₦airaland Forum

MuttleyLaff:
[img]https://s1/images/Loverboy.jpg[/img]
Dont snitch. Never rat.
Always know when to keep your mouth shut
No one likes a tattletale

Gombs has still not grown up.

itu404:
MIster Yusufu, the gospel is open to all and written in thousands of languages for all to know the truth and thus be set free. You Moslems, finds it very pleasurable to always attack 'the Christian faith' yet, no one dare preach in some of your land, like Saudi Arabia, no one can understand your Koran, for it is only written in Arabic only and your wrote shall fall on ant one who dares to translate it.
There is no pastor who calls himself millionaires pastors. but know this 'Anything you do well and do with a and pursue excellence will always results in some form of financial gain. The bible says a Proverbs 22:29 Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men. Simply;
what Ever YOU DO WELL BRINGS IT OWN FINANCIAL GAIN
WHATEVER YOU DO WELL BRINGS YOU BEFORE MEN WHO WILL BE WILLING TO GIVE YOU 'RETURNS' FOR YOUR BLESSINGS ON THEM
Motivation speakers make millions for men are willing to pay for their speech which they consider helpful to them. Stop , stop stop pastor bashing!!
Even blogging and doing it well, can make you a millionaire ask Linda Ikeji. Please find your notch and use it well instead; because this road[pastor bashing] will not lead you anywhere
Trying so much to bring out suffering in poverty and lack does not fly in our time. Stop burying your head like an Ostrich in the Sand

Mr. Deji Yesufu is a Christian. A minister of the gospel.

You may google the name and see what comes out. Also, you may find him on Facebook too.

kosalabaro:
God bless you, Op.
True gospel life is a life of total commitment and sacrifice and because those qualities are lacking hence there are no 'Elijahs'' and ''Elishas'' anymore.
When we say ''Pastors cannot be millionaires'' this does not mean we want them to be poor. It simply means that they should live a simple life, a life of moderation as our Lord Jesus Christ did. Jesus had overwhelming opportunities to have been the richest man of his time, but because he knew the inherent corruption, temptation, deceit and Godlessness in such level of wealth, he chose to live a completely Godly life - simplicity, humility, life without sin, love for the poor, spirituality and above all, love of mankind.

What is bad in any man of God living in a 3 or (at most) 4-bedroom bungalow?

What is bad in a Pastor wearing a simple cloth (ankara for instance) instead of a 3-piece suit?

What is bad in our so-called men of God driving a Peugeot or Volkswagen?


What is bad in our Pastors sending their children to Public schools?


But the truth is bitter and our earthly world hates the truth because the marketing of truth brings no money whereas marketing of lies leads to millionaire status.

Very well said. Thank you.

Reasons Why Pastors Cannot Be Millionaires

by Deji Yesufu

In a generation that regards Christian ministry as the next “big thing”, where young men, who ought to be using their productive lives for worthwhile ventures, now regard “ministry” as a short cut to quick wealth, it is important we remind ourselves that if Christian ministry is carried out in the manner stipulated by the Bible, Pastors will not be wealthy talk less of being millionaires. Therefore if you have a desire to be rich, which in itself is not wrong, Christian ministry is not a career path for you. Consider with me a few reasons why I am convinced Pastors cannot be rich.

There are no biblical examples of wealthy Pastors. There simply is none. Rather we hear the Bible writers making stringent call on those in ministry to stay sway from the love of money (1 Timothy 6:6), not to be lovers of filthy lucre (1 Timothy 3:3), to be men given to helping the poor (Galatians 2:10), etc. When Jesus sent out the 70 disciples to preach in all cities of their time, he instructed them clearly to eat only whatever is set before them (Luke 10:7). The idea of negotiating a salary or a honorarium is foreign to that text. In 1 Corinthians 9, where Paul argues vigorously for a Pastor to be paid a wage, he insists on the fact that his greatest authority to speak truth to the Corinthians was because he was not indebted to them financially in anyway. The general notion of the Christian minister’s financial status in the New Testament is that it is usually bestowed on him as a gift – a reward for his spiritual work.

The Old Testament itself does not give any proof of wealthy ministers. The ministers at the temple at that time where the Levites and not once do we find any of them wealthy. The sons of Eli, who were pictured as something close to rich, were young men who were defrauding the Israelites of their offerings to God. And for this they were judged. It will be inappropriate to list men like Abraham, Isaac and Solomon as wealthy Old Testament ministers. While these men were rich, non of them occupied a position of priest or minister to people in a strict sense.

Secondly, there are no historical records of godly, wise and influential pastors who were wealthy individuals. Right from the early Church fathers to the 16th century Reformers, God’s servants were known more for their wisdom, writing and godly influences than for the amount of money they had. Augustine was Bishop of Hippo, a city in present day Algeria. His books are still being read by millions of Christian adherents all around the world. There is no record of his wealth anywhere. Among the Reformers, there was probably no greater theologian than John Calvin. When he died, his will indicated that a paltry amount of money was to be donated to the Theological College he founded.

And then we have the greatest of the Puritan, John Owen; the preacher of “Sinners' in the hands of an Angry God” – Jonathan Edwards; John Wesley, George Whitefield, John Bunyan (whose book “Pilgrim Progress” is the all time best selling Christian novel - information for those who credit Pastors' wealth to book sales), etc. Non of these were rich men. After years of laboring and preaching at the London Terbanacle, the Prince of Preachers himself, Charles Spurgeon, was bought a house to live in by his congregation.

On other hand, one of the things that precipitated the 16th century Reformation was something called “simony”. It was the practice of Roman Catholic Priests selling religious items to devotees with the promise that it will incur God’s favor. The result was the tremendous wealth it brought the Catholic clergies. They made so much money that it was enough to build the luxurious St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. Catholic Popes and priests were the wealthiest folks of those times. In reaction to growing wealth in the churches and reduced piety, the monasteries were birth in the 6th/7th century. The monasteries encouraged the cultivation of piety mostly through a sworn oath to poverty and celibacy, and at the same time a commitment to living a communal life.

Today we may frown at the idea of a monastery but God in his Providence used them to preserve much of what we have - both scriptures and early Church father’s writing. They were also often a rebuke at the hedonistic lifestyle that the Priests then pursued. The whole idea of modern Universities began in monasteries because they were often centers of learning. Eventually, the Reformation itself began in a monastery 500 years ago when a little known monk by the name Martin Luther nailed 95 theses on the wall of a Church in his hometown, Wittenberg, Germany, protesting the Roman Catholic practices of indulgence and others.

When one reads Church history one cannot but marvel at how history is being replayed today. Medieval churches got their wealth by selling faith to ignorant church people after they had either misconstrued clear Bible doctrine or having mixed superstition with truth. Similarly, the modern wealthy Pastor gets his money from false doctrine and pure superstition. If for example, the true nature of the biblical tithes are taught in churches, people will learn that there is no compulsion to tithing. In fact they will discover that tithing is not a Christian practice, and church finances with deep. All the other variants of tithes: firstfruits, prophets offerings, etc, will also stop and then the true financial state of these churches will be revealed. If money was removed from the matter of ministry, 90% of those with a certain claim to a call to ministry will vanish.

The strongest reason why a pastor cannot be wealthy is simply this: our Pastor, Jesus Christ himself, left no such example for us. Jesus was a poverty stricken Savior. In his words, while he walked the earth, he had nowhere to lay his head (Matthew 8:20). He left his glory in heaven, humbled himself and took the form of man. He was made poor that we may know the riches of the Spirit (2 Corinthians 8:9). Unfortunately, some use that scriptures to justify being wealthy today but then we found no such example in the early churches. The Apostles who took the baton from the Master themselves were poor men (1 Corinthians 4:10-1 ). So also were many of the saints of that time.

The simple argument of this piece is to state the fact that Christian ministry is not a means for making money and becoming rich. If you will be a servant of Jesus Christ and minister his word, you must rest content with becoming poor. Though the overall testimony of many who have taken up this challenge was to find out that the Master is faithful and always does meet and even surpass our needs. But the Master does not make his ministers millionaires. Any of such around have sought that status via vain and non biblical means. If you must be rich, do pursue secular business as an entrepreneur. Work hard, be productive and with God’s favor, riches will come your way. But do not go into the ministry with the intent of making money.

I say it with all confidence, and according to the records of scriptures and history, the term “millionaire pastor” is a misnomer. All those bearing such are thieves and robbers, and their judgement before God lingers not.

Cheers.

Source: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1561551330587738&id=1505609702848568

Cacawa2:
I swear the author could not have been more wrong.

Has he heard of the word revolution?
Talking about having political foot soldiers in all of the 774 local govt, party structure and funding. Yes of course, That is what a revolution does. It comes as a three in one.

A revolution is the collapse of political gaming and a rise of national hunger.

If Sowore has a game plan to cause Revolution..trust me, it will work.

Did we need political parties to create #OccupyNigeria?

Do you think that political calculations was what brought PMB into office? Do you remember how PMB won the APC primary? It was his speech when he said at the event, after Atiku had secured part faithfuls with USD. PMB spoke and said something that made headlines. He said "I do not have money to give you and if I did have, I won't give you. But if it's change you want, leadership with integrity that will move Nigeria forward, then stand with me"

In case you don't know...it was this same revolution seed which people like sowore planted in the hearts of Nigerians that sparked the outrage against Gej to the extent that grassroots politicians became very afraid of showing any links with Gej. Traditional rulers dared not openly campaign for him despite the dollars.

So I won't rule out sowore completely.

But I will personally ignore this author who has obviously been reaching out to Donald Duke in hope of becoming a media adviser ... They are all the same bunch of misfits who have destroyed the country.

I call them the 1999 politicians.

Anyway, watch out for 2027. You will know what a revolution is.

I agree that a revolution can work. I sincerely hope that Sowore can birth something of a revolution.

I read how Hitler rose to power. It was one book he wrote that won the heart of the German people. And he was eventually nominated to President.

But...

Even Hitler had to belong to a recognizable body or party.

No one can do this thing alone.

It is quite unfortunate that this commentator thinks Deji Yesufu is writing this to be political adviser to Duke. Maybe you should google that name and realize that his calling is more in the Christian ministry than politics. But in the state in which Nigeria is, everyone has to speak. We have to canvass ideas for a workable society.

I agree with the author of the opener, Sowore and others should join or build recognizable political parties, through the years, and then they stand a chance of leading this nation.

Why Durotoye, Sowore and Others Will Not be President

by Deji Yesufu

A few weeks ago I got a call from a Facebook acquaintance living in New York. He is someone whom I do not know personally but who apparently reads my posts on Facebook. He said he had plans to run for the Presidency of Nigeria and he needed my support. After taking almost half an hour of my time to explain his intentions, I responded to him quite frankly that he could not be President of Nigeria. I told him that the best he could run for at the moment was either counsellor at his local government level or, at most, seek a seat at the Federal House of Representatives. He thanked me for my candour and promised to get back to me. I knew he did not like my response and I was not surprised when he did not get back to me as he promised.

Yesterday, a good friend of mine got in touch with me and asked me what I thought about one Adamu Garba running for presidency. I told him I did not know who Adamu Garba was. He then sent me links on him where Mr. Garba had granted interviews to a blog. He is a thirty five year old man from Adamawa State. He wants to be president of Nigeria in 2019. I explained to my friend that there was a lot that goes into the making of the president of any country. It is not just some confident gentleman, who thinks he has a few dollars and the gift of the garb. Immediately I knew I needed to write on this sudden surge or is it craze of young men seeking the exalted office in the land. Unfortunately, my two case in point are well known individuals whom I am convinced will not become president come 2019. I hope to explain why in this piece.

Omoyele Sowore is the founder and CEO of Saharareporters. For me, he is the greatest thing that has happened to Nigerian journalism. Saharareporters has opened up the sphere of journalism in this country and has increased accountability in our national life. Sowore won my respect and admiration when he protested the visit of one of Goodluck Jonathan’s minister for external affairs in New York. From that time, I had kept tab on his activities and my love and respect for him has grown. When I carried out a one man protest on the visit of “Apostle” Johnson Suleiman to University of Ibadan in the name of carrying out a crusade, Sowore was my inspiration. Unfortunately, Omoyele Sowore, with his profile and popularity will not be President of Nigerian come 2019 and I will explain why soon.

Another gentleman that has thrown in his bid to run for the Presidency of this nation is Fela Durotoye. Mr. Durotoye is a writer and a motivational speaker. He is one of the few people in this country that has done exceptional work with the youths in our nation. His focus is capacity building and human capital development. He has done a lot of work in this area and he sure has the personality of one who can lead this nation. But he would not be president come 2019 and I will explain why.

Nigerian youths need to realize that becoming the leader of a nation like Nigeria is not a day job. There is still such a thing as career politicians and it is within these pool that the leadership of a nation shall emerge. The trouble over the years has been that Nigerian youths have come to distrust our politicians and political parties, so there is a tendency to want to reach a goal while despising or neglecting the means.

There is a reason why democracy offers a place for political parties. In an ideal society, political parties are structured around a certain ideology. Children are trained from almost infancy to learn the ideology of a party and to engage in activities within the political party. Therefore, by the time such a child is in his late twenties, he has probably emerged from the youth wing of that political party to take up position in the political party itself.

Gradually, such an individual will grow with the party; learn its ways and vision; and, there will come a day when people within that political party will nominate him for higher office. He will very likely begin with smaller duties like those of a counsellor, local government chairman, state governor and then finally he could run for presidency.

There is something incompatible with common sense about someone who does not have any experience in political office and does not seem to have a well thought out political agenda, who suddenly appears on the horizon and wishes to lead a nation of 180 million people. If the people of that nation vote for such a man and he wins, there is something wrong with those people.

Besides this, only a political party structure can conveniently cover the vast mass of the Nigerian nation. Today, for anyone to win the presidency, that person must have a hold on two regions of the three major geo-political regions of the nation. We have the north, the west and the East. To get hold of these regions, one would need people and resources. There is no one man in this country, regardless of his source of wealth, that can single-handedly pay his campaign through the Nigerian nation.

This is where political party structures come in. People from local government level handle the political machinery of a party there. So that if one wishes to win a local government, you must reach all the wards in that local government. One ward in Akinyele Local Government, alone, covers such a vast space and is populated with close to half a million people. This same effort will have to be replicated in all local government for anyone to win a state; and then there is a repeat of the same effort to win a political region that will consist of about twelve states.

The financial muscle that is needed to prosecute this kind of effort is enormous and not one person in this country can foot it. Therefore, a well structured political party will have individual at all level of a country’s political structure. These individuals will garner the people under them and encourage them to vote for the candidate of choice. This effort must be carried out successfully in at least two of the three geo-political zones for one to win the general elections.

What political structure does Omoyele Sowore have beyond social media and Facebook?

What political structure does Fela Durotoye have beyond youths in charismatic churches?

I would want to see a change of this present government but I would not join an effort that is not practical. Very recently, I reached Donald Duke and I expressed my reservations to him about the slow nature of his political bid to be President of this country. As far I am concerned, Duke meets the standard I have listed here. He is a young man that had served as a commissioner in his state before going on to be two term governor of Cross River State. He has sat through the political process in the People’s Democratic Party. He has paid his dues all these years and such an individual is more likely to offer the present incumbent a challenge than Sowore and Durotoye. Duke understand the dynamics of politics and is presently working within the structure of a political party with the hope of emerging a presidential candidate. That, for me, is a more practical plan than what I see with these wannabe presidents in our youths today.

Having said this, I need to make a point clear to every political juggernaut in Nigeria today: despite the fact that the incumbent president is quite unpopular and heavily criticized in both print and social media, he stands a better chance of being elected than any other person today in the political arena. Less than a year to election day in this country, no one has emerged as a worthy contender for the seat on which Muhammadu Buhari sits on.

I carried out a mini poll recently on Facebook on who people are likely to vote for in 2019, and I would surprised to see that Buhari won. Despite the challenges, Nigerians still recognize the fact that the Buhari government has offered this nation a minimum. There is minimum security in the land. There is minimum economic progress. There is minimum curtailing of the nation’s wealth.

While we desire speedy progress, many Nigerians will rather dine with the devil than take a plunge into the deep blue sea.

To become President, the likes of Sowore and Durotoye will need to join a political group. This political group needs to build structure around the country; a structure that does not just stand alone, but stand on practical political ideologies. This sort of thing takes time and involves the spending of resources. These young men do not have to spend their own money. All they need to do is to find other people who will buy into their political agenda. They will need to have these people and structures in all the 774 local government areas in this country. Then they can emerge as a contending candidate in the political arena.

Until then, they would simply go on a wild goose chase. The kind that Chris Okotie, Dele Momodu and co engaged in before now.

Source: http://mouthpiece.com.ng/why-durotoye-sowore-and-others-will-not-be-president/

Deji Yesufu is the author of the book Victor Banjo. He can be reached on newdejix@gmail.com

CC: Seun, Lalasticlala

BushWickBill:
This one thinks it's by barking orders.

Go and call out your goon trolls Gombs and joagbaje the fraud to defend your already stale position.

Tithe is not compulsory

LOL!

I hope the admins will consider this for front page

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2v6XC8j_wLQ

Sam Adeyemi and the Tithe

By Deji Yesufu

Last Sunday, 25th February 2018, Pastor Sam Adeyemi of the Daystar Churches in Lagos, joined the tithe debate. He said that no Christian was under a curse for not tithing. He said that tithing under the law was expired and no Christian should be made to feel guilty for not tithing today. His exact words:

“You are free to decide what to give. But if you sow sparingly you will reap sparingly. Tithing as practiced under the law has expired but tithing as a general principle cannot expire. A Christian is free to give any percentage of his money. But bear in mind that 10% is still part of the number. If somebody chooses to give 10%, he should not be condemned and if he gives less or more than that, he has a right to decide what to do.”

Sam Adeyemi reached this position by studying the subject of the tithe a little further, as a result of the recent debate that it has elicited in recent time; especially following Daddy Freeze’s campaign against tithing. The last piece of information reveals what many of us have long suspected about modern Pentecostal Pastors. Most of what many of them preach is passed on information from some other popular minister. Their convictions on salient matters of the gospel do not come from the study of scriptures and personal conviction. I believe that there is a lot more these ministers will learn, if they will look a little deeper into their Bibles.

Nonetheless, I must commend Sam Adeyemi for his candour and boldness. Very few ministers of his calibre will know what he has discovered and take a position in public on it. God bless him and may the Lord cause him to see more in the gospel than these. The mere fact of saying that Christians are not cursed for not tithing and that people have freedom to use their money the way they please is liberating.

But there is more...

For me personally, the question of tithing or not tithing brought about a personal reformation of my Christian beliefs. It led me to understand what is true and what is false. In a real way, your position on tithing will determine whether or not you will go to heaven.

I find it intriguing that as Sam Adeyemi gave his position on tithing, he resorted to discussing the New Testament and the core doctrine that come with it. He spoke of the abolishing of the law and the liberty of the Christian. I wonder if Mr. Adeyemi’s studies revealed to him what was the cause of these wonderful truths of the scriptures. If he did not see it, I will show him.

The Christian is free from the laws of Moses because of Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection. The living Jesus on earth was born of the Holy Spirit, thereby giving him no sinful nature like every other man on earth. In the process, our Lord fulfilled the law of Moses perfectly. The fact that Christ had no sinful nature did not prevent his being tempted. Christ was tempted but he did not sin.

Thus making him the blameless Lamb of God who could stand as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all men. With this sacrifice, there was no need for the sacrifice of bulls and goats again; thus, bringing an end to a central practice of Moses’ law.

Therefore anyone who believes in Jesus, will have his sins forgiven and he would put on the perfect righteousness of the Son of God. Because of Jesus, the Christian is justified from all thing; and in Jesus, the Christian has perfect righteousness.

Thus, the law of Moses that led us to Christ, has lost its significance because Christ has fully fulfilled its requirements – through his life and his death.

So that when Jesus walked the earth, he was already beginning to give the Jews a picture of the New Covenant he was to enact. Jesus broke the Jews’ strict observance of the Sabbath and he never rebuked his disciples for doing the same. He was showing the Jews that in him, observance of the law was ebbing away.

After Jesus had departed to heaven, the first major conflict in the Church had to do with the position of whether or not to continue certain aspects of the law. In Acts 15, the Apostles agreed among themselves that Gentiles were not to be compelled to be circumcised to be saved. In other words, there was no place for a strict adherence to the laws of Moses in Christendom. What we have now is the law of Christian love and the demands of the Spirit in our hearts.

Through the centuries, Christians have debated different aspects of the law and their place in the Church. It is an enlightened minister indeed that knows the true place of the law in this dispensation of grace.

But the challenge with Sam Adeyemi new found position is that it is still not a thorough biblical position. To say that a “general principle of tithing” still exists today is to continue the old doctrine but in a new garb. Sam Adeyemi adds the biblical position of “he that sows sparingly will reap sparingly” to support this position.

In doing this, Mr. Adeyemi confirmed my fears that what is really at stake here is not the gospel or the matter of salvation, but the need for Christians to secure their finances. What Sam Adeyemi has posited is another means of securing the god of mammon that modern Charismatics worship.

At the heart of the Charismatic message is the good life: more money, no sickness, no curse, increase, breakthrough, abundance, open heavens, etc. The modern Charismatic message, which Sam Adeyemi himself preaches, secures the good life for Christians. So, while taking a sound biblical position on tithing, Sam Adeyemi succeeds in retaining the god of mammon in his message.

In 2 Corinthians 9, when Paul spoke of “he that gives sparingly will reap sparingly”, he was talking about tithing or a life of breakthrough. He was speaking to Christians and encouraging them to give to a worthy cause of providing support to some other Christians in need. There had been famine in Jerusalem and Paul was encouraging Gentile Christians to give toward the cause.

And to encourage them to give towards this cause, he made it clear that those who give sparingly will reap sparingly. The text did not have a big church, that amasses millions every Sunday in mind. It did not have giving to Pastors who themselves are already living large and ostentatiously lives in mind. That text had poor and needy Christians in mind.

Thus, my admonition to Sam Adeyemi and those who listen to him is to encourage them to return again to their Bibles and read it with an open heart. What God needs from us is not our money; what he needs is our heart. Let Mr. Adeyemi and other Charismatic Christians return to scriptures and renounce the god of mammon they worship, and return to follow the true Christ of the Bible.

Then will their giving make any sense. Then will they understand the place of giving to support Christian work. Then will they understand that the welfare of the poor and needy in our midst is the Bible’s priority when it calls Christians to take a collection each Sunday.

It is not all bad though. Just last week, Pastor Benny Hinn comes out to own up to preaching a prosperity gospel. Now it is Sam Adeyemi saying that Christians are not cursed for not tithing. More and more, these Pastors will find ears to hear what the Holy Spirit is saying to the churches. They will repent of their ways and find true Christianity and eternal life in the process.

Source: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1552433724832832&id=1505609702848568

CC: Seun, Lalasticlala

My Bus Trip, A Lady Preacher and the Debate

by Deji Yesufu

Two weekends ago I took a trip on a bus to Lagos. My younger cousin was getting married this Saturday morning and the only way to get there early was to leave Ibadan at about 6:30am. I had woken up as early as 3:00am. I had banked on catching a nap in the bus before getting to Lagos, to make for the short sleep I had that night.

The trip started well. I was sitting in the middle passenger seat. Next to me was a young naval officer, with whom I quickly struck up conversation on Nigeria and the military.

The trip began and this woman, right behind me, announced that we should pray. I noticed she didn’t ask. She just assumed everyone will not mind a word of prayer. When she concluded, she began to preach. I had no problem with her preaching. I had hoped that in a few minutes, she will be done and I could begin that nap I had promised myself.

This lady preacher will not stop preaching, even after we had gone a good thirty minutes into the journey. Sincerely I would not have minded at all, except that her preaching took on a new dimension. She had began preaching with the need for her hearers to be repent of their sins and believe in Christ. And that was all well and good.

However, she suddenly switched from preaching to telling her personal stories. It went on from how she encountered Jesus in a vision. How the Lord had instructed her to stop her tailoring job and face ministry. How her family misunderstood her. How her uncle beat her up for this decision, although she was married. How she escaped being bewitched... and on and on it went.

The inability to sleep, her preaching coming straight at my ear drums because she was seated right behind me, and the fact that her preaching had clearly turned fairy tale, got to me at last.

I turned to the lady and told her that she had said enough. I needed some sleep and I think others also needed their privacy. She was aghast. I explained to her that her preaching was fine but that the moment it exceeded ten minutes, she was obviously intruding on the privacy of others.

She said nothing.

But the people, sitting adjacent to her, who might have been Christians, shot back at me saying that I should not have cut the woman short. They said that, since I have said I am a Christian minister too, I should understand the need to preach the gospel.

I explained to them (admittedly my voice was rising now) that there is a time for everything. That this woman had clearly overshot her boundaries.

The discussion became heated. The naval gentleman next to me tapped me on the shoulder and requested that I be calm; that if the lady does not stop, he would stop the bus and call her to order.

The bus that was quiet before now, suddenly burst into a rowdy session. Opinions were divided. Some felt I should not have stopped the woman; others felt that the woman had taken too much time preaching. It went on and on and died out after about 20 minutes.

Then, this gentleman, at the back seat of the bus, noticing that the bus had quietened, called to the woman and explained to her that I had a point. He said it was not wrong for her to preach; but it was wrong for her to go on and on without an end. It was clear to everyone that if someone had not spoken up, this lady would have chatted us all into Lagos. And no one would have spoken, as it is almost tantamount to a religious taboo to do such in a country like Nigeria.

Thankfully, I was to disembark in Berger. I got down, said my goodbyes to the naval gentleman and headed straight to my destination. I knew all eyes were on me, but I cared very little about that.

The naval officer, just before the argument began, I had been telling me that the Nigerian navy got its ships from Germany and India. I work in the hospital and the therapy machines we use are also gotten from those countries. This navy guy was now listing countries and their speciality, as far as machines hardware was concerned.

When the debate got heated, I told the people defending this lady that countries are known for invention and production; Nigeria, unfortunately, is known for exporting a false gospel to the nations of the earth.

Nigerians can do a whole lot more with their time, other than religion. And if we shall practice religion, let it be the truth of the Christian gospel. Not some hocus pocus of how Jesus appeared to you and made you into a modern female apostle.

Source: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1546968965379308&id=1505609702848568

CC: Seun, Lalasticlala, Mynd44

MisterSols:
Make haste Oga Duke
You never know your arsenal until you've fired shots

Nice one

MrPristine:
I think you should post the response to the letter here as well.

RE: AN OPEN LETTER TO DONALD DUKE

by Donald Duke

Dear Deji,

Thank you for your letter, albeit an open one, but certainly the sentiments stated therein largely reflect the thoughts and views of several others. So I assume you speak for a large segment of concerned Nigerians as it were.

I recently wrote an op-ed published in several dailies titled the “The Urgency of Now,” (http://www.championnews.com.ng/93449-2/), which largely addresses the issues you raised in your letter. The concept of a movement is a non-partisan group of people sufficiently concerned about the politics and direction of our country without necessarily wanting or desiring to get involved in partisanship, that is, plotting one group against another.

I understand and appreciate that my association with the Coalition for Nigeria Movement and, to some, association with President Obasanjo, is both confusing and disturbing. I get it. Others have said to me, “Why don’t you just run on the platform of the PDP?” After all, the structure already exists. But the question is: Whose structure is it? How viable are my chances and how is the party perceived generally? Let me start from the latter.

The PDP failed woefully to rebrand itself at its last party congress. It squandered an opportunity to embrace a new generation of electorates that have been locked out of the political sphere. Secondly, it has unconstitutionally zoned its presidency; and third, the party’s structure has been privatized. The party is essentially owned by a few who have failed to learn the lessons of their immediate past history and folly.

The same few who foisted the failed immediate past leadership on the party have now foisted the current. It’s not about what suits the party, but what suits a few. Logically, you have wondered how a movement formed at this time can metamorphose into a winning platform. Firstly, should the movement gather the necessary momentum, it ought to transmute into a party.

All parties or political platforms are movements of some sort. I’m betting on the disenchantment of a significant section of our population who would like something different and the sizeable number that I am aware can no longer find accommodation within their existing parties. By this I mean those whom the current political space has no plans to accommodate. Can we coalesce in sufficient numbers and spread to make an impact? I do not have the answer to that question as it may require a crystal ball.

But I’m inspired by a quote from the Rev. Jesse Jackson when asked by a reporter during the 1984 Democratic National Convention whether he thought he stood a chance at winning, and he replied, “If I run I might lose; if I don’t, I’m guaranteed to lose”. My point here is simple. We, a whole lot of us, that is, sit back and whine but end up doing nothing. Some do not even bother obtaining a voters card, a basic currency for a political transaction. Yet we complain. We obviously are the losers, as the real winners are those who wish to maintain the status quo knowing that we, the losers, are too lethargic to do anything about it.

With respect to your question about my plans for the country, my plans are predicated on vision and more importantly the WILL to effect the vision. Visions can be adopted but WILL is innate. Whatever success we achieved in Cross River despite extremely lean finances was born of the will to succeed. My plans for Nigeria are encapsulated in one phrase, “enhanced productivity of the Nigerian.” This will be achieved primarily through skills enhancement; broader than basic education; accessible and affordable healthcare; world class infrastructure; and embracing technology. When the average Nigerian is productively engaged, security is enhanced. This letter does not afford adequate space for elucidation and elaboration.

In my inaugural address as governor, I stated that public office is a trust and the highest calling that could be afforded one. That has been my creed of service. Besides, all I have, which I inherited, is my name without stain. I intend to bequeath same without blemish unto my heirs. To the best of my estimation, I have, to date, done so.

For the purpose of clarity, yes I intend to offer myself to serve our Nation and you should too. Service to our nation surpasses being on the ballot paper alone; it entails a conscious sense of ownership. We cannot sit on the sidelines anymore. The stakes are just too high to do that.

My regards,

Donald.

Postscript:

Mr. Donald Duke was the former Governor of Cross River State, Nigeria, from 1999-2007. He was a two term Governor. He is today vying to be President of Nigeria. In this letter, sent privately to me by email, he replies an earlier open letter I wrote to him. Here is a link to that letter: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1530907966985408&id=1505609702848568

Source: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1541407089268829&id=1505609702848568

CC: Seun, Lalasticlala, Mynd44

chii8:
First time parents..my brother is always not easy, what I don't understand is the shifting of womb part.

Lol

Seun, Lalsticlala and others, do consider this letter for your front page.

dollarcoolcat:
As youths we're the solution to this con3's predicaments, let location ourselves and form a violence free movement.

You have not given me a worthy alternative.

The reality of politics, especially politics in Nigeria, is that it thrives on stucture, personality and money. You cannot build something on nothing. I ask for an alternative, you are suggesting youths. Where are the youths?

Duke is not perfect. But my interaction with him shows that this very youth element in enshrined in his plans.

If we do not what we want, we can work with what we have till we get what we want.

So far Duke is indeed the most youthful of all the present contenders.

dollarcoolcat:
we need another political set up and ideology, the present politics isn't for the ordinary, and this same set of politicians can't take us to the glorious land we all seek.

What do you suggest?

RE: AN OPEN LETTER TO DONALD DUKE

by Donald Duke

Dear Deji,

Thank you for your letter, albeit an open one, but certainly the sentiments stated therein largely reflect the thoughts and views of several others. So I assume you speak for a large segment of concerned Nigerians as it were.

I recently wrote an op-ed published in several dailies titled the “The Urgency of Now,” (http://www.championnews.com.ng/93449-2/), which largely addresses the issues you raised in your letter. The concept of a movement is a non-partisan group of people sufficiently concerned about the politics and direction of our country without necessarily wanting or desiring to get involved in partisanship, that is, plotting one group against another.

I understand and appreciate that my association with the Coalition for Nigeria Movement and, to some, association with President Obasanjo, is both confusing and disturbing. I get it. Others have said to me, “Why don’t you just run on the platform of the PDP?” After all, the structure already exists. But the question is: Whose structure is it? How viable are my chances and how is the party perceived generally? Let me start from the latter.

The PDP failed woefully to rebrand itself at its last party congress. It squandered an opportunity to embrace a new generation of electorates that have been locked out of the political sphere. Secondly, it has unconstitutionally zoned its presidency; and third, the party’s structure has been privatized. The party is essentially owned by a few who have failed to learn the lessons of their immediate past history and folly.

The same few who foisted the failed immediate past leadership on the party have now foisted the current. It’s not about what suits the party, but what suits a few. Logically, you have wondered how a movement formed at this time can metamorphose into a winning platform. Firstly, should the movement gather the necessary momentum, it ought to transmute into a party.

All parties or political platforms are movements of some sort. I’m betting on the disenchantment of a significant section of our population who would like something different and the sizeable number that I am aware can no longer find accommodation within their existing parties. By this I mean those whom the current political space has no plans to accommodate. Can we coalesce in sufficient numbers and spread to make an impact? I do not have the answer to that question as it may require a crystal ball.

But I’m inspired by a quote from the Rev. Jesse Jackson when asked by a reporter during the 1984 Democratic National Convention whether he thought he stood a chance at winning, and he replied, “If I run I might lose; if I don’t, I’m guaranteed to lose”. My point here is simple. We, a whole lot of us, that is, sit back and whine but end up doing nothing. Some do not even bother obtaining a voters card, a basic currency for a political transaction. Yet we complain. We obviously are the losers, as the real winners are those who wish to maintain the status quo knowing that we, the losers, are too lethargic to do anything about it.

With respect to your question about my plans for the country, my plans are predicated on vision and more importantly the WILL to effect the vision. Visions can be adopted but WILL is innate. Whatever success we achieved in Cross River despite extremely lean finances was born of the will to succeed. My plans for Nigeria are encapsulated in one phrase, “enhanced productivity of the Nigerian.” This will be achieved primarily through skills enhancement; broader than basic education; accessible and affordable healthcare; world class infrastructure; and embracing technology. When the average Nigerian is productively engaged, security is enhanced. This letter does not afford adequate space for elucidation and elaboration.

In my inaugural address as governor, I stated that public office is a trust and the highest calling that could be afforded one. That has been my creed of service. Besides, all I have, which I inherited, is my name without stain. I intend to bequeath same without blemish unto my heirs. To the best of my estimation, I have, to date, done so.

For the purpose of clarity, yes I intend to offer myself to serve our Nation and you should too. Service to our nation surpasses being on the ballot paper alone; it entails a conscious sense of ownership. We cannot sit on the sidelines anymore. The stakes are just too high to do that.

My regards,

Donald.

Postscript:

Mr. Donald Duke was the former Governor of Cross River State, Nigeria, from 1999-2007. He was a two term Governor. He is today vying to be President of Nigeria. In this letter, sent privately to me by email, he replies an earlier open letter I wrote to him. Here is a link to that letter: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1530907966985408&id=1505609702848568

Source: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1541407089268829&id=1505609702848568

CC: Seun, Lalasticlala, Mynd44

TheArchangel:
If you are looking for justice why not name the hospital, the doctor that that owned the hospital and the "nurse" that took the delivery so that we will help you to determine whether they are competent or not in handling such cases. Private hospitals are known to employ quacks to cut corners and for more financial gains.
The doctor was still stitching, and the blood on the floor was unbelievable. Meanwhile, the look on my wife's face revealed the excruciating pains she was going through. I quickly went back to see my baby for consolation. What exactly were you expecting? with the liqour and blood and stuff. It is always a gory and unpleasant scene.
She was wheeled out after about 1 hour 30 minutes. She was very weak. It was the next day she was able to narrate all that had happened. The evil nurse asked her to push while the baby was still two centimetres away from the cervix. And that action resulted in a serious cervical tear. As she narrated her ordeal, it was clear that she went through hell. Immediately, I made up my mind that I was not going to pay anything above what is charged for normal delivery.
Was she transfused? It is not called Labour for show,. After labour, women are known to be tired looking that's why they are wheeled out of the room in a stretcher or wheeler chair because they just passed through hell to bring forth a life. You can't push out a baby when the cervix is only 2 cm dilated ( 2 cm dilatation is just a tip of your finger) and how the hell did you believe an average 3.5 kg baby will pass through a hole as tiny as the tip of the finger.The hole must be 10 cm. How did the wife even know that she was asked to push at 2 cm You can't push away from the cervix rather you push through the cervix. while the baby was still two centimetres away from the cervix. this statement does not make sense. Maybe she didn't dilate fully or she dilated and the anterior lip of the cervix still remain.
These are the major causes of cervical laceration ; Delivery through an undilated cervix whether spontaneously, or by forceps, precipitate labour, rigid cervix due to previous operations like the LEEP procedure, conization, or cervical amputation, very vascular cervix as can occur in low level placenta previa.

Great observation.

The writer has promised to respond to this post.

The Evil Nurse

(A True Story)

by An Anonymous Contributor to the Deji Yesufu's Magazine Page

It was a mixed feeling I had; Looking at my beautiful baby gave me joy unspeakable, but the fact that my wife was still in the delivery room about an hour after she had put to bed gave me some serious concern.

It was our first child. My wife had registered for antenatal in a private hospital near our house. It was convenient, and so, she didn't miss any appointment. We anxiously waited for our baby. However, the experience was never going to be pleasant.

Finally, the D-day came. It was a long day for us. the labour pains started quite mildly at about 3 am on the 23rd of January 2017. I was alone in the house with my wife. At about 6 am, my wife called her mum and explain the situation. She encouraged my wife to remain calm, and that it will still take several hour before the baby will descend. By 10 am, we where at the hospital.

The head nurse on duty was quite friendly and seems to know her job. She checked my wife at intervals and gave encouraging update. The baby was descending steadily. All was well. But this was not the case for the woman who sheared the same room with my wife. She had been in labour for too long, and had to be induced. The pain was excruciating. She would scream each time the baby pushed.

The spiral to our ugly experience started when the head nurse closed for the day, and another took her place. The latter was given all the necessary update even in my presence. She was set for her duties. She was hasty.

However, there was something quite unusual about the new head nurse; she was eccentric; she was a sadist. She asked everyone to leave the room (including me), even though I had told her that I will like to witness the delivery( a decision I would have regretted perhaps).

She took my wife into the delivery room, and after about an hour, the baby was out. She (the baby) was taken to a separate room, and one of the nurses came to shear the good news with me. My baby was adorable. I was overwhelmed with joy. We just kept admiring her, together with my mother-in-law and sister-in-law.

About an hour later, my wife was still not out. I asked one of the nurses, and she told me that the doctor was stitching her tear. I thought it was the normal tear associated with first babies. After some time, "I need to see things for myself" I said. So, I went close to the door which was ajar and peeped. Alas! What I saw was gory and scary. The doctor was still stitching, and the blood on the floor was unbelievable. Meanwhile, the look on my wife's face revealed the excruciating pains she was going through. I quickly went back to see my baby for consolation.

She was wheeled out after about 1 hour 30 minutes. She was very weak. It was the next day she was able to narrate all that had happened. The evil nurse asked her to push while the baby was still two centimetres away from the cervix. And that action resulted in a serious cervical tear. As she narrated her ordeal, it was clear that she went through hell. Immediately, I made up my mind that I was not going to pay anything above what is charged for normal delivery.

But sadly, after all verbal accusations and counter accusations by my mother-in-law and the owner of the hospital, - because I was not present when my wife was discharge, we were asked to pay "only" 7,000 above what is charged for normal delivery. I had to pay extra for the incompetency of a nurse; I paid extra for inflicting undue pains on my wife.

I paid extra for "shifting" my wife's womb in the process of stitching (a doctor confirmed this few weeks later). And now, my wife's body will never remain the same again; her tommy is as big as a four months old pregnancy. But interestingly, we may still register in the same hospital for our second child. The reason is that I know the "demon" and the "Angel" in the hospital.

I will give my conditions next time.

(Attached picture from Google Images. Ladies pictured are not persons mentioned in the story)

Source: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1536334159776122&id=1505609702848568

CC: Seun, Lalasticlala, Mynd44

I have it on good authority that Donald Duke has seen this letter and shall be replying it soon

Seun, Lalasticlala, Mynd44

AN OPEN LETTER TO DONALD DUKE

by Deji Yesufu

Last week in my column here https://www.nairaland.com/4321313/gleaning-wisdom-obasanjos-letters, I endeavoured to glean wisdom from three letters that former President Olusegun Obasanjo had written to three former Nigerian heads of state: Ibrahim Babangida, Goodluck Jonathan and now Muhammadu Buhari.

While many have regarded the words of Obasanjo with disdain and have characterized it as exhuming from a messianic mentality, you, former Governor Donald Duke, and a few others have seen the wisdom in his words and have decided to throw in your support for the movement Obasanjo called for, by joining to inaugurate the Coalition of Nigeria Movement (CNM).

I have decided to write to you this open letter to express my concern over your association with this group as it does not seem to tally with your ambition – that of seeking to be President of Nigeria in 2019.

Media reports in recent times have continued to quote your statements concerning your desire to run for the presidency in 2019. The Social Media is awash with pictures of you indicating interest to run for the exalted office in 2019. Yet, we see you with CNM.

Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, the brain behind the CNM, has not hidden his disdain for partisan politics. Since he tore his PDP Party membership card, it was obvious to everyone that he was done with partisan politics. When he registered to be a member of CNM, he also made this point and added that he would be leaving the movement the moment it turns partisan. Yet, you, my dear sir, are seeking to be president. Are your ambitions, as leading members of this movement, not at cross roads?

I am making this point because I wish to inform you that though I have not met you before, I am hereby throwing the weight of my support behind your ambition to be president. And I will tell you how I reached this position.

First, I used to be a die-hard supporter of President Muhammadu Buhari. I campaigned for him and used all the resources at my disposal to see him elected to office in 2015. At that time, I professed a political ideology called “Buharism”. I was earnest about promoting this ideology; I had hoped to even write a book on it and show the world that Nigeria could produce a workable political ideology as visionary and enduring as that of Buhari.

However after assuming office, little by little, the President continued to disappoint all of us who supported his presidency. We made all sort of excuses for him until we ran out of them. The day the Nigerian President chose to look the other way when a member of his own party, Abdulmumunin Jibril, was being persecuted for speaking against corruption in the lower house of assembly, was the day I renounced Buharism. And I have not looked back since then.

After Buhari disappointed me, the next option was to immediately find a replacement for him. Atiku was not an option. One day, while on a trip from Abuja in October 2017, I met a young woman who hails from Cross River. Our discussion touched on many issues. Then I asked about governance in Cross Rivers State. I will just paraphrase her words here:

“Cross River State is not what it used to be. Like many things in Nigeria, the state is deteriorating. The two governors that succeeded Donald Duke have simply refused to build on the worthy legacy that young man left behind in that state. Rather than build on it, they are just feasting away...”

As of the time she was saying this, there was not yet a media report of your desire to run for presidency. The moment I however read in the media that you had intentions to run, I knew immediately you were the option to follow.

Now, there are a couple of challenges with supporting your desire to run for presidency. I will conclude this letter by listing them and I sincerely do hope that you will be kind enough to respond to this letter by answering these issues.

First, the issues of your involvement with CNM: The lead visionary of the CNM, Olusegun Obasanjo, has said he would not be involved in partisan politics. However, you are involved with this movement despite your much publicized desire to run for presidency. How do those of us who have a desire to support your ambition marry these two issues? Do you have plans of resigning your membership of the CNM at some point and joining partisan politics? I believe a clear, straight to the point answer to this question will put one’s mind at rest and help the public begin to weigh its options better.

Second, If, per chance, despite being a member of CNM, you desire to run for presidency come 2019, when do you think it is most appropriate to begin to put in place the political structure that can beat already established parties like the PDP and APC at the poles? I make this point based on recent political experiences that Nigeria has undergone.

In 2010, the Muhammadu Buhari team hastily put together the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and headed to the poles against Goodluck Jonathan. Despite his popularity and all, Buhari’s main loosing point was the lateness of forming that political party.

Candidate Buhari and his supporters did their home work and immediately joined hands with the ACN and some other political parties to form a grand alliance that they christened the All Progressive Congress (APC). They began their political manoeuvring early and headed to the poles in 2015 to beat the incumbent President Jonathan.

Following this simple indices alone, it is almost too late for you to form a political party; except, of course, you wish to run on the platform of the PDP or some other existing political party. The point however is simple: whatever you are doing, do it quickly! I personally do not think that a person who wishes to run for presidency in 2019, should be investing his time and resources in the CNM. While it is good and fine that you join such a pressure group, I think you should be spending more time to actualize your ambition of ruling Nigeria.

So my second question is simply this: when do you want to start?

The last question to you, sir, is this: what do you plan to offer Nigerians? I understand that this will come in a formal manifesto from your party. But even at the moment, you should be able to enumerate a few core issues that you intend to tackle if the leadership of this country is thrust in your hands. Please, sir, articulate for us what your plans for Nigeria are.

Let me conclude this letter with a warning: it is the warning that Japhet Omojuwa gave the just elected President Buhari in 2015, after he came to office. Omojuwa told the President then that if he fails in office, Nigerian youths will simply remove him. It sounded like a laughing matter then, but it is no longer so today.

There is a legion of young bloggers in Nigeria today who are fast becoming the opinion moulders of our nation. If, maybe in response to this letter, you impress us and promise us good governance when you get to power, this army of young people will canvass the length and breadth of Nigeria and bring you to power.

However, when you get to Abuja and you choose to do like the others: you allow the perks of office to blind you to the demands of being fair, equitable, transparent and sensible in your service to this country, we would vote you out of office and replace you with another.

The victory of Muhammadu Buhari was not his own victory; it was the victory of good over evil. The victory of a workable democracy over and above that of godfatherism and nepotism. Buhari’s victory showed Nigerians that we could remove an incumbent by voting en-masse against him. The 2015 presidential electoral victory said essentially that Nigerians can put who the popular votes want in the highest office in this country.

Therefore, when we bring you to power, we shall be demanding that you serve us, the common people and not your ethnic group, or people in your party, or people who gave you money to campaign, or your own bondage to your prejudices. We shall be demanding that you serve the common, unknown and powerless person on the street in all fairness.

If you do not do this, we shall simply remove you from office as we shall have done to two of your predecessors.

I thank you for taking the time to read my letter and do sincerely hope to hear from you.

(Deji Yesufu is blogger. He resides in Ibadan. He may be reached on newdejix@gmail.com)

Source: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1530907966985408&id=1505609702848568

CC: Seun, Lalasticlala, Mynd44

"Oyinbo" Teachers

by Deji Yesufu

One of my most memorable experience in life was working with a man called Mr. Akinlade. We both taught Physics A-levels at Educational Advancement Center between 2008 and 2010. One day Mr. Akinlade told us younger teachers under him about the "Oyinbo" teachers (white lecturers) that once existed at the University of Ibadan. He spoke of how these set of people brought excellence to the teaching profession and imparted their students with knowledge.

Those were the days that tertiary education was really universal education. Mr. Akinlade then noted that all of these Oyinbo teachers left Nigeria one after the other, especially with the coming of the military. Then he said that even the generation that the Oyinbos taught have all retired now. So all that is left in the highest and arguably the best tertiary institution in this country is a third generation, many of whom were not taught by these Oyinbo people.

I'll enumerate two instances here and I will draw a conclusion.

In the book she co-authored with her father, Gift of Sequin, Prof. Olayinka Omigbodun wrote of a Prof gentleman whom God sent to her family as Angel, especially after the death of their father, Victor Banjo, and their mother was finding it difficult to raise the children alone.

This man came to Nigeria to set up an institute of technology (I think). Their mother was his secretary. One day he learnt of her financial challenge and from that time on, even after leaving Nigeria, he gave that widow a monthly support - this was beside her salary, which was paltry anyway.

This man, Prof wrote, will fly economy when he is going on official business from the office. But when going on vacation with his wife, he will fly first class. Since reading that story, I have never been able to recover from it. The story never said he was a Christian.

There is another story of a man of God who worked in UI and was closely associated with the Chapel of the Resurrection. Tony Wilmot. I read in Ayodeji Abodunde's book, Heritage of Faith, of how this man invested himself in the young students then; teaching them the Bible, besides his official work at the school. One of his students is a lady, now retired, I work with at the Chapel.

There are endless stories of these Oyinbo teachers. Since they left, it seem to me that many of their students have simply refused to live and teach in whole the principles these teachers lived by.

Today, I have the privilege of being taught by an Oyinbo teacher in my theological training. His name is Pastor Nick Kenniccot. One day, with his permission, I will publish a story on him and talk about life being his student.

I had the rare privilege of being taught by him in our second year live class at Egbe. Each lesson was like drinking in the water of life.

Let me state a disclaimer here: Pastor Nick is not the author of my madness. He never discusses my writings on Facebook with me. He teaches theology and from stories on his personal life, he lives the gospel.

Perhaps these Oyinbos should return and colonize us again; perhaps not. One thing that is sure though, we Nigerians must get our acts together.

We must live life right and fix this nation. The Oyinbos did not teach us most of the rubbish most of us are living out now.

Source: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1524802997595905&id=1505609702848568

CC: Seun, Lalasticlala, Mynd44

GLEANING WISDOM FROM OBASANJO'S LETTERS

by Deji Yesufu

In his book, My Watch, former President Olusegun Obasanjo quotes the biblical prophet Ezekiel as his central text: “Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me…”

These were God’s words to Prophet Ezekiel and it forms the underlying principle behind his life and ministry. By quoting that scripture in his latest memoirs, Olusegun Obasanjo is saying that he believes that God has called him to be a watchman over Nigeria; who must issues its leaders and people warning at strategic times.

When those warnings are heeded, things will go well; when those warning are ignored, things go foul in the polity.

Olusegun Obasanjo has paid his dues in the Nigerian project and regardless of whatever failing he might have, he is worth being listened to at this time. Young Obasanjo was an engineer in the Nigerian military, when he was thrust into the centre of the violence of the civil war.

Providence made him lead the last bastion of offence against the Biafran army, and it was to him that Effiong, the person who succeeded the fleeing Emeka Ojukwu, handed over the flag of surrender. Obasanjo was busy about his duties as second in command to Muritala Mohammed when the mantle of leadership fell on his shoulders, after his boss was killed in a bloody coup in 1976.

Olusegun Obasanjo not only succeeded Muritala, he ensured that the administration’s plan for a transfer to civil rule was achieved. A new constitution was promulgated in 1978, while the civilian government of Shehu Shagari took over power from Obasanjo.

The watchman then retired to his father’s farms in Ogun State and took up the duties of a full time farmer. While at the farm, Obasanjo was watching.

In 1995, Obasanjo incurred the wrath of the then supreme ruler of Nigerian, General Sani Abacha. He was roped into a fathom coup, and was arrested by the demon in dark glasses and slammed into prison.

It was clear that he was going to be killed along with other political detainees of that time. But fate smiled on the Owu chief, Abacha died suddenly in 1998 and OBJ (as many call him) was a free man.

The administration of Abdulsalami Abubakar then handed over power to him, after he had beaten Olu Falade of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) at the polls. OBJ was President for two term, 1999-2007. He would again retire to his farm, to write his books and to watch.

Having laid this precedence, I wish to glean wisdom from three letters Obasanjo has ever written and to endeavour to glean some wisdom from them. These letters are the letter he wrote to former President Ibrahim Babangida (November 1992), the letter to former President Goodluck Jonathan (December 2013) and the letter to the incumbent President, Muhammadu Buhari (January 2018).

The background to the letter to former military President Ibrahim Babangida was the occasion of the cancelation of the primaries for the two parties, sanctioned by the government of IBB. For reason best known to them, Babangida and those at the seat of power then cancelled the primaries and banned the parties.

It meant that the whole transition to civil rule was going to start all again. Events after that cancelation proved Obasanjo right, when he accused IBB in the letter of unwillingness to hand over power to civilians.

New political parties were formed. MKO Abiola of the SDP went against Bashir Tofa of the NRC. The elections were deemed free and fair, but the Babangida government will again cancel the elections and the situation plunged the country into crisis.

Babangida was unable to handle the situation and thus stepped aside for the Interim Government of Ernest Shonekan.

Mr. Shonekan would however be removed from office by Sani Abacha and thus began a reign of terror in Nigeria, which was only curtailed by the hands of providence when Abacha allegedly died of a heart attack between two Indian prostitutes.

A few months to the playing out of the whole events of 1993, Obasanjo wrote a letter to Babangida, where he took the military President to task on matters bordering on Nigeria. For those who have been complaining about OBJ’s letters to Buhari, his letter to Babangida was not as genteel as these recent ones. It was a bombshell! “I shall be blunt Mr. President,…” said an obviously fuming Obasanjo to IBB in the letter, “for the crisis we face requires blunt, forthright talk and not empty platitudes.”

Incidentally, Obasanjo wrote this letter to IBB just a month after he had been robbed of his car on the express way and the IBB government had responded promptly by replacing his vehicle and meeting his needs.

Obasanjo was not one to be taken away with such niceties, he retorts in his letter: “prolongation of military rule cannot be the answer under the present circumstances…” Thanks to Obasanjo and other pro-democracy groups, Nigeria saw an end to military rule and we began our democratic experiment all over again.

In December 2013, Olusegun Obasanjo was this time driven to write by the lacklustre government Goodluck Jonathan. This time letter was titled “Before it is too late.”

That letter is the longest open letter he had ever written. He begins by reminding Jonathan that the president would be held responsible for whatever becomes of the country.

Then he holds the President to task regarding his denial of his intentions to run another term. Obasanjo made it clear to Jonathan that the bases of his supporting him in 2011 was because Jonathan had promised to do just one term.

He however could not understand the rumours and denial around a second term bid. Then he accuses Jonathan of anti-party activities. Obasanjo ends that letter with the most vitriolic pronouncement on anyone ever. He took Jonathan to task on Buruji Kashamu. Criticizing the president for imposing a drug baron on his own political constituency in the South West.

In response to that letter, Rueben Abati, the President media assistant, wrote a piece titled: “Obasanjo’s Letter: Unbecoming, Self-serving and Highly Provocative.” That title sums up the reaction of the Jonathan government to Obasanjo’s warning.

A few weeks before the 2015 elections, Obasanjo, in a most dramatic fashion, brought out his PDP card membership and tore it into pieces. It was a symbolic action that put paid to the Jonathan’s administration. And true to it, Nigerians proceeded to the polls and voted out an incumbent from office in an unprecedented manner. Many factors led to the end of the Jonathan government. But many political pundits will also owe it to that dramatic action of Obasanjo in tearing his PDP membership. He has since resigned from partisan politics.

Then in January 24, 2018, a little after noon that day, the former president called for a press conference and released a letter on the present government of Muhammadu Buhari. A government he had influenced into power.

In comparison to the two aforementioned letters, this letter to Buhari was the shortest and the mildest. Yet, it might have received the most condemnation from Nigerians. Obasanjo titled this letter “A Clarion Call for Coalition for Nigerian Movement”.

Obasanjo begins his letters with the metaphor of the need to kill the lies of poor performance in office. He reminded the president of his poor grasp of economic matters. He warned against the continuous activities of herdsmen killers. He criticized Buhari’s nepotism and his shielding of certain fellows from prosecution on corruption. He asked Buhari to take a well deserved rest and not run for a second term. He then called all Nigerians to join hands to form a movement of a coalition of Nigerian towards providing good leadership for the nation.

The wisdom in Obasanjo’s letters is that he is fulfilling his God given duties as a watchman to a nation. In all his letters, Obasanjo has shown Nigerians the marks of his sufferings: his fight in the Nigerian civil war and his imprisonment and near execution by Abacha.

A man’s depth of suffering many times can become the height from which the wisdom of his understanding exhumes.

Obasanjo’s letters, which always come in form of warnings, have always been able to act as a deterrent for evil to come on a nation. If there is one warning that can be gleaned from this letter to Buhari, it is the call by the former President on Buhari not to run for another term in office.

Unfortunately, like the proverbial Yoruba dog destined to get lost, people end up not listening to the Owu chief. Muhammadu Buhari will bid for a second term in office in 2019 and he would be sorry he ventured on that project.

source: http://mouthpiece.com.ng/gleaning-wisdom-from-obasanjos-letters/

Seun, Lalasticlala, Mynd44: Do consider this piece for front page. Thank you.

Concerning Stephanie Otobo’s Apology to Apostle Suleiman

by Deji Yesufu

I have been receiving messages on social media informing me that Ms. Stephanie Otobo has confessed to being sponsored by politicians to tarnish the image of “Apostle” Suleiman, and in the process she has apologized to him and sort his forgiveness.

Many reactions have followed this confession. I am just reading Daddy Freeze’s response to it, where he stated that Otobo would need to go further to mention the names of the politicians and pastors that sent her on this mission. He also suggested that the account number and various bank transactions that followed should be published. These were my thoughts initially too but I have since decided to look at the matter from another perspective.

In Ibadan, I am a leading Suleiman antagonist. When the “apostle” came to University of Ibadan last year April, I led a one man protest against him; for which I was arrested and later released. I have since documented my position against the so called apostle of Christ and I shall not be rehearsing those here.

Suffice to say, however, that observers of the religious scene in Nigeria have noticed a sudden wave of confessions and apologies and forgiveness that seem to be following the numerous cases of Pastors’ philandering. Just last week, Kemi Olunloyo was also videoed pleading for David Ibiyeomi to forgive her. I am convinced the whole thing is scripted.

But let me make my point clear on it still...

The issues that I have with Nigerian Pentecostal Pastors is not primarily in regards to what they do but rather what they preach. Their actions are simply products of the false gospel they propagate. So whether or not they are caught in scandals, they are not absolved from the sure damnation that shall come upon them and those who listen to them.

While the gospel of prosperity is damnable heresy, Nigerian Pentecostal preachers have taken the teaching to an extent that will make its American inventors cringe in shame. The worst part of this all is that they are exporting this so called gospel en-masse to foreign countries; and the worst kind of churches you want to attend abroad are “Nigerian Churches”.

Regardless of whether these Pastors are caught in scandals or not, what they preach is already a scandalous gospel and it is doing their listeners and this nation no good. These preachers must be called what they are: false prophets.

By the way, there is massive billboard of David Ibiyeomi just erected close to Awolowo Junction, at the heart of Ibadan. It informs Ibadan resident that “Salvation Ministries” has come to the city; so go to that church to your own souls’ peril.

Do I regret protesting Suleiman?

I do not. I would likely not carry out a protest in such a fashion again but I am thankful that I did what my heart instructed me to do that day and I am grateful to God for keeping me through the process of making that statement.

The fact remains that in April 2017, some weight allegations were being bandied against a man. My protest bordered essentially against those who permitted him to come to minister to young minds. What if he was guilty as alleged? Then he would have polluted the spirit of those young people with his perverse spirit. It is bad enough that he preaches a false gospel; should he also combine it all with a perverse spirit?

I am convinced that in the days to come, the real drama behind all these so called confessions shall be unveiled. But regardless of what is unveiled: there are pastors in this Pentecostal churches who will do two things, some of them will never be caught in a scandal; others will be involved in scandals but will cover it all up. But none of them will escape the judgement of the Most High God.

Source: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1520614651348073&id=1505609702848568

Madrid to Offer Ronaldo Plus Cash for Neymar Jnr.

by Deji Yesufu

The latest big news in international football is that Real Madrid are willing to offer Christiano Ronaldo plus a lump of money to sign up the Brazilian football star Neymar Jnr. Neymar concluded a whooping £198M tranfer from Barcelona to Paris Saint Germaine just six months ago. Many pundits have been saying that Madrid was actually behind that move, as they would never have been able to acquire the services of the youngster directly from Barcelona since they are bitter rivals in the Spanish football league.

As things will turn in the beginning of this season, Real Madrid has had a very rough start to it. It is struggling at number 4 on the Spanish La Liga table. Just yesterday, it crashed out of the Copa Del Rey; where its second team were trashed on goal advantage by little known Leganes. Its strikers have not been at their best; the goal keeping is woeful and the defence is leaking badly.

The Spanish press are reporting that 70% of Madrid fans are calling for Ronaldo to leave.

Christiano Ronaldo has been demanding for a wage increase from his employers for over a year now. Despite being the current best footballer in the world, Ronaldo is the fifth highest paid footballer in the world; earning a miserly £18M annually; as against £44M that his rival Lionel Messi earns at Barcelona, as the highest paid footballer in the world.

After suffering tax issues, and saying that his club had not supported him in the drama that followed it, Ronaldo had informed his team mates that he was leaving Santiago Bernebeu at the start of the season. To worsen matters, he earned a five match ban at the start of the season and his scoring chances has been at its lowest in his career since. Despite his poor showing at the La-liga, Ronaldo is currently the highest goal scorer in the Champion’s League. Netting 9 goals in the group stages, scoring at least one goal in every match played.

Neymar Jnr. Is however willing to accept a pay cut to come to Madrid. A deal that the management of Real Madrid are likely to accept. And Ronaldo is also likely to accept a move to PSG since that team will very willing pay his demand for pay increase while at the same time cashing on his status as the world best to make quick sales on his shirts, boots and other marketing deals.

My Thoughts on the above development:

I am a late comer into the world of football. I had no team until Real Madrid won the Champion’s League back to back – the first team to carry out such a feat since the inception of the Championship. Christiano Ronaldo was the star player in it all.

I remember the quarter final match against Wolfsburg of Germany in the 2015/16 Champion’s League season. Real Madrid had lost 2-0 to the German team. The second leg was to be played at Madrid. Ronaldo led the pack and scored three un-replied goals to qualify Madrid for the semi-finals. And they went on to win the Champion’s League that year.

I said this to say that if Ronaldo is sold to PSG, it will be the beginning of the end of Madrid as a leading Football team in Europe.

This is what I think: Ronaldo is the best footballer in the world not because he merely scores goals but because there is no footballer in the world that has his kind of determination, motivation and tenacity. He trounces the debate on who is better between himself and Lionel Messi on this bases alone.

Ronaldo is the sort of player that will thrive with age; the same was with Zinedine Zidane. He will go to France, if Madrid lets him, win the league and even go on to win the Champion’s League too; again winning the Ballon D'ior.

Unfortunately, the way things stand, Ronaldo is likely to leave Madrid and Madrid will be the worse for it; especially with talks of even Garret Bale, Luca Modric and Tony Kroos leaving too.

____________________________
Attached photo from Google

Source: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1519228238153381&id=1505609702848568

CC: Seun, Lalasticlala, Mynd44

In Defence of Muhammadu Buhari

by Deji Yesufu

The supporters of Muhammadu Buhari, the Nigerian President, are fast dwindling within the nation. The following, to a large extent, depict the progression of thoughts of many Nigerians on the President:

2015: Sai Buhari
2016: Chai Buhari
2017: Kai Buhari
2018: Change Buhari

In spite of the increasing disaffections with the President, a few people are still die-hard supporters of Mr. Buhari. I met one of them recently and I will endeavour in this piece to relay his thoughts on the challenges which the leader of Africa’s most populous country is facing.

At the start of our conversation, my friend tells me that he sees clearly that I have bought into the narratives of those who are bent on destroying the Buhari government with negative propaganda. I understood immediately what he meant.

In the past, he had warned me against being overly exposed to negative news on the Social Media about Buhari. He said that though the government cannot be explicated from a few faults, there is clearly a systematic attempt to paint the Nigerian government bad so that Buhari does not win re-election in 2019.

My friend tells me that men like Ayo Fayose, Femi Fani-Kayode and Deji Adeyanju are still smarting from the loss of the 2015 elections and these men are sponsoring negative propaganda to tarnish the image of Buhari. It is a perfect example of giving a dog a bad name so as to hang it.

Then I put it straight to my friend that though I am not one to be easily taken by such propaganda, I cannot but be outraged by the government’s inability to protect lives and property. My friend stops on his track and begins to lecture me.

“Is it today that Fulani Herdsmen began to kill people in this country; will you truly buy into the narrative that uneducated fulanis can actually handle sophisticated weapons to destroy lives and property in the magnitude that we see today; can you not see that it is very easy for detractors of this government to cash into the insecurity of the nation, kill people in their hundreds and blame it on persons from the President’s ethnic group?”

I was quiet.

My friend goes on to explain that the killings are clearly the failures of the Nigerian security system. And that these failures are not peculiar to the security system alone but to everything in the country.

As he explained this point, I remembered asking a medical personal why there is such an increase in the mortality rate in our public hospitals, following incidence of accidents; as against years past when people were brought almost dead to the hospitals but were almost always revived. I could identify with this scenario because my own mother had a ghastly motor accident on the old Oyo Road, coming from in Ibadan, in 1981. She was the only person recovered alive from the accident scene and she lived another 25 years after that accident.

The doctor I was discussing with, a senior consultant in a public hospital, explained to me that the whole decadence in the Nigerian system has also affected the hospitals. He told me that in those days public hospitals had enough funds to take care of patients but that when things got bad in the country, government instructed hospitals to ensure that patients pay for their bills before they were treated. This was the beginning of the decadence that has now spread to other ways in which medicine is practiced in the country.

So when my friend told me about the decadence in the security system, I could understand his position.

Then he said that there was a committed campaign to malign Buhari in the Social Media. He showed me a WhatsApp message where somebody quoted the Nigerian land mass in kilometer-squares. Then this person quoted the proposed land mass for cattle colonies in hectares.

Then this person took a ratio of the two and came to the conclusion that the government was going to be giving a third of the whole country’s land mass to the fulanis for cattle rearing. This person, who sent this message, which had apparently gone viral, carefully avoided the fact that he was taking a ratio of kilometer-squares to hectares. Most of the people who will read this text will simply conclude that the government is giving a third of Nigeria to Fulanis; they will not see the error in the ratios of the units used.

Then my friend said that when he voted Buhari, he felt that Buhari as one person could influence a change in Nigeria. But what is clear to him now is that the Nigerian trouble is beyond what just one man can fix. The reason being that Nigerians themselves are their own enemies. We are the architect of our own misfortune. Nigerians will not do the right things in their private walk but they want government to fix everything for them.

On a final note, my friend refers me to another powerful block in the Nigerian polity that is against Buhari. It is the top echelon of Pentecostal Church leaders in this country. My friend reminds me of how these group of persons had benefited illegally from the Jonathan government – many of them enjoying tax wavers from the federal government on their numerous imports of construction materials for their never ending church buildings.

I informed my friend that this set of pastors had actually not supported Buhari on the eve of the last elections. They had gathered together at the Redeemed Camp and had told the then aspiring Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, that they and their church members will not be voting for Buhari. The Buhari/Osinbajo team went on to win the elections and these pastors were silenced. The patronage they use to enjoy at the seat of power ceased immediately.

My friend then tells me that these pastors are also at the root of a campaign of calumny against Buhari.

My friend does not absolve Buhari of blame but he showed me that the President’s motives are at least not driven by greed and gain, as it was in the former political dispensation in this country. While my friend is not enthusiastic about voting Buhari, he insists that there are still no alternatives to him in the coming 2019 elections.

What exactly then is my reaction to all that my friend has said in defence of Buhari?

Buhari’s introductory remarks to Nigerians, a statement which in recent times seem to be at odds with Mr. President’s actions, was that he was not for anyone while at the same time he was for everybody.

In the same way, my political persuasions in recent times is neither against Buhari nor is it for him. My commitment is simply to see good governance manifested at every political level in this country. My desire is that equity, justice, transparency and truth reign in the Nigerian polity until the good of the land reaches every ordinary Nigerian on the streets.

The victory of the 2015 elections was not a Buhari victory par se; it was the victory of the Nigerian electorate over nepotism, rigged elections and corruption. In that year’s Presidential elections, Nigerians voted out an incumbent because they considered him inept, corrupt and unsuitable for office.

Nigerians voted in Buhari, not because they were confident Buhari will excel but because they needed a breather for another chance. Muhammadu Buhari, though President of Nigeria, is the servant of the people. His primary responsibility is to safe guard the lives and properties of the people.

Regardless of the failures of the security system in the country, as commander in chief, he must bear the responsibility of the actions and inactions of his security apparatus. If the person Nigerians voted for to provide them security cannot do this, Nigerians have the right to vote someone else into office come 2019. And this they can do as they will simply replicate what they did in 2015 in the coming presidential elections.

Having said that, all Nigerians must realize that the destiny of this nation is a collective pursuit. While the President has his responsibilities, his success in office cannot be divorced from the duties of every Nigerian in whatever sphere of influence they operate in.

In conclusion, my friend said this, and I agree with him, that if Nigeria is presided over by an angel and most Nigerians decide to behave like devils, our country will not be delivered from the hell hole it has found itself in.

In other words, the success of this country is a collective one; it is not just the responsibility of the President alone.

source: http://mouthpiece.com.ng/in-defence-of-muhammadu-buhari/

CC: Seun, Lalasticlala, Mynd44

Kingsway Ibadan: Before and After

Both pictures are side views of Kingsway Ibadan. The first depicts the building in its present dilapidated form (2018). The second shows the building in 1950 - picture is credited to Google.

These pictures speak in succinct form how much progress Nigeria has made in its national life.

Source: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1263625253781567&id=1256891871121572

Somewhere on the streets of Ibadan...

If your son is a lawyer then what should Mark Zuckerberg's father say? I suspect the owner of this car is the first graduate from his village.

Morale of pasting this picture? Nigerians, please upgrade your thinking. Great minds don't paste stickers like this on cars.

Much Ado About Tithing

by Deji Yesufu

(Published in Sunday Punch of 31/12/17)

Very few people know that the controversy on tithes in Nigeria is coming exactly 500 years after a major controversy in Western Christendom. This controversy saw the emergence of the Protestant churches from within the Roman Catholic Church. On October 31, 2017, it was exactly 500 years that Martin Luther nailed 95 theses to the door of the Castle Church in his home city of Wittenberg, Germany.

The substance of his discussion in the theses was his protestation of the collecting of indulgence from people in his community. The Catholic couriers, who were doing this on behalf of the Papacy, were urging people to give money to the Church and in return, they would be absolved of their sins.

They also promised that their long dead relatives, who were in purgatory, would be let into heaven the moment the monies hit the bottom of the sack of the couriers. Luther, on his part, argued that the Catholic Church by doing this was proposing another way to redemption in Christ. By the time the dust was settled, Luther had reminded the Christian churches of its central biblical theme of “Justification by faith”, suggesting that man is made right with God by faith in Christ Jesus, and not by any other thing (Romans 3:28).

This disagreement led to the splitting of the then Roman Catholic Church, leading to the emergence of hundreds of Protestant denominations as we have today.

The point I wish to draw my readers to in the foregoing paragraphs is to show that this is not the first time God would be using the matter of money to bring advancement to his course on earth. By the time the Catholic Church examined Luther’s submission during the Council of Trent (1545-1563), they agreed that Luther was right.

Indulgence was abolished in the Roman Catholic Church, even though they still disagreed with the Protestant churches on many points of doctrines and practices.

It is in this light that I dabble into the controversy over tithing started by a radio celebrity called Daddy Freeze. His position is clear: Tithing is not a Christian practice. But many prominent Nigerian pastors opposed him. In a vox pop published by this darling newspaper, SUNDAY PUNCH, on December 10, six notable Nigerian pastors responded to the question of whether or not Christians ought to pay a tithe.

They agreed that tithing was christianly, although only one of them, a Catholic Priest, Rev. Fr. Osu, said it was not obligatory for Christians to pay a tithe. The central scripture of those who favoured tithing was drawn from Malachi 3:8-12.

It is disturbing, to say the least, to hear Christian ministers, many of them have been in ministry for decades, espouse a concept of Christians “paying” tithes. The verb to “pay” connotes obligation: an action that must be carried out else some punitive reaction will follow. Unfortunately, the word “pay” is not used at all in relation to tithing in the Bible. The only place where people were obligated to pay a tithe is in the Old Testament, under a Jewish system of administration that required leaders of worship in the temple in those days to be provided with tithes for sustenance. This was the point God was stressing in Malachi 3:8-12. Unfortunately, it is this scripture that has become a central tenet for Christian churches today. The New Testament, which is the Christian manual, does not stipulate tithing for Christians. Neither does it suggest anywhere that Christians are to “pay” a tithe.

Another trouble with the phrase “paying a tithe” is that it comes in conflict with a major Christian doctrine. Jesus Christ died to redeem sinners from Satan unto God’s kingdom. Redemption connotes the paying of a price to buy back a slave. When Jesus has “paid it all”, as that wonderful Christian hymn says, what is left for the Christian to pay again? The point here is this: when Christians are enjoined to meet a certain obligation, so as to enjoy God’s grace or favour, “work” or “law” is being introduced into the Christian faith. The ministers calling on Christians to pay a tithe know that the idea of gaining God’s favour through works is anathema to the Christian faith as seen in Romans 11:6, Galatians 5:4 and Philippians 3:3.

What we are witnessing with the tithe debate is a full turn around after half a century of Christian practice. The Protestant churches were founded upon the doctrines of faith, grace, Christ, scriptures and to the glory of God alone. All of that rich tradition is being eroded by the same Protestant churches in honour of the god called mammon. Mammon being the world system seeking earthly gains through financial security. A spirit and doctrine wholly popularised by the new generation churches and their prosperity gospel. The Roman Catholic Church that was once taught by the Protestants to make Christ alone its Lord, is today reminding Protestants that tithing is not obligatory.

God’s demand on every man is not for them to give money to churches, either through tithes, offerings or any other kind of giving. God’s demand on all men is for them to believe in his only Son Jesus Christ, whom he gave as propitiation for our sins. The grace of God has been made manifest to sinners; it does not demand anything from us but faith.

The beauty of the grace of God in Christ Jesus is the fact that God’s provision is in Christ, salvation is free of charge. It cannot be bought with tithes, works, law, or any other thing that man ever thinks he could do or give God. We partake of this grace by faith alone. The wonder of heaven shall be our pride in God our saviour who gave us something we could never earn or ever work for. The idea that anyone can give a tithe to earn God’s favour is alien to Christianity. In fact, the idea, rather than earn God’s favour, will bring such persons in contact with his wrath. Freeze is right: tithing is not a Christian practice, it is Jewish. We are called to give out of free will as Christians; there is no obligation for Christians to give a tithe.

Yesufu sent in this piece from Ibadan, Oyo State

https://punchng.com/much-ado-about-tithing/

Seun, Lalasticlala consider for front page.

PFRB:
Read his statement or letter to obasanjo
“Let them understand in the west that am not leading a Biafran army, but an army of liberation made not only of Biafrans but other ethnic groups. Make the Governor of the West and other Western leaders understand this. Urge them not to be taken in by any propaganda by the biafran government about a Biafran plan to subjugate the nation, especially the west."

What in that statement equates with yours:

"Victor Banjo and his group did not fight against Ojukwu or against Gowon. They were revolutionists who wanted to bring socialism to Nigeria. Their intention was to remove Ojukwu , go back to Nigeria and remove Gowon so as to finally actualise their objective."

PFRB:
Victor Banjo and his group did not fight against Ojukwu or against Gowon. They were revolutionists who wanted to bring socialism to Nigeria. Their intention was to remove Ojukwu , go back to Nigeria and remove Gowon so as to finally actualise their objective.

The author provided sources. Both living and dead. What is the source for the statement in bold.