Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion affirms rejection of same-sex marriage

The College of Bishops of the Anglican Church of North America (ACNA), at their recent meeting, issued a Pastoral Statement of toleration of same-sex persons within their fold. The Bishops noted “that the struggle with human identity is real and painful for Christians who experience same-sex attraction” and reject the use of language that identify such people for who they are- Gays; preferring that they be addressed as “Christians whoe xperience same-sex attraction”. 

The College of Bishops also upheld a commitment to subsidiarity which defers to diocesan bishops, discernment on how to handle homosexuals in their church communities. It called on priests of their churches to teach about human sexuality based on the Bishops’ desire that parishes in ACNA province become “places where those who experience same-sex attraction, especially youths know where they can go to share about this reality”.

These decisions by ACNA bishops tantamount to a subtle capitulation to recognize and promote same -sex relations among its members, exactly the same route of argument adopted by The Episcopal Church (TEC). Its appeal to subsidiarity is another trick not to submit to the clear authority of Scripture on homosexuality, rather, they defer to individual Bishops discretion of discernment on how to relate to homosexuals, and offer them room.

 As Phil Ashey rightly observed, “Among Anglicans, subsidiarity does not give the Diocesan Bishops or Dioceses the authority to decide matters unilaterally that touch on the Faith and Order of the Church. Appeals to subsidiarity resulted in the unilateral decisions of Diocesan Bishops of New Westminster (Canada) to recognize same sex blessings of marriage and New Hampshire (TEC) to elect same-sex partnered Gene Robinson as Bishop.

These actions which fueled the crisis that has broken the fabrics of the Anglican Communion should not be repeated by ACNA. 

Manipulating languages to cover up sin and sinners are incompatible with the example of Scripture which condemned sin. A Gay is a Gay, they cannot be rightly described otherwise. In the same vein, we cannot describe people as ‘Christian Murderer’, ‘Christian Adulterer’ and ‘Christian terrorist’; neither

should we even have ‘Gay Christian’ or ‘Gay Anglican’. “Without Holiness, no man shall see God” (Hebrews 12 :14).

Taking advantage of the ACNA Bishops Pastoral Letter, a group within ACNA published an invitation to ‘Gay Anglicans’ offering them invitation and pastoral accommodation in ACNA parishes. The letter was openly endorsed by some bishops, priests and laity in ACNA. It is a clarion call to recruit Gays into ACNA member parishes. The deadly ‘virus’ of homosexuality has infiltrated ACNA. This is likened to a Yeast that should be urgently and radically expunged and excised lest it affects the whole dough (Luke 13:20-21; Gal. 5:9). 

The response of ACNA leadership so far has been palliative, weak and unwilling to discipline the erring bishops and priests and taking a clear stand to totally reject their actions and underlying motives. We appreciate Archbishop Foley Beach’s intervention by which the offensive Gay Anglican letter was removed from the web; but this has not cured the diseases that has set in already neither has it mitigated the damage this has done by the public advertisement and the changing perception of the ACNA stand on Biblical orthodoxy and GAFCON Movement.

The Church of Nigeria views these events as most unfortunate and dangerous to the cause of Mission based on the Truth of the Gospel, especially at a time when secular governments are adopting aggressive campaign for global homosexual culture. The Church in USA which should lead the fight against this evil is ACNA; and if it fails, it would have disappointed God and faithful Anglican Christians worldwide.

ACNA was formed by GAFCON, as a safe haven for faithful Christians who reject the apostasy and rebellion in TEC. They should not now find in ACNA the aberrations which drove them from TEC. It is more serious that the Archbishop of ACNA, Archbishop Foley Beach is also the current Chairman of GAFCON. Therefore, his actions or inactions and that of his Province have serious implications for GAFCON leadership.

We therefore call upon the Archbishop and the College of Bishops of ACNA to make definite, unambiguous statement condemning the actions taken by the Gay activists in their midst, denounce their action, dissociate ACNA from the group, discipline the erring bishops, priests and laity who signed the offensive Pro-Gay letter and reaffirm ACNA’s commitment to all the fundamentals of orthodox Christian faith and the resolutions of the GAFCON Jerusalem Declarations and Statement. It should take a clear stand on their position on homosexuality and same -sex relations of all types. 

The Church of Nigeria affirms its total rejection of homosexuality and will surely stand to defend the Truth of the Gospel based on the injunctions and ethical principles of the Holy Bible.

Buhari is a failure, says Northern elders

The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has regretted that in spite of assurances from the President Muhammadu Buhari government that it will bring to an end banditry and kidnappings in the region, the lives of Nigerians are becoming more endangered every day.

NEF said this in a statement yesterday while condemning the abduction of 317 schoolgirls from Government Girls Secondary School in Jangebe, Talata Mafara Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

Gunmen suspected to be bandits stormed the school in the early hours on Friday and abducted 317 students.

In its statement signed Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmad, Director, Publicity and Advocacy, NEF said Nigerians had “lost faith that government will reverse the successes of the criminal against defenceless citizens.”

He said the “Northern Elders Forum shares the profound shock and outrage of Nigerians at the spate of kidnappings of boarding school children in different parts of the North,” the statement added.

The elders warned that these recurring abductions will severely damage the already poor state of education in the region, particularly girl-child education.

They lamented that the Buhari government has done little or nothing to limit exposure of Nigerians to violent criminals.

The group also noted that governors now quarrel over causes and strategies to adopt in tackling these criminalities, alleging that many of the governors are “taking steps that have dubious legal foundations, most of which merely compound the security situation.”

It further urged governors to also “intensify multi-pronged approaches to ending banditry and kidnappings, including measures which prevent the continuation of these criminal activities by those who show a genuine willingness to stop.”

It said, “Bandits who refuse to submit to the mediation and cessation of criminal activities should be treated in accordance with the laws of the country.”

Remember how you became governor — Northern Group tells Uzodinma

A coalition under the auspices of Northern Youths and Elders Awareness Forum, has warned Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State, against standing in the way of Senator Rochas Okorocha whom they say is the best candidate to replace President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023 presidential race.

Gov. Uzodinma whom many refer to as the 'Supreme Court Governor', replaced Emeka Ihedioha as Governor, following a controversial Supreme Court ruling believed to have the handwriting of Buhari all over it. 

With both the APC, Buhari, and Rochas all playing parts in Uzodinma's miraculous emergence as Governor, it is therefore, quite odd that Uzodinma would engage in any form of feud with the former governor.

But according to the Northern Group, the rift between the governor and his predecessor, is not unconnected with Okorocha's 2023 presidential ambition.

Speaking at a world press conference in Abuja, Chairman of the forum, Salisu Idris, warned that despite the harassment, Okorocha remains the best person to replace President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023.

“Today Rochas is a passionate Nigerian and a good leader who singlehanded came to the northern part of this country, been a devoted Christian and build 12 schools in the north of which today as we all know mostly all the students are Muslim children enjoying free education by Okorocha.

“I don’t think there is any person that shows a great concern to the less privilege children in this country like Rochas who has the good ambitions to bring together all Nigerian in respect of all religion and tribes even before he became a governor.

“Rochas has left a good legacy in the heart of thousands of children and their parent that would never be forgotten, and we pray that God will continue to bless him and protect him.

“Sen Okorocha is one good material if not the best we have for 2023 after President Muhammadu Buhari and all these harassments and intimidation is because of the next election of which they believe should he vie for the Presidency the he remains a treat to them.

“Nigerians especially the common man will resist all sort of intimidation aim at truncating Senator Okorocha’s presidential ambition because of their strong believe in his capacity to change their fortunes beyond the lines of tribe and religion.

“Awareness forum coordinators here present collectively came on behalf of the forum, condemned the harassment and victimization of the former governor of Imo State and again a serving senator presently representing Imo West, Okorocha by the Imo State government.

“We described the incident as regrettable considering the tremendous sacrifices and outstanding legacies of Okorocha when he served as governor of the State.

"This is a man who served Imo State for eight years and laid a solid foundation for the State development plan that will make the State in the nearest future the destination of business in Nigeria and beyond.

“The use of political thugs to harass and intimidate Okorocha by the Uzodimma-led government is barbaric and poss a great danger on the country’s democracy.

“We call on President Buhari and the security agencies to protect the lives of the former governor as this poss a great threat and danger to his life, considering the political happenings in Imo State.

“As a passionate young man, Nigerian and leader of one of the viable young institutions in Nigeria, we cannot watch while the Nigeria leaders that restored hope for the common man are witchhunted by their political opponents using fight against corruption as a template. But using thugs to harass him,” the forum warned.

Buhari will leave behind plenty of problems for his successors to fix — Bello

Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State, has said President Muhammadu Buhari met plenty of problems when he became president, but appears to have added more problems than the ones he solved. He however, hopes that the next generation of leaders after Buhari, will be able to fix the many problems left behind by Buhari and his predecessors.

Bello who stated this in Abuja when he received a team of ex-Nigerian football internationals, led by a former Super Eagles player and coach, Augustine Eguavoen, said the current security problems facing the country is the fruit of corruption which Buhari had vowed to end if he became president.

He said, "Mr President so much listens to us that he agrees that the bane of development is corruption. One of the factors responsible for insecurity today is corruption. Funds meant for development, funds meant to fight insecurity are being siphoned using one subhead or the other. But Mr President, who listens to the calls and yearnings of the youths, appointed one of us to head the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and you are going to see the magic wand in the fight against corruption because Mr Bawa knows that the future lies squarely on the shoulders of the young generations. So, we will do everything possible to assist Mr Bawa to succeed on the job,’ the governor said.

"No matter the energy or talent that you had put in building the Super Eagles of those days, if you don’t have successors, younger ones who will take over from you, we would not have still had some brilliant people on the pitch today. I’ll hand over to a younger successor.

"I don’t know the position that God has designed for me after Governorship but I pray that I should be able to bequeathe and hand over to a younger one who will outperform and outshine me.

"I pray that good reasons will prevail on our seniors to know that the time is up for them because I have been charged with the responsibility of educating, sensitizing, mobilizing strong, energetic, committed and patriotic new generation of men and women. I will not fail in that responsibility.

"I know that the youths and students are listening to me. We have spoken. We have communicated a nd we understand ourselves. We are ready to take leadership. We are not waiting to be simply called upon. We are saying, here we are. We are taking charge.

"By the special grace of God, I can assure you that come 2023, our party under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari will provide the next generation of leaders who will fix this country. There will be Judases. No doubt about it. There will be gang ups. There will be landmines but we will overcome them. There will be obstacles. There will be hurdles but we will cross them. I think the elders, the earlier the seniors know that the time is up, the better for them. I want to finally urge our seniors and the federal and state governments to give every necessary support to those who made us proud at one time or the other."

Just In: Zamfara girls regain freedom a few days after abduction

Students who were abducted from Government Girls Secondary School, Jangebe, Talata-Marafa Local Government Area of Zamfara State, have been freed.

They are currently heading to Gusau, the state capital, according to a top government official who confirmed their release to Daily Trust.

Over 300 students were abducted when gunmen stormed the school in the wee hours of Friday.

According to Daily Trust, citing a source, the victims were held at Dangulbi Forest in Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara.

It is unclear if any ransom was paid for their release but Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara has been pushing for a dialogue with bandits for peace to reign.

The latest Zamfara abduction happened hours after the state government said some repentant bandits had surrendered their arms.

The governor had ordered the closure of all boarding schools in the state during the search for the schoolgirls and assured parents and family members of the victims that they would be freed soon.

“My dear good people of Zamfara State, this is not a moment to trade blame. The recent twist in the spate of banditry brings to the fore the need for the adoption of a uniform strategy across all the affected states.

“I appeal to the people of the state to remain calm and resist the evil machinations of those who would want to exploit the current situation to achieve political ends. Insha Allah, with our collective resolve, we would emerge out of this situation stronger,” he had said in a statewide broadcast.

JUST IN: South will also block oil supply to the North if North blocks food supply to the South — Fani-Kayode

Former Minister of Aviation and a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, says that the southern part of the country will also block oil supply to the North if the region block food supply to the south. 

Many trailers transporting cows, tomatoes, onions, pepper, grains and other commodities were prevented from leaving a border town in Niger State to the southern part of the country.

A video of a long line of trailers stopped by the union had circulated on social media.

The trucks, reportedly conveying agricultural goods owned by Fulani cattle merchants, were reportedly stopped from entering the Jebba town, Kwara State border town with Niger State on their way to the South-West on Thursday.

It was gathered that the stoppage might have to do with the threat of the national body of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria to stop its members from supplying and selling cattle to the South if some governors affected the alleged eviction of Fulani herdsmen.

The Financial Secretary of the AUFCDN, Kabiru Salisu, said a task force set up by the union was enforcing the strike in Niger State and other areas.

Salisu said, "There is a task force that we set up to enforce the directive by the union that there would be no transportation of cattle and foodstuffs to the South with effect from Thursday. So, the union set up the task force to prevent sabotage.

"In the communiqué we issued, we said the strike would start yesterday (Thursday), and so, we have started the strike. Now, there is no loading of commodities to the South, but those who attempted to violate the directive were stopped in Niger State."

But reacting on his official Facebook page on Saturday Fani-Kayode said "If the north blocks food supplies to the south, the south will block the supply of oil, refined products and oil money to the north." 

"You touch me, I touch you!

You do me, I do you!

You Tarka me, I Daboh you!

It's called the law of reciprocity!

Never start a dance you can't finish!" 

Osinbajo opposed ban on Cryptocurrency, says it might be Nigeria's golden egg

Nigeria’s vice president Yemi Osinbajo Friday called for the regulation of cryptocurrencies in the country, as against the prohibition of digital currencies.

“There is a role for regulation here,” Osinbajo said at the Bankers Committee Vanguard in Lagos State.

“And it is in the place of both our monetary authorities and SEC to provide a robust regulatory regime that addresses these serious concerns without killing the goose that might lay the golden eggs.

“So it should be thoughtful and knowledge-based regulation, not prohibition,” he added.

The vice president is reacting to the recent clampdown on cryptocurrencies by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

CBN ordered commercial banks and other financial institutions to close down accounts associated with cryptocurrencies. The apex later clarified that the order was not a new order, but a reminder of a directive published in 2017.

In response, banks quickly cut ties with cryptocurrency companies, such as the Binance exchange and social payments app Bundle, which in turn stopped accepting deposits.

Since July 2020, Nigerian banks have reduced the amount customers can spend abroad using debit cards as Nigeria’s economy continued to face dollar shortages due to the sharp fall in oil prices. As of now, banks limit customers to withdraw less than $100.

This restriction made some Nigerians looked for a way to circumnavigate the restrictions set by financial institutions, hence, taking advantage of the digital currencies for their transactions.

Nigeria has since become the world’s second-largest Bitcoin market after the United States, Quartz Africa said in a December report.

Although, Osinbajo said he “fully appreciate the strong position of the CBN, SEC, and some of the anti-corruption agencies on the possible abuses of cryptocurrencies and their other well-articulated concerns, but I believe that their position should be the subject of further reflection.”

He said regulatory bodies must “act with knowledge and not fear” as the digital currencies disruption will only make “room for efficiency and progress.”

“The point I am making is that some of the exciting developments we see call for prudence and care in adopting them, but we must act with knowledge and not fear,” he said.