Saturday 22nd February 2020 is set to go down as a historic date in South Sudan as a unity government between once bitter rivals President Salva Kiir Mayardit and opposition leader Riek Machar finally comes to fruition.
“I want to tell the people of South Sudan that all the changes that are taking place right now are to bring peace and not changes that will bring conflict again because we are tired of conflict,” Kiir announced as he officially appointed Machar as Vice President, one of five to be appointed to the new government.
For months, the government and former rebels were at an impasse over the number of states in South Sudan as Kiir unilaterally increased the number to 32 during the recent civil war, which resulted in the deaths of over 400,000 people.
TOPSHOT - South Sudanese President Salva Kiir (L), South Sudan's opposition leader Riek Machar (R) and Mohamed Hamdan Daglo (C)"Hemeti", Sudan's deputy head of the Transitional Military Council, hold hands together as they speak to media after their peace talk at the State House in Juba, South Sudan, on December 17, 2019. (Photo by Majak Kuany / AFP) (Photo by MAJAK KUANY/AFP via Getty Images)
After failing to meet the two previous deadlines to form a unity government, fears of a resurgence in violence were palpable.
However, Kiir chose to compromise “for the sake of peace” and reverted to the original ten states, paving the way for the unity government’s formation.
This historic settlement, a huge step towards lasting peace in the world’s youngest nation, was ‘prophesied’ during the recent visit to Juba by Nigerian Pastor TB Joshua on November 12th 2019.
“I am here to prophesy to the nation. If I am a prophet, this will not go without fulfilment,” Joshua boldly declared in a national address at the Presidential Palace, broadcast live on South Sudan’s state television.
“This country is going to enter a new beginning – whether you like it or not, whether I like it or not,” he continued, insisting that “your agreement does not matter to what God is about to do” and “you cannot stand in the way of the Lord”.
With Kiir and his entire cabinet in attendance during the address, the cleric stressed that “peace has no price” and counselled leaders to overcome all divisions and differences.
“Time has come for us to put our differences behind us. Our leaders, we should overcome our divisions and agree to work together – for the good of this country,” he declared, before leading the leaders in prayer for peace.
Social media in South Sudan was awash with news of Joshua’s visit, with many citizens insisting his prayers and prophetic message were pivotal in the peace process.
“It is the high time South Sudanese should embrace Prophet TB Joshua for his prophecy has come to pass about our nation,” wrote Gum Thany on Facebook.
“Imagine our leaders made historical concessions for the first time just for the sake of peace and this is being coupled with showers of rain in Juba in the middle of dry season,” he added.
Numerous attempts in the past to bring peace between Kiir and Machar proved unsuccessful – including the time the duo were received by Pope Francis in Vatican City where he famously kissed the warring leaders feet.
South Sudanese citizens are hopeful that the new unity government will usher in an era of peace, development and stability.
Ihechukwu Njoku is a freelance Nigerian journalist…
The terrorist attack by a far-right extremist which shocked the nation of Germany and resulted in the deaths of nine people was predicted on Facebook last year by prominent Nigerian cleric TB Joshua.
According to a Facebook post clearly dated March 28th 2019, Joshua had warned Germany of an impending ‘terrorist attack’ and specifically called for prayers on “Thursday”.
“I want you to join me in praying against an imminent terrorist attack in the nation of Germany, particularly Thursday,” the post states, with Joshua clarifying he had seen several ‘visions’ regarding this attack.
“The Government and people of Germany should be vigilant and guard against this… We are on our knees praying for the nation and people of Germany,” the post, which was placed on the official TB Joshua Ministries Facebook Page followed by 3.7 million people, concluded.
Late in the evening of Wednesday 19th February 2020, a deadly gun attack was carried out in the German city of Hanau killing nine people “of migrant background” and injuring six others.
The first target was the Midnight shisha bar – popular among Germany’s Kurdish community – in the city centre of Hanau where witnesses heard about a dozen gunshots.
The suspect, identified in local media as ‘Tobias R’, then travelled by car to the Kesselstadt neighbourhood and opened fire at the Arena Bar & Cafe.
The extremist, who was found dead in his house alongside his mother in the early hours of Thursday 20th February 2020, had written a ‘manifesto’ in which he espoused ‘deeply racist views’.
The police stated they are investigating the shocking incident as a ‘terrorist attack’ and various government figures warned of the dangerous rise of extremist views and groups within Germany.
Two other smaller attacks by far-right extremists took place within Germany in 2019, including the murder of Walter Lübcke, a pro-migrant politician – giving credence to Joshua’s warning that the German government must be “vigilant”.
“We pray for God’s strength for all those affected by this tragic incident,” a post on the cleric’s Facebook page, which reminded followers of his prophetic message, concludes.
Videos on Joshua’s popular YouTube channel Emmanuel TV reveal he has prophesied various world events, from the death of pop legend Michael Jackson to the killing of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani by US forces.
Ihechukwu Njoku is a freelance Nigerian journalist…
Mr David Lyon was sacked as governor-elect of Bayelsa State, barely 24 hours to his inauguration by the Nigeria Supreme Court.
The apex court led by Justice Mary Odili nullified the election of Mr Lyon because his deputy-governorship candidate, Biobarakuma Degi-Eremienyo, was alleged to have committed perjury by “chameliously and fraudulently using different names as it suits him.” The court added that the said deputy did not approach lawful authorities to correct the multiple names on his certificates. For that reason, the court ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to withdraw the Certificate of Return issued to Mr Lyon and Degi-Eremienyo.
David Lyon who is been deprive of an election he won legitimately is a brethren in the vineyard of Christ. When Mr David Lyon came to The SCOAN to share his testimony, in Thanks-Given for what the Lord has done for him, Prophet TB Joshua implored Lyon that he wanted to see the Deputy-Governorship candidate, Senator Biobarakuma Degi-Eremienyo - because he was seeing an obstacle. However, the said deputy governorship candidate insisted that he would not come to The SCOAN because he is a Secretary-General to the Brotherhood of the cross and star, popularly know has Olumba Olumba.
After Degi-Eremienyo refused to come - despite several invitations from TB Joshua - the man of God declared that it was too early for Lyon to share his testimony and that the situation still required serious prayers. He was however given a public recognition by the Prophet during the SCOAN Live Sunday Service but, he was not allowed to share his testimony.
Nevertheless, the judgement from the supreme court came as a surprise to many. Especially since the issue is a technical issue and it has nothing to do with Mr Lyon candidature or his electoral victory - he scored the Majority vote. The people voted for him as their governor. How can the supreme court nullify the will of the majority? Why not instead sack the deputy-governorship candidate that is been alleged to have made us of multiple names. How can one justified an innocent man to suffer for the sin of another man and the will of the majority truncated?
Even the opposition governorship candidate that has now been sworn in as the governor has been confirmed, did not meet the constitutional requirement to be sworn in as a governor. And recently the said deputy-governorship candidate, Degi-Eremienyo was found to be pledging allegiance to the opposition candidate, Senator Duoye Diri, who has now been sworn in as the governor-elect of Bayelsa State. Creating more room for suspicion than meet the eyes - making it seems that it was a well planned moved to see that Mr Lyon the legitimate winner of the election was not sworn in.
However, this shocking episode did not come as a surprise to us. It was a well-expected event. Remember our warning specifically to those that have publicly associate with the Prophet. We warn them to be very careful. Because they have been marked for target by powerful forces that are after the fall of the Prophet. Those warnings are from credible intelligent security sources.
We warn that we are all a target. Since they cannot get the Prophet directly, these powerful establishments are after those around the Prophet. Public figures like politicians, public administrators, civil servant, pastors and others you can think of. Their image will be targeted and their reputation tarnished. There will be organised administrative injustice towards them and this they will do with the backings of the news media and paid journalist. All in a scheme targeted at the Prophet. Since they have tried countless time to bring the Prophet down and they have not succeeded they are now going after those around him.
Just as we will keep praying for God to give justice to Mr Lyon and the majority of the people of Bayelsa State that voted for him. This should serve as a lesson to us all believer. we should be careful with those we associate with. We should not be equally yoked with men whose integrity are questionable. We should also learn to seek guidance from the Prophet of God before we make some critical decisions.
We need to know that the world hates righteous men. They are after us. Because they know that when righteous men stay in the position of authority, evil cannot prevail. The devil is using his agents to target the righteous and we have to be prayerfully and watchful as we take our guide in the authority we have in Christ Jesus.
Always put it in mind that the enemies are still out there. The blood of the saints - the Martyrs of Faith are in their hands and they are doing everything within their power to bring the Prophet to a fall. Watch and pray for evil times are ahead.
TB Joshua Ministries (February-06-2020) “JESUS IS COMING SOON.
The video of a 12-year-old girl who had a ‘vision’ of Jesus Christ during a midweek service at TB Joshua’s popular church in Lagos has gone viral.
During a service known as the ‘Living Water Service’ at The Synagogue, Church Of All Nations (SCOAN) in which congregants come forward to receive water they believe to be anointed, immediately after receiving her water, a young girl suddenly cried out and gesticulated wildly.
“There is a Man there; He is tall! He is wearing a white garment,” exclaims the girl who later identified herself as Gift from Anambra State.
According to her, He said, “Repent; I am coming soon. Bring people to My church; bring more souls.”
Gift then narrated how she witnessed angels and 24 elders “bowing down and singing, ‘Holy, Holy is the Lamb’.”
Throughout this period, Gift’s eyes remained closed as she vividly expressed that “His face is shining” and “the light is too bright”.
Suddenly, the young girl crumpled to the floor and appeared to ‘awaken’ from the trance. Bemused at the attention surrounding her, Gift began crying as she recounted again what she had just witnessed.
“On His head was a big crown and He was sitting on a throne,” she recounted, adding that she saw smoke surrounding the Heavenly scene she witnessed.
The young girl was shocked that no-one else saw what she had seen so vividly.
“People are going on the wrong track; we should bring them back to the Church,” she emotionally pleaded, adding that she needed guidance from Pastor TB Joshua on why she would be the recipient of such a stunning revelation.
“There is no excuse for being surprised by the uncertainty of coming events,” Joshua stated on YouTube when posting the viral clip.
“The uncertainty of the hour of Christ’s return calls for vigilance and watchfulness. Let us not wait for another sign from Heaven to convince us of the paramount importance of making the most out of life today because only today is our own, tomorrow is not.”
The clip has been watched over 400,000 times since being published to YouTube and Facebook yesterday.
This is not the first time for someone to have had such a revelation as several months ago, a lady – who said she was a sceptic – also stated she had a vision of Jesus during a similar service at Joshua’s church.
Evangelist Angela got it precisely right. She is a testimony herself. She is also a good and bold preacher. The new wave of persecution is more from within the so-called Church of Christ in Nigeria. The "Church of Christ" is being used in a very broad term here. It includes sects speaking evil of those things which they know not. What they know is what they are naturally, they are brute beasts, and corrupting themselves. As written in Jude 1: 9-13 they are people who have gone in the way of Cain and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for a reward. They feed themselves without fear. They pollute the public mind with their self-made doctrine.
In the 1960s and up to the middle of the 1970s there was more unity amongst the Christian body in Nigeria with only the Fellowship of Christian Students (FCS) in the Northern region and the Scripture Union (SU) in the Southern regions of Nigeria. These two Christian organizations were able to groom young Nigerian Christians, and I am gladly a product of the FCS. But the unity was lost when religion became a big political weapon and economic source in Nigeria after Gen Gowon was removed by a coup. Individuals started forming their denominations, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) was formed and blocks were created within CAN to cater to such group interests. It can be said that CAN was formed, not from a call from God to grow the Church, but from concerned Christians who believed then (and probably still now) that extra weapons would be needed for political purposes. Having established a body like CAN, the organizers also begin to think that they are to decide who belongs or not. It is not certain if the SCOAN would be admitted into their club, or which block could accommodate her.
The Advent of prophet TB Joshua of Synagogue Church, of All Nations (SCOAN) is a big headache for CAN and the various congregations that constitute that organization. Today in the internet unprintable things can still be found written about prophet TB Joshua or SCOAN, especially discouraging people not to go near. The persecution continued by banning broadcasting prophet TB Joshua healing services from government-owned Television stations, arrest and detention, fake news, false propaganda and many others. It is not expected that the atmosphere would change because the very foundation of CAN was different from doctrine teaching or moderation. Similarly, many congregations in Nigeria are becoming shopping centres enforcing tithe collections as the main doctrine and putting back to society absolutely nothing. They also expect that others should obey what they teach.
In all these happenings we shall continue to encourage prophet TB Joshua to be silent, except praying and watching. In 1 Samuel 2:9 we read that "God will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail". After all, it is not a competitive race but each person functioning according to the call given. Prophet TB Joshua has a very big call in the order of prophets like Elijah, Elisha or Daniel and hence should not be detracted to market noise. He is currently not busy himself going to praying for Presidents, governors, senators, etc, except if they come to him. We also think that the prophet will use Psalm 28:1 crying always into God "Unto thee will I cry, O LORD my rock; be not silent to me: lest, if thou be silent to me, I become like them that go down into the pit". There is no compromise with the world because friendship with the world makes us God's enemy James 4:4.
Prof. R. A. Ipinyomi, University of Ilorin, Nigeria
I watched an inspiring, courageous, brilliant and highly anointed young American lady by the name of Evangelist Angela deliver a powerful and earthshaking message about how Christian's persecute other Christian's in Nigeria and the importance of Church unity and Christian solidarity last Sunday.
I watched it on Prophet T.B. Joshua's Emmanuel Television and it was preached at the SCOAN Headquarters in Ikotun, Lagos.
The message, which was titled 'The New Wave of Persecution', was really gripping and it also touched on how T.B. Joshua himself had suffered injustice and persecution over the years. I urge every believer to go to YouTube and listen to Angela's sermon because it was not only deeply profound but also utterly inspiring.
There were however a few things that she left out which, in my view, ought to have been included. For example the fact that Joshua had his American visa cancelled in 2014 as a result of wickedness, envy and intrigue after the horrific bombing of one of his Church buildings which sadly resulted in the death of many of his members.
It is sad to note that not one Church leader expressed his or her condolences or comisserations to the Church or the Prophet after this tragic incident despite the massive loss of life. Instead it was the leaders of the Muslim community in Nigeria, including the Sultan of Sokoto and many Emirs, that did so!
Sadly, as if that were not bad enough, it got even worse! Some heartless Church leaders went as far as to petition the American Embassy to cancel the Prophet's American visa and used this terrible incident as their excuse and attempt to justify it!
They did this even though it was clear that the collapse of the building was not as a consequence of any wrongdoing on his part but rather as a result of a brutal act of pure evil and premeditated murder and terror by those who wanted him discredited and his Church closed down.
It took the intervention of members of the American Congress, the State Department, numerous American Ambasadors, members of the American diplomatic corps and numerous American consular officials to resist the conspiracy and to ensure that his visa was restored.
I spoke with Prophet T.B. Joshua after listening to Angela's message last Sunday and asked him why it was that he did not expose all this to the public in 2014.
I also asked him why it is that he always keeps quiet, refuses to defend himself and says nothing when faced with the unrelenting, shameful and relentless criticism, misrepresentation, false allegations, vilification and persecution that he has suffered from other Church leaders over the years.
This is all the more so given the fact that, in my view, such criticisms are borne out of nothing but pure envy.
He told me that he believes in the unity of the Body of Christ and that he did not want the Church to be divided hence his silence over the years.
He kept emphasising the fact that in order for us to succeed as Christian's in Nigeria and save souls there must be love between and charity between Christians and Church unity. I was moved by his words but I must confess that I was not too happy about them.
The kind of insults, false allegations, fabrications and wickedness that this great man of God has been subjected to over the years by others is simply unacceptable and had he been a lesser man it would have broken him.
If God had not been with him he would have fallen long ago but instead he is going from strength to strength and his ministry has had a greater impact than that of any other Nigerian preacher in the international community.
From South America, to South East Asia, to the Korean peninsular, to Israel, to Europe, to Africa and to North America he is respected, revered and loved and his impact in terms of preaching and spreading the gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ has been extraordinary and outstanding.
I have decided to write a book about this great man's remarkable and inspiring life, his struggles, his challenges and the sort of things that he has been subjected to over the years very soon.
I will also expose the fact that the blowing up of his SCOAN Church building in 2014 was one of Nigeria's most heinous and terrible acts of terror and I shall expose those who I believe were behind it.
T.B. Joshua is a humble, gentle, reticent, forgiving, kind and patient man who refuses to join issues with his detractors and enemies and who instead focuses on the work that God has called him to do.
I respect him immensely but I must confess that I do not share his disposition or inclination to say nothing when others seek to destroy and drag down. If I were in his shoes I would have hit them back long ago!
I guess that the fact that he has refused to do so is what makes him so special and so much better than those of us that can be best described as lesser mortals.
I am proud to call him my friend and brother, I wish him well in all his endeavours and I pray that the entire Body of Christ in Nigeria, together with our highly esteemed and reverred Church leaders, will have the humility, presence of mind and courage to learn from his shining example and Evangelist Angela's inspiring message of love, peace, solidarity and unity.
