Recently the founder of the
Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN), the revered man of God, Prophet TB
Joshua, a citizen of this country known worldwide and someone who has
contributed immensely to the social economic development and growth of Nigeria,
threatened to relocate his ministry from Nigeria.
The internationally acclaimed
preacher and philanthropist who is followed by millions worldwide from within
and outside Nigeria, stated that, his country has become hostile and difficult
for him to reside and operate in.
According to him, “This is the
most persecuted ministry in the world. Who are the people persecuting the
ministry? My people, Africa.
“That is why I choose to live a
lonely life. If you want to see me, come to this church. I don’t go out. It has
not been easy – because I don’t know who is a friend or who is an enemy.
“If you learn TB Joshua is not
around, I am in a revival. I live in the church here. I don’t have a house
outside.
“What happened to me from the
beginning of my ministry is enough to chase me out of this country.
“But I am still in your midst.
Upon the persecution and hatred, I decided to follow the path of love. You show
hatred; I show love”.
Many Nigerians are aware that, if
Prophet TB Joshua relocates from Nigeria, the aftermath will be disastrous and
further compound the economic woes of the already tethering social economic
well-being of Nigerians.
For those conversant with the
activities of the prophet, millions of foreigners troop into the country on
daily basis, all year round to see the manifestation of what God is using him
to do, but like the biblical saying, a prophet and rightly so is not always
recognized in his own home.
It is because of this that
Prophet TB Joshua has continued to be prosecuted, attacked, insulted without
the government and its agencies raising any eyebrows.
Days ago, a former Minister of
Aviation of the Federal Republic, Femi Fani Kayode, raised some salient issues
and accusations against the security apparatus of the federal government.
For clarity of purpose, this is
what Fani Kayode has to say:
“One of the single greatest
atrocities perpetuated by rogue elements in our intelligence agencies in modern
history was the blowing up of a guest house in Prophet TB Joshua’s church which
resulted in the death of approximately 116 people, most of whom were
foreigners.
“This took place on September
12th 2014. The perpetrators of this utterly barbaric act were the same people
that covertly and cleverly spun the tale that the building collapsed as a
result of a weak foundation and fed that pernicious lie to a gullible and
easily manipulated Nigerian media.
“They argued that the building
was built without the relevant permits and conveniently overlooked the fact
that, according to my sources at Alausa, Lagos state, between 60 and 70 percent
of buildings in the environs and suburbs of Lagos state, either never had a
building permit in the first place, procured one only after the relevant
building was constructed, or have fake ones which were procured through bribes.
“The motive for the attack was to silence and
discredit Joshua, who, by that time, had become a thorn in the flesh of many
within the corridors of power, simply because he was exposing the deepest
secrets about what was going on in the country and those who were covertly
working against former President Goodluck Jonathan.
“He went as far as to prophesy
and predict everything that would happen in the 2015 election which was
scheduled to hold two years later, with great accuracy, if President Goodluck
Jonathan did not remove certain people (whose names were mentioned) within his
government and inner circle.
“The attack involved the use of
certain members of our intelligence agencies who used a large remote-controlled
drone to fly over the building and who then activated an explosive device which
had been planted in the building days earlier with the drone.
“The whole thing appears to have been covered
up and those in high places in the intelligence agencies at the time, having
discovered that this was yet another rogue operation by a group of fifth
columnists within the security apparatus who were keen on silencing the
Presidents friends and who wanted to use the operation to embarrass and terrify
their perceived enemies and adversaries, decided to brush the whole thing under
the carpet and keep it quiet.
“And this is where things went badly wrong. In
a typical Nigerian manner, instead of digging deep and patiently trying to
establish the relevant facts and setting in motion a forensic-based and
professional investigation, the security agencies looked for a scapegoat,
turned on the man of God, made him the subject of a criminal investigation and
claimed that the building collapsed because it had weak foundations and because
it had not been properly built.”
However, as it is typical in the
Nigerian context, the government has kept mute, carrying on as if nothing is
amiss and the citizens too, weird down by the the current situation in the
country, are busy looking for what to eat and drink and not worried that
someone like the Prophet is being set up.
A country is not built like this
and there is no way we are going to make progress as a people with this
lackadaisical altitude to issues of such monumental propotion and expect us to
compete with other serious minded countries in the commity of nations.
Even the Federal Government that
should know better and try to get to the root of the matter because it
appreciates the contributions of TB Joshua is not saying anything tangible on
the development.
The federal government should
know better because when the Man of God threatened to relocate his ministry to
Israel the federal government through the Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai
Muhammed, advised him to shealth the idea, knowing the consequences.
Speaking with newsmen during the
Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Nigerian Association of Tour Operators
(NATOP) in Lagos, Mohammed called for dialogue between the Pastor and the
authorities over whatever challenges he was facing as jumping ship is not an
idea to be considered.
His words: “That will be very unfortunate
(TB Joshua leaving Nigeria) in the sense that if he does move out, it will
affect our tourism in Nigeria.
“Pastor Joshua is an important
person, he must bear with us. This is his country; if he moves out and go to
South Africa, for example, the revenue will go to South Africa.
“It is better that Pastor Joshua
sits down with the relevant authority and resolve whatever problem he has. If I
have access to him, this is exactly what I am going to tell him.” the
government spokesman said.
But the question begging for
answers, however, is why government is foot dragging on launching a
comprehensive and independent investigation into what actually transpired that
led to the building collaps?
Fani Kayode might be an ardent
critic of this administration, but a serious allegation and issue that border
on National Security and National development has been raised as the Minister
of information himself has testified to.
Or is it because, it is coming
from an opposition figure? This government should employ all avenue necessary
to bring this matter to an open and transparent conclusion, that is the only
way it can engender patriotism and give those contributing their quota to the
development of the country a sense of belonging.
In my humble opinion, government
needs to revisit this issue and get to the root of the matter. Those allegedly
involved and covering up the situation should be brought to book as a way to
showing the man of God that his country values him, loves him and appreciate
his contributions to the country.
Many Nigerians and expatriates
alike, who have benefited from the philanthropic gesture of Prophet T.B Joshua,
spaning gifts and cash to the less privileged in the society and foreigners who
troop here on a daily basis to boost our foreign exchange, as testified to by
Lai Muhammed, will believe more in Nigeria as a country and this administration
as one that is capable of bringing about the change, on which platform it rode
to power.
(Dr Kankia (OFR), a Public Affairs Analyst,
wrote in from Katsina.
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Insane people in an equally insane place,why would any governmental agency blow up a building?If other buildings does not have building permission or approval from the government,must you who claimed to be learned and Godly join the irresponsible others doing same.A true God fearing and worshipping person only needs faith and believe to receive blessings from God not trooping to a particular church.Nigerians with their mentality would never get out of foolishness,stupidity and being brainwashed that's why the looters called politicians kept you lot in perpetual poverty and deprivations.Wake up or you'll continue to perish in suffering and poverty
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