Bishop Oyedepo prophesies gross darkness upon Nigeria

Bishop David Oyedepo, General Overseer, Living Faith Church (Winners Chapel), said that Nigeria would still experience gross darkness in sometime to come and called for special prayers to overcome the difficulties.

Oyedepo, who was quoted in a live streaming broadcast, described the economic downturn in the country as a holocaust.

He noted this at Canaan Land in Ota, Ogun, during the annual Winners Chapel prayer convention, Shiloh 2016, tagged “My Case is Different’’, taken from Genesis Chapter 47 Verses 15 to 27.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the annual programme which had ended was a mountain of divine encounter for salvation healing and deliverance and a time of astounding miracles.

The yearly programme was also a time of testimonies of liberation in all facets of human existence that focused afflicted, battered, beaten and tattered destinies as a result of pains, pangs and crying.

He also encouraged Christians in the aspect of giving, adding that anyone who keys into kingdom investment covenant would overcome hardship.

“Any one who keys into the kingdom investments covenant will overcome the gross darkness that awaits the world.

“As Christians, you should understand and have the spirit of giving no matter what it takes to give,’’ Oyedepo said.

Reacting to the programme, some FCT residents expressed joy and fulfilment from the Shiloh, saying they had a lot to be grateful to God for.

Mrs Deborah Peters, a member said that Shiloh was a refreshing programme that was meant to make every Christian to experience divine breakthrough and increase in their lives.

Peters advised Christians to be open minded with their concerns at this period and all times so that they would encounter God’s visitation.

“We have to make sacrifices of giving like Papa pointed out so that we will encounter increase, breakthrough, unending grace, protection and even deliverance.

“For us to gain all of these, we have to, with the help of the theme of Shiloh open up to God to have his way in us.

Mrs Rose Benjamin, a member that attended the programme from Kaduna, urged Christians not to take their encounter with God for granted for it must be followed with testimonies.

According to Ben, she encountered God because she believed Him for a divine intervention in the aspect of pregnancy and her prayers were answered.

“God took me to a different level I never expected; that is why it is good to pray fervently without ceasing.

“My husband and I prayed and believed God for divine intervention; it was our topmost prayer point and we held onto every prophecy declared by Bishop.’’

On his part, Mr Damola Arogundade, a driver, said he encountered God’s presence in the 2012 Shiloh after he had obeyed all what Bishop asked the congregation to do during the impartation service.

Prominent clerics from all works of life were represented at the programme as well as nations. 

Ghana Election: Electoral Commission declares Nana Akufo-Addo President-elect

The New People Party (NPP) candidate, Nana Akufo-Addo, has been declared the winner of this year’s Ghana Presidential Election, by the Electoral Commission of Ghana.
The announcement was made by the Chairperson of the Commission, Charlotte Osei.
The Electoral Commission tweeted the announcement and thanked all those that made the election successful.
“We declare Nana Akufo-Addo as President-Elect of our Ghana. God bless Ghana. Thank you,” the tweet read.
“We wish to thank all our partners, staff and volunteers and our political parties for participating and ensuring a successful election”, it added.
Ghana’s incumbent president, John Mahama had already called Akufo-Addo to concede defeat earlier on Friday.

Top 5 Annual Festivals in Nigeria

  Italy and Brazil may be known as the flagship countries that popularized festivals all over the world, but with time, other countries and societies, including Nigeria are now rising up and boosting their local festivals so much that they now even stand a chance at competing with the later festival giants. While Festivals are not new to Nigeria, in recent time, some major festivals are now popularized so much that tourists from around the world visit the country annually for the events.
From the Eyo Festival to the different city carnivals, there is a variety of events and festivals that celebrate either religious history, music, art indigenous folklore or Nigeria’s cultural heritage, most of them featuring local music, costumes, parades, dancing, alcohol, and food. Jumia Travel presents the top 5 of these festivals that are held annually across the nation. DURBAR FESTIVAL The most ancient and prominent festival in the northern regions of Nigeria, the Durbar festival is popular in Maiduguri, Kano, Katsina and Zaria. Originally intended to mark the advent of a war between ancient kingdoms or regarded as a form of military parade to the emirs and their councils to showcase the fighters who defended the territories, the festival is now performed and considered a ceremonial parade. The parades are filed with aesthetics, colors and it serves to reveal the loyalty of the paraders to the emir as well as reveals their strength and readiness for war. The ceremony is major part of the Id el Kabir celebrations as well as the Id el Fitri marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan and it attracts visitors and tourists year after year.
 EYO FESTIVAL A regional festival that is unique to the city of Lagos, Eyo festival stems from ancient Yoruba history and is speculated to be the inspiration for the modern day Rio de Janeiro carnival in Brazil. The festival features a major parade with participants dressed in while flowing robes that cover their entire body, top hats and sticks; and masquerades referred to as “Eyo” as well as costumed dancers. One of the major objectives of the festival is to pay homage to the Oba of Lagos as well as. The 24-day event sweeps through the entire city with focus on the Lagos Island and attracts a large number of tourists from around the world. OSUN-OSHOGBO FESTIVAL A highly cultural and spiritual festival held annually in Osun State, the Osun-Oshogbo festival is held between the months of July and August and sees thousands of Osun worshippers, observers as well as tourists from all over the world who come to join in on the festivities. Celebrated at the Sacred Osun grove in honour of the river goddess, Oshun of Osun State, the event spans for two weeks. The first stage features the ‘Iwopopo’ – a traditional cleansing of the land- at the initial stage, ‘Ina Olojumerindinlogun’ – the lighting of the 500-year-old sixteen-point lamp- three days later and finally the ‘Ibroriade’, an assemblage of the crowns of past rulers, and a committee of priestesses. While the colorful parades and parties across the city suggest light-hearted merriment, the Festival is a strong aspect of the Oshogbo culture. ARGUNGU FISHING FESTIVAL With an origin traced to the visit of the late Sultan Dan Mu’azu in 1934 who was honored with an akin festival, the Argungu fishing festival has been around for quite some time. The festival, widely popular in Kebbi and Sokoto state areas, is a competitive feast that aims to weigh the fishing skills of the locals. It is usually celebrated between the months of February and March and also marks the end of a farming season. As music, drums and dance envelops the air, anxious participants try to outdo each other in a bid to gain the biggest catch. Other activities, including swimming competitions, bare-hand fishing, canoe racing and wild duck hunting serve as side attractions. At the end of the festival, the winner is hugely celebrated, there is merriment across the towns and the river is sheltered to ensure it yields fishes for the next festival. THE NEW YAM FESTIVAL An extremely popular festival that everyone indigenous to the south-eastern regions of Nigeria look forward to very year, The New Yam Festival is locally referred to as Iriji-Mmanwu, Iwa ji, Iri ji or Ike ji, by the Igbo speaking areas in the region. Ripe with masquerades, colorful costumes, cultural dances and displays, the event symbolizes the end of a harvest and the commencement of the next work cycle. The celebration is a highly cultural occasion and unifies the different Igbo communities together as they are essentially agrarian and dependent on yam.