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Christian Youths Task Churches on Unity, Tolerance

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By Eric Elezuo

The youths of Cherubim and Seraphim Church and Celestial Church of Christ have called on churches, both Pentecostal and orthodox to embrace unity and tolerance of one another in the quest to run the Christian race towards making heaven in the end.

The youths of the two strong Christian organisations, better referred to as white garment churches, made the call during a press conference at the Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, organized by the Proprietress of Esther Ajayi Foundation and Founder, Love of Christ Generation Church (C&S), based in London, England, Reverend Mother Esther Abimbola Ajayi.

Addressing the conference, two youths that represented each of the organisations, Brother Qudus Patrick of the Cherubim and Seraphim Church and Sister Kehinde Akande of the Celestial Church of Christ, took time to intimate the audience on the need for unity among Christian groups, saying emphatically that white garment churches need not be discriminated against because they also believe in Jesus Christ and the bible, which is the Word of God.

“We understand that there are negative connotations against us. We want to make people, especially our fellow Christians, understand that we are also Christians. We believe, confess and profess Jesus Christ, just as we believe in the Word of God, the Bible,” Brother Patrick said.

In her address, Kehinde Akande, informed the audience that tolerating other sections of Christendom, will foster unity and living in one accord. She stated that the purpose of the entire Christian group is the one and the same, so long as they call on Christ and practice the doctrines of the bible, adding that the purpose is to make heaven at the end of the stay on earth.

“There is the need for all Christians to exist in one accord and live in unity without casting aspersions on another. Just because we wear white garment does not make us any different from the rest of Christendom. Our purpose is one and the same,” she said.

Akande added that come July 28, 2018, the world will see the difference in practicing Christianity when the Cherubim and Seraphim Church and Celestial Church of Christ will come together as one to celebrate this year’s The Comforter at United Palace, Broadway, New York, United States of America. There, she stressed, God will experience in His omnipotence as powerful praises and worship among others will feature.

Supporting the duo as speakers were Odekunle Michael, Babaniji Oluwamayowa, Michael Oduyebo, Reverend Mother Esther Ajayi (the Convener), Adetutu Ogunleye, Ayo Osho and Dr. Fatunloye, who is the music director.

Speaker after speaker, the youths who came all the way from the United Kingdom, the United States of America and from across Nigeria, harped on the unity of churches in Christendom, and called on those who have one negative thought or another about white garment churches to have a change of heart as there is no difference between the Christians that wear regular cloths and those that wear white garments. They condemned the situation where privileges are denied white garment church goers just because they are white garment church goers and nothing more.

Speaking on the forthcoming The Comforter 2018 annual celebration, the Founder of Love of Christ Generation Church, London, and Convener of the meeting, Reverend Mother Esther Ajayi, stated that the essence of the celebration involving the two strong sects, is to disabuse the mind of the people as regards white garment churches, especially ‘those who are hypocritical about us’, stating emphatically that ‘the body of Christ is one, not divided’ according to 1 Corinthians 12:1 to end. She maintained that white garment churches are bible believing churches and should not be discriminated against while intimating that the reason behind holding the first edition in UK and the second edition in USA before bringing it down to the ‘root’, Nigeria, lies in the fact that the first two countries have what it takes to create the necessary awareness, moreover, UK happens to be the residence of the organizer and home country of the parent church.

She further informed that while the 2019 edition will be held in Nigeria, the 2020 edition will be held in Brazil.

Reverend Mother Ajayi also outlined the programmes that will take centre stage at the USA event to include performances from a mass choir comprising worshippers from both the C&S and CCC, power packed ministrations from notable artists such as Evangelist Ebenezer Obey, King Sunny Ade, Sir Shina Peters, Lanre Teriba, Kirk Franklin among many others.

The woman, who is gloriously known as a giver, also stated that drama ministrations will also feature just as the presence of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Adegboye Alao, Mobina Oshoffa and many other influential personalities, who will be making valuable presentations, will spice up the gathering.

In addition, there will be distribution of the bibles and other great gifts to as many that will attend the celebration.

Reverend Mother Ajayi also stated emphatically that the basic idea of bring the C&S and CCC sects together is to create a positive impression in the minds of the people, and that on no account will the two churches merge to become one. This is simply because, according to her, both were founded on separate visions and callings, and so the possibility of merging is zero.

“C&S remains C&S and Cele remains Cele,” she concluded.

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Waterfront Summit: KPV Founder Engages Lagos Commissioner on Sustainable Coastal Future

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Prince Adegboyega Adekoya has expressed deep commendation for the Honorable Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development, Dayo Bush Alebiosu, following a strategic engagement at the recently held Waterfront Summit in Lagos.

Prince Adekoya described the conversation with the Commissioner and key members of the Lagos State Ministry as inspiring and forward thinking, praising Alebiosu’s visionary leadership in championing a sustainable coastal future for Lagos State.

According to Adekoya, the discussions went far beyond infrastructure. They centered on the need for holistic coastal development one that places people, culture, and the long-term continuity of Lagos at the core of every project and policy direction.

He noted that his commitment to this cause is both personal and ancestral.
“It is my prerogative, birthright, and royal duty to safeguard the waters, lands, and shining sands my ancestors protected,” he stated.

Adekoya also emphasized his role as a key stakeholder and founder of KPV Global Network, a thriving community of creatives. He affirmed that the network is strategically positioning the creative sector as a strong driver of Nigeria’s bold moves in global culture, tourism, and creative diplomacy.

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Again, Fayose Makes Scathing Remarks Against Obasanjo Hours After Former President Attended His Birthday

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Former President Olusegun Obasanjo and ex-Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose, on Monday renewed their old enmity, with Fayose raining insults on the 89-year-old ex-president, whom he declared “belongs in the zoo”.

The feud between the duo dates back to the beginning of the Fourth Republic, when Obasanjo was president and Fayose was governor in Ekiti State.

Obasanjo had sent the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission after Fayose over a poultry project embarked upon by Fayose, which Obasanjo declared was fraught with corruption.

The relationship between them has been frosty over the years, with Fayose seizing any chance to lash out at Obasanjo, alleging his Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library in Ogun State is a product of corruption.

Fayose repeatedly demanded that Obasanjo return his N10m contribution to the building of the library.

However, in a dramatic twist, ahead of his 65th birthday last week, Fayose had visited Obasanjo in his Ogun home and invited the ex-president to the birthday.

 At the birthday party in Lagos, however, Obasanjo, who was the Special Guest of Honour, recounted how  Fayose had abused him severally in the past without batting an eyelid.

He explained that despite asking for forgiveness from him several times, Fayose would still go ahead to abuse him in a display of arrogance.

 The former President said he was surprised that Fayose would be bold enough to invite him to the birthday.

 Addressing the gathering,  Obasanjo said, ”Some people called me and said that we heard that you are going to attend Fayose’s 65th birthday, have you forgotten how he abused you? But I said that they should not worry, irrespective of his character, he remains one of my children. The Yoruba will say ‘Won kii le omo buburu f’ekun paje’, meaning that you won’t say your child is bad and offer him to a tiger to devour.

 “But you are not the best of my political children, you’re not, but you have made achievements that must not be ignored.”

Obasanjo said, haunted by his past acts, Fayose could not, at first, directly approach him to invite him to his birthday, but instead sent  a former minister, Osita Chidoka, “to come and sound me out.”

“You could not come to me directly because you knew that you had not done so well by me,” Obasanjo said, “‘Bi iwo ba se rere, ara ki o a ya o’. So, I told Osita to tell you that he had delivered the message you sent him to me. You later phoned me and I said that you could come to see me at any time.

“Even at that, you could not come directly to knock at my door; you took precautions, you sent Foluso ahead of you, who came before you, to gauge my feelings and pulse, after which you arrived about an hour later.

“When you came to me, you called your wife, and while on the phone with your wife, I said that the two of you have not done well. Mo ni eyin meejeji kii s’omoluwabi; and your wife completely disarmed me.

“She said, ‘Yes, Baba, you are right, please forgive us,’ and what else can I do? You have asked for forgiveness, and I have forgiven you, but the right lesson must be learned.”

Obasanjo then launched into his past relationship and feud with Fayose.

Quoting Romans 12 vs 15, Obasanjo said the Bible enjoins Christians to “mourn with those who are mourning, while we should also rejoice with those rejoicing.”

He said, “Like I said, that we are here to thank God for his mercy and faithfulness, you must always understand that you’re who you are and where you are by the special grace of God, and so you must always give praise to him.

“I also said that we are here for stock taking, part of what you yourself have said. I knew you, and I was with you because of the initiative you took to give water to the people of Ekiti State at that time; you will remember this vividly. It was this initiative that set you apart and made me fall in love with you.

“I didn’t know you from anywhere before that time; it was S. K. Babalola that I knew and was going to support for the 2003 governorship because of his track record with the Nigerian Union of Teachers.

“However, I later pitched a tent with you and dumped Babalola, who, in any case, was also not a member of our party, PDP, then. You remember that we were at Efon Alaye to campaign, and one of their challenges there was erosion, which we promised to fix, and we fulfilled our promise.

“Ayo, there is a difference between being courageous, being bold and being foolhardy. Courage, boldness and foolhardiness do not go together.

“There is also the virtue of humility, which goes with humility. Humility is one of the virtues that mark out our character in Nigeria, particularly the people of Yoruba land. Integrity is also another virtue. We had a campaign and, by the grace of God, you won the election.

“And when you won, you wanted to do a lot of good things. One of those things was to help the farmers. When you came to me, I said that if you wanted to help the farmers, one of the things you could do is to either subsidise the chicks or the feeds and not that, as a government, you will say you are establishing a poultry farm.

“I said that Gomboro could come, and within the time the memo to buy this and that was still going from the table of one government official to another, the disease would have cleared all the chicks. And you will remember this story, I came to your farm and I saw the chicks that were about two weeks old with their shavings very neat and asked, ‘Ayo, se awon adiye tiyin ki yagbe ni’  (Don’t your own type of chicks excrete?).

“And your brother, Oyinlola, the then governor of Osun State, was telling you right there, ‘I told you that if he (Obasanjo) doesn’t know anything, he knows about poultry’.

 “You also remember that, before this issue about poultry, some came to say that you did not go to Olivet Baptist School, Oyo, but I knew that you went to the school and finished there. We can see those who were your mates and those who were your seniors, so that is unlike some people, who we really don’t know the school that they attended.

“If you remember, you and your wife came to me at Oyinlola’s house and begged for forgiveness for all that you had said to me, and I said that I had forgiven you, but you never stopped. You also came to my house and apologised. I said that I had forgiven you, but you still didn’t stop.

“Ayo, I did not ask you to contribute to my library, or did I? The governors decided, and you joined them. I never begged you for money for anything except when you came last week, on Tuesday.

“I told you that since you will make me abort my trip from Kigali, Rwanda and come back on Saturday when I was supposed to be back on Sunday, you would be the one to pay for that because I can’t be using my retirement money for such.

“But if it will be of interest to you, it was Alhaji Aliko Dangote who sent the plane that brought me back to the country. So, the money you sent through Foluso is still with me. I have kept everything intact.

“Obviously, part of why you have called me to this occasion is to make things right with those whom you might have offended. I also want to urge you to still think about those people you have offended and call them for a truce. Forgiveness and repentance are quite important.

“You must repent from all misconduct because we must begin to prepare for heaven, because no one will escape the judgment of God. Please join me in singing this song, ‘Ope mi ko i to, ojojumo ni o ma dupe…’”

Clearly angered by Obasanjo’s remarks, Fayose, on Monday, sent the ex-president a “Thank You” text message, filled with insults.

The Punch

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Dan Agbese, Newswatch Co-Founder, Dies at 81

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One of the founders of Newswatch magazine, Chief Dan Agbese, is dead.

According to a statement issued by the Agbese family of Ikpilogwu clan of Agila district, Ado Local Government Area of Benue State, he died on Monday.

“We hereby announce the passing away of our husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and mentor: Chief Dan Agbese, the Awan’Otun of Agila.”

“Chief Agbese transited to eternal glory this morning, Monday November 17, 2025. He was aged 81.

“Burial arrangements would be announced by the family in due course.

“Born May 12, 1944 in Agila, Chief Agbese was a renowned journalist and author, famous for his seminal contributions to journalism practice in Nigeria and renowned for his satirical columns.

He was editor of The Nigeria Standard and New Nigerian newspapers, and General Manager of Radio Benue, Makurdi.

“Chief Agbese was one of the founders of the trail-blazing Newswatch magazine and was until April 2010 its Editor-in-Chief.

“Before his passing, he wrote several books and maintained weekly columns in notable newspapers including the Daily Trust and The Guardian, while running a media consultancy with his friends and colleagues, Ray Ekpu, Yakubu Muhammed and Soji Akinrinade.

“He is survived by his wife , Chief Rose Agbese, their six children, and seven grandchildren.”

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