THE SEAL OF CONFESSION HAS BEEN BROKEN IN CHRIST PENTECOSTAL MISSION BENIN CITY

It has come to our notice that one of the church members who is also the financial secretary of Christ Pentecostal Mission located at a lane beside Edo Line off mission road Benin city has been arrested by the pastor of the church for a confession made to the pastor by the member.

The member who was said to be having health challenges and went to the pastor to confessed that he used to take money from church offering without permission from the pastor. He made this confession for the forgiveness of sins and to

re-unite with the body of Christ and not to return to sin again. But the pastor on his part instead of praying for him, went and called

the police for his arrest and demanded that the money be returned.

Our group, Freedom Initiative was informed by some members of the church. Inasmuch as we the members of Freedom Initiative

condemned the action of the member, we also want to condemn in entirety the action

of the pastor of the church who had broken the 'Seal of Confession' as a priest church.

According to Canon 21 of the Fourth Council of the Lateran which states that, "Let the

priest absolutely beware that he does not by word or sign or by any manner whatever in any way betray the sinner" based on this rule, there are pertinent questions we need to ask the pastor which are as follow;

1. Does the money belong to the pastor or God?

2. Is the pastor after the soul to be forgiving and be save or after the money?

3. Was the member caught by the pastor or by God?

4. Is the pastor free from this sin?

Having carefully observed this issue, We wish to call on the pastor to desist from this act

against this member and of any other members of the church because his action is against priesthood. He opt to have pray for him not to further destroy him.

Furthermore, Freedom Initiative also wish to state that the action of the pastor could lead a to a spiritual blockage a situation where church worshipers will refuse to make confession in churches in order not to be

arrested by his/her confession, this will therefore increase sins in the land since the mode of confessing sin is being truncated by this pastor.

We therefore call on the christian community, Pentecostal Christian

Body. Christian Association of Nigeria CAN and other Christian Regulatory body to call this pastor to order and to stop such

occurrence in the future to save the body of Christ from the mood.

Justice Oyamienlen Godfrey 

Coordinator, Freedom Initiative.

SACRILIGE COMMITTED IN THE CHURCH BY APOSTLE SOLOMON ITAMAH

It is again another sacrilege committed in the house of God last week Sunday 29^th of May 2016 by Apostle Solomon Itamah the pastor in the in charge of Christ Chosen Church of God (CCCG) Uselu Headquarters, Medical Stores Road, Benin City. The pastor who was said to have denied a new baby from being dedicated to God because the father did not present ram and a bag of rice to him for the dedication. The father of the baby Mr Kingsley Airihenbuwa a parishioner who has been a member of the church since 1996 lamented the way the pastor treated his new baby. It was gather that the pastor refused to anoint the child stating that until the ram and bag of a rice is submitted to him by the member the dedication will not be accepted by God. The pastor who was quoted saying that ram and the rice are for his god.  That the children snacks and milks brought for the dedication by the member is not for God therefore what his God want for the dedication is a ram and a bag of rice which is a MUST to suite his God.

The statement angered parishioners, friends and well-wishers of Mr Airihenbuwa that came to graced the dedication stating that such has never happen before in history of the church where a pastor will come openly to demand of what should be given to his God for dedication. It was said that the parishioners troop out of the church angrily. One of the elders of the church who spoke to us stated that what happened in the dedication today in the church is unexpected and it is a disgrace to Christ Chosen church family that they wonder if the pastor was truly trained the pastoral school before he was posted here due to his act as a pastor.

Speaking to news line, the Regional Coordinator, Freedom Initiative Ambassador Justice Oyamienlen Godfrey condemned the act in entirety and said a protest letter has been sent to the General Overseer Most Senior Apostle Joshua Osasuyi copied the President of Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) Rev (Dr) Felix Omobude to sanction Apostle Solomon Itamah and also demand public apology from the said pastor to bring sanity in the church. He Ambassador stated that if urgent action is not taking other pastors who claimed to be men of God will hide under this to extort worshipers. He admonished worshipers to always speak the truth when their pastors are going wrong in the church to save the body  of Christ from the hand of pretending pastors.

POWER TUSSLE IN EDO CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS AND THE MONEY BAG ACTIVISM

BY AMBASSADOR JUSTICE OYAMIENLEN GODFREY
 
PARTONE
It is not longer news that unending crisis has been rocking the supposed mass movement in Edo state under the aspics of Edo Civil Society Organizations EDOCSO since it was founded in 2013. Let’s not pretend that all is well with the body. Until the course of the crisis is known the abuse becomes inevitable

How it started:
The rise of students, workers and societal struggles in Edo state led to the formation of body known as Gani Fawehinmi Good Governance Movement GFGGM in 2009. It was a conglomeration of different NGOs in the Edo state. This movement shocked the government in following area;
1. Protest/rally on BLACK DAY ON EDUCATION which resulted to the RED ROOF in primary/secondary schools in Edo state.
2. Protest against YAR’ADUA proposed privatization of the downstream oil sector in Abuja.
3. Lingering crisis between the Classroom/NUT against state government in 2010.
4. The mass Protest against GEJ on subsidy removal.
5. Protest against Edo state government on Property Tax

The movement was truly the voice of the masses in the state as at then which prompted the Comrade Governor Adams Oshiomhole to create the office of the Senior Special Assistant on Civil Society and ask us to produce somebody to fill the position. The office which was suppose to have been a blessing to the masses automatically became something else as few individuals now relied on it to defraud the general masses and enriched themselves and thereby forgone the FOOT SOLDIERS.
The government of Edo State under Comrade Governor Administration used the apparatus within his reach to disarmed GFGGM the people’s movement having succeeded in the pocket inducement to some of the leaders that played to the tone and then introduced the Sale of “EDO HOUSE” in Lagos, at this time there was no more coalition movement to champion the course of the people. It was Patriot Patrick Eholor a seasoned activist that rescued the leaders who sold out from the shame; He financed and sponsored FOOT SOLDIERS to protest against it in Lagos.

This shame was what led to the formation of Edo Civil Society Organizations EDOCSO. As one of the pioneer, having watched the activities on first three meetings in the newly formed Organization with the same leadership I knew that until the issues that led to the silent of the former movement is properly addressed what we are going to have is accusing fingers, and then my organization and others pulled out from it. Barely a year ago, had the game started again as some members were accused of collecting money from government officials. Instead of using that medium to solve the problem and stay from all these money activism, those who were involved were covered up by the interim leadership and then conducted election using these same people.

Those who power were given to because they were in hurry to conduct election without laying a good foundation by settling the lingering crisis. The body could not perform in spite of the societal problems and unfavorable policies introduced by the state government including the Edo state House of Assembly crisis that distracted the state for several months. If not because we distance ourselves from the EDOSCO nothing meaningful would have recorded in the House of Assembly saga. While some were busy protesting against the gruesome killing of a young man who was arrested by police and later found dead others were busy going from offices to offices for bribe to stop the protest. Today another faction has broken out from the body.

Now whom to blame?
Where do we go from here?
Where are the elders in the game?
Good or bad the elders should come out and stop using the youths to fight against themselves. Creating more fashion will not anyway solve the problem but a better platform to resolve this crisis once and for all.

AMBASSADOR JUSTICE OYAMIENLEN GODFREY
PRESIDENT, ESAN YOUTHS CAMPAIGN (ESANYOCAM)

THE NEED FOR A BLOCK VOTES FOR OUR ASPIRANTS

As we continue the round two of the phase one of our struggle for the Esan's Turn 2016. it is pertinent to note here that in order not to lose any chance that may seems to be obstacle in our demand, the leadership of Esan Youths Campaign Esanyocam will be organizing a town hall meeting of the delegates and the youths in Edo Central to arrive at a strategic decision which shall be a stepping tool for achieving our demands.

We therefore call on the various Aspirants from Edo Central irrespective of their political parties to be open because our demand is beyond personal interest but the entire interest of Edo Central as a senatorial district which has been marginalized in the political space in our dear state.

The need for us to canvass for bloc vote in the primary election in our senatorial district is sacrosanct and through the proposed Town Hall meeting it will be materialize.

 Once again, the leader of Esan Youths Campaign (ESANYOCAM) is indeed very proud of Esan Youth, Men and Women including our brothers and sisters from the other two Senatorial Districts especially those who have keyed in to our struggle. For the various communities we have visited we are indebted to you all for receiving us with open hearts and your advice which has helped us in our campaign.

Long Live Esanland!

Long Live Edo State!!

Amb Justice Oyamienlen Godfrey

President, Esan Youths Campaign (ESANYOCAM)

CAMPAIGN FOR JUSTICE CFJ: ESAN BHA KUGBE

CAMPAIGN FOR JUSTICE CFJ: ESAN BHA KUGBE: By Odiboh My people of Esanland, affiliate Esanites and those who align themselves with our people in one way or the other, let us acce...