Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2013—43
ASUU should please consider our children---Bishop Akinola BISHOP Taiwo Akinola, founding instrument of Rhema Christian Ministries, in a recent interview with SAM EYOBOKA, in preparation of the 22nd annual convention of the church and official dedication of its newly completed Champion Peace Cathedral which was started in January 2007, enjoined Nigerians to weigh the consequencies of their actions on posterity. The convention, he said, would start on Sunday with a theme; "Riding on the high places," with Bishop David Oyedepo, Bishop Jide Orire, Dr. Kunle Alli, Bishop Bayo Adejola, Bishop Victor Akilla, Bishop Columa Niboro (from Ohio), Bishop Biodun Akinteye, Apostle Tomowewo Mike, Bishop Kayode Agbeyomi (from Atlanta), Bishop Israel Alaya and Apostle David Rivera (from Florida USA) in attendance. From the political scene, former President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and the Governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun amidst other dignitaries from far and near, are expected to grace the occasion. Excerpts....
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HAT will be your mes sage to Nigerians at a time like this? I wish to reiterate that the time is now for Nigerians to shun all acts that are inimical to the progress and peace of the nation. By this I mean that the well being of the nation is a joint responsibility to be shouldered by all and sundry. The entire
tures admonish us to pray for those in authority. Hence, we of this glorious commission as well as all Christians will continue to lift all office holders; from the President to state governors and local government chairmen in prayers. We pray that the spirit of the living God will adequately supply them with wisdom to steer aright the
They always have political reasons for making noise, sometimes to stall you, sometimes to make things difficult for you, sometimes to harass you, sometimes to intimidate you citizenry should exhibit maturity and sound judgment especially as we move towards the next election. I also enjoin us all to weigh the consequences of our actions on posterity. Nigeria belongs not only to us but also to generations yet unborn. We all should shun all forms of hypocrisy and inconsistency so that we can proudly present a worthy legacy to our children and children's children. The Scrip-
ship of this great nation. I wish to commend the Federal Government for her recent declaration before the United Nations Human Rights Council that it will not bow to international pressure to allow same sex marriage in the country. Yes, it is not only against the cultural and traditional values of Nigerians, but it is also antisociety and clearly against divine morals. Moreover, I am pleased to observe that about
our attention to. There’s decadence, there’s lack of infrastructure in our universities. We know that we need more finances, but I want to please appeal to them; they have made their point, they should please go back to class in the interest of the nation and in particular, our children. If any of them have BISHOP TAIWO AKINOLA: "I am pleased to children in these observe that about 92 per cent of Nigerians schools, they support the Anti-Same-Sex Marriage Bill passed wouldn't like by the Senate." their children to be disconnected 92 per cent of Nigerians sup- from people of knowledge for port the Anti-Same-Sex Mar- that long. So they have made riage Bill passed by the Sen- their point, we identify with ate. them. I also know that governYour take on the four-month ment has made some inputs. I old ASUU strike.... was told that N100 billion was I identify with the concern of given to them. If what they are members of ASUU. I think by asking for is what they told us, and large, they have good case for the thing they are calling
Word of Life paints Warri red for Jubilee 2013 By SAM EYOBOKA
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EMBERS of Word of Life Bible Church, Warri literally painted the city of Warri red last Saturday as they took to the streets in preparation of this year's Jubilee Word Festival, the church's 26th annual con-vention. They sang and danced to high voltage music wafting from big loud speakers mounted on beautifully decorated trucks in a rally to sensitise residents for the event. Men and women dressed in smart attires participated in the procession which started at Edjeba Teaching Centre and moved on through Airport Road, Ogunu, Ogbuwangwe, then on to NPA, Ekurede Itsekiri, Olu Palace Road, Ajamimogha and terminated at Okere Market. They were distributing handbills as they marched along the streets. Between November 10 and 17, residents of Warri, its
environs and others from different parts of the country would converge at the city for this year ’s unique spiritual experience. Theme of this year’s convention is ‘Recover All’. The event hosted by the Word of Life Bible Church will have an array of local and international ministers in persons of the National President, PFN, Dr. Felix Omobude, presiding bishop of TREM, Dr. Mike Okonkwo, Bishop Tudor Bismark, Bishop John Francis, Evangelist Tim Storey, Bishop Robert Kayanja and Bishop Deitra Walker. A statement by the chairman of the Directorate of Pastors, Pastor Sam Akpoviroro said the venue for the festival is the 35,000-seater International Gospel Centre of Word of Life Bible Church on Ajamimogha Road, Warri. There would also be music ministrations at the festival,
featuring Uche Agu, Kenoly Brothers and Frank Edwards. Of course Milk & Honey Choir, the music ministry of Word of Life Bible Church would also be ministering. Time for the meeting has been set for 3:00 p.m. daily with services at 6:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. on Sundays. Akpoviroro said the sensitisation programme will continue on November 8 with all the nine districts of the church wearing special coloured Tshirts representing each district are expected to march through the entire state with handbills advertising the programme. According to him, the procession will converge at the church's IGC, Warri where the CAN president and General Overseer of the church, Papa Ayo Oritsejafor, along with his wife Mama Helen Oritsejafor are expected to pray for them.
they should please go back to class now. That’s my take. National Conference: Some people say it’s just another talk show. Is that your position too? My question is why were they calling for it all these while? They were asking for Sovereign National Conferen-ce, not a National Conference. They always have political reasons for making noise, sometimes to stall you, sometimes to make things difficult for you, sometimes to harass you, sometimes to intimidate you. I’m saying, what is in-consistent as far as I’m con-cerned is that the noise which was repeated for too long was for sovereign national confer-ence.
National conference When the president has yielded to their call for a talkshop, they said no that is deceptive. So maybe if they told us why they were calling, they now tell us the real reason why they are saying no now, it may be effective. The outcome of the conference will still be subjected to ratification of the National Assembly... But that makes sense because these are the elected representatives of the people. Whatever it is, the president may have political undertone for acceding to calls for dialogue; but since you have been calling for it, you should at least say thank you for implementing this. To me, maybe because I’m a clergy-man, that’s how we do. I would have expected that if you knew you didn’t want it, tell the people to stop. We would have known those who are for and those who are against. That’s just my position. I’ll keep on saying, I’m not speaking for government, I’m not against them, I’m just speaking for sensibility.
No structure works in Nigeria, until…---Illechukwu
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O economic system, political structure or social contract will do well in Nigeria until we deal with the mindset that breeds corruption and fosters injustice, the general overseer of Charismatic Renewal Ministries (CRM), Cosmas Illechu-kwu has said, reports CALEB AYANSINA. Illechukwu, who described transformation as ‘change of mind’, however, score the National Orientation Agency (NOA) low for poor performance, noting that if they had lived to their responsibility, “we would have covered more grounds in the transformation journey as a nation.” The cleric, who stated this, while delivering a lecture tagged; ‘The change agents we need – The price for nation transformation’, in Abuja, said “until we have a leader, who is above board and who is willing, if need be, to be a martyr in the cause of transforming Nigeria, the change we need
will remain a mirage." He further said that many people were blaming the nation's backwardness to the current political structure. He wondered why all political systems adopted from advanced countries had done well in their countries, but failed in Nigeria? “I seem to be boxed into one conclusion; while political structures may be important, it seems not to be the main change we need in Nigeria. The problem of Nigeria is not in structures and systems, but in Nigerians. “We are religious but not spiritual, we are manipulative and not hardworking, we are smart but dishonest, we love to wield power but not to be accountable. We love wealth but reject morality, we promote nepotism and disdain merit, we are inve-terate egotrippers and contem-ptuous of humility, we thrive on chaos and fearful of orderliness,” he submitted.