Boko Haram: Cleric urges Nigerians to seek God’s intervention

Most Reverend Samuel Abidoye, Chairman and Spiritual Head, Cherubim and Seraphim Movement Church (CSMC) Worldwide, has called Nigerians to seek God’s intervention to curb insurgency in the country. Abidoye’s call is contained in a New Year massage made on Friday in Bauchi. He emphasised that Nigerians should embrace love as well as seek God’s intervention towards surmounting the current security challenges and other socio-economic problems confronting the country. Abidoye observed that Nigeria was suffering from lack of love and harmony among her people. He opined that the dearth of love among Nigerians had given birth to distrust, intolerance, hatred and unwarranted violence among the citizens of this country. “The only solution to the problem is for each citizen to begin to see the next person as his or her brother or sister. “This will make the essence of humanity to be experienced by all in the country, because the value of life would be appreciated by all as a result,” Abidoye added. He pointed out that the activities of Boko Haram in the North East region was due to lost of humanity by Nigerians where they have sacrificed their humanity for avarice and self-centredness. The cleric noted that “our existence as a nation would be meaningless if we cannot apply the significance of the teachings of Jesus Christ and Prophet Muhammad to our peculiar environment and circumstances. “It is expected that the noble characteristics of Jesus Christ and Prophet Muhammad who lived peaceful lives. “It beats imagination the way Nigerians behaves, especially the level of intolerance, corruption and hatred being displayed in the country,” he said. “According to him, the people in government continue to act as if the matter is just a minor one and they continue to spend our money like water while their fellow citizens are being slaughtered in sickening manner. “The younger generation are too money conscious, they are ready to do anything to make money. No more restraint in their conducts, they lack patience, and just want to get rich as quickly as possible, making them very, very desperate. “We should be careful that we did not provoke God to be angry with this country because the level of bloodshed is just too much, I am sure our situation is not too bad for redemption,” the statement read in part. He urged politicians to remember the suffering populace, saying disappointing these set of people will cause God to be angry with the country. “That is why many of them may not be returned to office, no matter how much they tried to come back because there is a God that fights for the poor and helpless.” From Vanguard News

Scores injured in suicide bombing outside Gombe church

 

Several people were injured on Thursday outside an evangelical church in Gombe, the Gombe State capital, when a suicide bomber set off his explosive vest amid the country’s ongoing battle against an Islamist insurgency.

“There was an explosion outside the ECWA church this morning. A suicide bomber who was restrained from getting into the church blew himself up,” Abubakar Yakubu, who heads the Nigeria Red Cross in Gombe, told the AFP.

“Luckily no one was killed but some people were mildly injured.”

A witness told AFP that the man arrived during the service at the Evangelist Church of West Africa in Gombe and refused to park his motorcycle outside a security barrier set up by volunteers.

“He insisted on riding through the barrier,” said Dahiru Badamasi, who lives in the neighbourhood.

“It was while he was arguing with the volunteers that his suicide belt exploded.”

Another witness heard an explosion and rushed outside.

“I saw a man leading three children with their new dresses stained with blood,” said Jummai Maifada.

The North-East has seen a relentless string of attacks blamed on Boko Haram militants.

Gombe, capital of the eponymous state, has until recently been spared the violence that has shaken the neighbouring states of Yobe, Borno and Adamawa, where Boko Haram has taken around 20 towns.

But attacks have increased in recent weeks.

Meanwhile, there was panic on New Year eve in Gombe as a large explosion was heard at the Army barrack in the town.

It was learnt that two suicide bombers tried to smuggle their ways into the Mammy Market at the Army barracks but were asked to be frisked by soldiers.

They refused and they were turned back by the soldiers on guard.

However, the explosive devices they strapped on their bodies went off killing the two suicide bombers and injuring those within the vicinity including the soldiers who just turned them back.

An eyewitness, who preferred anonymity, told our correspondent on the telephone from Gombe that, “Two suspected suicide bombers arrived the scene at about 8pm local time on a motorcycle but vehemently refused to be searched by the security men at the gate.

“Just moments after they were refused passage by the soldiers, they detonated the bomb strapped on them right there at the gate.”

He said the two corpses of the suicide bombers laid on the floor on Wednesday night and the soldiers sustained varying degrees of injuries but there was no death on the part of the security men.

He said the entire place had since been cordoned off by the military.

Seven people had died in a bus explosion Wednesday in a village close to Potiskum, in Yobe State.

From Punch Newspaper

Nigeria2015: Catholic priest, Ejike Mbaka, attacks Jonathan; wants President out, Buhari in

 

 Outspoken Catholic priest, Ejike Mbaka, has told Nigerians to use the forthcoming general election to vote out President Goodluck Jonathan.
Speaking to thousands of parishioners as his Adoration Prayer Ground in Enugu, Thursday, Mr. Mbaka said President Jonathan had failed to stem the tide of insecurity and corruption in the country.
In the video, uploaded to You Tube, the priest said that although Muhammadu Buhari, the All Progressives Congress, APC, candidate is a Muslim, he would bring the needed change in Nigeria.
The PUNCH further quoted the priest as saying, “I love President Goodluck Jonathan and I used to be his ardent fan, but I want good for my people and that’s why I want Nigerians to vote out Goodluck Jonathan and vote General Muhammad Buhari. I don’t care if Buhari is a Muslim and from the North; all I care about is that Buhari can save Nigeria.”
Mr. Mbaka, renowned for his blunt sermons, has a huge followership in the South East of Nigeria, where thousands of Catholics throng to his prayer ground for healing and miracles.
The Catholic priest had a running battle with Chimaroke Nnamani, the former Governor of Enugu State, over his scathing criticisms of the government leading to the governor allegedly sending assassins after him.
He also strongly campaigned against Ikedi Ohakim, who was Governor of Imo State, between 2007 and 2011, after the latter allegedly whipped a Catholic priest in public.
The governor lost his reelection bid in 2011

Full Transcript of Catholic Priest Ejike Mbaka’s fierce attack on President Jonathan(1)

 

Mr. Mbaka gave this sermon to thousands of parishioners at his Adoration Prayer Ground in Enugu, Thursday, saying President Jonathan had failed to stem the tide of insecurity and corruption in the country.
In the year 2014, we had a lot of bloodshed in this country. People were dying like rats without anybody asking about them. This country suffered a lot of blood experience. Many of us witnessed that people were in tears. Just like the ancient world, the year 2014, the 4 in it had the queen in it, which had to do with death. Our leaders failedus with reckless abandon and nobody asked them question.
The so-called democracy was a hidden autocracy. It was deceptive and questionable quack miler. Nigerians suffered hunger unnecessarily. We heard about oil subsidy being removed and added, whatever be(is) their jargon, nobody understood them. We heard about minimum wage, the civil servant suffered, the minimum wage was not paid and we were all calm. In 2015, Nigerians will not be calm again (shouts of AMEN!).
We need change. Whatever it will be, let it be. This is my golden message to my beloved country. What actually is happening (Ogini nne me?). The multitude of our youths, the quality young men, quality young women, brilliants youths but nobody has plans for any of you. Our so-called leaders should come and apologize. In 2015, it shall not continue like that (shouts of AMEN).
By the grace of God, by the power of the Holy Spirit, we are announcing spiritually, change! 2015 should not be a year of any hooligan maneuvering to hijack power. This is our New Year message.  Listen, when you go home, tell anybody you see that from the oracle of the Holy Spirit, we are announcing change (AMEN). Can somebody help me to shout change (shouts of change by the congregation) in Jesus holy name.
Look at what it’s like, as I’m yet to bless your families, bless your industries, bless your destinies. Come 2015, your plans are blessed, your vision are blessed, your locomotive society are blessed. I cover this year with the blood of Jesus. I seal this year with the blood of Jesus.
My message is in two branches (folds). Number one branch, the theme of this first message to my fellow countrymen is from good luck to bad luck. Once upon a time, the whole countrymen were crying for a leader who will help us move forward with our economy, have an authentic democracy, give our unemployed youths jobs, enable our power to be steady, who will industrialize Nigerians, who will encourage mass education and agriculturalize Nigeria.  Having in view that oil will soon drop, give us security in a maximum level. By the grace of God, there emerged a Goodluck, all of us were happy, the Goodluck met Yar’ Adua and Yar’ Adua died. May the Holy Spirit help me as I utter this message, I know many will misunderstand it, but it will stand the test of time and you will know I’m speaking the truth.
The Goodluck met Yar’Adua and Yar’Adua died. Before you know it, the Goodluck met our oil and the oil had a bad luck and poured away, before we knew it, the Goodluck met our naira, our naira had a bad luck. Where are we going? What is the fate of this country? Shall we continue like this, we need change (shout of change from the congregation).
As I’m speaking with you, most of our civil servants did not celebrate their Christmas. The Christmas season that should be a Goodluck time became a bad luck time for our Nigerians forgetting that very soon, from 3rd January, the children will go back to school and the parent are going to pay school fees. From where? Are they going to use their urine to pay? (Shout of NO from the congregation). But where is the good water even if they are going to use their urine. Are they going to use their stool to pay the school fees of their children? (Shout of NO from the congregation). You have to eat well to defecate.
What is the fate of our children? Tears fill my eyes when I see our young graduates hoping and walking our streets. What is the meaning of kidnapping? Kidnapping is the grandson of unemployment. Boko Haram is a grand great child of the same unemployment, mass looting, and poor governance.
I’m not saying that Goodluck is a bad man. He is a good man. But he cannot lead Nigeria. As things stand right now, from the oracle of the Holy Spirit, Jonathan should honourably resign quietly and let Nigeria be. The destiny of Nigeria is greater than Goodluck Jonathan. The Goodluck in Jonathan has become a bad luck to Nigerians. Whatever brought him in should send him back and let Nigeria be.
By this time in few months to come, many are going to lose their jobs and there is no alternative. During election, Jonathan will answer Azikiwe, Ebele and become an Igbo man and after election, the Ebele, the Azikiwe and Goodluck will vanish from his identity. Who is fooling who actually?
Look at our federal roads, we are not even asking for new ones, roads built by Buhari and Babangidas —  the so called Hausa people— cannot be maintained. Follow Enugu here to Onitsha, children born some years ago do not know that there was a lane along the other side of Isiagwu and we are all saying continue. The continuity of Jonathan means disaster to Nigeria.
We need change. May the Holy Spirit help me to vocalize what he has shown to me while I was waiting on him to give me a message for my people? I’m worried about the future of you my children. Go to school, go to school, mention any government school functioning in Nigeria now? Our schools are dilapidated. Nigeria is like an egg about to break in the hands of Jonathan Goodluck and we cannot allow it to happen. It is so unfortunate that pastors are becoming vultures around the president. Pastors are becoming hawks around him, eating the porridge of Jacob and selling their prophetic rights. And anointing is being merchandised in Aso Rock, carrying our nairas, turning it to dollars and carrying it in jets moving out of the country.
Listen, this is the voice on the pulpit: all these men of God, who are telling Jonathan to continue because they are benefitting one thing or the other, you should question your apostolic, prophetic anointing. What the Bible say is that Samson did not know that the Holy Spirit had left him. Let them watch if the Holy Spirit is still in them.
Listen, they will begin to tell us this one is a Christian the other one is a Muslim. I don’t believe in that. Who is a Christian more than Judas? Did Judas not betray Jesus? Judas was not just a Christian, he was not just a mere apostle, he was a super apostle like a cardinal but at a time he messed up and Bible says his office, let another take. That is the normal thing.
The way Nigeria is going right now, the office of Goodluck Jonathan let another take. I’m not campaigning for anybody. I’m filled with tears over what is happening in Nigeria. Some of us who have nongovernmental organisations funding charity, I know what I’m suffering. The more they are looting our resources, the more they are rending you unemployed, the more some of us suffer the more. If I have been paying for the school fees of 500 people, it would now jack up to 3000, or more.
What the government should do, individuals are struggling to achieve. When there is no road, no power, all this fake promises… where is the power? That Onitsha Bridge, has it now been built? No. After 6 years, and Goodluck has what it takes to do whatever. He surrounded himself with hooligans. By the time he comes down, he won’t have anybody to work with. He played himself into the hands of hooligans.
My interest is about the wellness of this country. Nigeria must survive what we are passing through by the help of God. The same God who saved us from Ebola will save us from this bad luck season (shouts of AMEN from the congregation).
Look at it, there was a time there was an argument about pension fund – such billions. Who is talking about it now? Billions and we were hearing it… from excess crude oil money, where is the impact of the excess crude oil money? Now from oil boom, it has met a bad luck; it’s now oil doom. If my father will be my leader and my siblings will all die, let a stranger be my leader and let my family be. All I’m trying to tell you is that we have not entered into any covenant with anybody.
Last time, the First Lady came here. We are not partisan; we welcomed her. We did a spiritual drama here. Lifted four birds to fly up, the main one that should fly up refused to go. I did everything possible and that one is the healthiest of them all but refused to fly and the spirit of God said, don’t disturb him.
When God rejected Saul, David took over. Let me tell you, in the history of Nigeria, we have never experience bloodshed as we have in the time of Goodluck. If Goodluck means bloodshed for Nigerians are you waiting until your own blood is shed? (shouts of No from the congregation).
We need change, however God will do it. Look at the insecurity if you go to the northern part of Nigeria.
My fellow priest, my fellow pastors, don’t just stand up to attack this message, because you have mouth. Think well before you put your mouth, the voice is beyond your own contribution. Listen, are you waiting for your own church to be bombed before you speak out? If you go to Maiduguri, some parishes have closed down. Go to Potiskum. People no longer go to church on Sundays in many parts of this country. Now imagine a scenario where a president cannot fight a simple insurgence. This is not an external country attack o. It is not like another country invaded Nigeria. It is an intra distraction. And many of us are claiming that it was because Buhari said that he was going to make Jonathan’s government ungovernable. Listen, let’s assume Buhari said something like that, even though it’s not Buhari who said it. So if you are the president and somebody say something like that, will you not arrest such a person?
Culled from Premium Times

Pastor Chris Okotie and his super luxury ride

 

The name, Pastor Chris Okotie, is a household name in Nigeria being the Pastor of the Household of God Church International Ministries. The 56-year-old pastor has had a lot going for him as a pop music artiste in the 1980s and now as a preacher.

Okotie is a lover of good things and has often been criticised for flaunting his wealth.

To celebrate his 27 years as a pastor and 30 years as a born again Christian, Okotie acquired the 2014 edition of Rolls Royce Phantom in 2013. The car reportedly cost him N80m.

Few cars on the planet command such instant recognition, prestige and respect as the 2014 Rolls-Royce Phantom. As one of the super luxury vehicles in the BMW line-up, it is incredibly lavish and powerful. In fact, it has been described as the flagship of the world’s most iconic ultra-luxury car brand.

With its throne-like seats that give occupiers an elevated, almost SUV view of the road ahead, the Phantom is full of beautiful details. Perhaps the best thing about the Phantom’s rear quarters is getting in and out through its rear-hinged doors, which have integrated umbrellas in the event that the occupiers’ arrival occurs during a downpour.

Indeed, the Rolls-Royce Phantom remains the ultimate expression of luxury motoring, so if the world’s best is what you seek, then look no farther. The ride quality is perhaps better than anything else on the road as the car’s primary mission is to provide tranquil transportation for the most privileged of VIPs.

No matter how you slice it, the Phantom is an expansive – almost 20 feet in length – substantial vehicle in all its forms with a classically styled and unmistakable exterior. Its cabin is simply the definition of automotive opulence. Everything you can see, touch, or smell speaks of quality and substance.

The standard features list on the Phantom is extensive; nearly any technological add-on you can imagine but not included can be added on request, for a fee, of course. The limits are your imagination and wealth.

Performance

The 2014 Rolls-Royce Phantom is powered by a 6.7-litre V12 that produces 453 horsepower and 531 pound-feet of torque. It has an eight-speed automatic transmission. Rolls-Royce claims that the standard Phantom accelerates from a standstill to 60 mph in 5.7 seconds. All Phantoms are rear-wheel drive.

The Environmental Protection Agency rates the Phantom’s fuel economy at 11 miles per gallon in the city, 19mpg on the highway and 14 mpg in combined driving.

Features

The Phantom is an ultra-luxury sedan available in base and extended-wheelbase body styles, which adds 10 inches of rear legroom. There is seating for five passengers.

Standard features on the phantom include 21-inch cast-aluminium wheels, automatic and adaptive LED headlights, front and rear parking sensors, automatic wipers, a sunroof, dual-zone automatic climate control, power and heated seats, and two umbrellas, hidden in the front doors.

Standard electronics includes Bluetooth phone connectivity, a navigation system, a multifunction electronics interface with an 8.8-inch display and pop-out controller, voice controls and Rolls-Royce Assist emergency telematics. Audio is provided by a Harman Kardon Lexicon Logic 7 surround-sound audio system with 15 speakers, including two floor-mounted subwoofers, a glovebox-mounted six-DVD changer, an auxiliary audio jack, a USB/iPod interface and satellite radio with a lifetime subscription.

The options list is vast and includes things more likely to be found in a luxury home than in a car, including a rear theatre; an entertainment system with two DVD screens built into the standard drop-down picnic tables, a rear bar, a cigar humidor, glass cabinets and a refrigerator,

Safety

Standard safety features include antilock brakes, traction control and stability control, active front head restraints, a suite of airbags; full-length side curtain airbags and side airbags for front occupants. In addition, front and rear parking sensors are standard, as is a camera system that shows rear, side and overhead views to assist the driver in parking and pulling into traffic in this very large sedan.

Driving Impressions

The Phantom’s performance is simply astounding including its responsive accelerator and communicative steering. It is incredibly silent in operation; dispatches bumps, potholes and even speed humps as if they aren’t even there.

The good: It has a refined, luxury defined, and classic British styling, coupled with its impressive passenger accommodation, unique and unrivalled quality, excellent performance, in spite of its size and classic exterior.

The bad: Formidable size makes it a devil to manoeuvre in tight spots, some confusing and awkwardly placed controls, according to reviewers, obvious fuel consumption at its best and very expensive.

Source: www.edmunds.com

Catholic Priest tells Jonathan Tells Jonathan to Step Down for Buhari

Renowned Catholic Priest, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka, has urged President Goodluck Jonathan to abandon his re-election bid so that the All Progressives Congress candidate, Maj.Gen Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) can emerge the winner of the presidential election next month.

Mbaka, who heads the popular Catholic Adoration Centre in Enugu, said this in his New Year sermon titled “From Good luck to Bad luck,” while addressing thousands of parishioners on Thursday.

He urged all well-meaning Nigerians to vote for Buhari on February 14.

According to the cleric, Jonathan has disappointed Nigerians and cannot deliver the dividends of democracy to the people.

Mbaka subsequently knelt down in front of the altar, cried and asked God to give Nigeria a good leader and not Jonathan. He used the opportunity to beg Nigerians to vote wisely in the forthcoming elections.

He said, “I love President Goodluck Jonathan and I used to be his ardent fan, but I want good for my people and that’s why I want Nigerians to vote out Goodluck Jonathan and vote General Muhammad Buhari. I don’t care if Buhari is a Muslim and from the North; all I care about is that Buhari can save Nigeria.”

Ironically, Mbaka had recently endorsed Jonathan’s re-election.

It was learnt that the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, had taken Jonathan’s wife, Patience, to Mbaka, where the cleric said he would pray for Jonathan’s victory.

However, after prayers, Mbaka said the sign he received from God was that Jonathan was not fit to rule the nation anymore.

Mbaka further explained that one of the reasons Jonathan is no longer fit to rule Nigeria for the next four years was the high level of insecurity which the President had failed to address as well as corruption in the country.

He said it was unfortunate that the over 200 Chibok girls who were abducted by terrorists over 200 days ago had not been rescued despite series of promises made by Jonathan.

He further urged the Federal Government to account for the missing $20bn and stop insurgency in the country.

Mbaka maintained that Buhari could not Islamise Nigeria as being rumoured in some circles.

He said he had never met the APC candidate but urged Nigerians not to forget that Buhari fought corruption to a standstill during his administration between December 1983 and August 1985.

Culled from Punch Newspaper,Nigeria

Myles Munroe's Last Message Before His Death

 

In what is being described as a message he delivered shortly before he and eight others were killed in a fiery jet crash Sunday, prominent evangelical preacher and motivational speaker Myles Munroe spoke ominously of dying by accident and being "unnecessary" to his ministry

In a video clip posted on YouTube described as "Myles Munroe's Message Shortly Before His Death," Munroe told leaders: "The greatest act of leadership is what happens in your absence. If everything you've done died with you, you are a failure. True leadership is measured by what happens after you die."

In the eerie clip that in hindsight seems like a prescient farewell, Munroe, who was speaking from a television studio at the time of the video's recording, challenged his audience to think about what would happen to their legacy if they suddenly died in an accident after leaving the studio.
"… If you die today as a leader, leaving the studio in an accident, what happens to your organization? What happens to your church? What happens to your business? If it dies when you die, you are a failure," said Munroe.
Munroe, 60, who led the Bahama Faith Ministries up until his untimely death Sunday, released a book this year, titled, The Power of Character in Leadership, which addresses the crisis of leadership today. He was on his way to join an influential group of religious leaders, executives, politicians and business leaders at the Global Leadership Forum in Freeport, Grand Bahama, when he died.

In the video he urged Christian leaders to spend more time investing in people than in buildings.
"True leaders don't invest in buildings. Jesus never built a building. They invest in people. Why? Because success without a successor is failure. So your legacy should not be in buildings, programs, or projects, your legacy must be in people," said Munroe.
"Who are you mentoring to take your place? True leaders make themselves unnecessary. ... A true leader works themselves out of a job. So great leaders measure their greatness by their absence. Study Jesus. The greatest leader of all. Listen to His words. It is better for you that I go away. If I do not go away, He says, you won't be great. My absence is your greatness. He proved his greatness by leaving. He left and his organization grew in his absence," continue Munroe's speech.
He then went on to explain that his children had already been prepared to take over his ministry and business because he mentored them.
"This is why, in our organization, I am unnecessary. I can travel the world and our ministry grows. My companies grow. My son, who at 29-years-old, is running my businesses. My daughter, who is 30, is running our global organization," he said.
"Why? I mentored them. Jesus Christ said to Peter 'Do you love me?' He said, 'Yes, Lord.' He said, 'Well, the company is yours. Feed the people' and He left. What happens in your absence, that's your legacy," Munroe ended in the clip.
Government officials in the Bahamas are still investigating what caused the crash that killed Munroe and his entourage