A thought for Mothers Day

We need to take this serious!

Meg (not real name) has the body suitable for a marketing job”. This is the statement made by the General Manager of one of the many banks I worked for during my banking career in the late nineties and it summarises the war that society has declared on the female gender since the late eighties. This trend has been on the increase in the banking industry in Nigeria where young girls are recruited not really for their academic excellence or professional potential but to use their body to attract deposits to the bank.
The female gender is under a vicious attack and this seem to have caught society on its blind side to the extent that the society itself has become a very potent tool in seeing the female folk devalued and subjected to untold emotional torture. I consider myself very qualified to utter this loud voice because I was brought up virtually among females, lived my adult life with females and I have special love and concern for them–I have two females as children, I am a grandfather to one; I have seven as siblings & one as a wife; not forgetting my beloved mother who has gone to be with the Lord. I also have many of them as members of my Church.
While growing up as a young boy through secondary school, I recall that one of the signs of displaying maturity among us boys was to go talk to a girl and asked her to be your girl friend (what they call “asking out” now), it was such a tough assignment in my growing up years because girls are rated so high that you have to really be good to get their attention & nothing excites a young boy as to have a girl give you audience, but the reverse is the case today; young girls virtually beg boys, offer themselves cheaply, give all manner of suggestions for boys to “take them out, ladies will do anything to get a guy propose marriage to them to the extent of promising to write off the wedding bills, pay for accommodation and even top it with a monthly allowance.
This siege sometimes starts from the home where parents mount untold pressure on their daughters to “bring the guy home”, I don’t know when it became the responsibility of ladies to go search for a husband; this is where the seductive attires start from so that the men and the boys can take notice. Nude ladies are now the commonest sights on our streets. It does not really matter the product being advertised, there must be a naked lady to promote it. I don’t what a naked lady has to do with promoting the sale of  tyres for cars. This situation has so crushed their self esteem so much that marriage is seen as the escape route and they will stop at nothing to have the “MRS” title. The rate of depression among ladies is at an all time high.
As we celebrate mother’s day, I call on all mothers out there to take special interest in their young girls and lift their self image by making them see themselves through the eyes of their maker
My message to all young ladies – the harder you are to get, the higher that the value men place on you & the deeper the respect they have for you.
Never forget this: YOU ARE SOMEONE WITHOUT A MAN

Pastors’ Visit to the Villa

I was excited when I saw the headlines today about the Christian Leaders visit to President Yar’Adua in Aso Rock. My excitement was borne out of the hope that those concealing the truth about the President’s state of health are alt last looking for avenues to blow the lid over this mystery that has subjected our great nation to so much ridicule and shame among civilised nations. My hope was dashed when I read the story and discovered that it is another one of the schemes of those whose minds are made up to confine my dear country to the Biblical times of the Judges where every body does what seems best to them, a time of lawlessness. But when I saw the names of those mentioned to have visited, my hope was rekindled that something positive will come out of this story, It is my belief that this is a DEVELOPING STORY  and that the last has not been heard of this story. I don’t want to believe those comments credited to the renowned Kafanchan City Prophet (Emmanuel Kure) that he does not want to give details of  the visit as that may overheat the polity. In the first place, this polity is already very hot and what can actually cool it down is to take it to the ultimate boiling point after which I believe it will begin to cool down. Prophet Kure who I have great respect for and never doubt his prophetic grace could not have said that he does not want to overheat the polity, he knows too well that Biblical prophets through their lifestyles and utterances do nothing else but to overheat the polity – from the first prophet Cain to the last Old Testament Prophet John always stirred up trouble in order to establish  a lawful society, the new testament prophets like Paul causes uproar in cities because they will always declare the true situation of things by keeping people in the know. The Prophet Himself, Jesus took this trend to the summit. I am very sure that Prophet Kure will refute this soon and if he indeed visited the villa, then the whole nation will soon know the true state of our President and we will all know how to really pray for our dear president. I think the so called kitchen cabinet have shot themselves in the foot by bringing the likes of Kure into this drama. My hope has been rekindled by the comments credited to Bishop Onaiyekan who denied the visit. Another character in this saga who makes me so hopeful is Bishop Oyedepo of the Living Faith Church, who I know does not normally speak to press, but I think he is wiser than not to break that oath by at least publishing a press release or get his media department to release a statement to confirm or deny this story which I believe will put the public in a better picture as regards the the schemes of these Aso Rock rats.

The stage is set, Bishop Onaiyekan has set the ball rolling, we are waiting for the BIG ONE especially from Prophet Kure who the press has misquoted and lied against. Bishop Oyedepo’s statement will crown it all up very beautifully to take the heat of the polity to the summit and we will begin to find the way out of this socio-political quagmire.

Please stay tuned for the PROCEEDING WORD from these great men of God…

Another Face of Jos Crisis

I hesitated for a while before blogging about the Jos crisis again because of my latest discovery about the crisis especially as it concerns the media coverage of the whole event as I did not want to help this evil agenda of those who are aptly described as the cabal of Nigerian politics who will stop at nothing to plunder this nation through corrupt leadership. I decided to write this so that the world will read between the lines of the media coverage of this crisis.

Let me quickly say here that this piece is not meant to make light of the happenings in the state especially since November 2008, I cannot in any way make light of it because I have been affected by the crisis personally. May be I should say here that the two of the three young boys on national service murdered in 2008 were members of my Church and I had a chat with the three of them in Church the Sunday before they were brutally killed, it doesn’t get closer than that. But I must say here that the January 2010 crisis which seem to have continued till this moment has been hijacked by some unscrupulous politicians in conjunction with the media to conceal some equally crucial if not more critical national crisis. The media has been complicit in this crisis and the love for rumours by Nigerians comes in handy. Did you receive the sms or email about the acid rain purportedly issued by NASA? Well I can authoritatively inform you that the mail did not originate from NASA, my staff checked the NASA website and there was nothing of such. Back to Jos crisis, for anyone who resides outside Plateau State, the impression being given is that Jos city is actually in a war situation with shootings and sounds of explosives all over the city. I have to send a mail t0 Channels Television to complain about the manner they reported the carnage in Dogo Hawan where innocent people were killed, the impression the media gave the whole world was that this was happening in Jos as this will create a more alarming situation than it being reported as happening in a village.

I see a hidden agenda in all of this as the media has filled both the print and the electronic media with the Jos news to the total neglect of the where about of the President of the largest black nation on earth. I would have loved a situation where the happening in Plateau state is reported as a fraction of the major constitutional crisis which the nation is currently facing. Those who want to keep this nation bound to the stone age are using the Jos Crisis to divert the attention of the nation away from the Yar’ Ädua saga which in my opinion is most crucial right now – Jonathan acting as President not withstanding. If we are not careful we will in our usual manner forget this cancer growing in our system, we must not focus our attention on ringworm when cancer is ravaging our system. Infact the situation in Jos is not unconnected with our defective national arrangement. These power drunk humans are working over time to make sure that the crisis in Jos does not stop either by fuelling tribal and religious sentiments in the media or out rightly sponsoring those jobless and vulnerable  citizens, arming them with weapons so that the nations attention is kept away from Abuja and focussed on my beloved city.

The main issue which I believe should be on the lips of every Nigerian and which should colour the pages of newspapers and splashed on TV screens is the Yar’Adua issue and not Jos crisis. The Jos crisis if it is going to be reported should be reported as a microcosm of this constitutional crisis facing our nation – THE WHERE ABOUT AND HEALTH CONDITION OF  PRESIDENT YAR ADUA.

In Search of Peace

It is no longer news that my city Jos has been experiencing all kinds violent activities recently. This has been called by various names from ethno-religious to acts of genocide or ethnic cleansing. It is normal at times like this to have various attempts at restoring peace; I must mention the laudable peace march staged by the women in Jos lead by my good friend Mrs Esther Ibanga, it is a sign that our nation is coming to terms with the need to take our destiny in our hands and not leave in the hands of the band of looters called politicians. I sat with an old friend of mine who breezed in from the UK this afternoon and our discussion brought home to me the seriousness of the situation in Jos City and all the attempts being made to restore the peace. I just have this uncanny feeling that there must be a solution somewhere in the midst of all the gory tales of killings and maiming since all these are perpetrated by human beings.

It is my belief that every human problem will always require a human solution.Human solution begins with appreciating the value of humanness and creating an environment where humans can fully express their humanness. People are humans first before they are either males or female, Christian or Muslim, Lawyer or Doctor, white or black. This environment is made possible where JUSTICE is allowed to hold sway in areas on endeavour. One reason why the crisis in Jos and in every place where such persists is because there has not been a single case of conviction in the previous crisis and if there is any compensation for suffered losses, it is shrouded in secrecy because of the double standard measures employed. There are times also when we totally miss the mark as regards what JUSTICE is. It is erroneously seen & interpreted as a situation of equality and where everyone gets the same thing. It is my considered opinion that if every one gets the same thing in any society, it is the height of INJUSTICE. I believe JUSTICE is creating an environment where everyone gets what they deserve – the one who errs faces the full wrath of the law, the one who is wronged gets adequate compensation, every sector of the society receives developmental projects which are relevant to their ecological realities. I recently saw a news item where some northern youths were clamouring for the release of the former CSO to General Sanni Abacha (which I support because the trial has become a charade), but I was  miffed when I heard their grounds of protest – IT IS THEIR OWN WAY GETTING AMNESTY SINCE THE NIGER DELTA MILITANTS ARE RECEIVING AMNESTY . In as much i do not agree with the amnesty program because it is lacking in sincerity, but to compare a murder suspect with a Niger delta militant in the name of JUSTICE is a glorious display of ignorance – it is more like comparing apples and oranges because they are both fruits.

What we need in Nigeria is the appreciation of the Principle of fairness which my friend Dennis Bakke aptly defined as a situation where everyone does not get the same thing but what they deserve. One of the evil policies that must be removed from our national experience is that of Federal character, it goes against sound reasoning and makes nonsense of excellence and healthy competition which releases society’s best for governance and leadership. I don’t believe there will ever be a situation where a Muslim will ever agree with a Christian, or an Ibo man with a Hausa man, but an atmosphere of JUSTICE might not make them agree but will sure erode all fears of domination by the other. An atmosphere where both can improve themselves educationally, engage in righteous economic activities. There is no one who will burn houses or loot shops if he has any of those.

People kill and maim when they feel deprived or nurse the fear of the likelihood of being deprived. This is what will solve the Niger Delta problem, bring peace to Jos City, eliminate Boko Haram and make Al-Qaeda jobless. I used to believe this is all about religion and our love for our God in whatever form in which we see Him. But I have come to see now that  there are no religious crisis any where, people don’t love God that much and God is well and able to fight His battles, it is all borne out of fear of domination by the other people – religion is just a tool used by people to further their selfish desires.

There is no prayer potent enough nor is there a legislation or decree popular enough to bring peace – ONLY JUSTICE CAN.

Quick one for Goodluck Jonathan

Dear Mr Acting President,

I believe you would have heard this for umpteenth time that which I also believe you know that not many people have the sort of opportunity which fate is offering you right now. To be called upon to steer the ship of the Nigerian state at such a critical time as this can be an arduous task  but I also believe that it can a very simple one. It will be an arduous one for you if you follow that path of the normal Nigerian politician who is so visionless that cannot see beyond the next inflow into a disguised bank account somewhere, this will mean that you will have to be economical with the truth, pursue self /party interest rather than national interest; have a long list of unrealistic agenda as your boss.

But this call can also be a simple one if you will first realise that you never planned to be in this seat and secondly which is the quick one I am communicating to you – have no plans of being the next president of this nation because even if you succeed in being, the path you are going to tread to the seat will make you go the way of your predecessors as you would have submitted yourself to opportunists.

I will strongly advise that you negotiate a sharp bend and distance yourself from the unrealistic seven point agenda of Yar’adua and have a ONE POINT AGENDA  which i believe should be to organise a brilliant election come 2011.

I am telling you this because you don't have the time to do anything meaningful as regards power, neither can you do anything conclusive as regards the Niger Delta crisis..

Make the 2011 elections your top priority, begin with relieving Iwu of that exalted position and give it to someone more honourable and non partisan; I will strongly suggest our Nobel Laureate Professor Wole Soyinka  (did i see you cringe?).

Mr Acting President, Nigeria needs nothing less that twenty five years to realise her dreams of a great nation, but you can shorten the time by heeding my humble counsel.

…man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds

The threat to LOVE

I stumbled on a book titled “The Cross and Crescent” written by Colin Chapman, a lecturer in a theological school in Beirut Lebanon. This book could not have come to me at a better time as it focuses on the accurate response to the the challenge of Islam especially as my city is just recovering from the worst ethno-religious crisis since it resurfaced in Jos in September 2001. The main challenge faced by Christians and indeed the whole church today is how to relate with Muslims. If what i hear and see around me is anything to go by, may Christians in the nation and even the world over seem to have forgotten the legacy left for us by our Lord that we should love our enemies and pray for those who despitefully use us. Hatred will never be right for a believer in Christ as it will be contrary to our very nature which is love. Colin Chapman was asked by a Christian once how we should approach a Muslim, Colin’s answer was “Say Hello, How are you!

This simple truth is eluding many believers today especially in my city and we need to be reminded that  Muslims are first and foremost human beings before they are Muslims just as we are primarily humans before we are Christians. The Bible never said that God so loved the Church, rather it says “For God so loved the world (Muslims and all non Christians inclusive) . The Bible warned us ahead of time that LAWLESSNESS WILL ABOUND AND BECAUSE OF THIS THE LOVE OF MANY WILL GROW COLD. This prophecy is being fulfilled right before our eyes as many fear filled and hatred inspired prophecies come forth from many Christians and Churches.

I know that by this time many of my readers would be wondering if I am still a Christian or whether I am endorsing the violence unleashed on my beloved city by these religious hoodlums, on the contrary. Violence will never be right but it is not a valid enough reason for us to allow the love of God in our hearts to leak. You might also ask the question whether I am preaching pacifism, God forbid as that will make me a heretic preacher. But my point is that we should never allow happenings around us to make us wander from the path of understanding as this will be a violation of our true identity – GOD IS LOVE and those who know Him also ought to walk as He walked. We should rather than hate Muslims take responsibility as a Church for the wave of Islamic terrorism being unleashed on our city because God silenced Islam for decades in this country especially in this region, God opened doors for missionary funds and activities to flow into Jos and this region, but what did we do with do with it, we built Church buildings without building people and earned for ourselves the accolade of the most religious state in the federation.

what we need to do rather than walking in hatred and reactions is to repent and do the first works of empowering people who will take their rightful places.

It is not too late, God is still the God of Jonah…

man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that PROCEEDS FROM THE MOUTH OF GOD.

in search of safety!

I sit here in my sisters apartment preparing for my flight back to Jos City, Nigeria (the city that my family and I have come to adopt as our home) inundated with boxes of items (we love boxes in Nigeria not bombs) I am taking back to my loved ones at home especially for Justice the new addition to the family. I am also inundated with situation back home in Jos with the recent ethno-religious crisis that rocked the city in my absence. Someone posted on my facebook page that I am not coming back to the Jos City which I left behind three weeks ago and that as a matter of fact many state governments especially from the south have sent buses to evacuate their citizens back “home”; I even read about the resolution passed by the Bauchi state assembly asking all Plateau state indigenes to leave with the state within a specified time frame. My concern and question in moments like this is where exactly can one find and be assured of safety. As I gave a deep thought to this, the Lord brought back to my mind a phrase that one of my associate pastors used many years ago while teaching on the subject of the will of God and the need for believers who desire to amount to anything in the hand of  to passionately pursue it regardless of the pressures and pains that this pursuit might bring. He went on during this discourse to impress on our hearts the wide scope of the will of God to the point that there is an aspect of the will of God which he referred to as the GEOGRAPHICAL WILL OF GOD which means that the will and call of God for a person’s life has a geographical content in the sense that this will can only carried out in a particular geographical location.

This truth is more relevant today as people all over the world are searching for safe zones, safe cities and safe countries and every nation on this planet seem to be more concerned about security of human lives in the face of Islamic terrorism. This is the time for believers to seek God for His “GEOGRAPHICAL WILL”that is – where exactly would God have us reside, where is He desiring to plant us so that we can do His will. We cannot afford at this time to judge by the sight of our natural eyes or make decisions based on newspaper reports and rumours.

It is my belief that God will sustain us where we are planted and nourish us as He did prophet Elijah who made a trip to Zarephath where everybody was deserting because of the famine, I guess a lot of State governments might have sent buses to rapture their citizens in those days too.

What is the geographical will of God for you?

Mine is Jos City & there I choose to stay

Blessings