it very difficult for people to find enough space to move, adding, this happened in just one of the roads out of the town”. In the same vein, the International Society for Civil Liberties and the Rule of Law (INTERSOCIETY) has called on the authoorities of the Adoration Ministry led by Reverend Father Emmanuel Obimma to ban the official attendance and recognition of politicians and their political parties during adoration prayers. In a press statement issued yesterday, the Chairman of INTERSOCIETY, Emeka Umeagbalasi said such politicians may be allowed to attend in their private capacities, adding that the ban should also be placed on their retinue of supporters, who at times turn mischievous. Umeagbalasi also called for an outright ban on donation of vehicles by politicians to convey devotees to the Adoration Ground should, adding that politicians, including those in charge of affairs in the Government of Anambra State may be invited officially in the day time to participate in the official activities of the Ministry including fund-raising. He noted that it is shocking and sad to note that some politicians have formed habits of sending and stationing their hatchet men on the Adoration Ground to disrupt their opponents’ successful participation in the Prayers’ session either by voice or physical disruptions. He however recommended that the authorities of the Adoration Ground should reorganize the entire security and exit and entry procedures in the premises of the Ministry. The mammoth crowd that graced the stampeded prayer session is dotted with suspicion of “menacing rented crowd” possibly imported by some politicians to create such homicidal atmosphere. He said that although the fatal stampede has been linked to “frying oil flames”, but other intervening forces such as political sabotage may not be ruled out, stressing that the desperation of some politicians to capture and loot Anambra State premised on the allimportant November 16, 2013 governorship poll is evidently pronounced. “The governorship candidates of APC, Labour and APGA have visited the scene recently and made several promises including tarring the entrance road, tackling the gully menace near the Holy Ground and provision of vehicles to convey devotees from far distances during Adoration days and hours”. “While Dr. Chris Ngige and his APC reportedly fulfilled their recent promise of grading the entrance road to the Adoration Ground, the camp of Mr. Ifeanyi Ubah and his Labour reportedly took charge of providing some vehicles to convey devotees from far distances to the Holy Ministry. The camp of Governor Peter Obi and his Party have reportedly promised to tar the entrance road and tackle the gully menace threatening the Adoration Ground before the end of the Governor’s tenure by first quarter of 2014”. Culled from National Mirror Newspaper

David did not kill Goliath (1)

The same “infallible” bible also credits the killing of Goliath to Elhanan, one of David’s mighty men. One of the myths of Christianity is the infallibility of the bible. Quoting Paul, some Christians insist every word in the bible is “God-breathed.” (2 Timothy 3:16). When you identify contradictions in the bible, they either refuse to acknowledge them or try to rationalise them away with highfalutin apologetics. However, these apologetics have not made the contradictions disappear. All they do is establish that these bible-fanatics are not committed to the truth. Christians generally believe little David killed mighty Goliath, according to the “infallible” account of 1 Samuel 17:50-51. This feat is drummed into us from childhood. We act in plays celebrating David’s victory. We listen to sermons extolling his achievement. However, the same “infallible” bible also credits the killing of Goliath to Elhanan, one of David’s mighty men. This contradiction leads to the inevitable conclusion that while the bible might indeed be a highly inspired book, it is nevertheless not infallible. Bible discrepancies 2 Samuel says: “There was another battle with the Philistines at Gob, and Elhanan son of Jair from Bethlehem killed Goliath from Gath.” (2 Samuel 21:19). This record of Elhanan (as opposed to David) killing Goliath can be found in the following bible translations among many others: New International Version (NIV); American Standard Version (ASV); New American Standard Bible (NASB); New American Standard Bible, Updated Edition (NASU); The Amplified Bible (AMP); Revised Standard Version (RSV); New Revised Standard Version (NRSV); and Today’s English Version (TEV). Other bible translations of the same 2 Samuel 21:19 say Elhanan killed “the brother of Goliath.” These translations include the King James Version (KJV); New King James Version (NKJV); The Living Bible (TLB); and New Living Translation (NLT). Of the latter, the New King James Version is remarkably unreliable. As a matter of policy, King James sometimes adds its own words to bible verses, effectively doctoring their meaning. In its own defence, it warns its readers in its introductory pages that: “words or phrases in italics indicate expressions in the original language which require clarification by additional English words.” The need for such dubious “clarification” led the New King James Version to alter 2 Samuel 21:19 as follows: “Again there was war at Gob with the Philistines, where Elhanan the son of Jaare-Oregim the Bethlehemite killed THE BROTHER OF Goliath the Gittite.” Although the translation says Elhanan slew “the brother of Goliath;” the words “the brother of” are written in italics, indicating that they do not appear in the original Hebrew text but were added at the discretion of NKJV translators. This leads to the following conclusion: either the original Hebrew of 2 Samuel 21:9 was not infallible, or the doctored 2 Samuel 21:9 of NKJV is not infallible. Whichever is the case, it means the bible is not infallible. The bible is a book written and compiled by men; and men are not infallible. Who killed Goliath? However, my purpose here is not just to demonstrate the fallibility of the bible. Bible-worshipping Christians will always reject that fact no matter what. My purpose is to determine if David killed Goliath. Faced with the dilemma of contradictions between 1 and 2 Samuel, the author of 1 Chronicles, written centuries after 2 Samuel; says: “There was another battle with the Philistines, and Elhanan son of Jair killed Lahmi, the brother of Goliath from Gath.” (1 Chronicles 20:5). The question then arises as to which version we are going to believe? Should we believe the classical position that David killed Goliath, or should we believe the equally biblical position that Elhanan killed Goliath? For a number of reasons, the account stating that David killed Goliath is the less believable. It is in the tradition of kings and rulers to take credit for other people’s achievements under their kingdom. David was no exception to this. For example, when Joab captured Rabbah, he tactfully gave the credit to David. David himself went along with this charade and pretended that he was the one who took the city. (2 Samuel 12:26-31). It would appear that originally the killing of Goliath was part and parcel of a collection of tales extolling the exploits of David’s mighty men of war known as “The Thirty.” Elhanan was one of them. He distinguished himself by killing a mighty Philistine called Goliath. But in the process of magnifying the great King David, his substitution as the killer of Goliath was not long in coming. Saul and David The account of David killing Goliath is so full of contradictions that it is clear it is the fabricated version. One of the problems with the account has to do with the inability of bible-writers to determine precisely when David first met Saul. We are told that when Saul transgressed against the Lord, God sent an evil spirit to trouble him. (1 Samuel 16:14). Someone then recommended to Saul that he should hire David to play the harp, offering the dubious thesis that soothing music is a demon-repellent. But then the man recommending David said something strange: he extolled David, a young teenager who was not even old enough to be in the army, as a man of war: “I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skillful in playing, a mighty man of valor, a man of war.” (1 Samuel 16:18). This description is a giveaway. It is obviously written after the fact. There is no basis for describing David, a youth keeping sheep, as “a mighty man of valour” and “a man of war.” By all accounts, David was not even a man yet. On this recommendation, Saul sent word to Jesse, David’s father, that his son should be seconded to him. However, David entered Saul’s service not as a harp-playing musician, but as his armour-bearer, even though we are told later that Saul’s armour was too heavy for David. (1 Samuel 17:38-39). Nevertheless, whenever Saul came under attack by the evil spirit, David would play a harp and the evil spirit would depart. Saul quickly took a liking to David, and he sent to his father a second time that David’s secondment to him should become permanent. (1 Samuel 16:22). However, when we get to the incident where David is alleged to have killed Goliath, we discover to our surprise that this same David, who was supposed to be Saul’s armour-bearer/musician, had never met Saul before. In that contradictory account, David was just a young boy tending sheep. His father sent him to deliver lunch to his two brothers at the war-front. On arriving there, he found Goliath terrorizing everybody and offered to fight against him. He was then brought to Saul who, on meeting him for the very first time, said to him: “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.” (1 Samuel 17:33). However, in the earlier version, David was specifically introduced to Saul as “a man of war.” Contrary to the earlier account where Saul sent emissaries to David’s father twice, he now did not know who David’s father was. He asked Abner, his military commander: “Whose son is this young man?” (1 Samuel 17:55). (Continued). Femi Aribisala

Adoration Ground tragedy: Oritsejafor, S-East CAN disagree on probe

National President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, yesterday, urged the Anambra State governor, Mr. Peter Obi to investigate the stampede that claimed the lives of 28 Nigerians during a crusade last Friday at Uke, in Idemili Local Government Area of the state. However, South East zone of CAN, disagreed with Oritsejafor saying that the Federal Government was better placed to set up a panel of inquiry over the issue saying that Obi cannot be a judge in his own case. CAN in the zone also banned political campaigns in churches across the area. Chairman of CAN in South East and Bishop of the Anglican Diocese, Enugu, Rt. Rev. Emmanuel Chukwuma, who made this known in an interview in Enugu, said the group is becoming worried about how politicians come into churches to campaign, a development he described as a menace. The Bishop spoke as the All Progressive Congress, APC, in Anambra State also described Governor Obi’s promise to set up an investigative panel into the issue as deceptive. *The Adoration Ground after the stampede. *The Adoration Ground after the stampede. Oristejafor asks Gov Obi to set up probe panel Pastor Oritsejafor who reacted to the controversy surrounding the Uke episode said the news brought sour taste in the month especially as the Nigerian Church was grappling with many security challenges. His words: “It is indeed a sorry situation and I am deeply touched by the news. I really sympathise with those who lost their loved ones in the tragedy and pray God to comfort them.” According to him, details of what transpired at the vigil were still sketchy, even as the conflicting reports by politicians were meant to use the ugly incident to canvas for votes. Oritsejafor maintained that the only way to avoid a repeat of such occurrence was to fish out the culprits and deal with them decisively to appease those who lost their loved ones in the stampede. But in his own reaction, Bishop Chukwuma said: “It is my own duty as CAN chairman, South East to ban all politicians from attending our churches with their teams for campaigns. The church should also steer clear of partisan politics because there are different kinds of people in the church that belong to different political parties. Church and party manifestos ”So it is wrong to come into the church and begin to talk about manifestos. It is not going to be acceptable any more because it causes commotion and disrespect for one another. ”We appeal to bishops, priests, pastors and clergymen to please avoid politicians coming to use churches as campaign arena. This does not augur well for our spiritual growth. ”We therefore urge the Federal Government to set up a probe panel to find out what actually happened because we feel very much worried. Since the state government is involved, I think there should be a neutral body for the investigation.” APGA Chairman, Umeh calls for Ngige’s arrest However, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Chief Victor Umeh, has called for the immediate arrest of the All Progressives Congress, APC, candidate in the forthcoming gubernatorial election in the state, Senator Chris Ngige for allegedly masterminding the stampede at the Ebube Muonso Adoration Ministry at Uke. A statement by James Eze, the media aide to the APGA governorship candidate, Chief Willie Obiano quoted Umeh as saying that Ngige was behind the crises. Ngige, Obiano suspend campaign This was even as both the APC and Ngige Campaign Organisation suspend campaign, fly party flag at half mast for victims. The APC and the Chris Ngige campaign organization headed by Chief George Morghalu yesterday, suspended electioneering campaigns for the APC candidate, Senator Ngige to attend a solemn prayer for the victims of the tragedy at Uke worship centre, yesterday. Speaking on the occasion, Moghalu said: “It is very unfortunate that about 28 innocent souls had to lose their lives for no just cause. These were people who went to the house of God to seek the face of God. Why must Governor Peter Obi go to Uke to campaign for his APGA candidate when he should have been there to atone for the sins of his government. Moghalu further stated that the statement credited to the Anambra State Government that the stampede was caused by Senator Ngige “should be regarded as a tissue of lies.’’ He said that Ngige did not visit the Adoration centre two days earlier as alleged by Obi’s supporters. Culled from Vanguard Newspaper

Niger Delta clerics meet Atiku in Abuja

Eleven Christian clerics from the Niger Delta region met with a former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in Abuja on Tuesday to discuss the state of the nation. The meeting, which was held behind closed doors at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, and lasted for more than two hours, was also said to have dwelt on insecurity and political crisis in the country. The clerics were led by Bishop Jones Erue. Also in the entourage were Bishops Julius Ediwe, Bob Manuel, Abhulemen Josiah, Konel Offiong, Innocent Chiedozie, Alex Okubo, Felix Ezebunwo, Charles Okoh , Peter Abingon and Archbishop Eddy Ogbonda. The former President, who spoke with journalists after the meeting, said the meeting discussed several issues in the country. He said, “The meeting is just about the country generally. There is need for unity, peace and stability in the country. Are you telling me that you are not aware that we have security challenges in the north-east and other part of the country.” Asked to explain how he thought the meeting with the Niger Delta Bishops was capable of solving the crisis, Atiku said, “What is happening in the country requires the contribution of everybody including religious bodies. Government alone cannot do it, what is happening in the country requires the input of everyone.” From Punch Newspaper

Presidency, PDM clash over Jonathan’s Jerusalem pilgrimage

The recent pilgrimage to Jerusalem, Israel by President Goodluck Jonathan and some members of the Federal Executive Council has sparked a war of words between the Presidency and the newly registered Peoples Democratic Movement. The Presidential Assistant on New Media, Reno Omokri, and the founding Chairman of the PDM, Bashir Yusuf, were at the weekend embroiled in a frenzy over the pilgrimage. Yusuf threw the first salvo when he stated in a post on Twitter that he was disturbed by the picture of the President, which has circulated widely on the Internet, showing him praying at the Wailing Wall in Israel. He alleged that it was a great disservice and double standard for the President to “seek the face of God” for the country’s development and yet “return home” and encourage “corruption and looting.” The PDM leader and political associate of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar noted that Jonathan ensured the circulation of such pictures to make him look like he is now “born again” and to fool voters in the build up to the 2015 polls. Noting that he was “fired up” to engage Omokri in a Twitter fight, Yusuf said he had no issues with the pilgrimage. But he insisted that the President should rather start taking responsibility for the “rot” in the Nigerian polity on his return. Yusuf said, “GEJ’s picture in Jerusalem is everywhere. He (GEJ) is doing what he knows how to do best: manipulation of religious sentiments. As 2015 draws near, he is now born again. “You pray before the Wailing Wall seeking the face of God and you return home to loot the treasury. You make jest of your creator. Don’t worship today and loot tomorrow. GEJ can fool some people some of the time, but he cannot fool all the people all the time. “I want to speak about GEJ and corruption today. He is my President today and I want to hold him accountable for the looting perpetrated under him. I say it without fear of contradiction that GEJ’s government is the most corrupt in Nigeria’s history. “Nigerians are wiser now. We want to hear what you have to say about Oduahgate. Nigeria has never been bled this badly.” But Omokri wouldn’t let go without a fight. He rebuked Yusuf for the outburst, describing him as a “religiously intolerant fellow.” He said Jonathan should not be singled out for criticism for embarking on a pilgrimage, as many Nigerian leaders, including Atiku, whom he described as Yusuf’’s boss, had gone on pilgrimages while in office. Omokri noted that it was unfortunate that the PDM chairman will resort to religious sentiments to unfairly “attack” Jonathan and his government for selfish and political reasons. Omokri said, “Mallam Yusuf, Nigerian leaders have been photographed and shown on TV while performing pilgrimages for decades. Why attack now? In fact, your boss Atiku was photographed and televised during hajj while in office. There is nothing wrong with it. Please respect religious freedom. “You should be ashamed of yourself for criticising the President for going on pilgrimage to Jerusalem. It’s unthinkable that such a religiously intolerant fellow as yourself managed to become the chairman of PDM. Voters, please note his tweet.” However, Omokri appears to agree with Yusuf that there is indeed “rot” under the Jonathan administration where he is serving. In his advice to Yusuf, he noted, “If you want to criticise the rot, then do so; but don’t hide under the President’s pilgrimage to Jerusalem to insult him.” Responding to allegations of widespread corruption in the Jonathan administration, the President’s new media aide referred the PDM boss to the book written by a former minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, titled The Accidental Public Servant. According to the Presidential aide, el-Rufai’s thoughts as captured in the book were instructive response to his allegations. “I will not even condescend to discuss with someone like you (Yusuf), who can criticise a man for going on pilgrimage. “If you want to talk about looting, read Mallam Nasir el-Rufai’s book and what he said about you and your boss (Atiku). He (el-Rufai) worked with you guys,” Omokri added. Although Atiku, who now makes use of Twitter, did not dabble into the disagreement that ensued between Yusuf and Omokri, his son, Mustapha, rose in his defence. Mustapha wrote on the micro-blogging service that he was taken aback that the same el-Rufai that Omokri allegedly describes as an hypocrite is now his standard to proof corruption against his father. “Omokri, it bugs me that the same el-Rufai you consider a hypocrite and unstable is your proof of corruption against Atiku and Yusuf,” he said.

Pope Francis to step up fight against modern slavery and human trafficking

Pope Francis wants action against modern forms of slavery including forced labour and prostitution, the Vatican said Monday after a meeting of experts called by the pontiff to debate the problem. Dozens of academics, doctors and clerics were hosted by the Vatican to discuss issues close to the pope’s heart, including the struggle against organ trafficking and people smuggling. “Some experts believe human trafficking will overtake drug and arms trafficking in a decade, becoming the most lucrative criminal activity in the world,” Marcelo Sanchez Sorondo, chancellor of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, told reporters. Sorondo said the pope was heavily invested in a subject he knows well from his years in Latin America and had even invited two experts on human trafficking that he knows from Buenos Aires. Further meetings are planned in 2014 and 2015. Participants said one of the worst and most worrying forms of slavery in Latin America is the use of children and adolescents as drug dealers. Jose Maria Simon Castellvi, head of the International Federation of Catholic Medical Associations, also stressed the importance of “zero tolerance” against prostitution saying it was linked to drugs, mafia violence and tax fraud.

CAN bans political campaigns in churches

The South-East chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria has banned political campaigns in churches across the zone. It said it took the decision to avoid a repeat of last Saturday church stampede in Anambra State, where about 28 persons reportedly died. The South-East CAN also asked the Federal Government to set up a panel of inquiry to investigate the remote causes of the incident. The organisation said it was wrong for Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State to set up such panel, “as the governor cannot be a judge in his own case.” Chairman of the group, Bishop Emmanuel Chukwuma, made this known while speaking with journalists in Enugu, on Monday. Chukwuma said CAN was becoming worried on why politicians should carry their campaigns to churches. He sympathised with relatives of victims of the incident, while lamenting that political campaigns in churches had become a menace. The cleric described the incident in Anambra as tragic, and vowed that CAN would sanction whatsoever church that violated the ban on political campaigns. He said, “It is my own duty as CAN chairman, South-East zone, to ban all politicians from attending our churches with their political teams for campaigns. The church should also stay clear of partisan politics because there are different kinds of people in the church that belong to different political parties. “So it’s wrong to come into the church and begin to talk about manifestos and begin to campaign. It is not going to be acceptable anymore because it causes commotion and disrespect to one another.”

Christian, Muslim youths empowered

Many youths in Lagos are still celebrating after recently acquiring requisite skills to enable them challenge the future. They are still feeling excited even after the curtains had been drawn on the 11th graduation ceremony of the Centre for Vocational Empowerment and Development (CVED) of Dominion Faith International Church (DFIC), Ipaja. A total of 148 students who successfully completed their studies in different skill acquisition programmes were presented with their certificates. The CVED which is an empowerment arm of the DFIC, runs eight different free skill acquisition programmes which include bead making, adult literacy, hairdressing, computer studies, catering, printing, interior decoration and chemical production. The epoch making event attracted attendees such as representatives of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Mrs. Riskat Akiyode and Chairman, Ayobo-Ipaja Local Council Development Area, Coordinator of CVED/Resident Pastor, Olajide Esan; member, CVED Board of Trustee, Rev Gabriel Oyediji and the Registrar of CVED/adult literacy instructor, Pastor Mercy Esan. While the occasion progressed, the elated graduates showered encomium on the church for the opportunity given to them to be partakers in its free skill acquisition programmes. Daily Sun gathered that majority of the beneficiaries of the skill acquisition programmes since its inception were not just members of Dominion Faith International Church, Ipaja alone. Rather, youths and even adults of various faiths who came from far and near had in the past years been part of the programme. During the last edition of the graduation ceremony, among those who received their certificates were Muslims and Christians youths from distant communities in Lagos and Ogun States. CVED’s Executive Director (Admin/Finance), Rev Bamidele Olatona, said he regard the graduation ceremony as a significant phase of development in the actualisation of the centre’s vision to alleviate poverty, raise leaders in the 21st Century imbued with high ethical standards and potential entrepreneurs for the nation and the world at large. “This 11th session of the CVED graduation is unique, being one that has recorded the highest number of graduating students. A total of 148 students have just been graduated from this edition. We are happy to send them out to go and make positively impact in their world,” he explained. Rev Olatona whose speech was read by Pastor Mercy Esan, said CVED was formerly known as Free Economic Empowerment Development Strategy (FEEDS). He noted that in 2007, the church as part of the programme, took the responsibility of providing free lunch for over 300 less privileged persons in the community every Friday. He said: “Having a passion for helping people and the less privileged, fully aware of the fact that we live in a world where basic education has failed to yield the expected positive results and unemployment is the order of the day, the church decided to take the community feeding project to a more advanced level not only by putting food on their table but by giving them free skills to make them self reliant.” According to him, the initiative had since gone international with its introduction in 10 African nations which included Chad, Liberia, Benin Republic, Niger, Sierra Leone, Gambia, Guinea, Togo, Burkina Faso and Guinea Bissau. He noted that that over 2,100 persons had been empowered and issued certificates after acquiring the entrepreneurial skills and quality vocational knowledge. In his speech, the resident/coordinating pastor of DFIC, Pastor Esan, described the 21st century as an era where certification as means of self-sufficiency and prosperity was fast fading and being replaced with skill and vocational-oriented certification. Pastor Esan who lauded the DFIC Senior Pastor, Rev David Olatona and his wife, Rev Dele Olatona, for giving back to the community through CVED, said the vocational centre boasted of thousands of graduands who were doing well with the robust skills they acquired. He informed those interested in acquiring skills at the centre that the next entrepreneurial class would start in November, 2013 and would be the last for the year. According to him, the driving force was embedded in the vision of the church which was to connect people to their destines so that they would make positive impact in their communities. The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Mrs. Akiyode, described the initiative which was part of DFIC social responsibility programme as laudable because it had shifted attention from the practice of churches keeping members or residents of the communities on the dole or giving alms to members as a means of poverty alleviation. Mrs. Akiyode said the state government had “employed this pragmatic approach of equipping men, women and youths with needed vocational skills to serve as panacea to unemployment in our depressed economy.” She implored other churches to borrow a leaf from DFIC and complement the government efforts by contributing to the development of people in their respective communities. She gave the 148 graduands tips on how to overcome the current economic hardship in the country by urging them to look beyond white collar jobs, think of what they could do with their hands to earn a living, develop endurance, focus, courage and self discipline in the face of hardship and to develop ‘I can do it’ spirit. Her representative Mrs. Adeniji Olawatoyin, a director in the ministry, explained that the training given to the students would no doubt empower them to be economically independent and to become employers of labour, noting that the DFIC job creation drive was in line with the state policy of empowering women, men and youths through vocational training programmes. The cynosure of all eyes at the graduation ceremony was 11-year-old Omotuyi Funke, who graduated in Computer Appreciation class with 10 others. Funke told Daily Sun that she enrolled in the skill acquisition programme to in order to learn more about Computer programmes such Microsoft, Excel among others. Funke who wants to study Computer Science in the university said the skills she gained would enhance her job hunting after graduation from the university and revealed that the older students in her class did not look down on her as the youngest in their midst. The graduating students showered encomium on the initiator of the skill acquisition centre, admitting that they had acquired additional skills which they would utilise to add value to the society and the economy. Culled from Sun Newspaper

Homosexuality: We’ll rather break up than concur, say 1,358 bishops

t’s not quite clear why the issue of homosexuality was not included the communiqué of the second Global Anglican Future Conference, GAFCON that ended in Nairobi Kenya, between October 21 and 26 where 1,358 delegates, including 331 Bishops representing tens of millions of the Anglican faithful worldwide, including Nigeria attended. Yet GAFCOM, as Bishop Emmanuel Chukwuma of Enugu Diocese said, was primarily formed because of the issue of homosexuality and lesbianism that was accepted by some Anglican faithful in Europe and America. Coming out of the meeting almost enraged, Chukwuma warned that if care is not taken, the issue will again throw the Anglican Church worldwide into fresh crisis with the Church of Nigeria and other sister churches across the world threatening to secede from the Church of England. Chumkwuma further said the Archbishop of Canterbury did not help matters on the issue at the Nairobi Conference as his stand was neither here nor there on an issue threatening the union of over 20 million communicants. Addressing newsmen at Akanu Ibiam International Airport Enugu when he returned from the GAFCON conference, Chukwuma stressed that if the American and European communion of the Anglican Church that favour homosexuality do not renounce such acceptance, the Anglican Communion may disintegrate worldwide. He emphasised that it was one of the key outcome of the conference, maintaining that different communions of the Anglican church may secede if they insist on imposing homosexuality on the church. Different Bishops of the Anglican Church from the South-East that arrived the airport from Nairobi with Chukwuma agreed that what Bishop Chukwuma said was their opinion, stressing that they would severe their relationships if their pro-gay Bishops do not back down. Archbishop of Owerri Diocese, Caleb Maduoma was also among the Bishops that resolved not to compromise on the issue of homosexuality. The Anglican Bishops said they were rather more interested in having other issues to discuss, rather than homosexuality, adding that they deliberated on things concerning their future in theological education, ministration, Holy Spirit, the way Islam is invading the churches and the whole world, culture, among others. The Church of Nigeria and others in Africa, Britain and America expressed readiness to secede because they were not ready to yoke with colleagues they called unbelievers or to have communion with a person who is a lesbian or homosexual or a Bishop who has forsaken his wife to marry a gay friend. They said they were standing seriously on the authority of the Bible, to defend the faith, adding that there is no going back. Bishop Chukwuma who spoke for the Nigerian Bishops said: “We are not going to compromise. And we have made it quite known even to the Archbishop of Canterbury and to the whole Europe and America, that there is no compromise as far as the scripture is concerned. So, if they do not repent, we are ready to stand on our own and go ahead with that authority of the scriptures and confess that faith as Anglicans for the future of the church of Anglicanism. “We are ready to secede because if you look at Ephesians Chapter 5, verse 7, it says that you should not have anything to do with those people who are becoming disobedient. So, why should we yoke with unbelievers. So, if they do not repent, we are ready to say, go away, we go our way. We love them but we hate their sins. “He (the Archbishop of Canterbury) left a day before we came because he was going to baptise the grand child of the Queen of England. But we got his statement which is very pathetic that he is not straight forward about his stand on this homosexuality and we are not going to comprise with this at all. We feel that he is still sympathetic with these homosexuals and we need to really watch him. And if he does not come to our side, the next Lambert conference, we will not attend.” He disclosed that from many dioceses in Africa, even from Britain and America, all over the world, the bishops came to Nairobi and they were all saying that they did not want homosexuality. Bishop Chukwuma said they were making a force that would shake the whole world. In a communiqué after the GAFCON, the Bishops resolved to commit themselves to teaching about God’s good purpose in marriage and in singleness and to oppose the secular tide running in favour of same-sexmarriage. They also resolved to commit themselves anew to the Jerusalem statement and declaration, with emphasis upon the gospel of Christ, as well as rely on the power of the gospel to be effective in mission. They further resolved to commit themselves to supporting mission and encouraging lay training in obedience to this great Commission to make and mature disciples, with particular attention to children and youth. “We commit ourselves to work for the transformation of the society. We repudiate all violence against women and children. We shall work for the economic empowerment of those who are most deprived and we shall be a voice for persecuted Christians,” the Bishops stated. The conference identified the Anglican Church core priority, according to Matthew 28: 19-20, to mean making disciples in the word, meaning that the movement must be committed to evangelising the West Africa and bringing the gospel to unreached people. It also identified another priority to mean supporting genuine gospel initiatives, re-organising that there are times when the maintenance of structures can constrain the gospel. “In such circumstances, we will seek to work beyond those structures as an obedient response to our Lord’s primary command to take the gospel to all nations. “Guarding the gospel, we shall continue publicly to expose any false gospel that is not consistent with apostolic teaching,” part of the communiqué said. Culled from National Morror Newspaper

Anglican Communion: Stir of the homosexuals

There is growing disquiet in the Anglican Communion over the vexed issue of homosexuality, a practice that has resonated in the permission of same-sex marriage by some dioceses, especially in the United States and Europe. But the Anglican community in Africa, particularly Nigeria, is resolute in its rejection of homosexual practice. Deputy Editor, Kayode Fasua, reports that the debate is currently raging like wildfire, in God’s vineyard Harried for words, a crowd of spectators that milled at the gate of United Bible University in Ojodu, Lagos, was stupefied. They watched on end as sprightly men held hands in sensual display of affections as they gathered to worship. Ordinarily, it was no big deal as the hue was that of a Pentecostal church holding a special programme inside the auditorium of that theological school. But certain indices added up to confound the onlookers. All the worshippers were young men, natively regarded as ‘aje butter’ (spoilt children). They were smartly dressed and were occasionally engaged in impassioned kisses and suggestive whimpers, as to express the joy of the occasion or the ecstasy of hot kisses or both. The next day, the media in Nigeria went viral with reports of the gay church fellowship, announcing that for the first time, a gay church has made a debut in Nigeria. That was five years ago. Today, leader of the dramatis personae behind the Lagos gay gathering, is 40 years old. He is Reverend Rowland Jide Macaulay, who then founded House of Rainbow Fellowship, a Christian community for sexual minorities and marginalised people, in Surulere, Lagos. The son of a theology teacher, Macaulay who is being pilloried at home for being a gay preacher and for building a community of gay Christians, is ironically now making waves in England, where he is being celebrated. This maverick preacher, who started out as a Pentecostal pastor, has wondrously found inroads in the Anglican Communion where he was recently ordained a Deacon of the Anglican Church. In an elaborate ceremony June this year in chelmsford, United Kingdom the bishop of Chelmsford, the Right Reverend Stephen Cotterel, ordained Macaulay at the Chelmsford Cathedral. Though Macaulay’s ordination was anchored on his religious sagacity, having inspired many ethnic minority people in the Newham area of London when in 2000 he played ‘Jesus’ in 2000 Newham Millennium Passion Play, other suggestions saw his ordination differently. Macaulay’s emergence as an Anglican Church cleric was seen in some circles as a hit below the belt for anti- gay Anglican community in Africa, which has been campaigning stridently against homosexual practices. The African Anglicans are particularly wrought that homosexual behaviours, regarded as demonic, had crept into the house of God. But in the Church of England, which is the symbolic head of the worldwide Anglican Communion, there is unhidden tolerance of homosexual members while the global church is divided as to the godliness in allowing same-sex marriage. Enthused over his ordination, Macaulay had told journalists, “My ordination into the Anglican Communion is an important continuation of my call to parish ministry, to reach out to all people regardless of who they are. I believe whilst my ordination is not anything new to the church, for me, it is both relevant on the state of persecution and righteous living for sexual minorities. My message to all, especially Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) people of faith and none, is to hold on to their dreams and hopes in the face of hardship; God is a good God and loves all people.” ‘Nigeria’s Anglicans won’t be part of such unholy practice’ The gay pastor also traced his antecedent in the Anglican Church, which eventually calibrated in his emergence as a deacon. “I played the character of ‘Jesus’ in the passion play, which was staged outdoor throughout the London Borough of Newham in 2000; this alone did not change my life but nonetheless, it was a single contribution to enhancing my relationship with the Anglican Church and more so, with my Christian faith.” Macaulay had a baptism of fire in bringing to the open in Nigeria, the gay dimension to Christianity, which is culturally, socially and religiously rejected in the homeland. Alluding to this, he said: “2008 was a very busy year for House of Rainbow and the ministry was at the height of its popularity as we have become a household name in Nigeria, particularly well known for its inclusive welcome of marginalised communities. “We stood for change, peace and reconciliation; however, violence was thrust upon us as a community and many people, organisations and the media were simply looking for “dirt” about us. In February, I was ambushed by the media in Abuja at the Africa Sexuality Conference. In March/April, the newspapers were filled with sensational headlines; by July we have had many more ‘undercover reporters’ join us and they started to record and take photographs. By August/September, we received unprecedented hostile media coverage, increased violence and numerous death threats. Those who attacked us used this for their own gains. After the second year anniversary celebration of House of Rainbow in Lagos, I went to Abuja for several meetings and when I returned to Lagos, the environment became extremely hostile and the Board of House of Rainbow decided it was time we re-strategise. I was advised to return to London for my own safety and we moved the ministry underground to make it safer for those who attend. House of Rainbow since 2006 has always remained an active ministry in Nigeria with three active groups.” But Macaulay said despite persecutions, he would not be deterred by his resolve to keep shielding and pastoring gay Christians as he himself is a professed one. His words: “The subject of homosexuality is rarely addressed in churches today, even more so the topic of gay/lesbian Christians. Most ministries refuse to accept that lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT) individuals can be born-again Christians. The belief is; you cannot profess to walk with Christ if you make a conscious decision to walk in ‘sin’. From many church pulpits, there is constant reference to Biblical scriptures like Sodom and Gomorrah which they say illustrate the consequence of this ‘chosen lifestyle’. These sentiments are also echoed in the lyrics of some well-known Gospel songs. “Whether you agree with this or not, the fact remains that LGBT communities are often condemned to ‘fire and brimstone’ damnation and ostracism. They are seen as the ultimate of all sinners – ahead of the adulterers, idolaters and gossipmongers. There have even been extreme cases of this ‘non-acceptance’ with arson attacks on gay-welcoming churches – one such example occurred in Hawaii a few years ago. “The irony of the matter is that the hatred towards LGBT Christians is more likely to come from the black church which was once oppressed by the white community pre-civil rights days. Yet despite this history, the perceived bigotry from the black congregation remains and my experience is testimony to that,” he explained. Macaulay who said “I am proud to be gay and of Nigerian descent” also declared that “with the love of my parents, I continue to excel as a son who just happens to be homosexual.” However, Macaulay’s father, 80 years old Professor Kunle Macaulay, in an interview with Sunday Mirror, lamented, saying: “Though my son is a gay, I have been praying for him and I will keep praying for him, because that is what the Bible demands of us…also, I have rallied other men of God to join me in prayers as gay practice is a sinful act.” Soon afterwards, however, Macaulay the father, said Jide, his son, was gradually dropping the gay habit and that he hoped that with time, he would become a changed person. Professor Macaulay who is the National President of Association of Christian Theologians (ACT) in Nigeria, added that the incident of five years ago where gays gathered to worship was in no way connected with his United Bible University (UBU) in Ojodu Lagos, as his son’s Pentecostal fellowship group only hired the auditorium for use, at a time he (the father) was not in the country. Objecting strongly to the tolerance given to homosexuals in the Church of England, the Anglican Metropolitan Archbishop and Primate of Nigeria, the Most Reverend Nicholas Okoh, recently warned of its dire consequences. “Such practices contravene the law of marriage as instituted by God. The Anglican Church of Nigeria is not in support of such. We maintain our stand despite the present pressure by the Church in Europe and some political forces compelling us to accept and approve same-sex marriages in Nigeria. We are proud to say that we stand by our belief in the true word of God as we will never be part of such unholy practices presently destroying the church of God in Europe,” His objection, penultimate week, was also amplified by the Anglican bishops who met in Nairobi, Kenya, where they roundly condemned homosexual acts. They warned that such practice was capable of breaking up the Church. I’m proud to be a black gay pastor, says Macaulay How far the African bishops can go in the latest campaigns against homosexual practice and endorsement of same-sex marriage remains to be seen, as some parishes of the Communion in Europe and the Americas have gone far afield. For instance, three dioceses of the Anglican Church of Canada, namely, New Westminster, Niagara, and Montréal, have extended the blessing of civil marriages to same-sex couples. This same scenario applies to the Episcopal Church of the USA which in 2009 adopted a resolution allowing individual bishops to choose whether or not to allow the blessing of same-sex unions within their bishoprics. That decision was widely seen as a form of compromise, following which gay marriages went viral in some US churches. In the same vein, the homosexual bug is not peculiar to the Anglicans, as the Catholic Diocese of the Old Catholics in Germany had recently approved of homosexual civil unions. Also, a retired Anglican, American Bishop of the Diocese of the New Hampshire, Gene Robinson, a professed gay, said that he had led a retreat a few years before for gay Catholic priests. He opposed the Roman Catholic ban on homosexual seminarians, stating, “I find it so vile that they think they are going to end the child abuse scandal by throwing out homosexuals from seminaries.” Robinson who divorced his female wife in 1986, subsequently went to marry a fellow man, Andrew, in 1988. But the Archbishop of Canterbury, the symbolic leader of the world Anglican Communion, Justin Welby, seems to have beamed tacit smiles on homosexuals in the Church. In August this year, he warned Christians to repent over wicked attitude to the homosexuals. Welby who once voted against same-sex marriage in the House of Lords and opposed allowing gay couples to adopt, may have thus vascillated as he said that opposing gays and lesbians would be seen by a majority of under-35s as tantamount to “racism and other forms of gross and atrocious injustice.” But in Nigeria, the Senate last year foreclosed granting legality to the rights of the homosexuals as it passed the same-sex marriage bill, slamming a 14-year jail term on any two men or two women caught in the act. But for the Anglicans and other churches in their fight against homosexuality, advocacy remains the only weapon, so far. Culled from National Morror Newspaper

RCCG prays for security personnel

As part of its monthly programme, the National Headquarters of The Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, plans to hold prayer session for officers and men of the Armed Forces. According to a release by the Special Assistant to the General Overseer on Administrative & Personnel, Pastor Johnson Odesola, the prayer session would hold on Sunday, November 3, 2013 at the RCCG’s national headquarters in Ebute-meta, Lagos by 8:00a.m. Odesola said the role of various security personnel in the country could not be over-emphasised, explaining that the security personnel needed God’s intervention in discharging their duties effectively.

28 worshippers killed in Anambra stampede

NO fewer than 28 persons, who attended the weekly crusade at the Holy Ghost Adoration Ministry, Uke, in Idemili North local government area of Anambra State, lost their lives during a stampede at the end of the ceremony in the early hours of yesterday. The crusade, organized by Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Obinma for prayers, healing and spiritual retreat, attracts thousands of people, but the one that was held yesterday on the Feast of All Saints turned tragic. An estimated 100,000 worshippers reportedly attended the crusade because, besides coinciding with the Feast of All Saints, it was also the first Saturday of the month. Apart from the dead 25 whose bodies were said to have been deposited at Immaculate Heart Hospital and Maternity, Nkpor and Charles Borromew Hospital, Onitsha, several others, who sustained various degrees of injuries, are receiving treatment in various hospitals in Onitsha. *The Adoration Ground after the stampede. *The Adoration Ground after the stampede. Governor Peter Obi, who attended the crusade in company of 10 persons, including the National Chairman of All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, Chief Victor Umeh, the candidate of the party in the November 16 governorship election, Chief Willie Obiano, as well as two siblings of the governor, was said to have left the crusade ground around 3.30am, before the tragedy. Meanwhile, an unconfirmed report blamed the stampede on the governor. The report quoted eye witnesses as saying the stampede occurred when Obi started campaigning for his gubernatorial candidate and there were shouts of disapproval, causing his security aides to fire tear gas into the crowd. But Obi, who said, yesterday, that he was heart-broken by the event, said he went home after the crusade satisfied on the rewarding spiritual encounter, only to get the news later. He consoled all those affected one way or the other and said those responsible would be punished if found or God will punish them if not found. The governor said: “When the spiritual director gave me the opportunity to speak, I noticed something unusual as I saw people carrying the posters of politicians at the adoration ground. “I have been going for the crusade there and, on this occasion, I stayed for six hours and left. Our vehicles were parked two kilometres away and this is a place people have been visiting for a long time without any incident. “It was later that I heard what happened and we are working hard with security agencies to find out those behind the incident. A holy place should not be a place for playing politics.” At the time the stampede occurred, many worshippers said they thought the governor and his entourage were still at the crusade, not knowing that he and his entourage had left the area two hours earlier. An eye witness, Mr. Abuchi Ifebuzo, 31, told Sunday Vanguard at the premises of Crown Hospital, Nkpor where he and some of the injured persons were receiving treatment, that the crusade closed at about 5:08 am yesterday and, as the people were attempting to leave the ground, there was a stampede and people were falling on each other. According to him, trouble started shortly after the event, when some people started shouting “fire’ fire, fire,” adding that, in the confusion that ensued, the worshippers started scampering for safety and, in the process, began to fall on each other. Another eye witness at St Charles Borromeo Hospital, Onitsha, Chinenye Etinanma, who said he came to visit her sister who was equally a victim, said she escaped because they were the first set that encountered some people carrying the placards of politicians at the adoration ground. While some of the worshippers attributed what happened to sabotage, alleging that some people raised false alarm of fire, others believed it was an act of God as the people were already on their way out when the stampede happened. At the two morgues at Immaculate Heart Hospital and Borromew Hospital where the bodies were deposited, many people were seen wailing and crying uncontrollably following the loss of their dear ones. A woman, who refused to give her name, said her mother was among the dead, adding that her father died only two months ago. There were however some of the victims who were thought to have died, but regained consciousness later and were either driven home, or admitted into the hospital for further treatment. Following the development, Governor Obi cancelled all his engagements for yesterday. Some of the events he had planned for the day included a governorship campaign rally at Nsugbe, the home town of the governorship candidate of PDP, Chief Tony Nwoye, a live radio programme, flag- off of some road projects, inspection of on-going shopping mall at Onitsha and the on-going stadium at Awka. The governor was among the first group of persons to visit the scene of the incident and the various hospitals in company of two police Deputy Inspectors General, DIGs, visiting the state, Mr. Philemon Leha and Kachi Udoji, and the Anambra State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Bala Nassarawa. Sunday Vanguard could not speak with the Spiritual Director of the Adoration Centre, Obinma, as he was said to have gone to brief the Archbishop of Onitsha, Most Rev Valerian Okeke. Obinma was also said to have visited the wounded in hospital. Coordinator of the centre, Bro Achebe Nnadi, who was busy entertaining questions from people, said the problem was caused by a group of people who started shouting ‘fire, fire’ when there was none. Meantime, Obi has directed that the names of all the wounded persons be compiled, although he could not say immediately if the state government was going to pick their hospital bills. The governor also visited the Archbishop of Onitsha over the matter, although what they discussed was not made public. He also said that a panel of enquiry would be set up immediately to ascertain the immediate and remote causes of the incident.