In order to get out of the malaise of poverty, Nigeria must address the problem of pervading ignorance in the country. According to Evangelist Uma Ukpai, "poverty is a by-product of ignorance and wealth is the by-product of knowledge and idea. What we have mostly in the country is the idea probe. He also spoke on his mass crusade programme this year, which he said would take him to different geo-political zones across the country.

Last crusade
It was held in Kaduna State , Kafanchan Local Government to be precise. Let me seize this opportunity to thank the Governor of Kaduna State, Muhammed Markarfi who granted us several support towards the success of the cru­sade.

Some of his top government functionaries were there. He gave us a lot of encourage. He also ensured that security was provided.

Mandate
Yes, we have a mandate to reach other parts of the country. This year as from May, we will begin. We are planning to reach other zones across the country.. That is our mandate for this year. The level of favour one receives determines the degree of attainment. Everybody has favour from above, but not in the same propor­tion. That is why some people can affect the whole world whereas others cannot move

beyond their locality. We carry different levels of favour, which boils to the level of anointing. In our crusade, some cripple walked and the records are there. There were over, 2,000 people who received their healings. And it will interest you to know that we don't deliberately pray for the sick. But rather we worship god in a unique way. When you worship god in a unique way, you bring the power of power of God down to your presence. The worship songs come from creator's heart because God, according to the Bible is a choir master. So, when you are in the presence of God, you should be happy and joyful. God does riot like a grumbling, mumbling and complaining heart, only those who are happy are qualified to enter into His presence. If you are grateful and thank­ful to God, you'll unlock favour.

Mass crusade as bridge building
Our mandate is to organise mass crusade this year in places like Calabar to Lokoja to Adamawa to Plateau states. During our mass crusade, we usually compel churches to pray and worship with one another; care for one another, and support one another, God himself rejoices because of the unity of love. So we build bridges among churches. I have done it everywhere I go and I will still continue to do it. We used to bring bishops, evangelists from Methodist, Anglican, Pentecostal churches, Apostolic churches to come together, not only on the crusade ground but also ill the hotel rooms. Initially, they will resist, at the end, they usually come together and appreciate one another.

Why Benny Hinn crusade failed
It was due to top communication problem, there was 'a problem of communication. And a broken communication can cause a lot of disas­ter. There are people who worked very hard to ensure the success of that crusade, but lack of effective communication created a lot of misunderstanding, which worked against the crusade.

Obasanjo's anti-corruption war
You can see that because the government did not mobilise the people, because the government did not carry the people along in the crusade against corruption, you can see that the government is not achieving the desired result. We are talking of population of about 150 mil­lion. You can imagine what the success could have been if the people had been carried along from the beginning.

When you carry people along, they feel committed. But what we see is the president doing it alone. When you involve the people, they will surely get committed to the cause.

Process of anointing.
Contact with a great man of God brings impartation and impartation brings anointing. There ate people you come in contact with in life who will change your situation permanently. The more anointing you have, the easier for you to do things and the more comfort­able your life is.

God's time
It is important for the children of God to understand that when we set a time for our­selves for certain objectives, we should bear in mind that God does not maintain a rigid time. So your programme, your schedule can be altered as God directs. We have planned our mass crusade in different zones across the country. For example, we plan to be in Okigwe in June, in October we want to be in Lokoja, in November, we would be in Adamawa. But all this could change because God does not move by rigid calendar.

Poverty and ignorance
You see, money is the by-product of knowl­edge and idea. What we have mostly in the country is idea problem. This is what the larger society in Nigeria is suffering from. Let me remind you that a man of knowledge is great but a man of imagination is greater. Ignorance is a prison without light.

Nigerians, I must say, do not think. We only arrange our Prejudices and that is what is reflecting in every facets of our life. You ask me about third time agenda, you'll agree with me that if we think, it should not have come up at all. If the leaders think, then they should have inquire into what caused the all of the first, second and third republics which was aborted. A man who cannot think cannot help anybody, he can only create greater confusion.

Ignorance and constitutional amendment
I think what is going on is another form of corruption. How can you ask people who do not know what the constitution says about them to come and contribute to its amendment. The first step should have been to educate the people first on the contents of the document being sought to be amended. How many of us know what the constitution says about Impeachment? Nobody.

Even our lawmakers, most of them do not have copies of the constitution not to talk of its con­tents. I would rather suggest that our constitution, being a document that affects the collective destiny of the nation and her people ought to be taught at primary school level, secondary school and tertiary institution for effective understand­ing of its contents.

Ignorance and God's presence
People are running from pillar to post seeking God when God is right there with them in their bedrooms. God is everywhere and His divine presence is sure for those who know to call him. And God's power manifests in divine knowledge, divine favour and greater anointing. God's power is to control and have dominion. No mat­ter what the people say, if not for Christianity, many Nigerians would have been dead.

Marginalisation
I hear people complaining about marginalisation I laugh. The only people that are marginalized in Nigeria are the poor. Not Igbo man, not Yoruba man, not Calabar man, not Tiv man, not Ijaw man. Only the poor are truly marginalised in the country. And the moment you understand the ways of God and His purpose in your life, your life will change and poverty and affliction will flee from you. People should not go to church for going sake, they should culti­vate the habit of having a sustained personal relationship with God.

Culled from The Sun