Tuesday, May 01, 2007
(Weekly Column) According to international election monitors, the April 21 vote in favor of Nigerian President Umaru Yar'Adua was rigged, threatening the very freedom and stability of this oil-rich, but corrupt nation. Braving threats of a brutal governmental crackdown, thousands of courageous Nigerians
took to the streets on May Day to protest the political charade that passes for political liberty.
Clearly, these demonstrators could benefit if they stood side-by-side with a moral leader who demanded an end to corruption and called for new elections. Such a man would be regarded as a true national hero who could lead Nigeria from a kleptocracy to genuine democracy.
Anglican Archbishop Peter J Akinola is perfectly situated to step in and fill this role. Not only is he a local powerbroker, he is also the leader of the largest province in the worldwide Anglican Church. This offers Akinola a unique international platform to draw attention to the electoral sabotage that is ripping apart the very soul of Nigeria.
But, instead of staying in Nigeria this week to bring his convulsing country together,
he is flying to the comfy confines of Virginia
to tear the Anglican Church apart. While his country is on the verge of a Constitutional conflagration, the Nigerian archbishop is burning with rage because in 2003 the Episcopal Church installed openly gay V. Gene Robinson as Bishop of New Hampshire.
While the political elites in Abuja will use guns to maintain dominion over voters, Akinola will be lording over a ceremony in Old Dominion to install church rector Martyn Minns as the bishop of the Convocation of Anglicans in North America, a subsidiary of the Nigerian church. Basically, conservatives who think the Episcopal Church is too liberal, are refusing to submit to its authority, and instead have opted to align themselves with Akinola.
What I find outlandish is that Akinola and his Anglican apostates get all bent out of shape about a gay bishop in sleepy New Hampshire, but fall asleep at the wheel over real problems faced by Nigeria, and Africa as a whole.
Is Robisnon's sexual orientation more important than the heartbreaking fact that two million Africans die from AIDS-related illnesses each year,
according to Nuhu Ribadu, the Chairman of Nigeria's Economic and Financial Crimes Commission?
Does a New England homosexual take precedence over the nearly 3,000 African children who die each day from malaria? Is the gay issue a bigger moral concern than the 40 million African children who are not currently in school?
Or, what about the fact that Nigeria has profited to the lavish tune of a half trillion dollars from oil revenues in less than fifty years - and yet, seventy percent of Nigerians live in abject poverty with exiguous incomes of less than one dollar a day? (Presumably, these peasants are not the ones sitting in the pews of Akinola's lavish church).
Akinola would have you believe that he must come to America to save us from our decadence. Yet, according to the
Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS, Nigeria is awash in premarital sex and has STD rates that would make a red light district hooker blush.
In Nigeria, there are 2.9 million people with HIV/AIDS, including 930,000 AIDS orphans. In the past twelve months, 78-percent of men and 29-percent of women, 15-24, have had sex with a casual partner. A 1990 Demographic and Health survey reported that 38-percent of women in Southwest Nigeria were in polygamous marriages.
I bring this up not to point a finger at Nigeria, but to try to comprehend why Akinola is flying to America, when sexual practices condemned by his church are flying off the charts in his home country. It seems that the good Archbishop is a moral coward who basks in the media spotlight abroad, while refusing to spotlight the devastating problems that plague his own country.
Indeed, when confronted with these life and death issues, all Akinola seems to want to prattle on about is his homosexual hang-up.
"To opine that, unknown to humans, God had hitherto created some people to be homosexuals and lesbians (i.e., sexual orientations) is tantamount to creating God in our own image and introducing a cancerous element into the fabric of the African understanding of marriage and family," Akinola
once said.
"Homosexuality and lesbianism, like divorce, breed a society of single parents which gives rise to a generation of bastards," the Archbishop has also said.
If Akinola were a real leader, he would be at home fighting disease and tyranny, while leading the opposition against an illegal election. Instead of demonstrating such cojones, Akinola is leaving his countryman to fight this battle, while he jets to America to obsess about Bishop Robinson's cojones.
Could Akinola have his priorities any more backwards?
Finally, if these renegade American church leaders want to submit to Akinol's "leadership," then they owe it to Nigeria's beleaguered citizens to take an active role in their society. To simply become Nigerian in name only - while ignoring the country's daunting problems - is to be profoundly disrespectful and behave like, well, Peter J Akinola.
47 Comments:
NIGERIA LATEST NEWS on
HTTP://WWW.NIGER1.COM/nigeria.html
posted by , at
5/01/2007 7:15 PM
An excellent analysis. I will be posting a link to your article on my blog.
posted by BreadandWine, at
5/02/2007 10:23 AM
Just another "christian" without Christ---their name is legion!
posted by , at
5/02/2007 2:29 PM
I've posted a link to this article in my blog. As an Episcopalian, Akinola makes me bristle. He's worried about us and the Episcopal church, but perhaps his real aim is to get some American dollars pouring more directly into the arch-diocese of Nigeria. While Nigeria's Anglican church may recieve assistance from the Anglican Communion, which includes the American Episcopal Church, getting ex-Episcopal churches in the US may be the most brilliant revenue scheme cracked up by a religious leader.
posted by shinichi evans, at
5/02/2007 6:38 PM
It's always easier to bash gay people than to roll up your sleeves and do some REAL work to help the needy as Jesus commanded.
posted by , at
5/03/2007 9:18 AM
Actually this is a good thing in a weird sense, because this bishop is doing exactly what caused the American Taliban to lose the culture war here ... he overreaches with laughably foolish statements about gays and lesbians, setting himself up for the big fall.
It seems that "step two" occurs when a society starts to become acquainted with its gay members, sparking a realization that homophobia is a tool of the ridiculous and insane. It is no surprise that such bigotry comes from a bishop (of any faith). Religion has been a complete loser when it comes to the civil/human rights of any group.
posted by , at
5/03/2007 3:22 PM
Religion has been a complete loser when it comes to the civil/human rights of any group.
The Black churches were a force for good during the drive for civil rights; but sadly they too have dropped the ball big time when it comes to equality for glbt people. And the churches in Africa (even the gay friendly Episcopal church) are particularly rabid.
posted by , at
5/03/2007 4:35 PM
If you want to know what His Grace, Archbishop Akinola and his province are doing about AIDS, why not go to the Church of Nigeria website and see. Your piece was a bit bombastic, considering the facts. I think you should do a little research befoire you go on your hateful tirades against Peter Akinola. Trust me, none of the problems you mention in your article will be affected in any way by his visit to America for a few days.
ANGLICAN CHURCH, NSCIA, CEDPA, COLLABORATE ON HIV/AIDS
CONN/260307
Peter Onwubuariri, Abuja
Abuja, March 22, 2007- The Anglican Church and the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) are to collaborate with the Centre for Development and Population Activities (CEDPA) in the drive to improve the quality of life of people living with HIV/AIDS.
Under the project tagged `Positive Living for Persons Living with HIV/AIDS’, CEDPA would provide facility for the faith groups to support HIV/AIDS activities among families and communities in the country.
The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) and NSCIA are among leading faith based groups in the country that have initiated a holistic and practical approach toward combating HIV/AIDS.
The public launch of the Project took place in Abuja on Wednesday, March 21. It was flagged off with a solidarity walk around the metropolis.
At the launch, Bishop of Kubwa (Anglican Communion), the Rt. Rev Simon Bala pledged the commitment of the Church to ensure care and support for persons living with HIV.
With a large geographical spread of 122 dioceses around the country, Bishop Bala said the Church’s response to HIV focused on community and parish based services.
''As a church, we believe that God has a solution to every problem of man including HIV/AIDS,'' said the Bishop, who was represented by Dr. T. T. Wakama.
National Coordinator of the Church on HIV/AIDS, Rev Sam Akale said the strategic plan and policy document of the Church of Nigeria on HIV was being followed and implemented to the fullest.
''We have reached a stage where Church Leaders at parish levels are providing more information and counseling about HIV/AIDS,'' he said and added that a national training workshop for 122 diocesan HIV/AIDS officers was scheduled to take place in June, 'to take stock and set targets.'
''The greatest achievement is that the Church in Nigeria is now addressing HIV from the pulpit and thus affirming God’s love and care for persons living and affected by the pandemic,'' Akale said.
Explaining the mode of operation for the Project, Mr. Arthur Hussey, and Chief of Party of CEDPA said ministers of religion, community leaders and youths would be trained and empowered about how to prevent the spread of HIV.
According to Hussey, the $12.8 million Positive Living Project was funded from the U.S Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief through the U.S Agency for International Development and CEDPA.
The project will be implemented in 12 states in Nigeria but work has already begun in seven states including Anambra, Bauchi, Cross River, Edo, Kano, Lagos and the Federal Capital Territory (Abuja).
L
posted by , at
5/06/2007 1:09 AM
"Trust me, none of the problems you mention in your article will be affected in any way by his visit to America for a few days."
No, I don't trust you, as you are obviously spinning Akinola's dubious, anti-gay record. And, of course, these problems will not be affected, because he is living the high-life in Virginia at a crucial time in his nation's history.
If Akinola was a man of valor and courage, he would be in the street speaking truth to power and demanding fair elections, an end to corruption and poverty, as well as genuine democracy.
But then again, he might have to leave Virginia and dirty up his pretty white dress in the street, if he stood with the people in Nigeria for freedom.
But, it is clear that in a time of crisis, he rather sip mimosas, while doing brunch in Virginia. George Washington, Mandela or MLK, he is not!
The truth is, Akinola is a selfish tyrant whose bizarre obsession with homosexuality is downright queer.
Akinola stands for nothing but his own power and stands against the basic human rights of gay people. That he does this while his own brave contrymen fight for liberty, shows a deep character flaw and a lack of integrity. He ought to repent in shame for his cowardly actions.
The good Bishop needs to get back on the plane, go home and use his "moral authority" to save Nigeria, instead of fixating on gay people. He can start by using his power to mobilize his large church in favor of Democracy.
Let's face it, when the people of Nigeria needed a real hero, Akinola was a zero. When they needed brave deeds, all they got were anti-gay screeds.
Sorry, but there is no way to spin these simple, incontrovertible facts. History will not look kindly upon this "religious" charlatan.
posted by Wayne Besen, at
5/06/2007 12:42 PM
Obviously, Akinola has never evolved, so he should go back to his cave in Nigeria. Its a good thing that he's causing a schism, long overdue. Once his main source of financial support from the Episcopalian branch dwindles to zero, you'll see him grovelling. Rowan Williams should also get a new backbone and give them the finger, good riddance to the bigot.
posted by , at
5/09/2007 8:30 AM
The news release posted by Athanasius would have made a greater impression on me if it weren’t so general. ''The greatest achievement is that the Church in Nigeria is now addressing HIV from the pulpit and thus affirming God’s love and care for persons living and affected by the pandemic,'' Akale said. Well, that’s fine and dandy but what exactly is being preached? Are the priests preaching a message of love? That all those afflicted are still beloved children of God? That orphans of parents killed by AIDS will be looked after? That efforts are under way to bring medicine to Nigeria? That there will be education in safe-sex practices and other preventative measures? That condoms will be distributed free of charge to help slow down the spread of the disease? Is this something that Akinola would preach?
posted by , at
6/26/2007 10:08 AM
runescape money runescape gold runescape gold runescape money buy runescape gold buy runescape money runescape money runescape gold wow power leveling wow powerleveling Warcraft Power Leveling Warcraft PowerLeveling buy runescape gold buy runescape money runescape items runescape accounts runescape gp dofus kamas buy dofus kamas Guild Wars Gold buy Guild Wars Gold lotro gold buy lotro gold lotro gold buy lotro gold lotro gold buy lotro gold runescape money runescape power leveling runescape money runescape gold dofus kamas cheap runescape money cheap runescape gold Hellgate Palladium Hellgate London Palladium Hellgate money Tabula Rasa gold tabula rasa money Tabula Rasa Credit Tabula Rasa Credits Hellgate gold Hellgate London gold wow power leveling wow powerleveling Warcraft PowerLeveling Warcraft Power Leveling World of Warcraft PowerLeveling World of Warcraft Power Leveling runescape power leveling runescape powerleveling eve isk eve online isk eve isk eve online isk tibia gold Fiesta Silver Fiesta Gold SilkRoad Gold buy SilkRoad Gold runescape accounts buy runescape accounts rs2 accounts buy rs2 accounts runescape power leveling rs2 power leveling FFXI Gil buy FFXI Gil gaia gold buy gaia gold buy dofus kamas buy dofus kamas dofus kamas
posted by , at
3/13/2008 10:19 PM
wow gold cheap wow gold buy wow gold world of warcraft gold wow world of warcraft wow gold WoW Warrior WoW Hunter WoW Rogue WoW Paladin WoW Shaman WoW Priest WoW Mage WoW Druid WoW Warlock power leveling powerleveling wow power leveling wow powerleveling wow guides wow tips google排名 google左侧排名 google排名服务 百度推广 百度排名 网站推广 商业吧 机床 LED灯 电池 塑料 摄像机 移民 甲醇 染料 福州热线 体育博客 股票博客 游戏博客 魔兽博客 考试博客 汽车博客 房产博客 电脑博客 powerlin518 logo design website design web design 商标设计
posted by , at
3/19/2008 9:24 PM
The fourth wow power leveling latest game in wow power leveling Warcraft series is ‘wow power leveling’. Also known as wow power leveling, it represents a wow power leveling multiplayer online wow power leveling game, the best of wow power leveling kind. Initially, it was wow gold it be released in 2001, but wow powerleveling was delayed wow powerleveling 2004, thus wow powerleveling the 10 years ofwow powerleveling franchise of thiswow gold series. The world of warcraft power leveling was not world of warcraft power levelingfulfilling, because wow power levelproblems with wow power level server’s stability power leveling wow performance occurred, but power leveling wow game still power leveling wow a financial success powerleveling wow the most powerleveling wow game of its kind. The number cheap wow power leveling users that play Maple Story mesos, exceeds 8.5 MapleStory mesos, worldwide.As a form ms mesos,recognition for mesos,outstanding popularity, the game SilkRoad Gold, received aSRO Gold, of awards. Now the question eq2 plat, why is eq2 gold, game eq2 Platinum, popular? For anyoneEverQuest 2 Platinum, played the previous EverQuest 2 gold, and EverQuest 2 plat, already initiated lotro gold, the mysterious world lotr gold, the breathtaking Lord of the Rings online Gold, this Rolex Replica nothing but an Replica Rolex adventure that continues the story of ‘Warcraft III: Frozen Throne’, four years after conclusion, in the world of Azeroth. The game is online role-playing, the previous versions being online and offline strategy games. The major thrills and unique features are present as in every Blizzard game.
posted by , at
6/16/2008 8:17 PM
Anyone bought from www.belrion.com before ? heard they are a paypal world seller and are macfee
secured. Appreciate some feedback from anyone ^^
buy ffxi
buy eq flat
cheap wow gold
buy world of warcraft gold
buy aoc gold
buy L2 adena
buy gils
cheap gold wow
posted by , at
8/06/2008 11:32 AM
Anyone bought from www.belrion.com before ? heard they are a paypal world seller and are macfee secured. Appreciate some feedback from anyone ^^
buy ffxi
buy eq flat
cheap wow gold
buy world of warcraft gold
buy aoc gold
buy L2 adena
buy gils
cheap gold wow
posted by , at
8/08/2008 12:59 PM
Travel
Cruise Critic
Cheap Cruises
Victorias Secret Credit Card
Victorias Secret Coupon Code
Calvin Klein
Calvin Klein Fragrance
Victorias Secret Angels
Victorias Secret Sale
Calvin Klein Bra
Royal Caribbean Cruise
Settlement
Annuities
Real Estate
Business Cards
Corporate Gifts
Call Center
Promotional Items
Biz Home
Work at Home
Rubber Stamps
Business Finance
Credit Report
Office Supply
Office Furniture
Credit Card
Stock Market
Payday Loans
posted by , at
9/04/2008 1:27 PM
一戸建て
釣り
データ復旧
育毛剤
結婚式 演出
東京 ホームページ制作
横浜 賃貸
posted by 歩, at
11/09/2008 9:21 PM
クレジットカード 現金化
FX
投資
派遣
アフィリエイト
不動産
キャッシング
不動産
posted by 歩, at
11/09/2008 9:22 PM
アクサダイレクト
設計事務所
現金化
賃貸
不動産 東京
ウェディング
posted by 歩, at
11/09/2008 9:23 PM
dofus
dofus kamas
dofus kamas
dofus
lotro
lotro gold
buy lotro gold
cheap lotro gold
lotro
lotro gold
buy lotro gold
guild wars
guild wars gold
buy guild wars gold
guild wars
guild wars gold
buy guild wars gold
guild wars
guild wars gold
buy guild wars gold
maplestory mesos
maple story mesos
maple story
maple story
maple story mesos
maplestory mesos
maple story
maple story mesos
maplestory mesos
runescape
runescape gold
cheap runescape gold
buy runescape gold
buy runescape money
runescape
runescape money
buy runescape money
runescape
runescape gold
runescape money
buy runescape money
runescape
runescape gold
cheap runescape gold
runescape money
buy runescape money
buy runescape money
runescape gold
runescape money
runescape
runescape
runescape gold
runescape money
buy runescape money
runescape
runescape money
runescape gold
cheap runescape gold
buy runescape gold
buy runescape money
runescape
runescape gold
runescape money
buy runescape money
posted by buy gold, at
1/13/2009 3:18 AM
賃貸の部屋探しならジョイント・ルームピア！賃貸マンション・賃貸アパートなどの賃貸情報が満載。さらにペット可賃貸・デザイナーズマンションなど多数ご紹介をお探しなら
posted by note1, at
1/14/2009 10:07 PM
合宿 免許
不動産
クレジットカード 現金化
posted by note1, at
1/14/2009 10:07 PM
激アツ出会い系サイト！【GOGOde愛】
posted by 浩, at
4/07/2009 4:51 AM
ugg shoes
ugg boots
ugg
ugg sale
fake ugg
ugg store
ugg discount
men's ugg
womens ugg
buy ugg boots
ugg cardy
replica ugg
cheap ugg
ugg classic
Ugg Amelie Suede
UGG Bailey Button
UGG Classic Cardy
UGG Classic Crochet
UGG Classic Mini
UGG Classic Short
UGG Classic Tall
Ugg Gypsy Sandal
Ugg Halendi Sandal
UGG Hammond Slipper
UGG Infant's Erin Baby
UGG Layback Slipper
UGG Locarno
Ugg Matala Sandal
Ugg Napoule Sandal
UGG New style
UGG Nightfall
Ugg Persephone Sandal
Ugg Skimmer
UGG Sundance
Ugg Tasmina
UGG Ultra Short
UGG Ultra Tall
UGG Women's Coquette
UGG Women's Knightsbridg
UGG Women's Mayfaire
posted by slience, at
12/26/2009 2:58 AM
There is a cool range of nike air force 1 available including the latest Classic Cardy Style in Black, mens prada shoes, Oatmeal or Cream. These ugg store are almost impossible to get anywhere in the UK and sold out on the cheap Tiffany website within weeks. They are incredibly popular ugg store and its easy to see why. ugg discount is a really versatile boot UGG Bailey Button boots. The three chunky wooden ugg boots Boots Salep the side mean that you can wear them either buttoned up or down and they look great with buy ugg boots.he ultimate in luxury designer clothing has to still be the online shopping Australia boots. These timeless classics are available in nike shoes, Black and Sand these converse shoes really are the last word in comfort footwear. These ugg discount are made entirely from sheepskin with a light Eva sole there is nothing quite Tiffany earring like the feeling of slipping your feet into a brand new pair of ugg boots! But not only do they feel great cheap ugg they look great ugg discount too and can be worn tall or ugg down to expose the sheepskin fur.If you're looking for wholesale supplier for a special lady,discount af1 shoes sale recommend UGG Suburb Crochet from the prada shoesCollection-they have the qualities of great fashion ugg boots online and practicality combined-along with exquisite comfort. If you want to purchase the Tiffany jewelry, please visit ugg classic our online buy ugg boots shop. Welcome to select and buy ugg store!was shocked. But here was a statement ugg shoes that could be checked against future events retail supplies.
posted by lili, at
12/28/2009 1:27 PM
童裝飾品,
posted by my2300222, at
1/30/2010 5:02 AM
Dofus Kamas|Prix Moins Cher Dofus Kamas|Kamas par allopass|Dofus kamas audiotel|Dofus kamas par telephone sur Virstock.com
Meilleur prix dofus kamas stock de dofus kamas
Prix moins cher dofus kamas vente dofus kamas sur www.virstock.com
http://www.virstock.com/jsp/comments.jsp dofus kamas vente
http://www.virstock.com
posted by virstock.com, at
2/25/2010 7:31 AM
www.uggboot4you.com site uggboot quality is very good, is a genuine original, the price is very cheap, free shipping, very popular all over the world .
UGG boots onlive
UGG boots for sale
replica UGG boots
UGG boots for men sale
discount UGG boots sale
cheap UGG boots sale
UGG boots on sale
replica UGG boots
original UGG boots
Paul Smith bags
UGG Bailey Button
UGG Classic Cardy
UGG Classic Crochet
UGG Classic Mini
UGG Classic Short
UGG Classic Tall
UGG Coquette
UGG Lo Pro Button
UGG Nightfall
UGG Rainier
UGG Sundance
UGG Ultra Short
UGG Ultra Tall
UGG Knightsbridge
UGG Ascot Men's Slippers
UGG Infant's Erin
UGG Handbags
UGG Dakota
UGG boots wholesale
ugg sandals for sale
replica watches wholesale
replica watches wholesale
replica watches on sale
replica watches for sale
posted by 晓阳, at
3/03/2010 2:08 AM
beijing massage andshanghai massage is very good
guangzhou massage,shanghai massage,北京マッサージ,广州マッサージ,広州マッサージ,カントンマッサージ
posted by nfdk, at
4/13/2010 10:56 PM
<< Home
