KINGDOMPerspective

TO THE CONFERENCE TABLE, O NIGERIA!

2012-01-15T00:18:00.000Z

Alhaji Asari Dokubo

"On the other hand, my dear brothers and sisters in the Niger Delta couldn’t see themselves protesting a policy put in place by their beloved son, in whom they are well pleased; that being, President Goodluck Jonathan! You needed to see Asari Dokubo’s theatrics as he threatened to have his men occupy the oil platforms to prevent oil workers from carrying out their threat to shut themdown by midnight Saturday. According to him, if they take it over, they won’t ever vacate it again!"

And so, the “mother of all strikes” threatened by Labour and its civil society allies did hold! For all of five days,

Nigeria

was shut down. For all of five days, Nigerians from all strata of society gathered in thousands, tens of thousands, and scores of thousands as the case may be in virtually every major town across the nation.

It is unprecedented. Not even the agitation for the actualisation of the June 12, 1993 electoral mandate of Bashorun M.K.O Abiola was this massive and this consistent. Although, fatalities have unfortunately been reported in a number of centres, the street protests and rallies have been largely peaceful – amazingly! The organisers, particularly in Lagos and Abuja deserve commendation for their efforts to keep it so.

The security agencies have also comported themselves well, largely, save for pockets of overzealousness in a few centres. The Federal government deserve commendation for this. Attributable to the public temperament of President Goodluck Jonathan as this is, the fact may also be stated that the world has become more intolerant of suppression of peoples rights of protest; making the fear of The International Criminal Court (ICC) the beginning of wisdom.

No matter how this ends, and I can’t see it ending any other way but the People’s way, the sights and sounds from the Gani Fawehinmi (Freedom) Square, at Ojota, Lagos will remain in the subconscious of many Nigerians, particularly those of current leaders of our nation for a long time. It will also ring across the annals as a warning to potential dictators.

But let’s face it, fall-outs from this anti-subsidy campaign has made the need to rethink this federation more urgent. This is what I mean.

In my understanding of the issues, I thought we were talking about the existence or otherwise of a subsidy on the pump price of petrol in

Nigeria

, and, if there is, whether it is desirable to retain or remove it.

I thought that we were contending at the level of ideas about government’s insistence that there is indeed a subsidy and that it must be removed for Nigeria’s economy to afford bankruptcy in the near to medium term and opposition’s position against government’s.

I thought that there was an emerging consensus that if indeed there is a subsidy to be removed then there must be safety nets prior to its removal as against government’s inclination to withdraw the subsidy and then use its proceeds to put palliatives in place.

I also thought that the strike was called because government in defiance of labour and civil society’s opposition and while consultations were still supposedly on-going, stealthily implemented its position wholesale.

This was why I wrote here last week as follows: “There must be better ways of implementing a public policy that its designers swear to high heavens is meant to ultimately benefit the masses. Governance by stealth, by deceit cannot be one of the ways. And to think that spokespersons of this administration claim an awareness of the fact that Nigerians don’t trust their government. This one not excluded! I won’t waste your time trying to argue for or against the policy itself; not least because I think it’s simply one of those numbers- rather than people-based, one-size-fits-all imposition of the Breton Woods institutions. But for God’s sake why sneak it in while giving every body the impression you are still consulting?!”

But, I seemed to have missed something, if reactions from parts of the South East and the Niger Delta, as reported in the media, are anything to go by.

According to those reports some of my brethren in the East wouldn’t partake of the campaign because, when their kith and kin were being killed by Boko Haram in parts of the North, nobody called people out on strike. On the other hand, my dear brothers and sisters in the Niger Delta couldn’t see themselves protesting a policy put in place by their beloved son, in whom they are well pleased; that being, President Goodluck Jonathan! You needed to see Asari Dokubo’s theatrics as he threatened to have his men occupy the oil platforms to prevent oil workers from carrying out their threat to shut themdown by midnight Saturday. According to him, if they take it over, they won’t ever vacate it again!

Now, coming against the background of earlier Boko Haram ultimatum for Christians to leave the North and Moslems in the South to return home; an ultimatum they followed at expiration with the murder of Christians at a service, I think, we might be more divided than its obviously too politically incorrect for our leaders to admit.

I listened to Methodist Prelate Sunday Ola Makinde on television recently quoting from I Kings chapter 12 the unfortunate division of

Israel

into two right after the death of Solomon and I shudder to contemplate a similar fate for this nation.

Of course, I am fully persuade that God didn’t keep us together this long, thus far to now abandon us. I am fully persuaded that the God’s perfect will for our nation is reflected in word of God that came to me on January 1 from Isaiah 41:11-13: “Don't worry--I am with you. Don't be afraid--I am your God. I will make you strong. I will help you. I will support you with my right hand that brings victory. Look, some people are angry with you, but they will be ashamed and disgraced. Your enemies will be lost and disappear. You will look for the people who were against you, but you will not be able to find them. Those who fought against you will disappear completely. I am the LORD your God, who holds your right hand. And I tell you, 'Don't be afraid! I will help you.’” But then, man has been known to force God’s hands into “permissive will” mode. To avoid that; to stop tempting God, we need to talk now, before it is too late.

2012…SO FAR, NO SURPRISES!

2012-01-08T17:42:00.001Z

President G. E. A Jonathan

I wish desperately to be proven wrong, but how right can one be! How can we now trust him to do all that he has promised; when he can cave in to opportunism at the drop of a hat? Trust is an invaluable substance between leaders and the led. Even God so courted our trust that He swore by Himself!

By the time you read this, the year 2012 would have been eight days old…eight action-packed days. Eight days of suffering for many and of anger for most. And you already know why. It is called “total deregulation of the downstream sector of the oil and gas industry”, otherwise known as withdrawal of subsidy on premium motor spirit (petrol), otherwise known as petrol price hike. It was a new year present, packaged by President Goodluck Jonathan and his transformation crew, and delivered with love and best wishes to the people of Nigeria.

Coming exactly one week after the Christmas package delivered to Nigerians by the Boko Haram sect through its attack at St Theresa’s Catholic Church, Madalla near Abuja, it made the 2011/2012 yuletide season one to remember.

Apart from the various sights of angry protesters in what some have characterised as an Occupy Nigeria campaign, there have been fantastic “photoshop” reactions online too. You might have seen the gentleman peeing in his petrol tank. Or the lady on her knees before her car’s open tank, a big water container besides her, and her Bible aloft, apparently praying for the water to transform to wine (sorry petrol), so she can fill her tank. You might have also received mock sales notices of gas guzzling vehicles put up for sale at prices far below those of bicycles, horses and donkeys!

While these are intended for comic relief, the realities are as grim. Many people who travelled to their home towns and villages, as is usual during the Christmas/new year season, were stranded because they could not afford the new fares of between 100 and 200% increase back to base. Reports of some punning their mobile phones and other items are widespread. Many are, as I write this, still unable to fund their return journey.

There is this scenario that keeps playing in my head. Citizen Joe, as he was wont to do, had perfected his financial plan. He had saved for his children’s school fees due early in January, put aside enough money to transport himself to and from work until his next pay day, and set aside something for the garri-soaking season post end-of-year festivities. Then he got the transformation package from his president. Not one to complain, and desirous of living within his means, he decided he would walk part of the way to and from work. As he sweats his way home in the hot and humid weather, he feels dehydrated. Needing water to get some strength, he approached the “poor” water vendor, his precious N5 in hand, only to be told, sorry “na ten naira”. Citizen Joe fainted!

There must be better ways of implementing a public policy that its designers swear to high heavens is meant to ultimately benefit the masses. Governance by stealth, by deceit cannot be one of the ways. And to think that spokespersons of this administration claim an awareness of the fact that Nigerians don’t trust their government. This one not excluded!

I won’t waste your time trying to argue for or against the policy itself; not least because I think it’s simply one of those numbers- rather than people-based, one-size-fits-all imposition of the Breton Woods institutions. But for God’s sake why sneak it in while giving every body the impression you are still consulting?!

As recently as December 21, 2011, Daily Times Nigeria was still reporting that “the Federal Government…is yet to fix a date for the commencement of the removal of petroleum subsidy. Briefing journalists after the last Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting for the year, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja earlier today, Labaran Maku, the Minister of Information said the government was still engaging different groups in dialogue for a proper understanding of the subsidy issue.” Many other news outfits reported the same.

But, as I said in the headline today, I am not surprised. I am on record as saying that one should never set much store on Dr Goodluck Jonathan’s words. In the run-down to the elections last year, I wrote as follows:

“Dr Goodluck Jonathan is an amiable man who affects a kind of humility uncommon in the history of our presidency. But I submit with all sense of responsibility, that the very fact that he is in this race on the ticket of PDP, puts his integrity to test. I do not support zoning, but he did. He is a signatory to the initial document that affirmed the scheme within his party and a beneficiary of the arrangement. To try, as he did, to sophistically repudiate the arrangement is sheer opportunism. Affecting to be different, he has nonetheless manifested the same double standards, which successive Nigerian leaders have institutionalized. He knows that the use of government facilities for partisan political purposes is, at least, opportunistic and immoral, if not fraudulent. Under his watch, impunity has returned, with the legislative crisis in Ogun state, denial of access to campaign venues, by governments run by PDP as in the case of Buhari at Mapo Hall, Ibadan are poster examples. The point being made here is that the president’s rhetoric has not been matched by his actions and omissions…”

I wish desperately to be proven wrong, but how right can one be! How can we now trust him to do all that he has promised; when he can cave in to opportunism at the drop of a hat? Trust is an invaluable substance between leaders and the led. Even God so courted our trust that He swore by Himself!

Anyway, not only am I not surprised, I am also not worried. And I urge all my compatriots not to be worried, not by this betrayal nor by Boko Haram. In the early hours of January 1, the Holy Spirit led me to these verses of scripture:

Don't worry--I am with you. Don't be afraid--I am your God. I will make you strong. I will help you. I will support you with my right hand that brings victory. Look, some people are angry with you, but they will be ashamed and disgraced. Your enemies will be lost and disappear. You will look for the people who were against you, but you will not be able to find them. Those who fought against you will disappear completely. I am the LORD your God, who holds your right hand. And I tell you, 'Don't be afraid! I will help you.’ (Isaiah 41:10-13).

It’s a message, as much to us as individuals, as it is to our nation. Happy new year, once again.

THE KINGDOM WAY TO FIGHT BOKO HARAM, ETC

2012-01-01T17:36:00.000Z

Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor
President, CAN

"Earlier at the site of the carnage, he told reporters that, while he does not support reprisal attacks, Christians need to rise up and defend themselves. That was not the first time he would be making such a call. Nor has he been alone. Other Christian leaders are on record as saying the same thing. Problem is they never say how!"

In the aftermath of the Christmas day bombing of St Theresa’s Catholic Church, Madalla, near Abuja, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, President, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), was livid with anger. His Tuesday statement said that much:

"I am extremely angry. This is a barbaric and most uncivilised action of human beings in a civilised world. Even animals have respect for each other. It is inhuman, it's barbaric! It's satanic…Christmas is a day when over 80 million Nigerians join billions of fellow Christians across the globe to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, wouldn't you just respect that?...”

Earlier at the site of the carnage, he told reporters that, while he does not support reprisal attacks, Christians need to rise up and defend themselves. That was not the first time he would be making such a call. Nor has he been alone. Other Christian leaders are on record as saying the same thing. Problem is they never say how!

This was why I wrote a four-part serial, “Understanding Kingdom Warfare,” last February. And that is why I am reproducing much of the concluding part of that serial this wonderful New Year’s Day in the hope that somebody out there will catch the vision.

“…The following points can bear repeating: One; that the call upon our brothers and sisters in northern Nigeria, who have been the target of brutal, fatal attacks to rise in self-defence, has come not a moment too soon. This is because the aberration of children of a warrior God known and addressed liberally in scripture as Jehovah Sabaoth (the Lord of the Armies of Heaven), being made mince meat, as it were, by agents of a defeated cowardly foe has gone on for too long.

“Two, support for that point of view is not support for physically arming Christians with guns and machetes and bombs and forming militias. It is quite simply a call upon children of God to rise up and utilize those weapons that are already available to them as identified in the Bible; weapons, which are in no way physical or carnal; yet they are no less potent. This much is clear from these words of Apostle Paul: “the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds” (2 Corinthians 10:4).

“Three, the resort to spiritual, rather than physical weapons, is necessitated by the biblical insight that the men and women who stalk, attack, maim and kill are not the real enemies. They are mere tools in the hands of an evil general known as satan, who is a spirit and can therefore only be dealt with in the spirit realm. Again Apostle Paul offered us that insight when he wrote: ‘For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the despotisms, against the powers, against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere (Ephesians 6:12)…’

“Four, the same Paul identified what he called the whole armour of God clearly in verses 14-17 of Ephesians 6 from which we have already quoted as follows: ‘Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God’ (emphasis added).

“Five…all but the last component of the ‘whole armour of God’ are defensive weapons. Only the sword of the spirit is a weapon of offense. Yet, a very critical part of defensive warfare is attack, preemptive attack or to put in street language ‘attack is the best form of defence’.

“The point was also made that the Church, generally speaking, cannot be found guilty of failing to teach on truth, righteousness, the gospel of peace, faith and salvation. This, as I noted, is understandable because, they are “basic and foundational to our faith”…Unfortunately the word as the sword of the Spirit is not as comprehensively taught as it ought to be, and that is what has given the enemy the victory he continues to enjoy, not just in northern Nigeria, but in virtually every part of the world.” Happy new year,

Nigeria

Yet, the Bible didn’t mince words about the place of the word in Kingdom warfare. The writer of the book of Hebrews said of this power-packed weapon: “The word is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword… (4:12). The Good News translation of the latter part of Ephesians 6:17 urges us to “accept…the word of God as the sword which the Spirit gives you” while the Amplified version in that same verse described the word as “the sword that the Spirit wields…”

At least two verses in the book of Revelations throw further light on this subject. First, the Lord Jesus was not armed any differently. It was said of him that …”out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword” (1:16), and then described tellingly as “he which hath the sharp sword with two edges” (2:12).”

Two things become apparent here. The Lord won all his victories not by using bazookas and ICBMs. He won by using the word. Two, he won by doing the one thing that you do with words: spoke them out of his mouth, using his tongue, allowed them beyond his lips. In other words our mouths serve as the rocket launchers. That explains why the Bible has such verses as: “Death and life are in the power of the tongue…” (Proverbs 18:21); “…the lips of the wise shall preserve them (Proverbs 14:3)…”

The critical point to note in all of these, however, is that the mouth is not a free agent. It does not speak of its own volition; it speaks what the mind says to speak. The mind, on the other hand, is, at every given point, fed by one of two sources: the Spirit of God though the heart, or the spirit of satan through the senses. The Bible puts it this way: “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart (mind) bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart (mind) bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh (Luke 6:45; parenthesis added).

It takes knowledge to grasp these truths and run with them. That is why teaching is very critical and urgent, if we are to rise from the current helpless victim mentality that pervades the church.

THAT “BACK TO SCHOOL” ADVICE

2011-12-25T16:56:00.002Z

Prof Wole Soyinka

"For instance I have always thought that when God made man in his image and after his likeness, and assigned them to multiply and replenish the earth, he was providing a means for that purpose by creating them male and female. Now, I have to unlearn that! I have to come to grips with the new reality that procreation is obsolete and the womb is one body part that needs not have existed. The world is already over-populated anyway."

Oluwole Akinwande Soyinka does not suffer fools gladly. You wouldn’t too, if, like him, you are a literary icon of such gigantic stature that your people call you their very own WS, sharing as you do initials with the late world renowned William Shakespeare. You wouldn’t too if you were Africa’s first Nobel laureate in literature whose forte covers the whole gamut of literary expression as poet, playwright, and actor, novelist, essayist, polemist, even lyricist and singer! You wouldn’t too, if all the elements of learning fit smugly in you.

Yes, Wole Soyinka does not take hostages, unless of course you find yourself in a radio station when he happens along to make an important broadcast to a nation held hostage by a bunch of unschooled soldiers. Which brings me to the issue at hand, school and education for our lawmakers, particularly, those at the centre in Abuja.

According to our highly respected omniscient professor, the whole lot of them need to return to school. Although he didn’t say which, I would not be surprised if he recommends some secondary school in Abeokuta where they can study civics, and in the process get to learn to differentiate between private and public affairs. The legislators including the professors amongst them need to be herded into a classroom to be taught that what two adult consenting males or females do with each other is not the business of the state.

Although the activist professor didn’t say so, all of us who support the anti-gay marriage bill passed by the Senate and, which has gone through first reading the House of Representatives would necessarily have to join the legislators in school. That would be one a classroom to behold! Students will come in babanriga and one-footer caps, long-tail shirts and resource control caps will abound; head-ties and scarves will add a kaleidoscope of colours while contour-emphasising day dresses will not be missing. Muslim leaders in colourful turbans, priests in cassocks and pastors in flowing robes with giant size solid-gold crosses won’t be left out. God help untitled people like us who might not find space in the classroom or, if we did, might not hear a word from the back of behind that classroom.

For me though, it won’t matter much, because I think I have an idea of, not only what I shall be going in there to learn, but also what I shall be going to unlearn. Apart from a crash course in the expanding frontiers of human rights and civil liberties, and the absolute irrelevance of religion in the public domain, as already canvassed by the Prof, I shall have to unlearn some of the “idiotic” things that being a Christian has made me believe.

For instance I have always thought that when God made man in his image and after his likeness, and assigned them to multiply and replenish the earth, he was providing a means for that purpose by creating them male and female. Now, I have to unlearn that! I have to come to grips with the new reality that procreation is obsolete and the womb is one body part that need not have existed. The world is already over-populated anyway.

I used to think that God didn’t make me fearfully and wonderfully (see Psalm 139:4) just to demonstrate his creative prowess. For instance I’ve always marvelled at the information in Finis Jennings Dake, the Bible scholar and writer’s the Doctrine of Man, that the body consists of “various chemicals—iron, sugar, salt, carbon, iodine, phosphorus, lime, calcium, and others”; that it “has 263 bones; 600 muscles; 970 miles of blood vessels; 400 cups on the tongue for taste; 20,000 hairs in the ears to tune in to all sounds; 40 pounds of jaw pressure; 10,000,000 nerves and branches; 3,500 sweat tubes to each square inch of skin (or 40 miles long); 20,000,000 mouths that suck food as it goes through the intestines; 600,000,000 air cells to the lungs that inhale 2,400 gallons of air daily; and a communication network that relates to the brain instantly any known sound, taste, sight, touch or smell;” and also that “the heart beats 4,200 times an hour and pumps 12 tons of blood daily.”

Benjamin Carson, the Black American neurosurgeon’s statement that the human brain has hundreds of billions of interconnections and is therefore much more sophisticated than anything that man has ever or possibly would ever create…” also concentrates my mind on a purposeful God. One, whose purpose should be respected not thwarted.

Now, I know I have to unlearn that. Now I know, it doesn’t matter what we do with what: defecate from the mouth (talk of diarrhoea of the mouth); fart through the ears or feed through the eyes! If it feels good, do it, as long as you find a consenting adult to do it to or with. Society has nothing to do with it; talk less of a God you cannot see.

Another thing to unlearn is the so-called truth that “the risk of contracting the Human Immunodeficiency Virus through anal sex is seven times higher than through vaginal sex”, even if one Mrs. Aisha Adaranijo, senior manager, New HIV Vaccine and Microbicides Advocacy Society had the temerity to restate it as recently as last week.

Her explanation that “the anus being a narrow and dry passage is susceptible to tears when penetrated” making “the risk of contacting the HIV “very high”, is obviously of no consequence. Not even the fact that governments the world over have spent enormous resources in AIDS research that subsequently led to the development antiretroviral drugs, gives them the right to legislate our sexual choices. Neither does the fact that those resources could have been expended more productively elsewhere give society any role in what adults do behind closed doors. Antiretroviral drugs, after all, are administered behind closed doors, even if they are subsidised with public funds.

The international gay lobby has a big influential backer, active or passive, in Professor Wole Soyinka, who as I said earlier does not suffer fools gladly. But then, why does Psalm 14:1 keep ringing in my head? Merry Christmas; see you all in 2012, by God’s grace.

THE BATTLE LINE IS DRAWN! (2)

2011-12-18T16:20:00.001Z

INCRESE Founder,
Dorothy Aken'Ova

"Delay is dangerous. It is dangerous because the same forces that truncated two previous attempts at the legislation are already gathering. With the release of fund from their principals the so-called human rights activist will begin to find their voice. One already did...one of the NGOs earlier identified in this column as a signatory to the Amnesty International petition against House Bill 105 of 2009, is already kicking."

You didn’t have to be clairvoyant to foresee the kind of reactions that have come from the gay movement and their principals in the various western capitals. As reported here last time, they are already yelling blue murder over our decision, as a people, to throw our lot with God over same sex relationships.

As always, the United States excelled its allies in the steps it took to leave us in no doubt that the Yankees mean business. Shortly after Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s self-serving rehash of time-worn, untenable arguments for recognising homosexuality as a human right which must be protected, Washington was reported to have released money thousands of dollars in grant to support gay right activism abroad. It’s a no-brainer that most of that fund will end up in Nigeria.

That has buttressed my assertion here a few weeks ago that “they (the international gay lobby) will work hard to abort this bill at either of the next two steps. They will use every weapon in their arsenal – money, blackmail, intimidation, carrot and stick etc.”

That was why I canvassed “…the need for everybody in support of this law to do everything possible to avoid a loss of momentum. The House of Representatives must be encouraged to fast track its debate and passage.” I recalled calling on “Deputy Speaker Emeka Ihedioha…as one of the sponsors of the aborted 2009 House Bill 150 (A Bill for an Act to Prohibit Marriage between Persons of Same Gender, Solemnization of Same and for other Matters related therewith)… to rally all the other sponsors still in the House to spearhead this new move. Any loss of momentum can be fatal”.

Mercifully, Providence gave him the opportunity to preside over the House session which saw the bill pass through the first reading that same week. But, I shall never tire of saying it; a bill is still a bill until it goes through the whole process. The House must be encouraged, cajoled, pushed, whatever, to fast track this bill so it can go to the President for accent.

Delay is dangerous. It is dangerous because the same forces that truncated two previous attempts at the legislation are already gathering. With the release of fund from their principals the so-called human rights activist will begin to find their voice. One already did.

According to a Next online report of December 9, signed by Jethro Ibileke, one of the NGOs earlier identified in this column as a signatory to the Amnesty International petition against House Bill 105 of 2009, is already kicking. The report reads thus:

“A Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), the International Centre for Sexual Reproductive Rights (INCRESE), has called on Nigerians and civil organizations to look closely into the same sex bill to see what implications they would have on every Nigerian, irrespective of gender, sex, religion, creed, culture, sexuality, tradition, origin, ethnic group and political opinion.

“The statement signed by the National Coordinator of INCRESE, Dorothy Aken’ova, observed that every time laws are introduced, most Nigerians do not understand what the provisions of such bills are and their implications on their daily lives as citizens of Nigeria.

“’As noted from lack of a close look at such bills, most Nigerians make abrupt conclusions by concurring with the titles of the bills alone, due to already cultural, religious or political sentiments established on subject matters around same sex issues. It is a duty upon civil society organizations in Nigeria to inform and educate the citizens and be the whistle blowers when needed especially when these kind of oppressive and dangerous legislations are brought forward by our parliamentarians,’ the statement noted.

“According to the press statement, there are reports from around the country of mob action and intimidation of people and individuals who are already being targeted due to discuss on the proposed legislation. We received reports from Benin, Calabar and Lagos and other parts of the country of situations where people are targeted and threatened by mob with extreme intrusiveness of the privacy of those persons whose behaviour does not conform with gender and social roles.

“‘We urge Nigerian civil society organizations, the media, women rights group, feminist forums, social health workers, civil liberties organizations, the Nigerian Bar Association, the Nigerian Human Rights Commission, Christian associations, Muslim associations, to mention but a few, to join hands with other CSOs to call on the president and the National Assembly to re-consider this bill to ensure that it protects basic democratic and human rights principles in Nigeria.

“’In summary, the implication and the aims of the bill, despite the best intention of the legislators, will go far beyond the prohibition of same sex marriage, and be used either as a censorship as well as punitive tool or against the democratic process of the country’.”

INCRESE, by the way, is a Minna, Niger state-based NGO founded by one Ms Dorothy Aken’ova, a Nigerien by birth but Nigerian by marriage. It is said to be “pioneering multidisciplinary research and communication project on sexual diversity and human rights in Nigeria”. For this it got a Ford Foundation grant of $190,000 in 2006. Before its known website (increse-increse.org) was suspended for undisclosed reasons, it had the following listed as Board of Trustees members: Dr. Benoit Kalasa, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, Dr. Babacar Fall, Dr. Afua Hesse, Prof. Bene Madunagu, Dr. Zagbayi Nuhu, Dr. Angela Giwa–Osagie, Ms. Cynthia Rothschild and, of course, Ms. Dorothy Aken‘ova, herself.

This, I can assure you, dear reader, is the first salvo because once funds become available to these groups, they will deploy it liberally to delay the bill, distract the House with campaigns that there are more issues critical to the well being of Nigerians than an anti-gay marriage law, and suborn officials that they can etc. The goal is so the bill can go the way of others before it. Vigilance is required if this bill is going to become law. Even when it is done, it will be only the beginning of a long drawn battle for the soul of our nation, but it will be well worth it. For that reason, you’ve not heard the last from me on this subject. Merry Christmas in advance.

THE BATTLE LINE IS DRAWN!

2011-12-11T16:07:00.001Z

Hillary Clinton, US Secretary of State

"Indeed, our religion and our culture are sources of compassion and inspiration toward our fellow human beings. It was not only those who’ve justified slavery who leaned on religion, it was also those who sought to abolish it. And let us keep in mind that our commitments to protect the freedom of religion and to defend the dignity of LGBT people emanate from a common source"- Hilary Clinton

Many well meaning Nigerians, including some respected intellectuals don’t see what the big deal is about Senate Bill 05 that I have been discussing and promoting these past few weeks. One of them wondered on his Facebook page during the week why our legislators have not given corruption the kind of attention that the gay issue is receiving. Another even posited that it is the strategy of the legislators is to divert out attention to this unimportant issue, while they are busy looting and carting their loot to their various bank accounts.

I sympathise with these very patriotic Nigerian who have been led to such cynicisms as to suspect every action and omission of our lawmakers. But I daresay that they deserve commendation and require encouragement to see this anti-gay marriages bill passed into law.

Developments since the bill began its journey at the Senate ought to cause a rethink amongst the cynical and indifferent ones amongst us. It is already well known that the United Kingdom’s government rose stoutly against the bill, threatening us with an aid ban.

Canada

soon came on board with Foreign Minister, John Baird not only voicing his country’s opposition to the bill, but also promising to mount a campaign against at other fora. His words: "The government of Nigeria must protect all Nigerians, regardless of sexual orientation…Through the Commonwealth and other forums,

Canada

will continue to make this point in the most forceful of terms."

Then came the United States of America, the so-called leader of the Free world, which according to a December 6 Bloomberg report has decided to “weigh how countries treat gays and lesbians in making decisions about foreign aid”.

Quoting from a memorandum described as “first-ever U.S. government strategy dedicated to combating human rights abuses against LGBT persons abroad” issued by President Barack Obama’s White House, the report said the President “is directing all agencies engaged abroad to make sure U.S. diplomacy and aid programs ‘promote and protect’ the rights of gays and lesbians.”

Bloomberg further quoted the memorandum as saying: “The struggle to end discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) persons is a global challenge, and one that is central to the United States commitment to promoting human rights…promoting the human rights of homosexuals, bisexuals and transgender people reflects our deep commitment to advancing the human rights of all people.

The memorandum, continues the report, “directs all agencies engaged abroad to improve refugee and asylum protections for gay, bisexual and transgender people. It also calls for strengthening U.S. efforts to oppose foreign governments criminalizing homosexuality, bisexuality or transgender behavior. U.S. foreign aid programs will increase government and civil society engagement to promote gay rights.

The last part of this report is particularly striking, because the United States is declaring that apart from withholding aids from countries which criminalise homosexuality, it will fund homosexual groups. In order words, the US will use money to undermine the legitimate laws of other countries. That sounds like a thinly disguised declaration of war.

Secretary of State Hilary Clinton went on to spell out the rationale for the memorandum and the policy it enunciated the following day at the United Nations Human Rights Commission in Geneva.

CNSNews.com’s report of Clinton’ statement said to have been issued ahead of the commemoration of Human Rights Day on Saturday December 10 read in part like this: “…Clinton said recognition that LGBT people ‘are entitled to the full measure of dignity and rights’ has evolved over time: And as it did, we understood that we were honoring rights that people always had, rather than creating new or special rights for them. Like being a woman, like being a racial, religious, tribal, or ethnic minority, being LGBT does not make you less human. And that is why gay rights are human rights, and human rights are gay rights.’

“Clinton noted that among the challenges facing LGBT people is ‘when people cite religious or cultural values as a reason to violate or not to protect the human rights of LGBT citizens. This is not unlike the justification offered for violent practices towards women like honor killings, widow burning, or female genital mutilation. Some people still defend those practices as part of a cultural tradition. But violence toward women isn't cultural; it's criminal. Likewise with slavery, what was once justified as sanctioned by God is now properly reviled as an unconscionable violation of human rights,’ she said.

"’In each of these cases, we came to learn that no practice or tradition trumps the human rights that belong to all of us. And this holds true for inflicting violence on LGBT people, criminalizing their status or behavior, expelling them from their families and communities, or tacitly or explicitly accepting their killing.

"’Rarely are cultural and religious traditions and teachings actually in conflict with the protection of human rights,’ Clinton continued. ‘Indeed, our religion and our culture are sources of compassion and inspiration toward our fellow human beings. It was not only those who’ve justified slavery who leaned on religion, it was also those who sought to abolish it. And let us keep in mind that our commitments to protect the freedom of religion and to defend the dignity of LGBT people emanate from a common source.

“’For many of us, religious belief and practice is a vital source of meaning and identity, and fundamental to who we are as people. And likewise, for most of us, the bonds of love and family that we forge are also vital sources of meaning and identity. And caring for others is an expression of what it means to be fully human. It is because the human experience is universal that human rights are universal and cut across all religions and cultures’"

Anyone who has followed the debate on gay rights will of course find nothing new in Clinton’s attempt to press love, a decided godly attribute, into action in the pursuit of a clearly an ungodly idea – one that runs counter to His single most important assignment for mankind - continuation of the species. (CONTINUES).

CALLING EMEKA IHEDIOHA AND CO

2011-12-04T15:26:00.004Z

Sir Emeka Ihedioha, Deputy Speaker,
Federal House of Representatives

"The House of Representatives must be encouraged to fast track its debate and passage. Deputy Speaker Emeka Ihedioha has a major role here. As one of the sponsors of the aborted 2009 House Bill 150 (A Bill for an Act to Prohibit Marriage between Persons of Same Gender, Solemnization of Same and for other Matters related therewith)” , he must now rally all the other sponsors still in the House to spearhead this new move. Any loss of momentum can be fatal."

With the passing of Senate Bill 05, formally cited as “An Act to Prohibit Same Sex Marriages” last week, one giant step has been taken towards dealing a major blow for righteousness, in our social milieu. But it is, to borrow a cliché, one down, two to go.

I wish to congratulate our distinguished senators for being truly distinguished on this subject. The missionary zeal with which they went about it, as seen live on television, further persuades me that many of our senators are patriots able to rise in defence of the national interest. Against the background that the government of the United Kingdom did not stop at its general declaration of an “aid war” on African nations who fail to accord homosexuality human rights status, but also sent a letter to the Senate Committee considering the bill, the senators must be applauded for their courage.

Their defiance of external interference in the regulation of our social and moral conduct was very clearly demonstrated by the unanimity of the passage and voiced by the Senate President. His words: “Anybody can write to us, but our values are our values. If there is any country that does not want to give us aid or assistance, just because we hold on very firmly to our values, that country can keep its assistance. No country has a right to interfere in the way we make our own laws.”

But as I said above, we are still two steps away from the bill becoming law. The House of Representative still has to debate and pass it; and in case of differences in the two versions, go for harmonisation. The harmonised version would of course require the signature of the President to become an Act of the National Assembly. In other words, the battle is not over yet.

If experience has shown anything about the way the international gay lobby functions, they will work hard to abort this bill at either of the next two steps. They will use every weapon in their arsenal – money, blackmail, intimidation, carrot and stick etc. There’s therefore the need for everybody in support of this law to do everything possible to avoid a loss of momentum. The House of Representatives must be encouraged to fast track its debate and passage. Deputy Speaker Emeka Ihedioha has a major role here. As one of the sponsors of the aborted 2009 House Bill 150 (A Bill for an Act to Prohibit Marriage between Persons of Same Gender, Solemnization of Same and for other Matters related therewith)” , he must now rally all the other sponsors still in the House to spearhead this new move. Any loss of momentum can be fatal.

The President has already demonstrated his opposition to the conferment of human rights status to homosexuality through our permanent representative, Ambassador Joy Ogwu’s vote during a recent debate in the United Nations. He should not be allowed room for any kind of rethink!

Incidentally, one of the tactics that would be employed by the gay lobby is to play on the liberal sensibilities of the intelligentsia in Nigeria by downplaying the importance of the gay issue relative to other so called pressing national issues. They will point out that corruption is still alive and well; that kidnapping and armed robbery are still rampart; that the Boko Haram sect is yet to be reined in; that our economy is tottering etc. And from that position accuse of legislators of misplaced priority and denounce them as an unserious bunch. Many of those who would canvass this position of course mean well; they would be sincere; but they would be sincerely wrong.

It is a scenario I addressed in an article headlined, “Homosexuality and the Price of Fish”. That piece on October 12, 2008, noted that because of our liberal tendencies, we have been dismissing attempts by governments to deal with social issues of any kind as unimportant. Pointing out that homosexuality was one of those issues being characterised as unimportant, I wrote: “As someone would have put it, what has homosexuality or nudity got to do with the price of fish, or garri? For effect, he would have added, “make we hear word, jare” which is street lingo for, let’s get serious”.

As I wrote then, “they would be dead right, if the gay challenge wasn’t getting dead serious, as a recent newspaper report demonstrated. The report headlined: ‘Gay Church Arrives Nigeria’, had two riders: ‘Christian, Muslim clerics declare: it’s evil!’ ‘National Assembly must fight it.’”

The report was published by Sunday Sun then read in part like this: “For the first time in Nigeria, men who openly declared themselves as homosexuals gathered penultimate weekend at a church in Ojodu, a Lagos suburb. Under the auspices of a yet-to-be registered church - House of Rainbow Metropolitan Community Church - the men held a seminar and night vigil. The heavily guarded event paraded men who wore necklaces, rings, conducted themselves and spoke softly like women”.

Continued the report which carried the bylines of Jossy Idam and Paul Omo Obadan: “Ironically, the homosexuals held the fiesta in the hall of United Bible University, Yakoyo Road, Ojudu, Lagos. The venue also serves as a place of worship for Christian Pentecostal Mission (CPM). The event, Sunday Sun learnt, was championed by a lawyer and theologian, Rev. Roland Babajide Macaulay. On the days of the event, a retinue of mean-looking, ill-tempered security men barred our reporter from entering the venue and meeting the men…”

“House of Rainbow Metropolitan Community Church is reported to have been in existence since 2006 and is said to be affiliated to other metropolitan community churches in America and Europe. Its “mission and vision”, according to the Sunday Sun report, quoting a public statement by Rev. Roland Macaulay is “to transform hearts, lives and history and especially, to help people reconcile their sexuality and spirituality.”

As I wrote then, the report simply shows “the international gay movement is gaining inroads into our nation while we ‘get serious’ with those seemingly urgent issues ‘that has to do with the price of fish and garri.’

In that column, I also quoted a Time magazine online story which demonstrated how “within the space of 43 years, homosexuality and same-sex marriages had transformed from being a sin, a crime and a mental illness, to become an orientation to which human rights apply, a social preference and is increasingly being de-listed as a sin in many parts of the United States of America”.

I warned then that “homosexuality might fare better in

Nigeria

sooner, if Nigerians do not move against it now! Thank God, the Senate has risen to the challenge. Will both the House of Representatives and the President join in dealing this blow for righteousness?

Still on the the Anti-Gay Marriage Bill (2): THOSE WHO NEED TO SPEAK UP!

2011-11-27T00:56:00.005Z

Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, Founder, HURILAWS
Does HURILAWS support Senate Bill 05?

"Also prominent among the NGOs, with influential connections, listed as signatories to the AI statement are: HURILAWS; Socio-Economic Rights & Accountability Project SERAP; The International Centre for Reproductive Health and Sexual Rights (INCRESE); Centre for Law Enforcement Education (CLEEN Foundation); and Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO)."

As I said here last time, there are some influential Nigerians who can be seen, rightly or wrongly, as supporting the position, canvassed by Amnesty International (AI) that homosexuality is a human right that should be protected, not criminalised. These are men and women of impeccable public record, but who serve on the boards of or are otherwise associated, with NGOs listed as signatories to the AI petition against House Bill 150 otherwise known as “A Bill for an Act to Prohibit Marriage between Persons of Same Gender, Solemnization of Same and for other Matters related therewith” in 2009.

The bill, which never went beyond the public hearing stage, was sponsored by 49 members of the House including the current Deputy Speaker, Emeka Ihedioha. There is no knowing what led to its quiet death, but as I have pointed out here before, its fate was similar to that of Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Bill, 2006, presented by the Olusegun Obasanjo administration.

Now here’s “An Act to Prohibit Same Sex Marriages” (Senate Bill 05), which just went through a public hearing. It must not be allowed to go the way of its predecessors. That means all hands must be on deck. We must utilise the patriotic and nationalistic instinct aroused in many members of AI’s traditional constituency by David Cameron’s gay-for-aid bully tactic to push through this new initiative. We must enlist every possible person; including the influential Nigerians whose silence may be wrongly seen as acquiesce.

Among these influential people are members of the Nigeria Bar Association, listed through its Human Rights Institute. As I said in closing last time, the institute was established “to promote and protect the rule of law, independence of the legal profession effectively and efficiently, and to advance human rights enforcement in Nigeria,” and its membership is “open to all legal practitioners and law firms in Nigeria interested in pursuing the objects of the institute…”

Although this membership clause suggests that a legal practitioner can belong to the NBA without being a member of the institute, the question that arises is does the institute speak for the NBA on human right matters? If it does, would it be right then to conclude that Nigerian lawyers, a preponderance of whom would claim to be Christians or Moslems, support the Al statement in support of gay marriage? Any which way, the NBA needs to speak up.

The last time I checked, Rev Father Matthew Hassan Kukah and Dr Mrs Obiageli Ezekwesili were on the board of the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD). The centre was "established in October 1997 in response to the need for an independent space for critical reflection and development of universally relevant and culturally sensitive responses to the challenges posed by the democracy and development agenda in the West African sub-region, CDD has become a major reference point for informed analysis and practical strategies on West African socio-political dynamics.”

Apart from the fact that support for same-sex marriage, even indirectly, would seem to run counter to the goal of seeking universally relevant and culturally sensitive responses to the democratic and development challenges (emphasise added), it would be interesting to hear the position of the highly respected Kukah now Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto and Ezekwesili, a World Bank vice-president, and a committed Christian married to a Pentecostal pastor.

Also prominent among the NGOs, with influential connections, listed as signatories to the AI statement are: HURILAWS; Socio-Economic Rights & Accountability Project SERAP; The International Centre for Reproductive Health and Sexual Rights (INCRESE); Centre for Law Enforcement Education (CLEEN Foundation); and Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO).

HURILAWS was founded by none other than Olisa Agbakoba, a human rights activist, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and former President of the Nigerian Bar Association. It started in 1997 as, “an independent, non-profit service, dedicated to providing public interest and human rights law services to advance the legal protection of human rights and has “working relations with the Episcopal Commission for Justice, Development & Peace Commission of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria…”.

Now, Agbakoba’s catholic credentials are incontrovertible and that might explain HURILAW’s working relationship with a commission of the Church. The position of the Catholic Church of Nigeria on homosexuality is too well-known to require a rehash here. So, how does he explain HURILAW’s place on AI’s list of signatories?

SERAP was established in 2004 to promote transparency and accountability in the public and private sectors through human rights. It’s National Advisory Board members are: Mr. Femi Falana, President West African Bar Association, Mr Tayo Oyetibo (SAN), Professor Oluwole Smith, Dean Faculty of Law, Lagos State University, and Mrs.Ayo Atsenuwa, Professor of Law at the University of Lagos. How opposition to HB 150 promotes “transparency and accountability in the public and private sectors through human rights” is beyond me. Makes you, wonder, doesn’t it, whether these influential Nigerians are privy to their NGO’s signature on Amnesty’s statement.

INCRESE touts itself as “the leading Nigerian NGO working for a favourable environment and expanding access to sexual health and rights information and services and has as its vision, “to be the preferred leading sexual health and right NGO.” With its so-called values as “Autonomy, Diversity, Integrity and Choice,” it is not inconceivable that “choice” might include abortion rights and perhaps a choice to marry within your gender. But does Dr Kayode Fayemi, Governor of Ekiti State, endorse this – being one of the Nigerians on INCRESE’s Board of Trustees?

Where do the following respected Nigerians stand of this issue: Mrs. Ayo Obe, human rights lawyer and former president of the Civil Liberties Organization; Josephine Effah Chukwuma, who pioneered the establishment of shelter for female victims of violence in Nigeria, and is currently the executive director of Project Alert on Violence Against Women and; retired Police Commissioner Frank Odita, former public relations chief of the Nigeria Police Force, and currently producer of Security Watch on television (all members of the Board of Trustees of CLEEN Foundation, also a signatory); Innocent Chukwuma, secretary of the foundation; and Festus Okoye, another icon of human rights struggles, whose NGO, Human Rights Monitor, was also on the list.

Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, over to you.

STILL ON THE ANTI-GAY MARRIAGES BILL (1)

2011-11-20T00:46:00.004Z

Joseph Daodu, President, NBA
Is the NBA against Senate Bill 05?

“One is therefore fully persuaded that this is an issue about which everyone who has any kind of claim to leadership in Nigeria should take a stand, clearly and unambiguously. This is because certain individuals and institutions have powerful opinion moulding capabilities, and are therefore able to influence society for good or for ill."

In How Cameron Can Help Nigeria’s Anti-Gay Marriage Bill (November 3, 2011), I made the point that Senate Bill 05 otherwise known as “An Act to Prohibit Same Sex Marriages”, has a very good chance of pulling through, thanks to the bully tactics of David Cameron’s government.

My argument was that in its brazenness and its timing, the threat by Cameron to withhold budget support aid from African nations who do not legalise homosexuality, and the backlash can only help the bill. At this point, I wrote “not even the motley crowd of ‘politically correct’ foreign grant dependent Nigerian human rights and civil liberties activists, usually mobilised by Amnesty International”, can afford to be seen as anything but nationalists.

Since that piece some readers have wondered about my characterisation of some NGOs as “the motley crowd of ‘politically correct’ foreign grant dependent Nigerian human rights and civil liberties activists, usually mobilised by Amnesty International.” It is in direct response to this class of readers that I return to this subject today.

In returning to the subject, I shall be quoting from an earlier article on the subject, “Who’s who Against HB150” (April 12, 2009). It was written in the heat of the debate on “A Bill for an Act to Prohibit Marriage between Persons of Same Gender, Solemnization of Same and for other Matters related therewith” in 2009, sponsored by 49 members of the House including the current Deputy Speaker, Emeka Ihedioha. That bill, as I pointed out two weeks ago, simply fizzled out right after the public hearing; a same fate suffered by an earlier executive bill, Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Bill, 2006, presented by the then Obasanjo administration. This was why I warned that “proponents of the bill, particularly the church should go to sleep. We need to step hard on the throttle and get the bill fast-tracked before momentum is lost.”

A brief backgrounder is in order here. When House Bill 150 went for public hearing, Amnesty International wrote a memorandum, dated January 26, 2009, strongly opposing it, arguing that same-sex attraction was a human right that must be protected, not criminalised. That of course did not surprise any close watcher of that international body’s position on the subject globally. What surprised, even shocked many, including yours sincerely, was the long list of Nigeria-based and Nigerian-run NGOs listed as co-signatories to the pro gay-marriage memorandum.

On that list were such NGOs as: Centre for Democracy & Development, (CDD); Centre for Environment, Human Rights and Development (CEHRD); Centre for Law Enforcement Education (CLEEN Foundation); Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), Nigeria; Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Nigeria; and Human Rights Law Service (HURILAWS). Human Rights Monitor (HRM); International Centre for Reproductive Health and Sexual Rights (INCRESE); Legal Defence and Assistance Project (LEDAP) and Legal Resources Consortium (LRC).

Others are: Nigerian Humanist Movement; Partnership for Justice (PJ); Prisoners Rehabilitation and Welfare Action (PRAWA); Socio-Economic Rights & Accountability Project (SERAP); The Independent Project for Equal Rights; Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC); Girls' Power Initiative (GPI); House of Rainbow Metropolitan (HRMCC) and Youths 2gether Network.

The shock became even deeper when, a little online check revealed those connected with these NGOs, and who are at least vicariously, linked to the gay marriage support campaign.

I made the point then and I wish to reiterate that “…in a free country like ours, the right to support or refuse to support any bill before the National Assembly is inalienable. So also is the right to be indifferent. But it would be unfortunate, wouldn’t it, if one were to be associated with a position on any issue merely by default…”

And as I stated then, the gay issue wasn’t just any issue. It was and remains one “that’s capable of defining the very future of mankind! No matter how exaggerated it may seem to the liberal sensibilities of many of us, the truth is, as marriage goes, so goes the culture, and the future of the human race. At its most basic is the rhetorical question the Guardian newspaper raised in its editorial on the subject: ‘Homosexuals are claiming that men can marry themselves. If everyone followed their example, would they have even been born?’”

Continuing, I wrote: “One is therefore fully persuaded that this is an issue about which everyone who has any kind of claim to leadership in Nigeria should take a stand, clearly and unambiguously. This is because certain individuals and institutions have powerful opinion moulding capabilities, and are therefore able to influence society for good or for ill.

"Interestingly, some of these role models who, in my opinion, have discharged themselves creditably for the public good, are being linked to pro-same-sex marriage approval, through some organisations they are connected with. A check on the antecedents of the NGOs said to be standing with Amnesty against HB 150 would probably lead you to join me in wondering if there hasn’t been a mistake somewhere.

Space will permit me to close-up on only one of them today, The Nigerian Bar Association, listed through its Human Rights Institute. Established “to promote and protect the rule of law, independence of the legal profession effectively and efficiently, and to advance human rights enforcement in Nigeria,” NBA–HRI’s membership is “open to all legal practitioners and law firms in Nigeria interested in pursuing the objects of the institute…”

Although this membership clause suggests that a legal practitioner can belong to the NBA without being a member of the institute, the question that arises is does the institute speak for the NBA? I would be surprised if there are many right-thinking members of the public who would hold otherwise. Would it therefore not be right to conclude that Nigerian lawyers, a preponderance of whom would claim to subscribe to Christianity or Islam, support the Amnesty International statement that is clearly saying that homosexuality is a human right? I think not. Yet if the NBA or, at least, Association of Christian Lawyers has dissociated itself from this position, I am unaware of it! (CONTINUES).

THE CHURCH AS LION AND PUSSYCAT

2011-11-13T05:38:00.005Z

These, in his opinion, include: Pride, Insecurity, Suspicion, Ambition, Competition, Immaturity, Independence and Fear. He defined independence as that state of mind where a church leader feels so complete in himself that he requires help from nobody. Fear on the other hand feeds on what a leader thinks he might lose in the place of unity, such as, position, fame, pre-eminence

From Left: Pastor Wale Adefarasin, Archbishop Magnus Atilade
and Monsignor Gabriel Osu at the IFCU Symposium

Rev Dr Moses Iloh was at the International Foundation for Christian Unity annual symposium the other day. He wasn’t the keynote speaker. Nor was he one of the discussants. In fact, he came late, pleading traffic and the pressure from other duties. But the octogenarian founder and senior pastor of Soul Winners Chapel was his usual self. In his very brief contribution, he illustrated one of the most debilitating effects of disunity in the church – weakness.

He reminded everyone about how a young brilliant man has taken on the whole church of 80million people. That “young brilliant man” is Central Bank Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, and of course you know the subject, Islamic Banking! Describing the Nigerian church as 80 million impotent people, he said “we are lions in church on Sunday; but outside the church, we are pussy-cats.”

You could have heard a pin drop momentarily, but then a thunderous applause soon followed. People like to applaud those who speak truth to power, even if they wouldn’t dare attempt it from a distance.

This year’s edition of the symposium with the theme, “That They May Be One”, like the three before it, never lacked moments of such home truths. Indeed, if we were to match action with only a small percentage of what was said at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs venue of the event, we would be well on our way to achieving the much needed unity.

The Guest of Honour who doubled as Keynote Speaker, President, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor was no less forthright in his presentation on the topic, “Exploring A New Way To Christian Unity.”

Represented Pastor Wale Adefarasin, National Secretary, Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) of which Oritsejafor is also still President, he said “God expects us to surmount the challenges posed by our difference - the differences of gifts, the differences of denominations; the differences of doctrinal positions and all other differences and recognise that despite our differences, we are one body.”

He argued that individual results could only increase when the exponential power of agreement is allowed to free rein, and went on to itemise a number of obstacles to unity in the body of Christ.

These, in his opinion, include: Pride, Insecurity, Suspicion, Ambition, Competition, Immaturity, Independence and Fear. He defined independence as that state of mind where a church leader feels so complete in himself that he requires help from nobody. Fear on the other hand feeds on what a leader thinks he might lose in the place of unity, such as, position, fame, pre-eminence etc.

He identified immaturity as the major culprit because virtually all else result from spiritual immaturity, pointing out that it was the same immaturity that led Apostle Paul to write in his epistle to the Corinthians thus: “Let me put it this way: each one of you says something different. One says, ‘I follow Paul’; another, ‘I follow Apollos’, another, ‘I follow Peter’; and another, ‘I follow Christ’, Christ has been divided into groups! Was it Paul who died on the cross for you? Were you baptized as Paul's disciples?” (1Corinthians 1:12-13, GNB).

He went on to counsel that the true Christian attitude must line up with these words:

“I don’t care what church you belong

If in Christ by faith you are saved

Then you are my brother; you are my sister

So give me your hand…”

Leading the discussion segment of the event, Rev Felix Meduoye, General Overseer, Foursquare Gospel Church

Nigeria

warned that disunity has no basis in Christianity. Quoting from the Bible, he said Christian unity was a necessity because the Lord Jesus, founder and head of the church says it will help the world know that the Father sent him. Unity, he pointed out, conforms to the pattern in heaven, where the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit are so united that they are one. Add to that the truth that we have so much in common united as we are by one Lord, one faith, and one hope of salvation.

He, however, cautioned against mistaking unity for uniformity, stating that denominations are not necessarily evil. Church splits, he said have historically even been known to help expand the church. He also posited that unity is at two levels, the spiritual and the practical, submitting in the words of St Augustine that our attitude ought to be, “In the essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all else charity.”

Another discussant, Monsignor Gabriel Osu, Director of Social Communications Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos said disunity in the church has become the scandal of Christianity. He noted that it was commonplace for churches to be located on the same street and have no contact whatsoever, just because they do not belong to the same denomination. This is scandalous, he said. No amount of talk will help if we do not begin at such practical levels, he suggested.

Archbishop Magnus Atilade, Chairman, South West Zone of Organisation African Instituted Churches (OAIC), one of the five constituent organisations within CAN, was also his usual candid self. He pointed out that disunity in the church was a direct disobedience to the will of the Lord Jesus who repeated prayed that we may be one, in John 17. He warned that church leaders must avoid using “our minds to interprete the Scriptures. Jesus did ask for one church. Our attempt to convert the world to Christianity has been futile because of utter disunity.”

He then identified some practical areas of action from which efforts in unity can begin: “We must agree to undertake rescue effort to save the perishing and the dying souls. Let the church in spite of denominations be united in mission efforts of evangelism.”

Apostle Alex Bamgbola, Chairman, Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, Lagos State, which co-sponsored this year’s event, was moderator at the symposium, presided over by Mr Chidi IIogu, chairman of the Foundation. Surveyor Cyprian Agbazue, President and founder of the group received series of visions which led him to write two books upon which the Foundation’s activities are based.

HOW CAMERON CAN HELP NIGERIA’S ANTI-GAY MARRIAGE BILL

2011-11-06T19:43:00.003Z

"Undeterred, Mr Cameron told BBC One's Andrew Marr Show that 'British aid should have more strings attached…Britain is one of the premier aid givers in the world. We want to see countries that receive our aid adhering to proper human rights…' In other words, 'Go gay or go broke'".

“You plotted evil against me, but God turned it into good, in order to preserve the lives of many people who are alive today because of what happened” (Gen 50:20, GNB).

Senate Bill 05, more fully known as “An Act to Prohibit Same Sex Marriages”, has a good chance of becoming law in the Federal Republic of Nigeria, thanks to British Prime Minister, David Cameron.

No, he has not changed camp. Far from it! It’s his relentless pursuit of the goal of expanding gay marriages, known in the UK as civil partnership, beyond his territorial control, that’s helping the cause, inadvertently. In the youthful premier’s desperation to please gay voters at home, he has resorted to bullying aids-receiving countries in Africa: behave or be starved of funds.

Early in October, it was widely reported that Britain, through its International Development Secretary, Andrew Mitchell cut aid to Malawi by £19million after two gay men were sentenced to 14 years hard labour and was threatening to impose similar aid ‘fines’ against Uganda and Ghana for hard-line anti-gay and lesbian measures. The policy announcement came on the heels of Cameron’s well controversial decision to legalise gay weddings in places of worship.

Cameron also took his campaign to the recently concluded Commonwealth Heads of Governments Meeting in Perth, Australia. In his address he had described the Commonwealth as “a great organisation, a third of the world's population, 54 countries across six continents, a really great network” but one “that must have strong values.” He recommended that the body put in place “a charter setting out the rights, the freedoms, the democracy that we all believe in, and I think that is important."

An Eminent Persons Group, which included a former

foreign secretary Sir Malcolm Rifkind, had seemingly tried to oblige Mr Cameron, by including among its over 100 recommendations, “the appointment of an independent commissioner for the rule of law and human rights and a call for all member states to repeal laws banning homosexuality”. Both were among those overwhelmingly rejected. These proposals were said to have been designed to ensure that the organisation remains relevant in 21st Century global affairs.

Undeterred, Mr Cameron told BBC One's Andrew Marr Show that "British aid should have more strings attached…Britain is one of the premier aid givers in the world. We want to see countries that receive our aid adhering to proper human rights…” In other words, “Go gay or go broke”.

Now, this bullying has increased patriotic fervour in the leadership of many of these countries and seems guaranteed to alienate his traditional allies, the so-called human rights community here in Nigeria.

Ghanaian President John Atta Mills did not mince words in his reaction: “No one can deny Prime Minister Cameron his right to make policies, take initiatives and make statements that reflects his societal norms and ideals. But he does not have the right to direct other sovereign nations as to what they should do especially where their societal norms and ideals are different from those which exists in Prime Minister Cameron’s society…I, as President of this nation will never initiate or support any attempt to legalise homosexuality in Ghana. As a government, we will abide by the principles enshrined in our constitution. Let me also say that while we acknowledge all the financial assistance and all the aid that’s given us by our development partners, we will not accept any aid with strings attach if that aid will not inure to our interest”. The President’s position has since been backed by Parliament.

Ugandan presidential adviser John Nagenda, in reacting to the aid cut threat, accused Mr Cameron of treating Ugandans "like children". His words: “Uganda is, if you remember, a sovereign state and we are tired of being given these lectures by people…If they must take their money, so be it…'You do this or I withdraw my aid' will definitely make people extremely uncomfortable with being treated like children."

Malawi

government spokesperson Patricia Kaliati, on her part, said it was “unfortunate” for Britain to have “pro-gay strings” attached to aid, pointing out that homosexual acts are illegal in

Malawi

and that” these laws are a legacy of British rule”.

Nigerian Senate President, David Mark, who spoke at the opening of a public hearing on SB 05 was very direct: “Nothing on earth justifies same sex marriage. My faith as Christian abhors it. It is incomprehensible to contemplate on same sex marriage. I cannot understand it. I cannot be a party to it. There are enough men and women to marry each other. The whole idea is the importation of foreign culture but this one would be freedom too much…It is offensive, it is repugnant. I will preach against it and we must stand up to reject same sex marriage in

Nigeria

Although David Mark made no reference to the British gay-for-aid threat, it is clear that Nigeria will not stand for it. And it is my firm belief that both in its brazenness and its timing, the threat and the backlash can only help the bill. At this point, not even the motley crowd of “politically correct” foreign grant dependent Nigerian human rights and civil liberties activists, usually mobilised by Amnesty International can resist the urge to be seen as “nationalists”.

It doesn’t mean, however that proponents of the bill, particularly the church should go to sleep. We need to step hard on the throttle and get the bill fast-tracked before momentum is lost. It must be remembered that President Obasanjo’s executive bill, Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Bill, 2006 died at the public hearing stage. So did House Bill 150, otherwise known as, “A Bill for an Act to Prohibit Marriage between Persons of Same Gender, Solemnization of Same and for other Matters related therewith” in 2009. It was sponsored by 49 members of the House including the current Deputy Speaker, Emeka Ihedioha.

David Cameron meant his bullying tactic for evil; we must, through “faith and works” turn it to good, in order to preserve the moral fibre of our society and the future of our youth.

STILL FROM MY BREAKTHROUGH CAMPMEETING NOTES

2011-10-30T01:01:00.001+01:00

Pastor Sam Adeyemi, Senior Pastor, Daystar Christian Centre, Oregun, Lagos, spoke on Day Three of Campmeeting 2011 on what he titled Anointing for Breakthrough. His texts were from I Samuel with which he very powerfully illustrated the character- and destiny-altering effect of the anointing upon the anointed; and through the anointed upon his/her environment.

There was the example of the young Saul. He was on a kind of search and rescue mission for his father’s lost asses. As far as we can see from the Bible, all that could be said of Saul, apart from being apparently an obedient son who hearkened to his father’s command to “go after the asses”, he was a handsome young man, so tall it could be correctly said of him that he stood head and shoulder above all else (see Samuel 9:2).

But the Bible records that when Prophet Samuel anointed him (10:1), he alerted him that, “…the Spirit of the LORD will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man.” And it happened exactly as he had prophesied: “And it was so, that when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, God gave him another heart: and all those signs came to pass that day. And when they came thither to the hill, behold, a company of prophets met him; and the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them” (10:9-10).

Samuel, the pastor, continued his exposition from the Bible book of Samuel by also dwelling on the great work that the anointing did in the life of a certain shepherd boy who was to become the King of Israel. Anointed in chapter 16, and had his character and destiny instantly altered: “Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward…” (verse 13). As a result, he not only got an invitation to spy the land (the palace), as it were (see verses 18-23); he went on to solve a national problem by taking out Goliath, the giant Philistine war general, with anointed words and a stone in a sling (see chapter 17).

As Samuel, the pastor, put it, the anointing is for problem solving and problem solving is the quickest way to leadership. The oil poured on David by Samuel, the prophet, did just that – solved a problem and began to propel David inexorably to national prominence and leadership.

Of course, the man of God wasn’t just rehashing a beautiful, inspirational Bible story; he was delivering a message. He pronounced under the unction of the Holy Spirit that a fresh anointing was coming upon the people of God, particularly those in the Gymnasium Hall of the Nigeria Institute for Sports (NIS), that Wednesday night. That will make them problem solvers. What is happening here (the campmeeting) will have national and international repercussions, he prophesied.

Then, he raised a very important question, the identity question, he called it. And for me, that was the highlight of his ministration and possibly, the single most important issue in Christendom. It is a theme that I have found myself returning to again and again in the last several years, as I personally struggle with the awesome reality of who I am in God through Jesus’ completed work of salvation and redemption. And the man of God’s revelation on the subject hit me like a tonne of bricks!

Going right back to Genesis and the fall of man (chapter 3), he pointed out that what satan did to Adam and Eve, when he cajoled Eve and they both ate the forbidden fruit, was simple: create an identity crisis, which the Lord Jesus had to come to resolve. In verse 5, the serpent, as satan was characterised, said to Eve: “For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.”

The key phrase there was “be as gods” How disingenuous! Why would God want to prevent them from being “as gods”, when he had already created them in His image and after his likeness, and granted them dominion over everything else! As Pastor Sam put it, the result of eating the fruit was that they, and subsequently their offspring, became as the serpent. Put another way, he translated them from the kingdom of God, which is a kingdom of sons, to his own kingdom, which is one of slaves! Adam and Eve were already “gods”, but they didn’t know it! They were already in His image and His likeness, but the enemy told them they needed the fruit to attain God-likeness. Who are you?

The man of God then revealed the major difference between the first Adam and the second, our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ; the mediator of our new covenant, the covenant that restored us to our original status and stature. Unlike Adam in the Garden, Jesus knew enough about who he was to resist the enemy, when he came calling to warp up his identity.

The Lord’s encounter with satan right after his 40-day fast served the enemy notice that this was not an encore of the Garden of Eden encounter with the first Adam. The Bible records the opening shot of the enemy in Mathew 4, this way: “And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread” (verse 3). Jesus famously replied: “It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God (4).

As Pastor Sam Adeyemi expounded, when it is recalled that God had earlier publicly announced Jesus as His son, at his baptismal at River Jordan, Jesus’ response may well have been rendered in these word: I don’t have to prove anything to you or anybody else and certainly not in order to meet my current need for bread. God Has already proclaimed me His son and that settles it!

Who are you, dear reader?

MY BREAKTHROUGH CAMPMEETING NOTES

2011-10-23T01:46:00.000+01:00

Campmeeting 2011 winds down today with a Gospel Music Jamz, after a one-day break occasioned by the local government election in Lagos state. The programme will feature apart from CCIC Levites, Raph Femi Daniels, Tim Godfrey of the Xtreme Crew, Vineyard Christian Centre Crew and stand-up comedian, Edo Charles. Patmos Playhouse, gospel drama group of the church and the CCIC Youth Drama team.

Since opening at the Gymnasium Hall of the National Institute for Sports at the National Stadium in Lagos had features three daily sessions with an average of three ministrations per session. Indeed, it has been a four-day word-feast and I thank God for giving me and all of mine the opportunity to be part of the feast. Not even my children away in the United Kingdom were left out, thanks to the live-streaming on the World Wide Web.

Leafing through my notes, a number of nuggets leap at me, some of which I just cannot wait to share with you, my dear faithful readers.

Let’s begin with this. From ministrations at the convention, one fundamental thing is clear; the season of breakthrough that has come upon us is not a personal thing. It is a season already foretold by the Lord in the Bible for the Church. Or more directly it is a season for citizens of the Kingdom of God on earth. Everybody who is anybody in the church is fully persuaded that these are the endtimes. These are the “those days” of the Bible; when your old men will dream dreams and the young ones will see visions.

Now, as Bishop David Oyedepo set it out clearly in his brief but epochal ministration on Tuesday night, the last days are the days of breakthrough when an army of giants will rise from the church to dominate and subsequently take over several sectors of life in the world, Nigeria in particular. In fact, according to the bishop, many such giants will emerge from Christ Chapel International Churches, with this convention as a trigger.

But, it must begin with vision, divinely inspired vision. It is therefore a vision-driven season. Vision is central to this season because it is only divine plans that has a guarantee of divine backing. And, according to the man of God there five ways God guarantee breakthroughs for the plans he inspires.

First he goes ahead of us. He does for us exactly as he promised in Isaiah 45: “I myself will prepare your way, leveling mountains and hills. I will break down bronze gates and smash their iron bars (GNB, verse 2).

Second, He goes with you. As it was with Jesus in whom He ensured His presence through the Holy Sprit. The Bible puts it this way: “You know about Jesus of Nazareth and how God poured out on him the Holy Spirit and power. He went everywhere, doing good and healing all who were under the power of the Devil, for God was with him (Act 10:38). The same Holy Spirit is with us if we are pursuing a divinely inspired assignment.

Next, he works with us. In Acts 10:38, the Bible records that: “The disciples went and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and proved that their preaching was true by the miracles that were performed. ”It’s absolutely so even now, in these breakthrough season. Bishop Oyedepo puts it this way: God with you makes an unbeatable team.

Fourth, in your season of breakthrough, God works in you. Philippians 2: 13 is very clear about that when it says: “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” This is a truth we need to internalise to enable us break through. It is also important lest we make the mistake of claiming credit for our successes.

Lastly, God works for you! Incredible as this is, it is true, very true. Jesus declared it very clearly in John 14:10: “Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works”. And in 1Thessalonians 5:24 he reiterated it in these words: “Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.”

The man of god emphasise that we must never confuse ambition with vision because vision, being of god is vastly more superior to ambition, which is often simply carnal desires. Flowing from this therefore, carnality is the greatest single opponent of vision. In order words those who know that they know that they have entered their season of breakthrough must eschew carnality.

Pointing out that most of the visions that have defined his life and ministry did not come to him in the church or during prayer, he declared that to enjoy our breakthrough season, we must be spiritual 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Pastor Mike Olorogun’s prophetic word earlier in the day has also remained in my heart: the man of God from CCIC’s London church declared: Your enemies will see your God’s work in your life” Also lingering in my spirit strongly are the declarations of Rev Elekima Ekine, who heads the Western Nigeria region of CCIC. His words, which became something of a slogan, went like this: “My breakthrough; what about it? It’s here and it is now!” I say a resounding amen to that – on all your behalf.

CCIC CAMPMEETING – CONSISTENTLY LIFE-CHANGING

2011-10-16T00:01:00.001+01:00

There is only one way to describe a ministry that has sustained the vision of an annual Camp Meeting for 23 years through thick and thin, missing out only once since it started in 1987. The only way to describe this focused and unmatched obligation to the gospel of Jesus Christ, and development of humanity is consistent!

Rev Dr Tunde & Rev Mrs Ebun Joda..
.Chief Hosts

And that is exactly what the founding Pastors of Christ Chapel International Churches, CCIC; Reve (Dr.) Chris Tunde and Rev (Mrs) Ebun Joda have demonstrated in more than two decades. And this year, the CCIC Camp Meeting is marking its 24^th edition with the theme: My Season of Breakthrough.

Historically, this annual programme has emerged as one of the most important events on the Pentecostal/Charismatic Christian calendar in Nigeria as the Senior Pastors/Founders of CCIC, Reverend (Dr) Joda and his wife, Reverend (Mrs) Ebun Joda, both anointed expositors of the word of faith, direct affairs under the unction of the Holy Ghost.

As is usual, the conference will hold simultaneously in major cities of Nigeria to cater for the word needs of not just their immediate locations, but also for their regions. These cities are Abuja Federal Capital Territory, where the National Christian Centre is venue, Calabar, in Cross River state, Ibadan, Oyo state and Port Harcourt in Rivers state.

With three sessions everyday, Camp Meeting 2011, opens at 9am each day with a second session at noon, both being workshops, powerfully designed and thus crucial for children of God desiring to grow in their knowledge of their Father, and find and or confirm their place in His kingdom. Miracle and Impartation services beginning at 5pm.

Scheduled to begin in Lagos from Tuesday October 18, the event will last till Sunday October 23, 2011 with a break in the Lagos programme on Saturday October 22 due to the scheduled local council polls holding in the state.

The calendar for the other stations shows that the event is a two-day affair in Abuja Federal Capital Territory and will hold on Wednesday 19 and Thursday 20 October. Expected to minister in the Abuja programme is Bishop G.I Eromobor, founding pastor, New Generation Bible Church International who will lead other guest ministers slated to speak at the meeting.

For Calabar and Port Harcourt, the programme will open on Wednesday and run four days climaxing on Sunday October 23. Calabar will play host to Rev Bob Alonge, Senior Pastor, The Capital Assembly, Abuja and Rev Stephen Olusegun Shafe of Banner of Grace Ministries, Calabar, among other top ministers of the word of faith.

Ministering at the Port Harcourt centre is Bishop Winston T. Iwo, Senior Pastor of Grace Covenant Church based in the Rivers State capital. He will be joined, among others by Pastor Chris Oarhe, Senior Pastor of Hilltop International Christian Centre, said to be one of

Nigeria

’s fastest growing churches, located on a 5-acre property, with a 3,000-seater fully air-conditioned auditorium.

The Ibadan centre, on the other hand, begins Camp Meeting 2011 on Friday October 21 and will run for three days. Rev Yinka Ojo, Senior Pastor, Grace Family Church, Lagos and Rev I. D. Lawon of Full Stature Missions International are guest ministers at the meeting holding at CCIC’s Ashi auditorium.

Guest Ministers for the National leg of the convention include such anointed ministers of the word like Dr. David Oyedepo, Presiding Bishop, Living Faith Church Worldwide aka Winners Chapel, a long time associate of the chief hosts, Rev Dr Tunde and Rev Mrs Ebun Joda, who will minister on the nights of Tuesday 18 and Wednesday 19; and Rev Sam Adeyemi, Senior Pastor of the Oregun, Ikeja-headquartered Daystar Christian Centre. Also confirmed from Nigeria is Rev Dr. Lekan Babatunde of Kings Chapel, Ibadan, who has been a Camp Meeting regular.

Two other Camp Meeting veterans complete the list of guest ministers who would be joined by many others from CCIC. They are Reverend Clyde Oliver, founding pastor of Maranatha Christian Center of Melbourne, Florida, and Rev Mike Moore, both from the

United States

According to the Church Council which has been working round the clock to make the programme a huge success, there are plans to live stream this year’s meetings to enable those who are unable to attend nationally and internationally to participate and benefit from the move of God that is certain to be experienced.

Founded over 25 years ago, the driving force of Christ Chapel International Churches has been an unalloyed commitment to faith that moves mountains. And this has been exemplified by the outstanding and astonishing accomplishments of the numerous men and women who have passed through the ministry.

With Jesus Christ as the epitome of the Christian’s virtue of love, Christ Chapel thrives on the enduring command for the Christian to live a life of Praise and Worship which is often missing in some Christian assembly.

A ministry totally committed to a life of prayer, fellowship, teaching the word of God as a foundational and evangelism enshrined in that great command of Jesus Christ in Mark 16:15 “Go ye into the world, and preach the gospel to every creature”, the last two and half decades have been more fulfilling than any enterprise could ascribe to itself.

From such themes as Faith is the Victory (1987), Spiritual Warfare in the following year down to the passionately convincing theme of 2001 – Fresh Faith, Fresh Fire; the different editions of Camp Meeting of the Church has attracted Nigerians and foreigners in a gathering of transformation.

Each year, speakers have been drawn from the Americas, the United Kingdom, South Africa,

Ghana

, other Europeans and the elite of Nigerian ministers of the gospel, among others. It is therefore not any surprise that this year, the highly acclaimed Bishop David Oyedepo is leading the team of world renowned ministers to Camp Meeting 2011.

Bishop Oyedepo has created landmarks in Nigeria and beyond turning around desolate lands into flourishing Eden here in his country. The Covenant University is one of such numerous expressions of the Bishop’s responses to God’s command.

For Pastor Sam Adeyemi who has grown the Daystar Christian Ministry into a world institution, his first time in Camp Meeting is perhaps a measure of how busy he has been that has made it impossible for his calendar to accommodate the wonderful spiritual move of the Holy Spirit during past Camp Meetings. He is therefore planning to make the most of this rare opportunity.

HIS KINGDOM, HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, HIS MAN (3)

2011-10-09T23:27:00.002+01:00

If you are just joining us, you are welcome to the last of a three-part serial, which itself is a rehash of an earlier four-part serial first published in 2009 as “Open Letter to Kingdom Persons.” The rehash, as I stated before, was necessitated by some of the questions raised by men at the Saturday, September 17, 2011 Men’s Breakfast Plus, an event organised by the Ikeja chapter of Christian Men’s Network Nigeria. The questions as I pointed out betrayed inadequate understanding of the reality of God’s Kingdom on earth and our place in it as His children. I shall quote mainly from the concluding part of the 2009 effort, as liberally as space allows. Here goes:

“…I wish to reiterate that those of us who have accepted the Lordship of Jesus Christ have no business living our lives as anything but sons. The kingdom that the Lord Jesus helped to birth is a kingdom of sons, not of subjects. Adam was a son of God who worked in the Family Business. When he lost his son-ship through rebellion, God promised to restore him one day. He did through the Lord Jesus, also known as the second Adam. The restoration is total. The Bible says he who knew no sin was made sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. The import of that was that we were restored to that state of fellowship, which Adam had with God the Father in the Garden of Eden; that state where they enjoyed “Tales by Moonlight” together in the cool of the day. Righteousness…speaks of that state of being able to stand in the presence of the Father without any feeling of guilt, unworthiness or inferiority. That is an envious state to be in!

“But what use is an enviable position that is not used for any good? What use is son-ship if, in practice, it’s just another name for servant-hood? Yet that unfortunately is the rule rather than the exception in Christendom, a whopping 2,009 years after Jesus finished the work of reconciliation, reinstatement and restoration at great personal cost to the entire Godhead. The Bible says God was in Christ reconciling us to himself. It says Jesus came to restore unto us eternal life, which is the very nature of God. It says that to those who believe, he has granted the power, the right to become sons of God.

“I have been saying that in nowhere else is our servant mentality more glaring than in our attitude to work. If some sociologist had not conceptualised the rat race, the average Christian would have - he epitomises it! From cradle, he is primed for the race – the race to get an education so that he can get a certificate or certificates, so that he can get a job, so that he can make money to put food on the table, wear good clothes, live in a good part of town, ride the best cars, put his children in the best schools, so that they can join the rat race...

“If somewhere along the line, he realises that things are not working exactly as he would have wanted, it dawns on him that he needs God. So, he inserts God and church somewhere in his schedule. From that point on, he never leaves home without praying, which, oftener than not is simply to tell God what’s going wrong and ask him to fix it “in the mighty names of Jesus.” And off he goes to work for his daily bread!

“If, like many, he doesn’t get a job fast enough after acquiring his degrees, he “gets religion,” which is saying, he becomes active in church. He’s the first to arrive for every service. Whatever work there is to do, he’s available. He’s fervent in spirit, serving the Lord, to borrow the words of Apostle Paul. Then his prayers are answered, he gets a job. Glory to God. Of course he is no longer available to serve the Lord – “understandably”. He has to wake up at five in the morning, in order to be at work before eight. He does not return home till 10pm, thanks to heavy commuter traffic. He’s in the rat race now, to make money so that he can put food on the table, wear good clothes, live in a good part of town, ride the best cars, put his children in the best schools, so that they can join the rat race…

“Of course, our now gainfully employed brother feeds his intellect fat in the course of his job - no choice about that. It is a requirement if he’s to keep his job and ever get ahead. In contrast, he has become a Sunday-only Christian who sits under the word only on the Sabbath. And if his church is one of those seeker-friendly ones; where the service …is the microwave, fast-food type; that can mean hearing the word of God for no more than 30-40 minutes a week. In effect, his spirit is severely malnourished. He becomes heavily depended on the wisdom of man, not having fresh supply of the wisdom of God that’s available in God’s word.

“This is the general trend. We are resigned to the demands of the Babylonian system. We even tell God to understand because, after all he gave us the job, and in any case that’s where our tithes and offerings come from.

“Next, when issues arise threatening the job, we are ready to give it whatever it takes to retain it. The guys are willing to play tough and rough while the babes are willing to play soft and smooth. The former is euphemism for maiming and killing, while the other can mean bed-hopping and unscheduled late nighters…

“When you see your job as a kingdom assignment, you’ll appreciate the need to apply only kingdom principles in carrying out your duties. You will not seek to hold on to it at all costs; you’ll resist the urge to do the immoral, the illegal and the sinful. You will do it as unto the Lord. One of the most effective weapons of the enemy is the lie that faith and your work don’t mix; the lie that work is work and it has its own methodologies, and faith is faith and it has a different set of rules. The truth is that children of God have only one assignment – to grow the family business, which is the kingdom of God. You grow the business not to earn a living, but to serve your father in love. You have an heirloom to draw from as an heir of the Father and joint-heir with Christ. God will meet your needs, if you let him. If he chooses to do so through the department he has posted you to, that’s his prerogative. But that job is not and can never be your source, He is.” (CONCLUDED)

HIS KINGDOM, HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, HIS MAN (2)

2011-10-02T22:53:00.006+01:00

As I was saying, some of the questions raised by men at the recent Men’s Breakfast Plus event organised by the Ikeja chapter of Christian Men’s Network Nigeria on Saturday, September 17, seemed to indicate that our understanding of the reality of God’s Kingdom on earth is on the shallow side.

While it is true that many of us readily agree that we are children of God by virtue of being born again Christians, and therefore citizens of the kingdom of God on the earth, we still have not grasped the full implications of that truth that we know and profess. And since we have not grasped it, we simply cannot manifest it!

As I quoted from an earlier serial, “Open Letter to Kingdom Persons” in closing last week, “…many men reading this already know, and accept as true, the biblical assertion that we are sons of God. Many might even be walking in this truth in some areas of their life. But many of us are slaves masquerading as servants; some others are servants parading as sons, while some of the very best are merely living on the fringes of sonship. And it shows glaringly in everything. It shows in the way we pray and what we pray for. It shows in the way we praise and worship God whom we say we have accepted as our father. It shows in our attitude to work; in how some of us have become slaves to work in the pursuit of what we call ‘putting food on the table’ or providing for the family. It shows in how desperate we sometimes get in the pursuit of this all-important provision for the family, such that compromise has become the norm, even among Christians whether we are business persons, academics, politicians, civil servants or holders of high government posts”.

Put as starkly as I can manage it, our identity does not match our behaviour!

“I was saying that the line between son-ship and servant-hood seems to have become blurred in the consciousness of many of us, kingdom persons. We say we believe what the Bible says; that we are sons of God, by adoption through the finished work of Jesus Christ, and in line with God’s original plan. But we live like servants or slaves…

In Part two of the serial, I stated as follows: “Yet the difference is clear. The Pocket Oxford Dictionary describes a slave as a ‘person who is owned by and has to serve another”. It defines a servant as ‘person employed to do domestic duties.’ But it says of a son, ‘male descendant or inheritor of a quality’. A slave is owned by his master and is not even accorded the dignity of a free-will. A servant has to earn his keep. A son is an inheritor…”

I continued: “The point being made here is this: while servants have to earn their keep, sons do not have any such obligations. No father provides for his son on the condition that he serves him. Fathers provide for their children out of love and as a duty. Masters pay their servants according the quality and quantity of their service. The Bible is very clear about this. Paul did not say my God shall supply all your needs according to how hard you’ve worked; it is according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus (see Philippians 4:19). Does this imply that sons have no responsibilities; that they do no kind of work; or that they just sit idling away? Not at all. Sons serve in the Family Business; they work to grow the family enterprise; they serve in love not out of compulsion or in order to ‘put food on the table’. I shall come back to this presently…”

In concluding the second part of that serial, I wrote: “An oft-quoted passage of scripture, the full import of which seems lost on many children of God is in the Book of Matthew, chapter six. It is a graphic depiction of the rat race which the servant mentality has pushed us into. And it goes on to give the father’s heart on the matter. The New Living Translation renders it this way: ‘… I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? ‘So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need (verses 25-33)…”

Continuing, I wrote: “This passage had been widely seen and taught as an exhortation against anxiety - and it is. But it is much more than that. It is the Lord Jesus’ blueprint for true kingdom living. It is the prescribed lifestyle for kingdom persons who have successfully exorcised the servant mentality and have come into the fullness of son-ship.”

I shall bring this to a conclusion next week, by quoting a bit more from the 2009 serial in the hope that it will ginger us to take another look at our lifestyle to see how it lines up with the plan of God for us.

Happy 51^st anniversary

Nigeria

, and may this decade of Jubilee lead us permanently out of the woods, in Jesus name (CONTINUES).

HIS KINGDOM, HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, HIS MAN

2011-09-25T00:40:00.002+01:00

Two Saturdays ago, about 100 men gathered at the auditorium of Christ Chapel International Churches (CCIC), Ikeja Centre recently located to Wempco Road, Ogba, The rain that began early that morning and continued intermittently till late afternoon, did not deter this men, many of them from several chapters of Christian Men’s Network Nigeria, and quite a number first-timers at CMNN events.

As indicated here two weeks back, the theme of the event, Men’s Breakfast Plus, was His Kingdom, His Righteousness and the Real Man. And the featured speakers, who arrived the venue even before yours sincerely, were Rev Dr Ayo Ayodele, a teacher of English Language at the Lagos State University who pastors CCIC, Ojokoro Centre and teaches the word of faith with even greater passion, and Rev David Abraham, Managing Director, Managing Business for Christ (MBFC).

Both presentations were, to say the least, eye-opening and convicting. But, I chose to refrain from rehashing what was said by the two men. Instead, I chose to address an issue which featured prominently in one form or another in many of the questions asked during the interactive session. Those questions reveal a certain dichotomy in the lives of a lot of us. Dichotomies between our work and worship; between our choice and God’s plan for our lives; between who the Bible says we are and who we are in reality.

To address this issue, I feel an obligation to quote extensively from a four-part serial I wrote two years ago, titled “Open Letter to Kingdom Persons.” I shall try to do so as briefly as possible. Here goes:

The first point to note is that the Kingdom of God is already here on earth; it is not a later reality. In the introductory part of the serial, I tried to define the Kingdom of God.

“…A kingdom is a territory ruled by a potentate by whatever name called. And wherever that territory may be, the will of that ruler prevails. The same applies to the Kingdom of God on earth. The simplest way to understand this is to refer to the prayer the Lord Jesus taught His disciples, famously called the Lord’s Prayer. Two lines of that prayer are relevant to the matter at hand and they read: Thy Kingdom come; thy will be done on earth; as it is in heaven (see Matthew 6:10). In other words, God already has a kingdom in heaven where his will is done, and if the Lord Jesus is asking that we pray that his will be done, it is easy to see that he implies that God desires a Kingdom on earth where his will prevails.

“…That kingdom is already in existence in the heart of millions of men and women who are living or are committed to living according to God’s will as expressed in his word, the Bible. The environment in which these kingdom persons operate and wield influence therefore represents and exemplifies the Kingdom of God on earth. The Church is the visible manifestation of that kingdom; it is the organism that works to keep the kingdom running and growing.”

Next, I pointed out that God’s kingdom on earth is a kingdom of sons:

“A major difference between this kingdom and other kingdoms is that whereas kingdoms of men normally consist of the king and his subjects. The kingdom of God is a kingdom of sons. That is to say, if you belong to the kingdom of God you are a son of God, not his subject or servant or slave. The Bible is clear about that. John 1:12 says: “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name”. Romans 8:14 corroborates: “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.”

“…When God decided to create his earthly kingdom, he began with a son, not a servant or slave. Proof of this is that God gave Adam dominion over all that he created, as in an inheritance. He did not ask him to keep and tend the garden as a condition for exercising dominion. Nor did he make his access to the things he had created commensurate to the quality or quantity of his garden-tending activities. Beyond that is the Bible’s express reference to Adam as the son of God in “Luke 3:38 – “Which was the son of Enos, which was the son of Seth, which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God”. These should explain why Jesus’ work of redemption led inexorably to the restoration of man to sonship, not servanthood as indicated in the earlier quotes from the books of John and Romans. That should explain the designation of Jesus as “the firstborn among many brethren (Romans 8:29); and the rest of us as: “…children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ…”(Romans 8:17).

I have said all of these, in order to say, or rather repeat something that I said in concluding the first part of that serial and which, some of the questions at Men’s Breakfast Plus reminded.“Now, many reading this already know and accept as true, the biblical assertion that we are sons of God. Many might even be walking in this truth in some areas of their life. But many of us are slaves masquerading as servants; some others are servants parading as sons, while some of the very best are merely living on the fringes of sonship. And it shows glaringly in everything. It shows in the way we pray and what we pray for. It shows in the way we praise and worship God whom we say we have accepted as our father. It shows in our attitude to work; in how some of us have become slaves to work in the pursuit of what we call putting food on the table or providing for the family. It shows in how desperate we sometimes get in the pursuit of this all-important provision for the family, such that compromise has become the norm, even among Christians whether we are business persons, academics, politicians, civil servants or holders of high government posts”. (CONTINUES)

HELP, PRIDE IS MUTILATING THE BODY OF CHRIST!

2011-09-18T13:19:00.033+01:00

Kunle Lagunju, Coordinator,
One Spirit Club

"Now pause, dear reader and ponder that. Ever seen a mutilated body before? It’s the most helpless thing you can ever imagine. If you’ve never seen one, I pray you never have to, but can you please imagine it? No matter how much muscular an arm is, its useless severed from the body! Think of the head, which houses the brain and the tools for four of the five senses, sight, taste, sound and smell. Severed from the rest of the body, what can it do?"

Kunle Lagunju is a Spirit-filled businessman with current core focus in cleaning and property. I can boldly declare that he is one of the few, but growing number of Christian men and women doing exploit for God in their businesses.

But that is a story for another day. Apart from the cleaning and property businesses, Kunle coordinates a vibrant church unity ministry dominated by youths known as One Spirit Club. I am a member, (one who needs to get better!), and so I sometimes get to interface with the group both on facebook and via blackberry messenger. It is to materials posted on both sites that I owe the thoughts I am sharing here today.

First, let me state that I consider lack of unity as one of the greatest drawbacks to Christianity, its growth, it health, its relative strength and most importantly, the divine plan. That is why, apart from my calling to men’s ministry, I consider the pursuit of church unity as one of my life’s work. That’s why most everything I do is non-denominational or multi-denominational. That is why I have a mini-book in print titled One Church, the first 1,000copies of which was given out free and which is available free on-line at kpbooksnigeria.com/products/onechurch. That is why I am thankful to Pastor Paul Adams for involving me in his Sonship Unity Foundation, another church unity ministry. That is also why I have The One Church campaign as one of the outreach arms of KINGDOMPeople, the non-denominational magazine I serve as Editor-in-Chief.

So, you can therefore understand why the posts I am about to talk about had so much impact on me that I wish to share them.

The first reads: "You will not understand why Jesus prayed for the oneness of the Body until you see the helplessness of a mutilated human body."

Now pause, dear reader and ponder that. Ever seen a mutilated body before? It’s the most helpless thing you can ever imagine. If you’ve never seen one, I pray you never have to, but can you please imagine it? No matter how much muscular an arm is, its useless severed from the body! Think of the head, which houses the brain and the tools for four of the five senses, sight, taste, sound and smell. Severed from the rest of the body, what can it do?

Wisely, Jesus prayed to the Father in the book of John: “And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are…That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me” (17:11, 21).

But, what do we have today, most of us are going about, as if determined that the Lord Jesus’ prayer must go unanswered. The question is why? Why do people who preach love and unity in their congregation work against it in the kingdom?

One of the answers, if not the answer can be found in the next post which reads:

“A young lady was waiting for her flight in the boarding room of a big airport. As she would need to wait many hours, she decided to buy a book to spend her time. She also bought a packet of cookies. She sat down in an armchair, in the VIP room of the airport, to rest and read in peace. Beside the armchair where the packet of cookies lay, a man sat down in the next seat, opened his magazine and started reading. When she took out the first cookie, the man took one also.

"She felt irritated but said nothing. She just thought: “What a nerve! If I was in the mood I would punch him for daring!” For each cookie she took, the man took one too. This was infuriating her but she didn’t want to cause a scene. When only one cookie remained, she thought: “ah... What would this abusive man do now?” Then, the man, taking the last cookie, divided it into half, giving her one half. Ah! That was too much! She was much too angry now! In a huff, she insulted the man, took her book, her things and stormed out to the boarding place. When she sat down in her seat, inside the plane, she looked into her bag to take her eye glasses, and, to her surprise, her packet of cookies was there, untouched, unopened! She felt so ashamed!! She realized that she was wrong... She had forgotten that her cookies were kept in her bag. The man had divided his cookies with her, without feeling angered or bitter...while she had been very angry, thinking that she was dividing her cookies with him. And now there was no chance to explain herself...nor to apologize.”

Now, there are so many lessons to learn from the story, not least of which is kindness. But the one that struck me and has stayed with me all week is that of humility. The lady was so secure in her “knowledge” that she had her cookie right beside her, as she relaxed. She was convinced that the man, who was sharing the cookies was wrong and that she is right, after all she bought and owned the packet of cookies. Until she discovered she knew wrongly… that the man was right and she was wrong!

Like the lady, each wing of the church today seems very sure that our cookie pack is right beside us on the stool; that we have a right to the cookies in the packet; that the other party is wrong and we are right. Like the lady, we disdain those in “error”. We even do worse. Like Saul before his conversion, we “jail” and “maim” those in “error” from our pulpits at every opportunity. We warn our members not to have anything to do with them. And I thought the Bible says “we know in part…”(1 Corinthians 13:9). The word for what most of us, leaders and the led, are doing, is PRIDE, I think; it’s mutilating the Body of the Lord Jesus, and working against the divine plan. (You can subscribe to this weblog; enter your email address in the space "subscribe to" upper right side of the page. Comments also welcome).

AS REAL MEN BREAKFAST IN OGBA SATURDAY...

2011-09-11T17:32:00.002+01:00

Rev David Abraham

Rev Dr Ayo Ayodele

"Organised by Christian Men’s Network Nigeria, Ikeja Chapter, one of the two Christian men’s ministries I am privileged to coordinate, the event is an outreach to all men seeking to become better men - as sons, brothers, husbands, leaders at every level; men seeking true fulfilment, which is attainable in not through bank account size, sexual exploits or political or corporate power. The theme, “His Kingdom, His Righteousness and the Real Man”, will be treated by two speakers who have the spiritual grounding and exposure to the world to be able to balance both, to point men forward in the journey to becoming real men – Rev David Abraham and Rev Dr Ayo Ayodele."

I have manhood on my mind. I always do. Understandably, because I am, thankfully, not just a man; I am a man, who, because God knows I need to consistently work at my manhood, he made a minister to men. It’s just like God to elect to work with the weak, that His strength might be perfected in them.

Events in our nation, of course, never cease to leave one wondering, what manner of men are leading us. We are a nation always dancing near the precipice and the music and dance is invariably orchestrated and choreographed by a band of men; hardly ever women. And I assure you, I have engaged with this conundrum long enough to know that it has little to do with statistics! It’s just that we do not seem to have raised enough men of character, of courage of virtue; men who know that the destiny of our nation depends, not on their chauvinistic monopolisation of power and authority, but on the sense of responsibility that power demands.

It is for this reason that I wish dedicate this piece to preview an event holding Saturday, September 17, a few blocks away from the national headquarters of The Independent newspapers on Wempco Road, Ogba, on the outskirts of Ikeja, the Lagos state capital.

Organised by Christian Men’s Network Nigeria, Ikeja Chapter, one of the two Christian men’s ministries I am privileged to coordinate, the event is an outreach to all men seeking to become better men - as sons, brothers, husbands, leaders at every level; men seeking true fulfilment, which is attainable in not through bank account size, sexual exploits or political or corporate power.

The theme, “His Kingdom, His Righteousness and the Real Man”, will be treated by two speakers who have the spiritual grounding and exposure to the world to be able to balance both, to point men forward in the journey to becoming real men – Rev David Abraham and Rev Dr Ayo Ayodele.

Father Abraham, as the former is fondly styled by those who have benefited his gentle and fatherly style of dispensing godly counsel, is Managing Director, Managing Business for Christ (MBFC), a ministry founded and chaired by Dr Christopher Kolade, Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Pan African University, Nigeria. If you are a man out there, wise enough to want to get better at whatever you do, you need to hear this man. If you are a female and you have a man in your life, in any capacity and you desire growth for them, you should encourage them to hear this man of God. You are even welcome to accompany them.

Ayodele on the other hand is a teacher in two senses. When he is not teaching the Bible to the congregation at the Ojokoro centre of Christ Chapel International Churches where he is centre pastor, he is teaching English Language at Lagos state University. In other words, while Pastor Ayo’s day job is in the high pressure environment of a university campus, where sex-for-marks and all kinds of corrupt practices are fair game, his calling, as a pastor, demands that he be different. And I can boldly declare that he has been a worthy ambassador of his calling. Wouldn’t you want to hear how he does it? Wouldn’t you want your son, brother, husband, friend, work colleague or even boss come learn how he does it?

Men’s Breakfast Plus, which opens at 8:00am and closes before noon, to enable you go about your other “manly” responsibilities, holds at Christ chapel International Churches (CCIC), Rehabiah Centre Auditorium, opposite Metalum Industries/D’Ivy College, has as one of its highlights, an interactive session during which questions are asked and ideas shared.

Our nation needs men, real men; men like Daniel, Shedrach, Meshach and Abednego; men like Joseph and David, men who fill their minds with, meditate on and stand for “things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious--the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse” (Philippians 4:8;Message). I wish to be among them. What about you?

IN ALL OF THESE, I CHOSE HOPE

2011-09-04T16:57:00.000+01:00

British PM, David Cameron at PAU, Lagos

"From Eko Atlantic and Balogun Street Market to the biggest port in the most populous country in Africa, you (Governor Raji Fashola of Lagos) are transforming your city. And your fellow Africans are doing the same all over the continent. Today there are unprecedented opportunities to trade and grow, raise living standards and lift billions from poverty. So I urge you: seize these opportunities, grab them, shape them.."

These are not party times in our nation. There is the return of high profile abductions. Violence, resulting in maiming and deaths in Borno and Plateau states, has continued without ceasing. There is the bombing of the United Nations Building in Abuja, which has claimed 27 lives. And there is the massive flooding of my home town, Ibadan and the unprecedented level of fatalities, put at 102 by the Nigeria Red Cross.

I commiserate with all who have been negatively affected by all of these and many more occurrences of the unhappy kind across the land. Lives have been lost, properties worth millions, may be even, billions have been lost and we are being treated to the same rhetoric by our leaders. Experts are proffering all kind of solutions; Christian and Muslim leaders are calling for prayer and fasting – as usual.

In the event, gloom is in the air. Fear stalks the land. And doomsayers are having a field day, their rank swelling by the day. But in the midst of all that I dare to hope. I dare to join those, like British Prime Minister David Cameron who, on a recent visit described “Nigeria as a dream waiting to happen.”

Cameron, who was guest speaker at the Pan African University, Ajah, Lagos, on Tuesday, July 19 was widely quoted as follows:

“Tell me this: which part of the world has seen its number of democracies increase nearly eight-fold in just two decades? Eastern Europe? No, it’s Africa. Which continent has six of the ten fastest growing economies in the world? Asia? No, it’s Africa. Which country is predicted by some to have the highest average GDP growth in the world over the next 40 years? You might think Brazil, Russia, India or China. No. Think Africa. Think Nigeria.

“The point I want to make today, is this: This can be Africa’s moment. Africa is transforming in a way no-one thought possible 20 years ago, and suddenly a whole new future seems within reach. I have known for a long time about the tremendous energy and ingenuity of the Nigerian people. From the civil activism of the churches of South London to the contribution of Nigerians to British business, law, medicine, sport and music, I have seen the passion and enterprise of Nigerians changing my country for the better. But what I have seen in London I have seen a hundred-fold here today.

“From Eko Atlantic and Balogun Street Market to the biggest port in the most populous country in Africa, you (Governor Raji Fashola of Lagos) are transforming your city. And your fellow Africans are doing the same all over the continent. Today there are unprecedented opportunities to trade and grow, raise living standards and lift billions from poverty. So I urge you: seize these opportunities, grab them, shape them.”

He reminds me of that wonderful young lady, TY Bello and her inspirational song, “We Are the Future”, which I had quoted in full here about two months ago. The first verse says:

“We are the future

We are the dream

We are the nation

We are part of this

“Yes, we are so amazing

That’s the least we shall be

At the heart of the nation changing history”

It’s followed by a bridge which goes like this:

“How can we say that we are finished

We have just begun

When we have nowhere else to run to

We have nowhere else to go…”

Yes, I chose to hope in the midst of all of the seeming doom and gloom, because, my God is capable of making all of these work together for our good. That is the import of the Scripture in Romans 8:28 which reads: And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Our role, the leaders and the led, is therefore to love God, identify His purposes and pursue it.

It is well with Nigeria, in the precious name of Jesus.

…TO MY TREASURE… 30 YEARS ON

2011-09-04T00:01:00.002+01:00

"I didn’t think I was cut out for marriage. I was a journalist, married to my calling and all that went with it – the good, the bad and the ugly. But God mercifully brought a young lady, who fits the biblical description my way, and changed my life for ever and for the best. Thank you, Olufunmilayo Yinyinola Atoke for being God’s gift to me. Happy 30th anniversary, my Treasure."

There is this passage in the last chapter of the biblical book of Proverbs written with a rare breed of women in mind...the breed to which my wife belongs. It reads thus:

“A good woman is hard to find, and worth far more than diamonds. Her husband trusts her without reserve, and never has reason to regret it. Never spiteful, she treats him generously all her life long. She shops around for the best yarns and cottons, and enjoys knitting and sewing. She's like a trading ship that sails to faraway places and brings back exotic surprises. She's up before dawn, preparing breakfast for her family and organizing her day.

“She looks over a field and buys it, then, with money she's put aside, plants a garden. First thing in the morning, she dresses for work, rolls up her sleeves, eager to get started. She senses the worth of her work, is in no hurry to call it quits for the day.

“She's skilled in the crafts of home and hearth, diligent in homemaking. She's quick to assist anyone in need, reaches out to help the poor. She doesn't worry about her family when it snows; their winter clothes are all mended and ready to wear. She makes her own clothing, and dresses in colorful linens and silks.

“Her husband is greatly respected when he deliberates with the city fathers. She designs gowns and sells them, brings the sweaters she knits to the dress shops. Her clothes are well-made and elegant, and she always faces tomorrow with a smile. When she speaks she has something worthwhile to say, and she always says it kindly. She keeps an eye on everyone in her household, and keeps them all busy and productive. Her children respect and bless her; her husband joins in with words of praise: Many women have done wonderful things, but you've outclassed them all (Proverbs 31:10-30; MSG).

If the Lord tarries, tomorrow (September 5), I shall have been married for 30 years. I didn’t think I was cut out for marriage. I was a journalist, married to my calling and all that went with it – the good, the bad and the ugly. But God mercifully brought a young lady, who fits Proverbs 31's virtuous woman's description my way, and changed my life for ever - and for the best. Thank you, Olufunmilayo Yinyinola Atoke for being God’s gift to me. Happy 30th anniversary, my Treasure.

THE RULE OF LAW AS RULE OF GOD

2011-08-28T18:17:00.000+01:00

"The rump of the NJC which suspended the PCA knew they didn’t have the power and even if they did, their choice was clear, the moment they received court processes on the matter. The President knew or ought to know that he was backing an illegality by implementing the recommendation of the NJC. This, for me, was in character, however. As I have gone on record as saying before, much as I pray that Dr Goodluck Jonathan succeeds in office, I know that he cannot resist any opportunity to serve himself! He did it with the violation of the rotational principles of his party and he’s likely to do it as often as the opportunities present themselves."

There is a national crisis. It is not judicial, although it originates from there. It is a crisis of values. It is a crisis that has all the potentials to help or hinder our march to true nationhood and leadership in the comity of prospering nations, depending on how we handle it.

Of course, you know I am talking about the on-going controversy over the suspension of Justice Ayo Salami, President of the Court of Appeal (PCA), by the President of the Federal Republic on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council (NJC).

The story is very well known now to require a rehash, but then, journalism practice constrains me from presumptions. So, the story goes like this, in brief. The PCA was found guilty by an administrative panel set up by the NJC of lying on oath against the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Aloysius Katsina-Alu in accusing him of interfering with the work of the Sokoto State Governorship Election Tribunal, empanelled by the PCA. He was asked to apologise within seven days or else. He didn’t and the NJC wielded the big stick, in spite of court processes filed by the PCA to stop it.

In the event, President Jonathan, who had the power to accept or decline the recommendation of the NJC, decided in the affirmative and with uncharacteristic swiftness, approved the suspension and appointed an acting PCA on a Sunday.

Protesters have been on the streets of some major cities since Monday, calling on the President to reverse himself because, he had endorsed an illegality. The illegality, they pointed out, is simply the violation of the rule of law, which is the foundation upon which democratic governance is supposed to be based.

The Rule of Law, according to an online dictionary is “the principle that all people and institutions are subject to and accountable to law that is fairly applied and enforced; the principle of government by law.” The Legal Dictionary says it is “an authoritative legal doctrine, principle, or precept applied to the facts of an appropriate case rule of law that is most persuasive in light of precedent, reason and policy,” as well as, “government by law; adherence to due process”

The specific violation being widely canvassed in the on-going crisis is norm that once a matter has been placed before the court for adjudication, parties should do nothing to make the work of the court futile. Lawyers call it tampering with the res, or presenting the court with a fait accompli.

Apart from protests in the streets, organized by civil society groups, there has been very robust condemnation of the actions of both the NJC and the President, from several articulate quarters. They include political parties, the Nigeria Bar Association, National Association of Nigerian Students, Nigeria Labour Congress, prominent legal practitioners and many leading public commentators.

Of course, there have been a few voices coming in defence of both the NJC and the President. Such defences have been based on two reasons – the commentators’ judgment of the case, character and antecedents of the PCA and/or the right of any employer, in this case, the NJC to discipline an employee. Needless to say, these don’t go to the root of the matter.

You see, we are fast becoming a society without values. Values such as honesty, forthrightness, courage to stand for that which we know to be true are in short supply, in our nation. It is much more so in the leadership, unfortunately.

The rump of the NJC which suspended the PCA knew they didn’t have the power and even if they did, their choice was clear, the moment they received court processes on the matter. The President knew or ought to know that he was backing an illegality by implementing the recommendation of the NJC. This, for me, was in character, however. As I have gone on record as saying before, much as I pray that Dr Goodluck Jonathan succeeds in office, I know that he cannot resist any opportunity to serve himself! He did it with the violation of the rotational principles of his party and he’s likely to do it as often as the opportunities present themselves.

Yet a violation of the rule of law in a democracy, is a violation of one of God’s most fundamental laws; one by which He even bound himself! As any one with an even basic understanding of the Bible would agree, God stuck by due process in the process of restoring the earth He created and handed over to Adam, back to His children after it had been foolishly handed over to satan.

How do I mean? Recall that Adam and Eve were forbidden from eating what became known as the forbidden fruit. Genesis 2 renders it this way in verses 16 & 17: “And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.”

Recall that Adam and Eve did eat the forbidden fruit (see Genesis 3: 1-19) and thereby surrendered their dominion over the earth to satan, who thus became ruler of the earth. He held unto it and even flaunted it in his wilderness encounter with Jesus in Matthew 4, when he took the second Adam: “…up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them” (verse 8); and said to him, “…All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me” (verse 9).

God, the maker of the heaven and earth, who reports to no one, could have done something unilateral about it! He didn’t. He chose to restore the earth to man by due process. He had made it clear that the wages of sin was death (see Romans 6: 23). He wasn’t going to go back on that! Instead of muscling the devil out of his cunningly stolen mandate, God brought the second Adam, got him to pay the price and wrested the earth from the impostor. Those who bear transient power and who name the name of the Lord, like Dr Jonathan, need to take a cue from the One with the eternal power.

Ronald Reagan, former president of the United States of America in a March 8, 1983 speech delivered at the Annual Convention of the National Association of Evangelicals, said: “Freedom prospers when religion is vibrant and the rule of law under God is acknowledged.” Our God is a rule-of-law God.

BANKING: A CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE (4)

2011-08-21T00:05:00.017+01:00

Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor...a challenge

"...I am yet to come across any that operates strictly based on certain properly articulated Christian banking principles. I am aware of Kingdom Bank based in Nottingham, UK, but they evolved from being a mortgage outfit owned by Assemblies of God and, if I read them right, simply added savings into their portfolio. There are a couple of such institutions in the United States too. I am of course aware that there is the Vatican Bank and it is just that, a bank for the Vatican."

In closing last time I raised the following questions: Is there such a thing as Christian Banking? If there is, what are its main features and how does it differ from orthodox banking? If there’s no such thing as Christian banking, why isn’t there? Against the background of current experiences all over the world, shouldn’t there be Christian banking?

I shall try to answer these questions which I actually posed as one multifaceted question. This becomes even more pertinent against the background of an August 8 news report in the Moment, a Lagos-based daily, to which my attention has just been drawn.

Headlined, “Islamic Banking Opponents in Nigeria Seek Interest-Free Christian Banking Licenses”, it reads: “Having failed so far to convince the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to withdraw its current guidelines on Islamic Banking, there are indications that some Christian groups may have decided to use a new approach to challenge the apex bank on the issue.

“Investigations by The Moment revealed that instead of continuing to protest against what they perceive to be the CBN’s attempt to use the guidelines to promote Islam over other religions, the Christian groups are now planning to apply to the apex bank for a non-interest banking licence that would allow them set up a bank that would operate in accordance with Christian principles (emphasis added).

“The Moment learnt that these groups, which in order to mobilise fellow Christians to support the plan have started going round churches in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, conceived this line of action in response to the CBN’s assertion that its guidelines also allow non-Muslim groups to apply for their own non-interest banking licence.

“For instance, the relevant section of the guidelines which top officials of the banking watchdog cite to support their claim, reads: ‘In line with CBN’s objective of promoting financial inclusion in Nigeria, individuals and groups wishing to practice non-interest banking based on established rules and principles other than Islamic may apply for a licence to operate such institutions, and the CBN will accordingly issue guidelines pertinent to that type of banking.’

“However, a source in Abuja informed The Moment that the Christian group’s decision to apply for non-interest banking licence was really to test the CBN’s pledge that other groups which apply would receive the same amount of attention that the current guidelines give to the Islamic religion. ‘In the church I attend, people are really angry over the CBN’s position on the Islamic Banking issue and they have decided to apply for a Christian banking licence to see if their application will be approved and what kind of guidelines the CBN will issue to govern Christian banking (emphasis added). They have also started going to other churches to get more people to support this plan.’

“Industry analysts told The Moment that if Christians apply for ‘Christian banking’ licence, the CBN could find it difficult drawing up guidelines for this form of banking mainly because it is not as well developed as Islamic Banking. Of particular interest is whether the contentious section in the current guidelines which states that the CBN will establish an Advisory Council of Experts to advise it on Islamic Banking will also be found in the guidelines for the other types of non-interest banking. Christians have criticised this proposed council of experts and they will be watching out to see if such a council will also be proposed for them, the analyst submitted’...”(emphasis added). I shall return to this report shortly.

The first shocking thing to note is that my not-so-exhaustive search has turned up nothing to suggest that there is anything known as Christian banking. There are Christian mortgage institutions and savings and loans outfits, so-called because they are owned by Churches, finance Church building projects and church activities, but I am yet to come across any that operates strictly based on certain properly articulated Christian banking principles. I am aware of Kingdom Bank based in Nottingham, UK, but they evolved from being a mortgage outfit owned by Assemblies of God and, if I read them right, simply added savings into their portfolio. There are a couple of such institutions in the United States too. I am of course aware that there is the Vatican Bank and it is just that, a bank for the Vatican.

The question as to what the main features of Christian banking are and how it differs from orthodox banking does not arise at all, since there simply isn’t any such thing! And on why there’s no such thing as Christian banking, I think it’s simply because, orthodox banking originated from Christian environments and was originally operated along basic Christian principles.

Then the ultimate question: “against the background of current experiences all over the world, shouldn’t there be Christian banking?” That I would answer in the affirmative for the following reasons.

One, no matter its history, orthodox banking no longer serves the interest of the Church (Pastor Benny Perez and the Church of Las Vegas, for example) nor those of Christians (the average believer unable to finance his/her business). Two non-interest, profit/loss sharing and ethical banking, (main features of Islamic banking) substantially conform with the Christian faith, save for arguments over whether usury is excessive interest or any interest and also investment in piggery. Three, should banking wind up becoming an evangelizing tool, which seems far-fetched at the moment, we won’t be caught napping.

In closing, please take a look at the emphasis added in the news report quoted above. I believe the issue of guidelines should be seen more as a challenge to us Christians to develop and articulate Christian banking principles around which the guidelines for Christian banking would be built, rather than see as a test for the Central Bank of Nigeria. As for the so-called advisory council of experts at the CBN, neither Islamic nor Christian banking requires one at State expense, and, in my considered opinion, we should press until the existing Islamic council is disbanded. (CONCLUDED)

BANKING: A CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE (3)

2011-08-14T23:51:00.013+01:00

CAN President Ayo Oritsejafor

"Pastor Benny, of course, would have none of that and he is fighting back – within the system, as well as, spiritually. Exasperated, he was quoted in part as saying: “…hopefully these banks will come to their senses and start working with churches that are helping the communities. This church isn’t a business. This is my life. This is my calling. There are lives at stake.” But that is precisely, the problem: the church is not a business; the banks ARE! Money is the life of the banker, making money is his “calling”; profit, mouth-watering profit, is at stake! "

As we saw last time, Benny Perez, Pastor of the Church of Las Vegas is in a battle to save the church’s property from foreclosure. As a result of the sub-prime lending crisis which brought the world’s financial system to its knees three years ago, the value of the church’s property, bought largely with borrowed fund, plummeted 90%. Las Vegas, incidentally, was among the worst affected property regions of the world. The bank which provided the fund with which the property was bought wants to cut its loss and scram, with potentially disastrous consequences, including loss of the property and the huge funds already expended on it.

Pastor Benny, of course, would have none of that and he is fighting back – within the system, as well as, spiritually. Exasperated, he was quoted in part as saying: “…hopefully these banks will come to their senses and start working with churches that are helping the communities. This church isn’t a business. This is my life. This is my calling. There are lives at stake.” But that is precisely, the problem: the church is not a business; the banks ARE! Money is the life of the banker, making money is his “calling”; profit, mouth-watering profit, is at stake!

In sober moments, I am sure, even the pastor knows that it will take a miracle for him to save the church campus and have the necessary fund to continue his expansion project. I believe in miracles and I am joining him in prayer for one. This is because, within the system, as is, he doesn’t stand one tot of a chance!

Which was why, we ended the last piece on this stark note: “Yes, every system serves its originators and operators. The current banking system, whether in the USA or Nigeria, was not established to serve the Kingdom of God on earth. If it ever does help the church, it is accidental, and it’s got to be on its own terms. If those terms hurt us, the system owes us no apology!”

Now, it is against this background that we must consider our options. First, I must state that I am a believer in supernatural provision. I believe that it is possible to build church facilities debt-free; that is without recourse to borrowing of any kind. And what applies to churches applies to individuals, depending on your level of faith and on the sovereign choice of God in each situation. However, I know that, borrowing, while not being the perfect will of God, is well within his permissive will. If that is true, we need to ask ourselves whether churches and individual Christians should be left at the mercy of a system that is clearly designed for purposes that can only occasionally coincide with ours.

Two not so widely publicized contributions to the on-going debate on the controversial introduction of Islamic banking have, in addition to Bro William Eze’s all-important question to me on whether God was trying to say something to us through the controversy, have helped to point me in a definite direction, which I shall share presently. But first let’s read the contributions by these two Nigerians, one Christian, the other a Muslim, together.

In a piece titled, “A Moslem on Christian Banking” in a recent of edition of Leadership newspaper, Yushau Shuaib, identified as a former press secretary in the Federal Ministry of Finance and Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission counselled as follows:

“…Pastor Oritsejafor and his co-travellers clamouring against the introduction of Islamic banking should be advised to channel their energies towards ensuring the realisation of Christian banking in Nigeria that could be fashioned in line with biblical injunctions. Though Islamic banking system is globally recognised as a financial model for investment alternatives, the prohibition of usury or charging interest on loans as well as investment in prohibited goods and products are not only abhorred in the Quran but also have references from verses in the Bible. Some sections in the Bible that prohibit usury for instance in the King James version of the Bible include: Exodus 22:25-27, Leviticus 25:36-37, Psalm 15:1-5, Deuteronomy 23:19-20, Jeremiah 15:10 , Ezekiel 18:7-9, 17 and Matthew 25:27 just to mention a few. Though literatures on Islamic banking and finance are in their thousands, getting similar publications from the Christian perspectives should not be difficult to obtain.

“In fact the many Christian universities in Nigeria are not established to churn out graduates but to provide scholarly materials in various subjects. Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor should exploit those potentials and also engage scholars and intellectuals to work out the frameworks for Christian Banking in Nigeria. The Nigerian muslim will surely not object or condemn the initiative just like similar programmes and policies initiated and formulated by Christians.”

The second piece by a blogger who describes himself as “a Nigerian student that experienced Christianity first hand; from a religious family in South Western Nigeria; a student of science that developed special interest in philosophy and religions early enough to enable him discern some truth from falsehood” concluded his piece on the subject like this: “If your religion doesn’t have a way out for the poor, if your religion says virtually nothing about finance, if all you talk about in churches is how people will make fortunes (to deliver to your coffers anyway); then let the way of life that has a guidance, and is willing to help us stay…”

Food for thought, don’t you think? For instance, could a mortgage funding product run along Islamic Banking lines have been friendlier to Pastor Benny and the Church of Las Vegas? This leads inexorably to the questions that have been tugging at my heart since. Is there such a thing as Christian Banking? If there is, what are its main features; how does it differ from orthodox banking and why is it not being pushed as vigorously as Islamic banking is being promoted? If there’s no such thing as Christian banking, why isn’t there? Against the background of current experiences all over the world, shouldn’t there be Christian banking, if there isn’t? (CONTINUES)

BANKING: A CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE (2)

2011-08-07T00:32:00.005+01:00

Pastor Benny Perez
"Charisma reported what it describes as the “ugly details” as follows: 'The Church of South Las Vegas paid $4.5 million for 3.3 acres of Las Vegas Valley land three years ago. In March, that land appraised for $475,000—a 90 percent decline. The church owes a combined $7.7 million on the property and land. It appraised for $2.3 million. So, like many property owners in Las Vegas—one of the hardest hit real estate markets in the nation—Perez is upside down … $5.4 million upside down'.”

The point has been made that the controversy over introduction of Islamic Banking into our financial system has become a kind of “hunch back problem”, which our dear President would need divine guidance to resolve. That is because the rhetoric on both sides has become violent. Also when it is remembered that the President is a Christian, you wonder how he’s going to avoid accusations of partisanship or sell-out as the case may be. That was why I counselled that we should pray for him.

But as we pray, I had also suggested that we “begin to prayerfully take a close look at banking systems and practices and our place in it, as children of God”. I also requested you, dear readers to reflect on how your “interface with banking practices, as they are today, (have) helped or hurt your assignment for God here?

In making this request, I was hoping that we would be able to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the system, how those attributes line up with the way and manner Christians are supposed to conduct their affairs in whatever their hands find to do here on earth.

My preliminary thoughts are that we, in this part of the Christian world, have not had the incentive to give this issue any thought for two reasons. One, real or perceived weaknesses in the financial system have been located mainly within a rotten socio-economic and political milieu, which would be corrected once the operating environment responds to treatment.

Secondly, it does seem as if interaction between the Church, in this context, the institutions, rather than the congregants, is mutually beneficial. The reason being that many of the major church institutions, which produce leadership of the church associations and groups, are veritable sources of deposits to the banks and can benefit from existing interest regime or even negotiate theirs. In addition, most of them hardly ever have the need to resort to bank funding for their projects.

This is where the story of the current travails of Benny Perez, senior pastor of the Church of Las Vegas, in the United States comes into the picture. A Charisma News report last week styled the situation as a battle with the “Babylonian system to save its campus from foreclosure.” The church, a 4,000-member charismatic megachurch is located in Henderson, Nevada, widely recognised as the gambling capital of the world.

Charisma reported what it describes as the “ugly details” as follows: “The Church of South Las Vegas paid $4.5 million for 3.3 acres of Las Vegas Valley land three years ago. In March, that land appraised for $475,000—a 90 percent decline. The church owes a combined $7.7 million on the property and land. It appraised for $2.3 million. So, like many property owners in Las Vegas—one of the hardest hit real estate markets in the nation—Perez is upside down … $5.4 million upside down.”

The report continued: “Perez says the real battle began when the bank wanted to collect $1.8 million in church offerings earmarked for a building project for the fast-growth church. When Perez tried to negotiate with the bank to reduce the principal of the $7.7 million loan in line with actual property values, the bank refused.

“After prayer and legal counsel, The Church of South Las Vegas decided a strategic default was the best stewardship move. The church stopped making payments on the loan on May 1. The bank subsequently filed suit against the church on June 17. And in July, the church filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in effort to save its campus. ‘People are asking if it is biblical to do a strategic default and declare bankruptcy,’ Perez says. ‘Our answer is we will leave that to smarter people. All I know is that for us as a church, it is a stewardship issue. Would you keep throwing thousands of dollars into a black hole? The bank wants to milk our savings and everything we have until we can’t pay anymore. Bankruptcy was a business decision.’”

Explaining the church’s strategy, the report said, filing for bankruptcy protection, ensures that the church “doesn’t have to leave the property - at least for now - because foreclosure is stayed”, since the Church has no debt.

Perez, continues the report, “still hopes to negotiate with the bank. But the reality is that The Church of South Las Vegas could wind up losing its current home .Charisma quoted Perez as saying: “Somebody needs to stand up to this and I am standing up…Other pastors facing foreclosure are calling me asking what they should do. I can’t tell them what to do about the financial situation, but I do tell them not to walk in fear and not to keep throwing money away to these banks. You have rights and hopefully these banks will come to their senses and start working with churches that are helping the communities. This church isn’t a business. This is my life. This is my calling. There are lives at stake.”

Interestingly the pastor, as we are wont to do, had a spiritual angle to the issue. Charisma quoted him as saying: “This is a spiritual battle. The enemy loves to stop churches by using money. We are one building away from feeding and clothing more people, reaching more youth and children, and helping more prostitutes…Our church would probably double in another year if we could get the new building up. It’s been a war for three years. This is not about a bank. It is a principality and a power standing between us and the Promised Land.”

Now, there are a number of issues thrown up by this report. The easiest to deal with, in my opinion, is the spiritual angle as articulated in Pastor Perez’s statement in the immediate last paragraph. Yes, every system serves its originators and operators. The current banking system, whether in the USA or Nigeria, was not established to serve the Kingdom of God on earth. If it ever does help the church, it is accidental, and it’s got to be on its own terms. If those terms hurt us, the system owes us no apology! (CONTINUES)

BANKING: A CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE

2011-07-31T00:08:00.002+01:00

Bishop Wale Oke, VP (West), CAN

"The continued validity of my standpoint can easily be seen from how the issue has taken on a life of its own. It has become a hunchback problem, which touched anyhow, hurts (apology to Ray Ekpu). I say that because now the President does have a problem on his hands. The Supreme Council for Sharia in Nigeria (SCSN) has been widely reported as declaring that moslems are ready to defend the implementation of the Islamic banking regime “with the last drop of our blood.”

I was saying last time that the furore over the introduction of Islamic Banking into the Nigerian financial system ought to be seen as an opportunity for us Christians to rethink banking as it is currently practiced, and our engagement with it. This redirection of focus was, as I acknowledged, was a result of a dialogue with one of my brethren.

William Eze had put it this way: “Do you think there is a divine providence prodding the Christian community (assuming the true motive is to empower the poor), which the Christian community has not given adequate attention. Can you look beyond what the normal eyes can’t see?” I immediately “saw” that God was using him to point us all in the direction we seem resolutely focused on ignoring: that nothing happens by accident; that as spirit beings we must be more concerned about the spiritual dimension of things.

Since then I have begun a rethink of my position on the subject, from a more spiritual standpoint. Yes, it is true that my erstwhile positions remain valid. These, to refresh your memory are: that Islamic banking, which can very simply be described as non-interest, profit/loss sharing and ethical banking, does no harm to the Christian; but that its timing, the manner of its introduction and its violation of the spirit, if not the letters, of our secular system of government, portends instability to the nation, particularly against the background of mutual distrust across the main faith divides

The continued validity of my standpoint can easily be seen from how the issue has taken on a life of its own. It has become a hunchback problem, which touched anyhow, hurts (apology to Ray Ekpu). I say that because now the President does have a problem on his hands. The Supreme Council for Sharia in Nigeria (SCSN) has been widely reported as declaring that moslems are ready to defend the implementation of the Islamic banking regime “with the last drop of our blood.”

The council wasn’t diplomatic about it at all. In a statement read to journalists at the its president, Dr. Ibrahim Datti Ahmad said among other things: “Jaiz bank has come to be and there is nothing they (Christian leaders) can do about it and if we have to go to war on this, we’ll go to war…Let those wearing cassocks stop disturbing our peace. Gentlemen (journalists), being peaceful doesn’t mean we are cowards. We warn them to stop disturbing our peace if they want us to live together in Nigeria. Everybody can go his way; we don’t have to live together. We can’t live under people dictating to us how we should live our lives even within the laws of the country. Whatever they call themselves, whether archbishops, priests or whatever they are, let them stop disturbing our lives. We have had enough; let the government warn them because these abuses are enough. We have been patient but there is a limit to what we can take…

“We’ll meet fire with fire if they make the Jaiz bank impossible. Let them leave us alone. If they want us to live in Nigeria peacefully as we want to do, then let them respect our rights as we concede to them their own rights…They think they can blackmail the government, the CBN or the Muslim ummah to abandon the project. We want to assure them that nothing can stop the Jaiz bank from coming into being because it’s being brought in according to the laws of Nigeria. There is nothing illegal about it. If they have a Christian bank that they want to establish, they have the freedom to bring it to the CBN and if they can prove their case, a Christian bank will be opened. We, the Muslims of this country, are fed up and tired of the vituperations of the CAN (Christian Association of Nigeria). They feel they can dictate to the Muslims, even on how we should live our lives. And we are warning the government not to listen to them because there is a limit to the amount of nonsense we can take. We are the majority in this country, whether the Christians like it or not.”

On the other hand, the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria is reported to have called for the removal of Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as governor of Central Bank of Nigeria. Media reports quoted Vice-President, South-West zone of the Fellowship, Bishop Francis Wale Oke,as saying that Sanusi has lost the capacity to regulate the nation’s banking industry…Having become a promoter of a sensitive and volatile issue as the Islamic banking project, we have lost confidence in the CBN boss…The secular status of the country still remains non-negotiable as provided for in the 1999 Constitution. The approach of the CBN governor should be reviewed, especially as he is the governor of an Islamic bank…(and) Islamic clerics threatening fire and brimstone over Sanusi’s banking system should be mindful of the consequences of their unguarded inflammatory utterances.”

Dear reader, please join me to pray God’s wisdom for President Goodluck Jonathan as he tackles all the issues thrown up by the contending forces. And I know God answers prayers.

As we do that, however, let’s also begin to prayerfully take a close look at banking systems and practices and our place in it, as children of God. The financial system, including banking is pivotal to the Babylonian system, and we, as children of God, who are in this world but are not of it, really shouldn’t be bothered about it. But then, we are here, and we are the salt of the earth. So, as I close this first in a serial, I request you to think about this: how has interface with banking practices, as they are today, helped or hurt your assignment for God here? Next time, I am going to tell you the story of an American pastor in a wrestling match with the banking system and its relevance to the subject at hand. Join me.

STILL ON ISLAMIC BANKING

2011-07-24T22:55:00.007+01:00

CBN Governor

"I see clearer now. You have carefully painted two positions seemingly polarised. I am a bit alarmed at Mr Governor's extreme position. However …let me ask you….what could be a way out of this? Do you think there is a divine providence prodding the Christian community (assuming the true motive is to empower the poor), which the Christian community have not given adequate attention. Can you look beyond what the normal eyes can’t see?"

I had this brief dialogue with one of my friends and brothers during the week. He had read my last piece titled, “Islamic Banking and the Nation”, and he sounded displeased with my position or lack of it. The chat went thus:

HIM: Remy. I‘ve not been able to pin your perspective on this sharia thing. I think people should take definite positions about what is happening.

ME: Which is the "sharia thing"?

HIM: The Islamic Banking and the Sharia Law.

ME: Oh that. Perhaps I am simply too naive to make the connection between "non-interest, profit-sharing and ethical banking" which is what "Islamic Banking" is, at its core; and imposition of Sharia Law in Nigeria. I chose not to indulge in the "baby and birth water" syndrome that is the hallmark of many a national discourse. My position was stated clearly, I believe, in the paragraphs preceding my suggestions for the way forward in these words:

‘The vocal cleric’s (meaning Cardinal Okogie) position is broadly representative of the views of Christian leaders who have opposed the introduction of the so-called Islamic banking. A fair reading of this statement and the many others I have read would seem to betray a misunderstanding of the concept and/or distrust of the motive of its proponents all within the context of protection of Christian interests within the plurality known as Nigeria.

‘It has dawned on me that while Islamic banking can correctly be said to be harmless to Christians, as I stated the last time; its introduction at this time; the brazen attitude of Central Bank Governor Lamido Sanusi and the choice of language of the likes of Sheikh Ahmad makes it potentially harmful to the Nigerian State, as we know it..." Forgive me, if that's not 'definite' enough…’

HIM: I see clearer now. You have carefully painted two positions seemingly polarised. I am a bit alarmed at Mr Governor's extreme position. However …let me ask you….what could be a way out of this? Do you think there is a divine providence prodding the Christian community (assuming the true motive is to empower the poor), which the Christian community have not given adequate attention. Can you look beyond what the normal eyes can’t see?

ME: My brother, how I wish we could all be like you, seeking out God's will in situations as they arise! That is what your question has shown and it’s absolutely scriptural to accept that if God allows a situation, even if we can't see Him orchestrating it, He is able to make it work for our good. So, yes, I think it’s an opportunity to revisit banking as it is today vis-a-vis the Christian. It’s a theme I was led to discuss in the 'heat' of the economic meltdown. I just might return to it soon. To answer you directly, I believe we must fight against the nomenclature "Islamic"; and once we succeed encourage Christians and Christian institutions to invest heavily in Non-Interest banking. Handled well, it will, in my opinion, add tangible value to the economy, as distinct from the mere bubble that trading in money does.

HIM: …I shall join you in making declarations…and would not want to pray based on prejudice, until this beast is defeated…

Now, I wasn’t flattering my friend when I said I wished we were all like him, “seeking out God's will in situations as they arise!” I truly admire him for daring to ask if God was trying to get the attention of the church on the issue of how banking is done, while we are too preoccupied with the “sharia factor”.

It’s all the more instructive that every Christian leader who has spoken publicly (at least those whose comments I’ve read or heard) on this vexed issue, seemed to have ignored the spiritual, moral and economic angles to the debate. We have tended to be too combative, too political to bother about these areas. Yet, when you come to think about it, these are the angles that should have formed the basis of our response. Such a redirection of focus would have revealed a need for us to rethink banking as it is practiced today, particularly as it has to do with poverty reduction, value-added and socio-economic development of our nation.

An honest appraisal of the banking system in general would show that profit is the dominant essence of the system. This, while legitimate, has tended to be pursued with such ruthlessness that the well-being of the borrower hardly ever comes into the picture, unless, of course, he is of the elite well-connected class, who can afford the huge fees of lawyers, if push comes to shove.

In the heat of the economic meltdown in 2009, a re-think of the capitalist system, (dominated by the money and capital markets) came on the front-burner.

As I tried to join the debate in my small corner, a characterization of the operators of the system that caught my attention was an old one by Pope Pius XI (1857 – 1939), which read like this: "…It is patent that in our days, not wealth alone is accumulated, but immense power and despotic economic domination are concentrated in the hands of the few, who for the most part are not the owners but only the trustees and directors of invested funds, which they administer at their own good pleasure…This domination is most powerfully exercised by those who, because they hold and control money, also govern credit and determine its allotment, for that reason supplying, so to speak, the life blood of the entire economic body, and grasping in their hands, as it were, the very soul of production, so that no one can breathe against their will..."

Now, Pope Pius XI went to be with the Lord a whopping 70 years ago, and you could be forgiven for wondering if he spoke yesterday! Shouldn’t that be food for thought for us as Christians? If Non-Interest Banking, along with its profit/loss sharing and ethical investment policy components, deemphasizes inordinate profit, afford the ideas person who has no money the opportunity of institutional partnership, and divert funds from production of goods that don’t help our moral health, shouldn’t we Christians be in the vanguard of promoting it? Shouldn’t we?

ISLAMIC BANKING AND THE NATION

2011-07-17T04:30:00.000+01:00

"But, that’s not why I have returned to the subject! I have returned to it because the rhetoric degenerating and somebody needs to rein in those who speak on behalf of religious groups. I was particularly alarmed by the “robustness” of the language used by one Sheikh Abdurrahman Ahmad, on behalf of a group known as Conference of Islamic Organisation (CIO), at a news conference in Lagos during the week."

IN my last piece, Islamic Banking and the Christian, I made the point that Islamic Banking, in my opinion, is harmless and should therefore not be resisted.

My words: “You see, my take on this Islamic Banking thing, which I wish to commend to my brothers and sisters, is this and it flows from something I have been saying for ages. I have been confronted with this obstructionist secularism in my search for advertising for the magazine I steward, going for all of seven years. The big spenders tell you they don’t want to be branded Christian, so they’ll rather not use our medium to push their goods and services. When I say to them, find a Moslem medium to balance things out, they say no! The result is they put their money in God-neutral outlets, many of which corrupt and, ultimately serve the devil!

“Islamic Banking is interest-free, profit-sharing and ethical banking. How that hurts anyone, I honestly don’t know. There are many money and financial products that are ethical – no investment in alcohol, tobacco etc – and they are doing well. Properly regulated this so-called Islamic banking can do us good. And if we, as Christians, like to start something of our own to compete with it, I guess, we should. If Sanusi then refuses to approve, we would have good reason to scream”.

Since then I have heard the Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, Olubunmi Cardinal Okogie threaten to accept Sanusi Lamido Sanusi’s challenge that opponents of the Islamic banking project should go to court. I also heard him say he might invite the Vatican Bank over to Nigeria. While I have no comments on the court option being illiterate in the law, I certainly would welcome any move towards putting a Christian banking alternative in place!

But, that’s not why I have returned to the subject! I have returned to it because the rhetoric degenerating and somebody needs to rein in those who speak on behalf of religious groups. I was particularly alarmed by the “robustness” of the language used by one Sheikh Abdurrahman Ahmad, on behalf of a group known as Conference of Islamic Organisation (CIO), at a news conference in Lagos during the week.

The Moment newspaper report of the media meet written by Sulaimon Alamutu, read in part like this: “… the allegation being peddled by the leadership of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), that introduction of the banking product would Islamise Nigeria was unfortunate describing it as ‘wicked, intellectually-dishonest and provocative.’

“The National Missioner of the Ansar-ud-deen Society of Nigeria, Sheikh Abdurrahman Ahmad, who led the group…noted that the Nigerian Inter-Religious Council, NIREC, which the President of CAN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor is the Vice Chairman, should have been the proper avenue to thrash the issues involved rather than resort to media propaganda. He said the NIREC had been holding meetings on burning national issues, but there had never been a time that the CAN leadership raised any fears about the introduction of the non-interest banking into the country’s financial system.

“‘Let me also state here that we have had Christian individuals and groups who have been dissociating themselves from the campaign of hate that has been dominating in the newspapers.’

“Sheikh Ahmad said the non- interest bank, when fully in operation, would be open to all without discriminating against any group. He explained that multinational financial institutions such as HSBC and Barclays bank all operate non-interest banking windows, wondering why Nigeria should not benefit from the opportunities the system would offer. ‘We advise the leadership of the CAN, ably led by Pastor Ayo Oritsejefor to caution all the branches of the CAN to stop heating up the polity,’ he said.

“He called on the Federal Government to avoid being stampeded by those he described as ‘apostles of hate and bigotry,’ adding that ‘It is unfortunate that religious leaders who are supposed to promote cohesion are at the forefront of heating up the polity.’”

I have checked the statements of Christian leaders on this subject to see how they betray “hate and bigotry”, for instance and I still am, but I am yet to locate any. A sampler:

Cardinal Okogie’s statement, which has been widely reported, reads in part: “efforts to ensure a speedy take off of the scheme... was part of the grand plan to turn Nigeria into an Islamic state. We condemn such moves in all ramifications. We are against the operation of Islamic banking in Nigeria because we see it as another deliberate move to subjugate Christians in

Nigeria

. Nigeria is a secular state. We must be very sensitive to the religious beliefs of others…Introducing Islamic banking in Nigeria will further aggravate the palpable religious tension in the country already being hoisted by the radical sect Boko Haram.”

The vocal cleric’s position is broadly representative of the views of Christian leaders who have opposed the introduction of the so-called Islamic banking. A fair reading of this statement and the many others I have read would seem to betray a misunderstanding of the concept and/or distrust of the motive of its proponents all within the context of protection of Christian interests within the plurality known as

Nigeria

It has dawned on me that while Islamic banking can correctly be said to be harmless to Christians, as I stated the last time; its introduction at this time; the brazen attitude of Central Bank Governor Lamido Sanusi and the choice of language of the likes of Sheikh Ahmad makes it potentially harmful to the Nigerian State, as we know it.

In the event, may I make the following suggestions: That the CBN stays action on the issue; withdraw the guidelines it issued on Islamic Banking which itself has created an unnecessary dichotomy; amend the general guidelines on banking practices to include non-interest, profit-sharing and ethical banking, which is what Islamic banking is about; and simply make this kind of banks regional. This will allay all fears and still achieve the ends of economic growth, which I like to believe Sanusi and his team are pursuing.

ISLAMIC BANKING AND THE CHRISTIAN

2011-07-10T01:38:00.002+01:00

Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi,
"Islamic Banking is interest-free, profit-sharing and ethical banking. How that hurts anyone, I honestly don’t know. There are many money and financial products that are ethical – no investment in alcohol, tobacco etc – and they are doing well. Properly regulated this so-called Islamic banking can do us good. And if we, as Christians, like to start something of our own to compete with it, I guess, we should. If Sanusi then refuses to approve, we would have good reason to scream."

Sanusi Lamido Sanusi is easily one the most controversial public officials in Nigeria today. As Central Bank governors go, the only thing conservative about him is his choice of tie. His radical and activist approach to his job ensures that his tenure won’t be forgotten in a hurry, when it’s over. How he would be remembered; whether on the right or wrong side of history resides in the womb of time, for now.

However, one thing is certain, though, how the introduction of Islamic Banking into the financial system through the recent release of guidelines, the licensing of Jaiz Bank and approval to Stanbic/IBTC to commence that variant of banking, play out, will play a part in how he is remembered. I say that because, whichever way you look at it, something is bound to change for good or ill, when the dust finally settles.

I say so because, by this singular policy step, Sanusi is, inadvertently perhaps, challenging some fundamental assumptions about our nation. That much must be clear to him, and every perceptive watcher of the Nigerian space, from the variety of reactions coming from across the country.

One of such assumptions is the secularity of the Nigerian nation, a constitutional fact which no less a person than Alhaji Abdul-Lafeef Adegbite, secretary-general of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), has consistently challenged, Nigeria, he insists, is a multi-religious, rather than a secular state. This incidentally is, as I write, generating heated but very enlightening and polite debate on the Facebook page of Nigerian Legislature Surveillance Group (NLSG).

I shall resist the temptation to go into the nitty-gritty of that debate here, but it’s useful to state that most of the contributors agreed with the constitution that Nigeria is a secular state and should remain so, for the simple reason that the adoption of one or more religion as state religion will lead to infraction of rights and subsequently chaos. My wonderful friends on that forum said so; and my friends are wise men; so I dare not say otherwise!

But, to return to the issue at hand, does the introduction of Islamic Banking violate the letter or spirit of the secular provision of our constitution? What is secularity? How well has it helped our pursuit of integration, peace, socio-political and economic development? Will Islamic banking retard or strengthen our march towards the nation of our dream?

On the face of it, it seems exaggerated that a policy that, as its most basic form, is simply approval of a banking product, need lead us to such fundamental soul-searching. But that is the nature of our society! So, let’s attempt to answer some of those questions, in order to engage with the issues in currency in this unnecessary controversy.

Secularity is simply separation from religion; neutrality on religious matters. It does not imply hostility to religion, although at its “advance” form it could lead to it. I wish I could answer truthfully that secularity has helped our march to integration, because if it has, we probably would not be having this debate. Nor would we be afflicted with “Boko Haram” 50 years into flag independence. I am not a lawyer, so I cannot make a definite pronouncement on whether Islamic Banking violates the letters of the constitution, but I certainly don’t think it runs contrary to its spirit. I say that because all that the Central Bank of Nigeria has done is license companies that meet its guidelines for the particular kind of banking; it has not established one on behalf of the state. To have continued to shut out Islamic Banking, in my opinion would have done violence to the principle of neutrality that secularity entails. Neutrality, in my humble opinion, ought to include provision of a level playing ground for all tendencies within the space called Nigeria.

The question as to whether Islamic Banking will help or hurt our march forward can be answered with an “it depends”. It depends, ultimately, on how much light we are willing to let into the discussion and how courageous our leaders are in addressing the fundamentals of whether secularity really suits us; if it does, how true to the concept have we been or are willing to be henceforth, and believe it or not, how successful we are in preventing a linkage between it and the emerging threat of Islamic fundamentalism.

I have heard my brethren talk about an Islamisation agenda of Nigeria which dates way back to the days of the late respected Sardauna of Sokoto and which this blue blood CBN governor is still pursuing! And those of this persuasion are fully persuaded that the Islamic Banking project is one of the tools. I am too un-initiated to share that viewpoint, though.

You see, my take on this Islamic Banking thing, which I wish to commend to my brothers and sisters is this, and it flows from something I have been saying for ages. I have been confronted with this obstructionist secularism in my search for advertising for the magazine I steward going for all of seven years. The big spenders tell you they don’t want to be branded Christian, so they’ll rather not use our medium to push their goods and services. When I say to them, find a Moslem medium to balance things out, they say no! The result is they put their money in God-neutral outlets, many of which corrupt and, ultimately serve the devil!

Islamic Banking is interest-free, profit-sharing and ethical banking. How that hurts anyone, I honestly don’t know. There are many money and financial products that are ethical – no investment in alcohol, tobacco etc – and they are doing well. Properly regulated this so-called Islamic banking can do us good. And if we, as Christians, like to start something of our own to compete with it, I guess, we should. If Sanusi then refuses to approve, we would have good reason to scream.

LETTER TO ANYIM PIUS ANYIM, SGF (2)

2011-07-03T08:14:00.012+01:00

HAND-IN-HAND: Chief Pius Anyim (right)
with predecessor, Yayale Ahmed

I had stated in the earlier part of this letter that I shall keep an eye on your performance in office as Secretary to the Government of the Federation. My reason, as stated was that it was in the nature of this column to do so with all public officers who publicly profess their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

I quoted some of your recent statements to buttress my position, that you have been unabashed about your commitment to the Faith. First, at your inauguration, you described your appointment as “the will of God for him and for all Nigerians”.

Next, in your address at the annual dinner party of Akokwa Christian Elites in Lagos, you “enjoined Nigerians to always seek the face of the Almighty God in any decision they make in life adding that the reason man experiences difficulties in life is because he wants to play God. ‘He (God) opposes the proud and gives way to the humble…There is no alternative to fearing God, to doing the right thing, to being fair to human beings.”

All of that means to me that we can justifiably expect you to be God-fearing and God-dependent in your official conduct and decisions. That thrills me, no end. It thrills me because it reminds me of the story of Dr Christopher Kolade, a respected retired public officer who went on to leave major footprints in the private sector. The story, which forms the kernel of a book by a UK-based Nigerian journalist and entrepreneur, Mrs Pamela Chinekwe, records his exploits as Nigeria High Commissioner to the United Kingdom. Titled, “He Made the Difference…” and published for Nigeria by KP BOOKS, it goes something like this:

In March 2000, the author, on her very first visit to the Nigeria High Commission in the

had a never to be forgotten experience of the negative kind. Having been to some Nigerian Embassies in other countries, with nothing no untoward experience, she wasn’t prepared for what she encountered. As she caught her first glimpse of the high commission, she was confronted by what she described as “a dauntingly long queue” reaching well outside the Street with as many as 60 persons outside the building. Reasoning that the queue was for those who had consular business; she explained to one of the staffers that all she wanted to do was personally deliver an envelope to its addressee. But, she was told to join the queue still.

She obeyed. What followed was to remain in her memory for quite a while. Her words: “a fight broke out within the Embassy (I later found out it was a normal occurrence). It was a fight between frustrated passport seekers and the High Commission officers. My carefully ironed suit was crumpled and stained after I got pushed over by angry Nigerians and almost collapsed in the midst of the fiery battle. Some people helped get me off the ground while the rampage continued fiercely…British Police men came in to caution a guy who had entered through a window into the cash office, demanding the refund of his passport fee with interest, for which he had paid a year ago but was yet to receive his passport.

“Another woman was screaming at the top of her voice defiantly declaring that the only way she would leave without her passport was if the building was burnt down…Finally after seven hours and fifty minutes on the queue, we were all told to go home and the doors were shut and that was that…”

That was Mrs Chinekwe’s first visit to the High Commission of her home country and she was resolved that it would be her last. But her resolve lasted barely three years.

In May 2003, she was having lunch with one of her aunts when she overheard her advising her friend to drop in at the High Commission to renew her passport the next day, rather than travelling to

Nigeria

to do it. She couldn’t believe her ears! Why would her aunt recommend that, “suicide zone”, as she called it to anyone, not least of all, a friend? Her auntie’s reply as recorded in the book was unbelievable: “Not any more, Pam…They now have a new man there. I think it is better and wiser for my friend to go there. I got my passport back so fast when I applied, I could not believe it myself.”

Incredible, though it sounded, the journalist and patriot in her got the better of her and so, she decided to investigate. She took notes, conducted interviews and attended events at Abuja House and in July 2007, she was ready to meet with the man who had been at the centre of the changes that had become very widely acknowledged.

Part of her record of the meeting with Ambassador Kolade went like this: “I walked into the large office ... The simple, neat and elegant furnishing carefully devoid of any frills, stated a lot about my host.

“’Welcome Pamela, what do you have to show me?’ …I dug into my folder and came up with it. Taking a deep breath, I placed it in his hands, then I waited in anticipation. He looked at the contents of the folder I had given him... He finally spoke, ‘I do not think I should be allowing this. Everything I have done here has been my job, nothing out of the ordinary. ‘

‘No, it is not.’…’I beg your pardon?’ he asked.

“’…But your job is a job no one was ready to do. You did something no one had dared to, until now. This is not something we should just brush under the carpet, but something that must be documented so that others can learn from your experiences and techniques…’”

“…I waited for him to say something and finally after two minutes he looked at me again and said, ‘Go ahead and do it, let me know if you need anything from me.’…He continued by way of explaining his change of mind, saying, ‘I asked the Holy Spirit what to tell you and He said to me, if she says she wants to do this, let her. Although I would never have approved this ordinarily, you can go ahead.’”

Now, his achievements in office, very well documented in the book, are certainly stuff that godly success is made of. There is no reason why yours should be any less spectacular, if you’ll just keep to the path you’ve chosen. God’s grace will be sufficient for you, in Jesus Name. Amen.

LETTER TO ANYIM PIUS ANYIM, SGF (1)

2011-06-26T22:49:00.000+01:00

Chief Anyim Pius Anyim

Dear Chief Anyim, I am writing this open letter to congratulate you on your appointment and inauguration as Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF. I know you would have received many of such letters – a whole range of them, the fawning, the patronizing, the inspiring and the self-serving – such that by now they are probably just filed away, without being read. I hope this experiences a better fate.

I wouldn’t know how my reason for writing rates this letter, but it is absolutely important to state it up-front, as I am an apostle of full disclosure. The most important single reason I am writing is to serve you notice that I shall, as much as practicable, be one of the keenest watchers of your activities in office. I shall be one of the cheer leaders when you get it right and one of your loudest critics, if you ever deviate. You know why I shall be doing that? Although, I have never met you, I am one of your admirers - as one of my pastors who was a Law School mate of yours, can testify. I came closest to meeting you last year when you presided at the annual seminar of International Foundation for Christian Unity (IFCU), in Lagos where I was one of the speakers. But I arrived so late; you were leaving as I was coming in! (Not a habit, I assure you).

What I do admire in you is therefore more of a hunch, deriving from your public life and statements. They ooze humility and faith in God. My self-appointment as an observer of your activities in office, therefore takes its root from your public demonstration of commitment to faith in Jesus Christ, and by nature of this column.

It is already well known that one of the things you did when you left office as President of the nation’s upper legislative chamber, the Senate, was attend Bible School. (Interestingly your “good friend”, who shall be unnamed here, also chose to study the Bible after eight years of playing god with our national destiny; though at a distance learning institution).

Your utterances since taking office further strengthen my resolve to embark on this assignment of which I am notifying you. Two of them will suffice as reminders.

First media reports of your inauguration were unanimous that you saw your appointment as the “will of God”. ThisDay newspaper’s report by Dele Ogbodo read partly like this: “The newly inaugurated Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim…stated that his appointment as SGF by President Goodluck Jonathan was the will of God for him and for all Nigerians. Anyim made the declaration in Abuja, while formerly taking over office from the out-going SGF, Alhaji Yayale Ahmed.

“While expressing no regret on his failed ambition of becoming the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)…he said ‘though the office of the SGF is not an arm of Government that I’m very conversant with, as a politician with the legislative arm, l’ m very eager to learn from my forerunner, Alhaji Yayale Ahmed, who is a very distinguished and patriotic Nigerian.’ Anyim expressed appreciation to Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, for the trust reposed in him by giving him yet another opportunity to serve the country, stating that he will not disappoint the president and the nation…”

The other, also a ThisDay report, this time by Sunday Okobi, provides for me, another basis upon which your activities in office can very reasonably be appraised. It reads, in part: “Secretary of the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, has enjoined Nigerians to always seek the face of the Almighty God in any decision they make in life adding that the reason man experiences difficulties in life is because he wants to play God. ‘He (God) opposes the proud and gives way to the humble.’

“Anyim made this comment while addressing Akokwa Christian Elites in Lagos at their annual dinner party at the weekend. He reasoned that if man must experience peace, joy and success in life, and also, with the fact that God is not a respecter of anybody irrespective of his status in the society, he (man) should always work and walk in God’s path to curry His avalanche favour.

“’There is no alternative to fearing God, to doing the right thing, to being fair to human beings. The most bankable investment I have on my children is the one I can have on other people. So be good to humanity.’

“The former Senate President who sounded more religious than politician that evening while drawing illustration from the Holy book with the story of the ‘rich fool’ said: ‘The reason man must fear God and always seek his face in his everyday life is because the earth and our individual lives belong to Him; we are just items in his vineyard. If He deems to forget you, he just replaces you with another person. He doesn’t lose anything.’

“Anyim also illustrated God’s supremacy using his life as an example. He disclosed how he wallowed in ignorance when he sought to occupy the People Democratic Party Chairmanship position without waiting for God direction. ‘I took my campaign to Kaduna. While in my hotel room, a voice said ‘this will not work’ I rebuked it thinking it was the voice of the devil to weaken me, the next thing I heard was that the party will choose a consensus candidate. But after constant consultation with God, and without stress, I got to where I’m today…

“He told the Akokwa businessmen and women who gathered at Sheraton Banquet Hall that the best experience he has on earth is a life of total dependence on God adding ‘It’s only God that secures man. No matter the body guards around you, what God says will happen to you, must surely come to past…I never dream of becoming a politician in life. It happened because I believe success comes from God; I now live life confidently, knowing that I have conquered the fear of my tomorrow, ‘Anyim affirmed…” (CONCLUDES NEXT WEEK).

WANTED: A CHRISTIAN AGENDA FOR NIGERIA (3)

2011-06-19T14:30:00.020+01:00

Rev Dr Daniel Okoh, VP, CAN

"...A Christian agenda for Nigeria is not a christianizing agenda. As stated before, it’s simply setting an agenda for governments at all levels, based on the values that we hold dear, values that are godly and therefore incapable of hurting others who mean well for our nation; it is also about protecting our legitimate interests within the plurality that’s Nigeria, without infringing on the legitimate rights of others. What I canvass here, is the need for the Christian community, by the help of the Holy Spirit, to articulate those values and interests for our brethren, who have been elected at various levels, and encourage them to propagate and pursue them as our agenda".

In concluding this serial, allow me reiterate that a Christian agenda for Nigeria is not a christianizing agenda. As stated before, it’s simply setting an agenda for governments at all levels, based on the values that we hold dear, values that are godly and therefore incapable of hurting others who mean well for our nation; it is also about protecting our legitimate interests within the plurality that’s Nigeria, without infringing on the legitimate rights of others. What I canvass here, is the need for the Christian community, by the help of the Holy Spirit, to articulate those values and interests for our brethren, who have been elected at various levels, and encourage them to propagate and pursue them as our agenda.

Already identified as deserving places in the agenda are the issues of Education, structure of our federation and religious persecution in parts of the country.

Education, it was said must be on the agenda because, the pursuit of knowledge is a God-ordered preoccupation, without which mankind will perish (see Hosea 4:6). Christians should therefore push easy access to education, including free education, wherever and whenever feasible, and insist on the entrenchment in the curricular at appropriate levels, of such character-moulding, world-view shaping subjects as Christian Religious Knowledge, Moral Instructions and Civics.

In making the case for revisiting the structure of our federalism, the point was made that, there is injustice, inequity and even enslavement, in the current arrangement. These are definitely ungodly attributes which must make the system unacceptable us as Christians, children of a just Father. In this connection, the point was also made that the rise of violence in our country is the result of pervasive systemic injustice. Justice, we said, was the only enduring antidote to violence. Christians, as followers of the Prince of Peace, must make it our duty to uproot all systemic incentive to violence. There must be a way of making this a major assignment for Christians in government at all levels.

On religious persecution in some parts of northern Nigeria, it has been said that it is unconscionable for Christians in other parts of Nigeria to be apathetic about the plight of their brethren in northern Nigeria just because we live in relatively tolerant climes. This runs counter to the express injunction of the Bible that “we are one body in Christ (Romans 12:5). Truth is, as has already been emphasized, many of our brethren in that part of Nigeria have died; many have lost loved ones; many have been maimed; very many are living in mortal fear of their neighbours. It is also true that “in some parts, churches cannot own property, including places of worship.” But instead of action, what has been happening is intellectual debate about whether the problem is religious or ethnic, while the Christian has become an endangered species in many parts of Northern Nigeria. This is indeed a very crucial part of the agenda because lives and the continued existence of the nation are involved.

As I stated in closing last week, corruption and integrity both need to find places in any meaningful agenda. In the article “Election 2011: How-To Guide for Christians,” I wrote: “Everybody agrees that corruption is the deadliest single cancer that’s eaten up our innards as a nation. Everybody agrees that institutions have to be established and strengthened to fight it. But as we have seen, institutions need good people to nurture them to growth. Besides, we need to understand that corruption is sometimes system-induced. For instance, big governments tend to lead to corruption”. As a body, we must take informed stand on fundamental issues such as this, and encourage our brethren in office to pursue appropriate policies.”

I also drew attention to the issue of integrity, which while closely related to corruption, is largely personal and can help or hurt our fight against corruption. I recall addressing the issue in these words: “Integrity is the scarcest commodity in Nigeria. That is because, no matter how brilliant the policies; no matter how convincing a candidate sounds, no matter how seemingly well-thought out the programmes look; if the integrity quotient of the implementers is low, it would be more of the same…”

In the current context, the church has the role of monitoring the performance in office, of those who name the name of the Lord. Christians must be encouraged to live by Christian ethics by their pastors at the personal level, while the church umbrella bodies must not shy away from stepping in where personal pastoral leadership is either lacking or inadequate.

Now, in all of these, there’s the how-to question. How does the church go about drawing up an agenda?

First, we can and need to take a cue from the political parties. They simply invited their members to seminars and workshops where ideas were broached, discussed and decisions reached. While it is true that the church, not having fielded candidates, does not have the kind of hold on elected officials that the parties which sponsored them have, it also true however that not a single one of those who claim to be Christians can ignore an invitation from the church. Were anyone to, he would simply be repudiating his faith publicly and would not be worth worrying about!

This kind of engagement with the political class has been uppermost in one’s mind for years now. I even suggested it in the serial, “Wake-Up Call for Church Leaders”. Specifically, I proposed that CAN should consider holding annual retreats for Christian politicians, where they all have the opportunity to listen to word-based evaluation of governance; exchange views on anti-Christian pressures and satanic influences, and together agree to prayerfully resist those things. It was also suggested that CAN appoints a legislative liaison and monitoring group armed with a Christian legislative agenda and a check-list of the attributes of just laws. With a legislative agenda of laws that Nigerian Christians would love to see passed in a particular legislative year, this group can liaise with Christian legislators and even powerful non-Christians where necessary. With a well thought-out legislative checklist Christian members can be guided to oppose or support or propose amendments to bills…” There’s much more along this line, but its “space-up”. God help our leaders to listen.

WANTED: A CHRISTIAN AGENDA FOR NIGERIA (2)

2011-06-12T09:47:00.032+01:00

David Mark, Senate President.

"Next, I mentioned in that piece, the structure of our federation. I argued that “as currently structured, there is so much injustice, inequity and therefore, ungodliness in the way Nigeriais run.” It was my view and it remains so that “whether we wish to acknowledge it honestly or not, God cannot be happy with a situation where the way resources, native to any part of the country, are controlled and managed from a so-called centre. The continued attempt at tinkering with this issue will get us nowhere. What we need in Nigeriais a true federation; one in which no section is treated as, or even remotely allowed to feel like, second-class citizens. Justice is the only enduring antidote to violence.” Can we encourage Christian legislators to engage with this fundamental problem?"

I wrote in part last week: “...Until now, I thought I have been playing my part, and that is not untrue. But, I know that I have to keep at it, up the ante, for indeed, the stakes are higher today than at any other time in our history. That is why I shall not stop calling on the Church, to which I belong, to rise up from its business as usual composure. When I wrote a serial titled, Wake-Up Call to Church Leaders; did an Open Letter series to the president of Christian Association of Nigeria, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor; when I proclaimed, by divine unction that 2011 was the year of the Church, I was trying to point out the need for the Church in Nigeria get up and get involved…”

Continuing, I also said: “To a significant extent, the church did, in collaboration with many other segments of society, and that is why we are where we are today. That is why we can talk about a reasonably free, fair and credible election…However, we cannot stop there; we dare not! People have been elected; a good percentage of them profess faith in the saving grace of Jesus Christ. In other words they are our brothers and sisters in Christ. Many of them are going there with the best of intentions. But so did many in the past, who came back warped by the system. Are there ways the Church can help them? Are their things that we, as a Church, led by the Holy Spirit of God, can draw their attention to which, they should put on the front burner? My answer is yes, on both counts.”

It was my promise that I shall point out some of those things that ought to be on the Christian Agenda for

Nigeria

. For the avoidance of any doubt, this is not about “Christianizing”

Nigeria

, although I’ll gladly do, if I could. It’s about setting an agenda for governments at all levels based on our faith, values and interests that will make the nation better for ALL Nigerians, irrespective of their faith. It is about articulating for our brethren, who have been elected at various levels, those issues that are we, as a Spirit-led body, are persuaded with, as the cliché goes, move the nation forward.

Due to space constraints, I shall mention just a few. And these few derive from some my earlier suggestions on this page, beginning with the most recent, written and published just before the presidential election titled, “Election 2011: How-To-Guide for Christians.”

In that piece, I posited that we should be interested in the various candidates’ position on education. I wrote: “My people, says the Bible, perish for lack of knowledge (see Hosea 4:6). A Christian-friendly candidate would be one who has a clear, comprehensive, feasible and viable policy in education. Free education is good and should be encouraged, but the candidates/parties pushing it must give a clear blueprint about how it would be achieved. Also, there must be a commitment to the three worldview and character-moulding subjects, Christian Religious Knowledge, Moral Instructions and Civics. These will address the yawning gap in the growth of our children, who even when they are taught well at home, find themselves contending with different values out ‘in the real world.’”

Flowing from these, it should be our position that Christians in elective offices should push an educational agenda that supports easier accessibility to or possibly free education, as well as inclusion of character shaping subjects into the curricula at appropriate levels.

Next, I mentioned in that piece, the structure of our federation. I argued that “as currently structured, there is so much injustice, inequity and therefore, ungodliness in the way

Nigeria

is run.” It was my view and it remains so that “whether we wish to acknowledge it honestly or not, God cannot be happy with a situation where the way resources, native to any part of the country, are controlled and managed from a so-called centre. The continued attempt at tinkering with this issue will get us nowhere. What we need in

Nigeria

is a true federation; one in which no section is treated as, or even remotely allowed to feel like, second-class citizens. Justice is the only enduring antidote to violence.” Can we encourage Christian legislators to engage with this fundamental problem?

A third issue that I raised at that time had to do with the seemingly intractable problem of religious persecution in some parts of northern

Nigeria

. The Bible, I wrote, “says we are one body in Christ (Romans 12:5). It says that when one part hurts the whole body hurts.” I then wondered why it seems like the rest of us Christians are doing little or nothing about the fact that “Christians in certain parts of Northern Nigeria have been hurting for ages.” I noted that “many have died; many have lost loved ones; many have been maimed; very many are living in mortal fear of their neighbours”, and that “in some parts, churches cannot own property, including places of worship.” I suggested that “the persecution and marginalization has gone on for too long while our governments and intellectuals are busy debating whether the problem is religious or ethnic or both” and then declared, “the bottom line is that the Christian has become an endangered species in many parts of Northern Nigeria.”

This is an issue about which Christians in government have to be sensitized to take a position that will lead to appropriate policy decisions, including legislation, and well-defined timelines for putting to final stop to the tragedy.

In that piece, I also raised the issues of corruption and integrity, both of which are so crucial that if the Church does not step in and offer assistance to the nation, through those who profess faith Jesus Christ, nothing else would matter. So, I shall dwell on these next week and recall some of the structures that can be considered to help the church help its members to help our nation. (CONCLUDES NEXT WEEK)