PAGE 42—SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 17, 2016
ALILE: Corrupt past leaders shouldn't be spared SPIRITUAL leader of St. Joseph's Chosen Church of God, SJCCG, and one of the very few incorruptible Nigerians, Apostle Hayford Ikponmwonsa Alile, at the church owned Gateway Bible College's graduation/ convocation ceremony in Benin City, spoke to our SAM EYOBOKA on the proposal to upgrade the institute to a degree awarding one and other national issues. Excerpts.... It is very gratifying to know that very soon this institution will become part of a university. Do you confirm that sir? Yes! We started nurturing the idea in the last two to three years. Acquiring a land was not that easy. Luckily, it’s a village where my late mother came from, called Obadan,
about 38.5 kilometres east of Benin City. Traditional leaders there knew their sister, late Deaconess Mrs. Alile and have heard that the children are now at the fore front of the church. Elder Dr. Clement Alile is the standard bearer for the university and they gave us a land measuring 4.5 square miles, more than two times the National Universities Commission requires to grant a licence. The current Edo State government promised us a Certificate of Occupancy for the land and whatever support. So we are moving on.
Has the state government made good its pledge? They haven’t. They said they are processing it. Even though his tenure will soon be over, the state continues. Whoever takes over from him, if he has not concluded it, I’m sure will do it. Whoever wants to get the honor and gratification for doing it, the Lord will bless such a person. What of the process for the registration? A committee is working very hard on that. We are looking forward to what time for take off, Sir? We are looking forward to the shortest time possible. And that depends to a great extent on the governor and his team. As a renowned economist, what is your panacea for the revival of the nation's current economy? It’s not a question of the policy of government or the leader; the duty is for all of us. When you talk about corruption, bribery, it is not the dogs we are talking about, it is some of us. We have to turn around and change our habits. The Lord God has blessed this country with a lot of things; land is there, agricultural products are there, a lot of children--strong and able---those who can be put through training are there. We have to do it. I don’t know how many children Muhammadu Buhari has. Even if he has 100 children, they cannot do it. And I’m sure he has realized that he alone cannot do it. He needs the cooperation of all of us: both in prayers to bless the land and in sending our children to the right schools. We should not spend money in bribing teachers to give them A qualifications. It is for those children to bend down and study. So my little advice is that we all should put our minds together to get things done in this country. I recall you have been talking about diversification of the Nigerian economy from the oil that we have all jumped into. Is it not government that is supposed to drive such vision? What I mean by saying getting out of where we have found ourselves now is not a question of what policies or statements are made by government. It is really looking at the policies that are on ground. The government doesn’t have to do much of talking; it should be much of action, positive action. Are you in support of the war on corruption? If you are, is it being tackled as it should? C M Y K
*Apostle Hayford Alile It is the same problem. Where I am now is a church. In our preach-ing and spiritually educating our children and members, we will never feel comfortable in hearing that any of our members has something to do that soils his hands. We are expected to crown the Lord Jesus. Are we going to use filthy hands to carry the crown? No! We are supposed to be the light of the country and we are supposed to be the salt of the earth. So we will do our own part. Some of the churches, we hear, are partnering with corrupt people, that is not the calling of Jesus Christ. The ministers, the Church, the Christians have a duty to encourage their children, to encourage their husbands, their wives to be the shining light in whatever they participate in in the world. If we are teachers, we are suppos-ed to teach well. If we are members of clubs and organizations, we are supposed to be good members; telling our fellow members what best to do for the country. So it concerns all of us.
I will say yes the government is pursuing the war on corruption but when you give yourself to this assignment of leadership, you should be prepared for the beating. We don’t have to spare our own brothers caught in the act so as to use them as examples for others. If it’s my school mate or church member who is caught in the act, they should be disciplined according to the rules. I hope that our president who has served as military president of this country, will do the right thing. If there’s any military officer who has misbehaved, leave him or her to defend himself or herself. A lot of noise has been made, here and there, about some retired military officers; it will be good for as a mark of honour for all of them who have served this country as military officers and some people think they have bad records, to bring them out to defend themselves. Let’s start afresh, all of us. There’s fear in certain quarters that this administration is out to Islamize this nation. What’s your take? I don’t know. I’ve never thought that way. I will join any group that wants to Christianize this country. And the law of the land provides for us the opportunity to go out and evangelize as Christians, so I believe the same law for the Muslims. But if you take a bill to the House of Representatives, it is for the House to look at the contents of the bill. If amongst the members, there are Christians, they might tune their minds in the Christian way. And same goes with the Muslims.
If the Christians feel foolish and allow the Muslims to pass the law when they are sleeping, they will account for it. It is the same for the Senate. I expect that members who go to Parliament to promote the interest of their constituency, do so and don’t put the other members to sleep when they are doing what they are doing, or go and look for money to bribe Christians. And if those Christians are stupid enough to accept money and vote things that are against their own religion, then God will hold them responsible. To say that some people who are together and all their dream is to change this country to a Muslim country, they could have that in their mind but it will not work because the God that the Christians are serving is alert. There are some elements in the Church that can buy, sell off and do anything for their selfish interests, and that is why it is becoming difficult to even have confidence in the Nigerian Church today. Does that bother you, Sir? If I find any of my Christian friends towing anti-Christian measures, I’ll go and talk to him. There’s no doubt today that Christians have some challenges and worries. But a major issue where we were talking about gay marriage, it was the likes of Senator David Mark who stood up in the Senate and said this thing will not go. Some Muslims supported that bill in Nigeria. They may not support it in Arab countries. It was a lot of Christians in UK and US who went for it. In fact, America said they will never give us aids unless Nigeria supports the practice. But our people held on to it, both Muslims and Christians. I know that the two religions are fighting to have control of the economy. There is nothing in the constitution that says that the Christians or Muslims should have a specific number. But if you as a Muslim will just get up and employ more Muslims, a lot of people around you are bold enough to tell you this is not right. You are saying there is still hope for this nation? Yes! Based on the friends that I have who are either Christians or Muslims. There’s hope. A lot of my friends who are Muslims, especially the old ones, they are very fair and equitable. It’s the young ones I fear, the ones in the 30s and 40s. They are not prepared to do the right thing. I pray God to change them.
RCCG commissions borehole for Omoroga community
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ESIDENTS of Omoroja community in Meiran area of Lagos State could not curtain their joy when the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, Lagos Province 37, recently inaugurated a borehole for the community. The Pastor-in-charge of RCCG LP 37, Pastor Benjamin Ajayeoba, who represented the General Overseer of the church, Pastor Enoch Adeboye at the inauguration ceremony, said the provision of the borehole was part of the church’s way of giving back to the community. He stated that the borehole was provided for the community under the church’s Corporate Social Responsibility programme, noting that in line with the vision of Pastor Adeboye, the RCCG had been in the vanguard of providing social amenities for communities where
*L-R Pastor-in-charge of LP 37, Pastor Benjamin Ajayeoba, his assistant in charge of CSR, Pastor Olajide Oluwayemi and wife (behind), chairman, LCDA Omoroga, Meiran, Mr. Ganiyu Ajose at the inauguration of the borehole. urging its leaders to ensure that the church operates. every member of the community Pastor Ajayeoba appreciated the had access to the water irrespective community for allowing the church of their status or religious affiliatto attend to one of its needs which ions. The cleric also enjoined the bothered on lack of portable water,
Breach Repairers holds parenting confab
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ENIOR pastor of Trinity House, Pastor Ituah Ighodalo has said the Nigerian civil service needs a total overhaul to become a “value-based institution,” just as Breach Repairers plan a parenting conference, reports OLAYINKA LATONA. Speaking during a press briefing to announce the 7th edition of Breach Repairers national parenting conference scheduled for May 6-7 at the Guiding Light Assembly, Parkview Estate, Ikoyi, Lagos, Ighodalo said: “There is need for a systematic, scientific and value overhaul of our civil service. It is over crowded, expensive and not productive and effective as it ought to be. It is a citadel of a lot of ‘ogas’. We must orientate and empower those who are effective so that we can have an efficient civil service like we used to have before.” Lamenting the challenges confronting the country, the man of God prayed that the Buhari administration will have the vision, conviction and determination to fulfill its promises to the masses. “A lot of our governments know what to do but they often do not have the conviction and determination to do them. If you are going to bring about change, you will have to step on powerful toes that have become powerful over time doing the wrong things,” he said. Articulating the vision behind the national parenting conference, with a theme: “Critical Rescue”, the visionary of Breach Repairers, an NGO, Pastor Nduka Chuks explained that the soul aim is to build pillars of purity, purpose and productivity among young people across religious groups, schools and youth group boot camps; arguing that such character pillars will give a strong footing towards raising a new generation of Nigerian youths that understand their God-given mandate. “Our mission has been to bring about a change in orientation and properly defined purpose and to propel the youths towards a more productive way of life. This has also prompted our Parenting Conference geared towards equipping parents, teachers, pastors and other stakeholders. This year we decided to draw the attention of people in government. We believe that our resolve towards a better and greater Nigeria starts by stakeholders working together towards raising the total Nigerian child,” he stated. Wife of Vice President, Mrs. Dolapo Osinbajo, First ladies of Lagos, Ogun and Akwa-Ibom states among others, while music will be supplied by El Levite and Liza C. residents to make good use of the borehole and ensure that it was not vandalised. The Assistant Pastor-in-charge of CSR in the province, Pastor Olajide Oluwayemi in a short sermon titled; “What Have I Been Anointed To Do,” admonished the people to always impact their environment positively and always champion causes that would be beneficial to mankind at all times and not engage in any form of anti-social activity that might hamper the peace and progress of their localities. Pastor Oluwayemi added that the people should live righteous lives in line with the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. The chairman of Omoroga Local Community Development Area, Meiran, Mr. Ganiyu Ajose appreciated RCCG LP37 for its kind guesture, re-habilitation of Meiran health centre recently, assuring the church delegates that the borehole would be used judiciously.