I enjoy Nigerian eba, pounded yam, egusi, ogbono soup – Liberian Presidential adviser

Liberian Presidential Adviser on Religious Matters, Rev. Niimely Emmanuel, revealed how as a refugee in Nigeria, he relished Nigerian menu.   Nigerian local diet seems to be making waves in the international arena as more and more top foreign government officials are starting to request for such menu at their home country. One of such […]

Liberian Presidential Adviser on Religious Matters, Rev. Niimely Emmanuel, revealed how as a refugee in Nigeria, he relished Nigerian menu.

 

Nigerian local diet seems to be making waves in the international arena as more and more top foreign government officials are starting to request for such menu at their home country.

One of such person is Senior Special Adviser to the Liberian President on Religious Matters, Rev. Niimely Emmanuel.

Rev. Emmanuel who was in Lagos recently to attend a thanksgiving service at the Faith Mission Cherubim and Seraphim Church at Satellite Town, Lagos, revealed that he still enjoyed eating eba, pounded yam with either egusi or ogbono soup.

He said he actually learnt how to eat Nigerian food many years ago when he was in Nigeria as a refugee.

He said that he was among many young Liberian then who sort refuge when Liberia was going through civil war.

“As a young man then, I stayed in Apapa Wharf in 1985 during the Liberian civil war. At that time, life was pretty difficult so to survive we ate local Nigerian dishes. As a matter of fact, I still enjoy eating eba, pounded yam with either egusi or ogbono soup. The memories of my days in Apapa are still evergreen in his mind,” he said.

Though he came to Nigeria again last Sunday for a religious programme, he promised to visit places like Apapa ports where he stayed while he was in Lagos as a refugee.

He said: “I came here for a special thanksgiving and to ask the church to remember my country Liberia and pray for the success of my president, George Weah because his success is the nation’s success. When the President is blessed, the entire nation is blessed too. We also pray for protection of his life and that God will deliver him from all his enemies. Also, we ask that God sees him through.”

On religious crisis that continually brews in some West Africa countries, Emmanuel called on all to eschew religious tolerance. He said “Christians, Jews, Muslims, traditional worshippers, Buddhists and all those practicing other religions are still citizens of that country.

“So for me in my country as a religious adviser, I work with all religions. I make sure I fellowship with them all. One thing is that my office is a governmental and political office. I look at it from the angle that it’s not Church, Mosque or Buddhists, it’s a governmental office.”

According to him, wings should be opened to incorporate everybody and bring all the religions together and let them be part of what is happening in the country and problems can be solved with ease. “That is what we have been doing in my country and by His grace, things are fine,” he explained.

Rev. Emmanuel advised all African countries, particularly Nigeria, on the need to open up and incorporate everybody to see that the country is for all.

At the programme tagged “Anointing/Special Thanksgiving Service” the Deputy Primate of the church, Gen. Supt. Apostolic Mother Oluwaseye Yomi-Sholoye who was recently in Liberia, ended up facilitating the special adviser’s visit said the link with the West African country started two years ago.

She said: “It started in 2017 when a Bishop Munsu met us online (the church) and decided to travel to Nigeria to participate in our first crusade. He is the Prelate and Bishop of Christ Temple of Miracle Church in Liberia. He visited and worshipped with us about four times.

“Then I was unable to make it the trip and I asked if it would be possible in 2018. I was also unable to make it because the C&S Church in Nigeria was preparing for its annual conference and Faith Mission was the host church.

“I then gave my word that I will attend in 2019. So we were in Liberia and participated. I delivered the word on their 38th conference and their theme was ‘Rebuilding the temple.’ We ministered and impacted positively. The Lord through us carried out deliverances and healings.

“Asides being at the temple, we ministered at the president’s church in Liberia. We were there twice and God showed His mighty power. The people are already testifying of the goodness of God. In the process, we met so many people. It was not arranged. It was the Lord’s doing,” she stated.

On the special adviser’s visit to Nigeria she said: “We met him in Liberia with our garment. Even though they are not a white garment church, they were stupefied and flabbergasted at what the Lord is doing. They saw what the Lord was doing through us and they decided to come to Nigeria to visit us.”

On her philanthropy, Yomi-Sholoye said they carried out some humanitarian works over there in Liberia and visited deaf and mute people with foodstuffs and educational materials and prayed with them.