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Don’t lose hope, all will be well again, Abiara tells Nigerians
Founder of Christ Apostolic Church, Agbala Itura, Prophet Samuel Abiara, has urged Nigerians not to lose hope in the country, saying all will be well again.
as he announced the 39th edition of Jesus Festival being hosted by the church.
The festival has been slated to hold from December 6 to 12 at the church’s headquarters in Ibadan, Oyo State.
A coterie of top church leaders has been slated to speak at the event. Many top gospel artists are also expected to grace the occasion which will draw participants from across the world.
Abiara who addressed newsmen at the Lagos branch of the church on Monday pleaded with Nigerians not to lose hope in the country.
He said all would be well and called on Nigerians in the diaspora to get set to come back home and be part of the good things God would do.
The 79-year old prophet and former General Evangelist of the CAC expressed confidence that Nigeria would overcome its present challenges.
He said, “I want to assure all Nigerians that all will be well. The present crisis we are facing is a phase. It will become history and we all will have cause to rejoice. I can assure you that the future will be okay”
Prophet Abiara said there is no country that does not have challenges. “Who would have believed 9/11 would happen in the US. From time to time nations go through crises. Ours may be man-made crises but then it’s a phase. I believe we will overcome this phase and move to a better and higher ground.”
He urged Nigerians to put their mind at rest and put their hope in God for a better country. “That is the way to start building a better country. We must first hope in God, put our trust in him. Then we must collectively work hard to bring an end to the issues that are setting us back. We have no other country but this country. We can’t afford to rubbish it all the time,” he said.
The CAC prophet said many have often accused him of being too patriotic and patronising of the government. “Some people even think the government gives me money. But I don’t go near their money. I have never applied for a grant from the government even for my foundation. I just believe we need to be positive about our country and work for its progress,” he said
He urged Nigerians not to listen to prophets of doom who don’t see good things about Nigeria. He assured that “Nigeria will be great again.”
Abiara also seized the opportunity of the media chat to call on the government to listen to the cries of the masses.
He said, “That we hope for a good country does not give room for the government to do as they like. Government must listen to the people who elected them into office. They can’t afford to ignore the cries of the people. The youth population is a critical segment of the country.
“Government must give priority to them and hear them out. God can raise a young person to lead as in the future. So government must not take them for granted.”
On the Jesus festival, Abiara said when God gave him the vision 39 years ago, it was primarily to create a platform where people from all tribes and denominations will come to honour and celebrate Jesus.
“The festival is a festival of Jesus. We believe coming together to praise the name of Jesus will bring healing and progress to Nigeria. Yearly we gather and invite people from all walks of life to celebrate Jesus with us.”
The festival in time past had been graced by the late Archbishop Benson Idahosa, Rev Benny Hinn and a host of top church leaders.
This time, Bishop Wale Oke, Pastor Mathew Ashimolowo, Rev Esther Ajayi and Rev Funke Adejumo are expected to be at the event to preach.
Also expected at the event are the President of the Christ Apostolic Church, Pastor S. O.Oladele and the General Evangelist of the church, Prophet Hezekiah Oladeji and Prophet Funso Akande.
An array of gospel artists including Evangelist Tope Alabi, Bisi Alawiye, Psalmos, Yetunde Are and Elijah Akintunde are expected to minister in songs at the event. Woli Deborah of Ephphatah In’t Music Ministry and Evang. Dorcas Awolumate are also expected at the weekend-long event.
Prophet Abiara said Nigeria is blessed with great preachers of the gospel and gospel artists. He expressed confidence that the week-long programme will bring transformation and healing to Nigeria.
The programme will feature special prayers sessions for some specific individuals and also for the nation. There will be both morning and afternoon sessions featuring teaching and exposition of God’s word.
The Chairman of the Planning Committee, Bishop Isaac Abiara, said adequate security arrangements have been put in place for the festival.
“We have contacted the police and we have been assured of adequate security. We will also observe the covid-19 protocols. Adequate accommodation is being put in place for the programme,” he said.
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NURTW scribe felicitates Nigerians on Xmas, urges caution
NURTW scribe felicitates Nigerians on Xmas, urges caution
The General Secretary of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Comrade Kayode Agbeyangi, has enjoined Nigerians to imbibe the virtues of peace, love and compassion as taught through the birth of Jesus Christ.
He stated this in his Christmas and end of the year goodwill message to felicitate members of the union and Nigerians in general.
Agbeyangi urged Nigerians to use the festive season to reflect on the values of love, compassion, and sacrifice that Jesus Christ embodied.
“This period is not for merry making alone; we should also spare time to reflect on the birth and life of Jesus Christ.
“His birth teaches humility, love compassion and sacrifice. As Nigerians, we must show love to our fellow county men. We must love our country. As Nigerians, we must be ready to make sacrifices for the nation.”
The NURTW scribe also used the opportunity to appeal to members of the union and other road users to always exercise caution and adhere to all safety protocols while travelling during the festive season.
“As we celebrate, let us not forget the importance of road safety. The roads can be treacherous, especially during the festive season.
“I urge our members and all road users to drive safely, avoid overspending, overtaking at dangerous bends and overloading, and be courteous to other road users,” he stated.
He also advised drivers that all their vehicle papers should be up to date to avoid embarrassment from law enforcement officers on the highways.
Comrade Agbeyangi prayed for a peaceful and joyous celebration, and wished members of the union and Nigerians, a happy prosperous New Year.
metro
Why we displayed ‘Jesus Christ is not God’ banner at Lekki mosque -Imam
Why we displayed ‘Jesus Christ is not God’ banner at Lekki mosque -Imam
The Chief Imam of Lekki Central Mosque in Lagos, Ridwanullah Jamiu, has said the “Jesus Christ is Not God” banner placed on the fence of the mosque was not intended to provoke anybody. The banner became a source of controversy after a picture of it was shared on social media, with many calling it an…
The Chief Imam of Lekki Central Mosque in Lagos, Ridwanullah Jamiu, has said the “Jesus Christ is Not God” banner placed on the fence of the mosque was not intended to provoke anybody.
The banner became a source of controversy after a picture of it was shared on social media, with many calling it an attack on the Christian faith.
Addressing his congregation, Jamiu said the banner was displayed to educate Muslims.
He said, “When you come to Lekki Central Mosque, at least you should learn something. You pass by the banners outside, you look here and there, you learn something because Islam treasures knowledge.”
The Imam said all the banners displayed outside the mosque contain Quran and Hadith verses.
He said after a photo of one of the banners went viral, he “received calls from the government, local government, and area command appealing to us to please remove the banners because of the festive period.”
He said the display of the banners was not to provoke anyone, noting that there’s a difference between propagation of Islam and provocation.
“It was not placed there just yesterday. It has been there for about two months or thereabout. We are peace loving people, we don’t provoke anyone. We only propagate our name,” he said.
Jamiu further stated that nobody can monopolise Jesus because Muslims also have what they believe about him as backed by the Quran which calls him Isah.
“If you don’t believe in Jesus, you are not a Muslim. We are Muslims and anything we believe must be in consonant with the Quran and the Quran says Jesus Christ is not God, he’s a messenger of God. We quoted this verse in the banner. Is there anything wrong if we paste what we believe on our territory to educate our congregation? It’s a verse of the Quran. This is freedom of religion, freedom of speech,” he said.
On the removal of the banner, Jamiu said he received multiple calls ascribing the gesture as cowardice.
“It is not cowardice. We removed it to let peace reign, to obey our government because we are peace-loving people and also because we know it’s a festive period, people may think it was actually calculated to enrage others. We are going to modify it and put it back. We are not cowards,” he said.
The banner has since been replaced with another which says “A
llah is the lord of Jesus.”
Why we displayed ‘Jesus Christ is not God’ banner at Lekki mosque -Imam
metro
CBN fines bank found hoarding cash N150m
CBN fines bank found hoarding cash N150m
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has imposed a N150 million fine on a commercial bank for failing to dispense cash through its Automated Teller Machines (ATMs).
This action follows an unannounced inspection by the apex bank, which uncovered deliberate cash hoarding and ATM manipulation by the erring bank.
Sources within the CBN revealed that the sanctioned bank was caught disabling its ATMs, thereby denying customers access to their funds while prioritizing cash disbursements to select VIP clients.
A staff member of the CBN stressed that the apex bank would not tolerate such practices.
“The Bank will not spare any Deposit Money Bank (DMB) caught in the act of hoarding cash or found favoring VIP customers over other customers,” the official stated.
To this end, the CBN has intensified spot checks on banks nationwide, exposing various illicit cash-handling practices by some unscrupulous financial institutions.
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For now, the CBN is imposing financial penalties on defaulting banks. However, according to the official, the next phase of enforcement will include publicly naming and shaming offending banks and prosecuting implicated bank officials.
“This fine is just the beginning. The CBN is determined to hold banks accountable for any actions that undermine public trust and the integrity of the banking system,” the official added.
Despite the ongoing challenges, the CBN has reiterated its commitment to promoting cashless banking in the country.
Another senior official disclosed that the apex bank’s management is intensifying efforts to encourage the use of electronic channels for transactions.
“The frustration faced by account holders is undermining our push for a cashless economy. We are doubling down on initiatives to restore public confidence in electronic banking solutions,” the official said.
CBN fines bank found hoarding cash N150m
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