KPerspective, August 19, 2007
First I like to apologise to those readers of this column who may have been awaiting my take on what we had these past few weeks promoted as “The Unity Question”. Truth is, I really cannot wait for it myself! But, unlike most newspaper exertions, I try not to take “personal charge” of things; I try to follow my heart, not my head. In other words, I tend to write as the Spirit leads, if you forgive me for spiritualizing! I assure you that the Unity Question will come your way shortly.
But while we wait, two news items during the last week makes something of a continuation of the series,”A Wake-Up Call to Church Leaders” inevitable. And that, in spite of the headline is, essentially what this is.
The first of the reports carried last Sunday was headlined ”Sharia Court Arraigns 18 for Sodomy.” The meat of the story was that 18 young men, aged between 18 and 21, were allegedly caught in Bauchi in an act of sodomy. The report published in this paper last Sunday reads in part: “..The suspects were arrested in a hotel around the Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi, planning to contract a marriage between two of them, a move that is against Sharia law that is practiced in the state… some of the accused were wearing female clothing, and had come to the city from five neighbouring states of Gombe, Plateau, Yobe, Jigawa and Bauchi to celebrate a gay marriage…All the accused persons pleaded not guilty to the offence as read out to them and the trial judge, Taminu Abubakar, adjourned the matter till August 21 when the prosecutor is expected to call his witnesses and tender any exhibit to prove his case…”
The second report was in the Monday edition of Daily Independent and it was based on the communiqué issued at the end of a quarterly meeting of the Christian Association of Nigeria (Northern States & Abuja zone). Reported under the headline, “Release Bamaiyi, Al-Mustapha, CAN Tells FG”, the last paragraph read: “The communiqué urged the National Assembly to expedite action on the Christian Pilgrim commission Bill that seeks to outlaw homosexualism, lesbianism and other abominable sexual practices upon which the wrath of God dangles.”
I am sure you can already see the nexus between the reports. From the first report, it is clear that our Moslem compatriots got on the case of homosexuality before us. We may have our reservations about the death penalty attached to this offence by Sharia Law, but we sure agree that this is an issue that does require some government restraining action before we join the so-called civilized rights-crazy world of the west.
That is why this columnist can be counted amongst those who welcomed and tried to promote the Obasanjo administration effort to outlaw homosexual liaisons and gay marriages. We had described the executive bill presented to the last National Assembly as “Obasanjo’s Blow for Righteousness” and right into the twilight days of the Assembly we were calling on CAN, PFN and all Christians to rise up for the bill.
In concluding one of the articles on this subject we had written: “That is why all Kingdom-minded Nigerians must rise in defence of this “blow for righteousness” and safeguard of our public morality. Believe it or not, the tardiness we are seeing, though a seeming characteristic of our law-making process may be the result of subtle, underground resistance from the enemy camp to which foreign funding is always available. Also, you never know the “sexual preferences” of some of our legislators; after all, didn’t late coupist Gideon Orkar alert the nation of the presence of homosexuality in high places during the dark days of military rule? …” We must move NOW. Every one of us must leave our representatives in no doubt where we stand. And we must all rise up in prayer to ensure that this first body blow is delivered without further delay. Christian Association of Nigeria, the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria and all such Christian bodies must rise; unite with all who wish Nigeria well to push this bill through now! Of course, nothing happened!
What the CAN Northern Zone communiqué represents, in the opinion of this writer, is the same weak, tame approach to issues of grave importance to the political, economic and even moral health of the polity. All we do is “call upon government” “appeal for calm”, “call upon Nigerians to pray” etc. When are we going to be pro-active? CAN’s communiqué possibly did not even get the title of the bill they are calling upon the legislators to work on. Or how do you explain a “Christian Pilgrim Commission Bill that seeks to outlaw homosexualism, lesbianism and other abominable sexual practices…” Let’s get serious, brethren.
That is the rationale for some of the suggestions we have canvassed on these pages recently. It is pertinent to recall one of the suggestions. Specifically we canvassed the need to establish structures “for monitoring, liaison with and influencing of the activities of the three departments of governments at all levels.” In particular we wondered “…if it were possible to appoint a legislative liaison and monitoring group. Such a group may be armed with a Christian legislative agenda and a check-list of the attributes of just laws. With a legislative agenda of say, three laws that Nigeria Christians would love to see passed in a particular legislative year, this group can liaise with Christian legislators and even powerful non-Christians where necessary. With a well thought-out legislative checklist Christian members can be guided to oppose or support or propose amendments to bills.”
If we were wondering about the efficacy of the suggestion when that piece was written, we feel fully persuaded today that “a legislative liaison and monitoring group armed with a Christian legislative agenda and a check-list of the attributes of just laws” is an imperative, if Christianity is going to make meaningful contributions to the development of democracy and the rule of law in our beloved nation. (Please feel free to join this debate at: http://thegreatcompany.blogspot.com or send your comments to the email address above.)
FROM MY INBOX WEIGHTY ISSUES
Thank you so much for your piece titled “A Wake-Up Call to Church Leaders”. It made my day! Some of the bewildering issues I ponder daily with respect to the church and Nigeria were touched on. You also went further to make very useful suggestions as to how we can commence. These issues are weighty and resolution will by no means be Child’s play.
The one that stood out for me and I believe can easily be jump-started is the retreat for Christian politicians on what is expected of them. The Moral values, good governance and accountability to not only to their political constituencies but to their Christian constituency too. I personally believe that if they attend these retreats and there is a focus on being responsible and accountable to lift the social and moral fabrics of their states, change may be recorded with some of them.
A lot of these people get into these leadership positions by ‘accident’. They are not prepared, have no vision of what they want for their states and can’t see that they are on a serious mission from God to bring about positive change. A god father sponsors them and uses them for his/her own personal aggrandisement and they soon catch up with the greed around them, the rest is history. We need people who on their own have an all consuming passion to bring about positive change and leave a legacy for the people. We are tired of people whose only claim to modesty is that they were begged to contest for elective posts.
Church leaders themselves are not helping, they dance and jubilate that the president or governors and government functionaries attend their services/churches and donate large sums of monies ostensibly for ‘kingdom’ work, they fail to speak the truth as it is without equivocation and stir up or prick their consciences, which brings about deep repentance. The leaders suck up to them so shamelessly and are so satisfied with mere attendance to their church. There is usually no difference between ‘church people’ begging for money and other material things and position from the people he/she encounters daily in the secular society. They are confused about and by the ‘church’. They can’t trust the church.
The church in Nigeria is in a serious state of decay and she, herself, needs immediate help. The church associations are fragmented and have no common agenda, you touched a bit on this, but it is critical that some form of forum be created to assist church leaders from different denominations to understand that the church is 1(one). The American church is pushing ahead with its issues in spite of the differences.
Maybe, that’s what our church (name supplied) was set up to do through people like you. I trust God to assist you with your magazine to fully take-off and remain on the stands as a consistent voice countering these ills. When the finances are in, then, radio programs, television programs, etc will reach as many audiences as possible and then we can begin to influence the political and social scenes more effectively. Did you notice that in the last elections, all the candidates purported to be have been endorsed by the ‘church’ did not go far. How were they chosen as the ‘right’ candidates? Who chose them? I heard that one of the candidates for governorship in Lagos (name supplied) for example was chosen because his wife is a Christian and attends a certain church. Was that enough credential to recommend him? Does he listen to his wife in political matters, etc? I can go on but let me stop here. Thank you!
Rev Uche Biosa (Mrs),
Oregun, Lagos,
Nigeria
IMPRESSED BUT…
We are impressed with the concept, depth and quality of analysis of the subject matter. No, we don't necessarily agree with the prescriptions contained in the write up. Still, if we can keep the issue on the front burner we just might generate enough momentum to help individuals that still have the opportunity to do right at whatever level of leadership - family, business, church, community, politics, etc..
Well done and please keep up the good works…Have peace.
Rev David Opasanya
Managing Business for Christ,
Apapa, Lagos, Nigeria:
Article first published in a Nigerian daily newspaper, Sunday Independent which is produced in Lagos, Nigeria.
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