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Homosexuality: Why I Resigned From United Methodist Church – Nigerian Bishop

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A former Bishop of the United Methodist Church of Nigeria (UMCN), John-Wesley Yohanna, has revealed why he resigned from the UMCN.

The Nigerian Bishop in an interview with Vanguard, said he resigned when the church’s General Conference assent to LGBTQ, which according to him is against the dictate of God in the Bible and the Constitution of Nigeria.

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He said as a young christian in his catechism class, he was never taught anything like homosexuality in Christianity, hence going ahead with the UMCN after approval of homosexuality would be sin against God and crime against the law of the land.

He said: “When I became a Christian and attended my catechism classes, I was taught nothing like homosexuality in Christianity. In fact, I was told and also read from the Bible, particularly Genesis Chapter 2, where God created man and woman. God saw that the man had no suitable companion and he gave man a woman. And since then, marriage has been that of a man and a woman.

READ ALSO:3 Countries That Pay Single People To Get Married

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“It was not until later days when the EUB missions joined the Methodist Church in 1968 and we in Nigeria joined the United Methodist Church (UMC) in 1984/85 that we started hearing about homosexuality.

“But one good thing about those times is that we have always voted it out whenever we attended the General Conference. And it has been our stand in the Nigerian church that whenever homosexuality is legalized, we will no longer stay in a church that accepts it.

“Alas, in May 2024 during the last General Conference of the UMC, they voted to recognize LGBTQ in the church. As a clergy, I presided over seven Annual Conferences of the Nigerian Episcopal Area and all these Conferences had passed resolutions stating that they would vote to move to the Global Methodist Church (GMC), a breakaway faction of the UMC whose doctrine does not recognize LGBTQ.

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“Besides, the law of this country is against homosexuality and, as members of the church in Nigeria, we felt if we continue to remain in the UMC, we shall contravene the Constitution of our land and the country can hold us liable.

“It is for this reason we felt it is inappropriate to remain with the UMC, because to us the laws of our country takes precedence over any other Constitution, including that of the church. And In obedience to this, we aligned with the Global Methodist Church (GMC) whose doctrines match ours.

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“On the first of June 2024, I informed the government of Taraba State and other relevant agencies about the new development from the UMC General Conference. And on the 29th of July, 2024, I sent my resignation letter to the Council of Bishops of the UMC, stating that I could not continue to serve as Bishop of the Nigerian Episcopal Area because the church has recognized/legalized LGBTQ. They responded by appreciating me for my meritorious service and accepted my resignation.”

 

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World Ocean Day: HOMEF Wants An End To Human’s Exploitative Relationship With The Ocean

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By Joseph Ebi Kanjo 

Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) has called for an end to human’s exploitative, violent, and destructive relationship with the ocean even as the world marks World Ocean Day today, 8 June, 2025.

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In a statement issued by Kome Odhomor, Media/Communications Lead, HOMEF, to mark this year’s World Ocean Day with the theme: ‘Wonder: Sustaining What Sustains Us,’ the ecological think tank organisation said Ocean is not just a water but an ecosystems which “supply a substantial amount of oxygen to the atmosphere and offer various services that ensure the survival of all species on Earth.

“Climate change, primarily caused by human activities, is impacting the ocean. Dead zones are proliferating, pollution from minerals and fossil fuel extraction and production processes is occurring, unsustainable industrial fishing practices are occurring, intentional waste dumping is occurring, and disturbances of the ocean floor and seabeds are among a long list of destructive activities.

READ ALSO: World Environment Day: CEEAI Partners HOMEF For A Day Event

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“As ocean surface temperatures increase, global warming will also rise. Therefore, protecting the ocean from these forms of degradation would ultimately safeguard the Earth. Let’s protect the ocean and force others to respect it because we are the ocean; we are part of the ocean family.”

Odhomor, in the statement made available to INFO DAILY on Sunday, quoted the Executive Director of HOMEF, Dr. Nnimmo Bassey, as saying the World Ocean Day is celebrated annually on 8 June to underscore the immeasurable importance of the world’s ocean and garner support for their protection.

Bassey in the statement lamented that despite the importance, the ocean and other water bodies are continuously subjected to a barrage of assaults at local, national, and international levels.

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READ ALSO: HOMEF Decries Alarming Rate Of Malnutrition, Food Insecurity

“The concept that the ocean cycles itself and acts as a greenhouse gas sink has been misconstrued to mean that the ocean can filter and clean itself no matter what is dumped in it.

“The ocean and other waterbodies have become dumpsites of all sorts, polluting and extreme exploitation.

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“There are a lot of unusual activities going on in our waters that must not be allowed to continue if we want a healthy ocean and planet,” he noted.

Bassey further stated that “corporate interests have been substituted for national and people-centred interests, as communities that live along the coasts, bear the brunt of such abnormalities. Now is the time for all to rise to the occasion to protect the ocean. The continued burning of the Ororo Oil well over a period of five years is a sad commentary on ecocide on our waters.”

READ ALSO: World Earth Day: HOMEF Holds Climate Justice Assembly, Tasks N’Delta Activists On Unity

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Also lending his voice, Stephen Oduware, a Programme Manager with HOMEF and Coordinator of the Fishnet Alliance, a network of fishers across Africa, emphatically noted that the world’s fisheries depend on the ocean.

The two major sides of the ocean bordering Africa – the Atlantic and Indian, along with their associated gulfs, are experiencing shortfalls in fishing due to vested and powerful interests. Industrial fishing, including the use of bottom trawlers, is partly responsible for unsustainable fishing and illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing in the region.

“These practices not only harm fisheries but also harm the ocean and create imbalances in the ecosystems the ocean supports. These unchecked activities in the territorial waters of Africa must stop. Fishers of the world unite,” he noted.

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Edo Rep Member Distances Self From Cultism, Says Allegation Politically Motivated

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By Joseph Ebi Kanjo

Hon. Marcus Onobun, member representing Esan West, Esan Central and Igueben Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, has described as false the rumours making the rounds that he’s involved in Cult-related activities in Iruekpen, Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State.

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The Edo rep member, in a disclaimer titled: ‘Re: Disclaimer on Alleged Cult-related Issues in Iruekpen’, which was made available to INFO DAILY on Sunday, said the allegations of his involvement in cultism were not only “false and baseless, unfounded but they also appear to be politically motivated, attempts to tarnish my hard-earned reputation, distraction from the developmental strides we are making, and undermine the trust and confidence the good people of Iruekpen and beyond have reposed in me.”

He stressed, “For the avoidance of doubt, I am not directly or indirectly involved in cultism nor have I ever supported, encouraged, financed, or participated in any activity that promotes it in any form whatsoever.”

READ ALSO: Police Arrest 28 Suspected Cultists In Edo

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Hon. Onobun, who stated that the last time he visited Edo State was 22nd April, 2025, noted that the allegation was to “lay a foundation for their wicked and clandestine plan to silence the opposition.”

He explained that though he got information from a reliable source that there was a clash in the community (Iruekpen) between two indigenes, such clash was never bear his residence but in a brothel.

“I am a firm believer in the rule of law, democratic principles, and peaceful co-existence,” he said.

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The Edo rep member, while stating that security and safety of his constituents top is priority, urged the “media and the general public to exercise due diligence and verify facts before spreading information capable of causing panic and reputation damage.”

READ ALSO: Alleged Cultism: NBA Warns Against Suspects’ Rights Violation In Edo

The security and safety of our people tops my priorities as a federal lawmaker, as no development sees the light of the day in an unsafe environment, thus, the recently commissioned Police station in Iruekpen community,” he added.

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Onobun urged “those behind these malicious fabrications,” to “desist from the politics of character assassination,” noting that “our community deserves leaders and citizens who promote unity, progress, and constructive dialogue not divisiveness and falsehood.”

He added: “I remain committed to the service of my people and to the peace, growth, and development of Iruekpen as my immediate community and the entire federal constituency at large. No amount of smear campaigns will deter me from fulfilling my mandate and standing for truth, justice, and good governance.”

 

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Democracy Day: FG Declares June 12 Public Holiday

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The Federal Government has declared Thursday, 12th June, 2025 as Public Holiday in commemoration of this year’s Democracy Day celebration.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Interior, Dr Magdalene Ajani in a statement on Sunday in Abuja said the Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, made the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government.

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The minister congratulated Nigerians on the occasion of 26 years of uninterrupted civil rule.

READ ALSO:June 12: Jonathan, Others Mount Pressure On Tinubu To Reinstate Fubara

He said; “June 12 represents our historic journey to building a nation where truth and justice reign and peace is sustained and our future assured.

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“The last 26 years tells the story of our resilience, strength and courage and a hope Renewed than ever.”

Noting that democracy is sustained with open doors for further improvement, the minister reiterated the commitment of the Renewed Hope government of President Bola Tinubu to the universal value of democracy, based on freely-expressed will of the people in determining Nigeria’s political, economic, social and cultural systems.

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