The Nation Newspaper

Tag: cleric

  • Cleric praises Fed Govt for paying arrears

    THE Ogun State Chairman, Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Alhaji Abdulrasheed Mayaleke, has commended the federal government for paying the five-month arrears of members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

    He hailed the union for its doggedness in getting the government to be more committed to repositioning the tertiary education sub-sector.

    Mayaleke told journalists in Ijebu-ode that people were happy that the strike was over.

    He was, particularly, happy that the issue that kept thousands of undergraduates at home had been resolved.

    He said ASUU should be commended for not fighting for themselves alone, but also for the future of children who are yet to gain admission into the universities.

    Mayaleke urged the government to honour agreement it reached with labour unions to promote industrial peace and harmony.

    He noted that if both ASUU and the Federal Government had reached a compromise on time, all the losses incurred during the struggle would have been avoided, especially the death of the former ASUU President, Prof Festus Iyayi.

    Having got their demands from the government, the cleric urged the unionists to do their part to regain lost grounds.

    “Now that the needed fund has been disbursed, all eyes are on ASUU to fulfil the dream of making Nigeria’s universities rank among the best in the continent and the world at large,” he said.

    Mayaleke called on the three tiers of government to fund the education sector to build a virile nation.

     

  • Cleric challenges leaders on accountability

    The Senior Pastor of the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA), at Yenche community in Kuje Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Rev. Samson Jonah has challenged political leaders at all levels to be accountable to their electorate.

    Jonah gave the advice during the thanksgiving service in honour of Hon. Ishaku Shaban Tete. While speaking on the theme, “Leadership with the Fear of God” he urged political leaders to govern their people with honest hearts and leave legacies that would serve as reference point for future leaders.

    The cleric said: “Leaders must be transparent and committed to work for the benefit of the electorate, saying that for the country to move forward and overcome its present challenges, political leaders must be patient, steadfast and committed to service at all times.”

    Responding, Hon. Shaban re-affirmed his commitment to the provision of basic necessities of life for the people of Kuje.

    Shaban urged residents to support his administration’s strides towards achieving present transformation initiative of the government.

    “What propelled me to thank God is the success recorded during my campaign. I felt it is necessary for me to appreciate Him. Over the years, I never expected to be what I am today. With the grace of God, everything has been possible,” he said.

    Tete further said his administration would achieve more with the support and prayers and constructive advice of the residents. He said this year his administration would concentrate on execution of development projects for the benefit of residents of Kuje.

  • Cleric urges courage amid challenges

    Cleric urges courage amid challenges

    The Special Adviser to the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christians Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Edward Akande has counselled Nigerians to be courageous in the pursuit of the country’s greatness.

    He also urged all not be daunted by challenges that might come their way in the struggle to make Nigeria better.

    The pastor, who is in charge of Region 4, gave the advice at the inauguration of the Kwara Province 4 of the Region.

    The clergyman also said that Christians should prepare to soldier on and not be discouraged by challenges on their way towards attaining spiritual growth and prosperous life.

    Akande, who, in his sermon at the occasion, spoke on the topic “Give Me this Mountain” said: “to attain greatness always requires that one faces and surmounts the challenges on one’s way.”

    He further said that when Caleb in the Bible at the age of 85 demanded that he be given “this mountain,” he displayed certain virtues that helped him to secure the mountain.

    The clergyman said Caleb was confident that the Lord would give him the mountain and consistent in his faith without allowing negative thoughts or different opinion of other people to sway him.

    He noted that Caleb was certain of the promise and presence of God and was courageous by willing to go against the forces that would have discouraged him.

    Akande advised that Christians should toe the line of Caleb so that they do not remain on same spot but move to higher pedestal in their mundane and spiritual life.

    The clergyman urged members of the Kwara Province of the Redeemed Christian Church of God to continue to see themselves as members of the same family as the province is split into groups, saying they should not deny themselves of membership of the other provinces aside from the one under which they regularly worship.

    He said the grouping of the Kwara Province into 4 was meant for “expansion and extension of God’s Kingdom in accordance with the vision of our church” and does not mean existence of division in the province.

    The inauguration of Province 4 of the church was held at its headquarters along Western Reservoir Road in Ilorin with J.S. Bankole installed as its pastor-in-charge.

  • Cleric warns against distortion of historical facts

    Cleric warns against distortion of historical facts

    •Yoruba Forum in U.S. to establish Oranyan Heritage Centre in Oyo

    Retired Archbishop of the Methodist Church of Nigeria Rev. Ayo Ladigbolu has urged leaders to imbibe the virtues of Oranyan, a Yoruba deity.

    He listed Oranyan’s virtues as dignity, decorum, courage, administrative efficiency and excellence in governance.

    Archbishop Ladigbolu spoke with reporters at the Alaafin of Oyo’s Palace on the second Oranyan Festival.

    The Basorun of Oyo and Chairman of the Planning Committee, Yusuf Akinade Layinka 1 and other members of the Oyo Mesi (the Alaafin’s cabinet) were at the press briefing.

    Archbishop Ladigbolu, who is the deputy chairman of the planning committee, said: “We urge Yoruba sons and daughters to imbibe the attributes of Oranyan, which qualify anybody to be described as an omoluabi. Whoever embraces these values and exhibits them is qualified to be a true descendant of Oranyan.

    “There was unprovoked uproar by critics of the maiden edition of the Oranyan Festival. They complained about the authenticity of Rev. Samuel Johnson’s History of the Yorubas and quoted doubtful sources. They even told the world that the Oyo Empire never existed and that it has no founder.

    “They cared very little about falsifying history and distorting facts about land allocations, boundaries, dates of events and people’s settlements. They obviously knew nothing about the differences between Ife and the Oyo tradition. They tried unsuccessfully to deny historical facts which stood the test of time.”

    The cleric, who is an Oyo prince, said none of those claiming to be descendants of Oduduwa can take the celebration of Oranyan away from Oyo.

    He said: “It is an indisputable fact that we were the pacesetter in inaugurating and popularising the Oranyan festival in Yorubaland. We are happy to have issued the wake-up call to all Oranyan descendants worldwide to rise up and honour the Alaafin, who is the living symbol of the legendary Oranyan.”

    Archbishop Ladigbolu said theOyo State Progressive Association of North America Incorporated (OPANA-INC) was ready to establish the Oranyan World Heritage Centre and Institute in the ancient town.

    He said: “This is a challenging development, which will encourage those of us who see the Oranyan Festival as a labour of love to this generation and to posterity.”

    Archbishop Ladigbolu said this year’s festival would feature a lecture on the impact of culture on the environment, to be delivered by an environmental expert from the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso.

    He said the lecture was to reawaken the culture of cleanliness in the people.

    The cleric denied any dichotomy between Oyo and Ife, Osun State, on the celebration of Oranyan festival, saying it was pioneered by Oyo and they were happy that it was adopted by other communities.

    He said: “We urge well meaning Yorubas to unite and uphold the legacies of our heroes past, whose labour must not be in vain. Let us give the living symbol of the legendary Oranyan, the Alaafin, the honour and recognition his exalted office and person deserves.”

  • Cleric denies rift with Okorocha

    The Archbishop of the Owerri Catholic Diocese, the Most Reverend Dr Anthony Obinna, yesterday said that he does not harboured no any hatred against the governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha.

    He said his refusal to be part of the committee set up by the governor to disburse N500million to youths from the oil producing local government areas of Ohaji/Egbema and Oguta respectively was based on principle and not to show disapproval for the policies of the state government as speculated.

    The cleric who made the disclosure during a media briefing to mark this year’s annual Odenigbo celebration, pointed out that, “I have been concerned with governance as it affects public welfare. I have never accepted any political appointment in the past, so I took a principled stance and rejected the appointment but as I said I have no personal quarrel with Governor Okorocha.”

    The Archbishop said that the church will continue to be involved in the political process to ensure that public interest and good is protected under any regime, adding that, “each regime that comes, my interest is to ensure that public funds are deployed for public good.”

    According to him, “the controversial law which started during Achike Udenwa’s regime was secretly signed into law by Okorocha, but the church is demanding that the law be immediately abrogated by the House of Assembly in defence of the life of the unborn child.”

    The outspoken cleric also decried the state of rural roads across the state, stating that, “I have directed the church to be ready because we will build the collapsed roads where the government failed.”

  • Cleric blames church leaders for corruption

    The head of the Episcopal Church of Nigeria, Abuja, Reverend Babatunde Oguntimehin, has accused the general overseers of mega churches of promoting corruption among their members.

    Oguntimehin, who was the guest speaker at the official launching of the church branch at Keffi, the capital of Nasarawa State last week, said the general overseers cannot honestly say they do not know that top government officials in their churches are spending beyond their salaries.

    He said: “It is sacrilegious to hear that civil servants or public servants are donating aircrafts to church leaders. Directors and even assistant directors are donating between N10 millions and N100 millions in their churches and the so-called Daddy GOs and Mummy GOs, do not see anything wrong.”

    The cleric said there was no way the government would win the war against corruption if religious leaders continue to harbor looters.

  • Cleric appeals against capital punishment

    The founder of Faith Renewal Apostolic Church, Lagos, Apostle Paul Adenuga, has pleaded with governors to desist from signing the death warrant of over 900 condemned criminals across the country.

    Adenuga, in a chat last week in his office, said many on the death row were attracted to crimes due to the failure in the family system, neglect and unemployment.

    He also cited bad governance and political manipulations as other factors that made crimes inevitable for them.

    The cleric said handing them over to the hangman will prevent them from repentance, restitution and a second chance to live.

    He argued that punitive measures for criminality should be administered with respect and love for the person punished in every sense.

    Appealing to the governors to withhold their signatures, Adenuga wondered: “If their children are involved, will they agree they should be hung or will they help in salvaging and rehabilitating the child to be fit to live in the society that abhors murder and other heinous acts?”

    He charged church leaders to continue preaching the truth and lay off every form of compromise within the body of Christ.

  • Cleric urges Muslims to sustain Ramadan lessons

    An Islamic scholar, Sheikh Muyideen Gidado, has urged Muslims to maintain the cleanliness of the Ramadan season.

    Gidado, who was a guest lecturer at an event organised by Yusurullah Association of Nigeria, Ghandi Mosque, Iyana-Church Ibadan, yesterday urged Muslims to turn away from the things forbidden by Allah.

    The cleric, who spoke on the ‘Impact of Asalatu on the life of a Muslim’, said: “Living our days on earth with the fear of Allah will guarantee Al-janat and eternal bliss. I am very surprised that Muslims have the highest population in Nigeria and are the most corrupt too. During Ramadan, all the beer parlour and prostitutes joint were all closed down but immediately after, they go back to their vomit.We only have religion without the fear of God. Muslims are using the name of Allah to steal and repercussion awaits them here.”

  • Cleric urges youths to shun vices

    Nigerian youths have been urged to shun vices and to embrace virtues that strengthen hope for a virile nation.

    Rev. Fr. Joseph Ochuerike, Chaplain of the Catholic Youth Organisation of Nigeria (CYON), Maiduguri, made the call in an interview with journalists in Gombe.

    Ochuerike, who was a delegate at the just-concluded World Youth Day event in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, said that Nigerian youths had bright future, but must first wake up to their responsibilities.

    “Our youths have a future, but unless we work towards realising our goals, our destiny as youths of this country will not reach that aspired or intended future.

    “We need to really put things in order; we are not there yet because of certain challenges that are really pulling us back.”

    He, however, expressed optimism that Nigerian youths would realise their goals if they made some amendments.

    “But, unless we are able to make amends, make kind of adjustments on certain excesses we put off as youths, we will not reach there.

    “We have the potency, we have the potentials; their future is bright for all if really we are able to channel these potentials,’’ he said.

    Ochuerike compared Nigerian youths with their counterparts in other lands, and noted that youths in those countries had more zeal in taking religious responsibilities.

    He challenged Nigerian youths to rise up to their responsibilities and build the church.

    “Sometimes you find our youths not really giving their time to church activities.

    “Even when they are called upon to take charge of certain responsibilities, they are found wanting.

    “But over there, you find out that they are eager; they are willing and also ready to give their time, energy, youthfulness, and put them into action.

    “They are ready to give their all to ensure that something is achieved at the end,’’ he said.

    Ochuerike advised parents to ensure that the youths accepted the church and showed commitment to succeed.

    “Parents should channel children to the right path which God expected them to be,’’ he said.

    Some 110 delegates from the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria attended the 2013 World Youth Day (WYD) event held between July 23 and July 28 in Brazil.

  • Monarch, Cleric hail Fayemi on development

    OBA Victor Adeleke Bobade , the Onire of Ire-Ekiti in Oye Local Government Area of Ekiti State, and the people of Iloro- Ekiti in Ijero Local Government Area, have hailed Governor Kayode Fayemi for the various projects being executed by his administration in the state. In a letter personally signed by the Onire, the traditional ruler noted that his community has been transformed by the various projects executed by the Fayemi administration. Oba Bobade praised the governor for the reactivation of the Ire-Ekiti Burnt Bricks Factory, which had been moribund for about 22 years, and the reconstruction of the Ilupeju-Ire- Igbemo road, which had been abandoned by previous administrations. The royal father also lauded Governor Fayemi for making Ogun Onire Festival a UNESCO cultural heritage site and tarring one kilometre township road in the community under the administration’s construction of five kilometres road in all the 16 LGAs. In a related development, foremost cleric and international preacher, Sheik Muyideen Ajani Bello, has urged Ekiti people to support the development efforts of the Dr Kayode Fayemi-led administration, adding that the governor is a gift to the people of the state. Sheik Bello spoke in Ado- Ekiti as Guest Lecturer at a Ramadhan Lecture organised by the management of Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (Progress FM 100.5FM). Commending the state governor for the developmental efforts, which he said “is very noticeable everywhere in the state”, the Cleric said, “I advise you people (the Ekiti’s) to beware not to lose this opportunity provided by the Fayemi leadership. According to him, “Fayemi is an opportunity for you. I urge and appeal to you to take it. I was somewhere three days ago where we were being urged to pray for some governors who were doing their jobs well in the country, Fayemi was one of those being mentioned.”