T.B Joshua takes relatives of building collapse victims on shopping spree

e

TB Joshua has taken some of the relatives of the 85 South Africans killed when a guesthouse collapsed at the Synagogue, Church of All Nations on a shopping spree and showered them with cash.

The controversial pastor extended invitations to 44 relatives of the deceased for Christmas dinner and many accepted. Another group is expected to go to Nigeria this month.

Mpumalanga schoolteacher, Wonder Ndlovu, 47, whose husband, Mbongeni Ndlovu, 52, died in the collapse, was among the first group to spend time with the pastor after the tragedy.

She told the Daily News they had a “nice time” in Nigeria and had been taken shopping – apparently at Joshua’s expense – as well as handed 50 000 Naira (about R3 200), and taken out to the best hotels.

They also visited the site where their loved ones died. “He (Joshua) took us to a five-star posh hotel for dinner, fine food and drinks. The hotel is in Victoria Island,” said Ndlovu.

“After chilling, we came back in his luxurious kombis. (There were) more surprises while (we were) preparing to sleep. The mamas who took us shopping knocked and presented us with 50 000 naira each and they said we (must not) use all our (own) shopping money… I just sang A huna ya tshwana le yena (there’s no one like him),” she said.

On Monday, the group visited the disaster site and Ndlovu said it was an emotional experience. “We met with the man of God (Joshua) and he briefed us about the site visit.

“Wiseman Harry and other evangelists took us there, it was very emotional for me, but others were strong and comforting.

“I brought flowers from South Africa and laid them with my son.” Added Ndlovu: “The prophet is full of surprises. After weeping, he took us to the city to see places. To our surprise we shopped till we dropped and the bill is on him.”

Joshua laid his hands on and prayed for the relatives, a feeling Ndlovu described as a “touch from heaven”.

“We were having the time of our lives, forgetting the pain of the past and looking forward to picking up the pieces and moving on. Yesterday has gone by, but tomorrow is forever.”

Ndlovu said of the disaster site: “It is ugly. Looking at the building foundations, we are convinced it was an attack.”

The Lagos state coroner is carrying out an inquest into the causes of the collapse at a guesthouse within the church’s compound.

Expert witnesses have said the structure was unsound and lacked proper permits but Joshua’s vocal followers have insisted the building came down as a result of foul play, and was a bid to destroy the powerful religious leader.

Among the theories advanced by Joshua loyalists is that a plane flying in the area at the time of the collapse dropped an explosive device on the building.

One weapons expert called by the church’s lawyers, Beidomu Iguniwei, has testified that the collapse could have been caused by an “infrasonic weapon”.

Meanwhile, some of the KZN families who have received invitations to meet Joshua this month said they would gladly go.

Simphiwe Ngcobo, 29, of Durban North, said the trip to the Nigerian capital would help him connect “spiritually” with his parents, Dickie and Dennis Ngcobo.

He said he was excited about the trip and would travel with a relative this month. “It is important for us to go to the site and pay our respects to our loved ones. We have accepted their death and we are moving on.

“We could have gone with the first group of families but we decided to be with the family over Christmas,” he said.

“We have no qualms against anyone, which is why we have gladly accepted this wonderful gesture from the man of God.”

Reverend Eric Myeni, whose 29-year-old son, Sabelo, died in the September 12 collapse, has also accepted Joshua’s invitation.

He hopes to meet Joshua and receive spiritual guidance. “We need to overcome what has happened by showing our faith in Christ. We can never reverse our adversity. But with hope in the Lord we can overcome the pain suffered,” he said.

While 74 bodies were flown back to South Africa last month, relatives and friends of the remaining 11 spent the festive season without closure as the forensic identification process was still under way.

Speaking from Nigeria, Kirsten Nematandani, a spokesman for the church based in South Africa, confirmed a second group would visit this month.

He said the “healing” process for the families began last Friday when they had gathered for three hours at the church’s “Prayer Mountain”.

“It is where our prophet’s vision started. When you walk to the sacred mountain, you have to take off your shoes. It is a life-changing experience,” Nematandani said.

“We have been staying at the church premises. The prophet stays here too.”

Boko Haram seizes 40 boys, men in Borno

Suspected Boko Haram gunmen have kidnapped 40 boys and young men in a remote village in northeast Nigerian Borno state on New Year's Eve, residents who fled the isolated settlement said on Saturday.

Scores of Boko Haram militants stormed the Malari village around 8:00 pm and whisked away the males, aged between 10 and 23, into the nearby Sambisa forest, believed to be one of the Islamists' major bases.

The news of the abductions came out only days later, after residents who fled the village arrived in the state capital Maiduguri late on Friday.

"They came in pick-up trucks armed with guns and gathered all the men in the village outside the home of the village chief where they preached to us before singling out 40 of our boys and taking them away," Bulama Muhammad told AFP

Malari village lies 20 kilometres from the Sambisa forest and close to the town of Gwoza, which the militants captured last June declaring it part of their caliphate.

"My two sons and three nephews were among those taken away by the Boko Haram gunmen and we believe they are going to use them as conscripts," Muhammad said.

"When we heard of the kidnap of 40 boys in Malari by Boko Haram we decided to leave because we could be the next target," said Alaramma Babagoni, who fled from the nearby village of Mulgwi.

"Boko Haram has been abducting young men from villages in the area because we are close to their stronghold in Sambisa forest," he said.

There was no immediate comment on the incident from the military in Maiduguri.

Residents of Malari and nearby villages fled, fearing further attacks and abductions.

Boko Haram has recently been seizing young men during raids on area villages to use as foot soldiers in its uprising aimed at establishing an Islamic state in northern Nigeria, residents said.

Suspected Boko Haram gunmen launched a deadly raid Tuesday on Kautikari village near Chibok, torched several buildings and killed as many as 15 people, according to witnesses.

There was no toll available from an official source on the raid.

Boko Haram is still holding in captivity more than 200 schoolgirls it abducted from their school in Chibok in Borno state last April.

I would have been a polygamist – Jeremiah Gyang and wifey tell their LOVE story

Jeremiah Gyang, a musician, has been married to Ladi for four years. They share their love story in a chat with punch, see excerpts below:

How did you meet each other?

Jeremiah: I met her 12 years ago in my church. It was during a week-long event. She walked right in while I was on the keyboard. The second I set my eyes on her, something changed in me. I was lost in my emotions yet I was logical to the last verse. I was deeply in love with a complete stranger.

Did you notice him then?

Ladi: It was his father’s church and it was located around where I lived with my parents. Luckily for him, we decided to worship there since it was newly set up in the area. I didn’t notice he had his eyes on me, but all I saw was a very young guy who was really good with the keyboard even though I didn’t know much about music then. I only realized he had his eyes on me later on when we became friends.

How did you get her attention?

Jeremiah: I became friends with a very committed member of the church who was her neighbour. Looking back now, I think it is because that was the first time in my life I wrote a love song, considering how much a radical religionist I was.

What were some of the hurdles you crossed to reach her?

Jeremiah: I went with my newly- made friend to know his house. As we walked to his house, I saw her and she spoke to me. Sadly, by the time we got to my ‘new’ friend’s house, he walked me out. This was after we both figured that we were in love with the same girl.

Ladi: I was shocked and excited at the same time to know he had to become friends with my neighbour just to be close to me. I am aware of what transpired between both of them that day. The guy did ask me out but I wasn’t really interested in him because I saw him as a brother and we grew up together.

Why did you settle for Jeremiah?

Ladi: His manner of approach and confidence won me over. He knew what he wanted and went for it.

How did you propose to her?

Jeremiah: I proposed to her on the first day I asked her out. I told her my mind was settled and I would love to settle down with her.

How did you realise you were meant for the other?

Ladi: I just knew he was the right man for me. He is also nice, understanding and caring. I didn’t accept his proposal at first because of the way he made his intentions known. It took me some months to say yes.

Were you once his personal assistant as widely believed?

Ladi: No, I wasn’t. I just helped him out with some of the planning.

Did you find it easier to settle down because you were not yet a star?

Jeremiah: I never knew I would become a star and I didn’t know the track, ‘Na Baka’ will be a hit. I think that is one of the reasons some people say I am unserious with my career. Truth is, it was not expected and I didn’t know how to handle it. I did many things wrong. It was a lesson and that was why I kept going to Jos because if I was in Lagos I won’t be married to her.

How do you mean?

Jeremiah: Lagos presents you with a lot of opportunities and many of them are a bit bogus and some are real. As a young man; I was just 32, I wasn’t promiscuous neither was I ever trained for the limelight. I was just a humble singer who was simply talented. If I had not been very successful in my career, it might have affected my marriage. I am from a broken home and I understood life and became wise at a very young age.

What do you think about the spate of crashed celebrity marriages?

Ladi: It does bother me anytime I hear such news or stories. Many of these celebrities are role models whom many people look up to. It is expected of them to stay together in love no matter how hard the situation might be sometimes. A crashed celebrity marriage is not something one would look forward to.

How possible is it to be happily married as a celebrity?

Jeremiah: It is possible for celebrity marriages to work if they understand the true meaning of marriage. The foundation of my marriage is solid and can’t crash. I can’t say I am better than other celebrities, but my wife and I decided to get married and remain in our union no matter the circumstance. I don’t even know why you should cheat on your spouse even though I know temptation is everywhere.

Do you face challenges in the marriage?

Ladi: No, but he travels alot for shows. It isn’t challenging for me because I have known him since 1997 and we have been married for four years now.

Why do you think many of your colleagues chose to remain single?

Jeremiah: It doesn’t make any sense to remain single just because you want female fans. I don’t even subscribe to that school of thought. I have a personal life and my music is a tool and a means to an end. I don’t involve myself with a lot of politics in the music industry. If my female fans seem not to like me because I am married, it is their own cup of tea. I am happily married to my wife. I feel so honoured and privileged to marry her.

Do you both run a joint account?

Ladi: Yes, we do and it was his idea.

Jeremiah: I don’t want her to go through any form of suffering whenever I die. I believe in planning for the future and empowering my spouse.

Anything you would love to change about your spouse?

Ladi: Absolutely nothing.

Jeremiah: I love everything about her. She is still the best woman I have ever encountered. If I hadn’t married my wife when I did, I would have been a polygamist. God just prepared her specially for me.

What are some of the fond memories of your union?

Jeremiah: Our trips, picnics and travels together even though with the birth of our daughter, we have slowed down a bit. It is a new experience and she may have to divide her love between our daughter and I. The baby also needs all the attention from the two of us. Now, all I do is empower her to do the things I don’t know how to do. This means I don’t disturb her too much.

Ladi: There are lots of them but I can never get over the surprise birthday party he threw for me recently.