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Tag: Christians

  • 65,000 Christians in Katsina fast, pray for Buhari

    65,000 Christians in Katsina fast, pray for Buhari

    The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) says about 65,000 of its members in Katsina State, have begun seven-day fasting and prayers for the quick recovery of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Rev. Nelson Onyeka Chukwu, CAN Chairman in the state, who disclosed this to journalists on Monday in Katsina, said that the prayers would be offered at Mountain of Fire Church at Kofar-Kaura, Katsina and in six other Churches.

    Chukwu listed the other Churches as Church of God Mission, Calvary Baptist, ECWA, St. Martin De Porres Catholic Church, and C&S, Dutsin-ma road, all in Katsina.

    He further said that that the prayers would be concluded next Sunday at St. John’s Anglican Church, Katsina.

    Chukwu said that the decision was in recognition of the good works the President started for the country.

    ‘’We are praying for our President’s quick recovery because of the good works he had begun for the country,’’ he said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), report that Muslims faithful in the state and Daura Emirate Council also offered prayers for the President’s quick recovery.

    No fewer than 50,000 youths in Daura, Duara Local Government in the state held rally in solidarity for the President’s administration last Saturday.

  • Shun acts that can breed disunity, crisis, Ambode tells Christians

    Shun acts that can breed disunity, crisis, Ambode tells Christians

    …CAN lauds governor, says Lagos progressing despite recession

    Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, yesterday enjoined Christians to continue to make conscious efforts to sustain the peaceful atmosphere across the country, urging them to also refrain from acts capable of breeding division and igniting avoidable crisis.
    A press statement, signed by Habib Aruna, the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, quoted the governor, who spoke at the 2017 Inter-Denominational Divine Service, organised by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) at the Shepherdhill Baptist Church, Obanikoro, Lagos, as saying he was absolutely convinced the success stories his administration has recorded so far were made possible by the collective prayers of all Lagosians and more importantly, the relatively peaceful atmosphere that has prevailed within the state over time.
    Earlier, Chairman of CAN, Lagos State Branch, Apostle Alexander Bamgbola, thanked Ambode for finding time to grace the occasion, noting that it was the first time in the history of the service that a governor of Lagos State of the Christian faith would be attending the programme personally.
    Rev. Sunday Matilukuro, who gave the sermon, said he was particularly amazed on how Ambode was able to surmount the early challenges his administration faced to deliver life changing projects across the State.
    Speaking on the theme, ‘Grace in a Recession’, the cleric urged Christians to seek the face of God and shun sin if they must rise above recession to succeed.

  • I didn’t ask Christians to kill Muslims, says cleric

    I didn’t ask Christians to kill Muslims, says cleric

    The General Overseer of Omega Fire Ministries Worldwide, Apostle Johnson Suleman, has denied inciting Christians to kill Muslims.

    The cleric’s purported statement was said to have been responsible for an attempt by some officials of the Department of State Services (DSS) to arrest him at a hotel in Ado-Ekiti on Tuesday.

    Addressing reporters yesterday in Ado-Ekiti, where he is holding a four-day open air crusade, Suleman maintained that he never incited Christians to go after Muslims.

    He said he only advised Christians to defend themselves if their places of worship were attacked by gunmen.

    Insisting he was quoted out of context, the cleric said it was sinful for anyone to order a fellowman to kill a creation of God, describing the alleged comment as a misrepresentation of facts.

    He said: “They said I preached in Auchi two weeks ago and implied that I was instigating Christians against Muslims.

    “I have always been an advocate of peace and I can’t stay around and say such.

    ‘There are widows, orphans we take care of. No shepherd will see his sheep being killed and be happy.

    “I have gotten anonymous calls from Fulani herdsmen about what I said.

    ‘What I said was that, if gunmen attack churches, you must defend yourself, but if they come to pray, don’t attack.

    “But I was quoted out of context. I am not stupid, I live among the crowd and I am not senseless. Time for self defence has come. Whether you are a Muslim or Christian, someone can’t just come to your house and kill your children and you will keep quiet.

    “I said Christians must not go after them, but if they come after us, then defend yourself. This is what they twisted. I have heard different versions of the story.

    “I was in Abuja for three days why didn’t they come after me. But now that I am in Ekiti, they want to lump me up with a man they think is against them. It would have been easier to pick me up in Abuja, I don’t live here.

    “I can present the video of my preaching.  I have always  preached that youths must not kill.

    “It was wrong for the police or any security agency to come around me without any verifiable facts.”

    The cleric threatened to sue the DSS, if the agency didn’t apologise within 24 hours.

    Suleman said he would claim exemplary damages for the politically motivated moves against him.

    He said the DSS’ action was a breach of his rights.

    His threat was contained in a January 25 letter to the agency through his lawyer, Olayiwola Afolabi.

    Church members denied that Suleman ordered them to kill herdsmen.

    They said his statement on January 15 was directed to his security detail, which included policemen and not church members.

    Head Pastor in Edo State Pastor Azemhe Azena said Suleman did not incite members but only told his security detail to defend him in case of any attack.

    Speaking at a briefing in Benin City, Azena said the general overseer was not a  criminal that should be intimidated from speaking the truth.

    “Apostle Johnson Suleman is not facing any corruption charge neither is there any petition against him.

    “The attempted arrest being masterminded by the Presidency against him is unconstitutional,  wrong and defective.”

    The Buhari Support Organisation (BSO) has cautioned DSS against arresting Suleman.

    It said it did not want the DSS or the Federal Government to be drawn into a religious battle.

    Its  Deputy Director Blessing Agbomhere said any attempt to arrest Suleman could cause setback for the Muhammadu Buhari administration.

  • Falana seeks prosecution of alleged killers of Shiites, Christians in Southern Kaduna

    Falana seeks prosecution of alleged killers of Shiites, Christians in Southern Kaduna

    Lagos lawyer, Femi Falana, has asked Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State to direct the Attorney-General to set the engine in motion for the immediate arrest and prosecution of the alleged criminal elements who massacred 347 Shiites and the 204 people in Southern Kaduna.

    Falana said any country which operates under the rule of law would not allow such perpetrators  of violence to be treated  like sacred cows.

    In a statement issued in Lagos yesterday, the lawyer lamented the refusal of the Kaduna State government to prosecute the soldiers who killed the 347 Shiites as recommended by the judicial commission of inquiry which it had set up.

    He also noted that the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Buhari, has refused to direct the army authorities to constitute a court-martial for the trial of the military officers who issued the illegal order for the genocidal acts.

    Falana recalled the official attempt to counter the allegation credited to the Christian Association of Nigeria(CAN) that 800 people were killed during the three-month violent attacks on many communities in Southern Kaduna by armed herdsmen compared to the figure of 204 announced by Governor  Nasir El-Rufai administration.

    He noted that the official figure was reported to have been compiled by  the National Emergency Management Agency and the Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency and that both agencies have continued to make relief materials available to thousands of people whose houses were set ablaze  as well as  children and wards whose parents and guardians were brutally killed during the crisis.

    Falana acknowledged that the National Peace Committee led by a former head of state, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, has commenced moves to promote “peace” between the assailants and the family members of those who were killed.

    He admitted the fact that at the end of a meeting with Governor El-Rufai in Kaduna last week, General Abubakar said that peace could only return to the area, if the people were ready to dialogue and forgive one another.

    He recalled that the state government had revealed at a judicial commission of inquiry last year that the Nigerian Army had massacred 347 Shiites when armed troops opened fire on them in Zaria for causing a traffic jam which interrupted the movement of the convoy of the Chief of Army Staff on December 12, 2015.

    He accused the Kaduna State government “of aiding and abetting the Army in the secret burial of the bodies of the slain Shiites  in a mass grave in Mango village, near Kaduna.

  • Group accuses Northern Federal varsities of denying Christians admission

    The Fellowship of Church of Christ Nigeria (TEKAN) has alleged that Federal-owned tertiary institutions in the north are denying Christian children admission into certain courses.

    The Christian group with headquarters in Jos, the Plateau State capital, raised the alarm at its 62nd General Assembly held at the  church’s headquarters in Jos.

    TEKAN is made up of 15 denominational churches in the North.

    In an 11-point communiqué issued at the end of the five-day conference, the group said: “The assembly wish to express great concern about admission into higher federal tertiary educational institutions in the north, which are denying Christian children placements into some professional courses, such as Law, Medicine, Engineering, Architecture and Pharmacy.

    “We consider such act as an abuse of constitutional rights of the Christian children and whoever that is responsible for such should desist.”

    The group faulted Prof Ishaq Oloyede’s appointment as JAMB Registrar and the alleged ban on the teaching of Christian Religious Knowledge in public schools.

    The statement reads: “The assembly also condemned the appointment of Prof Ishaq Oloyede, the General Secretary of Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, as the Executive Secretary of Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) in view of his track record at the University of Ilorin.

    “The assembly also expressed great concern over the prohibition of the teaching of Christian Religious Knowledge in government schools in Nigeria. We condemn such prohibition because we consider it as an abuse of religious freedom in the country.”

    The Christian group called on President Muhammadu Buhari to look into the issue of discrimination against Christians in the north.

  • Adeboye to Christians: serve God in spirit, in truth

    Adeboye to Christians: serve God in spirit, in truth

    The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) Worldwide, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, yesterday urged Christians to serve God in spirit and in truth if they truly want to experience the blessings of God in 2017.

    He spoke at the 2017 Annual Lagos State Thanksgiving Service held at the Lagos House in Ikeja.

    He drew his text from Exodus 3:1-8, Genesis 18:1-8 and Mark 10:46-52 among others and admonished Nigerians to leave the camp of the devil and embrace God’s camp.

    The service featured music ministrations, bible readings and prayers for the nation, for Lagos State as well as for every citizen of the state.

    Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode urged residents to pray for the prosperity of the state.

    Ambode described this year’s thanksgiving as significant because it will usher in activities for the 50th anniversary of the creation of Lagos State. The state was created in May 1967.

    Ambode said: “We are thanking God and showing supplication for allowing us to witness the Golden Jubilee Anniversary together.

    “It is also an occasion, irrespective of our religion, to reaffirm our faith in Him and our belief in His grace, to make our hopes and aspirations for this New Year.

    Ambode recalled that at last year’s thanksgiving service, prayers were offered for the state to grow in spite of the bleak economic outlook predicted in many quarters.

    “We believe that as we are gathered this evening to praise Him and glorify His Holy name, new doors and windows of opportunities shall be opened for us as individuals, as a state and as a nation.

    “We want to officially welcome all other states and governors to the Year 2017. We join hands together as Lagosians to wish Mr. President, Muhammadu Buhari, who once worshipped here with us, Happy New Year, and pray that God will honour him as he leads the ship of the nation to its rightful destination.”

    Among those who graced the event were former military administrator, Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu, Senator Olamilekan Solomon, Senator Ganiyu Solomon, traditional rulers and religious leaders.

  • Christians must serve God with humility, says Bishop

    The Bishop of Lagos Anglican Communion, Most Reverend Adebola Ademowo, has identified humility as a key virtue which Christians must imbibe in the service to God. Serving God without humility would only diminish believers’ faith and make them deviate from path of the Lord, the Bishop said.

    The purpose of living, Bishop Ademowo added, is to serve and glorify God in reciprocation of divine salvation enjoyed by humans, noting that such purpose must be accomplished with total humility. The clergy spoke on Sunday during the investiture of leaders of Lagos Anglican Diocesan Guild of Stewards (LADGOS) held at Cathedral Church of Christ in Marina, Lagos. His homily was titled: The essence of service.

    Bishop Ademowo warned Christians against arrogance, selfishness and egocentricity, which he described as destructive values that could bring down their faith and draw them away from the presence of the Holy Spirit.

    He said: “The purpose of human existence is to serve God and glorify him. We must serve God with humility to reciprocate His salvation and grace over us. Without humility, Christians must know that the purpose of serving God would be defeated.”

    The Anglican clergy told members of Guild of Stewards to carry out their task with diligence and dedication, saying they have sacred task before and must be rendered joyfully and gloriously.

    “As members of the Guild, whatever may be your status in the society, remember that you are serving God,” he said.

    Sister Oluyemisi Adeogun became the first woman president of the Guild, 30 years after it was founded. She promised to galvanise members of the Guild to uphold the values of the Anglican Church.

     

     

     

  • NSCDC urges unity, peace among Muslims, Christians

    NSCDC urges unity, peace among Muslims, Christians

     

    The Commandant-General, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Muhammadu Gana, has called on Muslims and Christians to live in peace and harmony to ensure national development.

    This is contained in a statement issued by the Public Relations Officer of the NSCDC, Mr Emmanuel Okeh, on Monday in Abuja.

    It said Gana made the call when he hosted the Faith Watch Summit for the two religions – Islam and Christianity, held at the Civil Defence College Academy Hall, Sauka, Abuja.

    He was represented by Acting Deputy Commandant-General, Critical Infrastructure, Dr Emmanuel Adeoye.

    “As a Security Outfit of Government, We in the NSCDC owe it a duty to within the purview of the Law, do everything to ensure security, peace and harmony of the citizenry.

    “This epoch making gathering is an eloquent testimony to this vision.

    “Today, Nigeria as a nation is being plagued by several security threats such as terrorism, armed robbery and kidnapping, religious extremism, vandalism of National Assets and Infrastructure, corruption and impunity and other social vices,’’ he said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the summit was convened at the instance of the Inter-religious organisations in conjunction with NSCDC to focus on ways to de-escalate the progression of conflicts brought about by religious intolerance, hate sermons and lack of mutual religious respect.

    It said that the principal goal was to enhance the impact of religious understanding for national security and development.

    Speaking at the Occasion, Rev. Yusufu Obaje said peaceful co-existence was a divine imperative planned by God himself.

    “It is a divine decree of the Almighty God that all His creation should live together because the human nature warrants for we depend on each other.

    “We need a culture of spiritual rebirth. God gave us these religions as a means to worship Him, but it should not be turned into tool of destruction,’’ he said.

    Also speaking, Malam Ibrahim Jega, the Executive Secretary, National Mosque Management Board, said that once wrong acts were committed, it should not be attributed to either Islam or Christianity.

    Jega said that those acts should be seen from the individual or groups perpetrating those nefarious acts, saying that Boko Haram and other terrorist organisations were all on their own.

    “Understanding is key for Christians and Muslims to enable each other know why each behave the way they do, thus, leading to appreciating each other,’’ he said.

    He urged media organisations to desist from sensational news reporting, and be objective in their reportage.

  • No plan to Islamize Nigeria – Sultan

    No plan to Islamize Nigeria – Sultan

    The Sultan of Sokoto and President of the Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III have cleared the air over suspicion of a grand plan to turn Nigeria into an Islamic State.

    Sultan stated categorically that, it is not possible for a multi religious nation like Nigeria to either be Islamized or Christianised.

    He stated this Friday, at the commissioning of the International Centre for Inter-Faith Peace and Harmony’s office in Kaduna.

    According to Sultan, who is also a Co-Chairman of the centre, no country survives religious war; hence, Christians and Muslims in Nigeria must imbibe the culture of peace and peaceful co-existence.

    He however advised that ethnic and religious crisis in the country should become a thing of the past, adding that, “No country survives war or war stimulated by religious intolerance.”

    According to him, the practice of religion should be voluntary and not by force. “We have seen countries where people are killing one another; obviously, there can be no peace in such countries. Killing is not part of the teachings of the holy book.

    He called on Christians and Muslims across the world to desist from making comments that anybody is out to Islamize Nigeria. “Nigeria has a Muslim president and before him was a Christian president. We must see ourselves as one big family, without that, we cannot have peace. It is not possible to Islamize Nigeria, if God had wanted, He would have created all Christians or all Muslims, we are not secular but a multi-religious state because the people are so religious. We must respect one another and understand the tenets of the two religions,” he stressed.

    Similarly, the Governor of Kaduna state, Malam Nasir El-Rufai decried the series of crises that had erupted in the state; lamenting, that the state has been divided along religious line. He mentioned that religion is no longer a matter of life after death but business; adding that those who operate the religious business make money by promoting division. “We must de-emphasise our differences and promote peace,” he stated.

    While he stressed the importance of the Centre situated in Kaduna, he assured of the state government’s commitment towards ensuring that the message of peace and inter-religious harmony is taken to a higher level.

    Earlier in his remark, the General Secretary of The Christian Council of Nigeria (CCN), Reverend Dr. Yusuf Ibrahim Wushishi noted that by nature, religion plays a vital role in purposeful leadership, community building, social justice, law and order among others. “Our obligatory responsibility as faith based community in Nigeria is to respect our religious differences. In our diversity as a nation, we are bound to opt for bonds based on our common humanity,” he added.

  • Adeboye urges Christians to show more care to prisoners

    Adeboye urges Christians to show more care to prisoners

    Redeemed Christian Church of God General Overseer Pastor Enoch Adeboye has advised Christians to reach out more to prisoners with the love, care and compassion of Jesus.

    Adeboye spoke at the ongoing 64th Annual Convention of Redeemed Christian Church of God holding at the Old Arena of the Redemption Camp, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

    The programme witnessed the ordaining of 8,000 clerics among them are 1,800 assistant pastors.

    He advocated the need “to look out for prisons around, visit them, evangelise, pray and provide for their physical, emotional, material, mental and social well-being”.

    He noted the church’s activities and programmes in Kirikiri Prison, Lagos, which, he said, has yielded successes.

    The cleric said: “We can do more because we never can tell what will become of them in future.

    “We rebuilt some parts of Kirikiri, establish an open air university campus, bought lots of mattress and send food to them every Sunday. We want to do more and show them that we care,” he said.

    Adeboye stressed that the church must take evangelism seriously since it is the heartbeat of God and because the church must win souls.

    He added: “Evangelism is the duty for everyone and soul-winning is every one’s obligation. It is the activity of seeking and saving of lost souls. It is the work of reconciling men from the life of sin and wickedness to a life of obedience to the gospel message.”

    The founding Pastor of Living Water Church, Pastor Joe Olaiya, admonished the ministers to crave to know Jesus Christ more, adding that the secret of victory and fruitfulness in ministry and life is hidden in knowing Jesus.

    Rev. Olaiya explained that the more a man knows Christ, the better his life will be.

    He advised the congregation to pray for divine revelation of Christ in their lives.

    He said: “The more you know Christ, the better your life. You cannot believe a man more than the way you love him. The more you know Christ, the more you love Him and the more effective He is in your life.”

    The cleric prayed for the new ministers that the name of Jesus would bring forth signs and wonders, miracles and salvation of souls to God’s kingdom as they embarked on their ministerial assignment.