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STILL ON THE ISSUE OF RAPE

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5 years ago

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Lately, the Nigeria public space has been buzzling with rising public concerns about the issue of rape and other sexual violence arising from the rape and murder of two females of tertiary institutions, Uwa and Barakat in Benin and Ibadan respectively.


Sadly and unfortunately, one is disturbed that it took the simultaneous rape and murder of these two innocent girls for the society to rise up to the menace of the epidemic of rape and sexual violence which has been with us from time immemorial. But the crucial question bordering one’s mind now is that, as concerned as a lot of us seemed to be, about the menace of rape in our society, are we prepared to go the whole hog in tackling this epidemic of which we are all guilty for what our society has become?


One is intrigued by the concerns raised from certain quarters and beg to disagree that rape has assumed an alarming proportion of late. This is far from the truth which is that the rampancy of rape has been with us for a long time, only that a number of factors which will be dissected later have been responsible for the low or non official reportage in the public space.


This writer can vividly recollect the menace of rape among secondary school students in the eighties, most especially during inter school house sports competition when students (boys) formed rape gangs and moved from one inter house sports competition to another raping girls as though it was a competition for medal. At the end of the day, these cases of rape go unreported because of the fear of stigmatization by the victims, notably innocent school girls, hence my disagreement that rape has assumed an alarming proportion of late.


It is important to mention that the menace of rape will be better appreciated if we can sincerely and holistically take the pains and time to understudy how this crime against humanity occurs on a per second basis at an alarming proportion in our heavily populated neighbourhoods of face me, I face you residences, then perhaps, one’s submission that the menace of rape has been with us for a long time, will be better appreciated.
As we go further in our concern to stem the tide of rape and other forms of sexual violence in our society, it is important to situate where the problem actually lies, with a view to proffering lasting solutions.


First and foremost, the primary cause of rape is the failure of the family to instill discipline in the male child just as we strive to do with the female child. The boys who later become men and indulge in this crime are a product of the dysfunctionality of the home. In most homes, the focus is on preventing the girl child from becoming wayward, while abandoning the boys to become menace to the society as a result of lack of parental upbringing. 


Another cause is our warped judicial system. Rape cases take donkey years to prosecute and it is technical, thus subjecting the victim and her family to negotiations for out of court settlements by offenders family who are ready to go any length to settle out of court, even if it requires compromising the prosecuting agency, the police.
Also, the society is not helpful to the travails of the victim and her family who are often subjected to abuse and intimidation by state officials who see the victim and the family as being careless to have allowed the rape to occur as though it took place with their consent. A lot of times, victims and their families undergo physiological and mental torture, which goes a long way to discourage them from seeking justice and hence they go away, licking their wounds and the society is the worst for it.


The culture of silence and stigmatization is a big negative in the fight against rape and sexual violence. The society stigmatizes the victims in such a way that the scar becomes permanent. The society treats the victim as the one who invited the rape rather than condemning the criminal for violating the laws of the land.


Ignorance and poverty is another factor constituting to the menace of rape in our society. A lot of our citizens in our heavily populated neighbourhoods, due to ignorance and poverty, are too afraid, poor and ignorant to seek justice in view of their perception of the security agencies who are very unfriendly to the plight of victims of rape. Education and sensitization is key to unlocking the door for people to seek justice.


Having analysed the causes of rape, rather than just jumping on the ephemeral bandwagon clamour of social media activism which does not address the surface of the issue, what are the concrete steps that needs to be taken to arrest this crime if we are to have a safer society for our girls and mothers? 
One, we need to rework our judicial system, such that there should be a time frame of say 3 months for the trial and conclusion of rape and sexual violence cases. In that way, we would have reduced the trauma of the victim and her family and also reduced the chances of the society not getting justice due to the compromise of both the victim and offender’s families settling out of court.


There is the need to make it a criminal offence punishable by law, for families who try to circumvent the law, by not reporting rape cases and settling it outside the scope of the law.
The need for advocacy on education and sensitization on the effect of rape and sexual violence on the victim and the society at large is very important. The culture of silence and stigmatization must be aggressively addressed.


The state can mitigate the shortcomings of the fight against rape and sexual violence by creating a desk for that purpose at police formations in collaboration with civil society organizations.
The security agencies need to be mobilized and empowered with the necessary tools and resources to cultivate their buy in into the fight against rape and sexual offences rather than what presently obtains.


While one commends the efforts of the media for bringing this menace to the front burner now, one must not forget those who have always been working to arrest this menace by proffering realistic solutions and those agencies of state who are now reworking the laws to deal with this epidemic, with the hope that by holistically examining the issue, we will be able to once and for all, frontally confront and subdue this epidemic to the glory of God and benefit of humanity.

Nelson Ekujumi,nelekujumi@gmail.com.

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Sahara weekly online is published by First Sahara weekly international. contact saharaweekly@yahoo.com

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Opinion: It has become apparent that the forgotten Nollywood actress Doris Ogala is on a path to total destruction …

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3 hours ago

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April 21, 2025

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Opinion: It has become apparent that the forgotten Nollywood actress Doris Ogala is on a path to total destruction
… her behavior is erratic

Doris Ogala, a fading actress in Nollywood, has lost credibility due to her recent claims that Dr. Chris Okafor is having an affair with her. Fortunately, the public no longer believes her false accusations and blackmail. Can Doris Ogala justify her actions, trying to destroy or blackmail Dr. Chris Okafor, her spiritual father, when she should be showing respect for her own father?

*A Brilliant Question Raises Eyebrows:*

Who is Doris Ogala’s father, and I assume the answer is that she has no father, because if she did, he would have provided guidance to help her avoid destructive paths and prevented her from making significant mistakes, as the scriptures clearly state, ‘Touch not my anointed and do my prophet no harm.’ Notwithstanding Doris Ogala’s criticisms, they do not impact us in Grace Nation International, also known as Liberation City. Nonetheless, her actions may inadvertently lead to her own downfall, resulting in her demise

*Do her recent allegations demonstrate her method of blackmail?*

An exclusive investigation has uncovered that Dr. Chris Okafor is not the first individual to be accused by this person. Apparently, numerous men of God have faced similar accusations. The question arises: what is her objective? The seemingly obvious answer is nothing. This raises the question: why would a rational person engage in a non-profitable pursuit? It implies she has failed in her original calling in the perceived world, resorting to blackmail as a result

Doris Ogala, are you cognizant of the fact that your blackmail is ineffective against Grace Nation? I am certain that you monitor our services every Thursday midweek service and Sunday service, and you can see that every day, Grace Nation grows in numbers, with people flocking to the church because God is with Grace Nation.

Doris Ogala, you are ill-equipped to hinder God’s Movement. You have undoubtedly taken on more than you can handle, and you will ultimately face the consequences of your actions. When you witness the repercussions of your endeavors, your community will sympathize with you

Doris Ogala, I find it rather intriguing that you assert having traveled to heaven and received detrimental instructions from spirits. To which heaven, exactly, did you ascend? Do you honestly think that those who engage in blackmail can come close to heaven’s gate? It is not feasible. I recommend that you undergo treatment, as your actions may be symptomatic of health issues like malaria. Regardless of whether you opt to seek medical help or not, you will inevitably face the repercussions of your actions

You previously stated that you were very close to our father. Are you married? If so, where is your husband in relation to your close relationship with our father? Honestly, I’m not surprised, Doris Ogala. Unless you change, it’s unlikely that you’ll get married. Can a man be expected to marry someone perceived as being indiscriminate in her relationships due to financial motivations? May I ask you something?. Are you under the impression that our father will pity you and fall for these allegations? No, you are being dishonest. Dr. Chris Okafor cannot be deceived by this. Furthermore, did Dr. Chris Okafor have a prior relationship with you? All evidence suggests that he did not know you, and if he did, you would not have made such allegations. Nevertheless, I am not surprised, given the various allegations we have encountered within our church community

Approximately 4-5 years ago, while I was still residing in Nigeria, a lady attended our church, claiming that God had directed her to Grace Nation, as her husband, Dr. Chris Okafor, was a member. She physically attended the service, but when she didn’t receive the expected reaction, she attempted to take drastic measures. Unbeknownst to the congregation, she had brought fuel with her and proceeded to douse herself with it, intending to set herself ablaze. Fortunately, swift intervention by church members prevented a tragic outcome. She alleged that God had instructed her to visit Liberation City to meet her prospective husband, who was our revered leader. We have encountered numerous similar incidents, but your accusations, Doris Ogala, have crossed a boundary, and there will be consequences

In a functioning society, how would a woman unapologetically make such grave allegations in a public space against a genuine man of God who is known to have a family?. Ha-a-h! Doris Ogala you are a shameless and disgrace to womanhood, you are not worth to be addressed a woman in our society, because your behaviors and character not far from you dogs, give your life to Christ so that you will not perish in hell fire

Via this medium, I am appealing to individuals worldwide to ignore the baseless and unsubstantiated allegations against my father, Dr. Chris Okafor. Doris Ogala is a serial blackmailer, and her allegations are unfounded. I advise you, Doris Ogala. Your only chance for spiritual rejuvenation is to commit your life to Christ and be born again. It is essential that you promptly seek forgiveness from Dr. Chris Okafor, or risk facing prolonged adversity

On a final note: My heart goes out to your generation, and a gentle suggestion is sufficient for the perceptive.

Chuke Emmanuel writes from
Gambia

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RCCG Pastor Peter Oyediran Conveys a Peaceful Message during the Easter Celebration of Resurrection and Restoration

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9 hours ago

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April 21, 2025

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RCCG Pastor Peter Oyediran Conveys a Peaceful Message during the Easter Celebration of Resurrection and Restoration

~By Oluwaseun Fabiyi

At Jesus House Huntsville, Alabama, USA, the Easter Sunday celebration was filled with love as Resident Pastor Peter Oyediran gave a powerful sermon on ‘He is not here; He has risen!’ drawing from Luke 24:6. “The grave proved incapable of holding Him, and now it similarly cannot hold us. We forego mourning; instead, we dance upon an empty grave. Victory is not expected; it has already been realized. This constitutes Resurrection. This personifies Jesus”.

In his efforts to spread his message to the people of Nigeria and the Christian faithfuls he highlighted the crucial role of peace and unity in fostering a harmonious society and a united country

Pastor Peter Oyediran of RCCG Jesus House Huntsville Alabama USA has sent warm Easter greetings to Christian faithfuls in Nigeria and beyond, emphasizing the importance of peace and unity within the Christian community

As we mark the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, let us ruminate on the triumph of righteousness over wickedness and the gift of eternal life. May this festive occasion bring us nearer to God and to one another, as we uphold the tenets of love, compassion, and kindness that Jesus epitomized

The resurrection of Jesus Christ serves as a potent emblem of hope and renewal, underscoring the notion that even amidst adversity, opportunities for redemption and rejuvenation are always available

As a divinely appointed servant and resident pastor of RCCG Jesus House Huntsville, Alabama, USA, I am inspired by this message of hope and urge all Nigerians to hold on to it. As we celebrate Easter, let us not forget the importance of peace and unity in the country and in every community. Let us unite to create a just, equitable, and thriving society for everyone. May divine blessings be upon us all, and may we emerge more resilient and united than ever

I extend heartfelt greetings to our beloved Daddy GO Adeboye and fellow Pastors working together for the same purpose of kingdom service

May the true spirit of Easter inspire us to serve our local parishes and individual communities within our jurisdictions with unwavering dedication and integrity. May God’s peace be with us all, guiding us by the values of love, compassion, and kindness that Jesus taught us. Happy Easter!

RCCG Pastor Peter Oyediran Conveys a Peaceful Message during the Easter Celebration of Resurrection and Restoration ~By Oluwaseun Fabiyi

E-Signed:
Oluwaseun Fabiyi
Media aide

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Hope Beyond the Cross: Folusoomosebi Foundation’s Easter Appeal

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10 hours ago

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April 21, 2025

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Hope Beyond the Cross: Folusoomosebi Foundation’s Easter Appeal

*Hope Beyond the Cross: Folusoomosebi Foundation’s Easter Appeal

 

As Christians around the world commemorate the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Folusoomosebi Care Foundation has extended warm Easter greetings to all Nigerians, urging reflection on the core values of hope, renewal, compassion, and selfless love that define the season.

In her Easter message, the Foundation’s Executive Director, Mrs Foluso Omoosebi, encouraged individuals and communities to embrace the deeper significance of the occasion—highlighting Easter’s message of enduring faith, resilience, and the triumph of light over darkness.

Hope Beyond the Cross: Folusoomosebi Foundation’s Easter Appeal

“Easter is more than a holiday; it is a powerful reminder that after hardship comes victory,” Omoosebi stated. “The resurrection of Christ challenges us to live lives filled with compassion, unity, and purpose.”

She emphasized that this sacred season presents a timely opportunity for healing, reconciliation, and a renewed commitment to collective well-being—especially towards supporting the less privileged and vulnerable.

“As we confront challenges as a nation and as individuals, let this season reignite our faith in a brighter, more inclusive future—one we can build together through acts of kindness, courage, and unwavering trust in God,” she added.

Omoosebi also used the opportunity to recognize the dedication of caregivers, partners, and volunteers who continue to work with the Foundation to improve lives across communities.

She reaffirmed the Folusoomosebi Care Foundation’s enduring commitment to humanitarian service, focusing on health, education, and social empowerment.

The Foundation concluded by wishing Christians and all Nigerians a peaceful and joyful Easter celebration, filled with renewed hope, strength, and love.

#HopeBeyondTheCross #FolusoomosebiCareFoundation #Easter2025 #HealingTogether #CompassionInAction

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