South East
Akunyili Carpets Priests Over Indecent Dressing
Priests and other ministers of God who for reasons best known to them, wed half naked brides in their various churches have been advised to desist from such act as it is capable of not only tarnishing the image of Christianity, but drag the name of the church to the mud.
Minister of Information and communications, Prof Dora Akunyili, who made her feelings known while speaking at the just-concluded 2009 Synod of the Anglican Diocese of Enugu, held at the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd, Enugu, expressed total disappointment at the attitude of some men of God who do not see anything wrong in wedding a good number of newly married young women who now appear half nude on their wedding day.
According to the former NAFDAC boss, if the worrisome trend is not checked now, the negative impression it would create would adversely affect the growth and development of the church generally.
She, however, blamed family members, especially mothers for allowing their grown up daughters to go about half naked in the name of modern fashion, a trend which she described as not only embarrassing, but “very unfortunate” in a country like Nigeria.
While calling on various Church leaders in the country to work as a team with a view to addressing the ugly development which she said is not in the best interest of Christians, professor Akunyili equally called on Christians to always emulate Muslims in their mode of dressing.
Muslims, she went on, cover their bodies very well whether in their Mosque or outside their Mosque, an act, she said, should be emulated by Christians.
Prof Akunyili, however, used the occasion to debunk the wrong impression the international community have about Nigeria “as a country of fraudsters and criminals where nothing works .”
The former NAFDAC boss said the negative perception about Nigeria was foisted on us by the “international community and given flesh by the bad behaviors of some of us at home and abroad, and failures of leadership at various levels”
She disclosed that she had a deep reflection about the issue of the nations image at home and abroad, adding that as the Chief Image Maker of the country, she felt strongly that, “we must redouble our efforts to change the negative perception about Nigeria”.
The first stage of the on going re-branding efforts, the minister stated, would focus on endangering changes which would include attitudinal change, re-orientation, revival of our cultural values and instillation of a renewed spirit of patriotism and hope in all Nigerians.
She, therefore, warned that “it is only when we have re-branded ourselves that we can effectively re-brand Nigeria to the world, describing the re-orientation aspect of the re-branding project as the most critical”.
She stated that the Federal Government was fully committed to a lasting peace in the troubled Niger Delta Region, adding that the amnesty was part of moves to return peace to the region.
Earlier in his Presidential Address, Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Enugu, The Rt. Rev. Dr Emmanuel Chukwuma, lamented that most of the ills that were identified as plaguing the nation in 1999, including epileptic power and energy supply, unemployment, insecurity of lives and property, among others had degenerated to a “War like dimension instead of abating”.
The man of God noted that democracy had been clearly bastardized, adding that credible, free and fair elections, which were the bedrock of democracy have all eluded the nation.
Bishop Chukwuma maintained that Nigeria needed to make progress in her democratic adventure, advocating the enthronement of respect for the ballot and good governance.
From right: Wife of Imo State Governor, Mrs. chioma Ohakim, wife of Bayelsa State Governor, Mrs. Alanyingi Sylva, and wife of Abia State Governor, Mrs. Orji , exchanging views during a public function at Owerri, recently.
The police in Ebonyi State say they have discovered the body of a yet to be identified middle-aged woman in a hotel room in Abakaliki, the state capital. The spokesperson of the police in the state, Loveth Odah, stated this yesterday.
She said the body has deep cuts on the chest and neck and has been deposited in a mortuary. According to the spokesman, it was discovered at Crown Garden Hotel located along the ever-busy Afikpo road in the capital city.
Mrs Odah, who said that the victim was found in the pool of her own blood, said the suspect had been identified as one Uchenna Awoke.
She said the hotel manager, Emmanuel Eze, the supervisor, and other workers had been taken to the police station for questioning and accused the hotel management of negligence.
“The manager of the hotel, the supervisor and other staff of the hotel were taken to the station for questioning and I must confess to you that the whole thing is negligence on the part of the hotel management. How can a guest be murdered in a hotel room and days after, the management is not aware of the incident.”
“We will investigate the matter properly and I assure you, the perpetrator of the act must be arrested and prosecuted. All we are asking is for the members of the public to avail the police of useful information that will lead to the arrest of the suspect.”
The Senate yesterday passed the South East Development Commission (Establishment) Bill 2018.
The proposed commission aims at enhancing the infrastructural development of the South East zone, which is grappling with huge ecological challenges.
It also seeks to act as a catalyst for the development of the commercial potential of the zone.
The proposed legislation requires the concurrence of the House of Representatives to become a bill of the National Assembly, and the President’s assent to become a law.
Senators Stella Oduah (PDP-Anambra) and Samuel Anyanwu (PDP-Imo) jointly sponsored the bill read in the Senate on June 22, 2016.
Its passage in the Red Chamber followed the presentation of the report of the Committee on Establishment and Public Service by its former Chairman, Senator Emmanuel Paulker (PDP-Bayelsa), on the floor of the Senate.
The bill, after Paulker’s presentation, was considered clause by clause by the committee of the whole, and amendments made by the lawmakers were read for the third time and eventually passed.
In his remarks, presiding Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, commended his colleagues for a job well done.
In his words, “Every morning we pray that God should give us the grace to do only those things that will promote the peace and unity of this country.
“I believe that we have shown today that we are committed to the unity of this country, and it is this unity that will give us faith in this country.
“This faith will in turn help us to pursue peace and progress,” he said.
Briefing newsmen after plenary, members the South East caucus of the Senate, led by Sen. Enhinnaya Abaribe (PDP-Abia), thanked their colleagues and members of the committee for their efforts.
Abaribe, who spoke on behalf of the caucus, urged the President to sign the bill into law “as soon as we tidy it up and bring to him, in the interest of the unity and progress of Nigeria”.
“This will put to rest the long-drawn agitation in the South East, and the difficulties in the rehabilitation and reconciliation efforts that started at the end of the civil war.
“All things we see always will end up at the negotiating table, which is what we have done,” he said.
The lawmaker said he hoped the House of Representatives would give concurrence to the bill as it went in the Senate.
When established, the South East Development Commission would be the third zonal interventionist body in the country.
Bishop David Oyedepo, the Founder and Presideng Bishop, Living Faith Church Worldwide, on Saturday predicted that nothing would disturb the peace of Nigeria and its story would change for the better in the year 2019.
Oyedepo made the declaration at the just concluded annual prophetic gathering of the Winners’ family, christened the “Dominion”, in a satellite telecast of the church.
In the telecast monitored in Abuja, the cleric also declared that 2019 would be a year of “I have Dominion”.
“Nothing will tamper with the peace of Nigeria; the story will change for the better in the name of Jesus.
“Nigeria shall not see bloodshed, the Prince of Peace will continue to dominate in Nigeria, in Africa and Nigeria is declared blessed.
“Anywhere you step, accident is forbidden; death will not come near you and our nation.
“Anything that is of grace in my life, I freely release upon you today.
“God has opened the year 2019 to us, celebrate Him because its our year of “I have Dominion,” he said.
The Bishop added that the year 2019 would be a year of humbling testimonies for Nigeria and pace-setting testimonies.
He further declared that 2019 would be a colourful year for the nation.
According to the cleric, as long as Jesus has the final say on the issues of Nigeria, it will experience greatness.
Oyedepo said that there would be no more cause of alarm in any area of the nation and its citizens.
He advised Christians in Nigeria to delight themselves in the spirit of servant-hood, adding that the spirit of Christ is the spirit of servant-hood.
“The Spirit of Christ is the spirit of servant-hood. As you keep rising on the ladder of leadership, you must retain our spirit of servant-hood, constantly working to add value to others and be kingdom minded,” he said.
According to him, dedication is at the root of dominion, saying: “Sow yourself as a seed by being totally dedicated to God and His Kingdom’’.
He told his congregation that sacrificial giving guarantees the meeting of all their needs.
“When you engage in taking care of the well-being of others, God is also committed to your well-being,” he explained. The cleric admonished Christians would engage in meeting the needs of the needy, every barrier on their path of destiny would be crushed.
“Nobody tampers with your life, your career, your family and goes away with it because you are promoted to God’s kingdom.
“God will stand for your defence in the day of trouble. Every sacrificial giver has a defence around him in the day of trouble always have that in mind,” he said.
He reminded his congregation that the Church is not a building; the Church is a people and the Redeemed of the Lord.
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