I don’t want another country

pro-biafra agitators

By Owei Lakemfa

SOME  days ago, I woke up  to find  that someone, or group had decided to change my country. It was there on Facebook; a supposed map of a new country called Biafra. I was neither consulted nor my opinion sought. I am not also aware that the Ijaws, who are my parents, our neigbours the Isokos, Itsekiris, Urhobos, Efiks, Ibibios, Orons etcetera, were consulted. Some fellow Nigerians  in demonstrating their right  to  self-determination, decided that I do not have the  right to be consulted.

If I were to reincarnate and have power of choice, I would ordinarily, not decide to be a Nigerian. I would prefer to be an African, in that united continent Kwame Nkrumah prophesied, with a single government, currency, economy and citizenship.  I will not trade a continent for another small enclave, while industrialised Europe has almost evolved into one entity. That will not be strategic thinking, it will be collective backwardness.

 I understand why the agitators need the Southern nationalities; they require their oil and gas resources, and access to the sea. But they are being quixotic by forcing these peoples into a map. They need to consult and persuade. But this will be difficult as the advocates of a new Biafra have not made public any known philosophy, ideology, vision, road map, socio-economic programme or policy, including on peoples and minority rights.

I have read some juvenile Boko Haram Shekarau-like outbursts by the new kid on the bloc, Nnamdi Kalu  of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) who vomits words like “If they don’t give us Biafra, no human being will remain alone in Nigeria by that time; we shall turn everybody into corpses; you better go and buy your coffin.”  He reminds me of the quixotic ‘uprising’  by the Biafra Zionist Federation led by Benjamin Igwe Onwuka who on June 5, 2014  tried to seize the Enugu State Broadcasting Service (ESBS) ostensibly to declare a Biafra Republic.

Edo State Land Use Charge Law 2012: Other Side of the Edo State Property Tax

Gov Oshiomhole

By Ebomhiana Musa.

The media, especially the electronic in Edo State have been awash with issues relating to the state Land Use Charge Law 2012 following government pronouncement last week of its readiness to start its full implementation, three years after its enactment by the state house of assembly. The main opposition party in the state, People's Democratic Party, PDP has been in the forefront of the avalanche of strident criticism against this property tax, wearing it the garb of a draconian law that has come to sound the death knell of all property owners in the state. This is a clear case of share mischief on the part of the opposition, a deliberate calculated attempt to misinform the public with a view to inciting them against attempt by the government to boost internally generated revenue. Any rational being knows that this bare-faced cheap propaganda is nothing but a build-up to creating chaos in the otherwise peaceful state. However, this is quite understandable in the context of politics of blackmail. But at least, they would have been fair to the people of Edo State by presenting all the sides to the new law instead of painting it all black! Like most laws enacted in normal democratic settings, I must say that this Land Use Charge Law makes provision for some exemptions and gives wide latitude to the aggrieved to seek redress As a public affairs commentator and a critical stakeholder in the Edo project, I owe it a duty to properly educate the public, especially the people of Edo State about the new law, highlighting the areas deliberately black- out or down played by the antagonists.

In the advanced countries of the world, payment of taxes by the citizens are major sources of revenue to the government. In fact, to show the level of seriousness attached to this, these countries have criminalized evasion of taxes either by the citizens or corporate bodies. Unfortunately, in our clime, people and corporate bodies evade taxes with impunity! Edo is one state in Nigeria where the people are never used to paying taxes. Public commentators talk about boosting internally generated revenue, IGR in states so that there will be less dependency on government at the centre. But what is IGR without taxes? Previous governments in Edo State had a leiz affair attitude toward tax collection, preferring to wait on the monthly allocation from the federation account.

 I must say that no responsible government with vision that means well for the people can afford to rely on only one source of revenue. Then, the monthly IGR was as low as #250 million. A government that is focused and resourceful is expected to be courageous enough to put in place a well articulated tax policy to drive the process of booting IGR for infrastructure development that would provide the enabling environment for investment. Unfortunately, past governments lacked the political will power to take from the rich, catering for the poor and the generation yet unborn. Even for the business community, it was unofficial tax holiday at time. But the Oshiomhole government came on board with the share determination to make a difference in terms of infrastructure developments and provision of enabling environment for businesses to thrive in the state. To achieve this, a well thought-out tax policy has to be put in place whereby the people, especially the rich are under obligation to complement government's efforts by way of taxes. With painstaking planning, commitment coupled with high fiscal discipline, the IGR took an unprecedented leap in record time from the meagre #500, 000 to about #1.5billion monthly. 

I must say here that the Land Use Charge is a federal law enacted to boost non-oil revenue in the country. But so far, of the 36 states in the federation, only Lagos and Edo have got the political will and courage to domesticate it. While Lagos has since started its implementation, the executive and the legislative arm in Edo have been meticulously working on it in the last five years, fine-tunning every aspect of the law in such a way that it will not be a burden on the people, especially to mitigate the backlash on the ordinary man. Hence, the exemptions for some critical stakeholders in the polity. For instance, Section 9(1) clearly states the properties so exempted as: Owner occupier of over 60 years old. Family compound. A property owned and occupied by a religious body, approved exclusively for public worship and or used for nonprofit making religious education. Public cemeteries and burial grounds. Public Libraries. All official palaces of recognized traditional rulers in the state. Owner occupied residential property which is 100ft by 100ft maximum in a non- choice area of an urban area and 100ft by 100ft in a choice area in a rural setting. Community property solely for community meetings, activities and events.

Not just that, Section 9 (2) of the same law states that, "The governor may, by notice published in the state government official Gazette grant partial relief for a property that is (a) occupied by a nonprofit making organization and used for games, sports athletics or recreation for the benefit of the general public or (b) Used for charitable or benevolent purpose for the benefit of the general public. Perhaps, in consistent with government policy of taking from the rich to cushion the economic pains of the poor, the new law states emphatically in Section 9 (3) that "No owner occupied property located in an area designated as highbrow choice area and Government Reservation Area, GRA by the Commissioner for Land and Housing shall qualify for exemption, except as specified in section 8(1) of the land use charge." 

Even at that, every property owner has a right of appeal on whatever he/she is charged by the assessor. Section 13 of the law states that "there shall be established a Tax Assessment Review Tribunal constituted........administration and collection of revenue due to the government ......." And Section 15 (1) gives the enabling window to property owners to vent their grievances thus: "A person may appeal to the tribunal if he is aggrieved by a decision that his property is chargeable under this law, (b) The classification of his property, (c) The valuation of his property or (d) the calculation of the amount of land use charge payable. And the tribunal shall make such decision as it deems fit having regard to the evidence before it". Sub section 6 of the same Section 15 states that the "Assessment Appeal Tribunal may confirm, reduce increase or annul the assessed value". Not satisfied with the decision of the Appeal Tribunal, an aggrieved person can still go further on the ladder of justice to seek redress as the same law provides in Section 15(7) "Appeal from a decision of the Tax Assessment Review Tribunal may be made to the High Court of Edo State within 21 days of the decision of Tax Assessment Tribunal". 

For those who have being misinforming the public saying the new tax law amounts to double taxation on property, Section 24 says it's unfounded and dismisses it thus: " On and from the date when Land Use Charges levied on a property in accordance with this law, the provision of the Tenement Rates law and any amendment made pursuant thereto shall cease to apply to that property".

From the foregoing, it is crystal clear that the Land Use Charge is people-friendly and above all, the ultimate beneficiary is the people as the money so collected is expected to be responsibly plough back for developmental purposes. In fact, it's a sure way for regular revenue for the third tired of government. With the full implementation, local government chairmen are expected to come to Benin at the end of every month to meet with the Finance Commissioner to share the proceeds from Land Use Charge, something akin to the monthly Federal Account Allocation Committee, FAAC meeting by the 36 states finance commissioners and chaired by the Finance Minister whereby all accrues to the federation are put on the table for sharing according to the extant laws. Section 18 (3) of the new law provides for this. "The commissioner for Finance shall, not later than ten (10) days after the beginning of each month pay to each local government council in the state, its agreed sharing of the Land Use Charge collection fund". Ultimately, it's going to be a win win deal for the common man in Edo State.

Edo State" Achievements of former Governor Lucky Igbenedion. From 29 May 1999 to 29 May 2007.

Lucky Igbinedion

Before Lucky Igbinedion was sworn in as Edo State governor in 1999, the Benin Airport had become a grazing field for cattle. His government got airlines to commence operations, and also negotiated for the commencement of air travel between Benin City and Abuja.

Bendel Brewery, makers of Crystal Beer which was sold by Chief John Oyegun’s government to Churchgate was reclaimed and revived by the same government.

Edo Line the state owned Transport Company was revived with several new buses which eased travelling at affordable prices across the length and breadth of Nigeria. Edo City Transport Service (ECTS) was also created by the same government.

One of the foremost newspapers in Nigeria, The Observer was upgraded; College of Agric Iguoriakhi, Institute of Technology Usen, College of Education Ekiadolor, Institute of Continuing Education (ICE) and College of Education Abudu Campus were founded and revived by Lucky Igbinedion’s administration.

During Lucky Igbinedion’s tenure, the state IGR experienced a drastic rise from a paltry 27 million to 300 million naira monthly. 

The government’s labour friendliness was expressed when stagnated promotions were reviewed and some civil servants experienced three to four steps promotions.

The State University that became notorious for cultism was sanitised revived and renamed Ambrose Alli University (AAU).

Edo State House Abuja was successfully completed and commissioned. 

The Stella Obasanjo women and children hospital was built and commissioned by the same government. 

The state also carried out massive rural electrification throughout most part of the state. Some of them are: 33/415 KVA Ewohimi/Iyagun electricity scheme in Esanland, the 11/415 KVA Uhen project, Jagbe electrification project in Etsako West, the 33/415 Ikpekhi and Somorika electrification project in Akoko Edo and 11/415 Idogbo electricity scheme with a network to Oka, Egba, Obazagbon, Uteze, Ulegun and Ukhirin 2 in Ikpoba Okha Local Government area amongst others.

These and other achievements created several job opportunities to citizens of Edo State.

Lucky Igbinedion’s government inherited 28 months salary arrears at the council of arts and culture, 26 months at BNCL, Observer, 14 months at Edo Broadcasting Service, 18 months to pensioners due and others to the self sustenance policy imposed on government parastatals by the military government of Colonel Baba Adamu Nyam. 

Lucky Igbinedion’s government cleared all the salary arrears and introduced 30th of every month as deadline for monthly salary payments. It is worthy of note that when Lucky Igbinedion left office in 2007, the state was not indebted to any bank.

5 Revealing Things President Buhari Said In The Interview With ‘Amanpour Live’ that depicts true leadership; Nigeria PMB means business.

1. Nothing will work in Nigeria until Boko Haram is stopped.

“My people want security in the country to be stabilized both in the South-South region where militants are still sabotaging oil installations, kidnapping our people and demanding ransom, and in the North-East of the country where Boko Haram is still active. This is the main pre-occupation of Nigeria now and it seems nothing will work until Nigeria is secured.”

2. The government is cautious of whom it would negotiate with, on behalf of Boko Haram.

“We have to be very careful about the credibility of various Boko Haram leaderships coming up and claims that they can deliver. We have to be very careful indeed and we are taking our time because we want to bring them safe back to their parents and their school.”

3. Buhari is ready for negotiations as long as Chibok girls are safe and returned.

“I cannot be against it because as I told you our main objective as a government is to rescue those girls back to their schools and rehabilitate them back to normal sight. If we are convinced that the leadership that presented itself can deliver those girls safe and should, we will be prepared to negotiate what they want.”

4. I won’t spare my party men  - If any of my associates or party member is indicted of corruption, they cannot escape justice.

“I just have to. There isn’t going to be any party member or any personality that can escape justice. ”

5. Buhari supports the process of trial of former Chadian dictator, Hissene Habre on either international platform or Africa

“Justice is Justice whether it is done in Africa or else in the world. The important thing is let justice be done. Whatever evidence the prosecutors have in Senegal I think they should proceed to make it available to the world and prosecute him according to international law on Human rights. I support any process that is based on Justice.”

DESPERATION FAILED: Buhari Disgraces Nigerian businessmen, Jim Ovia, Tony Elumelu, Wale Tinubu and Godwin Emefiele, Governor of CBN. What are you guys doing here…? Did I invite you people? – Buhari asks them publicly in USA.

Jim Ovia & others

By Femi Ajayi.

Time was, when phantoms in scarlet persistently passed as men of honour while the righteous faded in obscurity or lay spent in trenches of blood. Hence it was no surprise that Nigerian businessmen, Jim Ovia, Tony Elumelu, Wale Tinubu and Godwin Emefiele, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), in desperate bid to dig their claws into President Muhammadu Buhari, bought first class tickets and flew after him to the United States of America.

But the snag was, they were uninvited; even so, they embarked on a desperate quest to establish themselves as Nigeria’s top businessmen and cronies of the incumbent president. Back when Goodluck Jonathan was president, they would have gotten away with such brazen disregard for protocol; in fact, they would have constituted a crucial part of the former president’s travel plans. But a new sheriff is in town and the businessmen are yet to get with his programme.

Thus they had sheepishly gone to attend a meeting with Buhari in America and Buhari on sighting them reportedly asked, “My friends, what are you doing here? Did I invite you people? You are not needed here,” Buhari allegedly told them. Shamefacedly, they gathered their folders and left the meeting. Their steps became very heavy as they trudged out of the venue.

It was indeed a big disgrace to these businessmen who once formed a ring around the former President Jonathan. They quietly left the venue with their tails and gargantuan pride tucked between their legs.

All around the world, presidential politics has always been a game of the wealthy, for the wealthy and by the wealthy. Men of means have always had a say and in several instances, determined the course of political and socioeconomic affairs in the country. This becomes imperative in their desperate bid to establish their dominance and affluence sustainably. The need to maintain their controlling grip on their country’s economy, rather than ensuring that the nation’s commonwealth is equitably distributed has always been the only ideological and selfish motive driving their political participation.

 Consequently, the super rich of the nation’s high society are continually seen as the arrowheads of plots and movements to institute and sustain political hegemony via a puppet leader or party. Political pundits are of the opinion that the President Buhari needs to stay away from these men and women who have perfected the knack for soiling the hands of any President and sullying  his administration by their self-serving pursuits which often manifests devastatingly on the lot of the citizenry and to the detriment of the country.

Buhari in America: Matters arising.

President Muhammadu Buhari is in the United States of America, USA, on an official visit. The US State Department said that the visit was on the invitation of President Barack Obama, Buhari’s American counterpart.

During the visit, Presidents Buhari and Obama will meet in Washington DC today, in an encounter designed to enhance the existing cordial relationship between Nigeria and the USA.

It would be recalled that high-profile official visits by Nigerian leaders to the USA started in 1961, when President John Fredrick Kennedy invited Nigeria’s Head of Government, the Prime Minister, Sir Abubakar Tafawa-Balewa. The visit lasted for a week and was full of activities. Both leaders discussed bilateral and “wide variety of subjects.”

President Buhari’s visit to the USA will also include the discussion of a wide variety of subjects, mainly anchored on three clear platforms: the Africa Growth Opportunity Act, AGOA, the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement, TIFA and the Nigeria-US Bi-National Commission, BNC.

The President, just like Sir Tafawa-Balewa, is scheduled to visit some places of interest and symbolic significance. Such visits have always been symbolic. One of the key side activities would be his re-union with his US War College course mates of 1980. There was no indication he would visit an Islamic Centre as Tafawa-Balewa did during his official visit in 1961.

However, just like Tafawa-Balewa did in 1961, President Buhari will interact with Nigerians in the Diaspora. However, there is always a point of departure in such visits between one head of government and the other over time, as relations between countries continue but with changes that are inherent in the dynamism of life. In the Tafawa-Balewa/Buhari case, the main point of departure is that Nigeria and the US currently have at least three different platforms for the scheduled interactions between the delegations of the countries.

One of the major platforms is the Nigeria-US BNC, set up upon the signing of an agreement between both nations in April 2010. Mahmud Yayale Ahmed, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, signed on behalf of Nigeria. Former United States Secretary of States, Hillary R. Clinton, signed on behalf of the US government.

The Nigeria-US BNC has four main areas of focus. Each area of focus has a working group peopled by representatives of both sides. The focus areas and working groups, which have met several times in Nigeria and in the USA are Good Governance, Transparency and Integrity; Energy and Investment; Agriculture and Food Security and Niger Delta and Regional Security.

The Presidency has released the main areas for discussion with the US during President Buhari’s visit: security, the economy and America’s support for Buhari’s government’s efforts in tackling corruption. The Boko Haram menace will certainly be prominent in the security aspect of the bilateral discussions.

The four main working groups of the BNC have achieved some success in their assignments, including attracting American material contributions to our electoral system and the process of consolidating democracy; support for the Nigerian military in fighting terrorism; boosting agriculture and promoting reform in the sector and paving the way for some US companies to widen participation in our energy sector. The case of Symbion Power, a US power company, which won the bid for and took over Ughelli Power Plant, illustrates this success.

The second platform for intense engagement between Nigeria and the US is the TIFA, signed by the two countries. In a summary, the agreement provides for expanding trade and investments between the largest economy in the world and the biggest economy in Africa. It is largely driven by business people for the mutual understanding of the rules, regulations and areas of opportunities for trade and investment.

It is partly to underline the importance of the TIFA that President Buhari is scheduled to address the US Chamber of Commerce and Corporate Council for Africa in Washington DC. Some Nigerian business chieftains will be on hand to engage potential partners for trade and investments.

The third platform is AGOA. Under this Act, the US government encourages African countries to export manufactured goods on preferential terms. The idea is that the participating countries are to be supported and guided to penetrate the American market with their products based on their areas of comparative advantage.

The truth is that the manufacturing base of Nigeria is currently limping, but with a mixture of policies designed to revive the sector, it is possible for Nigeria to take full advantage of AGOA and benefit from its yields in the future.

The visit to the US by President Buhari has generated much interest and raised high expectations for quick and sharp results, especially in taming the monster of Boko Haram and opening economic opportunities for Nigeria’s teeming youths.

Overall, it is in the best of both countries that a mutually beneficial relation is deepened and sustained. And the visit of President Buhari is designed to achieve that, regardless of the fear being expressed in some quarters in Nigeria that, the US may try to influence Nigeria to change its strong stance against same-sex marriage.

•Dambatta, Director of Information in the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, writes from Abuja.

THEME: THE POWER TO BIND AND LOOSE (SUNDAY 19-07-15)

FOUNTAIN OF GRACE CHURCH OF GOD

MADRID-SPAIN.

HOST PASTOR: PASTOR DANIEL OBIDIEGWU.

TEL: +34632875301 (FOR COUNSELLING & PRAYERS.

Pastor Daniel

Beloved, the keys of the kingdom of heaven has been given to believers who put their faith in Jesus Christ and live holy, may you receive grace to exercise this authority in Jesus name.
     
Text:- Matthew 16:19.

God gave the keys of the kingdom of heaven to believers who put their faith in Jesus Christ and live holy.

 Believers have inherent power from Jesus to bind (prohibit) demons and to loose (to unfasten) any one from demonic possession, oppression, depression and obsession Ephesians 2:6.

Binding is like a temporary spiritual handcuffing. You can bind a demon spirit, much like tying something up with rope or chains. You cannot bind a person's free will, but you can bind the demons affecting or influencing that person. Binding is NOT the same practice as casting out demons, casting out demons brings fourth lasting results, whereas binding is only to tie them down for a period of time. If you are trying to talk to or minister to somebody, and they seem impossible to get through to it can be helpful to bind up the spirits inside that person, which will handcuff the enemy so you can directly and effectively minister to that person without having them continually held back by the enemy's interference. Another good time to bind is when the person isn't ready for deliverance and you are not willing to put up with their demonic personality.

Now we can see the dire need of Holy Ghost baptism immediately one is saved, Jesus told His disciples to tarry in Jerusalem till they be endued with power from on high Luke 24:49, demons cannot obey command from fleshy man Acts 19:15. The weapons of our warfare are spiritual and only spirit led Christians equipped with the whole armor of God will be able to withstand the enemy ( 2 Cor. 10:4, Ephesians 6:13). The bible calls Satan the prince of the power of air (Eph. 2:2b) his demons (fallen angels) are also spirits and thus it is dangerous to toy with them because of their power but spirit filled Christians living in holiness are more powerful than they Colossians 2:10.

Binding is a powerful witnessing tool: What keeps a person from accepting Jesus? The god of this world, which is Satan (working through his army of demons) has blinded their minds from the light of the gospel (2 Corinthians 4:4). Jesus taught us to bind the strong man, then we can plunder his house (Mark 3:27). If you have been trying to witness to somebody, and seem to be getting nowhere, try binding the spirits of darkness that are preventing that person from seeing the light in the gospel. You cannot bind a person's will or force them to accept the gospel, but you can do something about the demons which are holding the person back. Once you take the demons out of the picture, you will be able to talk directly to that person without demons whispering in their ears and trying to combat what you are telling them.

Loosing Like binding, can be done here on earth, and takes effect in the spiritual realm. Loosing however, refers to the loosing of a captive or person in bondage. You bind demons, and you loose the captives. When Jesus set free the woman with the spirit of infirmity for eighteen years, He said unto her, "Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity" (Luke 13:12).

Any command issued in the name of Jesus by a sanctified vessel brings the demons to obedience (John 16:23). In John 11 the Lord Jesus called on dead Lazarus to come forth and he that was dead for four days was loosed from the grip of spirit of death and his hands and legs being restrained with the grave cloth that was wrapped around him was another obstacle, then the Lord commanded the people to loose him and let him go.

Finally in Mark 5:25-34, the woman with an issue of blood for twelve years was loosed from the demons of oppression, this woman went to touch the helm of the masters clothe in faith and was made whole, the Lord in Matthew 11:28 ask everyone to come to Him to be set free from all forms of bondage, are you ready today to answer to this invitation? Remember that the greatest bondage is to be yoked with satan, why not allow the Lord Jesus into your heart to come and set you free, why not confess your sin and give your life to him, Jesus promised that if you are yoked with Him instead of satan, He will do you good and you will find rest for your soul amen.

THEME: ETERNAL REGRET (SUNDAY 12-07-15)

FOUNTAIN OF GRACE CHURCH OF GOD

MADRID-SPAIN.

HOST PASTOR: PASTOR DANIEL OBIDIEGWU.

TEL: +34632875301 (FOR COUNSELLING & PRAYERS.

Pastor Daniel

      TEXT: Matthew 7:21
INTRODUCTION:-  The soul of a man is eternal, either it end up in heaven or in hell, but of regret is that many souls who confess Jesus but did not continue in His word are going to hell.

Jesus in the gospel said that “every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire” Matthew 7:19.

Our confession of Christ is not a guarantee to make heaven because even Satan also believe and tremble more than many of us James 2:19, our activity in whatever level in the church is also not enough, we can be good workers, preachers, evangelists, prophets, teachers, apostles and miracle workers in the eye of man but before God we are workers of iniquity Mathew 7:22.

It will be a terrible thing to have known the Lord or worked for Him and be rejected at the gate of heaven, this is eternal regret , there is no way to rectify it, it is too late and that soul is doomed forever.

Avoiding eternal regret: 

Jesus in Matthew 7:21 said that not those who only confess Him will enter heaven but those who do the will of His father, that is those who obey the word of God; in John 8:31 Jesus said to those Jews which believed on Him, “if ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed, God is more interested in those who obey His word, from Abraham to this present generation, He has not shifted in His demand for absolute obedience (that is to  carry out the demands and requests of God promptly, completely, whole heartedly and without regret) remember partial obedience is disobedience.

Jesus knows that majority of Christians are going to regret at the gate of heaven thus His warning in Mathew 18:8-9, that it is better to enter into life halt or maimed rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire.

Can I confess Christ, attend or even be a worker in the church and still go to hell? The answer is yes. Br. Charles Akujieze in his book Antichrist and the church classified those who come to church in three categories- (1) the true believers, (2) the lost sheep (typical sinners who have never repented) and (3) the lost coins (those living in sin even when they have once repented).

The church is regrettably filled with the lost sheep and lost coin, the difference is that the former are easily identified than the latter. He went further to show the characteristics of the lost coin (a) Those under partial control of the Holy spirit (b) Those elevated above their spiritual level by church post. (c) The dark workers. (d) Spiritual Methuselahs. (e) Spiritual bats. (f)Spiritual snails. (g) Those who are busy doing nothing. (h) Spiritual traders (i) Almost there.

Having explained all these categories, I want us to thoroughly and critically examine ourselves and come before God in confession, church attendance cannot save us, thank God we still have the breathe of life there is need for us to be born again or rededicate our lives back to God, tomorrow might be too late.

Onyemaeze Obidiegwu; (Fountain of grace church of God, Fuenlabrada Madrid).

THEME: CHILDREN IN THE HOME (Sunday 05-07-2015)

FOUNTAIN OF GRACE CHURCH OF GOD

MADRID-SPAIN.

HOST PASTOR: PASTOR DANIEL OBIDIEGWU.

TEL: +34632875301 (FOR COUNSELLING & PRAYERS.

Beloved, God's plan for us is to raise Godly seed to propagate the gospel. It will be better not to born than to raise up children for Satan,that is not our portion in Jesus name. Therefore beloved there is a need for us to carefully and painstakingly direct our children in the way of the  Lord.

Pastor Daniel

Text: Psalm 127:3; Proverb 22:6.

 Children are gifts and blessings from the Lord. When God blessed man to be fruitful and multiply, and replenish the earth in Gen. 1:28, the expectation was for God to obtain Godly seed through man (Malachi 2:15).

The fall of man has distorted the great plan and thereafter man began to bring forth children after the likeness and nature of fallen Adam and Eve (Gen. 5:3; Psalm 51:5), to take us back to the beginning, there is the need to train up the children in the only way which is Jesus Christ.

LAYING THE FOUNDATION.

1)   Relationship between husband and wife:
- Both must love God; love for God is foundational because it puts us in touch with the source of love. (1 John 4:8). – loving each other: A child who grows up with the realization that his parents are lovers has a wonderful basis for stability.

            2) Proper planning:

-Seek the face of God and pray through concerning the children that will be born in your union.
- Determine through prayers the number and sex of children you want (1 Sam. 16:10-12; john 16:13; prov. 19:21).
- Consider how you are going to care and nurture them.

CHILD’S DEVELOPMENT.

- Start to give attention right from when you discovered you are pregnant.
- An infant can relate to love, laughter, and life as well as a person can at older age.
- Respond to their smile, gurgle, squeal and cry with love.
- Train them e.g. Toilet training, adult speech and simple courtesy.
- Feed them well, balanced diets.
- Create time for your children.
- Set an example of patience, free expression and acceptance, discover the things they like to do and build on them.

Late childhood and preteens (7-12) prov. 23:13-14.

Children in this age group will want to seek contact with others on their own. Therefore they need lot of assistance and direction.
- A lot of time and energy is spent by the child in environment outside the home.
- They develop a growing desire to belong to a social group outside the family.

- A balance needs to be struck between home and the outside world.
- Healthy interaction and honest communication between parent and child is vital during the child’s comparison of the values seen operating at home with those elsewhere. 

RAISING GODLY CHILDREN

God’s purpose is that all children must be taught in the way of the Lord (prov. 22:6).
- Your child must be dedicated to the Lord right from conception Luke 2:22-24.
- It is important that your children be brought to the house of God for formal dedication.
- The family altar is very vital in raising Godly children, start calling your children to the altar even from the womb (Luke 2:44)
Evangelizing your child: It is the parent’s responsibility to ensure that their children have personal testimonies of being born again, do not assume the salvation of your children.
Discipline: Children are not naturally self-control, they are dominated by their impulses, typically acting spontaneously with little thought. Discipline helps children to understand their boundaries and also teach them (Prov. 19:18).

ingredients for discipline

1)   Motive- discipline demonstrates love (Heb. 12:5-6)
2) Purpose-Just like God, we want the best for our children (Heb. 12:11)
3) Duty- discipline is not an option for Christian parents it is a duty (prov. 13:24)
4) Authority- God gave us authority to discipline our children.
5) Parental control- discipline ensures parents control over the children.
6) You train your child by what you’ve modeled for him or her, a child puts into practice what he sees you do.
7) Training assists children to confront life challenges with responsible independence.

TEN VALUES FOR CHILDREN.

1)    Love and obey God

2)    Honor your father and mother

3)    Love others

4)    Be honest

5)    Respect your elders

6)    Attend church

7)    Avoid materialism

8)    Work hard

9)    Be committed to your family

10)  Pray and worship.

Prayer: Pray for the grace of God and wisdom to train the children right, so that we may present them faultless to God (Jude 24).

THEME: YOU SHALL DECREE A THING (Sunday 28-06-2015)

Beloved, we are product of our declarations, every word altered consciously or unconsciously will either build or destroy our lives, may you receive grace to speak good to your life in Jesus name.

Pastor Daniel

There is power in our declaration; whatever is happening in our life is a result of what we have consciously or unconsciously declared.

Prov. 18:21 states that death and life are in the power of tongue if your thoughts are centered on the negatives, then your declaration will also be centered on the negative and vice versa; you cannot live above your declaration or rather you are a product of your declaration numbers 14:28

Sound is the precursor of every creative changes, that was why in genesis 1:1-3 God wanting to bring orderliness to a chaotic earth spoke out light, He said let there be light and there was light. God’s word cannot be separated from His name (psalm 138:2), and He honored His word above all things and any word God has altered cannot return to Him empty but shall accomplish that which He please, And shall prosper in the thing whereto He sent it Isaiah 55:11.

Remember the bible says ye are gods ( John 10:34), thus every believer in Christ Jesus is a bona-fide creator and having creative ability must be able to decree.

The battle field between light and darkness, good and evil, blessings and curses, sickness and health, poverty and richness, life and death, success and failure e.t.c is in our mind and the words we speak satisfies our mind just as fruit does the stomach; thus words kill, words give life, they are either poison or fruit the choice is ours.

Brethren it is time to quit asking God to do something He has already done in Christ Ephesians 1:3; it is time to decree, proclaim and declare the divine will He has already completed at the cross.

To decree means to give an official order with the power of legislation issued by a rule or person with authority, we are legislating with authority given to us by God Himself to bring about His already stated divine will.

When we speak His word which is already established in heaven, we enforce it through verbal agreement, our words becomes the bridge linking heaven and earth, we bring heaven to earth and when heaven is loosed in lives, things have to change.

When we make spiritual declaration based on the word, we are announcing to evil forces in high places saying “God’s word has preeminence over what we see in the natural and demand it’s obedience to the spoken living word.

The kingdom of God suffers violence Matt. 11:12, and only those who make violet declarations of faith will take it by force; also when we decree over another life the heart and word of God, we are like a guard dog on their behalf.

God has given us authority to decree, declare and proclaim changes in our lives, in the lives of others, in our environment mark 11:23, Luke 10:19, mark 16:17.

Simply put every decree done in faith in Christ Jesus will have heavenly approval and the forces of earth will have no choice than to co-operate with you.

PRAYER POINTS.

1) Let the positive forces swallow up the negative forces in Jesus name
2) O Lord Release your warrior angels to fight my battles in Jesus name.
3) O Lord let the rain of fall upon my life in abundance in Jesus name.
Love, power, sound mind, knowledge, understanding, revelation, wisdom,
Purity, deliverance, holiness, zealousness, peace, faith, healing, restoration.
4) Lord Jesus I surrender every part of my life to you.
5) I receive the anointing of the warrior to drink the blood of the enemy in the name of Jesus.
6) I challenge and destroy every satanic operation against my prayer life in the name of Jesus.
7) Every power blocking me from the will of God fall down and die in the name of Jesus.
8) I pull down every stubborn stronghold protecting my enemy in the name of Jesus.
9) I bring the blood of Jesus between me and the powers of darkness in the name of Jesus.
10) Every problem (name it ) harassing my life I break your back bone by fire in the name of Jesus.
11) I release myself from every evil spirit behind my problems in the name Jesus.

May our Almighty God answereth our prayers in Jesus Name-Amen

Amaechi tackles Wike over ‘most corrupt administration’ tag.

Immediate past Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Amaechi, has described the “most corrupt administration” tag placed on him as a misrepresentation and the probe of his government by Governor Nyesom Wike as a witch-hunt and an attempt to deceive Nigerians, especially the people of the state.

He said that Governor Wike was bent on denigrating him with corruption tag using the media as ready tool.

In a statement he issued yesterday, the former governor said: “This so called Wike’s probe of Amaechi is dead on arrival. All the noise Wike is making is to grab media headlines with his lies of monumental corruption against Amaechi. It’s all drama made for the media. What is playing out is a script written and directed by Nyesom Wike. Wike should move to Nollywood where his devious skills would probably be useful.

“Even while inaugurating his yeoman commission of inquiry, Wike could not conceal his vendetta agenda. He was clear to the panel members that their job is to indict Amaechi.

“While it’s no longer in doubt what would be the report of Wike’s sham probe commission. What may shock Nigerians is the extent Wike has gone and is ready to go to manufacture stories of corrupt practices, and the kind of bogus tales of corruption against Amaechi that he would soon be feeding the nation.

“We are aware that even the chairman of his inquiry commission, was shocked and protested when Wike gave him the litany of phoney claims of corruption against Amaechi that the chairman would write in the panel’s report. But Wike had assured him not to worry that he had since been working towards arriving at that conclusion and he would provide the commission with all the (fake) evidence needed to arrive at that report.”

“Truly, since May 29, that is all Wike has been doing; cooking spurious reports of corruption against Amaechi. Wike has been intimidating, threatening, coercing and blackmailing officials of the past administration, especially civil servants into making false, phoney and bogus statements that would make legitimate government transactions appear as corrupt practices. Permanent Secretaries, Directors of Finance and Administration (DFAs), the state bankers and even contractors are harassed, threatened and blackmailed to twist and distort, or even completely alter legitimate government transactions in his desperation to cook up, and fabricate sham cases of corruption against Amaechi. This has been the one-point agenda of the Wike government, a vendetta mission against his former boss and benefactor.

“Amaechi will use every constitutional and legal means available to protect his name and image from this massive smear campaign, State-sponsored onslaught against him by this directionless, purposeless Wike-led government. As governor, Amaechi served his people well and the good things he did with the resources of the state are visible all over the state,” Amaechi said.

The former governor said he would dignify the former Deputy Governor Tele Ikuru “with a response…waste our energy on. This is a man with no dignity, no shame. No self-respecting man would talk the way Ikuru is talking right now. This is a character that served the Amaechi administration for almost eight years. While he was there, he never for once complained that Amaechi or the government that he was the second-in-command was corrupt. As a matter of fact, he was singing and parroting everywhere that Rivers State was truly blessed to have a governor like Amaechi, that Amaechi will always be remembered and hailed for changing for good the fortunes of Rivers State,” he said.

THEME: JESUS IS ABLE ( 21-06-2015 )

FOUNTAIN OF GRACE CHURCH OF GOD

MADRID-SPAIN.

HOST PASTOR: PASTOR DANIEL OBIDIEGWU.

TEL: +34632875301 (FOR COUNSELLING & PRAYERS.

Pastor Daniel Obidiegwu

Beloved, I wish to remind everyone that despite numerous disappointments and setbacks, Jesus is still able to reverse that ugly situation before the year ends, just put your faith in Him, live righteous and be at peace with God.

TEXT: Ephesians 3:20

The names of Jesus are El-shaddai or God Almighty meaning the one that is self-sufficient and able to do all things, with Him nothing whatsoever is impossible. He is Omni (All) –Potent (All powerful), Present(All seeing), Science(All knowing).

Jesus is the one that created all things, all created things are sustained by Him, Romans 11:36 says For of Him, and through Him, and to Him, are all things, and Acts 17:28a says that For in Him we live, and move, and have our being. He is able to raise the dead, save sinners from hell, heal the sick e.t.c, the book of Hebrew 7:25 had this to say wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them.

The limitless ability of our Lord Jesus to do all things is settled in His word, whatsoever He did in the past, He can also do in the present; no power can withhold Him, infact, all powers be it principalities are in existence for His own purpose, Hallelujah.

Now because Jesus has ability to do all things, we have seen Him change situations, times and seasons to suite His own purpose, for example;

He can take a sinner and make him/her a saint, He can turn sorrow to joy, He is able to turn a hopeless case into something of celebration, He can make the barren woman a mother of many children, He is able to turn all doubts to faith, He is able to turn your lamentations into testimony, He is able to turn defeat to victory, He can raise an orphan to be the president of a country, He sets up kings on thrones and He dethrones kings from thrones, He makes a desert turn into fountains of running waters, He can shut the lions mouth to deliver His faithful one, He can make a fiery furnace turn to  air-condition to save His loved ones, this Jesus is the one that creates, delivers and will eventually judge all men according to His word.

Prayer points: Brethren seeing that Jesus is able to do all things, let us pray with the scriptures that portray some of these abilities.

1. He is able to do exceedingly Eph. 3:20 
2. He is able to save to the uttermost Heb. 7:25
3. He is able to sympathize Heb. 4:15
4. He is able to supply all our needs Phil. 4:19
5. He is able to succor them that are tempted Heb. 2:18
6. He is able to deliver thee Daniel 6:20
7. He is able to heal Exodus 15:26b 

May God answers our prayers today in Jesus name, Amen