Tag: cleric

The Senior Pastor of Praise Arena, Jummy Adetoyese-Olagunju, has urged Nigerians to imbibe the culture of compasion, forgiveness and selfless service as exemplified by Jesus Christ.

Olagunju said this at the annual Christmas Carol by the church which was held at Le-Real Hotel, VGC, Lekki, Lagos. The programme, tagged Super Praise, featured songs, prayer, special ministration, among others.

Read also: Buhari won’t abandon Nigerians, says Osinbajo

According to him, the euphoria around the Christmas season will be lost if Nigerians do not appropriate the love that Christ exhibited by coming to the world and demonstrated how to show love to others.

“Jesus is the reason for Christmas as it reminds us that Jesus is the light of the world and that each of us should light the world as He does,” he said.

GENERAL Overseer of Christ Apostolic Church, The Power of God Saves Prophet Moses Olagunju has urged Nigerians to vote wisely and avoid voting in corrupt leaders in 2019 general elections.

Olagunju stated this in an interview with The Nation at the church’s just concluded 14-day Annual Festival at its headquarters at Egbeda, Lagos.

The programme, tagged: “Time of judgment”, was attended by  Christian faithful from across the country and featured prayers, drama, Bible teaching and prophetic ministration.

He said Nigeria kept paying for long years of corruption perpetuated by past leaders, some of who are still struggling to come back to power.

The cleric noted that Nigerians must be weary of moneybags, who were out to perpetuate their corrupt ways in governance.

Olagunju noted that Nigeria is on the path of peace and prosperity  with President Muhammadu Buhari administration,  which, he said, only needs prayers and support to deliver on its good promises.

Read also: ASUU, ASUP strike and 2019 elections

The cleric, who was elated about the government’s stance against corruption, noted that  there would be celebration “after the famine, if we do not lose hope, but keep faith with this government”.

“I have never seen any country as blessed as Nigeria. We are a wonder to the world and thus, we are yet to maximise the opportunities that God has invested in the country.

“Many of the developed countries that we run to do not have half of the resources that God put into our care. But mismanagement and insincerity on the path of past administrations have done more harm than good to us as a country.

“Our children do not need to leave this country in search for greener pastures, if we have the right people with the right heart to make Nigeria work  again,” he said.

A CLERIC at the Cathedral Church of Christ, Marina, Lagos, Revd Canon Adekunle Ajado, yesterday urged the family of the late Lisa of Lagos, Chief J.K. Randle, to build on his legacy.

Ajado spoke during a thanksgiving service in memory of the late Randle.

The late Randle died in 1956 at 47.

The event featured hymns, giving of offerings, communion and prayers for the deceased, his family members and those in attendance.

Many of those, who attended the church event, are aged. They nodded as the officiating priest reeled out qualities of the late Randle.

The cleric described the deceased as a social crusader.

“Today’s remembrance is one of the signs that he lived well. He was a man of many parts. A man giving to sports; a businessman of note and good indigene of Lagos. He was a philanthropist; he left the stage for his descendants to follow. His life is a challenge for the remaining Randle family members to continue with the good work. The Randle family should be known with good things he stood for,” he said.

Ajado said the family members should use the occasion to move closer to God, adding: “When you seek God, you shall find him”.

The deceased’s son, Bashorun JK Randle, noted that his father’s death before his 13th birthday was a huge shock.

According to him, the whole Lagos was in palpable grief and deep morning.

“Even now, it seems like it was yesterday. Now is the time to grieve no more. Rather, we should rejoice and thank the Almighty for the enduring legacy of goodwill, unblemished family name and untainted reputation,” he said.

According to him, the late Randle touched so many lives and the beneficiaries have remained firmly loyal, far beyond the call of duty or any other obligation.

The Randle generation, he said, were committed to building a virile nation that future generation would be proud of.

He said: “The reason our nation is now in trouble with chaos looming on the horizon is that the generation that succeeded them opted to do the exact opposite and the consequences are there for all to see. The roadmap that was bequeathed had rightly identified the danger zones of religious conflict further compounded by “Elite Capture” to the detriment of the poor and the underprivileged. Before, what we had were the underprivileged. They have been supplanted by the no-privilege-at-all!! Their lives have become a zero-sum game. Consequently, the lower class has morphed into the underclass.

“This was precisely what the previous generation of leaders strove valiantly to forestall. Their noble and gallant exertions went beyond their journey on earth. They were determined to share wealth and prosperity. Hence, they made generous bequests in the belief that the glue that would hold our nation together and galvanise it to prosperity was education re-inforced by sports (and sportsmanship). These would be circumscribed by demonstrable uprightness and transparent trustworthiness by those entrusted with the custody of public funds.

“… In those days, it was not uncommon to find Christians and Muslims within the same family; and they lived together happily without any obvious tensions. Muslims sometimes attended churches and similarly Christians joined their Muslim brothers and sisters in mosques as well as the celebration of Sallah and other Muslim festivals – Eid el-Fitr; Eid el-Maulud, etc. At Christmas and Easter, the Muslims reciprocated with equal gusto. Indeed, Christians donated generously towards the building of mosques and Muslim schools (particularly with the encouragement of Henry Carr, the eminent civil servant/administrator); and vice-versa Muslims donated significant funds towards the building of the Cathedral Church, Marina, Lagos.”

Dr. Ronke Soetan said she admired the tenacity with the way Bashorun Randle handled the remembrance of his late dad.

She described the deceased as a great man.

“He was a great Lagosian, who made great impact in the country. Events like this shows that legends don’t die. They live on. Dr. J.K. Randle lives on,” she said.

Those who attended the event include the late Randle’s daughter-in-law and wife of Bashorun Randle, Folasade; Jaiye Koshoni and Jaiye Kofolakan Randle, Aro of Ife Chief Alex Duduyemi, Chief Anthony Soetan, Eagle Paints Chairman Chief Akin Disu , Chief Kessington Adebutu, Mrs. Adenike Ola Vincent, Dr. Lanre Towry-Coker, Mr. Segun Odubogun, Dr. Ebun Sonaiya and Mr. Alan Davies.

The World Evangelism Bible Church (WEBIC) has denied allegations that its General Overseer, Prophet Samson Ayorinde, issued N118 million dud cheques.

Resident Pastor of the church’s headquarters, Rev. Harold Chinonyerem, said the news was deceptive, misleading and does not represent the facts.

This follows reports that Prophet Ayorinde could be arrested for issuing dud cheques, to the tune of N118 million, following Justice Yetunde Adesanya’s dismissal of the fundamental human rights application filed by registered trustees of WEBIC – Prophet Samson Ayorinde and Rev Harold Chinonyerem.

Chinonyerem said: “We want the world to know that these publications are a misrepresentation of what transpired. There was a loan with Smartlinks, but unfortunately, during the transaction, the Prophet became indisposed, was flown overseas and as such could not handle business transactions. Then the officers of Smartlinks brought the matter to the principal officers of the church who assured them that there were no problems, but pointed out that Prophet Ayorinde was at that moment indisposed.

“The church agreed to resolve the matter and consequently entered into some agreements with Smart Links. But along the line, while payments were going on, there were some disagreements on the figures that led to the presentation of the cheques, against the Church’s advice. It was then the police were invited and the matter got out of hand.

“I like to make the following positions clear – there was no criminal intent or intention to issue dud cheques; the Church was paying the loans until there was a breakdown in negotiations; at no point has the Church, the Prophet, the Trustees or Rev. Harold been sued for issuing dud cheques; the Church is still in negotiation with Smartlinks and is ready to clear the brouhaha whenever there is an agreement on terms of payment; the Church and its officials are honest, peace loving people whose desire is to help make Nigeria a better place to live; the Church is a friend of the press and is open to inquiries from media operatives before publishing anything about it.”

The pastor in charge of Christ Apostolic Church, Ori Oke Ikoyi, Osun State, Prophet Olutope Adeyemo, has advised the country’s leaders to strive to do things right to give the masses hope and future.

Adeyemo, who said this was necessary to prevent a revolt, advised the masses to choose right leaders by desisting from selling their votes, which he described as their birthrights.

The cleric spoke at a news conference to herald the church’s yearly interdenominational crusade, themed: “My Glory Must Shine”. The crusade will hold on November 25 at CAC Primary School, Abiri Ikoyi, Osun State.

He said: “There is hope for Nigeria if we resolve to do things right. We shall continue to pray for this country; we should repent from our sinful ways. Nigerians should strive to choose right leaders by desisting from selling their votes. We should seek ways to utilise what we have here not depending on foreign characters, product and services.

“Leaders should remember that they became leaders because they have who and what to lead. They should remember that masses are their power. They should allow the country’s resources benefit all. Let them give the masses a hope and future by providing what will make life easier for them – if not, they will taste the wrath and feel the power of masses one day.

“The politicians and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) must make the coming election credible. The politicians must not entice the electorate with money or make them panic by using thugs and military involvement.

“INEC must not be biased. There must never be order from above. Let the votes count, let us do it right this time, let our conscience work and vindicate us. We must remember God the great judge who will judge us according to our work and deeds.”