Aminu Tambuwal, a former Sokoto State governor and currently a senator, has condemned the recent wave of political defections in Nigeria’s North West, describing them as self-serving and disconnected from the needs of the people. Speaking to journalists after the inaugural North West Zonal Executive Council Meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kaduna on Saturday, Tambuwal criticized politicians switching to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), accusing them of prioritizing personal gain over public interest.

“Defections are often driven by personal motives, or what I refer to as ‘stomach infrastructure,’ rather than a genuine concern for the people,” Tambuwal remarked. He argued that no politician with a conscience would join the APC, given the economic hardships and poor governance under President Bola Tinubu’s administration. “The APC-led government lacks focus, compassion, and direction,” he added, urging opposition parties to unite and offer Nigerians a viable alternative in the 2027 elections.

Tambuwal emphasized the need for collective action, stating, “Those of us committed to this country and to serving its people must come together to ensure that by 2027, we remove this failed administration and provide hope for Nigerians.”

At the meeting, the PDP North West zone reaffirmed its determination to reclaim power in 2027, highlighting the importance of unity and strategic planning. In a communiqué presented by the zone’s chairman, Senator Bello Gwarzo, the party stressed its ambition to assume national leadership and resolve internal conflicts swiftly. “The PDP in the North West must take its rightful place by offering quality leadership. Nigerians are looking to us for direction,” the statement read.

The communiqué also acknowledged the party’s strong grassroots support and growing national appeal, despite setbacks in the 2023 elections. It called for solidarity among members to address challenges and secure victories at both state and federal levels in 2027. “Unity is essential. All hands must be on deck to achieve success,” the statement concluded.

The meeting drew prominent PDP figures, including former Kaduna State Governor Ahmed Makarfi, former Kano State Governor Ibrahim Shekarau, PDP Jigawa governorship candidate Mustapha Sule Lamido, Lado Dan Marke, Isa Kudan, Ango Abdullahi, and the PDP National Youth Leader, among others.

The Coalition of Sankera Elites (CSE) has reported widespread violence in Benue state's Sankera region, which encompasses the Ukum, Logo, and Katsina-Ala Local Government Areas. According to the coalition's leader Job Tiza, armed attacks have resulted in over 1,000 deaths and affected more than 2,000 villages, with property damage estimated in the billions of Naira.

The situation has led to mass displacement, with residents fleeing to IDP camps and seeking refuge with relatives in other communities. Six council wards in Ukum Local Government, representing approximately half of the area's population, have been completely displaced since July 2023.

Recent violent incidents include:

- March 9, 2024: 68 people killed in Gbagir, Tyuluv Council Ward

- August 11, 2024: Over 80 fatalities in Ayati and Borikyo Council Ward

- October 19, 2024: 14 people killed in Anyiin town

- November 24, 2024: 17 fatalities in Azege settlement

The coalition emphasized that Sankera, known as Benue's agricultural heartland, faces a severe food security crisis as farmers cannot access their lands. They have appealed to President Bola Tinubu to:

- Deploy security forces to reclaim occupied territories

- Establish a military barracks in Ukum LGA

- Complete the Mobile Police barracks construction in Anyiin

- Provide emergency relief through NEMA for displaced residents

In response, the Governor's office, through Chief Press Secretary Tersoo Kula, has stated that the current administration has achieved relative peace compared to previous periods.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Renowned businessman and philanthropist, Sir Kessington Adebutu, has expressed deep sorrow over the passing of elder statesman and nationalist, Pa Ayo Adebanjo, who died on the morning of Friday, February 14, 2025.

In a heartfelt condolence letter addressed to Adebanjo’s family, Sir Adebutu described the late Afenifere leader as a “foremost nationalist, elder statesman, and legal luminary titan” who remained a “dogged fighter for the cause of the masses” throughout his life. He praised Pa Adebanjo’s unwavering commitment to the principles of Obafemi Awolowo, noting that his resilience, candor, and steadfastness made him an inspiration to many.

“As we mourn his passing, let us also celebrate his life, which was a testament to his strength of character, forthrightness, and tireless service to Nigeria,” Adebutu wrote. He prayed for the late leader’s peaceful repose and for divine comfort for his family.

Pa Ayo Adebanjo was a key figure in Nigeria’s political landscape, known for his advocacy for democracy, true federalism, and good governance. His death marks the end of an era of principled leadership in Nigerian politics.

Adebutu, widely regarded as the “Pillar of Methodism in Nigeria” and the “Odole-Oodua of the Source,” joins a long list of dignitaries, political leaders, and well-wishers paying tribute to the late statesman.

Three Israeli hostages freed in Gaza, Israel releases 369 Palestinians in exchange

Hamas released Israeli hostages Iair Horn, Sagui Dekel Chen and Sasha (Alexander) Troufanov in Gaza on Saturday and Israel freed some 369 Palestinian prisoners and detainees in exchange, after mediators helped avert a collapse of the fragile ceasefire.

The three Israelis were led onto a stage with Palestinian Hamas militants armed with automatic rifles standing on each side of them at the site in Khan Younis, live footage showed, before they were taken back into Israel by Israeli forces.

Shortly afterwards, buses carrying freed Palestinian prisoners and detainees departed Israel's Ofer jail in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. The first bus arrived in Ramallah to a cheering crowd, some waving Palestinian flags.

"We didn't expect to be freed, but God is great, God set us free," said Musa Nawarwa, 70, from the West Bank town of Bethlehem, who was serving two life terms for killings of Israeli soldiers in the West Bank.

Buses carrying some of the hundreds of Palestinian freed prisoners and detainees, some flashing victory signs as they hung from the windows, arrived later at the European Hospital in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip.

Some of the Palestinians were serving long prison terms for involvement in suicide bombings and other attacks that killed dozens of Israelis during the second Palestinian uprising in 2000. Others were jailed for killing Israeli soldiers in the occupied West Bank.

Some, like Hassan Ewis, will be allowed to return to their homes. Others, such as his brother, are expected to be deported to Egypt.

Ewis' charge sheet in the Israeli Justice Ministry records include the planting of explosives and attempted murder and intentional homicide. He said prison conditions were difficult and Palestinians were deprived of sufficient food.

Some of the Israeli hostages who have returned since January 19 have reported being deprived of food, held in tunnels for months and not seeing daylight, and being subjected to physical and psychological abuse.

Some freed Palestinians are returning to an enclave they have not seen for years, before it was blasted into rubble by Israeli airstrikes and shelling in 15 months of war. But most were rounded up after the Hamas-led October 7, 2023 attack on Israel.

'NOW WE CAN BREATHE A LITTLE'

The ceasefire's second phase is meant to usher in negotiations to return the remaining living hostages among the 251 seized that day, and complete an Israeli military withdrawal before a final end to the war and the reconstruction of Gaza.

Netanyahu thanked U.S. President Donald Trump for putting pressure on Hamas, which he said led to the release of the three hostages and said he would convene a cabinet meeting to discuss next steps, the Israeli prime minister's office said in a statement.

Argentina-born Iair Horn, 46, was taken captive together with his younger brother Eitan. Horn appeared to have lost considerable weight in captivity.

"Now, we can breathe a little. Our Iair is home after surviving hell in Gaza. Now, we need to bring Eitan back so our family can truly breathe," Horn's family said in a statement.

The swap of the three Israelis for the 369 Palestinians allayed growing alarm that the ceasefire agreement could unravel before the end of the 42-day first stage of the truce pact in effect since January 19.

In what has become known as Hostage Square in Tel Aviv, people broke into cheers and tears after hearing the Red Cross was on its way to deliver the three to Israeli military forces.

Dekel Chen, a U.S.-Israeli, Troufanov, a Russian Israeli, and Horn along with his brother Eitan were seized in Kibbutz Nir Oz, one of the communities near Gaza's border that were overrun by Hamas gunmen on October 7, 2023.

On the handover stage in Khan Younis, the hostages were made to give short statements in Hebrew and militants presented Horn with an hourglass and photo of another Israeli hostage still in Gaza and his mother, reading "time is running out (for the hostages still in Gaza)".

Troufanov was abducted with his mother, grandmother and girlfriend - all of whom were released during a brief November 2023 pause in hostilities. His father was killed in the attack on Nir Oz, one of the worst-hit communities, where one in four people either died or were taken hostage.

On October 7, Dekel Chen, 36, left his pregnant wife and two little daughters in the family safe room to go out and fight gunmen rampaging through the kibbutz.

He embraced his tearful wife Avital tightly and said "perfect" with a big smile when she told him the name of their baby daughter, who he has not yet seen, was Shahar Mazal, Hebrew for "dawn" and "luck", in a video released by the military.

Nineteen Israeli and five Thai hostages have been released so far, with 73 still in captivity, around half of whom have been declared dead in absentia by Israeli authorities.

Prospects for the ceasefire surviving have been shaken by Trump's call for Palestinians to be resettled permanently out of Gaza, and for the tiny enclave to be turned over to the U.S. to be redeveloped as a seaside resort. That idea has been rejected out of hand by Palestinian groups, Arab states and Western allies of Washington.

Reuters

WESTERN PERSPECTIVE

US, Russia to meet in Saudi Arabia over Ukraine war

U.S. and Russian officials will meet in Saudi Arabia in the coming days to start talks aimed at ending Moscow's nearly three-year war in Ukraine, a U.S. lawmaker and a source familiar with the planning said on Saturday.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who met with U.S. Vice President JD Vance in Germany on Friday, said Ukraine was not invited to the talks in Saudi Arabia and Kyiv would not engage with Russia before consulting with strategic partners.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, national security adviser Mike Waltz and White House Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff will travel to Saudi Arabia, U.S. Representative Michael McCaul told Reuters. It was not immediately clear who they would meet from Russia.

On the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, McCaul said the aim of the talks was to arrange a meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Zelenskiy "to finally bring peace and end this conflict."

A source with knowledge of the plans confirmed the planned talks in Saudi Arabia between U.S. and Russian officials. The U.S. State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Trump, who took office on January 20, has repeatedly vowed to swiftly end the Ukraine war. He made separate phone calls to Putin and Zelenskiy on Wednesday, leaving Washington's European allies alarmed that they will be cut out of any peace process.

Those fears were largely confirmed on Saturday when Trump's Ukraine envoy said Europe won't have a seat at the table, after Washington sent a questionnaire to European capitals to ask what they could contribute to security guarantees for Kyiv.

MINERALS DEAL

Earlier on Saturday Rubio spoke with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov. They agreed on regular contacts to prepare for a meeting between Putin and Trump, Russia's Foreign Ministry said.

Zelenskiy said on Friday he would visit the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Turkey, but did not say when. However, the Ukrainian leader said he had no plans to meet with U.S. or Russian officials during those visits.

Moscow controls a fifth of Ukraine and has been slowly advancing in the east for months, while Kyiv's smaller army grapples with manpower shortages and tries to hold a chunk of territory in western Russia.

Russia has demanded Kyiv cede territory and become permanently neutral under any peace deal. Ukraine demands Russia withdraw from captured land and wants NATO membership or equivalent security guarantees to prevent attack by Moscow.

The United States and Europe have given Ukraine tens of billions of dollars in military aid since the war started. Trump has said he backs Ukraine but is seeking security for U.S. funding for Kyiv.

The U.S. and Ukraine are currently negotiating a deal that could open up Ukraine's vast natural wealth to U.S. investment. Three sources said the U.S. proposed taking ownership of 50% of Ukraine's critical minerals. Zelenskiy said on Saturday that the draft deal did not contain the security provisions Kyiv needed.

RUSSIAN PERSPECTIVE

Ukrainian army controls 20% of Chasov Yar in DPR — expert

Only 20% of Chasov Yar in the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) is controlled by units of the Ukrainian armed forces, military expert Andrey Marochko told TASS.

"All in all, the enemy only controls around 20% of Chasov Yar, which is also decreasing," he said.

Reuters/Tass

This month, the chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, Musa Aliyu, brought senior journalists described as “northern Nigeria media editors” to Abuja.

He apparently wanted to showcase his achievements and describe how difficult it is to fight corruption.

Aliyu was concerned that corruption in the Nigerian public sector thrives “despite the efforts of the anti-corruption agencies.”

He regaled the editors with stories of ICPC bravado to buttress the point that corrupt officials manipulate the judicial process to escape sanction and protect their proceeds.

One of his stories was of a certain hospital, or better still, non-hospital, somewhere in the Federal Republic.

“There was a case of a hospital that was paid 100 per cent five times,” he told the assembled journalists. “Yet, there was nothing to show for it.”

I do not know if the journalists gasped or stopped eating.

Also, this month, the federal government announced new spending of over N4.2tn on roads.

It includes the ‘second phase’ of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road, which will cost N1.334tn to construct 130 kilometres.

Remember that when the highway was first announced, Works Minister, David Umahi, proudly stated that it would feature round-the-clock lighting, security posts, medical facilities, and presumably rest stops.

The Minister also announced that N195bn would be allocated to the reconstruction of ‘Phase 2, Section 1’ of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway for something described as ‘improving traffic flow and reducing congestion.’

He further stated that the Abuja-Kano road has been restructured into two lots, adding that the total length is now 118 kilometres—no details, no deadlines.

Regarding the reconstruction of the Lokoja-Benin road, Umahi said it would be carried out in three sections at a total cost of N305bn: Obajana to Benin (Section I) at N64bn; Auchi to Edo (Section II) at N110bn; and the Benin Airport area (Section III) at N131bn.

Also this month, the Senate Public Accounts Committee hosted the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, over the subject of nearly 200,000 missing firearms arising from a report of the Auditor General of the Federation.

The IGP showed up after the committee threatened to have him arrested by his own men.

It was no surprise that Egbetokun appeared not to know anything about any missing firearms.

He pleaded “other official matters” and was let go.  In the hours that followed, police spokesman, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, declared  no firearms to be missing under Egbetokun.

What is the missing link here?  Let me take this back-to-front.

It is to be expected that the missing police firearms story would be vigorously denied by the top brass of the force.

Adejobi’s denial, for instance, is not really that the audit is wrong, but that no weapons are missing under Egbetokun.

The missing link is the indifferent media reporting of the issue.  This matter first broke into the open early in 2022 when the Auditor-General’s report for 2019 appeared, declaring “The total number of lost firearms as reported as of December 2018 stood at 178,459 pieces. Out of this number, 88,078 were AK-47 rifles.”

Following news reports, the House of Representatives threw into the frenzy a body it called the “Ad hoc Committee on Arms.”

In “The National Assembly Is In Decay,” I said the matter proved that the political elite does not read the reports of the Auditor-General, which was annually littered with similar revelations.

I predicted that the committee would disappear quietly and that there would be “no report detailing the nation’s booming industry in disappearing police equipment.”

I was right. And now, it is the Senate which is going through the same motions. But in every Auditor-General’s report in the past 10 years, he has screamed himself hoarse about the alarming rate at which police equipment, of which arms and ammunition are only one part, are disappearing.

The founding fathers forgot to deploy aliens to implement the Auditor-General’s report, so even the police have become a part of the malfeasance.

The media, for its part, appears to be indifferent.

Take the example of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and other roads. Remember when Minister Umahi widely announced that it would be a 10-lane marvel of six major and four service lanes?

President Tinubu described it as “world-class” infrastructure.  “Today is my day to boast,” he said of the massive project, which had enjoyed neither legislative approval nor competitive bidding. “The deal is done. The dream is realizable…We said we would build this road, and we are determined to do it.”

In that same May 2024, a marginalized House of Representatives swore to commence “a comprehensive investigation” of the project.

It never did. Only a few months in, the government said it would downgradeit from 10 lanes to six. It is hoping to launch the “first phase,” about 25 kilometres, on the government’s midterm anniversary this May.

As Minister Umahi spoke this month, it was unclear whether his 130 kilometres’ N1.334tn would be spent on the original design or the slimmed-down “dual carriageway.”

Nor was it clear why the government is spending a whopping N195bn on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway that has only just been completed, rather than on reconstructing one of the washed-out highways, such as the abandoned Sagamu-Ore.

Nobody asked him about the Abuja-Kano Road, either. And nobody is reporting the Julius Berger story.

In January 2024, Umahi praised the excellence of that contractor, saying, “…Only Julius Berger can do it,” and “I am very sure if we pay Julius Berger according to the commitment on funding, they will complete the job.”

He said: “From Kaduna to Zaria is completed. We have only 20 kilometres between Zaria and Kano, and then we have 40 or 38 kilometres from zero point.”

But then curiously, he canceled the contract and handed it to Hitech, Tinubu’s friends, who also happen to be feasting on the Lagos-Calabar and Sokoto-Badagry buffets.

The Minister is also now going to spend N305bn on Lokoja-Benin, the same road he previously promised to deliver in September 2024. This time, he gave no apologies and no details, such as a timeframe.

Finally, the ICPC. No, Aliyu, corruption is not widespread in the Nigerian public sector despite the efforts of the anti-corruption agencies: it is widespread because your agencies are complicit!

The first thing we must do is dispense with such excuses and cliches as “when you fight corruption, corruption fights back.”

Who is fighting corruption? Is it the same institutions that, armed with wide powers, deploy them to protecting the corrupt?

ICPC has since 2019 done an excellent job of tracking constituency projects, which—in the absence of demonstrable, viable projects—are but another slush fund for politicians. But how many politicians have been named and prosecuted? If none, where are the projects?

Aliyu provided the worst-case scenario by detailing one of thousands of projects paid for several times. Are we supposed to applaud him for protecting the crooks?

To be clear: podium conquest before journalists is not fighting corruption. Telling the whole truth and naming names, is.  Publishing reports of your activities, even if the law does not demand it, is.

And then, whatever weak government agencies do or do not, journalists asking questions is critical. A journalist without aggression is at best in the wrong trade.

"God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord" (1 Corinthians 1:9).

Introduction: One of the strongest truths in the entire Bible is that God is inherently faithful. He is trustworthy. He honours His words, fulfills His promises, and He won’t let down anyone that trusts in Him. Our God is too faithful to fail!

God’s faithfulness is in direct contrast to the other heathen faiths. Other gods are, generally, immoral, selfish, cruel and careless with their promises regardless of their pledged word. Contrariwise, the God of the Bible is always loving and caring, and especially faithful both to His covenant and to His children (Ps. 89:34).

God’s Faithfulness Reaches Unto the Clouds

Reflecting on history, magnificent thoughts of God’s faithfulness spring forth! Yet, from his personal experience, King David saw God through his many cloudy seasons, and he sang: “Thy mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds” (Ps. 36:5). Such inspirations must be stamped upon our hearts, never to be erased by any ominous finger.

In every life are shadowed days when the sun withdraws its shining, as it were, and the clouds return. This may be a time of family trouble or of great financial anxiety, a time of failing health or times when the grave is full and the living is beginning to envy the dead. It may even be a time when all that a man has lived for seems washed away like a castle in the sand - a day of unexpected turns.

Sometimes, to our chagrin, these cloudy moments gather very swiftly like some tropical thunderstorms, and we think that God has forgotten to be gracious and are tempted to secretly doubt His care for us. However, we ought to keep in mind that our God is faithful to “them that love him and keep his commandments” (Deut. 7:9).

Certainly, history has its cloudy days. It was a cloudy day experience when the Jews were carried away to Babylon. Exiled to a distant, heathen land, they thought that God had forgotten them and had broken His covenanted faithfulness (Isaiah 40:7). They were seriously confounded: “By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion” (Ps. 137:1).

One day, their heart would rise to sing again on the other side of captivity. But at that time, they had hung their harps, not wanting to sing the Lord’s song of faithfulness in that strange land. Then suddenly, across those dark and cloudy days, came the ringing prophetic voices with the message of ransom and return (Is. 35:1-10). God is faithful!

Another desolating moment showed up when our Lord ascended to the Father, and a cloud received Him from the disciples' sight (Act 1:9). The disciples had loved Him and leaned upon Him, so they were well-nigh broken-hearted when the cloud took him away from them, thinking the sweet companionship was over, forever. But, Jesus Christ had promised them His abiding presence, and He showed up to fulfill that promise on the day of Pentecost.

Jehovah God is faithful, and He won’t break His covenant, no matter what (Hebrews 10:23). Remember Abraham? He held on to God’s faithfulness, even in his hopeless situations (Romans 4:19-21). And his Isaac - meaning Smile - came at last!

God’s Faithfulness Is Inexhaustible

Yes indeed, from time to time, the clouds of uncertainty do hang over humanity. But, if we only could carefully reflect on our personal experiences of dark days, remembering how, severally, God had acted to illuminate our paths, we cannot but shout: Great is His faithfulness. Alleluia!

We were stained with sin and shame, and marked for death. But God, who is rich in mercy and unfailing in His faithfulness, marked us by His love in Christ Jesus, and redeemed us unto Himself. Assuredly, He won’t abandon us, anytime.

For people out there, anxious and distressed because things are presently dark and cloudy - have faith in God. Do not despair. The hour is nearer than you think when you also, like David, will sing the songs of God’s faithfulness.

Tomorrow belongs to those who live today by a faith that sees beyond the limitations of human reasoning, trusting in the unfailing love of the Faithful God. He alone has helped us thus far, and He alone will carry us all the way to our Hope of Glory.

Maturing Confidence In God’s Faithfulness

It’s very crucial to have robust faith in God’s ability to keep us away from evils and answer our prayers, but it is also very important that we grow up spiritually to a point where our relationship with God is not based just on His ability to perform, but on our love for Him, because He first loved for us.

The three young Hebrews, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, faced a tragic death threat for choosing not to worship the Babylonian golden image. However, their resolution was not based only on God’s power and faithfulness to save them, they said they would rather die than to worship any heathen god, even if God wouldn’t deliver them. That’s a statement of genuine love for God, which won’t disobey His commandment even in the face of death. And it was this unwavering love for God, not just their faith, that provoked and attracted God to them in their desperate hours. When we live true to the Lord, we will in turn enjoy His faithfulness in full.

Conclusion

God’s faithfulness is never, in any way, diminished by men’s unfaithfulness. Albeit, unfaithful men cannot access the provisions that the Faithful God had reserved for the faithful (2 Timothy 2:13).

With God’s faithfulness in view, keep up hope even if it appears that disappointment is starring you in the face. God will never give up on you, no matter what. He’s constantly holding out hope concerning His people, so that we might fulfill all His pleasure.

The challenges may not be all over yet, nor the changes complete, but when our hearts are excited with loving faith in God’s faithfulness, things long-awaited will certainty land in our hands.

Friends, the smell of rain is in the air, renew your trust in the Faithful God. For it will soon be said of us as it was of our predecessors: "They did eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year"(Jos.5:12). Happy Sunday!

Further Reading: Isaiah 35:1-10; Leviticus 26:42-45; Psalm 89:1-24; Lamentations 3:22-23; 2 Thessalonians 3:3.

____________________

Archbishop Taiwo Akinola,

Rhema Christian Church,

Otta, Ogun State, Nigeria.

Connect with Bishop Akinola via these channels:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/bishopakinola

SMS/WhatsApp: +234 802 318 4987

The bus was going from Jerusalem to Jericho and highway robbers waylaid it. They got on the bus brandishing automatic weapons: “This is a stick-up,” declared the leader of the gang in a menacing tone designed for maximum effect. “Is there anybody here who has been paying his tithes? If you have been paying your tithes raise your hands.”  

A few passengers raised their hands sheepishly.  He told those who did to move to one side.  Then he declared: “Those of you who have not been paying your tithes are thieves and robbers.  You have been robbing God.  Therefore, we are going to rob you.”

The robbers then proceeded to cart away the money and valuables of those passengers who had not been paying their tithes.

You might not have heard this story before. But, in all probability, you might have heard a similar version of it.  Different versions are common in the churches. Those who tell it insist it really happened. But every time you hear such stories know it is a lie. It is surely no more than a figment of the deceitful imagination of pastors. 

You need to know that pastors specialise in preaching “another gospel” to con their church members into coming to church, staying in church, and giving them more and more money. That is why, in the story above, they even go as far as to use a thief to preach their own gospel. The intention is to frighten people into paying tithes by implying that if they do not, God will send armed robbers to rob them. But you need to recognise that only a thief would employ a thief to teach the way of righteousness. 

Thieves and Robbers

 Jesus warns believers to be wary of thieves and robbers.  He says:

 “I am the gate for the sheep.  All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them.” (John 10:7-8). 

Who precisely are the thieves and robbers of whom Jesus speaks?  Is he talking about men who mug us in the streets?  Is he talking about highway robbers who snatch our cars?  Is he talking about those “yahoo thieves” who rob us blind with a keystroke of the computer on the internet?  Or is he talking about those who break into our houses in the dead of night? 

Listen and understand.  The thieves and robbers of primary concern to Jesus are the pastors of our churches. Jesus’ message is that pastors and other so-called “men of God” are thieves and robbers who “steal, kill, and destroy.” (John 10:10). He re-echoes a lament that first found expression in Jeremiah:

“It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’” (Matthew 21:13).

In many respects, what holds today is no different from the falsehood popularised in the days of Martin Luther, when priests maintained a man could purchase forgiveness of sins for a dead relative by giving money to the Catholic Church.

The Dominican monk, Johann Tetzel, was one of the people sent out by the pope to preach this heresy. His message was straightforward: give money to the church and your sins will be forgiven. Like the pastors of today, he came up with a popular refrain:

“As soon as a coin in the coffer rings, the soul from purgatory springs.”

Robbers of God

Today, the favourite scripture pastors use to fleece their flock is the one in Malachi about tithing.  In it, God asks:

“Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. ‘But you ask, ‘How do we rob you?’ In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse – the whole nation of you – because you are robbing me.” (Malachi 3:8-9). 

What pastors hide from unsuspecting Christians is the fact that God was not admonishing believers in this scripture in Malachi; he was admonishing pastors.  The thieves said to be robbing God were the Levites; the pastors of biblical Israel.  As is commonplace today, those pastors were stealing the tithes and offerings of the people, and converting them to their personal use. (1 Samuel 2:28-35).

All through Malachi, God is unambiguous about the objects of his angst:

“It is you, O priests, who show contempt for my name. But you ask, ‘How have we shown contempt for your name?’ You place defiled food on my altar.” (Malachi 1:6-7). 

The Levites were replacing the animals brought by the people for sacrifices with crippled and diseased animals. (Malachi 1:8). 

God continues:

“This admonition is for you, O priests. If you do not listen, and if you do not set your heart to honour my name, I will send a curse upon you.” (Malachi 2:1-2). 

Unlike Levi, their ancestral father, the priests were fraudsters:

“The lips of a priest ought to preserve knowledge, and from his mouth men should seek instruction- because he is the messenger of the Lord Almighty. But you have turned from the way and by your teaching have caused many to stumble.” (Malachi 2:7-8). 

Is this not what is still going on in the churches of today?

The Levites were monopolising the tithes and offerings; thereby denying the widows, the fatherless and the aliens the portions God expressly reserved for them. (Malachi 3:5).Therefore, God charged the pastors:

“Bring ALL the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house.” (Malachi 3:10). 

God’s people are not the pastors and the priests as today’s clergy would have you believe, but the poor and the dispossessed. Jesus says:

“Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these brothers and sister of mine, you did it to me.” (Matthew 25:40).

So it was the pastors who were robbing God and not members of their congregation.  But today’s deceitful pastors have led Christians to believe they are the thieves.  The actual thieves were pastors stealing the gifts the people brought to God, and not those who were not bringing any or enough gifts. 

The Law of Moses did not pronounce curses on those who did not tithe.  However, since these same thieving Levites were the ones required to atone for the sins of Israel, their greed and avarice were in danger of putting the whole nation under a curse.

The Redemption

Therefore, God promises to send Jesus; His “Messenger of the Covenant, to:” “purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver.” (Malachi 3:3). 

In that process, God replaced the Levitical priesthood after the order of Aaron, with a completely new priesthood after the order of Melchisedec. (Hebrews 7:11-16).  This fulfilled His long-standing plan:  

“I will establish ONE Pastor over them, and He shall feed them- My servant David. He shall feed them and be their Pastor.” (Ezekiel 34:23-24).

This one true pastor is none other than Jesus Christ. With Him as High Priest:

“The Lord will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness, and the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will be acceptable to the Lord, as in days gone by, as in former years.” (Malachi 3:3-4).

Thus when Jesus finally arrived, He declared:  

“All who ever came before Me were thieves and robbers. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. I am the Good Pastor. The Good Pastor lays down His life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the pastor.” (John 10:8-12).

Can you see it now?  The hired hand and the thief who comes to steal, kill and destroy is the pastor.  Jesus, on the other hand, is “the Good Pastor.” Thenceforth, says Jesus:

“There will be one flock and ONE PASTOR.” (John 10:16). 

That means all those still parading themselves as pastors today are impostors.  

With the end of the Levitical priesthood, there should be no pastors still pretending to be Levites; fraudulently collecting tithes. Thereby, Jesus disqualifies the pastorate:

“Do not be called ‘Rabbi’; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren. Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ.” (Matthew 23:8-10).

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Among all the people of the first-century Mediterranean world — from Praetorian guards to peasant farmers — the child was the most powerless, and this is the main reason that Jesus uses children as exemplary disciples.

No doubt childhood 2,000 years ago was very different from childhood today. (In truth, even the concept of childhood is a social and cultural development that varies across the world.) Nevertheless, amid all our modern developments, one aspect of childhood remains true across the years: vulnerability.

Children are extraordinarily vulnerable because they are weak, needy, and defenseless, and this is one of the major reasons why, even in the 21st century, children still occupy the lowest rung of the social ladder.

Of course, all human beings are vulnerable. Clad in fleshy bodies that can be fatigued, struck, and broken, sometimes beyond repair, humans are quite defenseless compared to other creatures. It’s not just our bodies, though. Our minds, hearts, and souls are delicate, too, able to withstand much, but also irreparably changed by what we are forced to endure. In truth, humans are perpetually needful. We need things like food and water, protection from the elements, sleep, physical touch, and intimacy with others.

After my oldest child was born, I bought a little sign for his room in a moment of sleep-deprived humor. In curling blue script on a white ceramic background, it read: “Bottomless pit of needs and wants.” I hung it over his crib and smiled wryly about it every day, but it’s a sign all of us could hang over our beds.

Infants aren’t the only needy, wanting ones. Whether we like it or not, human beings are born in neediness, live our lives in neediness, and die in neediness. It’s just who we are.

Whoever takes the path of the child is the greatest in the kingdom.

At the same time, there are few humans as naturally vulnerable as children. Their needs vary depending on their age and physical, neurological, or psychological makeup. While most will grow in independence over time, children often remain dependent on their families and other institutions well into what is now called emerging adulthood. If children find themselves victims of neglect, mistreatment, or exploitation in one or more of such settings, the consequences can be dire.

This is even more so if they find themselves living in perilous places: a country torn apart by war, a region hit by a tsunami, or a school targeted for a mass shooting.

While the treatment of children has generally improved over the centuries, their natural dependency means there is an unavoidable imbalance of power between children and adults.

I have a friend whose toddler son used to try to run out the front door when it was bath time. Stark naked and giggling mischievously, Malachi would race down the hall on his tiny legs and pull wildly at the doorknob. Once or twice, when the door was not bolted, he managed to get it open just before my friend caught him. Each time, she’d scoop him up laughing and carry him back to the waiting tub. Through his squeals of delight, she would say, “Where do you think you’re going? What exactly is your plan?” Malachi was blissfully unaware of the absurdity of his attempted escape or the danger he might be in if he made it out the door.

Compared to adults, children are quite defenseless, especially within private homes.

I am haunted by the image of 5-year-old Omran Daqneesh of Aleppo that was captured by photographer Mahmoud Raslan in 2016 after a Russian airstrike destroyed his home during the Syrian civil war. (The photo was ubiquitous online in 2016, but you can see it in one location here.) Slight in frame, Omran sits in a bright orange ambulance seat wearing a stunned, vacant expression. His hands rest forgotten on his thighs. He seems entirely dissociated from his body, which is covered head to toe in thick gray ash. His large black eyes stare blankly into space with one almost swollen shut. A deep red smear of blood runs down the length of his face, and one ear looks torn. His long dark hair, which you can imagine his parents tousling playfully, is a mess and covered with the gray powder of concrete debris.

Omran’s home was destroyed, and his life ruptured by a war waged by adults. Adults created the political and socioeconomic conditions that led to the violent conflict. Adults designed, manufactured, distributed, and deployed the weaponry that enabled the war. Adults recruited, signed up for, and served as soldiers to wage and perpetuate the war, and adults launched the missile that annihilated Omran’s neighborhood. He has his own personhood and story, which I won’t presume to tell, but I think of him now because he illustrates vividly the vulnerability of children whose lives are determined almost entirely by the decisions of people bigger, stronger, and more powerful than they. Omran is one of 2.3 billion children worldwide.

I think Jesus understood children’s vulnerability and the multitude of ways families and organizations fail them, which is one reason why he has dire words for those who would hurt children: “If anyone causes one of these little ones — those who believe in me — to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea” (Matthew 18:6).

But there’s more.

It’s not just that Jesus knows about the vulnerability of children. Jesus identifies with their vulnerability in a personal, sacramental way: “And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me” (Matthew 18:5). When you receive the vulnerable, socially marginalized, and politically disempowered child, he says, you also receive me.

The only other place Jesus speaks like this is in the parable of the final judgment where he says that those who minister to “the least of these” are, in fact, ministering to him (Matthew 25:31‑46).

The eternal Son of God took upon himself the helplessness, ignorance, and vulnerability of children. Our conduct with children — how we think of them, speak of them, and work with them — must be informed not only by Jesus’ teaching but also by his own life as a child. By joining divinity to humanity in the person of Jesus Christ, God has blessed infancy, childhood, adolescence, and adulthood with their own meaning and dignity.

At the very least, Jesus the child helps us to see that children have their own agency and purpose before God.

One of the challenges is that there’s profound disparity of power between children and adults, especially within private homes. The child’s vulnerability calls for adult protection, but not everyone heeds, or is capable of heeding, that call. And when families are severely stressed, under resourced, or isolated, they can become malignant places.

Still, amid the chaos and confusion, the struggle and hypocrisy, Jesus comes to us, his baffled and bickering disciples, and he comes to us with the child. He places the child in our midst and offers us an invitation. Unless you change and become like children, you won’t enter the kingdom.

Whoever takes the path of the child is the greatest in the kingdom, and whoever welcomes one such child in Jesus’ name welcomes Jesus himself. In fact, as Mark’s Gospel says, “The kingdom of God belongs to such as these” (Mark 10:14).

** Adapted from "Households of Faith" by Emily Hunter McGowin.

The Nigerian nation is in mourning following the passing of Pa Ayo Adebanjo, the revered leader of the Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, who transitioned peacefully at his Lekki residence on February 14, 2025, at the age of 96. A towering figure in Nigeria’s political landscape, Adebanjo’s death has sparked an outpouring of grief and heartfelt tributes from across the country, with leaders and citizens alike reflecting on his lifelong dedication to justice, equity, and true federalism.

Afenifere’s Formal Announcement: A Call to Continue the Struggle

In a solemn statement, Afenifere formally announced the passing of its leader, describing him as an “avowed Awoist” and a relentless advocate for restructuring, true federalism, and a Nigeria built on equity and fairness. The group recalled Adebanjo’s frequent reminders in his later years that he was in the “departure lounge,” urging his followers to remain steadfast in the struggle for a better Nigeria. “We will undauntedly keep the banner afloat,” the statement read, signed by Secretary General Sola Ebiseni.

President Tinubu: A Father Figure and Democratic Icon

President Bola Tinubu, in a heartfelt condolence message, mourned the loss of a man he described as a father figure and a pillar of Nigeria’s democracy. Tinubu recounted Adebanjo’s instrumental role in his political journey, particularly during his 1999 governorship campaign in Lagos State. “His principled voice, which resonated through decades of political activism, will be deeply missed,” Tinubu said, adding that Adebanjo’s courage during the struggle against military dictatorship after the annulment of the June 12, 1993 election, was a defining moment in Nigeria’s history. “May his ideals, which he so passionately envisioned, forever resonate in our country,” the President concluded.

Obasanjo’s Personal Tribute: A Great Man and Unpretentious Patriot

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, currently attending the African Union Assembly in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, shared a deeply personal tribute, recalling his last visit to Adebanjo on February 3, 2025. “Though he was in a fragile state, I had no inkling he would leave us so soon,” Obasanjo said, describing Adebanjo as a “great man, a committed nationalist, and an effective representative of his people.” He reflected on their occasional disagreements during his presidency but praised Adebanjo’s unwavering commitment to restructuring Nigeria. “His dream to see a restructured Nigeria may not have been realized in his lifetime, but his contributions to our democracy will never be forgotten,” Obasanjo stated.

Atiku Abubakar: A Fearless Freedom Fighter and Statesman

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar hailed Adebanjo as a “fearless freedom fighter, patriot, and statesman” whose life was a testament to selfless service. Atiku highlighted Adebanjo’s heroic role in the fight against military dictatorship and his lifelong advocacy for justice and equity. “Pa Adebanjo was a golden example of how to live and die for the good of the country,” Atiku said, urging Nigerians to draw inspiration from his legacy. “He taught us how to be statesmen of distinction.”

Peter Obi: A Steadfast Advocate for Justice

Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, paid tribute to Adebanjo’s unwavering commitment to justice and equity. Reflecting on their last conversation, Obi shared Adebanjo’s poignant final words: “Always stand on the path of justice.” He described Adebanjo as a mentor and a quintessential leader whose endorsement during his presidential campaign was a testament to his belief in inclusivity. “May his death not be in vain,” Obi urged, calling on Nigerians to uphold Adebanjo’s values.

Afenifere UK: A Legacy of Courage and Integrity

Afenifere UK, in a moving statement, described Adebanjo as a “towering statesman” whose life was defined by selfless service and moral courage. The group praised his unwavering advocacy for restructuring and true federalism, noting that his principles were never compromised for personal gain. “Though we grieve, we take solace in the rich legacy he left behind—a blueprint of courage, dedication, and principled leadership,” the statement read.

CUPP: An Exemplary Patriot and Champion of Good Governance

The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) mourned Adebanjo as an “exemplary patriot” and a champion of justice and good governance. In a statement signed by National Spokesperson Mark Adebayo, CUPP hailed Adebanjo’s “uncommon courage and unwavering dedication” to Nigeria’s unity and progress. “He came, he saw, he fought, and he conquered,” the coalition declared, urging Nigerians to honor his memory by continuing the struggle for a just and equitable society.

A Nation Reflects on a Life Well-Lived

As Nigeria bids farewell to one of its most iconic leaders, the tributes pouring in underscore the profound impact of Pa Ayo Adebanjo’s life and work. A fearless advocate for justice, a mentor to generations, and a steadfast believer in Nigeria’s potential, Adebanjo’s legacy will continue to inspire the nation. His dream of a restructured, equitable Nigeria remains a guiding light for all who cherish democracy and unity.

In the words of President Tinubu, “May the soul of this great patriot find eternal rest, and may his ideals, which he so passionately envisioned, forever resonate in our country.” Adieu, Baba Ayo Adebanjo. Your fight lives on in the hearts of millions.