A former deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Tunde Lemo, has urged Nigerians to see the recession as a learning point and a time to be virtuous.
The renowned banker said this was the only way the nation could set on a good path after the recession.
He said the nation should not bemoan the current situation or lose hope but see the economic difficulty as a cycle that would go away.
Lemo, who spoke on Sunday evening in Lagos after the Christmas Carol and Orchestra of the Apostolic Faith Church at Anthony Village in Lagos, noted that recession was like an event that would soon pass by.
The banker advised that all hands should be on deck to prepare for the next round of prosperity and boom. This, he said, could be achieved through learning new skills that would be beneficial after the recession.
Lemo said: “We should roll up our sleeves and get ready for another round of recovery.”
The mother of Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, Mama Olubisi Osinbajo, said she had been praying for the country and for the successes of her children in power.
The octogenarian urged Nigerians to do same and save the nation from the difficulty.
The District Superintendent for West and Central Africa of Apostolic Faith, Rev Adebayo Adeniran, said God would heal the land, if Nigerians turned from what he called their wicked ways.
Quoting the Bible, the cleric noted that righteousness exults a nation.
He said: “God has an agenda for Nigeria. So, we should pray to Him to help us and support our leaders who walk in righteousness and against corruption and bringing us to path of rectitude.
“We cannot continue in our old ways and say grace should abide. We speak against corruption, not because we hate the corrupt but because we know that God can make the corrupt turn towards Him and seek His forgiveness.
“When corruption leaves this country, renewal will come and the glory of God will return.
“Let us not lose hope because we have not yet crossed the boundary of redemption. But with prayers, we shall be free of all those who hold us against God and our renewal as a nation.”
Tag: Clerics
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Lemo, clerics seek prayers to end recession
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Muslim parents, clerics warned on hijab
Muslim Ummah of Southwest Nigeria (MUSWEN) has warned Muslim parents and clerics in Osun State not to enforce the court order on the use of hijab by female pupils in public schools.
The Muslim community in 2013 filed a case against the government on the right of female Muslim pupils in public schools to wear hijab on their uniform.
A high court on June 3 granted female Muslim pupils the right to wear hijab. But the state’s Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) faulted the judgment and vowed to appeal it.
CAN said it would direct Christian pupils to wear church garments, to propagate their faith if the government implemented the judgment.
Since the judgment, female Muslim pupils have been wearing hijab on their uniform, while Christians wore church garments on their uniform, as directed by CAN.
MUSWEN Executive Secretary Prof. Dawud Noibi, who addressed reporters yesterday in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, said the action of the Muslims, which caused crisis by enforcing the use of hijab, was not supported by MUSWEN.
His words: “No citizen has a right to take the law into his hands. We believe that barring any attempt to frustrate the enforcement of the court order, the government has adequate machinery to enforce the order. Only the government has the power to enforce laws.”
Noibi urged the government to do the needful on the court order, saying justice must not only be done, but must be seen to be done.
The don enjoined the CAN leadership to consider the advice of Archbishop John Cardinal Onaiyekan that the country should adopt the policy that no law should prohibit what religion prescribed or required citizens to do what religion prohibited.
“Osun CAN not only rejected the ruling of a court of competent jurisdiction, it encouraged Christian pupils to disobey the court order by instigating them to go to school in their church attires.
“Besides, on moral ground, one may ask, how does a Muslim girl’s wearing of hijab offend a Christian? The court ruling does not compel all Muslim pupils to wear hijab. It is left to the choice of the pupil, who wishes to obey the order coming from her creator. The court has only affirmed her God-given right,” Noibi said.
The MUSWEN leader advised CAN to allow peace reign, respect the court order and follow the path of law.
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Clerics urge Nigerians to pray for leaders
A group, Coalition of Muhammadu Buhari Support Groups (COMBUSUG), yesterday in Abuja, urged Nigerians to always pray for the nation and its leaders.
The group made this call at an event tagged: ‘National Prayer to commemorate Buhari’s first year in office.’
At the event, Christian and Muslim clerics prayed for the continuous unity, peace prosperity and progress of the country.
The Deputy Chief Imam of the Abuja National Mosque, Malam Kabiru Adamu, in his sermon at the occasion said, ‘’It is the duty of every Nigerian to keep praying for peace. God in His infinite mercies created us differently, male and female and allowed us to speak different languages.
‘’In keeping with peace if you go to the national mosque, you will hear the sermon in one of the Nigerian languages, last Friday it was in Igbo. Why? Because God wants us to live in peace, respect your neighbours. Pray for unity, progress, prosperity and development of Nigeria,’’ Adamu said in his sermon.
Also speaking, Pastor Afolayan Daniel, said the Bible urged Christians to pray for the peace of Jerusalem and for their leaders.
‘’This is our Jerusalem. We must pray for our country so that we can live together in peace. Nigerians complain a lot without praying for their leaders. It shouldn’t be. If they are rightly guided, we would be the first beneficiaries of right, focused and purposeful leadership,’’ he said.
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Clerics work, pray for united Qua Iboe Church
As factional feud continues in the old Qua Iboe Church (QIC), leaders of the church have prayed for peace and unity under its new name, the United Evangelical Church (UEC).
The UEC leaders spoke at an inauguration and dedication of the Church assembly (Victory Arena) at Udianga Enem community in Etim Ekpo local government area of Akwa Ibom State.
Addressing a congregation drawn from the Ukanafun Conference of the Church, the National Chairman of Conference, Rev. Cornelius Emelogu (JP), admonished members to ensure the new Church grows from strength to strength.
Represented by Secretary, National Mission Board, Rev. Usen Alexander Umoh, the chairman stressed that there is a need for all to join hands in the building process of the church.
He prayed for the new Church to rise from its “small beginning” to become a major rallying point against forces of darkness that may want to truncate its vision and mission.
Guest minister, at the event, Elder Etette Akang, in his words of exhortation drawn from Psalm 40, underscored the importance of establishing close relationship with God.
He warned that unrestrained sins would only lead humanity to everlasting damnation.
He asked God to imbue in humanity the discerning spirits and the empowerment to keep His ordinances at all times.
The Chairman of the new UEC in Udianga Enem, Bro. Monday Ekoriko, who donated the new church land, recalled that the church establishment was in line with the resolution of the Conference to change the name from QIC to UEC.
He thanked the youths of Southern Ukanafun Superintendency, noting that the establishment of the new UEC was borne out of their evangelism with the theme: “Let there be light” in the community last October.
“After the evangelism, members saw the need to establish the Church in Udianga Enem,” he recalled, adding that the agitation forced Rev. S.M. Udo, Chairman of the Ukanafun Conference to inaugurate the new Church.
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Bishop laments incessant kidnapping of clerics
The president/founder of the Sword of the Spirit Ministries, Bishop Francis Wale Oke has condemned incessant kidnapping of clergymen in the country.
Bishop Oke spoke Wednesday when he paid a courtesy visit to new Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji (Aje Ogunguniso 1) at his palace.
Part of his entourage include; Bishop Dapo Ogunsola, Pastor Henry Otoibi, Pastor Sola Ogundeji, Pastor John Fagbemi, Pastor Lekan Akindele and Pastor Bisi Adetifa.
He said: They have turned kidnapping into a business to extort huge money from people. For instance, I read in the Newspaper today that three clergymen in Kaduna were kidnapped and their kidnappers are demanding for N100 million ransom. I appeal that they should be released immediately.
“The nation is degenerating to the extent that people no longer fear God. The other time it was a bishop of the African Church in Lagos that was kidnapped; now they kidnap school pupils.”
According to him, In the Bible death penalty was recommended for kidnapping and with the way things are going now, it will be better if the government adopt this method.
Bishop Oke said government at all level must rise up to the occasion and tackle this menace by making kidnapping a capital offence, adding that:” if you kidnap anybody and you are caught, then you are gone.”
On the reason for his visit, the clerics said he was in the palace to congratulate the Olubadan and to pray for longitivity and sound health for him.
In his remark, Oba Adetunji thanked Bishop Oke for his visit, appealing to him to join him in prayer for the creation of Ibadan State and upgrading of Ibadan airport to an international standard.
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Three Jos clerics kidnapped in Kaduna
The National President of Fellowship of Churches of Christ In Nigeria known in as “Tarayyar Ekklesiyoyin Kristi A Nijeria” Rev Emmanuel Dziggau and two of his subordinates have been kidnapped along Kaduna Abuja road.
They were kidnapped at about 5:30pm on Monday evening while the victims and other leaders of the church were inspecting a building site for the church in Kaduna state state.
The site of the church project is located at Sabongari-Kasau, an entrance village that welcomes travelers to the state.
Other clerics kidnapped along the President are his Vice Rev. Illiya Anto and retired Rev. Yakubu Dzarma.
The national General Secretary of TEKAN Rev. Moses Ebuga disclosed the incident during a press conference held at TEKAN headquarters in Jos the Plateau State capital on Tuesday.
Rev. Ebuga said, “The abductors has so far released Rev. Illiya Anto due to his health condition but the rest are still been held by the captives.”
He said, “The kidnappers whom has been using the mobile phone of Rev. Anto demanding for N100 million ransom before they could release the President and Rev Yakubu Dzarma.”
According to Rev Ebuga, “We are not ignorant of the prevailing political scheming in the country over the planned national election of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) where the leaders have become the subject of attack particularly the leadership of TEKAN/ECWA Bloc in CAN”
He called on the federal government and the Security agents to do everything possible to ensure the safety of it’s leaders and have the perpetrators fished out.
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Clerics advise Buhari on good governance
The third session of the Second Synod of the Diocese of Idoani (Anglican Communion) held at the Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity in Ose Local Government Area of Ondo State has ended. It called on President Muhammadu Buhari to meet the expectations of Nigerians.
The Diocesan Bishop, Rt Revd Bolarinde Dahunsi made the appeal while addressing the synod delegates, clerics and other dignitaries at the occasion hosted by Chief and Mrs Dapo Oshati.
According to the cleric, Nigerians are really yearning for positive change in every sphere of life notwithstanding the myriad of challenges before the President.
Bishop Dahunsi said: “Mr President should be mindful of the pluralistic nature of Nigeria and its secularity as preserved by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He should also appreciate the need to eschew favouritism based on religion or tribe.
In a communiqué jointly signed by the Bishop and Synod’s Secretary, Venerable S.O. Ojowuro, it commended the peaceful conduct of the 2015 general
elections and praised the heroic role of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan in conceding defeat to his opponent.
The Synod enjoined President Buhari to appoint credible and worthy Nigerians into his cabinet and various political offices in order to deliver the dividends of democracy to Nigerians.
It urged Nigerians to be patient with President Buhari, while assuring him of continuous support and prayer for positive turnaround of the country under his watch.
On the anti-corruption crusade going on in the country, the Synod praised the President and sought the co-operation of all Nigerians.
It also appealed to President Buhari to ensure that the fight against corruption is carried out without prejudice.
The Synod decried the total neglect of the area in the distribution of necessary infrastructure such as good roads, potable water and steady power supply.
According to the communique, the entire communities in Idoani Diocese have been put into total darkness since April, wondering whether the area is still part
of Ondo State.
The synod delegates commended Chief Jacob Oshati,who is the Majekobaje of the Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity, Idoani for being a pioneer host of the Synod in the Diocese.
Meanwhile, the next council meeting of the Ondo Ecclestiastical Province will be hosted by Idoani Diocese between October 6 and 7.
The theme of the third session of the second Synod of the Diocese was “Godliness with Contentment.” -
Clerics preach faith
The General Overseer, Deeper Life Christian Ministry (DLCM), Pastor William Kumuyi and the Bishop of Christ Holy Church aka Nation Builders, 7b Ibo Road, Aba Province III Headquarters, His Eminence Rt. Rev. Nathan Umeh have asked their parishioners to increase their faith in God.
Kumuyi in a message at the DLCM camp ground at Flyover, on the outskirts of Aba to conclude his 5days spiritual tour in Abia State preached on the topic “God’s Miracle Working Power in your Life”.
The cleric taking his scriptures from Mark 2 : 3-10, narrated how the faith of the man with paralysis earned him his healing and told the congregation to hold on to their faith at all times.
“When the sick man saw that the crowd could not allow him access to Jesus, he looked up and told his friends to look up and open the roof to let him down from there.
“His friends did as he told them and let him down through the roof and when Jesus saw his faith, Jesus said to him “Son, thy sins are forgiven you, rise up, take your bed and go home” and urged them to have the right attitude in the worship of God if they must obtain God’s blessings.
The event featured special prayers for parishioners, DLCM and the country in general.
In a related development, Bishop Umeh in his first homily as the Bishop of CHC Aba Superintendency and Province III after the retirement of His Eminence Rt. Rev. Aaron Eziuzor described Christians who lacked hope in God as people that are being guided by the flesh.
The preacher who took his text from Luke chapter 5 vs 1-6 urged his parishioners not to say that “you are tired in worshipping God or doing His work(s) or maybe that you are confused because of the challenges that may come your way”, but to be patient and wait for Gods promises which shall come to pass even if it tarries.
“God doesn’t want to hear any complaint but obedience to His word which will bring challenges in all the spheres of your lives. The reason why you see people suffering is because they lack faith in God” and added that if they (parishioners) abide my Gods words which he said was going to bring salvation and would strengthen their faith and commitment in God”.
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Clerics preach faith
The General Overseer, Deeper Life Christian Ministry (DLCM), Pastor William Kumuyi and the Bishop of Christ Holy Church aka Nation Builders, 7b Ibo Road, Aba Province III Headquarters, His Eminence Rt. Rev. Nathan Umeh have asked their parishioners to increase their faith in God.
Kumuyi in a message at the DLCM camp ground at Flyover, on the outskirts of Aba to conclude his 5days spiritual tour in Abia State preached on the topic “God’s Miracle Working Power in your Life”.
The cleric taking his scriptures from Mark 2 : 3-10, narrated how the faith of the man with paralysis earned him his healing and told the congregation to hold on to their faith at all times.
“When the sick man saw that the crowd could not allow him access to Jesus, he looked up and told his friends to look up and open the roof to let him down from there.
“His friends did as he told them and let him down through the roof and when Jesus saw his faith, Jesus said to him “Son, thy sins are forgiven you, rise up, take your bed and go home” and urged them to have the right attitude in the worship of God if they must obtain God’s blessings.
The event featured special prayers for parishioners, DLCM and the country in general.
In a related development, Bishop Umeh in his first homily as the Bishop of CHC Aba Superintendency and Province III after the retirement of His Eminence Rt. Rev. Aaron Eziuzor described Christians who lacked hope in God as people that are being guided by the flesh.
The preacher who took his text from Luke chapter 5 vs 1-6 urged his parishioners not to say that “you are tired in worshipping God or doing His work(s) or maybe that you are confused because of the challenges that may come your way”, but to be patient and wait for Gods promises which shall come to pass even if it tarries.
“God doesn’t want to hear any complaint but obedience to His word which will bring challenges in all the spheres of your lives. The reason why you see people suffering is because they lack faith in God” and added that if they (parishioners) abide my Gods words which he said was going to bring salvation and would strengthen their faith and commitment in God”.
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Activists, clerics petition council over not-for-profit code
Activists, Pastors and workers of some Pentecostal churches have petitioned the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria over its plan to promote the “Not for Profit Code 2015” against the religious organizations.
The code seeks to nullify theocracy in the church which is ascendancy of rulership and headship of the church by spiritual means. It sought to impose democracy as preferred means of assumption to the structures of the church leadership in the area of appointment, tenure and succession.
Some of the aggrieved churches are Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG); Living Faith International also known as Winners’ Chapel and Foursquare Gospel Church. They alleged that the promotion of the code was being mooted with active connivance of the Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment.
Addressing a news conference in Lagos last week, their counsels led by Bamidele Ogundele said “governance in the church is a spiritual affair and that any attempt to separate spiritual affair leadership from administrative leadership would bring dichotomy, create crisis within the churches of God and create multidimensional contradictions”.
Ogundele argued that the Sections 1.1, 8-40 of the code which impose General Assembly and tampered with the structures in the church “ is anti-Christ, satanic agenda, illegal and a breach and an infringement of the fundamental rights of their clients to freedom of thought, conscience and religion under Section 38(1) of the 1999 Constitution as amended and Article 8 of the African Charter of Human and Peoples Right (Enforcement And Ratification Act), Law of the federation 2004.
He said that the council has over stepped its powers and functions under Sections 7 and 8 of the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria as well as duplicating the functions of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) under Companies and Allied Matters Decree, Law of the Federation 2004 which is saddled with the responsibility of registration and monitoring Churches and charitable organiSations.
He said their clients are committed to the defence of rule of law and constitutionalism in Nigeria and have therefore decided to challenge the new development in court in order to prevent crisis in the church and to enforce their fundamental human rights at the Federal High Court, Lagos.
The applicants in the suit number FHC/L/C5/974/15 are Bamidele Ogundele, Busola Ogunyode for themselves and the registered Trustees of the Centre for Rule of Law; Pastor Ayodele Oladeji, Babatunde Adefila, Isaac Opayinka and Bunmi Olawunmi.
Respondents in the suit are the Attorney General of the Federation, Ministry of Trade and Investment and the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria.
The applicants among others sought six reliefs from the court including a declaration of the court that the purported Not-for-Profit Sections Codes 2015 muted and being promoted by the second and third respondents is illegal and unconstitutional because it amounts to duplication of the functions of the CAC saddled with the responsibility of registration and monitoring of compliance of charitable organizations/groups.
They also prayed the court for an order of injunction restraining the respondents, their agents and privies from adopting and given of effect of law to Not-for-Profit sector Codes, 2015 based on their infringement on the right of the applicants to religion under section 38(1) of the 1999 Constitution and Article 8 of the African Charter of Human and Peoples Right (Enforcement And Ratification Act), Law of the federation 2004 and its inconsistence with section 7 and 8 of the enabling law establishing the body i.e. Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria Act Cap f42, Law of Federation, 2011.
Media Consultant to the Council, Mark Ogbamosa said it was a misunderstanding that the churches see the Code as been targeted at them.
“A committee was set up to work on a corporate governance for different sector of Nigeria. There is Corporate Governance already in Nigeria. In fact, we have six of them. For instance, there is one for CBN and banks and another for the NGO’s and Churches and Mosques fall under this group because they are more or less public organizations. . The truth is that when you have Corporate Governance in churches and mosques, it is not for them to pay taxes. That is wrong because it is not about taxation,” he said adding that the council is also not going to look into the accounts of the churches. That is for Internal Revenue board to do.
He however explained that corporate governance has to do about tenure and succession.
“It is saying that you cannot be in one position for too long. When you stay too long in one position, you become a dictator. You must give room for other people to cue in because you are committing people’s money. So if it takes one person to stay there for too long, it means there could be dictatorship, there could be mismanagement”.
Ogbamosa said the code has to do with universally accepted system of church administration than of spiritual.
He said the council is aware that the pastors have sued the agency and that they already have the papers.