EXPIRED
“ANOINTING”? The plane truth.
The respected lawyer Femi Falana (SAN)
advised Christians at an event yesterday to challenge pastors who have
established schools that poorer members of the church cannot afford to send
their children to despite making their contributions however meagre or gaseous.
He also said something quite significant which may just glide under the radar.
He mentioned that certain respected pastors cannot travel to the UK today
because they have been indicted of financial crimes perpetuated under the
raincoat of “ministry”.
I was involved in an extensive
discussion with two brothers about two weeks ago and was shocked to learn about
the atrocities done by a few in the name of God. These individuals are
exceptionally popular, charismatic and in sync with the high and mighty of both
the religious and political realms of Nigeria. I was made to understand that
the financial crimes that witnessed the demise of certain “high profile” banks
and the subsequent vaporization of investors’ funds may have been facilitated
by the timely intervention of some “spirit” beings. The wealth of the heathen
may have suddenly condensed in a few Lloyds and Barclays Bank accounts operated
by some anointed folks in diaspora.
I do not quite know what kind of
intrigue or cover up going on at the Ikotun area of Lagos at the moment. I
understand a building under construction collapsed within the premises of a
religious organisation and the Lagos state government has not yet or is
unwilling to overrun the place because of the perceived prowess and powers of
the fellow involved. It is common knowledge that collapsed buildings or burnt
markets are readily occupied by the state government rendering them desolate
for months to years with redevelopment in view. That unfortunately is not the
case as it involves a supposedly respected and highly followed personality. The
governor may just be treading cautiously or in reverence of the anointed one;
the recent state visit by the governor in a bid to curb the spread of the Ebola
virus tells a great deal. A 5-storey shopping mall under construction collapsed
at Muri Okunola, Victoria Island on November 4, 2013. Before this were 6th of July 2011 building collapse at
Idumota; four storey collapse on Aderibigbe street Maryland on the 25th of October 2011 and a 21st of July 2013 two storey building that
collapsed at Ishaga street Surulere amongst other structures across the state.
The residual lands have since been taken over and mostly remain bare.
My friend complained bitterly about the
quality of the man in charge of the Lagos state emergency management agency (
LASEMA), Mr. Femi Oke-Osanyintolu. He seemed very incoherent and substandard
during his interview 2 days ago on Channels TV when asked questions about the
situation at the disaster site. The same Channels TV also covered an isolated
case of a woman who was said to have committed suicide by hanging herself
somewhere in Magodo on the 12th of
September. The relevant agency that was called to evacuate the scene delayed
leaving local residents and passers-by with sufficient time to photograph and
record the suspended body of a frail woman now identified as Liberian like they
would a celebrity. They eventually arrived but were halted by members of the
local community who insisted that a somewhat cleansing ritual that involved a
chicken had to be done around the scene before the body could be cut down. The
head of the team who spoke to the reporter obliged them and I was left
wondering why the police were not on the spot to secure the potential crime
scene. If a state government official can give in to “ritualist” in a case that
should have been deemed suspect, what would they not do at a seemingly hallowed
ground? They took down the body eventually, wrapped it up and shoved it in the
back of a pick-up van perhaps for cremation. No eyebrows raised and no
investigation launched.
I would not have been too disturbed
about the recent collapse until I read about the controversies about mortality
figures and the rather pathetic attempt by those involved to reduce the
severity of wasted souls to an attack by alien ships instead of gross
negligence. What nonsense? To suggest that strange aircrafts were hovering over
the ill-fated building and perhaps dumping chemicals from a security video clip
without correcting for parallax error is an affront to the collective dignity
of all Nigerians and the international community save for the ever loyal
followers of the assembly. When did the movement of aircrafts traveling in a
straight line become hovering? The Lagos airport landing strip is near that
region while helipads are sited in the vicinity as well. It should not take a
serious reporter too long to visit such sites to request for landing and
arrival information from 11am to 1pm of the 12th of September in order to blow this
absolutely ludicrous theory out of the water. Sadly, far too many people hold
such a fellow in high esteem and would rather relay news as it emanates from
the horse’s mouth. The governor of Lagos is either a secret follower of the
revered shepherd or is just too timid or cautious about going all out to nail
all the culprits involved in this latest fiasco. I think it is possible that he
does not want to be seen as being too aggressive and labelled as a religious
bigot out to wipe out the other religions.
Now to the absurd; a meagre £9.3 million
collected from 3 individuals who arrived aboard a private jet to South Africa.
The symbol of Nigeria’s affluence was said to have conveyed 2 Nigerians and an
Israeli national to the rainbow nation allegedly to purchase arms. I do not
quite know about legitimate arms dealing across the globe but I am aware that
certain nations are more notable for manufacturing and trading in various
grades of weaponry. I know Nigeria has had dealings with the United Kingdom,
the United States, Israel, China and perhaps Russia in the past but one thing I
am convinced about is that South Africa is not reputed to be among the leaders
in large scale legitimate arms dealing. Nicolas Cage featured in a 2005 film
titled “Lord of War” in which he played an illegal arms dealer who sold weapons
to several countries including Liberia. The plot clearly exposes the operations
of gunrunners across the globe and to what lengths such individuals go to
ensure a thriving business. For the Nigerian Government to be implicated in
this shady deal speaks volumes about the nature of the species we are
unfortunate to call our leaders.
I understand that the jet in question
belongs to the Christian association of Nigeria president, Ayo Oritsejafor.
Reports have it that this jet is in fact different from the one he received as
a birthday present from congregants at his church a while back. He is said to
have leased it out to a company he has interests to manage so that those who
can afford to charter it can deposit some offering for the maintenance of the
jet. Many have come to the defence of the bling wearing and exceptionally
stylish “man of God” as having a right to offer his property for rent. They say
he could not possibly regulate what his jet gets used for as this is the sole
responsibility of the company with the lease. It does not matter if orgies take
place aboard the rented aircraft or if the aircraft is used to connect Mexico
and Columbia. If I had a haulage vehicle I want rented out to convey furniture
and home appliances from point A to point B, should I not be concerned if that
property gets used to carry beef from the abattoir to the markets or if it is
used to smuggle opium across the border? Would I not be tagged an unwilling
accomplice if something went horribly wrong?
Why should the man not be at least
questioned in this unpleasant matter of weapon acquisition? It made absolutely
no sense when the spokesperson of the department of state security, Marylyn
Ogar went on live television and dismissed the accusation levelled against the
erstwhile chief of army staff; General Ihejirika by the Australian clergy
without any enquiry whatsoever. I am sure she would soon appear and conclude
that the man of God was too pure to behold iniquity and hence could not be implicated
in any arms deal since he is a Christian and from the Niger-Delta region. The
man Oritsejafor has come out to attack those deemed to have pounced on the $9.3
million dollar story to further discredit his person via a press release where
he delved into irrelevancies and drifted off the main point many times. He
attacked those he regarded as opponents of the incumbent, letting the matter
degenerate into a politico-religious dimension even calling Nasir El-Rufai a
“street boy” at a point. This fellow Oritsejafor cannot possibly be
representing me or anyone at all who names the name of Christ. His political
ideology does not tally with mine and he mocked me ever so severely when he
went past Gethsemane all the way to the Wailing Wall and into the tomb where
Jesus burst out of over 2000 years ago to covet the “powers” inherent there for
his facially transforming president.
I understand that our modest Airforce
has been robbed of a fighter jet and 2 pilots; I hope they are recovered intact
soonest. I hope that South Africa would upgrade the risk assessment level of
Ikotun- Egbe and similarly moulded regions; I hope Jacob Zuma would advise his
more cerebrally challenged kith and kin accordingly just as the Ghanaian and
Cameroonian presidents should address their nations that God exists everywhere,
even in their backyards. Some who have been milked repeatedly in London and
diaspora to finance the rose tinted shades of the dandy and formerly “jerry
curled” pastor have woken from their slumber; a few others are armed with their
exogenously activated broca’s speech area devoid of contact with their
frontal lobes to launch curse alerts at me for daring to question the
anointing. The best of us is still a man, we fall and have the capacity to rise
again only that significant anti-gravitational force from a far superior source
is required at times. Our “anointed” ones have erred; most have dined with the
kings and stuffed their lungs with dishonest gains they have attributed to God.
They have watched on with aphasia while the people have suffered without anyone
to speak for them. There is no monopoly of anointing like cement or sugar; the
one who could have slain the anointed king was also anointed. Respect for
anointing ought to be reciprocal; it becomes a problem when this does not occur.
The few who have spoken and still speak
are labelled as overzealous even by their kind; they have been stoned in the
streets and murdered in their dreams, yet some keep the zeal and passion for
the land burning. I went to Ikotun with my father a few times in 1993/1994; we
were in search of a miracle that still has not come despite someone close
getting bruised by a prophet associate. My father got caught up in the web and
served there till sometime in September of 95. He wore all white every time he
was there in close proximity to the prophet until he came home that day in
September and wrote on the wall with white chalk that he had finally found
salvation and it was not at Ikotun. I do not want to talk about a certain
failing union as it is “none of my business” but I commiserate with the
bereaved from the preventable tragedy of the 12th; life has become
cheaper than pure water but we have yet another opportunity to revisit that
very soon.
The word of God to me and all who
believe my way is not meant to be used to validate our prejudices and justify
our actions and inactions. It is not meant to be used to nurture hate and breed
offsprings who were born in the past. The word ought to bridge gaps, seal
cracks, build bridges and guide in the light of faith, equity, righteousness
and doing good. Even if others are indulging in tearing down and upholding
ineptitude and corruption; we should not be seen thinking, teaching or practising such.
Worse still we should not be heard keeping silent instead of doing that
which is good.
There is still salvation for all and
sundry; to the gentiles it is foolishness and to the Jews it is a stumbling
block.
“Then
she cried out, "Samson! The Philistines have come to capture you!"
When he woke up, he thought, "I will do as before and shake myself
free." But he didn't realize the LORD had left him.” – Judges 16:20 (NLT)
Jide akeju
18/09/2014
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