Religion
The recent Plateau killings: Northern muslims youths and the lessons from MSII @60 Colloquim
By Ibraheem A. Waziri
In Nigeria the media generally and some Muslim pundits, are highly cautious, in identifying strongly with Muslims groupings, in the event of the Muslims being victims of violence by the others. This could – probably – be due to the fear that in showing support for Muslims in such circumstances, many, might feel emboldened to charge to the streets and display their anger in a form of a revenge that will worsen the situation.
This – if so – goes a long way, in demonstrating that either of the following two things, could be true of the Northern Nigerian Muslims at all times:
They are misfits in the modern social system dynamics that the current Nigeria presents and everybody knows that. Infact the best of their pundits know better! This is why their issues are fit for touch only with the long sticks and on the surfaces. They always bring misfortune to their neighbours on their own without prompting. So when there is a prompting, such as what happened in Jos recently, care must be observed that they may not be strongly identified and sympathised with, because at the end of the day they may bring down the roof over all around!
Or there has been a long and persistent effort by those who disliked the Northern Muslims, either for reasons of politics, theology or culture. They have consistently painted the picture of a violent lots in them in the public space. They have succeeded in their mission, so much so that the Nigerian media and some pundits among the Northern Muslims, have completely subscribed to their narrative and so we are where we are in such a way, that seemingly enlightened Muslim pundits, don’t side with their own, either during the rain or in scorching sunshine!
Whichever is the case, the Northern Nigerian Muslims must wake up to the scent of reality of the modern world. They have to know that they have the right to live in the 21st century the way they want to and according the dictates of their theology, social and political paradigms, even as they have to up their skills and play social games according to the dictates of the reigning almost universal values of rights, freedom and equality regardless of human inherent primeval sentiments.
This is the obvious lesson we can learn from the recent MSII Colloquium, that reflected about the trajectory of his life through to sixty years round. There is a proud Muslim-Nigerian person who never missed an opportunity to identify with his people, history, heritage and core values first and before anything as much as he is eager to self critic.
In a position of power at the nation’s apex bank, he took a dive into his Muslim heritage side by side modern realities and ensured that the financial systems expansion considered products that carry Muslim people along. He has helped made Nigeria several inches more Muslim and Muslim values friendly without çompromising Non-Muslims in anyway.
In his position as a traditional authority he again delved into his Muslim cultural heritage and invested into producing new social contract documents according the exigencies of the time, that would make the environment a better place for the weakest in the societal hierarchy, women and children.
In the other spheres of life, he would insist that, we must remain Sunni Muslims in our various negotiations with the modern institutional and social dynamics, Nigeria presents to us. This is evidenced by his known public positions in all debates that concerns the Shi’a and the Sunnis, even in recent times with the jousts, that involves the Shiites groups or leadership with the Nigerian government. He will also rise in defense of Muslims Sunni canons, whenever any tries to go against them like how he’s been treating the case of Shaykh Abduljabbar overtime.
All his public policy debates and interventions, in the last 23 years, are about the reconciliation of his original paradigm, which is rooted in the Muslim Sunni conservative ideals and values of the 19th century Jihad Northern Nigeria; as conceived by our grandparents on one part, with the postulations of classical Judeo-Christian Western scholarship and philosophical postulations, through their modern versions of what should form a society, states and their institutions, on the other part.
Therefore, it is my considered opinion – as one of his oldest young disciples and enthusiast- that if Sarkin Kano Muhammadu Sanusi II were to be chosen as a model for any Muslim youth in Northern Nigeria, it should be demonstrated in a life that seeks to understand the plight of Muslims as a people in Nigeria; Islam as an ideology in the Nigerian space and an expressed desire to obtain a Nigeria that does not contradict the fundamentals of Islam in its traditional Northern Nigerian sense, and does not make Non-Muslims appear any less than any other as equal citizens. This also should be able to be done, without looking less Muslim or less Northern, in anyway!
That is what MSII has so far achieved at the highest level of being a widely acknowledged Nigerian technorat, a distinguished public intellectual and a radical traditionalist who is not discernible or easily deconstructed by the uninitiated lots; has defied stereotyping in Southern Nigeria and waded away the general outlook given to aristocratics in public space as previleged quota system representatives since the colonial times. Maybe the next colloquium should try to examine the source of values of MSII as they have helped shaped his choices in life, since this one has discussed only the values as they are reflected in the way he lived so far. Happy birthday Sir!
A group called the Virtuous Women of Delta (VWD) has given the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, a 14-day ultimatum to tender an unreserved apology to Mrs. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
The group made the demand in a statement issued on Tuesday and signed by its Coordinator, Deaconess Eguolo Oghenekevwe.
In the statement, the group expressed their outrage over Akpabio’s alleged disrespectful behavior towards Mrs. Akpoti-Uduaghan, describing his actions as sacrilegious according to Delta’s cultural traditions.
The statement read, “We have patiently watched as the Senate President has dragged our sister through the mud. In our tradition, such actions are considered sacrilegious and carry severe consequences.”
The group further emphasized their disapproval of Akpabio’s behavior, particularly his decision to have Mrs. Akpoti-Uduaghan removed from a public space, which they found deeply disrespectful.
“The fact that he had our wife walk out of a public place is enough to make us march to the National Assembly in protest,” they stated.
The group gave Akpabio 14 days to issue an unreserved apology, warning that if he fails to do so, they will be compelled to take action and express their anger in person at the National Assembly.
The controversy stems from previous comments Akpabio made, including the use of inappropriate language referring to a nightclub, despite the fact that Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan is married to a prominent Delta man.
Akpabio had earlier apologized for his remarks, acknowledging their sacrilegious nature.
“Such words are unacceptable, especially when a married woman is involved. Our men are like lions and will not tolerate such disrespect,” the statement continued.
The Virtuous Women of Delta emphasized that, as Akpabio hails from the same geopolitical zone, he should be aware of the importance of their cultural values and traditions, which cannot be disregarded.
“We politely ask the Senate President to apologize, or face the consequences within the next 14 days,” the group said.
Religion
Sunday Worship Service (16th February, 2025): Topic: The Concept of Love: How to Make the Right Choice
Pastor Kola Oyekale
Verses of God’s promise to us:
Isaiah 30:19 NLT
[19] O people of Zion, who live in Jerusalem, you will weep no more. He will be gracious if you ask for help. He will surely respond to the sound of your cries.
Jeremiah 30:19 AMPC
[19] Out of them [city and palace] will come songs of thanksgiving and the voices of those who make merry. And I will multiply them, and they will not be few; I will also glorify them, and they will not be small.
Meaning of Love
There are different dimensions of love
1. Eros Love: Love between man and woman
2. Philia Love: Love between brethren in church
3. Storge Love: Love between family members
4. Agape Love: God’s love. It is a love that has no condition attached to it. This is the love that is in the kingdom. It is the love that flows from the life of God (Zoe).
When the Bible was talking about marriage, God brought in this love.
For this kind of love to be experienced in a relationship or marriage, it has to be deliberate and intentional.
Marriage is a business. A successful marriage does not happen by chance. It is not cheap. If the only thing you carry into marriage is your physical appearance, you will get no result.
If you make wrong choices you will have troubles. Even when you don’t make the wrong choice, there are still troubles you will experience in a marriage relationship.
Factors to Consider When Making the Choice of a Marriage Partner:
1. Be the right person
You cannot be the right person if you do not know yourself. Knowing yourself is crucial to the kind of person you want to marry.
Singleness helps you discover who you are. Knowing yourself helps you know who you can marry.
Most successful single people find their purpose before they get married.
So when you get married, you have a helper who can help you fulfill purpose.
You need a purpose for your life before you can pick a marriage partner.
Do you have the things, qualities and virtues you are seeking in a spouse?
The journey to finding someone is to first find you.
Find yourself first so you can know your value. If you don’t value yourself, you will sell yourself cheap.
To find the right person, be the right person.
Nobody will increase your value except you. The value you put on yourself is your investment. Don’t wait for a man to add value to your life.
2. Choose the right person
There are marriages you must qualify and prepare for before you enter it.
Don’t be desperate when it comes to marriage. Desperation can make you fall into wrong hands.
There is a plan for your life and a choice for your life.
When you identify your purpose, you will know who to choose.
A woman who chases after a man reduces her value.
3. Do and keep doing what is right.
Galatians 6:9 NKJV
[9] And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.
When you marry, you will not get all you want, however you should keep on doing the right thing.
Start doing the things you want your spouse to do.
Don’t marry with the mind that you will change your spouse. Nobody has any power to change anybody, only God does.
Song of Solomon 1:16-17 NKJV
[16] Behold, you are handsome, my beloved! Yes, pleasant! Also our bed is green. [17] The beams of our houses are cedar, And our rafters of fir.
The word ’green’ means refreshing, life, a relationship that is renewed, not dirty and not defiled.
There must not be defilement of bed when a relationship starts.
Every relationship must begin and end pure.
The only test you can do before marriage is the test of character not the test of sexual compatibility.
Every relationship begins with Friendship, then Courtship then Marriage.
Believers are encouraged to be friends without ulterior motives.
When you are friends, you can see each other better than when you are in a romantic relationship.
Friendship opens you up to see each other clearly without hiding.
The whole essence of marriage is so that you will produce godly seeds.
Your knowledge of God will help you out in married.
Marriage is an act of faith.
By Pastor Kola Oyekale
God is after making you who he wants you to be. God isn’t so much interested in meeting your needs because your needs can take you away from God. God is concerned with making you align with the purpose of your existence.
God’s primary goal upon your life is to make you who he has destined you to be.
If your purpose doesn’t come to pass, then you are a wasted vessel on earth.
If you have fulfilled your purpose at the end of your life, the angels will salute a man or woman who has lived and fulfilled God’s purpose.
Matthew 9:35 NKJV
[35] Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.
You have to be in a place where you are taught.
Matthew 9:36 NKJV
[36] But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.
God doesn’t want you to be confused in life.
A shepherd whose life is not in alignment to God cannot be a blessing to his sheep.
You become a disciple by transformation. God is after discipling people who will be in alignment to his kingdom.
The lesser your knowledge of God, the more prone you are to become a victim of the devil.
Devil loves ignorance. He takes advantage of your ignorance of God and his word.
Matthew 9:37 NKJV
[37] Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few.
The blind cannot lead the blind, they will both fall into a pit. You need the knowledge of God and his word to make you able to draw souls to God’s kingdom.
Psalms 1:1-3 NLT
[1] Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. [2] But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. [3] They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.
In this year, let your passion for God and trust in his increase.
Pursue God will all your heart and he will make a difference in your life.
Qualities of a Good Shepherd
1. A shepherd sets boundaries.
2. They are trustworthy and reliable.
3. A shepherd makes provision for his sheep. He brings transformation to your life.
4. A good shepherd sacrifices even his life for the sheep.
5. A shepherd invests in the life of the sheep through nurturing, direction, instruction and teaching.
The Holy Spirits influences your thinking. He changed your value system
Prayer: May the Holy Spirit shepherd our lives through his instruction, guidance and mentoring this year in Jesus name.
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