My Economic Fortune Hasn't Increased Because of Cardinalship - Onaiyekan

The Catholic Archbishop of Abuja Cardinal John Onayekan said his elevation to cardinalship position has not, in anyway, made him a moneybag as the job is a divine call and not a money-making one.

Cardinal Onaiyekan spoke in Abuja yesterday at the second international Islamic arts/calligraphy exhibition organised by a Muslim group, Abuja Muslim Forum.

Some Nigerian clerics are not only cruising in private jets but also owning fleet of cars. But the Catholic Archbishop of Abuja said since he became the cardinal a few years ago, he had not witnessed any corresponding increase in his economic fortune because the post is purely a divine one.

According to him, "many people believe that as a cardinal I must be rich but I always tell them that I have not had any increment in economic fortune since becoming Cardinal".

He said: "Generally, when you are in the world and you are promoted, your salary increases. Well, in the church, it is not like that. My salary has not increased. My economic resources have remained the same. But my prestige has grown, ofcourse, and I now have more responsibility, more work."
BY ZAKARIYYA ADARAMOLA

Pope Francis To Go On Facebook

The Vatican is about to unveil a Facebook page for Pope Francis, as part of its strategy to expand the Catholic Church’s presence on social media, according to reports yesterday.

The pope already has nine different-language profiles on Twitter, attracting more than 12 million followers.
His predecessor, Benedict XVI, opened the accounts in December 2012.

“Francis will soon have his very own profile on the world’s favourite social network. “ The Vatican is just working on some final technical aspects before the Pope’s Facebook page is made visible to the public,” specialised website Vatican Insider said.

The Vatican was not immediately available for comment. The report added that IT experts are working to prevent offensive or inappropriate messages appearing on the pope’s Facebook page before it is opened to the public.

In January, Francis said that the internet can help spread God’s message, noting that it offers immense possibilities for encounter and solidarity.
Posted by: niyi  

Borno Records First Peaceful Sallah in Four Years

For the first time in four years, there was peace across the villages and towns in Borno State during the celebration of Eid-el-Kabir. In the last four years, the celebrations of Sallah had been marred by security breaches as the Boko Haram sect always used the occasions to wreak havoc on innocent people and communities.

In Maiduguri, people trooped out in their thousands to celebrate the Muslim festival, told THISDAY that they thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

A durban was also held in the town as colourful horses were ridden by eminent people in the state at the Shehu palace open ground. At the headquarters of all the 27 local government areas of the state, no unsavoury incident was heard as people celebrated the occasion in peace.

Also in all villages across the state, people were said to have come out to celebrate in peace and harmony.

A visit round Maiduguri yesterday, showed that many people came out to known relaxation centres to celebrate.

Some of the people who trooped into the state capital from other parts of the state, revealed that there was peaceful celebration in their areas.

Alhaji Abba who drove from Monguno to Maiduguri to celebrate with some friends said: "Despite the huge fear of unknown attacks from the insurgents who are now hiding in the bushes and forests, we were able to witness the Eid-el-Kabir Sallah celebration in a peaceful circumstance."

Mallam Adamu Kuranabasa said: "Alhamdulillah, we did celebrate our Sallah in Gwoza in a very peaceful condition; the impression has changed, not like we thought, few days before Sallah."
BY MICHAEL OLUGBODE

Kumuyi Disowns Controversial Videos On His Ministry

The General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church,Pastor Williams Kumuyi, has debunked claims by people who said they died, ascended to heaven and came back with messages.

It is said that the mode of dressing by Deeper Life women is endorsed by one of those who claimed to have gone to heaven.

In one of the CDs, a Sierra Leonean lady, Linda Ngaujah, claimed she died and was shown happenings in heaven and hell.

She warned that many members of Pastor Enoch Adeboye' Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG would go to hell.

She also alleged that the founder of the Lord's Chosen Charismatic Movement, Pastor Lazarus Mouka was using diabolical means to perform miracles.

She warned him to repent while declaring that Bishop David Oyedepo of the Living Faith Mission and his members were not even recognised in heaven.

Linda said that the old Deeper Life form of dressing was the divinely acceptable one, saying that women who use rubber and wool to plait their hair were headed for hell.

In another CD, it was claimed that the late wife of the Deeper Life G.S, Biodun Kumuyi was seen in heaven.

In yet another message, a lady evangelist of the Church of God Mission, Benin City, Margaret Amure warned women not to wear jewellery, lipstick, or any make-up or trousers which she said were immodest.

But Kumuyi in a sermon preached and transmitted among Deeper Life members, warned his followers in many branches, not to believe in those messages as coming from God.

He maintained that these were the last days where many people would come up with different things to deceive the church of God.
BY PAUL DADA

Artiste Apologises to Catholic Priest

A Kalejin secular artiste has apologized to a catholic priest for using his image in one of his video albums without his consent. Julius Korgoren of the Olkerin Success band sent the apology letter to Kaplong catholic priest Fr. Wilhelm Sambu on Sunday.

He said he had wrongly used Wilhelm's image in his latest Song Kiyogen maat. Korgoren apologised for the damage the video had caused the priest and the Catholic Church in general.

"I wish to state that I respect the sanctity of the church," he said Korgoren said ih his letter that he did not habour any malice when he composed the song.

Wilhelm had threatened legal action against him after claiming the song had negatively portrayed him and the church. He issued a 72 hours apology demand failure of which he would take legal measures.
BY GILBERT KIMUTAI

Demystifying Cultism

Cults and Gangs-Before the Rooster Grows: by Cosmas Eze II, Vicosy Publication (2012) Cultism has been listed has one of the dreaded activities in higher institutions of learning in Nigeria. Scores of students have been killed and victimised by members of cult groups in various institutions of learning. Sadly, cultism has spread to secondary schools and they are not male-dominated as they are thought to be.

In Cults and Gangs, the author, Cosmas Eze II attempted to unearth the root of cultism and how it found its way to the social life of students at the institutions of learning across the country.

From the tales of nocturnal meetings to the violent nature of the notorious cult groups, the author establishes the essential characteristics of any given cult group. He explains in depth the intricacies of their ritual practices, blood oaths and gang war. Starting with Eiye Confraternity, the writer shows how the various cult groups emerged as break away groups from the "parent" group. This trend has been associated with the rivalry that often exists between cult groups because disgruntled members of a cult leave to form another cult at the risk of procuring hatred from the rival group.

The writer made it clear that the concept of cultism was not initiated to perpetrate evil. In Chapter Six, the author wrote that Pyrates Confraternity, a group of seven undergraduates named "Magnificent Seven" was the first cult which was formed. According to him, it was led by Oluwole Soyinka, who was an undergraduate at the University of Ibadan. The group was set up to combat colonial excesses that were prevalent at that period. It is apparent that many of the cults that exist today are peddling evil and fomenting trouble in their resident communities. To cite an instance, Black Axe was said to have been founded against the backdrop of the Apartheid policy in South Africa.

If that noble idea was all that permeated the activities of the group, then the group would have been exceptional. From what the book uncovers, it can be said that the cultists hijacked the concept of cultism from the intellectual framework and transported it to a region of secrecy and diabolical terrain. For the female cult groups, greed is a common denominator. The author remarked that the female cultism has spread fast into secondary schools. Bound in criminality, the female cultists are described as "vulgar", acquiring wealth through illicit means to oppress their rival groups and female folks at large.

The author offers suggestions on how to check cultism in secondary schools. Compulsory enrolment in clubs, school-approved extracurricular activities as well as guidance and counselling are some of the alternatives that school authorities can explore in nipping cultism in the bud at that level. The book is full of quotations from notable Nigerians on relevant areas of discourse on cultism. Although the writer's style is essentially academic, perhaps for the purpose of clarity, the logic of narration is threatened in the introduction of the chapters on role models. These chapters are designed to serve a prescriptive function in the scheme of documentation.

Furthermore, there was no indication by the author pointing to the sources of the information supplied in the work. The secret nature of cultism makes acquiring the knowledge of it daunting. A lot of investigative journalists have revealed some of the information that is now regarded public knowledge in the area of cultism. The author later made a sweeping recant of how he had read some select newspapers and how they had been instrumental to the artistic effort.

Chronology is used by the author in the work to recount the existence of various cult groups at the various epochs but not much was said on the recent activities of these groups or the efforts individual educational institutions have made in resolving the crises that surround cultism in their various jurisdictions. In some jurisdictions in Nigeria, the story of cultism is incomplete without mentioning the activities of student union leaders in various universities in combating cultism. One of the terror combats was recorded at the Obafemi Awolowo University in July 10, 1999 when four student members of the Student Union Executive were murdered in a gruesome manner. The students were chopped in pieces and fellow students carried their remains in blood-stained mattresses amidst agony and tears. That marked a substantial end to the brazen manner of cultism in that institution.

Since the concept of cultism discussed in the book is from the Nigerian perspective, one would expect that the book would capture some of the details aforementioned and more such that the writer does not fail to add value to the reader. In spite of these weaknesses, the book lays a good precedence for further intellectual discourse on cultism and values.
BY YINKA OLATUNBOSUN

PRESS RELEASE: Interfaith Art Brings Message of Peace

The arts may be one of the most effective mediums for building bridges, says the Revd Paul-Gordon Chandler, the Episcopal priest responsible for the journey of 25 life-size painted fiberglass donkeys from Cairo to St Paul's Cathedral in London, where they will be on display in the south nave aisle until September 23.

Now in its fifth year, the Caravan arts exhibition brings together Western and Egyptian artists, both Christian and Muslim, to promote a message of peace.

Chandler, an Episcopal Church mission partner who has served as a priest in Cairo for the past 10 years, sees the exhibition as an opportunity to deepen understanding across cultures and religions.

"We're passionate about interfaith friendships and we've found that the arts, in many ways, is a catalyst for that," Chandler told ENS on August 30 during an interview at the launch of the exhibition, which is titled In Peace and With Compassion.

The donkey was chosen for the exhibition because in both Christian and Muslim faith traditions it represents peace, Chandler explained. "In a sense, these artists are saying that the way forward for us is in peace. The other thing the donkey represents is compassion. It's a beast of burden and the poorest of the poor in Egypt use the donkey."

This year's exhibition comes at a time when Egypt faces ongoing political turmoil and a rise in sectarian violence.

"Contrary often to what we see in the news about what is coming out of Egypt at this time, which is somewhat tragic, these artists are saying no, there is another alternative - the way forward as far as we see it is in peace and with compassion," Chandler said.

It's the first time the initiative has traveled outside of Egypt and the exhibition at St. Paul's is sponsored by the Embassy of Switzerland in Egypt, and supported by the British Council. Chandler said that St Paul's Cathedral was considered for the exhibition because it is a sacred space known globally for both its role in the arts and its commitment to interfaith relations.

"St Paul's is right in the heart of a very cosmopolitan city where we are all trying to live together and to be loyal to our future that we're sharing," said the Revd Canon Mark Oakley, chancellor of St. Paul's Cathedral, "and I think that is the strength of this exhibition - Muslim and Christian seeking to be loyal to the future of their country through working harmoniously and creatively, and I can't think of any better model for our own city here."

The donkeys were first exhibited in May at St John's Church in Cairo, where Chandler has just stepped down as rector after 10 years. They were then placed in strategic public locations throughout Cairo before about a third of them made their way to St Paul's.

Oakley said that he hopes people who visit the exhibition will find the donkeys "beautiful and I hope they will remember the people of Egypt at the moment and I hope it will help them reflect on how they in their own localised life ... will think again about the human and about the things we share and about the future we share and how we need to ... be almost recklessly generous in our friendships."

Following the exhibition, the donkeys will be auctioned by Sotheby's, with all profits going to Egyptian charities that serve the poor, regardless of their faith.

Chandler said that in addition to the high-level art, it's important that the initiative influences the poor. In Egypt, "we've identified 25 charities that are grassroots in their orientation, that work both on the Christian and Muslim side, serving the poor regardless of their creed."
BY MATT DAVIES
Matt Davies writes for the Episcopal News Service.