The Nation Newspaper

Tag: General Overseer

  • Only God can end political desperation in Nigeria, says Cleric

    The General Overseer of the Gospel Faith Mission International (GOFAMINT) Dr.Elijah Abina has said that killings,disruption and inconclusiveness of polls especially in the recent election in the country were products of political desperation by the ruling class which could be tackled only by God.

    The cleric spoke in Akure, the Ondo State capital during the dedication of Owode ASS Cathedral of the Church.

    There were reported cased of election violence, militarisation of polling units leading to inconclusive elections in most parts of the country while supplementary governorship elections in Kano, Benue and other states were allegedly been hijacked by political thugs.

    Abina said politicians and most Nigerians had failed to realise that only God could make a leader, hence the need for them to shun desperation in their quest for political offices during elections.

    On anti-corruption war of the present administration, the clergyman commended President Muhammadu Buhari for trying to meet expectations of Nigerians,stressing that nobody could satisfy human needs.

    The General Overseer who was supported by the GOFAMINT General Secretary, Pastors Olufemi Omowumi, District Pastor, Adegbola Adelabu and others noted that corruption was the major factor responsible for Nigeria’s problems.

    He called  on the government to sustain the fight against corruption for a virile nation.

    Read also: Breaking: INEC adjourns collation of Benue results

    He said, “Desperation in politics is because people don’t know God, what is happening today in Nigeria is improper. The only solution is to come to God. In Nigeria, we are too religious, but not Godly”.

    “Only God can give leaders, no need for desperation. Corruption is the brain behind Nigeria’s problems. Corruption is everywhere. Anti-corruption war is better than before, the government is trying because it is not easy to please Nigerians. Even God who created us cannot satisfy everybody”.

    The cleric however sought for holistic solutions to anti-corruption war, high rate of vote buying and commercialisation of electoral system in the interest of the nation’s democracy.

  • 2019: Ezekwesili calls on Nigerians to protect, exercise voting rights

    The Convener of the Red Card Movement and one-time Education Minister, Mrs Obiageli Ezekwesili, has called on Nigerians to come out in their numbers to vote and protect their votes, come 2019.

    Ezekwesili made the call at a one-day conference organised by ‘The Church Must Vote’ an NGO, on Monday in Abuja.

    She said that it was time for Nigerians to determine the quality of leadership they get through massive voting.

    The theme of the conference was ”The Church Stand Against Vote Buying and Selling, with the slug ”My Vote Is Not For Sale, My Vote Must Count”.

    Ezekwesili said that nobody should be comfortable to sit at home during the upcoming 2019 general elections, because it was time to get rid of the old order of politicians in the country.

    The former minister, an activist, said that the quality of democracy was dependent on quality of vote, and INEC must protect the vote of Nigerians.

    ”We must compel INEC to gather some of the cases of vote buying and selling that they have identified and take them to court.

    ”We must compel the Judiciary to act and not to defer judgement on such matters, because our democracy is under existential treat.

    ”Citizens must understand the power they possess, and through that power, you determine the quality of leaders to lead the country,” she said.

    Ezekwesili said that it was time to build a nation with leaders who were elected on the bases of character, competence and capacity.

    ”So, I support The Church Must Vote to say your vote must count because your vote does count, if it didn’t count, they will not pay for it.

    ”It is time to decide that nobody can pay for your vote because it is priceless, the people are dependent on the quality of leaders that they get for themselves.

    ”So, let our vote count; we must cry out if we see our vote being bought or stolen,” she said.

    Rev. William Okoye, General Overseer, All Christians Fellowship Mission, said that some people sell their votes due to hunger and starvation.

    Okoye stressed that it was better to endure hunger which was immediate in order to better their future, as any hunger that has hope does not kill.

    ”If you are hungry today and have hope that tomorrow will be better, you will be able to manage, so we are trying to send that hope to Nigerians through the church.

    ”We want Nigerians to know that the future will be bright if we endure the pains of now and ensure that we don’t sell our vote and use our vote to bring about the better future that we are expecting,” he said.

    Read Also: 2019: I’ll not surrender Ogun to ‘profiteers,’ Amosun vows

    Ikechukwu Nmor, Founder, The Church Must Vote, said that the voting right of every Nigerian was priceless, and as such, shouldn’t be traded for anything or any amount.

    “Nigeria is a great nation but with little performance; something must be done now to change things for the better.

    ”I am here to say I stand against vote buying and selling and no amount of money is enough to sell my vote and mortgage the future of our generation.

    ”It is important that the elections and the outcome reflect a representative and inclusive decision of all demographics, age, gender and beliefs,” he said.

  • Kumuyi: How Nigeria can wriggle out of current recession

    Kumuyi: How Nigeria can wriggle out of current recession

    The General Overseer, Deeper Christian Life Ministry (DCLM), Pastor Williams Folorunsho Kumuyi, has given insight to how Nigerians could wriggle out of the current economic downturn in the country.

    kumuyi said apart from seeking God’s intervention through prayers for the nation, Nigerians should shun corruption, make a habit of doing the right thing always and also delve into agriculture to ensure food availability and security.

    He said Nigerians need God’s help to “turn around the economic, social, individual, domestic needs and other hydra – headed problems of the nation,” adding that where there is no food on the table and enough apparel for the body, there would be grumbling everywhere.

    The General Overseer spoke in Abeokuta, through the DCLM State Overseer, Pastor Dele Rosilu, while fielding questions from reporters at a press briefing to herald his planned visit to MKO Abiola Stadium, Abeokuta, next Friday, for a “turn around” crusade at the state capital.

    Over 50,000 worshippers across the state are expected to attend the programme.

    Rosilu who addressed the press on Kumuyi’s behalf, noted that Nigerians are not doing enough in agriculture, saying there are no better time to pour more energy into farming either on “commercial or part time basis” than this period of economic recession.

    He also made case for more money to be expended on security of lives and properties of Nigerians by the governments if that is what it would take to keep enough manpower on ground amid rising cases of militancy and kidnappings in parts of the country.

    He however, expressed the hope that at this period of “failures,” God would minister success to the country, stressing that the church in Nigeria should partner with the governments, its institutions and agencies to better the lot of the people.”

     

  • RCCG’s security man docked for impersonating Pastor Adeboye

    RCCG’s security man docked for impersonating Pastor Adeboye

    A security man with the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Awobola Babatunde, who allegedly opened a bank account in the name of the General Overseer, Pastor E.A. Adeboye, was arraigned in Lagos on Monday.

    The accused, 32, whose address is unknown, is facing a four-count charge of stealing, impersonation, conspiracy and opening an account in Adeboye’s name and attempting to cash a cheque of N600, 000.

    He pleaded not guilty to the charges at an Ebute Meta Chief Magistrates’ Court.

    According to the prosecutor, Insp. Aighoi Gbemileke, the accused with others still at large committed the offences on June 6 at No. 1/9, Redemption Way, Ebute Meta, at 9.00 a.m.

    He said the accused stole a Fidelity Bank cheque valued at N600, 000 belonging to the RCCG General Overseer.

    “The accused falsely presented himself as Pastor Adeboye by opening a savings account at Aguda, Surulere branch of Fidelity Bank in his name.

    “He opened the account in order to cash the cheque and convert the money to personal use.

    “Babatunde also opened the account in order to be stealing money from the church as they plan to pay in more cheques,” Gbemileke alleged.

    He said the offences violated Sections 285, 378, 404 and 408 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

    In her ruling, the Magistrate, Mrs B. Folarin-Williams, admitted the accused to a bail of N100, 000 in addition to two sureties in like sum.

    The sureties, she said, must be blood relations of the accused and also produce evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State Government as part of the bail conditions.

    The case was adjourned to Aug. 4 for mention.

  • Igwe, frontline journalist, dies at 58

    Igwe, frontline journalist, dies at 58

    Popular columnist and Vice Chairman, Sun Newspapers, Pastor Dimgba Igwe, died yesterday. He was killed by a hit-and-run driver.

    He was aged 58 years.

    Igwe was jogging in his Okota, Lagos neighbourhood in the morning when he was knocked down by the unknown driver, the Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief of the newspaper, Mr. Femi Adesina said in a statement last night.

    Igwe was subsequently rushed to a nearby private hospital, and later the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja, for surgery.

    He died in the process.

    Chairman of Sun Newspapers, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, described the death as “tragic, shocking, and a dark day in the annals of journalism in Nigeria.”

    He added: “Dimgba Igwe was too much of a gentleman, fine brain and mind to die tragically like this.”

    Before joining The Sun at its inception in 2003, he had worked with his close friend and associate, Mr. Mike Awoyinfa, at the rested Weekend Concord, a publication of the Concord Press.

    At the Sun he first served as Deputy Managing Director/Deputy Editor-in- Chief before becoming Vice Chairman.

    He was Deputy General Overseer of Evangel Pentecostal Church, Okota, Lagos and a fellow of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE).

    He is survived by a wife and four children.