The Nation Newspaper

Tag: cleric

  • Remain focused, cleric advises Nigerians

    The Archbishop of Riye Methodist Church Nigeria, Most Revd Luke Odubanjo, has advised Nigerians to remain focused on God to surmount the myriad of challenges the country is experiencing. He also urged parents to bring up their children according to God’s precepts to have a happy and healthy family.

    Revd Odubanjo spoke during a homily at the solemnisation of the matrimony between Mr. Oladipupo Oluwaseun Oyenola and his wife, former Miss Olaoluwapo Titilope Akinwale held at the Revd Mellor Memorial Methodist Church Nigeria Cathedral, Sagamu and Remo Ogun State.

    Archbishop Odubanjo stressed the need for the couple to sustain the love between them. He urged them to imbibe the sterling qualities of their parents.

    The cleric cautioned the parents against any undue interference in the couple’s marriage.

    On the state of the nation, Archbishop Odubanjo warned the politicians and the electorate, against voting based on “bread and butter”, but to rather vote for very credible, respectable aspirants that would cater for their well-being.

    Archbishop Odubanjo also warned those in authority, especially the politicians against selfish, incessant and flagrant abuse of power and accumulation of wealth at the expense of the innocent poor masses that voted them into power.

    The cleric therefore urged the electorate to assist the leaders through genuine, constructive criticisms and suggestions on how to move the society forward.

    While congratulating the couple, he enjoined them to guard jealously against any breakdown of the marriage.

    The Lay President-elect of the church and one-time Permanent Secretary of Lagos State Ministry of Works and Infrastructure, Mr. Adelana Odutola, advised the couple to uphold the sanctity of the wedlock.

    Eminent personalities that attended the event included the representative of the Prelate, Methodist Church Nigeria the Archbishop of Abuja, Most Revd. Job Uche, Bishop, Remo Diocese Anglican Communion, Rt. Revd. Michael Olusina Fape, the Prelate Emeritus Dr. Sunday Ola Makinde, Lay President-Elect, Diocese of Remo, Methodist Church Nigeria, Mr. Adelana Odutola and his wife, Ranti, the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Information and Strategy, Bishop Diocese of Ikorodu, Rt. Revd Olumuyiwa Odejayi, Bishop, Diocese of Aiyedun Ekiti, Rt. Revd Ola Osunsina, the Baba Ijo and the Iya Ijo General of the Diocese of Remo Methodist Church Nigeria, CEO, Mike’O’ Carpets Limited and Sir Michael Olusegun Odunaiya, among others.

  • I shaved my long beard to avoid being recognised by those who know me as a cleric – Suspect

    I shaved my long beard to avoid being recognised by those who know me as a cleric – Suspect

    A 50-year-old suspect, Ramoni Adeleke, arrested by operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Lagos State Police Command for allegedly duping many people has said that he shaved his long beard and moustache to avoid being recognised by people who know him as a cleric. Also arrested are other members of his gang, including 70- year-old Alhaji Lekan Lanlegu a.k.a. Baba Toyota and 60-year-old Kolawole Odenide.

    A police source, who revealed how the three aged suspects were arrested, said the Commissioner of Police (CP), Mr. Kayode Aderanti, had got a hint that they were involved in robbery and receiving of stolen cars. The CP promptly directed the Superintendent of Police in charge of SARS, Mr. Abba Kyari, and his team to get the three men and the stolen cars. SARS operatives, therefore, disguised as car snatchers who wanted to sell a stolen car to the gang.

    One of them came forward to collect the car. He had entered into negotiation with the SARS operatives before he realised that they were policemen. Meanwhile, Kyari and his men had cordoned off the spot and promptly arrested the would-be receiver.

    Lanlegu said it was one Kolawole Odenide, who supplied him with a stolen car. His arrest also led to the arrest of Adeleke at a private mosque he used as an office to dupe people and receive stolen cars. A cleric he was said to have employed to teach people in the mosque and lead prayers was said to have scaled the fence and ran away on sighting policemen.

    Adeleke, who described himself as a native of Ade village, Ade South Local Government Area, Osun State, said he was a transporter. He said he built a mosque and employed an alfa (Islamic cleric) to manage it.

    He said: “I live in Iba Estate near Lagos State University (LASU) along Badagry Road, Lagos. I am happily married with five children. I built a storey building at Iba and a mosque which I built with N300,000. I built the mosque to honour God and pray to him five times a day. That was 10 years ago.

    “In the year 2000, I started thinking of how to make quick money by stealing cars. I was jobless and had no money to feed my family. The man who lured me into car stealing died four years ago. I went to his house to seek advice on how to survive hunger and he taught me how to steal cars.

    “He told me that he survived by stealing cars and for 10 years, I stole cars and my poverty disappeared. We would go to a place where a car was parked and used a screw driver to open the door. We would dismantle the wiring and use the starter wire to start the engine.

    “While he drove the stolen car, I would drive his own car behind him to wherever he was going to sell, usually a place around Idimu, to an old man called Fatai, who is now late. After selling it for N100,000 then, he would give me N5,000 as my own share.

    “The late Fatai had a mechanic workshop, and it was there that I went to meet him that I needed money and he told me about stealing cars.

    “When Fatai died five years later, one Shina brought Kola Adeniji to me as a partner in crime. We operated more than five times before we were arrested. There was no gang leader between us. We were a twoman gang and anyone could bring a job.

    “Our last operation was at Oyigbo, Ebute Meta, Lagos around July this year. We stole one Pick-Up Hylux vehicle and sold it to one Alhaji Lekan for N700,000. I had to shave my beard in the cell to avoid people identifying me as a cleric.

    “I bought three commercial buses which ply Ijora-Obalende route, and each of them makes N4,000 return every day except Saturday and Sunday. I was arrested at Atede in Osun State while going to mosque.” The second suspect, Kolawole, said: “I am from Abeokuta, Ogun State. I am a property dealer in Ikorodu, a suburb of Lagos. I have two wives and seven children. I met Adeleke in Idi-Iroko, Ogun State when I was doing smuggling. I knew him through a friend called Shina.

    “I learnt about stealing cars about seven years ago. Whenever we opened a car door, tore the starting wire and it refused to start, we abandoned it in the belief that it had a security system. But at times, once you start the engine, the security system becomes useless.

    “I was once arrested and taken to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) Panti. I was charged to court and remanded in prison for one week. I had gone on nine operations and stopped before I started again in January because of the economic situation in the country.”

  • Cleric warns against 2015

    The Founder/General Overseer, Imole Ayo Cherubim and Seraphim Church, Adalemo in Ogun State, Primate Dr. Peter O. Omoleye, has advised Nigerians to shun violence in 2015 general elections.

    He spoke at the grand finale of the church’s Ark of Convenant Anniversary held penultimate Saturday.

    Omoleye said credible leaders could only emerge when politicians play according to the rule, avoid crisis, bloodshed and assassination.

    He further said Nigerian leaders should evolve better policies and programmes that would elevate the country instead of engaging in do-or-die politics that does not promote democracy.

    “It is advisable for Nigerian leaders to remain focused and let the love of the country be uppermost in their minds, even as he said that Nigeria could compete favourably with advance countries.

    “Nigerians should continue to pray to God for bloodshed to end in the country,” he said.

    Omoleye, also appealed to youths to avoid being used as thugs in the coming election and to stop engaging in illicit acts such as secret cults, certificate forgery/racketeer, drug abuse, human trafficking, robbery, alcoholism and all forms of vices.

    He urged them to imbibe good habits that could take the country to greater height.

  • Cleric decries exam malpractices

    The General Overseer of Upper Room Baptist Church, 2A, Davies Street, Alapere-Ketu, Lagos, Pastor Oluleke Akinola, has condemned exam malpractices.

    The cleric, who spoke yesterday in Lagos at the maiden edition of the Excellence Award Ceremony for Public Secondary Schools in Kosofe Zone, Education District 2, urged headteachers and teachers to oppose examination malpractices.

    He said: “According to the Bible, righteousness exalts a nation, while sin is a reproach. There is need for everybody to encourage hard work, industry and integrity. Absence of virtues is now the bane of our society.

    “For a better society, we all have a role to play. It is in the light of this that we enjoin pupils and students to shun exam malpractices and work hard to be successful.”

    Pastor Akinola said the award was established in 2012 during the 25th anniversary of the church, to acknowledge, recognise and reward annually, good academic performance in the West African Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (WASSSCE), improve the standard of education “and give back to our host community where we have operated for over two decades without molestation.”

    He hailed the Lagos State government for its efforts to improve the standard of education.

    The Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye, represented by Mrs. F.A. Odupitan, said government would continue to improve the standard of education. She praised the church for supporting education.

    In the students’ category, Olufowobi Hamdat of Mende Senior High School, Maryland came first, Adeyemo Anuoluwapo of the same school emerged second, while Anjorin Adijat Adebimpe of Ayedere Ajibola Senior High School, Ketu clinched the third position.

    Mende Senior High School, Maryland was the overall best school, Ifako Comprehensive Senior High School, Gbagada came second and Ayedere Ajibola High School, Ketu emerged third.

    Outstanding headteachers and teachers were also rewarded. Prizes like refrigerators, laptops and others were given to the awardees.

  • Cleric warns against crisis

    The General Overseer of the Seed of Christ Golden Church, Ibadan, Oyo State, Prophet Solomon Moses Mustapha, has urged Nigerians to pray against crisis after the 2015 general elections.

    He said the crisis might be bloody and might disintegrate the nation.

    Mustapha enjoined politicians to shun do-or-die politics in the interest of the country.

    He spoke in Ibadan when addressing reporters on the church’s 10th anniversary.

    His words: “I want politicians to accept that power belongs to God and He gives it to whom He wishes. Therefore, there is no need for the killing innocent souls in the name of seeking political offices. There should be a shift from ‘do-or-die politics’ to embracing the ideals of good sportsmanship; from selfish disposition to selfless service; from the urge to acquire more to making sacrifices.”

    The cleric said elections were supposed to be peaceful and orderly, thereby promoting cordial relationship among the citizens.

    He advised clergymen to pray for the nation because through their prayers, the country would get to the promised land.

    Mustapha urged supporters of politicians to realise that their lives were more important than the ambitions of their leaders.

    He stressed the need for politicians to understand that leadership in Islam entailed rendering selfless service to humanity and not the other way round.

  • Cleric seeks changes in workplaces

    The immediate Chairman of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) Lagos State, Apostle Alexander Bamgbola, has urged Christians to embrace changes.

    He gave the advice at the monthly Conference for Leadership Change (CLC) organised by Voice of Change for Global Network (VCGN) in Lagos.

    He noted some Nigerians are not employed by foreigners because of the bad attitudes of others who were ill-trained, incompetent and dishonest, displayed in the past.

    He said Nigerians lack respect internationally and are treated shabbily because of the fear that some of them are tricksters and crooks.

    Christians, he counselled, should be in the vanguard of change, noting that hard work pays.

    The former president of First National Bank of Boston Massachussetts, United States decried corruption in banking.

    He wondered how a sincere banker could have billions while criticising materialism.

    He canvassed for integrity in the workplace, saying: “Even if you do change the nation, change yourself. Change your tomorrow.”

    The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer Air Separation Limited, Sosan Akpieyi, who spoke on taking the lead in manufacturing said: “Step out. It is in your taking action that help will come. Don’t be afraid to fail.”

    He canvassed acquisition of skills, saying education is not alone.

    “The world,” he said, ”is titling towards the man who has skills. He has an edge. If you are a plumber, do it well. Believe me, everyone has a skill.”

  • Don’t commercialise prophecies, cleric charges

    The chief chaplain of Grace Institute of Pastoral Counseling (GIPEC), Rev. (Dr) Bartholomew Dimanozie, has admonished ministers of God to desist from giving false prophecies to enrich themselves.

    He spoke during the body’s annual programme for the less privileged in the society.

    The event, which also featured awards to deserving members of the public and commissioning of new chaplains from different parts of the country, held at the Golden Gate Paradise, Ikoyi, Lagos.

    He said: “My fellow men of God, it is better for us to go back to our first love. If we do, He that called us will reignite his love in us and we would begin to preach, ‘it is written’.

    “When you meet people in government, don’t begin to prophesy what you are not told to. When you meet with people in power, tell them thus says the Lord and that it is not worthy to do this or do that. Ministers of God should not go about telling lies to get envelopes.”

    He advised Nigerians to vote only for personalities that fear God and not for political parties.

    According to him:”When the righteous is on the throne, the people will be happy. If we vote for the right people, they will be able to do things aright and we will be able to move forward.

    “You don’t judge people by what they say during campaign. You vote for people based on what they did yesterday and not what they are doing now.

    “What they are doing now is to cajole people to vote for them. Politicians should learn to wait for their time and not make our politics a do- or- die.”

    Chaplain Samson Adamolekun, a top member of the body, explained that chaplaincy is a caregiver saddled with the responsibility of doing the work of God.

  • Cleric seeks changes in workplaces

    The immediate Chairman of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) Lagos State, Apostle Alexander Bamgbola, has urged Christians to embrace changes.

    He gave the advice at the monthly Conference for Leadership Change (CLC) organised by Voice of Change for Global Network (VCGN) in Lagos.

    He noted some Nigerians are not employed by foreigners because of the bad attitudes of others who were ill-trained, incompetent and dishonest, displayed in the past.

    He said Nigerians lack respect internationally and are treated shabbily because of the fear that some of them are tricksters and crooks.

    Christians, he counselled, should be in the vanguard of change, noting that hard work pays.

    The former president of First National Bank of Boston Massachussetts, United States decried corruption in banking.

    He wondered how a sincere banker could have billions while criticising materialism.

    He canvassed for integrity in the workplace, saying: “Even if you do change the nation, change yourself. Change your tomorrow.”

    The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer Air Separation Limited, Sosan Akpieyi, who spoke on taking the lead in manufacturing said: “Step out. It is in your taking action that help will come. Don’t be afraid to fail.”

    He canvassed acquisition of skills, saying education is not alone.

    “The world,” he said, ”is titling towards the man who has skills. He has an edge. If you are a plumber, do it well. Believe me, everyone has a skill.”

  • Cleric endorses Ekweremadu for Senate

    Cleric endorses Ekweremadu for Senate

    A popular Enugu Catholic priest, Rev. Ejike Mbaka, at the weekend endorsed Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu for next year’s election.

    The cleric declared his support at the weekly prayer vigil at the Adoration Ministry ground in Enugu.

    He said the Deputy Senate President had done well and deserved to be re-elected.

    Rev. Mbaka said: “We have had a Senate President and we have equally had senators. But Ekweremadu has given the people of Enugu and the Southeast the feel of governance.

    “Many of the roads and development projects you see around Awgu, Oji River, Ezeagu, Aninri and many parts of Enugu and the Southeast came courtesy of the quality representation by Senator Ekweremadu.

    “Besides, he is here with his wife. He has demonstrated the ability to keep his family. That is the first test of a leadership.”

    The cleric described Ekweremadu as a man with a good heart and compassion.

    He said the church would stand by him to ensure he returns to the Senate continue his good work for Enugu and the Southeast.

    Rev. Mbaka added: “Talking about Enugu West Senatorial or Enugu State is even local politics. What is at stake here is the Igbo interest and Nigeria. The Igbo cannot sacrifice what they have because of the selfish ambition of anybody.”

  • Shun violence, cultism, cleric begs students

    A cleric, Pastor Lawrence Olasehinde, has called on students to shun violence, drug abuse and cultism so as to become good citizens.

    He spoke in Abuja while delivering a lecture during the 2014 Pastor Lawrence Olasehinde Youth Development Foundation (PLOYDEF) annual essay competition.

    The competition featured contestants in junior and secondary school categories.

    Olasehinde expressed worries over the preponderance of drug abuse and cultism among students.

    He said: “Drug addiction among youths and teenagers is silently creeping into families and destroying the potential of many promising children in our society.

    “It is an issue that is of grave concern to the society as its consequences do not end only with the addicted children but its consequences affect our society now and in the future.”

    The cleric called on parents to get educated to be able to detect when their children and wards display signs of drug abuse while also monitoring the company their children keep.

    He explained the foundation was set up to help youths and teenagers imbibe Christian characters while developing positive spiritual and intellectual capacities.