The Nation Newspaper

Tag: cleric

  • Don’t compromise, Cleric tells Buhari

    The founder of Gospel Forwarders to All Nation Mission Lagos, Reverend Samuel Okediran, has encouraged President Muhammadu Buhari not to relent on his determination to rid the nation of corruption.

    He challenged the President to remain focused on cleansing the nation to take Nigeria to the Promised Land.

    The cleric spoke at the 22nd anniversary of the church last Sunday.

    Buhari, according to him, was chosen by God, warning him not to allow politicians shift his focus from redemption to survival.

    He predicted that 2016 will be a year of progress and success for the nation if the President remains on course.

    Okediran said: “The country is blessed with a god- fearing President. What happened in the last election was a clear indication that God has intervened in this country by choosing Buhari for us.

    “God has chosen Buhari to fix this country economically and what we need is to give him support through our prayers and advice.

    “During the Buhari administration, the country will witness tremendous change in all sectors but the President should be careful about some decisions he will take in the nearest future.

    “He should not listen to selfish politicians instead he should seek the knowledge of God to direct him so that Nigeria will be a better place to live.

    “What God told me about President Buhari was that he should not compromise his stance and always stand by truth.”

    He advised the newly appointed ministers to shun corruption and other vices that can bring the government into disrepute.

    He said the era of spending the government fund ravishingly is over and counseled them to be prudent for execution of all approved projects.

  • Worship brings healings, says cleric

    Convener of the annual Worship festival, Hannah Oyebanjo, has assured that there would be undiluted worship at the event slated for Shell Hall of the Muson Centre Onikan, Lagos next Sunday.

    Addressing reporters in Lagos, Oyebanjo explained that the festival, which started eight years ago, was conceived to reach the world with the gospel of Christ through worship.

    “Every year is very unique with manifold witness of God’s presence and undeniable testimonies of God’s awesome power,” she stated.

    She said every episode presents divine occasion to worship God with deliberate self-abandon and unpretentious adoration.

    She added that the festival has proven to be a time of not just music and fun fare but a gathering of people longing for God.

    “It is going to be an encounter beyond words, a place where people come together setting aside denomination, tribe, colour, gender to praise the one true living God with one voice and one sound.

    “The Worship Festival is a concert that brings healing, blessings, deliverance, joy, love, and testimonies,” Oyebanjo added.

    The concert will also witness the presentation of support items to widows.

  • Support Buhari’s anti-graft war, cleric urges Nigerians

    Support Buhari’s anti-graft war, cleric urges Nigerians

    Provost of Saint Theresa’s Church of Christ Cherubim and Seraphim, Imene El’Shaddai, Lagos, Prophet (Captain) Babawole Shitta, has called on Nigerians to support President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-corruption campaign.

    Shitta, who spoke at the annual anniversary and harvest thanksgiving of the church, noted that corruption has had adverse effect on the development of the country.

    Infrastructures such as roads, electricity and potable water, among other things, have eluded the people due to corruption, he stated.

    “In every sphere of our lives now, Nigeria wears the look of a worn out clothes because of the extent corrupt officials have dealt with this country,” he said, urging Buhari to sustain the fight against the menace to restore the nation’s glory.

    The cleric appealed to the Lagos State government to intensify efforts on roads rehabilitation across the state.

    He cited Mushin as example, saying almost all the roads in the area are in terrible state and require urgent attention.

     

  • Cleric condemns pro Biafra protests

    Cleric condemns pro Biafra protests

    A Catholic Priest in Enugu, Rev Fr. Ejike Mbaka has condemned the recent agitation and protests for Biafra nation describing the action as `evil.’

    Mbaka made the condemnation in Enugu on Saturday in a sermon at his weekly Adoration Ministry.

    The cleric urged youths in the South East and South-South to go back to their business as the protest could lead to their death.

    “Locking up your shops and disrupting economic activities will not add any naira to your pocket, whatever grievance you have could be resolved through dialogue,’’ the cleric said.

    He lambasted those leaders that were behind the agitation and protests, saying that they should use their children for the struggle.

    Mbaka commended President Muhammadu Buhari for appointing ministers from the zone and assigning them with good portfolios.

    “President Buhari’s action has proven that the South East has not been marginalized. I would have reacted if no minister emerged from the zone,’’ he said.

    He said that the five states in the zone had minister each as prescribed by the Nigerian constitution as well as other key security and protocol officers that serves under president and his wife.

    The reverend father attributed the recent free health screening initiative by the Wife of the president, Mrs Aisha Buhari, in Enugu to her love for the people of the region.

    He blamed the Igbo leaders for not living up to the expectation of the people in the area, adding that past governors, National Assembly members failed woefully in discharging their mandates.

    “President Buhari is not the cause of poor roads, unemployment and other decay infrastructures in the south east, we should blame our leaders.

    “Most of the roads had been awarded but our leaders squandered the fund, even the university teaching hospital in Enugu is a no-go-area and our leaders are not concerned about it,” he said.

    Mbaka called on the new Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, to use his office to employ youths in the zone, adding that it would stop what he called another Boko Haram in the south east if not curtailed.

    He praised Buhari’s war against corruption, saying it had enthroned due process and sanity in governance.

    The cleric, however, urged Nigerians to be patient with the president as he had good plans for the country.

  • Cleric rehabilitates abandoned school

    Cleric rehabilitates abandoned school

    Ikwuorie Comprehensive Secondary School in Ohanku-Ndoki of Ukwa East local government, Abia State was always in a free fall. The fall began over a decade ago. One after the other, the structure of the school started falling apart, beginning with the chairs, then the tables. The chalk boards gave way too, followed by the roofing sheets.

    The deterioration ate in so much that students started sitting on bare floors for classes. Heavens opened up on them effortlessly during raining season. One of them recalled he wrote examinations for over five years in the school under leaking roofs.

    •Portions of the school before the intervention
    •Portions of the school before the intervention

    The physical state of the school affected learning and chased shocked teachers away. Many terrified students also stayed away. As at last term, the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) threatened not to conduct final leaving examinations in the school again. This was due to absence of basic facilities for the smooth conduct of the exercise.

    Parents watched helplessly; prominent indigenes and residents looked the other way; the community cried for help. But nobody could stop the school from falling deeper and deeper into oblivion. But all of these changed last Thursday. The hitherto written-off school wore a new look. So were members of the community as well as teachers and schools.

    Everyone was in high spirits during the commissioning of the renovated block of classrooms by a son of the soil, Dr Chibuzor Chinyere. Though based in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State, Chinyere returned home to give back to his community.

    Principal of the school, Dr (Mrs.) Nnadozie Sophie-Chikwere, who was recently posted to the school, said she was appalled by the state she met it. She said she could not believe that such a school could exist in a community that has produced prominent Nigerians.

    “Our students were studying on bare floor. They wrote examinations with open roof over their heads,” she lamented. “We cried for help but none was forthcoming until God decided to help us this a man himself.”  By renovating the building, she said Chinyere, who is General Overseer of Omega Power Ministries (OPM) has restored hopes to students and teachers alike as well as demonstrate his passion for education.

    Sophie-Chikwere urged the preacher-cum-philanthropist to also intervene in the welfare of staff and provide instructional materials, especially in the area of equipping the science laboratory.

    Chairman of the school’s Parents and Teachers Association (PTA) and board of Governors, Chief Godspower Nwankwo appreciated Chinyere for the gesture, saying it will go a long way in improving education in the community.

    A former Supervisor for education in Ukwa-East council, Hon. Chibuzor- Nwankwo, said Chinyere had succeeded where government failed, saying the provision of books to the students will further inspire them to become future leaders. He said the gesture was timely because WAEC authorities were about delisting the school over non-availability of facilities.

    President of Ndoki Students Union, Comrade Akparanta Emmanuel, thanked the preacher for the donation. He described Apostle Chinyere as an icon of development, human capacity builder and inspiration.

    He appealed to him to revisit the award of scholarship to students from the community. Emmanuel advised Ndoki students to avoid acts of lawlessness that will affect their future and concentrate on their studies.

    He led others executive members of the student body to present an award of excellence to Chinyere for his numerous contributions to uplifting youths from the area.

    Chinyere, in his remark, expressed satisfaction with the quality of work done on the building and pledged to look into the principal’s demand.

    He blamed suspension of the scholarship award on internal wrangling among the students and promised to immediately revisit the scheme.

    Commissioning the three units of classrooms, including the laboratory and the office apartments, Chinyere thanked God for his achievements in life, ministries and the community at large.

    He also donated An Sports Utility Vehicle, Armada Nissan, to the paramount ruler of the area, His Royal Highness, Eze Joshua Okwuonu-Dagbor.

     

  • Why Nigeria is still standing, by cleric

    God is interested in Nigeria and will always protect her destiny regardless of multiple satanic machinations, the Overseer, Hidden Manna Revival Ministry International, Apostle Hezekiah Agunbiade, has declared.

    He spoke with our correspondent at the sidelines of the 10th Overcomers’ convocation of the ministry at Oyun Baptist High School, Offa, Kwara State.

    According to him: “The word of God made it clear that God is interested in the affairs of men.

    “I believe if it had not been for God the country would have gone into piece but the grace of God has kept this nation till now.

    “I believe that the love that God has for this nation remains the same.”

    He called on Nigerians to support the current administration.

    “With the cooperation of everybody and the prayers of the saints, I believe that all things will work out to our benefits and for the progress of our nation,” Agunbiade stated.

    He applauded the rejection of gay marriage in the country, stating that God was pleased with such move.

    Going down memory lane, Agunbiade said the convocation was not premeditated but was born in the year 2005 through divine and prophetic mandate.

    The high points of the thanksgiving service were unprecedented testimonies, praises and special prayers.

  • Cleric calls prayers for Buhari

    Cleric calls prayers for Buhari

    Nigerians have been urged to pray for President Muhammadu Buhari’s success.

    The Founder/General Overseer, Christ Apostolic Church Wonderful Way, Pastor Bola Omosanya , gave the advice in Lagos, during the church’s 16th anniversary thanksgiving and induction of some Deacons and Deaconesses penultimate week.

    The cleric also advised Nigerians to shun tribalism, corruption, ethnicity and religious discrimination which have the tendency of affecting Nigeria’s growth.

    “Nigerians,” he said, “irrespective of their ethnic, religious and political inclinations, should encourage and support President Buhari’s anti-corruption crusade which aims at cleansing Nigeria to be a better country to live in.”

    The cleric further said for the promises of God to manifest in the country, Nigerians should assist the President with prayers for divine wisdom and knowledge.

    He said: “Prayer remains the only spiritual weapon that will bring about the much-needed change Nigerians clamoured for. We all should call on God to take over and direct the affairs of the country. We should pray for the President to be imbued with divine wisdom to be able to formulate and implement good policies and programmes that would transform all the sectors of the economy.”

    He appealed to President Buhari to ensure that Boko Haram is defeated, create employment for youths, eradicate corruption and make sure insecurity became a thing of the past. He also advised him to revitalise ailing industries in the country. Also speaking, the Superintendent of Argugu zone in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, Pastor Sunday Akinlabi Omosanya, urged the leaders to always have the fear of God in all they do; noting that lack of fear of God caused Nigerian leaders to steal from the nation’s treasury with impunity.

    He also appealed to religious bodies across the country to organise periodic special prayers for the success of the new administration.

    Pastor Akinlabi advised the newly ordained deacons and deaconesses to work in unity and avoid anybody or any condition that could turn them to be obstacles to the progress of the church.

    Describing them as servants of God, he said their roles are to work for the growth and progress of God’s work. He warned them to eschew persecution, greediness and backbiting.

  • Cleric praises Buhari on anti-graft war

    The Shepherd of Locust Army Ministries Lagos, Rev Chris Christian has hailed the anti-corruption war of the current administration.

    He said President Muhammadu Buhari efforts against graft require the support of all.

    He spoke last Sunday at a parley with newsmen in the Surulere headquarters of the church.

    According to him: “Buhari as a leader is already creating a new image for the country, and if he continues the momentum without distraction, the whole country will be better for it.”

    He cautioned against sentiments in assessing the current administration.

    Christian stressed: “Former President Goodluck Jonathan, a Christian from the South-south ruled this country for almost six years and his administration was said to have promoted corruption.

    “But now we have a Muslim President from the North that has taken constructive steps to fight this menace.

    “So, Nigerians must realise that it is not about the religion you profess but rather your capacity to do what is right.”

    He said Nigerians must support the present administration in its fight against corruption because eventual victory would benefit everybody.

    “President Buhari is taking his time; people must not mistake his quiet mien for cowardice. He is a strong willed man who knows what he is doing.”

  • Cleric advises Buhari on economy

    Authorities of the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) have expressed confidence in the ability of President Muhammadu Buhari to transform the country within the shortest possible time.

    The Church particularly praised the ongoing war against corruption in all sectors of the economy.

    Through its President Worldwide, Pastor Abraham Akinosun, the CAC also pledged to support Buhari’s administration with prayers for his dreams about the country to be realised.

    Speaking with reporters shortly after addressing the Pastor’s Conference at Babalola Memorial Miracle Centre, Ikeji-Arakeji Akinosun warned Nigerians against calling President Buhari “Baba Go Slow”, stressing that the President must be thorough in his efforts to sanitise the country.

    He noted that but for Buhari’s emergence as the President and his stance against corruption; the nation’s economy would have collapsed as a result of high level corruption in most sectors of the economy.

    Akinosun, who expressed confidence in the ability of President Buhari to deliver dividends of democracy, urged him to appoint credible Nigerians as ministers.

    He also stressed the need for Buhari to ensure fairness in his administration’s fight against corruption, just as he advised him to avoid sycophants.

    The CAC President, who commended the present administration on its resolve to fight insecurity in the country, called on the Federal Government to ensure the release of the abducted girls from Government Secondary School Chibok in Borno State.

    Akinosun also called for the declaration of a state of emergency on violent crimes, especially armed robbery, kidnapping and assassination, stressing that “during the declaration, all arms in wrong hands should be mopped up.”

    The cleric, however, urged the Buhari-led administration to revive the nation’s manufacturing industry through stable power supply, saying “power generation in sufficient volume is indispensable if we want to revive the nation’s economy.”

    Akinosun enjoined all Nigerians to support President Buhari’s administration.

  • Fayose, others hail cleric at book launch

    Fayose, others hail cleric at book launch

    Encomiums came the way of Reverend Kunle Salami, the Senior Pastor of Chapel of His Glory with headquarters in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital as he launched three books.

    The three books he unveiled were How to Become Wiser, Effective Leadership and How to Manifest Greatness.

    Reverend Salami, former chairman of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), had written 10 books before the launch of the three current ones.

    Governor Ayo Fayose described Salami as a “man of integrity, humility and a mentor in all ramifications.”

    The governor, who was represented by the Government House Chaplain who also doubles as Special Adviser on Religious Matters to the Governor, Pastor Seyi Olusola, also described Salami as “an exceptional minister of the New Testament.”

    “Reverend Salami is always available anytime we need his assistance and we pray to God to continue to strengthen him, empower him, energise him, influence him and organise him,” he said.

    Other dignitaries who attended the book launch were the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Adeyemo Adejugbe represented by the Odole of Ado-Ekiti, Chief Bayo Ogunmodimu; wife of the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Janet Olusola; Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Ekiti State University, Prof. Ibiyinka Ogunlade; General Secretary of the state chapter of the PFN, Reverend Tunde Afe and other Christian ministers.

    Oba Adejugbe described Reverend Salami as a man of substance whose impact has been felt within and outside Ekiti State.

    The guest minister, Reverend Sunday Akingbelure, told the congregation that he had known the author since 1982 when they met at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife.

    He described the author as a diligent man of God who has served in the Lord’s vineyard with enthusiasm. He urged the younger generation to look up to him as a role model.

    Akingbelure urged the congregation to avail themselves of the opportunity the books offered to develop themselves spiritually and help their destiny to fulfil God’s plan in their lives.

    The book reviewer, Prof. Bayo Oloyede, who is the Senior Pastor of the Restoration Prayer Ministries, gave glory to God for what he has done in the life and ministry of Reverend Salami.

    He narrated how he also came in contact with the author at OAU, Ile-Ife, describing him (Salami) as a “dynamic teacher who is passionate about the Word of God and dedicated to building lives”.

    Oloyede said Salami excelled in various leadership positions he occupied, including the chairmanship of PFN.

    “Dr. Salami is a team leader, and, under his teaching and prophetic pronouncements, he has imparted greatness to his generation. He is a helper, encourager, a lifter and an apostle of our time.

    “He is worth listening to and his books are worth reading. This presentation is worth celebrating,” Oloyede stated.

    The first book, How to Become Wiser has 133 pages and 14 chapters while the second book, Effective Leadership comprises 161 pages divided into 26 chapters. The last one, How to Manifest Greatness has 141 pages and has 12 chapters.

    Salami said he was inspired to write the books because of demand from places he had been privileged to minister at home and abroad.

    He said he had been involved in leadership training since 1994, saying there was need to document the ministrations so that posterity would have opportunity of being blessed by them.

    The ex-PFN boss said he got the draft of his first book when he was the Bible Study Secretary of Evangelical Christian Union in Ado-Ekiti and didn’t publish it until 10 years after.

    He also said the books were parts of his contributions toward adding value to the lives of the readers and to make them fulfil their God-given destiny.