Nigerian Newspapers
My father sold his bicycle to pay my WAEC fee –Apostle Kingsley Innocent
By THERESA ONWUGHALU and DAMIETE BRAIDE
Like most men of God who were fashioned in the crucible of adversity, Apostle Kingsley Innocent, Senior Pastor of Bible Believing Mission Incorporated, Aba, Abia State has known the pain of deprivation of basic necessities of life in childhood. Growing up was tough, but the grace of God, the deep love and motivating advice of a caring father all combined to make him what he is today.
So when the ministry that he established clocked three years, it was a veritable time to give thanks to God for the rapid growth of the ministry, which today has the biggest church building in the whole of South East, billed for dedication in October this year.
In this interview, he talks about his journey in ministry, marriage and other issues. Excerpts…
In just three years, your ministry seems that have grown rapidly. How we were able to achieve this within three years?
It is just by the grace of God and what I call divine speed. Every year God has given us divine speed such that we are able to hold our convention in a new ground. We started from a very small place. But before our convention made it possible for us to build a bigger place. For our second convention we took well over four plots of land. Then we moved from there to build a much bigger place, which we will dedicate in October during our convention. In fact, every year, God has been moving us to new ground. We don’t know where we will be next year but we believe that He will take us higher.
How did you get the call into ministry?
I have been a prophet from birth. I can trace the start of my ministry as far back as when I was three years old. Testimonies have been coming from then. Even many members of my family, particularly my parents, uncles, nieces and some of their children have testimonies of what God used me as a child to do in their lives. For instance, some of them who were not able to conceive became pregnant after I prayed for them. The fact is that I have not really done anything outside the ministry.
I discovered that each time I wanted to do anything outside ministry, I found myself being pushed back into the ministry. So, you could say that I have spent all my life around the altar of God. Some people even think that I do other things, but the truth is that I don’t do any other business. When I travel abroad for ministrations, I don’t sell my tapes. God directed me not to do any other business. We have built standard schools but there are school administrators that are in charge. They run the schools as an independent arm. I am not directly involved; I focus on the ministry. h was
Looking back, how did you prepare for the work of ministry?
First, let me tell you that the ministry was established three years ago, precisely on November 5, 2010. Before setting up this ministry, I had been a pastor in churches founded by other people. The last church where I served as a pastor was Bible Life Church, from 2002 till 2009. I also taught in bible schools (but we now have our own bible school – Kings Theological Institute in Aba. To a large extent I schooled in Nigeria. After my university education in Delta State University, Abraka, I traveled out of the country to study marketing for two years. I also attended Teamwork Bible College, United States for a degree in Theology. I am from Orlu in Imo State. My parents are both alive and strong in the Lord.
We are seeing a proliferation of churches, with every one saying that God called them, but you see them making strange financial demands. What is your view on this?
My simple response is that when God calls a man, He also equips the person for the work He wants him to do. He will not abandon you. If God has called you, you will definitely know what He has called you to do. I hold the view that not all pastors should be founders of church denominations, nor should all be in fulltime ministry. I believe that a pastor can do the work of ministry and still engage in other economic activities. For me, not doing business is not because of ministry but it is because God said so. Personally, I desired to go into politics. That was what I wanted to do, but God persuaded me to do what I am doing now. If I were to have my way, I would like politics a great deal. I want to say that Paul in the Bible was into tent making. In as much, as he was an apostle with a special call, he was a tent maker so that he would not be a burden to the people. I hate being a burden and a nuisance to people in the name of God. As I said earlier, when God calls you, He will provide for you. He will not let you go hungry. I advise everyone who believes God has called him to find out what He has called the person to do? Which ministry is He calling you into? That God called you, does not mean that He is asking you to go and open a church. No! It took me years to work with others, to pastor churches that belong to others. In 2009, it was the founder of Bible Life Church that released me to go and set up a ministry. I am bold to say it because it is the truth. I did not leave because I felt that I should start a ministry. One thing that I feared most was becoming a founder. God told me that I will carry this vision but I was afraid, why? I know what it means to become a leader. But I was trained by Bishop Isaac, the founder of Cornerstone Christian Church. He is my mentor. He has been my mentor over the years. Up till now, he is still my mentor because when you don’t have a father in the ministry, you are bound to make mistakes that you may live all your life trying to correct. I advise every upcoming minister to have a spiritual mentor that will guide him. There is nowhere that you want to go that somebody has not gone before. If you follow the person, who has been there before, he will show you the way. Our problem is the inability to humble ourselves and be tutored by others. Don’t follow a man’s glory – check out his story. Everyman who has glory today, started from somewhere, he must have a story.
Have you written any books?
I have written over seven books. I have one entitled Living a blameless life that is selling very well. I am the author of Morning Dew, a daily devotional book. I have authored several books and journals.
Share the story of how you met your wife.
I went to preach and ran into the wife of pastor and a friend. The woman happened to be the sister of my wife. She introduced my wife to me that day and we parted ways thereafter. In the course of time, when I was set to marry, God made it clear that the person I was introduced to my wife. As God was convincing me at the same time, He was also convincing her. So we got married. I didn’t really go through so many protocols because it was divine. The whole thing just flowed. I didn’t go through all those hurdles because I am not a very patient man. God knowing my kind of person, He did not allow me go through that. As a matter of fact, God knows all of us and He knows our weaknesses and strengths. So, when you are in His purpose, He will make things work for you. One of the things that I praise God for today is that He has made it that the ministry has not treated me badly. And that is because I believe that God wants me to stay in ministry. Ministry is not my choice but it is God’s choice for me. If ministry had frustrated me, who knows, I would have left the ministry because I may not have the patience that others will have. Some of my colleagues when I see them go through tough times, and yet they keep pushing on, I thank God that mine is not like that. I didn’t marry my wife early in life because I had this idea of breaking poverty. I wedded my wife in 2006, but before marrying I had built a house in my village and town. My wife is from Anambra State and her name is Uzoamaka Innocent.
What are the sweetest things you like about your wife?
My wife has taught me to know that everyman has a wife – when you get your own wife, you will know you have your own. She understands me. I am a very difficult man to marry because by my nature, I am a perfectionist. I am very impatient and I like my things the way that I want them. I don’t like mistakes. I don’t take no for an answer. I am a goal getter and an achiever. The only thing that you will tell me and I will listen to you is that there is an achievement to make. Everyday, I ask myself, what have I been able to achieve today? And my wife understands me because I don’t rest. Most times, she hardly sees me. We may seat together and duty calls, I will stand up without so much explanation, I will walk out of the place and she understands that duty calls. I don’t joke with my work, which is the church. By the grace of God, I give everything to the ministry. The ministry is my life and my wife understands. Some women would complain but my wife has never complained. In fact, she has been very supportive, she takes care of the children. Each time that they go on holidays, I wish to go with them but most times I cannot make it because of the work that I am doing. Several times, I have not been able to stay outside my station for more than three days. Most times when I travel to the US, I only spend three days and come back. She is a wonderful woman and I love everything about her. I celebrate her.
What do you hate most in life?
What I hate most in life is lies. I can accommodate a thief but I cannot accommodate a liar. The Bible tells me that every liar has a father in the devil. As a matter of fact, when I discover that somebody is a liar, it will take God to speak to me before I can have dealings with that person. I like anyone whose word is his life and when I say, I will be here by 10’clock, check me there and I will be there. One thing that I am known for among pastors is that if you invite me for a programme, and I accept to come to your church, five minutes before the stipulated time, I must be in your church. For me, anything that I tell you now, I will do everything humanly possible that I do not go back against my word. Lying is one thing that I dislike because a liar cannot be trusted, dependable. A liar cannot be my friend.
What advice did you get, which has kept you going?
Life itself is a risk. Risk in the sense that everything that you do in life has to do with faith. Faith makes us believe that we can go out and come back. A lot of people leave their houses in the morning and they are unable to come back but faith tells you that you can and you can achieve. I come from a humble background but something kept me going even as a child. I told myself that I would break the poverty in my family. I don’t know how but I was convinced that I was going to break it. Life was tough for us as I was growing up. When I was due to write the West African Examination Council (WAEC) examination, there was no money to pay the fees. My father sent me to several relatives, who turned me down. I came back to my father and he brought out his bicycle, which was the only valuable property that he had at that time. He told me to sell the bicycle. I didn’t know how we were going to get a quick buyer. My father looked at me in the face and said he doesn’t know what else to do but something in him told him that I would wipe away his tears. He told me that I should be courageous. I looked him in his eyes and I left. Some years later, he still remembered that word and said: “I told you, you will wipe my tears and today, you have wiped away my tears.” So those words which encouraged me to move on was the greatest advice ever received. At every point of my life, when it looks as if I will stop, I will remember that word and I will keep moving. Knowing that my father is alive, I will not want the tears that he felt that I had wiped off to ever come back.
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•Deploy more personnel as army chief vows to wipe out terror group
•Security beefed up at N’Assembly
Deji Elumoye and Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja
Abuja, Nigeria’s seat of power, is under a massive security cordon following threats of attacks by insurgents and the increasing wave of banditry in the contiguous states of Kaduna, Kogi, Nasarawa and Niger States, THISDAY’s investigation has revealed.
There has been a wave of kidnappings in the outskirts of the federal capital, notably Pegi, Tuganmaje and Kuje among others, which the police have battled in recent times.
The security situation in and around the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) was heightened by the pronouncement of the Niger State Governor, Mr. Sani Bello, that Boko Haram fighters who he said sacked 50 villages in the state and hoisted the terror group’s flag, were about two hours drive away from the FCT.
Security has also been beefed up at the National Assembly as operatives, yesterday, thoroughly screened every vehicle approaching the National Assembly complex in Abuja.
The deteriorating security situation nationwide prompted the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus, to warn that the 2023 general election may not hold, demanding the declaration of a state of emergency as well as the convocation of a national conference.
However, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, yesterday restated the Nigerian Army’s determination to annihilate Boko Haram.
But the Governor of Katsina State, Hon. Bello Masari, cautioned against declaring a state of emergency, saying doing so isn’t the solution to combat the security challenges facing the country.
The security of the nation’s airports was also in focus yesterday as the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) said there was no threat to them.
THISDAY’s investigations showed increased presence of troops, police, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) personnel and intelligence operatives at the three strategic entrances to the city notably, Keffi, Zuba and Gwagwalada.
More checkpoints were also mounted around Gwagwalada and Keffi.
THISDAY also observed increased intelligence deployment at the entrance and the borders of FCT with contiguous states.
Beyond the borders, there were more deployments and police patrols inside the city and increased intelligence deployments as well.
Security sources told THISDAY: “There are deployments here and there but they are routine. Alertness is key to a secure environment.”
It was also learnt that security agencies were involved in frenzied meetings throughout yesterday.
The meetings, coordinated by the office of the Chief of Defence Staff under the new joint operational strategy of the armed forces, were aimed at coordinating a joint response to possible threats of attack to the FCT.
“I understand the security teams have been meeting for some days now and if you look around you, you will notice that there are increasing patrols and numbers of security personnel. The threats are not been taken lightly,” a source said.
National Assembly workers, lawmakers and visitors also had a harrowing experience accessing the legislative complex due to heightened security in the area.
Security operatives thoroughly screened every vehicle approaching the National Assembly complex in Abuja, impeding both human and vehicular traffic.
The Sergeant-at-arm of the National Assembly and other security agencies supervised the operations, leading to huge traffic build-up inside the complex.
Legislative staff, visitors and lawmakers were seen patiently waiting for their cars to be searched so that they could go ahead with the business of the day.
Some staff and visitors at some point got tired of waiting and were seen alighting from their cars to trek from the gate to the complex.
Meanwhile, the ONSA has said there is no threat to the nation’s airports.
A statement by the Head of Strategic Communication, Mr. Zachari Usman, said the reports of threats to the airports were an internal correspondence of security threat assessment misconstrued as security threat to the airports.
PDP Demands State of Emergency
In a related development, the PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, yesterday demanded the declaration of a state of emergency, warning that the 2023 general election might not hold if the federal government failed to tackle insecurity.
He called on the federal government to summon a national conference to address the spike in insecurity.
Secondus added that the national caucus of the party will meet today to discuss the state of the nation.
Addressing members of the National Executive Committee (NEC) in Abuja, Secondus said: “We are worried Abuja is not even safe. It is no longer politics. We got alert of plots to bomb and burn down our airports.
“We urge the federal government to declare a national state of emergency in security. There is the need to call a national conference to discuss the insecurity in the country.
“There may not be any election in 2023 in Nigeria due to insecurity. This government must listen to the people. The Buhari government should call a national confab to discuss security and state of the nation. It is no longer politics. This time we are not playing politics. Let’s keep politics aside and move the nation forward.”
He said the country had been grounded, regretting that there had been no matching response from the federal government.
Secondus said in the past, terrorism in the North was confined to the North-east, but with the report of Boko Haram occupying villages in Niger State, terrorism had spread to the North-central
“Herdsmen are also menacing in the West; gunmen causing havoc in the East; and the militants in the South; all killing, looting, raping, maiming and burning down homes. The situation is bad; Nigerians all over are living in fear,” he said.
The Senate Minority Leader, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, said the problem of Nigeria was outside of the PDP headquarters, while pledging the support of the Senate to the declaration of state of emergency in security.
Abaribe said he deliberately decided not to speak on the floor of the Senate but to allow the APC senators to speak so as to avoid being accused of giving a partisan colouration to the issue of insecurity.
He stated that only electoral reforms would give victory to the opposition party in the 2023 general election and ensure a democratic defeat of the APC-led federal government.
Also, the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, commended the NEC and the PDP leadership for their collective efforts at resolving the House leadership crisis.
The NEC meeting adopted the position of Secondus, calling on the federal government to convoke a national conference to discuss the state of insecurity in the country, according to a communiqué read by the National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan.
Army Chief Vows to Wipe Out Boko Haram
The army yesterday reiterated its commitment to wipe out Boko Haram.
Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, told reporters in Maiduguri, Borno State that Boko Haram had been defeated in many encounters and would continue to be defeated until it’s annihilated from Nigeria.
“We will take on Boko Haram decisively, and we are committed to the focus of the operations, which is the total annihilation of Boko Haram from Nigeria,” he said.
The COAS, who was visiting the headquarters of Operation Lafiya Dole in Maiduguri for the fifth time since his appointment four months ago, said the visit was to boost the morale of the troops, reassure them and listen to any issues affecting them.
Earlier, the Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, Maj. Gen. Farouq Yahaya, lauded the visit, which he said had continued to boost the morale of the troops.
“We are honoured, we are grateful, we are encouraged by those visits. You provided us guidance, logistics and other things we required. We are most grateful for those visits,” Yahaya said.
State of Emergency Won’t Solve Security Challenges, Says Masari
Katsina State Governor, Hon. Aminu Masari, has, however, said declaration of a state of emergency won’t solve the security challenges facing the nation.
Masari, who spoke yesterday with journalists after meeting with the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari at the State House, Abuja stated that he was against the recent call by the House of Representatives for the declaration of a state of emergency in the security sector as it would not solve the problem.
According to him, declaring a state of emergency will not achieve the desired effect as the security structure and personnel to be used to execute the emergency are already overstretched in a bid to safeguard lives and property.
Sourced From: THISDAYLIVE
Tribune Online
Nigeria records 55 new COVID-19 infections, total now 165,110
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has recorded 62 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of infections in the country to 165,110. The NCDC disclosed this on its official Twitter handle on Friday. “55 new cases of #COVID19Nigeria; Lagos-21, Yobe-19, Ogun-6, Akwa Ibom-3, Kaduna-2, Plateau-2, FCT-1, Rivers-1.” YOU SHOULD NOT MISS THESE HEADLINES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE COVID-19: Nigeria Recorded […]
Nigeria records 55 new COVID-19 infections, total now 165,110
Tribune Online
Sourced From: Tribune Online
By Olasunkanmi Akoni
The people of the South East region have been urged to explore the power of negotiation and mutual settlement in the face of ongoing killings and security challenges in the zone because the east can not afford another war at present.
Stakeholders from the South-East geo-political zone made the remark on Thursday, at the unveiling of the book, “Igbo, 50 years after Biafra,” written by Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Drainage Services, Joe Igbokwe, held at Ikeja G.R.A.
Speaking at the unveiling of the book, the chairman of the occasion, Mr. Cutis Adigba,
urged the people of the South-East to learn to build bridges across the country, so that they can realise their ambition of producing the next president of Nigeria.
Adigba urged leaders from the zone to discourage the move and agitation by some youths in the South East to go to war and secede out of Nigeria.
Also read: Banditry: Disregard viral video, Niger State gov’t urges residents
He said that Igbo have always found it difficult to rule Nigeria because they refused to build bridges across the six geo-political zones that made up Nigeria.
While describing the agitation as uncalled for, Adigba noted that after two decades that Nigeria returned to civil rule, the Igbo has predominantly identified with only one political party.
He maintained that remaining in one party can not advance the cause of the people of South East and cannot make them realise their objective of producing an Igbo man as president.
He maintained that the publisher of the book, Igbokwe played politics outside his state, so that the Igbo race can be integrated with one another race.
Adigba said the failure of the Igbo to reintegrate with other ethnic nationalities politically was responsible for the retrogression of the race in Nigerian politics.
Igbokwe, also addressing guests on the occasion, maintained that the Igbo are not advancing politically because they refused to be integrated into National politics, lamenting that, despite their success in business, they are not successful in playing politics at the national level.
Corroborating Dimgba, Igbokwe noted that there was the need for the Igbo people to stand up and build bridges so that their objective of producing the next president of Nigeria could be realised.
According to him: “I have decided to raise my voice, I hope my people will hear me while trying to quell the effect of the war, our people are spoiling for another war, mayhem is being unleashed in Igbo land, and there is palpable fear.
“Those who could speak have lost their voice, mindful of the consequences of their actions, I am calling on all Igbo leaders to speak up because all actions carry consequences, consequences of the silence will be too dastardly to sustain.
“Those silently supporting the wild wind should be careful or else they hand over to their children,” he said.
Igbokwe urged those spoiling for war to jettison their plan and embrace dialogue, urging them to learn from the South West region that despite the challenges faced after the annulment of the June 12, 1993, election, they did not go to war, and the region had the opportunity of producing two of her sons for presidential position in 1999.
“You have to build bridges to become president of Nigeria, but it is unfortunate the Igbo are burning bridges.”
Speaking at the event, Chief Uche Dimgba who is the coordinator of Igbo in All Progressives Congress, APC in Lagos, described Igbokwe as “a Frank, fearless and reliable leader, who based his views on issues and stand by his opinions, and we the Igbo have confidence in him and believe he can lead us aright.”
“He is a leader we Igbo believe in and we will follow him. If he can serve all the governors produced in Lagos State since 1999, he is a better man to follow because he possesses all the experience that can be of benefit to Igbo both at home and in the diaspora.”
The post Attacks on S’East: We must explore all options of negotiation — Stakeholders urge Igbo appeared first on Vanguard News.
Sourced From: Vanguard News
The government said that no worker should stay back beyond 6:00 p.m. within premises of buildings undergoing construction.
The post Insecurity: Lagos bans occupation of abandoned buildings appeared first on Premium Times Nigeria.
Sourced From: Premium Times Nigeria
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Nigeria records 55 new COVID-19 infections, total now 165,110
Military, Police Ring Abuja to Forestall Boko Haram Attack
UFC: Usman gets N584m after beating Masvidal
Insecurity: Lagos bans occupation of abandoned buildings
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