Religion
No Rancour over Olubadan Stool – Makinde
Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has said that there is no rancour over the ascension to the throne of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, as being widely speculated.
Makinde stated this while hosting his deputy, Bayo Lawal, and Muslim faithful within the government who paid him an Eid-el Firtri homage at visited his Ikolaba residence on Wednesday in Ibadan.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the nomination of the next Olubadan has been enmeshed in controversy since the death of Oba Lekan Balogun on March 15.
NAN also reports that a meeting of the Obas-in-council, to be presided over by Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, High Chief Rashidi Ladoja, had been fixed for Thursday, where the nomination of the Olubadan-designate, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, is expected to be ratified.
The meeting was scheduled few hours after a peace meeting initiated by some Ibadan elders, with Ladoja promising to withdraw the case instituted in court against the elevation of his fellow high chiefs to obaship status.
A new twist to the obaship controversy, however, emerged on Tuesday when the Otun Balogun of Ibadanland, Oba Tajudeen Ajibola, declared that the Olubadan-designate, Olakulehin, was not medically fit to ascend the throne.
The governor, however, warned those whose stock-in-trade was to look at things that will divide the state and its people to look for something else to do.
Rather, he said that they should focus on things that would enhance unity in the state.
Although Makinde said that the Ibadan Obas-in-Council had yet to meet on the nomination of the next Olubadan, he, however, added: “When they eventually make their nomination, they will come to me and I will either say ‘Yes’ or ‘No”.
He also seized the opportunity to call on the people of the state to come out en masse to vote during the local government election, slated for April 27.
The governor assured the residents of the state that the outcome of the council election would reflect their wishes.
He equally urged Muslims to imbibe the lessons of Ramadan in their respective daily activities.
Earlier, the deputy governor, who led the state government’s delegation to the Eid praying ground at Agodi, implored all Muslim faithful to sustain the peaceful and harmonious co-existence being enjoyed in the state.
In his sermon, the Chief Imam of Ibadan land, Sheikh Abubakar Agbotomokekere, enjoined all Muslims to sustain abstinence from all vices, as they did during the Ramadan period.
Agbotomokekere called on the residents of the state to support government with prayers for the growth and development of the state and the country as a whole. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
The Senior Pastor of Streams of Joy International, Jerry Eze, has urged Christians not to feed on everything they see on social media.Eze made the call during his sermon at the church service on Sunday in Abuja.He noted that certain contents on social media could corrupt the minds of God’s children,negatively influencing their thoughts,spirit and behavior.
“Don’t let everything feed you. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly. Not everything on social media should feed you.“You remember the vile words of the enemy more than you remember what is in the word(the Bible).“I didn’t even want to talk about it, but I do recognise that when you head Equatorial Guinea, it fed you and re-fed you, “he said.He said that God has unique plans for His children, but required them to be in tune with Him.He added that they also need to be intentional about the information they consume on social media, the company they keep, and the places they go.Eze urged the congregants to guard their vision in accordance with God’s instructions, just as a pregnant woman was advised on what to consume to keep her body safe and healthy.The cleric prayed for wisdom and understanding for the congregants, asking God to guide them on their unique life paths.He added that they should not dwell on their fears and insecurities, but instead look to God for the fulfillment of their new seasons.According to the pastor, some difficulties are allowed by God to build and prepare his children to handle greater responsibilities in the future.(NAN
The Rector, Bigard Memorial Seminary, Enugu, Very Rev. Fr. Albert Ikpenwa, says the seminary has produced four cardinals, 14 archbishops, 37 bishops and thousands of priests since it officially opened in 1924.
Ikpenwa disclosed this on Tuesday at news conference to give insight on Bigard Centenary Celebration scheduled to begin on Nov.
10 in Enugu.He said the seminary had also produced thousands of priests working in Nigeria, Europe, America, Australia and other parts of the world.
Ikpenwa listed the Cardinals to include Francis Arinze, Dominic Ekandem, Christian Tummi and Peter Okpalaeke.
According to him, some of the archbishops are Valerian Okeke, Bishops Callistus Onaga, John Okoye, Albert Obiefuna, among others.
He added that the seminary had also served in the formation of seminarians from Cameroon, Sierra Leone and Liberia and produced professors in many universities as well as other individuals who studied there but did not serve as priest.
The rector said Bigard Memorial Seminary started as St. Paul’s Seminary, Igbariam, Anambra, in 1922, an initiative of Bishop Joseph Shanahan, the then Vicar Apostolic of the Vicariate of Southern Nigeria.
“The seminary was, however, officially opened in 1924 to teach theology and philosophy following Pope Benedict XV’s 1919’s letter that emphasised the need and urgency of establishing indigenous clergy in mission lands.
“In 1928, the seminary was moved to Onitsha and a senior seminary was opened at Eke in Enugu State in 1934 to separate it from the junior seminary.
“The senior seminary was later transferred to Enugu in 1939, then to Okpala, Imo, in 1942, and finally back to Enugu in 1951 where it has remained as Bigard Memorial Seminary,” he said.
He explained that seminary was named Bigard to honour Stephanie and Jeanne Bigard, the mother and daughter foundresses of the Opus Sancti Petri Apostoli society, which funded the building of the seminary.
Speaking on the 100 years anniversary, the Chairman Planning Committee, Rev. Fr. Kelvin Udenwagu, said the event was going to be a great and unique one as it would be a reunion of the people that passed through the seminary in the past 100 years.
He listed the activities to mark the event to include inaugural Mass, inauguration of academic year and award to distinguished students, cultural event, Biblical quiz, symposium, football match and dance.
The clergyman added that the celebration would begin on Nov. 10 and end on Nov. 21.
The highlight of the conference was a media facility tour that included the new student hostels built by Ikpenwa. (NAN)
There was a drama as the sacrificial ram of the Chief Imam of the Mista Ali community in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State, Imam Abdulkadir went missing on the eve of the Ed-el-Kabir.
Abdulkadir’s ram was reportedly stolen during a downpour in the area on the eve of the Ed-el-Kabir.
An Imam in the community, Haruna Yaqub, disclosed this during the sermon, shortly after the two Raka’at prayers.
Yaqub, who condemned the incident, described it as “insensitive”.
He added that the act showed that people lack fear for God.
The Imam said, “The Ram of our Chief Imam, which he purposely brought to sacrifice, has been stolen in the night.
We are really shocked by the incident. We were surprised to hear this story. This means that people are not God-fearing.“It is scary that people have gone to the extent of stealing ram meant for religious activity.”
Speaking further, he urged people to be God-fearing and not engage in either stealing or any act of criminality.
He stressed that everyone will account for their actions on earth and hereafter.
“It is high time people repented and took the path of Allah. It is not too late. People should stop committing bad things and act according to Allah’s commandments,” he urged.
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