Woman returns stolen children; surrenders herself to the police in Benin

A certain Mrs Eloho Igwe who abducted two children last week in Benin City, the Edo State capital has surrendered herself to the police.
The two kids, Faith Omoruyi (5) and Gold Peter (4), who have now been reunited with their families were abducted at Useh Market and Useh Secondary School by Mrs Eloho.
Eloho told journalists that she abducted the children, with the assistance of a certain Efe Ogaga, who took them to Mechanic village in Warri, Delta State.
She claimed that she had to return the children to their parents and surrender herself to the police due to the pressure mounted on her by her family members and neighbours.
Confirming the report, Edo Police Command spokesman, DSP Tony Airhuoyo, stated that the suspects would be charged to court soon.

The use of military choppers like taxis must stop – Senate warns politicians

Members of the National Assembly have warned politicians against the use of military choppers like cabs.
Olubunmi Adetunmbi (ACN, Ekiti North), Ganiyu Solomon (ACN, Lagos) Babafemi Ojudu (ACN, Ekiti) and Uche Chukwumerije (PDP, Abia) blamed politicians for using a choppers meant for naval training as shuttle buses.
Deputy Senate Leader Abdul Ningi said, “It is worrisome that in this country military choppers are used indiscriminately like taxis for social events. We must bring out a standard framework of how to use military helicopters.”
The senate have resolved to mandate Navy, Air Force and Aviation committees to investigate the frequent air crashes in the country.
It would be recalled that a military chopper on Saturday crashed in Bayelsa, killing the former Kaduna State governor, Patrick Yakowa; former National Security Adviser, Andrew Azazi and their aides on board.
DailyPost

Opinion: Of pastors and private jets – The gods are to blame

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by Bayo Oluwasanmi

 

Leadership is influence. If the General Overseers (GOs), the Bishops, the Pastors, the Shepherds were to demonstrate that they’re the salt and light as Jesus commanded, then they have to obey Christ’s call to leadership and discipleship.

The crying urgency of the church today is leadership.
The most critical problem facing the Nigerian church today is leadership vacuum. The Nigerian church lacks both vision and true leadership.
Nigerian church is dying every day due to lack of strong leadership at this time when a once great nation tethers on the ebb.
The Bible is very clear and concise in the call to leadership and discipleship. When God decided to build a nation of his own, he didn’t enlist the masses. He called on one man – Abraham.
When it was time to deliver the Israelites out of Egyptian oppression, he didn’t need an army of people. He raised up one leader – Moses- to do the job.
When the Israelites needed someone to lead them to the Promised Land, Joshua was chosen.
Nigerian Christians especially the Pentecostal breed suffering from overdose of religious opium; many a times misunderstood the true nature of leadership.
They believe they must be sheepish, quiet, passive, aloof, and withdrawn to follow Christ. Their biggest problem is that they confused meekness with weakness.
One of the central teachings of Christ is that whoever is going to follow him must be a leader, meaning serving others.
Leadership is influence. If the General Overseers (GOs), the Bishops, the Pastors, the Shepherds were to demonstrate that they’re the salt and light as Jesus commanded, then they have to obey Christ’s call to leadership and discipleship.
And there is no more practical and meaningful way to show this than to be imitators of Christ as Paul was.
The unexplainable frenzy of material acquisition by Nigerian pastors has dominated the headlines for quite some time now.
The worst offenders in the wealth building schemes and scams, raids and robberies in God’s name are the fiery, fire brim and stone, repent or be damned Pentecostal preachers.
The appetites of “men of God” like sharks and whales have been enlarged and elongated devouring their flocks at every turn. Their new toys are jet airplanes for the new heavens – the skies.
Most of history is the conflict among people trying to lead and rule one another.
Human arrogance, pride, greed, and lack of contentment are asterisks on the footnotes of corrupt and insensitive leadership. No group of Christians that best fit this perfect example than the gospel preachers of Theology of Prosperity – the more you sow, the more you reap.
The newest club member of Jet Pastors is the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and founder of Warri based Word of Life Bible Church, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor.
We’re told that the $4.9m Bombardier/Challenger 601 10-seater jet was a birthday token from Pastor Oritsejafor’s congregation to mark his 40 years of service in the Vineyard of God.
We may never know the nameless and faceless church members who bought the birthday gift!
To win trust, leaders must exhibit both character and competence. The bar becomes sky-high especially for those who claimed they’re “men of God.”
If leadership and discipleship crystallized in sacrifice, suffering, sharing, kindness, love, and endurance, as Christ and the early Apostles demonstrated; then which Christ are these peddlers of false gospel following?
My favorite Apostle Brother Paul, I’m talking of Paul of Tarsus, provides enduring lesson in discipleship and leadership. Paul’s life demonstrates that in the most trying circumstances, the faithful minister of God can enjoy daily strength and victory not for the purpose of being comfortable, but in order to be a comforter.
The Jet Pastors should be motivated by Christ’s example of love, living daily in the fear of the Lord. The faithful minister can rejoice in the opportunity to be an ambassador for Christ by proclaiming reconciliation and restoration for estranged sinners.
How many of the sky-bound pastors are as bold and squeaky-clean like Paul to effectively neutralize the trumped up charges by the church in Corinth against Paul?
The severity of charges by the church in Corinth against Paul read like indictment of a grand jury: fickleness (1:17-23), pride (3:1), weakness (10:10), unskilled speech (11:6), severity (7:8-10), dishonesty (12:16-19), and mental instability (5:13).
Listen to Paul’s airtight defense: “For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort trough Christ. Even when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation!”
“We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it,” argued Paul.  “In fact, we expected to die,” Paul continued, “But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely on God, who raises the dead.”
As dogged and unrepentant as ever, Paul dared his accusers: “We can say with confidence and a clear conscience that we have lived with a God-given holiness and sincerity in all our dealings.”
Paul couldn’t help boasting of what he endured: “…been put in prison more often, been whipped times without number, and faced death again and again.”
Paul confronts the Church at Corinth with proofs: “Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine lashes.”  “Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and day adrift at sea.”
“…I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm.”
Summing up his defense, Paul said “We have depended on God’s grace, not on our own human wisdom. That is how we have conducted ourselves before the world, and especially toward you.”
People always need a leader. People are like sheep without a shepherd.  Today, Nigeria is without a leader. At a time when the Jet Pastors should fill the leadership vacuum, the “men of God” are literally AWOL. They’re busy evangelizing in the skies!
Nigerians’ immediate felt needs are many and varied. They’re in secure. They worry without abundant signs of hope. If there is anything in short supply in Nigeria today, it is hope.
How many of the sky-roving pastors can boast like Paul that their lives mirror God-given holiness and sincerity in all they do? How many times have they been whipped for the sake of the gospel? How many times have they been imprisoned for fighting on the side of the oppressed?
How many times have they starved for their congregation to eat? How many times have they been arrested or jailed in the name of the gospel?
What role have these pastors played to alleviate the sufferings of the poor in a country where half of their congregation are jobless, homeless, sick, diseased, hungry, depressed, tormented, tortured, and seemingly lost among the madding crowd?
What social programs have they initiated to supplement the income of their congregants most of whom like majority of poor Nigerians live on $1 a day – below the poverty line.
Most of the congregants and assistant pastors of these Jet Pastors cannot even afford the tuition fees for their children in colleges and universities owned by the Prosperity Pastors.
It is evident from the flamboyant, ostentatious, and reckless life styles of these pastors that they’re not true Disciples of Christ. It’s no wonder why Mahatma Gandhi condemned the hypocrites of the religion with a stinking rebuke: “I hate you Christians, but I love your Jesus.”
These apostles of greed, material wealth, exploitation, rip-off, rake-off, all in the name of Theology of Prosperity as opposed to Theology of Liberation; are the gods to blame for the increased misery and poverty of  poor and the gullible Nigerians.
Three New Testament pictures of a pastor as a leader stand out:
Shepherd and Sheep: The pastor guides and protects his sheep. “I am the good shepherd. The shepherd gives his life for the sheep” (John 10:10).
Captain and Army: The pastor prepares the troops for battle. “You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life (2 Tim. 2:3, 4).
Head and Body: This is a picture of the governing, protecting relationship in which the leader gives direction. “Speaking the truth in love…” (Eph. 4:15, 16).
The three pictures were adopted and applied successfully by activist clergymen of our time to confront tyrannical governments, and socio-economic problems facing their people.
The role of Bishop Desmond Tutu and other clergymen in the demise of Apartheid South Africa is still fresh in our memory. They served as buffer against the hostile forces and policies of President P.W. Botha.
Who could ever forget the revolutionary impact of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) on the Civil Rights Movement in the US?
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. an American clergyman, activist, and prominent leader in the African American Civil Rights Movement helped found the SCLC in 1957.
Best known for his role in the advancement of civil rights using nonviolent civil disobedience, led the 1963 March on Washington where he delivered his “I have a Dream” speech.
He led protests against poverty – Poor People’s Campaign – and the Vietnam War with a speech “Beyond Vietnam.”
Reverend Abernathy, Reverend Jesse Jackson and other Baptist Evangelists joined Dr. King in the Civil Rights Movement that liberated African Americans from oppressive white America.
Reverend Leon Sullivan aka the Lion of Philadelphia single handedly wrote the “Sullivan Principles” that divorced corporate America from Apartheid South Africa.
Reverend Sullivan’s vocational school-Opportunity Industrialization Center (OIC) – for high school graduates and drop outs are scattered throughout the world. Today, this program has turned around lives that would have been stunted, snuffed, or stranded.
The Jet Pastors have failed both in their prophetic role and humanitarian mission. Where is their venom against injustice? economic inequality? poverty? corruption? homelessness? joblessness? and other maladies that afflict the multitude of the poor.
The cruel complicity of the Jet pastors in the plundering of our nation is antithetical to the teachings of the gospel.
Their cozying up to Aso Rock and state governments is a coalition between missionary and mercenary. It’s a gospel of suicide mission. And the medicine is killing the patients!
Given the crises faced by Nigerians, the Jet Pastors have a choice: give up, back up, or stand up.
Imagine the scenario with our Jet Pastors leading a march on Abuja demanding that the looters be brought to justice, that a new Constitution Drafting Committee be convened, that federal and state governments reduce the wasteful bloated bureaucracy, that state police be introduced, that all the basic necessities of life be provided for the poor.
We’ll have successfully replicated a bloodless Arab Springs in Nigeria and things would have changed for the better.
These pastors have yet to discover the Biblical timeless principle: The Lord is with you when you are with him. The pastors are to lead the people, protect the people, fight on their behalf, and make sure the resources of the nation are judiciously managed to the benefit of all.
The Jet Pastors could be categorized into four groups: The drop outs – Those who give up and fail responsibility. The cop-outs- Those who make excuses for why they aren’t responsible. The hold-outs – Those who waiver too long to take responsibility. And lastly, the all-outs – Those who own the responsibility and take action.
Their connivance with the native oppressors to further deepen the misery and torment of the poor put the pastors squarely in the first three groups of the four categories.
Jesus we know, Paul we know, Bishop Tutu we know, Dr. King we know, Reverend Sullivan we know, and Mother Theresa we know. But who are these Jet Pastors?
The Jet Pastors should not for a moment think that because they’re in fortified, gated mansions and bullet proof jets that they’ll escape when the wrath of the oppressed comes knocking.
If you keep quiet at a time like this, deliverance and relief for Nigerians will come from other place. Who knows if perhaps your discipleship is for such a time as this?
YNaija.com

Another Air Disaster Averted On Ilorin-Lagos Route

If not for providence and expertise of the pilot of an Overland Airways flight from Ilorin to Lagos, the nation could have witnessed another air disaster in a year that has been filled already with one too many.

An Overland Airways Flight

The flight, OJ 1188, had difficulties stabilising in the air as the landing gear failed to retract after take-off from Ilorin Airport, Sunday.
The pilot was said to have continued the journey to Lagos, with the flight witnessing turbulence as the landing gear failed to retract.
A passenger on the flight said the aircraft wobbled its way into Murtala Muhammad Airport with its landing gear hanging dangerously throughout the flight.
The Director-General of Nigerian Civil Authority, NCAA, Dr. Harold Demuren, who confirmed the development, said the aircraft on take-off at Ilorin Airport, hit an object which made it impossible for the landing gear to retract thereafter.
He said the pilot was, however, able to manipulate the aircraft to land safely in Lagos, without injuries to the passengers.
InformationNigeria.org

“I Dumped Kim Kardashian Because She Lied About The Video” – Nick Cannon

Nick Cannon has revealed that he dumped Kim Kardashian after she ‘lied’ to him about the existence of her now-infamous video.
Despite calling the reality star ‘one of the nicest people you’ll ever meet’ Nick explained that he couldn’t forgive her for denying the tape existed. Radio presenter Nick, now happily married to Mariah Carey, briefly dated Kim from September 2006 to January 2007.
Speaking on The Howard Stern Show last week he explained: ‘This was my issue. We talked about this tape…And she told me there was no tape.
‘If she might have been honest with me I might have tried to hold her down and be like “That was before me” because she is a great girl.
‘She’s actually one of the nicest people you’ll ever meet. But the fact that she lied and told me that there was no tape?’
Kim made the tape while with then-boyfriend Ray J in 2003. It’s release brought her to a wide audience and directly led to her now-lucrative reality star career.
Nick revealed that he had always suspected that Kim might have had something to do with the tape’s release.
‘And I still think she might have even had a part to play with [its release],’ he said.
It seems unlikely Kim will be too concerned about losing out with Nick, however.
Since their breakup she has gone on to become one of America’s biggest stars, despite her lack of talent.
Nick seems to appreciate this, adding: ‘I think she’s a great businesswoman if you ask me.’
Kim is now happily dating rapper Kanye West.
He certainly doesn’t seem put off by her tape – in fact The Stronger rapper appears to make reference to the reality star’s infamous 2007 tape in his track Clique.
The song – which will feature on his album Cruel Summer – includes the line: ‘Eat breakfast at Gucci. My girl a superstar all from a home movie.’
Her other ex-boyfriends include Gabriel Aubry and Nick Lachey. She is currently locked in a messy divorce with second husband Kris Humphries, after a brief and disastrous marriage.
Kim’s rise to fame saw her introduced her to Hollywood’s socialite scene by her then close friend Paris Hilton.
Paris soon came to regret the move, as she was overshadowed by Kim when her video was leaked, with Vivid buying the rights to the video for $1m.
It was particularly galling for Paris, as a similar film featuring her had been leaked in 2003, briefly making her one of the world’s most notorious celebrities.
While Kim has always claimed she was ‘devastated’ by the release of the tape, it certainly made her a star.
It has even been alleged her mother Kris Jenner brokered the deal, with Kim receiving a hefty advance worth between $250,000 and $500,000.
Kim filmed the video when she was 23, and Keeping Up With The Kardashians premiered eight months after its release.
Back in June reports emerged that Kris had allegedly instructed Kim to make the video and even had her re-shoot it because the first take wasn’t ‘pretty enough’.
Kim’s younger sister Khloe was infuriated by the claims and said: ‘That is just disgusting and disturbing, and probably HIS fantasy!’
InformationNigeria.org

Blame Buhari’s boys

 by Tunde Asaju 

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The swamps of Okolobia point accusing fingers at General Muhammadu Buhari, everybody’s whipping boy. So did the flatlands of Dausayi. For seeking to impose frugality and good governance and lately to wrestle our society from decay; for being a northern Muslim and living in Kaduna, blame Buhari.

The Muslim-Christian and north-south dichotomies have been with us before the sharia riots in Kaduna, but blame Buhari. On this occasion of the General’s birthday; and though he is still mourning the death of his daughter, and now that of his governor, help me blame Buhari.

When it comes to value for human life; European and American dogs and cats have greater value than the ordinary Naija. You can go to jail for up to 14 years for cruelty to animals in those places. In Naija, even in death there is a distinction between men and women of caterpillar and juggernaut and the rest of us who have to wear the disposable adjective ‘ordinary’. How many people died in the Okolobia crash, Governor Yakowa, former NSA Patrick Azazi and four ‘others’? Pause!

Did anyone see Barak Obama on his feet the moment the Newtown, Connecticut murderer turned the gun on innocent children? How can Obama be so unpresidential as to cry? How silly can a president be recalling how many gun tragedies have marred his presidency? What, even the killing of ‘ordinary’ Trayvon Martin saw him stand up and identify. One little American killed in cold blood earned the sympathy and respect of the world’s most powerful individual. Why should he care?

Before I get those deluges of hate mails, I doff my fedora for President Jones for sparing us the ineloquence of making boring speeches even with a teleprompter. I am not asking him to go to Maiduguri. According to popular wisdom, the Kanuri got themselves into this mess on behalf of their power-hungry northern leaders; they should get themselves out or perish trying rather than curry the sympathy of a southern Christian president.

School children were raped in transit between the east and Lagos, nobody told the president, the youth minister, the women affairs minister, and no speeches were made. The kids would carry the scar – for life! Recently, a female student was killed in the east for refusing to be raped by armed bandits. There was no finger of protest.

Ordinary folks are kidnapped and sometimes killed in the east; the army is not called in. In fairness, in all these cases, the presidential spokesman responds with the same template which the ungrateful news media now describe as ‘terse’.

So, how does Buhari get back into the picture? A few social media friends asked the subversive questions last week when two VIPs died in a plane crash along with four disposable ‘others’. His question - when did naval helicopters become ‘kabu-kabu’ to be deployed to convey mourners from Okoloba to Yenagoa? He even alleged that a similar action happened penultimate week when VIPs were shuttling for loyalty between the president and his vice who were hosting different events at opposite ends of the Villa. The nation was shut down.

My friend feigned ignorance that the death of the parents of a presidential aide is not a national disaster worthy of the resources of our nation. He forgets that the aide’s budget is bigger than some state governments; that the aide in question is a Naija-Deltan from where we derive the fuel to power the crashed chopper. In short, this friend of mine suffers from the Buhari syndrome.

In government, Buhari, made a silly law that confined government vehicles back to the pool by 4 pm. No official could deploy a government vehicle to take his wife to the market or his children to school no matter how highly placed. Buhari could not have condoned fuel scarcity; those who hoarded sugar and milk would tell you how such goods were auctioned off. Such wickedly draconian laws would rob democracy of its shine and make public office unattractive to their excellent Excellencies and distinguished honourable. It would also be antithetical to the principle of loyalty.

Would an aide to Barack Obama, Francois Hollande or Iron Lady Angela Merkel have access to a naval helicopter for the burial of their parents? Please don’t ask? Would the governor of a state in America leave his official post, fuel up his official car and jet off to such an event at taxpayer’s expense? Please don’t ask.

We should never ask subversive questions in a land where every evil is the sentence of the gods–ikon Allah! So we dare not say that if we had been frugal with public office and public resources, Maryam Abacha would be smiling with her son, Ibrahim who killed himself and 14 others in Dausayi and crashed a presidential jet to booth. Patrick Yakowa would be at his desk this moment and the navy won’t be one chopper short. We could perhaps have saved the nation more resources sure to be deployed to newspaper adverts and funeral expenses for the dead VIPs and the meaningless probes whose findings would end up in a cupboard somewhere in the rock of offense. Heh, blame Buhari for giving us an invitation to treat. Let the party continue.

DailyTrust

A Must Read! How A Woman Saved Her Husband

To marry a good wife is one of the best thing that can happen to a man. The story goes thus:

I, Sarah Adams take Lawson Kuti as my lawful wedded husband, to love and to cherish, in sickness and in health, till death do us part” she smiled at him through her veil.

“You may now kiss your bride Mr. Lawson” the Pastor beckoned.

Lawson’s heart raced as he gently unveiled his bride’s face. She looked so beautiful. He gently bent over and placed a soft kiss on her lip. Sarah in turn embraced him tightly with tears of joy streaming down her face.
“Never leave me Sarah” he whispered in her ear.
“I will never leave you” she whispered and they slowly released themselves from the embrace.
“I present to you the latest couple!” The Pastor exclaimed excitedly
The church cheered and Sarah cried more in her husband’s arms
5 years Later
Sarah silently tip toed behind her husband. He was in his study, engrossed in reading. She smiled to herself and gently covered his eyes with both hands.
“It’s just you and I in this house Sara, plus, I smelled you the moment you walked in” He dropped
Sara released her hold, sighed and sat on the study table, “Why do you figure me out so easily? I can’t even surprise you! That sucks” she curled her arms around his neck
“You are my wife, nothing you do is supposed to surprise me” He playfully pecked her nose.
“But you’ve been in the study all day and I’m bored!” She rolled her eyes
“So what kind of fun do you suggest we have then?” He swooped her off the table in his arms
“No! no that kind of fun!” She hit him playfully till he put her down
“Ok”, He folded his arms on his chest, looking into her eyes, “So what do you want us to do?”
“Not us. Actually, all I want is to play with your play station and you’ve hidden it again! Just give it and you can continue your reading. pleaaaseee” She blinked her eyes playfully
“No way”, He went back toward his study chair and sat, “Not my play station”
“Why! You never let me touch it…like its your baby” She sulked
“Well”, he rolled his eyes, “Not like you’ve given me a baby yet”
Sara paused for a moment. Did he just say that to her? The words struck her deep down
“You shouldn’t have said that Lawson…” She managed to say, her countenance changing.
“But it’s true…I’m only saying the truth Sara” He turned to face her, still sitting on the chair.
“The truth? You think I don’t want us to have kids?”
“Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that…” He stood to face her now.
“Then what are you saying Lawson? Tell me, what is the truth?”
“Let’s not do this today…please. You can have the play station and play all you want. It’s in my footwear locker and the key is in my Bible”
“You always do this…hurting me with your words” Her voice began to shake
“Don’t start Sara please”
“Tell me why you said those words to me! I want to know!”
“Because I’m tired! I want to be a father! I want to have my own kids Sara…”
” and you think I don’t?!” Sara flared, trying not to let the tears pour
“Then why can’t you get pregnant Sara? This is the fifth year we are trying.” He clenched his teeh and walked out of the study.
Sara was in shock. She sat on the chair for some seconds, stood up again and saton the chair again…this time she held on to her blouse and burst into tears.
2weeks after
“Lawson, wake up please” Sara tapped him
Lawson gently opened his eyes and looked at the alarm clock by his bedside, “It’s 2:00am Sara…”
“It’s urgent”
“I’m listening” He said drowsily
“Mother says we should come for tests. She says she’s spoken to her doctor and he said we should come.”
“What?” Lawson opened his eyes now, “Your mother is the UK for Christs sakes”
“Let’s just do it. We can go for the weekend, lets just give it a shot, please.”
“No. That would be rather expensive and…”
“It’s my birthday today and the only thing I want from you is this trip”
Lawson fell quiet now. For the past two years now, his wife’s birthday skips his mind…totally.
“I’m…I’m sorry Sara…It skipped my mind…”
“It always does” She lay down back on the bed, backing him.
Lawson wrapped his arms around her waist, “I said I’m sorry…”
No response.
Lawson sighed, “Fine, we go this weekend”
“Really?” She turned sharply, excited
“If it will make you happy today”
“Thank you baby” She hugged him.
A week after
Sara jerked at the vibration of the phone in her pocket.
“Hi mom!” she pressed the phone to her ear with her shoulders, wiping the washed dishes with her hands.
“Honey…”
“What is it mom?” she pressed it harder
“The result…the result of the tests…” her mother cried
Sarah gently dropped the plate and the wiper, hear racing…”Just say it mom…”
That night
“I can never have children Lawson…” Sara cried
Lawson felt his world crash right in front of him, “W…what?”
“Mama called today…she’s gotten the tests results”
“Jesus Christ” Lawson stood, placing his palm on his head, “b…but you told m you were ok before we got married, you told me the doctor said your abortion didn’t damage your womb”
“Don’t bring my past into this!” Sara flared
Lawson laughed and got serious almost immediately, “You are crazy. I married a crazy woman!”
Sara looked at him in shock, like he’d lost his mind.
“The results say you can never have children and we bith know that this has to do with the abortion you had before we met!”, he flared, “are you happy?…you know we’re screwed right? No kids? what re we going to tell the world?”
“Lawson we can adopt…” Sara cried
“Adopt? Wow!”, he laughed again, “I married a funny woman too!” He got sserious again, “Its still not our baby! The damn baby is not my flesh and blood! You are full of deceit Sara” He looked into her eyes. Sara could see him fighting his tears.
“Lawson stop…you are hurting me…” Sara fell on her knees crying
“You want to know what I’m thinking?” Lawson looked at her with disgust, “I’m thinking how on earth I’m going to stand seeing your deceitful face for the rest of my life”
“Sra cried harder, “Dont give up Lawson…So far I have a womb…I can still carry our baby…”
“I am not giving up on having my baby, I’m giving up on you” Lawson turned around to leave
“Lawson!” She held his feet, “I’m hurting too…”
He only dragged his feet from her hold and drove out of the house. She wept.
A month Later
“Mother, he’s not even talking to me. All of a sudden we are both strangers…He doesn’t eat my food, comes home late…he hates me so much and its killing me. I’m confused…to think that it’s ,e truly hurting…”
“For how long will you hide this truth from him. You’ve got to let him know…you can’t carry his…”
There was the sound of a car hon
“Mom I’ve got to go…he’s back”
“Baby, you’ve got to let him know. It can work when you two are one in mind”
“Bye mom” she ended the call.
Lawson came into the house, about to walk past her.
“Lawson” She held him
“I’m tired” He didn’t want to look at her face
“I know…can we talk for some minutes?” She tried to help him remove his suit
“Look what is it” He jerked from her
“Do you hate me this much? you can’t even look me in the eye? you can’t even stand my sight? Lawson…it’s me Sara…your best friend…” Her eyes grew moist
“I’m in no mood for this” He turned around to walk away
“Don’t you dare leave when I’m talking to you!” She dragged him by the suit.Just then, some papers fell to the floor. Sara quickly bent to pick them up…her hands shook and her body became numb all over.
“D…divorce papers? Lawson?” She searched his eyes
“Answer me goddammit!” She held him by the collar of his shirt, crying
“They are for you to sign. I want out” Lawson dropped
“Y…you what?” she slowly freed him from her hold
“It’s not going to work Sara, can’t you see?”
“Lawson I can’t believe you would think of a divorce and even go this far…why are you so wicked!” she cried, angry
“No! Why are you so wicked!” He retorted, flaring
“Think about me for once. I am a man for Christs sakes. My children are my pride! and you are about to deny me that for the rest of my life because of your stupid mistake!”
“What about me! have you stopped for once to think about what I’m going through”
“Its your cross, carry it” Lawson fixed his angry eyes on his wife
“No, its now our cross and I am not signing those divorce papers! We vowed never to leave each other!”
“Isn’t it better Sara that you save yourself more hurt and sign these papers than to see another woman move into this house before your very eyes?” he said with a tone of sarcasm
Sara’s heart thumped, “What?”
“You heard me…another woman who can help raise a family, so save yourself the stress and sign the damn papers. I need it tomorrow”He turned around to leave again
“She still can;t carry your baby” Sara dropped
“Not all women had abortions. Not every woman was like you.” He scorned
“You are the one who can’t give me a child!” Sara let out, crying.
Lawson stopped now, turned around and walked towards her, “Whatever your plan is won’t work”
“I told you I could never have a child because its you who can’t make me pregnant”
“Shut up! shut up Sara! what the hell are you saying!” He shook her shoulders violently
“You are infertile Lawson…the doctor says you have primary infertility…” Sara burst into tears
Lawson gasped, loosing his balance.
“Mother called me to give me the news. I was shattered, I felt like my world was over but more importantly I thought of you. I thought of what the news could do to you, I thoight of the best way to tell you… never for once did i think of leaving you. I bore your insults, your scorn, because of my past. It was so easy to judge me and think of yourself. I am the one who is hurting, I am the one who should bring some miserable divorce papers…but I thought of you…I thought of hope, faith and a miracle…I thought of my vow to you on that altar. In sickness and in health remember?”, she smiled through her tears, “all of a sudden you are as weak as a baby…looking in your eyes, I can see you sudenly have lost all your guards, You are so wicked”
“Sara…” Lawson fell on his knees, torn.
“No!” She quickly fell on her knees too, “No Lawson…” She couldn’t bear to see him cry
“I’m…I’m infertile”, he cried, “What is left of me?” he searched his wife’s eyes
“Lawson please…” she held his face, “I understand…it has been so hard for me…I have put myself in your shoes since the first day…”
“You don’t deserve this…you deserve better…I can’t believe I scorned you all along…please let me leave you”
“No” she shook her head, “You are my husband. I won’t leave you. I won’t let you leave me…I believe in miracles”
“I’m doomed…Sara I’m doomed…”He allowed his wife take him in her arms and on her shoulder he wept like a child.
In the Morning
Sara gently opened her eyes, looking beside her bed…it was empty. She quickly sat up on seeing a note gently placed on the bed. Hands shaking, she opened the letter to read.
Sara,
I cannot bear the shame. I have treated you so unfairly, yet you love me still, you are with me even in this condition of mine. To think that you knew all along and you never for once gave me a clue that it is my fault we are in this mess, makes me so unworthy of you. I love you enough to let you build another life with a man who can make you happier. I’m torn Sara and all I ask is your forgiveness. I have always loved you and if you truly love me then please start your life over again…without me…I am truly sorry for disappointing you.
Lawson.
Sara couldn’t control the tears. She couldn’t think straight anymore. She picked her cell phone, shaking…
“Hi Mr. Lawson’s office please”
“hI Lola…” she cried, “have you seen my husband today?”
“No…no ma’am, we’ve been expecting him at work. He has a presentation in fifteen minutes”
“Oh God…God…” Sara dipped her hand in her full hair
“Everything ok ma’am?”
“Thank you” she ended the call.
She quickly got down from the bed and in her pajamas she ran into her car. She dialed his number repeatedly as she drove…no answer.
At 2:00pm
She sped into Fred’s compound, a close friend to her husband.
“Fred!” she banged the door hastily till the door flung open
“My God Sara what’s wrong?” Fred held her
“It’s…its Lawson…have you seen him? is he here?”
“No…Haven’t heard from him in a week”
“Oh God” she held her hair
“What’s wrong?”
But she was already walking away into her car.
“Sara!” He called after her.
She zoomed away.
4:30pm
“Mom, Dad, I can’t find Lawson…I can’t find your son…” she cried as she paced in front of the two who looked lost
“You have to calm down and tell us what happened” Lawson’s mother put her arms around Sara.
Sara burst into tears, “Please Dad could you try his number, maybe he’d pick your call?”
“Have you been to his office?” He picked his cellphone and dialed his son’s number
“I have been everywhere I know him to be likely available”
“It’s ok…calm down please” Lawson’s mother pet her
“He’s not picking. What exactly went wrong between you two?” Lawson’s father searched Sara’a eyes
9:00pm
Sara was still in her pajamas and on her way back home, exhausted and stuck in the traffic. She had told Lawson’s parents everything. The poor couple was so shattered and also begging her to begin a new life. Sara buried her head on the steering, crying; she hadn’t realized the green light.
“Hey get off the freaking road!” a driver cursed from behind her
“God please don’t let him harm himself…keep him safe and lead me to him…please God…” she quickly started the car and began to move.
Suddenly she remembered the church where they wedded and took their vows. It was two hours from here; she made a u-turn and headed for the church hoping to find some peace.
She tiredly got down from the car, drenched and exhausted. She trudged into the open entrance of the church. She paused for a moment; shocked…it was Lawson sitting at the front row of the empty church, facing the altar.
“Lawson!” She began to run towards him, happy, relieved that he was ok.
“Sara?” He quickly stood as she approached him, “Sara…”
They both ran into each other’s arms. He hugged her so tightly
“I looked for you everywhere….thi­ s was the last place I thought you’d ever be…I just came and I saw you…Lawson….I’m­ so happy you are ok” she touched his face
“I didn’t know where else to go…It just feels like I cant face the world anymore…” he slowly released her from his embrace.
“Take my hand” Sara stretched out her hand, “C’mon, just take it”
Lawson gently clasped his hand into hers and she took him to the altar and stood to face him. She searched his eyes so deeply and hadn’t seen him so weak and helpless.
“Five years ago Lawson, we both stood on this altar. Remember our vows? Remember you whispered in my ear never to leave you. I told you I wouldn’t…that’s­ why I’m here. I am your wife Lawson, I am meant to be with you forever, through the bad and good times. We’ve had good times, why would I leave you now? All I want from you is to believe that you can still give me a child despite what the result said…I want you to believe in a miracle”, she held his face, “remember when you told me I was a miracle in your life?…our children will be our miracles too. Trust God with me because I know it won’t be long…”
“Who are you Sara…” Lawson was weak with her words
“The one who vowed to be with you till the end” she smiled through her thin tears
“God I love you so much Sara” He hugged her again
“So will you come back home with me?” Sara searched his eyes
“I have no other place to call home” He placed a soft kiss on her lips.
2 years after
Lawson and Sara were on the sofa watching a late night movie. Sara was resting on his shoulders when she felt the movement
“Lawson Lawson, it moved again…don’t miss it this time touch touch” she gently placed his palm on the side of the stomach. Both felt the movement of their child
“I can feel him…I can feel him” Lawson placed his head on her belly
“I can feel him growing each day inside of me…”
“What do you think its saying now by this movement?”
“Thank you dada for believing in me” she laughed. They both laughed “The movement has stopped” he slowly removed his head from her stomach, “I think he’s sleeping”
Sara rested on his shoulders again, “In six months you’d be a father, “You finally got your miracle”
Lawson tilted his wife’s face to him, looking into her eyes, “Sara…you were the miracle I needed. Thank you for not leaving me.”
Sara tickled his nose with hers, “I love you too. Always will”, she smiled, “We missed a whole lot on our movie”
“Movie can wait, but this can’t” He gently planted a kiss on her belly.
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