Kogi East Christian Elders Float 10 Million Naira Flood Victims Appeal Fund

Call For Politics Of Inclusiveness

…Decry Muslim-Muslim Ticket

Kogi East Christian Elders Forum has launched 10 Million Naira Flood Victims Appeal Fund to support those affected by floods in the state, just as they tasked politicians and parties to play politics of inclusiveness ahead of the 2023 general elections in order to move Nigeria consciously and developmentally forward.

This can only be attained if they are sensitive to the realities of the multi- religious, multi-tribal and multi- cultural character of Nigeria.

This is contained in a communique issued at the end of the Forum’s National Prayer Congress held Wednesday in Ankpa, Kogi State.

The communique which was jointly signed by the National President of the Forum, Pst Joseph  Egwuda, and the National Coordinator, Engr Samuel L.S Salifu, reads in part, “

The Forum outrightly condemned the issue of same faith ticket adopted and practiced by some insensitive politicians and political parties.

“That politicians and parties must be sensitive to the realities of the multi-religious, multi-tribal and multi-cultural character of Nigeria and play the politics of inclusiveness in order to move Nigeria consciously and developmentally forward.

The Forum notes with grave concern the present plight of citizens of Kogi State that suffered devastation of flood and therefore appealed to participants and others to donate generously to the Flood Victims Fund which will be transmitted along with the list of the donors to His Royal Majesty, Attah Igala for distribution latest 15th of December 2022. The Forum is targeting Ten million Naira.

“As a matter of urgency, the advocacy for restructuring, is an eye opener and the only way all regions can own, control and market their own resources and bring equity to our competitiveness and development as a nation

“The strength of dialogue as the  weapon of choice demands that we must never miss any opportunity to give listening ears to each other and close our divides as fast as possible.

The Forum believes that Kogi State
has had the history of tolerance, inclusiveness and brotherly love across all divides, hence the need for all to reject all types of vendors of political acrimony

“Because of the present precarious Security position of the country, the Forum strongly caution Christian youths and office seekers to avoid violence in all ramifications.

“The Forum observes with appreciation, the comparatively peaceful disposition of Kogi State pioneered by the State Administration.

“The Forum emphasizes the need for all denominations and their affiliates  to pray fervently for the peace of Nigeria .

“While advocating a strong Voter Education, the Forum said INEC must be seen to be visibly transparent in the forthcoming general elections”.

With the theme, “With God, We can do Valiantly,” the Congress featured prayers, sermons and a keynote address on ” Repositioning Nigeria For Greater Political Development: The Options For Middle Belt” delivered by the National President of the Middle forum, Dr. Bitrus Pogu.

Dr. Pogu reminded the participants of their peculiar character as christians of the Middle Belt extraction strategically positioned by God to beam the light of the Gospel.

Having defined the Middle Belt and its antecedents, Dr. Pogu called on all and sundry to shun the politics of money, religion and nepotism, all of which had hitherto negatively affected the development of the Middle Belt and the entire country.

The Middle Belt Forum President  emphasized that Christian Elders are divinely positioned to put a stop to the menace which the present Administration has used to bring the entire country to its knees- taken loans to the detriment of future generations, when ironically rich enough, to lend to many.

Dr. Pogu said the Middle Belt should beam the light of common sense, equity, and justice on both the political North and political South, advocating the need to have the next leadership of this country from the South-  specifically South  East, in the person of the Labour Party candidate, Mr. Peter Obi.

The engine room of the “Obi For President” movement is the youth who are looking to secure their today and future . We enjoin everyone of goodwill to cooperate with this lofty aspiration of the youths.

The Prayer Congress was attended by Christian Elders, traditional rulers from home and in the diaspora and most importantly, His Royal Majesty, Attah Igala, Matthew Alaji Opaluwa Oguche Akpa ll who was represented by the Odoma Attah, Chief Jacob Ocheni to deliver the Royal goodwill message for prosperity and unity in the land.

The communique added that goodwill messages were received from political party candidates and aspirants as well as some socio- cultural and political organizations of like minds, including the Middle Belt Forum, Igbo Nation, Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEV) and Yoruba Nation

The Kogi East Christian Elders Forum, KECEF comprises all denominations in Igala and Bassa speaking area
of the State

Prophet Feeds Over 170 Beggars in Kaduna….says they need people that can put smiles on their faces

By Uangbaoje Alex,  Kaduna

Over  170 destitute  in Kaduna at  the weekend, had the opportunity to eat delicious meals provided  by Prophet Chidi Nete.

Chidi Nete, is the Senior Prophet of the Immortality International Gospel Centre, Kaduna and a philanthropist and founder of Immortality Givers Foundation Worldwide.

The destitute  included those that had suffered leprosy, the lame, the blind and street beggars known as Almajiris, amongst others, who are mostly homeless  are mostly found on Hadejia Road, beside Kano Road Central Mosque in Kaduna City.

Chidi, who is popularly known as Prophetic Nete, according to one of the leaders of destitute groups, Hassan Lawal, popularly addressed as Sarki (King) is one man who always remembers them in the most critical times.

He said as destitute, their only means of livelihood is begging from passers-by for survival, saying the prophet doesn’t wait for them to ask him before reaching out to them.

He therefore, prayed that God multiply him for his kind gesture towards the poor and needy in the society.

Lawal, urged the prophet not to relent in his good deeds because God is watching him and will richly reward him for all he is doing, calling on all well meaning people to imitate him by providing for the less privileged.

Prophet Nete said he always feeds the poor because he believes anytime one feeds the less privileged according to the Bible, he is giving to God directly.

He noted that the money you spend on the less privileged is what you are giving to God directly and that he decided to pick it up as a man of God.

“As a clergy man, I have been doing this for years now, since 2008 and this is 2022, about 14 years now, making sure that these kind people in the society are having fresh air through some of us that are privileged a little.

“It is just some charity work that God pushed on my mind some years back when I was praying and the Lord said go and take up the less privileged and make them your children, take care of them, take responsibility, and since then it has been like that.

“So since  then, whenever we have anything, we make sure that these people have smiles on their faces because looking at those here, some of them don’t have legs, they don’t have eyes, some of them cannot even fend for themselves.

“And looking at the current situation in Nigeria, they are just stagnant and they really need people that can put smiles on their faces. Some of these people you are seeing here today, if you put smiles on their faces, invariably you are doing that to please God,” he said.

According to him, “the best time that makes me happy is when I find myself between these less privileged people,  that cannot fend for themselves because I was once like them, hopeless but God gave me hope and I took it upon myself today to make sure that these people are happy.”

He explained that, “this is what we have been doing irrespective of our religion, irrespective of our differences. I am an Igbo man, a Christian, these people are from the North and Muslims but I find it joyful anytime I am feeding them because we are all human beings before God.

“Before God there is no religion. We are all human beings and doing the right thing is the only thing that would make you  see God.  I am happy whenever I see them happy and smiling with the little token I give them, and they are saying Oga mun gode (thank you sir). I am happy that God is using somebody like me to even feed over 170 people at once.

“It is a privilege, I count it a privilege and opportunity giving to the poor what God has given to me and we will not stop doing this, we will keep doing it until Christ comes.”

FOMWAN urges Nigerians to intensify supplication to God

Nigerians have been called upon to intensify supplications for peace and tranquility to prevail in the country.

The call was made Sunday by Sheikh Haris Salihu, at the one-day annual special prayers, organised by the Plateau state Federation of Muslim Women Association in Nigeria (FOMWAN).

He said at the Jos Central Mosque, venue of the prayers that: “Allah likes seeing His servants persisting in supplications, seeking for His forgiveness, mercies and protections.”

Sheikh Salihu who led the prayer session said women are so special in the sight of Allah, hence the need for them to always use their time to pray for the peace, security and tranquility of the society, the state and nation at large.

The secretary-general, Jamatu Nasril Islam (JNI), Sheikh Khalid Aliyu, harped on voter registration by the women, towards the 2023 general elections.

(Blueprint)

Covid-19 Vaccine: Oyedepo warns members, says Govt should consult him

General Overseer of the Living Faith Church International (Winners Chapel), Bishop David Oyedepo, says government should consult him for remedy for the COVID-19 pandemic, warning his church members not to submit themselves for the Coronavirus vaccine.

Oyedepo made the comment on Sunday during the 40th anniversary thanksgiving service of the church in the Ota Cathedral in Ogun State.

“They should come to me to find out how to deal with COVID-19 at no cost,” he said, warning his members not to take the “deadly thing” called vaccine.

“Let me warn you against this deadly thing circulated around the country, because it has not been duly tested. An elder of this church, who works with the World Health Organisation, confirmed this, thanking me for always speaking the truth about the authenticity of the COVID-19 vaccine,” he said.

The cleric decried visits by health officials to churches to vaccinate people, describing the action as an “insult” because, according to him, every church “is anti-COVID-19 zone.”

He said, “What an insult! What an assault! Nobody has the right to enforce vaccination on you, and anybody cannot terminate your employment because you refuse to take the vaccine, my God will show up (for you).

“Did I tell anyone I am sick? Don’t let anyone harass you into doing what you don’t want to do.”

Oyedepo also alleged that the side effects outweighed the benefits of taking the vaccine.

“They wanted Africa dead. I heard them say it. When we didn’t die as they proposed, they brought out this vaccination scheme. You need to hear their proclamation that Africa will lack spaces to bury corpses. But, today, reverse is the case. Africa has the least casualty among all the other continents of the world,” he said.

None of the members in the capacity-filled auditorium had a mask on or observed any COVID-19 procedure as Oyedepo said the foreigners who came for the anniversary had returned to their home countries in good health.

The cleric boasted that a shot of anointing oil would kill the COVID-19 virus.

Source: tgnews

 
 
 
 

Ramadan: Minister, Christian leaders, breaks interfaith iftar with Sheikh Dahiru

By Victor Habila, Kaduna

Former Minister of Sports, Solomon Dalung, has led a delegation of Christian leaders in Northern Nigeria to the residence of Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi in Kaduna state to break Ramadan interfaith iftar fast to strengthening Christians-Muslims relationship in the region.

Addressing journalists shortly after the breakfast  at the Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi’s Kaduna Residence, Dalung said it has become imperative that Christians and Muslims must live together as one family under God, in view of the fact that both of them worship one God and are the descendants of Adam and Eve.

He added that the interfaith iftar will also encourage religious tolerance, better understandin, and promote  peaceful co-existence between both religions.
He emphasized  that it is only when the adherents of the two major faith coexist that sustainable peace can be achieved in Nigeria.

 The former Minister further mentioned that many national issues disturbing peace stability in the country were discussed, stressing that he believed if sheikh Dahiru Bauchi  Can Talk to those at the top level, they would surely listen to him,so as to save the nation against the increasing daily reports on killing and kidnapping and other banditry activities that is bringing the nation back words.

 According to him, “Nigeria is facing tough time due to the internal problems the nation is facing , hence the need to joined hands with every stake holders to save the country against the increasing insecurity challenges bedeviling peace stability in the country.”

“We believe if you talk, they listen, because God has given you what it takes to be a real leader and a good preacher.”

He further stated that  “We appealed that you should take to the elders in the regions and other stakeholders, so as to end the worries the region is facing as a result of continuous Boko haram insurgency, banditry attacks and other criminal activities that is taking place in the entire 19 northern region.”, He said.

Also speaking, Pastor Yohanna Buru the general overseer of Christ Evangelical and Life intervention ministry equally described the Sheikh as an ardent of peace and unity.in the country.

He said the interfaith iftar became necessary in order  to show solidarity with Muslims in the holy month, while urging them to pray for peace stability in the country and pray for the security men and women that are at the battleground with the insurgents.

The Christian cleric pointed that, they used the Ramadan season to boost inter-religious harmony and preach the message of peace and unity among Muslims and Christians.

In his words “Ramadan season provide golden opportunity for Christians all over the world to strengthens good relationship with their neighbor muslims ”

 “We also use the period to feed prison inmates, orphans, the less privileged and Internally Displaced Persons, widows and women living with HIV/Aids to show them love and cares.”

Pastor Buru noted that since the beginning of the year 2021 Ramadan, the church has distributed bags of grains and other foodstuffs to the poor muslims,so as to enable them have enough food to eat during the season without going out searching for what to eat.

 He disclosed that the church is also planning to share food during the sallah for the IDP and other poor muslims.

On their part, Pastor John and Christopher with reverend Joshua Ahmed, jointly emphasized on the need for state and federal government to be organizing annual interfaith iftar Breakfast for muslims and Christians youth, saying that will them to shun all forms of hate speeches, vengeance attack and religions discriminations in the communities.

Responding, Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi called on scholars from the two faiths to pray for peace and unity of the country, as well as for leaders to succeed in the discharge of their responsibilities. 

He expressed optimism that in spite of the various challenges, Nigeria would remain one indivisible entity. 

The muslim scholar thanked the minister for mobilizing Christians clerics from various states to join him in breaking Ramadan with other muslims scholars.

​Easter: CAN urges Nigerians to imbibe sacrificial life of Christ

Bishop John Ibenu, Chairman, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Kogi chapter, has urged Nigerians to imbibe the sacrificial life of Christ to guarantee peace and security in the nation.

Ibenu disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Lokoja.

He said that Nigerians should live a life of sacrifice, love and forgiveness to guarantee peaceful coexistence in the nation.

The cleric said that Easter was all about sacrifice, love, forgiveness, peace and eternal life, which were the mission of Jesus Christ on the earth according to God’s divine plans.

He urged Christians to learn to wait on God, read and speak about their faith, pray together, pray for one another, the nation, Kogi and for humanity at large.

”I congratulate Christians and the entire humanity for the crucifixion and the eventual resurrection of Jesus Christ today being Easter Sunday.

”As we mark this occasion which actually marks the life of sacrifice, I call on all Christians, the people of Kogi, Nigerians and all of humanity to imbibe the spirit of sacrifice.

”Jesus Christ, even though, God, left everything in heaven for the sake of humanity to come down to our level.

”I call on everyone especially those who are in high positions to imbibe the spirit of sacrifice. Let our leaders be humble and become servant leaders.

”Jesus came to teach us servant leadership and in so doing he sacrificed and laid down his life for humanity.

”Jesus came to transform humanity and give eternal life, therefore, let us work for the transformation of our state, nation and humanity,” Ibenu said.

Quoting from the Bible in the book of John 3:16, he said: ”For God so loved the world and He gave His only begotten son; that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.”

He called on all Nigerians, irrespective of their differences to love their neighbour as themselves and to also strive to improve the lives of others.

”Christians, Muslims, pagans, let us embrace the life of sacrifice in our offices, homes and markets to make the life of everyone around us better.

The clergyman used the opportunity to urge Nigerians to pray that leaders would find solutions to the security challenges in the country.

According to him, the government is doing its best, we have talked and criticised enough, let us unite, come together and find solutions.

“We must not attach sentiments to security issues. Anybody who sheds blood, destroys property, cause mayhem in our nation is an enemy of Nigeria and an enemy of God.

“Let us pray for the success of our military and other security agencies, and partner them to give useful information that will help them to curb insecurity in the country.

”Peace be upon our nation Nigeria,” he declared.