YOU CAN RUN, BUT YOU CANNOT HIDE

When Chief Olusegun Obasanjo assumed office as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, in 1999, he put a Council of Ministers together that did not include a Minister of Petroleum Resources. That effectively made him the head of that pivotal ministry.

Now, this was unprecedented. Not even the military regimes, including the ones he was either part of or which he headed dispensed with the services of a cabinet rank overseer for the most important sector of the national economy. So, inevitably questions were asked. But, Obasanjo had an answer, which back then seemed satisfactory to all but those who, even back then, had smelt a rat.

Speaking on one of the earliest editions of the television programme, Presidential Media Chat, I recall his explanation went something like this. He told the story of how, on a visit to Cuba, he had a leisurely stroll with the then President of that country, Fidel Castro. On their way, Castro pointed to a particular tree or plant (memory fails me here) and told his visitor all about it, its contribution to the national economy and all that. Obasanjo was impressed and wondered aloud how Castro, in spite of his high office as president, could know so much about just one product. His host told him that, that was his job; his was an agricultural country and he was the minister of agriculture. Like a good student, Obasanjo decided to adopt the Castro Formula. He reasoned that since Nigeria derives virtually all her revenue from petroleum resources, it made sense for him to be in charge.

That was the beginning of what many saw as an aberration which concentrated so much power in the hands of one man, with all the potentials for abuse. It was the beginning of a situation which somebody very recently analysed like this: The Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, which runs the industry, is supposed to have a board, headed by a chairman; in the absence of a board, Obasanjo was both board and chairman. The board was supposed to report to a Minister; Obasanjo was that minister. The minister was supposed to report to the President; Obasanjo was the president. It was therefore the beginning of a journey that culminated in the Federal House of Representatives’ motion on Tuesday to probe the activities of the Oil Sector since 1999.

If newspaper reports of the House plenary, where the motion was tabled, passed and implemented, are to be believed, the representatives would seem to consider this as their most important assignment to date.

The Daily Independent report, for instance, spoke of a “joyful mood in the House of Representatives on Tuesday as a committee of 26 members was set up to probe the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR)”.
The report continued: “The committee, according to Speaker Dimeji Bankole who announced its composition at the plenary, has Igo Aguma (PDP, Rivers) as Chairman. Aguma is also the Chairman of the House Committee on Gas.The probe panel equally has as members the Chairmen of the Committees on Petroleum Resources (Downstream), Upstream, and Intergovernmental Affairs; all of whom are members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). There are members of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), and Action Congress (AC) as well. The announcement of the committee members elicited instant applause from the House.

“Aguma said those who have had dealings with the top echelon of the NNPC between 1999 to date would be questioned at the public hearing that would soon begin. They include Minister of Energy (Petroleum), Odein Ajumogobia; former Minister of State for Energy, Edmund Daukoru; as well as former NNPC Group Managing Directors, Gaius Obaseki and Funsho Kupolokun, he said. Oil firms and contractors, among others, would also be called in for questioning. The hearing, which may be aired live on television - as was the case with the one conducted by the Power and Steel Committee - is expected to unravel the mystery about the operations of the NNPC and the DPR.
“The investigation was requested in a motion moved by Halims Agoda (PDP, Delta) and 92 others, who drew attention to discrepancies in the two agencies since 1999. Agoda said there are complaints that the NNPC, DPR, Ministry of Finance, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) all parade conflicting figures on oil revenue…”

Another thing that can be gleaned from newspaper reports is that this may well be the ultimate trial of former President Obasanjo’s claim to probity in the handling of the national treasury during his eight-year tenure. This much was reflected in Daily Sun’s version of the report. Headlined, “The Noose Tightens” with a file photograph of the ex-president praying, the report said by the House of representatives decision “has become apparent that Nigerians would know how former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo presided over the nation’s oil wealth, as he was de-facto Minister of Petroleum for eight years.“

The paper also noted the House Speaker Dimeji Bankole’s warning to his colleagues not to use the exercise to witch-hunt anyone in these words: “Do you really have an idea of what we are about to start? My advice before we start is that there will be no witch-hunting of any individual. Please, there must be no witch-hunting of any group or individual. The credibility of the House is on the line. We must not trivialize a serious issue. We must let our debate be in line with what will improve the conditions of the people that we are representing.”

Against the background of the two on-going investigations: the power and steel sector probe by the House and the Federal Capital Territory’s by the Senate, one can only say, these are truly interesting times. The current probes, which have been a mixture of the hilarious, the absurd and the saddening, with twists and turns of soap opera proportions, have done nothing to help the image of the former president, and it is doubtful that this new one would be different.

Without prejudice to the eventual finding of the committee, it is clear that the sage who said ‘power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely’ knew what he was talking about. That is why many wise men deliberately leave the door of accountability wide open.

When anyone becomes accountable to nobody, danger looms large! Ask David, the king and priest of Israel, the man after God’s own heart. The bible records that he stayed at home “at the time when kings go forth to battle …And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king's house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon. And David sent and enquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bath-sheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite? And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her; for she was purified from her uncleanness: and she returned unto her house. And the woman conceived, and sent and told David, and said, I am with child…”(2Samuel 11: 1-5).

No innuendos are intended in the choice of analogy, please! It is quite appropriate. David had sent everybody else to war; all he had around him were servants, who dared not counsel the king. And soon he added murder to adultery and thought he had it all covered up. But of course, even if he could hide it from men, could he also do so from God? Read the rest of this instructive story in 2Samuel 12.

God’s judgement upon David was severe, but the most instructive is this declaration by Prophet Nathan, the messenger of God: “You did your deed in secret; I'm doing mine with the whole country watching!" (2Samuel 12:12 MSG).

The Lord Jesus was to emphasise this principle later in his earthly ministry when he said: “For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known. Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops” (Luke 12:2-3).

Does this tell you anything about the real source of the spate of exposures, on-going and coming? Whoever said, you can run, but you cannot hide, must have spoken the mind of God.

COME, LUNCH WITH MISTER ONOSODE

The godly people in the land are my true heroes! I take pleasure in them! (Psalm 16:3 NLT)

The other day, I was quoting the late founder of Christian Men’s Network, Edwin Louis Cole as stating his convictions about the place of godly heroes in his life. He had vowed that only the godly would be his heroes; that only such people would he associate with, invite to his home; allow to influence members of his family and so on. I had in that piece aligned myself with this position and urged it on us as a people. In doing that, although I had been familiar with the word of King David, the psalmist in chapter 16 of the book of psalms in the King James Version of the bible as follows: “But to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight” (verse 3); I was blissfully unaware of the New Living Translation of the same verse as quoted above - which obviously gave life to Ed Cole’s convictions.

You can therefore imagine my joy as I prepare to join my colleagues on the coordinating team of Christian Men’s Network Nigeria to receive yet another of Nigeria’s undisputed godly heroes on Saturday (April 26). We will, if the Lord tarries, be gathering once again at Sparkles Hall, along Joel Ogunnaike Street in the Ikeja GRA area of the Lagos state capital for yet another Real Men Luncheon. It promises to be a wonderful experience and I can’t begin to tell you how excited I am.

Now, let’s try to background this a little. I was in the audience one Sunday evening in the year 2000 at a programme, Possession 2000 hosted by Rev Jake Epelle and his Salvation Broadcast Network. There were four speakers including the subject of today’s piece. Four years later the impression the speakers left on me was still so strong that I found myself reporting that event in the “Opener” section of KINGDOMPeople magazine.

In that piece titled WHODUNNIT, I had recalled how each of the speakers had repudiated all claims to personal achievements and ascribed their various enormous credentials to God. The three featured in that piece were Bishop David Oyedepo, Rev (Dr) Segun Agbetuyi and Mr Gamaliel Onosode. I had described CMNN’s next guest speaker as a man who “speaks with the eloquence and elocution of the classicist that he is and made his name both as an industrialist and as public policy expert.”

In a segment of that report which was sub-headed “Who Owns the Accolades?”, I wrote as follows: “ Gamaliel Onosode is a respected economist (he’s never claimed to be one!), industrialist and an ordained minister of God. But it is his passion for integrity and his simple lifestyle that ring loudest. In a title crazy society, Onosode has remained a “mister” and has had the distinction of being able to walk away from big positions when issues that could threaten his integrity rear their heads. Yet he’ll rather distance himself from the accolades.

“Reflecting upon his life at a public forum a while ago, he wondered why he always got introduced in high sounding words. What people don’t seem to understand, he said, was that he was an ordinary person depending wholly on God. He said: ‘I am depending on God. The more I relate with my God, the more inadequate I see myself in the light of Him.’ Putting whatever his achievements were in context, he said: ‘all of us should see ourselves as ambassadors of Jesus Christ wherever we find ourselves. Every one of us should allow God to use us wherever we may find ourselves. Every calling is a vocation, a divine call to serve.’”

That piece ended on this note: “…Onosode says all those accolades belong to God. That is the kind of humility that God honours, because, of a truth, without Him we can do nothing. These three is good company!”

That was eight years ago, although recalled some four years later. But time changes everything, doesn’t it? So perhaps this man has changed too? Well, you’ll find out for yourself if you make it to the luncheon on Saturday; and I think if you are a man reading this, and would be in and around Lagos that day, and are desirous of drinking from a deep well of godly wisdom, you should.

As for change, perhaps this little story about how he accepted our invitation will give you an idea of what to expect. We wrote a letter of invitation. One of the coordinators, donning one of his best suits, took the letter to his office in Surulere. He was received by a lady, Toyin Yussuf, who took the letter and promised to get back to us. She did soon after. Her boss wanted us to choose the Saturday before or that after the date we had requested. We complied and the date was eventually fixed. That’s how we come to be hosting this man of many parts on Saturday. To date, he has not met any of us, and as you can see, it didn’t matter to him.

But, let me tell you a little more about this man. Described in a Nigerian Times profile as “a marvel of God’s grace”, Gamaliel Oforitsenere Onosode was born in Sapele, Delta State on May 22, 1933. He began his formal education at Baptist School, Oginibo, Delta State in 1940. He finished primary (or standard, as it used to be known), school in 1946, and was at Government College Ughelli between 1947 and 1952. He read Classics at the University College, Ibadan (now University of Ibadan) graduating B.A (Hons) in 1957. His introduction into management began immediately. He was employed as a Management Trainee at the Commonwealth Development Corporation in 1957 and was there till 1960, the year of national independence

Any wonder then that he became renowned for his expertise in management, which saw him even in those early days holding various management positions in reputable organizations like Northern Nigeria Investment Ltd, Nigerian Housing Development Society Ltd, Nigeria Industrial Development Bank and Financial Holdings (Nigeria) Ltd.

After 10 years as a director, Onosode became Chairman/Managing Director of NAL Merchant Bank Plc. He also chaired many private and public sector businesses, including Dunlop Nigeria Plc, (1984), Cadbury Nigeria Plc, (1977-1993), Presidential Commission on Parastatals (1981), Nigeria LNG Working Committee on NLNG Ltd, (1985-1990), Niger Delta Environmental Survey (since 1995), Econet Nigeria (later Vmobile and now Celtel).

He was Presidential Adviser on Budget Affairs and Director of Budget (1983), and a former Pro-chancellor of University of Uyo. He is an honorary fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Letters and holds honorary doctorate degrees of Obafemi Awolowo University (1990), University of Benin (1995), and the Rivers State University of Science and Technology (2003).

Onosode, most important of all, is what you’ll call a devout Christian. A Baptist, he founded that arm of the church known as Good News Baptist Church in his sitting room on February 1, 1984. It has grown considerably, becoming highly rated within the Nigerian Baptist Convention for its activities in the areas of missions and evangelism. He has served and continues to serve the church in diverse capacities.
He was the inaugural Chairman of the Global Missions Board of the Nigerian Baptist Convention. In addition, Onosode is Chairman of the Governing Council of the Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary, Ogbomoso, Nigeria's oldest degree awarding theological institution, which would, in this year be marking 110 years of its existence while the University of Ibadan would be 60 years old. A Deacon of the Baptist Church, Onosode also holds an honorary Doctor of Divinity (2002) of the Seminary (2002).

In closing, let’s give the last word to Deacon Onosode himself. Asked by Pini Jason, the journalist, in a rather cerebral interview, to relate his status to the part of Lagos he has chosen to reside, he answered:

“But what is my status? I don’t think in those terms. I am just a human being, redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ. God has placed me, at different times, in different situations in which He expects me to be the light of the world and the salt of the earth. Every single individual, particularly in adulthood, has the opportunity to exercise leadership; as a matter of fact, so do children. So it is not the cassock that makes the priest, as they say…it is not where I live that is material. It is how I live my life that is the issue. Therefore I have lived along this Ogunlana-Adelabu axis since 1959, apart from a short break of four years when I lived in Victoria Island. I moved from this house to the house in Victoria Island, and back after four years to this same house! You will now realize that I am more of a grass roots person contrary to whatever impression has been created by the media.”

FIGHTING CORRUPTION, THE MBFC METHOD

And so Professor Adenike Grange, erstwhile Minister of Health of the federal Republic has appeared in court, along with several others including her former Minister of State colleague and the Permanent Secretary, also, a professor. As I write this, she is in custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. By the time you read it, however, it is hoped that she would have been out on bail for two days. What a difference a few months made in the life of this world-renowned paediatrician! What a sad twist of fate!!

As the Ministry of Health Eleven were being arraigned, Representative Ndudi Elumelu and his colleagues on the House Committee on Power and Steal, sorry Steel were criss-crossing the country visiting the sites of multi-million dollar power projects signed, sealed but undelivered by the Obasanjo regime. I understand that in some cases the ice-cool Committee chairman needed radars to locate the sites and at some sites telescopes to see the work done! It would have been comical were the effect of these shenanigans not sometimes tragic. And I know you know what I mean.

All of which reminds me of what Dr Christopher Kolade told the men at the Real Men Luncheon of Christian Men’s Network Nigeria in January. He has posited that although, everybody falls victim of corruption, it is the lowly, the poor, those who cannot help themselves who suffer the consequences most. The current power sector investigations illustrate this truth very graphically. So graphically that it hurts the eyes.

It therefore cannot be overemphasised that the battle against corruption is indeed the battle of our lives. And like Dr Kolade said, on that occasion, the true Christian soldier, which is what all Christians are supposed to be, must fight against corruption because it hurts the people Jesus came to save. That much was clear from his mission statement in the bible where he said: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised…” (Luke 4:18-19).

Incidentally, Dr Kolade has been doing much more than preaching about fighting corruption; he has been working with a team of committed people on how to nip it in the bud. He has been working through his ministry, Managing Business For Christ, established to bring business people and business practices to Jesus.

Come to think about it, if all the Christian business persons involved in the power sector contracts had business practices influenced by the teachings of the Lord Jesus, would the Elumelu’s committee have found the sordid things they are uncovering?

Permit me to give you a glimpse into what Dr Kolade has been telling the people, who gather every first Saturday of the month, at Golden Gate Restaurant, Kingsway Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, Nigeria to rub minds with him.

At the February edition of the meeting styled, Breakfast with the Lord, the former Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom said, success in all endeavours must start with a decision about whose agent you want to be and therefore in whose power you’ll succeed in that venture – Christ’s or yourself.

He reminded his audience that in Numbers chapters 13 & 14, when the children of Israel were confronted with that kind of decision on their way to the Promised Land, they had to choose between a majority report which saw them as going in their own strength, and a minority report which boldly declared, we can make it, if the Lord be pleased with us.

Children of God, including members of MBFC, he said, face the same choices today. “Like the majority who said let’s go back to Egypt where, although we were slaves under hard labour, we had all that we wanted, it is tempting to focus on having the basic things of life irrespective of what it does to our self-worth. It is easy to lapse into all of that in the business world. It is easy to disgrace, scandalize the name of Jesus to clear your goods at the port. It is easy to excuse yourself by saying why doesn’t Jesus change the heart of this man hindering me from clearing my goods? When we get home, we are satisfied that we have put food on the table but, in the process we have been unprofitable servants of the God we claim to serve.”

Providing a pointer to the direction the Christian business person must follow Dr Kolade said we must never forget that “God brought us here; He has an agenda, the programme belongs to Him; you don’t know when he is going to take you out. So, it seems reasonable to ask Him, what am I supposed to be doing today? Some of us are saying, ‘I’ll get into business with you, Jesus, when I have satisfied myself, when I have it all’, rather like the man in Luke 12: 16-20; the fool who prospered. Yet every plan we make is in the hope that the plan will materialise and that we would be here to see it materialise. So, it all depends on Him, you see.”

He then asked rhetorically, what then is the way forward for the Christian in business and the professions? His answer: “we must adopt the Caleb Report which says we can do it, ‘if the Lord be pleased with us’. So everything we do, we must do to please God; we must do as agents of the Lord Jesus.”

At the March meeting Dr Kolade posited that those who wish to have good success in business must adhere strictly to a set of rules. The rules follow the pattern set by the Lord Jesus Himself in the book of Luke chapter 10.

He pointed out that even as Jesus sent out the 70 disciples because “the harvest is truly great”, it’s the same way that Christian businesses and business practices are being sent to the world to prosper and influence. Therefore the rules are the same.

Dr Kolade said, “Jesus sent them out as ‘lambs among wolves’. So are you. He told them and he is saying to us today: you won’t find it easy, those I am sending you to will make you uncomfortable, they will try to devour you. They will attack you where you are most sensitive, your moral courage. Yet He says go and don’t take anything with you. It’s going to be dangerous, but go, only in my strength, in my wisdom. As long as I am with you, you will overcome. In spite of everything, go out there and do the assignment; do business as I have directed you. The Lord Jesus said to them and He is saying to you, if they reject you, move on. But don’t leave without a word for them; that they are in a bad way for rejecting you and whom you represent.”

Continuing, Dr Kolade drew attention to what happened when the disciples returned. They were very successful and were naturally excited at their success. Of course Jesus was proud of them, but He cautioned them: “…rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven (Luke 10:20).

Why did Jesus have to caution them? Dr Kolade explained: “they went out, did as they were told and came back to report joyfully. If you are faithful, if you do as he said you should, your success is sure. But please don’t rejoice for the wrong reasons. Your joy should be, not in the result, your joy should be that you are approved of the Lord. If you speak and God does not touch the heart of the hearers, nothing can happen. So, you cannot take any credit. All you have been is a good instrument in the hand of God. You are part of a mysterious adventure. The way things happen, the way things change is mysterious; you don’t know how. That’s because it was done of Christ. Don’t allow yourself to be deluded that your skill does the work. God uses your skill for His own purposes. When you go out, never forget you are only His instrument. He’ll speak through you, if you’ll let Him.”

Dr Kolade concluded: “Jesus is saying to all of us, go out and do it my way; be my agent and I will get things done wherever I send you. Remember Paul plants the seed, Apollos waters, but neither of them can bring the increase – only God does.”

For the good of our land, more people must hear this message; please spread the word and attend the next MBFC meeting on Saturday May 3, 2008.

LET’S LISTEN TO “THE BISHOP”

Rev Bayo Oniwinde is one of the most self-effacing men in ministry that I know. Although, he has been in ministry under the tutelage of Rev Dr Tunde Joda almost like forever and he is well-known in Pentecostal and charismatic circles, he had generally been in the shadows. Until recently!

Rev B, or “the Bishop,” as he is more widely called, began an international ministry about seven years ago after many years of forth-telling the vision. As I write this, he somewhere outside our borders teaching the undiluted word of God with signs and wonders following. Yes, that took him out of full-time employment with Voice of Faith Ministries, but no, it did not take him out of Christ Chapel International Churches where he still worships at the Ikeja Centre, and he still teaches at Patmos Bible School of Faith.

Rev B’s story has to wait another day, however, because this wonderful man of God has a message that I personally believe all who name the name of the Lord, including those in the leadership cadre, ought to hear and hearken to urgently.

First, Rev B says what passes for praise and worship in many churches today is little more than Christian entertainment - plenty of soul with no spirit in it. As he sees it that is why very little is happening in our churches. When we fail to worship God “in spirit and in truth,” we do not enter into the holy of holies and so cannot richly receive from God

Rev B would go on and on about how worship leaders can only lead under the anointing. And the anointing, though available, cannot manifest without necessary preparation. In his view, too many of those who function in the office of psalmists don’t touch the heart of God, because they are so busy pursuing things of the flesh and tend to want to rush in and out of the presence of God. It doesn’t work that way, he insists.

Talking about rushing in and out of the presence of God leads me to Rev B’s grouse with what he sees as the incursion of the fast food, or microwave culture into the church. This, in his opinion, manifests in one hour services consisting sometimes of no more than twenty minutes of the word. In a situation where most Christians attend churches only on Sundays, he wonders how much grounding such people can have in the word of God. Like he says again and again, we go to great lengths to ensure that our bodies are fed, but we starve our spirit. Yet we know that what you starve cannot grow. The result is we have healthy bodies, but poor spirits.

Yet another area of great concern for the man we love to call ‘Bishop’ is the dearth of the gifts in today’s church. The only gift that seems to be in evidence aplenty is the gift of speaking in other tongues. Where, Rev B would ask, is prophesy which the Bible clearly rates above speaking in tongues particularly during congregational worship? Where, he would further ask, is the gift of the interpretation of other tongues?

To appreciate his concerns here he would read from I Corinthians chapter 14. My own favourite translation of the relevant verses comes from the Message. Verses 22-25 puts in perspective, the place of tongue-talking and prophecy in church like this: “…So where does it get you, all this speaking in tongues no one understands? It doesn't help believers, and it only gives unbelievers something to gawk at. Plain truth-speaking, on the other hand, goes straight to the heart of believers and doesn't get in the way of unbelievers. If you come together as a congregation and some unbelieving outsiders walk in on you as you're all praying in tongues, unintelligible to each other and to them, won't they assume you've taken leave of your senses and get out of there as fast as they can? But if some unbelieving outsiders walk in on a service where people are speaking out God's truth, the plain words will bring them up against the truth and probe their hearts. Before you know it, they're going to be on their faces before God, recognizing that God is among you”.

The Holy Spirit, desiring order in the church and emphasising the importance of interpretation of tongues spoke through Apostle Paul in verses 26-33 of the same book of Corinthians. Again the Message paraphrase: “So here's what I want you to do. When you gather for worship, each one of you be prepared with something that will be useful for all: Sing a hymn, teach a lesson, tell a story, lead a prayer, provide an insight. If prayers are offered in tongues, two or three's the limit, and then only if someone is present who can interpret what you're saying. Otherwise, keep it between God and yourself. And no more than two or three speakers at a meeting, with the rest of you listening and taking it to heart. Take your turn, no one person taking over. Then each speaker gets a chance to say something special from God, and you all learn from each other. If you choose to speak, you're also responsible for how and when you speak. When we worship the right way, God doesn't stir us up into confusion; he brings us into harmony. This goes for all the churches--no exceptions.”

Rev B’s message to the church can be surmised like this: because praise and worship is largely not “in spirit and in truth”; the gifts are not flowing; in spite of pockets of powerful manifestations here and there, the church is generally weak; orderliness is in short supply and many, if not most, of us are simply playing church!

His insight is that we are rather like the Laodicean church to which the Lord Jesus sent this message in chapter 3 of the book of Revelations: "I know you inside and out, and find little to my liking. You're not cold, you're not hot--far better to be either cold or hot! You're stale. You're stagnant. You make me want to vomit. You brag, 'I'm rich, I've got it made, I need nothing from anyone,' oblivious that in fact you're a pitiful, blind beggar, threadbare and homeless. "Here's what I want you to do: Buy your gold from me, gold that's been through the refiner's fire. Then you'll be rich. Buy your clothes from me, clothes designed in Heaven. You've gone around half-naked long enough. And buy medicine for your eyes from me so you can see, really see (Verses 15-19)”

But this is not doomsaying. This is simply a wake of call from the One who loves us to the ones he loves, through the mouth of one of his servants. Which is why Rev B would always end with the words of verses 19-22 of Revelations 3 which I again quote from the Message as follows: “"The people I love, I call to account--prod and correct and guide so that they'll live at their best. Up on your feet, then! About face! Run after God! "Look at me. I stand at the door. I knock. If you hear me call and open the door, I'll come right in and sit down to supper with you. Conquerors will sit alongside me at the head table, just as I, having conquered, took the place of honor at the side of my Father. That's my gift to the conquerors! Are your ears awake? Listen. Listen to the Wind Words, the Spirit blowing through the churches."

I think we should listen to “the Bishop.”

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FROM MY INBOX
RE: IDAHOSA, TEN YEARS GONE
I was pleasantly reminded of one of God’s great Generals in Africa and indeed the world. I experienced a feeling of nostalgia as I pictured him ministering on various pulpits across the country including the church where I worship. Like him or hate him, he was a Man of God, period. When Jesus was accused of casting out devils in the name of belzebub (the devil), the bible account of Jesus answer is instructive. You cannot cast out demons in the name of their master for a house divided against itself cannot stand.
Anyway, I believe Idahosa is/was (anyone you like, since I know that he is alive and well in the Lord’s bosom) one of the saints of God triumphant and he surely paid his dues long before his time of announcement. Stories have it that at the time he married his wife, he had no decent suit of his own. His wedding suit was borrowed and all other accessories he wore at the occasion. In due season, God blessed him and made him famous and his boldness and confidence in His God he always demonstrated against the powers/forces of evil which were heavily arrayed against him.
He was a supporter of up and coming Men of God in his time regardless of their denominations or church affiliations. We respect him and wish he had lived a little longer than he did, though I believe he had fought the good fight of faith and finished his course and chose to gain more in Christ Jesus.
Uche Biosa (Mrs) Lagos, Nigeria