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.
Monday 20 August 2007
A WAKE-UP CALL TO CHURCH LEADERS (3)
KPerspective August 12, 2007
KINGDOM PERSPECTIVE
with Remi Akano
e-mail: remiakanosr@believeandrepent.com
As we said in the last two editions of this column, the time has come for the church in Nigeria to take its place as a crucial stakeholder in the affairs of our nation. For too long, we have been contented to sit by and watch while politicians, of all hues, toy with the destiny of our nation and the future of our youths. We have become like the clean-up specialists who waiting in the wings to clear the mess made by politicians. Or like fire fighters after the act of arson is well under way.
When they start sectarian violence, we rush in with words of comfort and relief materials for the victims. When they bastardize government universities, we fall over ourselves to build our own. When they rig elections, we sermonize on the need to move our nation forward. One wise man said politics is too important to be left for politicians; we say politics is to dirty to be played by “real Christians.” The result is what we are seeing today – five of six governors accused of wrongdoing in office; one already convicted; one already singing canary-like and one almost certainly irredeemable – are Christians, nominal or not!
In offering a more pro-active approach to the crisis we had sought that the umbrella body for all Christians, the Christian association of Nigeria (CAN) puts in place certain structures to begin to tackle the challenges. We had said that these times call us to “prayerfully put structures in place to deliberately begin to engage with the “political class” in the area of godliness, ethics and the common good; keep an eagle eye upon those who get into government proclaiming their love for the Lord Jesus; and continuously and directly engage with government at all levels to ensure that godliness is an overriding factor in policy formulation, direction and implementation..”
We did make some specific suggestions about official liaison with the three main branches of government and regular retreats for Christians who find their way into office. The last five words of this last sentence throws light upon one of the most fundamental challenges that Christianity has when our ability to influence governance and public policy is concerned. How do our brethren “find their way into office?”
I believe this is a very crucial question which if examined critically should assist in addressing the character question among men and women, who in addition to whatever party flags they may fly, are also easily identified with the Christian faith.
Look at it this way: a man or woman of God feels the call to serve God in the public or political arena. He tells members of his church family about it. What does he get? Apathy or outright discouragement and in many cases prayers! God answers prayers, but like James said in the Bible, faith without works is dead! A man or woman seeking election into office needs money to run his campaign. When he doesn’t get help from his brethren, he’ll try to get it from other sources. Enter the godfather - with all the consequences, as we saw in the case of Dr Chris Ngige and his so-called estranged godfather in Anambra state, Chris Uba and; erstwhile Governor Rashidi Ladoja and Lamidi Adedibu in Oyo State.
Even where a solo financier is not involved there are usually a variety of sponsors and financiers each waiting in the wings for returns on their investment. That ties the office seeker’s hands long before they become office holders and also whittles, if not eliminate, whatever influences the church could have had upon such people. Arguably, a Christian, well grounded in the word should be able to resist evil wherever it raises its head, but it certainly does become more difficult where the righteous forsake their brothers and sisters to “find their way to office.”
The need to raise awareness among us about politics and governance is rally pressing. And just like I pointed out last week, it isn’t as if some work hadn’t been done or even been done in this area. I cited the programmes of the Justice < development and Peace Commission of the Catholic Church and Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria’s Social Security Outreach.
For instance, in a publication titled, Understanding God’s Prophetic Agenda for Nigeria, the PFN listed eight things Pentecostal Christians are supposed to do to increase their political awareness. Among them are: “Cultivate the habit of reading at least one newspaper daily and listening to radio or television programs where politics is discussed; Have a personal file for keeping vital political documents and articles… and buy a copy of the Nigerian Constitution.”
The need for Christian brethren to identify the ward they live or work within there local governments was emphasized as well as identification of your councilor and local government chairperson.
The last three items in the “what to do” section of the booklet reads like this:
“Just as you are actively involved in evangelism, lead a Christian into the political terrain. Make as many converts as you can from day to day; Decide with your converts to join a convenient local chapter of any of the political parties and; Find out association of Christians who are discussing politics, planning a new era for Nigeria and join them”
I have quoted from that publication just to show that things are already being done. But those things have to be stepped up now that we still have a number of years to another election and done as a church, one church, the body of Christ so that it may be effective. Once again, I do not discount the high level of disunity in the body, but I know the more we find ourselves working together for common goals, the better united we would be.
Somebody has asked me: what’s all this noise about Christianity and governance? What we need, according to this school of thought are civil and clean people in power, people who are committed to serving the people and not themselves or their families. Fine sentiments, on the surface, except that the place to find such people in whom such values are resident and capable of enduring is the church. I do not disparage any faith, but I speak for mine, please!
At a more fundamental level, it must be emphasized that morality not anchored on religious values DO NOT ENDURE. And that is one of the very few things that ex-President Matthew Obasanjo and I agree upon!
I recall that towards the end of his tenure, he had the opportunity of speaking on this very important issue. At the maiden edition of the African Forum on Religion and Government (AFREG) at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, Obasanjo was reported to have called for concerted spiritual response to the problems confronting Africa if we are going to successfully transform the continent. A newspaper report quoted him as saying: “if there is one thing Africa badly needs, it is perhaps such a unifying principle that commands the respect of all and life-changing enough to energise us to make awesome sacrifices for the development of the continent".
The challenge of transforming Africa, he was reported to have said, transcends moral principle and so he would like to see African nations moving spirituality to its proper place as the underpinning factor of everything else. His words as quoted in one of the reports: "Morality without a spiritual base is hollow…Spiritual response will define our core positions in all aspects of life, whether in our work ethics, or relationships or interfaith issues, or even morality.”
He lamented what he called the scarcity of integrity, described AFREG as a timely initiative and endorsed the group’s objective "to build a movement of African leaders of integrity who are committed to transforming Africa into a First World continent shaped by God-centred moral values,"
Even if Obasanjo was at that time busily gnawing at his own integrity, none can fault his position on this quintessential matter. God-centred moral values must be the driving force for governance in Nigeria, if we are to fulfil God’s end-time plan for Africa and the world. That is why Nigeria’s Kingdom leaders MUST ARISE and really lead the church towards God’s prophetic agenda. (Watch out for “the Unity Question” and please feel free to join this debate at: http://thegreatcompany.blogspot.com)
Material first published in a Nigerian daily, Sunday Independent.
KINGDOM PERSPECTIVE
with Remi Akano
e-mail: remiakanosr@believeandrepent.com
As we said in the last two editions of this column, the time has come for the church in Nigeria to take its place as a crucial stakeholder in the affairs of our nation. For too long, we have been contented to sit by and watch while politicians, of all hues, toy with the destiny of our nation and the future of our youths. We have become like the clean-up specialists who waiting in the wings to clear the mess made by politicians. Or like fire fighters after the act of arson is well under way.
When they start sectarian violence, we rush in with words of comfort and relief materials for the victims. When they bastardize government universities, we fall over ourselves to build our own. When they rig elections, we sermonize on the need to move our nation forward. One wise man said politics is too important to be left for politicians; we say politics is to dirty to be played by “real Christians.” The result is what we are seeing today – five of six governors accused of wrongdoing in office; one already convicted; one already singing canary-like and one almost certainly irredeemable – are Christians, nominal or not!
In offering a more pro-active approach to the crisis we had sought that the umbrella body for all Christians, the Christian association of Nigeria (CAN) puts in place certain structures to begin to tackle the challenges. We had said that these times call us to “prayerfully put structures in place to deliberately begin to engage with the “political class” in the area of godliness, ethics and the common good; keep an eagle eye upon those who get into government proclaiming their love for the Lord Jesus; and continuously and directly engage with government at all levels to ensure that godliness is an overriding factor in policy formulation, direction and implementation..”
We did make some specific suggestions about official liaison with the three main branches of government and regular retreats for Christians who find their way into office. The last five words of this last sentence throws light upon one of the most fundamental challenges that Christianity has when our ability to influence governance and public policy is concerned. How do our brethren “find their way into office?”
I believe this is a very crucial question which if examined critically should assist in addressing the character question among men and women, who in addition to whatever party flags they may fly, are also easily identified with the Christian faith.
Look at it this way: a man or woman of God feels the call to serve God in the public or political arena. He tells members of his church family about it. What does he get? Apathy or outright discouragement and in many cases prayers! God answers prayers, but like James said in the Bible, faith without works is dead! A man or woman seeking election into office needs money to run his campaign. When he doesn’t get help from his brethren, he’ll try to get it from other sources. Enter the godfather - with all the consequences, as we saw in the case of Dr Chris Ngige and his so-called estranged godfather in Anambra state, Chris Uba and; erstwhile Governor Rashidi Ladoja and Lamidi Adedibu in Oyo State.
Even where a solo financier is not involved there are usually a variety of sponsors and financiers each waiting in the wings for returns on their investment. That ties the office seeker’s hands long before they become office holders and also whittles, if not eliminate, whatever influences the church could have had upon such people. Arguably, a Christian, well grounded in the word should be able to resist evil wherever it raises its head, but it certainly does become more difficult where the righteous forsake their brothers and sisters to “find their way to office.”
The need to raise awareness among us about politics and governance is rally pressing. And just like I pointed out last week, it isn’t as if some work hadn’t been done or even been done in this area. I cited the programmes of the Justice < development and Peace Commission of the Catholic Church and Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria’s Social Security Outreach.
For instance, in a publication titled, Understanding God’s Prophetic Agenda for Nigeria, the PFN listed eight things Pentecostal Christians are supposed to do to increase their political awareness. Among them are: “Cultivate the habit of reading at least one newspaper daily and listening to radio or television programs where politics is discussed; Have a personal file for keeping vital political documents and articles… and buy a copy of the Nigerian Constitution.”
The need for Christian brethren to identify the ward they live or work within there local governments was emphasized as well as identification of your councilor and local government chairperson.
The last three items in the “what to do” section of the booklet reads like this:
“Just as you are actively involved in evangelism, lead a Christian into the political terrain. Make as many converts as you can from day to day; Decide with your converts to join a convenient local chapter of any of the political parties and; Find out association of Christians who are discussing politics, planning a new era for Nigeria and join them”
I have quoted from that publication just to show that things are already being done. But those things have to be stepped up now that we still have a number of years to another election and done as a church, one church, the body of Christ so that it may be effective. Once again, I do not discount the high level of disunity in the body, but I know the more we find ourselves working together for common goals, the better united we would be.
Somebody has asked me: what’s all this noise about Christianity and governance? What we need, according to this school of thought are civil and clean people in power, people who are committed to serving the people and not themselves or their families. Fine sentiments, on the surface, except that the place to find such people in whom such values are resident and capable of enduring is the church. I do not disparage any faith, but I speak for mine, please!
At a more fundamental level, it must be emphasized that morality not anchored on religious values DO NOT ENDURE. And that is one of the very few things that ex-President Matthew Obasanjo and I agree upon!
I recall that towards the end of his tenure, he had the opportunity of speaking on this very important issue. At the maiden edition of the African Forum on Religion and Government (AFREG) at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, Obasanjo was reported to have called for concerted spiritual response to the problems confronting Africa if we are going to successfully transform the continent. A newspaper report quoted him as saying: “if there is one thing Africa badly needs, it is perhaps such a unifying principle that commands the respect of all and life-changing enough to energise us to make awesome sacrifices for the development of the continent".
The challenge of transforming Africa, he was reported to have said, transcends moral principle and so he would like to see African nations moving spirituality to its proper place as the underpinning factor of everything else. His words as quoted in one of the reports: "Morality without a spiritual base is hollow…Spiritual response will define our core positions in all aspects of life, whether in our work ethics, or relationships or interfaith issues, or even morality.”
He lamented what he called the scarcity of integrity, described AFREG as a timely initiative and endorsed the group’s objective "to build a movement of African leaders of integrity who are committed to transforming Africa into a First World continent shaped by God-centred moral values,"
Even if Obasanjo was at that time busily gnawing at his own integrity, none can fault his position on this quintessential matter. God-centred moral values must be the driving force for governance in Nigeria, if we are to fulfil God’s end-time plan for Africa and the world. That is why Nigeria’s Kingdom leaders MUST ARISE and really lead the church towards God’s prophetic agenda. (Watch out for “the Unity Question” and please feel free to join this debate at: http://thegreatcompany.blogspot.com)
Material first published in a Nigerian daily, Sunday Independent.
Tuesday 7 August 2007
A WAKE-UP CALL TO CHURCH LEADERS (2)
KINGDOM PERSPECTIVE
with Remi Akano
e-mail: remiakanosr@believeandrepent.com
We were saying on this page last week that kingdom leaders have their work cut out for them by current developments in the polity. We drew attention to the arraignment of five former governors on charges of stealing or laundering of mind boggling amounts of public funds entrusted to their care while in office. Four of those five, we painfully noted, fly the Christianity flag. That's to say these men never hid their religious affiliation while in office.Governor Orji Uzor Kalu never left anyone in doubt that Abia, where he held sway for eight years, was God's Own State. You would think that with that awareness he would run the state "as unto the Lord." Apparently, AIGP Nuhu Ribadu, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) which he runs and a section of Abia citizens do not think he did. Of course the accused and accusers will have their day in court and ultimately justice would be done. And like we also noted last week, he wore the Christian badge all through his last presidential campaign as the flag bearer of his party, Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA); so much so that some of his campaigns would pass for crusades. There's Dr Chimaroke Nnamani under whom Enugu state became a mecca of sorts for officials of international agencies coming to eulogise and validate his achievements. Now the jury is still out on what earned this dashing medical doctor the accolades - his sartorial and oratorical elegance or an enduring socio-economic legacy. But no matter what the jury eventually comes up with, none can forget the consistency of his God rhetoric: “Enugu is working; to God be the glory” was the pay-off line ending all government radio jingles, television commercials and print media advertisements. Was he praising God and robbing God’s children? Only the courts can tell.Then, there is the one who shares the prophet’s name but not his mien and perhaps not his character, Joshua Dariye of Plateau state. A fugitive from justice in the United Kingdom where he was said to have jumped bail, he had as many thanksgiving services as there were victories in court, won not as a result of acquittals from the many charges of impropriety against him, but on account of Ribadu and his men’s inordinate impatience with the rule of law and due process. His Christian identity may now seem to be only “name-deep.”Now, I don’t know if there are still any cheer-leaders out there raising the “jolly good fellow” chorus for Taraba State’s ex-governor, Reverend Jolly Nyame. But after his alleged confession that he may have received some kickbacks and was ready to return his “part of the action” in some projects, they must be few indeed. Reverend? Time will tell.Of course, since last week’s piece was written, the sensational, long-drawn case involving Diepreye Alamieseigha, another Christian ex-governor, has been resolved with his plea bargaining which has now seen him out of gaol, but, possibly broke and broken. By the latter, I mean broken in spirit, contrite, able to reconcile with Christ whose arms have remained open to him in spite of all the un-Christlike things that did, some of which he has now confessed to. An interim “ex-Governors-in-Post-Immunity Trial” statistical report would look like this: Convictions 100%; Arraignments - 80%; Overall - 83.34%. Not a flattering picture, is it? It is useful to recall that last week’s piece was largely inspired by some of the things said by the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria’s president, Rev Ayo Oritsejafor, in a Sunday Independent interview with Mrs Aramide Oikelome. Among other things, he had lamented that the church was being shut out of a national issue as grave as the Niger Delta crisis and thus restricted, as it were, to praying. He argued that in addition to prayers, to which to the church remains committed, the church was also suited for peace broking assignments because of the credibility and incorruptibility of leaders like himself, the leaders’ credentials as non-politicians and the fact that most of the citizens of the area are Christians. I had reacted in the closing paragraph of that column this way: “My dear President, I suggest that the church’s involvement in the Niger Delta and everywhere else must transcend prayers and direct intervention as peace brokers; it must extend to, if not primarily be, ensuring that those who go to government naming the name of the Lord, must have the rest of Christ’s family to contend with each time they step out of line in the course of serving Christ through the nation. That, in my humble opinion is the urgent challenge to church leadership today”.Since then, I have had the opportunity of prayerfully reflecting on this very important issue and I believe that there is an urgent need for Christian leaders through the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) to seize the opportunity offered by the current nadir into which the moral high ground of the faith has plunged - courtesy of some of these so-called Christians in positions of authority - to rethink our approach to governance in our nation.I believe with all my heart that the situation should be seen as beyond a call to prayer, which is understandably our default setting, as it were. I believe it should be recognised also as a call to prayerfully put structures in place to deliberately begin to engage with the “political class” in the area of godliness, ethics and the common good; keep an eagle eye upon those who get into government proclaiming their love for the Lord Jesus; and continuously and directly engage with government at all levels to ensure that godliness is an overriding factor in policy formulation, direction and implementation. Permit me to articlate this a little.Let’s work from the known to the seemingly unknown. Let’s take the case of governors for example. Every Christian governor hopefully has a chapel around Government House manned by a chaplain, who I reckon must have a sort of ringside ticket to what happens in government. When a chaplain begins to catch a whiff of the filthy smell of lucre or the not-so-uncommon recourse to sexual wantonness, what does he do? Does he simply look the other way because he does not want to hurt the boss or; protect his access to comfortable living by steering clear of ministering to the boss on such subjects? Which leads me to the question: how are chaplains recruited? Do they get any kind of protection from the part of the Church family they come from? Where they try and fail to rein in a governor’s propensity to deviate from the Christian path, are they encouraged to alert the church family group so that a kind of early warning system can be put in place? In my view CAN has to consider working along this line.The church’s engagement with the political class, that is, those who are currently actively involved in politics can also be structured. It is my view, for instance, that CAN ought to hold annual retreats for Christian politicians where they all have the opportunity to listen to word-based evaluation of governance; exchange views on anti-Christian pressures and satanic influences and together agree to prayerfully resist those things. For ease of management, it can hold at state level. I am also fully persuaded that CAN should consider establishing structures for monitoring, liaison with and influencing of the activities of the three departments of governments at all levels. By this I wonder 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. Through proper monitoring of speeches on the floor and voting patterns, it should be possible to identify those who consistently step out of line and work against them at election time. Such a structure, while not exactly appropriate for the judiciary, should also be considered for the Executive Arm too, while something else is worked for the judiciary. All of these bring me to the issue of platform; that is a consistent Christian position on issues of affecting the lives; lifestyle and faith walk of the Nigerian Christian, most of which would have universal application to the Nigerian. For instance there is talk in the air of electoral reform. Is it possible to have a Christian platform? What about the constitution? Is it absolutely impossible to have a position on this? For the avoidance of any doubts, this is not to promote sectarian differences in Nigeria; it is very simply to lift the underlying values, the fundamentals of governance in Nigeria.Where to start? I am aware that the Catholic Church in Nigeria has the very vibrant Justice and Peace Commission, the PFN, has the Social Security Outreach, the other groups sure have equivalent departments or outreaches. These outfits may be used to begin exploratory talks. The new CAN leadership led by Archbishop Onaiyekan, should in the name of Lord, pray about these things before throwing these suggestions out as idealistic, unworkable or inappropriate. Of course, there is the unity question amongst us too! As a kind of Church Unity activist, I know how real this is and how debilitating to the body. But it should not stop us. The fact of sitting together towards formulating and creating the structures will help in the bonding process. Yes the current disunity does recommend caution, so we may need to start small, but start we must. (Watch out for “The Unity Question”).
First published in a Nigerian Daily, the Sunday Independent, published in Lagos Nigeria.
with Remi Akano
e-mail: remiakanosr@believeandrepent.com
We were saying on this page last week that kingdom leaders have their work cut out for them by current developments in the polity. We drew attention to the arraignment of five former governors on charges of stealing or laundering of mind boggling amounts of public funds entrusted to their care while in office. Four of those five, we painfully noted, fly the Christianity flag. That's to say these men never hid their religious affiliation while in office.Governor Orji Uzor Kalu never left anyone in doubt that Abia, where he held sway for eight years, was God's Own State. You would think that with that awareness he would run the state "as unto the Lord." Apparently, AIGP Nuhu Ribadu, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) which he runs and a section of Abia citizens do not think he did. Of course the accused and accusers will have their day in court and ultimately justice would be done. And like we also noted last week, he wore the Christian badge all through his last presidential campaign as the flag bearer of his party, Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA); so much so that some of his campaigns would pass for crusades. There's Dr Chimaroke Nnamani under whom Enugu state became a mecca of sorts for officials of international agencies coming to eulogise and validate his achievements. Now the jury is still out on what earned this dashing medical doctor the accolades - his sartorial and oratorical elegance or an enduring socio-economic legacy. But no matter what the jury eventually comes up with, none can forget the consistency of his God rhetoric: “Enugu is working; to God be the glory” was the pay-off line ending all government radio jingles, television commercials and print media advertisements. Was he praising God and robbing God’s children? Only the courts can tell.Then, there is the one who shares the prophet’s name but not his mien and perhaps not his character, Joshua Dariye of Plateau state. A fugitive from justice in the United Kingdom where he was said to have jumped bail, he had as many thanksgiving services as there were victories in court, won not as a result of acquittals from the many charges of impropriety against him, but on account of Ribadu and his men’s inordinate impatience with the rule of law and due process. His Christian identity may now seem to be only “name-deep.”Now, I don’t know if there are still any cheer-leaders out there raising the “jolly good fellow” chorus for Taraba State’s ex-governor, Reverend Jolly Nyame. But after his alleged confession that he may have received some kickbacks and was ready to return his “part of the action” in some projects, they must be few indeed. Reverend? Time will tell.Of course, since last week’s piece was written, the sensational, long-drawn case involving Diepreye Alamieseigha, another Christian ex-governor, has been resolved with his plea bargaining which has now seen him out of gaol, but, possibly broke and broken. By the latter, I mean broken in spirit, contrite, able to reconcile with Christ whose arms have remained open to him in spite of all the un-Christlike things that did, some of which he has now confessed to. An interim “ex-Governors-in-Post-Immunity Trial” statistical report would look like this: Convictions 100%; Arraignments - 80%; Overall - 83.34%. Not a flattering picture, is it? It is useful to recall that last week’s piece was largely inspired by some of the things said by the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria’s president, Rev Ayo Oritsejafor, in a Sunday Independent interview with Mrs Aramide Oikelome. Among other things, he had lamented that the church was being shut out of a national issue as grave as the Niger Delta crisis and thus restricted, as it were, to praying. He argued that in addition to prayers, to which to the church remains committed, the church was also suited for peace broking assignments because of the credibility and incorruptibility of leaders like himself, the leaders’ credentials as non-politicians and the fact that most of the citizens of the area are Christians. I had reacted in the closing paragraph of that column this way: “My dear President, I suggest that the church’s involvement in the Niger Delta and everywhere else must transcend prayers and direct intervention as peace brokers; it must extend to, if not primarily be, ensuring that those who go to government naming the name of the Lord, must have the rest of Christ’s family to contend with each time they step out of line in the course of serving Christ through the nation. That, in my humble opinion is the urgent challenge to church leadership today”.Since then, I have had the opportunity of prayerfully reflecting on this very important issue and I believe that there is an urgent need for Christian leaders through the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) to seize the opportunity offered by the current nadir into which the moral high ground of the faith has plunged - courtesy of some of these so-called Christians in positions of authority - to rethink our approach to governance in our nation.I believe with all my heart that the situation should be seen as beyond a call to prayer, which is understandably our default setting, as it were. I believe it should be recognised also as a call to prayerfully put structures in place to deliberately begin to engage with the “political class” in the area of godliness, ethics and the common good; keep an eagle eye upon those who get into government proclaiming their love for the Lord Jesus; and continuously and directly engage with government at all levels to ensure that godliness is an overriding factor in policy formulation, direction and implementation. Permit me to articlate this a little.Let’s work from the known to the seemingly unknown. Let’s take the case of governors for example. Every Christian governor hopefully has a chapel around Government House manned by a chaplain, who I reckon must have a sort of ringside ticket to what happens in government. When a chaplain begins to catch a whiff of the filthy smell of lucre or the not-so-uncommon recourse to sexual wantonness, what does he do? Does he simply look the other way because he does not want to hurt the boss or; protect his access to comfortable living by steering clear of ministering to the boss on such subjects? Which leads me to the question: how are chaplains recruited? Do they get any kind of protection from the part of the Church family they come from? Where they try and fail to rein in a governor’s propensity to deviate from the Christian path, are they encouraged to alert the church family group so that a kind of early warning system can be put in place? In my view CAN has to consider working along this line.The church’s engagement with the political class, that is, those who are currently actively involved in politics can also be structured. It is my view, for instance, that CAN ought to hold annual retreats for Christian politicians where they all have the opportunity to listen to word-based evaluation of governance; exchange views on anti-Christian pressures and satanic influences and together agree to prayerfully resist those things. For ease of management, it can hold at state level. I am also fully persuaded that CAN should consider establishing structures for monitoring, liaison with and influencing of the activities of the three departments of governments at all levels. By this I wonder 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. Through proper monitoring of speeches on the floor and voting patterns, it should be possible to identify those who consistently step out of line and work against them at election time. Such a structure, while not exactly appropriate for the judiciary, should also be considered for the Executive Arm too, while something else is worked for the judiciary. All of these bring me to the issue of platform; that is a consistent Christian position on issues of affecting the lives; lifestyle and faith walk of the Nigerian Christian, most of which would have universal application to the Nigerian. For instance there is talk in the air of electoral reform. Is it possible to have a Christian platform? What about the constitution? Is it absolutely impossible to have a position on this? For the avoidance of any doubts, this is not to promote sectarian differences in Nigeria; it is very simply to lift the underlying values, the fundamentals of governance in Nigeria.Where to start? I am aware that the Catholic Church in Nigeria has the very vibrant Justice and Peace Commission, the PFN, has the Social Security Outreach, the other groups sure have equivalent departments or outreaches. These outfits may be used to begin exploratory talks. The new CAN leadership led by Archbishop Onaiyekan, should in the name of Lord, pray about these things before throwing these suggestions out as idealistic, unworkable or inappropriate. Of course, there is the unity question amongst us too! As a kind of Church Unity activist, I know how real this is and how debilitating to the body. But it should not stop us. The fact of sitting together towards formulating and creating the structures will help in the bonding process. Yes the current disunity does recommend caution, so we may need to start small, but start we must. (Watch out for “The Unity Question”).
First published in a Nigerian Daily, the Sunday Independent, published in Lagos Nigeria.
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