Monday 6 October 2008

Religious Fatwa on Rivers Television Journalist

I was disturbed over the reported religious fatwa declared on a journalist with Rivers State television for airing a documentary which allegedly potrayed a pentecostal church in bad light.
I wish this can be resolved and the Nigeria Union of Journalist moves in swiftly to protect the journalist from her present emotional trauma.
I have re-produced her petition to the Nigeria police and death threats.


Rivers State Television,
Elelenwo Complex,
Port Harcourt,
2nd October, 2008.




The Director
State Security Service.
Rivers State



Sir,





A Case of death Threat by Pastor David Ibiyeomie of Salvation Ministries and his Congregation

I am compelled to bring to your knowledge the recent death threat made on my person by Pastor David Ibiyeomie of the Salvation Ministries Port Harcourt and his congregation. My name is Mrs Ibiene Rowland Ogundu and I work with the Rivers State Television as a reporter, Producer and presenter of programmes in the Current Affairs Division.


On the 27th of September 2008, at 10pm the Station aired a special report, a documentary of one hour duration which I jointly produced with my crew. The title of the episode was “PROSPERITY: Right Here, Right Now which was broadcast on the RSTV channel at 10pm.Shortly after the programme, I began receiving messages and calls in response to the programme, which was not unexpected.


However, at about 7.30 the following day being Sunday 28th of September I began receiving death threats from those who say they are loyalists and members of salvation ministries. Some of these members informed me through phone calls how their Pastor David Ibiyeomie had stood on the pulpit that morning and issued death threat and also mandated them to join forces with him to put an end to my life in what he describes as the misrepresentation of the church to the public.


To aid his members achieve his death plan for me, members told me he had given them my number and name by scrolling it across the giant screen on the altar for all to see, and copy in other to carry out their threats even when some of the members admit to being in the dark on the issues since they did not watch the said programme. The members also categorically said that Pastor David Ibiyeomie has also assured them that he will ensure that I do not live to see the end of October.


As at the time of writing this letter, the calls have not ceased as I have received over 2000 calls and death threats and countless text messages. The number and manner of these threats have become increasingly sickening. The threats are centred on my life and that of my family.


Sir, I am writing to appeal that you use your good office to protect my life and that of my family as well as look into this assassination threat by Pastor David Ibiyeomie, his allies and members of salvation ministries. I have had countless blackmail, insisting I go and apologize to Pastor David Ibiyeomie or ‘die’. Some others have passed their threats through families and friends claiming that David Ibiyeomie have vowed to kill me on or before October 31st 2008.


I also which to bring to your knowledge that the said programme which has given rise to this undue reactions has been a running programme on RSTV station, giving a deep and investigative insight into societal issues. As a professional of the Journalism profession and to the best of my ability wish to state here in that the said episode was a balanced report.


Nevertheless, while am about this I wish to say that under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria no one has the right to threaten my life or that of my family. I have only done my job as a journalist and therefore do not deserve to be blackmailed or threatened by those who claim to have absolute power to go against the constitution of the Country.


While I wait for your swift response and action on this death threat to me and my family, I sincerely thank you for your anticipated positive reaction to this petition.


Attached here -in are some of the transcribed text messages and phone numbers used in threatening my life by some members of the Salvation ministries carrying out the dictates of their General Overseer Pastor David Ibiyeomie.


Yours faithfully,
Ibiene Rowland Ogundu (Mrs.)





Text messages


08057880478
It is so sweet 2 see u depart from dis world bcos ur obituary has just been announced. Gud bye. Salvatn Ministry member.


07087669112

Ma Papa Pst David laid causes on u 4 wat u did wit our churchs name so u are a caused person by a man of God if u no wat is gd 4 u go ask God 4giveness bye.

08054865478
U hv tuc d lion tail cuz by David Ibiyeomie.

08053010880
YOU ARE CURSED.

08033454624
What a great expository insight on d state of d church in Port Harcourt. D people are gullible and lazy, data why all dis occultic pple I wnt call dem pastor, takes advantage of them. I think d cure 2 all dis mess is dat we need more teaching churches were d word is taught. Keep d good wrk on Pastor biodun. 07028539526


For insulting Pastor David Ibiyeomie and Salvation Ministry you and ur family are cursed 4 dis day evil will be ur portion. 08067944194

B4 u die go 2 Salvation Ministries n ask 4giveness, u have broken d law.


08056904123
Ibiene why did u allowed c be used by d devil? Do u tnk u can fight God? If God decided 2 fight u will u be able 2 stand? 0803313440

You want to fight God you are finished. 08039109328

Ebiyere: Ur mouth very dirt to talk about Salvation Ministry. Yet the curse of the Lord be upon ur life, ur husband, ur children and those that join on television programme yesterday are curse and u, Ebiyerei u are curse. Pastor David Ibiyeomie has curse u, and those that join u, ur husband children are curse. 08064742102

You who dare attack d church of God and His Servant, death sentence has been passed on u except God is not God, u will never live 2 see d end of 2008. 08032631560

Curse be upon ur marriage, upon ur life, upon ur finance, upon ur generation an upon ur relations 4 speaking evil against Gods Own Church an His servant u shall not have peace of mind in Jesus name amen 4 d Bible touch not my anointed an my prophet no harm. I am a member.


Cursed are u & everything about is 4 daring my Salvation Ministries and my Pastor’s image. Ur death is now. U big fool of RSTV. Great & complete fool. 0803890047.


If u know wat is gud 4 u u better go ask 4 4giveness if not u will not see nxt year dat means u go die oo u are curse my Salvation Ministry. 08038674337.


Ibiere Roland Ogwundy I’m glad 2 tell you that you’ve just signed your death warrant. 08074862520.

Ibene Roland Ogolo u are a dead person. 0806546397

08037447438
If you like answer we the church have put a curse upon you and your family and R.ST.V and the people working with you the food you eat is curse, the water you drink is curse, the bed you sleep with your husband is curse, every thing that has to do with you is curse so no way of escape disaster is on your way now. May you rest in the pit digged for the wicked ones like you, don’t want to know your name anymore bcos you are consumed n to know your name anymore bcos you are consumed in Jesus name. Amen. 08033843230

U hv brot d judgement of God upon ur life. U did dt d day u did dt d day u decided 2 insult d apple of God’s eyws. U hv signed ur death sentences mark my word, I’ll deny myself sleep 2 see dt u ro am around Rivers State naked, u r cursed in Jesus name. Amen. 08066603427

Ibiyere Roland, if u like Pi cur cals or not but just knw tdat live less than 7days on earth, u will knw how powerful d God of David Ibiyeomie. Start countin ur life. 08036831861

Some text missing to be used by the devil 2 challenge the church of Jesus Christ. If u love ur life, go there and confess.

IB what put u into dis disgrace b/c of money. Sorry u are heading to destruction b/c of ur ignorance and at the same time loosing ur life. Nawaa for u bye. 08036663886

U and ur household will never find peace b/c u are curse in name of Jesus. Amen. 08033409620

Mrs Ibiene or whatever ur name is, g’ve u chosen 2 torch God’s Anoited? Who gave u d impetus 2 say dos nasty false things u said about Salvation Ministries Glories Chapel Home of Success? U knows what 4 what u’ve done D wrath of God in upon u & ur family including everyone who assisted u in carrying out dis evil activity of urs. I am so sorry 4 u bcos u will know no peace from today tilled day u will come cowling & begging 4forgiveness. 08073459946

You are very foolish
080377852316.

U are been cursed 2 day I pity u cos grave has been duged am sure u do not know those he know those he has cursed b4. foolish stupid good girl go n beg.
08055363234

When d edge is broken d serpent bite for ever insulting Salvation Ministry every curse placed on u 2 day shall come 2 pass ur such a gisgushing frick IB. 07033532166
Speak no evil against a choosen. D cause datn upon u can only be broken if u wl go 2 d church kneel on d altar and as 4giveness. Be warned! 08070602641.

Are we complaining? I did u do that 2 our church? 08051276478.

Ibiene Rowland Ogundu read this Psalm 94:1 Judgment for going against. Psalm 105:15 as regards Pst Ibiyeomie. From member Salvation Ministries. 08080893632.

Are u Roynald, I have a word to tell u if u thoroughly love urself and u want to live in peace a better go now that is not let and apologize to Salvation Ministries because there are rely agree with u and let me give some small advise.

About the way you go about boldly say some stupid things about anointed man of God u better be careful what u say against man of God earlier u realize ur mistake the better for u. thank u. 08057296968

Together with your gang. 08032361119

You and your generation are cursed in Jesus name. Amen. 08032361119

This is just 2 inform u and ur gang dat ur falling has just started. 08035525382


Why do u allow urself 2 be used by devil 2 fight de church. 08063852209

Good morning Mrs. Ibiere. Pls I beg u 2 4get about everything u are doing dis morning and come down 2 d Salvation Ministry and plead Pastor David Ibieyomie for 4 forgiveness bcos the (cursed) u, ur family & any pastor who will pray 4 u under serious annoyance pls don’t ignore dis text. I am Mbakwe or Linus. 08077771784.

You who dare attack d church of God and His servant, a death sentence has been passed on u. Except God is not God u will never live 2 see d end of 2008. 08064742102.
You never know when your life in going down you have been cursed by Jehovah. 08056009667.

Re u aware that u nd ur family nd those who paid u 2 say negative things against the church of God. S.M u are under a curse try God. 08029178729


U want 2 no who us (David Ibieyeomie) n I nad al d world. Heaven and early have cus u and ur family. Thank God 4 cus.
07032210059

Pls for God sake repent of what u presented on d air yesterday about Salvation Ministry before d wrath of God will visit. See d man of God 4 4giveness be4 the end of to day. God will lead u. 08052072806


May God proper u, may u succeed. now u’ve said Amen, then you are doomed cos u hate it. Since u ve open ur mouth 2 condem ur only broad who God is using mightily are condemned already. 08056449408.


Mary I hear is ur name u are a fool 2 step on a man of (God) cus u have been cursed 2dey u and ur family and all ur supporters. If God curses who can judge. 07032210059

Bible said torch not my anointed and do my prophets no harm. All members of Glorious Chapel says bye to hell. 08077774464

It is so sweet 2 see u depart from dis world bcos ur obituary has just been announced. Gud bye. Salvation Ministry member. 08057880478.

4 attacking d church of Jesus Christ, u ve procured 4 urself n generation madness n untimely death bye bye to hell. 08037455089

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Please make sure this gets to her:

Mrs Ibiene Rowland Ogundu,
Blessed art thou among mankind, for what you have revealed from your heart is the truth of which many would have your life.
But the truth is bitter to many this day, and I want you to rejoice though it may seem perilous, knowing that you have brought to light a matter of which none have put into your heaty except our Heavenly Father, and his son Jesus Christ.
Be of good cheer, the Lord will protect and guide you, and never shy from the truth but be strong in the Lord. Remember the prophets and what they suffered. The Lord be your guide and your light in this, and he shall see you through whatever perils may come your way.
Much regard...
My wife & I

Anonymous said...

The so called pastor is practising witchcraft. First of all, the Bible says we should not curse with the same mouth with which we bless. Secondly, the Bible says "Vengeance belongs to the Lord" - we are not meant to fight on behalf of God like they do in Jihad wars. This is emotional JIHAD and some people can actually get fanatical about it & try to send assasins to the poor woman. I pray God protect her & her family - no matter what she aired.
MA

Owengospel said...

In the first place Mrs Ibiene Rowland should not be allowed to be used to air the documentary, the documentary was so bad that it made unbelievers laugh so much about God's children and the properity message, God said by Proeperity shall my kingdom be spread abroad, so why did you choose that topic and that Church as a case study ?
As for Pastor David Ibiyeomie, He is defending the gospel of Jesus Christ, All Ibiene needed to do was to make apologies., very simple. Writing to the Police is good, she said the police should save her life,Life is not in the hands of the police but with God,Let me make this clear, As I know, David Ibiyeomie did not say he is going to assasinate Ibiene, He only prayed, so if she is right, the prayer won't be answered and if she is wrong and does nt appologise, it will work.Simple
Soso
Australia

Anonymous said...

Looks like david ibiyeomie is a never do well & Sobere Opusunju, both from Okirika in Rivers State of Nigeria, is glorifying religious militancy and subtle stealing by men who collect gifts on behalf of the gods in return for prosperity, pregnancy, promotion, and kingdom of God. I want Sobere Opusunju from Australia to read text below carefully.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
The Swamp Dwellers...questioning the sincerity of the 'men of gods'
By Ajibola Amzat
AT the National Theatre on Sunday, March 8, 2009, Prof. Wole Soyinka again questioned the sincerity of the men of gods in the society. Those men who collect gifts on behalf of the gods in return for shower of blessing on the masses. The peddlers of prayers and merchant of miracles who reach out to all and sundry with a mission to fleece the deprived of their meager income.
These days, they came with all sorts of appellations: Bishop, Arch Bishop, Apostle, Most Reverend, Evangelist, Chief Imam, Sheik, Mukadam, Mualim, Abore, Babalawo, Dibia, the list is inexhaustible.
Through a dramatic sketch titled The Swamp Dwellers, Soyinka tells the story of shenanigans of these extortionists on the last Sabbath day.
Kadiye, the priest of the Serpent is to take the offerings of the people to the god of the Swamp. He is the Chosen One who knows the ways of the divine, others are mere mortals who grope in the spiritual darkness.
But Kadiye is a fraud, a leech who feeds fat on the sweat of the villagers. Yet the people trusted him. In their state of 'spiritual gullibility', no one has an inkling that the man of god goes home everyday to help himself with sacrifices of the gods. If anyone even suspects such mischief; none is bold enough to raise a dissenting voice against the anointed.
But when the protagonist of the play, Igwezu is disillusioned beyond control, he raises question that cast aspersion on the integrity of the priest.
Not even his father, Makuri could stem rage of his temper. And were his patience tested further when he was shaving Kadiye's luxuriant beard, he could have silted the throat of the priest open.
Igwezu, here is a man who, in spite of his total obedience to tradition, lost his beloved wife to his city-wise brother, Awuchike; his fortunes to the capitalist system of the city; and his harvest to the conspiracy of the nature. By the time he came back from the city "the beans and the corn had made an everlasting pottage with the mud."
Here is a man who lost everything dear to him to the vagaries of life even though he never denied the god of his goat and his regular libation. There are many Igwenzu in Lagos and other cities across the land who would probably rise up in protest one day against the consumptive servant of gods.
Also the 1986 Nobel Laureate interrogates the genuineness of alms giving and collection. Does a beggar's offer of prayer in returns for alms comes from pure heart or is it a mere mechanical recitation of a disinterested soul? And does the giver give alms with intention for true charity or for public show or for some sinister reasons. These are the questions that Soyinka again raised in The Swamp Dwellers.
The message of this play is as relevant today as it was in 1959 when it was written.
The village in Ijaw Delta Area which was the setting of the play represents the Nigeria state where spiritual hypocrisy is pervasive and where people still wallow in astounding ignorance.
Soyinka might not be a prophet in religious configuration, but his message remains a warning to the society where religion has turned to the opium of the masses. In such society, Soyinka is tacitly saying that there might be a re-enactment of 19th century revolution when the action of the masses would be driven only by the logic of rebellion when the scale falls off the people's eyes.
The presentation which was directed by Nicholas Monu, a graduate of Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art in London starred actors like Wale Macaulay as Makuri, Albert Akaeze as Begger, Toritseju Ejoh as Igwuezu, Matins Iwuagwu as Kadiye, Titilayo Akinmoyo, Alu David Uba as drummer/servant and Okon Nse as flutist.

Victor Tamuno.

Anonymous said...

Sobere Opusunju from Australia, How come your brother is alway strugling to kill someone: Read this one. i got interested after reading Victor's comment. You have to help that your david think.
Like the Biblical challenge between Prophet Elijah and the worshipers of Baal, a war is the offing between a church leader and a political heavy weight in the state. Bishop David Ibiyeomie, Overseer of Salvation Ministries told his apparently surprised gathering that, Chukwudi .J. Orike whose house shares the same fence with his church is an occult man. “Hear me C.J. Orike is a cult man and his days in this world are numbered. He has challenged God and God will surely destroy him”, He declared. The man of God also used the last day of his three-day covenant seminar with the theme, “Wisdom for Extraordinary Exploits” to draw the congregation's attention to the past when ex-governor Dr. Peter Odili dared him to move out of the church's site at Plot 17 Birabi Street, in the Government Reserved Area (GRA) Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Today, according to him, Odili is out office and Port Harcourt. “Odili challenged God's servant, but today where is Odili?” Some die hard supporters of Dr. Peter Odili were present at the church service , but offered no defence for their mentor once described as the “Golden Governor” The man of God also recalled how the present Deputy Governor of Rivers State, Tele Ikuru “now like a son” to him once challenged him and after placing a curse on him, in less than one month he was out of office. “But he repented and I (Bishop Ibiyeomie) had to lay hands on him again”, Ibiyeomie said. He wondered what sort of cult C.J. Orike is in to warrant his challenging the living God and uttered curses, “C.J. Orike is cursed and his generations I know he is listening. All who know him should tell him that his generation is under curse from God's servant.”Orike's sin according to investigations by National Point stems from connecting some heavy loud speakers facing the church and playing Afro-beat music of late Fela Anikulapo Kuti while the church is service. At Friday's service attended by National Point, while the church service was going on, Fela's music with his yabis songs were heard in the background by all worshippers and some members who have soft spots for the music occasionally quietly sang along, even as the Bishop preached. While the curse was being placed on C.J. Orike's head, cameras in the church occasionally beamed on the speakers at his house so that, all present would see what the man of God was prophesying to and as he cursed, worshippers responded with a thunderous “Amen”. In his sermon, Bishop Ibiyeomie encouraged Christians to believe everything they desire done, because they are God's children. Quoting relevant portions of the Bible to buttress his point, the man of God called on Christians to always pray fervently so that God's glory will be upon them like Abraham who never lacked anything in life http://nationalpointonline.com/nponline/index.php?mact=News,cntnt01,detail,0&cntnt01articleid=244&cntnt01returnid=53

Philip Ogunjubi
Pastor,
Life Ministries.

Anonymous said...

I wish someone could link me up with the RSTV lady so that i can apologise. I have since asked for forgiveness from GOD. Pastor D.I.

FidelisMbah said...

Pastor D.I, pls send me an email (fidelismbah@gmail.com) with your personal details and i will sure link you up with the lady journalist.

Anonymous said...

if any pastor curse u wey u no do anything why u they fear, abi no be God go answer the prayer na God go decide weyda the curse go prevail or not abi u the chop people WITCH so why u dey fear?

Anonymous said...

My name is Chizi and since after our G.O asked us to send those curses on Mrs Ibiene Rowland Ogundu and family, everything bad has been happening to me and my household. I wish i had disobeyrd. I want her to forgive me and my G.O. We over reacted without thinking through our actions as christains.

Please, Mrs Ibiene Rowland we ask for forgiveness.