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“Having Knowledge of The Bible Alone Doesn’t Make A Pastor” …Grace Christian Church’s Pastor Kunle Yusuf

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Pastor Kunle Yusuf is the chief executive officer and lead consultant, Above Productions Company, a registered company that deals in event management, radio and television productions, sports marketing and public relations consultancy. A media and public relations practitioner of over eighteen years standing covering both print and electronic media, Pastor Kunle, in this interview, shares his life experience including his career and how he was called by God to spread the gospel. Excerpts

 

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You are a career person. Are you moving away from your job to run a full ministry?

The answer is quite simple. I am combining my career with ministry assignment. My desire had always been serving God and humanity. But it was difficult combining all this together in another man’s calling. You knew before now that I was serving as a Pastor in the Redeemed Christian Church of God, but not at optimum level. As a trained PR and media practitioner, it turned out somehow challenging combining both roles together. So, I started praying, asking God for directions. And answer finally came last year; hence my decision to start my full time ministry without cluttering my career path. After all, both are services to God and humanity.

 

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What gifts and skills do one need to serve effectively as pastor and how well prepared are you?

The calling of God is without repentance. You must be sure of the calling of God before venturing into it. Part of the issues plaguing Christendom today was that too many people were ambitious but not really sensed the call of God before venturing out. And this is serious! You must attend medical school before calling you Doctor; attend Law school before being called a Barrister. Not exactly the same when we talk about spiritual issues. While your bible knowledge must be above average, that itself does not guarantee a successful calling as Pastor, Prophet, Bishop or any other ministerial callings. While not playing down the knowledge of the bible which is key; that itself is never enough. Talking about gifts and skills you must possess, I will say, maturity is very vital. You must be a mature Christian inside out. You must not be materialistic. You must ignore filthy lucre. Gift of oratory is never enough. You must be word-driven.

The calling is never a meal ticket.

 

When you received the calling, was there a specific area that God asked you to serve in?

The spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord has anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he has sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound. That is the mandate. To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn. That is the mandate. To appoint unto them that mourn in Nigeria and abroad, to give unto them beauty for ashes; the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; the planting of the Lord, that He might be glorified. That is the mandate.

 

Tell us some of your past experiences in the church that prepared you in leading your own ministry?

This would probably occupy a whole book. Though from a Muslim background, the deaths of my parents changed my outlook to life. That we are alive only is by the grace of God. I started out as a Cell leader; later youth pastor and after marriage, Pastor in the Redeemed Christian Church of God. I had met and dealt with Pastors with different characters. Some were good; some to the extreme. Few experiences hurt more than learning that someone you trust has lied to you. If you are devout, the effect could be profound, as it was for me in the beginning.

 

Your congregation is interested more in your leadership capabilities; how much are you prepared in winning your members’ confidence?

I think the most important confidence they would need from you is to exemplify Christ. When I started out as a church goer several years back, guess I was eighteen (18) years at the time, I was angry seeing the way things were. I felt I had been tricked, that my hopes and goals turned out to be futile. But I have learnt a great deal. You must look unto Jesus: the author and finisher of our faith. This way, you would never be shocked or surprised at your leaders’ character flaws, while not giving excuses to the ways of Pastors and church leaders, who frittered away the goodwill of their members. Truth is, focusing on Jesus, the head of the church is the way out.

 

What is your understanding of faith?

Faith is never a feeling. It is viewed in many ways, and thus discussion of one’s faith may be difficult without first pinning down which meaning we are talking about. Faith could mean allegiance to duty or person. It could mean firm belief in something for which there is no proof. For me, understanding faith, I always put it in terms of a relationship. When we speak about biblical faith, that I am disposed to, we are speaking in terms of having faith, trusting, based upon relationship with God through His son, Jesus. With that in mind, Hebrews 11:1-2 do come in. Faith believes even when it makes no sense to believe, not because of the proof before you , but because of the trust you placed in the object of your faith. Biblical faith is in a person, the person of  God, ( God the father, son and Holy Spirit) they are one. Faith is never in me or my abilities but on God and His abilities.

 

What is your honest position on tithing and what is it that you are going to do differently that will stand you out as a church leader?

Like every good deed, Satan, through the enemies of the gospel, is waging war against tithing. The bible says, ‘I will build my church, and the enemies will never prevail against it’. What this means therefore is there is quarrelling or struggling with the church, but the enemies will never have the final say. That is they will never prevail against it. The truth is: tithing predates Jesus Christ. Despite the fact that many people used the word ‘tithe’ synonymously with any church-related giving. The word tithe literally means “tenth”. Tithe was an obligatory offering from Mosaic law requiring 10 percent of an Israelite’s first fruits. However, a note of caution must be observed: only pay up tithe where you are getting blessed and you are sure the place is a fertile soil.

Share with us your journalism years and academic achievements.

I was a senior correspondent and entertainment writer with Nigerian Tribune from where I later functioned as contributing editor at Society Post, a weekly magazine. Between 2011 and 2012, I worked as the marketing consultant at Unique FM, Ilesa, Osun State. I was the general manager of Breakthrough Television Services Limited, where I produced highly successful programmes such as ‘Check It Out’, a live TV programme on Galaxy TV; ‘Weekend Delight’ on NTA Port Harcourt, Rivers State Television (RSTV); ‘Sports Circuit’ on LTV 8, Lagos, and several others. I was once an associate producer of ‘Child & Society’ on Nigerian Television Authority, NTA 2 Channel 5. Currently, I work as the editor, ‘Straight Times’ magazine, based in Ibadan. For my academic, I hold a National Diploma in Mass Communication; Bsc. Degree in Public Administration and Masters Degree (Distinction) in Communication Studies from the Lagos State University. I obtained post graduate Diploma in Theology from the Redeemed Christian Bible College, Main Campus. I’m a member of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), where I serve as part time lecturer while I’m the former secretary general of the Entertainment Writers Association Of Nigeria, Oyo State Chapter.

 

Tell us about your business outfit and how far you have spread.

Above Productions Company is a registered company with Corporate Affairs Commission. We are event managers, radio and television producers, sports marketers and public relations consultants. We produce ‘Entertainment Plus’, a highly successful programme on several television stations in Nigeria. We have extensive experience on event activation and public relations consultancy.  We also produce ‘Family Line’, a radio programme on Premier FM, Ibadan, and other stations. We enjoy, by the grace of God, patronage from Nigerian Breweries PLC, Universal Mccan, MindShare Lagos, Unilever PLC, and Insight Communications, etc.

 

Tell us about your family and how is your new vocation going to impact them?

I’m a young man with budding passion to serve the Lord. I am happily married to Pastor (Mrs.) Motunrayo Olakunle. For now, we are blessed with three wonderful and God-fearing boys; David, Daniel and Samuel. Like their parents, they don’t joke with their faith. I’m a voracious reader and this, they pick from me. My wife is a trained teacher with first Degree in Economics Education. Telling them about my faith posed no problem as my wife was a minister in the church before we met. She did give birth to our children as a Pastor’s wife.

 

The church’s relationship with the state, how should it be?

Jesus commands to ‘render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s, and unto God the things that are God’s. The relationship must be mutual. Note that religious organizations helped many countries to draft their new constitutions. In countries like Benin, Congo, Togo and DRC, religious leaders were asked to be speakers of parliament. In Togo for example, a Bishop acted as a speaker of parliament for two years and in Congo, a Bishop acted in the same capacity for almost four years. In Liberia, during the war, the head of the Lutheran church was asked to be the Vice President of the country while people were looking for ways to end the civil war. In Nigeria, the same is playing out as we do have as Vice President a Pastor. The church’s relationship with the state must be cordial so as to guarantee peaceful co-existence of citizens in the state.

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Call EFCC to order, Nigeria is not a lawless country – Yahaya Bello Media Office

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Confusion as EFCC names ex-Kogi Gov in amended corruption allegations perpetrated before he became Governor

Call EFCC to order, Nigeria is not a lawless country – Yahaya Bello Media Office

 

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About 9:30 am today, the 17th day of April 2024, persons who described themselves as officers of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arrived the Wuse Zone 4 Residence of His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Bello to effect his arrest.

This is despite a subsisting Order of injunction granted on 9th February 2024 by the High Court of Justice, Lokoja Division in Suit No. HCL/68M/2024 between Alhaji Yahaya Bello v. Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, restraining the Commission either by itself or its agents from harassing, arresting, detaining or prosecuting Alhaji Yahaya Bello, pending the hearing and determination of the substantive fundamental rights enforcement action.

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The EFCC was duly served with that Order on 12th February 2024 and on 26th February 2024; the EFCC filed an Appeal (Appeal No.: CA/ABJ/CV/175/2024: Economic and Financial Crimes Commission v. Alhaji Yahaya Bello) against the said Order to the Court of Appeal Abuja division. The Appeal was accompanied by a Motion for Stay of Execution of the Order of the High Court which the Court of Appeal adjourned for hearing till the 22nd day of April 2024.

Furthermore, Judgment in the substantive case between Alhaji Yahaya Bello and the EFCC is to be delivered at 12 Noon today in Lokoja.

Contrary to all of the above, the EFCC has now laid siege to the home of H.E Yahaya Bello seeking to arrest him in contravention of the extant orders!

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It is a surprise that an agency led by a lawyer could flagrantly disobey a subsisting court order by taking actions contrary to the reliefs granted.

We are aware of the total commitment of the current administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the rule of law and can say categorically that the leadership of the EFCC might have offered the agency on a platter of gold to desperate politicians to convert to their score settling tool without minding the effect on its integrity and the image of Nigeria as regards the rule of law.

A situation where law enforcers disregard the rule of law is a definite recipe for anarchy, which will adversely affect every aspect of the nation’s economy.

Nigerians have perceived the desperation of the anti-graft agency to embarrass and harass the former Governor by all means through spurious allegations, especially the latest one dating back to September 2015, way before he assumed office.
We are aware that there are clandestine moves to correct the error, but with even more questionable allegations, which would embarrass the Commission and Nigeria more than the initial one.
It is unfortunate that an agency that is supposed to enforce the law is now the first culprit with respect to disobedience of court orders.
This is a big dent on the fight against corruption. He who comes to equity must come with clean hands.

We call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to call the EFCC to order in the interest of legal sanity.

MEDIA OFFICE
HE YAHAYA BELLO

 

Call EFCC to order, Nigeria is not a lawless country - Yahaya Bello Media Office

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PRESIDENT TINUBU’S APPOINTEES FROM THE NORTH MUST TAKE A STAND

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PRESIDENT TINUBU’S APPOINTEES FROM THE NORTH MUST TAKE A STAND

Following my position on the recent attack on the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu by a spokesman of the Northern Elders Forum, it has come to my attention that Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed who once served as the Spokesperson of the group and currently a Special Adviser on Political Matters in the Presidency took to his page on it to express a different position.

Dr. Baba-Ahmed declared that my stand against the unjust attack against the new administration of President Tinubu that is working very hard to reposition our country for better as ‘ill-advised’. He suggested I could have done a better job in my defence of the administration where I have the rare honour to serve as a Minister.

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Dr. Baba-Ahmed’s relationship and or affinity with Northern Elders’ Forum is well-known. The fact now is that he is an appointee of the administration as Special Adviser. Any committed official of the administration has a duty to work for the success of the government he is a part of, protect and defend the government against unjust and undue attack from those who hide under ethnic and other primordial interests to heat up the polity.

It is more important to state that every appointee of President Tinubu including Dr. Baba-Ahmed owe the government a duty to promote and advance the good work and commendable efforts of the government across all sectors.
As appointees of the government from the North, we must all take a stand, be unequivocal in our support and work for the success of the administration we are serving. This is not the time to dither and waiver. We must stand up to be counted for the government or take our exit.

Bello Matawalle
Minister of State for Defence

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April 15, 2024

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Sen Moallayidi: The untold story of Adamawa born politician who introduced Facility Management course in ABU By Dr Salihu Mohammed Lawal

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Sen Moallayidi: The untold story of Adamawa born politician who introduced Facility Management course in ABU By Dr Salihu Mohammed Lawal

 

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Sen Moallayidi: The untold story of Adamawa born politician who introduced Facility Management course in ABU

By
Dr Salihu Mohammed Lawal

 

 

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In the different spheres of life there exist quintessential Nigerians who have silently achieved fame and glory without making noise about such feat; rather preferring to remain silent while still creating waves and continuing to bestrode the landscape with ingenuity that breaks new grounds.

 

Sen Moallayidi: The untold story of Adamawa born politician who introduced Facility Management course in ABU

By
Dr Salihu Mohammed Lawal

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Sen. Ahmad Abubakar MoAllahyidi is one of such great Nigerians, who represented Adamawa southern Senatorial District in the Senate between 2015-2019 comes readily to mind. A fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors, a Certified Public Private Partnership Professional (IP3,Washington DC) also holds a Facility Management Professional (FMP) of (IFMA,USA). Moallayidi is a 1980 graduate with a Bachelor of Science Degree with Honours in Quantity Surveying and an Masters Degree in Construction Management.

This amiable gentleman in the year 2010, pioneered the designed and institutionalization of a facility management course in Ahmadu Bello University Zaria (ABU). He single handedly served as the sole lecturer for it (Post graduate studies in Facility Management ABU). His pioneering efforts were the basis for having facility management courses in Nigerian Universities.

The None serving Senator is an accomplished professional in managing facilities, resources and humanity is leading the private company called Integrated Facility Management Services Ltd among other endeavors that handled some of the most complex facility management services in Nigeria. These facilities include; Management and improvement of the Abuja International Conference Center (ICC) Management of Eagle Square Abuja Kaduna International Trade & Investment Centre, Kaduna (1997-2010). Murtala Mohammed Square Kaduna,and Nigerian Export and Import Bank, Abuja. He also managed Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) Headquarters & Residential Quarters in Abuja, Presidential Complexes in Lagos (Dodan Barracks and State House, (Marina) and Nigerian Army Strategic Bulk Storage Facility in Enugu.

The Rehabilitation and start-up operations of Health and Medical Industries Jos, a company specializes in the manufacture of cotton wool, bandages and gauge.

MOALLAYIDI AS A MEMBER OF VARIOUS PROFESSIONAL BODIES AND ASSOCIATIONS

Senator Moallayidi is an acumen of managing facilities was the pioneer President of International Facility Management Association in Nigeria (Abuja City-based Chapter) IFMA and is a Fellow Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors, a Fellow of Nigerian Institute of Management Consultants (NIMC) and a Fellow Association of Facility Management Practitioners of Nigeria (AFMPN).

He participated in the Technical Committee on Commercialization and Privatization T.C.P.C. that commercialized government companies for improved performance.

This is the highly revered personality that is leading the management of the Abuja International Conference Center as the Managing Director of integrated Facility Management Services Ltd for which he has set an unprecedented record of upgrading the ICC to global standard in the management and improvement contract after the noticeable failure over the years before the coming of IFMSL.

MOALLAYIDI AS A POLITICIAN

The political journey of this personality of unique humble character, Senator MoAllahyidi is a founding member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the Legacy Party. He contested and won the Senatorial election and represented Adamawa South Senatorial District and sworn-in as a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2015. MoAllayidi while in the Senate, he distinguished himself as a vocal Senator in the red chambers and served as a Vice Chairman/Member of various standing and Ad-hoc committees.

Some of the communities is belonged to were; Vice Chairman Committee on Oil & Gas, Vice Chairman Culture and Tourism, Member Banking and Other Financial Institutions, Member Education (Basic & Secondary), Member Legislative Compliance and Member Federal Character and Inter Governmental affairs.

Other committees he belonged to were Member Committee on Bureaus of Public Procurement (BPP), Member ECOWAS Parliament and also held strategic positions where he played critical leadership roles for the APC such as: 2015 Senatorial Candidate (APC), Adamawa Southern Zone, 2014 Secretary APC Reconciliation Committee North Eastern Zone, 2014 Member of APC Congress Committee, Yobe State
(2014).

MoAllayi Joined APC as a result of the merger of CPC, ACN and ANPP (Legacy party) in 2011 Joined CPC and Contested for Adamawa South Senatorial Seat, 2007 he was the Director of Logistics of ANPP Presidential Campaign. While in 2003 the Man MoAllayi was the Director of Logistics ANPP Presidential Campaign.

His political might grew mightier for having a stronger voice for a common Man. in June (2022) the Senator convened the setting up of Arewa New Agenda (ANA) a Pan Northern socio-political organization with the aim and objectives as follows :

Setting up an agenda for the continuing relevance of the North in Nigerian Governance. It is to harmonize and project Northern positions on critical national issues. And to protect Northern interest in the Nigerian Political discourse and evolution.

ANA is an umbrella organization comprising of over 126 network affiliate groups across the 19 Northern States and FCT which Moallayidi became its extended leader as its Patron of Fulbe United for Peace and Development. It’s
the association of over 33,360 Ardos (The Fulbe Umbrella group) leaders across Nigeria.

The distinguished Senator was honored with the respected commander of Nigerian Students (CNS), an award by National Association of Nigerian Student NANS

Dr. Salisu Mohammed Lawal
Writes from Zangon Kataf, Kaduna State
And be reached through this means; emeles20o1@yahoo.com

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