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C&S Movement Church Ilorin Begins 2026 With Massive Praises To God

Published

7 months ago

January 12, 2026

Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin

The Cherubim and Seraphim Movement Church Worldwide, Ilorin District Headquarters, has ushered its members into year 2026 with a special thanksgiving service and praise to God, themed: “Praising My Redeemer,” urging Nigerians, especially Christians, to remain thankful to God for His mercy and grace despite the economic and security challenges facing the country.

The annual programme, which is the 10th in the series, held at the Church Auditorium in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, and attracted a large turnout of worshippers who had deemed it proper to begin the year with songs of praise, prayers, and reflections, drawn from Revelation 5:9–10.

Speaking with journalists on the sideline of the epoch-making event, the District Pastor, Moses Ademola Popoola, described the programme as a long-standing annual tradition that has continued to grow in impact and participation over the past decade.

He said: “It had always been a wonderful and an amazing time before the Lord. You can see from the number of people present that lives are being touched. We have been doing this programme for about 10 years now, and we keep coming back because something good has always come out of it.”

Expatiating on the theme, Pastor Popoola said the essence of the annual gathering was to remind Christians of the sacrifice and redemptive work of Jesus Christ.

“The reason we chose the theme – ‘Praising My Redeemer’ – is because Jesus did far more than we sometimes think. He saved us from sin, delivered us from the power of darkness, replaced curses with blessings and gave us access to God through His death and resurrection,” he explained.

He added that beyond personal salvation, Nigerians also had reasons to be thankful as a nation.

“Last year, many of us thought Nigeria was going to collapse because of the many problems we faced. But our Redeemer saved this nation from collapse, and for that we must give thanks,” Popoola said.

The cleric encouraged Christians not to lose hope, assuring them that God remains alive and active in the affairs of men and nations.

“No matter what you are going through, the Bible says weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. Our God does not sleep nor slumber. At the right time, He will help us,” he emphasised.

Reflecting on national issues, Pastor Popoola called on the three tiers of government, particularly the Federal Government, to holistically tackle insecurity across the country, stressing that no meaningful development could occur without safety of lives and property.

“Security is very important. Without security, the nation cannot move forward. There is a need for state or community policing because local communities know their environment better,” he counseled, adding that more security personnel should also be recruited.

He also called on the government to address the rising costs of living in the country to make life more bearable for the citizenry, urging an effective price control mechanism and more provision of basic social amenities.

“How can fuel prices drop and the prices of bread and other food items remain the same? People are suffering. Government must provide good roads, electricity, healthcare and other amenities so that businesses can thrive and jobs can be created,” he stated.

On education, the Pastor described the cost of schooling in Nigeria as rather too expensive, urging transparency in government with robust support for education programmes.

“Education in Nigeria is becoming too expensive. Government needs to be open and clear about its policies so people can truly benefit,” he said.

Popoola further called for a tougher stance on corruption, insisting that those who steal public funds must be properly punished.

“How can someone steal billions and return millions and that is the end of the matter? That does not discourage corruption. Nobody should be bigger than the nation,” he said.

On foreign assistance in tackling insecurity, the cleric said Nigeria should welcome genuine international support.

“If we have a problem and someone wants to help us solve it, why should we reject it? Nigeria has battled insecurity for many years without a lasting solution. Any sincere help should be considered,” he said, dismissing fears about loss of sovereignty.

He, however, cautioned against spreading unverified allegations, urging Nigerians to rely on evidence rather than rumours.

“Rumours can destroy lives. If anyone claims that certain people are sponsoring insecurity, there must be clear evidence. Once there is evidence, government should prosecute them no matter how influential they are,” he added.

Pastor Popoola also warned against betrayal and criminal activities, reminding parents to instil strong family values and urging government to create more jobs to keep youths engaged.

“When people are idle, evil finds a way in. If government provides jobs and communities are involved in security, crime will reduce,” he said.

The cleric concluded by advising the government not to negotiate with violent groups, but instead invest heavily in intelligence gathering and accountability within the security sector.

“Government should not negotiate with killers. What we need is serious investment in security, intelligence and accountability. Leaders
must be truthful and those who fail in their duties should be held responsible,” he said.

End

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Kwara: Ifelodun Travellers Transport System Revived

Published

1 hour ago

August 19, 2026

Our Reporter

As Council Signs MoU With P&A Contract Ltd

Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin

The Ifelodun local Government, under the leadership of Hadji Abdulrasheed Femi Yusuf, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with P & A Contract Limited for the construction of a modern motor park in Amoyo, as the Council moves to revive the Ifelodun Travellers transport system and improve transportation within the Local Government.

Speaking during the MoU signing ceremony at the Council s Contact Office in Amoyo, the Chairman explained that the decision to construct the motor park was driven by the need for Ifelodun Local Government to establish its own transport identity, intended to ease people’s transportation problem.

He recalled that residents travelling to and from Ifelodun had, over the years, relied on transport facilities at Offa Garage and Maraba in Ilorin, stressing the need to create a dedicated transport hub that would serve the people of the Local Government.

“At some point in the history of Ifelodun Local Government, we had Ifelodun Travellers, which does not exist anymore. I don’t think there is anything wrong with bringing that identity back to the limelight. Now, we want to add value to that identity,” the Chairman said.

He added that the Council was also working with relevant stakeholders to bring in 10 units of Korope buses, which would commence operations as soon as possible.

“We are working with the NURTW, Kwara State Chapter, for guidance and to ensure that the operation runs smoothly,” he added.

The Supervisory Councillor for Works and Infrastructure Development, Mrs. Kolo Rebecca, explained that the proposed park would feature several amenities, including a garage, warehouse, 100-unit shopping complex, parking spaces and general toilets.

She said the facilities were designed to boost economic activities, improve the image of the Local Government and provide a more convenient transportation system for residents.

According to her, the initiative is also in line with the efforts of the Kwara State Governor, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, to take governance and development directly to the grassroots.

The contractor, Mallam Jimoh Toheeb Abolore, assured the Local Government of the prompt execution of the project, promising that the construction would meet the required standards and contribute positively to the image and development of Ifelodun Local Government.

Those in attendance included the Vice Chairman, Hon. Nike Ajibola; Secretary to the Local Government, Dr. Kamil Akorede; DPM, Mallam Ayinde Salman; LGT, Mallam Usman Waheed; Chief of Staff to the Chairman, Chief Ademola Zubair; Head of Works, Engr. Awodi Muhammad; Land officer, Tola Kadir and other Special Assistants.

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Lawyer Demands Release of Detained Kano Blogger, Maryam Shehu

Published

19 hours ago

August 18, 2026

Our Reporter

By Hassan Agboola

A lawyer and human rights activist, Hamza Nuhu Dantani, has called for the immediate release of Kano-based blogger, Maryam Shehu, who he said has been in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for almost 30 days.

Dantani, in a statement on Monday, said the prolonged detention of Shehu was becoming difficult to reconcile with the rule of law and provisions of the 1999 Constitution, particularly her fundamental right to personal liberty.
He questioned why Shehu should remain in detention for nearly 30 days, particularly over an offence he described as ordinarily bailable.

“How on earth can a person be detained for almost 30 days and counting, particularly in relation to an offence that is ordinarily bailable, without meaningful consideration of her liberty and constitutional rights?” he asked.
Dantani said the EFCC’s powers to investigate did not give the commission the right to detain a suspect indefinitely, punish her before trial or disregard her fundamental rights.

He also criticised the alleged practice of photographing persons in EFCC custody and publishing their images online while they remain presumed innocent.
Citing Section 36(5) of the Constitution, Dantani said the law guarantees the presumption of innocence until a suspect is proven guilty by a competent court.

He warned that publicly portraying suspects as criminals before trial could amount to subjecting them to public punishment and humiliation.
“The EFCC is a law-enforcement institution. It must therefore be the first institution to demonstrate obedience to law. It cannot demand respect for law from citizens while appearing to disregard constitutional safeguards itself,” he said.

Dantani urged the commission to either charge Shehu before a competent court if it has credible evidence against her or release her immediately
.
“We call on EFCC to respect the Constitution, respect presumption of innocence and respect fundamental right to personal liberty. Investigation is not conviction. Detention is not punishment. And an allegation is not guilt,” he said.

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Cristiano Ronaldo’s Comment on Lionel Messi’s Tribute to His Dad Becomes Most-Liked Instagram Comment

Published

21 hours ago

August 18, 2026

Our Reporter

By Fabian Apechihin

Cristiano Ronaldo’s heartfelt message to Lionel Messi following the death of his father, Jorge Messi, has reportedly become the most-liked comment in Instagram history.

Jorge Messi died on August 7 in Rosario, Argentina, aged 68. Five days later, Messi paid tribute to his late father in an emotional Instagram post featuring a photo of the pair.

In the post, Messi wrote, “Te amo, pa” — meaning “I love you, Dad” — alongside a lengthy tribute reflecting on his father’s influence and the pain of losing him.

Among the many reactions from fans, celebrities and fellow footballers was a message from Ronaldo.

“Un abrazo enorme para ti y los tuyos en estos duros momentos, Leo. Mucha fuerza,” Ronaldo wrote, which translates to: “A huge hug to you and yours in these tough times, Leo. Much strength.”

Ronaldo’s comment reportedly attracted more than 6.86 million likes and over 86,000 comments, making it the most-liked comment on Instagram.

The previous record was also held by Ronaldo, whose comment on Kylian Mbappé’s announcement of his move to Real Madrid reportedly received more than five million likes.

Other football stars also expressed their condolences to Messi. Neymar Jr.’s message, translated as “Much strength for you and your family. Big hug,” reportedly received more than 1.6 million likes, while David Beckham’s comment expressing support for Messi and his family attracted more than 300,000 likes.

In his tribute, Messi described his father’s death as difficult to comprehend, saying he struggled to accept that he would no longer see or speak with him.

Messi also recalled how his father had encouraged him to play at the 2026 World Cup despite his deteriorating health. He said his father had hoped to watch him compete and had planned to travel if his condition improved.

According to Messi, he had promised his father that Argentina would reach the final so he could be there. Although Argentina reached the final, his father was unable to attend.

Reflecting on the loss, Messi said he had wanted to win the tournament and bring the trophy to his father but ultimately struggled physically during the competition.

The emotional tribute highlighted the close bond between Messi and his father and the profound impact of his loss on the football superstar.