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Fr. Mbaka Goofed Over Assessment On Umahi’s Govt – Ebonyi Indigenes

Published

4 years ago

October 26, 2021

…Say Governor Can’t Bribe God

The Association of Ebonyi State Indigenes in Diaspora (AESID) has described the recent assessment of governor Dave Umahi’s performance in the state by the founder and Director of Adoration Ministry, Reverend Father Ejike Mbaka, as against the realities on ground in the state.

The Ebonyi indigenes warned that Fr. Mbaka should not be carried away by Umahi’s gift to the church, adding that the governor can not bribe God.

Governor Umahi had on Sunday October 24, 2021 attended Fr. Mbaka’s church annual thanksgiving, harvest and Bazaar service where he donated N30m, 200 tuber yams and 100 bags of rice to the church.

During the thanksgiving, the clergy (Fr. Mbaka) was said to have said that Ebonyi governor’s donation ‘is already shaking the heavens,’ adding that ‘if you doubt it, go to Ebonyi.’

Mbaka was referring to the handing over of King David Medical School, Uburu to the Catholic Church during the recent inauguration of a new Catholic Bishop.

Reacting to the commendation of Umahi’s administration by the man of God, through a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja, AESID President, Amb. Paschal Oluchukwu, said contrary to a made believe, the current administration in the state has elevated cosmetic governance and made praise-singing a glorified art in the state.

“We have no doubt about Fr. Mbaka’s calling and all he has represented which as a group we acknowledge and appreciate but his heroic assessment of Governor Umahi’s nearly eight years reign on the saddle as Ebonyi Governor does not, we repeat does not in any way reflect the current realities of massive hunger and anthropogenic poverty created by the flyover and disco-lights-centric administration in control of the welfare of nearly four million Ebonyians.

“Apart from our misgivings that such project which Umahi has been parading as though it is a personal gift was executed with a yet-to-be-accounted-for public funds, we wish to draw Fr. Mbaka’s attention to the fact that the land the so-named King David Medical School, Uburu is situated formerly belonged to the Presbyterian Church and is yet being contended even in a Court of law. More so is the fact that Umahi, except for his declaration at the Bishop’s inauguration was yet to come up with any concrete plans and terms on how he wants the institution to run and operate.

“As a respected government and accountability group, Umahi and his government was yet to answer the many nagging posers we, like the rest of reasonable Ebonyians have raised regarding the said building and the proposed handing over of the institution to the mother church.

“Besides, Umahi’s governance style, we may wish to clarify the revered Catholic Priest has been characterized by deceits, man-made hunger and poverty and wanton intimidations cum attacks on opposing voices, no matter how decent. All these, he tries to hide under cover of extravagant donations to churches and the clergy, thinking perhaps, that he can bribe God.

“But AESID asks; how can Umahi think he can bribe God after dealing terribly with the men and women God gave him the opportunity and onerous responsibility to cater for their welfare and wellbeing?

“What has Umahi donated to the war-ravaged Effium victims, many of who are yet scattered in different parts of the North and Central Senatorial zones in the state with some still sleeping under Ezzamgbo flyover without foods, clothing or shelter following the destruction of their homes by their attackers?

“What has he also donated to the crying and deprived victims of the international Airport project in Ezza north whose homes were demolished and their property forcefully taken away from them without adequate and reasonable compensations?

“What has Umahi also donated to the hundreds of poverty-tossed Ebonyians lining up on the major roads in Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt in daily hustles to sell Gala and soft drinks just to put foods on their table?

“What happened to the enumeration for empowerment of such poor Ebonyians done by his government sometime at the twilight of his administration? Or is Umahi unaware of the scripture that he who gives to the poor lends to God?

“How about the workers and retirees whose welfares, salaries, pensions, gratuities and emoluments he has completely neglected in pursuit of his greed-driven, so-called development strides? Has Umahi remembered even the hungry casual labourers he sees daily at the Abakaliki township stadium and Vanco junctions near the old Government House?”

While expressing disappointment over the governor’s donation, the statement said: “It is very unreasonable for anyone to think that by merely constructing less impactful flyovers and concrete roads, Umahi is turning Ebonyi into Dubai-a 21st century world class city that creates massive jobs and opportunities for its people.

“The clergy, Fr. Mbaka, like the rest of reasonable Ebonyians should sincerely be worried that Ebonyi still largely depends on his Enugu-based Aqua Rapha sachet water as a main source of drinkable water when water wastes in various glorified water fountains in strategic parts of the Abakaliki capital city.

“In addition, Fr. Mbaka deserves to be informed that the level of borrowings which the Umahi government has embarked upon has actually placed a heavy debt burden on the future of the young state struggling to catch up with its neighbours in terms of economic growth and per capital income.

“Borrowing to waste and lavish same on flyovers and bogus concrete road and other infrastructural jamboree projects like Umahi is currently doing in Ebonyi only spells serious doom for the future of the state and God’s servants like Mbaka should better be intimated. These, and many more are the reasons we strongly believe that Mbaka must really be disconnected from the true position of things regarding the Umahi regime in Ebonyi state.”

According to the statement, with the level of insecurity that Ebonyi is facing now, it should have been a time for critical sober reflections because security and the welfare of the people remains in any part of the world, the primary purpose a government must serve.

“The clergy, the church should therefore, like the rest of reasonable Ebonyians should not be deceived by the miracle-shopping governor. For it is our strongest confident that with the masses, our dear state shall yet reclaim its glory that is now fading away in cosmetic and flyover governance!,” the statement reads.

Related Topics:Ebonyi State Fr Mbaka Umahi

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Headline

Televangelist, Jimmy Swaggart, Is Dead

Published

2 hours ago

July 1, 2025

Editor

Jimmy Swaggart, the popular Pentecostal preacher and televangelist who garnered national headlines for his extramarital affairs, has died at the age of 90 following a cardiac arrest.

Swaggart’s death was announced in a post on his official Instagram handle on Tuesday.

The post reads, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”

“2 Timothy 4:7-8. Today, our hearts are heavy as we share that Brother Swaggart has finished his earthly race and entered into the presence of His Saviour, Jesus Christ. Today was the day he has sung about for decades. He met his beloved Saviour and entered the portals of glory. At the same time, we rejoice knowing that we will see him again one day.

“For over seven decades, Brother Swaggart poured out his life preaching the gospel, singing songs of the faith, and pointing millions to the saving power of Jesus Christ and the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. His voice echoed through nations, his music softened hearts, and his message never changed: Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

“He was not just a preacher—he was a worshiper, a warrior, and a witness to the grace and mercy of God. He was a man whose faith was steadfast and always entered whatever door the Lord opened. And the Lord honoured that faith. Please continue to lift up Sister Frances, Donnie, Debbie, Gabriel, Jill, Jennifer, Clif, Matt, Joanna, Sam, Ryder, Abby, Lola, Harper, Navy, Harrison, Caroline and Mackenzie in your prayers.”

Swaggart was born on March 15, 1935, in Ferriday, Louisiana.

At the age of 8, he had a powerful religious experience that made him feel called to become a preacher.

At 17, he married 15-year-old Frances Anderson in 1952, and they had a son named Donnie.

In 1961, Swaggart was ordained as a minister in the Assemblies of God, the largest Pentecostal denomination in the U.S.

Swaggart is also known for his musical talent.

A cousin of rock ‘n’ roll legend Jerry Lee Lewis, Swaggart had a successful gospel music career, selling more than 17 million albums over the years.

His ministry expanded into media.

In 1969, he started a radio show called “The Campmeeting Hour.”

A year later, he launched The Evangelist, a religious magazine. In 1973, he entered television with a 30-minute program titled “The Jimmy Swaggart Evangelistic Association Presents Jimmy Swaggart.”

He also began airing live recordings of his church services in multiple languages.

In the 1980s, Swaggart led large evangelism crusades in the U.S. and internationally.

One of the biggest was held in October 1987 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, drawing an estimated 125,000 attendees.

Headline

Trump Says Will ‘Take A Look’ At Deporting Musk

Published

4 hours ago

July 1, 2025

Editor

US President Donald Trump said Tuesday he could consider deporting Elon Musk, after the South African-born billionaire slammed his flagship spending bill.

Trump also said the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) — which Musk headed before stepping down late May — may train its sights on the Tesla and SpaceX founder’s government subsidies.

“I don’t know. We’ll have to take a look,” Trump told reporters at the White House when asked if he would consider deporting Musk.

“We might have to put DOGE on Elon. You know what DOGE is? DOGE is the monster that might have to go back and eat Elon.”

Trump doubled down on the threat when he said he believed Musk was attacking his so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill” because he was annoyed that it had dropped measures to support electric vehicles (EV).

“He’s losing his EV mandate. He’s very upset about things, but you know, he could lose a lot more than that, I can tell you right now. Elon can lose a lot more than that.”

Trump made similar comments on his Truth Social network late Monday, saying that “without subsidies, Elon would probably have to close up shop and head back home to South Africa.”

Musk, the world’s richest person, was Trump’s biggest donor in the 2024 election and initially maintained a near constant presence at the newly elected president’s side.

They had an acrimonious public falling out this month over the bill and the tycoon has reprised his criticisms in recent days, accusing Republicans of abandoning efforts to place the United States at the front of the EV and clean energy revolution.

Musk has also renewed his calls for the formation of a new political party called the “America Party” if the bill passed.

AFP

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Over 14 Million People Could Fie From US Foreign Aid Cuts – Study

Published

4 hours ago

July 1, 2025

Editor

More than 14 million of the world’s most vulnerable people, a third of them small children, could die by 2030 because of the Trump administration’s dismantling of US foreign aid, research projected on Tuesday.

The study in the prestigious Lancet journal was published as world and business leaders gather for a United Nations conference in Spain this week hoping to bolster the reeling aid sector.

The US Agency for International Development (USAID) had provided over 40 percent of global humanitarian funding until Donald Trump returned to the White House in January.

Two weeks later, Trump’s then-close advisor — and world’s richest man — Elon Musk boasted of having put the agency “through the woodchipper”.

The funding cuts “risk abruptly halting — and even reversing — two decades of progress in health among vulnerable populations”, warned study co-author Davide Rasella, a researcher at the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal).

“For many low- and middle-income countries, the resulting shock would be comparable in scale to a global pandemic or a major armed conflict,” he said in a statement.

Looking back over data from 133 nations, the international team of researchers estimated that USAID funding had prevented 91.8 million deaths in developing countries between 2001 and 2021.

That is more than the estimated number of deaths during World War II, history’s deadliest conflict.

•⁠ ⁠HIV, malaria to rise –

The researchers also used modelling to project how funding being slashed by 83 percent — the figure announced by the US government earlier this year — could affect death rates.

The cuts could lead to more than 14 million avoidable deaths by 2030, the projections found.

That number included over 4.5 million children under the age of five — or around 700,000 child deaths a year.

For comparison, around 10 million soldiers are estimated to have been killed during World War I.

Programmes supported by USAID were linked to a 15-percent decrease in deaths from all causes, the researchers determined.

For children under five, the drop in deaths was twice as steep, at 32 percent.

USAID funding was found to be particularly effective at staving off preventable deaths from disease.

There were 65 percent fewer deaths from HIV/AIDS in countries receiving a high level of support compared to those with little or no USAID funding, the study found.

Deaths from malaria and neglected tropical diseases were similarly cut in half.

Study co-author Francisco Saute of Mozambique’s Manhica Health Research Centre said he had seen on the ground how USAID helped fight diseases such as HIV, malaria and tuberculosis.

“Cutting this funding now not only puts lives at risk — it also undermines critical infrastructure that has taken decades to build,” he stressed.

A recently updated tracker run by disease modeller Brooke Nichols at Boston University estimates that nearly 108,000 adults and more than 224,000 children have already died as a result of the US aid cuts.

That works out to 88 deaths every hour, according to the tracker.

’Time to scale up’ –

After USAID was gutted, several other major donors, including France, Germany and the UK, followed suit in announcing plans to slash their foreign aid budgets.

These aid reductions, particularly in the European Union, could lead to “even more additional deaths in the coming years,” study co-author Caterina Monti of ISGlobal said.

But the grim projections are based on the current amount of pledged aid, so could rapidly come down if the situation changes, the researchers emphasised.

Dozens of world leaders are meeting in the Spanish city of Seville this week for the biggest aid conference in a decade.

The United States, however, will not attend.

“Now is the time to scale up, not scale back,” Rasella said.

Before its funding was slashed, USAID represented 0.3 percent of all US federal spending.

“US citizens contribute about 17 cents per day to USAID, around $64 per year,” said study co-author James Macinko of the University of California, Los Angeles.

“I think most people would support continued USAID funding if they knew just how effective such a small contribution can be to saving millions of lives.”

AFP