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  • Buhari condoles with CAN, Christians over General Secretary’s death

    Buhari condoles with CAN, Christians over General Secretary’s death

    President Muhammadu Buhari has joined the national leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Christian community in Nigeria in mourning the passing of the General Secretary of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Rev (Dr) Musa Asake.

    This was contained in a statement issued by the Special Adviser on Media and publicity, Femi Adesina.

    The President, while commiserating with the family of the late Reverend, prayed that God Almighty will comfort all those who mourn the departed, and grant his soul eternal rest.

     

  • ADEBOYE WARNS: No election, No Nigeria next year if killings persist [Audio]

    ADEBOYE WARNS: No election, No Nigeria next year if killings persist [Audio]

    The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye on Friday warned Nigerian government to curb the incessant killings of Christians, while stressing that Nigeria may cease to exist as a country if the deadly act continues.

    Adeboye who made the declaration at the ongoing Holy Ghost service for the month of May, 2018 tagged: Greater Than Your Enemies [5]– with sub theme, ‘Habitation of the Almighty’, also warned that no country survives a religious crisis.

    While delivering the sermon during the service which was attended by TheNewsGuru.com, Adeboye called on the Buhari led government to urgently end the killings before it dovetails into a religious war.

    His words: ” A Bishop asked me sometimes ago that ‘Daddy, has God told you who will win the next year election, I replied him saying there will be no elections in Nigeria next year.

    “The Bishop asked if I was prophesying, but I said ‘No!’ what I said was out of reasoning – There will be no election because nobody will go out to vote if they aren’t sure they will return home safely.

    “I have seen war, I told you before when some people where agitating for war, there is nothing good about war, it is a terrible thing.

    A nation may survive cil war but no nation can survive a religious war. That Nigeria may live these killings must stop. So, All of you who loves Nigeria I want you to rise on your feet and pray that this killings stop so that Nigeria may live.”

    Listen to the audio:

    Recall that Boko Haram, herdsmen have made headlines for murdering and terrorizing Nigerians seemingly unabated.

    Specifically, only recently, some bandits suspected to be herdsmen led an attack that killed two Reverend fathers and 17 Christians in Benue State.

    Just some days ago, President Donald Trump of the United States joined the list of those criticising the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government over its inaction on the killings of Christians in Nigeria.

    The American leader said this while playing host to his Nigerian counterpart at the White House .

    “We have had very serious problems with Christians who are being murdered in Nigeria, we are going to be working on that problem very, very hard because we cannot allow that to happen,” Trump said.

     

     

  • BREAKING: ADEBOYE BOMBSHELL: Nigeria will cease to exist if killings of Christians persist

    BREAKING: ADEBOYE BOMBSHELL: Nigeria will cease to exist if killings of Christians persist

    The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye on Friday warned Nigerian government to curb the incessant killings of Christians, while stressing that Nigeria may cease to exist as a country if the deadly act continues.

    Adeboye who made the declaration at the ongoing Holy Ghost service for the month of May, 2018 tagged: Greater Than Your Enemies [5]– with sub theme, ‘Habitation of the Almighty’, also warned that no country survives a religious. He called on the Buhari led government to urgently end the killings before it dovetails into a religious war.

    Recall that Boko Haram, herdsmen have made headlines for murdering and terrorizing Nigerians seemingly unabated.

    Specifically, only recently, some bandits suspected to be herdsmen led an attack that killed two Reverend fathers and 17 Christians in Benue State.

    Watch out for the explosive message.

    Details soon…

     

     

     

  • Trump to Buhari: ‘We are against killings of Christians in Nigeria’ [Video]

    American President, Donald Trump on Monday told President Muhammadu Buhari that the United States is against the killings of Christians in Nigeria.

    Trump made the remarks in his welcome speech after expressing appreciation to Buhari for the visit.

    Trump called on Buhari to account for unchecked atrocities against Christians in his country and also spoke on the killings coming from the ends of Boko Haram insurgents.

    READ: [Video] Nigeria has strong reputation for massive corruption – Trump

    “Also we have had very serious problems with Christians who are being murdered in Nigeria, we are going to be working on that problem very, very hard because we cannot allow that to happen,” he said.

    Recall that Boko Haram has made headlines for murdering and terrorizing people in Nigeria, in this case President Buhari is allowing members of his own ancestral group — the Fulani — to attack innocent communities.

    The unimpeded actions of “militant Fulani herdsmen,” are creating a humanitarian crisis of shocking proportions in Nigeria.

    Indeed, most people have never even heard about this brutal group, which earlier this month executed an attack that killed 19 Christians in Benue State.

    He also asked Buhari about what he had done with the issue of the kidnapped Nigerian girls, to which Buhari answered that Nigeria has not given up about their rescue, detailing the efforts of his administration to have them brought back.

    Mean, President Buhari who narrated to Trump how he was able to secure the release of girls abducted in Dapchi, Yobe State thanked his host for agreeing to have America sell the Tucano Jets to Nigeria, for which $496m has so far been paid.

    Trump meets Buhari #TheNewsGuru #TNG

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  • Christians take to street, protest senseless killings in Nigeria [PHOTOS]

    Christians after the close of church service on Sunday in Akure took to the streets to protest the incessant killing of Nigerians including Christians in the northern part of the country.

    TheNewsGuru reports President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Reverend Samson Ayokunle had earlier directed all Christians in the country to protest across the length and breadth of the nation.

    The directive was contained in a statement signed by the CAN’s President special assistant on media and communication, Adebayo Oladeji, that decried the high rate of killings in the country is slowly turning Nigeria into a state of “anomie”.

    The statement said the protest will be aimed at canvassing government’s increased commitment towards the release of abducted Dapchi student, Leah Sharibu, Chibok girls as well as other innocent Nigerians held captive by the Boko Haram terror group.

    Today in Akure, the capital of Ondo state, Christians were captured carrying placards in protests asking President Muhammadu Buhari’s government to take more actions to bring to an end the senseless killings happening in the country.

    See photos:

    Christians take to street, protest senseless killings in Nigeria [PHOTOS]
    Christians protesting in Akure on Sunday…
    Christians protesting in Akure on Sunday...
    Christians protesting in Akure on Sunday…
    Christians protesting in Akure on Sunday
    Christians protesting in Akure on Sunday

    Meanwhile, the President of CAN, in the statement, had directed that the protests must be peaceful.

    According to the statement, the killings have only persisted because of what the association describes as government’s inability to effectively arrest the situation.

    “CAN urges Christians in Nigeria to hold peaceful protest on the set aside date, in the premises of their churches asking the Federal Government and the security agencies to stop the unending killings and bloodshed in the country.

    “Christians are to carry placards with inscriptions meant to address issues about sustained killings, attacks and destruction of their property in Nigeria. The inscriptions on placards could read, “Enough of bloodshed in Nigeria”, “Enough of unlawful killings in the country”, “FG, Release Leah Sharibu from the bondage”, “FG, Stop Herdsmen Killings”, “CAN rejects FG’s poor handling of insecurity”, etc.

    “It also dedicates same day for prayers for the freedom and liberty of Leah Sharibu, the remaining Chibok Girls and others still in captivity of the Boko Haram terrorists. We are already at a breaking point and a state of anomie is almost here.

    “CAN notes that the failure of the government to raise an effective campaign against the killings by herdsmen is the reason they have continued to kill, while there is no visible plan to pacify the aggrieved.

    “The Association also calls on the heads of the security agencies to wake up to their constitutional role of protecting lives and property across the federation while preventing Nigeria from descending into chaos and a lawless country,” the statement read.

    The association described the killings as inimical to the progress and unity of Nigeria.

    “Lastly, it reminds Christians across the federation the importance of the forthcoming general election and the need for them to fully participate this time, by trooping to obtain their voters cards with which to play a role in the emergence of new set of political leaders in Nigeria during next year’s elections who could guarantee their security and safety,” the statement highlighted.

     

  • Benue: CAN frowns at incessant killings, urges Christians to protest across Nigeria

    Sequel to Tuesday’s killing of two serving priests and 13 worshippers of the Catholic Church in Benue State, the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), has urged Christians to protest across Nigeria.

    In a statement by Adebayo Oladeji, the special assistant on media and communication to the CAN President, Samson Ayokunle, the association said the high rate of killings in the country is slowly turning Nigeria into a state of “anomie”.

    The statement said the protest will be aimed at canvassing government’s increased commitment towards the release of abducted Dapchi student, Leah Sharibu, Chibok girls as well as other innocent Nigerians held captive by the Boko Haram terror group.

    Recall that over 15 people were killed during an early morning attack at Saint Ignatius Catholic church in Benue State on Tuesday, including two priests.

    According to the statement, however, the Christian association is asking the federal government to increase efforts towards the arrest and prosecution of herdsmen, as a measure for curtailing the problem.

    “CAN urges Christians in Nigeria to hold peaceful protest on the set aside date, in the premises of their churches asking the Federal Government and the security agencies to stop the unending killings and bloodshed in the country.

    “Christians are to carry placards with inscriptions meant to address issues about sustained killings, attacks and destruction of their property in Nigeria. The inscriptions on placards could read, “Enough of bloodshed in Nigeria”, “Enough of unlawful killings in the country”, “FG, Release Leah Sharibu from the bondage”, “FG, Stop Herdsmen Killings”, “CAN rejects FG’s poor handling of insecurity”, etc.

    “It also dedicates same day for prayers for the freedom and liberty of Leah Sharibu, the remaining Chibok Girls and others still in captivity of the Boko Haram terrorists. We are already at a breaking point and a state of anomie is almost here. ”

    According to the statement, the killings have only persisted because of what the association describes as government’s inability to effectively arrest the situation.

    “CAN notes that the failure of the government to raise an effective campaign against the killings by herdsmen is the reason they have continued to kill, while there is no visible plan to pacify the aggrieved.

    “The Association also calls on the heads of the security agencies to wake up to their constitutional role of protecting lives and property across the federation while preventing Nigeria from descending into chaos and a lawless country.”

    The association described the killings as inimical to the progress and unity of Nigeria.

    “Lastly, it reminds Christians across the federation the importance of the forthcoming general election and the need for them to fully participate this time, by trooping to obtain their voters cards with which to play a role in the emergence of new set of political leaders in Nigeria during next year’s elections who could guarantee their security and safety,” the statement highlighted.

    Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has condemned the latest attack while insisting that his administration will do everything possible to arrest the perpetrators.

  • Stop complaining; pray for us instead – Osinbajo urges Christians

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, on Tuesday, called on Churches for religious tolerance and prayers for those in government to overcome numerous challenges facing the nation.

    Osinbajo, who made the remark at the inauguration of the Deeper Life Bible Church new Headquarters Auditorium, Gbagada, Lagos, said that governance was a spiritual warfare.

    “It is the duty of the Church, as we are, that the Church prays for the government; that the Church upholds the hands of those in government, not by complaining but by supporting us with prayers.

    “Governance is a spiritual warfare, if anyone does not know that, I know. I ask the Church to pray for everyone of us in the position of authority in this land,” Mr Osinbajo pleaded.

    On the edifice, Osinbajo said: “This is one of the proudest moments for me as a Christian. This great edifice is for the propagation of the gospel of Jesus Christ.”

    Osinbajo, who commended the edifice for its modern amenities and technology, said its surroundings were investments in the community with a connecting bridge, street lights and greatly improved access roads.

    The vice president commended the Pastor William Kumuyi, the General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church, for his uncommon humility and commitment to the spread of the undiluted gospel of Jesus Christ.

    He urged the Church to accept that there would be resistance, saying “the devil is even more desperate and grievous as the end draws nearer”.

    According to him, part of the resistance includes resistance to the building of churches, saying there are cases of this, which President Muhammadu Buhari, has saddled him with.

    “The devil’s biggest agenda is stoke up a religious conflict in Nigeria, one that would make it impossible for anyone to preach the gospel while the security agencies continue to work relentlessly to wipe out the perpetrators of these evil acts.

    “And to bring a permanent end to all of the killings going on in the name of herdsmen, Boko Haram or any other name, we as a body of Christ must not lose focus.

    “We are called to bring men and women to salvation, even those who kill.

    “The enemy wants us to stand on our pulpits and preach hate but we will obey the Lord Jesus Christ, who said we must love our enemy and pray even for those who persecute us.

    “There is no person born or yet to be born that can stop the gospel of Jesus Christ,” he added.

    He decried killings of clerics and bombings of Mosques and Churches, saying it was the highest level of wickedness.

    According to him, the right to freedom of worship is also a right to build places of worship.

    Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State, who described the project as spectacular achievement, commended the Church for the multi-level car park and bridge constructed in the community.

    Ambode, who was represented by Lola Akande, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, said the edifice had impacted positively on the aesthetics of the state as a mega city.

    “Let me reassure everyone of our commitment to ensure harmonious relationship among all residents in the state.

    We will continue to uphold and respect the rights of every citizen to freedom of worship and ensure that other people’s rights are not infringed upon,” Mr Ambode said.

    Mike Okonkwo, the presiding bishop of the Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM) said that ultra-modern facility was a prophecy being fulfilled, that “Nigeria would be great again”.

    Okonkwo prayed for the nation to overcome the challenges facing it, saying unless God helped the country, there was nothing anyone could do.

    “We shall see the Nigeria of our dream, our children will no longer die in the desert. Nigeria shall be great again,” the cleric said.

    He urged Christians to continue to pray for the nation and politicians across all levels of governance to end the socio-economic and security challenges facing the nation.

    Earlier in his address, Kumuyi, who said that the vision commenced in 2005, thanked God for seeing the Church through the project.

    “We thank God for His uncommon faithfulness for seeing us through this great endeavour. When the project began in 2005, we knew that we were taking a leap of faith.

    “For us, we trusted the Lord that he would not only provide all we needed but direct and steer the project to a successful completion,” he said.

    Kumuyi, who said the edifice was due to many sacrifices of the Church members within and outside the country, prayed God to continue to reward and bless His people.

    The cleric, who also commended the Lagos State Government and residents of Gbagada for support, said that the Church was not unmindful of its social responsibilities to the community.

    The Church also unveiled its new logo at the event attended by several dignitaries across all walks of life and Church members.

    Renowned clerics and women leaders from Nigeria, Africa, Europe and the U.S. were in attendance to grace the occasion and commended the vision of Mr Kumuyi.

    The participants were thrilled by renditions from the Church’s children, youth, campus and adult choir with musical instrument.

    The ultra-modern auditorium, with about 30,000-seat capacity, has a big main bowl and four galleries with state-of-the-art gadgets.

  • Easter: Sen. Abe preaches forgiveness

    The Senator representing Rivers South-East Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Senator Magnus Ngei Abe, has appealed to Christians to learn how to forgive one another just as Jesus Christ forgave mankind, advising them to surrender anything in their heart that will prevent God from answering their prayers.

    “I want to use this opportunity to appeal to all of us as Christians, that we should try as much as possible to learn forgiveness. Christ, who was betrayed and crucified, forgave those who betrayed and crucified him, if he can forgive; what is it that people have done to you that you cannot forget and forgive as a Christian”.

    Abe made the appeal while speaking at a special prayer session to mark Easter Good Friday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State Capital and maintained that the period should also be used for sober reflection over our lives as mankind.

    The senator said, “I want to appeal to all of us to use this time to remember our neighbours; sometime the situation they are facing may even be worse than our own. As we were praying today, I was praying to God to answer everyone because different people have different challenges and the one you think is the biggest challenge could actually be a very minor one comparing to the situation that others are facing.

    “I pray that God will remember all of us this Easter season. Finally, I want to use this opportunity to encourage each and every one of you. There is nothing in life that is of value that is easy, there is nothing in life that is useful, that you can just pick like that without struggling for it”.

    Abe, who is the Chairman, Senate Committee on FERMA also appealed to Christians to use the period of the Easter celebration to remember in their prayers, the Dapchi girl who has not been released by her captors because of her refusal to deny Jesus Christ.

    “Let us use the opportunity to specially remember the Dapchi Girl, particularly the little girl that is still being held. I want to urge each and every one of us to use that girl as a point of contact to remember to thank God that you are free to worship God as you like, that you are free every day to take little decisions about your life”.

    “But there is a little girl somewhere away from her parents, away from her friends; she does not know if she will be alive tomorrow or death, but she is hanging on to the same God that you and I worship. I want us to remember that child and to pray for her not just today but every day”.

     

  • Easter: Kumuyi advises Christian leaders to shun corruption

    Pastor William Kumuyi, the General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church on Sunday, urged Christians in leadership positions to shun corruption and act as exemplary leaders for others to follow.

    Kumuyi, who was represented by the church’s Camp Commandant, Pastor Andrew Umor, gave the advice at the grand finale of the 2018 National Easter Retreat of Church in Lagos.
    The cleric said only the righteousness would move the country forward, adding that the retreat was to teach Christians how to shine as light in whatsoever positions they found themselves.

    “We have had so much about corruption in Nigeria, but we know that true Christianity brings a difference and that is what this retreat is all about.

    “It is about teaching believers to shine as light and be different from the unbelievers.

    “Christians should not embezzle money in their offices but live according to the testimony of Christ,’’ the cleric said.

    He also stressed the need for Christians to lead with conscience in leadership position,
    able to deliver a different path to the nation, urging Christian leaders in Nigeria to return to the Bible.

    Cleric said that the message in the convention was about having faith in Christ and repentance into a life that transformed society.

    He underscored the need for Christians to be heirs of God’s Kingdom before they could inherit the provisions and treasures of God’s kingdom.

    “If we return to the Bible and the basis and the truth that the Bible teaches, we won’t be having all these problems we have been having because therein lies all the solutions.

    “The Word of God is the light the nation and righteousness exalts the nation so, if we return to the word, the way it is; then, there will be less problems,’’ he said.

    The Lagos Moderator of the Church, Pastor Bayo Oyeyemi also that the outpouring of the power of God at the convention was because the participants prepared for the programme.

    “We see the excitement and the outpouring of the power of God upon the people of God.

    ‘’It did not just happen ordinarily but people were full of expectations, prayers and preparations.

    “Nigerians should seek more of God and look unto Him because He is our maker and we must put Him first.

    “The solution to crisis in Nigeria is God. God didn’t create man with crisis. Crisis is man-made and the solution is of God.

    “If Nigerians will repent, Nigeria will be another heaven on earth,” Oyeyemi said.

    The annual convention entitled “Heirs of His Kingdom” commenced on March 29 and ended on April 1.

     

  • Easter: Atiku, Makarfi, Dickson, others felicitate with Christians; preach love, tolerance

    Easter: Atiku, Makarfi, Dickson, others felicitate with Christians; preach love, tolerance

    Former Vice President and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has felicitated with Christians as they mark the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

    In this, he was joined by Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State, PDP chieftain and former Kaduna State governor, Senator Ahmed Makarfi and former Osun State deputy governor, Senator Iyiola Omisore.

    In a statement released by his media office in Abuja to mark the Easter celebrations, Atiku called on Nigerians to emulate the virtues of love and sacrifice which characterised the life of Jesus Christ.

    The Waziri Adamawa described those two qualities as essential to the unity that Nigeria so desperately needs at this time when vested and provincial interests threaten to tear our nation apart.

    He also encouraged Nigeria’s leaders to use the opportunity of the Easter celebration to reflect on their stewardship to their people and to the nation.

    “Our leaders at all levels should follow the virtues that define this season – sacrifice, love and charity – and come together to help all Nigerians resolve the differences that divide us.

    We must not allow those who seek to divide us to pretend as if our problems are as a result of another ethnic or religious group,” Atiku said.

    On his part, Senator Omisore charged Christians as well as all Nigerians to demonstrate the essence of Easter as exemplified by Jesus Christ, by living in love and harmony with one another.

    Omisore, a former Chairman Senate Committee on Appropriation, gave this charge in a statement he issued to felicitate with Nigerians on Easter celebrations.

    “As Nigerians, we must eschew acts that will divide us further. We must embrace Christ’s attitude of living in love and harmony with ourselves and our neighbours,” he said.

    “It is not by chance that God put all of us in this environment called Nigeria. Whether as Muslims or Christians, we must remember always that we are our brother’s keeper.

    “We must promote all the enriching values that make our lives and society embodiments of godliness.”

    Omisore, who was the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2014 governorship election in Osun State, urged the people of the state to be steadfast in their prayers.

    Bayelsa State governor, Hon, Henry Seriake Dickson, urged Nigerians, particularly Christians to jealously cherish and guide their faith by living a Christ-like life of selfless service, sacrifice, love and righteousness.

    The governor, in a press statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Francis Ottah Agbo, noted that, without the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, “our faith as Christians would have been a fallacy.”

    While stressing that Nigeria is presently at a crossroads, the governor called on Bayelsans to love one another, pray fervently for the peace, prosperity and stability of the nation and sacrifice for the common good of Bayelsa State.

    Governor Dickson also solicited for the maximum cooperation of the people and leaders of the state and the Ijaw Nation to enable his Restoration Government consolidate on its legacy projects in order to finish strong by 2020.

    He said: “As we celebrate Easter, which of course is the basis of our faith as Christians, I urge Nigerians, particularly Bayelsans, to emulate our Lord Jesus Christ by words and deeds.

    “We must love one another and sacrifice for the common good of Bayelsa State and Nigeria.

    “This country is facing daunting challenges which call for fervent prayers and hard work to surmount.

    “Our Government in the last six years has put Bayelsa State on the path of peace and prosperity. I therefore, solicit the continued cooperation and support of leaders and the people of the state to enable our Restoration Government consolidate on its life-changing legacy projects and finish strong.”

    In his own message, Makarfi said in spite of various challenges, there is still hope for Nigeria.

    Jesus’ death and resurrection, he said, are everlasting reminders that it is possible for Nigeria to overcome its difficult situation and embrace great virtues.

    He asked Nigerians to eschew bitterness and embrace the spiritual legacies of Jesus Christ which can immensely facilitate Nigeria’s peace and progress.

    He sent “warm felicitations and greetings to the Nigerian Christian community, and indeed all Nigerians on this auspicious occasion of the Easter celebrations in memory of the legendary spirit of sacrifice and selflessness espoused and exhibited by Jesus Christ.”

    It is imperative, according to him, that this period be “used by all for meditation and sober reflections on the life and times of Jesus Christ and his sacrifices, with a view to imbibing such virtues as humility, forgiveness, tolerance, good neighbourliness, respect and empathy for others’ feelings as well as love for one another.”

    The Chairman, Senate Committee on Local Content, Senator Solomon Adeola, charged his constituents and Nigerians in general to remain peaceful and exhibit the Christian virtues of sacrifice, love and abiding faith in a better tomorrow as exemplified in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

    Adeola said the season symbolises a new beginning of hope and redemption for all mankind, adding that for all true Christians, the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ means that all challenges confronting individuals and mankind are ultimately surmountable with fervent belief in God.

    The senator said the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ gave mankind hope of a new beginning and a better future, stressing that in spite of enormous challenges confronting the nation, Nigeria is at the threshold of a better tomorrow.