The Nation Newspaper

Category: Sunday magazine

  • Why we’re supporting Sanwo-Olu – CPFN

    Why we’re supporting Sanwo-Olu – CPFN

    The Christian Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (CPFN), Lagos State Chapter has thrown its weight behind the Lagos State governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and his deputy, Dr. Kadri Olufemi Hamzat, ahead of the forthcoming governorship election coming up on March 18.

    CPFN Lagos State Chairman, Pastor Dr. Samuel Olumuyiwa Adeosun said this at a press conference held recently at The Apostolic Church, LAWNA Territorial Headquarters, Ketu Lagos.

    Adeosun said that since the coming of this present unbroken democracy, Lagos State has been blessed to have highly intelligent people at the helm of her affairs that always come up with good programmes for the betterment of the masses.

    He, therefore, said PFN had seen Sanwo-Olu’s performance, and it would continue to support him.

    He noted that the Church supported Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in his two terms of eight years and another person that took over from him was Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola who continued the good work for another eight years.

    “The Church asked the party to give us a Christian candidate among them that is the political class, and so they gave Mr. Akinwumi Ambode, but he only served one term of four years. The Church insisted that they must give us another Christian and so came Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu whose first-year tenure is about to end and has won the nomination of his party for a second term.

    “The Church is satisfied with his performance and we have agreed to stay solidly behind him for the success required for this second term bid at the poll coming up on Saturday, 18th of March. He has performed creditably well, he deserves a second term and by the grace of God, he will have it.”

    Adeosun added: “the church will vote for him; Muslims equally promised to vote for him en-bloc; Lagos and Nigeria shall experience peace and prosperity in Jesus’ Mighty Name.”

    He appealed to the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) to play according to their set rules by getting to Polling Units on time with every necessary material needed for the hitch-free poll.

    “Security officials should beef up security in violent prone areas to ensure votes count, lives and properties are safe; The electorate should come out en-mass and vote without abuse or any form of violence.

    “Let us show the world that we are capable of organising elections peacefully even in a megacity like Lagos without riots and loss of lives. Remember that, it is just an election and another one shall be coming in four years’ time,” he said.

  • The church never prophesied on Nigeria’s next president -Ighele

    The church never prophesied on Nigeria’s next president -Ighele

    The Former Chairman of the Financial Accountability Commission of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria and General Superintendent of the Holy Spirit Mission (aka Happy Family Centre), Bishop Charles Ighele, spoke to Adeola Ogunlade on the just concluded Presidential elections, and the way forward for Nigerians.

    Before the election, a lot of prophets spoke in support of the different candidates, and one would ask, did they hear from God?

    When the issue of a Muslim/Muslim ticket came up, some pastors supported the candidates of the All-Progressives Congress (APC) and some were against his candidature. So when the church saw what was going on, some pastors began to speak less of politics.

    I will not speak for those prophets. I have my colleagues, the high and the up and coming ones, who did not prophesy, though they have supported their candidates. I don’t want to say things that will further cause a problem. I like people to learn. I have my members across the country, but I did not tell them who to vote for. I told them that they should vote for their conscience. This time, I just sat and looked. I acted like a statesman. I wanted to look at how things would pan out. The church never prophesies about who will become Nigeria’s President. 

    There are claims that the door to the Aso Villa was closed against the church for two years after the 2015 elections because of the stance of the church in 2015. Can we say Adeboye, Primate, and Archbishops of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Catholic Bishops were not allowed into Aso Rock?

    These people had access. The most prominent figure in the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, Pastor Enoch Adeboye had access not because Osinbanjo is the Vice President. Femi Adesina, the spokesperson of President Buhari glowingly praised the General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church, Pastor William Kumuyi for not criticizing President Buhari after a visit to the President.

    Nigeria has elected its new President, what should be the takeaway?

    There is a challenge to the establishment. In the 1979 election when former President Shagari won, the establishment won, and the class and power brokers won. Shagari was not as intelligent as Chief Awolowo, but he was not the candidate for the establishment. Shagari did not perform well, though he won a landslide victory in 1984, he did not perform well, the economy was bad, and the country was largely polarized. The first exodus of Nigerians abroad started about that time. A coup took place that made Buhari the Head of State. The next establishment emerged in 1999 when Former President Obasanjo took over from the Head of State, Abdusalam, and the same establishment-backed Yaradua. Former President Jonathan became President after the Law of Necessity was raised when Yar’adua was ill. The establishment backed Buhari. This is the first time that the establishment has been challenged in Nigeria’s history. Obi got into the prominence he is today because Nigeria had suffered, and they were asking themselves who would deliver them from those milking them dry and taking their paternity. Obi emerged without an organised structure. Who will have thought Labour would clear Delta State? It lacks structure. It surprises me. There is an establishment right now and whoever becomes President should be humble in victory and work for the interest of the common man.

    Does the Obedient Movement look more like a rudderless movement that may not stand the test of time considering their performance in the Presidential election?

    When you look at the history of revolutions all over the world, they hardly start with a leader, but a people becoming discontent with the system. God sent Moses to deliver the children of Israel after many years of groaning in Egypt. When people are groaning, only a few are organised. In the process, someone will show up, just like in the French revolution. It is not about the man that heads it, but as much as the groaning continues, the movement will continue. The seeming victory of the Labour Party was conceived in the womb of the ENDSAR movement

    Social media influencers have continued to latch on to the ENDSARS protest to gain unnecessary popularity, it looks like a fad.

    If 133 million Nigerians are multidimensionally poor, it is not social media, it is the reality on the ground. Three years down the line, the government has not done enough to address the grievance of Nigerians. ENDSAR was just a name. I was not part of it but I watched all that happened. I warned in 2020 that the government must do something quickly to address the yearnings of the poor. My memory goes back to 1831 when the monarchy and political elites were maltreating the people and things were tough for the peasant farmers and commoners. The people protested and it became a major issue in English history today. In 1831, N-Teller who led the protest was executed but the monarchs and elites began to introduce new measures to alleviate the difficulties of the poor. Government should mobilise both human and material resources for the development of the country.

     What is the way forward for the President-Elect?

    A big problem will come up in June, July, and August and it will test the ingenuity of the President-Elect. In this year’s budget, by May petroleum subsidies will cease. Petroleum subsidy is only in the budget until June. I don’t know why the present administration put an end to the subsidy until the expiration of this term. I think the subsidy should have been removed in January or December. That would have been honest. Deliberately or not, it is a big trap that can kill a big rat. I have told my people to wake up because the prices of food items will increase. Diesel was cheaper than petroleum until the subsidy on diesel was removed and the price went up to N800. The price of PMS will reach that level. If nothing is done, the price of things will skyrocket and the people will begin to cry against the new government. Though all parties agreed that subsidy on petroleum should be removed, we must start thinking now on the way forward. We must think beyond palliatives. Thinking about increasing workers’ salaries is not enough to cushion the effect of subsidy removal. The poor are in the millions. Garri, a staple food for the poor, is gradually getting out of the reach of the poor, the challenge is that when the subsidy on PMS is removed, garri will completely be out of the reach of the poor. When Former President Olusegun Obasanjo became President-Elect, he went for a retreat with a different thinking team on how the government would run. The celebration should stop after the March 11 elections, assemble a team now, the problem the president-elect is inheriting is far more than the problem Buhari inherited. The problem can be solved through a higher level of thinking, and great thinkers.

    What is the way forward for the church?

    The church is expected to support the new government because the Bible enjoined all to do so. When the Muslim/Muslim ticket came up, the church was angry, but the church did not want to cause political tension, so the church became silent. 

    Was it because there was a change of guard at the national level of CAN?

    No, the new President of CAN and Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria spoke loudly a few weeks after his election against the Muslim/Muslim ticket, but the Bible teaches us not to do things out of anger but wisdom. National or religious balance goes beyond Muslim votes or Christian votes. We can see that it affected APC votes. There are certain things above religion. Balance the ticket based on geography and under it is religion and not just elevating religion to the top. Though APC did that due to the exigency of the moment, the mistake should be avoided next time. 

  • ‘I started haulage with my grandpa’

    ‘I started haulage with my grandpa’

    Omotosho Olamilekan Kazeem is the CEO and founder of Naijaways Global Services Limited. In this interview with Yetunde Oladeinde, he talks about how he was inspired by his grandfather, stepping into his father’s shoes, life as a Mechanical Engineer, developing an app for the haulage sector, and more.

    TELL us about your experience in this sector as a Nigerian-Canadian entrepreneur.

    I find the market size of Nigeria is an advantage. Due to the size of the country, no innovation is too small and the people make the ride worth it. The one disadvantage though is the lack of support from the government and lack of infrastructure; especially with transport. There are good days, but a lack of infrastructure results in us losing a lot of revenue.

    How did you get into the sector?

    The haulage business is a family thing for me. It started from my grandfather to my father and now to me. I started working with my father when I was 13 and really grew to love the business and learn the ins and outs. My solution to take the business to the next level is why I am here. I believe now is the time to really take the transport sector to the next level.

    Why did you study Mechanical engineering and how has this influenced your personality?

    I’ve always been a critical thinker. When I was younger, we used to have a generator technician come and fix the generator. The next time our gen broke down I fixed it. The technician took an interest in me

    and started showing me how he would fix things. I like to solve problems; a lot of my time is spent thinking about how to solve everyday problems in the most cost-effective and efficient way.

    What are some of the challenges?

    As I briefly mentioned earlier, infrastructure is a major challenge. The rate of diesel and its price fluctuations is another one. Also, drivers’ culture and lack of training are quite a challenge. Given the educational level of the drivers, it is difficult to change their ways since they’re often quite set in them.

    Lastly, the maintenance culture of truck owners is a big challenge as well. The last two challenges are things we are working on at NAIJAWAYS because those are solutions that are within our reach as an organization. We can’t wait for the government to do all, sometimes we have to take initiative as a collective or as individuals.

    What has been the experience of stepping into your father’s shoes and managing his haulage company?

    It was a lot of pressure. My father is a well-respected figure in the industry among people who know him. So, the pressure of having to live up to his legacy was a lot. But I have and continue to learn a lot of life lessons from him. I also have a newfound appreciation and respect for him now that I am venturing into my own business.

    What are some of the things you share in common with your dad? How did he inspire you?

    I’ve known my dad to be a businessman since I was born. He’s very hard-working and dedicated to his hustle. His favorite slogans are “one day at a time and Rome was not built in a day”.

    Tell us about the app that you have developed for the sector.

    The Naijaways app is a digital market hub that connects cargo owners (Manufacturers, retailers, and private individuals) to truck owners of all sizes within reasonable proximity to their cargo. Think about something like Uber but, for trucks.

    What are some of the other innovations that you are working on?

    We have some other businesses coming up. My main focus is finding a solution to the challenges of transportation. You can have too many woods in the fire at the same time. A product is always right, what determines the success or failure of a launch is timing. You always have to ask yourself this one question; Is this the right time?

    How can we integrate technology to make things better for entrepreneurs?

    First, I believe for a business to thrive in this current time and 5G era, they need to have a presence in the digital realm. When looking at the current situation of the Naira, if we could have integrated tech through accessible POS, substantial ATM terminals, and appropriate education and awareness, these last couple of weeks would’ve gone smoother and could’ve generated a whole new revenue for Nigerians. We can integrate tech to make things better for entrepreneurs by making it accessible to everyone; even the layman.

    What are your memories of growing up?

    I wasn’t born with a silver spoon. Everything my parents became was through hard work which I was fortunate to see with my very own eyes. I remember one day when I was in primary school, I told my dad that I didn’t want to go to school while it was raining and my dad said to me in Yoruba “a child that the sun doesn’t burn or the rain doesn’t beat, it is suffering that will be his end” That is to say, the struggle is a part of life. After he said this proverb, he gave me a change of clothing to change into when I got to school. My memories growing up are of learning to brace for the storm and understanding that the storm too will pass.

    What lessons has life taught you?

    Well, life is still teaching me a whole lot. But I’ll say I’ve learned and thought about what it means to flourish as a Nigerian. I know a lot of people who would see me and wonder why I would ever return back to Nigeria. But like I’ve always believed the wealth that we are chasing will if at best, help make our kids and maybe grandkids comfortable and that is if we teach them to understand the value of hard work and contribution to society. What about our great-grandkids and the rest of our lineage? We do ourselves a disservice by only thinking of making the world a better place so that the people closest to us can benefit. Life has taught me that your vision and your legacy have to be bigger than you.

    What would you consider as the turning point in your career?

    Leaving Canada to come to Nigeria. It has always been a dream of mine to own my business. Yeah, Canada is nice but a lot of things end after your 9-5 job. I was working hard as an engineer but at a certain point I had to ask myself “is this it?” That was when I knew it was time to come back.

    Who or what do you consider the greatest influence in your life?

    My father is a great influence in my life. I’ve tried to shape my life by learning from his mistakes and also learning how to incorporate his good —- in my life. A son is a father’s mirror. My dad has done a lot of small consistent good that has helped pay forward a lot of things in his life.

  • Clerics pray for Sanwo-Olu’s second term

    Clerics pray for Sanwo-Olu’s second term

    The Lagos chapter of the Organisation of African Instituted Churches (OAIC) has prayed for the re-election of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his deputy, Dr. Olufemi Hamzat.

    They also prayed for the election of all members of the Lagos Assembly at polls slated for March 18.

    The one-day prayer summit which held online at Celestial Church of Christ, Lagos State Headquarters, Agidingbi; was organised by the political advisory committee of OAIC.

    Participants at the summit were drawn from members of the Lagos State Executives, the 57 Local Governments and Local Council Development Areas leaders, the Directorate of Women/Youth Affairs and notable Heads of Churches.

    Lagos OAIC chairman Special Apostle Julius Opasola emphasised the capacity, effectiveness and experience the Governor has demonstrated since 2019.

    Read Also : Tinubu, Sanwo Olu ‘to get huge’ votes

    According to him: “Lagos State is known for the culture of continuity of leadership, and that has helped the state a lot, especially in terms of good governance, security, and human capital development.”

    Opasola said Lagos State is a mini-country and it will be very difficult for first-timers to govern.

    He further advised all Christians in the State, especially the Aladura (white garment) Churches and other members of OAIC which include Celestial Church of Christ, The Eternal Sacred Order of The Cherubim & Seraphim (ESOCS) Church, Motailatu Church C&S Worldwide, C&S Movement Church, Christ Holy Church, Salem Church, Salvation of Life Evangelical Church (SOLEC), Gospel Baptist Church, Agbojesu C&S Church, Sacred C&S Church, among others to ensure their votes count for purposeful and dedicated leaders like Sanwo-Olu.

  • Your Victory is sure, but….

    Your Victory is sure, but….

    • Text:” ……if we ask any thing according to His will, he hears us” I John 5:14

    By Venerable Henry O. Adelegan

    One of the most spiritually heart rendering questions from believers in the world today is that, “does God still answer prayers?” Who will blame those skeptics when in actual fact a number of them have been praying without answer to their prayers; who will convince them otherwise when they have fasted and prayed and their ‘mountains‘ have refused to move. John the beloved, from our text, confirmed that God answers prayers and that He still gives Victory over circumstances and challenges of life. The Psalmist, while asserting the greatness of God said in Psalms 94:9 that, “He that planted the ear, shall He not hear? He that formed the eye, shall He not see? (Psalm 94:9). The position of the Psalmist was further buttressed in the words of Jeremiah that, “Thus says the Lord the maker thereof, the Lord that formed it, to establish it; the Lord is His name; Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show you great and mighty things, which you know not.” (Jeremiah 33:2-3). The precursor to prayers been answered, and a life of Victory this year however, is that it must be in tandem with His will. Anything outside that is a waste of time and efforts.

    Beloved in Christ, kindly be informed that your Victory at the polls or life is guaranteed but what will qualify you for it is by staying in His will. If you are out of His will or wander off His commandment, your season of prayers shall be mere noise, your days on the mountain of prayers shall be merely for excursion purposes and your season of fasting shall be bare religious practice which amounts to nothing, and not acceptable to God. The answer to such prayers shall be held down by the accuser of the brethren called the Prince of Persia until the wrongs are righted (Daniel 10:12-13).

    Who or what is this ‘Prince of Persia’? The ‘Prince of Persia’, apart from being a metaphor of the unseen, also stands for whatever is capable of not allowing believers have access to answered prayers. The ‘Prince of Persia’ that is reigning across the globe now, more that ever in history, is sin. We are in the perilous times that Paul told Timothy about, when people shall be “…. lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof…(2Timothy 3:2-5)

     Beloved in Christ, kindly be informed that the Almighty God is holy and He cannot behold iniquities (Habakkuk 1:13). The principal requirement of God before He answers prayers is the spotless state of man. God told the rulers of Sodom in Isaiah 1:15 that, “… when you spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yes, when you make many prayers, I will not hear for your hands are full of blood”. In Isaiah 59:1-2, God said further that “…..the Lord ‘s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness”.

     Dear brothers and sisters, when you pray according to the will of God, He will give you all that you asked for and spice them up with the things He believes are right, good and proper for you. In Isaiah 65:24, God said that, “…. it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear”. Besides that, because He is God, the creator of heaven and earth (Isaiah 40:28), He has capacity to “….do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think….” (Ephesians 3:20; cf 2 Chronicles 1:11-12)

    For your Victory to be a done deal during season of Lent, it is imperative of you to surrender your life to Jesus Christ, confess His Lordship with your mouth, acknowledge that He came to die for your sins, ask Him to forgive your sins (Romans 4:7,8), flee the appearances of sins, restitute your ways, separate yourself from people that influence you to sin and be a committed member of a Bible believing church. Kindly be informed dear children of God, that “….the foundation of God stands sure, having this seal, The Lord knows them that are His. And, Let every one that names the name of Christ depart from iniquity” ( 2 Timothy 2:19). Following that, you must be thankful to God in all situations of life and stop complaining (Philippians 4:6; Colossians 4:2; Hebrews 5:7). And when you pray to God, you must pray in faith without doubting (Hebrews 11:1, 6. Matt. 21:22; 1 Timothy 2:8;James 1:5-7) and avoid praying repetitively for showmanship ( Matthew 6:5-8). Quite related to that, you must check your motives for prayers and pray with the right intentions (James 4:3). This season of Lent is the time for your Victory and you are unstoppable. It has been divinely established that there is no plan of hell and there is no scheme of men that shall be able to hinder your testimonies. This is your season to celebrate and be celebrated, says the Lord of hosts, and it is settled, in the name of Jesus.

    Prayer: Oh Lord arise and deliver me from whatever is standing between me and my Victory in the name of Jesus.

  • Power belongs to God!

    Power belongs to God!

    • Text:”…..Nebuchadnezzar……was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen…….” (Daniel 4:33)

    By Venerable Henry O. Adelegan

    God is not only the Ancient of days (Daniel 7:9,13,22), He is the Almighty God (Gen. 17:1). He has all powers at His command (Psalm 62:11) and gives it to whosoever He wills (Romans 13:1). He said that, “By me kings reign, and princes decree justice. By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth” (Proverbs 8:15-16). More importantly, He has the power to install whosoever He wills as king; and at His perogative, He can remove installed kings. When the Israelites demanded for a king, He was the One who gave them Saul the son of Kish, but when Saul went against His command, the Strength of Israel didn’t look at his penitent outlook and plea to give him another chance; He rejected, removed and replaced him in a jiffy (1Samuel 15).

    King Nebuchadnezzar was a very powerful King over Babylon. He had God’s delegated powers and authorities “… over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant” (Jeremiah 1:10). One day however, King Nebuchadnezzar became self-conceited about all that God had blessed his life with and appropriated all the blessings to himself – he became so garrulous and egocentric (Daniel 4:29-31). “…….But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and his glory was taken from him” (Daniel 5:19-29) King Nebuchadnezzar was chased out of the palace like an animal because of pride but when his sense was restored, he begged God for forgiveness and was restored after many years in the forest as an animal (Daniel 4:34-37).

    It was the same with King Herod when one day, he adorned himself in royal apparel, gave an oration that made the people answer him that, “…… It is the voice of a god, and not of a man. And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost” (Acts 12:22-23). He died like a flower that was plucked in its bloom! This is a word of caution and counsel to all that have been called to positions of authority in the country following the recent election of 25th February 2023 in particular and leaders generally.

    Beloved, whatever you are, who you are, where you are and the position you occupy, they are all products of God’s grace, and surely not predicated on your works (Ephesians 2:8-9). The only sustaining grace that is available to lift up, keep you standing and never allow you go down in relevance, influence and power is humility. Jesus Christ was an example of humility. Despite being God, He humbled Himself to the gruesomely end on the Cross of Calvary. On the third day, God raised Him from the dead and rewarded Him with a name that is above every other names and that at the mention of His name every knee shall surrender – Halleluyah! (Phil. 2:6-11). It is based on this backdrop that Paul the Apostle admonished in Philippians 2:5 of the indispensability of having the same mind of humility like Jesus Christ. Brethren, if you don’t want the hand of God to be against you, kindly ascribe all glory and honor to whom it is due (God Almighty) and take off that toga of pride because it will only lead to shame (Proverbs 11:2), bring quarrels (Proverbs 13:-10), lead to destruction (Proverbs 16:18) and bring down from the lofty height (Proverbs 29:23).

    During this time of lent brethren, take stock of areas where you have been exhibiting pride, ask God for forgive you, pray for the spirit of humility, amend your ways, learn to accommodate others, extend your hand of love to all around you, live in love with everyone and pray for grace of lift up. As Jesus Christ lives, you shall be located with a testimony that will shock you and astound the world; instead of going down, you shall continue to be lifted in Jesus’ name

    Prayers: Father, deliver me from pride and clothe me with the garment of humility all the days of my life, in Jesus’ name.

  • A Big Shaking is Coming!

    A Big Shaking is Coming!

    • Text: “…… it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land” (Haggai 2:6)

    By Venerable Henry O. Adelegan

    During those days of manual black and white television sets with control switches at the front and the back, the act that brings order to the set whenever the image was unstable to get it stabilize it entails hitting the top of the television set and for voice clarity, one needed to hit it at either of the sides. Whenever such a shaking is made, order is interestingly brought into disorderliness; and the harder one hits it, the better its conformity to order – a big shaking is coming!

    From our text, the Almighty God said that in a little while, His hands will shake the entire creation. Who is this God? He is the Almighty God (Genesis 17:1). He introduced Himself as the Central Bank Governor of the world economy – He said that Gold and Silver are His (Haggai 2:8). Whenever God shakes anything, all the ripe fruits, either low, medium or high hanging, visible to human sight or covered by leaves, that are set for human consumption and necessary for human enjoyment, strength and vitality are duty bound to drop. In fact, they all drop of their own accord.  For your sake, and during this Lenten season of Mega miracles, God is going to shake all shakeables and your ripe fruits shall drop of their own accord into your hands, in the name of Jesus.

    At Philippi, which is the chief city of Macedonia, Paul and Silas were held bound and thrusted in the inner prisons with their feet fast in the stock, God caused a shaking such that “….the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed” (Acts 16:26 cf Job 9:6). When God shakes, He addresses issues of the foundation (Psalm 11:3). A foundation is that unseen but most important aspect of a structure that controls the seen. When God shakes, He brings order into disorderliness and form into formlessness (cf Genesis 1:1-3). Doors that have also hitherto been locked shall open of their own accord. What this means is that where they have told you that there is no way, God has the capacity to suspend order and make not only a way but introduce ways therefrom (Isaiah 43:19 cf Exodus 14:15-16); and where there is none to help you, the help of the helpless shall arise for you (John 5:5-9).

    When He shakes, He has promised that the desire of nations shall come, that He will restore the glory of the latter days which shall be nothing comparable to the former and that He will arrest every storm with peace (Haggai 2:7-8 cf Mark 4:35-42). His shaking will provoke the manifestation of the sons of God which the entire creation had been waiting for (Romans 8:19). His shaking will change menopause status to ‘menostart’ and the the restrictive laws and embargoes by human contraptions shall be lifted for extraordinary happenstances. Suffice to say that His shaking will bring to externalisation answers to prayers, fulfillment of divine purpose and actualisation of the essence of creation. It therefore doesn’t matter the level of your hopelessness or what your desires or prayers have been, when He shakes, manifestation shall come.

    Beloved, there is a time for everything on earth (Ecclesiates 3:1-8). Permit me to announce to you that this is the season for your Mega miracles. This is the beginning of your joy, peace, progress and testimonies. God is about to do new things in Nigeria and we are on the verge of singing new songs of triumph. The night time of weeping, that will herald a new morning is over. This season is the set time for God to shake, reposition, favor and elevate Zion (Psalm 102:13). “The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former’, says the Lord of hosts: ‘and in this place will I give peace” (Haggai 2:9). To be a partaker of the blessings of this set time, you must to surrender your life to Jesus Christ because holy things are not for dogs (Matthew 7:6). You must hand over the affairs of your life to Him and ask Him to shake the heaven, the earth and the waters for your sake. As He lives who honours His words more than His name, God shall restore your lost grounds and you shall not only celebrate but you are set to be celebrated. Nigeria shall rise again in the name of Jesus Christ.

    Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, arise in Your mighty power and shake the nations for your name to be glorified forever in the name of Jesus Christ

  • Theme: Transition from Storm to Glory

    Theme: Transition from Storm to Glory

    • Text:”…. he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side….. And there arose a great storm of wind….” ( Mk. 4:35,37)

    A storm is a very dangerous wave that has devastating tendencies. While there are natural storms, we also have spiritual storms. A natural storm originates when a low pressure system is surrounded by a high pressure system. Small areas of low pressure can form from hot air rising off hot ground. Hot air will rise, and when the hot air collides with cold air, the hot air is forced up over the colder, drier air. When the warmer air is displaced upwards, it causes surface air pressure to drop, which creates something of a vacuum effect where the two air masses meet. Cold air then rushes in to fill the area of lower air pressure, and this in turn forces more warm air upwards. This starts a cycle of cold air rushing in, pushing the warm air upwards. It is this very turbulence that causes the natural storm.

    When a storm occurs, there are displacement of organised structures; the family, home and places that have been organised suddenly become disorganised, and things are turned upside (Job 21:28, 27:21). To reduce the adverse consequences of a storm, captains of ships avoid stormy locations. When a natural storm is in sight, the passengers are instructed not to loiter, luggages are properly arranged in their compartments, breakable utensils are kept out of the reach of passengers and cargoes are jettisoned to lighten the weight of the vessel (cf Acts 27:18) among other precautionary measures.

    While the effect of a physical storm can be sighted and ameliorated, a spiritual storm is not visible to human eyes, it evolves suddenly like the experiences of the woman with the issue of blood, the great Naaman who was afflicted by leprosy and the only child of the Shunamite woman who died due to headache (Mk. 5:25-26; 2Kings 5:1-14; 2 Kings 4:18-20). The destructive capacity of a spiritual storm is colossal and devastating. The damages therefrom are beyond human imagination, they lead to injuries and destruction of properties and institutions; and even loss of lives. The spiritual storm manifests in sudden hatred among couples leading to thoughts of separation or divorce, sudden strange behaviors, a thriving business suddenly going down, perennial visits to Doctors, unexplainable loss of revenue, a thriving business outfit going down, increasing expenditure without commensurate increase in income, inability to meet financial, matrimonial and occupational demands, friends suddenly becoming enemies, hatred by superior officers etc.

    From our text, Jesus Christ informed His disciples of an important transition to the other side, a journey that was obviously targeted at freeing a great man who was destined for greatness but bound by powers of darkness (Mk. 5:1-20). On their way, a great storm arose to hinder them from getting there and possibly terminate their lives in the process but His presence surmounted the raging storm. The disciples drew the attention of the Ancient of Days to their dilemma and with a word, He rebuked the wind and it ceased instantly. Eventually, they arrived at their destination and He delivered the great man that was bound, released his destiny from bondage and he became an Evangelist in Decapolis. I have an impression in my Spirit that the current post-election political storm in Nigeria is for a short tenor. It shall simmer soon and take us to His Promised land in the name of Jesus Christ.

    Brethren, that Jesus is in your boat does not exclude you from a spiritual storm. That your are a born again Christian or a Pastor does not exclude you from the challenges of a storm. David buttressed this by saying that ” many are the afflictions of the righteous but the Lord delivers them from all” ( Psalm 34:19 cf Jn 16:33). James the brother of John was killed in a spiritual storm orchestrated by Herod Agrippa when the church was silent but when the church rose to pray, the story changed and the captors became the captives ( Acts 12).

    It therefore doesn’t matter what your experience may be today, there is a God who specialises at making ‘the storm calm, so that the waves thereof are still’ ( Psalm 107:29). He is the One that is “a refuge from the storm” (Isaiah 25:4). The Almighty God is He that “sits upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in” (Isaiah 40:22). He is your God and will never allow you to be put to shame. The present storm that you are wading through has a terminal date with Him- it cannot stop you! At His presence, the evil spirit behind the roars of the storms shall be silenced and its powers are made of no consequence.

    At this Lenten season brethren, I encourage you to build your life on the Rock (Matthew 7:24 cf Romans 9:33), allow Him into the boat of your life, surrender to Him absolutely, call on Him at all times, obey Him in all things and have faith in His power to deliver. As you continue to fast, pray and have faith in God, He would reverse every evil order and give you peace over the spiritual storms in Jesus’ name.

    •Prayer: Lord, visit our beloved country and lives at such a time, silence the gathering and raging storms, and take us to Your Promised land for us in the name of Jesus Christ.

  • We don’t control decisions of individual members – PFN scribe

    We don’t control decisions of individual members – PFN scribe

    Dr Cosmas Ilechukwu is the General Secretary of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) and General Overseer, Charismatic Renewal Ministries, Worldwide, in this interview with Adeola Ogunlade, speaks on why PFN has been non-partisan in the 2023 election, why some pastors are directing congregants on who to vote for, and how Nigeria must respond when INEC announces the result. Excerpts:

    Could you kindly tell us about your thoughts on the presidential elections?

    This election has been one that has raised a lot of concern in many people’s hearts and from the Christian point of view; it is one election that has elicited intensive prayers from across denominations. Praying fundamentally for three things: number one for us is that the elections should be peaceful without bloodshed, without anything and very free so that people can go out on their own and vote. Number two is that we are also praying for the will of God; that God’s own man that will restore Nigeria to its path to greatness should be elected to be president. That all the men with negative antecedent should not be voted again – that people who have questionable character, who have question marks on their integrity should not be voted. That men who are greedy, who are good at usurping our common wealth should not be elected. We are praying that God will give us a man with capacity; a man with compassion, a man that can unite the fragmented nation that we have today. The third facet of our prayer is that the electoral umpire, which is the INEC, will create a level playing ground for all the contestants to contest. There should not be any form of cheating or any form of manipulation of the electoral process and that everything will be done neatly and transparently. The addendum to these is a post-election petition and legal battles, that the repeat of the travesty of justice that imposed a governor on Imo State will not be repeated in this election – that the will of the people will prevail. That is what we have been praying for and that is what we expect to happen in this election.

    For a while now the PFN and CAN have taken a nonpartisan position, why are individual pastors telling congregations where and how to vote?

    The PFN does not control the opinions and decisions of individual members. As a corporate body, we have chosen to be nonpartisan; but individuals have a right to express their own franchise by making their own personal choices. For example, I’m going to vote – I won’t vote for the three of them, I will vote for one person; so, I have a preference. So, if I have a preference all the people around me in my capacity as an individual – I can air my view, and I can give my suggestions to them. But, PFN as a body and CAN as a body will not be able to endorse a particular candidate because all of these parties have members in CAN and there are people in PFN that have sympathy for different political parties, and so the best thing for us is to remain neutral. We know that every single one of us has our sympathy which will guide our voting and as a body, we cannot pontificate on that.

    The Church and some preachers have been accused of not speaking up against some decisions of the government; how true is this?

    Well, I don’t know what has happened that necessitates the pastors engaging the powers and the pastors dodging it. We have always spoken up on issues that are worthy of speaking. But, you don’t expect the pastors to be involved in every gossip in the society. When something weighty comes up, we always make a statement, and you will see the PFN by the pages of newspapers to articulate our points.

    The Supreme Court has again delayed judgment on the new Naira controversy, what is your take on this considering the socioeconomic reaction it has generated across the country?

    I don’t trust our Supreme Court. The Supreme Court has allowed itself to be so politicised that its judgment is no longer weighty. So, I am personally not interested in what their judgment is going to be. They have shown themselves to be people that can be influenced by every Dick and Harry.

    Whether we like it or not a winner must emerge in this election; what will be your word of advice to the people considering the post-election reactions especially when the election does not go in their favour?

    My advice to Nigerians is to remain calm when the election result is announced. There is no point taking up arms and destroying properties, rioting, and causing mayhem in society. Nigerians have been traumatised enough – when the election result is announced, we should just take it in good faith. And that people that lose today can win tomorrow.

    Christian faithful across the globe commenced the Lenten season on Wednesday last week; what is the significance of these 40 days fasting to the faithful?

    Lent is a period of 40 days spanning from Ash Wednesday to Good Friday during which Christians reflect on the redemptive sufferings and death of Christ. During lent Christians seek to identify with the sufferings of Christ through a lifestyle of repentance, abstinence, and prayers by the faithful.

    My admonition to Nigerian Christians is to utilise the opportunity of the Lenten period to repent of our personal and corporate sins as a people, and for God’s mercy on our nation. It is expected that devout Christians across Nigeria will use the Lenten period as a time of reflection based on the biblical teachings leading up to the death and resurrection of Christ.

    For the next six weeks in Christendom, the faithful will gather in congregations to worship, pray and reflect on the biblical accounts of the sacrifices Jesus Christ made as he wandered in the desert where he fasted 40 days and 40 nights. Lent is about sacrifice, and the significance of the period as Christians is that it offers us an opportunity through prayer, abstinence, and alms giving, to open ourselves to greater communication with God. Therefore, in depriving ourselves by abstaining from food and drink, we connect to the suffering of Christ first, in the wilderness and later on the cross where he pays the price for our sins and in this election, that the will of the people will prevail. That is what we have been praying for and that is what we expect to happen in this election.

  • Barter trade returns in Benue as naira scarcity bites harder

    Barter trade returns in Benue as naira scarcity bites harder

    • Farmers exchange raw yams, cassava, others for cooked food from vendors
    • Indigent women turned down in deals lament fate 
    • Hunger plagues families as multi-million-naira farm produce rot away

    Many homes in Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State are ravaged by hunger following their inability to sell their farm produce and earn income. The challenge stems from the naira scarcity that is plaguing the country from the poor implementation of the naira redesigning policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). Farm produce worth millions of naira are rotting away, and to survive each day, the people have returned to the  antiquated practice of trade by barter. Unfortunately, many of the people, especially women, have have had the items they have to offer in barter arrangements rejected. They are consequently ravaged by hunger and frustration, INNOCENT DURU reports

    Memunat Simon, a widow based in Odugbehon community in Agatu area of Benue State, looked miserable and dejected as she fruitlessly walked round the village market in search of someone she could give her food item in order to get some fish to cook soup for her hungry children.

    She had shouted herself hoarse from seeking the attention of anyone interested in what she had to offer.

    “Nobody has looked in my direction since morning. They are all avoiding me like a plague because all I can offer is beans,” she said in an emotion laden voice.

    “My throat has grown hoarse because I have been shouting for anybody that has fish to take my beans. Nobody seems to be interested. If it was yam or cassava, I would have seen someone to take it from me,” she said.

    Following her inability to sell her farm produce to earn income that she could use to cater for her children, Memunat agonisingly said her family has been helplessly in the face of ravaging hunger.

    Her words: “My children and I dying silently from hunger. I am a widow and I have nobody to support me.  I have no money to buy anything. I brought beans to the market but nobody bought it and nobody is willing to accept it in exchange for yam or fish. 

    “People who have fish bluntly refused to give me attention, not to talk of collecting my beans in exchange for their fish.

    “Last night, I cooked the beans and served it with soaked garri for my children to eat. We had eaten the same thing before then. 

    “I can’t continue to serve them the same thing every time. They are tired of eating beans and garri.

    “That is why I came out today to look for someone who would take my beans and give me something else. But because it is beans, nobody wants to come close to me.”

    Like many other Nigerians, the embattled widow is also suffering from the challenge of getting back all or part of the old notes she had deposited in the bank.

    She said: “I went and deposited the small quantity of old notes that I had in the bank. They have refused to give the money back to us since then.

    “Oga, you people should pity us. You people should pity us. Please pity us,” she cried, mistaking our correspondent for a government official. 

    Bose Paul, who hails from Odejo part of Agatu Local Government Area, also had a similar challenge. She had gone to the market with okro in search of someone that would be willing to give her fish in exchange. But her efforts were fruitless after combing every nook and cranny of the market. 

    She said: “I don’t have money to buy fish to make soup for my family so I brought okro to collect fish. I have money in the bank but I can’t access it. 

    “Life has never been this rough for us. People who have fish refused to collect okro in exchange. I can’t go home and  start eating okro like that. I don’t even have palm oil and other ingredients that I would need to cook soup with it.

    “If I put the okro that I have inside boiling water, will I not put oil, maggi, pepper, oil and fish to make it edible? Is it only okro I will be eating? This is reprehensible. Hunger has dried my children and I up.”

    “In the past few days,” the embattled woman  added, “we have been eating only yam. I didn’t even have ordinary palm oil and pepper to give it a better taste the children would enjoy.”

    Following the scarcity of naira notes, whih has made it difficult for people to buy goods, Bose and other women in the area have watched their farm produce rot away. “All the things that we kept  in the house to sell have all spoilt because there is nobody to buy them. People don’t have cash to buy anything.

    “As farmers, most of our produce is highly perishable and they have really been perishing. Our investments and efforts have gone down the drain. Nobody cares for us and about us.

    “Now that we have suffered all this huge losses, nobody will come and help us at the end of the day. 

    “The government doesn’t care about us. They don’t even know if we are existing.”

    She noted with despair that their predicament had been worsened by mindless attacks from herdsmen which she said had failed to abate. “The government is so insensitive to our plight that they say or do nothing about the torments we are going through at the hands of herders.

    “If you go to the farm and get caught by herders, they will beat the hell out of you and could even kill you. The problem is not abating and it seems nobody cares. 

    “We have been living at the mercy of herders all these years and now the challenge of naira scarcity has compounded our woes.

    “I can even say that our forefathers who didn’t witness civilization are better off because they were never prey for herders, and they ate whatever they wanted from their farms and not anything they saw as it is in our case now.”

    17-year-old Blessing Kilonwa, whose parents had asked to go and exchange cassava for fish, also didn’t find the exercise cheering.

    “It is an arduous task,” she said, even though she had an item that many people would eagerly accept in exchange for others.

    She said: “I have brought cassava to exchange with someone who has fish. If I don’t see anyone to exchange my cassava with, I will go back home and that means we would have to soak garri in water and drink for the day. If anybody in the house does not  want to take soaked garri, they will roast yam and eat it like that.”

    The living condition in the area, according to her, is so hard that some people, because they lack money to cook at home, would take large quantity of raw food to vendors to collect a plate of food they need to survive for the moment.

    She said: ”Some food vendors accept the raw food and give cooked food to some of the people while some insist on collecting cash. When the vendor insists on cash, you will almost weep for the person as tears would well up in their eyes.

    “You w ould see the children of such people wailing uncontrollably when their parents fail to get food for them.

    “You can’t really understand what I am saying until you witness it. The human in us has been taken away. We are suffering in the midst of abundance.”

    In a humble remark, Blessing said: “My family is not too much better than any of those people. We have all become beggars in our state which prides itself as the food basket of the nation.”

    She said her parents did not have money for fish and that “is why they sent me to come and look for someone who  would take cassava from me and give me fish.

    “The cassava that I brought is much but the fish in the market is not much. I will accept whatever quantity of fish anybody gives me in exchange for the cassava.

    “If I don’t accept it, the fish owner will walk away  and before you know it, someone  with even more quantity of cassava will agree to exchange it for the small quantity of fish.

    “We give out cassava or yam to collect rice from anybody that has and willing to exchange with us.”

    Blessing also expressed regrets about how the menace of herders has devastated their land and economy.

    She sai: “My parents are farmers but the herders have vandalised their farms and ate their yams. The incident occurred last week Sunday.

    “If the herders meet you on the farm, they will collect your phone and everything you have on you. You will be very lucky to escape unhurt.

    “We still manage to go to the farm in spite of the attacks, but we don’t stay so long like that each time we manage to go.  When we go to the farm by 6am, we must return before 9am or 10am. There is hunger in my place.”

    More residents groan 

    For Memuma Adamu, a yam farmer and seller in the neighbourhood, life in Agatu has become a shadow of itself. 

    She said: “People don’t have money to buy what they want. I want to look for someone to give me fish so that I can give yam to the person. 

    My family and I have not eaten since yesterday because we don’t have money to buy something to eat. Before yesterday, we had been roasting yam to eat, but it has become boring. The children in particular want to eat something else.

    “It has been very challenging to get someone to take my tubers of yam and give me fish. I am fagged out as you  can see from walking about in search of someone to collect my tubers of yam to give me fish.

    “If I don’t get anybody, I will have to go and roast yam again for the family to eat. It is so bad that we don’t even have money to buy palm oil to eat the yam. 

    “The action of the government is callous. They didn’t consider people like us who depend on daily income to survive.”

    The community leader, Mathew Akubo, said: “Our people are surviving on trade by barter but it is not everything that can be obtained through that.

    “People don’t accept beans, okro, pepper, tomatoes and a few others. The people bringing fish don’t like beans. They have pepper and okro in their place, so they will not accept it in a barter deal.

    “This makes those produce we have in large quantities to rot in our houses because we can neither sell them  nor exchange them for other food items.”

    In spite of his position in the community, he said he also engages in trade by barter.

    He said: “This morning, I gave out cassava to collect fish from another person.  If you give them big cassava, they may give you two fish or three, and they are usually small. If it’s okay by you, you will agree and if it is not okay for you, you leave it and keep searching for another person as I said earlier. 

    “All the things we harvested to sell in the market have all spoilt. We can only  eat  the little we can. The rest is meant for the market in order to earn income needed to attend to family needs and expansion of our farm business. But all that is not possible now because nobody has money to buy anything. We have worked and slaved for nothing.   

    “The challenge of naira scarcity is affecting us badly.  We don’t have money to buy anything. We go to the market with our cassava and exchange them with women who bring fish. We give them cassava or yam and they give us fish.

    “We don’t measure what we give.  If you put cassava or yam in a basin, they will give you fish. If you don’t like what they give to you in exchange, they will leave you and go elsewhere.  That is what we have been doing all this while to survive.”

    Like earlier responders, he said “herders are back to the business of unleashing terror on our people.  They come in large numbers from the riverine area to our side now.

    “We don’t go to farm anymore. If they catch any woman on the farm, they will rape her. If the herders are 10, they will rape the woman one after another.

    “One of our men was coming home recently and unfortunately fell into the hands of the herders.  The herders were 10  and they raped the woman in turns.

    “About a week ago, they held another woman around Odejo and took her into the bush and raped her.

    “Three days ago, one old woman from Ugbojo went to her farm. They caught her and beat her mercilessly.  They cut her with a knife on the neck and the stomach. The victim was rushed to Obagaji for treatment. The woman died yesterday (Sunday).”

    As a community, he said: “We have been reporting to security agencies but nothing has been done to stop the menace. We have soldiers at Obagaji and one other places.

    “Look at the distance from here to Obagaji. Because of the terrible state of the road, it will take you two and a half hours to get to Obagaji from here. From here to Okokolo, there is no road again.

    “The herders blocked the road. From Odugbehon to Ikovi, they have also blocked the road. We only have one  way out from Odugbehon to Osugudu. The herders have surrounded us.   We don’t have anything to do again and have nobody to assist us.”

     Corroborating the community leader’s remark, Peter Eigege, a prominent member of the area said: “The problems caused by naira scarcity have become something else here.  There is no money in our market and as you can see, people are surviving by exchanging what they have with someone who has something else to offer. 

    “Because we are producers of yam, our people mainly have yam to exchange for other things  with people from other places. People from riverine areas bring fish to our community to exchange them with tubers of yam and cassava.

    “For you to know how bad it is, our people take raw yam to restaurants to collect plates of cooked food to eat and survive. Some of the restaurant owners are surviving through the assistance of their husbands who  engage in business activities that make some quantities of cash available to them.

    “Our markets are scanty. People from other communities that used to come and do business here cannot come because they don’t have money. 

    “Trade by barter was something that our forefathers did and it went into extinction many decades ago. It is unfortunate that such antiquated practice is coming up in this modern world in a manner that is more crude than what our forebears experienced. ” 

    “What to eat has become a big problem for our people.”

    He added: “Our plight is compounded by the  menace of herders. They have been attacking, killing and vandalizing our farms at will. 

    “We are entertaining fears about coming out to vote on Saturday.  We don’t know what will happen next. We want to come out and vote but these herdsmen are our problem.

    CBN left us out of rural cash swap programme

    The troubled people of Agatu berated the Central Bank of Nigeria for leaving them out of its naira swap in rural areas programme.

    The CBN, last month launched a Cash Swap Programme in partnership with Super Agents and Deposit Money Banks, DMBs, to enable rural dwellers and those with limited access to formal financial services to exchange old  naira notes for the redesigned notes.

    Director, Financial Markets Department of the Bank, Dr. Angela Sere-Ejembi, had disclosed this when she led a team to the popular Modern Market and North Bank Market all in Makurdi to sensitise traders and their customers on the redesigned naira notes and the urgent need to return the old notes to commercial banks for new ones.

    Incidentally, the people of Agatu alleged that the programme was not extended to their area.

    Decrying the development, Hon Bawa Haruna, a notable member of the area said: “We didn’t benefit from it. We only heard that they did such in places outside this area but they never deemed it fit to come here.

    “If Agatu is left out of the programme, which rural community benefitted then? 

    “It is not too late. The CBN  should extend the programme to our community so that the burden that our people are carrying will lessen.”

    Council laments inability to get revenue from markets

    Consequent upon the inability of traders to make sales and earn income, the local council in the area said it has not been getting revenue from the traders.

    The Supervisory Councilor for Revenue, Hon Friday Anyebe, said:  “We have not been able to collect revenue from the market because there is no money in the hands of the traders. We are just patrolling the market for official purposes.

    “We don’t take food items in place of money as revenue. I will go back  to the council and give them a report of what is happening in the market.

    “The naira scarcity had crippled economic activities in our community. Our people now depend on exchange of food items to survive.”