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INTERVIEW: We have rehabilitated 760 mentally challenged persons in Akwa Ibom – Udofa

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Rev Godwin Udofa: A Passion for Caring for the Mentally Challenged

Rev Godwin Udofa is the President of Wonder Life Mental Rehabilitation Centre, Ikot Afanga, Oruk Anam Local government of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. He has been passionate about taking care of mentally challenged people in the state for over 28 years.

Udofa’s journey into caring for the mentally challenged began in 1995, when he had a vision from Jesus Christ. In the vision, he was instructed to evacuate mentally challenged people from the streets.

Udofa initially resisted the calling, but he eventually obeyed and founded Wonder Life Mental Rehabilitation Centre in 1996. The center has since rehabilitated and reintegrated over 760 mentally challenged people back into society.

Udofa says that the center is able to achieve such a high success rate through a combination of spiritual and medical care. The center has a team of doctors and nurses who provide medical care to the residents, and Udofa himself provides spiritual counseling.

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Udofa also believes that it is important to provide residents with a sense of purpose. He gives them jobs to do on the center’s farm and in the kitchen. This helps them to feel valued and to contribute to society.

Despite the success of Wonder Life Mental Rehabilitation Centre, Udofa says that there is still a lot of work to be done. He is calling on the government to do more to help the mentally challenged, including creating a bureau of mental matters and passing legislation to protect their rights.

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Udofa is also asking for individuals to support his work by donating old clothes and shoes to the center, and by volunteering their time and skills.

Here is an interview with Udofa, in which he discusses his work and his vision for the future:

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Interviewer: What prompted you to venture into caring for the mentally challenged?

Udofa: Well, I did not go into that as a result of empathy or sympathy. I had an encounter with Jesus in 1995, that should be about 28 years ago and He instructed me to evacuate the mentally challenged persons. It was a 27 hour vision. When I woke up from the vision, I had to obey the calling and God has being faithful for the past years

Interviewer: What is the mode of admission of these people into your centre?

Udofa: Every quarter, we evacuate them from the three Senatorial districts of the Akwa Ibom State and rehabilitate them. Though in 2020, Akwa Ibom State government saw what we were doing and brought about 73 mentally challenged persons to us, by the time we finished with these people, the then governor was impressed and he built a clinic in our centre, though not equipped.

The truth is that some of these mentally challenged persons may be having little problem, just a little care they will be well. Some people are afraid of me, thinking that I’m using one kind of mystical power or anything, no, this is a commission and that is why I’m occupying that place with my wife and children.

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Interviewer: Have you been attacked by these mad people?

Udofa: They are so friendly. Even on Sundays, some of them will be walking down to the church. When I’m walking on the road, some of them will see me and will be waving at me and I always wave back even when I don’t know them.

“When I was coming here, a woman, completely deranged, saw me, she was waving at me, my son saw her, I responded and people were laughing at me, I gave her a token and she was happy. So our target is that by 2035, we are not going to see the mentally challenged roaming about in the street.

So far, 760 persons have been restored to normalcy and reintegrated to the society. We are further putting up an appeal that these people should be trained so as to be more useful to themselves, their families and the society.

Interviewer: How do you treat them, is it spiritually or what?

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Udofa: Both! Dr Jumbo is the Head of the Mental Health Department of University of Uyo Teaching Hospital; he is on our board, he comes here on Thursdays on voluntary ground to see them. The Rotary club sends some doctors from time to time. Also, the Insight Bible Church sends some Missionary doctors to us to see them. Of course, if it’s for me to pay them, I can’t even pay their consultation fees but they are doing that free of charge. Apart from that, it is basically spiritual but we are incorporating the medical aspect to complement it.

Interviewer: What are your prayers to the government for these mentally challenged?

Udofa: We want the government to come to the help of mentally challenged in the State.

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Why I may not hesitate to support Peter Obi in 2027 – Atiku Abubakar

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The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 election, Atiku Abubakar, has suggested he might support Peter Obi, his Labour Party counterpart from the last election, in 2027.

The former Vice President, currently in merger talks with stakeholders from various opposition political parties, indicated he would back Obi if the Labour Party nominates him for the next election.

According to The Sun, Atiku made this statement during an interview with BBC Hausa Service.

It was recently reported by DAILY POST that Obi and Atiku had a closed-door meeting, sparking rumors about a potential merger of opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Atiku confirmed the efforts of opposition parties to align in order to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 election, saying, “We can merge to achieve a common goal. So, it’s possible and nothing can stop it if we so wish to achieve that.”

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Atiku added that if the new party decides it’s the turn of the South-East and chooses Peter Obi, he would not hesitate to support him.

“I have said repeatedly, and even before the 2023 general elections, that if the PDP decides to zone the presidential ticket to the South or South-East specifically, I won’t contest it.

“But I contested the 2023 presidential ticket because it was open to all members of the party,” Atiku explained.

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I once struggled with pornography – Bishop Oyedepo’s son, Isaac

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Isaac Oyedepo, son of Bishop David Oyedepo, founder of Living Faith Church, has admitted to having struggled with pornography at one point in his life.

Isaac revealed that he became involved with pornography during a trip to a European country.

Speaking on the podcast “Confession Box,” Isaac shared that he overcame this challenge with God’s help.

He explained: “My confessions are positive and meant to help others. I struggled with pornography before.

“I remember how it began; we traveled to a country, and I was alone in my room. I turned on the TV, and that’s how it started.

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“But God helped me overcome it quickly. Many people still struggle with it, and I think if someone who had previously struggled with it had approached me and showed me how to break free, I would have overcome it sooner.

“Some topics are often avoided, but today, many pastors and church members still struggle with this issue.

“You might be anointed and performing signs and wonders, but that doesn’t mean you are living right.

“There’s an old saying that if it works, it means you’re standing right, but I found out that’s not always true. There were times I realized I wasn’t right, but grace and mercy found me.

“For the sake of someone genuine in the congregation, God can bypass you to reach that person; this is my confession.”

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Alleged Corruption: Rights lawyer petitions Minister, seeks suspension of NSCDC CG, Audi

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Former Special Prosecutor for the Special Presidential Investigation Panel for Recovery of Public Properties, Tosin Ojaomo, has petitioned the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, regarding an ongoing investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) into corruption allegations against Ahmed Audi, the Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

Ojaomo recommended Audi’s immediate suspension to ensure public safety and protect the integrity of the investigation from possible interference.

The petition, dated May 15 and made available to DAILY POST, was addressed to Tunji-Ojo and copied to President Bola Tinubu, Attorney General Lateef Fagbemi, and EFCC Chairman Olanipekun Olukoyede.

Ojaomo highlighted that the EFCC has been investigating the NSCDC for alleged financial mismanagement, making significant progress. He also mentioned a pending allegation against Audi regarding unexplained property acquisition filed with the Code of Conduct Bureau (CBB).

Ojaomo’s request is based on Section 8 of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps Act, 2003 (as amended), and Section 11 of the Interpretation Act, 2004, which allow the minister to recommend the appointment and removal of the NSCDC Commandant General.

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The petition stated, “We are compelled to make this request as the investigation of the agency cannot be thoroughly and discreetly conducted if the current Commandant General of the NSCDC is allowed to continue in office while the investigation continues because most of the financial activities of the agency which form the subject matter of the investigation are conducted under the current CG’s watch.”

He further emphasized that the suspension would safeguard the investigation process and prevent possible interference. Ojaomo cited allegations linking Audi to a company, Keltes Security and Consultancy Limited, which allegedly received contracts from Tantita Security Limited, a company under the NSCDC’s supervision.

He concluded, “In view of these facts, it will be in the interest of public safety and to protect the integrity of the office to suspend Dr. Abubakar Audi, the current Commandant General of NSCDC, so that the EFCC can conduct a thorough and discreet investigation into the matter.”

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