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Tag: Sustaining

  • Sustaining the Christian home (3)

    It is a great joy for me to bring God’s Word your way today. It is a new day for you! Two weeks ago, I began the series on sustaining a Christian home. I have taught on what a Christian home is, the characteristics of a Christian home and importance of having a Christian home. This week, I will be showing you what genuine love does to the growth of a home.

    Love is a vital key for the effective running of the home. Love is the price every member of your home must pay to have a glorious home. The Word of God says:And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8).

    If you want your home to be a glorious one, love is the requirement. Love is mandatory. This love does not have its origin in the world, but in God. The Word of God says:He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love (1 John 4:8). A Christian home must be a home where the love of God is practiced.

    WHAT TRUE LOVE DOES

    By true love, I mean God’s kind of love that is demonstrated in actions. Let’s see in practical terms how Jesus loves and how He expects us to love. I shall be taking my text from 1 Corinthians 13:4-5. Reading from ‘The Living Bible’ it says, Love is very patient and kind, never jealous or envious, never boastful or proud, Never haughty or selfish or rude. Love does not demand its own way. It is not irritable or touchy. It does not hold grudges and will hardly even notice when others do it wrong.

    True love is patient and kind:

    Jesus, while He walked on the earth was an epitome of patience and kindness. He tolerated, accommodated and endured with His disciples. He could have given up out of anger, but He didn’t. Going beyond His disciples to the Jews at large, whose sick He healed, whose dead He raised and whose demoniacs He freed, Jesus was still an epitome of patience. He closed His eyes to their jeering and went to the cross for all our sakes. Jesus was kindness personified! Many miracles He wrought were based on compassion.

    God instructed man to love as He did. Many things try our patience as husbands, most of all, imperfect wives. But if Christ was patient with us, then husbands ought to endure and be patient with their wives.

    True love is never jealous or envious:

    I want you to know that Jesus was never jealous of His disciples’ achievements. The seventy went out in twos and wrought great deliverance. Jesus only replied, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father (John 14:12). Jesus’ love compelled Him not to envy the works of His disciples, but to desire that they did greater works. Likewise, husbands need not to feel threatened by their wives’ success. Rather, they should wish them well and encourage them to put in their best. Even if the wife earns more money, perfect love places a demand on the husband to desire only good for her.

    True love is never boastful or proud:

    Jesus never boasted or spoke proudly of Himself. Everything He said and did point to God the Father. The Word of God says:…The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do… (John 5:19). Jesus had cause to boast about His works, but His eyes were focused on God and on the ones, He had come to save. Some husbands tend to get carried away with the things they provide in the house and are misled to think: “I am the breadwinner in this house, I do so and so, I give and give and give!” However, when you realize that you have, only because He (God) provided, your language will change.

    True love is not selfish, haughty or rude:

    “Me, myself and I”, has destroyed so many homes. Another name for it is selfishness. Marriage is built on selflessness and courtesy. Jesus, our perfect example, was not selfish. He relinquished His throne to live on the earth for thirty-three and a half years. The Word of God says:For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich (2 Corinthians 8:9). Husbands must pay the price of selflessness, if they want an enviable marriage.

    Does not demand its own way:

    Love does not demand its own way! That does not mean that the man should become subservient, no! The key word here is “demand”. This word means “to claim as a right.” Love means asking, “Could you do this please?” You’re neither begging, nor rude. It is a mixture of authority and courtesy. The Word of God says,

    Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones (Proverbs 16:24).

     

    Not Irritable or touchy:

    This means that you should not be over-sensitive. Some people are offended at the slightest thing. They just flare up and fly off the handle. Husbands, learn to desensitize your nerve! If Jesus had been over-sensitive, He would have fought the Pharisees who always sought to trap him. Your wife is neither a Pharisee nor Sadducee!

    Does not hold grudges or notice when it’s wronged:

    A grudge is an angry feeling against a person for something he has done in the past; it leads to unforgiveness. Love forgives and forgets. Love does not keep record of wrongs.

    To truly walk in love, you must be born again. This means accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour of your life. If you are not yet born again and you desire to do so right now, please pray this prayer with faith in your heart: Dear Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me my sins and cleanse me with Your Blood. I accept You as my Lord and personal Saviour. Make me a child of God today. Thank You for delivering me from sin and satan to serve the living God and thank You for accepting me into Your Kingdom.

    Congratulations! If you prayed this simple prayer of faith with me, you are now born again and a child of God. He loves you and will never leave you. Read your Bible daily, obey God’s Word and seek Christian fellowship (John 14:21).

    With this, you are guaranteed all-round rest and peace in Jesus’ Name! Call or write to share your testimonies with me through contact@faithoyedepo.org, 07026385437 OR 08141320204.

    For more insight, these books authored by me are available at the Dominion Bookstores in all Living Faith Churches and other leading Christian bookstores: Marriage Covenant, Making Marriage Work, Building a Successful Home and Success in Marriage (Co-Authored).

  • Sustaining war on cultism in Imo

    SIR: The reported killing, on Thursday, October 5, of the two most wanted cult leaders and kidnappers in Imo State, Tochukwu Egbelu, aka black face, and Enyia Iwu, aka Sparrow, by the operatives deployed by the state police command to the Assa, Obile and Awarra communities of Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area brought unspeakable joy and much needed relief to the traumatised villagers who have been under a siege for years now.

    According to reports in the media on Friday, October 6, the two suspected criminals, “leaders of the Iceland cult, which had been credited with the killing of over 20 people and the destruction of  over 30 houses”, were killed during a shootout in the Nwagbakobi forest in Assa community.

    The state police commissioner, Chris Ezike, deserves all the accolades because his determination to stamp out crime and criminality in the state has been yielding huge dividends in our communities.

    Following the success recorded so far in the fight against cultism, violent crimes and banditry in Assa, Obile and Awarra by the police personnel, civil life is gradually returning to communities that were hitherto deserted following an orgy of killings and destruction of property by rival cult groups that held the communities hostage for years. Markets, schools and churches that were closed for a long time are being reopened.

    However, CP Ezike and his men should not rest on their oars until all the suspected criminals arrested so far by the various security agencies, according to media reports, in connection with cult activities in the area are properly investigated and made to face the full wrath of the law so as to serve as a deterrent to other deviant elements in the communities. In particular, the 35 suspected kidnappers, cultists and criminals handed over to them by the operatives of the Operation Python Dance 2 on Wednesday, October 11, should be thoroughly investigated and prosecuted where found culpable.

    Besides, the police should not succumb to any pressure of any kind or campaign of calumny from any quarters but should take the fight to its logical conclusion. We cannot afford another round of the heinous reign of cultists in our communities.

     

    • Emenike Uzomba,

    Ohaji, Imo State.

  • Sustaining the military action in North-east

    As the Boko-Haram insurgency which began about a decade ago rages, and proving almost intractable, the Nigerian military can be seen to remain steadfast in its determination to bring the insurgents to their knees.

    Even as unconventional a war as the war against insurgency is, the military has shown great courage and resilience and this has been rewarded with the recapturing of 19 out of the 20 Local Government Councils in the North-eastern states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe which were hitherto in the firm control of the insurgents.

    Recent reports have it that the military is indeed on top of the situation. That explains why only one Local Government Council area, Abadam located at the border of Niger Republic in Borno State that is yet to be liberated from the clutches of the Boko Haram insurgents.

    It will be recalled also that soon after President Muhammadu Buhari assumed office in 29 May, 2015, he ordered for the immediate relocation of the Military Command and Control Centre (MCCC) to Maiduguri, the Borno State capital. The essence was to ensure that the Military had first-hand information about the insurgents’ mode of operations in the North-east. Also, the relocation was intended to expose the military to the realities on ground, to enable them re appraise, re-strategize and re-direct their counter-insurgency plans at the terrorists’ activities.

    Indeed, it is incontrovertible that President Buhari has absolute confidence in the ability of the Nigerian military to bring an end to the insurgency of the Boko Haram sect. To this end, his administration has remained committed to completely eradicating the Boko Haram menace at the shortest possible time. For instance, in a statement recently released by thePresident’s media aide, Garba Shehu: “The Buhari’s administration was already taking concrete action to build a more efficient and effective coalition of Nigeria and neighbouring countries against the terrorist group.’’

    Similarly, the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed recently led a group of 33 journalists, working with Nigerian media organizations and their international counterparts to the hotbed of the insurgency – Maiduguri, Kondugua, Kaoure and Bama. This was aimed at exposing the journalists to the realities in the region, for them to see and write their stories from the standpoint of knowledge, rather than sensationalism, hearsay and conjecture.

    According to the minister, “Today, I can report to you that the entire 70 plus kilometres stretch from Maiduguri to Bama and all the way to Banki which leads to Cameroun and the Central African Republic are in the hands of our gallant troops. They have so degraded the capacity of Boko Haram that the terrorists can no longer hold on to any territory just as they can no longer carry out any spectacular attack.’’

    As part of the government’s effort to sustain the ongoing military success in the war against terror, the minister in a forum with political editors in Lagos, disclosed that a national security awareness campaign will soon commence across the country to raise awareness among Nigerians about the war, the sacrifices of our troops, and how to stamp out the remnants of the war. He said: “Jingles are being played on national radio and television as part of the campaign in order to keep the media better informed about the war, so that they can also better inform Nigerians.’’

    Following from what he said of the military campaigns against the insurgents, Lai Mohammed enjoined Nigerians to support the military in the fight against terrorism in the country. In his words: “It is our turn as civilians to give them our support; to realise that the war they are fighting is not their war alone, but our war, hence we must own the war.’’

    In the same vein, the General Overseer of The Redeemed Christian Church of God, Enoch Adeboye said, “The success achieved by the military in tackling insurgency in parts of the country is commendable and can be sustained through intelligence gathering mechanism put in place by security operatives.” He spoke at the ‘Let’s Go a fishing’ programme organized by the RCCG, Region One, held at the CMD field, Magodo, Lagos Mainland.

    According to the Church Leader, “Boko Haram insurgency was an internal insecurity problem that can be curtailed through a transparent partnership arrangement between the local people and the security operatives. Let us do our best to cooperate with the law enforcement agencies by volunteering vital information that would be investigated and crime and any form of criminality will be reduced in our society.’’

    There is no denying the fact that since President Buhari came into office, the morale of the Nigerian military has been heightened. No doubt, reclaiming territories from the insurgents has been the President’s priority, and the insurgents have now abandoned conventional warfare tactics and strategies owing to the losses they have suffered while trying to defend territory.

    The President has also made series of diplomatic moves – the signing of regional and bilateral anti-insurgency agreements and the immediate payment of $20 million of Nigeria’s share of the logistics to the Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF) is illustrative of this point.

    Nigerian security forces have also killed several kingpins of the Boko Haram sect, coupled with substantial disruption of the media coordination between Boko Haram and the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), which Shekau had officially pledged loyalty to its leader, Abubakr Al-Baghadadi in March 2015. The inability of the Boko Haram sect in recent times to release scary videos and stage spectacular attacks as it were, is a confirmation of the fact that their strengths is beginning to fail them, and in no time, they may be forced to take flight.

    It should be remembered that before now, Maiduguri, the major city of the North-east was under incessant attacks and harassment by the Boko Haram terrorists. Today, the situation is slightly different as Maiduguri is a bit secure from Boko Haram’s daring raids. This is evidenced by the fact that attacks of the terrorists have been restricted to the outskirts of Maiduguri as they flee. It is pertinent, therefore, to note that Boko Haram threats to Nigeria’s territorial integrity has to a very large extent, been curtailed by the intensified campaigns of the Military.

    One of the sore points in the anti-terror campaigns by the military is the non-release of the abducted Chibok school girls. Even the non-release of the Chibok girls does not vitiate the fact that terrorism is indeed being defeated in the country. In fact, a dispassionate and objective assessment of the situation in the North-east reveals that truly, the military has completely degraded and decimated the deadly terrorist group. Even with cases of suicide bombings in the North-east, it can still be correctly said that terrorism is being defeated.

    In the US, for instance, with 9/11, America still experiences the San Bernardino, California attacks that killed 14 and injured 21 at a County employee meeting and Christmas party on December 3, 2015. Yet, it can be said that America has not been subjugated by her terror experience.

    The November 13, 2015 attack on Paris which also claimed several lives and brought a dangerous moment to the entire Europe speaks volume. Yet, the world did not say France did not survive her terror experience. In the same vein, the fact that Nigeria still experiences some attacks on soft targets such as suicide bombing of markets, churches and mosques does not imply that barefaced terrorism of Boko haram is not yet defeated or degraded by the military.

     

    • Ikemitang writes from Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, Abuja.

  • Sustaining our democracy

    As Nigerians gear up for another round of electing their leaders into various offices in the country, including the most coveted position of the Executive President of the nation, the Good Governance Group (3G) hereby commends the resilience, maturity and equanimity of purpose so far displayed by the people.

    As we march towards the fifth attempt at choosing our leaders through the ballot in this dispensation, it behooves on us, irrespective of our preference for any of the political parties or their candidate/s to remain focused on those things that unite us more as a people co-existing under the same national umbrella rather than those divisive factors as ethnicity, religion/creed.

    Against this backdrop of not allowing the labour of our heroes past at fostering and nurturing true democratic ethos that provide life for our people and provide it abundantly to be in vain, and considering the pivotal role of a regional power and hope of the black race, providence has placed on our shoulders as a people.

    The Good Governance Group would remind compatriots of the critical role elections have played in the annals of this country right from the 1965-66 experience leading to the ‘wetie’ imbroglio in the Southwest which snowballed into military incursion into power and eventually degenerated into a civil war, the NPN Landslide electoral heist that led to the termination of that Republic by Buhari-Idiagbon regime, not to talk of the ill-fated 3rd Republic of June 12, 1993, that resulted in loss of many innocent lives and ultimate sacrifice of the symbol of that struggle, late Chief MKO Abiola.

    Consequently, we call on our political class to, like Caesar’s wife; be above board by eschewing all forms of violence and unnecessary beating of war drums, subsume their individual ambition within a larger context of what is good and expedient for the nation’s growth and survival.

    The group implores our law enforcement officers, be it the Police or the Army, never to condescend to what could desecrate their hallowed institutions or erode their respect at the international level in our global village and remain vigilant and patriotic by upholding the doctrine of impartiality in discharging their lawful duty of maintaining law and order during and after elections in an atmosphere that is devoid of intimidation and undue harassment of fellow countrymen/women.

    In a context of this nature, winners would certainly emerge while others are bound to lose the contest. For the overall good, we expect the winners to be magnanimous in victory by extending an olive branch to the loser/s while the losers should equally be gallant in accepting the result since we cannot always win in every contest but the people could be the ultimate win if truly we aspire to serve them in all honesty.

    Perhaps more than at any other time in our checkered history as a nation, we live in an uncertain and most trying times, but ironically, these times are used to make history by people of conscience and great mind as the onus falls on President Ebele Goodluck Jonathan to ensure that Nigeria comes out of these elections stronger, better and more united than ever even if the results do not go his way.

    As a main custodian of the people’s mandate, freely given in a free and fair contest in the last four years, history beckons on him to demonstrate his genuine love for this nation by matching words for action if the electorate, the real sovereign decides not to re-elect him as their President, come March 28, 2015.

    In similar fashion, most Nigerians expect whoever emerges as the next President to have learnt enough lessons in our collective quest at evolving responsive and responsible leadership direction to not only Nigerians but the one that rekindles hope and promise in all Africans.

    This is the only benchmark that can herald a new Africa from the rubrics of colonialism and neo-colonialism.

     

    Gambo is the covener Good Governance Group

  • Ogun 2015: Sustaining Amosun’s legacy

    SIR: Ordinarily, foreign diplomats are always economical with comments in the land of their postings but when they do such are taken seriously. That was the assessment when the United States Ambassador to Nigeria, James Entwistle in company of the US Consul General (in Lagos), Jeffery Hawkins expressed delight and had cause to hail the Ogun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun “for the rapid development of the state” since his emergence in the governance of the state.

    One may make bold to conjecture that Amosun has always aspired to be the best among others; his developmental strides are self-evident with laudable achievements in the areas of good roads, provision of potable water and well channelled canals.

    These are evenly spread across Ogun State. There is something awfully lacking in Nigeria today- a central database where all statistics and completed projects are stored in the country where all claims can be verified. Such a centre will check the spurious claim by governments and individuals. This is being posited because there had been times when projects awarded but not even started were passed for completion.

    Such an independent database should not collaborate with either federal or state sponsored project verification agents. When we such a situation, Nigerians will begin to decipher the myth from the reality and the people of Ogun State will be able to appreciate superior economic growth and development taking place in their land. This independent assessment body would have been able to say what the American ambassador observed when he described what is going on in Ogun State as “What I see is fantastic rapid development in Abeokuta. The roads, the bridges, the flyovers are very impressive.”

    These envoys used the phrase “very, very” repeatedly as an indication of a deep understanding that only a tame and dedicated man of integrity can achieve these transformational goals in less than three years in office. Many of the projects like road construction were undertaken to demonstrate compassion for the masses as a grassroots leader and to ensure that the dividends of democracy percolates to all the segments of the state.

    The uncommon transformation of the state is demonstrated in his personal commitment to make a difference.

    The mission to re-build in Ogun 2015 is wake up call to ensure the spirit of continuity for more dividend of democracy and the needed change required in the state. As Martins Luther King (Jnr.) argued in March, 1965: “ Any real change in the status quo ante depends on continued creative action to sharpen the conscience of the nation and to establish a climate in which even the most recalcitrant elements are forced to admit that a change must come.

    • Olusuji Tajudeen

    Abeokuta South

  • Sustaining the NIBRA initiative

    Sustaining the NIBRA initiative

    AFTER 51 years of broadcasting in Nigeria, it is difficult to say that the level at which radio and television operate is the best that we can afford. Yes, the freedom that was attained in 1993 following the establishment of the first private radio station may have enhanced competition, but content still remains a major challenge. This is much so because contents that address social issues and which used to provide direction to the young ones seem to have disappeared, while the seeming liberty associated to privatization has resulted in influx of foreign contents that do more than erode our culture.

     

    All over the world, an award scheme, apart from the glamour and sense of merriment, appears to be the best form of competitiveness that could stimulate the need by practitioners to thirst for excellence. This brings to mind, the whole essence of the Nigerian Broadcasters Awards (NIBRA), an initiative of the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON), which is geared towards rewarding stakeholders in those areas that they have added value to the industry.

     

    Otherwise, how do we justify the efforts of our past heroes and the supposed exposures garnered since the establishment of the BBC Empire Service in 1932? How do we justify the subsequent listening post, established by the British Broadcasting Corporation in Lagos in 1936 – one which later transformed into the Radio Distribution Service (RDS)? How do we look back and say with a sense of pride that we have done well from April 1951, which marked the beginning of direct radio transmission in Nigeria with the establishment of Nigerian Broadcasting Service (NBC) which became fully functional in Lagos in 1952, and from where its services were extended to Kaduna in May 1952, Enugu in September 1952 and Ibadan in April 1955, where the previous re-diffusion relay stations were converted into fully operational NBS stations? Or more importantly, how can we say television has fared since 1959, when the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo established the first television station in Africa, the Western Nigerian Television (WNTV)?

     

    Even while we raise these questions, it is pertinent to note that Nigerian broadcasting has been a source of unity for the country since the colonial era. The deregulation of broadcasting by General Ibrahim Babangida government through the Decree No. 38 of 1992 can only be said to have created better understanding between the government and the governed.

     

    But in celebrating other sectors of the economy, stakeholders in the broadcast sector have been too busy or unconcerned about the need to honour their own. Honours for practitioners in the industry can only challenge others to amend the grey areas in which they are being criticized.

     

    It is sad, that most of these professionals like Chief Executives of Broadcast Stations, Editors, Reporters, Presenters, Producers, Engineers, Technicians, Programme Directors as well as Audio/Lighting Specialist and Cameramen have worked, retired and died unsung.

     

    Industry watchers have fingered broadcasters to be too pre-occupied with promoting other professionals from all walks of life and building them into stardom, while they (broadcaster), are rarely noticed, let alone being featured in the list of recipients, annually honoured, with National Honours by the Federal Government.

     

    This should not be so, because broadcasters have made immense contributions to the social, economic and political development of Nigeria. The broadcast medium because of its instantaneous presence, ubiquity, has more than any other medium, contributed in shaping public opinion, promoting national discourse and stability in contemporary Nigeria.

     

    In the coverage of national issues, particularly politics and elections at all levels, the broadcast media has always been conservative, restrained, and not sensational in its coverage and reportage, knowing that any false report could lead to break down of law and order.

     

    Thus, I share in the good initiative of BON for its attempt to honour broadcasters through the Nigerian Broadcasters Awards (NIBRA) come October 27, 2012. BON, the umbrella association of all privately and publicly owned Radio and Television stations in Nigeria, is on point with this initiative which I believe is designed to promote excellence and professionalism in all aspects of broadcasting, as well as enhance healthy competition within the industry.

     

    It is important that BON puts enough energy in this scheme and drive it to a point where it becomes an annual festival a harvest of the best. Perhaps then, the present challenges (poor funding, obsolete equipment, poor remuneration of staff, large turnover of Chief Executives which perhaps has adversely affected the nation’s deadline for transition from analogue to digital broadcasting) confronting the industry, will find its way to the front burner, and stare decision makers in the eye, towards taking effective action.

     

    I’m glad that the brief of NIBRA is not only to give awards, but to also embark on immense capacity building, training and re-training of broadcasters in areas of their specialization to improve all facets of the broadcasting industry. It is my hope that the governments, organized private sector, and all well meaning Nigerians will give their support for a sustainable impression.