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In Quest For The True Worship( Periscoping Christianity)- Aare Oyefeso

Published

6 years ago

June 8, 2020

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By Aare Kola Oyefeso

Today, we will be discussing Christianity and hope our Christian adherents are ready for the Truth which epitomizes the life and teachings of the Messiah who as He said, came to bear witness to the Truth.

Christianity is one religion that could be said without fear or favour to have introduced glamour,grandeur and flavour to the worship of God. Irrespective of whether one is a Christian or not, unless one is hard of hearing would he not be enthralled by Christian’s hyms, songs and all other embelishment that is making Christianity more attractive to the yuppies these days.

We call it embellishment because all these externalities were not in the grand design of the Messiah,who is not on record to have composed neither a hymn nor a song. The business of liberating our soul from this hellish world is far more serious than all the fantasies we have brought into religion.

One pastor had argued with me,the purpose of the hymns essentially is to avoid dozing off by the congregation in Church. But why wouldn’t they snore away, when most of the time in places of worship,we indulge in things that bear little of no relevance to the purpose of coming to worship.

Because of the pomp and pageantry that Christianity is reputed for,a good number opted for this religion in the quest for good social standing, beautiful wedding,colorful birthday celebration and other flimsy things like decent burial and all that.

The latter seems the most abysmal of all reasons of wanting to belong to a religion. When the Messiah said; Let the dead bury the dead in Matthew 8 vs 2I to the lady who told Jesus; Suffer me to go and bury my father and i will follow you. Neither the lady, the disciples nor the world understood the spiritual meaning of that eternal statement.

The Messiah was making it clear to us that only those who are spiritually dead should bother much about the dead. In other words, we have more important work to do towards the liberation of our soul than worrying about the dead. We should bury our deceased no doubt, but not with all the fantasies we have brought into it. Death itself is a solemn affair that reminds the living of their mortality. The Muslims are far better and worthy of emulation in the handling of their departed.

Perhaps,it is within purview to remind us that our body is both a vehicle of expression and a cage for the soul to transverse the earthly field. We are to imagine the position of a bird that has just been freed from its cage. This compares to when our soul is separated from the body at the so-called state of death. Which bird or soul would want to bother about a cage that has been used to imprison it all the while? No soul cares a hoot whatever is done to its body once it has left it. Cremate it, bury it, or use the cadvar to teach medical students, none of these matters to the soul. We hope to dwell further on this in future series.

Meanwhile, it is unquestionable that, in terms of ceremonial worship Christianity stands tall, head and shoulders above some of the religions around.

Christianity in this Country has different sects,such as the Catholics, Methodist,Anglican,as well as other denominations viz; The Redeem Church,Moutain of Fire, Four Square, Latter Rain,Day Star, House of this, House of that and numerous others. They all also have distinct features, but the concept remains the same. It is principally to make us true human beings and upon that, unite us with the Creator. I wouldn’t know of any religion that is set up for a different purpose. If there is,such of course wouldn’t qualify to be a religion.

We may not involve ourselves with the nitty gritty of the differences in the mode of worship of various religions,what is crucial is how far Christianity has remained within the teachings of the Messiah-Jesus Christ who remains and shall ever be, the pillar that sustains Christianity.

Christianity is woven around Jesus who ironically, did not as Prophet Mohammed did, give the world the ceremonial Christianity that has become the order of the day.

Because of this, there is a great difference,a fundamental difference at that, between the Christian religion of history; That is, institutional Christianity and the precepts and practices of Christ Himself.

In the modern Jesus of the Christian church, we find the idea of the imaginative Irenaeus, not the Adept of the Essenes, nor the matchless Reformer of Galilee. The Messiah pitifully is now disfigured under Plato-Philonean mask, not as the Truth bearer with which the disciples perceived Him on the Mount.

It is one of the saddest aspects of religions history that the original Jesus had to disappear into an ecclesiastical Icon.This was a Godsent whose message of Universal Love and Spirituality cannot be pigeonholed into any formalised religion.

Christianity as known and practiced today was not founded by Jesus Christ. It was formulated and given to the world by St. Paul, an educated Jew, who used to be Saul and antagonized Jesus all through the Messiah’s life time.

If Peter who was tacitly appointed by Jesus as His successor had given the world Christianity as Paul did, this religion would have been substantially different from what it is today. We would have had the pure teachings and not the admixture of Judaism and a tinge of the Messiah’s teachings, formulated by Paul.

We couldn’t have expected anything different from Paul, when research showed that he was schooled in the Hebrew law. He-as Saul was also an advanced Judaic scholar. All these might have influenced what Paul gave to the world as Christian Theology. His central idea was based upon the old Judaic system of sacrifice, and that itself has been handed down from time immemorial – a blood stream that has coloured all history

When Christianity as a new religion was founded and given out, it was a little more than allegorical metamorphosis of Judaism. Jesus was now made the sacrificial offering. The Lamb slain for the sin of the world. Thus: The real mission of Jesus, which was to lead his disciples to realize the kingdom of heaven within themselves (as the Messiah said the kingdom of God was at hand) was turned into an unintelligible mystery of God sacrificing His own begotten Son to Himself.

This stands logic on its head and it was a gross insult to the sublime idealism of Fatherhood of God and Brotherhood of Mankind that Jesus preached all through, even on the cross under a most excruciating pain.

The clean, noble gracious life, teachings and deeds of Jesus offered to the world something sui generis in nature. Regretfully, almost from the day of His departure, that His spiritual mission and teachings began to undergo the usual corruptions, misrepresentation and bastardisation. The Messiah was not understood even by His intimate disciples and later His very name was seized by a corrupt priesthood and utilized as an instrument of self-aggrandizement.

According to the most authentic sources, Jesus was a Jew,son of Mary and Joseph who was a member of the Essene Brotherhood. We cannot gloss over the immaculate conception. Every Christian must believe it although it doesn’t add and neither does it deprecate the Messiah especially His teachings, which have stood the test of time and because of its pristine nature shall ever be, being the TRUTH.

William Cullen Bryant once said; Truth though crushed to earth shall rise again.Were in not, the same priestly class particularly,the Roman Empire thorough its Procurator Pontius Pilate who with a feeble protest ordered the crucifixion of Jesus wouldn’t be recognizing Christianity 320 years after. By the year 380 AD, Emperor Theododius 1 of the same Roman Empire applied a stamp of authority on Christianity and made it the official state religion through the Theodosius Edict regarded as the Thessalonica- being the final word on the controversies within the earthly Churches of that era in Rome. What a great wonder!

One can go on and on the memory lane about Christianity, but the real interest should be in the teachings of the Messiah and for us to determine it by ourselves as to how well we are in tune with the Messiah’s precepts. On this, there are two basical things that exemplified the teachings of Jesus.

They are;

(1) The vital importance of Love without which there can be neither peace nor religion.

(2) The immanence of the Kingdom of God,which is to be found only within man himself.

Being of pure heart and noble purpose, impelled by great love,he at once set to work by healing the sick and preaching the good news of the presence of the Kingdom of God in all human beings

It is recorded that Jesus resurfaced about the age of 30, having disappeared from the record at the age of 12, after he met the Sages in Heliopolis. Investigation also revealed different heresies on the whereabouts of Jesus during those 18 whooping formative years of His, but it serves no purpose to indulge in unnecessary controversies, which help not our course, and neither diminish nor improve the status of the Messiah. Honey called by any name shall ever remain as sweet.

What helps our present cause is what Jesus meant by the Kingdom of God is at hand. That the Kingdom of God is not a far-off thing to be realized only after death. Jesus also insisted that people should immediately depart from the ways of sins by loving one another.

But alas! His message was but poorly received and meagerly understood even by His direct disciples, much less the multitudes. They weren’t prepared for such lofty utopianism and refined perception. Least of all could they understand the main point in it; That the Kingdom of God was a present reality to be accessed while in flesh and blood.

This has always been the dilemma of mankind. Even today,among the so-called enlightened in the world,very few if at all,can grasp that sublime idea of entering the Kingdom of God alive.

Generally,we could imagine a heaven to which people may go after death,but when told we can pierce the dark veil and enter that kingdom now while in the body,in full possession of the senses,they hesitate. Most of the non-illumined often set such idea aside as an overwrought imagination

Yet, this is the very heart and soul of the teachings of the Messiah when He said; If you want to commune with your God, offer not repetitive prayers as the Pharisees do,but you enter thy innermost closet. What is entering the innermost closet beside TRANSCENDENTAL MEDITATION.?

We can not go straight into Transcendental Meditation without bringing out the core teachings of the Messiah. We will find them in His numerous parables which gracefully have been left intact perhaps because the hidden meanings were not. fully grasped.

We will be taking some of the Messiah’s teachings next week for us to imagine how much we are conforming or derailing. Thereafter, we will discuss Transcendental Meditation, which is only the True Worship in details.

Aare Kola Oyefeso, a Businessman writes from Lagos

Related Topics:Aare Oyefeso Christianity Worship

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Attorney-General Asks Court to Deregister ADC, Accord, Three Other Parties

Published

2 days ago

April 30, 2026

Eric

The Attorney-General of the Federation has urged the Federal High Court in Abuja to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister five political parties, arguing that their continued existence violates constitutional provisions and undermines Nigeria’s electoral integrity.

In court filings, the Attorney General contended that unless the court intervenes, INEC would “continue to act in breach of its constitutional duty” by retaining parties that have failed to meet the minimum requirements prescribed by law.

The filing stressed that the right to associate as a political party is not absolute and must be exercised within constitutional limits. It further argued that it is in the interest of justice for the court to grant the reliefs sought by the plaintiffs.

The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2637/2026 and filed at the Abuja Judicial Division of the Federal High Court, lists the Incorporated Trustees of the National Forum of Former Legislators as the plaintiff.

The defendants include INEC as the first defendant and the Attorney General of the Federation as the second defendant, alongside five political parties: African Democratic Congress (ADC), Action Alliance (AA), Action Peoples Party (APP), Accord (A), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).

At the center of the issue in the case is whether INEC has a constitutional obligation to remove parties that fail to meet electoral performance thresholds set out in Section 225A of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and reinforced by the Electoral Act 2022 and INEC’s own regulations.

The plaintiffs argue that the affected parties have persistently failed to satisfy the constitutional benchmarks required to retain their registration. These include winning at least 25 per cent of votes in a state during a presidential election or securing at least one elective seat at the national, state or local government level.

They contend that the parties performed poorly in the 2023 general elections and subsequent by-elections, failing to win seats across key tiers of government, yet continue to be recognised by INEC as eligible political platforms.

The plaintiffs maintain that this continued recognition is unlawful and undermines the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral system.

In the affidavit supporting the suit, the forum’s national coordinator, Igbokwe Raphael Nnanna, states that allowing parties that have not met constitutional requirements to remain on the register “is unconstitutional, illegal and a violation” of the governing legal framework.

The suit asks the court to declare that INEC is duty-bound to deregister such parties and to compel the commission to do so before preparations for the 2027 elections advance further.

Beyond declaratory reliefs, the plaintiffs are also seeking far-reaching orders that would bar the affected parties from participating in the next general elections or engaging in political activities such as campaigns, rallies and primaries. They further request injunctions restraining INEC from recognising or dealing with the parties in any official capacity unless and until they comply strictly with constitutional provisions.

Central to the plaintiffs’ argument is their interpretation of the law as imposing a mandatory duty on INEC. They argue that the use of the word “shall” in the Constitution leaves no room for discretion once a party fails to meet the stipulated thresholds.

In their written address, they rely on statutory provisions and judicial precedents to contend that electoral performance is an objective condition that must be enforced to maintain discipline, transparency, and accountability in the political system.

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Supreme Court to Rule on ADC, PDP Leadership Crises Today

Published

2 days ago

April 30, 2026

Eric

Attention has shifted to the Supreme Court, which has fixed April 30 (today) for judgment in the leadership tussle within the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

A five-member panel led by Justice Mohammed Garba will resolve the appeal filed by the David Mark-led faction concerning the authentic leadership of the party.

Also on Thursday, the court is expected to determine the leadership dispute rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Two PDP factions—one led by Kabir Turaki and the other by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike—are laying claim to the leadership of the party.

The Supreme Court had on April 22 reserved judgment in the ADC crisis to a date to be communicated to the parties involved in the tussle.

However, on Tuesday, the ADC formally wrote to the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, pleading for the quick delivery of judgment in the leadership tussle at the national level.

The party claimed it would suffer irreparable harm if judgment in the protracted battle was not delivered within the period allowed by the Electoral Act for fielding candidates for the 2027 general elections.

It stated in part: “Without the delivery of judgment within the next three days from the date of this letter, the ADC stands the grave and irreversible risk of being excluded from participating in the 2027 general elections.

“This would disenfranchise millions of Nigerians who have subscribed to the ideals of the ADC and deny them their constitutional right to freely associate and contest elections through a political party of their choice.”

At the April 22 hearing, Jibrin Okutepa, SAN, who represented David Mark, urged the Supreme Court to allow the appeal, arguing that the apex court had earlier, on March 21, 2025, held that “no court has jurisdiction to entertain matters bordering on the internal affairs of political parties.”

During the hearing, Okutepa urged the apex court to hold that the Federal High Court in Abuja lacked jurisdiction to entertain the suit.

However, Robert Emukperu, SAN, who represented the first respondent, Nafiu Gombe, urged the court to dismiss the appeal and affirm the judgment of the lower court, which held that the suit was premature.

It will be recalled that a three-member panel of the Court of Appeal dismissed Mark’s appeal, ruling that it was premature and filed without leave of the trial court.

In the PDP matter, the first appeal, marked SC/CV/164/2026, stems from a decision of Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja, who restrained the party from proceeding with its planned convention pending the determination of a suit filed by former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido.

On November 14, the court issued a final order restraining the PDP from conducting its national convention.

Justice Lifu held that Lamido was “unjustly denied” the opportunity to obtain a nomination form to contest for national chairman, in violation of the PDP constitution and internal regulations.

The Court of Appeal later upheld the decision on March 9, prompting the PDP to appeal.

The second appeal, SC/CV/166/2026, was filed by the PDP, its National Working Committee (NWC), and National Executive Committee (NEC).

It arose from a judgment delivered by Justice James Omotosho, which stopped the party from holding its Ibadan national convention.

The Court of Appeal upheld that decision, agreeing that INEC should not validate the outcome of the convention.

After hearing all arguments, the Supreme Court reserved judgment, stating that the date would be communicated to the parties.

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Obasanjo Knocks Tinubu’s Govt over Inability to Protect Lives, Property

Published

5 days ago

April 27, 2026

Eric

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has lambasted the administration of President Bola Tinubu over insecurity bedeviling the country.

In an interview with News Central, Obasanjo said any government that cannot protect lives and property of its citizens has no basis to exist.

The former leader was reacting to the recent wave of insecurity, which has confronted Nigeria, resulting in the killing of several citizens and abduction of others.

“Let me tell you, the government that cannot give security of life and property of its citizen has no right of existence.

“The elected members of our National Assembly have no right to fix their own salary and their own emolument.

“It’s not in our constitution for them to do that. It’s the revenue mobilization and allocation commission that should do it,” he said.