By Gabriel Agbo 

 If you can fight for it then you can have it. Another indefatigable spiritual wrestler we saw in the bible is the Prophet Elijah.  The Prophet of Fire! After the battle of Mount Carmel, Elijah promptly informed King Ahab that God was bringing rain again to the land of Israel, after more three years of drought.  The man of God immediately left to the top of Mount Carmel to pray down the rain.  But after so many attempts still there was no rain.  But he persisted until the seventh time and the rain came.  For certain, he went to the top of the Mount Camel to ‘wrestle’ with God to release the rain to his people.  Let us read from 1Kings 18:41-45,   “Then Elijah said to Ahab, ‘Go and enjoy a good meal!  For I hear a mighty rainstorm coming!’   So Ahab prepared a feast.  But Elijah climbed to the top of Mount Camel and fell to the ground and prayed.  Then he said to his servant, ‘Go and look out toward the sea.’  The servant went and looked, but he returned to Elijah and said, ‘I didn’t see anything.’ Seven times Elijah told him to go and look, and seven times he went.  Finally the seventh time, his servant told him, ‘I saw a little cloud about the size of a hand rising from the sea.’  Then Elijah shouted, ‘Hurry to Ahab and tell him, climb into your chariot and go back home.  If you don’t hurry, the rain will stop you!’ And sure enough, the sky was soon black with clouds.  A heavy wind brought a terrific rainstorm” My God! Man of power! You must be ready to fight for the promises and the word of God for your life and for your people. True. Get up and fight now!

 There are few things I would like us to lean here from Elijah.  First, he was fully aware of the timing of the promise of God – the rain.  Secondly, he went to the mount to pray when others were feasting.  Thirdly, he had the promise of God, but also knew that he must ‘wrestle’ to birth it in the physical.  Fourth, he refused to give up until the rain came.  Fifth, he quickly recognized the answer, even when it was like a little sign – insignificant.  He believed God and stayed until the little turned to the mighty.  And today, I also see your little turning into greatness! This must be the attitude anybody that wants to successfully ‘wrestle’ out God’s blessings. There were also other people that ‘wrestled’ with God in prayer that space will not allow us to look here.  These include: Daniel, Elisha, Jesus, Paul and many others.  They at various times struggled in the spirit, wrestled in prayers to birth God’s will in the physical.  You can read up this and more from my book / audiobook Power of Midnight Prayer.  Then another thing I will like to chip in here is that repetition of prayers is allowed at this level of spiritual warfare especially when it is done in the midnight battle.  I often hear people say that repetition of prayer (or prayer points) means lack of faith, but that is not true.  In wrestling with God (as in other forms of high level prayer), repetition of requests can sometimes determine the level of attention you get. By this I don’t mean recitation of doctrines, dogmas, catechism, religious and denominational beliefs. No!   I am talking about real praying and groaning in the spirit. You must keep praying until you receive answers to your requests.  This should be the philosophy of the person that wants to get the maximum result from his/her encounter with God.

 Let us see the biblical opinion on this. Jesus at Gethsemane, before His arrest, went into the olive grove in the night to pray and prepare for the ultimate price of going to the cross.  There, the burden was so much on Him that He prayed the same prayer several times over, the same night.  Look at Matthew 26:44, “So he went back to pray a third time, saying the same things again.” Did you see that?  He had prayed before.  Came back and prayed on the same topic.  And again pray for the third time on the same topic. And what was the prayer point?  “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will, not mine.”  Sure, this cannot be because he had no faith, but the burden and the reality of his mission came heavily on him, that he decided to stay constantly in touch with heaven for minute-by-minute consultation. Like I have said, the actual battle was fought and won here at Gethsemane and it was in the midnight.  Also see when he healed the blind man in Mark 8:22-25.  He repeated the exercise before the man fully regained his sight. Can we read it?   “When they arrived at Bethsaida, some people brought a blind man to Jesus, and they begged him to touch and heal the man.  Jesus took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village.  Then, spitting on the man’s eyes, he laid his hands on him and asked, ‘can you see anything now?’  The man looked around.  ‘Yes,’ he said, ‘I see people, but I can’t see them very clearly.  They look like trees walking around.’    Then Jesus placed his hands over the man’s eyes again.  As the man stared intently, his sight was completely restored, and he could see everything clearly.”   Now, if Jesus could do it again and again, I believe we cannot be greater than our master (as he said). Let’s always continue until we receive our desired result.  Do it again and again and again. Pray, fight, wrestle until you get it done!

 Also when he was teaching the principle of effective prayer, he encouraged us to keep on asking, seeking and knocking until we receive what we are praying for.  “Keep on asking, and you will be given what you ask for.  Keep on looking, and you will find.  Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened.  For everyone who asks, receives.  Everyone who seeks finds.  And the door is opened to everyone who knocks.”   Matthew 7:7-8. Did you notice that continues verbs were used in the above passage?  This simply means that you have to keep doing it until you see the desired result.  It is a divine principle.  Even the dark kingdom understands this too.  That’s why they hardly give up on their targets.  We have earlier cited the Elijah example at Mount Carmel.  He kept repeating the prayers, until the rain came at the seventh attempt.  In fact, he was prepared to go even beyond the seventh if he needed to; because he was sure that he had heard the sound of abundance of rain in the spirit.  So don’t be afraid to repeat your prayers on the same issue.  Don’t be discouraged if you have not seen the physical manifestation of the answer.  Just push on until it happens! Share this message with others. God bless!

Rev Gabriel Agbo is the author of the books / audiobooks:. He can be reached through Tel: +2348037113283 E-mail: gabrielagbo@yahoo.com Website www.authorsden.com/pastorgabrielnagbo

By Obiaruko Christie Ndukwe

He is a big issue, love him or hate him.

Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has become a household name across every region. Rising from a child prodigy to the man with the magic touch in everything he lays his hands to do.

Amaechi’s heart goes in even before the whistle is blown.

From a powerful youthful Speaker to Governor and Minister of first class order.

You may not fancy his paper qualification but you can’t fault his practicality in good Governance, in spite of several pitfalls and mistakes, which he has never denied nor dismissed.

He was the apple of the eye of the once powerful Rivers Governor, Dr Peter Odili. Those he brought into the banqueting hall to have a taste of Odili’s exceptional generosity conspired and edged him out. After several stumbling and standing, Amaechi became the stranger in the home he built and prided as the “first son”, which was where popular singer and music crooner, Duncan Mighty extracted the title of his song track, “Port Harcourt First Son” and rightly accorded Amaechi that title.

Amaechi moved on and solidified his relationship with the then Vice President, Goodluck Jonathan. Not many knew of their close family ties when Jonathan served as the Deputy Governor of neighboring Baylesa State, under Gov Alamieyesiegha of blessed memory. Upon his ascension to the seat as President, through divine orchestration, Jonathan was home and dry with Amaechi as his point’s man in the Niger Delta, and beyond, as the latter was Chairman of the Governors’ Forum.

That relationship placed Amaechi as the cynosure of all eyes and the envy of both enemies and friends.

It was not long after, that those he helped to power took advantage of the now strained relationship between the duo to throw in spanners in the works. The cause of the not very cordial relationship between them was because Amaechi insisted that his colleague and friend, Timipre Sylva, Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, who was seeking renomination as Governor under the ruling PDP, be allowed to have a constitutional second term. But Jonathan had reasons to disagree with Amaechi, who was playing the Mother hen of the Governors.

That became the genesis of the road to perdition of a once robust relationship. The rest is history.

In a bid to save nit just his political career but his future, Amaechi quickly found a new alliance with Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, with whom he worked with assiduously to deliver his preferred Presidential candidate of the newly formed APC, in the person of General Muhammadu Buhari.

Amaechi had taken a deep interest in Buhari who had an asset that was needed to pull the rug off Jonathan’s feet. It was integrity, in spite of whatever weaknesses Buhari had and would still have, beyond the time.

Again, he became the toast of the moment and the eye of Buhari, even in his home.

This again no doubt was going to become the springboard for the conspiracy and hate which Amaechi would face once the deal was done on May 29, 2015.

Amaechi may not be a replica of Buhari, but surely, the President knew that he could still count on him to give his government a face, not as a spokesman – a feat Amaechi would not have passed for anyway, but as the game changer in the area of infrastructure development. You can’t deny the fact that Buhari got this 100% with the successes recorded by his Government in this area, and with Amaechi standing out as “Minister of the Decade”.

Again, the same demon is rearing its head again as some of those who were lifted by the Ubima-born politician have gathered, armed with truths, half-truths and outright falsehood, seeking to deal a heavy blow on him.

It is no gainsaying that Amaechi’s friends and associates have been his greatest albatross.

First, they ensured that he did not emerge as Buhari’s running mate in 2015. Next, they moved to see that he had a tough time being cleared as a Ministerial nominee. Not done, they rooted for the balkanisation of his Ministry, which was considered one of the biggest and most influential.

While still on the voyage of destruction, he was to lose the Party to some insider hatchet men of his political rivals, within and without the ruling APC, which he worked hard to come to fruition.

Sadly, he fell to the superior firepower of the gangsters who took the advantage of a willing and daring Wike, Governor of Rivers State to further frustrate his party from fielding candidates during the last 2019 General elections.

While Amaechi was busied with the tough return of Buhari, his home front was being raped, battered and decimated; yet, he put his hands on the plough and never looked back like Lot’s wife.

This singular pummeling of his political base has almost demystified his political sagacity for which he was known for. No doubt, when a good fighter loses back-to-back, it erodes the feeling of confidence in his admirers, though his true supporters and allies believe that the champ will definitely bounce back!

The battle for 2023 is thickening by the day and all daggers are going to be drawn and thrown in the direction of any potential candidate. Amaechi is not a stranger to political battles. He doesn’t shy away from challenges, even when the chances appear slim.

Having been wounded by his former ally and pointsman, Nyesom Wike, who in active connivance with the current PDP National Chairman, Uche Secondus, hijacked the structure of the PDP from him in 2014, Amaechi cannot stand as the proverbial tree which waits at a stop for the one who threatened to cut it down. If he has learnt anything, he must have been through enough baptism of fire not to allow powerful forces to edge him out of control in his Ministry. It is said that “once bitten twice shy” but Amaechi has had enough of multiple unpleasant experiences to know that it is time to apply the brakes.

The grand plot to further Balkanize his Ministry into Ministry of Road Transport and Ministry of Marine Transport in 2019, immediately after he led the Buhari Presidential campaign to victory twice, was enough red light for the workaholic Minister to go for the jugular before it was too late.

Those he trusted with responsibilities under him sought to overthrow him through a subtle civilian coup. But Buhari was on hand to save the day.

In a bid to ascertain the veracity of the allegations leveled against the Board of one of the Agencies under him, Amaechi moved to seek President’s permission to investigate the issues raised by some members of the National Assembly, who have refused to approve the Budget of the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA for 2021.

The suspension of Ms Hadiza Bala Usman is now brandished by opponents of Amaechi as a ploy to muzzle the Agency for his personal interest, yet, no one is worried that the nation’s revenue may have been compromised, assuming without conceding that the allegations of infractions are true.

Again those who have not forgiven him for the role he played in upsetting the unbroken 16-year reign of the PDP are always quick to join the foray of those who would go for his jugular at any hint of alleged wrong in Government. They really do not care if Amaechi is empowered by the constitution to call for an inquest into the activities of an Agency under his supervision.

Whatever be the case, the undeniable truth remains that more fact less stories and spurious claims will be churned out daily and that’s simply because Amaechi is involved!

Obiaruko Christie Ndukwe writes from Port Harcourt, Nigeria

By Femi Fani-Kayode.

In 1842 Thomas Babington Macauly wrote my favourite poem titled ‘Horatius at the Gate’ and made a point that we can all learn from in Nigeria today. He wrote:

“Then out spake brave Horatius,
The Captain of the Gate:
“To every man upon this earth
Death cometh soon or late.
And how can man die better
Than facing fearful odds,
For the ashes of his fathers,
And the temples of his gods,

“And for the tender mother
Who dandled him to rest,
And for the wife who nurses
His baby at her breast,
And for the holy maidens
Who feed the eternal flame,
To save them from false Sextus
That wrought the deed of shame?

“Haul down the bridge, Sir Consul,
With all the speed ye may;
I, with two more to help me,
Will hold the foe in play.
In yon strait path a thousand
May well be stopped by three.
Now who will stand on either hand,
And keep the bridge with me?”

Then out spake Spurius Lartius;
A Ramnian proud was he:
“Lo, I will stand at thy right hand,
And keep the bridge with thee.”
And out spake strong Herminius;
Of Titian blood was he:
“I will abide on thy left side,
And keep the bridge with thee.”

“Horatius,” quoth the Consul,
“As thou sayest, so let it be.”
And straight against that great array
Forth went the dauntless Three.
For Romans in Rome’s quarrel
Spared neither land nor gold,
Nor son nor wife, nor limb nor life,
In the brave days of old”.

(HORATIUS AT THE BRIDGE, LAYS OF ANCIENT ROME by Thomas Babington Macauly, 1842)

Macauly’s prose is beautiful and instructive. It is very long and I have just quoted a tiny portion of it above.

We, as Nigerians, must read his words carefully, learn from brave Horatius, the greatest of all Romans, and be inspired and guided by his courage and strength.

We must be proud of who and what we are and we must be ready to stand for something, even at the cost of our lives.

Some, who I love and respect, have said they have seen what is coming to our country and that we must have a plan B.

I have seen what is coming to our country as well and I have been saying so for the last few months and years. However for me there is NO plan B.

We may evacuate our women and children but for those of us that are men I say again there is and can be NO plan B.

There is no running. There is no surrender. There is no capitulation. There is no escape. We have no other country. We have nowhere to go and even if we did we choose not to go.

When and if the battle finally comes we stay here and either FIGHT and WIN or FIGHT and DIE. We are Nigerians! We are lions! We do not run from the battle. We do not buckle before the enemy. We are not cowards. We are warriors. We are fighters.

We are men and women of strength and faith. We do not flinch in the face of danger. We do not run for our lives when the enemy is at our gate. We go out and meet them head on in glory and in power.

Boko Haram or any other terrorist organisation will NEVER fly its flag over Abuja and neither will they ever take Lagos, Port Harcourt, Enugu, Kaduna, Jos, Ibadan, Sokoto, Awka, Maiduguri or any of our other major cities.

Every Christian will fight them. Every Muslim will fight them. Every Southerner will fight them. Every Northerner will fight them. Every Middle Belter will fight them. Every Nigerian will fight them.

They think they are dividing us but they are actually bringing us closer together. We are not Malians, Chadians, Nigeriens, Taurags, Berbers or Arabs: we are NIGERIANS! And we will stand and fight for our motherland against these strange aliens and foreign invaders and their western backers.

Our God is mighty and He will NEVER abandon us. We will fight to the last man to preserve our nation and deliver her from the hands of these foreign barbarians that have come from a distant land to destroy us all and take our women, children, treasure and land.

Like great Horatius, we must stand at the gate and hold the bridge. Like gallant Horatius, we must fight and win or we must fight and die!

May God have mercy on our nation and our people and may He cause us to fight a good fight!

Let me conclude with this. Some are saying that the fight is and must be between ourselves and not between us and those foreigners from outside our shores that have invaded our land. How wrong they are.

Some of us are planning on how to kill our brothers and compatriots whilst the stranger from a distant land that hates us all is hiding in the forests, mountains and plains of our country and is preparing to slaughter us all to the last man, woman and child. This is short-sighted and absurd.

There is no doubt that are major differences between us as a people which still need to be resolved. That battle still needs to be fought and that mountain still needs to be removed. I, more more than anyone else, is aware of this and have spoken about these differences, injustices and inequalities over the last five years.

And be rest assured that that mountain will be removed, that valley will be levelled, that fight will be fought and that injustice will be set aside but NOT today.

Today we MUST come together as one to face down and fight the foreign foe and their relentless sponsors in the international community who have come to wipe us all off the face of the earth, turn our nation into a cauldron of fire and turn our women and children into chattel and slaves.

They say they will use planes and chemical weapons to exterterminate us. They say they will bomb us from the air and crush us from the land and sea. They say they have all the wealth, weapons, power and strength that satan has given them and they are baying for our blood.

They may indeed have all that but they do NOT have Almighty God who is just and merciful and perfect in all His ways.

They do not have God the Great or the  Living God who is mighty in battle and who cannot be resisted. They do not have the Ancient of Days or the Lord of Hosts who created and controls the universe.

They do not have the Elohim or the El Shaddai who forges the destiny of nations, who wields all power in heaven and on earth and who rules in the affairs of men.

They do not have the Adonai or the Lion of the Tribe of Judah who created the sun, the moon and stars and who established the firmament before the creation of time.

They do not have the Man of War or the God of Abraham, Isaac, David and Jacob who is with us and who is our strong defender.

It is in His name and by His power that I rally and call on the sons of the East, the sons of the West, the sons of the Niger Delta, the sons of the Middle Belt and the sons of the North to muster your strength, to stir up your courage, to steel your nerve, to stand firm on the ramparts and to come together as one in your power and glory to defend our land and our nation and to uproot and usurp the barbarians that are at our gate.

This is the challenge of our time and we shall meet it head on. There is NO plan B! We stand and we fight and win or we stand and we fight and die!

Glory, honor and praise be unto the name of our God who who has given us this great opportunity and herculean task to defend the honor of our nation and our people and bring them to a safer place.

We will never make peace with a savage and barbaric alien breed that feed fat on carnage and terror and that are committed to the mass murder, ethnic cleansing and genocide of our people and neither shall we bend the knee or bow, tremble and flee before them.

Victory is ours because our cause is righteous, our people are noble, our warriors are strong and our God is faithful!

Femi Fani-Kayode, former Nigerian Minister of Aviation is a public commentator