WARSAW, Poland – Poland's parliament is getting its first ever African lawmaker, a teacher and Christian pastor from Nigeria who has lived in Poland for 17 years and proven himself a popular local leader.

John Abraham Godson is a councilman in the central city of Lodz. The 40-year-old will fill a seat in the national parliament vacated by a fellow lawmaker from the Civic Platform party.

That lawmaker, Hanna Zdanowska, was elected mayor of Lodz on Sunday. Godson was her runner-up in the 2007 parliamentary elections.

He said Monday that he feels honored and believes it is a "historic moment" for Poland. As a lawmaker he plans to support technological innovation in Poland and bolster ties with Africa.

His swearing-in is expected in the coming weeks.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101206/ap_on_re_eu/eu_poland_first_african_lawmaker

John Abraham Godson (his real name is Godson Chikama Onyekwere) often claims that he has a MA and a PhD from US universities. The reality is very different. As one can learn from Godson's resume ([url=http://www.lodzkie.home.pl/pdf/John%20Godson.pdf]www.lodzkie.home.pl/pdf/John%20Godson.pdf [/url]), his "PhD" comes from the Americus University, a very suspect establishment which no longer exists and where one could get a PhD online for money, allegedly for $650. His "MA" comes from Trinity College of the Bible and Theological Seminary, Newburgh, Indiana, a Christian school which humbly admits on its website that its academic programming is not officially accredited in the US. If you wish to see it for yourself, google "Americus University" and "Trinity College and Seminar". Godson/Onyekwere has probably never even been to the US.

Godson claims, too, that he quit his "very prestigious job" at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture in Ibadan (where, as he claims, he worked as a "junior scientist" in the Analytical Services Laboratory) in 1993 for purely religious reasons, because he dreamt of conquering souls for Jesus in Eastern Europe, because Eastern Europe was a place where "thousands of people were tortured, people were being killed". He claims that he got the job at the IITA because he was the best student at Abia State University, Uturu. One can read about it here (the texts are in Polish): http://www.ekumenizm.pl/article.php?story=20071003103959260&mode=print and http://www.krytykapolityczna.pl/Serwissamorzadowy/GodsonImigrantpastorradny/menuid-403.html?comment_id=19290&joscclean=1

Finally, the guy claims that he has been to Nigeria only twice during the last 17 years, although he says, too, that his mother and six brothers and sisters still live in Nigeria [url]http://wiadomosci.wp.pl/kat,1515,page,2,title,Syn-Bozy-na-slowa-Kaczynskiego-musialem-zareagowac,wid,12935271,wiadomosc.html[/url]. Can someone like that be trusted ?

stop posting this nonsense again. how many times do you have to post this nonsense.

nice one! one of our own. i hope nigeria can just tap into its enormous human potential

Nice one, but this is another ibo 419

babapupa:

Nice one, but this is another ibo 419

Lie. The man is Yoruba. See him here
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-553309.0.html

Another Emeagwali

I love Ibos

They are the best 419ers around.

ChristophT:

John Abraham Godson (his real name is Godson Chikama Onyekwere) often claims that he has a MA and a PhD from US universities. The reality is very different. As one can learn from Godson's resume ([url=http://www.lodzkie.home.pl/pdf/John%20Godson.pdf]www.lodzkie.home.pl/pdf/John%20Godson.pdf [/url]), his "PhD" comes from the Americus University, a very suspect establishment which no longer exists and where one could get a PhD online for money, allegedly for $650. His "MA" comes from Trinity College of the Bible and Theological Seminary, Newburgh, Indiana, a Christian school which humbly admits on its website that its academic programming is not officially accredited in the US. If you wish to see it for yourself, google "Americus University" and "Trinity College and Seminar". Godson/Onyekwere has probably never even been to the US.

Godson claims, too, that he quit his "very prestigious job" at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture in Ibadan (where, as he claims, he worked as a "junior scientist" in the Analytical Services Laboratory) in 1993 for purely religious reasons, because he dreamt of conquering souls for Jesus in Eastern Europe, because Eastern Europe was a place where "thousands of people were tortured, people were being killed". He claims that he got the job at the IITA because he was the best student at Abia State University, Uturu. One can read about it here (the texts are in Polish): http://www.ekumenizm.pl/article.php?story=20071003103959260&mode=print and http://www.krytykapolityczna.pl/Serwissamorzadowy/GodsonImigrantpastorradny/menuid-403.html?comment_id=19290&joscclean=1

Finally, the guy claims that he has been to Nigeria only twice during the last 17 years, although he says, too, that his mother and six brothers and sisters still live in Nigeria [url]http://wiadomosci.wp.pl/kat,1515,page,2,title,Syn-Bozy-na-slowa-Kaczynskiego-musialem-zareagowac,wid,12935271,wiadomosc.html[/url]. Can someone like that be trusted ?

So you registered in Nairaland solely to disparage this man?. You posted links written in Polish undoubtedly written by his political detractors and you(A Nigerian) who couldn't stomach his newly found success decides to go online to disparage him. It is obvious that you live in Poland too and cannot understand why a man who came to Poland years after you have been there is more successful than you; if not, how come you were able to decipher what was written in Polish.

What is your business on how many times he has traveled to Nigeria in the last 17 years?. There are many Nigerians in the diaspora who haven't traveled home in the last 15 years even though their family lives in Nigeria.

On his degrees, half of the pastors in Nigeria obtain their degrees from the same source and I don't see how it stops them from preaching the gospel. His new job neither requires a masters degree nor does it require a PHD.  Did he pay the online university $650 through you?. You are just a hater and that's it.

igbobuigbo:

Lie. The man is Yoruba. See him here
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-553309.0.html

STFU with your dumb link. Awon 419 oshi buruku .

Aloy+Emeka:

So you registered in Nairaland solely to disparage this man?. You posted links written in Polish undoubtedly written by his political detractors and you(A Nigerian) who couldn't stomach his newly found success decides to go online to disparage him. It is obvious that you live in Poland too and cannot understand why a man who came to Poland years after you have been there is more successful than you; if not, how come you were able to decipher what was written in Polish.

What is your business on how many times he has traveled to Nigeria in the last 17 years?. There are many Nigerians in the diaspora who haven't traveled home in the last 15 years even though their family lives in Nigeria.

On his degrees, half of the pastors in Nigeria obtain their degrees from the same source and I don't see how it stops them from preaching the gospel. His new job neither requires a masters degree nor does it require a PHD.  Did he pay the online university $650 through you?. You are just a hater and that's it.

The boy must be one jealous asylum seeker from Yoruba living in Poland.

Aloy+Emeka:

So you registered in Nairaland solely to disparage this man?. You posted links written in Polish undoubtedly written by his political detractors and you(A Nigerian) who couldn't stomach his newly found success decides to go online to disparage him. It is obvious that you live in Poland too and cannot understand why a man who came to Poland years after you have been there is more successful than you; if not, how come you were able to decipher what was written in Polish.
k
What is your business on how many times he has traveled to Nigeria in the last 17 years?. There are many Nigerians in the diaspora who haven't traveled home in the last 15 years even though their family lives in Nigeria.

On his degrees, half of the pastors in Nigeria obtain their degrees from the same source and I don't see how it stops them from preaching the gospel. His new job neither requires a masters degree nor does it require a PHD.  Did he pay the online university $650 through you?. You are just a hater and that's it.K

Keep your mouth shut. Must every damn thing be labeled hating. That's a valid info and this is a public forum. People are free to post what ever they want.

So you registered in Nairaland solely to disparage this man?

No, I registered in Nairaland to denounce his shameless lies because most Nigerians (and most Poles) don't know that the man is a liar.

You posted links written in Polish undoubtedly written by his political detractors

That's not true, the links were not written by Godson's political detractors. He does not seem to have any political detractors in Poland. The first link is to his resume, the second one and the third ones - to interviews with him.

and you(A Nigerian) who couldn't stomach his newly found success decides to go online to disparage him.

Aloy+Emeka, I can assure you that I am not in the slightest envious of Godson's political success. Personally I have no political ambitions and would not like to become an MP, either in Poland, or in Naija, or in any other country of the world.

It is obvious that you live in Poland too

You're right on this point; well done !

and cannot understand why a man who came to Poland years after you have been there is more successful than you

I don't crave more success, but I am disgusted that a dishonest man is so successful and moreover portrays himself as a saintly fellow.

What is your business on how many times he has traveled to Nigeria in the last 17 years?. There are many Nigerians in the diaspora who haven't traveled home in the last 15 years even though their family lives in Nigeria.

Unlike many Nigerians in the diaspora, Godson is an affluent man and has been staying legally in Poland for many years. Moreover, he portrays himself as an exemplary Christian family man. Therefore I've found it a little strange (and I am not the only one) that he has been to Nigeria only twice in the last 17 years. But maybe you are right, maybe this is not a valid reason to criticize him.

On his degrees, half of the pastors in Nigeria obtain their degrees from the same source and I don't see how it stops them from preaching the gospel. His new job neither requires a masters degree nor does it require a PHD.

Of course he does not need an MA or a PhD to be a MP, Aloy+Emeka. The problem is that he portrays himself as a very well-educated man who has graduated from US universities. He often puts Dr. before his name, as you can see e.g. here http://www.onlinenigeria.com/alumni/ad.asp?p_first=21863 or in a comment under the following article http://newsrss.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/3819027.stm. Many Poles consider his academic credentials as one of his greatest strengths.  Unlike "Dr" John Abraham Godson/Godson Onyekwere, many people had to work very hard and make great sacrifices to get their academic degrees. I find it very unjust.

And even if half of the Nigerian pastors have indeed obtained their degrees for money from suspect US establishments, does it mean that we should approve of such behaviour ? Only because they are pastors and preaching the Gospel ? A pastor can be dishonest and cynical, being a pastor does not make anyone holy. 

You are just a hater and that's it.

You are very wrong. I am definitely not a hater. There was no hatred or anger in my post.

The boy must be one jealous asylum seeker from Yoruba living in Poland.

If Godson were Yoruba, I would have written exactly the same thing. I have never been a tribalist.

ChristophT

please you don't need to defend yourself, quite shameful people are attacking people for exposing lies

Many Nigerians have not returned home after they left. I have an uncle who has been in the U.S. for 28 years and he hasn't been back to Nigeria.

ChristophT:

No, I registered in Nairaland to denounce his shameless lies because most Nigerians (and most Poles) don't know that the man is a liar.
That's not true, the links were not written by Godson's political detractors. He does not seem to have any political detractors in Poland. The first link is to his resume, the second one and the third ones - to interviews with him.

Aloy+Emeka, I can assure you that I am not in the slightest envious of Godson's political success. Personally I have no political ambitions and would not like to become an MP, either in Poland, or in Naija, or in any other country of the world.
You're right on this point; well done !

I don't crave more success, but I am disgusted that a dishonest man is so successful and moreover portrays himself as a saintly fellow.

Unlike many Nigerians in the diaspora, Godson is an affluent man and has been staying legally in Poland for many years. Moreover, he portrays himself as an exemplary Christian family man. Therefore I've found it a little strange (and I am not the only one) that he has been to Nigeria only twice in the last 17 years. But maybe you are right, maybe this is not a valid reason to criticize him.

Of course he does not need an MA or a PhD to be a MP, Aloy+Emeka. The problem is that he portrays himself as a very well-educated man who has graduated from US universities. He often puts Dr. before his name, as you can see e.g. here http://www.onlinenigeria.com/alumni/ad.asp?p_first=21863 or in a comment under the following article http://newsrss.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/3819027.stm. Many Poles consider his academic credentials as one of his greatest strengths.  Unlike "Dr" John Abraham Godson/Godson Onyekwere, many people had to work very hard and make great sacrifices to get their academic degrees. I find it very unjust.

And even if half of the Nigerian pastors have indeed obtained their degrees for money from suspect US establishments, does it mean that we should approve of such behaviour ? Only because they are pastors and preaching the Gospel ? A pastor can be dishonest and cynical, being a pastor does not make anyone holy. 
You are very wrong. I am definitely not a hater. There was no hatred or anger in my post.

Have you informed the polish authorities? I think they, not us, are the ones who need the information. The guy is a parliamentarian in Poland not in Nigeria and he is also a Polish citizen.

Omenani:

Many Nigerians have not returned home after they left. I have an uncle who has been in the U.S. for 28 years and he hasn't been back to Nigeria.

Yep. Lots of Nigerians in the US who have been there for a long time and are never coming back, unfortunately.

DapoBear:

Yep. Lots of Nigerians in the US who have been there for a long time and are never coming back, unfortunately.

Why would that be unfortunate? America is a land of immigrants. People find new homes. Demographics change. Do you see Italian-Americans, Polish-Americans, German-Americans returning to the country of their ancestors? The answer is no. They recognize their unique history, but they are comfortable living in America. I am comfortable living in America, and I know many Nigerians some born in the U.S. and some born in Nigeria.

Omenani:

Why would that be unfortunate? America is a land of immigrants. People find new homes. Demographics change. Do you see Italian-Americans, Polish-Americans, German-Americans returning to the country of their ancestors? The answer is no. They recognize their unique history, but they are comfortable living in America. I am comfortable living in America, and I know many Nigerians some born in the U.S. and some born in Nigeria.

Hope you die as slave in America

We dont want you in Nigeria

You are a bloody third class citizen in Maryland

Beast of no origin


Akatabian

Omenani:

Why would that be unfortunate? America is a land of immigrants. People find new homes. Demographics change. Do you see Italian-Americans, Polish-Americans, German-Americans returning to the country of their ancestors? The answer is no. They recognize their unique history, but they are comfortable living in America. I am comfortable living in America, and I know many Nigerians some born in the U.S. and some born in Nigeria.

It isn't unfortunate for those who move; America is easily the best country on earth. I love it here.

But it sucks for those who are left behind. And for Yoruba/Igbo/etc culture that is weakened by seeing the best leave it.

Like, the very people most capable of improving Nigeria are the ones who end up leaving. So in that respect, to me is a bit sad. This is part of the reason I'm pretty keen on returning to Nigeria (or at least the SW part thereof.)