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My Nation, My Responsibility by Iyke Samuels

September 30, 2013, 1:44 pm
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Hello Ladies and Gentlemen, to celebrate Nigeria's 53rd independence, I will be sharing an article written by my father and pastor; Pastor Iyke Samuels of House on the Rock, Benin. This is one of the best articles I have read because it actually profers practical solutions to the challenges of our great nation. If we are to experience change in Nigeria, it must begin with you! Excerpts...



MY NATION, MY RESPONSIBILITY!

It’s our independence and I want to channel my thought towards building a great, admirable and formidable nation.
I have to salute and appreciate all that played a major role in bringing Nigeria to where she is now.

Nigeria is unquestionably and undoubtedly a great country. The question that will quickly come up would be: "if we are that great, why are we faced with so many problems?" My answer would be: “It’s part of greatness”. Ask a truly successful person, he would tell you how many times he failed. Failure is ugly to the ears, but failure is the first step to success. Anyone who has not failed before cannot truly maintain success.

Even if we are called a failed or almost failing state, that on its own, is a commendation that plays an important role of challenging us towards taking our place in the international community. Unfortunately, most Nigerians dwell more on lamenting about what is not working and absolutely doing nothing to change what they complain about. Most people often use Lee Kuan Yew (Prime Minister of Singapore from 1959 – 1990) as an example, but Singapore or any other developed/developing nation never experienced transformation by lamentation. Transformation can only be experienced by taking responsibilities.

If we want a changed Nation, we must revisit our approach and reduce the rate at which we blame ourselves. The blame game has never helped anybody fix anything. What fuels the blame game is when everybody else is at fault except you. Once you are always right in your own eyes you cannot understand the challenge someone else is faced with. The citizens blame the government; the government complains that the citizens are impatient.
  • The citizens cannot understand the rate and impunity at which those in government divert tax payers’ money into their private pockets and go scot free.
  • If you look at it closely, it's annoying that government office holders embezzle so much money running into billions, yet students are still at home because ASSU is on strike. One will really wonder: is education not worth investing in? Will the children of the poor be denied quality education just because the rich can afford for their own children to school abroad or in private institutions of learning?
  • What about the rule of law? Our judicial process is now so watered down as a result of corruption. I mean, if corruption is found in the judiciary, where then is the hope? The rich and highly influential will do despicable things and get away with it, but the common man who stole just to be able to eat will rot and perish in jail.
  • A nation where those who are meant to lead are now suppressing and impoverishing the people.
  • What about value for life? That has disappeared completely or was it there at all? If there is value for life will we allow any group whatsoever to threaten any life not to talk of taking it? But every now and then, innocent, promising lives are being taken as if we are now goats. Sad!
  • What do I have to say about our high ways and roads that can now be best described as death traps?
  • Our young men do not consider kidnapping to be lucrative, but in a system where you must have long legs (connection) to get a job, the non-lucrative, life-endangering profession like kidnapping and robbery becomes admirable.
If you noticed, I have listed problems (and I really didn't scratch it), but that's not my idea of changing this nation. Listing problems and blaming government is not the way to the Promised Land. The way is simply RESPONSIBILITY. If we all begin to take responsibilities towards making Nigeria Great, then Nigeria will be great.







HOW TO FIX A NATION:
 
1. Become what you want your Nation to be. Be the perfect model worth emulating. What I mean to say is that nothing changes until you change.
Don't just look for change, be the change. Most people who complain that Nigeria is not working are not working. They criticize people that ‘eat’ money in government, but they don't see anything wrong when they ‘eat’ it in their places of work. Majority of what we complain about, we are guilty of.
Imagine a critical mass in Nigeria committing to be the change they want. Taking a pledge to change how they work, think, relate etc. Do you know what will happen if 80% of Nigerian Students decide that they won't encourage corruption anymore by lobbing to pass exams, but committing to study hard? Won't it be awesome to see lecturers commit to research and teaching without looking for female students they can take advantage of and those that will sort them? If Nigeria is to be a human being and that human being is you, how admirable will Nigeria be?
Any noise about national transformation that is void of personal or individual transformation is an empty noise. You can't transform a nation without transforming her people. You don't have any moral justification to demand a change in the system when you've not changed for the better, yourself. For instance, if you cannot give your gate-man power or your tenant at your boys-quarters, you don't have the right to complain about the power situation in the Nation.
Am I in any way supporting or indulging the government? Never! What I am simply advocating is, if the government won't lead the change, let us lead it and let them catch up with us. Change can never come by complaints, but by matured minds taking responsibility. I know you are a matured mind, and I charge you to take responsibility today!

2. Decadence in the family is equal to decadence in the nation. One of the easiest ways to fix a nation is to revisit family values.
 
Values began to erode from our families. Parents no longer teach their children dignity of labor, hard work, respect for another human being and how it's not good to take what is not yours.  On the contrary, parents even act in a suggestive manner that these things are the norm.
It's normal to lie is the signal you pass across, when you are at home and instruct your child to tell your visitor that you are not. It's normal to cheat is the signal you send, when you now look for machineries to sit and write jamb for your child or go to sort his or her lecturers yourself. Shame! 

The question is, if your medical-student child cheated and slept with lecturers to become a doctor, how comfortable will you be to visit his or her clinic? We have mass produced weapons of mass destruction and we wonder why our nation is the way it is.
Can you now blame those that fly abroad for medical treatment? If I know a country where medical students (for instance) graduate to really become medical doctors, I'll really fly to those countries to receive genuine medical attention. 

I call on parents to lead the change. Create out time for your family. Impart values and the right culture of respect for the law and for human lives in them. Teach them the place of dignity of labor and how to shun corruption. Expose them to knowledge; stretch them to read far and wide. Encourage them to move towards research and development. Can you possibly imagine what our Nation will become if your children grow up with this mind set?

CONCLUSION:
Let me conclude this way, Nigeria will change for good! Let us the Nigerians change our attitude, approach, confession and action. Even you can lead the change! Lead it in your family, lead it in your work place, lead it in your neighborhood, lead it in your school, lead it in your street and lead it in your own life.
Stop celebrating those who made money through dubious means. Stop making them your role models. Stand for what is right! Unscrupulous people might be given a chieftaincy title, but that does not make them chiefs in real life. I will recommend that we stop making thieves, chiefs in this Nation. My stand is that Nigeria will change and that you and I are the change agents.
God bless you and God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Be the change you desire! You are unstoppable!
Happy 53rd Independence!


A’000Thoughts

  1. Failure is ugly to the ears, but failure is the first step to success. Anyone who has not failed before cannot truly maintain success.

  2. The blame game has never helped anybody fix anything. What fuels the blame game is when everybody else is at fault except you. Once you are always right in your own eyes you cannot understand the challenge someone else is faced with.
  3. Any noise about national transformation that is void of personal or individual transformation is an empty noise. You can't transform a nation without transforming her people.
  4. You don't have any moral justification to demand a change in the system when you've not changed for the better, yourself.
  5. Change can never come by complaints, but by matured minds taking responsibility. I know you are a matured mind, and I charge you to take responsibility today!

  6. Unscrupulous people might be given a chieftaincy title, but that does not make them chiefs in real life.
  7. Stop celebrating those who made money through dubious means. Stop making them your role models. Stand for what is right!
  8. If we all begin to take responsibilities towards making Nigeria Great, then Nigeria will be great.

  9. Nigeria will change for good! Let us the Nigerians change our attitude, approach, confession and action.
  10.  Even you can lead the change! Lead it in your family, lead it in your work place, lead it in your neighborhood, lead it in your school, lead it in your street and lead it in your own life.

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AND SHE SAID YES!

October 12, 2013, 2:24 pm
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I proposed to the woman of my dreams and she said YES! The proposal is totally unforgettable so I thought to share it.


We were at Oba Tejuoso's palace in Abeokuta to interview him for the blog. Whilst introducing ourselves, he asked who the beautiful lady sitting next to me was, I explained that she was my fiancee, Olori Olabisi and Olori Omolara were present while the introduction was going on; when they heard me introduce her as my fiancee, they asked if I had asked her to marry me; I replied that I was waiting for the ring. It was at that point they said' 'at least ask her'. So right in front of Oba Tejuoso, Olori Olabisi and Olori Omolara I proposed! Olori Omolara took pictures then Oba Tejuoso prayed for us.


This is the best proposal I could ever wish for, God blew my mind! Leke Alder once said that a good woman is God's proof of His mercy on your life. I totally believe it and I thank God for giving me a beautiful, Godly woman. I am truly a blessed man. I love you so much baby mmmwah!


I chose a sapphire stone embellished with diamonds because the bible said in Isaiah 54;11 that God would lay our foundation with sapphires. A sapphire is a very solid rock so it symbolises a strong foundation. 



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Apostle Lawrence Achudume Testifies

October 16, 2013, 2:16 am
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Hello Ladies and Gentlemen, I bring you the testimony of Apostle Lawrence Achudume, a man who carries the anointing of the Holy Spirit to raise the dead, heal the sick and also to mentor the leaders of Nigeria in fulfilling God’s will for our great nation.
Apostle Lawrence Achudume is the Overseer of Victory Life Bible Church; a fast growing church located in Abeokuta with branches in many countries of the world. Our meeting was by chance but I have no doubt it was ordained by God. I want to thank Pastor Benson Akhigbe of Firm Foundation for making this interview possible.



In this interview, he shared on his ministry, marriage, Boko Haram and God’s plan for Nigeria. Excerpts… 

www.mytestimonys.blogspot.com; You planned to be a politician, how did God call you?
Apostle Lawrence Achudume: It happened during my prayer and fasting on how to change Nigeria having seen all forms of oppression and evil, injustices done to the weak in the society. My initial dream was that if the military was still in power by the time I graduated, I would go to Nigerian Defense Academy (NDA) become a captain and be involved in whatever coup that would be planned and if it was politics, I would be involved. I got involved in politics; NPN many years ago. The dream was to have a better society and a better Nigeria.
It was in the course of praying and fasting that God said to me, ‘Go and raise a people that will be and not you’ that’s how the ministry came about.  I struggled with it for some time; different prophecies came in the course of people praying for me because of my ill health. Many people I never even shared the vision with told me God said I had not obeyed the call to ministry. From that day, I decided to obey, I got up and I moved and the sickness disappeared. 


www.mytestimonys.blogspot.com; Your ministry’s headquarter began in Itoku Abeokuta which was a demonic stronghold; how did God takeover that place for you?

Apostle Lawrence Achudume: When I got back to Abeokuta, I had to start looking for a venue; we saw this ancient building which was supposed to be the first king’s palace in Abeokuta, I went to negotiate although I had no dime in my hand to pay for it. The Alhaja who owned the building agreed we should come and pay; I told her I would come and pay in two weeks yet there was no money in my hands. The day I was to leave from Lagos to Abeokuta, people came from nowhere and told me God had asked them to give me money, before I knew it, the entire amount was completed, I paid and we started.
Nobody believed I would survive, they thought I would die in that building because they saw the building as a dangerous building and no church had survived in that area before we came to that area of Itoku actually called Ita-Oku.  The church began to grow until I gave a prophecy, ‘Thus saith the Lord, this building will be destroyed and there will be a flyover build over this place’. People never believed the prophecy then but today the building has been destroyed and there is a flyover being built there now.
God has done amazing things in our ministry, dead bodies have been raised and all manner of miracles.



www.mytestimonys.blogspot.com ;Can you share some of your great faith moments with us?

Apostle Lawrence Achudume: There are so many; people never believed we would get to where we are now, they never gave me the chance to succeed, they believed my ministry would soon fold up. In fact, a pastor once told me that my anointing was kerosene anointing that when the kerosene is over, it will quench but today, we are still moving.
I never believed in asking or begging for money, I believed God would provide and to His glory, we have never asked anybody for money. We have always trusted that God would supply and meet our needs. Whatever we have so far have been miraculous.



www.mytestimonys.blogspot.com ; How did you meet your wife?

Apostle Lawrence Achudume: We met during NYSC in Kaduna, she was my assistant general secretary and I was general secretary of the Christian corpers fellowship along the line, one thing led to another and before you knew it, we were engaged and got married in 1992. So we are still serving together since then.

www.mytestimonys.blogspot.com; There is so much divorce in the church today, what is going on?

Apostle Lawrence Achudume: I wouldn’t want to say it’s the American influence, its just man’s insatiable desire for new things. Sometimes a man wants to have a taste of another woman, he may give it a different name, irreconcilable differences or whatever but my stand is that God hates divorce and whatever God hates, I shouldn’t like it too. There are no differences that cannot be reconciled, I don’t believe in divorce and I preach against divorce, once you are married, you are married whatever the problem, it can be resolved. 

www.mytestimonys.blogspot.com; What is God’s plan for Nigeria?

Apostle Lawrence Achudume: I have always said it that Nigeria is one of the greatest countries on earth. We have our challenges, the issue of terrorism is not a Nigerian issue, it’s a global one, the economic meltdown is a global issue. Nigeria is a country that will yet rule other nations of the world, our leaders may be bad but a time is coming when we will have true leaders who are not greedy or selfish who want to render service to people and I see that happening so soon.  I have travelled a bit by the grace of God yet I have not seen a nation blessed with as much human and natural resources as Nigeria; Nigeria is a great nation even in the midst of bad leaders, Nigeria is still a great nation. We expect our political leaders to be more upright, its true many of them are corrupt but not all are corrupt, corruption is also a global and not a Nigerian problem, its just that we have emphasized corruption more than the good things of the nation.
God loves Nigeria, Dele Giwa many years ago wrote in the then Concord newspaper, ‘God is a Nigerian’, I believe God is a Nigerian. Nigeria has a lot of prayerful Christians so things will improve and the church will keep rising. Boko Haram will soon die off, it won’t last long at all.

www.mytestimonys.blogspot.com; Thank you so much for your time sir


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A Nation, Not A Tribe by Femi Fani-Kayode

October 22, 2013, 12:44 am
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I was born on October 16th in the year of our Lord 1960 and consequently I celebrated my 53rd birthday last week wednesday. It was a quiet low-key affair in which, as is customary with me, I spent most of the day in fasting, prayer and sober reflection, surrounded by my loved ones, thanking the Lord for granting me yet another year of life and for delivering me from the hands of my numerous detractors and enemies. I also took the time to thank my dear wife and soul mate Regina, for standing by me through thick and thin and for being such a blessing and my darling children who have had to put up with a father that is fast becoming one of the most controversial, misrepresented and misunderstood figures in Nigerian modern history- a title which I neither crave nor relish. May God bless them and all my numerous siblings, loved ones, friends, associates, collaborators, readers and well wishers for their encouraging words and constant love and support.

May God also bless my numerous haters, traducers and detractors for keeping me on my toes, for strengthening my resolve, for giving me a reason to exist and to fight on, for making me relevant and for enabling me to have one testimony after another. May God's name be praised. In the name of God the great and He that is more than able, I bless and thank you all from the bottom of my heart.  It is because it is my birthday that I decided to share a few home truths today that will gladden the hearts of some but that may sadden others. Yet the truth must be spoken and even if my voice is drowned by the cacophony of dissent and rancour that sometimes trail such literary interventions, let it be on record that on this day the seed of truth and liberation was planted and the idea of a new beginning for a people that I have come to love more than life itself, my people, the yoruba people of south western Nigeria, was berthed. And for these views, these ideas, these contributions and these philosophies, as disagreeable as they may be to some, I offer no apology.
 

One of the basic truisms of nationhood is that we as a people must appreciate our roots. We must never forget who we are, where we come from and what we stand for. For example you cannot speak of Great Britain without a full recognition of the role, history and impact of the nationalities that make up that country and that are known as the english, the irish, the welsh and the scots. Without those four basic ethnic foundations and the extraordinary role that each and everyone of them has played in the history and evolution of their country, Great Britain is nothing and nothing good could have ever come out of her. We cannot despise our roots and set them aside and expect to flourish. We cannot deny our family and claim to be a responsible member of the wider society. Yes we are Nigerians but every Nigerian has a foundation and a root out of which he sprouted. There is no such thing as a Nigerian who did not come from somewhere or who did not come out of a nationality that is a constituent and vital part of the wider nation. A tree without a root and foundation cannot grow and is more often than not stunted- it can never be that which it was meant to be unless it's roots and foundation are not only cherished and nurtured but are also, above all else, loved and valued. A man's family, lineage and name makes him what he is in the wider society and guides him in all that he does.The minute he turns his back on his family and forgets where he is coming from he is little more than an illegitimate child. And no matter how successful he is in life an illegitimate child he shall remain until the day he dies. It is the same for those that treat their root or their primary nationality with contempt and that are prepared to sacrifice it at the drop of a hat. Such people deserve to be pitied. Like the biblical Reuben they are ''as unstable as water'' and they carry a father's curse.They are not only confused but they are a danger to themselves, their friends, their community, their nationality and to the wider nation.
 
Why? Because they do not have the courage to be loyal. Worse still they have lost all sense of bearing and they no longer know who they are or where they come from. Nigeria is blessed with many proud, strong, distinct, noble, enlightened and sophisticated nationalities that make up the whole and each of them brings something or other to the table. From the fulani to the hausa, to the nupe, to the bini, to the Ijaw, to the igbo, to the kanuri, to the idoma, to the tiv, to the urhobo, to the itsekiri, to the bacahama, to the ishan, to the igbira, to the igalla, to the efik, to the ibibio, to the isoko, to the shuwa arab, to the kataf, to the kwale, to the jaba, to the zuru, to the kilba, to the kalabari, to the ikwere, to the gula, to the gwari, to the margui and so on and so forth we all have something to offer and we all have a sense of self-worth and self-respect which was established and cultivated many years before Nigeria even came into existence. None of us must ever forget that beautiful root from whence we came for without it we become worthless. Without it we become something akin to a man without a soul or a city without walls- vulnerable, defenceless and hopeless. Without it we become nothing more than a commnunity of wandering gypsies and vagabonds- a collection of men who have forgotten their father's name and who know not from whence they came. For Nigeria to be great each and every one of it's nationalities must first flourish and they must all be in a position to achieve their full potentials. I am a yoruba man and I take immense pride in that. I know my root. And contrary to the views of many the yoruba, like all the other wonderful nationalities that reside in the Nigerian space, are not a mere tribe.
 

One of the most unfortunate aspects of not being properly educated is the fact that those that suffer from that affliction often accept everything that their slave and colonial masters and ethnic overlords tell them and, without thinking, they swallow the fables and labels hook, line and sinker. When a supposedly educated person insists on labelling a nation of highly advanced people, who have existed for thousands of years as a distinct race, who have had their own empires, who are the most educationally and culturally advanced on the African continent, who have a singe language with approximately 20 different dialects within them, who have contributed more to the industrial, commercial and intellectual growth of Nigeria than any other, who have a rich and illustrious history and heritage which few in Africa can match, who number at least 50 million in Nigeria alone and who constitute the largest number of African people living in the diaspora on earth, whose people have spread all over the world and have strong historical, cultural, religious and ethnic roots in Benin Republic, Ghana, Togo, Haiti, Brazil, Cuba and many other places, whose people have settled into and legitimately lay claim to Ilorin, Kaaba, Akoko Edo and other parts of northern and mid-western Nigeria, whose offspring and progenitor established many kingdoms including the Bini Kingdom, whose pantheon of gods and traditional religion of ifa is respected and practised in many parts of the world, whose historical, philosophical, religious and cultural contributions to Ancient Egypt are well known and well docuemented, whose level of sophistication and exposure to the knowledge of western education is second to none and whose sense of liberalism, justice, decency, hospitality and fairness is not understood, appreciated or reciprocated by any other ethnic group or nationality in Nigeria and so much more and that supposedly educated person still insists on calling such people, despite their sheer numbers and their homogenous geographical setting, a mere "tribe" then you know that that person is truly lost.
 
You may call others a tribe if you so choose but not the yoruba. We number as many people as the whole of South Africa, more than 90 per cent all African countries, almost as many as the UK or France and far many more than 90 per cent of the countries on the European continent. Our history dates back as far as that of the Celts, the Normans, the Vikings, the Romans, the Greeks, the Egyptians, the Persians, the Arabs, the Medes and the Anglo-Saxons. Our forefathers are amongst those that went to the best institutions of higher learning and citadels of excellence in the world like Oxford, Cambridge, Edinburgh and Durham Universities as far back as the early 1800's and they became the first lawyers, doctors, scientists, intellectuals, poets, writers, journalists, philosophers, priests and free thinkers on the African continent. Little wonder that our former colonial masters resolved in their hearts that we must never be allowed to take power at the centre because they saw us as their equals as opposed to being their serfs. We were right at the top whilst others were still living in villages in the deepest and darkest recesses of the African forest. We forged and built great empires that we nurtured and protected with all that we had.
 
Ours was not a primitive inheritance but a noble and righteous one that was established by the Living God and the hard work of our forefathers. And it is the memory of those great and powerful forefathers that I invoke today when I ask how far has our noble heritage taken us in the contraption called Nigeria? How have we fared as a people? For better or for worse? Our children ask us, ''was it always like this'' and who ''were'' the yoruba? They no longer ask who ''ARE'' the yoruba but who ''WERE'' the yoruba? Sadly that is our plight today- a people whose children regard them as ''once were'' and no longer ''are''. Like the biblical Gideon asked the angel of the Lord under the oak tree in Ophrah, we ask today, ''Oh Lord, if the Lord be with us why then is all this befallen us? And where be all His miracles which our father's told us of, saying 'did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt?' But now the Lord has forsaken us and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites''. Yet I say ''no'' because God is alive and with Him there is always hope. His word says ''His anger is for a moment but His joy is for life''. It says ''Weeping may endure in the night but joy comes in the morning''.  It says ''nothing can separate us from the love of the Lord'' and that ''in all these things we are more than conquerers''.
 
We are still who and what we once were and it shall always be so no matter what Nigeria and the world does to us. They can take away our self-respect, compel us to forget our history, tell us that we are no different to anyone else, reduce us to the level of mediocrity and servitude, take the greatness out of our being, relish in humiliating us night and day and dash the hopes of our children and our loved ones for a better future and a brighter tomorrow. They can do all that to us but they can never take away our sense of self-worth, our dignity, our excellence in extravagance and our self-respect. As long as the breath of life remains in us we shall never forget who we are and what our purpose is on earth. We are a nation, not a tribe. And we are a nation that is craving for recognition and nationhood. A nation borne out of centuries of sacrifice, hard work, perserverance and diligence and whose foundation is unsullied, noble and pure. We are a nation within a nation that is beginning to berth and that is eagerly waiting to be born. A nation that, like ''great Germany'' in the late '30's and early '40's, will need ''lebensraum'' (breathing space) and that will, one day by the grace of the Living God, provide hope and good quality leadership for the west African sub-region and the entire African continent. That is our destiny. No more and no less. And by God's grace and the power of His might, we shall achieve it when our time comes. 
 
Today we  invoke the spirits and rekindle the memories of our forefathers and we weep for our people. What do we tell them about how we fared after they left us and went into eternity? This struggle belongs to our generation yet the question needs to be asked- have we lived up to expectation as they did? Have we asked the relevant questions, provided the appropiate answers and fought  the good and noble fight as they once did? We remember with great pride, great men and women of yoruba stock that have passed on and we reflect on their noble struggle through the ages. Men and women that stood up when it mattered the most  and made a difference like Samuel Ajayi Crowther, Sapara Williams, Richard Akinwande-Savage, Kitoye Ajasa, Cissie Obasa, Eric Moore, Herbert Macauly, Joseph Egerton-Shyngle, Curtis Adeniyi-Jones, Adeyemo Alakija,  Theophilius Adebayo Doherty, Victor Adedapo Kayode, Akinola Maja, Joseph Akanni Doherty, Kofo Abayomi, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, Wuraola Esan, J.C Vaughan, H.O. Davis, Adegoke Adelabu, Jeremiah Obafemi Awolowo, Samuel Ladoke Akintola, Remilekun Adetokunbo Fani-Kayode, Frederick Rotimi Alade Williams, Bode Thomas, Adesoji Aderemi, Odeleye Fadahunsi, Oduola Osuntokun, D.K.Olumofin, Emmanuel Okunsanya Okunowo, Moses Majekodunmi, Adetokunbo Adegboyega Ademola, Benjamin Oluwakayode Osuntokun, Josiah Olawoyin, S.L. Edu, Samuel Shonibare, Matthew Abonmagbe-Okupe, Dauda Adegbenro, S.O.Gbadamosi, Adeniran Ogunsanya, T.O.S Benson, Augustus Meredith Adisa Akinloye, Adekunle Fajuyi, Samuel Ademulegun, R.A. Shodeinde, Olusola Saraki, MKO Abiola, Bola Ige, Micheal Ajasin, Abraham Adesanya, Ganiyu Dawodu, Adewale Thompson, Solanke Onasanya, Kudirat Abiola, Emmanuel Omotehinwa, Beko Ransome-Kuti, Gani Fawenhimi, Alao Aka-Bashorun and dozens of others that are too numerous to mention.
 
These names shall never be forgotten and those who bear them should hold their heads up high for theirs is a noble lineage. These are indeed the immortals of whom Homer once sang. These are indeed the Achilles' and the Hectors of their time. Some sacrificed their lives and entered the noble halls of martydom willingly. Others struggled, defied authority, fought against all odds and were jailed or killed for their beliefs. Some lived long and fulfilled lives whilst others were cut short, remain largely unsung and died before their time. They were illustrious men and women of strength, courage, compassion and conscience to the last. Yet what do we tell them when our time comes and when we meet them again in the great beyond? What will be our story when we sit with them at the marriage feast of the Lamb? Will we hold our heads up high and say that we did our best for our people? Or will we bury our heads in shame and admit that we could not make a difference? What we say or do today echoes into eternity. It is time for us as a nation and as a people to stand up and take our destiny into our own hands.  It is time for us to go back to the beginning and to restore our lost glory.
 
Yet many ask what is next for this great and illustrious nationality and this berthing nation called the yoruba? How do we achieve our full potentials and become that which God has ordained us to be? Can this be done within the confines of the Nigerian state? Some have argued, quite rightly, that the way out is to have a sovereign national conference that will renegotiate the terms of our unity and revisit the very question of our existence as a nation. Yet the truth is that the forces that control the centre in Nigeria and that have controlled it since 1914 will never allow that to happen without a fight.

It is their intention and desire to keep us together as one in a flawed and failed unitary state with it's federal facade in perpetuity regardless of the grave damage that such a venture has wrought upon our people over the last 99 years. Successive President's  in the last few decades have offered government-sponsored national conferences none of which are sovereign and each of which could not possibly solve our fundamental problems or properly answer our nationality question.  The mantra has always been that the unity of Nigeria is ''not negotiable'' and our resolutions were always subject to their approval or the approval of some unrepresentative and questionable National Assembly which hardly represented the interests and views of the numerous nationalities in our country. We have one year to go before we achieve 100 years of being together as one entity and I believe that it is time for us to have a rethink and determine how we want the next 100 years to be.

It is time for us to question all these so-called ''settled issues'', ''no-go areas'', ''non-negotiables'' and ''givens''. We can no longer be satisfied and content with the failed answers and ideas of a vain and fanciful unity that exists only in our minds and in our imaginations. An illusionary unity that our fathers and forefathers held so dear and even fought a civil war to maintain and uphold. Given the nature of those that control the centre today and their unholy intentions for the rest of the country we must revisit that question of unity and we must ask ourselves ''at what price?'' The world is not static- it is dynamic and it is changing fast. Kingdoms come and kingdoms go. Empires fall and empires rise. Nations break and new nations are formed. The world is changing and the great people and numerous nationalities that make up Nigeria must espouse that change, accept it and not be left behind.  What was good for yesterday may not be good for today. And what is good for today may not have been good for yesterday.  That is where we are today- on the threshold of change. And I believe that the time for that change is now. It is a new dawn, a new day and a new era. And I fervently believe that the God of Heaven and He who sits above the circles of the earth is about to do something new, something refreshing and something very dramatic. Why? Because we are a nation, not a tribe. 
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D.J Gosporella Testifies!

December 9, 2013, 5:23 am
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Hello Ladies and Gentlemen, I apologise for not posting in a while, my blog had demons preventing me from posting ...LOL! and I just cast them out in the name of Jesus. The Holy Spirit is indeed a teacher, I asked Him what to do and He gave me a solution to a problem I had been trying to solve for over 2 months! Thank You Jesus.
I bring you the testimony of D.J Gosporella, he is the pioneer strictly gospel music Disc Jockey in Nigeria today; a professional gospel DJ with over 20 years’ experience, he D.Js at Christian events, weddings, birthdays and corporate events and he also anchors gospel zone on The Beat 99.9 FM every Sunday between 7-11 am. 


Enjoy...




www.mytestimonys.blogspot.com: How did you become born again?


D.J Gosporella: I became born again while in tribulation. I had need of money to execute a contract and I didn't have it. The person I met for a loan didn't have but offered me Christ instead and he said "if you accept Christ now, by tomorrow morning, your money problem will be solved". I did and the issue was solved by the next day. That was 20 years ago. 


www.mytestimonys.blogspot.com: Why are secular artists more successful than gospel artists?


D.J Gosporella: That is a relevant question. It depends on d artistes involved, what their definition of success is and what the purpose is. I disagree with that notion completely.




www.mytestimonys.blogspot.com: You were a DJ in the club for 17 years, did you feel it was God preparing you for His Kingdom?


D.J Gosporella: Yes! Because that's what God told me when He called me; He said.    “I have prepared you long enough; I need you to go do this same thing in my house". That was in 2000 but I didn't agree to start till 2003. That was 10 years ago.



 www.mytestimonys.blogspot.com :What do you think music ministers need to know?


D.J Gosporella: The music minister must not be someone sent but someone called. The called are the ones who heard the master's voice and obeyed. They are the ones who say even if I perish, I perish but I will not let go of this vision that the Lord gave me. Guess what? They are the ones that get blessed and succeed; but the sent are the ones who saw, smelled or heard about the success of the called out ones and dive into ministry through their senses. They are the ones who can't stand the tribulations of ministry and back slide. Their latter end is always worse than the former. God is not a man that can be lied to. The wheat is always separated from the chaff at the end. 


Another thing is that God is a God of excellence; as His minister, excellence must be your watch word and don't "beef". The stage is big enough to contain everybody.



 www.mytestimonys.blogspot.com :What are the challenges of being in showbiz as a Christian?


D.J Gosporella: The challenge as a Christian in showbiz has been that of misconception. Lots of Christians still don't understand what gospel music and gospel music djaying entails. Most Christians still revert to secular music during their weddings and birthday or corporate parties. Their excuse is none existent because they have refused to explore; Gospel music today has assumed another format as it should. Its rhythm can compete favorably with any other genre. In our music library is Gospel music that can put people on the dance floor endlessly. I give a dose of our dexterity every Sunday morning on Gospel Zone with D.J Gosporella on Beat 99.9FM, Lagos from 7am to 11am. Hook up and listen. 



Another challenge is under payment for services. With our D.J experience spanning over 25 years and acclaim as Nigeria's premier and Africa's finest gospel music D.J, you would expect that clients would be willing to pay well but the opposite is the case. Some come outright to quote scriptures to cover up but our response has and always is "a workman is worth his wages" and "muzzle not the ox that threads the field". Though our work is ministry, its also our business. We have responsibilities like everyone else and, we can't beg. So help me God.



 www.mytestimonys.blogspot.com : What advice do you have for upcoming gospel music D.Js?


D.J Gosporella: My advice to people who want to become gospel music D.Js is to ensure that they are called into that department of ministry, they should be prepared to be mentored and to package right i.e get their swag(purpose) right and tight.


I like to thank God for the confidence in me as a worthy vessel to use to break this new ground of ministry, my fans without whom I would be like a cock without its crown, my supporters and those clients who will not have a party without D.J Gosporella. God bless and replenish you all.




www.mytestimonys.blogspot.com; Thank you for your time


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Tribute to Nelson Mandela

December 12, 2013, 12:01 am
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It took me a while to pay  tribute to this great man because I was meditating on what his 95 years on the earth meant personally to me. I have been able to sum up the life of Madiba in two words, Faith and Patience. He believed to the uttermost that his change would come and he waited for it. During the years of negotiation, Mandela and his party were offered many deals but they would not settle for less. I have learnt to believe that I can have exactly what I want if I believe it to the point of death and I do not settle for less.

I have learnt to believe that I can win the war against evil in my life, in government, in the workplace, in the society by persevering; no matter what the challenges are. Madiba and the ANC were a minority; propaganda labelled them as terrorists, their voice were being stifled by intimidation and oppression yet they pressed ahead, I have learnt to fight with what I have, where I am, tenaciously; without a doubt that if I believe and wait for it, my change, my freedom, my deliverance will come.

Thank you for giving your life for Africa and the world, we will never see a man like Nelson Mandela in our lifetime, let us hold on to his words and learn from his actions. I am going back to read his biography, "Long Walk to Freedom". I believe dead men live on through their books. It is my prayer that we all catch the revolutionary spirit of this great warrior and begin to fight for freedom in our individual spaces.

We can be totally free and we can be totally happy and celebrated but we must believe and wait for our change to come.

Adieu Madiba the Greatest!
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HOUSE ON THE ROCK, BENIN THANKSGIVING SERVICE

December 13, 2013, 7:28 am
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If you are in Benin on Sunday December 15, 2014, do yourself a favor and attend the thanksgiving service of House on the Rock, Benin its going to be unforgettable. There will also be a widow's outreach, we are sharing 200 bags of rice to widows all over Edo State, you can send in your donation from anywhere in the world. Remember God cares passionately about orphans and widows; what you make happen for others, God will make happen for you. The pictures will be uploaded on Sunday by God's grace. Shalom.

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Church of God Mission holds Festival of Lights

December 14, 2013, 11:46 am
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For those of you familiar with Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria, this is Church of God Mission at Faith Arena, the whole place has been lighted up, my inquiries reveal there are thousands of lights being used. It is breathtaking and beautiful. 
The Church of God Mission will be hosting the biggest family event in Benin City on Friday, December 20, 2014, its tagged; A Spectacular Christmas; Light of Life. It promises to be an unforgettable event; prayers are ongoing to ensure at least 200 souls will be won for Christ and Timi Dakolo will also be debuting his  Christmas song. Don't miss it, I won't by Gods grace. Check out more pictures...





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Toyin and Wale Forever! Pre-wedding pictures

January 8, 2014, 11:24 am
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My Story - Adewale

"...believe in the Lord your God and you shall be established, believe in His prophets and you shall prosper (2 Chronicles 23;20).

On January 1, 2013, Dr. Mike Murdock said to me via Twitter, he said, "Son, in 2013, you will build 12 significant relationships". It did not make sense to me but I believed the prophet of the Lord and on January 7, 2013, I met this beautiful Proverbs 31 woman on Facebook, you may be surprised but I tell you that God talks through the social media; the biggest blessings of my life last year happened through Blackberry, Twitter and Facebook. I discovered that we both attended Bowen University and we were both from Ekiti State (South-west Nigeria). We became instant friends and although we had some challenges at the beginning because of the distance, God confirmed through various signs that she was indeed the woman for me, the bone of my bone and the flesh of my flesh. I wonder how I have been living without her. She's my babe, lover, best friend, little mummy, advisor, barber (she shaves my beards), my queen, prayer partner, runway model and many more; I love her to pieces. 

We had our registry on December 5, 2013 so she's officially my wife, the traditional and white wedding is going down on February 15 by God's grace, we thought to share our pre- wedding pictures and also share the profile of our grooms men and brides maids. We cannot get married without these wonderful people being a part of the day. Enjoy...







My Story - Oluwatoyin

One fateful day on January 7,2013 was the day my life changed forever. It was during my National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and I was browsing through Facebook when I saw the picture of this cute guy; he was my friend on Facebook and we had mutual friends but it was my first time of seeing him so I sent him a hello*wink* and he replied.  Soon he asked for my number and I gave it to him then he called few days later and I asked him to call back because I was sleeping *wink*. He called back and we started talking; then he got my Blackberry pin and we started dating a month later.

We had a lot of ups and downs but that stopped when I told him I would be visiting Lola and Wumi (2 of my bridesmaids) who were serving in Benin *wink*. We got well acquainted with each other and he proposed to me a day after my NYSC.

I am so happy I found my husband; he is a real man. My prayer is that God should keep on doing his work in our lives. Love you my king.

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GROOMSMEN: 

Muyiwa Aladejana A.K.A Muyo/ Baba Eto
Works at Sahara Group, Business Development Unit
B.Sc Sociology, Bowen University
Muyo is my younger brother but he is in fact older than me, the dude is fiiiine, ladies love him die, he's SMART, he made his first millions (yes with an "s") at 24 and he has class and style; muyo's wardrobe is to die for! He has a wonderful heart and I am terribly proud of him. He is my best man, love you brov.



Bayo Aladejana
B.Sc Engineering, Federal University of Technology, Minna
Regional Project Manager, Huawei
Bayo is my cousin and my brother, he's the nicest guy on the face of the earth. He's such a gentleman and very cool. Nothing alarms Bayo, he takes everything in stride. This dude has a way with cars, am proud of you brov.



Ayo Aladejana A.K.A Ayus
Works at Standard Chartered Bank - Personal Financial Consultant
B.Sc Economics OAU
M.Sc Business Analysis and Consulting, University of Strathclyde, Scotland
Ayo is my cousin, very cool dude, classy and stylish (All Aladejanas have class and style). He likes to be the tough guy but fact is he is a nice guy. He has BRAINS! its not surprising considering the fact that his dad and mum are professors; Professor and Professor Mrs Aladejana; he inherited from both sides. I will love to raid Ayo's wardrobe, he's got the Guccis ,the Louis Vuittons, the Hermes, just name it. Love you brov.



Kehinde Adeogun A.K.A Kendu
Customs Officer
B.Sc Political Science, Benson Idahosa University
Kendu is a brother, we grew up together. Kehinde is like a prophet; whenever you want to hear the painful bitter truth, ask Kendu for advice and most times he is never wrong. He is a tough guy, don't mess with this dude but he also has a heart of gold. Man of class and style. Gbayi blood mi!




Prince Dotun Tejuoso a.k.a Dtej
Businessman
B.Sc Sociology, Bowen University
M.Sc Global Management, Uclan Preston U.K
Dtej is my blood and homie, we go  way back in Bowen University, he is one of the coolest, most diplomatic guys I have ever met, Dotun knows the right things to say to everyone; very smart, ladies man, very well dressed. He has been there for me on so many occasions. Love you brov.


Femi Elegbede
Operations Manager, Abimbol Agro Allied
B.Agric Agricultural Economics, Bowen University
M.Sc Management, University of Glamorgan, Wales UK
Femi is blood, it doesnt matter if we don't see for five years, nothing changes, he's still my homie. Trust Femi to tell you the painful truths about yourself, this dude is sharp, he should be a psychologist because he knows human nature. Femi has predicted many of my relationships succesfully...lol. He told me back then that my wife was the right babe even before meeting her. I admire this dude and I know this is the first time he's hearing it (he's gonna smile for a week when he reads this). Love you brov.


Damilare Adewole A.K.A Dboi
Businessman
B.Sc Agricultural Science, Babcock University
M.Sc International Business, Wolverhampton University
My blood, fellow debonair gentleman, suave dude, good and faithful brother. Dboi has a sense of style that stands him out everywhere, he's been there for me so many times. He has a self depreciating sense of humor you cant be bored around this dude, he's the kind of person you just start smiling and the world shines brighter when he's around. Love you brov.


Jubril Oketaolegun
Assistant Office Manager, Baltimore Tax and Financials
B.Sc Computer Science, Bowen University
Jubril is my blood brother, he's one of the nicest and most honest guys I know. Very unassuming gentleman; your money is safe with Jubril, he won't rip you off, he's a very trustworthy dude and that's rare in the world today. Its an honor to know this homie. Love you brov.



Siji Adesesan A.K.A S.J/ Papalolo
works at Heritage Bank
B.A, Mass Communications, Bowen University
M.Sc Human Resources, Leicester University
S.J is the life of the party, there's never a dull moment with this dude, we also go way back, he's been a good brother and a friend. He knows what friendship is all about, he is the kind of guy who sticks with you no matter what, he's a shrewd businessman and he has bragging rights to show for it. Love you brov.




Elias Alao
Businessman
L.L.B at BPP Law School. Waterloo Campus, London
Gentle, soft,spoken, billionaire taste and a brother that can do ANYTHING for you;that's Elias. We are childhood friends and we lost touch for a while but I am glad we reconnected. Elias loves wristwatches (I have a plan to raid his closet) and he has CLASS, if Elias is rocking it, trust me its not cheap! 
He also has a heart of gold; I needed to get my wedding shoes to Nigeria, the carrier was leaving very shortly and Elias just had a surgery, he pulled himself together and located the person but in the process, his stitches opened up. I don't know many people like him. Love you brov.



Yomi Gbadegesin
C.E.O YG Apparel
B.Sc Business Administration, Bowen University
If you are talking of class and vision, Yomi has it! Yomi was already making big money when we were still thinking of what we wanted to do with our lives. Gentle and unassuming with a laugh that's contagious, Yomi is a blood brother, we vibrate at the same frequency. I got so much love and respect for this dude.




Lanre Fatai
Chartered Economist, Business Development, Skye Bank
B.A Accounting Bowen University
Lanre is a gentleman and a brother, we go way back, he treats everyone with so much respect, he is a very humble dude but this brother is large, everything he does is big time. If its gadgets; whatever is new in the market, trust me Lanre has it. He also knows the value of friends, its an honor to be a friend to this dude. Gbayi! Much love brov.



BRIDESMAIDS

Sunbo Jegede
Business Administration, Lagos State University
Sunbo my younger sister, people say we are lookalikes except that she's a chubbier version (I try to stay a size 8 *wink*).  She's my closest sister and she's so sweet. She's my Maid of Honor. Mwah!



Lizzy Efeurhie
B.Sc International Relations, Benson Idahosa University
I met Lizzy during NYSC, she's my twin sister; such a sweetheart and fun being with it. She's the kind of friend I miss when she's not around but we argue when she's around. She always has a smile on her face. Love you sweetheart.



Wumi Adeoti
B.A Mass Communication, Bowen University
Wumi is such a lovely person and very reserved. We met in 100 level while at Bowen University. She's so kind, more of like a big sister, you can trust her to always give you good advice. Love you girl.



Lola Bello
B.Sc Sociology, Bowen University
Lola is my small mummy, she treats me like her daughter. She's so accommodating, I stayed in her house when I came to see my husband for the first time. She's a confidante and very supportive. Love you darling.


Oluwatope Rasaq
B.Sc Sociology, Bowen University
Tope is my blood, we go way back, her parents are my parents, her house is my house. She's so sweet and kind, you can tell her anything. She's really understanding, love you so much and can't wait to see you.




Folami Teniola
B.Sc Microbiology, Bowen University
Teni is like a big sister to me, she's so lovely and calm. She's such a sweet person to be around. Love you darling. Mwah!



Oyin Popoola
B.Sc Sociology, Bowen University
Oyin is very gentle and calm, she also loves to have a good time. I became her friend because of how she carries herself. She really helped me to study in school, we were reading mates. Love you girl.


Vickie Akujobi
Make up artist
B.Sc Sociology, Bowen University
Vickie is my advisor and my mummy, we were room mates at Bowen University. She's a very strong woman and I have learnt a lot from her. I am inspired by her success story in the make up business, she will also be in charge of my make up on my wedding day. Love you sweets, mwah!


Sarah Brown-West
B.Sc Agricultural Science, Bowen University
We have been friends for a while now. Sarah is such a nice person with a lot of style. This babe knows how to steal the show. I am glad I have a wonderful friend like her. Love you sweets.



Onyinye Mbegbu
B.Sc Accounting, Covenant University
We were both at the Redeemed Christian Corper's Fellowship lodge during NYSC in Benue State. Onyinye has been my good friend and coach, my sweetheart and a disciplinarian; you dare not throw things anywhere when Onyinye is around...lol. She has a way with languages; she used to teach me French and Queen's English. Mon cheri l'amour.


Adeworan Tomisin 
B.Sc Mass Communications, Bowen University
Tomisin is a sister; my very clingy sweetheart, she's so caring and nice. Her house is also my house. She's one of those people you just love having around you. Love you baby.



The Photographer
I have never met a man like Ohis Muyiwa Ojeikere, he is the most passionate man I know; the guy loves the camera, we had our photo-shoot for over four hours and this dude was not tired. He is a professional to the core, we felt like we were casting a movie scene when he showed up with all the gadgets, I have a lot of respect for you brov, I celebrate you.












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Reverend Tunde Afe Testifies

January 10, 2014, 2:32 am
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Hello everyone, I bring you the testimony of my Daddy; there are fathers and there are daddies, Reverend Tunde Afe is my daddy, not only has God used him to build my walk in Christ in the last three years, he is also a prophet over my life and many of his prophecies have come true.

 It was an emotional moment for me when I visited House of Faith Christian Centre after three years; this was the church where the passion for the gospel was birthed in my life. The rare privilege of sitting in his office and sharing my experiences and mistakes with him was indeed a blessing; you are blessed when you have someone like Reverend Afe as a dad, you can't go wrong with his advise and prophecies. I love and celebrate you sir.

Reverend Tunde Afe is an apostle and a man of great faith strategically located in Ekiti State to preach and teach the word of faith and the result has been mind blowing. In this interview, he shares on how he became a Christian, his great faith moments, principles of ministry growth in a student environment, House of Faith church building project, God's plan for our beloved Ekiti State, and marriage. Excerpts...



M.B: How did you become a Christian?

Reverend Tunde Afe: I gave my life to Christ on July 14, 1994 but before that time, I had a very unique encounter with God; I had finished my final papers to graduate from the Economics Department and I waited back in school to assist my friend who had a carryover to write his papers which was illegal and while I was writing the papers, an invigilator came in and took my I.D card and also the answer sheet which bore my friend’s name, he looked at the two of them and saw that there were different names then he dropped them and left. There and then, I had a voice within me which said “I spared you”. God told me He let me off because of His mercies but I didn’t become a Christian still. I had the one year mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) program at Sokoto State (Northern Nigeria) and after that, the natural thing then was to leave Lagos in search of a job.

Before l left for Lagos, I had a friend who just got a job at Shell and he told us that he got the job because he went to an herbalist who gave him some charms. He also took me there and I was given some charms to use; some black substance to put on my lips; I was told that it would bring favour and then there was another charm that was given to me, it was smeared with the blood of fowl and lots of things; I kept using these things as prescribed but after six months, I just got frustrated because no job was forthcoming. Then one day I made up my mind; I picked up my bible and spotted a Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) at Ladipo Oluwole Avenue, Adeniyi Jones, Ikeja, Lagos. I got to church very early because I told myself I must give my life to Christ today and when the altar call was made, I was the only one who went out and I gave my life to Christ, that was on July 14, 1994. I can’t forget that experience; I returned to church on Sunday and got baptized in the Holy Ghost and I began to serve God. 

Within two years of serving God at RCCG, I was ordained; which was contrary to the normal procedure. Within three years, I was sent to start a branch of the church; before I finally left RCCG, I started six parishes and was then nominated to become an Area Pastor when God spoke to me and told me to leave all that and come to Ekiti to start this work.

Before I left Lagos, I was also working; remember I said for 6 months after NYSC, I didn’t get any job but a month after I gave my life to Christ, God just began to open doors. I got a job with Bellview Airlines, from there to Intel Oil Servicing Company and then United Parcel Services where I had a very fruitful professional career before I finally left for Ado Ekiti on 31st August 2001.



M.B: How did your ministry start in Ekiti?


Reverend Tunde Afe: When I left Lagos in August 2001, I came to Ekiti to pack the sand of the city and then took them back to Lagos; for two months I was praying and stepping on that sand according to scripture which says that “whichever land the sole of your feet will step upon, I have given to you” (Joshua 1; 3). After that, we packed our bags and then we came down.  We started the Ministry in our living room and on November 7th, we inaugurated the Ministry with a church service.  We began to minister mostly to students because God told me to “preach the Word of Faith and bring the best out of people.” I just felt at home with young people and my ministry has been largely to young people. 



M.B: Recently you celebrated 12 years of Ministry in Ekiti; how has it been?


Reverend Tunde Afe: It has been exciting and it has been a learning experience. One thing that’s been exciting for me is that my faith has grown because Ekiti is not like Lagos or Abuja or all those big cities where you have a lot of money bags in your church. We minster largely to students and then you have to give them the Word and you give them physical things as well.  I have learnt to walk by faith seriously and in these 12 years, God has taught me how to totally depend on Him.  He has taught me how to survive in very terrible circumstances then He has taught me to always rise above every storm; there have been challenges but if not for those challenges, we would not have grown and been a blessing to people. The twelve years have been very interesting years of learning and we look forward to many more years if Jesus doesn’t come before then.



M.B: Can you share some of your great faith moments in ministry?

Reverend Tunde Afe: There are several of them; I remember about six months after the Ministry started, we had a major breakthrough and it was that a member of the church gave us the reception of his office to use as church (laughs). For me that was a breakthrough, we were trusting God to give us a place and somebody came and said God spoke to him to give us a place, for us that was a great faith moment. 

There was also a day I was going to the church office; the reception also doubled as my office and my wife asked me to buy Akara (beans cake) on my way back. That day, I had no money on me and then I began to release my faith; all I needed was Two Hundred Naira ( less than a Great British Pound  or One Dollar and 40 cents), that was 2002. When I was working in Lagos, God blessed me abundantly; I bought cars, lived in good apartments and so on. Yet, on this day, I was looking for N200 and I couldn’t get it. The first thing was either to react or respond; I could react by blaming God for sending me to Ekiti but I chose to respond ; the way I responded was that I asked God for the money and I released my faith based on scriptures.  By 3pm, nothing had happened, I close by 5pm and when it was time, I noticed at the corner in the office that there were old newspapers so I picked some and drove to where the bean cakes were being sold.  At the end of the day, I ended up exchanging the newspapers for the bean cakes.  

The irony of the whole thing was that I was well dressed and I was still driving a very clean car that I brought from Lagos; it was a paradox that I came out of a good car, well dressed and I was exchanging papers for bean cakes.  The people there would have thought I was mad but that’s how God chose to answer my prayers.  That taught me that God will answer your prayers not necessarily in the way you thought He would answer it.  It’s a powerful principle and I have been living by it. 


If I ask God for something now, I just close my mind to how He will do it but I know He will do it; I don’t try to figure if it’s this way or that way because He can choose to answer it the way He wants.  When the woman gave me the bean cakes; I felt bad at first but then I began to praise God because He answered my prayers.


At the second year of the Ministry, somebody gave us a hotel hall to use for free; we were also running a broadcast on air; normally we record the broadcast with the equipment in church. We didn’t pack the equipment and we returned to my house; we just assumed that the place was safe but by the time we came back, all the equipment were gone! It took us a lot to get those equipment. We sat down and we were feeling bad when God spoke to me and said, “you have a new set of equipment” and I asked where they were, God said, “your car”.  So I drove my car to Lagos, sold it and I used the proceeds to buy the equipment.

 Before that time, I had been giving but I had never given a car; it was a thing of joy for me and I knew that it took great faith to do that. The bible says, ‘Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain.’ It was a great leap of faith, I was able to give my car and it was the only car and at that time, it was the only thing I had left that showed that I once had money (laughs). I didn’t get another car back until two years later but then I kept believing God and between that time and now, I have given six cars to God.  We have a lot of great faith moments; a lot of them. 




M.B: What are those principles that make Ministry thrive in a student environment?

Reverend Tunde Afe: This environment is peculiar, thank God it is growing now, it is just this year that we noticed a transition because some of those students we brought up stayed back and are now married and living in Ekiti.  It’s a transition we are witnessing now; today is New Year’s Eve, seven years ago, we wouldn’t consider having a service this evening because there wouldn’t be anyone in the church.  Once Academic Student Union of Universities (ASUU) is on strike, church reduces to virtually nothing.  That’s one of the things we have been coping with over the years.



The first thing is that you have to be someone who believes in raising people because if you don’t believe in raising people, you will be disappointed and then you have to be someone who has a long term perspective about Ministry and about life. You have to be someone who is ready to give without expecting anything back; most of the young people that we minister to finish from school and still go for four years without a job and by the time they get a job, they have forgotten the church that nurtured them for five years so if you are really looking forward to get anything back from them; you might be disappointed. 

You just have to believe that Ministry is much more than just gathering people and putting them in a building.  Ministry is serving people no matter where they go by imparting their lives and obeying God by doing that.  That’s one thing we understood early and we have been running the work based on that principle and God has been faithful.

There are things God has done for us that you can’t see the membership and think that it’s possible. God has raised helps from several places; thank God some of these students actually remember and then they also give back to the work.




M.B: Can you share on how this church was built, I remember you used to tell us how this church would be so beautiful and I used to wonder when that would happen but here I am three years later and the church is indeed a beauty to behold.


Reverend Tunde Afe: When I gave my life to Christ, somebody gave me a book by Frederick KC Price; How Faith Works and that actually built me in faith works. I am a Word of faith person, I am a stickler to the word of God and because I read that book, I looked for similar books like Kenneth Hagin, Kenneth Copeland, Creflo Dollar etc. I have always been along that path. So I went about it with faith and confession because the Word of God says we will have what we say (Mark 11:23), we started making declarations about the building. God told us we would start building when the church turns seven years; so it was wisdom for us to start believing and making declarations when we were five years. So we began to do that; we were believing God for ten plots; everyday, we would get to the office and gather the staff, pray and make the declarations.

Then one day, a member of the church told me that there were ten plots that they wanted to sell in a very central place in the city.  We saw the land but there was water around it so I thought it couldn’t be this place, two weeks later, I was praying and God said He was the one who kept that land for us and that they just sold four plots out of it and that if we don’t act fast, the entire ten plots would be gone. I called the person and asked him and he confirmed that four plots had been sold.  We had to run to the land owners and tell them that we were going to buy the plots.  We made part payment and completed later. Then we moved to site and discovered that the water that we saw initially was child’s play compared to what was there but because God was the one that spoke we forged ahead; if God said He was going to build you a house inside water you better believe itbecause He will do it.



We began the work and when they dug the trenches of the foundation, the engineers discovered that we couldn’t do a normal foundation and that it has to be a raft foundation which is very expensive. The estimate for the building was forty five million Naira ($300,000 or 140,000GBP), when we started we had N300, 000 ($2,000 or 1200GBP) then we discovered the foundation was going to cost six million naira. The first thing I did was to tell everybody that we would stop building; for like six months, nobody came to the site; after about six months, God spoke to me and said it was time to return to site.

I wasn’t conscious of it but I discovered that within those six months, I had been able to move up in faith that even if we didn’t have that money at hand, God was progressively going to provide for us. So we came back and for us to buy the iron rod which was one million naira ($6,500 or 4,000 GBP), we sold another car. I didn’t tell you that to pay for the balance of the land, we sold another car also. We used the money to buy the iron rod and the work began, we then asked all the engineers to leave because I watched them work and I felt there was nothing special about what they were doing and we asked church members to volunteer. That’s how we were able to save five hundred thousand naira ($3350 or 2000 GBP) monthly on labor. That gave us speed and three years after we started the building, it was dedicated.  For some pastors reading this in Lagos or Abuja, you might think that it’s too long but if you are here, you would know that to do what we did in three years would have to be God.



Bishop Felix Adejumo and Reverend Tunde Afe





Commissioning of House of Faith Christian Centre by Bishop Felix Adejumo





L-R; Rev.Albert Femi Oduwole, Rev. Tunde Afe, Bishop Felix Adejumo, Pastor Mrs. Afe



M.B: What is God’s plan for Ekiti State?

Reverend Tunde Afe: Ekiti is a great place to stay; when I got here, I hated this place, I was in Lagos but I didn’t like Lagos. I have always loved a very quiet environment. When I got here, it was quiet but it was ugly but God told me something about Ministry and Ekiti State.  Apart from the fact that He told me to teach and preach the word of faith, He also told me that He brought us here for the economic revival of Ekiti State.  I can never forget that, that’s why we do a lot of economic empowerment for young people and we also run a business school. God told me one day, He said, “very soon, white people will be all over Ekiti and they will be coming without invitation because I have put treasures here in Ekiti that nobody has seen”.  I am here because of these words because God is not a liar; so I am always looking forward to the discovery of mineral resources in Ekiti because God said they are here and I believe that it’s coming to pass gradually. 



Because of the word of the Lord, it does not matter the challenges we have in terms of governance, I believe that God will always raise good people to govern this place because God has a very strategic plan for this place.

If you look at the map of Nigeria, you will discover that Ekiti is halfway between Abuja and Lagos and that’s very strategic. A lot of people have not seen it that way and I didn’t know it was like that until God told me.

So when I see the plans of government and all of that, I am not surprised at their plans. For example, the Ikogosi Warm Springs is big enough to attract a lot of Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to Ekiti State and there are lots of other natural things like that here. Our prayer every day is that God will keep on raising good leaders because with the right leaders, we can maximize the resources that God has put here and if we do, a time will come that Ekiti will be a place that people want to come and live. Our Ministry is not just a teaching ministry, it’s also apostolic; I believe we are sent to this land. 





M.B: How did you meet your wife?

Reverend Tunde Afe: I met my wife in the late 80s, she was in secondary school and I just left secondary school. We were friends and then we started dating, we were not born again; I was in University of Ilorin and she came there too, then she left for University of Ibadan.
We didn’t communicate much after school until I started work and God spoke to me clearly that I should go back to her.  I became born again in 1994 but she still was not born again but by the time God spoke to me, He said, “go back to her, she’s your wife and now she’s born again and I have brought her into the Kingdom.” By the time I went to see her in school, she was already seriously serving God at Rhema Chapel.  After a few months I proposed to her and we got married.  She was still in school when we got married; she had our first two babies in school. 



M.B: You have been married for 16 years, what can you say about Pastor Mrs. Afe?

Reverend Tunde Afe: It’s been exciting but challenging, every marriage has challenges, no marriage will work automatically. My wife is a very hardworking woman, she’s industrious, productive and let me say that if not that I married her, I am not sure that another woman would have followed me from Lagos to Ado Ekiti. If I had married someone who had never been to Ekiti, maybe we would just be fighting on that issue and then we forget about Ministry. So I keep thanking God that I married her. Over the years in this place, she has been very active in the Ministry; in fact, the car we sold to balance the land was her car, it’s been exciting together; we have three kids, one is 15, the other is 13 and the youngest is 9 years old.

M.B: Thank you so much for your time sir.

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Dr.Mike Murdock honours Pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo

January 17, 2014, 4:04 am
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Honor is the seed for access
Honor will make you a fragrance instead of an odour
Honor will take you further than genius
Honor will take you in one day further than your work will take you in ten years
Wherever you sow honor, everything will open for you
- Dr. Mike Murdock



It is indeed a rare privilege to have been mentored by these two great men of God. I gave my life to Christ at the Commonwealth of Zion Assembly (COZA)in 2010 after I heard Pastor Biodun preach on 'Ebenezer, My Stone of Help'.
He talked about Isaiah 50; 7 " For the Lord God will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded; therefore have I set my face like a flint and I know that I shall not be ashamed." My life has never remained the same since then, If there is one wardrobe I crave to have, its Pastor Biodun's wardrobe. I love him and I miss him so much, since I came in contact with him, my life has been like the famed Proverbs 4;18 of all COZA members, "The path of the just is like a shining light that shines ever brighter"

If you missed Dr. Mike Murdock's prophecy over my life on January 1, 2013, you can click here. 

COZA hosts a yearly programme called 12 Days of Glory and at the end of this year's event, Dr. Mike Murdock gave Pastor Biodun a Rolls Royce worth a million dollars (One Hundred and Sixty Million Naira) and included Pastor Biodun's four children in his will. I have never seen this level of honor from any man to another before, I love these men of God and I celebrate the grace they carry. See the pictures below;







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Panam Percy Paul Testifies!

March 3, 2014, 12:26 am
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Hello everyone, I am sorry I have not published in a while, I had to take some time off to focus on some important matters, one of which was my wedding. Yes! I got married to the most beautiful woman in the world on February 15, 2014, and it was a wonderful event, you will see the pictures soon. We thank Jesus for His goodness.


Someone asked me to describe Panam Percy Paul and I said, he is to Gospel music what Sir Shina Peters is to Juju music and more. I grew up listening to Panam Percy Paul and I still listen to him today, the anointing that flows from the voice of this man of God is outstanding.  There was no greater gospel hit than ‘Come lets praise the Lord’ in the 90s.
Today, Panam Percy Paul has more than seventeen awards which include: Best Producer of the year and BMI Music Award for Africa in London, 1995; has over thirteen albums to his credit.
In this interview, he talks about how he met Christ, his struggle with a demonic sickness, how he joined the Rosicrucian sect, his music, family,  Boko Haram and the Goodluck Jonathan government.
This interview was conducted by Prince Charles Dickson of www.aworship.com . Excerpts;
AWT: Sir, for this generation, tell us who is Dr. Panam Percy Paul, who is Papa, the musician, music minister, pastor…?
Panam Percy: I was born in 1957 to Major Paul Harley and Paulina Paul Mokungah of then Gongola, now Adamawa State; I attended Second Baptist Church Primary school, St. Paul’s College, Zaria, Kaduna State, Government Secondary Technical School, and Technical School, also in Suba. Then Kaduna Polytechnic, Kaduna, Kaduna State
I initially worked as Production Supervisor /Engineer, Radio ELWA Christian Communications; I do not need to inform us, that I speak English, my native Mbula and Hausa. I spent my early life in various parts of Nigeria because my father was an officer in the Nigerian Army, and he was always on reassignment. My parents are members of the Lutheran Church.
AWT: How did music come into the picture, not with a Major as a father and you having graduated as an Engineer?’
Panam Percy: My parents did not find it funny, especially practically paying through the hard pocket for their children to have a good formal training, they got disappointed if those children venture into trades considered unenviable or silly. For a twenty year old graduate, one would think I got the full moral support for my creativity and talents but that wasn’t the case with me and our generation, you had to be trained to be a doctor, lawyer or engineer and my parents had done one, so music was out of it.
My mother was a composer though. Whenever my father was transferred to a new place, we would go to church there. My mother would join the women’s choir or women’s fellowship of that church and would write Christian songs for them to sing.
My father liked music too, especially the American “country western” music, and he had a big collection of gramophone records made by singers such as Jim Reeves. I used to listen to these records and imagine that I was the singer.
Yet, I became an outcast and was estranged from home for over 15years. Not minding my health condition of a Sickle Cell like Anaemia and the spiritual case of being tormented by a demon from a very tender age, I was determined to seek help at all cost which made me join the Rosicrucian Movement. Many people did not or do not know this.
AWT: (cuts in) Rosicrucian?, many would want to know more sir’
Paman Percy: Let me continue, on this fateful day, I was hit by the sickness, while on my hospital bed, I received my healing through a TV broadcast after the preacher had led me to Christ. That was the beginning of my journey with Christ in 1976. It was during the turbulent times that I got inspired to write the song lyrics:
“Don’t give up, it’s not over. When you give up, then it’s over. Hold unto the Lord, trouble not your heart. Even when you fail, it’s not over.”
I became born again on that June 13, 1976. I was what you might consider sickle but not as having sickle cell anemia. Every 3 months in a year found me bedridden because I had high fever there was some kind of congestion or whatever in my chest. Each time it came, it was so bad that I thought I would die.
“I suffered like this persistently for years. This went on for six years until 1976 when suddenly, I started to see images and noticed the roof of the house spinning. I saw some spiritual images and sometimes I saw some things that didn’t look natural. But when I talked about them, nobody in the room seemed to understand.
“Certainly, they were not angels. These were spirit beings, wicked spirit beings, because they did some nasty things to me. They were oppressing and suppressing me. I had gone to so many places for assistance. Then I tactically joined the Rosicrucian Movement Society just to be able to get some form of help.
But all I got were certain powers to exhibit some control over the environment. I knew how to hypnotize some people. But that didn’t give me joy because my health was still bad.
“So, while in the hospital, I became fed up with the sickness and then sought God, saying wherever God is, if He does exist, He just should prove Himself to me. So, I screamed on my bed and said “Jesus if You are there, and if You have really died for us and resurrected; then make me believe it. Show me that You died and rose again for my sake, and the only way You can show me is to heal me.”
This is the second time; I have ever narrated this in an interview. It was the beginning of a journey; I can only say that it is a case of “It’s not about what people call you but what you answer to.” No one but God, the Master planer can decide your future. Make yourself available to Him and you’ll become an instrument of global positive impact. So he took away cultism, sickle cell like ailment and here we are me and aworship (laughing).
AWT: You radiate so much passion, laughter, and self-belief, what is the drive’
Panam Percy: First my passion is from Christ, and only Christ, but I will break it down to say that Christ gives me self-worth, something the devil has taken away from this generation of young people both even so-called believers in Christ. I believed that I could by God’s grace affect my local community, I believed in my heritage that I could conquer.
Jesus never went abroad, my focus was on local success, if you want to be an international success, write your story at home.
AWT: Talking about success, your high points, what was that breaking point, concert or event, which sticks?’
Panam Percy: In 1997, I performed for the first time in my home state of Adamawa, it was Master of the Universe Concert, in a sitting dome of just 3,000 and it took some 24,000 people that day, some seven chiefs from all the chiefdoms that made up my locality. You know the song refrain is in my local dialect and there is a particular dance and beat for it.
Before then, many thought because of my name I was some black American, we and the band played that some eight times, you wonder why, I will tell you, at some point my paramount chief, signaled that we stopped and he brought out 10, 000 Naira, and that was a lot of money then and even now (laughing) and asked that we play that chorus again. We did and when we were done, another chief not to be outdone, asked that we play the song again.
For these persons it was with a sense of ‘this is our son’, it was that feeling of when the Lord is proud of you. He says “this is my beloved son”.
I also like to recall, my first tour abroad, to the USA. It was 1985/86. I did not know the people, they had heard about me, and went all the way to the late Archbishop Benson Idahosa in Benin, Niger Delta region of Nigeria to inquire about me and papa told them, I was the bomb and he got across to me. It was one of those moments, need I say that God has been faithful. I was viable locally so I could be exported. I had to discover what I was worth to the society.
AWT: Almost past three decades some thirteen albums and plenty awards, how does it feel and why just thirteen albums?’
Panam Percy: It takes me three years to package an album, it is also not just about an album but a name, about making people through this songs. An album of necessity must outlive a person; your child must outlive you. It is godly. How old is amazing grace, the song, several versions, new ministration but same old blessed songs, it is not in the number of albums or songs.
These days, there is paradigm shift; it used to be Ministry-Minister-person, now it is industry conscious, instead of ministry consciousness. The world dictating the pace of the gospel, that is simply unacceptable but that is what is happening.
The songs today hardly influence the society; they are not answers to any question. Now the industry dictates the ministry, instead of the other way round in which people are touched.
There is a process in life; I began to record albums when I was twenty years old. After I finished from Kaduna Polytechnic, I got a job with Radio ELWA Christian Communications as a Production Supervisor/Engineer. I got married when I was twenty-four years old. God has blessed us with four children.
“My elder brother, Rev. Phillip Paul Mokungah, (now deceased), became a pastor of an independent Pentecostal Church called Oasis of Love in Jos, Plateau State in 1978. What I saw there encouraged me to decide on being a full-time gospel music minister. I resigned my position with Radio ELWA and set up my own recording studio with digital recording equipment in Jos. I named it Panam Music World.
AWT: Sir, briefly let us talk politics, these are tough times in your part of the nation, the North. The Boko Haram scourge, people have been talking retaliation.
Paman Percy: My take is dual, one Boko Haram is on an Islamist agenda, maybe many Muslims may not agree, but that is what it is, take the middle belt by some way, get the nation, it baffles them how they cannot get the middle belt, and if they cannot get the country. Let us destroy it. It is not a faceless group as speculated; they have known sponsors and are part of the system.
It is only sad that they have dealt body blows to the church and Christian, the value of life in the North is less than 10%, people used to run, but now we have seen it all, people are getting immune.
Secondly Jonathan is a target, the idea is to make governance difficult for him and that they are already doing to him, reasons are many stemming from political to economic. For faulting on the PDP North/South power sharing formula. Maybe we should be asking if Yar’adua was alive, we would be witnessing the level of violence.
People forget that the Boko Haram leader was even killed during Yar’adua and it was not this bad. Jonathan is faced with the difficult task of solving this dangerous slide without breaking the country.
AWT: But many may not agree with you, the thinking is that Jonathan is a weak president’
Paman Percy: (smiling) Jonathan is not charismatic, he is no Obama, and he has no oratory skills. But I believe he has vision, but he needs to speed, unfortunately my take is that he is surrounded by people who lack his vision contrary to public opinion that he has a wonderful team.
He is a child of destiny, and has the opportunity to make Nigeria what he least expected. I see him like a front runner not necessarily the real deal but a prelude to the real thing.
AWT: Your contemporaries, many have faded and the young generation we simply cannot grasp them anymore
Panam Percy: The Music Minister is a life and passion, the passion with which you sing and minister a song any day and anywhere, shows the listener that the song was a product of a serious experience and only the actor in the movie can convey the message properly. I say this always. I had my trying periods too.
In a bid to combine music with engineering, I took up an appointment with the Radio ELWA Christian Communication as the production supervisor/ engineer but later resigned to set up my own recording studio and named it “Panam Music world” in Jos. Panam Music World is an organization set up to facilitate the training of Christian Musicians for evangelism and to serve as a springboard for musicians that might be financially challenged. From there the “Panam College of Music Ministry”.
I decided to make business a ministry, apart from  composing, arranging and producing his audio and visual tapes of my performances, I went into publishing sheet music for church choir for them to render my songs correctly.
Like a fruitful tree provides cover and shade for several other things and people too, I decided to keep ministry by expansion.
Most of my peers allowed the tide pass them, and the new ones believe it has to be Lagos (commercial nerve of Nigeria)
Unlike many youths of this generation who dissociate themselves from Christian songs because they consider them not in vogue or uninteresting. My aim as a gospel Music Minister is to lead non- Christians to be interested in the gospel message and to draw them to the true knowledge of our Savior Jesus Christ”. Sing songs that are gateways to worshiping God and establishing an intimate relationship with him.
Again, many Christian musicians and ministers could not go through some hurdles in life and today they are no more there. It was Leonard Ravenhill that said “No man is greater than his prayer life. The Pastor who is not praying is playing; the people who are not praying are straying. The pulpit can be a shop window to display one’s talents; the prayer closet allows no showing off”
I don’t need to talk much about being a praise and worship legend. I hear many people say their love for praise and worship developed from listening to/watching me. Songs like “come let’s praise the Lord”, “bring down your glory” came from deep within my spirit… These days the spirit of many Christian artistes does not sing. And in this day and age it is rare to find gospel music artistes who are genuine worshippers, the anointing is missing.
AWT: Apart from that anointing what is missing, it has all gone sour in Christian music ministry especially in Nigeria and Africa; we depend on American and European Soul worship for spiritual enrichment, why’
Panam Percy: Let us look at it this way sometime in 1961, I was just barely five thereabout, I started to play my first musical instrument, the harmonica. My father taught me to play the organ. I started playing the guitar in 1975. Even the man who actually taught me how to play the guitar did not even believe that I learnt it from him.
My teacher, Mr. Saidi was teaching a fellow student how to play the guitar… and I saw how the student was arranging his fingers on the guitar and looking at the chord chart, and I became interested. So after a while he had the need to go to the bathroom and so I picked it up and within 15 minutes, I was already playing the C, F, and G notes and singing.
Today what do we have, the computers have taken over everything.  There is no learning process, I recall, I would later asked my father to buy me a guitar, so he bought a cheap acoustic guitar for me. I taught myself to play and would try to mimic the song and play along on my father’s records.
Later, I would entertain my parents, brothers and sisters by playing the guitar and singing along my renditions. They would all laugh, but my mother would encourage me saying, Son, keep it up. Something good is going to come out of that.”
“One year I entered for a music competition, but my preparation was insufficient. Facing the crowd, I became so nervous that my performance was woeful. I did not know what to do so my father walked up and dragged me off the stage. I was humiliated, but I was not discouraged. I practiced diligently, entered the competition again the next year and took first position.
AWT:  Has these affected standards of the ministry?
Paman Percy: Yes, it has, and I am not satisfied with the standards of gospel music in Nigeria or even Africa because of the mentality of musicians. In the first place, how many of them really know that they are ministers and not entertainers? Secondly, I think that the pastorate has contributed to the problem of the music ministers.
They’ve made it look like something you do to earn a salary. I want the upcoming music ministers to know that the ministry has an origin. The ministry started with God. God was the first musician and it was He who made Lucifer to have part of His Spirit in order to minister back to Him. So, the musician is always so gifted that he can function in all the offices.”
AWT: Your regrets, or most challenging period?
Paman Percy: My salvation was a challenging period, Yeah. I was desperate because everybody had the opportunity to write their WASC Examinations but I could write only 2 papers and that was it. I was always sick.
That same weekend, the CAPRO (Calvary Ministers) then headed by Bayo Famunure, who incidentally was my teacher in the secondary school, was organizing a film show and what they showed was a T. L. Osborne’s crusade films.
“In the film, I heard T.L Osborne say, “those of you watching, you can see how Jesus healed this boy whose leg was four inches shorter than the other, He can also heal you. So, just lay your hand where you have an ailment.”
“So, I moved my hand to my chest, loosed my two top buttons and slipped in my hand. The man prayed and I said ‘Amen.’ That was it. I felt as light as a feather and as free as air. The congestion in my system just vanished.
For the first time, I shouted, jumped and started shouting, “I am healed, I am healed!” And they started chasing me about, probably wondering if I was mentally all right. Of course, I had to stop running because I was so fast; no one could catch up with me. It is sweet narrating it now but it was tough.
How about regrets, no, I do not have any; I think I have turned out the best I could be, I still try to keep improving and learning, but no regrets.
AWT: How do you cope, family, all the responsibilities and this talk about you seeing everything as politics?
Paman Percy: (smiling) Yes everything is politics, it only depends how it is played and who it is played for, I play politics for Christ, trying to catch disciple for the Lord.

On the family level, I try to create balance; you cannot be everything or one thing for twenty four hours. There are times when I am a father, a husband, a music minister, business man, and grandfather amongst my many responsibilities. I believe every individual is a factory. By wisdom a man apportions time to himself.
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The Power of Passion and the Spirit of the Warrior by Femi Fani-Kayode

March 8, 2014, 2:09 pm
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There's something about the anointing that flows from the pen of a gifted writer such as Chief Femi Fani-Kayode. God gives us talents in many forms, for people like Lionel Messi, its their legs, for people like King David, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode and yours truly, the gift flows from our pen.


When I read this article, something stirred within me and I knew I should share it with the world.  This is one of the best I have ever read and I consider it a rare privilege to share this article on our blog.

Excerpts...









Until you hear the Scotsman play the bagpipes in the early morning mist of the Scottish highlands, you have heard nothing. Until you hear the Irish maiden sing ''O Danny Boy'' on the lush green fields of the Emerald Isle, you know nothing.

Until you hear the Welshman sing ''Men of Harlech'' in the beautiful valleys of Pontypool and Pontyprid, you have heard nothing. Until you see the English rose blossom and bloom in early spring and you hear the British Grenadiers sing ''God Save The Queen'', you have seen nothing. 

Until you see the ''Charge of the Light Brigade'' and witness the courage of ''the famous 600'', you know nothing. Until you see the Zulu warrior dance his battle dance on the hills of Isandlwana and Rorke's Drift, you know nothing. 

Until you hear the Ashanti and the Yoruba sing songs of praise to the Living God, you have heard nothing. Until you see the Frenchman sing ''La Marseillaise'' and ''Je Ne Regrette Rien'', you know nothing.

Until you see brave men fight, suffer and die for a noble and just cause, you know nothing. Until you hear the cries, see the tears, read the words and feel the pain of a wounded, tormented and broken soul, you have seen nothing. 

Until you feel the passion of the wounded Messiah on the cross at Calvary, you know nothing.

All these unseen things inspire. They stir the spirit and move the soul. They breath and bleed passion. They ARE passion itself. And passion is the essence of life. It is the food of the compassionate and the sensitive spirit. 

It is the fuel of noble and courageous souls. It is the stuff of which gods and immortals are made. It is our passport to posterity- our key to future glory. Yet nothing and no-one epitomises the power of passion more than the spirit of the warrior.

The warrior is noble and strong. His resolve is firm and his commitment is total. His is to kill, to shed blood and to be killed. His is to die for his king and for a worthy cause. His is to protect and lay down his life for his faith, his nation, his people and his loved ones. 

What manner of men are these whose spirit speak of such valour and nobility? Consider the ancient Spartans and the Roman warriors of old. Consider the fearsome Vikings who believed that it was a curse to die a peaceful death and that the only way to heaven was to die violently and heroically in fearsome battle. Consider the greatest of all warriors that ever lived, the noble and gallant Achilles. 

Consider Alexander the Great who conquered the world with his sword. Consider King David, the greatest of all the kings of Israel, who was a man of blood and war and yet whom God so loved and who loved God more than any other. 

Consider David's "strongmen" who stood with him through thick and thin and who fought for and protected him to the very end. Consider their gallant captain, the mighty Joab and the others, Abishai, Asahel, Eleazer, the Tachomonite, Shammah, Benaiah, Eliam, Igal and Uriah the Hittite. 


These were David's ''strongmen'': all great and valient men of war whose courage was legendary and whose loyalty to their God and their King was unflinching and unquestionable.

Consider Shaka the Zulu, Beowulf the Nordic king and William Wallace the liberator of Scotland. Consider King Henry V of England who routed the French at the battle of Agincourt even though he was outnumbered by three men to one. 

Consider Julius Caesar who came, who saw and who conquered. Consider the great Heracles who was a descendant of the mighty Hercules himself. Consider Spartacus, who turned slaves into men. Consider Samson, who slew a troop with the jaw bone of an ass and yet who fell at the touch of a woman.

Consider Gideon who slew the Midianites, Jeptha who sacrificed his own daughter, Joshua who brought down the walls of Jericho and Jehu, who drove his chariot like a madman, who slew the witch-Queen Jezebel and who fulfilled prophesy by ensuring that the dogs ate her flesh and licked her blood in the fields of Jezreel.

Consider those that laid down their lives for our great and noble faith: Paul of Tarsus, the greatest of all the apostles, who brought the glorious gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ to the gentiles and to the wider world. 

Peter the disciple, who became the rock on whom the Church of God was built. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Samuel, Stephen, Isaiah, Elijah, Daniel, John and all the other disciples and prophets of old. 

For martyrs and heroes that lived and died for God are also gallant warriors who feared not death and who stood firm to the end in defence of their faith.

Consider George Washington who led his troops into battle and whose battle cry was "victory or death". Consider the charge of the Light Brigade, the sheer courage and discipline of the famous 600, at the battle of Balaclava in the fields of the Crimea. 

Consider General Lee at the battle of Gettysberg, Oliver Cromwell at the battle of Nasby, Horatio Nelson at the battle of Trafalgar and King Leonides, with his gallant ''300'', at the battle of Thermopalye. Consider Generals Marshal, Patton, Eisenhower, Rommel and MacArthur in the great battles of the Second World war. Consider the ''Black Scorpion'', General Benjamin Adekunle, with his 3rd Marine Commando at the Battle of Ore.

Consider Zhukov at the siege of Leningrad and his courageous exploits at the battle of Moscow. Consider Bernard Montgomery, with his fearless ''Desert Rats'', at the battle of Alamein, Charles De Gaulle at the siege of Paris and Chiang Kai-Shek in the war against Japan. Consider Attila the Hun, Ghengis Khan, Peter the Great, Richard the Lionheart, Salahudeen the Compassionate, Katsumoto the Samurai, Hannibal of Carthage and Hector of Troy.

Consider our gallant amazons and female warriors of old- Boudica of East Anglia, Joan D'Arc of France, Elizabeth 1 of England, Amina of Zaria, Moremi of Ife, Golda Meir of the State Of Israel, Margret Thatcher of Great Britain, Indira Ghandi of India, Queen Idia of Benin, Benazir Bhutto of Pakistan, Queen Esther of the Medes and Persians, Cleopatra of the Blue Nile and Egypt and Yaa Asantewaa of the Ashanti Kingdom.

Consider Generals Foche and Hague at the battle of the Somme. Consider George Armstrong Custer at the battle of the Little Big Horn, the Duke of Wellington at the battle of Waterloo and Napolean Bonaparte, in his full glory and power, at the battle of Marengo. 

Consider Aragorn of Gondor, who won the battle for Middle Earth and who broke the power of the ring. Consider Cyrus of Persia, whose compassion knew no bounds and who allowed Nehemiah to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. 

Consider Lancelot of the Round Table, the most handsome and courageous of all King Arthur's knights, who was unbeatable in battle and who captured the heart of the queen. 

Consider Aslan, the great Lion of Narnia, whose roar filled the land, whose power drove away the winter and who crushed the white witch in battle. 

Consider Maximus Decimus Meridius, Commander of the Armies of the North and General of the Felix Legions, who fought with strength and honour, who slew the wicked Emperor and who delivered the City of Rome. 

Consider Uthman Dan Fodio who spread his faith with zeal and valour and who built a formidable empire. Consider Colonel Robert Gould Shaw and the exploits of his ''all black'' 54th Massachusetts regiment at the battle for Fort Wagner. 

Consider General Mohammadu Buhari at the war in Chad when he drove the enemy from our borders and almost took the City of Ndjamena. Consider Brigadier Halilu Akilu who crushed the Maitatsine and who saved the ancient City of Kano. Consider General Fajuyi who laid down his life for his brother.

Had these great men and women all not stood their ground and had they all not played their role in our collective history, where would the world be today? They sacrificed their today so that we may have our tomorrow. 

They lived and died for the sake of others and asked for only one thing in return: that their names should live forever and that we should never forget their noble deeds and their worthy sacrifices. 

And we must not forget, nay we dare not forget, for as Martin Luther King once said "if a man is not ready to die for something, then he is not worthy of living for anything". The warrior is prepared to die for his cause. That is what makes him so noble and that is why he will always have a special place in our hearts.

May the spirit of the warrior and selfless courage fill us all and, like the true warriors that we are meant to be, when the angel of death comes may the Lord give us the strength and boldness to look at him fearlessly in the face and treat him with the contempt and disdain that he deserves- knowing that he has lost his sting and that, by the power of Christ Jesus, he has been conquered and crushed.

When the dark angel comes, as come he must for us all, let us be men and let us die a good death, not cringing and crying like puppies, but like true warriors, fighting to the bitter end. 

For it is never for the warrior to ask the why: it is only for the warrior to do or die. The warrior does not vanish into the night. The warrior will not go down without a fight. 

Permit me to end this contribution with the following counsel. Courage is the greatest of all the virtues and it is the best defense. 

Regardless of whatever challenges we may face today, like the warrior, we must show courage. We must stay the course, steel our hearts, fortify our faith, shed our fears and march on in the strength and power of the Lord. 

We must stand firm, refuse to bow, refuse to flinch and we must defy the enemy. We must stand and we must fight. We must ensure that the good in our land prevails over the evil and that the light overcomes the darkness. 

That is our hope and that is the challenge before every self-respecting Nigerian today- to scale the obstacles in our land and to bring hope to the hopeless, the vulnerable, the weak, the poor, the deprived and the less privileged. 

That is what warriors are meant to do and my prayer is that the Lord grants each and every one of us the presence of mind and the fortitude to do it. May God bless and defend our nation.
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Celebrating the Life and Times of Archbishop Benson Idahosa 16 years after

March 12, 2014, 7:58 am
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We celebrate the life and times of a living legend. Yes! He lives on through his books and sermons which are still the most sought after, he lives on through the various missions, hospitals and the Benson Idahosa University, he lives on in the heart of young Christians like myself who are learning from the life of Papa.

 I was thinking of what I could do to honour this great man of God and I decided to contact Bishop F.E.B Idahosa and he sent this poem to me, it really does encapsulate and celebrate the life and times of the Archbishop.

Excerpts;


                                                             The man named Benson
Life,

Life with it twists and turns,
Indifferent about who gets hurts,
Doesn't listen even to the cry of a seemingly helpless baby,
Yet can hold a great destiny for those that may have been rejected, and left for dead

His mission began from a tender age, 

Living among relatives,
Deprived of basic necessities,
But always used his initiative,
Knowing that nothing changes,
sitting idle,doing nothing,



By another twist at near death experience, 
He encountered life,
That life,
turned Africa and indeed the world with the gospel of faith,
Acclaimed to have preached to more black than any white, and more whites than any black,
Held the crusade of the century,
Indeed,
his mission could not be deterred,
With evangelism, the supreme task.




He helped us understand what Christ really meant when he said begin from Jerusalem, then Judah, Samaria and to the uttermost parts of the world,
So he rightly began from his home city,
The ever popular black cradle of civilization,
Notorious for ills, witchcraft, and occult practices,
Soon became the city for Jesus,
Bringing the dead back to life literally and in all other areas,
Indeed a man on a mission,
The world had come to know.




As a wise farmer who gathers his harvest,
He could comprehend that winning the world and losing family in the process was too big collateral damage to incur,
He set the trend and carved a path for his family to walk, like he walked,
Receiving same commendation as Abraham, 
“I know he will command his house after me”,
Sure, 
his family mission field was never neglected.




When mission’s week is celebrated,
Its more than a man's life that was documented and being brought to remembrance,
But a deep sober reflection,
How are we handling our own mission field?


Have we gone into all the world beginning from our homes, streets, schools and offices, 
Or are we seeking global attention, 

When we lack no local commendation.





This man single handedly put the city of Benin again on the world map,
his name is a global brand, an icon for faith, as names like Billy Graham, Oral Roberts, TL Osborn, you will mention his; Idahosa 
Little wonder his first son was named faith.




His mission didn't end march 12th,
It only translated into a legacy,
Showing us there is no room for complacency,
as we never get life's quit notice,
of when our time on earth is due.




Some take pride in knowing this man personally,
But if you truly embark on your mission like he did,
others will take pride in knowing you personally,
Your mission is simply what God has called you to do,
This man did his, 
and we are celebrating today,
What are you doing that generations will celebrate tomorrow?


The harvest is out there,
The mission field is not in the church,
Quit playing church and be about your mission,
You still have time.

You can do much with the little you have, your widows mite could really be mighty
Could be a little more specific like,
give that smile, that hug, that helping hand, that listening ear, saying Jesus loves you to your family, friends, and colleagues,
Inspire the next generation with the gospel,
You may not be a dead raiser,
But with your support, encouragement and words of affirmation,
destinies you can help raise.

You don't have to be really wealthy to help another,
You just have to be ready,
To be used as a vessel,
Cos God loaded you with treasure in earthen vessel.

Remember your mission is unique to you,
Forget your neighbors field,
Focus on yours and look forward to its yield,
obeying as the spirit leads,
The scripture says my people perish for lack of knowledge,
Missions will go unaccomplished for lack of people.

You are the one,
This is the time,
Its never too late to be about your mission,
Cos in truth, its Gods mission.
Do something, 
Dare to believe.
You have been commissioned and empowered
Be about the mission,
No excuses,
Excuses are only good reasons for a bad result,
Make an impact, 
Through your mission,
no excuses.


Osagie Alex
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Oluwatoyin weds Adewale

March 17, 2014, 2:34 am
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Now unto Him that is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us... Ephesians 3;20

Ladies and Gentlemen, we serve an awesome God, He will take your five loaves and two fishes and he will feed five thousand with plenty left overs. This is our testimony.
We didn't want a big wedding because of the financial implications. All I knew was I met this beautiful, sexy, godly woman and I wouldn't rest till I gave her my last name. We went through everything we needed and I was scared but the word of the Lord came to me saying, 'Thus says the Lord, who makes a way in the sea and a path through the mighty waters. Isaiah 43;16. 

As I meditated on this scripture, I began to realise that it was that which we were scared of that God would use to bless us. We wrote out a list and we would thank God for everything on the list every morning and night. The miracle began and we started ticking off things on the list till everything we wrote down was gotten. We couldn't afford the kind of wedding we had and by the time the wedding was over, we had more money than we had seen in a long time. 
Beloved, trust God to do for you the things you cant do for yourself, faith is valid, take that step of faith and God will meet you at the point of your need. We thought to share some of our pictures with our viewers all over the world. Excerpts.

Tips for those getting married;. Everything will not go as planned but don't let it bother you, we held all the events at the same venue on the same day because we didn't want to deal with Lagos traffic and it was economical. We designed a garden setting for the white wedding but we spent so much time at the engagement that we had no choice but to hold the church and reception at the same place too. Make sure you have fun!


The Bridal Shower

My Sunshine


L-R Sandra, Lizzy and  Demi


Sunbo, little bride, Wifey





Sarah, Sunbo, Wifey, Lizzy and Lola









































This is my aunt, she's the only person in the world who makes me shut up and behave with just a stare! She has my buttons. Love you aunt.
Dboi, Jubril


L-R Bayo, Samuel, Muyo, Femi

L-R Yomi, Ope, Dboi, Siji, Lanre, Femi, Jubril, Bayo


L-R Dboi, Siji, Femi, Jubril



Add caption








I call my father in law "My chairman". He is such a jolly fellow



This is one of my favorite parts; my uncle, Prince Julius Adeluyi was praying for me then suddenly he said ' this is not our language and then he switched over to Ekiti " Okun o Adewale, wa riyan je, ara a tu o, aye re a loyin" (Well done Adewale, may you always have pounded yam on your table, may life be good to you, may your life be sweet as honey)



The boizz


My elder brother, Seun Aladejana






This is one of my favorite pictures

That's my momma

My Executive Director; Dr. Florence Etta. She is one of the most brilliant minds I have ever met.

I don't know any king that rolls like Kabiyesi Tejuoso; yet he is such a humble and kind hearted man, we took so much time and he stayed till the end despite his busy schedule. God bless you sir.

L-R Lanre, Yomi, Ope


The White Wedding
We had spent so much time at the engagement and we were running late, I had dreams of a photo shoot before the wedding but it couldn't happen, we all dressed up in a hurry.

























Bishop Onubogu came all the way from Enugu State. God bless you sir

Rev. Tunde Afe came all the way from Ekiti State. We celebrate you sir


L-R Rev. Tunde Afe, Pastor Iyke Samuels, Bishop Onubogu, Oba Adedapo Adewale Tejuoso

You may kiss the bride. Pastor Iyke Samuels came all the way from Benin. We appreciate you sir.




L-R Samuel, Siji, Lanre, Jubril, Muyo, Yomi, Bayo, Damilare and Kehinde










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Oba Adedapo Adewale Tejuoso celebrates 76th birthday with 5 day Crusade

March 18, 2014, 12:26 am
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We all know Oba Dr. Adedapo Adewale Tejuoso; The Oranmiyan Osile Oke Ona Egba Abeokuta (CON) as a doctor, businessman and king. His name brings pictures of royalty, glamour, and prestige to your mind. All these are totally true but there’s a part of him most of you don’t know; Kabiyesi is a man after God’s own heart.

He turned 76 this year and he got the instruction from God to celebrate his birthday with a 5day crusade at Ajah Lekki. Apart from Kabiyesi, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo; Nigeria’s erstwhile president who is now addressed as Pastor Matthew Aremu Obasanjo was also supposed to minister at the crusade but he was unavoidably absent.  Other notable preachers at the event were Bishop Kayode Williams and Pastor James Ademuyiwa from the United Kingdom.  
Kabiyesi Tejuoso is a gifted teacher of the word; I sat with him for over an hour before the crusade and he began to explain scriptures to me. Just like everything he does, his teaching of the Word is thorough, backed up with scriptures and inspired by the Holy Spirit.  The crusade had in attendance a crowd of over 3000 people with many men and women giving their lives to Christ.



Kabiyesi kneels before the King of Kings









I want to share his sermon at the 5day Ajah Lekki Crusade with you . I pray this word will bless you in Jesus name.  Excerpts;

Kabiyesi’s Sermon at Ajah Lekki Crusade

You can see that I am wearing a crown tonight; if I didn’t wear my crown, passersby would not know that a new thing has started.  When they see that it’s an Oba on the pulpit, they would want to hear what I have to say and in the process, God will arrest them.

There are 2 kinds of prisons; that of the world and those in locks. The ones in locks are lucky because they have a house but those outside are those under the bondage of Satan, it’s because of them that we are here today. You may be looking at those under lock as prisoners but if you are under the bondage of Satan, you are in more bondage than them.

You have seen people stand up to preach but you haven't seen someone sit down to preach. Kings sit; if we were to do it as it’s been done, you are meant to stand as I am sitting but in Christ Jesus, we are all kings.

Jesus is the way, truth and life but the road is narrow.  I have brought one passport for you and it’s only through Jesus, when God sees Jesus in you, He won't judge you, He will judge the Jesus in you. We don't judge people twice, Jesus was judged for you, He gave you His life, He didn't give you 10%; He gave you 100%. He died so that we will not perish. I bring this light to you, Jesus is the light that was spoken of in Genesis 1; 3 “ And God said, Let there be light; and there was light”. And also in 2 Corinthians 4 vs 6; “For God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”  

The light that Jesus brings to your life is nothing you can compare to the light of this world; it’s the light that comes with truth and life. If you look at the sun, you can be blind, yet the light of Jesus is brighter than that of the sun.  Acts 26:13 “At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me” The light that Saul saw was brighter than the sun, it was in the day and the sun didn't blind him yet he met Jesus and he was blind for 3 days.

1 Kings 3;12 “ Behold,  have done according to thy words; lo, I have given thee a wise and understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.”
God told Solomon there won't be a wiser man than him yet I am wiser than Solomon.  Matthew 12:42 :  The queen of the South shall rise up in the  judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it; for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold a greater than Solomon is here”. Jesus said He is wiser than Solomon and if I have Jesus in me, I am wiser than Solomon. Don't you want to be wiser than Solomon?
Jesus is the way, truth and the life and He is here today, He's knocking at the door of your heart and He says if you open up, He will dine and wine with you. 


Jonathan was a friend to David, yet his father, Saul was an enemy. The friendship between Jonathan and David was bound by a covenant to always remember and favour him. One day, David asked if there was any seed of Saul left, he was told there was a son left who was a cripple. They thought that David would not accept the son because he was crippled, all of us are crippled in the eyes of God, this country is crippled in the eyes of God. David gave a command that the cripple would eat with him on the same table. Jesus is also calling you to come and eat with him on the same table, Jesus is calling you, He is knocking at the door of your heart. Most of you will not sit at table to eat with a cripple but whenever David looks at the cripple, it’s Jonathan he sees. When you accept Christ, God sees Jesus, the way David sees Jonathan in the cripple. I pray you will not turn deaf ears to Jesus. 


You are wreaking havoc to your life if you don't accept Jesus into your life. Don't leave here without accepting Jesus.If you have not accepted Jesus, accept Him today.



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I.D Cabasa Testifies!

March 31, 2014, 3:26 am
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I celebrate  our viewers from all over the world, thank you for your unrelenting support, we are almost 50,000 viewers from over 40 countries of the world! We couldn't have gone this far without you, may God make your dreams come true.

I bring you the testimony of Olumide Ogunade a.k.a I.D Cabasa.  Not only is he a multiple award winning artist, to me; he is one of the greatest producers in the world, he has produced for many of Nigeria's finest artistes. He is behind 9ice's best selling album Gongo Aso (even my mum knew the song) and many more big artistes like Olamide, Ruggedman and so on.

Behind all the hype and paparazzi is a man completely sold out to God, this interview is one of the deepest I ever conducted, Cabasa bared it all as he spoke about his music, why secular artistes are more successful that gospel artistes, his family and so on. Kindly read and share...




MTB: You are famous, the life of the party, 9ice, Olamide and many of the big artistes today attribute their success to you. It’s rare to see someone at the peak of his fame become a born again Christian. What made you give your life to Christ?
I.D Cabasa; I laughed out really loud from the first question because it sounded like I just gave my life to Christ.
I have been born again since 1999 and working with all the said secular artistes is just fulfilling the scripture of “Go ye into all the world” (Mark 16; 15) not back to the church to make disciples of men. I didn't become famous before Christianity rather it's Gods glory revealing itself through me.
 
Many Christians criticize us for producing or doing secular music but most of them work in secular organization! A banker once asked me this same question and I asked her if the bank she works in is a Gospel Bank! Christians need to stop being unnecessarily religious and start being Christ like! If a secular artiste walks into a studio and Jesus is behind the console, what will He do? Can you change what you are not involved in?

I produced great songs by His grace that passed the test of time but I was just a tool in the Master’s hands to show forth His glory which I try as much as possible not to take anytime I have the opportunity to climb any stage.
Beyond producing these people, ask them and they will tell you I also do a bit of mentoring and pastoring to a whole lot of them.
God has been faithful no scandal has been recorded to my name! I have a beautiful wife who does gospel music Sijuade Ogunade and two great kids and God has never stopped being faithful.

MTB: Is Music spiritual?

I.D Cabasa; Well I will say it’s a spiritual tool, only God and man are made up of the spirit. Music is just a means to an end into the spiritual.
Music itself helps our emotions to connect but the "WORD" is the real thing that helps our faith; i.e what we believe in.


I am privileged to lead a team of worshippers in my church Global Impact Church where emphasis is placed on the heart of worship more than the art of worship though the art and act too are very important but giving God His due worth is the essence of why we worth-ship.
Man sang before he spoke (crying can be traced tonally) 



MTB: Why are gospel artistes not as successful as the secular ones?

I.D Cabasa; I will have to write a book to answer this but I will give little insight into some findings which I stand to be corrected on.
The church still has great music but it's like feeding an over fed baby, take your music to outside the church and be real with people; not your unnecessary religious perceptions but sing songs that the people can relate with.

Packaging/perception is important, even Prophet Samuel in the bible fell for perception (I Samuel 16; 6) which is stronger than reality, we know you are anointed but please dress well, ensure your image is alluring to people and handle your act professionally.
Many churches are starving gospel artistes all in the name of honorarium; the ‘honor’ is gone from it just the ‘rarium’ remaining.
I read 1 Corinthians 9; 13-14 and it's so shocking that the scripture feels the pain of church musicians.
Being a gospel artist is not meant to be a limitation but an edge. Unfortunately, Christians’ expectation is what is making many guys to live below their full potential because the stage they perform/minister is defined! 
What is wrong with going on the same stage with secular artistes and singing your own song? Ironically, we live in the same secular world and work therein.
God is faithful; if we believe and can break this wall called religion and take the message to the people it's meant for rather than trying to woo other Christians!



MTB: Most artistes started from the church, why do artistes leave the church for secular music?

I.D Cabasa; Gather five Christian ladies around you and ask them who they would first inform if they got pregnant before marriage; their pastor or their secular friend? People trust the secular system more because of the reward system and they accept them just the way they are but ironically that is what grace is about!
 Grace is what the church teaches and that is what the secular practice on the flip side.  Many of those who cross to secular music do so because of money and fame not knowing that the greatest motivator should be being a blessing to mankind and forgetting that God is the judge and the only one who can promote.
Not knowing who you are or a lack of identity will make a gospel artiste settle less for ‘vulgar’ music. I used the word ‘vulgar’ because there's nothing wrong with secular music but everything is wrong with vulgar songs.

The church needs to also appreciate their own and encourage them when they come to minister, I understand we might not be number one on your priority list but always remember that people remember the four minutes track of an artiste than an hour of sermon, so
pay the musician/instrumentalist well and they will stay but make sure you also make good Christians out of them, care for them and love them genuinely.
I stayed back in the church despite the fact that I don't get paid any salary because I see genuine care and love all around me.



MTB: What's new with your music?

I.D Cabasa; Presently, I am working on some projects of new artistes signed on to Coded Tunes. I am also setting up a new label in my church; Impact Music.
I still do my day to day artiste production and song writing.

MTB: You were recently ordained a pastor, how does that influence your music? Do you still produce beats for secular artists?

I.D Cabasa; Pastoring is a role I have been playing before now so nothing really changed only more responsibilities added. I am a musician by calling and I produce music! Now I am more conscious of every lyric that goes on my beat but without any form of discrimination of whether its gospel or secular all I do is music!


 

MTB: How did you meet your wife?

I.D Cabasa; I met my wife in a church I attended way back; Akoka Baptist church, we were friends for a long time before I asked her out and we are still best of friends till now! I think she's the best woman that's meant for me and she's very beautiful.


MTB: What advice do you have for the unmarried?


I.D Cabasa; The unmarried should marry not because it's the next thing to do but because it's the right thing to do, marry with the right motive and for the right reason, not just for sexual fulfillment  or because people are telling you time is going. 
Also know that marriage requires God’s wisdom and direction and loads of maturity.



MTB; Thank you for your time sir
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Soul E prophesies again!

April 2, 2014, 3:29 am
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If you are into e- journalism, you have to be creative; there is a very high demand for hot, juicy news and you must be up to the minute. At My Testimonys Blog (MTB), we don't share left overs, we keep it exclusive. By the grace of God, we source for our own news; if you read it on this blog then be certain its straight from the source.

Its in our bid to satisfy our viewers all over the world that we have decided to be more creative to meet demand. Now we do interviews via emails, Whatsapp, Skype, Blackberry Messenger and any other social media. I.D Cabasa's interview was via email and this interview was via Whatsapp.

We recently hooked up with popular soul singer turned prophet; Emmanuel Okose also known as Soul E and he opened up on his walk with God, how he backslid in 2004. He also shared on the challenges of gospel artistes and advised Wizkid and Davido to come together and pray.  Then released more prophecies concerning tragedy for many movie stars and he also warned that government should do something about the Benin/Ore road or more people would die.

 Excerpts...



MTB; We have seen you evolve from a best-selling musician to a prophet recently, what happened to you?


Soul E: This has always been my life, even when I was in the world if you take a good look at my songs you will find out that I was different but God wanted me to experience the other side so that when He starts using me, I will have what to say and by His grace, we have been to over 35 nations speaking the Gospel and thousands have been lead to Christ so I am happy and blessed to be used by God this way.

MTB; Have you always been a prophet? When did the prophetic unction come?

Soul E: Yes, I have always been a prophet. From the age of 8, I have been prophesying and the things I say happens. At the age of 13, I was opening crusades for my dad who is an apostle but I lost it in 2004; thank God for my parents they stood in the gap for me, and since 2009 till date, the God of heaven has never left me.

MTB; Tell us about your experiences in 2004

Soul E; Well, I have always loved music but I did not get support from the church, I want to say this; pastors should be sensitive, so many has left the church and went into the world because of there is no support for talented people in the church


MTB; You were a big hit, everyone loved your music, what are the temptations gospel artistes shouldwatch out for when they hit the limelight?

Soul E; Pride, money and women. If they can deal with these three things, the sky is their starting point

MTB; You recently prophesied about Boko Haram attacking Aso Rock and about Davido and Wizkid. They seem to be coming to pass especially with the recent occurrence at SSS headquarters yesterday. Can you expatiate on these prophecies?

Soul E; When God gives a prophet a word, his duty is to pass it out so that everyone is alert and pray.

I told the  world that there will be an attack but no one believes but am sure they have seen what happened on Sunday, for the other musicians, I pray they listen to what God is saying.

MTB: What advice would you give to Wizkid and Davido? What should they do about the prophecies? Should they fast and pray or humble themselves before God? Please use this platform to address them

Soul E; They should respect God through the prophet and they should get themselves together and pray.



                             

MTB; Congratulations on your wedding. What have you learnt about women and marriage?

Soul E; Be truthful to the woman in your life and you will face less wahala (problems). Love her and give her attention that is what they love.


MTB; Are you releasing any albums soon?

Soul E; Yes, it’s called Bad Boy Turned Prophet

MTB; Why are secular artistes more successful than gospel artistes?

Soul E; It’s simple, the people of the church don't support them do you know the people that make secular musicians are Christians; they are the ones that go to club, buy their Cds and support their shows.

MTB; What do you think the church needs to do about this challenge?

Soul E; Brother, it starts from the head; if the pastors teach their followers to support their musicians, things will change.

                                

MTB; Are there more prophecies you would like to share with the world?

Soul E; Yes and you will be the first to hear these prophecies,  more movie stars will go soon. Also, the government needs to do something about the Benin/ Ore express road. That road will eat more lives this year if the government does not pay attention. Something horrible will happen on that road that will shake Africa and the world if care is not taken. Those that will be fooled (or deceived by the devil) this year will be more than any other year both in Nigeria and other parts of the world but the good news is  the ones that know there God will be strong and prosper, when others are crying they will be rejoicing.



MTB; What is your advice for the unmarried?

Soul E; There is a level of grace that you can never have if you are not married

MTB; Thank you so much for your time

You can follow Soul E on his Facebook fan page; SOUL E BABA
Twitter; @prophetsoule
Instagram; @soulebaba

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What kind of wedding does God recognise?

April 4, 2014, 2:59 am
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This question is an offshoot of my experience. As you know, I got married very recently and we had to go through the three ceremonies; the court wedding, the traditional wedding and the white wedding. We had the court wedding on December 5, 2013 and the traditional and white wedding on February 15, 2014. Although friends and family members knew about the court wedding, many would still ask why I was wearing a wedding band. I was married but there was no acceptance until the traditional and white wedding on February 15. 

Many believe that once you say "I do" either in court, traditional or in a church ceremony you are married while others believe that as a christian, God does not recognise your marriage if it is not blessed by your pastor. I would love to have your opinion on this matter. It will help a lot of people. Many men wish to get married but when they think of the financial implication of these ceremonies; they back down and begin to believe God for the big money before they make the move. These could take years. Does God really care about how you get married?








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I Love You Forever - Tigho and Emeka

April 5, 2014, 10:21 pm
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Congratulations to Tigho and Emeka as they celebrate their one year wedding anniversary. One of the decisions we made for 2014 was to celebrate christian weddings and anniversaries and we are so delighted to be celebrating our first couple on this blog. They also decided to share their pictures with our viewers. They are such a beautiful couple. Tigho also had some beautiful words for her husband. Enjoy.












Its one year already and its still feels like it was yesterday we got married , every moment spent with you has been worth the while. You have been to me a husband, pastor, father, brother, lover, best friend and SIRE of my world. You surely stand out in comparism to other men not just as a husband but also as a leader to this generation. I can proudly say my life has changed tremendously in the past one year because of your great well of knowledge. I am grateful to God for our union and for the day I said yes to you, your love for God humbles me and your love for me is beyond description, words cannot possibly express what you mean to me, I am proud to say that when I count my blessings I count you a zillion times, you are always dazzling and ruddy to look upon, kings shall indeed come to our rising, I wish us a life filled with love and deep understanding. I am proud to say I love you forever. HAPPY WEDDING ANNIVERSARY TO US. 








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