Only northern govs, leaders can stop Boko Haram – CAN President

Amid the raging insurgency in the North-east, the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, says, contrary to the claim in some quarters, Christians, rather than Muslims, are the targets of the Boko Haram Islamist group. Oritsejafor lists six ways to end the insurgent attacks including northern leaders engaging Boko Haram in dialogue. The CAN leader spoke to Sunday Vanguard after the Daughters of Sarah convention, co-hosted by his World of Life Bible Church, Warri, Delta State. Excerpts:
What drives you? Why do you always want to give during every programme here?
I have asked myself that question too! Somehow I think I have lost my mind. When I sit down and think, it’s very natural to give. That’s where I am now. It didn’t start naturally but that’s where I am now. If I don’t give, I think I will be sick or something. But I think it started with understanding the scripture. Let me say this: I remember when I gave my life to Christ, I felt the urge to go into ministry and I went to a Bible school. I wanted to leave; the reason I wanted to leave was that  I felt I will be unproductive to God.
So I said why waste God’s time and waste my own time. That was when I said I better leave and go and do something else with my life, because I am a realist. So when it comes to  giving, what I did, just like I do in most cases, I started studying the Bible. I started reading to understand God’s mind about giving and I discovered that giving is one of the most misunderstood subjects in the Bible. But the truth is, it is the most consistent subject in the Bible.

•Oritsejafor

You find it from Genesis to Revelation; it comes in so many shapes that if you are not careful, you will miss it. I did a study all through the Bible; even a lot of young men that do all kinds of crazy things to get stuff out of people—it’s a misunderstanding that they got themselves into—because when you understand the scriptural meaning of giving, you will discover that it is more blessed to give than to receive.
You will not be straining yourself to get from people. The way the principle of giving works, it is always to give and you receive, not the other way round. Even young preachers who are trying to get from people, they think it’s when they  get that they can give to people, no! That’s a wrong principle. It is always give and it shall be given unto you, sow and then you reap. It is not get and then you give. Like I said, I’ve done that study, based on that understanding, it doesn’t matter what anybody says or preaches. I will always give.  It’s a way of life for me. When you get to that point, you will enjoy God beyond your expectations.
Several candidates for employment into the Nigerian Immigration Service died. How did you feel when it happened?
I’m pained! It is so unfortunate! But this is where we are today. I hope our political leaders are watching. When I’m talking of political leaders, I’m not talking of President Goodluck Jonathan because we have reached a place in Nigeria today where everything is Jonathan; as if Jonathan is the only elected official in this country. First of all, the situation where we find ourselves today, is it Jonathan that created it?
How can a man that became President three years ago be the one that created all these problems? Something is wrong. I don’t know if the media realize the damage they are doing to the psyche and the integrity of the Nigerian society; to give the impression that one man is responsible for the problems of this country that has been in existence for many years. Let’s go back and look at the history of Nigeria, look at the leadership, the political leaders.
It’s horrible. Jonathan is President; he cannot run away from being part of the blame. What about this government? State government where the House of Assembly will go and pass a budget in the governor’s house and everybody is silent, nobody is saying anything. Can you imagine, Jonathan taking all members of the National Assembly and the budget is passed within two hours in his house; will Nigeria not run down? Why is the media presenting things like this? It’s not right. Government comprises political leaders at all levels, and it’s been happening, and they are getting away with it, so to speak.
That is why I advocated last October that all political and government officials should forfeit half of their emoluments for one year. Do you know how many billions of naira that will amount to? I told them this money should be put in a dedicated account and credible Nigerians should be fetched from each of the six geo-political zones to manage that money to create jobs.
The level of unemployment in Nigeria is so high. Universities that we are trying to build must be universities that will educate people to be self employed, people who will be able to contribute to the progress of Nigeria, not just people who acquire degrees and wait for white collar jobs. That is my number one emphasis; job creation. Number two, leadership; and number three, God.
It’s a very unfortunate thing that (Immigration job tragedy) has happened. My prayer is that such a thing will not happen again.  I also want to speak to the private sector, some of them have tried, but they can do more. If we love this country, we can pull Nigeria out of this situation. If we leave everything to government, I don’t know what will happen.
About 10 people who have the same mind can come together and set up medium sized businesses. We must begin to venture into areas like this. I have some ideas myself; I just pray I’m able to finance them. But it’s not right for the private sector to leave everything to government. We all have to be involved and find ways to lift people out of poverty. You saw the grinding machines we gave out, these are some ways of eliminating unemployment. The more people you can give jobs, the stronger and the better the nation will be. Political leaders should take note, past to present, God will hold them responsible, He will judge them.
The National Conference has finally taken off. What’s your agenda for the delegates?
Go there and speak the truth, speak the minds of the people you are representing, that should be the priority. One of the things that have brought Nigeria to her knees is that we lie to ourselves. We know the truth, but we deceive ourselves. We are hypocrites. We try to convince ourselves that everything is good. If you say there are differences, then you are a bad person, but if you want to be celebrated in Nigeria, just come out and say “One Nigeria”.
The moment you try to tell the truth, you are a bad person. I think all delegates should go there with the fear of God to tell the truth as it concerns those who sent them there. Let them table truth on the table, and, from there, Nigeria will be able to move forward. They may not agree on everything, but the truth should be told.
At the end of the day, I believe that it can never be a waste of time. People are always talking. They are just formalizing the talking. I just pray that whatever decisions are taken should be implemented. You will be shocked with the understanding that it will yield. It is never be a waste of time. These same people say National Conference is a waste of time but dialoguing with Boko Haram is not a waste of time. Let truth meet truth on the table, I believe it will yield good fruits.
Of late, a lot of people are saying that Boko Haram is actually not just killing Christians, but that there are more Muslim victims than Christians. How do you respond to that?
I was embarrassed by such statement. As a matter of fact, I read one piece where it was said that  98 per cent of all the people killed by Boko Haram are Muslims. It is not true. How can you say 98 per cent of those killed are Muslims? First of all, in every single statement that Shekau, the Boko Haram leader, has  made, he always made it very clear that their target are Christians; their purpose is to create an Islamic state, to the ridiculous extent of telling a sitting President of a country that he needs amnesty from him (Shekau) and that his only option is that Christians can only be saved if they convert from Christianity to Islam. And you tell me that 98 per cent of those who have been killed are Muslims.
These are the things that create tension. These are the things that certain people use to make it look like we hate Muslims when we respond. You can’t turn Nigeria to a Muslim country. To think like that is to insult the sensitivity of rational people. This is very wrong. Until about six months ago, almost all the people killed were Christians. That’s the reality. In 2013, from the reports I’m getting, there were not more than five mosques that were destroyed.
In 2013 alone, from the information I have, there are not less than 300 churches that were destroyed. I don’t know how such people come up with their statistics. Are they trying to tell me now that everybody in Borno or Kano or Adamawa states are Muslims? This is not right. Let us put it on record that nothing less than 90 per cent of people who have been killed by Boko Haram are Christians. I’m the leader of Christians in Nigeria, so I put it on record and that is the truth.
Let me also add that the Muslims that have been killed, every single one of them, his life is as precious as the lives of the Christians killed; I am aware that there are two categories of Muslims that they have been killing and my heart bleeds because they are human beings. Two categories: there’s the category of Muslims who oppose what they are doing; their clerics who come out to say this is against Islam, they slaughter them. The second category belong of Muslims they kill are those they feel have betrayed them. In other words, they’ve been giving information to security agents that were used to either capture them or kill them.
From information I have, they go to mosques where preachers are against them or somebody in the congregation has spoken against them and they don’t know the exact person, they just go and blow the mosques up. These are the two categories of Muslims that have been killed so far. Killing Muslims is not their primary target. If anybody has the opportunity of interviewing Shekau today, he will say what I’m saying now.
Their primary targets are Christians. He has said it again and again that Christians are his primary target. Look at the post-election violence period, who are the people who suffered, who died like rats, killed, burnt, destroyed? There are Muslim clerics that have been killed; my heart goes out to them, but how many pastors have been killed since 2009? Who really cares? Who has taken the pains to look at it?
Some of the widows and orphans they left behind are being taken care of by me. A recent one was in Borno State where a CAN secretary was slaughtered in the presence of his family members. The latest one was in Katsina, the chairman of CAN in Katsina local government, they said they saw the corpse of a child near his house, they went into this young man’s house and they beat him unconscious. He was rescued and taken to  hospital. They surrounded the hospital, dragged him out of the hospital and burnt him alive. Where is justice in all these things?
The security situation in this country has gone out of control as the Boko Haram members now go to barracks to kill soldiers. Do we need another approach to tackle terrorism?
I wouldn’t say we need a new approach. I’d just say that we need to sharpen our approach because there are basic things; just that some people don’t see it as an important area to look into. There are about six or seven things that must be done and we have no choice but to do them. One is prayer; we can’t run away from that. That is why I have said that Christians and all well-meaning Nigerians should join us every last Friday of every month to fast and pray for the peace of Nigeria. Whatever God needs to do to turn this tide, He should do it.
Two, the military should be strengthened. They must continue to bombard these people. The number of men in the military is not enough to meet the demands on ground. All I am advocating is that the number of personnel needs to be multiplied. The screening has to be done right because the insurgents  themselves will try to join the military.
In fact they are inside the military as we speak. There are also members of the Boko Haram in the military. Some have been prosecuted, some are top officers. The authorities should be careful in giving out positions particularly with regards to information gathering. They have to find ways to detect such people and flush them out with no sentiments attached. The most important thing to be done is the involvement of Muslim political leaders; Muslim clerics and Muslim traditional rulers.
When our boys in the creeks were doing what they were doing, some of us went there. We engaged them, and we didn’t ask government. We engaged them because it was the right thing to do. My friend, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), is now talking. These are people who said the insurgents should be given amnesty; they should be treated like Niger Delta boys. They are now talking, but they must go beyond talking. We strategised, we talked to our boys, and they should go and talk to their boys. They say they are talking to the boys, yet they are killing. We want them to go beyond the talking; go to where these boys are, risk their lives like we did, and begin to engage them, dialogue with them.
It is not government that will dialogue with them; it is their people they will listen to. The boys respect some of the clerics that are good. Bring these boys and discuss with them from the Qur’an. This engagement must filter into the mosques. They must start teaching that Nigeria is their country; re-orient their minds so that they can think positively. All these are what must be done at all levels and done not just by Jonathan, but by governors of the affected states as well as the local people there. The talking is important, but they must go beyond the talking.
Another factor we’ve not said anything about is the menace of Fulani herdsmen…
I see that as another chapter of Boko Haram. They don’t want people like us to talk but we have to talk. What kind of Fulani herdsmen? It’s unacceptable. Is there any other tribe that can do this kind of things and get away with it in the last three years? They have terrorized Nigeria. There is no state where they don’t kill people; these same Fulani herdsmen killed somebody recently in Delta Central.
Where did these people get AK47 rifles from? Who taught them how to shoot? How is it that these people are never apprehended? I have reports that there are communities where they have destroyed crops, killed people, raped women, yet, at the end of the day, it’s the local people the police go after. Look at what is happening in Benue State! Imagine some of the leaders of the Fulani coming out to hold a press conference, accusing the government to be the cause of the crisis.
They actually admitted that they sent people to cause the crisis and police didn’t pick them up? What is the nonsense? Does it mean other tribes cannot do this? Is there monopoly of violence? Does this mean other tribes don’t know where to get arms from? Everyone is trying to build a civil and peaceful nation. As a leader of millions, should I tell these people to arm themselves? Government should take note. One tribe will hold a whole nation to ransom when in Nigeria we have over 500 tribes?
I fear for Nigeria. This issue has to be addressed. They should come out and tell the truth. What is the agenda of the Fulani herdsmen? Is it really about grazing land? They were almost passing a bill, which will never be implemented in Jesus name, that they will just take people’s land just as they like and give it to somebody else. It’s never heard of. I know of a RCCG parish in Zamfara State which they destroyed and the church was trying to rebuild it and the authorities said they shouldn’t try to rebuild.
This is 21st century; don’t people eat cows in America? Do you see people leading cows across the streets? They should go back to where they are from and create modernized way of farming and cattle rearing. These are things we should look at.
Culled from Vanguard Newspaper

Truth has fallen in the churches, falsehood has become the established doctrine - Femi Aribisala

Bishop David Oyedepo says poverty is not of God.  He insists a child of God has no business being poor and declares: “There’s a proven covenant cure for poverty.”  If this were true and proven, all the world’s poor would have become rich Christians by now.
Let us juxtapose the bishop’s enticing words with the word of God and see whose report should be believed.  Jesus says: “You will always have the poor among you.” (John 12:8).  Moses says: “The poor will never cease from the land.” (Deuteronomy 15:11).  So where does that leave Bishop Oyedepo’s “proven covenant cure for poverty?”  It is a pie in the sky.
Wealth transfer
A few years ago, Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo organised a crusade in Port Harcourt, Nigeria captioned “The Coming Wealth Transfer.”  The import of this crusade was to bring to the notice of Nigerians that God was getting ready to transfer the riches of non-Christians to Christians.
You need to ask people like Pastor Matthew how long this wealth transfer will take to come.  Ask him why it has not yet taken place in the 2000 years since Jesus came.  Ask him if this wealth transfer is likely to take place in your lifetime; otherwise of what interest is it to you?  Be cynical when he asks you to make a down-payment for this wealth transfer now, in order to get the one that is coming in the by-and-by.

In the churches, truth has fallen in the pews and falsehood has become the established doctrine.

It is important to get clarity on such issues because some years earlier, officials of the Charity Commission in England detected another wealth transfer in Pastor Matthew’s Kingsway church.  That transfer was not from God to the congregation: it was from the congregation to Pastor Matthew.
Hundreds of thousands of pounds of church funds had been dubiously transferred overseas from Kingsway.  A 120,000 pounds birthday party was given for Pastor Matthew at the expense of the church, out of which 80,000 was used to buy him a Mercedes Benz.  It was also reported that Pastor Matthew used the church’s visa card to buy a timeshare apartment in Florida.  In contravention of British charity law, church payments were made to his private companies which were operated from church premises.
As a result of these irregularities, Kingsway was placed in the hands of receivers, new trustee managers were appointed and Pastor Matthew was asked to repay 200,000 pounds to the church.  The upshot of this was that he relocated temporarily to Nigeria, where he started preaching messages of “Sweat-less Wealth,” “101 Answers to Money Problems,” and “Twenty-Four Hour Miracles.”
Witches and wizards
Some pastors declare that they have the anointing to make people rich.  This makes them no different from “babalawos.”  Jesus says believers should be as wise as serpents. (Matthew 10:16).  Therefore, Christians need to determine exactly where this poverty-eradicating anointing comes from because all our springs must come from the Lord. (Psalm 87:7).
There is no biblical record of Jesus ever making any man financially rich.  On the contrary, he sought to make the rich young ruler poor by requiring him to sell all he has and give the proceeds to the poor as a precondition for discipleship. (Matthew 19:21).  He then tells all Christians to do likewise. (Luke 12:33).  Jesus even refused to assist a man in obtaining his rightful share of his family inheritance; telling him instead: “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” (Luke 12:15).
When Pastor Wale Adefarasin became the Lagos State President of the PFN (Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria), he declared grandiloquently that his primary goal would be the eradication of poverty in Lagos State.  You may well ask how he proposed to do that.  This turned out to be nothing more than the usual vain platitude of pastors.  The proverb goes: “Physician, heal yourself.” (Luke 4:23).  To date, Wale Adefarasin has yet to eradicate poverty in his church, Guiding Light Assembly; how much more in Lagos State.
Fake gospel
The preaching of the gospel is not intended to eradicate poverty.  Indeed, the gospel acknowledges the existence of the poor and confers spiritual blessings on them. (Luke 6:20).  Simultaneously, it proclaims woe on the rich. (Luke 6:24-25).  Jesus even warns that it will be virtually impossible for the rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 19:24).  If so, why are pastors presenting the antithesis of the counsel of God as our exalted objective in the service of Christ?
Televangelist Kenneth Copeland insists that: “You can draw on heaven like a magnet.  We don’t have to wait until we get to heaven to get God’s blessings.  Now’s when we need them.”  However, in sharp contrast to this preoccupation with earthly riches in the churches of today, Jesus counsels that we should not lay up treasures for ourselves on earth. (Matthew 6:19).  He says we should go into the world and make disciples of all nations. (Matthew 28:19).  He does not say we should go into the world and make successful businessmen of all nations.
It is in the nature of this world whose prince is Satan to promote poverty.  In the kingdoms of men, a few strategically-placed individuals monopolise a preponderance of the resources ensuring, for instance, that the rap-artist sometimes makes far more money than the heart-surgeon.  Jesus does not prescribe a reform of this unjust world system through the gospel.  But he offers a different kingdom not of this world where spiritual conscientiousness and industriousness will be handsomely rewarded. (Matthew 25:14-30).
Pastors of divination
A pastor friend told me a lady in his church asked him to pray for her so she would get a job.  When she finally got one, he discovered on questioning her that she only earned 15,000 naira a month.  He appealed to me for understanding: “What is she going to do with such a small amount?  How much can she possibly give to the church out of that?”  So he set the church’s prayer-squad back to work to pray for a bigger salary for her in Jesus’ name.  Clearly, his interest in her financial well-being was not unconnected with the amount he expected to be able to extort from her as contribution to his church.
Lola Afolabi was indignant.  She asked: “If a man asks his pastor to pray for the success of his business, will he not pray?”  Lola’s annoyance comes from the fact that in the churches, truth has fallen in the pews and falsehood has become the established doctrine.  We should not presume that our success is always the will of God.  Solomon says: “The prosperity of fools shall destroy them.” (Proverbs 1:32).  Peter’s prayer for Jesus’ success turned out to be devil-inspired. (Matthew 16:22-23).
Therefore, Agur utters in Proverbs a peculiar but far more insightful prayer than those of pastors pretending to have the anointing to make people rich: “Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread.  Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’  Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonour the name of my God.” (Proverbs 30:8-9). 

American Church Sets To Honour 5 Nigerian Govs,Popular Prophet

An American church, Ecumenical Apostolic Church, Virginia USA will on April 26, honour five Nigerian state governors and the General Overseer of Synagogue Church of all Nations (SCOAN), Prophet Temitope Joshua as well as the Esama of Benin Kingdom, Chief Gabriel Igbenedion with the Global Award of Excellence.
A release by the co-ordinator of the US-based church in South-South Nigeria, Bishop Nmalagu Greatman, on behalf of Presiding Archbishop John Johnston, said the ceremony would take place at God Worshippers Assembly along Amai Road, Obiaruku, headquarters of Ukwua-ni local government area of Delta State at 10.00 a.m.
The release listed the selected governors include Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha of Imo State, Mr. Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State and Chief Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State.
Others include the immediate past governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi and his Bayelsa State counterpart, Timipre Sylva.
The statement said the award was approved at the Biennual Bishops Conference held at Lanexa Virgina, USA on December 28, 2013, adding that the nominees were recommended to the Board by the South South Nigeria Regional Chapter Co-ordinator, Bishop Greatman.

2015 Break-Up Prediction: Nigeria will shock Western world – CAN leader

What’s your opinion on the National Conference? Does the Christian body have any agenda to promote?
I will not tell you what the agenda of the Christian body is until it is made public in the conference. As I have always said, we need to pray. Some people will say ‘but things are still rough with all the prayers’, but I tell you, Nigeria cannot survive without prayers, even for one week. Prayer is the glue that gums Nigeria together; if you remove that glue, Nigeria will break into pieces. Let us put aside tribal and religious sentiments. Nigeria has long awaited this conference; so, I advise that those who have not been chosen to attend the conference should take away malice and sentiments and pray for its success.
You just spoke about tribal and religious sentiments, but these diversities are recognized in the selection of delegates and each of them has his agenda. Don’t you think this could have a negative effect on the conference?
Nigeria is the United States of Africa. That’s why our diversities and language heterogeneity have not, all these years, disintegrated us. Like pieces of clothes in tailoring are able to allow themselves to be sewn together to form a beautiful dress, we should absorb and accommodate one another. That way, we will overcome. For instance, when the matter of gay was being deliberated, the way we joined forces despite our diversities helped us to conquer and outlaw it. On this national conference, I want to say that Nigeria is looking for solution and will get it with prayers.
But many have argued that the national conference is in no way a solution to our plethoric problems and that Nigeria will disintegrate nevertheless…
Those are called political statements.
But some religious leaders are of the same opinion…

*Archbishop God-Dowell Avwomakpa

Yes, that is because they are selfish; for the fact that they are not seeing yesterday and are not also looking to tomorrow. It looks rough now, but it shall be smooth. We are not together as one nation by accident. Lord Lugard may have made some mistake yesterday, but God’s hand is in it. Even Boko Haram is not enough to frustrate us. We just have to speak up as one and against the killing of Nigerians.
I told you from the beginning that Nigeria is the United States of Africa. Always remember that because it does not matter where we come from. In 1966/1967, I fought in the Biafran war and one of our slogans was: ‘To keep Nigeria one is a task that must be done’. We could have been able to let the Igbo go away, but we didn’t because we still love them.
Igbo, northerners and probably Niger Deltans have done things that could make the nation to say ‘go’, but that has not happened. We must look at our existence with the eyes of God. The question is, what is God thinking about this nation?; not what we are thinking about this nation. These people are telling us what they think about this nation but I tell you, it is who God says we are that matters.
God speaks to His own, such as men of God like yourself; what is He saying or has shown you about Nigeria?
I have not seen splitting or disintegration bringing a solution to Nigeria. Let us do the analysis. The North and South split then the South is broken into three or four, making almost every tribe to become a nation. Then there’s going to be an embassy. You have to take visa before you move from Lagos to Warri for example.
If Edo decides to have its own embassy, you will then have to take a visa from Lagos and then another from Edo to get to Warri. We cannot imagine how bad it can be. What will happen then will be the case of a man who decides to let his wife go because of a quarrel and sees the woman three years later and begins to wish he did not let her go. What I love in Nigeria is the fact that unbelievers are here, Muslims are here, Christians are here and we are all able to stay together. If we can learn to respect one another’s religion and respect one another as well, I believe we can forge ahead.
Some prophets have also reeled out prophecies, declaring that the year 2015 will be disastrous for Nigeria if Goodluck Jonathan is re-elected; what do you make of that?
Having a dream for the entire country is not enough. You must confirm whether God is the one giving you that dream. Don’t forget that the Western world is already manufacturing cameras and hiring offices within Nigeria so they can make big news out of their predicted dissolution of Nigeria in 2015. Let me tell you something, Clemens Westerhof, one of Nigeria’s former coaches, was asked when he returned to his country (Holland) about what he had to say about Nigeria and he said: “I learnt something from Nigeria and that is the fact that if they do not want something to happen and they pray to their God, they are able to change that thing overnight”.
You know, during the time of Babangida, there would have been civil war and people were going home already because Abiola was not allowed to be president. There was going to be real bloodshed. Some of us went into prayers declaring that affliction will not come to us the second time, and because of that prayer, the finger of God averted the war, and it shocked everyone. So, I want those men of God to go back and ask God if dissolution and disaster are His thoughts for Nigeria.
Some people are of the opinion that the conference is to aid agenda 2015 for Jonathan while others are also condemning the amount of money spent on delegates…
People do not know what is called ‘leadership’. Do you know how much it is to for instance to invite a man of my caliber to go and spend days, weeks and months somewhere?
But you can do that free of charge for your country….
This case doesn’t require gift because you’re going to use your brain and spirit. The fact that those people agreed to go alone is very important because this conference will prove to the world that Nigeria can still sit down and talk face to face. It is a solution. Anytime there is problem and the two parties involved are not discussing, know that it is going to be bloody.
By the time they talk, even if they are shouting during the first meeting, the second will be calmer. Whether anybody says it is another way of bringing the president in again, that is not a problem. The entire country was three regions: Northern, Western and Eastern. One region became 19 states and all the rest two put together became 17. We’re in the game of numbers; so, tell me how Nigeria can create another state if the North says no.
You earlier said Nigerians are blessed with the ability to overturn events through prayers; but why is the insurgency in the North escalating despite prayers?
People are very confused over this, but I know how God works. Sometimes, He allows things to happen so that His name can be glorified. You may not have known that those who set up Boko Haram to destroy the peace of Nigeria are on the run now. I have spoken several times about this. If it were not for God, the plan was to swallow up Nigeria.
Are you insinuating that Boko Haram can’t tear Nigeria apart?
No. They can’t do it and they know it. Boko Haram has its own temptations and they might have been bewitched to do what they are doing. Otherwise, a genuine Nigerian killing Nigerians would have felt it, no matter how bad he is.
Nigeria just celebrated 100 years of existence which some people called frustrating amalgamation and some Nigerians were honoured, including the late General Sani Abacha, whose nomination was greatly criticized. Was that honour to Abacha deserving and does Nigeria really have any reason to celebrate?
Being able to live for only one day calls for celebration. The fact that the place called Nigeria is still there as one entity for 100 years is a miracle. Nigeria has fought civil war where many young men died; I was there. That it could come back together is a miracle. Our existence calls for celebration, though it was done in a very low key.
The fact that we did not take the grace of God for granted but went ahead to glorify His name despite our circumstances is more than enough to touch God’s heart. The celebration alone can make God do wonders in this country. Did you know Nigeria before many of you were born? Nigerians were eating only Uncle Ben’s rice; not anyhow rice. The white people were coming to marry our daughters so they could become our citizens.
This was why our first national anthem says ‘Nigeria we hail thee…’. These were the Oyinbos hailing us. I remember when I traveled to Washington DC in 1979 to represent the Christian body. That was the time of Jimmy Carter. Some white ladies there were begging to take photographs with me and I said no! Our fifty kobo was one dollar and when we were to return to Nigeria, we had nothing to do with dollars; we gave them out! People were coming into Nigeria from different parts of the world and were taking from us. But I’m telling you, Nigeria will rise again.
At what point would you say things went wrong in this country and what do we do to get it right?
Nigeria was blessed. God doesn’t joke with them where there is a multitude; remember the story of Jonah and Nineveh. Now, at what point did we get it wrong? You know Nigeria was coming up shortly after the over-throw of the first military people and somehow God opened doors through our oil and the money was so much that we spent anyhow.
We did not know how to manage that money. Hence, Awolowo was released unconditionally from prison so that he could show Nigerians how to divide the blessing. Money was actually distributed to the grassroots and everybody was happy. No armed robbery! Then, Nigeria said it needed to have a festival to glorify the devil. So, it invited every demon in Africa and we were celebrating Festac 1977.
They rounded off the festival and, when the people who came for the festival went home, the demon in the festival refused to go. You know what happened thereafter? Nigeria Ports Authority, NPA, first went on strike; after that, it was students. Government started to settle with money until the Structural Adjustment Programme, SAP, came in.
What do we do to go back?
We must repent as a nation.
But we have more churches and religious homes than we had in those days?
We’re talking of genuine repentance. Since then, God has been waiting for somebody like Jonathan to come to lead. Every president of Nigeria was unique but you may not have known. People blame Babangida but it was Gowon who broke the relationship between Nigeria and Israel. Babangida was the one who came to restore the ties despite being a Muslim. Since then, no serving president has ever made attempt to go to Israel on pilgrimage. Gowon was a Christian and Obasanjo was a Christian too but they didn’t go. It was Jonathan that decided to go. And I assure Nigeria, we will see a difference.
 Culled From Vanguard Newspaper

I Never Wanted to Be a Pastor,Says Pastor Adeboye

A multitude of accompanied children from across the nation, on Friday night, listened, with rapt attention, when the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, relived how he objected to his election to be a pastor by the founder of the church, the late Rev. Josiah Akindayomi.

Pastor Adeboye

Preaching a short sermon entitled: “Great and mighty seeds”, at the April Holy Ghost Service dedicated to children, the 72 years old former mathematics lecturer recounted how he joined the then unknown RCCG because of a problem and was contented with the salvation of his soul.
Justifying his teaching on the theory of how people attain greatness in life, he maintained that some people are born great, some others become great by dint of their own efforts while others have greatness entrusted upon them. According to him, a problem brought him to the church.
”But not long after, Papa Akindayomi said I was going to be ordained pastor. I was not prepared to become a pastor. I was satisfied with just coming to the church to worship and go home,” he narrated, adding, however, that the founder called him a few years after to tell him he had been ordained to succeed him.
”I couldn’t say no to him immediately. So when I got back to the University of Ilorin where I was a lecturer, I wrote a letter to the founder telling him to appoint someone else. I was prepared to assist whoever turned out to be his choice. Papa was an illiterate, he couldn’t read. Thank God, the one who read the letter to him is here on the platform tonight; Pastor David Kuo,” he stated, turning to the direction where members of the Governing Council of the church were seated.
Adeboye said there are three categories of greatness in life; those who were born great, those who attained greatness and those who had greatness bestowed on them, noting that there were in certain cases some people who combined two of the categories like Isaac and Solomon while in other occasions some combined the three categories.
”A classical example of people who combined the three categories was Elisha,” he said elucidating his point with the biblical narrative of how even after death, the bones of Elisha continued to heal people.
The RCCG leader said another example of someone who combined the three categories was Jesus Christ, drawing attention to several biblical passages including Matthew 3, Luke 1:30-33, Acts 10:38, Philippians 2:5-11, John 1:11-12 and Romans 8:16-17.
He said, however, that anybody could become great, noting that as soon as one becomes born again, he has become great but he must work hard to remain great by meeting all his spiritual obligations to God.
In continuation of the special service for the Marion’s children, the General Overseer is expected to pray for students at all levels today at the national headquarters of the church at Ebute Metta, Lagos. The service will begin at 7.30 a.m.
Culled From Vanguard Newspaper

I’ll donate confab money to charity –Bakare

 

Radical pastor and one of the delegates representing Ogun State in the ongoing National Conference, Tunde Bakare, has revealed that he will donate his own share of the allowances and stipends from the conference to charity.
Bakare, who spoke to Daily Sun in an exclusive interview, said he does not need the money, insisting that he is not in Abuja to for the money, but to render his services look to the country.
“I do not need the money they are paying. I am here to render my service to the country. If it becomes very important, I will give the money to charity,” Bakare revealed.
The pastor expressed optimism that Nigerians will align and accept the outcome of the resolutions that will emerge from the conference.
“What we expect is in line with the opening comment of Mr. President. We will all work together to build a Nigeria everyone will be proud of,” he said.
Bakare also vowed that he would not forsake the country, come rain or shine. He said he would stay and fix the problems of the country, stating: “No retreat, no surrender.”
According to him, “I am not going to walk out, no matter what. I am going to stay here and fix the problems. In war, no retreat, no surrender.
“I am certain that the outcome of the conference will be accepted by every Nigerian. I do not want to reveal what I have in my arsenal right now, so that we do not start unnecessary debates in the minds of people. We should wait and see.”
Similarly, the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Ayo Oritsejafor has said yesterday that the outcome of the National Conference will usher in peace and stability.
Oritsejafor, who spoke in Abuja during the National Consultation organised by the Think-Nigeria Christian-Muslim Movement, which had in attendance Muslims and Christian faithful, said: “I wish, at this juncture, to express my happiness on the ongoing National Conference, which Mr. President inaugurated on Monday. We are all pursuing justice, equity, love and understanding, which will ultimately usher in lasting peace in Nigeria.
“As we have kept faith with this conference, it shows that we have resolved to stay united and patient, for it is patience and steady focus that make the final difference between those who succeed or fail in what they set out to do. We love Nigeria and so shall continue to think Nigeria.”
Keynote speaker at the interactive forum, Professor Mohammed Al-Amin, said Nigeria is a sick country and needs the help of everyone to put the country back on the path of growth.
Al-Amin said: “The infrastructure in this country is collapsing. We need men of God and integrity to push the country back to its days of glory. If we do not do that, the crisis and annihilation facing this country are enormous. There is something wrong with the psyche of Nigerians. Religion has become an agent of wickedness and division instead of unity and love.
“Most of the people in the National Assembly did not get there based on merit. Many of them did not get there through the right means. It is a country that has a brain damage that can afford to do this.
“The resources of this country are enormous. They reside in the hands of a few people. Let us use whatever mechanism we have to ensure that the resources of this country are shared equitably.”

Pastor Tunde Bakare Rejects 12m National Conference Allowance,says “I will not take a penny”

Head of the Latter Rain Assembly church, Pastor Tunde Bakare, has announced that he will not take a kobo as payment for attending the National Conference, which starts today.
Bakare, who was nominated by Ogun State told his congregation on Sunday, March 16, 2014 that he had accepted to be a delegate at the Conference. He said his decision not to collect money as a delegate was to dispel any speculation that his motivation for accepting to take part in the conference was material.
Each of the 492 delegates to the National Conference would be paid a total of N12m for the three month duration, an amount that has generated wide controversy with some Nigerians condemning the amount to be spent.
Bakare told the congregation that he would be giving them a weekly report as the conference progressed.
He said, “A friend of mine called me this (Sunday) morning that he heard on the radio that ‘Pastor Bakare had accepted to go, that his own fee is N12m’. Pastor Bakare will not take a kobo in the National Conference.
“I will not take a penny. It has nothing to do with others; that is by choice. We go with integrity of heart, it is not money. The God of heaven will prosper us.
“What I say here is what I will do there. I do not say others should do it, but I intend to do that so that our heart can remain pure. That does not mean the hearts of others are not pure but I don’t want anybody to think in any slight manner that the motive is this.
“This is the moment we have been waiting for, for this end I was born. Nigeria will be saved, Nigeria will be changed, and Nigeria will become great.”
Bakare also revealed that before he decided to be a delegate, he had spoken with Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu  Buhari (retd.), the man to whom the cleric was a running mate on the platform of Congress for Progressive Change in the 2011 presidential election.
He said, “Before I answered the call, before I said yes, I called General Buhari that ‘I don’t want our stands on this national conference issue to be different. The governor of Ogun State put me on his list, the Elders of South-West put me on their list. What do you say?’
“He said the All Progressives Congress might not be going, but you are free to go because you never can tell how God will help our nation. That does not mean I am in APC. People have been asking, ‘are you in APC,’ ‘are you in PDP?’ I have told you, I am on the side of God. In this season I don’t know until we fix Nigeria.”