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Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese and founder of the Kukah Centre, Most Reverend Mathew Kukah, says the controversial tax reform bills of Bola Tinubu’s administration will end the elites’ financial recklessness.
Bishop Kukah made this statement on Channels Television’s Morning Brief on Tuesday.
He urged the Federal Government to ensure that the ongoing reforms lead to the country’s development.
DAILY POST recalls that the bills have attracted criticism in several parts of the country since they were sent to the National Assembly
Some critics said the bills are targeted against the northern region, with millions arguing they will overburden Nigerians.
“Nigeria is a very energetic country with people that are so eminently gifted and are roaring to soar at any time.
“However, our problem is the inability of states to create enough gatherings to contain the energy, vision, and competing narratives of their citizens. This lack of competitive gatherings often spills over into violence.
“But I hear you when you speak about all the issues identified. And I am excited about the issue of tax reform bills because, first, I know nothing about it. But I have started educating myself.
“Any form of reform at all must get this thoroughly dysfunctional country working again.
“So I am excited because hopefully, we can take the time to listen to the conversation about how to avoid and end this financial recklessness, and the irony of Nigerians living by the seaside and washing their faces with saliva.
“The reforms should end the narrative of Nigerians living in a country that is so richly endowed but are spectators to the rascality and irresponsibility of the elites who continue to mismanage our resources.
“So I’m hopeful that this is the beginning of a very long journey of fiscal management and efficiency that can lead to the growth and development of the kind of country that we envision,” the cleric said
Founder of The Potter’s House, Bishop TD Jakes, provides an update on his recovery from a recent health scare, sparking widespread relief among fans.
Recall that Bishop TD Jakes recently suffered a health scare while giving a sermon at the altar.
In a latest Instagram post, Bishop TD Jakes shared an update on his health, gesturing to God for his recovery.
He also expressed deep gratitude to his family, medical professionals, and close associates, acknowledging their outpouring of love and support.
Dedicated to fulfilling his purpose and commitment to God’s work, Bishop TD Jakes regarded serving God’s people as an extraordinary privileged.
Read The Post Below..
Serving God’s people is an extraordinary privilege, and Sunday was no exception as I gave my all in delivering the message God placed on my heart.
Even when I sensed the weight of my humanity and pushed through nonetheless, I’m reminded that even the strongest must rely on His strength.
A special thank you to God and the medical professionals in our city whose speed and expertise were beyond exceptional.
Together, we press forward, steadfast in the work the Lord has set before us. I’ve heard from friends from the global community who expressed God’s love in ways that were astonishing.
I’m forever humbled by your outpouring of love and support. I will always give my best.
See the full post below..
Retired Vice President of the Living Faith Church, Bishop David Abioye, has said people see him as a duplicate of the grace of the church’s founder, Bishop David Oyedepo.
Abioye vowed to continue the relationship with Bishop Oyedepo which had spanned over 45 years despite his retirement.
Abioye and Bishop Thomas Arema, who have served Oyedepo for over four and three decades respectively, retired in alignment with Living Faith’s operational manual, The Mandate.
The Mandate which was recently revised, pegged the retirement age from 60 to 55.
However, speaking during his valedictory service at Goshen Camp in Nasarawa State, Abioye said: “I appreciate My spiritual father whom God has used tremendously in no little way to impact my life, my wife and I till this moment. As a pastor over us, we have been well fed by the word of God and as a pathfinder; he has been used by God to guide us on the path of destiny, he has inspired us as a trailblazer in the pursuit of Divine plan and as a prophet, he has provided for us adequate covering in the journey of life.
“Meeting with God’s servant (Oyedepo) was like entering into a school and life-transforming lessons have been learnt.
“There is no self-made man in life, even though God is the one who makes people, he does so through the instrumentality of men who we see and relate with. I sincerely acknowledge that such is the story of my stewardship under the tutelage of my mentor, Bishop David Oyedepo.
“Greatness is not a thing to wish for but a journey to make by following. By God’s help, I have engaged myself with him since January 1980 which I believe, from the foundation of the world, was orchestrated by the holy spirit to fulfil Divine purpose. Today, people look at me with admiration as a full-fledged duplicate of grace that is upon the life of my prophet, pastor, teacher, and mentor Bishop David Oyedepo.
“My personal relationship which commenced before the path of the mandate has spanned close to 45 years covering several spheres of life including ministries, our nuclear and extended families.
“This relationship is extensive and deep and we shall continue to be a path of it by God’s grace, as we engage in post-retirement activities, in full submission to the guidance of the Holy Spirit as taught us over the years by our fathers and mentors.”
Bishop Thomas Aremu of the Living Faith Church Worldwide has said that he has no plans of opening his own church and will remain with the ministry after his retirement.
Bishop Aremu said this on Tuesday during a valedictory service held at Living Faith Church (aka Winners Chapel), Bashorun, Ibadan. Living Faith Church was founded by Bishop David Oyedepo.
While giving his speech at the event, he said, “God’s presence is my greatest asset. I have seen God in practical terms. He gave me a pastor ( Bishop David Oyedepo) after His own heart in the person of the apostle over this commission. He is my pastor.
“I don’t have a church, and I cannot have a church. This is my church. Even after retirement, I remain in the Winners family,” Bishop Aremu said.
Bishop Aremu was born in 1957. He was one of the eight foundational members of the church in 1983. He began active service as a pastor in 1984.
He was the pioneer pastor of Living Faith Church, Ibadan. He was ordained a bishop in December 1999. His last designation in the ministry was Vice President Mission Inspectorate.
It is the custom of the ministry to hold valedictory services for its ministers who attain the age of 60. However, there are provisions for such ministers to continue serving under the Elongated Service Scheme. Thirty-three ministers are serving under the scheme. The first set began in 2020.
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SYMBOLICALLY, it was while participating in a media leaders’ summit in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital last May that I received the news of the transition of Retired Bishop Jacob Olabode Kehinde Olowokure. It was in the rocky ancient city that his fascinating earthly journey as an identical twin brother of Professor Taiwo Olowokure began.
Symbolic too was the fact that my family was part of that unique breaking news in 1929 for it was the young Samuel Odeyemi Agbola, my paternal grandmother’s elder brother, then an apprentice ‘Osomaalo’ under their father, who was dispatched to perform the journalistic function of breaking the news to family folks at Ijebu-Jesa.
The other dimension of what became a tripartite family bond was the fact that the old Olowokure family house was located opposite that of my maternal grandfather, the late High Chief Saba Yekoni Ayoade, in the Odo-Ese quarters of the town, close to the Agbola compound.
I got into the picture in 1979 while seeking admission to the Federal School of Arts and Science, Ondo (FSASON). My mother, Layoonu (nee Ayoade) urged me to enlist the support of yet another ‘egbon’ (brother) of hers who was then a Venerable and Archdeacon of All Saints Anglican Church, Ogbonkowo-Ondo. I teased Layoonu that I thought I had known all her Uncles and Aunties who, nightmarishly, she would insist I prostrate for on the streets of Ijebu-Jesa.
Ven. Olowokure promptly accompanied me to FSASON to inquire from the principal why my admission was delayed despite the good result. Soon after, I was admitted to study Economics, Geography and Religious Studies. Before long I became a weekend regular at the Archdeaconry where I found the Venerable and his wife – interestingly also a twin and a Kehinde – extremely accommodating and generous. The biological and non-biological children under their roof equally radiated warmth and love such that I transformed from being the Venerable’s ‘cousin’ to being a ‘son’.
To confess, there was a culinary dimension to the weekend odysseys. The Sunday afternoon pounded yam with varieties of soup and protein was gastronomically irresistible. I would joyously participate in the Sunday services knowing that a pounded yam feast would follow. The picture of pounded yam in my head did not however obscure the fact that Ven. Olowokure’s sermons were knowledge-based and intellectually rooted. Punctuated with humour and anecdotes, his perceptive messages were always well received. It couldn’t have been otherwise. An educationist, he was once the school principal of Ado Grammar School, Ado-Ekiti. Following the emerging tradition in the Anglican communion to promote qualified scholars into higher positions, he was consecrated as the founding Bishop of the Ikare-Akoko Diocese where he excelled as a courageous pulpit-activist.
My plan was to spend two full academic sessions at FSASON, for my ‘A’ level before seeking university admission, but Daddy Olowokure encouraged me to sit for JAMB again in 1980. Even when I missed the cut-off mark of Economics, my first choice, he insisted I should embrace Psychology, the second choice, wondering if I wanted to study in the university at old age. It was actually an order as I encountered his tougher side. However, it was all congratulatory smiles when I returned with the news of my admission into the University of Ife. As a radical who spoke truth to power from the pulpit, he also welcomed my involvement in student unionism and indeed nicknamed me ‘Lanrewaju Idiagbon’ when as NANS president, I led Nigerian students to confront the Buhari-Idiagbon’s military regime over its attempt to commercialise tertiary education in 1984. Post-NANS he and his wife switched to calling me Olola-Olanrewaju!
Long story short, to borrow the phrase I fell in love with through Wale Bakare, Daddy Olowokure positively impacted my life. His household was a faculty of learning, which I was privileged to pass through. Always showering my family with love and prayers, he was happiest whenever we stayed under his roof at Ijebu-Jesa. He would express disquiet if the option was our own family house. Still, he would insist we had meals with him; either at his place or that of his twin brother as they normally eat interchangeably in each other’s residence located within the same premises. Their telepathic communication, bond and banters are of legendary stuff. In lighter moments, the Prof would call the Bishop, Baba Ijebu; while the Bishop would call the Prof, Baba JABU, since the latter taught at the Joseph Ayo Babalola University after a long stint at the University of Maiduguri. They would sometimes don the same apparel without prior communication. Mistaken identity, especially in their younger days, was a common phenomenon even by one of their spouses.
Daddy Olowokure once hinted that he would like his memoir to be written and entitled: ‘From the classroom to the pulpit’. Though apt, I feel it might not capture the full essence of his life that was full of grace, humanism and philanthropy. So, as his burial comes up on Friday October 18, 2024, here is my epitaph: Here lies a humble man of grace, born in tough circumstances in a rocky city, survived early life vicissitudes but by dint of hard work got well educated, molded lives as a teacher and spiritually uplifted souls as a Bishop”.
- Lanre Arogundade is a journalist and Executive Director of International Press Centre (IPC)
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