RUSSIAN PERSPECTIVE

Russia able to successfully complete special op without nuclear arms — Putin

Russia has sufficient capabilities to successfully complete the special military operation in Ukraine without resorting to nuclear arms, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a conversation with journalist Pavel Zarubin.

The Russian television host published some outtakes from the Russia. Kremlin. Putin. 25 years. documentary on Rossiya-1’s Telegram channel.

"They wanted to provoke us, wanted us to make mistakes," the Russian head of state said. "And there was no need to use the weapons that you mentioned. I hope that it won’t be necessary," he added.

"We have enough capabilities and means to finish what we started in 2022 with the result that Russia needs," the president concluded.

Russia has repeatedly confirmed its stance that the use of nuclear weapons will be its last choice. In November, Putin has approved Russia’s updated nuclear doctrine.

WESTERN PERSPECTIVE

Trump says he could 'walk away' from Russia-Ukraine talks, cites 'tremendous hatred' on both sides

House Intelligence Committee Ranking Member Jim Himes, D-Conn., joins 'Fox News Sunday' to discuss Mike Waltz's move from National Security advisor to U.N. ambassador, President Donald Trump working to end the war in Ukraine and border security. 

The U.S. could withdraw from peace talks with Ukraine and Russia if the two sides can't make progress toward ending their three-year war, President Donald Trump said.

Trump made the comments during an interview on NBC's "Meet the Press" that aired Sunday, telling host Kristen Welker that there is "tremendous hatred" between Ukraine and Russia.

The president says he remains hopeful a peace deal is possible, but confirmed that the U.S. would not remain a mediator indefinitely.

"I do believe we're closer with one party. And maybe not as close with the other, but we'll have to see," Trump said. "Five thousand soldiers a week on average, are dying. They're not American soldiers. But I want to solve the problem."

"How long do you give both countries before you're going to walk away?" Welker asked.

"Well, there will be a time when I will say, okay, keep going, keep being stupid," Trump replied.

"Maybe it's not possible to do," he added. "There's tremendous hatred. Just so you understand, Kristen, we're talking tremendous hatred between these two men and between, you know, some of the soldiers, frankly, between the generals, they've been fighting hard for three years. I think we have a very good chance of doing it."

The interview comes just days after Trump blasted Russian President Vladimir Putin,questioning whether his Russian counterpart has any interest in peace.

Trump spoke up on social media last week after Russian forces launched missiles into Ukrainian cities.

"There was no reason for Putin to be shooting missiles into civilian areas, cities and towns, over the last few days," Trump wrote. "It makes me think that maybe he doesn’t want to stop the war, he’s just tapping me along, and has to be dealt with differently, through ‘Banking’ or ‘Secondary Sanctions?’ Too many people are dying!!!"

Secretary of State Marco Rubio also appeared to temper expectations for a major peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia last week.

Rubio argued it was "silly" to put a specific date or timeline on when the U.S. might pull out from mediation, but he said this will be "a very critical week."

Days later, the White House signed a rare earth minerals agreement with Ukraine, a months-long priority for Trump.

Tass/Fox News

When he was a Justice of the Court of Appeal in the Port Harcourt Division, during the tenure of Mohammed Bello as Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Alloysius Katsina-Alu was the subject of allegations of serious misconduct which ended up before the Advisory Judicial Committee (AJC), the predecessor to the National Judicial Council (NJC). Upon finding the allegations established, the AJC determined that Katsina-Alu would be denied elevation beyond the Court of Appeal. Less than one decade later, he was a Justice of the Supreme Court. In 2009, he assumed the office of CJN.

On 30 April, the NJC, this time under the leadership of a different CJN, announced that it would similarly ban from elevation for a period of five years, Inyang Ekwo, a judge of the Federal High Court in Abuja. Additionally, the Council decided to place him on a “watch list” for five years and to suspend him from judicial functions for one year.

According to the NJC, these measures became necessary because in a 2023 case, Inyang Ekwo “delivered a ruling in a pending application without hearing the parties” and “ignored an application to set aside the proceedings of the Court conducted in the absence of the parties.” These, the Council found, violate Rules 3.1 and 3.3 of the Revised Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers in Nigeria.

For the avoidance of doubt, Rule 3.1 of the Judicial Code of Conduct requires judges to be “true and faithful to the Constitution and the law and [to] uphold the course of justice….” Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution guarantees fair hearing in judicial and legal proceedings as a fundamental right. Accordingly, Rule 3.3 of the Judicial Code of Conduct requires all judges to ensure that they afford to all parties in proceedings before them a “full right to be heard according to law.”

A judge holds office under the constitution. Before assuming office, the judge publicly swears to an oath to uphold that constitution and to do justice to all persons in accordance with it. Put differently, Ekwo violated the most basic expectations entitlements of litigants before a court and a judge.

Ekwo became a lawyer in 1991 after graduating with a degree in law from University of Cross-River State. After a career spent mostly on the staff of the Corporate Affairs Commission in Abuja, he was translated to the bench of the Federal High Court on 3 January, 2008. His path to this judicial sinecure was smoothed in no small measure by family networks which lock-in closely with the founding military administrator of the South-Eastern State (the legacy state of both Cross-River and Akwa Ibom States).

By 2023 when the facts of his latest mis-conduct arose, Ekwo had been a judge for over 15 years. Judicial inexperience was not one of his liabilities.

The measures announced by the NJC against Ekwo this past week were the second in eleven months. On 16 May 2024, the same NJC found the same Ekwo guilty of “abuse of discretionary power of a judge by wrongly granting an ex parte order.” He was therefore “barred from being elevated to a higher Bench for a period of two years.” That decision of the NJC had not spent its first year when they found the same judge guilty of even more egregious violations this time. This suggests that Inyang Ekwo is a compulsive recidivist in judicial misconduct. Even now, there remain other serious complaints against the same judge still under investigation with the NJC and many more questions besides to resolve.

First, it is not clear whether the Council reminded itself of the subsisting punishment when it decided on its dispositions in the latest one.

Second, if the NJC determined last year to preclude Inyang Ekwo from elevation for two years; and this year in another case to do the same thing for five years, are these to run concurrently or consecutively?

Third, it’s not exactly clear what placing a judge on an NJC “watch-list” means or why anyone would consider the proposition anything other than absurd.

Fourth, what would it take to persuade the NJC that a person is too crooked for judicial office?

This last question is at the heart of the problem with what the NJC claims to have done in this latest instalment of a pattern of decision-making that enables judicial corruption instead of curbing it.

Ekwo was one of three judges suspended by the NJC this time. Jane Inyang (no relation of Inyang Ekwo) was appointed a Justice of the Court of Appeal in September 2023 after eight years as a Judge of the Federal High Court. According to the NJC, while a case was still pending before her at the Federal High Court, Jane Inyang “issued inappropriate ex parte orders for the sale of a petrol station and other businesses” in dispute in the case. This was the same kind of mis-conduct for which the Council issued Inyang Ekwo with a letter of caution in May 2024.

This time, however, the NJC decided to suspend Jane Inyang from judging for one year and without pay. Like Inyang Ekwo, she will also be denied elevation for five years. That means that after five years and with this record, she could find herself a Justice of the Supreme Court. The fact that a judge with this kind of record was promoted to the Court of Appeal while the complaint against her mis-conduct was – in all likelihood – pending says all that anyone needs to know about the state of disrepute into which judicial appointments in Nigeria have fallen.

In the case of Aminu Baffa Aliyu, another judge of the Federal High Court to whom the NJC applied similar measures, they found that he unlawfully restrained the security services from performing their statutory functions and, even worse, effectively overruled the Supreme Court in order to do so. The NJC decided in addition to suspending him without pay for one year, to preclude him from elevation for three.

In August 2017, when the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) issued a joint report naming the Nigerian judiciary as “the second highest receiver of bribes in the Country” after the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), the NJC bristled, dismissing the conclusion as “not only subjective but speculative.”

The NPF is the oldest institution in the country and also the largest employer. A standard cover-up procedure in the Force is to transfer out of station officers against whom serious allegations of misconduct subsist, granting them a cooling off sabbatical during which they are reported as unaccounted for. A not-too-dis-similar practice occurred in parts of the Catholic Church in the past to cover-up for priests caught in allegations of clerical abuse.

Academics sometimes also take sabbaticals with or without pay to enable them recharge their intellectual batteries or pursue other interests for the advancement of knowledge.

These latest dispositions by the NJC are worse than slaps on the wrist of errant judges. Far from discouraging judicial misconduct, the Council consecrates a ninth Beatitude: blessed are the crooked judges for they shall be entitled to a sabbatical. Put differently, the NJC seeks the beatification of judicial corruption into high virtue for which recidivist judges like Inyang Ekwo or rampant ones like Jane Inyang receive a year-long sabbatical. Judges who prize fidelity to their judicial oaths must wonder why they bother.

This institutionalizes cover-up under cover of judicial ceremony. Two words describe what the NJC now does on judicial discipline: complicit scandal. It is a tendency that deserves close attention and study as a model of how the judiciary accomplishes its own evisceration.

** Chidi Anselm Odinkalu, a professor of lawy, teaches at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy and can be reached through This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

NASA’s Expedition 19 mission made history for multiple reasons.

Launched in 2009, the crew conducted a range of scientific experiments aboard the International Space Station, worked on complex engineering tasks, and supported Earth observation programs.

One of their most impressive observations was the capture of satellite imagery of the Three Gorges Dam in China, a human-made structure that scientists say is having an impact on the planet’s rotation.

The Three Gorges Dam spans the Yangtze River in China and is the world’slargest hydroelectric power station. While the dam is often praised for its ability to reduce flooding and generate clean energy, it has also shown how large-scale human structures can impact the Earth itself.

In the case of the Three Gorges Dam, NASAscientists and geophysicists have calculated that the reservoir’s 39 trillion kilograms of water, when filled to capacity, has a measurable effect on the rotation, even stretching the day by 0.06 seconds.

What started as a photograph taken from low Earth orbit has evolved into a wider conversation about how humanity is shaping the planet, not just on the surface, but in ways that affect its core behaviours.

NASA’s Expedition 19 proved that space exploration is not only about studying stars and planets far away, but also about looking a little closer to home too. It also helps us to look at out planet and get a better understanding of how our actions are changing it, allowing humanity to make any changes needed.

The photograph also helped shed light on how human-made reservoirs can cause changes beyond rotation.

The redistribution of water mass can lead to shifts in the Earth’s axis, known as polar drift. The Three Gorges Dam - which was completed in 2006 - is one of a few mega-reservoirs on the planet that could potentially contribute to this effect.

Observation teams have used such imagery to further research into how dams, groundwater depletion, and melting ice all interact with Earth’s physical balance.

The work done during Expedition 19 helped set the stage for future Earth observation missions. It confirmed the value of continuous monitoring of the planet using space stations.

As climate change and human development continue to reshape Earth, satellite imagery could be one of the most important tools for humanity to help fix the issues that they created in the first place.

While many of you may have thought that NASA's only focus was up in the stars, the space agency is looking towards home much more than you might have previously realised.

Yahoo News

According to the World Bank's April 2025 Poverty and Equity Brief, poverty among Nigeria's rural population has reached a critical 75.5%, underscoring growing inequality across the country. This rate is nearly double the urban poverty rate of 41.3%.

The report reveals that overall poverty in Nigeria continues to display stark regional disparities. Northern geopolitical zones recorded a 46.5% poverty rate in 2018/19, compared to just 13.5% in southern regions. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, 30.9% of Nigerians lived below the international extreme poverty line of $2.15 per day.

Economic circumstances have deteriorated since then, with World Bank projections estimating that by 2024, over 54% of Nigerians would be living in poverty. The report attributes this to multiple factors including economic shocks, rising insecurity, and persistent inflation.

The crisis disproportionately affects certain demographic groups. Children aged 0-14 face a 72.5% poverty rate, while adults without formal education experience a 79.5% poverty rate. Even those with secondary education show a 50% poverty rate, compared to 25.4% for those with tertiary education.

Multidimensional poverty indicators further illustrate the challenges: 32.6% lack access to limited-standard drinking water, 45.1% don't have limited-standard sanitation, and 39.4% have no electricity access.

The World Bank notes that poverty reduction had nearly stagnated before the pandemic, declining by only half a percentage point annually since 2010. This slow progress is attributed to structural economic challenges, particularly Nigeria's continued dependence on oil and vulnerability to climate shocks affecting agriculture.

Since 2018/19, an estimated 42 million additional Nigerians have fallen into poverty. Recent macroeconomic reforms have begun stabilizing the economy, but high inflation continues to erode purchasing power, with labor incomes failing to keep pace with rising costs.

The World Bank recommends urgent reforms to protect the poorest from inflation and boost livelihoods through productive employment. While acknowledging government efforts like temporary cash transfers targeting 15 million households, the report emphasizes the need for stronger social protection systems, investments in education, health, and infrastructure, and economic diversification beyond the oil sector.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

African Development Bank (AfDB) President Akinwumi Adesina has revealed that Nigeria's economic situation is more dire than commonly understood, with GDP per capita having fallen to just $824—significantly lower than the $1,847 recorded at independence in 1960.

Speaking at the 20th anniversary dinner of investment firm Chapel Hill Denham in Lagos on Thursday, Adesina emphasized that "Nigerians are worse off than 64 years ago" and called for a radical transformation of the country's economic model.

Despite being Africa's largest economy by GDP, Nigeria's economic foundation remains fundamentally flawed and unsustainable, according to the AfDB chief. He attributed this decline to decades of policy failures, weak institutions, excessive dependence on oil exports, and persistent underinvestment in critical sectors.

"Nigeria belongs in the league of developed nations. To get there, we must shift our mindset and pursue rapid economic growth," Adesina stated.

He highlighted the stark contrast with South Korea, which had a lower GDP per capita than Nigeria in 1960 but has since developed into a global industrial powerhouse with per capita income now exceeding $36,000. Adesina emphasized that Nigeria's development challenges stem not from lack of potential but from failure to capitalize on it.

"Underdevelopment should not be accepted as our destiny. We must break free from this pattern," he insisted.

The AfDB President outlined five critical priorities to revitalize Nigeria's economy: universal electricity access, world-class infrastructure development, rapid industrialization, innovation-driven growth, and competitive agriculture.

Adesina stressed that Nigeria must implement bold structural reforms rather than superficial policy adjustments. "We need to invest in technology, infrastructure, and innovation. We must become Africa's industrial powerhouse," he said, citing the Dangote Refinery as an example of the transformative industrial projects needed.

He suggested that Nigeria should mobilize its substantial pension fund assets, diaspora expertise, and capital markets to finance such initiatives.

For reforms to succeed, Adesina emphasized the necessity of robust institutions, consistent policies, and good governance. Without a credible reform agenda, he warned, Nigeria will continue to miss global opportunities and fail its growing population.

"The Nigeria of 2050 must be deliberately shaped, developed, corruption-free, and lead the rest of Africa," he concluded.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Nigeria on Saturday paid its final respects to Pa Samuel Ayo Adebanjo, the late elder statesman, nationalist, and leader of the Pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, in a ceremony marked by glowing tributes, national reflection, and calls for purposeful leadership. The funeral, held at St. Philip’s Anglican Church in Isanya-Ogbo, Ijebu, Ogun State, drew an assembly of prominent Nigerian political figures, clerics, and civil society leaders.

Among the dignitaries present were former President Olusegun Obasanjo, former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi, and governors Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), and Seyi Makinde (Oyo). Also in attendance were former Ogun governors Gbenga Daniel and Ibikunle Amosun, former Minister of Education Oby Ezekwesili, CBN Governor Yemi Cardoso, NADECO leader Ayo Opadokun, and several senators, including Kofoworola Bucknor-Akerele, Femi Okurounmu, and Adegbenga Kaka.

The remains of the late Adebanjo, described as one of the last disciples of Obafemi Awolowo, were laid to rest at his residence in Odoogbolu Local Government Area, Ogun State, at approximately 1:54 p.m.

A Life of Purpose and Principle

In his sermon themed “The Glory of a Purposeful Life,” Olusina Fape, the Bishop of the Diocese of Remo and Archbishop of the Ecclesiastical Province of Lagos, hailed Adebanjo as a “progressive democrat par excellence” who lived with conviction and consistency, unlike many contemporary politicians he described as “chameleons” who jump between parties without clear ideology.

Fape emphasized that Adebanjo’s political career—from the Action Group to the Alliance for Democracy—was defined by loyalty to principle rather than opportunism. He lamented that the passing of ideologically grounded figures like Adebanjo and Awolowo could deepen the emergence of political parties without clear philosophical foundations.

“He never compromised his beliefs for political gain. His life reflected the ideals of honesty, integrity, and fearless commitment to truth and justice.”

Fape warned that many modern politicians lacked purpose, seeking only power and wealth, and called for a generational reassessment of political motives. Quoting Myles Munroe, he said, “When the purpose of a thing is not known, abuse becomes inevitable.” He charged Nigerians to reflect on whether their lives would be remembered for meaning and service.

A Voice for Justice and Federalism

In his tribute, Governor Dapo Abiodun described Adebanjo as a “dogged crusader for true federalism” and a symbol of Yoruba resistance to marginalization and cultural erosion. He said Adebanjo’s fierce opposition to military rule, his activism during the June 12 crisis, and his enduring support for democratic ideals made him a “moral compass” in Nigeria’s turbulent political history.

“Chief Adebanjo stood as a firm advocate of justice, fairness, and the rule of law. He was never silent in the face of injustice and nepotism,” Abiodun said.

The governor also likened Adebanjo’s philosophy to that of Martin Luther King Jr., saying the late leader believed deeply in the principle that “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”

A National Icon, a Federalist to the End

In a condolence message read during the service, former Head of State Abdulsalami Abubakar described Adebanjo as “a great federalist, a reliable and consistent fighter for democracy,” noting that his life’s work should serve as a model for current and future generations.

Abubakar acknowledged that the void left by Adebanjo’s passing would be hard to fill but urged Nigerians to hold firmly to the principles the late icon embodied.

The funeral of Pa Ayo Adebanjo, though marking the end of a significant chapter in Nigeria’s political journey, served as a stirring reminder of the power of purposeful leadership, ideological consistency, and unwavering dedication to national unity.

Israeli military issues thousands of call-up notices, local media report

The Israeli military was issuing call-up notices to thousands of reservists on Saturday to support an expansion of its offensive in Gaza, Israeli media reported, after the prime minister announced that his upcoming visit to Azerbaijan was postponed.

The reservists will be deployed to Israel's border with Lebanon and in the occupied West Bank, replacing regular soldiers who will lead a new offensive in Gaza, the news site Ynet reported.

The military had no immediate comment.

Earlier, the prime minister's office announced that Benjamin Netanyahu was rescheduling his May 7-11 visit to Azerbaijan, citing recent developments in Gaza and Syria.

The office, which also cited "the intense diplomatic and security schedule", did not announce a new date for the visit. Netanyahu had been expected to meet with President Ilham Aliyev.

Israeli media reported on Friday that the security cabinet had approved plans for an expanded operation in the Gaza Strip.

Israel broke a fragile ceasefire with Hamas in March after seeking to extend it without engaging in talks to permanently end the war. Hamas says it would release the remaining hostages in Gaza only in exchange for an end to the war.

The military has since intensified its bombing campaign and carved out wide buffer zones in Gaza, squeezing the 2.3 million population into an ever narrower zone in the centre of the enclave and along the coast and shutting off aid supplies.

Israel's leadership has asserted that it is committed to its war goals of defeating Hamas and bringing back the last 59 hostages held in Gaza.

So far, 192 hostages have been released through negotiations and Israeli military operations since November 2023. Most had been abducted on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants stormed into Israel, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, according to Israeli tallies.

Israel's retaliatory war has reduced much of the territory to rubble and killed more than 50,000 Palestinians, the majority of them civilians, according to health officials in Gaza.

Reuters

WESTERN PERSPECTIVE

Russia's drone attack on Kyiv sets several residential buildings on fire, Ukraine says

Russia's overnight drone attack on Kyiv damaged several residential buildings and set cars on fire throughout the city, the military and officials of the Ukrainian capital said on Sunday.

Falling debris from destroyed drones sparked fires at residential buildings in Kyiv's Obolonskyi and Sviatoshynskyi districts, Timur Tkachenko, head of Kyiv's military administration, said on social media.

He added that several cars throughout the city also caught fire from falling drone debris.

Mayor Vitali Klitschko said on the Telegram messaging app that medics were called to the Sviatoshynskyi district, west of the city centre, where they provided assistance.

Reuters' witnesses heard several explosions in what sounded like air defence systems in operation.

There was no immediate information on the full-scale of the attack. Kyiv, its surrounding region and the eastern half of Ukraine were under air-raid alerts for about an hour, starting soon after midnight on Sunday local time (2100 GMT).

There was no immediate comment from Moscow about the attack that took place amidst uncertainty over whether both sides will stop war activities during Moscow's May 8-10 commemorations of the victory of the Soviet Union and its allies in World War Two.

On Monday, Russia declared a three-day ceasefire for May 8-10, to which Kyiv responded with a proposal to stop war activities for 30 days.

Both Russia and Ukraine deny targeting civilians in the war that Russia started more than three years ago with a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Ihor Taburets, governor of the central Ukrainian region of Cherkasy, said a Russian drone attack on the region late on Saturday sparked several fires. According to preliminary information, there were no injuries, Taburets said on Telegram.

RUSSIAN PERSPECTIVE

Ukrainian drone strikes Russian Orthodox church

A Ukrainian drone has targeted a Russian Orthodox church in Belgorod Region, setting fire to the building, the local governor, Vyacheslav Gladkov, has reported.

Since the escalation of the conflict between Moscow and Kiev in February 2022, the Russian border region has repeatedly come under artillery and mortar fire, as well as UAV attacks, by Ukrainian forces.

In a post on his Telegram channel on Saturday, Gladkov wrote that the “the enemy is striking our holy sites again – an enemy drone has attacked Saint George Church in the village of Tolokonnoye,” not far from Belgorod. According to the official, the building’s domes caught fire as a result of the incident.

The governor thanked local self-defense forces for swiftly responding to the attack and extinguishing the flames quickly, which prevented further damage to the church.

In a separate post on Saturday, Gladkov estimated that over the past 24 hours, Kiev’s forces have launched over 40 drones and fired nearly 150 artillery shells at multiple localities in Belgorod Region, resulting in material damage. There have been no reports of casualties.

Last Thursday, the iconic New Jerusalem Orthodox church complex in the region burned down following a Ukrainian drone strike. Commenting on the incident at the time, Gladkov described it as a “deliberate” attack and also accused the Ukrainian military of subsequently targeting the firefighters who were trying to contain the blaze.

The metropolitan bishop of Belgorod Region, Ioann, similarly characterized the attack as “intentional,” saying that Kiev’s troops had deployed incendiary bombs. He also accused Ukrainian forces of targeting the first responders at the scene.

The New Jerusalem complex, a wooden reproduction of biblical Jerusalem, was built in the early 2000s.

In late February, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that “it’s clear that the Kiev regime doesn’t shy away from anything… There’s nothing sacred [for them].”

He made the remarks after Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) reported that it apprehended two suspects who had allegedly planned to assassinate Metropolitan Tikhon, the head of the Simferopol and Crimean diocese, with a bomb, presumably at the behest of the Ukrainian intelligence services.

Metropolitan Tikhon is purported to be a close spiritual adviser to Russian President Vladimir Putin, though neither man has ever confirmed this.

Reuters/RT

Death does have its unmistakeable sting!

How else can we explain the inevitable shock even when it’s “almost expected”  as  probably imminent?

Pa Ayo Adebanjo, solid in frame, mind and character passed on at the ripe age 96!

He was active from his vibrant early youth, and soldiered on long after the  departure of his icon, the late sage and leader,  Obafemi Awolowo, ‘baba ‘layinka, iwo l’agbojule’!!!

His contributions in social and political activism spanned nearly eight decades!!

His ‘eloquent’  involvement is chronicled in detail elsewhere in the obsequies!!

He was a powerful voice for all progressive elements, regardless of their ethnic and religious origins!

He was a spokesman  for truth, for political fairness and humane accommodation, no matter whose ox was gored!

Ndigbo can never overstate their appreciation of his noble part in their post war struggle to be fully integrated and given their due against all odds and misrepresentations of history, and in spite of strident opposition from near and far!

Adebanjo was a true stalwart in the body of the Patriots who strongly believed that, despite its many foibles, Nigeria should be given every chance to emerge united under one banner, under a truly federal structure that accords all its constituent elements, respect and constitutional equality - till his last breath this was Adebanjo’s unflinching credo and dogma!

We should applaud our dearly departed his due insistence on fairness, legal and constitutional  postures, and his ever benign comradeship across the Niger and to all men of goodwill everywhere in this nation. In the END IT SHOWED!

We are assured of his place in the history of this our seemingly forever staggering  agglomeration of tribes and tongues. We should join in his prayer that this bungling, artificial creation, shall one day meet the minimum aspirations of its founders. Adebanjo stands tall and large among these  brave men and women who dared against all odds to stand for one nation under GOD!

We should all Honour him by a clear and bold recognition that every indication points to the huge unfinished task of building a NATION - a modern Nigeria of our dream; the generation that  lives to celebrate this DREAM that goes beyond the accident of colonial history, that truly means more than rhymes and verses in sturdied anthems, a nation that  truly evokes the imagination of our beautiful multiplicity of cultures and traditions. That  achievement will stir the heart of our departed friend and comrade, Adebanjo and all the hearts and minds of his  predecessors alike!

May our merciful Father admit his large heart and soul into the hallowed ranks of the faithful triumphant in Jesus mighty name.

** Kalu Idika Kalu is a former Nigeria’s Minister of Finance

For he hath looked down from the height of his sanctuary; from heaven did the LORD behold the earth; To hear the groaning of the prisoner; to loose those that are appointed to death ~ Psalms 102:19-20.

Introduction

The realities which surround living in this world make the ministry of deliverance a very major feature of the messianic assignment and an essential element in the gospel program (Isaiah 61:1-3; Luke 4:18). That is a truth we all must allow to settle down pretty well in our belief systems.

For the avoidance of any ambiguity, bondage depicts a state of slavery or involuntary servitude. And, a captive is someone who is being restrained, kept in a certain confinement and tucked away from the full liberty of the sons of God (Romans 8:19).

Undoubtedly, spiritual bondage is more intense than physical bondage. When a person is being restrained or is in prison in the natural sense, he knows his exact environment, surroundings, limitations, expectations, etcetera. But, in the spiritual sense, the details are somewhat different.

In spiritual imprisonment, we cannot see the jailers (or prison guards) that monitor the captives. We cannot see the confinement area that regulates their mobility. We cannot see the heavy chains holding them down, yet they feel the intense impact of it all nonetheless.

A closer study of Acts 16:23-27 in the context of Bible deliverance easily compares and contrasts physical and spiritual bondages.

First of all, the prisoners — Paul and Silas — were flogged. The jailer beat them, and continued to do so until they were weak. This is how it is with people who are held in satanic captivity.

Thereafter, the jailer cast them into the inner prison so he could have a stronger hold on them. Satan often places a demonic presence (or a “jailer”) over his captives.

The jailer's job is to keep the prisoners tight in captivity, and to prevent escape (Isaiah 14:17). Thus, after the jailer had put Paul and Silas into the more secure room within the prison, he also bound their feet to the floor of the cell. They were then limited only to movement within their space in captivity.

Similarly, a spiritual captive cannot exercise his liberty to be himself, enjoy his rights as a normal human being, or access the fullness of the superabundant life because of the various spiritual restraints around him (John 10:10).

However, in His characteristic mercy, our God is ever eager to set the captives free from every form of satanic captivity (John 8:36). He constantly looks down from heaven, pities them in their plight, and exercises His prerogative of mercy to set them free (Psalm 18:2-8, 13-19).

The Most High God is the real “All-In-All”: the Judge, the Lawgiver and the King (Isaiah 33:22). He has all it takes to deliver the captives: “The LORD looseth the prisoners” (Psalms 146:7).

Though He’s the God of peace, yet He readily goes to war whenever necessary, bruising Satan under our feet, to deliver His covenant children (Romans 16:20). He even commissioned and authorized all believers to be involved in this all-important task of casting out devils wherever they’re found (Mark 16:17).

Understanding Satan’s Method of Operation

Basically, man is a tri-partite being. He is a spirit, possesses a soul and lives in the body (1 Thessalonians 5:23). On the other hand, demons are spiritual aggressors, and they always seek out avenues to gain advantage over people to oppress or initiate bondages.

Especially when our guards are down, or when we are spiritually asleep, the enemy may gain advantage through several channels: generational flows, acquisitions, inheritance, environment, association, evil habits, some terrifying experiences, curses or our acts of ungodliness.

Demonic oppression can affect our spirits, souls and bodies in varying degrees. These attacks can result in sicknesses and diseases in the human body. That was the case with the woman who had the issue of blood and the woman who was bent over for eighteen years as recorded in the gospels (Mark 5:25-34; Luke 13:10-17).

In the same way, when the soul — the centre of human intellect, mind, will and emotions — comes under demonic attacks, it can result in bad tempers, depression, hallucinations, mental illnesses, bi-polar tendencies, roving suicidal thoughts, fear, drugs and alcoholic addictions.

In addition to these, inexplicable troubles in serving God, chronic unbelief, witchcraft spiritism and satanism are also common demonic works in the soul’s arena. Albeit, demons cannot get into the spirits of truly born-again Christians.

Our spirits cannot be possessed because they’re the candles of the Lord (Proverbs 20:27). However, demons may oppress our spirits, wherever opportunities arise, by surrounding them like a glass jar surrounds its contents, thus preventing the contents of the jar from fulfilling purpose.

Satan often targets the human mind as his major area of attack. He constantly looks out for loopholes to saturate our surroundings with his aides — the demonic/evil spirits — who receive and carry out his orders.

Moreover, Satan cannot read our minds, only our actions! He carefully studies our personalities, character, weaknesses and strengths to know what to do with us. Unfortunately, in many cases, he knows us better than we know ourselves. He knows the exact buttons to push and when.

The Works of Deliverance And Opening of Prison Doors

Bible deliverance is a spiritual art of being liberated, released or freed from satanic bondages, captivities and the snare of the fowler (Psalms 91:3). It is usually administered through prayers of authority to cast out the demons and to get rid of their grips.

True deliverance occurs when we submit ourselves to God’s plan, and resist the devil till he flees. Albeit, the root of the problem has to be addressed by the Word under the unction of the Holy Spirit (Isaiah 10:27). Until the root is discovered, addressed and dealt with, the deliverance will remain superficial. The axe must be laid to the root of the demonic trees (Luke 3:9).

It may be helpful at this point to list some types of evil spirits that were referred to in the Bible: familiar spirit (Leviticus 19:31); lying spirit (2 Chronicles 18:22); spirit of despair (Isaiah 61:3); seducing spirit (1 Timothy 4:1); dumb spirit (Mark 9:17); foul spirit (Mark 9:25); spirit of infirmity (Luke 13:11); spirit of divination (Acts 16:16); spirit of bondage (Romans 8:15); spirit of the world (1 Corinthians 2:12); spirit of fear (2 Timothy 1:7) and spirit of the antichrist (1 John 4:3).

The only weapons that Paul and Silas used in their captivity were prayers and praises unto God! They were bound and immobile but their spirits soared in prayers and praise.

Thereafter, the prison doors were forcefully opened by God’s all-surpassing power. There was a violent earthquake, the prison foundation was shaken and deliverance took place!

See, spiritual earthquakes often occur to shake the foundations of hell at the points of deliverance. Afterwards, the prison doors are open, and the chains are loosed. Never forget: though the prison doors were opened, the prisoners still had to be freed of their chains.

Friends, this is total deliverance, and it’s your portion today, in the precious name of Jesus Christ. Deliverance has come! The doors are opened, the chains are broken, the captives can now freely walk out of the prisons, regardless of what they are! You won’t miss it. Happy Sunday!

____________________

Archbishop Taiwo Akinola,

Rhema Christian Church,

Otta, Ogun State, Nigeria.

Connect with Bishop Akinola via these channels:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/bishopakinola

SMS/WhatsApp: +234 802 318 4987