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Opinion:The Myth And Harsh Lessons Of Easter- Aare Kola Oyefeso

Published

6 years ago

April 11, 2020

Editor

It is Easter week and in deference to this unique period, I will be digressing from the series I have started with, to remind us about what Easter portends. This is considered of essence because Easter presents before us, a veritable opportunity to remember our Creator. It is also in perfect consonance with our desire for enduring happiness in the earthly field.

Easter is celebrated yearly by Christians all over the world with the usual pomp and pageantry. While Easter is an occasion for celebration to some, to those living truly, it is really a period for sober reflection.

To start with, it is considered of essence to do a brief reminder about Easter, particularly for the benefit of those who never had Christian background.

Easter is woven round a Master Soul who came unto the world about 2000 year ago. He was given the name Emmanuel at birth and bore the name of Joseph initially. He actually acquired the name Jesus after He was baptized and started His mission. The title of Christ was generally used for Him after He shed the mortal coil.

The Bible recorded His birth and early life, but blotted out eighteen whooping years of His short life span. We mustn’t have any issues with this, since we should be concerned about His teachings only.

All the teachings emphasized by Jesus still hold true today and shall ever be. The two stated infra stood out.

They are;

(1) The vital importance of LOVE, without which there wouldn’t be lasting peace nor any true religion.

(2) The immanence of the Kingdom of Heaven, which is to be found only within man himself as He insisted; the Kingdom of God is at hand.

These two great precepts are cardinal for true worship. The first is the worship of God in Truth and the latter, the worship of God in Spirit.

But alas! His message was poorly received and meagerly understood even by His own disciples, much less the multitudes. They were quite unprepared for His lofty idealism, such refined perception. Least of all could they understand the main point of His message which is;

“The Kingdom of God is a present reality to be known and entered upon while living”

Ironically, the same doubt persists till date. Among the most pretending to be enlightened in the world, very few could grasp that sublime idea of Jesus. They can imagine a Heaven to which people may go after death, but when told, they can pierce the dark veil and enter upon that Kingdom of God, while in the body, as epitomized by the account of the mount of transfiguration, they were repugnant to such idea. Yet, this idea was at the heart of the message of the Messiah.

In the time of Jesus, the Jews earnestly look for a temporal kingdom, and prayed for a Messiah, a great warrior, who could deliver them from the Roman yoke and make them rulers of the world. But instead of earthly kingdom, Jesus spoke to them of Kingdom of Heaven and He told them it was at hand. The Jews were not interested in Jesus’ fancies, impractical to them and subversive of all their fond expectations.

Jesus had very little time to share His teachings with the masses as He lived for only a very short period. The period He spread His gospel was equally evanescent as it lasted barely 3 years, and then, He could not stay in one place, as He was moving from one place to the other, preaching the message of Love and the Kingdom of God being at hand.

Expectedly, Jesus teachings brought Him in conflict with the authorities, especially the high prince and the Sanhedrin. His early death was a foregone conclusion.

After the merest mockery of a trial, Jesus was condemned to death on the cross, the most ignominious of execution. The death sentence was approved under a mild protest, by the Roman Procurator, Pontius Pilate. The bigots drove nails into His hands and feet.

Those were the feet that trekked across the lands of the Jews preaching the message of Love, of Compassion and Redemption. The hands were the healing hands which had graciously dispensed food and cured the multitudes. They crucified Him, and hung a thief on either side of Him.

At the last hour the great compassionate Teacher expired, crying out at being forsaken by the Father.

It was claimed that Jesus rose from the dead on the 3rd day hence; The purpose of Easter is essentially to celebrate the death and rise of Jesus from death, and mystically put, the triumph of soul over Satan.

As realists, our interest is not to dwell on the merit or otherwise, of the alleged physical rise of Jesus from death, although the adepts have maintained, the triumph of Jesus, was the merging back of His soul into the Oversoul. That is, His soul uniting back into the Supreme Soul of the Supreme Lord.

The ascension of the soul is the main goal of the Messiah and all true Teachers of Spirituality. They have come to teach us how to die while living, so that at the expiry of our lives, in this physical world, our souls will not encounter any barrier in ascending back to the Lord.

“I die daily” says Paul in 1 Corinthians 15 vs 31.

That is meditation for you. It is the act making the eye single and the body will be full of light. It is also the entering into our inner closet as taught by the Messiah, during which, the soul leaves the body and returns to it at will, while alive.

The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ seem the main plank upon which the entire Christianity rests. As far as the Christians are concerned, Jesus died to write off their sins, and as long as they believe in Jesus, their salvation is assured.

With such naivety, we are ignoring the inviolable injunction of the Messiah in Galatians 6 vs 7 on quote;

“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked, man shall reap whatever he sows

Is it not a great irony, that a God-Sent that was despised, humiliated, tortured, whipped, and made to die by crucifixion was later deified, and the world was cajoled that He died for their sins. In other words, He was sacrificed for the sins of the world.

It is not rocketscience for any rational being to know that every sacrifice depicts a triumvirate viz; The sacrificer,the object of sacrifice and the receiver. In this setting, we can only discern the object which was Jesus.

The unanswered questions remain;

Sacrificed to Who?

To God or to Satan?

Can God-Sent be sacrificed to God?

If we assume YES, who was or were the Sacrificer/s ?

Or was Satan so powerful that he needed the God-Sent to be percified?

All these posers shall be answered in future series, for NOTHING is hidden.

Guilefully, it was Paul who as Saul never acknowledged Jesus and was a Jadaic scholar that repackaged the lofty teachings of Jesus into what is known today as Christianity, having written a good portion of the new Testament.

It is on record that Peter whom the Messiah had appointed in form of a successor saying to him in Matthew 18 vs 18 that; “Whatever you bind on earth, shall be bound in Heaven and that which you loose on earth, shall be loosed in Heaven” initially disagreed with Paul about Paul’s aggression.

Peter was emphatic that all through, their Master-Jesus preached message of Love and even on the Cross under excruciating pain, Jesus was still pleading with the Father to forgive His persecutors for they knew not what they were doing.

All told, it is the Sacrifice and belief Theory that the Priestly Class is still cashing on, to sustain Christianity and exploit their gullible followers.

It thus stands to reason that if by mere affirmation we can make Heavens, even Satan will also make Paradise. The method of accessing the bosom of the Lord was severally made unambiguous by the Messiah Himself, with several parables in the Bible and emphatically, in John 14 vs 23, He admonished;

“All who love me will do what I say, my Father will love them and we will come to them and make our home with them”

With another analogy, Jesus explained in very explicit terms the condition for meriting the bosom of the Lord, using the metaphor of the wedding garment.

This parable in Matthew 22 vs 1-14 which am quoting verbatim for effects reads as follows;

“Jesus spoke to them in parable saying; The Kingdom of Heaven is like a King who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. He sent servants to those that have been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come.

Then he sent more servants and said; Tell them that have been invited that I have prepared my dinner; My oxen are fattened cattle and have been butchered, everything is ready, come to the dinner.

They paid no attention and went off-one to his field, another to his business. The rest seized his servants, mistreated them and killed them. The King was enraged. He sent his army and destroyed those murderers and burned their city.

Then the King said to his servants, the wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. So go to the streets corners and invite anyone you find. So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all people they could find, the good as well as the bad and the wedding hall was filled with guests.

But when the King came in to see the guests, he noticed a man not wearing a wedding garment. He then asked; How did you get here without wearing a wedding clothes friend? The man was speechless.

Then the King told the attendants, tie him hand and foot and throw him outside, into the darkness,where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are invited but few are chosen.

The King in the narrative was the Lord Himself. The Wedding was the Grand Re-Union of our individual souls with that of the Lord, while the invitation was the daily prodding for us to; Let go the world and let in the Lord. The servants were the truly Anointed of the Lord. Not the Challatants.

Those who turned down the invitation were those who were still involved with the world’s shadow show and not ready for the Lord, while those that attended were the average postulants, but some of them, their devotion was not untainted. Their souls haven’t the wedding garments as yet.

If we can digest the drift of this parable, it will dawn on us meriting the Kingdom of God is not a walk in the park. It is far beyond affirmation. This perception is as groundless as feeling, merely enrolling in a University would make earning a degree automatic, without studying to pass the qualifying exams.

Quite rightly, belief in Jesus is a sine qua non. But added to the belief is the readiness for the disciplines and hard work required, to detach ourselves from the world and live strictly within the teachings of Jesus.

To the “unenlightened” who may be prone to reading the parable literally, the King could be adjudged as wicked. He asked the servants to invite all comers to the banquet, when the High and Mighty he initially invited did not turn up.

Where did he expect all manners of people to have wedding garments to wear to his banquet? And if those without wedding garments wouldn’t be allowed to partake in the banquet, why punishing them by binding them hands and feet?

But with expanded consciousness, we will come to the understanding that the wedding garment is a metaphor for being Born Again. It is harsh to say, but the truth is; We are all here because we were dead in the Spirit world to take birth in the earthly field. As we sojourn in the earthly field we are so to say, spiritually asleep or enervated in spirit.

To return to the Unsullied Region-The Abode of the Supreme Lord we have to be born again. The true and real born again is the wedding garment. Baptism per se is our acceptance to live within the tenets of the Messiah’s teachings.

The Wedding Garment or Born Again for the soul is the soul’s pristine state when it is shorn of all fetters, of sins, of earthly cravings and attachments.

These are all the pre-conditions that will make the soul to radiate and shine once again in it’s primeval refulgence.

That is the state where the soul will exclaim “That I am” on realizing its undefiled identity with the Oversoul, known as God, Heavenly Father, Allah, Olorun, Chineke and other names we have ascribed to the First Cause.

Only on this attainment that the soul merits the bosom of the Supreme Lord, where there is no speck of filth. NO OTHER WAY!!!

It is in view of the stringent requirements that hardly can any human reach the Court of the Lord without the Lord’s grace. Even then, we have to earn the grace because of the cosmic rule in Matthew 7 vs 6 on quote;

” Pearls are not cast before the swines”

Against the foregoing, the choice is open to us,either to allow the blind to continue to lead the blind, or go for the true teachings of the Messiah.His teachings require neither additions, nor embellishment just as He charged us in John 8vs 32.

“To seek the Truth and only the Truth shall set you free”

Best tidings of Easter & May its lessons and reason enable us to live righteously.

We will revert to the earlier series next week DV.

Aare Kola Oyefeso, a businessman, writes from Lagos

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Badagry Mourns Passage of Oba Akran Amid Sobriety, Restriction of Movement

Published

23 hours ago

January 13, 2026

Eric

Badagry, a historic coastal town renowned for its rich cultural heritage, was on Monday enveloped in a sombre and brooding mood following the passing of its 89-year-old monarch, De Wheno Aholu Menu-Toyi I, the Akran of Badagry.

The revered monarch, who reigned for 48 years, was a towering figure in the history and development of the ancient coastal town.

He was a journalist before ascending the throne of his forefathers on April 23, 1977.

His long reign was marked by peace, unity and steady community development across Badagry and its environs.

As Permanent Vice-Chairman of the Lagos State Council of Obas and Chiefs, his counsel and leadership carried significant influence within traditional institutions across the State.

He was widely respected as a devoted custodian of Ogu culture and tradition, as well as a passionate advocate for the welfare of his people.

From the early hours of Monday, an unusual calm descended on the ancient kingdom as residents struggled to come to terms with the loss of their traditional ruler.

Markets that normally buzz with activities witnessed low patronage, while groups of residents gathered sparsely in streets and compounds, exchanging restrained conversations.

At the Akran’s palace, it was learnt that the atmosphere was pensive as chiefs and community leaders’ showed grief.

There were restrictions on vehicular movements around the palace vicinity with some sections of the road leading to the place barricaded. Commuters were said to be directed to take alternative routes.

Sources said the traditional worshippers may have started observing rites necessitated by the demise of the monarch. Security and palace officials were seen restricting movement in the immediate vicinity.

Residents said the rites would affect social and commercial activities around the palace and may force many residents especially those working outside Badagry to return home early.

Many residents described the late Akran as a symbol of unity, stability and cultural pride for Badagry. They recalled his role in preserving the town’s customs and mediating communal disputes, while youths spoke of a monarch who encouraged peace and respect for tradition amid modern challenges.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), some sons and daughters of the late king were at the palace, with some seen openly weeping.

A traditional chief, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the Akran passed on at about 1:30 am, but confirmation of his death was made at about 5:30 am.

“The Chairman of Badagry Local Government Area, Babatunde Hunpe, has been informed, and we hope he will relay the information to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for an official announcement.

“That is why many of us are seated here at the palace to receive visitors. The Akran has gone to rest with his great ancestors,” he said.

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Rivers Impeachment Brouhaha: Wike, Fubara ‘Run’ Abroad to Meet Tinubu

Published

2 days ago

January 11, 2026

Eric

By Eric Elezuo

The fragile peace that sprout out in Rivers State after the six months Emergency Rule declared by President Bola Tinubu, has suddenly collapsed as the two major gladiators; the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike and Rivers State governor, Siminalayi Fubara, have returned to the war front.

This is as the 26 legislators loyal to the FCT minister have initiated an impeachment proceedings against the sitting governor, Fubara, accusing him of gross misconduct roped in 8-count charges.

The lawmakers during a session on Thursday, presided over by Speaker of the House, Martin Amaewhule, are accusing Fubara and his deputy, Dr. Ngozi Oduh, of gross misconduct.

Observers have said that the day’s proceedings bear the imprimatur of renewed hostilities between Fubara and his predecessor Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Rrcall that onn December 5, 2025, a horde of the Rivers assembly lawmakers led by the speaker, announced their defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), and days later, Fubara formalised his own switch from the PDP to the APC.

By the renewed hostilities, the two feuding personalities are seeking the support of the president, who it is believed can quench the rising tension, to either impeach the Chief Executive or survive the impeachment process.

A report monitored on Businessday Newspaper noted therfore, that President Bola Tinubu has once again intervened in the lingering political crisis between Fubara, and Wike.

According to the paper, quoting credible sources, the President summoned Wike for a crucial meeting abroad over the renewed face-off, which has reignited tensions in the oil-rich state, even as the president is still holidaying abroad.

The paper also The Punch, said a top presidential source disclosed on Saturday that the meeting is expected to be held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), where Tinubu will be heading after a brief stay in France.

“The President must see the danger in what Wike is doing. I am aware he has summoned him to a meeting in Dubai. Barring any last-minute change, they are expected to meet abroad. Wike cannot impeach Fubara; the President will call him to order,” the source said.

The source added that Wike’s recent actions constituted an affront to the President and could potentially trigger unrest in the Niger Delta.

“If you say you want to sack the first Ijaw man to be governor, are you not sending the Ijaw people back to the creeks? That will have attendant effects on the economy, and the President will not allow that to happen,” he warned.

According to reports, tension heightened on Thursday after 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, loyal to Wike, initiated fresh impeachment proceedings against Governor Fubara and his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu.

The impeachment notice, read by Majority Leader, Major Jack, during plenary presided over by Speaker Martins Amaewhule, contained seven allegations of gross misconduct against the governor.

These include the demolition of the Assembly complex, extra-budgetary spending, and refusal to comply with a Supreme Court ruling on legislative financial autonomy.

Deputy Governor Odu was accused of “reckless and unconstitutional spending of public funds” and “obstructing the Assembly from performing its duties.”

Speaker Amaewhule described the impeachment move as “good and in the interest of Rivers State,” accusing Fubara of undermining the Assembly by failing to present the 2026 budget.

The latest move mirrors the earlier impeachment crisis that led to the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers in March 2025.

Despite Tinubu’s earlier mediation, the fragile peace between Wike and Fubara collapsed just months after the end of the six-month emergency rule.

Wike accused Fubara of reneging on their post-truce agreements, while Fubara fired subtle jabs at his predecessor.

A senior aide to the President told reporters that Tinubu was aware of the escalating situation but declined to confirm any planned meeting with Wike.

“Only Wike or his aides can say if there is any scheduled meeting between him and the President,” the official said.

However, a senior APC official confirmed that national leaders of the party planned to meet Tinubu when he returns to Nigeria to discuss the growing discontent over Wike’s conduct.

“Some of our leaders believe Wike should have respected the President and the party because Fubara is now one of our governors,” the official said. “Even if he won’t get a second term, he should be allowed to complete his tenure.”

Meanwhile, Wike has been touring Rivers local councils, soliciting and accepting approvals from loyalists just as Fubara has asked for calm from members while they wait on the president.

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Atiku Will Not Withdraw for Anyone, ADC Ticket Must Be Earned in Open Contest – Paul Ibe

Published

6 days ago

January 8, 2026

Eric

Media Adviser to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Paul Ibe, has insisted that neither Atiku nor any other aspirant in the African Democratic Congress (ADC) opposition coalition will step aside, stressing that the party’s presidential ticket must be earned through a transparent and competitive process.

Speaking in an interview with ARISE News on Wednesday, Ibe said calls for Atiku to withdraw from the race undermine democratic principles and play into what he described as the ruling All Progressives Congress’ alleged plan to weaken opposition politics.

“Inclusiveness is the essence of democracy. The ADC remains committed to an open, transparent and competitive process for choosing its flag bearer. Any call for Atiku Abubakar to step aside is a betrayal of the Nigerian people,” he said.

Ibe accused the administration of President Bola Tinubu of interfering in the internal affairs of opposition parties, alleging an agenda to impose a one-party state on Nigeria.

“The Tinubu-led administration should be focused on governance — security, the economy, the welfare of Nigerians — but instead, they are dabbling into opposition politics. That is dangerous for democracy,” he said.

He dismissed claims that Atiku dominates the ADC, describing such narratives as “mischief.”

“Atiku Abubakar is just a member of the ADC. Yes, he is a leader, a former vice president, but he is not the only leader. There are leaders across the country, and he is working with them to build party structures,” Ibe said.

According to him, the party’s current priority is grassroots mobilisation, not ticket permutations.

“Talking about who gets the ticket now is putting the cart before the horse. A house without pillars will collapse. The ADC is building structures — ward, local government, state — and that is where the focus should be.”

On speculation about possible compromises with other aspirants such as Peter Obi and Rotimi Amaechi, Ibe said no discussion has taken place regarding relinquishing the presidential ticket.

“There has been no conversation whatsoever about stepping down for anyone. Their preoccupation is building a robust alternative platform capable of giving the APC a run for its money.”

Addressing reports of alliances involving figures outside the ADC, including Rabiu Kwankwaso and former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Ibe said such talks were external to the party.

“Rabiu Kwankwaso is not a member of the ADC. Whatever discussions are happening are outside the party. But the ADC is expanding, reaching out, and more people will come on board.”

He maintained that the ADC leadership has ruled out automatic tickets, insisting the process will not be dictated by external forces.

“The party has made it clear: no automatic tickets. The outcome of the primaries will be determined by party members, not outside influence.”

Responding to questions about Atiku’s age and repeated presidential bids, Ibe rejected suggestions that the former vice president should step aside to mentor successors.

“Age has nothing to do with leadership. Atiku has mentored governors, lawmakers and public servants over the years. He is patriotic, passionate, and deeply committed to Nigeria.”

He added:

“If you analyse his blood, you will find Nigeria in it. Nobody has been more prepared to govern than Atiku Abubakar.”

Ibe also alleged that Nigeria’s last two presidential elections were rigged, arguing that Atiku’s defeats were not a reflection of public trust.

“The elections of 2019 and 2023 were rigged. This is not about trust; it is about institutions failing Nigerians.”

On fears that opposition divisions could again hand victory to the ruling party in 2027, Ibe said opposition leaders had learned from past mistakes.

“This is not about personal ambition. It is a call to national duty. Leaders understand what is at stake and have learned from 2023.”

He further alleged attempts by the ruling party to infiltrate and destabilise the ADC.

“The Tinubu camp does not want an opposition. They are funding court cases and using state resources to undermine the ADC, but the party is taking steps to ensure they fail.”

However, Ibe said some details could not be disclosed publicly.

“There are things I cannot share on camera, but the leadership and stakeholders are fully aware.”

Asked what would happen if Atiku loses the ADC primary, Ibe said his principal would accept the outcome.

“Atiku Abubakar will submit himself to the process and support whoever emerges as the presidential candidate of the ADC.”