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Tag: cleric

  • Islamic cleric hosts first mass wedding in Ibadan

    Twenty-five Muslim couples were married at the weekend in a mass Nikkah (holy matrimony) in Ibadan, Oyo State capital.

    It was held at Oja Oba Central Mosque at Mapo in the ancient city.

    The event was the first in  the state and Southwest.

    The mass wedding was attended by the Chief Imam of Ibadan, Sheik Abdul-Ganiy Agbotomokekere; the Chief Preacher of Ibadan, Sheik Abdul-fatai Alaga; Chief Ajanaasi of Ibadan, Sheik Zakariya Ona-Ido; the Mogaji Abata community, Alhaji Abdul-Mojeed Abata, among others.

    The facilitator, Sheik Taofeeq Akeugbagold, said it was meant to tackle adultery and fornication, which he said is rampant among youths.

    A non-governmental organisation (NGO), Al-Balag Islamic Organisation, through one of its arms, Ebi-Alayo (Happy Home), said many youths were fornicating because of the challenge of getting godly spouses.

    Addressing the couples, their families and other Islamic leaders, Sheik Akeugbagold said the weddings had the consent of parents of the couples.

    The cleric said since the initiative was introduced through the Ebi-Alayo (Happy Home) media outreach in January, over 100 applicants have showed interest.

    He said many applications were received from Lagos and Ibadan, adding that the group decided to join the 25 couples in Ibadan after checking their background, preparations and agreements (to abide by Islamic ethics).

    Akeugbagold, who chairs the Muslim Wing of the Pilgrims Welfare Board, said the group was also planning another mass wedding targeting 200 couples.

    The Islamic scholar urged willing Muslims to express their interest through the group’s hotline: 08057818180.

    He said his aspiration to cause a positive change emanated from the encouragement he got from Governor Abiola Ajimobi.

    According to him, the governor always told him to find ways to touch the lives of residents through his appointment into the pilgrims board.

    Agbotomokekere enjoined couples to remain together, irrespective of challenges they may face.

  • Cleric warns secession agitators

    Those agitating for secession have been urged to tread softly lest they start what they could not finish. Prophet Oluwole Sali gave the warning in a sermon on Sunday in Lagos.

    He likened himself to the Biblical John the Baptist as his message may not always be palatable to the ears.

    He said those agitating for secession from Nigeria should be careful, even as he said nobody should wish for another civil war.

    We have to pray hard and earnestly to avoid one soon. This is the voice of God and revelation that will come to pass if nothing is done about it.

    Prophet Sali said: “I saw this frightening vision in May and June four times that evil is coming upon this country. I saw war. I saw bloodshed and bloodbath. This war will spare no tribe or ethnic group. It’s a war that devil planned to wipe Nigerian out of the world map.

    “I call on all men of God to pray to avert this imminent wailing that may befall this nation. All prophets of God should pray and beg for mercy for this nation. Nigeria can survive this if all men will pray. Ask for the mind of God concerning this nation. Please children of the Lord ask the Lord and as He speaks to you obey.”

    He said Nigerians need to pray for the restoration of the health of Mr President, saying God would save him through our prayers. God is not interested in the death of any man. Nigeria needs mercy now and now is the time to call upon God for it, he added.

  • Nobody owns Nigeria, says Cleric

    General Leader and Chairman Cherubim and Seraphim Movement Church, Surulere District, Special Apostle Prophet Sunday Funso Korode has described the increasing agitations by separatists as Babel clamours of thoughts, which are mostly selfish. He said most of the agitators are eyeing 2019 at the expense of paying attention to serious issues of securing life and properties.

    Prophet Korode who spoke at the church’s three-day mid-year revival programme tagged Rend the heavens in Lagos on Sunday stressed that nobody owns Nigeria just as no man owns any church because church belongs to Christ.

    “The language of the nation is not the language of God. What we are hearing from all the different regions are like Babel clamours of thoughts when they clamouring for the building of a house that will reach unto heaven so that they can interact with God… Our minds should think as a collective and provide space to accommodate the other persons. Let there be proper ventilation in our relationships and we must shun ethnicity and bigotry.

    “It is high time Nigerians listened to the other persons. Most of those making those calls are selfish politicians who are looking for opportunity to be what they think they should be. That we are together is ordained by God irrespective of our diverse nature. In fact, those who experienced the civil war will not call for war again,” he added.

    On the kidnapped Lagos school students he said considering the apparatus of government, security officials should have information on the location of the kidnapped students and how to free them. “Are we saying the police are unaware of the kidnappers’ hideout? Are we saying government is also unaware of who the kidnappers are? They have enough information on the kidnappers and how to arrest them. If an aspiring senator is the general overseer of the kidnappers, he will be fuelling them.

    He however blamed the clamours for restructuring of the nation on lack of satisfaction among all the different groups and sub structures. But, he noted that for restructuring to be meaningful, there must be a blue print that gives proper representation to all and not abnormal sharing or giving formula.

    “Government and the governed are tilting their lenses in the direction of things that are not critical. They are not paying attention to critical issues is a major challenge,” he added.

    He charged political leaders to think less of themselves and put the overall interest of the nation first noting that all leaders must rediscover themselves by asking if they are truly leading the nation in the right direction.

    He lamented that Nigeria has moved from one level of problems to another. “Instead of moving from one glory to another it is the other way round. Even when we expected the best, the worst was meted to us as a nation. But one thing is constant: the good will of the saints, the prayer of the people of God all over the country for God to return us to position of comfort and happiness.

    “Six months have gone we pray God will bring every effort and exercise to some fruitions and perfection so that the nation can heave a sigh of relief from all the negatives of the years especially in the last six months. Life has not been what we thought it should be. I foresaw a situation that by February this year, we should have broken the jinx of recession and move into proper restoration,” he said.

     

  • Cleric tasks Nigerians on co-operation with govt

    The Assistant General Overseer, Admin. & Personnel, of The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Johnson Odesola, has called on political leaders and every Nigerian to shun the attitude of using their privileged positions only to benefit from the nation’s resources in the absence of making meaningful contributions towards nation building.

    Odesola said this  yesterday at the “Breakfast with the King,” organised by RCCG (Love Assembly) Lagos Province 1, headquarters, which took place at Sheraton and Towers, Ikeja, Lagos. The Breakfast is part of the three day  Special Holy Ghost Service which had thousands of Christian faithful from across the country.

    He lamented the culture of “what can the government offer me,” saying, “It has to be give and take and if things would get better in this nation, people would have to make sacrifices”, the pastor said.

    The Pastor in Charge of Lagos Province 1, Pastor Samuel Bode Olaniyan, at the night vigil, organised to pray for the second half of the year yesterday asked Nigerians to have a common goal against anti-corruption crusade.

     

  • Cleric urges honesty among leaders

    Founder of Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) Canaanland and lead pastor of CAC Mountain of Mercy at Erio-Ekiti in Ekiti West Local Government Area, Prophet Hezekiah Oluboye Oladeji, has urged Nigerian leaders to lead with the fear of God.

    The cleric noted that the failure of those in authorities to always tell the truth has led to underdevelopment, insurgency, hatred, corruption, ethnicity and socio-economic recession, among others.

    He said the way out of the current woes is a return to God, who he described as “The king of kings”.

    Oladeji said: “The King of kings knows the beginning and end of all things. He is the one who has the solutions to the challenges facing the nations.”

    On the 15th edition of his church’s annual crusade, tagged: King of kings, which will hold from June 26 to July 1, he said: “What we want everyone to know is that whatever we are experiencing in this life: in s marriages, work, family life, God’s ministry and even in running the affairs of the country, the only one who can show us the way is the King of kings.”

  • Divorce devilish, cleric cautions couples

    Divorce devilish, cleric cautions couples

    A renowned female cleric, Evan. Christy Elendu, Friday said that the act of couple filing for divorce in the face of family challenges is devilish, adding that the only solution to marital problems is God.

    Elendu, Pastor of Woman Behold the Enmity, a.k.a., Heartbeat of God Ministries, spoke while hinting the press on a programme organised for couples, tagged: ‘My Home Shall not Break.’

    The cleric said God did not plan marriages to end in divorce, but stated that the world through devilish council has devised separation as the solution to marital problems.

    She said: “God spoke to me that the devil is after families and directed me to go and talk to families against divorce. His plan for family is peace understanding. Spouses should not see themselves at any point as enemies. The plan of God is for marriages to perceiver and last to the end.

    “What is happening now is that husbands and wife do not see themselves as one again. The enemy of marriage is devil he does not want marriages to stay that is why just small challenges spouses see divorce as the only option.

    “Families should seek the face of God and overcome their challenges and make their marriages work. I want to   urge couple who are in hard times to seek the face of God and avoid ending their divine relationship in divorce.

  • Cleric urges traders to reduce prices of goods

    A Kano-based Islamic scholar, Malam Dauda Muhammad has called on traders to reduce the prices of their goods in the spirit of the Ramadan.

    He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kano that there was need for traders to be compassionate and considerate in selling their goods to the public during the Ramadan period.

    He said the call became necessary in view of the fact that the Naira had stabilised in the foreign exchange market if compared to what was obtainable few months ago.

    According to him, there was also need for traders in the state and the country at large to reduce their prices during the sacred month so as to earn the blessings of Allah.

    He noted that reducing the prices, especially that of foodstuffs and other essential commodities during the Ramadan fast would enable many Muslims to observe the Ramadan fast with ease.

    “I want to use this opportunity to call on traders especially foodstuffs sellers to sympathise with the common man by cutting their prices during this Ramadan period,” he said.

    He also called on well-to-do Muslims in the state to give out Zakat as and when due so as to alleviate the sufferings of the poor in the society.

    “We hope wealthy Muslims in the state will ensure prompt payment of their Zakat to the needy as enshrined in the Holy Qur’an,” the cleric said.

    He commended the state government for introducing and sustaining the Ramadan Free feeding programme, adding the programme has provided succour to the needy.

    NAN reports that prices of commodities continued to skyrocket since the commencement of the Ramadan fast in state.

    This prompted traditional rulers, community leaders as well as Islamic scholars in the state to call on traders to cut the prices of their wares with a view to alleviate the sufferings of the poor.

  • Recession: Cleric advises Muslims against social vices

    An Islamic scholar, Malam Sulaiman Adedokun, yesterday in Lagos advised Muslims against engaging in social vices because of the economic recession in the country.

    The cleric gave the advice during a Ramadan Lecture entitled “Muslims and Contemporary Economic Challenges”, organised by the Movement for Islamic Culture and Awareness (MICA).

    “People are no longer trustworthy, indulging in bribery, kidnapping and deception just to ease themselves out of economic challenges,’’ Adedokun said.

    He urged Muslims to imbibe Islamic tenets of justice, equity and redistribution of wealth to the needy through Zakaat (almsgiving).

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event also featured health talks on how to stay healthy during the fasting period.

    In his presentation, Dr Abdulwaheed Mohammad advised Muslims on the importance of balance diet, enough water to prevent dehydration and regular exercise for healthy living.

    Mr Babatunde Abdulsalam, coordinator of the programme, thanked the lecturers for their inputs and urged participants to utilise the lessons learnt during the programme.

  • Cleric warns against coup

    Cleric warns against coup

    Coup cannot work now and will not succeed, says Apostle Sunday Popoola

    The presiding Apostle of the Word Communication Ministries and Founder of Christ Family Assembly Churches, Apostle Sunday Popoola, has warned those contemplating coup in the country to desist from it as it will not succeed.
    He spoke on the speculated coup at the Interdenominational church service at the National Christian Centre, Abuja as part of activities marking the 2017 Democracy Day.
    According to him, the service was mainly to thank God for 18 years of unbroken democracy, to reflect on how Nigerians have played their roles in the polity and thirdly to pray and seek the face of God for Nigeria’s glorious future.
    Noting that Nigerians are fed up and are waiting for something to spark, he called for their patience with the current administration as it means well for the country.
    He said “If you are out there like me, you will know that Nigerians are fed up and are waiting for something to spark. We need to be patient with the present government which has something to offer.
    “Coup cannot work now and will not succeed.”
    The cleric also called for institutions to be strengthened through radical reforms.
    Like Prophet Ezekiel, he asked “Can this dry bone call Nigeria rise again? It can.”
    According to him, leadership is a problem that must be solved in the country, adding that Nigerians must choose their leaders via their votes and ensure that their votes counts.
    Three attitudes Nigerians must have if the nation is to have a glorious future, he said is to have nothing to proof, nothing to loose and nothing to hide.
    He said the nation’s Civil Service needs serious review if indeed the administration was serious about change.
    The cleric said what Nigeria needs now is talking with one voice of unity, united political engagement.
    Popoola said 100 years after amalgamation, the country cannot continue to blame the imperialists.
    According to him, the 2014 National Conference must be revisited and the different nations that make up Nigeria must decide the future.
    He called for institutions to be strengthened through radical reforms.
    “Leadership is a problem must be solved, we must choose our leaders via our votes and ensure our votes counts.” he say
    The cleric noted that praying endlessly without corresponding action is in vain.
    The church, he stressed must take the lead on how the nation must go.
    He prophesied that Nigeria shall live and will be among the world power in the next 10 years.
    The First scripture reading Ezekiel 37:1-14 was taken by Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen
    The Second scripture reading was taken by Speaker of House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara.
    Prayers were said for President Muhammadu Buhari and Acting President Yemi Osinbajo. Prayer were also said for peace, security and flourishing development in the country, families, parents, children and the youth in Nigeria, for total victory over bloodshed, armed robber, Book Haram, kidnapping, strife, violence and disunity in Nigeria, for the church in Nigeria and all over the world.
    Those in attendance were the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Samson Supo Ayokunle, wife of the Acting President, Dolapo Osinbajo, Speaker’s wife Gimbia Dogora, Mrs. Nkoyo Onnoghen, Head of Service of the Federation, Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita, members of the legislature, judiciary, the military, clerics, royal fathers and members of the diplomatic corps

  • Recession: Cleric seeks end to hardship

    Recession: Cleric seeks end to hardship

    President Muhammadu Buhari and government officials at state and local government levels should shun religious atters…The Federal Government should curtail the excesses of suspected herdsmen’

    For the Methodist Bishop of Owo Diocese, Rev Solomon Adegbite, this is not the best of times for Nigerians who are bearing the brunt of the current economic recession which the country is experiencing.

    The cleric decried the situation where many frustrated Nigerians attempted to commit suicide as a result of hardship.

    He noted that the suffering was not unconnected with the unruly activities of people in government who have no fear of God.

    Delivering his address at the 29th Diocesan Synod held at Methodist Church Nigeria, Epinmi-Akoko Bishop Adegbite insisted that until people stop their cruel ways of life and also stop persecution of innocent people, especially Christians, the situation may not improve.

    He urged President Muhammadu Buhari and government officials at state and local government levels to shun dabbling into religious matters, even as he advised against religious intolerance.

    On the incessant attacks by suspected herdsmen, the cleric flayed the killings and destruction of farm lands in many parts of the country, urging the Federal Government to curtail the excesses of the herdsmen.

    Bishop Adegbite also expressed the need for the government to engage transparent technocrats to manage the economy of the country in order to bring succour to impoverished Nigerians.

    Besides, he advocated an egalitarian society where every Nigerian will feel equal; stressing that public office should be shared equally among various ethnic groups in the country.

    The Diocesan lay-President, Prof. Theophilus Olawoye urged Methodist leaders to emulate Jesus Christ by not using their positions to subjugate members, adding that their positions are not family hereditary privileges, but a call to the service of humanity.

    According to him, those in leadership positions should be transparent and accountable in their dealings.

    Prof. Olawoye, urged members at local church levels and through the Diocese to enhance the church’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) despite the current economic meltdown.

    Synod delegates from the Diocese witnessed the 29th Annual Synod hosted by the Methodist Church Nigeria, Epinmi-Akoko.