The Nation Newspaper

Category: Sunday magazine

  • Okada riders, police clash set community on fire

    Okada riders, police clash set community on fire

    Residents of Oke Afa in Ejigbo axis of Lagos are now under siege as okada riders and law enforcement agents bicker over right of way, reports Ibrahim Apekhade Yusuf

    FOR residents of Oke-Afa, an uptown district in Ejigbo Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Lagos, the relative peace hitherto enjoyed by all and sundry in the neighbourhood has disappeared.

    Reason: after a week violent riots by commercial motorcycle riders, popularly known as Okada riders, allegedly believed to be Chadians, resulting in hours of gun battle between policemen and motorcyclists, residents of the area now live in perpetual fear.According to an eyewitness, many of the rioters were not Hausa because he is fluent in the language but what he heard the riders, in their hundreds speaking was not Hausa language. “They must be Chadians who took to the streets. They, in a violent rage, resisted the police and destroyed their vehicles. The police called for reinforcement and that was when the shooting spree began with the arrival of two police vans,” he said.

    Battle of wits

    After more than three hours, the combined police team was resisted and they retreated from the scene. Thereafter, the band of okada riders took over the whole stretch of the road in exuberant jubilation at repelling the policemen when another incident led to another shooting spree.

    While the hostility lasted, the road had been shut down by the protesters, preventing motorists from plying it both from the Ejigbo and Ajao ends, until a resident leaving in the area dared the odds and ventured out. Unfortunately, he ran into a mob that were still chanting victory songs, in the melee that ensued he knocked down one of them.

    He was immediately pounced on by the mob, unleashing mayhem on the young man, who broke away through the help of onlookers, but not without serious life-threatening injuries. He was pursued and the rioters attacked the property where the man escaped to in search of refuge. The young man in turn brought out his father’s Dane gun and started shooting at his pursuers, which left three people injured.

    This incensed the mob, who began to destroy everything in sight, including three vehicles damaged beyond recognition. They broke the main entrance, took down doors leading to different apartments in search of the driver, looted valuables and threatened to kill the young man until the eventual arrival of Ejigbo Divisional Police Officer (DPO) and some of his men, who whisked the driver away.

    While they were leaving, the mob continued to throw stones and other dangerous object towards the vehicle, leaving one policeman seriously injured. Not satisfied, the mob returned to the property and continued with their threat to burn down the house when members of Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) intervened to broker a truce and calm frayed nerves.

    Since Tuesday’s incident, it has been brazen acts of impunity displayed by the operators of motorcycles and tricycles. With the gloves off, residents have since been living with fear while such tendencies such as parking on the bridge and trading on the roads leading to the bridge have gone unchallenged.

    An occupant of the house that was under siege, Mr. John Odi, said he has never witnessed such barefaced resistance to armed men in his life. “I have always believed a man’s resistance is weakened when he is confronting a gun but what I saw last week is difficult to explain.

    “Some youths, majorly from the north, were raising all manner of weapons, planks, iron, stones and whatever they could lay their hands on to challenge policemen who were firing gunshots to discard the protesters. But the more they were firing, the more the boys were getting agitated. I went back in to avoid being hit by a stray bullet when five minutes later I saw my landlord’s son throwing stones back into the crowd.

    “We had to lock ourselves inside the toilet and we heard gunshots for more than two hours. They entered the compound and started smashing everything in sight. The cars parked in the compound, including mine were completely destroyed.”

    Another occupant told The Nation that his children are yet to recover from the trauma of the incident. “My children have been extremely traumatised. Each day, they beg me to move them out of the house and since last week, I have been taking them with me to the office, as they can’t stand being left at home. I am seriously considering relocating from this area,” he said.

    To forestall the crisis, the community has since sent a strong appeal to Governor Babatunde Fashola and the Commissioner of Police, Umar Manko, to rescue them from the menace of okada riders and street traders at the January 27 Bridge linking Ejigbo to Ajao Estate.

    Okada menace

    In a joint statement by several Community Development Associations (CDAs), which included Ilamose CDA, Peace Estate CDA, January 27 CDA, Ilamose Canal CDA and Oriade CDA, they called on the state government to intervene in regulating the activities of the commercial motorcycle riders in the area.

    “We appreciate and understand that some commercial motorcycle operators are genuine in their task to be responsible people, but we want to be able to identify them and also limit their numbers for ease of operation and identification. We also want to see visible government intervention through the ministry of transportation in the operation of these operators who have converted our streets, drive ways, properties into bus parks, okada parks, keke parks and constituting serious nuisance value and security risk to our lives and properties,” the statement said.

    Apparently discomfited that about 95 per cent of the commercial motorcycles operating in Oke-Afa and adjoining environs hardly have requisite vehicle licences and permits, and as such can be easy tool for criminal activities, the CDAs would rather serious action is taken to stop the illegal street market activities, which is causing traffic gridlock on the newly commissioned bridge.

    “Also, there is a clear threat to the upsurge of the canal, which will ultimately threaten properties along the canal through the indiscriminate dumping of waste by the traders. We will appreciate if a team of Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) taskforce can carry out a holistic removal of these actors. We suspect the shanty houses at the bank of the canal by Aarester School harbour men of the underworld and their weapons. A visit to this place will reveal serious criminal activities.”

    Besides, the distraught residents are also perturbed that so many businesses thrive on the bridge daily as petty traders see the location as a hub due to the influx of human and vehicular traffic, to the detriment of commuters and would want authorities to put an end to the nuisance being constituted by these set of traders.

    Contacted, the Lagos State Police Command spokesman, Mr. Lelma Kolle said investigation was ongoing.

  • Goddess that eats fire

    Goddess that eats fire

    There is a mysterious tree in Ijebu – Ode that rain does not touch when it falls, and a sacred room where fire is served as food to a goddess, Obinrin Ojowu. Taiwo Abiodun reports.

    Standing majestically at the frontage of the bungalow of Olowa Iberu compound in Odo Esa, Ijebu -Ode is a firmly rooted huge and tall  tree the residents claim has been there for hundreds of years. Its trunk is wrapped with a white cloth ( which had turned brown , no thanks to the weather that had beaten it ) while a carcass of a dried dog is hung on it, dangling like  pendulum .The tree is revered and feared and sacrifices are offered to it . Its custodian, High Chief Rasaq Adeneye Oshimodi , the Olowa Iberu of Ijebu land, told this reporter: “What amazes the natives and non-natives is that when it rains, the rain does not fall on the leaves.  Not only this, when the trunk and taproots dry off, the leaves will remain fresh and green and will not wither. It is the same thing when the leaves wither and dry off. The trunks and tap roots become fresh and strong. Welcome to Olowa Iberu’s compound in Ijebu -Ode , a town noted to be rich in culture.

    According to Olowa Iberu, there are three notable and important palaces in Ijebu Ode, and these are  Awujale, Lisa and Olowa palaces.

    According to the Olowa Iberu of Ijebuland, “The tree has been there for over 500 years. You cannot mention Ijebu -Ode without mentioning this tree. It was a tiny staff planted here by our forefathers  years ago that eventually metamorphosed to this big tree standing here till date. It is a mysterious tree that must not be cut down.”

    Olowa Iberu affirmed the spiritual power behind the tree, saying, “No one has ever tried to cut it. In fact, it is worshipped along with so many things .I am the spiritual leader here who oversee all these things and know when and how to offer sacrifices to all these. I ascended the Olowa throne early last year when the former one died.” He continued, “A female dog is used for the sacrifice, while its internal organs are clinically removed. When all the blood has dried up, it is then hung on the tree. The dog’s blood must not touch the tree. It is forbidden.”

    Mysterious rooms

    In one of the Olowa Iberu’s rooms is a sacred room where they ‘offer’ fire as sacrifice to the Obinrin Ojowu (Jealous Goddess). According to Olowa, many rooms there are forbidden to be entered into especially except the initiated ones. He said, “There is a room where we make firewood. No one enters it. And if you take the picture, your camera could crack and the picture will not show. There is a room where we keep the firewood which must not be entered by a woman, while special leather drums here are forbidden to be beaten by just anybody.”

    He continued, “The goddess here does not eat food or animal but eats fire. In that room, we burn firewood to heat the big basket that contains some strange things in the basket which is placed on the bamboo racks here every nine days. The fire from the burning of the firewood and the heat serve as the goddess’ food. The goddess does not eat anything but fire. We prepare firewood in the sacred room to burn or heat the basket every nine days and it burns continually for five or six days. The fire must not quench.”

    Asked what would happen if there is no money to buy firewood or if the firewood are exhausted within the nine days’ ritual or if the ritual is missed and not observed, the Olowa Iberu and his visitor who is an indigene screamed as they both stated, “It is forbidden, we dare not! We must not miss it.God forbid! If we miss it, there will be calamity in the town.”

    As the reporter peeped into the room, he could see a basket placed on a bamboo rack. The bamboo rack had turned brown – no thanks to the fire and fumes it had consumed. The Olowa Iberu said, “We set firewood and burn them under the bamboo rack but the bamboo and the basket are never burnt as they only turn brown. I know you will be surprised but that is the mysterious power of the goddess , Obinrin Ojowu.”

    Forbidden drum

    The Olowa Iberu said further, “One must not beat the traditional drum in the compound and no woman should enter the room where the drum is brought out. No woman will ever enter this place, it is forbidden. We don’t just beat the drum anyhow, it has an occasion for it.”

    Olowa Iberu himself

    Dressed in a traditional wear with beads dangling on his neck, Olowa Iberu’s plaited hair made him look like a woman. His blood-shot eyes were frightening. As he spoke, his eyes rolled from one side to another as if possessed by the spirit of the goddess. He said, “As the chief custodian, I must not see a dead body. I must not eat turkey or any bird. I must not kill or eat snake. Even if the snake crawls into our living room we will send it away instead of killing it. Not only this, I must not kill cat or eat an egg.”

    According to Olowa Iberu, the Obinrin Ojowu festival is held every March. He spoke about the rules the Olowa Iberu should obey. He said, ” When it is three months to the festival (around December), Olowa Iberu should not have sexual intercourse with any woman and should be chaste. No woman should cook or wash his clothes. Rather he should do all these for himself or some servants of the monarch should come and assist him.  In fact, he should not get close to any woman.”

    He spoke further about the goddess. “It (the goddess) could make you become crippled or make you go blind or even kill whoever disobeys its rules such as by bringing  kolanuts or hot drink to its place as it abhors all these. The goddess d oes not forgive and it is not easily given to anger. It does not arrest or punish or victimise people at random. Not only this. It does not ask questions and it’s annoyance could be fatal.”

    Asked whether any   Olowa had broken the taboo before, the Olowa Iberu scratched his head and said that one Olowa broke the taboo of not having sex. As a result, he did not live for a long.

    Olowa’s lamentation

    However,  the current Olowa Iberu said he is not happy with the goings on as at present as he is not given enough money for the rituals being carried out. According to him, the state government gave the community N60, 0000 for the ceremony last year. He lamented, “The money was not enough. I spend a lot of money on this festival or ceremony. I don’t receive salaries on all these. If you call the Ijebu Ode people, even those who love the goddess will not give you money to do all these”.

    He said further, “I spend about 700, 0000 naira doing this annually .This year the state gave us 60, 0000 naira only and it does not cover the security alone. The firewood I buy every nine days are expensive and if I don’t do this things could go wrong in Ijebu Ode.”

    How powerful the goddess is

    The Olowa Iberu said there is spiritual power to stop the rain during the celebration in case it would disrupt their activities when offering sacrifice. His words: “We will stop the rain if we are bringing the goddess out and we will all trek or walk round the town during the festival. We usually inform the king for he owns the goddess.”

    Asked to confirm whether it is true that human beings were being used in the past for sacrifice to the goddess, the custodian of the goddess tactically replied, “Well, that was in the olden days. I don’t know of that but we don’t use human being here.”

    According to Olowa Iberu, the goddess groans and moans when there is an impending disaster. There was a time an accident was about to happen on the express, we went to offer sacrifice. Only 25 people died, the figure could have been more than that.”

    Man of three religions

    Olowa Iberu said he was once a  devoted Muslim but changed to Christianity because Christians “are the one supporting me. I go to church also and this does not affect my traditional religion and as the spiritual leader of Olowa Iberu dynasty.”

  • Should churches use comedian in services?

    Should churches use comedian in services?

    For some time now, some churches have been inviting comedians to anchor their services. This practice has become controversial in the Christian community, reports Sunday Oguntola 

    Hell was literally let loose in a new generation Church a few weeks back. The general overseer was fuming. He was livid that the youth department had spent a whopping N750, 000 on honorarium to invite a popular comedian for its annual summit. The comedian, who requested for N1million to anchor the occasion, was persuaded to accept the cut.

    The general overseer, who was away on a foreign trip when the deal was sealed, was furious such amount was expended on someone “who is only interested in cracking ribs.” He wondered if any spiritual enrichment took place when the star comedian featured and castigated his pastors for allowing such ‘ignominy’ take place right under their nose.

    “I thought with all the teachings here and the seriousness we attach to the gospel, none of you will think of such infamy. How on earth can you bring a comedian to our pulpit? How can you expend N750, 000 on a comedian who did nothing but make jests? How much value did that add to you as a Christian? I am ashamed to be your general overseer,” the church founder stated.

    But the youth leadership was unimpressed by the stance of the general overseer. They felt he was too conservative and outlandish. “With due respect sir, I don’t see anything wrong in bringing a comedian to the church,” the youth pastor mildly started.

    “These youths come to church when they are happy. All we wanted was a bait to bring them before we preach the word to them. What we paid is very inconsequential sir if you consider what having five steady members from the summit will bring to us. Besides, we paid from our purses and did not approach the treasury for the fund. We were just trying to help and we see nothing wrong in what we did.”

    The general overseer was boiling by the time his youth pastor finished. He castigated the exuberance displayed by the department and insisted using a comedian in a service was inimical to the church’s health. The youth pastor, utterly disappointed, tendered his resignation. The general overseer was happy. According to him, the pastor was a bad influence polluting the youth department.

    Using comedian as anchors and comperes in churches has become a trend these days. It is not uncommon to see A-list comedians in churches, cracking ribs and smiling to the banks. The trend, our correspondent observed, is prevalent among new generation churches, especially model parishes.

    Those who embrace the idea confided in our correspondent that it is simply to shore up attendance, especially among the youthful elements. “You need more than persuasions to bring youths to church these days. You have to go the extra mile and use popular faces to interest them,” a youth leader, who craved anonymity, said.

    He argued that it is just like using popular singers and artistes to drive membership. “If you ask me, I don’t see anything bad in this. I mean we invite gospel artistes and singers, so why not Christian comedians? They light up the atmosphere and bring humour to play.

    “They make people relax and give room for the church to reach people through some other means other than the preachy angles. It is just as simple as that and we should not spiritualise things in this direction,” a female member of a Pentecostal church in Abeokuta stated.

    The parish priest of St Peter’s Anglican Church, Lekki Lagos, Rev. Asoliye Douglas-West, sees nothing wrong in the practice. He said: “Obviously, and without doubt, the art of comedy is a talent. Every individual has benevolently received some gift of endowments from God. So do the comedians.

    “Then why should we restrict the choice of arena where such talents could be displayed? The church is a very dynamic institution which is not alienated from the environment but in due manner connected to the world, otherwise atrophy would encroach on its fabric.

    “The church is also a platform where potentialities could be identified, nurtured, and energies channelled into creative and profitable enterprise. There is nothing out of place inviting comedy artistes to anchor programmes in the church for as long as they do not poke obscene fun at the revered personality of Jesus or diminish the Holiness of God.”

    Douglas-West added: “Comedy contains satires and caricatures which mirror ills and contradictions of the society. Beyond the rib-cracking jokes and wisecracks, the issues bordering on the wellbeing of society highlighted should provoke the thoughts and conscience of the listening audience to cause a change in our attitude and relationships.”

    But the general overseer of House Favour Church Egbeda, Rev. Bayode Olubo, frowned at such practice. He said: “I hate it because it is a means of desperation. I know they want to use them to invite youths but Jesus would never do that. When comedians come, they offer no inspiration, even if they are Christians.”

    He said the pulpit is a sacred place that must be protected by all means. “The church is the only property of God on earth and it must be protected with consciousness. The Holy Spirit has left many churches because such comedians pollute the altars.”

    The General Secretary of Lagos Chapter of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Rev. Toyin Kehinde, said there is nothing wrong in inviting comedians to social functions organised by Christians. He, however, said comedians must never officiate in services because they don’t instruct Christians on righteousness.

    “There are Christian comedians, but are they teaching us to be better Christians? Are they praying for us to be healed? Are they coming to instruct us to be disciples? There are also Christian bankers and drivers who work elsewhere and come to church for instructions. Should they also start functioning in churches because they are Christians?”

    Kehinde, who is general overseer of Agape Generation Church Maryland, said churches must rededicate themselves to instruction in righteousness and leave inconsequential acts that tend to subtract as against adding value to their mandates.

    To the President of International Church Growth Ministries, Dr Francis Akin-John, humour is a necessary ingredient among Christians. He pointed out that even God laughs and is humorous. “God has a good sense of humour. Even Psalm 2 says that God laughs. We can be humorous but we must never be jesters.”

    Comedians, he explained, are jesters who trivialise serious issues of great values to the church. “Bringing comedians turn churches to commercial and entertainment centres. People just laugh off serious issues of eternity. These comedians jest on pastors, the church and even God.”

    He pointed out that Ephesians 5:14 warns against jesting that is not convenient, warning to get over the practice of bringing comedians to anchor their services for whatever reasons. “It is wrong and God is not happy about it,” Akin-John maintained.

  • WHAT AND WHERE?: God’s Covenant Woman International celebrates at two

    The second anniversary of God’s Covenant Woman International Outreach holds next Sunday with the theme “realm of glory”.

    It holds by 12noon at GCWIO auditorium Unity Estate, Pakuro in Obafemi/Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State.

    The chief host, Rev (Mrs.) Irene Agbanobi (JP), in a statement, said that God will bless every participant.

    Guest speakers include Pastor Benny Apena (Rhema World Ministry, Lagos) and Pastor Olaolu Ojo of Christ Apostolic Church, Lagos among others.

    Baptist youths meet

    The annual youth summit of Triumphant Baptist Church Akowonjo takes place next Saturday.

    The theme of the summit, which holds at Shonowo Hall behind Mr. Biggs, Akowonjo, Lagos, is the visionary youth.

    A renowned educationist, Mrs. Olukemi Oke; The  Chief Finance Officer of Leadway PFA, Mr. Abayomi Adesope and the senior pastor of the church, Dr Sunday Oladejo, will minister to the youths.

  • My vision for Lagos PFN, by new helmsman

    THe newly elected chairman of the Lagos chapter of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Bishop Sola Ore, has said his administration will pursue unity among Christians.

    He spoke at a meeting of the new executive committee, which is due for inauguration on August 29 at the Fountain of Life Church, Ilupeju Lagos.

    Ore told the new executives that there was a need for Christians to come together and work towards advancing the body of Christ to make a meaningful impact in the country.

    According to him: “We want to build the body of Christ by fostering love among members.

    “We want to extend fellowship to members outside the fold. We really have to humble ourselves to do this.

    “We want to create a sense of belonging to everyone. There is no small church. We have growing churches.”

    Ore, who is also the General Overseer of Love Aglow Ministry, added that his administration will pursue a policy that will give every member a sense of belonging.

    He assured that “the new administration will empower grassroots ministers.

    “We will try to do something. Whatever we can do, we want to improve the minister himself. Information is empowerment. We need to educate our people.”

    He charged the new executive to be ready for service, saying “I want to appeal to you all get ready for real work. We have a responsibility to reposition the PFN in Lagos for greater service.

    “The past executive has worked a lot. We should help to build on what they have done and make our members feel a sense of belonging.”

  • Cleric to northern Christians: Rejoice always

    Regardless of the persecution and threat to their faith, Christians in the north have been advised to praise God.

    The Senior Pastor of Kingdom Life Christian Centre, Jimmy Olagunju, gave this advice at the monthly Praise Arena night of the Church in Lagos.

    He noted that many of them have paid the ultimate price while others are encountering tough challenges beyond their imagination.

    These situations, he pointed out, might have made them run out of prayers or even query God.

    Yet, he said they should look up to God and praise Him always in the face of stiff oppositions to their faith.

    Olagunju said: “We must learn to praise God at all times and He will take over the situation and victory will be ours.

    “Pastors must continually remind the people of God in troubled areas of the manifold greatness of God to do all things and change negative situation for those who will put their trust in Him and praise Him at all times.”

    God, he claimed, told him: “My people are suffering and perishing not because I cannot answer their prayers but because they are living out of ignorance of unending blessing of God for true and diligent worshippers.”

    He added: “Some people have been frustrated because they pray and they have not seen result. We must let them know how big our God is.”

    The cleric recalled how God delivered the Israelites from their troubles, stating “He is still alive to intervene in any situation we may find ourselves.”

    He was convinced these hardships will work out well for the body of Christ.

    “The church will come out stronger and more people will be converted and more souls will come into the kingdom of God,” he assured.

  • Methodists Church: Don’t sell your votes

    The Methodist Church Nigeria has advised to desist from selling their votes ahead of the 2005 general elections.

    Rather, it said Nigerians should vote with their conscience for candidates that offer the best possibility for improved living.

    The church also called on the National Assembly to accept credible proposals put forward by the ongoing confab.

    These were some of the resolutions contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the 44th\9th biennial conference of the church in Port-Harcourt, capital of Rivers State last week.

    The conference with the theme ‘Let my people move forward’ attracted delegates from across the federation.

    A communiqué signed by the Prelate of the church, His Eminence Dr Samuel Uche and Secretary of Conference, Rt. Rev. Raphael Opoko, said: “Electorates are charged to desist from selling their votes and to vote for credible candidates who will work for their interest on assumption of office.”

    On the abduction of over 200 Chibok girls, the church urged the federal government and the international community to expedite actions on their safe return.

    The church frowned against membership of secret societies and urged those involved to desist or face disciplinary actions.

    It also vowed to sanction any member involved in polygamy in accordance with the rules of the church.

    It was also resolved that the church should go into commercial agriculture “to support the efforts of the different tiers of government in provision of food security and employment for women and young Nigerians”.

    The conference also commended the establishment of  Wesley Microfinance Bank towards the empowerment of youths and the active poor, both within and outside the Church.

  • Encounter with destiny through God’s word!

    Encounter with destiny through God’s word!

    From scriptures, we understand that every child of God is a child of destiny. Not just any kind of destiny, but a glorious destiny (Romans 8:29-30).

    Furthermore, we discover in scriptures that every encounter with God, is an encounter with destiny. For example, men like Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Gideon, Peter, Paul and many others validate this fact (Hebrews11:6-10; Genesis 22:1-18; Judges 6,7).

    First, we must recognize that the destiny of every believer is locked up in the Bible and it takes a diligent search in the word to unlock it. When we discover and believe the truth regarding our inheritance, God is committed to make good His promise. Just as God said to Abraham, as far as your eyes can see, God is committed to make happen (Gen. 13:14-15; Rev.3:18).

    We must understand that when we discover and believe the truth regarding our inheritance, God is committed to making good His promise. Just as God said to Abraham, as far as your eyes can see, God is committed to make happen (Gen 13:14-15; Revelation 3:18).

    But what is our Destiny Worth in Redemption?

       From scriptures, we understand that:

    We have a victorious destiny in Christ: We may be challenged, but we are not permitted to be defeated. Christ causes us to triumph in all our ways, including our places of work, homes and every of our journeys (2 Corinthians 2:14).

    We have a glorious destiny: We must understand that God has called us unto eternal glory, which means unending glory. That also connotes a shame-free destiny (1 Peter 5:10; Rom. 8:29-30).

    We have an enviable destiny: As it is written, concerning Isaac, he went forward, became strong, waxed great and the Philistines envied him. This implies that, we are to be envied and not to be pitied. Therefore, anything pitiable around us must be swallowed up in victory (Genesis 26:14; Galatians 4:28).

    We have a prosperous destiny in Christ: We are not redeemed to suffer, but we are redeemed to enjoy abundance of all things (2 Cor. 8:9; 2 Cor. 9:8-11).

    We have a destiny of fruitfulness in the covenant: As it is written; Thou shalt be blessed above all people: there shall not be male or female barren among you, or among your cattle (Deuteronomy 7:14; Ps 89:34; Matthew 5:17).

    We have a destiny of health and vitality in the covenant: Serving God qualifies us for health and vitality (Exodus 23:25). None of our covenant fathers were ever recorded sick; instead, they enjoyed health and vitality all through their lives.

    Longevity is our portion in the covenant: Long life is part of our covenant rights in redemption (Psalm 91:16). All our covenant fathers enjoyed long life. These include Abraham, Isaac, Moses, Joshua, etc (Isaiah 51:1-3; Genesis 25:7; Genesis 35:27-28; Genesis 47:28; Deuteronomy 37:7; Joshua 24:29).

    How, then, do we encounter Destiny? The Following, among others, are some of the ways we can encounter destiny:

    First, through the Bible – The Living Word of God: God’s Word is the mirror of life where we discover who we are, what we have and what we can do. Every believer has a free access to the Word, from where we have encounter with destiny.

    Through anointed books: Anointed books are not only designed to enlighten us, but they are also channels through which we encounter destiny (Hosea 12:10).

    What are the Benefits of Encounters with the Word?

    •Encounter with the Word connects us with destiny, our inheritance. For example, Jacob had a glorious destiny through an encounter with God (Isaiah 9:8).

    •Encounter with the Word preserves our destiny, as in the case of Joseph.                    (Psalm 105:17-22).

    •It dignifies destiny, as it was with Samuel, who had series of encounters with the Word and emerged an honourable man of God(1 Sam. 3:21, 1 Samuel 9:6).

    •It advances destiny. Diverse encounters with the Word enlarged the destinies of Abraham and Moses (Gen. 12:1-3; Gen. 22:17-18; 1Samuel 12:6)

    Friend, the power to benefit from the above, is the preserve of those saved. You get saved by confessing your sins and accepting Jesus as your Saviour and Lord. To be saved, 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. Thank You, Jesus for saving me!  Now I know I am born again!”  This week, you are going to see amazing manifestations of angelic intervention! I will be with you next week, if Jesus tarries. Stay Blessed in Jesus’ name!

    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

  • Family celebrates 84-year bond

    Family celebrates 84-year bond

    In a world of increasing individualism and gradual destruction of family values, the celebration of a family reunion is worthy of focus, particularly when it is the 84th edition of the event. The Jibolu-Taiwo Family of Egbaland in Ogun State, on August 2-3 not only held its annual reunion, which is called Ajoyo,  but also installed 87-year-old Mrs. Yewande Orewande Januario as its Olori Ebi, family head.  She succeeded Mrs. Christiana Ibijoke Oladeinde who died in March. Januario was elected by the family’s Central Executive Committee and was formally decorated in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital. The Jibolu-Taiwo Family of Egbaland has active branches in the UK and the USA, where family members also celebrate Ajoyo in August.

    Januario, whose family background has remarkable historical aspects, stands out as the oldest old girl of the Queen’s College, Lagos, who is still attending alumnae meetings. Her maternal grandmother, Mrs. Winifred Olatokunboh Macaulay, was the daughter of the late Rev R. A. Coker; and she was married to Frank Gurney Venn Macaulay, son of Rev Thomas Babington Macaulay, founder and first principal of CMS Grammar School, Lagos, and grandson of the late Bishop Ajayi Crowther.  Januario’s father was the late Major Akinwande Tom-Jones of the Salvation Army, son of the famous Lagos merchant, the late Tom Jones, and her mother was Mrs. Phillipa Oreoluwa Jones, daughter of Frank Gurney Venn Macaulay, who was the brother of Herbert Macaulay, the illustrious Nigerian nationalist.

    After her secondary education in 1945, she was employed as a cub reporter by the Daily Times and she covered the Courts for the newspaper.  She left journalism to train as a nurse because she felt that female journalists were hardly recognised at the time. She retired as Chief Health Visitor in Lagos in 1982 after 35 years of meritorious service.

    She is respected for her passion for family unity even at the risk of her health, which is demonstrated by the fact that she has maintained links with the various strands of her roots, namely, Jibolu-Taiwo Aderupoko Family of Egbaland, Crowther-Macaulay Family, Tom-Jones Family and Smith/Lambo/Sogbetun Family of Egbaland.  Also, despite her advanced age, she remains an active member of the Cathedral Church of Christ, Marina, Lagos, and the Methodist Church of the Trinity, Tinubu, Lagos.

    At her investiture, she made thought-provoking remarks on the subject of family unity. She said: “Over the ages, love and respect has been the mainstay of the family passed down by practical examples to this celebration of the 84th reunion, Ajoyo, of the family worldwide since 1930. With love and understanding, the family bond will be continually strengthened for generations to come.”

    The theme of this year’s celebration was “I have a goodly heritage (Psalm 16:6)”; and the two-day programme included children’s rally, youth forum, annual general meeting, installation of the new Olori Ebi, business meeting and thanksgiving service.

     

  • Celebrant or celebrator?

    DO you know that ‘celebrant’ does not refer to only an officiating priest at a religious event, which informs usage of ‘celebrator’ by some purists?  According to the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, International Student’s Edition, North Americans also use ‘celebrant’ in reference to a person who is celebrating something, for example at a party. But for British Standard English sticklers, ‘celebrator’ is the word for secular applications while ‘celebrant’ is exclusively for spiritual ceremonies.

    An outpatient (name withheld) of my language clinic from Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, sent a short messaging service last week in declaration of the erroneous belief that ‘to all intents and purposes’ is the only correct expression, according to his dictionary. That is the challenge when you restrict yourself to just one dictionary, possibly a Michael West version. I used to be a victim until I was harassed and embarrassed thrice by some eagle-eyed readers of this column! Thereafter, like Baba Bayo Oguntunase, the English language restless and restive activist, I have never stopped procuring and accessing as many dictionaries and reference books, including online portals, as possible. In fact, this week I will head for Ikorodu, a suburb of Lagos, to borrow Uncle Bayo’s World Book Dictionary. Back to the subject: both ‘for’ and ‘to’ all intents and purposes are right, going by my multifarious sources.

    National Mirror of August 14 circulated a few misapprehensions: “Chieftain berates clamp down (clampdown) on PDP by APC” Noun: clampdown; phrasal verb: clamp down. What morphology has joined let no medium put asunder!

    “They have a record five former heads of states (state) that are member (members) of (the) National Council of State.”

    “Firm sensitizes students on (to) digital migration” This same error of last week again by yet another medium. That is the dilemma of press releases sent by corporate bodies that are slothfully used by assistant editors without editing or perfunctorily done if at all!

    “Students brace for cooking competition across campus (campuses) in Nigeria”

    “The finalists will enjoy an all-expense paid (sic) four day (four-day) of….” Get it right for the umpteenth time: an all-expenses-paid trip/programme….

    Lastly from National Mirror under review: “…to publish book on world class (world-class) Nigerians”

    THISDAY STYLE of July 27 fumbled: “Her dream to create awareness by liberating and unleashing the powers that lay (lie) dormant while….”

    THISDAY Back Page Headline of July 25 goofed: “Assasination attempt on Buhari?” Robust journalism: Assassination

    Wrong: flower vase; Right: vase

    Wrong: to be forewarned is to be forearmed; Right: forewarned is forearmed

    THE NATION ON SUNDAY of August 10 was indecisive in its application of comma, among other linguistic atrocities: “APC spokesman, Lai Mohammed (another comma) released from detention”

    “He was diagnosed for (with) EVD after two days and three days later, he died.” (THE NATION ON SUNDAY COMMENT, August 10)

    “…used the opportunity to speak on series (a series) of issues about himself and Nigerian football.”

    “Last Sunday (a comma) artistes gathered in Lagos under the aegis of CORA to celebrate, interact and rub minds (exchange ideas)….”

    “Action was taken immediately and the trouble-shooting chairman was suspended and a caretaker committee set up. “ If a trouble-shooting chairman is suspended in a crisis, what would happen to his trouble-making counterpart? In the interest of grammatical orderliness, a trouble-shooter is a person employed in conciliating and arbitrating between parties in conflict.

    “In their heydays, most of these citizens were active people.” (NTA Channel 10, Lagos, August 8) Not just a broadcast! Also, strive after correctness: heyday.

    “We were given half-hearted political freedom, while the reigns of our economy were tied tight to her majesty’s apron. No strings? And of course ‘reins’ not ‘reigns’, in this context.

    “Pomp and pageantry.…” (Saturday VANGUARD, August 2) Nigerian sub-editors are incurably lazy. Just because a word or phrase is in vogue, nobody cares a hoot about its acceptability. There is no familiarity (tradition) or mass appeal in the literate use of the English language. The above headline is Nigerian English. Standard version: pomp and circumstance or pomp and ceremony or just pomp.

    “The board comprised of a DSP and ASP….” Gently dump ‘of’.

    “We grief for him and his family.” (NIGERIAN TRIBUNE, August 8) I grieve for the English language!

    “It is no exaggeration therefore to assert that the Nigerian child is an endangered specie considering….” Certainly, the Nigerian (and indeed any other) child cannot be a specie, but a species.

    “Rate of misses worry (worries) pilots, controllers” The discord here worries me so much. Proximity of verbs should not confuse journalists.

    “What follows are some of the salient provisions of the budget as it dispenses some soothing balm on the festering sore of the economy.” ‘Soothing balm’ is sheer vulgarism! What is balm for?

    “Last but not the least.…” Apart from being almost a cliché, the formal expression is ‘last but not least’.

    “We won’t handover to anyone picked by fraud” It is only a fraudulent sub-editor (or his production colleagues) that will use a noun in place of a phrasal verb! I shall hand over a second culprit to a grammatical jury empanelled by me!

    FEEDBACK

    IS it right to say “…3 a. m. in the morning”? (THE NATION ON SUNDAY, August 10, 2014, Page 3, 1st Paragraph, Tatalo Alamu) (Mike Aiyemo, Abuja, 08052355655) From the columnist: It is utterly wrong. Ante meridiem is the time between midnight and midday.