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Easter: RCCG opens ‘Jesus Market ‘ to combat hardship in Ekiti
As part of efforts to cushion the effect of economic hardship in the country, the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Youth Province 9 Headquarters (Palace of Praise) in Ekiti State has launched a ‘Jesus market’ initiative where prices of goods were crashed for church members.
The ‘Jesus Market’ was launched at the venue of the church in Ado-Ekiti on Easter Sunday as part of activities to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
At the market, church members were able to buy goods and food items for very subsidised prices; A rubber of garri worth N1,000 went for just N400, five tubers of yam worth N9,000 were sold for N3,000, A carton of spaghetti worth 12,800 was sold for N5,000, a litre of groundout oil worth N2,500 was sold for N700, a rubber of rice worth N2,500 was sold at N1,000.
Also, clothing items were sold at the market including; skirt worth N3,000 and sold at N500, Suit of N70,000 was sold at N1,000, kampala was sold at N1,000, T-shirt worth 7,000 was sold at N1,000, polo shirt was sold at N500 and shoe and gown worth N28,000 and N7,000 were sold at N1,000 respectively.
The pastor in charge of the church, Pastor Anthony Obinna-Ibe, said the gesture was aimed at encouraging the congregation not to despair with the current economic hardship.
He said that the gesture exemplifies practical Christianity through acts of kindness while hoping that the initiative would inspire others to do the same in their neighbourhood within their abilities.
Obinna-Ibe charged Christians to imbibe the sacrificial act of Jesus Christ on the cross of calvary by extending similar support to those in need around them.
He said: “We discovered that things are quite challenging. People don’t have enough money to feed and cloth themselves. We decided to do what we call Christian Social Responsibility to give back to the people.
“Just like in the bible, Jesus Christ did not just feed the people with the word of God, he also gave them bread and fish. We decided that, let’s help the people so that the hunger in the land will minimise and we could assist where we can, particularly this period.
“Why we decided to add a little price is that people can have a sense of responsibility. A separate account is being opened where people can donatel and pay a little money. It is something we will do continuously.
” I personally had to get some money, get some clothes that I have used and some that I have not even used. I gave it out so that people may have something to wear. It something that we will be doing constantly. Maybe, two or three times in a year.
“People out there in the society who are well to do should please remember the poor, remember those who may not have enough to eat because there are several people who are hungry. This is the time to also remember them because Easter is all about sacrifice.
“Jesus Christ sacrificed himself for mankind. Everybody should also do everything to show love. Those that have more than enough can also sacrifice some to the people. Whatever they can do to support the poor and less-privileged. It is not just preaching, we should also act and do our preaching.”
Similarly, the Assistant Pastor and Provincial Elder, Pastor Fola Richie-Adewusi expressed delight that the gesture will help to cushion effect of hardship in the country while calling on government for continued support to the masses.
She said: “The response from the people also showed that they appreciated that gesture. They saw it as something supportive for them to eat.
“We have heard about the government giving palliative through the state government or through the national assembly for them to take it to the grassroots so that they can support people at this period.
“Government I believe is doing something and I can only say they can do more and well-meaning individuals should reach out to people around them. We can be our brothers and sisters keeper.”
President Bola Tinubu has said that the 2025 budget forecasts that inflation will decline from current 34.6% to 15% next year.
He said this during his presentation of the N47.9 trillion 2025 budget proposal to a joint session of the National Assembly on Wednesday.
The President also said that the exchange rate will improve from approximately N1,700 per dollar to N1,500.
According to Tinubu, “this is an ambitious but necessary budget to secure our future.”
“The Budget projects inflation will decline from the current rate of 34.6 per cent to 15 per cent next year, while the exchange rate will improve from approximately 1,700 naira per US dollar to 1,500 naira, and a base crude oil production assumption of 2.06 million barrels per day,”Tinubu said.
He said the budget projections are based upon observations such as reduction of petroleum products importation, increased export of finished petroleum products, bumper harvest driven by enhanced security, reducing reliance on food imports, among others.
Tinubu listed highlights of the budget to include defence and security – N4.91tn, infrastructure – N4.06tn, health – N2.4tn, education – N3.5tn, among others.
Nigerians are grappling with economic hardship following incessant increase in inflation and volatile exchange rate that has seen dollar exchange as high as N1,700 in recent days.
On Monday, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said Nigeria’s headline inflation rate rose to 34.60% in November 2024 from 33.88% in October 2024.
The November inflation rate showed an increase of 0.72% points compared to the October 2024 inflation rate, according to NBS’s latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) report which measures the rate of change in prices of goods and services.
“On a year-on-year basis, the Headline inflation rate was 6.40% points higher than the rate recorded in November 2023 (28.20%). This shows that the Headline inflation rate (year-on-year basis) increased in November 2024 compared to the same month in the preceding year (i.e., November 2023),” the Bureau said.
Significantly, food inflation rate in November 2024 was 39.93% on a year-on-year basis, 7.08% points higher than the rate recorded in November 2023 (32.84%).
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Oguduokwor Ward in Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi State has formally announced the expulsion of the suspended National Vice Chairman (NVC) of the party in the Southeast, Mr. Ali Odefa from the party.
Ali Odefa was suspended from the party on September 11, 2024 by the Ward Executives of the party for his engagement in various anti party activities. The Federal High Court sitting in Abakaliki while ruling on suit NO: FHC/AI/CS/182/2024 further affirmed the suspension on November 29, 2024.
Announcing the expulsion of Mr. Odefa at a well- attended press conference on Wednesday, the Acting Chairman of the PDP Oguduokwor, Hon. Onyedikachi Herbert Ovuta flanked by other Ward Executives stated that the expulsion of the erstwhile NVC follows the recommendation of the Party’s disciplinary committee that affirmed the allegations of anti-party activities leveled.
According to the party chairman, “The expulsion of Chief Ali Odefa follows the report, findings and recommendations of the Ward Disciplinary Committee of the party which is in line with the provisions of the party constitution.”
The party announced that Mr. Ali Odefa by the virtue of his suspension, therefore “ceases to be a member of the party.”
The party’s statement reads in part:
“The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Oguduokowor Ward, Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi State hereby announce the expulsion of Chief Ali Odefa, the suspended National Vice Chairman of the PDP, South East Zone from the party which takes immediate effect.
“The expulsion of Chief Ali Odefa follows the report, findings and recommendations of the Ward Disciplinary Committee of the party which is in line with the provisions of the party constitution.
“Recall that Chief Ali Odefa was suspended from the party by the Ward leadership on 11th September 2024.
“Consequent upon the judgement of the Federal High Court Abakaliki in suit number FHC/AI/CS/182/2024 which affirmed the suspension of Chief Ali Odefa, the Disciplinary Committee of PDP Oguduokwor Ward after their sittings on the above subject matter unanimously recommended that Chief Ali Odefa the Suspended PDP National Vice Chairman South East Zone be expelled from the party.
“The Executive Committee of PDP Oguduokwor Ward on 11th December 2024 after receiving the report, findings and recommendations of the Disciplinary Committee of PDP Oguduokwor Ward unanimously approved the expulsion of Chief Ali Odefa from the party which is compliance to section 58(1) and section 59(1) of the PDP constitution.
“Henceforth Chief Ali Odefa, seizes to be a member of our party the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)
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