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PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION 2023: Do Not Expect Any Miracle At the Supreme Court Anene Nwachukwu
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION 2023: Do Not Expect Any Miracle At the Supreme Court Anene Nwachukwu
Rhema Deliverance Missions annual convention is always heralded with huge anticipation and 2023 convention is not an exception, with the theme Behold I Give Unto You Power, it promises to be one to be talked about in many months to come with the huge expectations of reign of power, healing, restoration and deliverance. Dr. Anene Nwachukwu, the General Overseer in this interview with Dave Agwazim discussed salient nation issues, expectations at the convention and so much more.
Enjoy the excerpt.
The Presidential Election Petition passed their judgment affirming President Bola Ahmed Tinubu winner of the election eliciting mixed reactions across the country, as one of the clergies prophesied pre 2023 general election, whats your reaction to this judgment?
Well, as a Nigerian, we have accepted the verdict of the Court, but that Presidential Election Tribunal is not the final court of the land. The contestants, thats Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar have rejected the judgment, and they have promised to head to Supreme Court. I believe that they have taken the right step because until you get to the final court and the final court rules against an issue, then you accept the judgment, but as far as that Appeal Court is not a final Court, they still have the right to appeal.
We Nigerians, we received the judgment with mixed reactions knowing fully well that during the election, we participated fully and the process that led to the declaration is clear in totality. As some of the issues raised in that Tribunal were not addressed, Nigerians are not satisfied with certain issues raised, especially in the area of violence, and method of results declaration. INEC promised Nigerians that theyre going to electronically transmit the results into their server, that was the reason why government spent billions of naira to procure BVAS and if the government knew that theyre not going to use the BVAS, why do we spend such humongous amount and the Tribunal is telling us that INEC has the right to declare results without BVAS?
We would not have spent such money on that failed project as such amount of money could have lifted our economy. However, as a Christian, the Bible says we should obey those in authority, and since INEC has declared Tinubu the winner, we will all support his Government, unless if God proves otherwise, so we received the judgment with mixed reactions.
Sir, as the Labour Party candidate, Peter Obi and his PDP counterpart Atiku Abubakar have approached the Supreme Court, do you see them spiritually, reclaiming the mandate or upturning the decisions of the Tribunal?
Well, since the matter is in Court, I dont want to take a decision since I am not the Chief Judge of the Federation, neither am I one of the Judges, but I believe that there won’t be difference from what we saw at the Appeal Court happening, as a Man of God, our duty is to pray for our Leaders that they do things right. Before the judgment of Appeal Court, I said it that there is nothing changing, I made it openly, I said it categorically. It is not because I am in support of the way the election went, but we have to abide by the laws of the land. The Bible charges us to be obedient to authorities and laws. I am a law-abiding citizen, if you look at my office, youll see Tinubus portrait and that Sanwoolu hanging. We were part of the election here, we saw what happened, but since they have been declared, we have to support them.
Just a few weeks ago Sir, the President marked his 1st 100 Days in office, how can you appraise his administration so far?
Personally, I dont believe in 100 Days in Office, I hate it with passion, somebody is elected to work for the people, whether youre 100 Days or 1 Year, you should be able to deliver democratic dividends to Nigerians, there is nothing to celebrate in 100 Days in office. What we are expecting is, let there be reduction in fuel price, let there be reduction in dollar exchange rates, let there be reduction in food prices in the market, let our mothers buy foodstuffs cheaper and cook for their families.
Nigerians are really suffering. As a Pastor, on the 1st Friday of the month of September I shared 300 bags of rice and 200 cartons of Indomie here in the church. The kind of fights I saw people engage in over 10kg of rice was unprecedented. I went by the side and started weeping, I was not weeping because I am happy, I wept because even people we thought are rich or okay so to say, well dressed were fighting over 10kg of rice. I said to myself, 1st Friday of October, during our Convention, I will increase it to 500 bags and also implore members to donate to it for us to have even more to give out because the rate of hunger in the land is alarming.
If you go to so many Churches, youll see that for people to transport a few children to church is not easy. If you go to church with about seven children, youll spend up to N10,000 on transportation which many families cannot afford attending church services like they used to do in the past due to the untold hardship in the land and rising transportation cost. It is affecting so many things, children are no longer going to churches today, because transport doesnt come less for them. Many parents leave their children at home on Sundays, and the level of crime rate will increase, at least we teach them moralities in the church, which is helping many of them to reduce involvement in crime and other social vices.
The way things are going now, I dont know, there seems to be no solution in sight, dollar is hitting above N1,000, and everything in the market is skyrocketing, whats the hope for the poor man?
The same market where politicians go to is the same market where the poorest of the poor goes too. And, you see, somebody that has up to 8 children for example, with all them in schools, their school fees, their feeding money, and taking care of them in a week, you know what it is. Feeding 8 people three times a day, you know how much you will spend in a week, so government should alleviate the sufferings of the people, the purpose of government is to affect people positively, shouldering citizens needs, making the citizens comfortable and feeling proud that theyre Nigerians.
Today, everyone is finding a way to travel outside the country for greener pastures, people believe the economy has nosedived, nothing is working out, but we are still praying that God will see us through.
The rising hardship can be related to the removal of Petroleum subsidy and since the government is not going back on it, what do you think, in your analysis that the government should do at this point to ameliorate the astronomic rate of hardship and poverty in the land?
There are things Government can do for the citizens, I am not against removal of subsidy, but it would have been done in a very gradual process, not suddenly. Before you remove subsidy, at least you get people palliatives on time, you increase workers salary, you increase food production, you reduce the rate of dollar. These are the necessary things to be put in place. And, when you look at the condition of our country today, you will agree with me that there is no solution in sight.
Look at the level of poverty in the land, people are doing all sorts of things to meet up, and to feed their families. I think that what I would have advised is that Government should have put up some precautionary measures to alleviate the sufferings of the masses. The masses are suffering. One of the ways to alleviate the sufferings of the masses is to ensure steady power supply at a reduced tariff, theres ongoing debate that electricity tariff has increased, what for? When you removed subsidy, it is like giving somebody food and giving him nail as toothpick, it doesnt work. Giving us steady power supply at low tariff is one way to help the people. People can use the light to barb, to cook, I mean the artisans can function perfectly with steady affordable electicity.
Sir, finally on the state of the nation, recently, Federal Government released N500billion palliatives to each States, do you think thats a right call? Do you think these palliatives given to the Governors will get to the masses?
I am totally against it 100%. We are enriching the Governors, the Governors will give it to their Commissioners, and the Commissioners will give it to their cronies and family members. The people that the palliatives were meant for in particular will not get it. Politicians will share it house by house among their colleagues and political party members. If Government wants to do such a thing, they would have used it the way it will affect the masses. Reduce electricity tariff with that money. There are so many places we will plug the palliative fund, that it will affect people directly. Food production, reduce the price of fertilizers, reduce the price of rice in the market, reduce the price of beans and garri, at least, we will take our palliatives from there.
Sir, Rhema 2023 Convention comes up in a few days, can you talk about it?
Our 2023 Convention is coming from October 4th to 8th, and the theme says Behold, I Give Unto You Power. It is time to remind believers that God has endowed us with the power and the gift to manifest. He says these signs shall follow them that believe, and they shall cast out demons”. He has given you power, fortified you. He says they shall tread upon snakes and scorpions, many types of things, and nothing by any means shall hurt them. God has given us power to make wealth, Deuteronomy 8:18 But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he swear unto thy fathers, as it is this day, power to subdue our enemies and power to make impact. So, we want to remind every believer that God created man in His own image, and He given them dominion, power over every creation. So we need to exercise our authorities, by letting people know they are not created to be under certain influences and powers, but created to be in charge, fruitful, multiply, and replenish the earth. So that is the theme of Our Convention.
What are the expectations of Rhemites?
The expectations is that the sick will be healed, the barren will conceive, the jobless will get job, after our prayer, the attackers destinies will stop. We are going to pray for every Family here, that nobody will end 2023 in crisis.
Your last word for Nigerians and followers of Oracle TV?
I believe in Nigeria, I believe that we have no other country except this one, and I believe that whosoever that has ears, let him hear, Nigeria will bounce back again; Nigeria will still be respected amongst communities of the World, thats my advice. Let us remain steadfast, play our part in nation building and pray for God to endow our leaders with requisite wisdom to build this nation up.
Why Babangida’s Hilltop Home Became Nigeria’s Political “Mecca”.
By George Omagbemi Sylvester | Published by SaharaWeeklyNG.com
Former President Goodluck Jonathan’s birthday visit to Gen. Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB) in Minna (where he hailed the octogenarian as a patriotic leader committed to national unity) was more than a courtesy call. It was a reminder of a peculiar constant in Nigerian politics: the steady pilgrimage of power-seekers, bridge-builders and crisis-managers to the Hilltop mansion. Jonathan’s own words captured it bluntly: IBB’s residence “is like a Mecca of sorts” because of the former military president’s enduring relevance and perceived nation-first posture.
Babangida turned 84 on 17 August 2025. That alone invites reflection on a career that has shaped Nigeria’s political architecture for four decades; admired by some for audacious statecraft, condemned by others for controversies that still shadow the republic. Born on 17 August 1941 in Minna, he ruled as military president from 1985 to 1993, presiding over transformative and turbulent chapters: the relocation of the national capital to Abuja in 1991; the creation of political institutions for a long, complex transition; economic liberalisation that cut both ways; and the fateful annulment of the 12 June 1993 election. Each of these choices helps explain why the Hilltop remains a magnet for Nigerians who need counsel, cover or calibration.
A house built on influence; why the visits never stop.
Let’s start with the obvious: access. Nigeria’s political class prizes proximity to the men and women who can open doors, soften opposition, broker peace and read the hidden currents. In that calculus, IBB’s network is unmatched. He cultivated a reputation for “political engineering,” the reason the press christened him “Maradona” (for deft dribbling through complexity) and “Evil Genius” (for the strategic cunning his critics decried). Whether one embraces or rejects those labels, they reflect a reality: Babangida is still the place where many politicians go to test ideas, seek endorsements or secure introductions. Even the mainstream press has described him as a consultant of sorts to desperate or ambitious politicians, an uncomfortable description that nevertheless underlines his gravitational pull.
Though it isn’t only political tact that draws visitors; it’s statecraft with lasting fingerprints. Moving the seat of government from Lagos to Abuja in December 1991 was not a cosmetic relocation, it re-centred the federation and signaled a symbolic neutrality in a country fractured by regional suspicion. Abuja’s founding logic (GEOGRAPHIC CENTRALITY and ETHNIC NEUTRALITY) continues to stabilise the national imagination. This is part of the reason many leaders, across party lines, still defer to IBB: he didn’t just rule; he rearranged the map of power.
Then there’s the regional dimension. Under his watch, Nigeria led the creation and deployment of ECOMOG in 1990 to staunch Liberia’s bloody civil war, a bold move that announced Abuja as a regional security anchor. The intervention was imperfect, contested and costly, but it helped define West Africa’s collective security posture and Nigeria’s leadership brand. When neighboring states now face crises, the memory of that precedent still echoes in diplomatic corridors and Babangida’s counsel retains currency among those who remember how decisions were made.
Jonathan’s praise and the unity argument.
Jonathan’s tribute (stressing Babangida’s non-sectional outlook and commitment to unity) goes to the heart of the Hilltop mystique. For a multi-ethnic federation straining under distrust, figures who can speak across divides are prized. Jonathan’s point wasn’t nostalgia; it was a live assessment of a man many still call when Nigeria’s seams fray. That’s why the parade to Minna continues: the anxious, the ambitious and the statesmanlike alike seek an elder who can convene rivals and cool temperatures.
The unresolved shadow: June 12 and the ethics of influence.
No honest appraisal can skip the hardest chapter: the annulment of the 12 June 1993 election (judged widely as free and fair) was a rupture that delegitimised the transition and scarred Nigeria’s democratic journey. Political scientist Larry Diamond has repeatedly identified June 12 as a prime example of how authoritarian reversals corrode democratic legitimacy and public trust. His larger warning (“few developments are more destructive to the legitimacy of new democracies than blatant and pervasive political corruption”) captures the moral crater that followed the annulment and the years of drift that ensued. Those wounds are part of the Babangida legacy too and they complicate the reverence that a steady stream of visitors displays.
Max Siollun, a leading historian of Nigeria’s military era, has observed (provocatively) that the military’s “greatest contribution” to democracy may have been to rule “long and badly enough” that Nigerians lost appetite for soldiers in power. It’s a stinging line, yet it helps explain the paradox of IBB’s status: the same system he personified taught Nigeria costly lessons that hardened its democratic reflexes. Today’s generation visits the Hilltop not to revive militarism but to harvest hard-won insights about managing a fragile federation.
What sustains the pilgrimage.
1) Institutional memory: Nigeria’s politics often suffers amnesia. Babangida offers a living archive of security crises navigated, regional diplomacy attempted, volatile markets tempered and power-sharing experiments designed. Whether one applauds or condemns specific choices, the muscle memory of governing a complex federation is rare and urgently sought.
2) Convening power: In a season of polarisation, the ability to sit warring factions in the same room is not small capital. Babangida’s imprimatur remains a safe invitation card few refuse it, fewer ignore it. That convening power explains why movements, parties and would-be presidents keep filing up the long driveway. Recent delegations have explicitly cast their courtesy calls in the language of unity, loyalty and patriotism ahead of pivotal elections.
3) Signals to the base: Visiting Minna telegraphs seriousness to party structures and funders. It says: “I have sought counsel where history meets experience.” In Nigeria’s coded political theatre, that signal still matters. Outlets have reported for years that many aspirants treat the Hilltop as an obligatory stop an unflattering reality, perhaps, but a revealing one.
4) The man and the myth: The mansion itself, with its opulence and aura, has become a set piece in Nigeria’s story of power, admired by some, resented by others, but always discussed. The myth feeds the pilgrimage; the pilgrimage feeds the myth.
The balance sheet at 84.
To treat Babangida solely as a sage is to forget the costs of his era; to treat him only as a villain is to ignore the architecture that still holds parts of Nigeria together. Abuja’s relocation stands as a stabilising bet that paid off. ECOMOG, for all its flaws, seeded a habit of regional responsibility. Conversely, June 12 remains a national cautionary tale about elite manipulation, civilian marginalisation and the brittleness of transitions managed from above. These are not contradictory truths; they are the double helix of Babangida’s place in Nigerian memory.
Jonathan’s homage tried to distill the better angel of IBB’s record: MENTORSHIP, BRIDGE-BUILDING and a POSTURE that (at least in his telling) RESISTS SECTIONAL ISM. “That is why today, his house is like a Mecca of sorts,” he said, praying that the GENERAL continues to “mentor the younger ones.” Whether one agrees with the full sentiment, it accurately describes the lived politics of Nigeria today: Minna remains a checkpoint on the road to relevance.
The scholar’s verdict and a citizen’s challenge.
If Diamond warns about legitimacy and Siollun warns about the perils of soldier-politics, what should Nigerians demand from the Hilltop effect? Three things.
First, use influence to open space, not close it. Counsel should tilt toward rules, institutions and credible elections not kingmaking for its own sake. The lesson of 1993 is that subverting a valid vote haunts a nation for decades.
Second, mentor for unity, but insist on accountability. Unity cannot be a euphemism for silence. A truly patriotic elder statesman sets a high bar for conduct and condemns the shortcuts that tempt new actors in old ways. Diamond’s admonition on corruption is not an abstraction; it’s a roadmap for rebuilding trust.
Third, convert nostalgia into institutional memory. If Babangida’s house is a classroom, then Nigeria should capture, publish and debate its lessons in the open: on peace operations (what worked, what failed), on capital relocation (how to plan at scale), and on transitions (how not to repeat 1993). Only then does the pilgrimage serve the republic rather than personalities.
At 84, Ibrahim Babangida remains a paradox that Nigeria cannot ignore: a man whose legacy straddles NATION-BUILDING and NATION-BRUISING, whose doors remain open to those seeking power and those seeking peace. Jonathan’s visit (and his striking “Mecca” metaphor) reveals a simple, stubborn fact: in a country still searching for steady hands, the Hilltop’s shadow is long. The task before Nigeria is to ensure that the shadow points toward a brighter constitutional daybreak, where influence is finally subordinated to institutions and where mentorship hardens into norms that no single mansion can monopolise. That is the only pilgrimage worth making.
Ajadi Celebrates Juju Legend Femolancaster’s 50th Birthday in the UK
Nigerian Juju music legend, Otunba Femi Fadipe, popularly known as FemoLancaster, is being celebrated today in London as he clocks 50 years of age.
Ambassador Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo, a frontline politician and businessman, led tributes to the Ilesa-born maestro, describing him as a timeless cultural icon whose artistry has enriched both Nigeria and the world.
“FemoLancaster is not just a musician, he is a legend,” Ambassador Ajadi said in his birthday message. “For decades, his classical Juju sound has remained a reminder of the beauty of Yoruba heritage. Today, as he turns 50, I celebrate a cultural ambassador whose music bridges generations and continents.”
While FemoLancaster is highly dominant in Oyo State and across the South-West, his craft has also taken him beyond Nigeria’s borders.
FemoLancaster’s illustrious career has seen him thrill audiences across Nigeria and beyond, with performances in the United Kingdom, Canada, United States of America, and other parts of the world. His dedication to Juju music has projected Yoruba traditional sounds to international stages, keeping alive the legacy of icons like King Sunny Ade and Chief Ebenezer Obey while infusing fresh energy for younger audiences
He further stressed the significance of honoring artistes who have remained faithful to indigenous music while taking it global. “In an era where modern sounds often overshadow tradition, FemoLancaster stands as a beacon of continuity and resilience. He has carried Yoruba Juju music into the global space with dignity, passion, and excellence,” he added.
The golden jubilee celebration in London has drawn fans, friends, and colleagues, who all describe FemoLancaster as a gifted artist whose contributions over decades have earned him a revered place in the pantheon of Nigerian music legends.
“As FemoLancaster marks this milestone,” Ajadi concluded, “I wish him many more years of good health, wisdom, and global recognition. May his music continue to echo across generations and continents.”
celebrity radar - gossips
Gospel Songstress Esther Igbekele Marks Birthday with Gratitude and Celebration
Gospel Songstress Esther Igbekele Marks Birthday with Gratitude and Celebration
By Aderounmu Kazeem Lagos
Lagos, Nigeria — The gospel music scene is aglow today as the “Duchess of Gospel Music,” Esther Igbekele, marks another milestone in her life, celebrating her birthday on Saturday, August 16, 2025.
Known for her powerful voice, inspirational lyrics, and unwavering dedication to spreading the gospel through music, Esther Igbekele has become one of Nigeria’s most respected and beloved gospel artistes. Over the years, she has graced countless stages, released hit albums, and inspired audiences across the world with her uplifting songs.
Today’s celebration is expected to be a joyful blend of music, prayers, and heartfelt tributes from family, friends, fans, and fellow artistes. Sources close to the singer revealed that plans are in place for a special praise gathering in Lagos, where she will be joined by notable figures in the gospel industry, church leaders, and admirers from home and abroad.
Speaking ahead of the day, Igbekele expressed deep gratitude to God for His mercy and the opportunity to use her gift to touch lives. “Every birthday is a reminder of God’s faithfulness in my journey. I am thankful for life, for my fans, and for the privilege to keep ministering through music,” she said.
From her early beginnings in the Yoruba gospel music scene to her rise as a celebrated recording artiste with a unique fusion of contemporary and traditional sounds, Esther Igbekele’s career has been marked by consistency, excellence, and a strong message of hope.
As she adds another year today, her fans have flooded social media with messages of love, appreciation, and prayers — a testament to the profound impact she continues to make in the gospel music ministry.
For many, this birthday is not just a celebration of Esther Igbekele’s life, but also of the divine inspiration she brings to the Nigerian gospel music landscape.
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