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Go And Sin No More, CAC Tells Pastor Fatoyinbo After Gaffe

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The Christ Apostolic Church has accepted the apology of the Global Senior Pastor of the Commonwealth of Zion Assembly, Biodun Fatoyinbo, after his recent remarks about the CAC’s late founder, Apostle Joseph Ayo Babalola, stirred outrage.

Speaking on behalf of the church, the Director of Publicity for CAC, Pastor Aderinsoye Alawode, said the apology was received in good faith, noting that it reflected remorse and a willingness to make amends.

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Fatoyinbo, while delivering a sermon, had said Apostle Babalola was anointed but had no money.

He also said Babalola died poor and questioned the whereabouts of his children.

READ ALSO:CAC Unveils AI-powered Portal For 30-minute Company Registrations

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I was studying recently about what Apostle Babalola did. I stand to be corrected. What God did through Smith Wigglesworth, if they had documented what God did in the life of that man (Babalola), people would be coming here for pilgrimage. He was anointed. So anointed. Anointed man. Heavy-duty grace, but no money. So, all the grace just went like that,” Fatoyinbo said.

But reacting, the CAC, in a statement on Thursday, signed by Alawode, accused Fatoyinbo of promoting a misleading link between ministerial success and material wealth.

“Ordinarily, we do not respond to social media commentaries or controversies. However, we consider it necessary to address your recent statements, which have been widely circulated on your social media platforms.

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“In one of your trending messages on YouTube, you acknowledged that Apostle Babalola was highly anointed but ‘had no money,’ and then went on to ask sarcastically, ‘Where are his children?’ — a question that was both insensitive and ill-informed.

READ ALSO:Bridging Gap Between Awareness And Usage: The Role Of Local Influencers In Family Planning Advocacy In Edo

To equate anointing or ministerial success with material wealth is biblically flawed. The words of Jesus are clear: Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses — Luke 12:15,” the church said.

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Also reacting, the first daughter of Apostle Babalola, Deaconess Eunice Ogini, said her father lived a life of service to God and humanity, and that his children continued in his footsteps.

She rejected the claim that he died poor or left no tangible legacy, stressing that both she and her sister were blessed and lived comfortable lives as a result of his values and generosity.

Following the backlash, Pastor Fatoyinbo in a statement on Thursday, apologised to CAC and the children of Apostle Babalola.

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He insisted that he did not speak ill of Babalola’s children and maintained that his church was “a place of honour.”

READ ALSO:CAC’s Good Women Choir Leader, Fasoyin, Speaks On Composition Of ‘Odun Nlo Sopin’ Song

Let me state however, that at no time in the sermon did I refer to the children of the late Apostle and Father of faith in bad light. I would never do that. The raw copy of the message is online, and this can be verified.

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“I would never in any way or manner take lightly the grace over Apostle Babalola, his children or his ministry for granted or speak lightly of the same.

“I apologise if any other statement made by me has caused any form of distress, hurt or discontentment to the CAC, the family of the late Apostle Babalola or his associates,” Fatoyinbo said.

Reacting to the development in an interview with The PUNCH, Alawode commended Fatoyinbo for taking steps to address the matter, saying his apology showed humility and a willingness to make amends.

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READ ALSO:CAC Extends PoS Registration Deadline 

He (Fatoyinbo) realised that the statement he made evoked some feelings in some people, and he took steps to correct himself. That is what is needed; it means he has shown remorse.

“Maybe he made the statement in error and once he has (Fatoyinbo) realised that and corrected himself, that is alright,” Alawode said.

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He noted that CAC’s concern was not to accuse Fatoyinbo of malicious intent, but to clarify public misconceptions his remarks might have created.

We too did not say he spoke of them (Apostle Babalola and his children) in bad light, but we just wanted to correct the impression given that maybe Baba did not even have any children at all. The children are alive and all of them are doing well in their various fields of endeavour. They have already retired from government service, and they are church leaders in their own right,” he added.

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JUST IN: FG, NUPENG Begin Meeting Over Strike Threat

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The Federal Government is currently meeting with the leadership of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers.

The meeting which was earlier slated for 10:00 am started around 5:30 pm due to the delay in the arrivals of NUPENG officials.

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The meeting currently ongoing at the conference room of the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Productivity is aimed at stopping the nationwide industrial strike before it inflicts significant damage on the fragile economy.

READ ALSO: NUPENG Tanker Drivers Announce Strike Over CNG Trucks Dispute

NUPENG has accused Dangote and associates of pursuing “crude and dangerous anti-union practices, a monopolistic agenda, and indecent industrial relations strategies,” alleging the refinery pays some of the lowest wages in the sector and bars drivers for imported CNG trucks from joining industry unions.

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The union says those recruitment conditions violate Section 40 of the Constitution, the Labour Act and International Labour Organisation conventions on freedom of association.

Details later…

 

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Five Years After, Edo Govt Reconnects To BEDC As Ossiomo Shut Down

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Five years after disconnecting from the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) Edo State Government has reconnected to the power distribution company for supply of electricity.

The Godwin Obaseki-led administration in 2020 broke BEDC monopoly in the state by supporting the construction of Ossiomo Power, an electricity generation and distribution firm.

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The switch over to BEDC by the state government was due to the shut down of Ossiomo Power Plant since September 1st over ownership tussle between Ossiomo Power and its Chinese partners, Jiangsu Communication Clean Energy Technology (CCETC).

READ ALSO:Oba Of Benin Declares Two-week Fasting, Prayer For Edo

Ossiomo Power generates 95MW of electricity which it supplied to government buildings, Edo Government House, Edo NUJ secretariat, private organisations, streetlights amongst others.

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Director General of the Edo State Electrification Agency, Saturday Omozokpea Egbadon, who confirmed the switch over to the BEDC, said electricity has been restored to some streetlights and government buildings.

 

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NSCDC Vows To Bring Killers Of Edo personnel To Justice

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The Edo State Command of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has vowed to fish out the killers of eight of its personnel in Okpella, Etsako East Local Government Area of the state.

The personnel were killed last week Friday at around 10:00PM at BUA cement factory site
in an ambush by suspected kidnappers.

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One out of five Chinese expatriates the personnel were providing cover for was taken away by the gunmen.

Reacting to the incident, the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Efosa Ogbebor said investigation into the matter was still ongoing, adding and that the Corps National Headquarters was also handling the burial of the victims and welfare of their family members.

READ ALSO:Gunmen Kill NSCDC Personnel In Edo, Abduct Expatriate

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He said: “The National headquarters has taken over the issue, investigation is still ongoing and our men are still out there combing the forests because those men must be brought to book. The Corps is not taking it lightly in any way, those people who did that must and will be brought to book, there is no hiding place for them. We are doing the combing in collaboration with other security agencies.

“For the victims, communication has been established with families by the Corps Headquarters and the welfare of the families they left behind is being handled by the national headquarters.”

Speaking on the kidnapped expatriate, the imagemaker said he was not aware of any contact yet but vowed that he would be rescued.

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