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Kanu’s release will restore peace in South-East -Hon Ikweche tells FG

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Hon Mascot, Alexander Mascot Ikweche, Deputy Chairman House of Representatives committee on Poverty Alleviation,

 

Hon Mascot, Alexander Mascot Ikweche, Deputy Chairman House of Representatives committee on Poverty Alleviation,  represents Aba North and South Federal Constituency of Abia State, has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to grant presidential pardon to the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) for peace to be restored in the Southeast geopolitical zone.
In this interview with Ignatius Okorocha, the lawmaker scored  President Tinubu high on frastructural development, lamenting that his harsh economic policies have in poverished many Nigerians and left many to wallow in hunger starvation.
He speaks on, insecurity, state of the economy and other  issues of national importance
Excerpts:
 Hon, the APC-led federal government will be two years in office in the next few days. What is your assessment of this government?
 Well, as you all know, when this government took over, dollar was at seven something.
Today, dollar is at 1,620 Naira. So, if that’s an achievement, you tell me. We know what fuel was selling for in the past.
We know what it’s selling for now. I mean, I appreciate the removal of subsidy. I just feel that something could have been created to cushion the effect that that removal would have cost Nigerians.
Anybody who says there’s no hunger in the land will be telling a big lie. People are suffering. People are struggling.
To eat is a problem. To feed families is a problem. But in terms of infrastructure, the government is really doing well.
I would give it to them. You can see how Abuja looks. This is where we are all stationed.
So, I’ll start by talking about Abuja. The minister for FCT has done absolutely well. Some people argue that he’s overbearing, but I think he has brought a lot of value to this government.
He is not a sycophant. Another problem that we have in this country is psychofancy. You know, ineptitude on the part of individuals that have been appointed to assist whoever it is in the helm of affairs.
It has literally become a non-psychofancy. But it seems the FCT minister is doing well. Abuja is rapidly developing.
Yesterday, he brought his budget. He came here to the parliament to defend his budget. Like I’ve always complained, that most agencies and ministries that come here for appropriation, they always tend to have high recurrence expenditure and then low capital expenditure.
So, it has been a problem because when you spend on recurrence, these are invisible projects that you do not see. And we’re still where we are. We should be investing on capital, on infrastructure, on education, power, security.
These are the things that help to propel development. So, when you keep talking about salary, keep talking about fuel, keep talking about generator money, keep talking about servicing of this, servicing of that, at the end of the day, impress estacodes, traveling abroad for this and that while the country remains in a derelict state. That puts us in a very precarious situation.
And if you check the poverty index, you can see that we aren’t doing so well. But in terms of what the FCT… The truth is that if you’re working, you don’t need to advertise that you’re working. You don’t need to praise yourself.
People will praise you. No matter what they say about Wike, Wik is working. No matter what they say about the governor of Abia state, the governor of Abia state is working.
No matter what you want to say about the governor of Enugu state, the man is working. The man is on fire. So, the truth is when these things are contagious, when you are working, people will see that you’re working.
You don’t… You wouldn’t require a soothsayer. It doesn’t require deep intuition to extrapolate what somebody’s doing. Okay? So for me, the APC has done well in some areas they haven’t done well in some areas.
Then again, the president is far more experienced than me politically. And I don’t believe any president will want to fail naturally. But sometimes the king must have council of men that surrounds him.
The ability of that king to identify within his council, the ones that are not protecting or representing the image of that king or carrying out that overall objective of that kingdom, you know, judiciously and credibly. Then the king should be able to find a way to sideline that individual that isn’t doing well within his council. We have seen the level of insecurity that has confronted us in Borno State.
The governor of Borno, Babagana Zulu, has complained bitterly about the security situation in the state. The number of lives that were lost when the state confronted Boko Haram aggressively and fiercely a couple of years ago and recaptured most of the already occupied local government areas within Borno State and sort of restored peace. And they moved people to IDPs and been trying to train them, feed them, cater for them and all that.
This has been a serious problem, a serious conundrum for not only the federal government but for the state government. Now, having these people relaunch to hijack the state once again is worrisome, is sad, because when you check the collateral damage that we endured or incurred just a couple of years ago while the fight was really fierce and then now knowing that these people are coming back and we have remained, our security structure has been, permit me for a lack of a better word to use this word, complicit, has now hijacked again most of the local governments. It’s really sad and it’s painful.
And this is something that is literally happening in almost every section of the country. In the Southeast, it’s not entirely safe, Anambara, Ebonyi and Imo State. These are places that you can’t really move around freely.
It has affected business activities in the region. It’s bad. Every Monday, we still don’t go to work.
People don’t go work, children don’t go to school. Banks don’t work.
What do you think is the solution to the insecurity in the Southeast?
 We all believe is the release of Nnamdi Kanu.This is another very huge problem within the Southeast, which is where I come from. Then if you go to the South-South, you just recently heard of the Northerners that were massacred in the Edo region. So,  I think this is, we need to really pay attention to some of these challenges.
The NSA needs to pay attention to these challenges. The president is not a military man. The president is not a security personnel.
But the president should be able to exert his authority by having these people go out there and do the job that they have been assigned to do. If you are not capable of doing it, then you can resign. You can resign because people are dying every day.
And it’s as if it’s an open secret. Nobody wants to talk about it. But this is happening.
And these are Nigerians. The primary responsibility of the government is to ensure that there is protection of lives and property. Government is actually a transactional engagement where the citizens are supposed to be loyal to the government, loyal to the constitution, loyal to the rules that have been enshrined in the constitution for people to go by, while government is supposed to provide infrastructure, provide security, provide basic amenities so that life can be made easy for our citizens.
Hon, looking at the aggravating state of insecurity in the country, don’t you think that it has gotten to a point where the country should seek external assistance?
 Well, the country has the capacity to tackle some of the security challenges. It’s just a strong political will. I can beat my chest because I am here.
Before I got here, I was a businessman. You see, in business, we don’t really care how we look. We don’t care how we are perceived.
We roll up our sleeves and we get to work. That’s what we do in business. If you don’t roll up your sleeves and try to reach optimal expectations, try to ensure that you’re sincere with the people that you’re doing business with, try to make sure that you under promise and over deliver.
Okay? You will not earn money. You will not make money because the competition is always fierce. In part of the punitive measure or consequences that come with not rolling off your sleeves is that you won’t make money.
And when you don’t make money, you won’t compete. When you don’t compete, you’re out of the market. You are irrelevant.
Now, in politics, people seem to be complacent. People have responsibilities to carry out and they just don’t carry it out. They are rather more concerned with making good speeches, sounding believable, and not actually getting the actual job done.
Not getting the actual job for which you have been elected or appointed done. Look at us here talking about Wike. Look at us here talking about the Minister for Interior.
We’re also here talking about the Minister for Works. These are people that are making the president look good. The Minister for Interior, the Minister for Works, the Minister for FCT.
These are the Minister for Health. These are the people making the ministries look good. We have a Minister for Education.
Our children are still sitting on the floor learning. I never experienced that in the 80s. We have an IG of police.
We have people in the military. We have people in the Navy. Yet, people are busy doing bunkering every day and stealing our oil.
Do we blame Tinubu for that? Are we supposed to blame Tinubu for the ineptitude of the people in the Navy not doing their job to make sure that there isn’t oil theft? Are we supposed to blame the president for the fact that our boys in the Sambisa Forest fighting are not receiving what they are supposed to receive as allowance? To be able to fight insurgency the way they ought to? Are we supposed to blame the president because their firepower is not as sophisticated as that of the Boko Haram? But we can blame the president for not coming out to inspire these people. For not visiting Borno to truly show that he’s committed to fight insurgency. We can blame the president for not visiting our hospitals but the national hospital.
Look at our national hospital in Abuja. There are hospitals in Uyo that are finer, more sophisticated, more effective than that one in, is it Maitama or Asokoro? Where it is. We can blame the president in some areas.
We can fault him in some areas but we can’t fault him in every area. However, this is only two years in the administration and it is only right that we give him some time. I think, I would say the government has performed averagely well.
But in terms of really strengthening our economy, a lot of work needs to be done. It still shocks me. I mean, this thing is not rocket science.
If we have power, constant electricity, manufacturing would just naturally pick up. In 2025, I don’t understand why we’re still talking about power. Can’t we, if we were to get foreigners to come and look, then let’s bring the Chinese.
They know what to do here and we’ll have electricity. 24-7. Okay? Why are we not doing these things? So, I think the APC government has a lot cut out for them.
I think it’s too early to begin to play politics. Naturally, if you’re doing well, channel the energy. That’s political energy.Channeling towards governance. Let us work for the people. The people will say, no, this man is working.
We want him to come back. We want him to keep performing. He’s already doing the work.
He’s on a path. If you go to Abia state now, nobody is arguing about electricity running for, people are saying it should do 24 years. Why? Because he’s working.
You don’t need to overstretch yourself politically if you’re performing. Part of the reasons why subconsciously you think you have to exert your authority politically is because you know somewhere, somehow, there is deficiency in delivery.
Hon there is  this worrisome trend in the nation’s political space at the moment and that is the drifting of the country towards a one-party state.
You can see what the opposition members are doing. They are flocking to the ruling party. Is it healthy for our democracy?
 Well, it’s a tricky situation. First of all, PDP is a party that I know very well.
PDP is a party that can be considered to be a formidable opposition party with structures everywhere in the country that should have been able to rival APC. But remember that APC was  formed out of PDP. So, most of them  have a preponderance of PDP members who eventually moved into APC.
Right now, APC is in power. PDP is not. But the problem is that APC is still PDP.
So, you have a lot of moles in the PDP, okay? These people are literally sabotaging the PDP because they are PDP and APC. You can see that Wike is also PDP and APC. We actually don’t know where he belongs to.
His state is a PDP state. He’s an FCT minister. He attends PDP governance forum engagements.
In fact, PDP stakeholders meetings he attends. He also attends APC, maybe quietly, but he also attends. So, it’s a confusing situation for the opposition.
And they’ve not been able, like I said, people don’t want to do the work. People just want to come out looking as if they are doing the work. So, I’ve ruled out PDP from the number of parties that is considered to be opposition.
My party is a party that tends to, that’s the All Progressive Grand Alliance, (APGA). It’s a party that tends to always identify with the center. Okay, that’s the APGA.
When Obi was there, Obi was the governor of Anambra State, but he was identifying with Goodluck Jonathan. He was working with Goodluck Jonathan. When Obiano was  there, Obiano was the governor of Anambra, but he was working with General Muhammadu Buhari.
Today, our governor has said, that’s, sorry, our only APGA governor, Solu Solutions, Charles chukwuma Soludo has reiterated on the fact that all progressives need to come together, embrace the concept of progressivism. He made it absolutely clear that the APGA is more or less, you know, a subsection of the APC. So that is it.
However, that position of the governor of Anambra State is also his own personal opinion or position. Some of us, we have a few things that we believe that the president needs to, you know, do for us. He needs to listen to us.
Like, you know, the release of Nnamdi Kano will really help, especially to bring peace in the Southeast. A lot of people have died. A lot of people have died.
When Nnamdi Kanu  was free, people were not being killed the way they are being killed in the Southeast. Just that alone should at least compel the president to release this man. Do you understand where I’m coming from? Because our parents are dying.Our brothers are dying. Our sisters are dying. They are being killed every day because there are people that now engage in illegality, violence, terrorism, and all what not, in the guise of this IPOB business.
So, we want the president to listen to our cry and help us to release this man. In terms of infrastructure, I still say that the president has done well. He seems to understand that without infrastructure, this country cannot move forward.
So, I like to be as objective as possible. The president inherited a country that wasn’t working. To some degree, things have gotten worse.
Things have gotten better. In terms of infrastructure, we’re doing better. In terms of cost of items in the market, we haven’t done so well.
And it doesn’t seem as if there’s an end in sight to be able to economically and technically tackle some of these problems that will eventually warrant a Nigerian walking into the market and being able to cook a pot of soup with five or ten thousand like it used to be in those days. Corruption appears to be one of the greatest challenges of this era. I did speak of Labour.
Labour Party is another very formidable opposition party that the entire Nigerian citizenry would have really loved to embrace. However, the internal problem of Labour has caused Labour to lose about 80% of its legislators here in the National Assembly. They’ve lost a few of their senators here in the National Assembly.
It has demoralized most of the members and Nigerians that are considered to be obedient followers. So, I don’t know if this has been orchestrated by anyone, but all I can tell you is that that problem is something that needs to be resolved if we will have opposition. For democracy to truly work, there has to be opposition.
Opposition is not a bad thing. Opposition tends to remind the ruling party of areas they are not doing well. For instance, I’m here telling you the President has done well here, the President hasn’t done well here.
I want the president to succeed. I admire the man. I think he’s highly educated.
Forget about the stories that they are telling you about the Chicago Certificate or whatnot. I think he’s a very intelligent man. I think we need to study how he does his own politics because the man is truly a politician.
I want him to succeed. I’ve admired him for years, for decades. I want him to succeed, but the areas where he’s not doing well, I’m not a psychophant.
We’ve talked about psychophancy here. The areas where he’s not doing well, we have to tell him, Daddy, you’re not doing well here. If this is my own channel of having that information conveyed to him, then I should do it.
But I admire his courage. I admire his pertinacity. I admire his audacity.
I believe he has grit. Very audacious. And I respect him.
I respect him highly, immensely. But I also know that he’s just one man. Competence is what helps people to succeed.
You can be a winner, but if you have a bunch of losers around you, the tendency of you not reaching full potential remains there. But if you have a bunch of winners around you, then you’ll be able to succeed. And that is where meritocracy comes in.
Meritocracy is a very huge problem in our country, where people are giving political positions based on preponderant considerations rather than meritocracy. Okay? You bring the best surgeon and put him in a court room and tell him to defend a criminal. The criminal will go to jail, probably be hanged.
You bring the best doctor, the best lawyer, and put him in the theater and tell him to perform surgery on a patient. Definitely that person will die. But if you take the doctor and put him in the theater and take the lawyer and put him in the court room, they will perform well.
That is why we’re saying, if you have a particular responsibility that should be appropriated to somebody who has the knowledge, who has the experience, who has the stamina to do the job, give him the job regardless of where he’s from. He can be an Anambra man, he can be a Niger Delta man, he can be a TV man. Give him the job.
Let us not say, oh, I’m going to use people from a particular region and surround all the juicy positions so that other people will not have access or not know what we’re doing or I can’t trust other people. All you need to do is just show leadership. If you show leadership, even your enemy will be happy to work with you knowing that this man is going somewhere.
There’s a direction. It’s contagious. People like good things.
Naturally, human beings like good things. When you walk into a place that is clean, you respect yourself. You walk into a place that is unkempt, you throw your own fishes.
Our economy has been on downward trend over the years. What do you think should be done to resuscitate it?
 Let me tell you what I think should be done to resuscitate the economy. No matter how you look at it, it’s simple rocket science.
And I don’t know why nobody’s seen it. My brother, we have about 200 and something million people as it has been popularly announced, but I think we are more than 200 and something people. I think we’re about 300 and something million people.
And the things we consume here, literally 70% of what we consume here is imported. There’s pressure on the dollar. There’s pressure on the dollar because the man in Aba wants to buy dollars and import goods from China.
The man in Onitsha, the man in Kano, the man in Borno, the man in Lagos. Everybody’s buying dollar to bring in goods into this country because almost everything we consume here is imported. But imagine if everything that we are consuming here, at least 70, 80% are produced here.
Not only that it will be produced cheap because we have cheap labor here. Not only that we have the energy, we have the capacity to do it because we have a preponderance of young people living in this country. The young demographic is actually huge in number.
So you have the energy, you have the intellect, you have the capacity, but what you don’t have is electricity. If you solve the problem of electricity, there’ll be small, small factories in every backyard. One person creating this, one person creating that.
Go to Aba and see what these people are building. You think you’re in Italy. Onitsha the same thing, Kano.
How are we encouraging manufacturers? Why can’t we produce electricity here? Then importation will drop drastically. Exportation will shoot up drastically. Monies will start coming in and monies will stop going out.
Simple mathematics. But the reason why dollar is so high is because there is pressure on the dollar. You know the rules of economics.
The more the demand, the higher the supply.
So, by the time we are able to establish consistent 24 hours, uninterrupted electricity, then subsidise it; that’s where you need subsidy. We don’t need to subsidise fuel and people will start going for electricals. There is electricity everywhere, then businesses will start moving and there will be employment because when you come out from school, there is factory everywhere. And remember all these things have different facets. You have the production department; you have the sales department, you have the marketing department, you have the people that consume, you have the transportation and all kinds of different segments that come into play, and everybody will have access to money, and you won’t have this problem of when you wake up in the morning you see more than a hundred text messages everyday from both people from your village and primary school calling you to give them money. They will go to work; they won’t need to bother you and people will live longer. Why are we not seeing it? What is the problem? This is our problem.
So, forget about coming to tell people to vote for you. Just do the work. Show people that you are even interested in doing the work. If I were the President of Nigeria, don’t get me wrong, the President is a brilliant guy, I know that it’s not easy; why are the ministers of health not interested in visiting our various hospitals to see how well we are doing? Why is the education man not visiting our schools to ascertain the way things are? I remember when I was younger during the military days, Ike Nwachukwu would come to our school and shake our hands. It used to inspire us. I saw Babangida in 1986, and I said I would want to be like this man, and I kept that picture, that imagery of him in my head. He was a young clean Head of State. I kept it in my head. Eventually, my father’s younger brother, Lieutenant Commander Amadi Ikwechegh, became the Governor of our State, old Imo State. I kept it in my head and said I wiuld be like this man, and today am hear. How are we inspiring the young ones. We have forgotten what leadership is all about.
Leadership is actionable; it’s not just sitting on the table. You take actionable steps; you move around to see what is happening. I remember in those days, most of our Presidents, governors, military administrators, including my father’s younger brother, will show up to our schools 7 O’clock, 8 O’clock in the morning unannounced. They will find out the headmasters and headmistresses that are coming to school early and keeping the schools clean. They take all the appropriate steps to make sure that everybody sits up, as punitive measures are immediately dishes out. Are we doing it today? So, let us go back to the drawing board. The advisers of Mr President should advise him correctly and leave paycophancy.
I like Wike a whole lot because he is a high performer. What we need are high performing politicians, people that understand what the job is all about. The time is to six O’clock and am still here preparing bills and motions that we will push out there, for Nigerians to know that we are ready to work for them. It’s not about driving nice vehicles, blowing siren and wearing white and white. We have to make sacrifices. That is why we are here.

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Shouts of Joy Rock the World As Postor Chris Opens Final Healing Streams Edition for 2026

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By Our Correspondent

Hundreds of millions participate in the global healing crusade as Pastor Chris ministers to the sick in Healing Lines and prays for a worldwide audience; Day One features remarkable testimonies of healing, restoration and renewed hope.

Shouts of joy, thanksgiving and praise to God reverberated across nations on Friday, October 23, 2026, as the 18th edition of the Healing Streams Live Healing Services with Pastor Chris opened with remarkable accounts of healing, restoration and renewed hope.

The three-day global programme, the final edition of the year, brought together hundreds of millions of participants from practically all countries and communities under Heaven for a time of worship, the teaching of God’s Word, testimonies and healing ministrations led by the President of LoveWorld, Reverend Chris Oyakhilome, DSc, DSc, DD.

From those brought before Pastor Chris in the Healing Lines to participants connecting remotely from across the world, Day One was marked by celebrations from people who reported experiencing healing from various ailments. Many were seen rising from wheelchairs, abandoning crutches and other mobility aids, and rejoicing over what they described as remarkable changes in their physical conditions.

The service unfolded in an atmosphere of faith, expectation and thanksgiving, with the healing ministration extending beyond those physically present at the venue to participants whose images were projected on giant screens from different nations.

As the final Healing Streams edition of 2026 commenced, the day’s central message emerged clearly through the teaching, testimonies and ministrations: faith in God’s Word and the importance of believing and acting on it.

“HAVE FAITH, YOUR CHANGE HAS COME!”

Setting the tone for the opening day, Pastor Deola Phillips, Executive Minister of the Healing School and convener of the event, welcomed participants to the October edition with a stirring declaration: “Have Faith, Your Change Has Come!”

Addressing the global congregation, she emphasised the significance of the occasion and encouraged participants to approach the service with faith and expectation.

“This is your moment of change. Do you want to be well? God’s Word is a stream of grace, and streams of healing are coming to you through the songs, testimonies, and exhortations. Receive the Word in your spirit, refuse to be distracted, and believe that today is your day. You will rise. You will walk. You will live. And by the time we’re done, you’ll be singing your testimony of praise.”

Her charge established the atmosphere for the programme, encouraging participants to remain attentive to the Word and expectant of the changes they desired.

The Loveworld Singers subsequently led the congregation in an uplifting session of worship, after which senior ministers of the Healing School took turns leading prayers and sharing testimonies from previous editions.

Rev. Tom Amenkhienan urged participants to recognise the spiritual significance of the gathering and prepare themselves to receive.

“Heaven is focused on you. You are in the place where the healing power of God is flowing, and lives are being transformed. Get ready for an extraordinary time in the presence of the Lord.”

He also highlighted the special significance of the October edition, which coincides with the Month of Mercies, drawing attention to the abundance of God’s tender mercies throughout the three-day programme.

Similarly, Pastor John De Beer underscored the personal nature of the event, encouraging participants to approach the service with expectation.

“Everything that is being done in this program is centered around you. It has been made and specifically tailored for you. You must be expectant. Prepare your spirit to receive.”

Rev. Ray expressed appreciation to Pastor Chris for the global impact of the Healing Streams initiative, emphasising that distance was no barrier to participating in the service.

“This is Healing Streams with the Man of God, Pastor Chris, and you are right in the presence of a miracle. Wherever you are participating, the power of God is right where you are.”

Reflecting on testimonies from the July edition, he recalled the account of Joseph, a 10-year-old boy in Peru who reportedly received healing from an inability to speak, and Osan in Costa Rica, who reportedly regained his ability to walk after six months.

Drawing attention to the expectations surrounding the October gathering, he declared, “If it was great then, you can imagine what it will be now, because the glory of the latter house shall be greater.”

“YOU ARE RIGHT NOW IN THE PRESENCE OF DESTINY”

The atmosphere of expectation intensified as Pastor Chris took the stage to deliver a message centred on faith, the power of God’s Word and the importance of making a conscious decision to believe.

Welcoming participants to the service, he described the gathering as a divinely appointed moment in their lives.

“I want to welcome you specially to this very predestinated service. You are right now in the presence of destiny,” he declared.

“Before you were born God planned this very hour for you. It’s a special moment in your life. And you’re going to have to do what you choose with it. Make up your mind you’re going to do the right thing with it.”

The declaration established the foundation for his teaching, which focused on the capacity of human beings to believe and act on their convictions.

Explaining the uniqueness of this capacity, Pastor Chris said:

“There is something that God made possible for human beings. Animals don’t have it. Angels don’t have it. Of course Demons don’t have it. It was only given to human beings; and you have to do something with it.”

He further emphasised the importance of exercising faith, declaring:

“Your Faith in God is important. Only Humans are given the capacity to act on their faith, to believe and act accordingly.”

Addressing the belief that some people are incapable of exercising faith, he challenged participants to recognise that believing or refusing to believe is a personal choice.

“Some people say, ‘I can’t believe.’ But every human can. You choose to believe or not believe. It’s always a choice,” he declared.

Illustrating the simplicity of believing, he pointed to how children trust the words and promises of their parents and act accordingly.

“Believing is very simple. Even children learn to believe while they are very young. If Mummy or Daddy makes a promise to a child, they believe and act on the word that Mummy or Daddy spoke. They don’t need a seminar on believing,” he said.

He also explained that faith is already woven into everyday human experience, with people routinely trusting institutions, professionals and systems.

“You have faith in the school; that’s why you attended it. You have faith in your neighbour; that’s why you chose to live next to him,” he explained.

Challenging participants to apply the same principle to their relationship with God, he added:

“But when it comes to the things of God, you say, ‘I don’t know.’ Well, that was your choice.”

In a related emphasis, he reiterated:

“Only humans are given the capacity to act on their faith, to believe and act accordingly. That’s so important. You have the capacity to believe and act on it. It’s always a choice, to believe and not to believe. Believing is very simple; even children dare to believe.”

He further declared, “All the structures of human societies are built on faith. Your faith is working all the time.”

Through these illustrations, Pastor Chris encouraged participants to recognise faith as a practical principle and to approach God’s Word with confidence rather than uncertainty.

“THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST IS THE POWER OF GOD TO SAVE”

Drawing from Romans 1:16, Pastor Chris emphasised the importance of believing the Gospel as the basis for receiving the salvation offered through Jesus Christ.

“The gospel of Christ is the power of God to save. If you don’t believe it, it cannot save you. You have to believe it to be saved,” he declared.

He explained that, according to the Christian faith, God had accomplished His work through Jesus Christ, while the individual’s responsibility was to believe and receive what Christ had done.

“God has already done His part in Jesus Christ. Your part is to believe in what He did,” he said.

The teaching formed an important part of the spiritual foundation of the service, with Pastor Chris encouraging participants to recognise the significance of faith in receiving God’s promises.

He also drew from Mark 9:22–23, highlighting the biblical declaration that all things are possible to the one who believes.

“FEAR NOT! BELIEVE ONLY AND SHE SHALL BE MADE WHOLE”

A major highlight of the message was Pastor Chris’s reference to the account of Jairus and his daughter in Luke 8:41–56.

Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, had approached Jesus for help because his daughter was dying. While Jesus was on His way to the man’s house, news arrived that the girl had died.

Pastor Chris drew attention to Jesus’ response to the devastating news, emphasising the instruction to reject fear and continue believing.

“Sometimes when you are believing God for something, the condition can get worse. But Jesus said, ‘FEAR NOT! BELIEVE ONLY AND SHE SHALL BE MADE WHOLE,’” he declared.

He explained that Jesus did not allow the report of the girl’s death to override His response to Jairus’ original request.

The account, he noted, illustrates the importance of maintaining faith even when circumstances appear to contradict what a person is trusting God to do.

“Don’t struggle. Only believe,” he urged.

He also referred to Mark 9, which recounts the healing of a boy tormented by a demon, drawing attention to the father’s appeal to Jesus for compassion.

Through these biblical accounts, Pastor Chris encouraged participants to remain steadfast in their faith, even when confronted with discouraging circumstances.

“BELIEVE THE WORD, NOT THE SYMPTOMS”

Expanding on the relationship between faith, God’s Word and healing, Pastor Chris drew from several passages of Scripture, including Proverbs 4:20–22, John 6:54–63, John 1:14 and Leviticus 17:11–14.

He explained that Jesus’ words concerning His flesh and blood should be understood in the context of the spiritual life communicated through God’s Word.

Referring to John 6:63, he highlighted Jesus’ declaration that it is the Spirit who gives life. He connected this to John 1:14, which declares that the Word became flesh and dwelt among humanity, explaining that Jesus was the Word of God manifested in human form.

“It was not about eating His body. It was about receiving His Word. If you received His Word, you received Him. You got everything,” he said.

He further explained that God’s Word communicates life to those who receive it, drawing attention to Proverbs 4:20–22, which describes God’s words as life to those who find them and health to their flesh.

“Through the Word of God, we can all receive the life that He gives. Wherever you are in the world, when you receive His Word, you receive His life,” he declared.

Reaffirming the authority of Scripture, he also referenced John 14:6, in which Jesus declares, “I am the way, the truth and the life.”

He then emphasised the reliability of God’s Word, urging participants to give precedence to it over contrary physical symptoms and circumstances.

“The Word of God is truth. It is reality.

“It doesn’t matter what the symptoms are telling you. Believe the Word, not the symptoms.”

In the same vein, he referenced John 17:17, which declares, “Thy word is truth,” explaining that God’s Word is reality and that God is faithful to His promises.

His message was a call to participants to place their confidence in what Scripture declares rather than allowing adverse circumstances to determine their expectations.

“HE IS TRULY HERE”

Pastor Chris also reminded participants of Jesus’ promise concerning His presence among those gathered in His name, encouraging the global audience to recognise that physical distance does not limit their participation in the service.

“Jesus said when we are together in His name He is right there with us. Can you believe it? Only believe,” he said.

He urged participants to accept the words of Jesus as absolute truth, emphasising that His promises were entirely reliable.

“Believe that what He said is absolute truth. He never exaggerated. He never lied to anyone. Anything he ever said was absolute truth. So He is truly here,” he declared.

The message reinforced the atmosphere of faith and expectation as participants continued to connect to the service from different nations, joining in prayer and celebrating the experiences they attributed to God’s power.

During the teaching, Pastor Chris also referred to a testimony from a participant who said doctors had told him he would never walk again but who subsequently regained the ability to walk and run.

The account served as an illustration of the healing experiences being celebrated during the programme and reinforced the minister’s message about maintaining faith in the face of difficult circumstances.

SHOUTS OF JOY AS PASTOR CHRIS MINISTERS TO THE SICK

Following the teaching, the service moved into one of its most anticipated moments as Pastor Chris began ministering to individuals in the Healing Lines in the Name of Jesus Christ.

The scenes evoked the healing encounters recorded in the Gospels, as the minister prayed for those who had come seeking healing and restoration.

Participants subsequently reported remarkable changes in their physical conditions, with celebrations erupting as people rose from stretchers, abandoned wheelchairs and crutches, and expressed joy over their experiences.

The atmosphere was filled with thanksgiving and praise to God as testimonies of relief from pain, renewed strength and restored mobility emerged.

The Healing Lines formed a significant part of the opening day’s proceedings, bringing individuals seeking healing before Pastor Chris for prayer.

But the ministration did not end with those physically present before him.

FROM THE HEALING LINES TO THE NATIONS

In a remarkable extension of the healing ministration, Pastor Chris turned his attention to the worldwide audience, praying for participants connecting to the service from nations across the globe.

Images of participants joining remotely were projected on giant screens as the minister prayed, bringing the global congregation into focus during the service.

The audience included people participating from churches, healing centres and crusade grounds, as well as individuals following the broadcast from their homes and other locations.

As Pastor Chris ministered in prayer, celebrations reportedly erupted across participating locations, with people rejoicing over healings they attributed to the power of God.

From those brought before him in the Healing Lines to the worldwide audience projected on the giant screens, the ministration underscored the international reach of the Healing Streams Live Healing Services.

For those unable to attend physically, the live broadcast provided an opportunity to participate remotely in the prayer and healing service.

The global nature of the programme was evident throughout the proceedings, as people from different countries united in worship, prayer and thanksgiving.

TESTIMONIES THAT SPEAK: STORIES OF HEALING AND RESTORATION

The testimony segment, anchored by Evangelist Eddy Owase, renowned host of Real Miracles Today and Senior Minister of the Healing School, provided another major highlight of the service.

Participants from previous editions took the stage to recount experiences of healing and restoration, sharing accounts of recovery from debilitating conditions and describing changes that had affected their daily lives.

Their testimonies, accompanied by accounts of visible transformations, encouraged participants around the world and reinforced the atmosphere of faith and expectation as the October edition continued.

The opening day also featured a series of reported healing experiences from participants in different countries, illustrating the international reach of the service.

Senegal: Travail Reports Passing of Kidney Stones

In Senegal, Travail recounted a dramatic experience involving two kidney stones discovered the previous Thursday.

According to his testimony, doctors had recommended surgery because one stone, measuring almost 7mm, was considered too large to pass through the ureter. The second stone measured 5mm and remained in the kidney.

Travail said he had endured excruciating pain for nine days and had been taking medication daily. While watching the programme, he heard the testimony of a man who had reportedly been freed from kidney stones.

Minutes later, he felt the urge to urinate and subsequently reported that both stones had passed from his body.

Expressing his joy over the experience, he declared, “I’m free, Glory to God.”

Solomon Islands: Nine-Year-Old Patrick Finds Relief

In the Solomon Islands, nine-year-old Patrick, the son of a Healing Streams translator for the Temotu language in Temotu Province, had reportedly endured severe fever and distress for more than a month.

During the testimony segment of the programme, Patrick reportedly experienced relief and, for the first time in four weeks, was able to fall asleep and rest.

The experience brought encouragement to his family as they participated in the global service.

Kenya: Veronica Reports Restored Strength and Mobility

Veronica from Kenya testified to a dramatic turnaround after two years of severe leg weakness that had left her barely able to walk and eventually forced her to stop working.

The condition had also affected her back, causing her to walk in a bent position.

As Pastor Chris ministered on Day One, Veronica reported an immediate return of strength to her legs, prompting her to spring up from her seat.

She also testified that her back had been healed and that she could bend freely again.

Her account was among the reports of restored mobility that contributed to the atmosphere of celebration during the service.

India: Laveen Reports Relief from Bodily Heaviness and Pain

Watching from Bangalore, India, Laveen described experiencing bodily heaviness extending from the back of the head, alongside severe soreness throughout the body, before the programme.

While watching Healing Streams, Laveen reported experiencing peace and a sensation of healing extending from the top of the head to the soles of the feet.

The experience was shared as part of the testimonies emerging from participants connecting to the service remotely.

Kenya: Doreen Reports Improved Eyesight and Emotional Relief

Doreen, also from Kenya, shared a testimony of transformation after two years of eye problems and depression that had affected her performance at work and at home.

She disclosed that the condition had sometimes been accompanied by thoughts of ending her life.

During the programme, Doreen reported that Pastor Chris’s teaching gave her a more hopeful perspective on life. She said the feelings associated with her depression lifted, her body felt lighter and her heart was filled with joy.

She also testified that her eyesight had been restored.

Her account was among the day’s deeply personal testimonies, highlighting the emotional as well as physical challenges participants described facing before the service.

Together with the other reports, these experiences added to the stream of testimonies shared during the opening day, as participants continued to recount what they described as healing, renewed strength and restoration.

“EVERY CONDITION WILL BE REVERSED TO PERFECTION”

As the service progressed, Pastor Chris continued to encourage participants to receive God’s Word with faith and confidence, reinforcing the central message of the day.

Drawing from Scripture and the testimonies shared during the programme, he emphasised the importance of trusting God’s promises and recognising the significance of the opportunity to participate in the service.

Concluding his message, he declared:

“Every condition will be reversed to perfection. You will be made whole.”

The declaration captured the spirit of the opening day, as participants across the world joined in prayer, worship and thanksgiving, with reported healings prompting celebrations at participating locations.

The service also provided an opportunity for people to respond to the Gospel. Moved by the demonstration of God’s love as presented during the programme, many reportedly gave their hearts to Christ, while others reaffirmed their commitment to His Lordship over their lives.

As accounts of healing and restoration continued to emerge, the opening day ended with a renewed emphasis on faith, the life-giving power of God’s Word and the importance of believing and acting on it.

THE FINAL HEALING STREAMS EDITION OF 2026 CONTINUES

The opening day of the 18th edition of the Healing Streams Live Healing Services with Pastor Chris brought together worship, biblical teaching, testimonies and healing ministrations in a global gathering that connected participants across national boundaries.

As the final edition of the year, the October 23–25 programme carries special significance for the worldwide Healing Streams community, bringing the year’s series of services to a close with a message centred on faith, healing and the power of God’s Word.

Day One was defined by two major developments: Pastor Chris’s teaching on the necessity of believing God’s Word and his subsequent ministration to the sick, first in the Healing Lines and then to participants across the world.

From the reported restoration of mobility and relief from pain to testimonies of renewed hope and emotional wellbeing, participants shared accounts of experiences they attributed to the power of God.

As the three-day programme continues, the message of the opening day remains central: faith requires a decision to believe, and God’s Word must be received with confidence.

With two more days of the final 2026 edition ahead, participants are looking forward to further services, testimonies and opportunities to join the global gathering in prayer, worship and thanksgiving.

The defining declaration of Day One remains unmistakable: “ONLY BELIEVE.”

YOUR MOMENT FOR A MIRACLE IS NOW—DON’T MISS IT!

The Healing Streams Live Healing Services with Pastor Chris continues through October 25, 2026, with further opportunities for participants around the world to connect to the programme.

Participants can join the live broadcast through [Healing Streams TV](https://www.healingstreams.tv?utm_source=chatgpt.com) or watch on the Loveworld Network in their preferred language. The service is also available through participating local television and radio stations and at designated healing centres.

CONTACT INFORMATION FOR ASSISTANCE

For further information about participation, contact the Healing Streams team:

Email: info@healingstreams.tv

South Africa: +27799675852

Nigeria: +234(1)8885066

USA: +18327249390

Canada: +12896221634

United Kingdom: +44(0)3331880710

Asia: +919650096633

India: +917794993762

As the final Healing Streams edition of 2026 continues, participants across the nations are invited to remain connected to the programme and its message of faith, hope and the power of God’s Word.

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FG, labour meeting over fuel price, minimum wage, tax relief, others, deadlock, as NLC orders affiliates to be on alert.

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NLC President, Comr.Joe Ajaero

By Our Correspondent

The meeting between the federal government and organised labour, convened at the ministry of labour in Abuja, over high price of petroleum products, minimum wage negotiation, implementation of tax relief and others, has ended in a deadlock.

Labour presented its demands in good faith; including a reduction in petrol prices to 2024 levels, renegotiation of the national minimum wage, implementation of the agreed tax relief, the JOHESU terms of settlement, and the JPSNC demands on peculiar allowance, wage award and hazard allowance.

in a statement signed by the Acting General Secretary of NLC, Benson Upah at the end of the meeting, the organised labour said, the government delegation came unprepared and without the necessary mandates to engage substantively on the issues.

The statement said: “No concrete commitments were secured, and the outstanding issues remain unresolved.

“The Honourable Minister requested for adjournment of the meeting to Tuesday, 27th October 2026, to allow the government to make adequate arrangements for a productive session including assembling all the relevant ministers and Heads of Departments and Agencies.

“NLC remains committed to dialogue, but we will not accept indefinite delay. We will report back to our organs, and if no meaningful progress is made on Tuesday, the relevant organs of the NLC will decide the next line of action.

“We call on Nigerian workers and the general public to remain calm and resolute. Organised Labour will be attending the next meeting believing that government will deliver on each of the workers’ demands.

“We assure all that we shall continue to pursue the interests of workers and the masses through every legitimate means available.

“However, we urge all affiliates of NLC; all state councils and our civil society allies to be at alert and start mobilizing for a possible action across the nation while we hope that the tenets of our demands are met by the government”.

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Benue Massacre: Death Toll Hits 113 ..As Senate demands FG’s Intervention

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IGP Olatunji Disu

By George Mgbeleke

The Senate has condemned the killing of 113 persons, including six mobile police officers, in a series of coordinated attacks on communities in Benue North-East Senatorial District, calling on the Federal Government to take immediate and decisive action to end the persistent violence.

The resolution followed an urgent motion moved on Thursday by Senator Emmanuel Udende, representing Benue North-East Senatorial District, under Orders 41 and 51 of the Senate Standing Rules, drawing the attention of the upper chamber to the renewed wave of killings in parts of Ukom, Katsina-Ala and Logo Local Government Areas of Benue State.

Presenting the motion, Udende lamented that the attacks, which occurred during the Senate recess, had claimed numerous lives, destroyed property worth millions of naira, displaced thousands of residents and disrupted farming activities across the affected communities.

According to the senator, 24 persons were killed in Sai community in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area, while 63 others lost their lives in attacks on Mbaom and Aboju villages in Ukom Local Government Area.

He further disclosed that 15 persons, including six mobile police officers who were on duty, were killed in Ayilammo, Logo Local Government Area. Additional killings were also reported on October 8, 2026, in Sebiliji and Seshishi Nyaku villages in Ukom Local Government Area.

“In total, 113 precious lives were lost, properties worth millions of naira destroyed, and thousands of families displaced from their ancestral homes,” Udende told the Senate.

He warned that the recurring attacks had inflicted severe hardship on residents, particularly farmers, whose livelihoods depend largely on agriculture.

The senator expressed concern that the persistent violence had not only resulted in the loss of lives and property but had also undermined economic activities and heightened insecurity in rural communities across the state.

Contributing to the debate, senators expressed concern over the scale of the killings, particularly the reported death of six mobile police officers during the attacks.

The lawmakers argued that the killing of security personnel underscored the urgency of strengthening security operations in the affected communities, warning that residents would remain vulnerable without a sustained and coordinated response from the relevant authorities.

They called for the deployment of additional security personnel, improved intelligence gathering and more effective operational strategies to prevent further attacks and protect lives and property.

Following deliberations, the Senate unanimously adopted the prayers of the motion, condemning the killings and acts of violence reported in the affected communities.

The resolution specifically covered Katsina-Ala Local Government Area; Bon and Abu Aja villages in Bansum Council Ward; Zebiliji and Zeshishi Yako villages in Mbatian Council Ward, all in Ukum Local Government Area; and Ayilammo in Tombo Ward of Logo Local Government Area.

The Senate called on the Federal Government to take immediate and decisive action to halt the recurring attacks in Ukum, Katsina-Ala, Logo and other vulnerable communities across Benue State.

It urged the government to ensure coordinated security operations, backed by adequate personnel, equipment and other operational resources, to prevent further bloodshed and restore confidence among residents.

As part of its resolutions, the Senate called on the Inspector-General of Police, the Chief of Army Staff and the heads of other security and intelligence agencies to strengthen security operations in the affected areas.

The security agencies were also urged to establish effective early warning and rapid response mechanisms, investigate the reported killings, apprehend those responsible and ensure sustained protection for vulnerable communities.

The lawmakers stressed the need for improved coordination among security agencies to enable them to respond promptly to threats and prevent attacks before they escalate.

In another resolution, the Senate mandated the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), in collaboration with the Benue State Emergency Management Agency and other relevant authorities, to provide immediate relief materials and humanitarian assistance to displaced persons and other victims of the attacks.

The intervention is expected to address the urgent needs of affected families who have been forced to flee their homes and may have lost access to food, shelter and other essential supplies.

The Senate also mandated its Committee on Legislative Compliance to follow up with the relevant security agencies to ensure the implementation of its resolutions, particularly the deployment of additional security personnel to the troubled communities.

The directive is intended to ensure that the Senate’s resolutions translate into concrete action to improve security and protect residents in the affected areas.

The Senate observed a minute of silence in honour of those killed in the attacks and expressed condolences to the bereaved families and affected communities.

The lawmakers also commiserated with the Nigeria Police Force over the loss of the six mobile police personnel reportedly killed while on duty in Ayilammo, Logo Local Government Area.

The renewed violence has heightened concerns over the safety of rural communities in Benue State, where recurring attacks have disrupted agricultural activities, displaced residents and threatened livelihoods.

Benue, widely recognised as one of Nigeria’s major food-producing states, has continued to face security challenges linked to communal violence, farmer-herder conflicts and attacks attributed to armed groups.

The latest killings have renewed calls for a sustained security response, effective intelligence gathering and stronger protection for vulnerable communities, as residents struggle to cope with the humanitarian and economic consequences of the violence.

The Senate’s resolutions place renewed emphasis on the responsibility of the Federal Government and security agencies to protect lives, bring perpetrators to justice and prevent further attacks in Benue State.

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