The Nation Newspaper

Category: Sunday magazine

  • Otubu to Nollywood: Stop portraying Aladura as evil

    The General Evangelist of Motailatu Church Cherubim and Seraphim Worldwide (MCCSW), Professor Joseph Otubu, has appealed to Nollywood producers and script writers to stop painting the Aladura churches as occultic, wicked and criminally- minded.

    Though he noted some clerics have misrepresented the movement, Otubu said their practices are not limited to the Aladura Movement, stating that every denomination has its share of bad eggs.

    The gynecologist spoke last Sunday at the 50th anniversary and thanksgiving service of the church at its International Sub-Headquarters in Lekki, Lagos.

    He said although it is very easy to identify an Aladura member when he or she commits a crime, he stated that members of other denominations are culpable of greater crimes.

    He wondered: “Are the Aladura’s church members the worst of all persons in Nigeria? Are the Aladura the only people committing crimes?”

    The cleric added: “In every denomination, there are bad eggs but unfortunately our own bad eggs have been overemphasised and Nollywood should talk about sin and its repercussion in every assembly, denomination, association or religious association, not just in Aladura.”

    Praising the prayer fervour of the Aladura churches, Otubu said it is a remarkable legacy that must be sustained till the end.

    “Aladura churches have earned themselves the name because the foundation fathers of the Cherubim and Seraphim churches believed in the efficacy of prayers, God will always answer our prayers in his way, wisdom and in love.

    “I can tell you that the Aladura Church established by Orimolade is an excellent church built absolutely on the efficacy of prayer,” he stressed.

    He lamented that many churches organise prayer meetings with dirty hands and unclean hearts, expecting God whose eyes cannot behold sin to answer them.

    According to him: “If you are committing secretly or openly and have not found adequate time to repent wholly and solely as to receive God’s pardon, there is little or no hope of prayer being answered.”

    On the efficacy of prayers, he said: “Prayer is the key to opening the door to the presence of God.

    “Certain elements are required in prayer as exemplified in the classic prayer taught to the disciples in the Lord’s Prayer.”

    He stated churches must unite together as one big family to stem the tide of sin, unrighteousness and ungodly in the society.

    The National President of The Apostolic Church (TAC), Pastor Tola Odutola, also charged Nigerians to remain committed to prayers to fix the challenges facing the nation.

    “There is no hope aside from prayer and we must continue to pray. Our God will answer our prayer and will take all the problems that we have from Nigeria including the recent upsurge of insurgency,” Olutola assured.

    Dignitaries at the anniversary with the theme prayer is the key include Former Lagos Commissioner for Health, Dr. Leke Pitan; the President of Christian Association of Nigeria, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, represented by Rev Femi Asiwaju; the President of the Apostolic Church, LAWNA Territory, Pastor Tola Odutola; the head of TEKAN/ECWA bloc, Rev Emmanuel Gigawu, among others.

  • Auto magnate, Sunny Asemota, retires

    EDO-BORN auto magnate, Chief Sunny Asemota, the Chairman of Sunny Motors and Omoregie Motors, is one wealthy Nigerian whose indelible footprints in Nigeria’s auto business have remained a reference point for many decades. In the last 40 years, the revered businessman with his equally famous wife, Ireti, have also made their mark in the social circuit, a feat that has earned them a legendary status of sort. Now aging gracefully and having successfully nurtured his auto companies from infancy to multi-billion enterprises, the Benin High Chief has, in the last couple of years, found it imperative to slow down on his very intense business schedule. His companies are now being ably run by his children, Osa, Iredia and Omoregie, and you can bet they have proved to be true chips off the block.

  • Erelu Abiola Dosunmu stepping aside

    DECADES after dominating the social landscape like a colossus, woman of style, Erelu Abiola Dosunmu, may have resolved to step aside much to the displeasure of her admirers who just can’t forget in a hurry the magnetic effect she resonates at A-list parties. And contrary to side talks that Erelu is taking the back stage from the social space due to her not so good financial position, those who should know say the reason for her long absence at parties is deliberate and has nothing to do with her state of finance.

  • Okonkwo turns 69

    The Presiding Bishop of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM), Dr Mike Okonkwo, will be 69 on September 6.

    Some of the activities lined up to mark his birthday include the 15th Mike Okonkwo annual lecture with the theme: The Power of your vote- a catalyst for a stable and united Nigeria.

    The lecture holds under the chairmanship of Professor George Obiozor with Prof. Akin Oyebode as the guest speaker.

    There would be presentation of gifts to the winners of the 11th Mike Okonwko National Essay Competition for Secondary School Students at the event on September 4th.

    On Saturday August 30th, the finals of the Mike Okonkwo’s soccer tournament between Maryland United Football Club of MaryLand and Current Football Club of Gbagada takes place at Yaba College of Technology Sports ground Yaba Lagos from 12pm.

    A special thanksgiving service for the celebration is at the TREM International Headquarters, Obanikoro Anthony Oke, Gbagada Express Way, Lagos on Sunday.

  • ‘The Adams Oshiomhole you don’t know’

    ‘The Adams Oshiomhole you don’t know’

    Many Nigerians know the governor of Edo State first as a unionist, in a surprise move his daughter Winnie decided to fete and talk about him. Ebomhiana Musa writes

    FOR most locals in his native Iyamoh village, a Saturday offers an opportunity to take a break from their agrarian occupation and enjoy the thrills weekend brings. But for the visiting Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, all days are the same; insofar there is still work to be done to “take Edo to the next level”.

    So, penultimate Saturday (August 16), the visiting homeboy was in his usual elements.  Even though he was supposed to be “home for the weekend”, the Edo State Governor chose instead to go out and inspect a number of ongoing projects in the Edo North axis.  After sweating it out all day on the field; the “People’s Governor” later returned home for a shower and a deserved rest.

    But if he ever thought sunset would, as usual, be spent quietly in the midst of close family members and associates in the garden amid folksy jokes, how mistaken he was. For no sooner had the otherwise sharp-witted Edo governor stepped into the patio in the garden in a stripped T-Shirt and trousers than he came to appreciate the length of the web of “conspiracy” cleverly woven around him in the past few days, masterminded by no other than his visiting first daughter (Winnie), aided and abetted by his CSO (Chief Security Officer), Yussuf Haruna and Chief Tony Ezekiel.

       Waiting out there to receive the man popularly called “Oshio Baba” tonight was not the regular members of the “inner circle”, but a motley crowd of members of the extended family, childhood friends, political associates and a few others the “conspiratorial gang” thought mean a lot to the governor.

    The ambush

    Obviously taken aback by the sheer size of the gathering, the Comrade Governor exclaimed, “Oh my God!” his mouth wide open in bewilderment. Without addressing anyone in particular, he continued: “You guys have really made a big fool of me. Can someone tell me what’s going on and who is behind all this?”

    Instinctively, the crowd burst into a good-natured laughter at the Comrade Governor’s expense.

    Lo and behold, forward stepped petite-framed Winnie: “Daddy, I’m glad we got you flat-footed for once. It is meant to be a surprise party in your honour for being a great dad. My siblings and I agreed on this. I’m sure if I had consulted you beforehand you would not have approved of it or at best, you would have found an excuse to escape from Edo State today.”

     On hand to assist Winnie in the execution of the “coup” was her younger sister, Jane.

    To avoid the secret leaking, Winnie and other conspirators had opted to send the invite to the occasion discreetly. Those invited were tipped off barely 24 hours to the event and told to keep it secret for obvious reason.

    The short notice notwithstanding, the roll-call at Iyamoh was very impressive. From serving commissioners in the state to the Chairman of the State Revenue Service, Chief Oseni Elamah, to Nosa Meggison (who represented the “Lagos gang”), to Mr. Mujahideen Dako, the governor’s childhood friend, to Elder Nureen Etameso (a pharmacist), who spoke on behalf of the extended Oshiomhole clan.

    Indeed, it turned out a remarkable  evening of sweet speeches and outpouring of emotions spiced with choice wine and the best of African cuisine.

    The select guests took turn to eulogise the Comrade for his exemplary sacrifice, giving the children the best in terms of education and instilling in them good values. Today, they are the pride of the family and the society.

    In her welcome address, 33-year-old Winnie (Mrs. Owumi) said it all: “Daddy, this is just a token to appreciate all you have done for us your children. Right from our childhood, you taught us to always remember the daughter and son of whom we are. Your total commitment to labour activism over the years meant you were never at home all the time. But the moments you spent with us were always fantastic. You taught us to believe in ourselves, to believe what will last is that which we labour for, not what we inherited.”

    And then Winnie’s shocker: “Dad, I recall that despite being your favourite child when I was growing up, you still beat with cane whenever I did  anything naughty. Whatever I am today or whatever modest academic achievement I claim today, I owe it to the solid home training you and our late mom gave us.”

    Indeed, the riveting story of “Governor Oshiomhole, the good father” could in a way also be taken as a report on “Winnie, the usual prodigy”. From childhood, Winnie had always showed uncommon brilliance. Even though she came tops in the entrance examination to the Air Force Girls Secondary School, Jos in 1992, she was denied admission because of “quota system”. The four slots allocated to “educationally advantaged” Edo State were ceded to the scions of the high and the mighty in Edo State then. She ended up attending Army Children School in Kaduna. When she finally wrote her WAEC exams six years later, she made distinctions in all subjects as well.

    She later gained admission to the University of Ibadan to study medicine. She only spent one academic session there before transferring to Lewis University, United States where she graduated in 2001 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology. According to the school website, Winnie was a star student who won multiple awards for her prodigious brains. These include Illinois Lincoln Laureate Award, the Father Aquinas Award, the President’s Award for Student Volunteerism, the Scholar’s Academy Athena Award for Excellence in Student Writing and a Biology Department Award.

    Recalling her graduation day at Lewis University, the proud dad said: “When Winnie’s name was announced as overall best graduating student, I really felt like a giant even though I have a small frame.”

    Her exceptional academic performance earned a place at the prestigious Stanford University, United States where she later bagged a Doctor of Medicine degree in June 2006. Thereafter, she undertook general surgery residency, after which she decided to specialise in Urology with a fellowship/sub-specialisation in Paediatric Urology.

    That night, amid the chirping of birds on the trees surrounding the garden and gurgling of a nearby stream, speaker after speaker poured encomiums on Winnie for making the family and indeed Nigeria proud in faraway USA.

    The climax was when the Comrade Governor himself took the floor to give a testimony. With thick-drawn breath of emotion, he said his only regret was that his wife and mother of Winnie was not alive to witness an occasion like this. A minute silence was earlier observed in her honour.

    He continued: “Winnie has always made me proud right from her childhood. I am proud of her accomplishments in her chosen career. For me, what Winnie has also demonstrated is that you don’t favour or disfavour a child based on sex. As parents, we should all endeavour to give the girl child the same treatment we give the male child.”

    He described her as exceptionally forthright and humble: “Even today, she doesn’t go about throwing her weight around as a governor’s daughter unlike what the average lady in her shoes would do.

    “In fact, tonight I feel really guilty that Winnie has to throw a party for me when it should have been me throwing a party to celebrate her academic accomplishments.  But like they say, better be late than never. Tonight, I want to assure Winnie and her co-conspirators that I shall retaliate by staging my own party in her honour for the pride she has brought the Oshiomhole family.”

    Indeed, it was a celebration of family values.

  • Breaking invisible barriers by God’s word!

    Every child of God is redeemed a star, a pacesetter, a role model and a trailblazer (Revelations 22:16; John 17:18). Also, every child of God is a spiritual tree. Not just a tree, but a cedar tree, the tallest amongst trees, a palm tree, ever flourishing, no dry season (Psalm 92:12; Isaiah 61:3).

    But, if the picture of our destiny is so enviable and glorious, why are many of us still living a bleak and colourless life? The answer is: Invisible barriers. God’s Word says: For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries (1 Corinthians 16:9).

    This scripture establishes that on the path to the realization of our glorious destinies are invisible barriers. This is why many believers today are struggling. They work very hard, but nothing seems to be working because there are invisible forces resisting their progress (Zechariah 1:17-21).

    What, then, must we do to see invisible barriers crumble?

    Remain in love with God: The love of God is our greatest security and guarantee for unstoppable advancement in the race of life (1 John 4:16-17). When we are truly in love, we dwell in God and God dwells in us. Therefore, whatever gives way to God must give way to us. David was in love with God, so he was not intimidated by the size of Goliath. This is because perfect love casts out fear (Psalm 24:7-10; 1 Samuel 17:43-50; 1 John 4:18).

    Furthermore, the three Hebrew boys were diehard lovers of God and they walked through the fiery furnace unhurt. Also, Daniel, a diehard lover of God could not be devoured by the lions. Indeed, when we are in love, all invisible barriers are crushed (Daniel 3:14-25; 6:16-20).

    Keep trusting God: Trusting God commits His integrity to clear off invisible barriers on our path. This was proven in the lives of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, when their faith graduated into trust, God showed up.

    Years ago, when my wife’s health was challenged, I told God, “That You heal her is not what makes You God, whether You heal her or not, You are still my God forever.” This is because faith believes that God can and God will do it, while trust means, even if God does not, it doesn’t change His position.

    Also, Job said: Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him (Job 13:15). People that overcome barriers do not just believe God, they trust Him (Ephesians 6:16).

    Be planted in God’s house: Zion is a spiritual service station, where we fellowship with heavenly bodies. Much more importantly, whenever we are in church, which is the City of Refuge, we come under the spiritual Blood of sprinkling that makes us untouchable entities (Obadiah 17; Psalm 91:1, 6-7;Hebrews 12:22-24).

    Remain steadfast in your service: When we serve God, barriers on our path crumble. Serving God entitles us to a triumphant ride in life, where barriers can’t stand our way. When the Israelites entered into a covenant to serve God, He cleared all the barriers on their path and gave them rest roundabout (2 Chronicles 15:12-15; Luke 10:17-19).

    How do we serve God?

    • Through Prayer Stewardship: This is serving God with prayer and fasting like Anna did (Luke 2:37). In prayer stewardship, we pray for the growth, expansion and wellbeing of the church and her members. Also, we pray that the Lord of the harvest brings in bountiful harvest to His church, and that every believer be perfected in their walk with God (Colossians 4:12; Ephesians 6:18).
    • Through Soul-winning: This is reaching out to lost souls for their salvation and establishment in the Kingdom (John 15:16).
    • Through the Church Service Units: This implies serving the people of God to make their stay in church comfortable. Understand that God spares and delivers those who serve Him (Malachi 3:17-18).

    In conclusion, I have also discovered that if you really love God, you will trust Him. If you really trust Him, you will serve Him and when you serve Him, He will honour you. It is your turn to be honoured! May we all receive grace to take full responsibility to see all the invisible barriers on the path of our destiny crushed!

    Friend, the power to see invisible barriers crumble, is for those born again. You get born again by confessing your sins and accepting Jesus as your Saviour and Lord. If you are set for this, please say this prayer: “Lord Jesus, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me of my sins. Today, I accept You as my Lord and Saviour. Now, I know I am born again!”

    Every exploit in life is a product of knowledge. For further reading, you can get my books: The Force Of Freedom, Walking In Dominion and Maximize Destiny.

    I invite you to come and fellowship with us at the Faith Tabernacle, Canaan Land, Ota, the covenant home of Winners. We have four services on Sundays, holding at 6:00 a.m., 7:50 a.m., 9:40 a.m. and 11.30 a.m. respectively.

    I know this teaching has blessed you. Write and share your testimony with me through: Faith Tabernacle, Canaan Land, Ota, P.M.B. 21688, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria; or call 7747546-8; or E-mail: feedback@lfcww.org

  • Fulfill Christ’s mandate, cleric tasks Knights

    Christians have been advised to take the gospel mandate more seriously in line with the injunction of Christ.

    This was the focal point at a seminar of the Knights of the Order of Saint Mulumba Lagos Metropolitan recently.

    The theme of the seminar was Catholic Knighthood: A call to witness to Jesus.

    The seminar master, Rev. Father Anthony Okoro, in his reminded the Knights that Jesus gave his disciples a missionary mandate- to go and make disciples of all nations as recorded in Matthew 28:19 before his ascension.

    The cleric identified the mandate as “a mission to bear witness to him (Jesus) and his good news.”

    The same mission, he stated, is also the mission of all Catholic faithful, to stand for Jesus.

    He defined a witness as one who has a first-hand experience of an event and is ready to testify by giving a detail account of the event.

    According to the Priest, becoming witnesses involves three basic stages of being called, being a disciple and becoming an apostle.

    The cleric said: “There is a primary call and a secondary call. Being a member of Knights of St. Mulumba is a secondary call; a call within a call. It is a specific call for a specific mission.”

    He added: “The second stage is the period of being a disciple, the stage of learning. It is a period of catechetical instructions. It is a time to learn, to study, to have knowledge of the faith and of the mission, a period to equip ourselves for the mission while the third stage is being an apostle, one who is sent out to preach, to witness to the life of Christ.”

    Charging the Knights to always fight and stand for the truth, he said: “St Mulumba lived and died for the truth, we cannot call him our founder and not fight and stand for the truth.

    “The history of knights in the church was that of total loyalty to the church and complete defense of the truth. For years, it was physical defense but now a defense of the faith.”

    He identified Christian marriage as a key component of Catholic faith that is in danger of going into extinction in terms of rationalisation postulated by secular humanists, legislation from government among others.

    Other key components of Catholic faith under threat, according to him, include human family and its core values, worldliness and materialism, legalization of unorthodox practices such as gays and lesbians, triumph of social evil and political ills.

    He lamented that the family institution is seriously endangered with its sacred nature being down played by policies that are injurious to family values.

    Such policies range from extra working hours for young couples, shortened or removal of maternity leave, which indirectly dissuade couples from procreation, lack of family prayers and meals.

    On worldliness and materialism, Okoro said: “The rate at which men and women go after wealth is alarming. The drive for wealth is deeply rooted in us to the extent that we can sacrifice anything such as morality, values and integrity in order to acquire wealth.”

    He said that legalisation of practices such as gays and lesbians calls for sober reflection as it is a calculated attempt to redefine traditional truth such as marriage and sexual orientation.

  • Gbenro Ajibade, Osas Ighodaro to wed next year

    Gbenro Ajibade, Osas Ighodaro to wed next year

    IN the last few days, the social media has been buzzing with the story of Tinsel star, Gbenro Ajibade proposing to his lover, Osas Ighodaro, who also features on the popular television soap. All things being equal, the lovebirds will be tying the knots sometime next year, even as sources close to the lovely couple revealed that they have not decided on the actual date to formally become one.

  • My dreams for Cross River, by Gershom Bassey

    My dreams for Cross River, by Gershom Bassey

    Gershom Bassey belongs to the troika in Cross River State that is believed to hold the ace politically. In 1998 the three came together and decided on the future of the state. The other two Donald Duke and Senator Liyel Imoke have been governors of the state. Bassey, the last man standing, is being speculated to be nursing the ambition to step in, to complete the circle. He is, however, from the same senatorial district with Duke. The expectation is that since the PDP in the state has zoned the seat to the northern part of Cross River, Bassey is automatically out. He  spoke with some journalists, Nicholas Kalu was there. Excerpts:

    YOU belong to the group called ‘the three musketeers’ in Cross River State. Talk to us about this group

     I think the three wise-men tag or the three musketeers tag is a name that evolved from the populace. It wasn’t a name that we gave ourselves. I think it is a name that a lot of our well wishers gave to us, so really I don’t know how it came about but I do know that former Governor Donald Donald, Governor Liyel Imoke and myself in the early years around 1995 and 1996 had started a lot of discussions on Cross River State and essentially we had talked about the direction we want to go as a state. I think it was from those discussions and series of meetings that we had that a lot of ideas for Cross River State came about.  Of course by that time we had no political power. We were just talking as idealistic young men and I think it was from there that God blessed our endeavours and our thinking, so he made it possible for us to achieve political power and try to implement some of those ideas that we had as young men. So talking about the whole concept of the three of us, that is really how we started.

    How did the decision for you people to come together come about?

    We have all been friends for some time. I know Donald (Duke) very well because we grew up together, attended primary school together, secondary school together and Liyel (Imoke), I knew in the University and so on. All of us had come under the tutelage of Clement Ebri who was governor of Cross River State in 1991 and Liyel contested for the senate and won, Donald was commissioner under Clement and I was one of Clement’s major political allies in 1991 when he contested for governorship. So all of us had come under the tutelage of Clement Ebri and I think that that is when we started to understand that we had similar political ideology and that was how our political friendship developed.

    And part of the resolve was that each of you will be governor of the state?

     No. we had ideas for the state on how we wanted our state to develop. As young men we thought that under the military, the state was not really going in the direction that was best for our state. It was more of a think-tank time but the quest for political power came later.

     What have the three of you been discussing about the future of Cross River State, at least recently?

    I know that I have discussed with his Excellency, the governor, I have discussed with the former governor but it’s been a few months now since the three of us sat together to discuss the future of Cross River State. But from our social interactions, we don’t have to talk too much because I think all of us are on the same page. Our aspiration for our state is very clear, we need to take our state to the next level because since 1999, successive governments, and when I say successive governments I mean Donald Duke in his first and second term, Imoke in his first and second term- successive governments have done better than previous governments and what we all want is for us to continue doing well.

    Have you heard people say that power is not likely to go up north in 2015?

    People will always speculate but we are quite serious. We don’t play selfish politics, we have always done the politics of the collective and if anybody should ask me how we have been able to continue in politics and survive to me, I think the key has been that we play the politics of collective and not politics of self. We think this is the best thing for the collective, we are not playing games, we are actually saying the truth. To me I personally think that we have said it and the proof of the pudding would be in the eating, so there is nothing we can do than to wait and see.

    Most people seem to believe that you are likely to take over from Governor Imoke?

    The proof of the pudding will be in the eating. The issues has been said, the issues has been addressed, the governor has addressed them, the PDP caucus in Cross River has addressed those issues and there is nothing else we can say except to wait and see.See what?

    We have told you that the caucus has said it; the governor has said it and I think he said it on his birthday, all these things have been said and I don’t want to keep flogging this issue. I always tell people that these rumours are going to persist until we swear in this our governor from the north.

    But why is this suspicion so strong?

    Maybe they think I am such a nice guy

    I think that there is something that might have happened which we do not know but you know. Tell us

    I don’t know anything that has happened except that we do not play the politics of self, we play the politics of the collective.

    At what point will you be willing to present yourself for elective position?

    I always said that I will do anything that the collective says I should do, provided it is in the best interest of the collective

    The governor, Senator Liyel Imoke has said severally that power is moving to the northern part of the state this time. Is that right?

    It is not the governor that said power is going to the north. It is the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) caucus and I am a member of the caucus. So, all of us said that power should go to the north or that the north should be given a chance to produce a governor. It is a collective decision. I don’t think I have declared for even the seat of councillor. Cleary, I have not declared for anything.

     So why have you decided to contest?

     I agree that there are a number of people who have come to urge me to come out and contest one position or the other; whether governorship or senate, but I have not declared. I am a complete team player and if we as a political family have said that look, let the north have a shot at this thing, then we have to stand by that collective decision.

     That means you are not contesting the governorship?

    What I am saying is that let the north have a shot at the governorship.

     There is an agreement that the north should be given the chance and you are part of that agreement?

     Please you need to hear me out .What I am saying is that we as a caucus of the PDP in the state met and decided that we should zone the governorship to the north just to give the north a sense of belonging. They should be allowed to have a shot at the governorship and I was part of that caucus that took that decision, so I stand by that decision.

    In other words, you are not going to contest the 2015 governorship election?

    No one knows what is going to happen in 2015. We don’t know. So what I can say is that definitely, I stand by the decision of the PDP caucus.

     What if somebody from the southern part of the state wants to contest, will you support the person?

     If the person is contesting from the PDP as of today, no I won’t support him. We want a candidate from the north. Definitely, as of today, I will support a candidate from the north. Not from the central and not from the south.

    What future do you see for Cross River State?

    I see a very bright future. I am confident that Cross River State will have a bright future ahead.

    Do you see someone from the northern part of Cross River becoming the governor in 2015?

    Yes, why not. They have capacity like any other part of the state so why can’t they be governor of Cross River.

    Is it also possible that someone from the southern part of the state can become governor in 2015?

    Yes, it is possible. You never know how things happen. Anything is possible. Even somebody from the Central can be governor in 2015 but I also see that we in the PDP are rooting for a governor from the north

    These your posters and stickers I have seen everywhere, where are they coming from?

    They are coming from supporters. I have played politics in this state for a long time. I am a founding member and convener of the PDP in the state and over the years, you gather people who have confidence and believe in what you have to offer and it is those people who have come out to urge me to run for one office or the other.

    Left for you alone which office would have loved to go for?

    The way we have played our politics, I am not sure that any of us has had ambition for ourselves. It is not about personal ambition, it has always been about a group ambition. That is the way we had played our politics and if the group has an ambition to be in a position to implement some ideas in Cross River State, then we now say to ourselves who is the best person to lead this change of power? In the case of 1999, it was Donald that we thought was supposed to lead the change and in 2007 we thought it was Liyel that is the best person to lead the change but it wasn’t that they themselves came and said they wanted to be governor.  No. We said come and go and be governor. That is the way we have operated as a group. Essien Ayi is a good example. We said to him come and go to the House of Representatives and even Victor Ndoma-Egba, we told him to come and go to senate so a lot of the time our family takes decisions for us.

    So when you now go back to this family and they tell you to go and contest as governor, what will be your response?

    I will say you are contradicting yourself because you have zoned it already.

    How will this family select a successor to Imoke?

    The party guidelines are clear. First of all, you must have the basic class and capacity to be governor and that involves certain things. You must have the ability to carry the three senatorial districts along. What are the positions the person has held before? Is he popular to carry the three senatorial districts along? As we all know, PDP is not the only party in this country. There are two big parties in the country now. The PDP cannot operate in isolation. We must be conscious of what the other parties are going to come up with.

    In 2015, do you agree that it is not going to be a tea-party for the PDP in Cross River State and what will you say is your own agenda for the state?

    My personal agenda for this state is for this state to be the most prosperous in Nigeria and I know that by the grace of God we are going to get there.

  • ‘I was bedridden for 15 years’

    ‘I was bedridden for 15 years’

    For 15 years Dr. (Mrs)   Emosun- Ige was bedridden  in the United  Kingdom until  she got healed miraculously.  Taiwo Abiodun reports

    AS she mounted the pulpit and held the microphone, she suddenly stood  still and then kept quiet , and dumbfounded for about five minutes.Later she started pacing up and down and then gave a loud cry of ‘ shout Hallelujah’ .In a loud response the congregation gave the loud shout as the church building shook to its foundation . She  again walked up and down , then stretched out her hands and legs as if  doing physical exercise, she then declared “I  am doing this to show you how God has been kind to me she  bellowed.This was at an event -International Women Ministers Organisation( IWMO) Ogun State Chapter , Abeokuta .recently.

    With tears  of joy, Dr.( Mrs) Olubunmi  Emosun -Ige stated that  life could  have still been unbearable for her if she still refused to listen to God’s command .She  said that her stubbornness  and refusal to not quickly do what God instructed her to do was why she  could not  not quickly regain  her  good health as she was afflicted with sickness that made her paralysed for years.” I saw hell, I did not obey Him.But when I took to His words and instruction I was then healed.Now , I am hale and hearty and He is going to do more” , she roared, while a deafening ‘amen’ followed.

    Emosun -Ige said ” I had been  in the United kingdom  since 1986  working and assisting people and doing all kinds of activities  then God  revealed to me that I should go and establish a Ministry in Nigeria  and be assisting the needy but I did not listen , later I was struck with an illness and I became paralysed and on wheelchair for 15 years”

    She said she was bitter and traumatised when she saw her condition ” I could not believe that this was me who was jumping from one place to another , who was energetic , jovial and strong .I read my Bible but was in excruciating pains. I thought death was coming. I thought of my children and my husband and I became helpless. I  visited hospitals , did a lot of medical tests, Infact, I was been pushed in my wheelchair about. I was helpless, no hope.”

    Asked  how she got healed , the woman, during the interview, said ” God asked me to leave the United Kingdom and go to Ede  in Osun State  to receive my healing. By  then I was  very,  very sick,  some of the medical doctors called the sickness that weighed me down multiple arthritis  others  called it all kinds of  twisting medical terms but I started hearing God’s call and God said if I did not come to Him he would  make me suffer. God then instructed me to go to the Christ Apostolic Church , Ede  in Osun  State in Nigeria where I would be healed.Again, I looked confused, as different thoughts flooded my mind ” Will I  now will leave my family behind in Great Britain and come to Nigeria?. Different thoughts, different thoughts, the more I resisted the more my mind would tell me to go. But I later obeyed Him.”

    Emosun -Ige said she was always being pushed in her wheelchair into the aircraft all through, until she obeyed and landed in Nigeria and went to Ede.  She said “After several days in Ede I was able to stand on my feet” as she said this, the congregation  again shouted Hallelujah again.Some of the members of the church were  shedding  tears of joy as she advised them all  to turn to God who is the greatest healer and to obey His command to avoid His trouble.

    She and again looked round  to continue the story , ” I was bedridden for 15 years and was being pushed in a wheelchair into the aircraft whenever  I was traveling, It was  a terrible situation  .Later in the year 2001  I came to Ede and spent some days  there and lo and behold,  I regained my health and was healed”.

    Asked whether  it could be faith, she declared ” Yes, it is. It is not by accident that I came here , I have to tell you that I have not come here to preach denomination but salvation , I want you to learn from my own personal experience” , she said.

    The woman, who is from Ikoto in Ijebu- Ode, said she became a Minister  of God in  1995 and has been moving from one church to another and from town to town preaching the gospel.” I  am currently based in  Akure but since God had asked me to be preaching the gospel I have no choice than to be doing that. I came from Akure to Ilesha  , and I have been going to several towns and I have to go to other places to obey  what God asked me to do”

    Asked whether she would go back to the United Kingdom, the woman quickly responded in the affirmative, ” Yes, I will go back to the United Nations pack my things in order and come down to the country and settle down here to be doing God’s  work. He healed me , and asked me to come and be assisting the women , widows and the low-spirited people”.

    She again repeated that, “I had been in UK since 1986.I worked as a social worker and was doing well until I started going from one hospital to another. I cannot quantify the amount of drugs I have taken in my life  and if I were to also quantify how much I should have spent only God knows, but since I had all my papers, my medication was free’ she said.

    Emosun-Ige added “God spoke to me that He needed me in His  Ministry , but I did not listen to Him and I became unwell and was on wheel chair .”

    Asked how could one discern miracles from God and Devil as some believe the devil too performs miracles, she nodded her head and said ‘ yes, devil too performs miracles but there is a difference and you will know it whether it is from the Devil and you will also know if it is from God. You shall know the truth and the truth will set you free.”

    She however, confessed that she still experiences pains on his arm, neck, leg ‘ I can tell you categorically that I have pains  in my shoulders, legs , neck but no more bedridden. It is a miracle”.