₦airaland Forum

Liya Sharubu: The Dapchi Girl Not Released

by Deji Yesufu

At 7:45am on the 21st of March 2018, a Wednesday, strange vehicles drove into a Northern town called Dapchi, in Yobe State, Nigeria. Dapchi had recently come into global reckoning due to the abduction of 110 girls from the town by members of the dreaded terrorist group, Boko Haram, operating in the north eastern parts of Nigeria.

The vehicles that came into Dapchi this Wednesday morning had 105 of the abducted girls and one boy. The girls reported that a number of them had died, while they were being taken away to the terrorists hide out. One of the returned girls, Khadijat Grema, told journalists that a certain Liya Sharubu was the only one of the girls that had not been returned.

Grema says that Liya Sharubu had refused to put on the hijab that the terrorists had insisted for all the girls to wear. She had also adamantly refused to profess the Muslim faith as her abductors were pressing upon her to do. The terrorists had warned Liya that the consequences of refusing to profess Islam would be that she would not be returned with others to her home.

In spite of this threat, Liya stood her grounds. When Liya’s mother was informed of her daughter’s defiant behavior in the terrorists’ camp, it is reported that she fainted.

This article today is dedicated to the bravery and faith of the 106th Dapchi girl: Liya Sharubu.

I grew up in northern Nigeria. The first religious crisis I witnessed in Zaria, where we lived, was in 1987. I witnessed religious crisis that left churches that we attended burnt to the ground, I saw people displaced from their homes and I heard of many people who paid the ultimate price for their faith in Christ.

For this reason, I understood that there was a depth of Christianity that Christians in northern Nigeria professed that was uncommon to those in southern Nigeria where there was little or not threat to their profession of religion.

However, in spite of witnessing crisis in northern Nigeria and even coming to faith in Christ in that part of the country, I am still not sure that I would not have denied Christ if I ever was confronted with an option that called me to deny Christ for my freedom while I lived in the north. This thought is what leads me to appreciate more the faith that Liya’s is displaying at the moment in the den of one of the world’s most dreaded terrorist groups.

Many questions come to my mind over why Liya would not momentarily profess Islam to at least get out of these terrorists’ den and gain her freedom and then return to practising her faith. Who taught Liya the kind of Christian faith that she practices – a faith that is clearly not nominal, a faith that can stand the heat of threat to life?

What does Liya believe about Jesus that will not even make her deny her Master for a few moment? Does this sort of faith still exist in Nigeria today?

While a whole lot of reactions have followed the release of the Dapchi 105, very few people are talking about this lone girl that has stood her ground in the midst of a daunting challenge. Very few commentaries are being made on her courage. Clearly, some people would regard her as a fool for not taking advantage of an offer because of a certain fanatical stance.

Regardless of what people may say and regardless of what happens to Liya, I wish to state here that Liya Sharubu has become a hero to me.

As we celebrate the return of the Dapchi girls, let the Christian churches remember that there is a Christian girl in the den of lions. Let us pray to our God, the same God who saved Daniel from the den of hungry lions, to save Liya. Let us pray the God of heaven to strengthen her faith further in Christ by the Holy Spirit; that she would not relent in her profession of the living Christ. And let us pray that her witness to Jesus Christ, will come as a testimony to the terrorists holding her and that by God’s mercies, these men may consider the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ as their God also.

May Liya be saved.

May the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ be praised.

May God deliver our nation Nigeria from terrorism.

http://mouthpiece.com.ng/liya-sharubu-the-dapchi-girl-not-released/

CC: Seun, Lalasticlala

OkCornel:
Mbok...how do I download it?

Please help a brother out...

Go to https://definingdeception.com/about-us/

The book is available for sales only for now.

Defining Deception

by Mark Ruel

(This is a review of the book “Defining Deception” written by Costi Hinn, Benny Hinn’s Nephew, and Anthony Woods)

This is a bold book. It is a personally revealing and transparent book. It is a humble and sensitive book [see the Preface – “The Heart of the Authors”] It is a book that will make lots of people uncomfortable. I’m sure many people are angry about this book. It’s a book that will make many people stop and think about the music they listen to and the teachers they repost on Facebook and Twitter, and what they are actually teaching and promoting about the charismatic work of the Holy Spirit in healings, tongues, spiritual experiences, and prosperity. [Think “Word of Faith” and “Name it Claim It…” God wants me to have a car, I just have to speak it into existence and receive it with thanksgiving. A la Osteen and Copeland…]

Therefore, this is also a colossally important book at a very important time.

I have been looking forward to reading Defining Deception, since I stumbled upon the news of it’s upcoming release on the Twitter.

As a Pastor, one of the hardest parts of my “job” is to gently, yet clearly, identify false teaching and as a result have hard conversations with people about it. One of the worst parts of my “job” is the painful untangling of years of false teaching and helping sort through the spiritual corrosion that bad theology leaves behind in it’s wake. It shipwrecks faith, undermines marriages and relationships, and spreads like the flu on social media.
For this reasons and more, I’m very thankful for this book.

I was also surprised by the focus of this book. I was thinking with someone like Costi Hinn, nephew of infamously famous false teacher, Benny Hinn, that it would focus primarily on him. Indeed some time is spent on Uncle Benny – but Costi and Wood also present a balanced, comprehensive, and historical survey of the Pentecostal and New Apostolic Reformation landscape. To say the conclusions are terrifying would be an understatement.

Nearly 1/3 of the book is devoted to a history of Pentecostalism and it was well worth the history lesson to see the twisted theology of the forefathers of these modern movements.

However, one of the most noteworthy modern movements is Bethel Church, Bill Johnson, and their band Jesus Culture. Now, I get it. JC is a ridiculously talented group of musicians. Years ago, when I first heard “Your Love Never Fails,” I didn’t stop playing it for about a month. I even did it in church at a worship night. [I simply couldn’t wait to capo my Telecaster and chug it up.] The lyrics [at that time] didn’t have any red flags. But then I discovered the theology of the ministry at large and needless to say, I stopped listening and never lead that song again. Yet, so many simply don’t know. Yet, I didn’t know the scope and depth of the heresy. This book will help.

The authors spend a chapter identifying legit doctrinal errors in Johnson’s teaching with [jaw-dropping] quotes from his book that fly in the face of orthodox Christianity and are in direct contradiction to the Word of God. There are too many errors to list here, but this isn’t little stuff, this is HUGE stuff. Not squabbling over eschatology, but like the deity of Christ and the authority of Scripture over and above our experience. As the authors so clearly put – “A regenerated life surrendered to the Holy Spirit will always point back to Scripture for faith, theology, and practice. Christianity has held this truth for 2,000 years, and no self-professed modern-day apostle or prophet should lead us away from this foundational truth.” [105]

The book closes with a very helpful appendix section with an honest and personal testimony from Costi, amongst scores of others who have had their eyes opened to the purity and power of the true Word of God centered on the gospel of Jesus Christ. Another appendixes include a helpful FAQ section, clear teaching on what Scripture actually says about speaking tongues, being slain in the spirit and healings.

In this current spiritual milieu with so many voices, I’m very thankful for this helpful, clear, and strong voice crying out for a return to God’s truth in His Word. Our experiences and feelings cannot drive the bus, our hearts will lead us astray. This book defines that deception and it needs to be read. That is clearly what is happening with false teachers preoccupied with the supernatural and the experience. May we have the courage to call it what it is in our lives, pulpits, and relationships to the glory of God.

Source: https://mikeruel.com/2018/03/21/book-review-defining-deception/

More about the book “Defining Deception”: https://definingdeception.com/about-us/

Seun, Lalasticlala

nubianprinz:
Did you read the post I put up or you imagined some other things I never wrote and assumed I wrote it because I cannot see how something written in plain English could be so distorted. What gives u the impression that the pastor is in ministry for the money? If he was in the ministry for fame and money, would he have started from humble beginnings and grown through the ranks? We belong to the same body so the fallacious argument of chasing the members of other churches is risible to say the least. Yesufu himself said he has been going round tracking pastors or what was his goal for attending the conference, empowerment or criticisms? In his dumb post, he even wrote it there that he deliberately potrayed Pst Biodun in a negative light. what more could be dumber than that? I leave u with this nuggent which I believe will challenge your thinking if you really do. If God could bless you, what makes u think he cannot bless your pastor? So you think God will leave his servant at the mercy of his church members before he can live well? It is a shame that shallow minded people cannot look beyond themselves as the source of their pastor's blessing. I wont want u to draw ur conclusions based on what I or Yesufu wrote, come find out for yourself. This is an open invitation. Attend the church and draw your own conclusions.

Sir,

Your church has been attended and the conclusions have been reached. Your pastors were quoted verbatim; events that went on at the "revival" were stated and you have not refuted any. Instead you choose to call somebody's article dumb all because it was critical of what you guys do there in the name of Christian ministry.

Have you seen the three minutes video of Fatoyinbo, were he first criticized Freeze and went on to raise an offering for Eboda. Did Deji publish that video? Did Deji direct the scripts in that video? If Eboda is not in ministry for money, why will he be making altar calls for people to give to his church when his mates are making altar calls for souls to come to Christ? Or you think we do not know what you "Pastorpreneurs" do it. How you invite ministers to your church to raise targetted offerings from the congregation. In case you, as a mere member, do not know I will tell you.

Pentecostal ministers use social gatherings like this one, the one they call "revivals", to gather money directed at specifics projects.

So, it would not be out of place for someone like Fatoyinbo to reach a deal with Eboda, while Eboda is to give him a percentage of amount raised. This is how it is done, friend. If you do not know it, Now you know.

nubianprinz:
After reading this post by the self-imposed investigator who goes about investigating pastors, I couldn’t help but laugh and laugh some more. This man called Deji Yesufu is not only mischievous but also ignorant and lazy with his investigations. His averagely lengthy post is riddled with lies which I wondered what he was hoping to achieve with it.

I speak for Deji Yesufu.

One thing that this response has revealed is this: Deji did not lie in his account. He told gave a vivid description of all that he saw and this writer has not refuted anything.

Oh, yes, clearly, we have more information on how Eboda has evolved and increased over the years but that still does not remove from the facts that Deji wrote in his essays.

This responder says that ministers on the same streets with Eboda attended the meeting. Yet he fails to mention one of such minister that did. Is it not a consistent testimony among Pentecostal pastors that they are ever at logger head with the neigbour pastors bc they are all pursuing the same members in the same neibourhood.

This responder has no shown anywhere that Eboda is not in ministry for the money and the fame like all other pentecostal pastors before him.

We wish the best in his business of deluding simple minded people.

By the way, Deji Yesufu does not have the time to go from church to church to investigate Pastors. Their stories are everywhere to tell; they do not need investigation.

See the signature to learn a little more on Deji Yesufu in case you are looking for some skeleton he has that you wish to expose. And if you have the time, download his book and learn a little of what true Christianity consist of; not this business centers you people run and call it an "Alpha" cathedral.

The Nigerian Senate: An Ignoble Assembly

by Deji Yesufu

April 2015 will remain a month that cannot be easily forgotten in the political annals of Nigerian. It was the month that saw the incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan defeated by his leading rival, Muhammadu Buhari, at the Presidential poles of that year. Hopes were indeed high that providence had smiled upon Nigeria and that we had entered into a new era of progress, prosperity and purpose as a country.

This nation began witnessing a damping of this hope when the Nigerian Senate constituted to elect a Senate President. The ruling All Progressive Party (APC) had preferred another candidate to lead the Senate but right before our eyes, and virtually unopposed, some People Democratic Party (PDP) Senators, along with some Senators from the APC, came together and elected Bukola Saraki, former Governor of Kwara State, as their president. Many people consider the events of that day the beginning of the downward trend that the present Nigerian Senate seem to have been going since its inception in June 2015.

Having elected principal officers that were not the wishes of the ruling party, the Nigerian Senate began its duty at logger heads with the Executive arm of government and the APC party leaders. The President sensed this and called for a parley among politicians in the ruling APC. In that meeting, Buhari made the point that clearly the APC had won a battle by taking over power from the PDP. But he warned against his party loosing the overall war if members of the ruling party continue to tear at each other in the name of gaining position.

The Nigerian Senate comes to many Nigerians as a conglomerate of self serving individuals. Clearly not every Senator is like this but the leading members continue to make this impression on Nigerians. Once Nigerians youths got sick and tired of their ignobility and decided to #OccupyNass but with time even that campaign died down and these men and women of the red chamber continued in their ways.

Right from the inception of the fourth Republic in 1999, the Nigerian Senate has never really had a good testimony among Nigerians. But the presently constituted assembly seem to possess the worst testimony of all time. While the Senate’s main duty is to promulgate laws for the proper running of the Nigerian nation, it seem all the laws that our Senators enact are laws that will improve their own welfare. So much so that at some point, no one could say for sure what exactly a Senator in this country was earning.

The lead on this mystery was however recently blown open by Senator Shehu Sani who revealed to Nigerians in an interview he granted that each Senator is entitled to a monthly salary of N750,000. He also revealed that each Senator is given a sum of N13.5M as running cost each month. This is besides the N200M that is given to each of them for consistency projects. Non of the Senators have been able to refute this position; instead many of them are telling Nigerian, without shame, that what Senator Sani has revealed is not news.

Many prominent Nigerians, including former President Olusegun Obasanjo and former Governor of the Central Bank, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, have criticized the Nigerian Senate as a conglomerate of wasteful and irresponsible lot. Recently the Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Corruption, Prof Itse Sagay, called on Nigerian not to refer to Nigerian Senators as distinguished. For stating this fact, which many Nigerians have always known, many Senators have called for Prof. Sagay’s head. Some of them are even calling his statement “hate speech”.

The subject of hate speech leads me to the lowest rung that the Nigerian Senate has recently sunk to. There is a bill before the Nigerian Senate that is called the “Hate Speech Bill”. It reads in part: “any person who uses, publishes, presents, produces, plays, provides, distributes and/or direct the performance of any material, written and/or visual, which is threatening, abusive or insulting or involves the use of threatening, abusive or insulting words, commits an offence." This bill is being canvassed by our Senators and it comes with a penalty of 5 years imprisonment or a fine of N10M; or both. If, however, the hate speech leads to the death of another, the person who is found guilty of the offence of speaking hate to the public could be killed.

At face value this bill looks good and carries with it the notion of curbing statements that have the tendency to destabilize society. But at closer examination, one realizes that this bill is actually a hate bill designed to curb free speech, especially the kind that has continued to keep our Senators in check since they assumed office. The number one persons this bill will hunt if it is ever enacted are bloggers – those who have constituted themselves the leading voice against the excesses of Nigerian Senators.

For example, Senator Bukola Saraki and Senator Dino Melaye have been two Senators that Saharareporters have investigated extensively and thus revealed much of their dirty linens to the public. It is believed that this bill is aimed to curb this sort of information sharing.

Those who have opposed the Hate Speech Bill have said that it runs contrary to the laws of the Nigerian nation as stated in the 1999 Constitution, chapter 4, sections 38-39; where freedom of thoughts, conscience and religion is guaranteed to every Nigerian. A Hate Speech Bill will be wrested by an irresponsible political class to gag free speech and information dissemination. The laws that set up cooperations like the Nigerian Broadcasting Cooperation, Advertising Practitioners Council and the Nigerian Press Code already discourage libellous statements from being made against any one. If the Nigerian Senate is really intent on curbing hate speech as they believe, they could instead update our existing laws.

In spite of all that might be said about the Nigerian Senate, all hope is not lost. Nigerians need to be more aware of the political realities of this nation. Before now, most Nigerians were content with voting in a candidate for President and Governor. Very little attention is paid to those vying for legislative seats. Now, and with the experience we have gone through with our “distinguished” Senators, every Nigerian must shine their eyes and ensure that credible person represent them at Abuja.

The experience of the people Kogi West, who have been at the process of recalling Dino Melaye for close to a year now and have not succeeded, should inform everyone of us that the moment we vote these legislators in, it is almost impossible to recall them.

If the Nigerian legislative houses from the local government level to federal will function as they ought to, the Nigerian state will experience unprecedented progress. Our major problem as a people is that most Nigerian are uneducated and hungry. Therefore many people make uninformed choices when voting and they are easily swayed by pecuniary reasons.

If Nigeria must succeed such institution as its Senate must wake up to carrying out legislative works that are truly people oriented and not this self serving activities of those who are mostly constituted in her midst today.

http://mouthpiece.com.ng/the-nigerian-senate-an-ignoble-assembly/

Seun, Lalasticlala, do consider this piece for front page. I appreciate your sharing my other articles in the past. Thank you.

cowmanager2000:
My Deji Yusuf
I am not a regular commentator on this forum but sometimes it pricked my heart to see a good writer like you that could have turned this your writing prowess to writing a ‘novel for elementary schools children or a motivational books for your graduates ..wasting this rare endowment to criticizing a gentleman that have ‘a thousand youths of the street’ we are a nation against ourselves.. and it stinks over here in the diaspora.
A-z of Christianity is LOVE.. anything outside of Love is not Christianity..
My advice .. 1. If you have anything against Fatoyinbo .. write him .. email him.. it will not cost you a dime but LOVE
2. Your area of gifting is ‘writing’ among others..why not look for an area of interest.. and commercialize this your gifts..send downloading links to us on Nairaland and that I think will make Nigeria a better place...just my opinion

Here is a book by Deji Yesufu. It is called "Half a Millennium". It is the account of 500 years of Christianity, following the Protestant revolution. Click on the link below and get a PDF copy from Google drive:

https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=1LY60JyeMKK08HDXFzDYeEbwN35LHzZud

Also, by the close of next month, Deji Yesufu will be publishing his first ever book: a historical account on Victor Banjo, a military soldier killed during the Nigerian Civil War. Links will be made available here on how to get it or follow Deji's magazine page on the link below to see when it the book will be released. You can buy online copieis for those in diaspora.

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1570041316405406&id=1505609702848568

Lastly, some times the most loving thing you can do is to provide a healthy rebuke. We see a consistent testimony of this all around scriptures.

You live in the diaspora. How many times times have you seen young people sell their time and brains to preachers there? We are were we are in this country because our people are not thinking. This post is designed elicit thinking in our people.

SpoiltVirgin:
If u think prosperity preachers are the problem, then attend deeper life or orthodox church and leave us alone. I believe there is more to thhe relationship between ese walter and the pastor, ese is not telling us the complete truth, I respect adeboye, kumuyi, olukoya, etc but there is a limit to what they will tell me to do that I will do. How can an educated woman sleep with a pastor just because he is a pastor, there is something fishy about it.

A lot of educated women will sleep with their pastors. It is called mind game, brain washers, etc.

Biodun Fatoyinbo aka "Robust Reply" Visits Ibadan

by Deji Yesufu

A few weeks ago, I saw a billboard that announced that Biodun Fatoyinbo was coming to Akobo, Ibadan. He would be guest minister to Gbeminiyi Eboda’s church – the Harvest House Christian Centre. I made up my mind that I was going to attend.

At least to behold this gentleman who had long promised Nigerians a “robust reply” but whom somehow has refused to speak on the matter almost five years after the allegations of his sexual philandering hit the news in this country.

Gbeminiyi Eboda is the reigning “man of God” in Akobo, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria, this moment. Mr. Eboda has not always been big. He used to pastor a tiny congregation in Basorun, Ibadan, in a certain building called “Iya Ni Wura House”. There his church shared the building with two or three other churches within the office complex. Today he pastors the “Alpha Cathedral” in Akobo.

The one and only time I listened to Mr. Eboda was when he was a guest speaker at the Vine Branch Church, Mokola; where he ministered at a Tuesday service – about 7 years ago. That day I was not impressed with his preaching at all. For whatever reason best known to him, he chose to preach like T. D. Jakes. Mimicking his manner of speaking and all that. When I saw Mr. Eboda this last Wednesday, he had indeed “evolved and increased”. He was no longer preaching like T. D. Jakes.

Gbeminiyi Eboda and his congregation have built something close to a cathedral at the Iyana Olopa Bustop at Akobo, Ibadan. It is arguably the fastest growing congregation in that vicinity of Ibadan. Populated mostly by young people, some of whom are young and rising professionals in various fields of occupation in the humble city of Ibadan.

On the street that Eboda built his church, there are no less than seven other churches – all competing for members. I noticed that even the break away Bishop Bolu Martins, who left David Oyedepo a few years ago, also has his church facing that of Eboda. I also noticed the conspicuous absence of the pastors of these churches in Mr. Eboda “revival” meetings.

I arrived the opening night of the meeting on the 14th of March, 2018 on top of an Okada at exactly 6pm. It was my first time at Mr. Eboda’s church. As I paid my fares, I noticed Mr. Eboda arrive the same venue in a Pajero Jeep. Two rows of about 30 young men and women had been set up, in the midst of which Mr. Eboda walked into the church. As he walked, these young men and women were singing his praise, while he waved at them like a newly elected government official.

That night, Mr. Biodun Fatoyinbo was to be the guest preacher. Mr. Eboda introduced him to the congregation with fanfare and after a short “worship” session, Fatoyinbo launches into the meat of his discuss for that night. Usually in meetings like this, the invited minister spends the first few minutes of his message to “praise” his host; stating that he is the best to have happened to that congregation since the invention of pounded yam.

Fatoyinbo said nothing less; just that he said a little more and I just could not but wonder at how things have deteriorated in these charismatic assemblies since I stopped attending them some four years ago.

Fatoyinbo said “I knew that Pastor Eboda will make it…” That statement is pregnant with meaning because Fatoyinbo goes on to explain how he had always been friends with Eboda when he was little known.

How he used to visit his home when he was a student in Ilorin. He states that this was his first time visiting Eboda’s church. And I just could not but wonder at the dichotomy of these words: you never visit your “friend”, until this friend of yours built a cathedral – one large enough to contain your person.

These prosperity preachers never change, I said to myself.

Fatoyinbo continues: “Heaven has come to Ibadan…” I say to myself: I can imagine. “Eboda is a great man. He oozes out wisdom. He is a genuine man of God. Pray for the gift of such a friend… This is a church to cling to… Only beautiful people come to my meetings… I have come to master three things in life: what I say, what I think and where my money goes to…”

The last remark elicits a lot of laughter from the congregation as the guest minister invites us to take our seat. He launches into his text for the night and this is where I must make a point. Fatoyinbo is preaching a message in this opening night of the meeting themed “evolve and increase”.

It is incumbent on him to find a biblical text that will support this theme. The trouble however with preachers like him is that they go into the Bible, find a text that supports a particular theme or topic, reap it out of context and make that text say what they want it to say; not what it really says.

Fatoyinbo goes for the mother text of all Faith Preachers: Mark 11:24. It reads: “Therefore I say unto you, what things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them”.

Mr. Fatoyinbo closes his Bible, turns to the congregation and asks: “when do you have them?” He goes on to answer: “You have them the very moment you pray.” Then he ditches the text and proceed to tell the congregation what he wants them to know and not what the text is saying: “You are made for movement… God expects you to go forward… You need to continually evolve and increase… There is more out there for you… Everything you will be, you are already… Not one person here will miss their destiny… This is the least that you can be… The Lord has instructed me to declare things… Prayer is not only the key, it is the master key…”

Preaching the same sort of nonsense that prosperity preachers long before him have been preaching, Fatoyinbo fans the embers of the congregation’s ego and self, and positions their mental state to believe that God exists to satisfy their lusts.

He takes a perfectly spiritual tool, prayer, and uses it in a clearly unspiritual manner, to bring about the desires of the congregation. The prosperity theme of the meeting remains: evolve and increase.

It is the same with all the other big churches in Nigeria, including the “Open Heavens” and the “Shiloh” or whatever “Experience” that people are seeking in these churches. The aim is to use God to satisfy human lust. God somehow has lost control of his world and he is now depending on men to make him do certain things: particularly to brings blessings and prosperity on all men, so preach these men.

To drive home his point, Fatoyinbo laces his messages with anecdotes that will arouse the greed of the congregation. He explains that he does not think he has arrived. He has a friend in the USA who pastors a big church – this guy is just 36 years old. He explains that Beyonce once visited this church and gives this young man $10 million to advance the gospel. In the midst of the hues and cries, I wonder at the congregation and thought to myself: do these people know who Beyonce is? What has Beyonce done to ever advance the gospel through her music that to plainly glorifies sex and vanity? Will a gift of $10M suddenly absolve her of all her ways?

Fatoyinbo is not done with stories. On his second night preaching, he tells the story of how he was given a beautiful car which he discovers that his five year old son loves so much. So one morning, he calls the boy and gives him the car. He told that story to say that although his son owns the car, he cannot drive it. He wanted the congregation to grow in maturity to be able to own and use the things God wants to give them.

While the congregation hails his point, the other fact of how pastors subtly or directly compel members to give them things is carefully overlooked. The vision of the pursuit of mundane things etched on the listeners is not seen. And the disguised pride in his own wealth comes out in a veiled form. He tells us of how he had to silence a proud preacher once. He simply took the man around his congregation and showed him his wealth. The congregation was just like “wow!”

I have intentionally reported Fatoyinbo in the negative in this article because I am hopeful that Nigerian young people would some day discover the deceitful manner ministers like him can defraud them.

But Fatoyinbo was not all negative in the two nights encounter I had with him at Eboda’s church. He came out to me as a man that has minimum education: he speaks very well. His father was a politician and he and his siblings were raised with some silver spoon.

He regarded himself as a “rich kid”, who got away with certain things in the home of his relatives when he visited them in the village because his father had money. After making that statement, Fatoyinbo prayed that the congregation will have the kind of money that will make them “somebody” in society.

It was at the second night of his ministration that Mr. Eboda introduces Fatoyinbo as “his lordship”. Where I sat, I just cringed at the manner to which these men take the praise of other men to.

I have long suggested that two of Nigeria’s leading trouble are her politicians and her preachers – especially those of the Prosperity/Pentecostal ilk. While Nigeria’s politicians defraud her, the preachers lend legitimacy to their actions. Fatoyinbo himself alluded to this when he said that what most young ministers do now is to come to Abuja and be errand boys to politicians. He says these young men will spend hours praying for politicians and when they are done, they are rewarded with some cash as honorarium. As he recounted this story, I say to myself: but, sir, you also left Ilorin for Abuja at some point too now. It is working for you; hopefully, it would work for these boys too.

I end this essay by stating emphatically that there is nothing Christian in many of the gatherings that call themselves “revivals” in Nigeria Pentecostal churches today. They are simply the gathering of a people to rub the ego of one man and to source for more membership for him. Pentecostal churches are ponzi schemes that cause the people at the top to increase in wealth as their base line followership increases.

These gatherings are devoid of the Christian gospel and the foremost call of the Christian church, which is to make disciples for Jesus, is not even a motive for them. The whole motive is to get members, so as to grow a church, that will have people “sow” into the life of the “man of God”.

In late 2013, a young woman by the name of Ese Walters came out to accuse Mr. Biodun Fatoyinbo of indulging in months of sexual philandering with her. She claimed that they both carried out the acts in hotels far away from this country. She had severed relations with the pastor as of the time of making these allegations. Her own way of finding healing was to make the whole matter public.

Mr. Fatoyinbo came under fire from that moment on. The Sunday after the scandal broke out, he promised Nigerians to give a “robust reply” to the allegations. Five years down the line there has been no response. Rather, Mr. Fatoyinbo has only continue to “evolve and increase” in ministry, bringing his friend, Gbeminiyi Eboda along with him.

These men are in their early forties and they are the new face of Pentecostalism in our nation. As they continue their business, some of us will continue to track them and hold them accountable to their words and ways. The only people one pities in this whole drama are the young men and women, whose mental faculties these men eat into with their nice words. Their judgement lingers not (2 Peter 2:1-4).

I spent fifteen years of my youth in these environment and I know the toxin these people are instilling into the life of young people. I advise that parents should guard their children and wards, and keep them from these people.

http://mouthpiece.com.ng/biodun-fatoyinbo-aka-robust-reply-visits-ibadan/

Thank you Seun and all other super mods. i hope this gets to the hearing of the Oyo State government.

Challenges of a “Marwa” Transporter in Ibadan

by Deji Yesufu

For Sheu Gaozu, a “Marwa” transporter on the streets of Ibadan, the race to “deliver” is a rat race against survival. And since he is left with very few available means to livelihood, he must take the bull by the horn.

Marwa or Keke transportation is a popular system of transport here in Ibadan. It involves the use of a tricycle to transport passengers from one destination to another.

The tricycle transport, Marwa, is named after the former military Governor of Lagos State, retired Brigadier Buba Marwa.

Marwa was Governor from 1996-1999 and had introduced the tricycle as a system of transport to aid low earning individuals to make a living in the state.

Soon enough this mode of transportation had caught on in Nigeria; especially in places where cars would not ply and where motor bikes were too dangerous to use for transport.

In many respect, Marwa has turned out to be safer and even more economical than the bikes that many use for transportation.

The story of Sheu, however, unveils the ugly side of Marwa transport business in Ibadan.

Sheu Gaozu acquired his brand new Marwa tricycle at higher purchase from a Microfinance Group. The vehicle cost them N650,000. Each of the vehicles were given to Sheu and his friends at N950,000.

They are required to pay back the money on the tricycle each week. This pay back is called deliver in local parlance. Everyone chooses what amount will suit him best. Sheu chose to return N16,500 at the end of each week. It would take him a little over 14 months to complete payment. If he defaults to pay, the tricycle would be collected from him and the money he had paid up till that moment would be forfeited. If Sheu completes paying the money on the bike, the vehicle becomes his.

Sheu does not think that the deal is impossible to surmount. The trouble is not in the deliver; the trouble is the reality of the streets!

Sheu plies his trade on the long stretch of road that links the popular Gate in Ibadan with New Garage, somewhere after Orita Challenge. When business is good, Sheu makes an average of N25,000 every week. His real pursuit daily is to get hold on the N3,000 – N3,500 deliver money each day. That way, he is confident that he can give at least N21,000 to the Cooperative Group by the close of the week.

Sheu has a mandatory N300 ticket he must purchase at Gate. This ticket costs N150. But for reasons best known to the Road Transport Workers at that end, Sheu and his fellow tricycle transporters must cough out another N150 that is not receipted. If his daily charges as a transporter had been N300 only, Sheu would have no problem. But this is the beginning of his challenge each day.

At every bustop, there are other monies that Sheu and his fellow Marwa riders must pay. This money is called “Owo-ita” – translated literarily: “outing money” or the money a transporter gives for coming out to work that day. This Owo-ita costs N50 and on the Gate/New Garage stretch of road, Sheu pays this money at Gate, Bere, Ojo-Oba, Idi-Arere, Molete, Challenge, Orita and New Garage. He gives the money when going and also while returning, thus sealing his due for that day. If he were to pay all these monies, it would amount to N800 each day.

This Owo-Ita is not receipted and no one knows who authorises the collecting of these monies and where it goes to. Rumour has it that even top politicians in the State get their share of these largesse.

Then at each of these bustops, there are police men and women who also collect their own N50. The police people on duty in the morning will collect their share and the ones in the afternoon will also collect their share. Amounting to another N800 daily. Marwa transporters must pay the police this money or their vehicles will spend the day at the police station and they would be required to pay another amount for its release.

The total amount doled out illegally by Sheu each day will be N1,750; instead of the paltry N150 he is to pay for his daily ticket at the Gate end of business.

So, beside N3,000 deliver money, Sheu must work to get another N2,000 to pay off his illegal dues before he begins to think about his own profit. He has to also service his tricycle every two weeks and this will cost N3,000. If the tricycle is not serviced, its lifespan will be shortened and he may not be able to complete his deliver money.

This cost is also besides the ten litres of Petrol he must purchase each day for his business. At N180 per litre, Sheu is spending close to N2,000 for fuel too each day.

To run his Marwa business, therefore, Sheu must make at least N7,500 each day to offset running cost, before he begins to work for his profit that day.

Sheu thinks business is not bad and that he still makes sufficient profit to take home and look after his wife and new born child; but this is done at a price to his health and even danger to his life. While the money demanded by the police cannot be avoided, the real drama of the streets are the stunts Sheu undertakes to avoid paying Owo-Ita.

Sheu says to make sufficient profit each day, he has to resort to “ogboju” or “were” to avoid paying Owo-Ita. Ogboju is to deal a strong face at the area boys that come for this Owo-Ita. Were is a show of madness.

Sheu knows the streets very well and the area boys know him too. He has had to fight his way to freedom on many occasions , to avoid his trouble, the area boys leave him to his madness. He recalls how one day he had worked very late and had still not made enough for that day. He was due to pick his wife and young child at her shop and was trying desperately to get passengers to his tricycle.

This area boy comes out of nowhere; apparently he was new to that scene. He demands that Sheu pays Owo-Ita. Sheu refuses. The area boy seizes Sheu’s foot mat. Sheu parks his bike properly and launches a physical attack on the area boy. There is a scuffle. The area boy realises that Sheu has were. He releases his foot mat to him. Sheu drives off with a passenger who had observed everything that had happened that night.

Incidentally, Sheu drops this passenger off right where his wife and child were waiting for him. The passenger looks carefully at him and says “looking at you, no one would know you could act the way you did back there…” Sheu’s wife asks him whether he had been involved in a fight again. Sheu ignores her question as he roars his tricycle to life and drives home.

This is just one out of many ways young men and women are trying to survive the harsh economic reality that they have found themselves in within Nigeria. When a transporter is supposed to pay N150 but ends up paying N2,000 as dues daily, he is left with such a little amount to add to whatever profit he must make to keep body and soul together.

And this challenge is not peculiar to Marwa transporters alone. The taxis and motor bike riders face even more challenges. Sheu states that he prefers to ride the Marwa because he has experience in this field of transport. Besides driving, he can repair the vehicle when it is faulty.

The Oyo State government would need to look into this situation. If the illegal Owo-Ita and monies collected by policemen is removed, transporters will make a lot more profit each day and the cost of transportation would even fall.

Government must consider this matter very carefully. If the ordinary man who is trying to eke out a living is continually frustrated from doing this legitimately, he would be forced to employ illegitimate means to survive. For others who cannot do this, when their frustrations exceed a certain level, they may turn against their oppressors – precipitating a revolution.

Source: http://mouthpiece.com.ng/challenges-of-a-marwa-transporter-in-ibadan/

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