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Church Offering Tears Abuja Catholic Church Apart

Published

4 years ago

April 27, 2021

It is no longer at ease at St. Augustine’s Catholic Church, Sun City Estate, Galadimawa, Abuja, as offering from church members is already tearing the church of Lord apart.

While it is the responsibility of the Finance Committee of the Church to count the money, the Parish Priest, Fr. Marcel Livinus, has allegedly taken taken over the responsibility the to the reasons best known to him.

A member of the church who pleaded anonymity due said the Parish Priest stopped the church wardens from counting the money undèr the pretext of allowing the Finance Committee committee to take over it duty.

The source said: “The church wardens are like ushers in other churches; they are the ones that collect and count the money. Then they give the record and the money to the finance committee and copy him on the total money collected.

The source said maybe the Parish Priest felt they were stealing the money, but added that since he started counting the money himself, the figures have not really changed, rather the figures are even lower.

She stated: “We were surprised, all of a sudden, he asked us to stop counting the money and no information to the finance council about this and not even the Parish Pastoral Council. He made us feel we are thieves – stealing church money. For crying out loud how much is the money? We are just rendering humanitarian service to the church and God.

“The people counting the money have just been like this. This one just came and changed everything and no one is talking about it as if it is normal. If he is the only one counting, how then can we know what comes in?. Is it not what he gives that we know.”

Asked if the issue was reported to the appropriate authority, she said they only did as the priest instructed, adding that they did not report him to the Committee or council because they did not want to be seen as having personal interest.

It was further gathered that the Parish Priest is alleged to be in a serious relationship with a married woman who attends the church.

According to a source who pleaded anonymity said the Priest in order to cover his tracks sacked more than five security men in less than one year.

The source said, “Many members of the Church that would have helped build and grow the church have all abandoned the church and moved to other churches.

“The church has become stagnant because of this. The poor handling of the Church by Livinus has resulted in the management of the estate not allocating land for the permanent structure.”

Responding to the allegations, the Head of the Parish Communication Committee, Mr. Ifeanyi Valentine, said those behind the allegations were just trying to seek attention and to be an hindrance to the peace the church currently enjoys.

He stated categorically that the allegations that the Parish Priest took over the responsibility of counting church offering was not true, saying it is not his responsibility.

Valentine said: “The Priest have lot of responsibility to run the church, rather than counting money. There is a Finance Committee, they are the one counting the offering. I think that is same thing in all churches.

“It is neither Father’s job to count offering, there is a Finance Council whose responsibility is basically Finance of the church. So, Father has never count offering and will never because it’s not his duty

“I think the person is just trying to seek attention and to be an hindrance to the peace we enjoy in the church.”

Valentine noted that while there was no suspicion of theft or allegations against the church wardens who were counting the money before, the Father only asked the appropriate committee to take over the duty.

He added that there was no truth in the allegation that he sacked the security personnel working in the church.

According to him, The security in the church currently are same set of security even before the Priest they are accusing came to the Church. It’s quite strange where all this false information are coming from.

Valentine explained that the Parish Priest was putting in so much efforts to ensure that the church get the land, saying allegations against the Priest were neither through nor genuine.

Asked if there was a clash of interest in the church, he added, “No. A big No. The church is peaceful, very peaceful, absolutely Peaceful without any clash of interest.

“Be mindful that the church is not a political ground, catholic church is not a one man church where they fight for interest.

“My candid advice to your source is that you tell him or her to stop fighting against the church of God, He or she shouldn’t disturb the peace we enjoy, we are one family of God’s People. Our Parish shouldn’t be used for his or her personal motive.”

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NTAC DG Celebrates President Tinubu’s Second Year as Nigeria’s President

Published

3 days ago

May 29, 2025

The Gleamer

…Highlights His Leadership Skills and Economic Achievements

Joel Ajayi
Director General of the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps,Rt.Hon.Yusuf Buba Yakub says President Tinubu has risen above global economic dynamics and confronted squarely other regional and countrywide downturns to place Nigeria on the path of self-redemption, effervescent hope and optimism for a glorious tomorrow.

The NTAC boss,who stated the above in a congratulatory message made available to press men today in Abuja in commemoration of the second year anniversary of the Tinubu Presidency,added that Nigerians were excited at how ingeniously President Tinubu was able to pull back an economy tottering on the brinks of collapse to one that has started repaying debts and raising external reserves of the country.
The rest of the piece read:

“Your Excellency,Mr.President and Father of the Nation, *Letter of Congratulations on Your Two Years of Impactful Leadership and Service to Nigeria

“Permit me to respectfully avail myself of this means and the auspicious occasion of your second anniversary in office as President and Commander-in-Chief,Federal Republic of Nigeria, to convey my humble congratulations on the reformative and transformational turnaround that you have injected into governance and national leadership in these last two years since assuming the Nigerian Presidency.

“Without an iota of doubt,Sir,you came in,you saw and you have conquered.In the immortal words of one of the greatest leaders of all time:” You Have Done What Napoleon Could Not Do!”

“I recall with the clarity of a former federal lawmaker,who with every sense of modesty was in a position to know at the time,how our national life was mired in loss of hope, uncertainty, deepening insecurity, ethno-regional tensions as well as sullen economic indices.

“It was, indeed,a tall order to find that man who could clean the Augean stable,which, in fairness to the immediate-past national leadership,arose as a result of several factors,most of which were global and , therefore, beyond their total control.

“Today,Your Excellency,Mr.President,you have not only risen above global economic dynamics but confronted squarely other regional and countrywide downturns to place our nation back on the path of self-redemption, effervescent hope and optimism for a glorious tomorrow!

“Today,Your Excellency,many Nigerians,in spite of what you often refer to as “current pangs of hardship for a better tomorrow”,are excited at how ingenious you have brought back an economy tottering on the brinks of collapse to one that has started repaying debts and raising our external reserves.Surely,this could not have been an accident of leadership,but the result of a well-intended and carefully executed fiscal policy that has delivered on its premeditated targets.

“Your Excellency,Mr.President,as we ruminate on the path through which you have led us through these past two years, Nigerians may not be very much aware of the many hours of sleep you lose to hold the nation together,to keep the economy on a sound footing,to restore the prices of goods and commodities to the pre-energy subsidy removal era,to ease tensions in regions with security challenges and to keep our workers happy,but every Nigerian knows that the nation has a leader that truly cares. We all can attest to this in your body language and poise each time you address the nation!

“Your Excellency,Mr.President,we may go on and on to chronicle the quantum leap your gracious leadership skills and initiated policies have foisted on the nation these past years,but those who do not travel abroad may not fully understand the extent of the positive turnaround that you have caused to happen in our individual and collective destinies across the globe in so short a time.Simply put,it suffices to just say here that the honour of our green passport has also been largely restored,thanks to Your Excellency,Mr.President’s Foreign Policy Initiatives and leadership ingenuity these past two years of purposeful leadership.

“Your Excellency,Mr.President,Sir,as you take a detour into the next half of your glorious first tenure,we,who you graciously appointed as some of your foot soldiers,join millions of your admirers, well-wishers and mentees across the world to wish you well and to pray that you daily continue to draw from the rich reservoir of wisdom, strength and good health deposited in you by the Almighty God Himself at creation to lead Nigeria and Africa in the right direction.

“For myself and my family,and on behalf of the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps (NTAC),which by the grace of God, your magnanimous appointment and continuous support I currently head,I congratulate you once again ,Your Excellency,Mr.President and Father of the Nation,and pray that you find more health, wisdom, inspiration and strength to continue to deliver on the Renewed Hope Agenda and maintain the path of realizing The Nigerian Dream in our lifetime,” the NTAC DG concluded.

Following the swearing-in ceremonies held at the Eagle Square,Abuja,on May 29,2023, President Tinubu took over the reins of leadership, succeeding his Party man and immediate-past President,Gen.Muhammadu Buhari,Retd.

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