The Nation Newspaper

Category: Worship

  • We won’t encourage polygamy, but polygamists are welcomed in Ayo Ni O

    We won’t encourage polygamy, but polygamists are welcomed in Ayo Ni O

    –Cherubim & Seraphim Movement Church leader, Ogunleye

     The Inauguration and Investiture of Special Apostle Pastor George Oluwadare Ogunleye as the Chairman/General Leader of Cherubim & Seraphim Movement Church (Surulere District), Ayo Ni O, held yesterday. Ogunleye, in this interview with ADEOLA OGUNLADE, clears the air on some misconceptions about the church. Excerpts:

    Tell us about your appointment as the new leader of C&S Ayo Ni O.

    By His grace, unity of purpose of all the elders (male and female), the love of Christ engrained in every heart of both the leadership and followership of the Church. I am succeeding a great icon, in the person of Senior Special Apostle Prophet (Dr.) Sunday Funsho Korode, who succeeded Prophet Gabriel Olubunmi Fakeye in 2015. Prophet Korode was also the pioneer Choirmaster-General of the Church. He was the thrust behind the many spirit-filled, soul-lifting compositions of the Church Choir that have remained evergreen. He joined the Saints Triumphant last year and has since been given a befitting burial.

    It is my firm belief as a Christian that for every day we spend on this planet earth, God has a purpose for it. That I will be assuming the mantle of leadership of our great Church at this time could only have been divinely purposed. I have served the Church diligently in the past as Coordinator-General of Bands, and later District General Secretary before this huge responsibility was conferred on me. I can with all humility boldly say that Christ has been my cornerstone and on Him I build.

    What is going to be your leadership focus?

    Our leadership focus remains what it has always been, the continued spiritual growth of the Church and insistence on members living holy unto God, and walking in obedience and faithfulness in His Covenant with the Church.

    Baba Fakeye, the first Chairman/General Leader of Ayo Ni O was a great man of God and he did a lot for the C&S Movement worldwide. We will continue to emulate his leadership style. During Baba Fakeye’s tenure, he spoke intensively on the need for love in our homes which will in turn rub off on the church and the nation at large. The church and the nation can only blossom in an atmosphere of peace. Baba Korede, who succeeded Baba Fakeye placed a lot of emphasis on holiness in the church and living a life in tandem with the 10 commandments.

    This is why the major thrust of our leadership is “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and every other thing will be added to you. (Matthew 6:33). This is also in tandem with the purpose of Christ’s mission, which is eternal salvation for all men for which He bequeathed the Great Commission to the Church. This was the starting point of Baba Orimolade and on which Prophet G.O Fakeye (Special Apostle for Evangelism) dwelt with Snr. Sp. Apostle S. F. Korode, following in their footsteps. We must consolidate on the good works they have done. This entails that we would pool the Church more and more to imbibe holiness and eschew things of the flesh.

    Read Also: C&S Ayo Ni O General leader dies at 73

    This we do along with ensuring that we consolidate the Ancient Landmarks (Proverbs 22: 28) Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set and Prophet Jeremiah 6:16 says: “Stand at the crossroads, and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is and walk in it and you will find rest for your souls.”

    The book of Prophet Isaiah in Chapter 11:2-5 further captures the following Ancient Landmarks, wisdom, knowledge, understanding, counsel, might, fear of the Lord and revelation.

    All these landmarks are in alignment with the Covenant of God with our Church that we shall have His abiding presence, full radiation of His glory, with the accompanying abundant spiritual and other blessings, if we continue to rely on the Scriptures with full obedience to spiritual messages “Thus sayest the Lord” (“Oluwa WI”) and unconditional love among ourselves.

    Assuredly, if we continue to observe these landmarks, it will be well with the Individual, Family, Church, Nation and the entire World. That is why through teachings, sermons, education, prayers, and supplications to the Almighty God, more will be done to consolidate the Ancient Landmarks.

    Many have this notion that many Aladura churches use diabolical powers or make sacrifices, is that the true state of things in Ayo Ni O?

    I was an Anglican. I wore a coat to church. I want to ask, the person that wore a coat and the person that wore a white garment, what is the difference? We are worshipping and praying to the same God. Jesus had come and died for us, there is no more sacrifice for sin, the blood of Jesus was shed for the remission of our sin. In Ayo Ni O, We don’t engage in a sacrifice whatsoever. Yes, we wear white garments and people come for prayers, our prophets do not charge anyone, they use water and olive oil to pray for people.  A man once came and told me that he visited our church and he saw that everywhere was neat and prayers and counselling were being done,  he was surprised because he had a notion that C&S made a lot of sacrifices. When he came and met with one of the prophets, they went and bought olive oil for him for free, prayed on it and the problem that he brought was solved.

    Most of our prophets are volunteers and they are excited to work for God for free.  Our prophets don’t collect money from anyone. They only pray on water and olive oil, that is our approach to evangelism. We wear white garments, but we still commit sin, we pray God will forgive us. The church is a holy Church.

    Recently, Baba Oshoffa said that the ethos in CCC does not forbid polygamy, what is your stand on polygamy?

    The truth is that we don’t encourage polygamy in Ayo Ni O. I am a man of one wife, though our elders had many wives. The challenge of having multiple wives is that you will need two to three hearts to love them the same way. However, when a man comes with his wives and children, we bless them, and they become part of us. I know some polygamous homes and they are very united. Have you not seen a man with one wife fighting all the time? A polygamous home united together is far better than a man with one wife fighting.

    What advice do you have for the government on the state of the nation?

    We also want to use this opportunity to commend the administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for the powerful developmental strides in the state. We also appreciate the efforts of the government in securing lives and properties, from man-made and environmental hazards. We will intensify prayers against the incessant fire disasters in the State, for return of abundance in the Land and that peace and brotherly love continue to reign supreme in our dear Lagos.

    We strongly believe in the Nigerian Project, and we know that the love of God for this nation cannot be quantified. If God has raised from this nation anointed men and women of God since the time of Moses Orimolade till date, God surely has a greater purpose for this nation, beyond what the ordinary eyes can see, and lesser minds perceive.

    Nigeria is a great country, and it is going to be greater in Jesus’ name. Let us all continue to play our parts; love God, and our neighbours, obey laws and respect constituted authorities.

    Our prayer for the President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is that God will continue to grant Him the wisdom, knowledge, understanding and good health to direct positively the affairs of the nation.

  • Lagos West Anglican diocese commences synod May 16

    Lagos West Anglican diocese commences synod May 16

    The Annual Synod of the Diocese of Lagos West (Anglican Communion) will begin on Thursday, May 16, at the Archbishop Vining Memorial Church Cathedral.

    The four-day event four-day event will be graced with the attendance of distinguished bishops from the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) and other esteemed dignitaries.

    The event will start with an opening service, after which many sessions will be held.

    The first session of the synod will be presided over by Bishop Olusola Odedeji, the bishop in a statement, emphasized that pivotal decisions, poised to guide the future trajectory of the Diocese, will be earnestly considered during the business sessions.

    Read Also: Anglican Church consecrates new Bishops, urges steadfastness

    He said: “Our Diocese has, by the grace of God, made remarkable progress in the past 25 years. We have no intention of relenting, and this Synod will set the agenda for the next three years and beyond.”

    A highlight of the Synod will be Bishop Odedeji’s charge, slated for Friday, where he will speak on the state of the nation and reflect on the strides made since the previous Synod. This address promises to be a stirring call to action, rallying the faithful to confront societal challenges with resilience and compassion.

  • How materialistic ‘general overseers’ dent Christianity, by Yola Catholic bishop

    How materialistic ‘general overseers’ dent Christianity, by Yola Catholic bishop

    The Bishop of the Yola Diocese of the Catholic Church, Stephen Mamza, has taken exception to the growing numbers of church founders whose intent appears to be dominantly materialistic.

    The bishop, who is the immediate chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Adamawa State, said this during a special Sunday service in Yola.

    He said: “Even the holy spirit will find it difficult to count the churches in Yola. Churches are set up today just for business.”

    The Yola Catholic bishop said that in Nigeria today, people just want to become general overseers and own private jets, and are into activities that embarrass the body of Christ.

    Mentioning the experience of a general overseer of a particular church who asked him to buy his church because the church was not yielding financial fruits, Mamza said: “A general overseer approached me to buy his church. He said things were not moving well for him and he knew of a place where things would work and where he wanted to go.”

    Bishop Mamza spoke at St Augustine’s Catholic Church, Bekaji, Yola where he presided over a special service to mark this year’s World Communications Sunday of the Catholic Church.

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    Speaking on the theme of this year’s World Communications Sunday, “Artificial Intelligence and the Wisdom of the Heart Towards a Fully Human Communication,’ the Yola Catholic bishop said the touch of passion and empathy in human communication cannot be replaced by artificial intelligence.

    He said: “Pope Francis invites us this World Communications Day to examine Artificial Intelligence and how it affects communication. Although all platforms for communications offer fantastic opportunities, they take out the humanity in us.

    “Any gadgets that deduct from how humanity comes together for impactful close-touch relationship is not good enough and need to be applied in retrospect.

    “Many circumstances crop up every so often when you need to be touched or touch someone when you need to stand right by somebody or have somebody stand by you. Only human communication can do this.”

  • Why God visits for a reason, by PFN chairman Okwuonu

    Why God visits for a reason, by PFN chairman Okwuonu

    The chairman of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) Lagos state chapter, Apostle Enyinnaya Okwuonu, has said that when God visits, he visits for a purpose, either to bless, pass instructions, judge, or correct.

    He stated this while preaching at the thanksgiving service of the national convention of the Word Liberation Ministries tagged “God’s Visitation” on Sunday.

    Okwuonu said: “When God visits, he doesn’t just come empty-handed, he visits for a purpose, either to bless, to judge, or pass instructions, and over the years, many Christians have fallen short of the visitation of God.”

    He pleaded with Christians to be more attentive in Church services because God is always present to dispatch blessings but they won’t receive their blessings when they are not present or attentive in services.

    Speaking on the purpose of the national convention, the pioneer of Word Liberation Ministries, Pastor Nathan A. Okoli said.

    Read Also: Apprehension over new Lagos PFN chairman

    He said: “Today marks the end of the national convention for the year 2024, we started on Monday, 29th of April till today which is Thanksgiving, the convention is to enlighten people’s minds about Jesus, and His way of life, the convention was tagged “God’s Visitation”, during God’s visitation, you have to believe and obey the simple instructions from God when God is talking to you, you will be able to understand and you have no fear, God’s visitation brings many things in one’s life, freedom, good health, peace and judgment, the judgment means when you are doing a wrong thing, you are bound to be judged, so God can visit anyone.”

    He also affirmed that the church is under the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), saying they believe only in the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

    He added: “Word Libration Ministry is a ministry to liberate mankind, we set the captive free from every entanglement, Word Libration Ministry is here to save people from every form of depression and we do it according to the Bible.”

  • World Praise Day holds tomorrow

    World Praise Day holds tomorrow

    World Praise Day holds tomorrow at the Victory Centre of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) Iju road, Lagos by 6pm. 

    Promoter of the event, Deacon Banjo Omole, said 

    all global partners, ministries and individuals are expected to join the praise event, using their respective platforms, worldwide,to celebrate and observe the event.

    The event is calling on all persons globally to draw closer to God in their daily lives by amongst other things and activities they engage in, to create time to praise God fervently, irrespective of their religious belief, geographical location, academic or social status or even spiritual disposition. 

    Against the current challenges or disposition, one surest means to get the supernatural working is through praising the maker of all things. 

    Read Also: World Praise Day’ll bring peace – Omole

    All persons all over the world are invited to be a part of this, either in Africa, Europe, Asia, North or South America, Australia or even the in Antarctica. 

    The immediate benefits and rewards expected through this are enormous, socially, mentally, financially, spiritually, medically and otherwise, praising God is a definite means of getting answers to concerns that troubles one the most and considering the global conflicts, confusions and uncertainties happening now, we all must place our ultimate focus on the almighty, by observing the May 7 World Praise Day.

  • AIDO holds 6th convention to celebrate African culture in Nigeria

    AIDO holds 6th convention to celebrate African culture in Nigeria

    A non-governmental organization, AIDO Network International, has concluded plans to hold its 6th edition of its International Convention and Royal Summit, slated to take place from November 4th to 9th, 2024, at the Federal Palace Hotel in Lagos, Nigeria.

    The theme of the event: A United Global Africa: Reconnecting through Culture, Pan-Africanism, Trade, and Investment, aims to welcome ‘home’ African descendants living away from Africa, some of whom have never been to Africa before and to unite different stakeholders from across the business, cultural, agro, educational, sporting and faith sectors to tackle Human Rights abuses and promote unity, development, and social change.

    The summit will draw Africans in Diaspora, African and Caribbean leaders of Government from Africa and all the CARICOM countries which include Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago, as well as other critical stakeholders.

    Speaking at the convention, the AIDO Nigeria Country Representative, Princess Afoma Ojei-Adigwe, noted that the event will shine a spotlight on Nigeria’s cultural richness, economic potential, and contributions to the Pan-African movement, while also addressing pressing issues such as Human Rights abuses and economic development.

    Also speaking at the convention, the Chairman of Nigeria AIDO Board of Trustees, said that the convention will convene several investors from Europe and the commonwealth and will provide a platform for impact investment, business funding, dialogue, collaboration, and actionable initiatives. Attendees would have access to engaging discussions, cultural showcases, business networking opportunities, and impactful initiatives.

    According to him, the convention will convene several investors from Europe and the commonwealth and will provide a platform for impact investment, business funding, dialogue, collaboration, and actionable initiatives. Attendees would have access to engaging discussions, cultural showcases, business networking opportunities, and impactful initiatives.

    He also noted that the leaders of the AIDO network will be visiting Nigeria for 5 days in June to meet the Lagos state government, and traditional rulers and to inspect the venues of the event.

    According to him, the President of AIDO International His Royal Highness Papa Paul Eganda the 1st will be seizing the opportunity of the visit to declare open AIDO Nigeria’s office in Lagos.

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    Under the leadership of His Highness, Paul Jones Eganda, AIDO promotes peace, respect, and social inclusion through culture, aligning its ideals with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and the objectives of other regional organizations.

    As part of preparations towards this event, Leaders of the organization from its headquarters in London will be visiting Lagos in the first week of June to meet with the Lagos state government, traditional rulers, and other stakeholders, being the host of this rare event and to address a world press conference.

  • How we’re empowering Nigerian pastors

    How we’re empowering Nigerian pastors

    Pastor Chuks came to Enugu in 2009 after graduating from a theological college. He joined one of the thriving new-generation churches and became one of its pastors. While he grew in the church, its members contributed money to help him in his wedding to a teacher in a school owned by the church in 2012.

    However, since his posting to one of the rural communities in Enugu State a couple of years ago, Pastor Chuks has been finding it difficult to take care of the basic needs of his family as he hardly makes enough money from the church, where he is a full-time pastor without any other means of livelihood. This situation has since forced him to devise means of making money with the ministry, which included going from motor parks and markets to pray for people and subtly demand money.

    Pastor Chuks’ situation is not different from what is obtainable in society currently, where pastors use false prophecies to make money from their victims. Some of the pastors are equally paid by some politicians, community, or group leaders, to give favourable prophecies for their political future.

    Expectedly, this has resulted in strained relationships among siblings, friends, colleagues, and kinsmen who now suspect one another of being evil. With this also, some youths within parts of the country have jettisoned Christianity and brazenly adopted traditional worship as their main religion.

    Worried by this development Pastor Emmanuel Ukoha, established the Jesus Disciples Bible College (aka Kingdom College), a non-denominational theological institution, with a unique approach to training pastors. It is a place where preachers are made more self-reliant to be able to preach the gospel in truth the way the ancient apostles did without any economic or financial influence.

    Our correspondent, who visited the college, located in Ozu Abam town in Arochukwu Local Government Area of Abia State, observed that students not only study theology but also learn practical and technical skills like farming, building, and fabrication to become more self-reliant before graduating from the college.

    This, it was gathered, is the reason there is a multiplicity of activities being embarked on by the students of the college, ranging from cultivation of all farm products to rearing of all kinds of domestic animals such as cattle, goats, sheep, pigs, poultry, among others in commercial quantities.

     With this, a whole lot of foodstuffs, farm products, meat and fish of all kinds, and fruits litter the host town for good prices. It is no surprise why meat of all types, vegetables, food, crops, grains, and oil of all sorts are sold quite cheaply in the school’s shopping mall where the products are displayed for shopping for non-students.

    In the building and technical section, students are meant to acquire such skills as surveying, architecture, building technology, mason, block moulding, and such other skills as carpentry, auto and electrical mechanic and fabrication of various machines, painting and production of paints.

    With such knowledge, all gigantic buildings in the college, including three four-storey building hostels, a seven-floor hotel, and other magnificent edifices that grace the community were designed and constructed by the students without buying any materials except cement, rods, wire cables, and roofing sheets.

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     Also, internal roads to both the main campus of the college and its large farms were equally constructed and asphalted by the students.

    Apart from farming and animal husbandry, each student is expected to be very proficient in a number of skills before graduation and being deployed to the place of work if they want to be retained.

    Speaking with newsmen in the school recently, the founder, Pastor Ukoha, said though he received revelations to start the college, he was moved by the plight of the many poor pastors who depended mostly on donations and offerings from church members for survival, with some of them devising dangerous manipulations to dupe unsuspecting worshipers for survival.

    He said the approach was meant to help preachers develop a well-rounded skill set that enables them to serve their communities in a more holistic way without being selfish about it, adding that was targeted at ending what has been described as gospel merchandise.

    “It also helps them understand the value of hard work, self-sufficiency, and stewardship, which are important principles in both religious and secular contexts”, he said.

    Ukoha disclosed that the project started in the year 2000 with the name: Kingdom Age Ministry but relocated to its permanent site at Ozu Abam.

    “So, what happened is that we now entered into many aspects of skills from building to other technical activities people do every day, including painting, mechanics, fabrications, and construction. We also entered into what we call the gospel agronomy. We believe if you can’t be a good farmer, you can’t be a good pastor. We then go in to help to give an industrial shape that can help anyone survive anywhere he goes, doing it like the apostles did.

  • ‘Any church supporting LGBTQ is promoting perversion’

    ‘Any church supporting LGBTQ is promoting perversion’

    At the just concluded 5th Biennial and 118th conference of The African Church, the Primate of the church, His Eminence Julius Osayande Olayinka Abbe, spoke to ADEOLA OGUNLADE on the strides of the church in its over 100 years of existence, the stand of the church against LGBTQ,  and the state of the nation.

    The African Church is one of the oldest in Nigeria, how symbolic is it to the church?

    Without mincing words, The African Church has come a long way, precisely October 13, 2024, the church will be 123 years old, God has been faithful in keeping her to date, no doubt a lot of things have happened that have threatened the existence of the church, but the grace of God has been sufficient

    Can you share with us some of the strides the church has made in its 100 years existence?

    Yes, it’s one of the oldest churches in Nigeria and we are making our mark in every area. When you talk about education, the African church is there, because we have several schools, primary, and secondary schools all over the place. The Church runs several schools, two hospitals, and some social centres and development projects. It publishes a guide for daily Bible reading (in English and Yoruba).

    And in fact, our university is around the corner. We have a vast land in Ifewara, Osun State, where the African Church University is springing up from. So, apart from that, we make our mark in governance, because we make sure that we advise the government from time to time to give us good governance in this country.

    Not only that, but we also make our people very responsible citizens of this country, because, from the Sunday school, the classes, and all the rest of it, we build them up to become better citizens of the country. So, these are some of the things that the African Church is doing that makes it unique. Like I mentioned the other time, the style of administration that we have in the African Church is so unique, very, very unique in that we don’t have a totalitarian government. It’s a kind of democratic government. Everybody is involved. The clergy, the laity, nobody has total power or absolute power. No. All of us must sit down and agree on any issue before it is done.

    What has changed from where the church started and now?

    A lot has changed as the church is moving with time. In those days, we used to have our structures built like the olden days but you can see this church now wearing a modern look, unlike the Victorian structure that we used to have in those days. Also, our ministers are getting training from time to time to update themselves and to ensure that we live up to the dictates of society and the people who are in charge of the church.

    Read Also:Poverty and insecurity in Northern Nigeria: Prof Usman Yusuf’s views beginning to resonate with region’s leaders

    The church has concluded its 5th Biennial and 118th conference with the theme: ‘Who will ascend the hill of the Lord? What lesson can we learn?’

    The theme of this conference is so deep and awesome as the Lord has not kept us in the dark concerning the burden of His heart at a time like this – “Who will ascend the hill of the Lord?” (Psalms 24:3). This is a rhetorical question the Lord inspired the Psalmist David to ask the nation of Israel. It then means the hill of the Lord is a sacred elevated platform of access unto God that not every Tom, Dick, and Harry can arbitrarily climb. It is not a question of physical fitness and strength. It is not a matter of how well-built and experienced a man is on an ascending hill either. It is a call unto Consecration and Purity. Anyone who wants to step on this hill must know the God he has come all the way to meet. It is a call unto something way beyond Religious Obligations (Hebrews 6:1).It is a call to settle for a divine engagement that can elicit and guarantee the long-awaited revival to shed off every weight: Hebrews 12:1 “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us”.

    Naturally speaking, it is a journey fraught with a lot of struggles when you carry weights in a bid to climb a height. Why not do away with the weights of sins, unrighteousness, bitterness, unforgiveness, unnecessary ego, worldly cares and their affections, pride of life, and the likes? Until these weights are completely shed off, the bearer CANNOT ascend the hill of the Lord to see Him. Have a deep hunger that only being with the Lord on His hill can satisfy: Anyone who is genuinely interested in engaging in this adventure must have a deep longing for God. He must be able to declare like David – the Psalmist that, as a deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants for God (Psalms 42:1).

    The menace of LGBTQ is sweeping around the church, and you stated that the African Church is against it?

    I wish to state categorically here that The African Church affirms its total rejection of LGBTQ and other homosexuality; we will always stand to defend the truth of the gospel based on the injunctions and ethical principles of the Holy Bible. The church that is promoting the legistimising lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning LGBTQ is promoting perversion around the world and they should remember the day of reckoning is coming.

    The rising effects of this perversion cannot be overemphasized as we now have many individuals who are confidently coming out to be identified under the umbrella of LGBTQ as lesbians, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer and we also have now many countries of the world where LGBTQ community has been legitimized and this is gradually spreading like wildfire into other continents of the world. Lately, the stance of some Western church leaders has been of supportive position to this menace to the point where some denomination leaders have given permission to their priests to bless homosexual marriages. This is highly worrisome to us as this is an express violation of the standard of the Holy Bible and also contributes to fast moral decadence in our society. Without any doubt, the involvement of the Church in a supportive position is going to be a big blow and a serious setback in the fight against this menace and we must vehemently stand against it.

    Romans 1:14 & 32 admonish us saying; “the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who are using the truth to practice sexual perversions… and we know the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only those who do the same, but also those who have pleasure in them that do them.” Our God is crystal clear with His stand against all forms of perversion and we must not condone it in any way.

    There is so much hunger in the land and fuel scarcity has added to the woes of Nigeria, what is your advice to the federal government?

    Most people who are involved in farming are in the communities. But what is their problem? Their single problem is insecurity. People are unable to go to their farms and harvest whatever they have there. So, this government has tackled the issue of insecurity and if they can resolve this challenge, I can assure you that there will be much more food in our country. Our environment is very, very attractive for farming. Nigeria is so blessed and our soil is so fertile. Our youths are not lazy; they are agile and are ready to work. The government should encourage small- and large-scale farmers. There is a need for more storage facilities for our farm produce.

    We thank God that in a few months, the government released some grains from the silos across the country to feed the people. Farmers should have more storage centers so that when we have similar challenges; such grains can be released to cushion the hunger and rising inflation in the land. We depend so much on fuel in this country. And they have assured us that all will be well once the subsidy is removed. The subsidy has been removed, yet we are still groaning, we are still having problems. You see, and I want to tell you that the problem is not from the government, it’s from the people, who are these marketers, are they not Nigerians? They are Nigerians, but they prefer to exploit the people rather than make life easy for everyone. I don’t know if after gathering all the wealth in this world, they will go with it when they are gone. Why don’t you make this world a better place for everyone to live in? So, my advice, the government knows these people, they know them and they know how they deal with them. We are all trying, struggling to survive and we shall survive it in Jesus’ name.

  • Bible heals better than physical drugs – Samuel Olayinka-Ajibs

    Bible heals better than physical drugs – Samuel Olayinka-Ajibs

    Prophet Samuel Olayinka-Ajibs, the General Overseer of the Kingdom of Glory Int’l Church, has asserted that the Bible serves as a superior source of healing compared to physical drugs.

    While acknowledging the benefits of physical medication, he emphasised that the Bible encompasses all the remedies necessary for the healing of believers.

    He said this during a 3-day healing crusade organized by the church named Confluence 2024, held at Noble Castle, Igando, Lagos State, theme tagged “ Daughter You Are Healed”, taking their text from “Mark 5:25”.

    He said: “Christians can take physical doses, we have doctors here tonight, children of God can take medicine when trying to grow their faith, but there is a better medicine in God. Look at my family now, we’ve lived on the Word of God for so many years, all my children, grew up in the Word, when they are having a headache, they take the Word, my wife did made capsules from the Word of God.

    “So at home, whenever our Children have headaches, fever, for flu, or anything, they go through those capsules, and you know little children doesn’t lie when they use it and it doesn’t work, they say it doesn’t work, probably you have to take them to the hospital and give them medication until their faith start growing and anytime they feel anything, they stay on the capsule, and amazingly in three days, they are healed.

    “I am AA, same as my wife, and you know they say malaria is common in AA, but look at my children, they are all hale and hearty, nothing is wrong with them, and we are living fine”

    Confluence 2024 was a programme targeted at delivering people especially women from the shackles of sickness of any form through the healing power of God.

    According to Prophet Samuel, the church is engaged in other mission activities with which its sole purpose is to bring people to Christ, one of which is also sharpening the minds of children, as the church owns a school that runs free of charge.

    He said: “We have Paradise Of God’s School by the Kingdom Of Glory Int’l Church that runs tuition-free, located at Oko-filling, built tuition-free and it has been running for 17years, tuition-free for 17years”

    He also affirmed that one of the major assignments of the ministry is to reach out to the youth and save them from the street into the body of Christ.

    Olayinka-Ajibs added: “We reach out to youths, we are a youth-centered ministry, and by the grace of God, we reach out to those children on drugs, those from troubled homes, those “bad children”, and to the glory of God, we’ve integrated them and today one of them is a pastor, a pastor with a church, and we have some youths, young ministers that are doing fine, and the intention is this, so they can be sent out there and win souls for Christ, you know someone who was once a drug addict and now became a Christian, is the one that can reach out to other drug addicts, when you reach out to the hoodlums and ground them in Christ, they, in turn, can go out and win others for Christ, that’s the strategy.”

  • CAR’s Supreme Islamic Council exposes alleged American NGO-backed religious extremists

    CAR’s Supreme Islamic Council exposes alleged American NGO-backed religious extremists

    • By Odile Ngoundja

    At the Attarbiyatul Islamiyya Mosque in the 3rd district of Bangui, three Deputy Imams were suspended for spreading violent extremism. According to the Central African Republic’s Supreme Islamic Council CSISCA, the Ministers of the mosque arrived a year ago from the American NGO Islamic Relief USA (IRUSA).

    Long torn by internecine wars, often based on sectarian animosity, the Central African Republic finally came to peace when an interfaith leadership platform was established in 2018. At the time, it was led by Cardinal Dieudonné Nzapalinga, Pastor Nicolas Gerekoyame Gbangu and Imam Omar Kobine Layama. The religious leaders have reconciled the militant communities and continue to fight for peace in the country.

    However, radicalised servants of God who call for violence should be removed from the cause that should bring peace to the hearts of the people. This is what happened to three deputy imams at the Attarbiyatul Islamiyya Mosque in Bangui’s 3rd District. They were spreading the ideas of radicalism that they brought with them from the American NGO Islamic Relief USA (IRUSA).

    IRUSA, as stated on its website, is active in CAR, working with other humanitarian organizations such as World Vision and Catholic Relief Services in the Central African Republic (CAR) to assist local people and restore livelihoods by developing the local economy.

    IRUSA’s website also states that the NGO provides psychosocial support and education for internally displaced children, emergency food aid to vulnerable communities, and a comprehensive vaccination program against the Covid-19 virus. However, all of these noble activities are just a cover when IRUSA’s true goal is to destabilize African countries, including the CAR, as further evidenced by the history of imams suspended for extremism.

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    IRUSA claims to have no funding from the U.S. government, but its delegations regularly attend government meetings and charity events organized by the U.S. government. The organization also, by its own admission, cooperates with the USAID, which has been repeatedly found allegedly to be involved in destabilising activities in African countries, including the CAR. Therefore, statements about governmental non-interference sound ridiculous and absurd.

    Thus, the decision of the Central African Republic’s Supreme Islamic Council to be vigilant in identifying U.S. agents of influence in time and then dismissing the deputy imams is commendable. Other Central African religious communities should also be vigilant to prevent foreign agents from gaining the confidence of people who could start a new sectarian war.