NEWS
Ewhrudjakpo Urges Christian Organisations to Participate in Politics
From Mike Tayese, Yenagoa
Bayelsa State Deputy Governor, Sen. Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo has urged Christian organisations to play a strategic role in politics in order to promote good governance and sustain positive societal values.
Ewhrudjakpo stated this on Monday when the Council of Knights, Niger Delta West Diocese of the Anglican Communion, Church of Nigeria, paid him a courtesy visit in Government House, Yenagoa.
The Deputy Governor, said the church does not only have a moral obligation to uphold the gospel but also guide leaders right by speaking truth to power.
According to him, in the early days, it was fashionable for Christians, particularly Knights, to bear the sword as they were regarded as soldiers of the Cross, “Which was why at their initiation as Knights they were given the sword as a symbol to defend the Cross.”
He tasked them to challenge the modern trends of false doctrine and other forms of onslaught against the church, stressing that as Christians they were expected to live exemplary lifestyles reflecting the virtues of Jesus Christ.
On issues of morality, Ewhrudjakpo also enjoined religious leaders to be above board in all their dealings at all times, and propagate the gospel of salvation and not that of miracles.
While urging Christians to continue praying for the government and people of Bayelsa State, the Deputy Governor further appealed to the clergy to streamline certain practices in the church to edify the body of Christ.
His words: “But today it is not the sword that is being used to fight the gospel war. The gospel war is now on social media and you see a lot of people spewing whatever they like on social media. You see people who claim that they have been called by God when in actual fact they have not been called.
“There has been a lot of negative publicity in the social media against the body of Christ and we need to counter the negative propaganda. Most worship centres have become and promote Christ of Miracle instead of Christ for salvation.
“There is indiscriminate registration of churches that preach prosperity and miracles and they no longer care for the needy. We should not also behave like the Pharisees when giving.
In his remarks, the President, Council of Knights, Niger Delta West Diocese, Mathias Otuogha, informed the Deputy Governor that the Council has conferred on him the position of Patron of the Anglican Knights of the Niger Delta West Diocese.
Otuogha, described the honour bestowed on Ewhrudjakpo as symbolic of the deputy governor’s outstanding leadership and christian testimony.
While urging him to accept the award, he expressed the hope that the Deputy Governor would continue to support them in their mission to promote the Christian faith and project the peace of Jesus Christ in the church and society.
Otuogha also congratulated the deputy governor on behalf of the Council of Knights, on his recent 60th birthday anniversary, adding that they were celebrating him as a true leader whose life and service are worthy of emulation.
Dignitaries who accompanied the President on the courtesy visit include, Vice President, Council of Knights and former General Manager, Radio Bayelsa, Dame Anne Koko-Abidde, the immediate past Head of Service, Dame Biobelemoye Charles-Onyeama, and one time Acting Chief Judge of Bayelsa State, Justice Margaret Akpomiemie (Rtd).
By David Torough, Abuja
The founders and Senior Pastors of Dunamis International Gospel Centre (DIGC), Dr. Paul and Dr. (Mrs.) Becky Enenche, have successfully trained and empowered 100 individuals in agribusiness as part of their commitment to youth empowerment, entrepreneurship, and economic development.
Dr.
Paul Enenche made the announcement during the church’s Thanksgiving and Testimony Service on Sunday, highlighting the initiative as a strategic effort to promote self-reliance and agricultural productivity.According to the cleric, each beneficiary will be allocated at least one hectare of farmland to commence farming activities upon completion of the training programme.
He further disclosed that the beneficiaries will receive monthly stipends to support them until their agricultural produce is ready for harvest.Dr. Enenche noted that the training and empowerment programme represents a significant investment, with each participant’s training costing approximately ₦500,000.
The beneficiaries, who constitute Batch A of the Entrepreneurship Agribusiness Training Programme, graduated from the C.S.S. Farm and Skills Acquisition Centre located along the Keffi–Abuja Road. The entire programme was fully sponsored by Dr Paul,Dr (Mrs.) Becky Enenche and the church as part of their ongoing efforts to empower individuals with practical skills and sustainable means of livelihood.
The initiative reflects the church’s commitment to transforming lives through both spiritual and socio-economic empowerment.
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, has reaffirmed the commission’s neutrality ahead of the 2027 general election, saying INEC has no candidate or political party to favour.
In a post obtained from INEC’s X handle on Sunday, Amupitan stated this during a visit to the Emir of Zazzau, Amb.
Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli, as part of the commission’s stakeholder engagement and preparations for the 2027 elections.The visit formed part of activities surrounding INEC’s planned interactive meeting with staff and readiness assessment at the zonal level.
The INEC chairman was accompanied by National Commissioners, the Acting Director-General of the Electoral Institute, his Chief Press Secretary, Chief Technical Assistant, Chief of Staff, Special Aides and other senior officials of the commission.
Amupitan described traditional institutions as important stakeholders in the electoral process because of their influence and reach within communities.
He said elections were fundamentally about the social contract between citizens and those entrusted with public office, stressing that public trust was essential to the success of democracy.
According to him, INEC has commenced preparations early because of the size and complexity of conducting elections across Nigeria.
He said the commission had moved away from last-minute preparations and was testing, auditing and strengthening its operational systems well ahead of the 2027 polls.
Amupitan assured the Emir that INEC remained committed to neutrality, fairness and transparency in the conduct of elections.
“We have no candidates, we have no political party, we have no interest other than the sovereign will of the people of Nigeria,” the INEC chairman said.
He added that the commission would continue engaging traditional institutions and other stakeholders as it intensifies preparations for the 2027 General Election.
The Nigerian Forest Security Service (NFSS), Kano State Command, has deployed personnel to Garko Local Government Area to track and contain dogs suspected to be infected with rabies.
The service said the suspected rabid dog had bitten 18 people in Garko and its environs.
The NFSS State Commander, Abdullahi Al’ameen, disclosed this in a statement signed by the Public Relations Officer of the service, Usman Abdullahi-Umar, on Sunday in Kano.
Al’ameen said: “The command received a distress report at about 2 p.m. that a dog suspected to be rabid has attacked residents in Garko town.
“The dog has so far bitten 11 persons in Garko town before moving to neighbouring communities, including Raba, Kadage, Gurjiya and Dausai.
“It has also attacked and bitten seven additional persons in the affected communities.”
The commander further explained that they had received another report that two more dogs had been infected with rabies in the area.
Al’ameen said personnel of NFSS Garko Division, under the leadership of the Divisional Forest Officer, Auwalu Muhammad, had been deployed to the affected areas to track and contain the infected dogs.
He urged residents of Garko and neighbouring communities to remain vigilant and report sightings of stray or suspected rabid dogs to the nearest NFSS office or other security agencies.
The commander also advised residents who might have been bitten by suspected rabid dogs to seek immediate medical attention.
Al’ameen assured residents that the NFSS would continue to monitor the situation and take necessary measures to prevent further attacks.(NAN)
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