₦airaland Forum

TO EDO OBIDIENTS – FREEDOM IS IN YOUR MIDST

A careful look at the campaign manifesto of the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter ‘the Rock’ (Okwute) Obi, shows that it holds so much promise for a new system of governance which is the yearning of millions of Nigerians, especially the Edo youth.

For good reason, every progressive-minded Edo youth will want to be associated with the former Anambra State governor. That was why, in the March 25 presidential election, Edo state once again proved true to its acronym, the Heart Beat of the Nation, with the OBIDIENT movement upstaging the two political mainstay parties, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC). Although Obidients delivered Edo State votes for Peter Obi, at the national level they were left disappointed because they were outsmarted at the polls by the rigging structure of the APC and their flagbearer, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

If only they had heeded the advice last year that they should deploy their energy strategically (because the election is akin to a long-distance race), they would have mobilized enough field officers to check the malpractices of colluding INEC officials.

Like the election has proven, electioneering is about strategizing. What most Obidients fail to realize is that even the act of choosing a candidate has to be done strategically. In their pent up angst against the state of affairs in the country, which Edo as a subnational, they have risen against the Edo State governor, Godwin Obaseki due to propaganda by the opposition APC, his (Obaseki’s) unusual approach to governance, and of course his own foibles.

Today, Obaseki is the greatest enemy of the political class in Edo State (APC and PDP alike) because he lacks the number one trait of a typical Nigerian politician – the penchant to waste state’s resources by doling out money to all and sundry. So in actual sense, Obaseki is a pioneer of the popular Obidient mantra ‘we no dey give shishi’.

Like is contained in his manifesto, one of Peter Obi’s touted promises is to move Nigeria from ‘consumption to production’. Within six years in Edo, Obaseki has transformed Edo State from a ‘civil servant state’ to one that boasts of an Independent Power Plant (IPP) – 95MW Ossiomo Power, and two modular refineries. With the Edo State Oil Palm Programme (ESOPP) and over 120,000 hectares being cultivated, one of Africa’s largest oil palm plantations is also situated in the state. The governor continues to attract big-ticket investment into the state through SARO Africa Group, Dangote Plc, BUA Plc, Greenhills Agro Products, Presco Oil, etc., amounting to over two billion dollars to boost production, build the capacity of local entrepreneurs, provide hundreds of thousands of jobs for Edo people and boost the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

Obaseki has unleashed the productivity capacity of the states human and natural capital and the gains are gradually coming to fore.

Also, the LP presidential candidate said if elected as president, he would end banditry and insurgency. Today in Edo, Obaseki’s efforts to curb crime and criminality in the state, including the activities of killer herdsmen has been reduced to its barest minimum. With a community-based vigilante system spread across the three senatorial districts of the state, Edo is one of the safest states in the country.

When I posited some of these points to a friend of mine who happens to be a die-hard Obidient, he could not help but see reasons with my point that what Obi is promising Nigerians at the federal level, Obaseki is already delivering in Edo State.

In one of highpoints of his reforms, Obaseki has also digitized governance in Edo, enhancing accountability and transparency in the civil service, and upskilling and tooling-up Edo workers, not to mention the opulent state of the art reconstructed secretariat complex. Today, at N40,000, only Edo State presently pays above the federal government recommended minimum wage of N30,000.

Essentially, Obi’s promise to “Restructure the polity through effective legal and institutional reforms to entrench the rule of law, aggressively fight corruption, reduce cost of governance, and establish an honest and efficient civil service…” is already being fulfilled by the Obaseki-led administration.

Also in consonance with Peter Obi’s manifesto, with a 5G fibre optic network accessible in the Benin metropolis, and being laid across all 18 local councils in the state, EdoJobs, the Edo Innovation Hub, the Edo Production Centre and Edo Tech Park, a digital economy has been created in Edo, leapfrogging the state into the 4th Industrial Revolution.

Inasmuch as one would expect a blindly sentimental Obidient to repeat what they did in the presidential election, by voting along party lines even without having the slightest idea about most contesting candidates, it is still expedient to speak to those Obidients who are more politically astute. Emotions aside, the ‘freedom’ that they seek with Peter Obi at the federal level is already in their midst in Edo, with Obaseki delivering the dividends of democratic governance with people-centric programmes and policies.

Time and space may not allow us expatiate on education where Obaseki’s model, which has made Edo students the best performing in Nigeria, is being copied across Nigeria and Africa; or sports where Obaseki remodeled the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, becoming one of the best-equipped in Nigeria and the state-sponsored football team, Bendel Insurance, which just gained promotion into the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) is currently sitting atop the league; or the expansion of primary and secondary healthcare services in the state and the Health Insurance Scheme (EdoHIS) making healthcare services more affordable and accessible; and so forth.

For roads infrastructure, it may be difficult to dispute that no other governor in the history of the state has done more work on arterial and circular roads than Obaseki, providing alternative routes and easing traffic for commuters in the state’s city centres.

In conclusion, I will not beg Obidients, but speak to their conscience and good reasoning, that for the Edo House of Assembly elections, if they are truly Obidient they should support candidates of the PDP who seek better governance in the state and will help Governor Obaseki deliver such. Afterall, as Obidients are wont to remind us, Labour Party and ‘Obidient’ are not exactly the same movement.

Together, all well-meaning people of Edo must reject those whose stock in trade is leaving Nigerians in sorrow, tears and blood and support the transformative governance of Governor Godwin Obaseki.

- Unapologetically penned, on the 14th day of March, 2023.

Obaseki has done wonderfully well for pensioners in the state. Of four main issues he inherited from the Oshiomhole govt, he has addressed three. He has since digitized the process so they dont have to do monthly or yearly verification. All these rumours are being fueled by APC propaganda.

Edo Commissioner links Oshiomhole to violence, destruction in Benin over CBN cashless policy

...says crisis instigated to cause postponement of election

…be patient, get your PVCs and show your displeasure at the polls, voters charged

The Edo State Commissioner for Orientation and Communication, Chris Nehikhare has accused the former governor of the state and ex-National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole of instigating the protest in Benin City over the cashless policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), which led to the violence and destruction of property worth millions.

Nehikhare speaking to journalists in Benin City to address the protests in some areas of the State, called on security agencies to invite and interrogate Oshiomhole for instigating the protests in a viral video circulated on social media.

He said, “I call on security agencies to call Oshiomhole for questioning. He should be interrogated, arrested, and made to account for his movement in Benin City a few days ago. In a viral video on social media, he was heard deliberately instigating APC members to go on a rampage and intimidate people in Benin City, destroying government property, and bringing anarchy to the country because the government of his party is about to lose the forthcoming general election.

“The political party responsible for this policy is the same party that has sent their APC thugs to destroy the billboards of PDP candidates. PDP is not the government at the centre. So, it's clear that this is politically motivated. We are pointing fingers directly at Oshiomhole as he has given a command to his tigers to unleash mayhem and anarchy. He continues to go against the laws of the land because he wants to be part of the next government.

“The situation is bad; Edo people should be patient as CBN has assured the Edo State government that there is enough money to go round. CBN believes that they have made the necessary arrangements for naira exchange in the State.

“This is a systematic protest organized across the country by the APC; they targeted Edo, Delta, and Oyo States and these States are PDP States. It doesn't make sense for PDP States to be attacking PDP infrastructure when the policy causing the problems is an APC policy.”

He added, “APC as a party sat down to cause mayhem, create anarchy across the country because they want a postponement of the election. Their candidate, Bola Tinubu spoke about postponing the election. This is the plan they are putting in place to achieve their aim because they know that they can't win the elections.

“APC has started a new trend of attacking and intimidating an APC government. Our people should be patient and use their PVC to chase this government out of power.”

On his part, the Special Adviser to the Edo State Governor on Media Projects, Crusoe Osagie, added, “Edo people should be calm. Save your vengeance and visit it on them on Election Day by identifying the political party that caused the pain and voting them out. Enthrone the party that can bring succor.”

As usual, OBIDIENTS and APC minions will jump here to castigate the highest paying governor in Nigeria without knowing what the issues are. Obaseki became governor in 2016 and has been paying pensions and gratuities of all retirees from his tenure. On becoming governor, he met the mess left by Oshiomhole and promised to fix it. The four problems he met that he promised to solve were:

i. Digitization of the process to avoid difficulty in collection pension - DONE
ii. Payment of all pension arrears - DONE
iii. Harmonization of pension to reflect the new minimum wage of N30,000, now N40,000 - DONE
iv. Payment of backlog of gratuities - IN VIEW

We must empathize with our old folks because one of their worry is that the next Edo State governor might not treat their issues as well as Obaseki so they want to make sure the government pays their gratuities while Obaseki is still governor.

This revelation only proves Jonathan to be Nigeria's most democratic president ever. No leader can ever be absolved of blame, but having the balls to even convoke the conference shows that Jonathan did more for restoring true federalism within 5 years than Obasanjo or Buhari did in 8 years.

Survivor2020:
My 17 years old brought shame to me last year she got pregnant, I have disowned her and sent her packing. She is staying with her boyfriend in his family home.

She gave birth 5 months ago she has been sick ever since she had the baby and the boyfriend doesn't have any money to take care of her. Plus the living condition is not suitable for her in her condition.

I have forgiven her and I want to take her back home so I can take her to the hospital for treatment but I don't want her to come with her baby. Please note there is only me and my 7 years old son at home. I work and my son goes to school till 5pm.

I don't have time to babysit the baby.
I want the father to take care of his child while I take care of mine.
I hope my decision is not bad?

Your decision IMHO is bad because it is self-centred, just like your initial decision to disown a mistaken, confused and troubled 17-year old daughter in the first place. Yall's number one concern right now should be protecting the baby and the nursing mother, not your badly bruised ego and reputation. I understand it is not an easy situation for you or anyone else involved and guess what? even the best solution in this case would still be a difficult one - so there's no easy way out.

Like someone pointed out in the comment, you did not state the age of the father of your daughter's baby. As responsible adults, both families, headed by you and the other grandparent (if available) should sit down with the kids and have a heart-to-heart to work something out that would be favourable to the most vulnerable persons (the baby and the mother) in the short, medium and long term. PLEASE!

dplordx:
And what will be the end of betrayers?

Even Judas no last.

Obaseki level of betrayal is incredible and no normal person will ever trust such a snake again. People like him when they leave power and haunted for the rest of their lives

Obaseki is already in his second term, he cannot last more than two terms. Today, minimum wage in Edo is N40,000 and Edo workers are happy. Centre of excellence how far?

Upworkwriter007:
The problem is not Godfatherism, it's bad governance. Using the same obaseki as example, did he fare well after betraying is Godfather? Tambuwal betrayed his Godfather in 2019 and he fared well. Fashola didn't betray his Godfather and he fared well. Irrespective of how you spin the narrative, what we need is a populace that truly care about good governance above other things.

Agreed. It's just becoming boring to hear this betrayer narrative spun and respun. Godfatherism that does not guarantee good governance must be dismantled.

Nigeria needs more Obasekis to ‘betray’ more godfathers

Anytime detractors of His Excellency, Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State bring up the ‘betrayer’ narrative, a salient point that usually comes to mind is the reality established by one of the greatest teachers in history, Jesus, who said in very clear words; “No man can serve two masters.”

On November 12, 2020, when Obaseki took the oath of office for his second term, what he swore was to protect the interests of the people of Edo State and not those of any godfather. It is commonplace for politically inept or disingenuous persons to conflate the roles of political appointees with those of elected executives. While all state appointees answer to their principal - the governor, he, by the powers vested in him by securing the majority of votes of the people, is to fully utilize his executive powers to serve the electorate. That is what democracy represents – for the people, and not for godfathers.

It is only in a morally decrepit political system like Nigeria, where corruption is the order of the day that people throw up sentiments like betrayal of godfathers. Granted that there is political patronage all over the world, where favours are sought and procured between more powerful and lower placed interests. That does not mean that alliances or gentleman contracts that emanate from such should override the overarching function that democracy attempts to serve.

As an executive governor, Obaseki is not constitutionally answerable to the president, except on matters that are on the president’s executive list. So, for anyone to suggest that the governor must remain loyal to non-state actors who have decided to allow their selfish interests supersede those of the people, is nonsensical.

Godfatherism is one of the many curses that have derailed our progress as a democratic nation. As a matter of fact, this country needs more Obasekis to rescue the people from the stranglehold of a few individuals who continue to hold the nation to ransom, some of whom have been in the corridors of power for decades, and have aggrandized more than enough wealth to last ten lifetimes. Godfatherism that is not in the interest of the generality of the people must be dismantled.

Only a bold leader can stand up against unholy powers and principalities, and Obaseki is one of such. He has shown that he has the courage and the astuteness; the tenacity and the wiliness to demystify godfathers at any level. Assuming, without conceding that he has betrayed some former political allies and godfathers, he has never betrayed Edo people, and that is all that should count.

rippa:
Oga what are u even saying?
Reasons was what played a major part in that election and not even sympathy or emotion from the main electorates (the people that vote)
Oshiomole finished himself and APC by presenting ize iyamu. The same ize iyamu he castigated in our very own eyes just 4years back. Oshiomole called ize iyamu a thief, someone he cant entrust the state resources to, someone that was part of the team that almost destroyed Edo state (SSG 1991 to 2007).
It is the same person u said u can't trust and begged Edo people not to trust, u are now telling us to vote
If oshiomole had presented someone else, I bet u obaseki won't have gotten an easy ride.
The election was just too easy for obaseki. He won almost all d local govts council.
Obaseki first term election was far more difficult than the second.
Edo people are even more of PDP than APC.

No mind am... he's just speaking from hate, ignorance or both.

Deadlytruth:
The slimness of Obaseki's margin of victory should have been instructive enough to you that he rode on the gullibility-engendered sympathy votes that came his way from those who placed emotions over reasons.
You can take a trip to any part of Edo State now to feel the public's pulse about his second term for you to judge by yourself. Most of those who fell for his anti-godfatherism campaign have passed through dissolutionment courtesy of his godfatherism bid within his new party amidst total collapse of governance.

307,955 votes and 13 LGAs for Obaseki and 223,619 and 5 LGAs for Osagie Ize-Iyamu is not a slim victory. People say Obaseki is a technocrat and not a politician but he has defeated many so-called politicians because he understands the game better. Edo people were not gullible in voting Obaseki for a second term, they voted him based on his performance.

I will agree with you that his popularity has waned since the election, but that is because Obaseki is not a very loud person by nature, he is still working in Edo but is doing less politicking. As we speak, the state just started paying N40,000 as minimum wage. Check the FAAC allocation and IGR for different states and you will realize this is a feat. It is obvious that your claim that governance has totally collapsed in Edo comes from a place of spiteful ignorance.

oikirodah:
https://ireporteronline.com.ng/blog/game-of-thrones-atikus-victory-and-obasekis-vice-presidential-bid-a-case-for-philip-shaibu-matters-arising-by-osigwe-omo-ikirodah/

Osigwe omo ikirodah, I don't know whatever motivated these your hasty permutations but you obviously you did not do your home work. Last I checked Obaseki is fully in control of Edo PDP and as governor, he is already the leader of the party in the state. He does not need VP candidacy to become the leader. He has also outwitted Orbih, who is a Wike stooge BTW. I wonder why people keep repeating the mistake of undermining Obaseki, after he took Oshiomhole and Jagaban to the cleaners in 2020.

ebuka440:
They caused this shit by playing with the confused political party will no clues but the most important thing is that they have realized that they played the wrong music.

They have to put in more effort in making sure that these set of confused politicians don't clinch to power come 2023. I believe that this election for APC is a do or die affair and believe me, the God of the poor masses won't allow this shit to continue anymore.

Removing APC from power will be a good riddance to bad rubbish! Please the youths should be wise and also not allow themselves to be used by these bunch of Old fools

Indeed, removing APC is the first goal. Who knows, they might have already removed themselves! lol

One of the reasons i just like this dude. Froggy voice froggy voice, but he's up there as one of 9ja's biggest music brands. What comes to Wizzy by talent, OBO has to work his sods off to achieve. Wizzy physique is lean, na DNA. But Adeleke dem na orobo. So burn da calories chief, nothin can hold your 2022 back!

This is progress. Kudos to Prof. Soludo and Innoson. For this huge feat achieved, at least Innoson should get their press release right. Sentences like "for the people to be able to afford brand new vehicle," and "patronage will take us to an enviable heights," do not help your marketing.

Let me start by pointing out that the Bible is not a perfectly written or translated book. It holds its prime value among books because it is inspired by a perfect God. So take it that the Bible is a perfect message from a perfect God communicated over ages to us by imperfect writers and translators.

To your question: Did Jesus Collect Tithes? If So, Where In The Bible Did This Happen? My answer is yes, Jesus collected tithes and also instructed Christians to pay tithes. While his directive to believers to pay tithes is hardly ever mentioned in discussions like this, it can be easily referenced in the Bible in Matthew 23:23.

For him collecting tithes, that’s a much more controversial issue. FYI, the first, and the only referenced case of someone actually paying tithes (not suggesting that it did not happen, mind you) and another receiving it in the Bible was between Abraham, the earthly father of Christians and Jesus Christ, the head of the Church, who appeared in his pre-human existence to Abraham as Melchizedek. This is recorded in Genesis 14:18-20.

Melchizedek is referred to as a king and priest of God Most High, a dual authority only shared by Jesus, who is born a king, and also known as a priest after the order of Melchizedek. (Psalms 110:4; Hebrews 7:17) St. Paul's description of this enigmatic Old Testament character in Hebrews 7:3 as, “Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest forever” not only establishes the similarities between Melchizedek and Jesus Christ, but that they are one and same person, represented on earth in different forms and different periods.

Not identifying Melchizedek and Jesus Christ as the same individual will create several incongruities like;
i. How can a mortal and physical earthly king have no genealogy?
ii. Besides Christ, will there be another who can be known as an everlasting priest?
iii. Knowing Christ’s supreme position in the order of God’s creatures, can Melchizedek, who existed on earth before Jesus, said to be greater than him (Christ)?

This is why I have come to the conclusion that Melchizedek, who was only referenced in his encounter with Abraham, was indeed a pre-human existence of the Logos, or Word, who was later born into this world and was known as Emmanuel or Jesus Christ. He took human form in order to minister to Abraham, the person through whose seed, God was going to renew his everlasting covenant of salvation with mankind.

Blakjewelry:
Yes you are right I didn't through because you are coming from a place of religious sentiment. He speaks the fact, history is there to back his claim. The only place he got it wrong is, he should have dated it back to a few thousand instead of 500.

Just so you'd know, I never argued Freeze's "facts", my point is about context; comparing apples to oranges. A good comparison would be how many deaths can be attributed to religion, wars, pandemics, genocides, over the last 500 years; not comparing deaths caused by religion and those caused by dog bites or tree climbing accidents!

Blakjewelry:
Have you read your history books?

From someone who cannot read 500 words?

A headline craving, sensationalism hugging media personality like Daddy Freeze constantly reminds me of one fact that eludes most people, which is that brilliance is not intelligence. Being able to churn out “facts and figures” or rehash some smart idea that someone else exuded does not make you smart.

No intelligent person would ever make a claim that "religion has killed more people in the last 500 years; than atomic bomb, shark attacks, snake bites, plane crashes, wild animals and COVID-19 combined!" The first inanity that jumps out of this claim is the obfuscation of a destructive tool with a destructive agent. Ever heard the phrase, “Guns don’t kill people; people kill people”? Freeze, FYI, religion has never killed anybody! That people use religion as a tool to actively kill others, or deceive the gullible into destructive habits does not make religion the killer. If you doubt me, go the courts and tell me where any judge has ever jailed any knife or gun for the murder of anybody! So please, lay your accusation on the right doorstep, those responsible for misusing religion, or those responsible for allowing themselves to be misused with religion; and not religion itself.

Another issue I have with his claim is that, in his guilty cart of murderers, he conveniently packed a list that would make religion stick out as the sore thumb. Religion has been around for almost the whole of human history, yet you place it side by side things like atomic bomb, plane crashes and a coronavirus pandemic, none predating the 20th century? In simplistic terms, that’s comparing apples and oranges; another warped metric.

Next, religion is a very broad word that covers a whole lot of beliefs and practices. Since you decided to compare it with a pandemic, why not compare the number of those that have died from religion with all disease outbreaks that have ever plagued humanity, why pick only Covid-19? Or why not compare with those that have been killed in all wars in human history across the world and not just the atomic bomb? This shows you are either not smart, or just being devious. I pray the former.

Talking about history, the 20th century has been dubbed by some as the century of genocides. This is because some maniac and psychopathic individuals actually set out to eliminate millions and hundreds of thousands of civil populations. Arguably, the holocaust, orchestrated by the German Nazis against the Jews stands out as the most infamous. So when you need to express your altruistic angst against mass murderers, do well to focus on perpetrators of such violence and demonize them; not religion.

On a final note, some people think that the world has seen end of such genocides, methinks not. It would be naïve for anyone to assume that such mass murderers don’t exist anymore and that humanity has evolved beyond such. When they rear their devilish and sadistic head again, religion, when properly applied would be our last wall of defense. So do well to not focus your brilliance and energy on tearing the wall down completely.

PastorM:
Tithes is NOT for Christians today. Having said that, if you want to pay, pay.

"If you want to pay, pay" is more like it, you have to do it willingly and cheerfully, else it's useless.

"Tithes is NOT for Christians today."? Is that the gospel according to you? Cos nobody in the Bible was knowledgeable enough to put it that matter-of-factly.

Again, Christ's words were "do not neglect" it, and his words "will never pass away."

As a huge fan of Reno Omokri, I would not love to pick issues with him or his stance on matters in the public sphere because he is someone that knows his onions. That conceded, I would also advise him that he is not all-knowing, no one, except the Almighty, is. Even Jesus Christ, while on earth alluded that there were certain issues beyond his scope of knowledge. That is the humility that most public speakers lack today; they believe to stay relevant, they must have a strong opinion or position on everything, about everything.

The issue of tithing in today’s generation churches is one that remains controversial. For something that has to do with a financial obligation, akin to taxation, this is not a surprise. Reno, like several others who claim to be knowledgeable in religious matters, are not more knowing or more authoritative than Jesus Christ or the earliest apostles. Therefore, they are in no position to categorically declare that tithes are never to be paid to pastors or religious leaders.

What most people ever fail to mention when arguing about tithes is what Jesus himself said in that regard. For emphasis, let me quote the words of Christ in Matthew 23:23, “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! YOU GIVE A TENTH OF YOUR SPICES—MINT, DILL AND CUMIN. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, WITHOUT NEGLECTING THE FORMER.” If Christ did not outlaw paying of tithes, then on whose authority does Reno stand? Presumptuousness is not a humble trait.

It is true that the Bible never recorded Jesus or his apostles collecting tithes, if fact, actually, only one person is recorded to have received tithes in the Bible, and he was not a Levite, he was of no known tribe; he was Melchizedek. So the practice of tithing, which is an act of giving back to God a tenth of one’s gains, predates the Mosaic law on tithing.

On Reno’s claim that only Levite’s are entitled to receiving tithes, please read St. Paul’s explanations in Hebrew 7 very carefully:

(5) Now the law requires the descendants of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people—that is, from their fellow Israelites—even though they also are descended from Abraham.

(9) One might even say that Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham, (10) because when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the body of his ancestor.

(11) If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood—and indeed the law given to the people established that priesthood—why was there still need for another priest to come, one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron?

(12) For when the priesthood is changed, the law must be changed also.

From the above, it is evident that, while tithing remains relevant in worshiping God, events have overtaken the law that directed it to be paid to only those of the bloodline of Levi.

So, Reno, please don’t throw away the baby with the dirty bathwater. You can address the myriad of ways that so called men of God have abused the practice of tithing without discountenancing its relevance in sustaining those that sincerely promote the ministry of Christ, who is the eternal high priest.

Datboredberry:
Nope... Presently, there are more educated boys than girls in Nigeria.. The law might say otherwise, but most Nigerian parents still believe a girl shouldn't be educated in the university... Statistics proves your wrong... I don't care whether your sisters alone were educated... The general population, boys are more in schools.
Try to read to understand next time... I agree that young boys aren't paid any attention... But it's stupid that you men here are trying to compare what young boys and young girls go through... Why did the men who commented try to make it seem like feminism is a personal attack on boys? Did you preach to them? Young girls all over the world are more likely to be victims than young boys... I'm not trying to shift the focus to women but to educate the imbeciles here that it's perfectly understandable why the world tends to pay utmost attention to women and to let the know that the worse enemy of boys is the system created by men...so they should put the blame where it belongs- with themselves.
And I respect his opinions! They are perfect... And unlike the men here, he didn't try to compare what men go through and what women go through... He was unbiased.
I'm a woman, so you assume I must have kids... I won't... secondly, are you mentally slow? Did I once comment that boys aren't victims of assault? I'm making a point that it's men who made themselves into living gods that can't be hurt... That why no one (men and women) pay attention to these boys who are victims... Men say they are masculine and strong and the superior sex... So young boys can't even come out to tell the world their awful stories... If a man is raped, it's his fellow men who would encourage him to kill the case because it's unmanly to be the victim of sexual abuse... So don't blame women, blame the system men created... They thought it would favour them, but it only boomeranged...

I speak from the grey line...

These are my points...:

Boys can be victims...

Boys are mostly victims of men...

Boys can't complain that they are victims because they fear that they would disappoint the menfolk...

No one takes topics like this seriously because of patriarchy which clearly centers on the principle that men are superior and beneath the position of being victims...

Men created patriarchy...

Patriarchy back fired...

If you want to promote the rights of boys, don't attack feminism that focuses bon female victims... But focus on boys and dismantling this system that's patriarchy...

They we can truly have a conversation...

It's funny cos you guys are having a conversation already! Assuming without conceding that the patriarchy is such a bad construct, can you answer a quick question:

Can you factually say that no woman ever played a role in building the patriarchy; or that all men are complicit in enabling it? Every man was born by a woman, most men are raised by their mothers. In this imperfect world that we are all born into, both men and women have been victims of malevolent, murderous and wicked people. I will admit men have played a greater role in such ills, but the flip side, in most cases, both the villains and heroes in history are men - so it is strong good men that protect the world against strong evil men.

Children are generally weak and vulnerable in the society. It would be more beneficial for grown ups to focus on protecting the young without drawing indelible tribal lines between boys and girls.

Angela62:
Not until I gave birth to my son and started raising them, before I understood the kinds of challenges the male child faces. Society is built on the false premise that women have challenges only, and men are the cause if it. So therefore, male child are ignored. Before I use to tout anything female, but now, I can see that it's not a good approach because both gender suffer.

But I ask myself, after developing and elevating women, will they date and marry themselves? Isn't the same men that society ignored and don't want to invest upon will be their future husband, Co workers, pastors and much more? You can't tell me you love women and want to help them, why refusing to help men, same men that the majority of female happiness comes from. The earlier we open our eyes to the bigger picture, the better for all of us.

Thank you for thoughtful and unbiased post. The world can do much more by being less tribalistic right now. We all need to promote each other without trying to pull down one another. We all have challenges. The most simplistic or myopic assumption anyone can make is that only girls/women have challenges. Nature places a burden on men by making them stronger physically. This puts them in more dangerous situations, whether for the right or wrong reasons. This is why men are ones mostly killed as victims and perpetrators of wars, all in a bid to protect their communities, especially the weaker women and children.

On the other hand, women have the burden of maternal functionality. This responsibility compels women to tend to the home more while the man has to fend for the family. The woman cannot have and raise forebears outdoors and the man cannot fend for the family indoors. That is why men generally have a lower life expectancy. It is a very vain lack of humility that makes anybody refer to our ancestors as backwards when all we enjoy today was built on the foundation they laid, over hundreds and thousands of years.

In life, the strong and privileged should protect the weak and disadvantaged, from danger and harm, whether caused by man or by nature. We all need each other and we all need to help each other.

For women, striving to be your best, and not equality, should be the goal

It is only a lack of the appreciation of how God and nature works that makes women, even those of supposedly Christian convictions, join the warped worldly ideology of those demanding women equality with men.

God made the woman so powerful that, although man was first created, every other human born by natural birth, including the saviour of the world, came from the womb of the woman. Naturally, with such a great power also comes great responsibility. The goal of any individual, man or woman, should be how to advance oneself, while managing humbly, the balance between power and responsibility.

In the real sense, as far as there is a distinction between two things, they can never be equal. A lot of men today who move around with so much bravado as “head of the house” are not in control of their homes, their children, nor even their wife’s sexual diary! Power can be very deceptive, and is often times just on paper: That is why kings and presidents fall easily.

Feminists today, who started their cause by championing women empowerment, (which is great IMO), have become bored with their original story and are now seeking to demean masculinity and dismantle the "patriarchy". Ignorance and shortsightedness cannot even make them realize that women (and indeed humanity) needs strong males as much as strong females. History shows that while women have constantly been abused, assaulted and victimized by evil men, the flip side of the story is that in most cases, it is good men that rise to protect the woman.

Men have been victims of evils perpetrated by the wicked just as much as women. The headcount during wars or in prisons will testify to that.

Our goal as individuals should be striving to become the best of what we can be. Pulling others down for you to rise is unethical and unchristian, such things should be left for nature and fate to determine.

A biblical lesson we can learn from is story of Saul and David. Although David had already been anointed king over Israel, he never sought to kill Saul and even passed the opportunity when it presented itself. Also, as a reminder; the very first sin in the Bible was caused by Lucifer’s inordinate ambition to seek equality with God. No matter how much we as humans demand to be treated justly, we must be careful of the doctrine of equality as it is fraught with its demerits.

My Confusion About God And The Scriptures. by udoji2021: 8:34am

I have been thinking about this lately and decide to share it here. Don't get me fellas, I'm a Christian and believe in God and his son Jesus Christ

BUT

It is believe that God created the world and knows what happened before, what is happening presently and what will happen later till the end of time. This brings me question on why he allowed Satan to decieve man, why was he also angry since He knew beforehand of what will happen? Then the consequent punishment, was it really justified?

The most confusing part to me now is life after death. I personally believe that there is heaven and hell right from my childhood days until one guy (Jehovah witness) told me that there is nothing like hell, he went on that even heaven is for a specific number of choose people and not for everyone, above all, he said that when one dies, your own is finished and you are not gonna go anywhere. Simply put, your body and spirit will die.

I nearly insulted him for spewing such rubbish but many years after, I'm beginning to think think twice about this issue.
Now, imagine suffering in this life for all the days of your life only to meet death (body and spirit),

My question is;

1) why not just enjoy your life even if it means doing bad things to enjoy life?
If you can't enjoy life, why not kill yourself and rest to avoid the sufferings?

2) Even if there is life after death, what if there is no suffering cos God may decide to give everyone peace after death.

3) Those that didn't hear anything about God, what is their fate?

4) which of the scriptures is to be trusted?

May God forgive my ignorance if what I just wrote is bad and punishable.

The questions you have posed are among such that has puzzled even the greatest thinkers in humanity, and continues to. I’ll try to keep my own responses as simple as I can, but know that these are deep and complex issues, but we can all be guided by the morality in our hearts, which, more often than not, point us towards something close to the right direction. To your queries:
1. Why not just enjoy your life even if it means doing bad things to enjoy life?
If you can't enjoy life, why not kill yourself and rest to avoid the sufferings?
Let me start by addressing the first part of your first question.
Nature, as we know, has designed in it, a reward system, or as it is commonly put, you reap what you sow. Another very fundamental issue most people need to understand is the difference between instant gratification and delayed gratification. Basically, when you cut corners, or break rules for immediate gains, your reward may be immediate but in the short term. The downside is that there is always a negative consequence for short-circuiting the natural order.
In essence, when you decide to enjoy life, even by doing bad stuff, you would end up “gaining the whole world, but losing your soul.” So, you might indeed enjoy life in the short term, but lose it altogether in the long term. Not only that, but by some measure, all evil deeds will be rewarded in like manner. The details of this may not be very explicit in the Bible, but it is clear we would all be judged and punished according to our deeds/sins.
With regards to committing suicide, due to the nature of life that God has placed in living things, of which we are prime, we mostly yearn for more life; a better, longer and more pleasurable living, only a few go for the suicide option. What is the reward for suicide, bereft of malevolence? Well, I believe it would definitely be less than living an oppressive and wicked life!
2) Even if there is life after death, what if there is no suffering cos God may decide to give everyone peace after death?
That is most unlikely because it would be against the natural order. (By natural order, I mean life and nature as we understand it, with or without the belief in deities). When the Bible says, the wages of sin is death, it means it in the most unequivocal of terms. It is a rehash of the original warning God gave Adam and Eve in Eden; if you eat of the fruit, you will die. Some people take it as a punishment, I rather see it as a consequence of one’s failing. If someone tells you that if you jump down from a 5-storey building you will break your leg and die, would you call that a “punishment”? God did not say “I will kill you.” Rather, the ordered system of life, which was designed to support man living for eternity, was already designed that way and is not going to change.
Just to throw a little more insight, it is because the consequence of man’s sin was already set that Christ’s coming did not ransom man from dying in immediate terms, in this life, but gave man hope of a second life, after serving for the consequence of losing this life. So I don’t think God would give everyone peace after death, but rather would recreate a system of peace and tranquility for those who prove worthy of it.
3) Those that didn't hear anything about God, what is their fate?
This is one question that mainstream Christianity hardly addresses. I have always pondered what the essence of judgement is, if there is no chance to retrace once steps and repent. Much of God’s justice system is already reflected in our human judicial system. A first offender faces less punishment than a repeat offender; all crimes do not bear the same fine/sentence; even a death sentence can be commuted to life sentence!
I was born into a faith that teaches there would be a period of a thousand years after “all that are in the grave” are brought back to life. Like you mentioned about the Jehovah’s Witnesses, we also do not believe “hell fire” to be an eternity in burning fire, but a second death which would be made final at the end of the millennium reign of Christ. (Rev 21: While the thousand years would be for judgement and restoration of the paradise originally designed by God in Eden, there would be a period of a hundred years, within the thousand, where those who never had the opportunity to know God, would be made known of His person, the person of Christ and then practice their ways. (John 17:3; Isaiah 65:20) Have you ever wondered the fate of babies, who are mostly innocent, but born into sin (as all Adam’s descendants are) and have not gained the intelligence to know Christ or understand and practice his ways? Would they be granted automatic salvation, even if they are born as sinners? That does not add up. That is why I believe there would be a second chance, for those who deserve it.

4) Which of the scriptures is to be trusted?
Well, you can start by trusting Christ! According to one writer, for all the claims that Christ made, he had to be either the real deal or he was simply mad. Two proclamations (among others) of Jesus Christ that single him as the real deal, for me, are his claim to be the “only way/path to life and to the Father.” While almost all other mainstream religions in the world strive to tap into the authenticity of Christ’s persona by alluding him a high sense of credibility, Christ himself denounced any other teaching, religion or practice that did not have bearing in his own teachings. Secondly, knowing how hard the powers of the world would try to destroy the influence of his teachings on the world, even after his crucifixion, and how they would fail; Christ himself warned of how they would resort to adulterating his teachings, any by so doing, cause many to fall. This is why I laugh at those who claim to be Christians, yet can’t seem to comprehend why there are soooo many different versions of the scriptures out there. We were warned, so we need to be careful.
Effectively, pay close attention to the teachings of Christ and try to practice them, as humanly possible as you can! No church or pastor can save you; infact many will mislead you! Most importantly, live a Christly life (I deliberately avoided the words Christian and godly), while you seek the right church to practice your faith and enjoy community with like believers. If you follow Christ, even in the wrong church, you will be saved. Conversely, if you fail to follow Christ, while attending the “right” church, you will not be saved.
I hope my effort is well received and appreciated. Blessings to a truth-seeker.

A self-described musician and creative director, Mr Adene has been an active member of the EndSARS movement, which has been calling for police reform and an end to bad governance.

He actually has a song on YouTube which is consistent with his activism.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7mg_fyuLag

#Adura
#PrayForNigeria
#FreeEromz

Hillary Clinton, I hope you know that Nigerians have not forgotten the role you and Obama played in foisting Buhari on us in 2015? The role of your campaign handlers Axelrod and AKPD was widely publicized. You used Tinubu to engage AKPD to launder the image of a tyrant and coup plotter and sell a CHANGE agenda to us. The blood of innocent Nigerians is on you all.

#ENDSARS: SAVING THE BABY
- By Jay Ledion

I am human, and I am a Nigerian, and then I am Christian. Like millions of youths across the globe, I am totally against any form of oppression, whether at the level of the individual or the collective.

There is nothing more disempowering than when injustice and brutality are being served by the very people who are paid to protect the lives of their paymasters – the citizens. The anti-police brutality protests that have sparked off in several countries across the world is a reflection of the angst of the people against the over exuberance and malevolence of law officers. There is only so much the masses can tolerate before going beyond their threshold for bearing the excesses of the police.

That is one issue I wish to point out to our leaders; elected or selected, and any who cares to listen. The other point I would like to bring to fore is that while we all fight for reforms in governance and in maintaining law and order, we must be careful not to throw away the baby with the bathwater.

We need the government, and they have a responsibility, which we desire and have so bequeathed upon them; to provide law and order in the society. What is unacceptable is an abuse of such powers.

While there are widespread agitations against police criminality, (a sad paradox) and government insensitivity, we must also be vigilant because there are those who are strategically positioned on the fringes of such just causes, waiting to capitalize on weakened governments. The frightening reality is, not only are these people placed in high quarters, they are also mostly faceless.

With the government, we know them and at least have an opportunity to periodically have some say in the process by which they gain authority over us. On the other hand, these enemies of the people and of the state, who are already faceless and powerful, are never subjected to such scrutiny. How do we defeat an enemy we do not know?

A lot of billionaires, media tech giants and their surrogates fall into this nefarious group. They are already bigger than most governments and impact on our day to day lives more than any government can. Reports are also emerging that they are some of the sponsors of these protesters, who complain of finding it difficult to feed their families, but have been feeding large crowds for weeks.

When there is a breakdown of law and order, and the security officers have their sense of the moral obligation to protect the lives and properties of the people dampened, we the people become even more exposed and helpless to the hideous intents of an evil lot.

So as we all justly pursue reforms across all levels of governance, let us be very vigilant so we do inadvertently disempower government to the point that we become the very victims of weakened government structures. Failure to do so will mean that the government would then have to answer to these power players and would no longer function at the mercy of the electorate.

#EndSARS not the end: Ex-SARS personnel need reorientation

With the level of atrocities - unlawful arrests, torture and murder, allegedly perpetrated by officers of the recently disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), the Inspector General of Police must ensure that are put through a mandatory period of reorientation before their planned redeployment.

It would be naive of anyone to imagine that these erring police officers would develop a change of heart overnight, in dealing with members of the public. While the bulk of them would go unpunished for the crimes they have been accused of committing, for lack of justiciable evidence, a period of inactive service and deradicalization is necessary so as to prevent or minimize the likelihood of some of them taking out their frustrations on innocent members of the public.

For years, errant members of the police force have been having a field day terrorizing the very people they are commissioned to protect; SARS only took this to a different level. Abduction and extortion became the norm, with increasing cases of broad daylight, cold-blooded murder. In an almost complete dereliction of their tasked responsibility, which was to combat armed banditry and all such related crimes, they preyed on hapless citizens, accusing any hip-looking, tech gadget-carrying Nigerian youth of internet fraud (Yahoo-yahoo).

All those castigating our youths who engage in fraud for being responsible for the crimes of the SARS officers have totally missed the point.

First of all, officers of the law should never be excused for using their right to bear arms to terrorize unarmed members of the public. Also, the Nigerian Police have several units that are trained in the investigation and prosecution of fraudsters. SARS only capitalized on the desperation of the Yahoo-boys to use their fraudulently acquired wealth to keep themselves out of trouble. If a police man can shoot a bus driver because of N50, then it is a no-brainer that they casually threaten and kill young boys over possible millions of naira.

Such officers are worse than the Yahoo boys and even the armed robbers and kidnappers that the government pays them to go after. It is therefore necessary that they should be warranted to go through a period of reorientation, which must include psychological tests, and not be immediately released to engage with the public. We must admit to ourselves that though the action of the IGP in the dissolution of SARS was long overdue, what has been done is that their regular avenue for enriching themselves has been blocked. It would take a while for them to come to terms with the reality and some of them might resort to more dastardly measures in the process.

It is bad enough that the illicit funds these policemen have extorted from members of the public would not be recovered; worse still that all those who have lost their loved ones due to the heartlessness of some of these SARS men cannot get justice. At least let the police hierarchy must ensure that more harm is not done by immediately instituting reforms and curbing acts of brutality and extortion by its officers, so that gradually, the Nigerian youth and the general public can regain the trust for men of the police force.

jiggaz:
“Whoever will cause one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble, it would be better for him if he were thrown into the sea with a millstone hung around his neck. If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having your two hands to go into Gehenna, into the unquenchable fire, ‘where their worm doesn’t die, and the fire is not quenched.’ If your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life lame, rather than having your two feet to be cast into Gehenna, into the fire that will never be quenched— ‘where their worm doesn’t die, and the fire is not quenched.’ If your eye causes you to stumble, cast it out. It is better for you to enter into God’s Kingdom with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into the Gehenna of fire, ‘where their worm doesn’t die, and the fire is not quenched.’” ( Mark‬ ‭9:42-48‬ ‭WEB‬‬)

https://ko-fi.com/post/The-Right-Way-to-Preach-about-Hell-L3L31VND4

Do not be deceived, HELL IS DEATH. The Creator of mankind and the Universe is the GOD of Life. He designed the Universe and saw that it was good. When God completed the creation of life as we understand it today, there was no place for the wicked or wickedness: There was no place designed to perpetually imprison those who went against the ordered laws of nature. The punishment for going against this order, as was spelt out to Adam was a return to nothingness, to death. Better put, death is the separation from life, out of which man was created, and not a state of living in eternal torment.

The Bible teaches how God created the heavens and the earth. It also teaches how God will recreate what was originally created - the new heavens and the new earth. Although hell and hell fire are repeatedly mentioned in the Bible, we do not need to associate this with a place of eternal torment, where the devil remains king, torturing sinful ones in eternal and unquenchable fire. The doctrine of an eternal God of Peace, keeping his worshipers in eternal bliss and unrighteous ones in eternal torment, has arguably, done more harm than good to the gospel of truth.

DIVORCE – CHRIST’S STANCE, PATERNITY FRAUD AND THE ROLE OF GOVERNMENT

The often trending issues of divorce and paternity fraud usually cause some division in societal dialectics. Although these very serious malaises are destroying homes, families and people’s lives, I hardly hear recognized religious authorities speak about them, especially the latter. We understand that our “men of God”, every so often, may be more concerned about “weightier matters”, so let some of us who are just after common sense and rational thinking attempt to give it some insight.

THE RELEVANCE OF CHRIST TO THE CHRISTIAN ARGUMENT

A lot of self-professed Christians fail to regard the stance of their supposed religious icon when it comes to pertinent issues concerning Christianity. As a keen student of the Bible (which I try to be), I consider the words of Jesus the Christ to be fundamental, paramount and the very foundation on which the biggest religion in the world stands. Every other religious authority, Biblical or contemporary; whether president, pope, general overseer, archbishop, apostle, prophet, pastor, bishop, minister, etc., stand secondary. Truth be told, some of Christ’s teachings were shrouded in unexplained parables and idioms, which left even his closest acolytes as bamboozled as his general audience; but that was not always the case.

CHRIST’S STANCE ON DIVORCE

Jesus Christ’s position on divorce was pretty straightforward; “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning. I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery…The one who can accept this should accept it.” – Matthew 19:8, 9, 12 (NIV)

Key points we can infer from the above statement are:

- For all the many reasons marriages are split today (irreconcilable differences et al), Christ only approved of one reason – a wife cheating on the husband
- Christ never said that a man must divorce a wife that cheated, hence the final decision lies with the man; to remain in the marriage under whatever situation(s) or just break up
- (A lot of people would argue this!) Christ also did not give a condition that would allow a woman divorce the husband. Christianity gives married men the authority over their wives; not to become tyrannical, but to cater to the needs of your wife like their own flesh. The supposed “head” of the union can let go of his wife on the terms of adultery but not vice-verse, because in a Christian marriage, the woman is neither the superior nor equal. So hypothetically, the power to dissolve the union should lie with the head of the union, i.e. the husband.

This divorce issue, as treated by Christ in this context, goes beyond forgiveness; it tries to establish some grundnorm for how a marriage could thrive successfully, or not. Even beyond an established case of adultery, a couple can remain in a marriage without forgiving (usually for some selfish reason) and just continue to be in each other’s throats. Likewise, a couple can split but forgive each other and move on peacefully with their independent lives. I have witnessed both scenarios. It’s complicated, I understand; it’s the reality called life.

FAMILIAL POWER DYNAMICS, RESPONSIBILITIES AND CONSEQUENCES

So how does this relate to paternity fraud? At this juncture, we may need to objectively weigh the consequences of a husband’s infidelity to those of the wife.

Women hold great power in the world: The power to be the site of fertilization and conception; the power to carry and nurture the fetus through its development and finally to birth the child into the world. Even our Saviour Christ could not be exempted from this. No man can contest these powers with a woman. With power, comes responsibility. In life, we may not always choose how power comes to us, but we can choose how responsibly we use it. A woman that appropriates the wrong father to her child has indeed corrupted this great power which God and nature has placed on her.

For all the atrocious acts husbands commit in marriages, one can identify a woman that has done similarly, whether in nature or enormity. But the responsibility of birthing a child into the world and into a home lies with the woman. As paternity fraud sadly demonstrates, any man can get the wife pregnant, but only the wife can bring the child into a family. In writing this piece, I made sure I did not do so hurriedly, and have tried to dialogue with several female friends to share their views on what sins a husband could commit in a marriage, that could not be repaid in kind by the wife. I will be glad if anyone reading this can provide such, as that would sway my bias and change this narrative.

The woman is called the weaker sex in the Bible. We know this to refer to the fact that women are generally not as physically strong as men. This sweeping categorization does not account for intellectual capacity, as our womenfolk are generally just as intelligent as the menfolk. It also does not account for the stronger women in their tribe who possess more physical strength than the weaker men in their own tribe. Hence, the not so common cases of husband-beating wives. So, in a developing world where physical strength seems to account for less by the day, (whether in professions or winning wars), the woman is actually shedding off more of the “weaker sex” toga.

The above fact is fast changing the dynamics in the society as much as in homes. It is now commonplace to see a Christian home where, though the man remains the figure head, the woman actually brings more or all of the money home. Women have always been just as relevant as men in a home, probably more so today than it was ever in human history. But in a union of two, one party must have the upper hand.

I believe by now you are beginning to get my drift. If the power to birth a child into the home completely resides with the wife; she generally shares equal relevance with the husband in the daily functioning of the family; then also holds equal authority with the man, it means that in actual sense, the wife is superior in the home. The next question is; why would the woman being superior be such a bad thing?

THE HOME NEEDS THE MAN AS MUCH AS THE WOMAN

The moment a woman sees a man as being not more than a sperm donor, even the husband loses his place in the home. One of the fundamental purposes of a family, is not just birthing children, but to nurture them to become the best of what they can be. If the relationship between a husband and a wife was all about social and sexual partnership, then there would actually be no need to tie each other down in the socio-cultural legalese called marriage. Why the hassle of jumping into one marriage, divorcing at the first opportunity and moving to the next? Is that not what is becoming a trend in the society? But when the overall welfare of the children produced in this sacred union is considered, divorce, as it should be, would be a very last resort; an almost inconceivable choice.

To bring this matter home, countless research has shown the many undesirable consequences that children raised in single-parent homes suffer. In most of these broken homes, the father is the absent figure. The data on how persons raised in fatherless homes fare in the society is without contestation, the home needs the man. He is not just a sperm donor, he is or should be a guiding beacon of strength in a home, partnering the mother in effectively bringing up the human products of their love trysts. There is even research data that shows how badly children who are brought up in communities with less fathers present, fare.

Talking about father absenteeism in American homes, Obama, America’s first black president had this to say; “We know that more than half of all black children live in single-parent households, a number that has doubled since we were children. We know the statistics — that children who grow up without a father are five times more likely to live in poverty and commit crime; nine times more likely to drop out of schools and twenty times more likely to end up in prison. They are more likely to have behavioral problems, or run away from home or become teenage parents themselves. And the foundations of our community are weaker because of it.”

THE ROLE OF GOVERNMENT

In this age where tribal conflicts between men and women are rife and the argument for equality of both sexes in a marriage is dominant in sociological circles, the concomitant challenges that paternity fraud throws on the society are largely underplayed. For a vice that adorns a multilayered garb of deceit, treachery and infidelity, from when it is conceived and then perpetrated; to the birth of the offspring and then the parenting of the child with the psychological, social, economic responsibilities it bequeaths on the supposed father, to be overlooked by governments, sometimes even receiving a pat on the back, surely spells undesirable long-term consequences for the society. It only goes to reinforce the school of thought which presupposes that government should never take the role of religion in our lives (religion being the axiomatic principles by which we conduct ourselves and not necessarily the belief in a deity).

I understand the need that governments have to sometimes step into homes and attempt to take over the role of bad parents. Inasmuch as this is not avoidable, governments should be very careful about it. It is always better to aid the person who is directly responsible for something than to usurp that role. The attempt to relieve such a person of his/her responsibilities, no matter how well-intended and how advantageous it may appear in the short-term, has always proven to produce long-term adverse results.

If the government is truly out to aid individuals, from childhood to adulthood, becoming useful and productive in the society, then they should be very careful how much they aid the business of divorce and single parenthood. Governments should not encourage paternity fraud. Though their intentions might be to ensure the woman is supported financially in catering for the child; which would indeed be beneficial in the short-term, studies however show that a majority of these children, eventually, are worse off in the society than their peers who benefited from a more stable family structure. This is one of the banes of black communities in the U.S. today.

CHRIST’S STANCE PROTECTS BOTH THE HOME AND THE CHILD

Jesus Christ was very emphatic about the need to protect the sanctity of the marriage union. Forget about the posture of governments and their laws. Often times their good intentions do not lead to good decisions; other times such intentions have some devious and hideous agenda underneath. Jesus Christ loves us and knows what is best for us. We need to learn to appreciate why marriages should not be dissolved carelessly. If you went into a marriage thinking happiness is your first goal, then you are living in a dream world. Happiness in a marriage, as in life, should be a momentary product of some sacrifice you have put into a project. If you get it often enough, then you are doing great! There is no one-rule that works for all marriages. Remember that in this partnership, the husband is first among equals. Protect your marriage, protect your home. Whether you are the husband or the wife, keeping your marriage intact will serve you better, your partner better, your child/children better; both in this life and the one to come!

desiredhome:
I have explained myself well enough but what I don't understand is why do most Christian leader focus on tithe/money more than building souls which is the real purpose of Christianity? where are the morals among brethren? where are the love among you?
This is what Christ was talking about in Mathew 23:23.......

Most of the pastors do not open Church because of the love of God or building souls but because of money and by so doing are destroying the society because like the Bible say the love of money is the root of all evil, when you build your foundation on deceit/greed/materialism, you are headed for destruction

Some of us have allowed religion to blind our sense of reasoning....the money the church makes is from the members and so it's the church money for the welfare of the church (members inclusive) not just pastors alone but today's church is not so and this is the reason people are talking about the Church as being a scam.....

I corrinthian 9 :14
Church is for service and (*NOT) for profit making

I totally agree with all these. Like Christ rebuked the Pharisees for, a lot of church leaders relegate the more important issues that have to do with building souls in righteousness and instead, devise all sorts of schemes and scams to fleece their followers.

What did Christ himself warn about? Remember Matt. 24:

5. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many.
11. and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.
24. For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.
25. See, I have told you ahead of time.

With the above, the misleading ministry of such thieving "men of God" should not come as surprise. Their aim is to enrich themselves, destroying people's lives in the process. It is really unfortunate; but we were warned.