FEATURES

FEATURES

Abraham Daniel, a former Dunamis International Gospel Centre (DIGC) pastor, has made serious allegations against the church.

Daniel alleged that the miracles performed by the Senior Pastor, Paul Enenche, the church's leader, are not genuine.

In an interview with Kaa Truths, Daniel disclosed his reasons for leaving the church, citing frustration over what he described as the church's flawed approach to "healing and deliverance."

He said after every healing and deliverance service, they often have more people seeking healing than those who initially attended for it.

He likened the atmosphere during the services to a high-pressure situation, comparing it to the chaos of a stadium crowd reacting to the presence of a dangerous animal.

“When people see the crowd, they do the unthinkable. It’s like hearing there’s a lion nearby; even a crippled might jump the fence,” he said.

He further explained that the massive crowds at Dunamis services often compel people to act out of desperation.

He said, "I would tell you that healing is capital no. And it is with due respect to him and to Dunamis Church, I have nothing to lose or gain. The miracles are not real, they don't happen.

"Let let me tell you give you an instance. One major reason why I left is the frustration I had. After healing and deliverance service, we have more people that need healing than people that came for healing. I don't know whether you got me."


Abraham said, "The healing service, you see people still want to see daddy for prayer. People are frustrated. You could see frustration.

"And as a pastor, you know, because when daddy has gone, the Wahala now is left for us because they have to meet us. Oh, pastor, please, I need to see daddy. I brought this person. I brought that person. And people, oh, I'm like, ho? Where do I start from? Like, you could see pain."

He said, "You see, let me tell you something. When you're on the stage it's different from reality.

"When you are in a crowded atmosphere charged with, you know, you know, disco light and bang bang bang or the music is slow, your emotion is being tapped into. It's different ball game on when the lights are off and you have to face reality."

He said, "There's what I call environmental influence. For instance, if you are aware of BurnaBoy or Davido or Michael Jackson is doing event and, and, maybe you had malaria or, maybe headache."

According to Abraham, "You could go away with the dance. You won't even remember you had headache. But when everyone has gone, this thing dey disturb me. That is when reality comes.

"Or maybe you are in a stadium and they said a tiger is here. If you're not careful, a crippled will jump the fence. A crippled will jump the fence. A tiger is here or a lion is here.

"People will do the what the unthinkable. Now that is what I call the environmental effect,"
 Abraham added.

Media

Last modified on Saturday, 11 January 2025 13:33

A Nigerian sprinter, Ejowvokoghene Divine Oduduru, who specialized in the 100-meter and 200-meter dash, has disclosed that he attempted to commit suicide four times.

Oduduru who disclosed this in a post shared on his Facebook page, holds personal bests of 9.86 seconds for the 100 m and 19.73 seconds for the 200 m. The latter is a Nigerian national record.

In October 2023, a disciplinary tribunal of the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) handed Divine Oduduru, a six-year ban for breaching two anti-doping rules.

AIU had in a statement announcing the ban said that issued a four-year ban for the possession of prohibited substances and the attempted use of a prohibited substance and an additional two years for “aggravating circumstances”.

He was also ordered to pay $3000 to the World Athletics for its expenses regarding the case.

However, in a post shared on his Facebook, Oduduru said that he had been quiet all this time because of his mental health, thanking his lovely fans who had been supporting him right from the beginning of his career.

He announced that he was working to come back and would be granting interview to tell his side of the story.

He wrote: "Thanks to everyone, to my lovely fans who have been supporting me right from the beginning of my career.

"I know a lot of you have been waiting to hear from me about the issue that happened. I have been quiet all this time due to my mental health.

"I attempted suicide 4 times, just wanted to end everything, because all this things that happened is still a shock to me. After all the years of sacrifice.

"I will be granting interviews and I am working on coming life on my Instagram to tell my side of what happened."

Controversial comedian, Oluwaseyitan Aletile, also known as Seyi Law, has mocked Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, after skit maker Mr Macaroni vowed to continue snubbing him.

DAILY POST reports that Mr Macaroni recently sparked mixed reactions after declaring that he would continue to snub Sanwo-Olu while responding to an X user who called him out for snubbing the governor.

Reacting, Seyilaw stated that Mr Macaroni is not to blame, emphasising that Sanwo-Olu pretends not to recognize him whenever they meet, yet he requests handshake from Mr Macaroni.

 

On his X handle, he wrote, “Nobody should blame Macaroni for the way he speaks to Gov. @jidesanwoolu. Gov. BOS will see me and act like he doesn’t know me, but he will be begging Macaroni for a handshake. Everybody get out.”

Beninese-American actor Djimon Hounsou has admitted that he is still struggling financially despite being in the film industry for over two decades.

Appearing on African Voices Changemakers, the popular CNN magazine program, the ‘Gladiator’ actor said he’s underpaid.

“I’m still struggling to make a living. I’ve been in the filmmaking business for over two decades with two Oscar nominations and many blockbuster films, and yet, I’m still struggling financially. I’m definitely underpaid,” he said.

 

On racism in Hollywood, Hounsou said, “I was nominated for the Golden Globe, but they ignored me for the Oscars because they thought that I had just come off the boat and the streets. Even though I successfully did that, they just didn’t feel like I was an actor to whom they should pay any respect.

“So, this conceptual idea of diversity still has a long way to go. Systemic racism won’t change like that anytime soon.”

Nigerian Afrobeat superstar David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, is set to release his highly anticipated fifth studio album titled “5ive” in March.

The music star, who took to his social media platforms to announce the dropping of the album in March to his fans and music lovers, also hinted at the album’s thematic richness and creative depth.

 

The singer promised his fans that he would continue the artist’s legacy of producing chart-topping hits while exploring fresh musical directions.

 
 

“Afrobeats can’t be brought up without my name. Impossible,” he said.

The genre-defying pioneer has brought his sound to the attention of millions, and with his new album ‘5ive’ coming in March, he truly has the world at his feet,” he wrote.

According to the singer, afrobeat cannot be brought with his name, as he expressed his excitement over the project.

“This album is a reflection of my journey—where I have been and where I am going. ‘Funds’ is just the beginning of what I believe will be a special project for my fans and African music”.

The  News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 5ive marks Davido’s return after the immense success of his previous albums ‘A Better Time’ released in 2020 and ‘Timeless’ released in 2023.

Both songs solidified his position as a global ambassador of Afrobeats and it is poised to dominate charts and streaming platforms upon release of the ‘5ive’.

The singer has continued to prove that his influence in shaping the global afro beats narrative is unmatched

Former Commissioner for Rural and Community Development in Kano State, Abbas Sani Abbas, has joined the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), adding to the increasing number of defectors from the party.

 

Abbas announced his defection from the NNPP during a visit to the Kano residence of the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin, on Friday night.

 
 

In the past six months, hundreds of leaders of the NNPP from across the 44 local government areas of Kano State have dumped NNPP and the Kwankwsiyya movement together with thousands of their supporters.

Tagged the ‘Barau Tsunami’, the defection galore saw thousands of NNPP members thrashing their red caps, the symbol of the Kwankwsiyya movement in Kano State and embracing the APC.

Following the calls by some NNPP leaders that the Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf should take charge of governance firmly in the state, the Secretary to the State Government, Abdullahi Bichi, and five commissioners including Abbas were sacked last month.

During his visit to the Kano residence of the Deputy President of the Senate, Abbas announced his defection, pledging to work towards the success of the APC across Kano State and beyond.

Senator Barau, who is the First Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, received Abbas together with the APC Chairman in Kano State, Prince Abdullahi Abbas (Ɗan Sarki, Jikan Sarki) and other party leaders.

Barau assured Abbas, a dedicated grassroots mobiliser, of the APC’s unwavering commitment to building a better future for the people of Kano State and all Nigerians.

While stressing that APC is big enough to accommodate all lovers of the country, he said they would continue to promote the values of good governance, inclusivity, and service to humanity.

Yoruba Nation agitator Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, has debunked rumour of his death, describing it as a means of derailing the self-determination struggle.

In a statement issued by his media aide, Olayomi Koiki, the activist reassured his supporters that he is alive and in good health.

 
 

Sunday Igboho noted that the false reports originated from the Seyi Tinubu Youth Battalion Facebook page.

The statement issued on Friday read, “We want to assure the general public and supporters of the Yoruba Nation movement that Dr. Chief Sunday Adeyemo Igboho is alive, well, and in high spirits.

“There is no truth to the rumors being spread by certain individuals and groups trying to mislead the public. This is a deliberate attempt to tarnish his image and derail the ongoing self-determination struggle.

“Let it be known that our mission for the self-determination of the Yoruba people remains strong and unshaken. We call on our supporters to remain vigilant and focused on our collective goal.”

Sunday Igboho recently said corruption and insecurity were some of the reasons why many Nigerians no longer take pride in their citizenship.

He added that Yoruba youth, enriched by global exposure, are eager to transform the Yoruba nation into a modern, prosperous society like those in Europe.

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Emmanuel Fayose, younger brother of former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose, has declared his intention to run for the state’s governorship.

Fayose disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen on Friday.

He stated that his decision to join the race was driven by his commitment to revitalising Ekiti State and steering it back towards growth and development.

 
 

His words: “I am in the race to dislodge the Oyebanji-led government, and eventually, if I win, I will run an inclusive government that would steer Ekiti in the right direction.”

The PDP governorship aspirant reaffirmed his ambition following a recent meeting between ex-Governor Ayodele Fayose and President Bola Tinubu in Lagos.

At the meeting, the former governor reportedly pledged support for the incumbent’s reelection, a move party members in Ekiti have criticized as anti-party.

Reacting to the development, the aspirant stated that the Lagos meeting would not affect his ambition.

He said, “I read about the meeting in the newspapers like any other person and I wish to state that the meeting has nothing to do with my aspiration.

“The meeting will not in any way impact my aspiration because the former governor, being my elder brother, is only exercising his Democratic rights of freedom of choice.

“His choice and preferences will not and cannot in any way impact negatively on my bid as we are separate entities pursuing different goals.”

Fayose also urged his supporters in the state to remain steadfast and resolute in their quest for positive change in Ekiti.

“So my brother is on his own and it’s left for the leadership of our great party to ascertain his political allegiance either to our PDP or APC.

“I am, however, using the opportunity provided by this platform to urge our teeming supporters to remain firm and resolute and not to be distracted in any way to cause the needed change in our state.”

The Italian Catholic Church has opened its seminaries to homosexual men, provided they do not promote or align themselves with what it terms “gay culture,” according to new guidelines endorsed by the Vatican.

The guidelines, released by the Italian Bishops’ Conference and published online on Thursday, maintain the Church’s emphasis on celibacy while allowing gay men to enter priestly training under certain conditions.

 

A specific section of the 68-page document addresses individuals with “homosexual tendencies” who either seek admission to seminaries or discover their orientation during training.

 

The Church, while profoundly respecting the persons in question, cannot admit to the seminary and to Holy Orders those who practise homosexuality, present deeply rooted homosexual tendencies or support the so-called gay culture,” the guidelines state.

However, the document urges consideration of a candidate’s overall personality, advising the Church to assess homosexual tendencies in the context of the individual’s character and emotional maturity.

The goal remains to nurture priests who can embrace chastity and celibacy as a vocation.

The Vatican-approved guidelines reflect Pope Francis’ broader effort to foster inclusivity within the Roman Catholic Church, even as official doctrine continues to describe same-sex acts as “intrinsically disordered.”

Since his papacy began in 2013, Pope Francis has taken a more conciliatory tone on LGBTQ issues, famously stating, “If someone is gay and is searching for the Lord and has good will, then who am I to judge him?” However, his position has not been without controversy.

In June, during a private meeting with Italian bishops, the Pope reportedly expressed disapproval of gay men in seminaries, using a derogatory term to criticize what he described as excessive homosexual behaviour within priestly training schools.

The new guidelines have sparked mixed reactions. The head of New Ways Ministry, a U.S.-based Catholic LGBTQ outreach group, Francis DeBernardo, hailed them as a “big step forward,” citing their efforts to dispel ambiguities that had previously fueled discrimination and fear.

 

It clarifies previous ambiguous statements about gay seminary candidates, which viewed them with suspicion. This ambiguity caused lots of fear and discrimination in the church,” said the ministry’s Francis DeBernardo.

Jesuit priest and LGBTQ advocate James Martin viewed the changes as a recognition that homosexuality alone should not disqualify someone from priestly formation.

If a gay man is able to lead a healthy, chaste, and celibate life, he may be considered,” Martin told AFP.

More than 10, 000 homes, including many businesses are said to have been destroyed in the Los Angeles fire.

So far, at least 11 lives have been reported lost in the incident.

For some, it was a first look at the staggering reality of what was lost as the region of 13 million people grapples with the gargantuan challenge of overcoming the disaster and rebuilding.

A new flare-up in Southern California has led to more mandatory evacuation orders as the Palisades Fire moved northeast, according to reports.

 
The plume from the Palisades Fire drifts into the mountains in a wind driven fire in Topanga, California, on January 9, 2025. Wildfires threatened to engulf parts of Hollywood on January 9 as a growing number of blazes raged across Los Angeles, forcing over 100,000 people to flee their homes and claiming at least five lives. (Photo by David Swanson / AFP)

 

Fox News reports that the latest order is in effect from Sunset Boulevard north to Encino Reservoir and from the 405 Freeway west to Mandeville Canyon. Brentwood has also been threatened.

The Getty Center Dr. and Skirball Center Dr. off-ramps are now closed on both I-405 northbound and I-405 southbound.

“The Palisades Fire has got a new significant flare-up on the eastern portion and continues to move northeast,” Los Angeles Fire Department Capt. Erik Scott told KTLA.

 

Firefighters work the scene as an apartment building burns during the Eaton fire in the Altadena area of Los Angeles county, California on January 8, 2025. (Photo by JOSH EDELSON / AFP)

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office said a curfew is now in effect from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. in all mandatory evacuation areas impacted by the Palisades and Eaton wildfires. The sheriff’s office urged residents to avoid these areas for their own protection and to allow first responders to work effectively.

The curfew will be strictly enforced and violators may face serious consequences, including fines of up to $1,000 or possible imprisonment, the sheriff’s office said.

 
Firefighters work with water hoses near houses burned down in the Palisades Fire along the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, California, January 9, 2025. (Photo by Cecilia SANCHEZ and Cecilia Sanchez / AFP)

 

 

Newsom Invites Trump To California To Tour Wildfire Devastation

California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Friday invited President-elect Trump to tour the wildfire devastation in California as he prepares to take office once again.

Newsom wrote in a letter addressed to Trump at Mar-a-Lago that his office is grateful that President Biden “swiftly approved our major disaster declaration – a strong indication of the partnership California needs and appreciates with any federal administration.”

But, he added the “threat to lives and property remains acute,” and invited Trump to come to the state as he prepares to take office in two weeks to “meet with the Americans affected by these fires, see the devastation firsthand, and join me and others in thanking the heroic firefighters and first responders who are putting their lives on the line.”

 

A brush fire burns near homes in Pacific Palisades, California on January 7, 2025. A fast-moving brushfire in a Los Angeles suburb burned buildings and sparked evacuations Tuesday as “life threatening” winds whipped the region.

 

He reminded Trump of his past visit to California during his first term when he toured the wildfire destruction from the Camp Fire in Paradise, California, – the deadliest in the state’s history – and from the Woolsey Fire near Malibu.

“In the spirit of this great country, we must not politicize human tragedy or spread disinformation from the sidelines. Hundreds of thousands of Americans – displaced from the their homes and fearful for the future – deserve to see all of us working in their best interests to ensure a fast recovery and rebuild,” he wrote.

Trump has placed blame for the fire’s destruction on Newsom and other California Democrats.

 

Charred vehicles are seen after the passage of the Palisades Fire in Pacific Palisades, California, on January 8, 2025. (Photo by AGUSTIN PAULLIER / AFP)

 

Prince Harry, Meghan Markle Visit Southern California To Support Wildfire Victims

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are working to support Southern California wildfire victims and relief efforts, as the wildfires continue to sweep through the region.

The couple made their second visit to Pasadena on Friday, when they met with Mayor Victor Gordo about ongoing recovery efforts, Fox 11 reported.

Earlier this week, the pair anonymously delivered food to families displaced by the fires, according to the outlet.

“In the last few days, wildfires in Southern California have raged through neighbourhoods and devastated families, homes, schools, medical care centres, and so much more – affecting tens of thousands from all walks of life. A state of emergency has been issued,” the pair wrote on their website Thursday, describing the situation in Southern California.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex also provided a list of organizations actively helping wildfire victims.

 

Police officers remove an elderly resident from her home during the Eaton Fire in Altadena, California, on January 8, 2025. (Photo by Robyn Beck / AFP)

All LAUSD Schools Remain Closed

Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho said that the L.A. County school district will remain closed and officials will make a decision on reopening plans on Sunday.

“We appreciate your patience as we respond to the air quality and fire concerns that have impacted our campuses across the region,” he said in a Friday evening update. “Although air quality and fire containment have improved, fire and wind conditions have remained dynamic and unstable.”

“Because the safety and well-being of our students and employees are our primary concern, we will continue assessing conditions and provide a preliminary update on Saturday regarding air quality levels and prevailing conditions,” he said. “A final decision will be made Sunday.”

Evacuation Orders Issued

New evacuation orders were issued near Encino Reservoir as the Palisades Fire spread and strengthened on Friday evening.

The Los Angeles County Fire Department (LAFD) issued the new set of evacuation orders at 7 p.m. local time, warning residents to seek shelter.

“Evacuate now from the area of Sunset to Mandeville to Encino Reservoir to the 405 freeway,” the LAFD said. “Those not in the evacuation area should shelter in place.”

Fast Facts:

  • The Palisades Fire, Eaton Fire, Kenneth Fire, Hurst Fire and Lidia Fire have burned more than 27,000 acres in the Los Angeles area, officials say.
  • The Eaton and Palisades fires have claimed at least 11 lives, according to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner. Growth of that fire “has been significantly stopped,” LA County Fire Department Chief Anthony Marrone announced Friday.
  • L.A. County Sheriff Robert Luna said Thursday that 20 people have been arrested so far for looting during the southern California wildfires.
  • As of Friday morning, the fires have destroyed more than 10,000 homes and buildings, according to local officials, while 153,000 people are under evacuation.