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Tag: Christian Association of Nigeria

  • Killings: God will expose killers, kidnappers soon, says Adeboye

    Killings: God will expose killers, kidnappers soon, says Adeboye

     

    General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor E.A Adeboye has condemned kidnapping and killings in the country.

    Leading his congregation in prayers, at the February 2018 Holy Ghost Service tagged “Stronger than your enemies – Part 2”, held at the Redemption Camp, Adeboye asked the congregation, which included the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, to pray that God should expose and deal with those that are shedding blood, and those that  are sponsoring  them.

    In his words “Father, wherever those who are shedding bloods are hiding, please expose and deal with them.  All those who are condoling evil or colluding with them, wherever they may be please expose and deal with them. All those who are sponsoring evil and bloodshed, please expose and destroy them.”

    Read Also: Adeboye salutes Adams on installation as Aare Ona Kakanfo

    Responding to those who have accused him of being silent on the issue, the General Overseer said “I am a Christian and I belong to the Christian Association of Nigeria which has a President. So whatever the President says is what I say. I am also a Pentecostal and I belong to the Pentecostal Association of Nigeria. So whatever the President says is what I say. That is how to be under authority.”

    About 50 persons were murdered by Fulani herdsmen in Benue State in the first two days of January, 2018. There have also been several cases of kidnappings in some parts of the country. Reports say that the herdsmen started attack since the Benue State Government implemented the anti-grazing law, giving the herdsmen no space to feed their cows.

     

     

     

  • Day Ambode’s score card resonated

    Day Ambode’s score card resonated

    De Blue Roof, Lagos Television, Agidingbi, Ikeja, venue of the first 2018 Town Hall Meeting, the 10th in the series was filled to capacity. As early as 8:30 a.m., stakeholders from different groups had taken their seat, waiting patiently for the arrival of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode.

    Coincidentally, this edition of the Town Hall meeting was historic as it also marked the 140th anniversary of Town Hall Meetings practice in the state, first held on January 28, 1877.

    The meeting, in the last two-and-half years, has metamorphosed into a viable platform to listen and interact.

    For Ambode, it presents him with an opportunity to feel the pulse and hear first-hand from the people who elected him to serve them, while for Lagosians, it is yet another medium to rub minds with the Governor, tell him their needs and in most cases, get instant response and approvals.

    The latest edition certainly lived up to expectation. Ambode’s entrance into the venue by 9:58 a.m. was greeted by loud cheers from the crowd who were excited to interact with the man behind the many infrastructural projects and people-oriented programmes that are fast changing the landscape of the state.

    Ambode, in line with the tradition of the meeting, took time to reel off some of his administration’s strides in the last quarter of last year as well as projections for the first quarter of the New Year as well as other plans to sustain the tempo of infrastructural development that has become synonymous with his government.

    Giving a report of activities of his administration in the last quarter, Governor Ambode said between the period under review, the government inaugurated the first state-owned DNA Forensic Centre in Nigeria and West Africa, and in the coming weeks would sign a contract to upgrade the facility to offer toxicology services, which will make it the first in Sub-Saharan Africa.

    The governor said N635.5 million has been disbursed as bursary to 8,419 students in tertiary institutions across the state in fulfilment of its promise to support their educational pursuit while in the health sector, equipment worth over N2.5 billion were acquired.

    According to him, the health equipment was part of efforts to strengthen the capacity of the state’s health facilities to render improved health services and also facilitate smooth take-off of the Lagos State Health Scheme designed to enable residents enjoy unfettered access to quality  health care.

    “Since the last Town Hall meeting, we have continued the renovation and upgrade of our Primary Health care Centres (PHCs) and our people at the grassroots have started to witness a revitalised health care delivery. In order to meet the needs of the youth in the area of technical and vocational development, we have approved the establishment of three other technical colleges; bringing the number of technical colleges to eight,” he said.

    To kick-start our bus transport reform, Governor Ambode recalled that the LAMATA Place, the Ojota BRT Depot, the Intelligent Transport System Centre and E-ticketing Payment System was inaugurated, while work on the Onikan Stadium to transform it to a modern sports arena has begun as well as upgrade of the Agege Stadium to prepare it to host CAF Champions League matches for MFM Football Club.

    The inauguration of the JJT (Johnson, Jakande, Tinubu) Park in Alausa was also one of the highlights of December, last year. The park provided a perfect spot for young and old to relish the festive period as hundreds of Lagosians thronged the park daily, a situation the governor said confirmed the State Government’s belief that Lagos needs more of such parks.

    The governor listed some of the key projects delivered last year to include the new Tafawa Balewa Square Bus Terminal, new Ojota Pedestrian Bridge, Aboru –Abesan Link Bridge and adjoining inner roads, Ojodu Berger Slip Road and Pedestrian Bridge, Jubilee Bridges in Ajah and Abule Egba, Freedom and Admiralty Road in Lekki, new Lands Registry and newly upgraded Jubilee Chalet in Epe, among others.

    In addition, Ambode said as at December, last year, the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF) had disbursed a total of N4.5 billion to 5,500 beneficiaries who also received training on financial literacy and business management, while keys were presented to beneficiaries of the first set of allottees of Lagos State Rent-To-Own Housing Scheme, as well as creation of Neighbourhood Safety Corps and beautification of the state with the erection of monuments, parks and gardens.

    The coming on board of these projects, the governor said, contributed immensely in creating jobs for the teeming youths and ultimately stimulating and reflating the economy, just as he revealed that despite the harsh economic climate in the country,   the state generated a total of N503.7 billion revenue last year while the overall budget performance stood at 82 per cent.

    He said the figures posted last year was a positive indication entering into the New Year. For him, though last year was a good one for the state, there are great prospects in stock for this year.

    He said: “As we celebrate the New Year, we thank you all for your support and co-operation last year. It was your backing that enabled us to achieve the modest successes we recorded last year and commence the transformation of the landscape of our state. Last year, we delivered on our promises to Lagosians despite the harsh economic climate.

    “Despite the harsh economy, our state’s budget performed at 82 per cent. Total revenue generated was N503.7 billion, representing a performance of 78 per cent; total recurrent expenditure was N281.33 billion, representing a performance of 92 per cent, while total capital expenditure was N387.60 billion or 76 per cent performance,” he said.

    Still in December, the governor presented a record high budget proposal of N1.046 trillion to the Lagos State House of Assembly, pledging that it would be judiciously utilised to complete all ongoing projects and consolidate on infrastructural development in areas of education, transportation and traffic management.

    While reeling off the outlook for the year, Ambode assured that he would sustain the momentum of development and vigorously pursue all ongoing projects, with special focus on health and education.

    Already, in the 2018 Appropriation Bill of N1.046 trillion currently awaiting approval of the House of Assembly, the State Government has earmarked N92.676 billion for the health sector, representing 8.86 per cent and N126.302 billion for education representing 12.07 per cent of the budget.

    But the highlight of the event came during the question-and-answer session. One by one, residents filled out to speak. While some utilised the opportunity to present their personal problems to the Governor, others spoke on behalf of their colleagues and the challenges facing their immediate communities.

    However, with the electioneering activities ahead of the 2019 general elections only a few months away, they were all united in their submissions that Lagos was heading the right direction and that Governor Ambode thoroughly deserved another term.

    Treasurer, Lagos State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Stephen Adegbite said in the past two-and-half years, Ambode has not only delivered majority of his promises, his strides have engendered religious harmony.

    “He promised religious harmony and today in Lagos State there is religious harmony. Religious leaders from CAN and other Christian organisations meet at several strategic meetings and in all the states, the state that is leading in religious harmony is Lagos State because we have now NIREC at local government (LGs) and local council development areas (LCDAs) and the light-up Lagos project has been integrated.

    In his words: “The governor does not need any campaign for 2019, his work has spoken for him and he is coming back without any sentiment. We will continue to pray for him. Ambode is fantastic. Keep it up and God bless you.”

    A resident, Tunde Odunsi, reminded the governor of a one-on-one discussion he had with him  in 2015 that was yet to be acted upon. Responding, the governor assured Odunsi that the matter would be immediately addressed.

    Ojikutu Ahmed, a representative of the Ikeja Computer Village Community, commended Ambode for steps taken to install free Wi-fi in the new parks and gardens across the state, saying it has put the state on the global map as an ICT-compliant state.

    Ahmed, however, asked the governor to intervene through the State’s Public Works Corporation to fix the roads in and around Computer Village, a request governor also assured would be immediately looked into.

    Answering other questions relating to road rehabilitation, the governor also ordered the Public Works Corporation to immediately move in to fix bad roads in Abesan Estate, Oriade and Abule Egba, among others.

    Surajudeen Abejamu brought the situation at the Primary Health care Centre situated at the resettlement area in Ajah-Ilaje area in Eti-Osa Local Government Area to the Governor’s attention, prompting the governor to direct the office of the Special Adviser on Primary Health care to immediately ensure that the centre becomes functional in two weeks.

    The concern of Mrs. Risikat Philips was on market development. While welcoming re-development of the Ikorodu Market, she suggested a possibility of finding an alternative location for market men and women before any demolition.

    Buying into her idea, Ambode assured that the government would look into cushioning the effects of displacing traders in the course of developing their markets, revealing that a Market Development Board would be inaugurated very soon and when functional, would address issues of market relocation for developmental projects.

    Chairperson, Lagos Women in Sports, Tayo Popoola, said the governor’s efforts in the sports sector have not gone unnoticed and would be one major yardstick for his re-election.

    She, however, implored the governor to encourage more women in sports administration, saying that the exploits of Ikorodu-born Asisat Oshoala, the reigning African Women Footballer of the Year, who was also present at the event, was a testament to the fact that several women with an eye for nurturing female talents in sports abound.

    Ambode said sports remains one tool his administration has employed to keep youths engaged and out of social vices.

    Mr. Temitope Ibikunle sought to know the efforts being made to forestall any invasion by herdsmen. Ambode allayed fears, saying that the government had taken precautionary measures to ensure safety of lives and property.

    Dignitaries at the event were Prince Tajudeen Olusi, Senator Ganiyu Solomon, former Deputy Governor Abiodun Ogunleye; former Speaker Adeyemi Ikuforiji, Lagos APC Vice-Chairman Cardinal James Odunbaku and Chief Lanre Rasak, among others.

     

  • Praises for Emmanuel as pensioners celebrate their day

    Praises for Emmanuel as pensioners celebrate their day

    Non-payment of retirement income of senior citizens has become a common refrain. After working so hard to contribute to the socio-economic and political development of their fatherland, the senior citizens’ annuity is either not paid regularly or not paid at all. They are often forgotten. BASSEY ANTHONY reports that it is not so with pensioners in Akwa Ibom State who praised Governor Udom Emmanuel for paying their pensions and gratuities regularly.

    Pensioners in Nigeria have never been happy after retirement. Having worked so hard towards the socio-economic and political development of the country, their retirement income is either not paid regularly or not paid at all. They are often forgotten after they have retired from active service to their fatherland.

    Stories abound of retirees not paid their retirement income and gratuities, even as government at all levels are said to be culpable in maltreating this category of people.

    Perhaps, the most harrowing experience the retirees always face is the ceaseless and sometimes senseless screening and verification exercises. Old, weak and frustrated pensioners have had to stand for hours on end in long queues under the scorching sun and in rain to get verified and screened.

    Even after the excruciating experiences, some pensioners are said to have died without collecting their entitlements.

    Ineptitude, bureaucracy and corruption on the part of government officials work against the retirees with the result that some state governments owe the retirees pension and gratuities for upwards of several months or years.

    But in Akwa Ibom State, pensioners have been lucky. Any wonder they gathered at the Ibom Hall  Ground, along IBB Way in Uyo on Monday to praise Governor Udom Emmanuel for not allowing them to suffer like their counterparts in some states.

    Under the aegis of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), the retirees poured encomiums on Governor Emmanuel for his concern about workers’ welfare, especially those of the pensioners.

    The retired persons numbering 28,000 marked this year’s National Pensioners’ Day celebration with the theme “Pensioners Edaka Eda”.

    Having expressed their appreciation to the Governor, they declared their willingness and readiness to support the Emmanuel-led administration in his efforts to move the state forward.

    An address presented by the Chairman of Akwa Ibom State Council of the NUP, Obong E. D. Ekpo (JP), appreciated Governor Emmanuel for his ability to manage the lean resources available, hence bringing the impact of recession to its minimal compared to what is obtainable in other states.

    He said: “Akwa Ibom State pensioners celebrate the 2017 National Pensioners’ Day along with other 36 states of the federation and  Abuja. It is a day of reflection on the goings on in the state and other states of the federation.

    “After reflection and comparison, Akwa Ibom pensioners have reason to thank God for the kind of Governor we have.

    “It has been observed that Akwa Ibom workers, including pensioners, are not worse off compared to their counterparts in other states of the federation.

    “On this note, the union decided to invite His Excellency, Deacon Udom Gabriel Emmanuel, on this unique day to say thank you to him for his efforts so far. We cherish and appreciate your dynamic and financial management style.”

    In his response, Governor Emmanuel, who was represented by the Head of Service, Mrs Ekereobong Akpan, thanked the pensioners for the great show of love as they received him in spite of lies a section of the press may have fed the people with.

    Governor Emmanuel reminded the pensioners that his first action upon assumption of office in 2015 was to offset backlog of pension arrears and gratuities.

    “Upon my inauguration on May 29, 2015, the first action I took was to authorise the payment of a 10-year backlog of pensions and gratuities of our workers, a gesture which was highly appreciated by the state-organised labour that wrote letters to thank me for such display of concern for the welfare of pensioners.

    “I thank the state-organised labour for the show of understanding and good working relationship it has shown. We will continue to pay pension and gratuities of our senior citizens. In November, we paid salaries without receiving our monthly allocations from the Federation Account.

    “The few who are yet to receive have one issue or the other. We discovered that most people moved from government’s integrated payroll to pension’s payroll. We are following due process. After collecting your blue papers, don’t go home and relax. Go and register in the sub-treasury of your choice for documentation so that every other thing will follow.”

    Earlier in his message, the Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Akwa Ibom State chapter, Rev (Dr) Ndueso Ekwere, admonished the pensioners to “Arise and Secure Your Rehoboth”. He urged them not to be tired despite the fact that they have retired.

    He said: “Move forward for Rehoboth is in front of you. Government will be your Rehoboth because you are very important factor in the land.

    “Try and occupy yourselves in whatever way you can to sustain your family. You can go into farming, small-scale business, and other things. Just do something and God will make that place to become a Rehoboth (fruitful).”

    In his speech, Chairman of the occasion and Chairman, Civil Service Commission, Elder Sunny I. Akpadiaha, enjoined the pensioners to see the celebration as a day for sober reflection, even as he urged them to cast their minds back to the history of NUP.

    His words: “I want us to cast our minds back to the history and formation of NUP which was established following the restructuring of Labour Unions in 1977. Today, the NUP is the umbrella organisation for all civilian pensioners nation-wide.

    “Therefore, as you are celebrating, look back. This should be a moment of sober reflection on the achievements so far recorded. As a union, you have a sacred duty to fight for the welfare of your members, advance the education and training of your members, provide for the benefit and offer assistance to your members, to protect and advance socio-economic and cultural interests of the community in general and your members in particular.

    “Even though you have retired, some of you are still very active. The experiences you acquired in your 35 years in public service is such that can’t be purchased in the market. Therefore, you are a reservoir of experience, intelligence and knowledge. Use the experiences and knowledge and see yourselves as think-tanks so that you can always advise the government on policy matters affecting the community, state and your members.

    “The challenge you may be experiencing is not peculiar to only Akwa Ibom State. There are other states that owe pensioners arrears of many years, yet the governors are purchasing vehicles worth millions of Naira for those who never served the state. The good news is that the story is different in Akwa Ibom State.”

    Elder Akpadiaha assured the pensioners that soon all pension arrears will be paid, even as he enjoined them to continue to co-operate with the current administration.

    Solidarity and goodwill messages from various segments of the union, ranging from Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), Head of Service and Accountant-General, among others, also praised Governor Emmanuel for his determination to harmonise pensions and make indebtedness in the area of pension arrears and gratuities things of the past.

    Highpoint of the event was the symbolic presentation of portrait of the Governor and dedication of over 28,000 pensioners in Akwa Ibom State to Governor Emmanuel for knowledge and utilisation of their services through the 31 branches, three Senatorial Districts of retired primary school teachers and the state’s Women Wing of Local Government Pensioners.

    His Royal Majesty, Edidem (Dr) Ntoeng Udo Effiong Akpan (JP), Paramount Ruler of Ini Local Government Area and Chairman, Council of Traditional Rulers; Obong Cosmas M. Essien (JP), Secretary NUP; Obong J. Nkanta, State Trustee NUP; Mr Linus Eyo Etim, State Auditor NUP; Apostle Ime Udoh (JP), State Public Relations Officer (PRO) NUP; Elder Comrade Ntiedo Ema, Chairman, Central Planning Committee; Obonganwan Usoro, Chairman, Women Committee and other dignitaries attended the event.

  • Kaduna CAN urges Christians, Muslims to shun religious bigotry

    Kaduna CAN urges Christians, Muslims to shun religious bigotry

    The Christian Association of Nigeria( CAN ), Kaduna Chapter, has urged Muslims and Christians to shun religious bigotry so as to  make Nigeria a greater country in the comity of nations.

    The Secretary of the chapter, Rev. Sunday Ibrahim, made the call when he received gift items donated by some  advocates of inter-faith harmony led by Hajiya Maryam Abubakar in Kaduna on Tuesday.

    He commended the initiative of Hajiya Maryam and her colleagues, saying that it would go a long way toward promoting religious harmony in Kaduna State in particular and the entire country.

    “We are really grateful seeing Muslim women coming to the CAN’s  Secretariat to donate Christmas gifts.

    “This is really impressive and these are some of the ways to boost religious tolerance and better understanding between Muslims and Christian.

    “ We must join hands together in tackling religious extremism and promote forgiveness, peace and unity among all the people of Nigeria,” he said.

    Read also: Gowon, Dogara task Northern Christians on unity, love

    Earlier, a group of Muslim women under the aegis of ‘Ambassadors of Peace’ donated gifts including Christmas trees and Santa Claus caps to CAN in the spirit of the yuletide season.

    Speaking at the presentation of the items, Abubakar said the donation was part of their contribution toward promoting peace, harmony, love, togetherness and inter-religious tolerance in a multi-religious society such as Kaduna State.

    Abubakar said their visit to the CAN secretariat was aimed at strengthening inter-religious tolerance and promoting understanding among adherents of  different faiths in the state.

    The peace ambassador said: “We are from one family under God because Adam and Eve were our original biological parents and we, as Muslims believe in the Bible and love Jesus Christ too.

    “Christmas season is a period of joy and happiness to every Christian all over the world and we, as Muslims decided to donate some Christmas trees and Father Christmas caps to CAN leaders in the state.

    “This is to promote good relationship with our neighbours in view of the fact that Christians are our good friends and neighbours.”

    According to her, it is not the first time she and her colleagues are donating Christmas gifts to churches in Kaduna for the purpose of enhancing religious tolerance and peace building.

    “Two years ago, we fed about 500 Christian inmates in the spirit of Christmas and New Year celebration in Kaduna prison.

    “We fed them in the spirit of togetherness and to join them in celebrating the birth of our noble Jesus Christ.

    “We want them to have a good taste of food with beef different from what they were offered inside the prison,” she added.

    In her remark, another member of the group, Hajiya Ramatu Tijjani said: “Christians are our best friends and we choose to come to CAN to donate these items this time because we believe that CAN is the mother of all Christian bodies.

    “We came today to say `Merry Christmas to all our brothers and sisters who are  Christians all over the world, and Happy New Year in advance.

    “We want to maintain this kind of peaceful co-existence between Christians and Muslims in the state in order for us to team up and  nd all forms of ethno-religious and political crises bedevilling peace and stability in the northern part of the country.”

    She also advocated the establishment of an institute of comparative religious studies which, according to her, can proffer solutions to ethno-religious crises in the country.

    NAN

  • 2019 election results will be transmitted electronically – INEC

    2019 election results will be transmitted electronically – INEC

    The Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) said on Tuesday it has developed a technology that would enable it transmit election results electronically direct from polling units to the states’ headquarters.

    The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Ebonyi, Prof. Godswill Obioma, disclosed this at a meeting with faith-based organizations in Abakaliki.

    According to him, the new technology is part of efforts by the Commission to eliminate rigging, electoral frauds and other irregularities and to ensure the enthronement of credibility and transparency in the electoral process.

    Obioma reassured the electorate that their votes would count in the 2019 general elections and urged them to participate in the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration ( CVR ).

    He said: “INEC is strengthening the process of transmitting election results electronically direct from polling booths to INEC headquarters.

    “We hope that the latest technological innovation would be perfected and deployed in the 2019 general elections.

    “The new strategy would discourage politicians from ballot box snatching, stuffing of ballot boxes and indulgence in other forms of electoral irregularities.

    “The commission would do everything to ensure that votes count in 2019 and that those who would emerge do that through popular votes.

    “We have only one message and the message is that you come out and register and ensure that you collect your PVC to qualify you to exercise your franchise.”

    Read also: 2019: INEC to partner political parties for credible elections

    The REC explained that the meeting was part of conscious efforts by INEC to build strategic partnership and alliance that would be harnessed to mobilize the electorate.

    “This meeting is aimed at jointly charting strategic paths for a credible 2019 elections and to see in what best ways we can partner with the organizations to reach out to their members.

    “It is also to mobilize those who are 18 years and above to come out and register and collect their PVCs,” he added.

    Obioma explained that making the electoral process more inclusive by getting more people involved in civic responsibilities would reduce political tension and those chosen in elections would be better accepted as representatives of the people.

    He said that the commission had embarked on aggressive sensitisation and voter education since he resumed office as REC in Ebonyi on July 12.

    “We have undertaken stakeholders’ town hall meetings in all the 13 local government areas of the state where we met with the people in their localities and sensitise them to the continuous voter registration.

    “We followed the town hall meetings with the stakeholders’ village square meetings in the wards across the local government areas.

    “We listened to their views on how we can do better in our programmes to achieve greater penetration in the society,” he said.

    Reports say no fewer than 50 representatives of faith-based organisations, including Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria and Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs attended the meeting.

    NAN

  • CAN, JNI should be scrapped – Catholic Priest

    CAN, JNI should be scrapped – Catholic Priest

    A Catholic Priest, Rev. Father Gabriel Teruwose Ngbea has asked the government to immediately ban the activities of religious umbrella bodies like the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) as a way of stemming the tide of the religiously motivated crisis in the country. 

    The priest’s suggestion is coming just as Benue state governor, Samuel Ortom said the major problems facing the country can be traced to religion and politics, saying if the nation can get its religious and political practices right, the nation will be great again.

    Rev. Father Ngbea’s suggestion is contained in his book “Constitutional Misconception of Secularism: Implications for Politics and Religion” which was presented in Abuja on Tuesday. 

    He said that the government should replace the two bodies with an independent body to be known as “Religious Equity Commission” whose mandate should be to ensure that there is no discrimination among Nigerians on the basis of their faith. 

    Father Ngbea said on page 302 of his book that “CAN and JNI should be proscribed because apart from their failed mandate of advancing religious interests these bodies have constituted themselves into a political organisation often deployed to pursue political interests.” 

    According to him, in order to keep faith with section 20 of the Nigerian constitution and to ensure that Nigerians practiced their faith in a manner that is devoid of discrimination he is proposing  “the establishment of an independent Religious Equity Commission whose mandate should be to ensure that there is no discrimination among Nigerians on basis of faith. CAN and JNI should be completely banned in the country.” 

    Chairman of the occasion and former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, however, cautioned Nigerians to be mindful of others who may not think, act or believe in what they do, saying the country’s diversity ought to be her strength and not otherwise. 

    Atiku said the first country’s national constitution carefully considered the diverse character as a nation and chose the secular path in order to accommodate the diversity and peaceful coexistence. 

    Represented by the former Speaker of the Plateau state House of Assembly, George Daika, the former Vice President said: “Let me, however, use this opportunity to remind us all that at this delicate moment in our nation’s history – with separatist agitations, militancy of the religious and secular varieties, calls for restructuring, and jostling for future elections, we should all be mindful of and sensitive to the feelings and preferences of those who may not think the way we think, the way we speak or worship, the way we worship or belong to the same political party as us. Our diversity ought to be our strength and, together, we can still build the Nigeria of our dreams.”

    Benue state governor, Samuel Ortom, however, said politics and religion have been at the heart of the problems confronting the country, adding that “today in our country, two things are very important, politics and religion and if we can get it right, we will be able to make Nigeria great.”

    He said that both Christianity and Islam all seek to bring love and peace to mankind, adding that it his hope that these two religions will work toward bringing peace and love to the country. 

    The governor, however, blamed organised Labour for employing the blackmail tactics over the payment of workers salaries in addressing the brewing Labour crisis in the state. 

    Archbishop of Abuja Catholic archdiocese, Cardinal John Onaiyekan who was represented by Rev. Father Bologo said that religion and politics have been taken too far in our country and that this has caused a lot of problems for the country. 

    “Nigeria should not have been where it is now but because we are using religion to divide the country and to cause disaffection. Nigeria is 90% on the wrong path as far as religion and politics is concerned,” he said. 

  • If fathers do their work, Nigeria will do less – Osinbajo

    If fathers do their work, Nigeria will do less – Osinbajo

    If Acting President Yemi Osinbajo has his way, those who loot the treasury will no longer find sanctuary in the House of God.

    At a special service at the Aso Villa Chapel yesterday to mark Fathers’ Day, the Acting President urged churches to ostracise looters.

    Such people, he said, should not be held in high esteem because they brought the country to where it is today.

    Osinbajo enjoined fathers to be exemplary leaders that build generations of righteous men and women.

    He said: “I want to say that all of our leaders, the Christian leaders; the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) and Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), that it is the role of the church to build this nation. And the church has that role because God has said concerning us that we are the light of the world and we are the salt of the earth. That role is a very difficult role. We are not to teach the world how to be like the world but to teach the world how to be like our saviour, Jesus Christ.

    Every time we come to the church, we are told about giving, but we need to talk more about honesty. Just now His Eminence said Nigeria’s great problem is not an absence of prosperity but that we have enough for our needs but we don’t have enough for our greed. The greed of many is what has landed this country to where it is today. Many in position of authority, it is the greed that has landed us to where we are. Many who say the reason why they are stealing is because they need to have an arsenal for future political experiment, it is a lie! It is greed.

    “And if the church says you are not allowed to steal and we will ostracise the thieves in our midst. If a man’s resources, what a man has does not measure up to what he earns, if you found that a man has more money than he should have, if a man is earning a salary in a civil service or public service and he has houses everywhere, we have to hold him to account. He must first be held to account in the church. He must first be told in the church, we will not allow this. If the church ostracises the thieves; if the church says we will not accept thieves here or we will ensure that we expose you, you are stealing the resources of our nation, you are stealing the resources of a private company or other establishments, then we will not have the kind of problems that we have in this country. If only the church can.

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    “When I listened to His Eminence a few minutes ago, talking about the importance of the type of training we received as a child; the type of training where you were taught primarily about integrity; that you must be a person of integrity; that you must be truthful, you must be honest. That is the foundational teaching. Even knowing the Ten Commandments was enough to teach you about righteousness. That is so important especially for us who are Christians.”

    Fathers, the Acting President said, follow the footsteps of Abraham who God chose in order to “command his children and household in the way of the Lord, to do righteousness and justice.”

    He adminished fathers to love their wives and refrain from domestic violence.

    House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara lamented the collapse of family system in the country.

    He said: “We should invest more, really as a nation, in fatherhood or in family. And when children are properly brought up, you will see that most of the resources we channel towards control of crime and so many other government programmes, there will be no need for them. Because we will have some kinds of transformation that only take place at the family level.

    “Certain things cannot be done by the government like we cannot just outsource discipline in a home, the issue of imparting or instilling morality in the lives of our citizens. The government certainly cannot do that; it is the role of the family. So when we celebrate fathers like this, we celebrate fatherhood, we emphasise on the importance of the family as a unit in bringing up those components of society, performing its role and then turning citizens that are compliant. That, therefore, means that we won’t be spending money in fighting crime.

    When fathers do their work, the nation will have less work to do. And when next we have people in leadership who fail, who are patently corrupt, the question shouldn’t be ‘who is this?’ The question should be ‘who is the father of that person?’ I congratulate the fathers.

    The Speaker urged fathers to be exemplary in their conduct, saying:

    “If you wouldn’t want your children to follow your example, then it means you are failing as a father. And once father fails, family fails, certainly, the nation will fail because the family is the strength of a nation.”

    He described Fathers’ Day as one of the most important days in the life of a nation, saying a nation is a collection of families.

    According to him, every leader, every good person, every armed robber, every militant, every terrorist comes from the family and when the family collapses, the nation collapses.

    In his sermon titled: “Fathers to the rescue of our beloved nation,” Methodist Church of Nigeria Prelate Samuel Kalu Uche, said God established the family as a basic and foundation unit of a country.

    “God has made fathers as the head and this assignment must be exercise in love, honesty, gentleness and unity. The responsibility of a father makes him to be accountable to God. A father must render a selfless service and he must be faithful to his wife,” he said.

    Attributing one of the problems besetting the nation to failure of many fathers, he pointed out that many fathers could not give their children good education, hence, they turned out to be criminals in the country.

    He noted that in the past children were taught to respect elders and to be upright, contrary to what is obtainable today where children are abandoned and they constitute nuisance in the society.

    The clergyman, who prayed for President Muhammadu Buhari’s quick recovery, said “anyone wishing the president dead is a wicked person.”

    “We should pray for the father of the nation to recover,” he said.

    Aso Villa Chapel Chaplain Pastor Seyi Malomo described the day as” a day to celebrate our source.”

    He said: “Every one of us has a source. There is a source of our heavenly father but that heavenly father graciously also gave us physical fathers. Every one of us traced our source to a father. And as we celebrate today, we are acknowledging ourselves; our President who is the source of this administration, the reason why we are here.

    “And we must celebrate him and we are celebrating all the fathers to let them know that they are really appreciated and that we are praying for them that more of their responsibilities, more of their roles will be felt by us and make our nation better and make our families better and make our communities better.”

    The two Bible readings from Ephesian 5: 22-33 and Ephesian 6: 1-4 were read by the Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Boboye Oyeyemi and Dogara.

    As part of the activities to mark the occasion, gifts were presented to President Buhari; Acting President Osinbajo; Senate President Bukola Saraki; Dogara; the Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice Walter Onnoghen, and the churches in Nigeria.

    There were also song presentations by the children and the fathers to celebrate the day.

    Other in attendance included Archbishop of Methodist Church Abuja, Oche Job; Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Justice, Taiwo Abidogun.

  • CAN visits Osinbajo, demands five-point agenda

    CAN visits Osinbajo, demands five-point agenda

    The Christan Association of Nigeria (CAN) has made five demands on the Federal Government.
    The demands were handed over to Acting President Yemi Osinbajo at a closed door meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Wednesday.
    The five demands, which were obtained on Thursday night include “Change obnoxious curriculum that demands students study Islamic Arabic Studies
    “Arrest and prosecute murderous herdsmen
    “Arrest and prosecute those who called for the expulsion of Igbos
    “Turn our youths into Entrepreneurs
    “Stop kidnapping on our roads.”
    CAN was led on the courtesy visit by its President, His Eminence, Rev Dr Samson Olasupo A Ayokunle.
    His full speech read “Your Excellency Sir,
    The leadership of Christian Association of Nigeria, the umbrella body for all Christian churches in Nigeria is here today to pay you a goodwill visit and to pray for the speedy recovery of the President of our nation, President Muhammadu Buhari so that he might be able to come back home and continue with his leadership responsibilities of this country to the good of all. It is our prayer that there would be miraculous intervention in his healing and all praises shall be to God.
    “This is our sacred duty as fellow human beings who can also fall sick and as Christians who value so much the life of all living creatures, especially human beings.
    “On the other hand, we want to commend your Excellency for doing your best to see that no vacuum is created by the team left behind by the President in the governance of the nation. We are watching the dexterity with which you are leading others to carry out government business with sense of admiration and thanks to God. We commend your submission to your principal and your humility in service. May God cause every grace to abound towards you so that you might be able to hold fort better each day until the President returns in the name of Jesus. Please be assured of our prayers always.”

    Obnoxious, divisive and ungodly secondary school curriculum.
    “We are here to point your attention to a time-bomb, obnoxious, divisive and ungodly secondary school curriculum that the Federal Ministry of Education is introducing into our schools and of which we had earlier complained to the Presidency. Then, if I am not mistaking, it was suspended but has again been re-introduced without any review at all. This curriculum the brain-child of Nigerian Educational Research Council, an agency of the Federal Ministry of Education. To us in Christian Association of Nigeria, it’s introduction is an ill-wind that blows nobody any good for so many reasons. Lead a State has started implementing it already and Christians that are more on the receiving side of it are already crying fowl because of its potential dangers now or in the future.
    “In this curriculum, Islamic and Christian Religious Studies will no longer be studied in schools as subjects on their own but as themes in a civic education. This is undermine the sound mitral values that these two subjects had imparted in the past to our children which had made us to religiously and ethnically co-exist without any tension. It was some three or two decades ago when our education planners started removing the teaching of religious values through the cancellation of morning devotion in schools that all these violence by youths in different forms came on board. I was in a meeting yesterday with some Muslim leaders where one of them also expressed his fears about the dangers in this new curriculum. As prophets to the nation, we demand a complete withdraw and ban of this curriculum. If allowed to be implemented, it would lead us to a godless nation with violence and all forms of ungodliness as the order of the day.
    “Furthermore sir, this curriculum went ahead to introduce Islamic Arabic Studies in another section together with French and made one of the two compulsory for the student. You are aware that we have very low percentage of French teachers in all our secondary schools in Nigeria. I am sure that over 80% of our secondary schools do not have French teachers at all but have Arabic teachers. The implication is that Christian students would have no choice than to study Arabic. If a Christian student voluntarily goes to study Islamic Religious Studies, there is nothing bad in that because some of us in both religions had done that before for better understanding, however, where the student is tactically forced into studying it because the alternative subject does not have teacher to teach it, it is a great problem tending to Islamization.
    “Still in this curriculum, Islamic Religious Knowledge was equally made available as a subject in another section without any corresponding availability of Christian Religious Knowledge. Is this not a divisive curriculum that can set the nation on fire? Is this fair to millions of Christians in this nation? A Christian student in a secondary school in Kwara State had the body lacerated with cane by the Arabic Teacher because the pupil refused to do Arabic Studies when French Teacher was not available and Christian Religious Knowledge, Hebrew or Greek were not part of the options at all. If we are going to do pilgrimage together as a nation, there must be fairplay, mutual respect for one another and justice which can be brought about by different arms of government. We demand for justice from the government on this matter very quickly. We would request for a return to the curriculum we were using before this dangerous one which did not produce insurgents or a wrongly indoctrinated Nigerians. A stitch in time saves nine.

    “Bring Murderous Herdsmen and Kidnappers to Book
    You are aware sir how the rampaging Herdsmen have been decimating the lives of farmers in this nation from the North to the South, the East and the West. Southern Kaduna is not totally free from their grip up till now. Killing and maiming of farmers continue in Benue, Enugu, Abraka in Delta State just to mention a few. The most painful thing is that we are seeing their victims without the seriousness from the law enforcement agents to arrest and successfully prosecute the murderous herdsmen. This has encouraged them to continue in their killing and kidnapping spree with reckless abandon.
    “Don’t we have a competent government in place with all the necessary law enforcement apparatus to ensure law and order? This government has to do more than what you have done presently to bring these criminals to Book. They had deemed the hopes of many and caused unprecedented sorrow in many homes. Please sir, do something to the activities of herdsmen before they destroy almost all Nigerians or before everybody would look for weapons for self defence. The sources of their weapons must be probed.

    ” We thank the Police and DSS for their recent breakthrough in apprehending some kidnappers around the country. This effort must be sustained for safety of all of us in our movements for our daily bread. We urge you to call the attention of Kogi State Governor and the Inspector General of Police to the kidnapping ring on Lokoja-Okene Road, Lokoja-Kabba Road and Abuja-Kaduna Road. Every week, several travellers are kidnapped on these roads. The feelers we have from those who got set free from them after the payment of huge ransom was that from the kidnappers’ conversations, the Police and the Community Leaders are partners with the kidnappers in the evil act. These two groups receive their own share from kidnapping. We suspect that the money amassed from kidnapping may still be used to cause further havoc by the terrorists perpetrating this act. We are hopeful that through your intervention and our prayer backing, there would be reprieve for Nigerians.

    Ultimatum from some Northern Youths and an Elder for the Ibos to vacate the North.
    “We are so disappointed to hear the ultimatum of hate made by some Northern Youths that the Easterners of Igbo extraction should leave every part of Northern Nigeria within three months. We condemn such statement in strong terms and we see it as divisive, misguided, ethnocentric and unconstitutional. We urge that the law enforcement agents should be directed by you to go after those behind it whether young or old. It is a reasonable statement that no amount of previous provocation can justify. We commend you for talking tough on this dangerous statement but still urge sir that you get them arrested as Kanu, the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra was arrested and prosecuted. We believe in one indivisible Nigeria where our diversities can be explored for growth and development. We must be tolerant of one another and co-exist in love.

    “Youth Unemployment
    Youth unemployment is another development of great concern in our nation. We urge your government to pay more attention to this issue by creating investment friendly environment that would absolve millions of youth roaming the streets daily without job or hope for tomorrow. Industrial Estates should be created as the late sage Chief Obafemi Awolowo did in Lagos which brought many industries to Lagos and is still the life wire of Lagos State economy till today and a major employer of labour. If this is done, kidnapping and other violent crimes would reduce and there would be tranquillity in the country.
    We would appreciate that from time to time you would create time to see the leadership of CAN for progressive discussion like this and prayers.
    Thank you very much sir for your time and patience.” it stated

  • CAN distances self from IPOB sit-at-home order

    CAN distances self from IPOB sit-at-home order

    The Archbishop of the Enugu Province, Anglican Communion, Rev. Emmanuel Chukwuma has said the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) is not in support of the sit-at-home declared by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB).

    Chukwuma spoke yesterday during the democracy day celebration and second year anniversary of Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.

    The cleric called on the people of the Southeast to go about their legitimate businesses, saying that the clergy were against the declaration.

    “Before I offer the opening prayer, let me state the position of the clergy on the sit-at- home declared by IPOB and MASSOB.

    “We are not in support of the call. We advise all to ignore it and go about their legitimate businesses,” he said.

    He said the people of Southeast would fare well and enjoy more and better dividends of democracy in a united Nigeria.

  • CAN to Buhari: Look inward in fighting corruption 

    CAN to Buhari: Look inward in fighting corruption 

    • Ayokunle accuses government of insincerity over Southern Kaduna killings

    President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, (CAN), Rev. Samson Ayokunle, on Friday advised President Muhammadu Buhari to extend the fight against corruption to those around him to avoid been partial.

    Ayokunle said the government should also show sincerity in strengthening the local currency so that: “the siege of economic hardship that has almost crippled the lives of Nigerians and increased the rates of suicide might be lifted. Salaries owed the workers all over the nation must be paid without delay. My Bible says that the wages of the workers must not be delayed overnight.”

    The CAN boss who is also the President of the Nigerian Baptist Convention (NBC), spoke in Abuja at the 104thAnnual session of the NBC.

    The theme of the session: ‘moving forward, overcoming the challenges of life through Jesus Christ will hold Saturday 22nd to 27th.

    His words: “Government should be more broad-minded on the issue of the fight against corruption because corruption in Nigeria was not restricted to any particular political party or any religion.

    “As President Muhammadu Buhari is outward looking he must be inward looking because the church is against corruption and like the former president of Gambia said, let us chase out corruption like mosquitoes. Let us chase corruption out of our country.

    “Government should know that they are not dealing with infants. The people that elected them into office have the right to call them to order and call them to account for all their actions. The executive, legislative and Judiciary are not immune from our questioning and we need to audit them.

    “They are responsible by law to all of us either we are at the religious section or circular. Nigeria belongs to all of us and Government must act with transparency and fairness. Otherwise, it will be to your tent oh Israel.

    “All must be done in political appointments and in the conduct of government business to reflect Federal Character not only on ethnicity but equally ensuring religious balance. The suspicious of favouritism by the government of one religious group to the detriment of others must be avoided. The more government adheres to these admonitions, the more coherent we would be as people and the greater the peace and development.”

    Ayokunle expressed sadness over the recent alleged killing of 13 people by the Fulani herdsman in Southern Kaduna adding that government has not been able to act decisively on the issue of the killings.

    He accused the Federal Government of not being in control of the situation.

    His words: “When there was a clash between the indigenes of lle-Ife and the settlers there, the northerners; immediately that happened government was so swift and active to arrest suspects but the same government with all the same state apparatus have not been able to act decisively on the issue of southern Kaduna.

    “When the Federal Government was sometimes accused, it was saying that they were liaising with the governor of Kaduna State, he was the one briefing the president but why didn’t they liaise with the governor of Osun State so that actions might be delayed as it is delayed in the case of Southern Kaduna?

    “All partial alibi or actions that were delayed trying to satisfy him, it is an unnecessary defence mechanism which the government must avoid.  Act with sincerity so that all might know that there is justice and fair play. It is in that way that all of us as Nigerians can do a successful pilgrimage together as a nation.

    “Just in February this year, the United States House of Representatives cited Nigeria as the most dangerous place for Christians in the world. Certainly, this is a most unpleasant classification for a country that is a democracy and the giant of Africa. What type of giant are we? It is a classification that should not make patriotic Nigerians glad in a country where the population is roughly divided equally between Islam and Christianity. It is essential for the Federal Government in whose care instruments of cohesion lie to quickly remedy this situation. We appeal to the government to desist from giving excuses anymore why the killings are still occurring, we want an end to be put to the killings henceforth. Enough is enough.”

    Ayokunle commended the Federal Government for waging war against Boko Haram sect and for sustaining it and that: “we equally salute the courage of our gallant military and we shall continue to pray for them over this good work of defending the people on this matter.

    “Equally, the release of the 21 of the several Chibok girls kidnapped three years ago is commendable but more efforts are solicited for the release of the rest before their lives are completely ruined for no sin of theirs.”