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  • Imam who saved Christians

    Imam who saved Christians

    Today, I reproduce my encounter with Abubakar Abdullahi, the genial matador for human coexistence, after he saved at least 500  Christians from a rage of bandits in Plateau State.

    Before he was an Imam, he was a man. He was 90.

    Before embarking on the journey, some locals said it was not far from Jos. Maybe 30 minutes. They may have been right if they reckoned with the landscape. The vision ahead promised booby-traps of bumps and body aches, even in a Toyota Land Cruiser that subdues rugged terrain into peculiar expressways.

    A contrast to what I had always known of Plateau State, with its breath-taking verdure, arboreal paradise and climate imported from Eden. The road to Yelwa Gindi Akwati was bald and ferocious with its dips, sways and rises on a rocky ride. Past tin mining sites, past monster rocks, riding through sand-clogged streams, the air sometimes crisp, sometimes a riot of dust. On mine sites, the graders lay still in mud-spattered cradles. Wealth lay beneath but everywhere you looked, poverty snorted. Someone remarked it was the scar of a failing federal system. Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong has lamented how rogue oligarchs with brigands siphon its mineral bounty.

    Peaks and valleys drape our vehicle with lights and shadows as we ride up and down the ragged road. We navigated a clump of trees here, a lone mango tree here and row of pear trees there, sometimes stunningly lush and some fading out of glory, all like sturdy fingers pointing to a baleful firmament. Also a cluster of grassy lawns had lost their lustre, but remain as insistent green carpets defying a birdless sky and an arid stretch of undulating land.

    “That is the first house they attacked and killed people,” a guide said, pointing to a mud house. The blend of thatched and zinc roof, black from fire, scattered all over a broken wall. We saw quite a few of such houses. It happened June 23, when a band of renegades rattled into Yelwa Gindi Akwati about 4pm with AK47, and undertook an orgy of killings and made a bonfire of homes. Their targets: Christians. That village also tenanted our hero.

    In the midst of this barbarous temerity, an 83-year-old man, Abubakar Abdullahi, stood for God and humans. He opened his mosque and his home. All who could enter he would defend. He had no arms, no brawn, no army. He, a fragile old man, with a soft voice and granite heart, asked the mosque to be locked, including an adjunct mosque. The mosques were filled. The overflow headed to his home of about five rooms. Men, women, children, all took shelter with their faith and an imam as their anchor. The goons came. The man stood at his door, between the militants and the helpless beings. The sky burst with rain, and the Imam fended them off with a plea. His mien appealed to them to save the souls.

    “I didn’t say anything to them,” he told me. “I was praying in my heart and looking at them.” The men were hooded, and spoke Hausa, Fulani and English, he said. As he stood before them, he tripped and fell. Rather than step over him, they stepped away, banged at the door of the mosque as well, but also left. All the lives were saved. Most of them Christians, as attested to by the Birom I saw there and his fellow custodians of the mosque.

    Were they 300? I asked. He said they were so many he could not count. I entered the mosque. If it was crammed full with people lying on the floor, it could have taken five hundred. It was not only Christians from his village but also those who fled there from neighbouring communities, including a place called Ex Land.

    In a region where Christians and Muslims have been reported to be at daggers-drawn, where the so-called herdsmen and farmers only met in blood puddles, this Imam bucked the narrative. He dared to disdain his personal safety for others and valorised human life without prejudice to religion. Because of him, hundreds of Nigerian men, women and children, secure a second chance in a year of wanton waste of sacred lives under the slaughter of ethnic and religious militants.

    He shunned the apocalypse of religious conflict and embraced peace now. Much was said about our Shero, Leah Sharibu, who stood her ground and would not surrender her Christian conscience on pain of death. She was a story of innocence and assertion of human resolve over the pressure of zealots. She represented the insistence of faith and human right.  The Imam staked his life to save hundreds of children like Leah and fathers and mothers. She tempted sectarian fealty, while the old man hailed over borders.

    Abubakar is a universal spirit. The Christian zealot will see remorse, the Muslim fanatic will find a new path, the atheist will coddle human pathos. He was a man with true evangelical zeal. A puritan of love and peace.  A partisan of harmony, not sects. He is not like the clerics who yelled for revenge, some in churches and others in mosques, cutting human society in cleavages of faith and murder.

    He did not abandon the Christians because they serve a different deity. “We are all children of God. Both faiths want peace.” He said.

    He counters the narrative where Christians in the United States bar Muslims from their country, and radical Muslims in the Middle East rape and slaughter Christians, where in North East, Boko Haram turns blood-filled eyes at The Holy Spirit, where a minister of defence is howling for grazing routes. Also a misguided president utters a wry plea for neighbours to accommodate each other. Mass deaths, mass burials. Dusk rapines, night raids. Families in disarray. We had all these where a man said no to slaughter, and yes to life.

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    Abubakar moved there like other Hausa-Fulani folks have done over the decades. The village has been a model of inter-faith harmony and even marriages. He arrived there in the early 1950’s when the Sardauna became the premier of Northern region.

    “The Christians welcomed us and gave us land,” he said. “We have lived together in peace ever since.” He noted that the Christians gave them the land where the mosque was built and they even contributed about N60,000 to build it.

     He also said those who preach hate between the religions have not studied the books.

    “I have read the Bible as well as the Qur’an,” he asserted. He read Hausa version. He spoke through translators. He said he saw many similarities between both faiths, and he read about Jesus’ miracles and all the stories, especially in the Old Testaments. “Jesus was mentioned about 25 times in the Qur’an and Mohammed five times,” he said. So he saw no reason for any frictions.

    Unlike many clerics, Christian and Muslim, who never face the ultimate test of faith, Abubakar excelled. In the novel Middlemarch by George Eliot, a young man who was undertaking a training to be a cleric raised doubts in the minds of some young women.

     A character said: “He would be a great hypocrite. But not yet.” It is like what Prophet Isaiah says of the weak,’’the children came to the birth, there is no strength to bring forth’’. Until a cleric excels like Abubakar, the potential of hypocrite hovers. Few are chosen.

    As for courage, he has no equal. He even turned down the government’s offer for protection. He deserves one of our highest national awards.

    He wanted to be a soldier and fight during the civil war. However, he had to remain at home to nurse his ailing father. When he died, Abubakar became Imam.          

  • ‘Why Christians must get involved in politics’

    ‘Why Christians must get involved in politics’

    Myriads of challenges are bedeviling the country; insecurity, killings, maiming, kidnapping, sexual violence among  others. What in your view is the solution?

    The level of insecurity in this country is totally unacceptable. Some people have said it is communal clashes but that is not true.

    It is an invasion by Fulani herdsmen who want to drive indigenous owners of land out of their lands and forcefully take over their patrimony. This is what is happening in Benue,  Taraba, Plateau and  various parts of the nation and the  federal government should know the truth about this and do something decisively about it. These ragtag Fulani herdsmen carrying guns cannot withstand the highly organised army. It means something is wrong somewhere. There are inside agents that are colluding, conniving with the Boko Haram, ISWAP, Fulani herdsmen.  The Federal Government should change the architecture and the structure of our national security.

    They should remove all the compromisers that are in place now, in position of power and influence that are determining what goes on and they should put people that are truly patriotic, who will flush out these marauders that are afflicting, killing, maiming, raping our people in Nigeria.

    And again, some people said, it is not the Fulani herdsmen in Nigeria that are doing it, it is the Fulanis that have come from neighbouring African countries like Chad, Niger and others, now if that is the case, then it means Nigeria is under foreign invasion and the Nigerian Armed forces should be very ruthless with them because the primary duty of the Nigerian Armed forces is to protect the territorial integrity of Nigeria and ensure that no foreign invaders come to trouble our people. So, let the Nigerian armed forces wake up and flush out all these evil people that are oppressing, killing, maiming, raping our people and driving them out of their patrimony. But you see the Nigerian Army cannot rise up except the Commander in Chief gives them clear command.

    We appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the President has done a lot of good things for Nigerians but  first and foremost, deal with this insecurity  decisively. The President should take another look at the security reports that are being presented to him  because in most cases they are false narratives that make victims become culprits and culprits to become the victims.

    For example, now food security is under threat when farmers cannot go to work on the farm because of fear of herdsmen. When those who go to work have to pay tax to be able to plant their crops, they are to pay tax to be able to harvest their crops, it means they become slaves on their own land. This is not acceptable.

    When these people invade villages , they kill, they burn houses, they drive the owners of the villages out and they change the names of the villages to their names, that is like there is no government in place and that’s Banana Republic  and the some people will be giving false report to the Commander in Chief.

    What about the specific killings of Christians in their states?

    It is true to a good extent because the three states  that I mentioned, Benue, Plateau, Taraba, are predominantly Christian states and these invaders focus on these three states as well as other Christian states. That is not acceptable and we want an intervention. As for me, I do not advocate that all Nigerians should carry arms because that’s a call for anarchy rather the government should rise up and deal with this evil people that are inflicting our people with all manners of evils in Nigeria but let me say that the people that  are being kidnapped and raped are not limited to Christian, they include other people but take note of this, those who are doing the killings , the maiming, the raping, Christians are not among the Perpetrators, No! It is on the other side and they claim they are doing it as a Jihad because they felt Nigeria belongs  to their great grandfather and they must conquer it from the north to the sea and that is not acceptable because it is a lie.

    Nigeria is not a conquered territory, Nigeria is a sovereign state, sovereign country under a sovereign government . The government should rise up and flush the marauders  out and protect the people and the land of Nigeria.

    How has PFN significantly, positively contributed to the growth and development of this country?

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    In many ways. First, fundamentally the Bible says righteousness exalts a nation, sin is a reproach to any people , so we teach ourselves and our people to live a life of righteousness that is acceptable before God. You see when light shines, it drives darkness away.  Nigeria would have been filled and taken over by darkness but for the presence of the saints of God.  I used the word saints because every believer that is born again is the saint of God.

    PFN promotes righteousness- leading people to Christ, from sin to righteousness, from devil to Christlikeness and we are doing that on a daily basis. Before,we were few in number and negligible but now we are over 65 million in PFN and is growing, and apart from turning  people to righteousness, we teach them to live a Godly life because if you are a true child of God you won’t steal, you won’t engage in corrupt practices, you won’t live in sin and you will fear God and do God’s will. PFN is an agent of transformation and we have been transforming people’s lives spiritually and in all facets including homes/marriages.

    Apart from that, in the education sector, we have so many primary and secondary schools that are based on Christian faith where the young ones are being taught the ways of righteousness and Godliness right from their childhood. We give  them the best education and mental development and not just that, we teach our students moral values, spiritual values, we teach them to be Godly and fear God.

    We are raising our children to be great leaders of this nation not only in primary and secondary schools even in our tertiary institutions.

    As the National President of PFN, I took a cursory look across the nation to access what we have done and I counted 27 private universities that are faith based, that are within the fold of PFN. In our universities there is no room for strike, you can tell from the day your ward enters the university  when he will graduate and that doesn’t  change.  There is zero tolerance for cultism. Cultism is never heard in our faith based tertiary institutions and universities. There is zero tolerance for hard drugs.

    I am a proprietor and Chancellor of Precious Cornerstone University.  You can’t hear of strike, no cultism. There is zero tolerance for promiscuity, sexual abuse, sexual harassment whether among staff or among students, no! We raise our students in an atmosphere of Godliness and we give them the best form of education and educational exposures with our partners abroad across Europe , North America, Canada and others. We use our influence to do exchange programmes between other universities and Nigerian universities and our children  are coming out top and they have good jobs and are living  Godly lives with positive major contributions. We also train them in entrepreneurial skills which make them self-independent.  Again, in the midst of the economic hardship of Nigeria, we have welfare packages and palliatives to  encourage our people. We don’t stop at palliatives, we create jobs, the schools that we establish, we employ qualified teachers and administrators in hundreds of thousands  of our schools across the country.  In our universities, we have managements, lecturers, non-academic staff and we create jobs on our campuses.  We employ architects, civil mechanical, electrical and different types of engineers. We employ builders, artisans, bricklayers, carpenters and others.

    We are driving the economy and a lot of our universities have farms where foods are produced.  We teach our students to be job and wealth creators, not just carrying papers around looking for jobs. Those who graduated from our universities are self-employed not only self-employed, they are also employers of labour. That gives joy. We are positively contributing  to Nigeria’s economy day after day in a huge way.

    But some people are complaining that church members can’t afford these faith based tertiary institutions due to the high tuition fees. What’s your view on this sir?

    That’s a false narrative. Those who give license to  private  and government universities are not fools.  They know that private university establishment is a high capital intensive project.  If you don’t truly love this nation and our youths, you cannot get into the business of private universities because it is an investment that doesn’t yield instant result.  It is only after a long hurl. Take for  example our university, Precious Cornerstone University,  is about eight years old and we are still  pouring  huge money into it on a monthly basis not because we are taking  money from it.  No! Even the master plan that we developed  for NUC that NUC approved in the financial projection, they projected  that  we will break even when we are about fifteen years on ground  but before that fifteen years we will be pouring money on landed properties, buildings, facilities, lecturers, non-academic staff, NUC requirements and others. As you can  see,  we give full and partial scholarships in faith based universities across PFN. In fact, in our own university, Precious Cornerstone University, almost half of the students are on scholarships  between my wife and I. We sponsored at  least 50 of the first  set in full scholarships. We were paying through the nose. We invested in infrastructure, we invested in lecturers and non-academic staff and we still have to pay for 50 students and that’s  a lot but it’s our pleasure to see them graduate with a smile on their faces, so we are making intense contributions, those who accuse the churches of using faith based universities to make money, let them go and start one and let them see how easy it is to raise a university  and we’ll come and learn from their secret of success and  how they could recover their money in two, three years.

    Also, in Precious Cornerstone University, the first set of our students came from the twenty four states of the federation. When I walk on our campus and I hear students speaking different languages, such as Efik, Benin, Hausa and others, it gives me joy.

    In PFN, what’s the Directorate of Politics and Good Governance all about? Is it that the church is romancing with politicians?

    No! If the church had been romancing with the politicians I would not be speaking as I am speaking now. I am speaking  as a man of God.  I love politicians,  they are part of our flocks that we watch over, they are Nigerians and they deserve to be loved , they deserve to be protected and to be cared for like any Nigerian but we are not compromised at all .We are ministers of God and we seek the truth to power.We want the government to rise up and do the needful.

    About the Department of Politics and Good Governance in PFN, I set that up to be able to educate the masses of Christians, particularly the Pentecostals in this nation.  By available statistics, we have over 65million Pentecostals in Nigeria.  There is no President that has won national elections with 65million votes. It has never happened. So we now felt that if our people are properly educated to get involved in politics from the grassroots by joining the political parties  of their choice, by joining the dominant  political parties in their  states and get involved from  the grassroots.

    Up till now what happens is that we are voting for the politicians, but we were not actively involved in politics because we’ve been taught that politics is a dirty game and we are avoiding it . The best that we have been doing is to get our voter card and vote for whom? Vote for the people who brought us to where we are and who are interested in keeping us as an underdeveloped nation and our youths are trooping out of the country in droves No!

    We want to get involved  because we are the salt of the earth.  For our impact as salt  to be effectively felt, we are telling  our people,  Christians to get involved in politics  from the grassroots, from their ward levels and be involved in dominant parties in their states.  When it is time to pick those that will be delegates, we encourage Christians to be there, when it is time to pick those that will be head in local governments, state levels and National Assemblies, Christians should not be behind the fence saying  they are praying.  Christians have been praying, we will continue to pray,  yet let them get involved. Don’t sit on the fence by getting your voter’s cards alone. Be the person that will be voted for.

    We establish the Directorate of Politics and Good Governance in PFN to enlighten our members and to let them know of the need to actively participate in politics from the grassroots, and we put somebody  there who has experience, a truly detribalized Nigerian who hails from Edo but  lived in Oyo State and won political position on Oyo State.  He is an insider in what goes on in the political world before God called him;  Pastor Femi Emmanuel. He is educating Christians not only to pray but to actively  participate in politics from the grassroots because  we have  been edged out for too long and it is time to get involved.

    I gave Pastor  Femi Emmanuel the task of teaching and educating us and they have set structures from the  national to zones, from zones to states from states to all the 774 local government areas and CDAs , now they are going to ward levels educating Christians on how to get involved peacefully in politics and political structures of this nation in order to influence the governance of this nation from inside and not from outside.

    You just concluded the 2025 PFN National Executive Retreat in Uyo with the theme ‘PFN Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow’. What were the key resolutions?

    First, we resolved to intensify prayers and fasting for Nigeria. The challenges the nation faces go beyond human ability—we need divine intervention. All our delegates from across the country are returning with a renewed commitment to pray for Nigeria.

    Secondly, we encouraged active political participation among our members—not just voting, but getting involved from the grassroots. While I, as a father to all, cannot engage in partisan politics, I urge our members to step out, contest, and lead with integrity.

    Thirdly, we agreed that we must embody the change we preach. If we speak against corruption, tribalism, and nepotism, we must live above them. We are the light and salt of the nation, and through love and righteousness, we believe Nigeria will overcome its current challenges.

    You also mentioned PFN at 40. What is the significance of this celebration?

    PFN at 40 is a major milestone. Under the same theme—“PFN Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow”—we will host a grand dinner and award night on October 27, 2025. We’ll gather 500 eminent Nigerians, including past PFN leaders, governors, lawmakers, and Christian business leaders, to honour their contributions to the nation and the fellowship. It will be a moment to reflect, celebrate, and look forward.

  • Strive to be united in the spirit of God, Cleric charges Christians

    Strive to be united in the spirit of God, Cleric charges Christians

    Pastor Emmanuel Oyeniyi has encouraged Christians all over the country to strive to be united in the spirit of God.

    According to him, “Our works, manners, and customs may be different, but in the spirit we are one.

    He said this at The Apostolic Church Nigeria, Oke-Otubu area, Modakeke, Osun state, during the Induction of Pastor David A. Oyeleke as second Area Superintendent on Sunday, June 2.

    He said: “Our unity is a spiritual unity, our works, manners, customs may be different, but in the spirit, we are one.

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    “In our inner heart and mind, we must be completely one.

    “Unity does not come automatically, to remain united takes a great deal of work on our part.

    “Satan is always trying to divide us, we need to make every effort to preserve our unity.”

    Pastor David Oyeleke, in his closing remark, thanked the preacher and maintained that unity will prevail in the church and Nigeria at large. 

    He said: “Nigeria will not scatter, Nigeria and the church will continue to be united.”

    Amongst those present at the event are Pastors Akerele, Ayorinde, Oladeji, Gbadero, Adeosun, Oyewale, and others.

  • Inclusion of Christians in govt excites youths

    Inclusion of Christians in govt excites youths

    Ten thousand Christians from 19 northern states and Abuja yesterday held a walk for President Bola Tinubu on his court victory and inclusive government.

     Operating under All Christian Youths in Northern Nigeria (ACYNN), they hailed Tinubu for  appointing Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, Chief of Defence Staff, Christopher Musa, and other Christians.  

    The Christian youths said the appointment is a testament to Tinubu’s leadership style, centred on inclusiveness. 

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    In a letter co-signed by its National President, Dominic Alancha and four others, they said Tinubu surprised Christians, especially after reservations about sane faith ticket. 

    The group said it is pleased with choice of Musa, a Christian from Kaduna who understands impact of insecurity.

     “We have been impressed by your efforts in appointing northern Christians to pivotal roles. This is a step towards inclusivity” the group said.

     ‘’Your appointments, such as naming Akume from Benue State as SGF have resonated with well-intentioned Nigerians, and for this, we  greet you, Mr. President, also for the others.

  • SAN urges Christians to join politics

    A Senior Advocate of Nigeria Lanre Ogunlesi has advised Christians to go into partisan politics to influence decision-making and attract amenities to their people.

    He was guest speaker at a symposium to mark the 40th anniversary of All Saints’ Anglican Church Ikosi-Ketu, Lagos with the theme ‘The church as facilitator in national transformation: setting the agenda for law, polity and economy’.

    He said it was wrong for Christians to remain apolitical, thinking that only prayers and social interventions could solve their problems.

    While these were okay, he said there was the need for Christians to act as ‘policy missionaries’ in government.

    Ogunlesi said it was wrong for Christians to say that the Bible frowns at their foray into politics, a reason, he added, that they did not have any input in budgets, policy and societal agenda.

    Noting the prevalence of poverty in the country, he submitted that Christians could only contribute to its reduction or nation building through partisan politics.

    Ogunlesi canvassed a review of church’s doctrines about the society.

    He called for a revisit of the role of the church and believers in the running of their nations.

    ‘’I understand why the teachings of the church has gone in the direction of the secular philosophy of separation of the state and the church.

    “That position can be understood, especially after the abuse of the Catholic Church in usurping the authority of the state and government in the Dark Ages.

    ‘’The response of the church is like the case of throwing away the bath water with the baby.

    “Even though I clearly do not believe or advocate for the official church or any church whatsoever to be engaged in running government or state, I cannot agree with the notion that believers should by any means be kept out of governance or from the running of the nation.

    ‘’This is because Christians and believers are equal citizens of their various nations just like every other citizen.

    “They possess the same right and privileges as all other citizens including the right to vote and be voted for.

    “No constitution of a democratic nation keeps away the believers or Christian citizens from participating in the running of their countries,’’ he added.

    He blamed the church for not adopting a strategic approach to issues in the past.

    He said: “The 2019 elections are a good example of a lack of strategy as the church asked members to go and collect their Permanent voters’ cards but played no role in choosing what candidates emerged for the electorate.’’

    The eminent lawyer urged Christians to amend their ways, adding that they are the beacons of light and hope for others to emulate in the society.

    He said any Christian who compromised in his beliefs is not worth it.

    He advised such people to forsake their sinful ways and return to God.

    He said church leaders and members could learn from William Wilberforce who devoted his life to the abolition of the slave trade and the reformation of the British society.

    ‘’It is in this way that church leaders and church members may be enabled to lead the church in mission in Nigeria as agents of transformation,” he said.

    Former Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) Vice Chancellor Prof Wale Omole, who chaired the symposium, challenged Christians on being alive to their beliefs.

    He lamented that many Christians do not believe in God, urging them not abandon their spiritual calling.

    Venerable Joshua Ogunleye (retd), who served in the church for 11 years, said it was tough in the beginning.

    He recalled that they had no permanent place of worship and were thus moving from place to place until they got to the present abode.

    Eminent industrial mogul Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, who was a discussant, urged Christians to be true to their religion.

    He said ethnic considerations should be allowed to creep into our decisions.

    He claimed that many Christians are church goers and are therefore hypocrites, urging them to return home.

    A journalist Mr Babajide Kolade-Otitoju, said the campaign to cleanse or change would be difficult.

    He wants Christians to return to sound Biblical practices.

     

  • Christians, others urged to imbibe Jesus’ virtues

    The Balogun General of Epe, Chief Lanre Razak, has urged Christians to imbibe the virtues of love, faith, trust, selflessness and perseverance demonstrated by Jesus Christ, in order to achieve a better society.

    In a goodwill message to mark Easter, Razak said its  celebration offered Christians  opportunity to chart a new beginning, considering the successful conduct of the  general election and the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Describing Easter, which commemorates the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ over 2,000 years ago, as an important yearly event in Christendom, he said a positive change of attitude by all would address insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, cultism and corruption in the country.

    Razak, a former Lagos State commissioner for public transportation, advised office holders at the federal, state and local government levels to emulate the virtues of Jesus Christ by demonstrating greater servant-leadership and accountability in governance to accelerate the nation’s socio-economic development and raise the living standard of the citizenry.

    He said: “We need leaders who can sacrifice their personal comfort for the common good of the citizens. The country needs more patriotic and selfless leaders who can improve the welfare of the people, instead of focusing only on their families, friends and communities.

    “I urge those in leadership positions to see public office as a call to service, and not to be served. They should change their attitude and draw lessons from the life of Jesus Christ during his earthly ministry and apply them in the discharge of their duties. They should shun bribery and corruption and serve the people transparently and with the fear of God.

    “At Easter, we are reminded of God’s unconditional love for His children, which was so strong that His Son had to die for mankind to be reconciled with God.’’

    Razak, a member of the Lagos State Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC), said the fact that Jesus Christ didn’t give up the faith during his ordeals ahead of his crucifixion and death, should motivate Christians that no matter the challenges the country was passing through, they should remain focused and not to give up because they would surely overcome like Christ.

    He said: “I call on all Christians and, indeed, all well-meaning Nigerians to demonstrate Christ-like qualities in their private and public conduct, even as I wish all Christian faithful a wonderful Easter celebration. Christians should also use this occasion to pray for continued peace, unity and prosperity in Nigeria.

    “This is a good time for them to entreat God to end insecurity and other problems facing the country. Let them shun violence, and set a good example for all Nigerians to emulate.”

    Razak enjoined Christians to continue with the intense prayers, fasting and almsgiving, which characterised the observance of the 40-day Lenten journey that ended on Good Friday and should find more hope in Christ’s resurrection at Easter.

    ‘’I use this occasion to call on Christians in Nigeria, especially those in Lagos State, to emulate the shining example of Jesus Christ. They should shun vices and continue to show love to their fellow human beings. They should relate with them in love, humility and live in peace,” he said.

  • Priest wants Christians in politics as Catholics mark Good Friday

    Catholics worldwide troop out in their numbers to commemorate the story of the Old Rugged Cross on Good Friday.

    For congregants of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, Shasha-Akowonjo, Lagos, this yearly tradition is a highly anticipated event.

    This year was not any different as the church’s youth wing reenacted the crucifixion of Jesus Christ at Calvary.

    They performed before a teeming crowd which gathered at St Vincent Primary School, Shasha-Akowonjo, Lagos, and on major streets in the environs.

    The catholic faithfuls trekked over 1.5km through the neighbourhoods as part of traditions to embark on a spiritual journey with the crucified Christ as He staggered on the cross’s awful weight to Golgotha, the Place of the Skull.

    Speaking about the essence of the re-enactment, Rev. Father Nathaniel Ogar MSP, Priest in Charge, said that it’s to bring to one’s consciousness the unfathomable love of God for man that has brought renewal not only just to mankind but to the entire cosmos.

    According to him, Easter inspires hope. “As Christians let the Easter reality fan the flame of faith for a better tomorrow. The current state of insecurity and hopelessness should rather strengthen our resolves to participate actively in the socio-economic and political life of our country. In other words, we should work our prayers for justice and protection of our common good,” he said.

  • Let’s heal Nigeria, Umahi charges Christians

    As Christians celebrate Easter, marking the resurrection of Jesus Christ, Chairman of the South East Governors Forum and Governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi, has charged Christians to use the solemnity of the season to heal all wounds arising from the last elections in the country.

    Umahi in his Easter message signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Emmanuel Uzor, said this year’s Easter is apt as it presents clear opportunity for Christians and Nigerians in general to heal the country and make peace with one another as the only panacea to development.

    Umahi said there is no sacrifice too much to make to achieve peace and called on Christians to emulate Jesus by giving all, adding that all that was not given is lost and prayed God to continue to sustain mankind in His everlasting love.

    He acknowledged that the country has been greatly wounded by various divisive political tendencies but said this year’s Easter should be the season to address all these challenges that face us as a people and learn to forgive one another in the spirit of Easter.

     

  • Akeredolu greets Christians on Easter celebration

    Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State has rejoiced with Christians across the country on the successful celebration of this year’s Easter.

    He urged the Christian community to continue to trust and believe the words of God which enjoins them to love one another.

    In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Segun Ajiboye, the governor noted that Easter, which is celebrated in remembrance of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, preaches love and the hope of everlasting life, and he therefore asks Christians to continue to have hope and faith in the nation’s leaders’ capacities to develop the country.

    While urging the Christian community to be diligent and steadfast in their worship of God, Akeredolu equally asked them not to forget to make moderation their watchword during the celebrations.

     

  • ‘Christians should stop criticising Osinbajo’

    Sword of the Spirit Ministries, operators of Christ Life Church recently marked its 30th anniversary. Founder of the church, Bishop Francis Wale Oke, spoke on the journey since inception especially, the good and the ugly moments as well as on some national issues as it relates to the church, Christianity among others. Yinka Adeniran was there. Excerpts:

     

    THIRTY years after the church took off, how has the journey been?

    The journey has been wonderful. Really, the Lord has been gracious. I started out as an itinerant evangelist, going across all the nations to hold interdenominational crusades. We had held stadium revival in virtually all the state capitals, except Adamawa.

    But after 14 years of gospel crusade, the Lord instructed us to start a church. He had spoken to me earlier in 1984 that we were going to start a church in Ibadan and that the church would go global but that He would tell me when the time arrives.

    Then, friends and Christian leaders began to speak to me. Bishop David Oyedepo spoke to me about setting up a church and I said no. Pastor E.A. Adeboye spoke to me about it and I told him that I would start when God asks me to.

    Archbishop Benson Idahosa came to our convention in 1988 and announced that we were going to start a church but I said no. This was because in doing the work of the Kingdom, as an Apostle, you don’t base your work on the words of men, you listen to what the Lord says.

    Because if you meet with challenges, men cannot help you solve the challenges. But if it is God, you have nothing to fear. So on the 8th of February, 1989 while in Lagos, the Lord told me it was time for the church. So when I got back to Ibadan, I told the fellowship we were starting a church.

    On the 12th of February, 1989, Christ Life Church took off. Within the first year of the church, we were over a thousand. We bought the portion of this garden in 1990. So it was rapid. The journey has been amazing, not without its challenges though.

    There were stories about angelic visit in the journey so far

    Yes, I have experienced angelic visitations. My first experience was in 1980 in Port-Harcourt and it has to do with the person I was going to marry. I was about making a wrong choice and the angel of the Lord appeared to me to stop me. The second time I had an angelic visitation was when I was in the midst of a spiritual crisis. So I decided to fast without stopping.

    When the fast reached 178 days, I was praying in my house in the night and just about 3:30 am, I heard a male voice singing at the gate of my house. When I kept quiet, he called me by my name (the name by which only my mother calls me) and spoke words of comfort and assurance to me. Right there and then, I began to praise God.

    The third angelic visitation was about this land. Because of the numerical growth of the church, we went searching for land everywhere. So one day, my secretary came in to tell me about an elderly man who wanted to meet me. The man came in white Babariga looking fresh.

    I welcomed him and offered him a seat, which he refused. He said: “I learnt you are looking for land, have you considered Olaogun’s hatchery? They’ve broken it into plots and they want to sell. It is along Old Ife Road. Go check it. It may be good for you.”

    I appreciated him and asked for his name, but he smiled and said, “I’ll see you.” I didn’t guess anything. I thought he was one of the estate agents. I asked for his card so we could talk subsequently, he smiled again and said, “I’ll still see you.”

    I wanted to offer him a gift, he rejected it and said, “I’ll see you again.” And then he disappeared. The information he gave us that day led us to this place. I’ve had another one too after that. I’m not going to tell you that one.

    Could you reflect on your challenges when you were about starting and on how you have been able to maintain success?

    We didn’t have any problem about starting because it is not Francis Wale Oke’s church, it is the church of Christ. He leads us as we follow Him. And every step has been interesting. We have been working with God as He reveals His plans to us day by day. We are not in competition with our friends.

    They are where they are because that’s how God has led them. We are where we are because that is how God has led us. Our eyes are set on God because He never misses the way, in fact, He is the way.

    Behind every glory, there are stories. We’ve had challenges, but by and large, the real challenge is the challenge of men, people. Jesus himself warned us to beware of men. Jesus did not commit Himself to people because he knew what was in them. You would raise people and expend your emotion on them, yet they would turn to stab you on the back.

    The challenge of men you fed, who turned out to be Judas Iscariot. If you take that away, there is no challenge. The whole book of Jonah captures this well. The storm, fish, grass and things obeyed God but when God spoke to man, the man went the other way.

    How have you managed to move on despite the challenges of men?

    We take our time to pray. The hearts of men are in the hands of God. Again, we use the word of God. The word of God has the capacity to change, shape and convict the heart of men. We teach the word. Then, we work in patience. When you work with people, you have to be patient to deal with people.

    Would you like to reflect on some of the good moments you have had?

    So many, but I will tell you one. On the 8th of March this year, I sat in the Sanctuary to watch the matriculation ceremony of the pioneer students of Precious Cornerstone University and I was moved to tears. As I sat there, I made a play back in my mind to 12 years on the memory lane.

    We made the declaration for our vision for the university on November 11, 2006 and for the next 12 years, it was battle. The operational licence was not forthcoming and we remained resolute not to start the university until the licence was released.

    We were not ready to do anything illegal. Our licence was issued by the federal government on December 19, 2017. And in March 8, 2019, I saw the students matriculating. They were from 21 states of the federation and the federal capital territory. Someone said our school is truly a federal university and I give glory to God for that. It’s a moment of joy.

    How have you been able to combine the home front with the ministry?

    To succeed in ministry, one must understand God’s priority. In God’s priority, God comes first. Your health comes next and your family before your ministry. Failure looms when the order is violated. God taught me the priority of a minister’s life and I’ve maintained my focus.

    Some said you are a workaholic?

    Well, nobody can succeed in ministry without being a workaholic. But then, we work like God and not like a fool. In Genesis 1, God works very hard. He prepares His work in the evening and completes it in the day. That is why you would read, “And the evening and the morning were the first day.”

    So God’s day starts the previous night and that is a serious strategy for success. Plan your day the previous night; get up in the day and implement it. But then, on the seventh day, He withdrew from all the works and rested. For me, I do prayer-work to relax. I come back sweating, relaxed and refreshed.

    What has God told you about Nigeria?

    There is a great future for Nigeria. Nigeria will not break. By the way, I’ve carried Nigeria as a burden in my heart since I became prophetically conscious in 1976. As a prophet, I intercede. I do not go to the pages of newspaper to predict what would happen.

    Nigeria is going through the stage of becoming a prosperous and great nation. The problem of Boko Haram, insurgency and uprisings will pass away. God will raise leaders who will be able to unite Nigeria for us. Meanwhile, our leaders are trying but they are not there yet.

    We need their irrevocable integrity and commitment now more than before. We need them to throw up a new crop of leaders who are 21st century compliant and current with the on-goings in the world technologically and economically. The set of leaders who can take Nigeria from being a consumer nation to a producer nation and from being an importing nation to an exporting nation. The only two things I think Nigeria is exporting today are people and faith.

    Being a dirty game, should Christians engage in politics?

    Politics is a very dirty game and that is why Christians must go there to clean it up. It is a systemic rot which cannot be cleaned up in just four years. Let genuine Christians who have been discipled go into politics to clean it up.

    The National Assembly is planning to constitute its leadership and CAN have been agitating that Christians be taken into cognizance.

    Yes, CAN is doing that because Christians have been marginalised in many ways and CAN must be sure that there is fairness and equity. CAN is not asking that all the slots in the leadership be given to Christians, they are just demanding that there should be a balance.

    Whether you believe it or not, religion has become a major factor in our national politics. It will be wrong for CAN to keep quiet now. Their stand is correct. They have my backing for staging that course. Otherwise, you just wake up and discover that there is no Christian in the leadership of the national assembly. The church should have a voice there.

    Some people alleged VP Osinbajo is not representing the interest of Christians well. As a leader, how do you view that?

    The point is it is easy to criticise. A lot of people don’t know the role that man is playing there. He is the ‘sole light’ in the midst of darkness in Aso Villa and he is doing his best. On a personal level, he’s been there for four years without any scandal. He has carried himself with poise and dignity. His grasp of national issues, the analysis, the confidence with which he speaks, oh come on!

    Church, wake up and celebrate your hero and champion. On the two occasions on which he has acted as President, everybody knew everything was different. What else do you want him to do? He is not the President. There is a limit to the role of the vice president.

    He and the president are close because the President has found him trustworthy. We’ve had issues in this nation before where governor and deputy governor would be at each other’s throat. It was the same with the President and Vice President such that rather than getting busy with the administration of the country, they would be creating distraction. We don’t have that now. The man just wants to serve the nation. I give him kudos.