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Tag: Nicholas Okoh

  • Buhari: System, not me, responsible for slow anti-graft war

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday blamed the democratic system for the seemingly slow pace of the anti-corruption war.

    The system, he reiterated, is responsible for the slow progress of the war not he.

    The President spoke in Abuja when he received the Federal Capital Territory community on Christmas homage at his official residence.

    “Fighting Corruption, yes, we are slow because the system is slow.

    “It’s not Baba that is slow but it is the system so I am going by this system and I hope we will make it,” he said

    The President stressed: “I told you what I did when I was in uniform but now when I have to go by this system (democracy) where people have to be arrested and then prosecuted, taken to court and then with evidence, we will collect back what they had taken illegally and for doing that, people are calling me Baba go slow.

    “I am going slowly but whatever the case, I will not stop pointing fingers at those who have abused trust by taking money that does not belong to them.

    “I will keep on trying to do my best for this country and get back what belongs to the country.

    “We are doing to do the roads, revive the railway and electricity with the little resources at our disposal.”

    He said he will embark on aggressive reelection campaign soonest based on the three issues that got him elected in 2015.

    These issues anti-corruption war, tackling insecurity and improving the economy, according to him, are still relevant today.

    Read Also: Why we are slow in fighting corruption, by Buhari

    The campaign, he said, will start by visits to each of the six geo-political zones of the country.

    According to him: “The party nominated me and I will contest. We are watching the Independent National Electoral Commission very seriously and we are going out very soon we will go from geo-political zone to geo-political zone to remind the people of our promises in 2015; three fundamental things, security, because you have to secure the country before you can govern it and talking about what we have done regarding securing the country, the people of the North-east know better.

    “The three fundamental things we campaigned with are still very relevant. On improving the economy, which we are still going to explore, we have done well in agriculture and those who embraced farming are not regretting it and we have also addressed unemployment and we are very lucky, through that we are now attaining food security.

    Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mohammed Bello, said the FCT community was happy with the performance of President Buhari in office and pledged to support him massively for another term of office.

    He said “We pray that God Almighty to continue to grant you good health, strength, capacity, ability and patience to continue to lead us to the Promised Land.

    “On behalf of the FCT we appreciate you for the good works you are doing for the territory, just last week you commissioned for us a new airport terminal and so many road projects that are going on in Abuja and we feel highly delighted to be hosting you here and it’s my honour on behalf of the FCT community I want to assure you that we are solidly behind you and by the grace of God we look forward to you spending another four years in the state house so that you can truly make Abuja the city of our dream because we want Abuja to be among the 20 best cities in the world in the next few years to come and I think that is possible.”

    Primate of the Anglican Communion, Nigeria Reverend Nicholas Okoh congratulated the President for overcoming his health challenges and said all citizens of the country are grateful to God for that.

    The cleric noted the spirit of unity among followers of different religions in the Federal capital Territory is exemplary and should be replicated in all parts of the country.

    He said religious leaders will continue to work for peace and harmony in order to sustain peace in the country.

    The delegation comprised religious leaders and traditional rulers as well as top functionaries of the Federal capital Territory administration.

  • 2019: Avoid politics of inducement – Primate

    Most Rev. Nicholas Okoh, the Primate of Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion, on Tuesday in Abuja urged Nigerians to avoid politics of inducement but vote wisely as the 2019 elections were approaching.

    The Anglican leader said this at the Carnival for Christ with the maiden Anglican symposium dedicated to all Anglican faithful, themed “Christians and politics”

    He said Nigerians should join political parties and not complain of being sidelined because party politics was governed by philosophy and ideas.

    He said ideas that politics was a dirty game should not scare Nigerians. “Politics is the most important activity of organised life in the society.

    “If one tries to argue that on a macro basis, life without social or political thought is than one wrong,” he said.

    He said political behaviour was almost entirely linked to social behaviour and interests and vice-versa.

    The primate said nowadays some Nigerians often pompously declared that “I am not interested in politics”.

    “To them politics is some disreputable art of manipulating one’s way into positions of state power for personal and party gains.

    “And they don’t look forward to being called a “politician” ever in their working lives. In fact the word has almost gradually become a term of abuse.

    “As far as the concept of politics is really concerned, this is a most naive and dumb notion,” he explained.

    According to him, “in everything we say or do, we are taking a position that is actually a political position whether we like it or not. For politics concerns everything in life.”

    Speaking on Christian and politics, the Anglican leader said praying for those in governance was a form of political activity.

    He added that the bible said that Christians should make supplications, prayers and intercession be made to all, including those in higher positions that they may lead a peaceful and quiet life.

    Read Also: Primate Okoh urges decisive action on herdsmen menace

    “If any form of other political activity is not possible, praying that political leaders would make correct decisions is the one thing that we all have the obligation to do as Christians.

    “The government may not always do what we believe is best, they have been put in place by God for his purposes.

    “Lets understood the need for Christian participation in politics. Government plays a role in the work of God’s kingdom on earth.

    “Good government encourages an environment conducive for people living peaceably, whereas bad government fosters unrest and instability,”he said.

    The cleric,however, said that it’s the prayers of Christians and their involvement in politics that would influence the people that God had put in place, so it was important for Christians to be active in politics in some form or another.

    The vicar of Our Saviour’s Anglican Church, Durumi Abuja, Ven. Syrenius Okoriko,said that when christians were rightly informed and motivated, they could change the characters in politics to moral standards of God’s kingdom.

    “Christians will bring the moral standards of God’s kingdom into the civic realm and thereby become agents of God’s common grace of His provision for those who believe as well as those who don’t,” he said.

    Okoriko said that Christians had a duty “to work through civil authority for the advancement of justice and human good”.

    “It’s a pervasive responsibility. After all, politics determines whether we’re at war or peace.

    “It affects the nation’s job supply, wealth creation and distribution, and property rights. It determines our freedom to speak, write and worship,” he said.

    The cleric observed that religion tended to be important to people who cared about politics.

    He says likewise, politics often matters most to those who care about religion.

    NAN

  • “God will restore, rebuild Nigeria,” says Okoh

    The Primate, Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Most Rev. Nicholas Okoh, on Thursday, said God’s plan to restore and rebuild Nigeria would manifest soon.

    Okoh stated this in Abuja while briefing newsmen on the 2018 Divine Commonwealth Conference (DIVCCON) scheduled to hold at the Ecumenical Centre, Abuja, from Monday to Friday.

    He announced the theme of the conference as “I Will Restore”, saying restoration meant returning to original position.

    According to him, it also means bringing back what existed before, a return of something to a former or unimpaired position and restitution of something taken away or lost.

    “One common denominator in all the meanings of restoration is the return of something to its original form,” he explained.

    The primate said that God had promised to guide, satisfy, prosper, refresh, rebuild, raise up, repair and restore Nigeria and its citizens for greater glory.

    He said that the conference would bring down the mercy of God to tackle the several challenges that had hindered the nation’s economic prosperity, sustainable security and overall national development.

    According to him, God has plans for Nigeria, but sin distorted God’s plan for the nation.

    Read Also: Fuel supply: NNPC seeks to increase retail outlets

    “God is not just a builder, but an architect. He has good plans for Nigeria, but somewhere along the line, something tampered with the plans.

    “Sin came in, the plan was distorted. God being God, in his wisdom has decided to restore and rebuild the nation,” he said.

    Okoh said that the original plan of God for Nigeria was that the people would multiply, be fruitful, have dominion, prosper and be in control.

    “Then signs and wonders will follow,’’ he said.

    The primate said the inspiration for DIVCCON came as a result of serious meditation by clerics.

    “We discovered that most of our meetings, though avenues for prayers, worship and all sorts of things, they are essentially administrative in nature.

    “So, I felt, eight years ago under God’s guidance, we should just gather for purpose of spirituality.

    “We do nothing else but speak to edify people, ministrations, prayers, fellowship and let people who are not necessary Anglicans come to join in worshipping and praising the Almighty God.”

    He assured that the conference would concentrate on strengthening people’s faith, adding that it would feature exposition on sub-themes and seminars in the mornings, with the evenings devoted to revival services.

    Okoh disclosed that more than 7,500 Anglican faithful from Nigeria and Diaspora would attend the event.

    “Speakers and Great servants of God from all over the world will be ministering”.

  • ‘Five states fail to sponsor Christians on pilgrimage’

    The Chairman of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrimage Commission (NCPC), Nicholas Okoh, on Monday revealed that five northern states have not yielded to the calls to sponsor Christians on pilgrimage.

    Okoh, who is the Primate of the Anglican Communion, made the revelation while submitting the 2014 pilgrimage report to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim.

    He said the states are – Zamfara, Sokoto, Kaduna, Jigawa, and Kano.

    “We are not castigating any state. We are just making an appeal,” he stated.

    Okoh disclosed that the commission last year achieved 50 percent self-sponsorship and it is no longer afraid of government withholding sponsorship.

    The clergy said that zero mortality was also recorded last year as nobody died during the pilgrimage except minor ailments.

    He noted that the commission has challenges including non-activation of the BASA agreement that will ensure direct flight between Nigeria and Israel.

    On his part, the SGF urged the commission to continue persuading the states towards sponsoring Christians on pilgrimage.

     

  • ‘Same sex marriage ungodly’

    ‘Same sex marriage ungodly’

    The Primate of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Most Rev. Nicholas Okoh, warned yesterday that homosexualism and lesbianism could spell disaster for humanity.

    He urged those canvassing same-sex marriage to have a re-think lest they face the wrath of God.

    Rev. Okoh, who spoke in Abeokuta, Ogun State, at the 70th birthday celebration of his predecessor, Dr, Peter Akinola, praised President Goodluck Jonathan for signing the anti-gay bill into law.

    The Anglican Primate said those calling for same-marriage were re-enacting the conduct of the biblical Adam and Eve, who questioned God for asking them not to eat the forbidden fruit at the Garden of Eden.

    He said: “Many people do not realise that what is referred to as the homosexual trouble is not the homosexual or lesbian trouble but people’s refusal to accept the scripture for what it is.

    “In the beginning, man questioned the authority of God in the garden by eating the forbidden fruit. Man challenged God’s authority and concluded that God had no right to tell him what to do. Man set God aside and took over command. Consequently, disaster followed.

    “So again it shall happen that if man decides to dethrone God, he will face nothing but disaster.”

    Dr. Akinola said his journey through life had been challenging, but the LORD saw him through.

    He recalled his ordeal in the hands of hoodlums, who abducted him in December.

    Urging youths to strive towards self sustenance, Dr. Akinola said: “Cutting off the head is not the solution to a headache. Youths should do something with their hands and not rely on the government.”