DEAR LORD, WHOM SHALL I VOTE FOR?!

Next Saturday, the long awaited April 2011 general elections will begin. I know that many of you wonderful readers out there, more brilliant, more decisive, and more deeply involved in the scheme of things already have your list of candidates – at the various levels. I truly congratulate you. I really do wish I were that smart, but believe me, tried as I have, I still don’t know who to vote for! That wouldn’t be such a problem were my blankness limited to the local governments and state legislature, where nobody bothers to campaign, anyway. But even at the presidential level, I am still in a dilemma.

Of course, there are the obvious front runners – incumbent Goodluck Jonathan/Namadi Sambo (Peoples Democratic Party, PDP); Nuhu Ribadu/Fola Adeola (Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN) and Muhammadu Buhari/Tunde Bakare (Congress for Progressive Change, CPC). Two others worth mentioning, in my opinion, are Ibrahim

Shekarau of All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and Pat Utomi (Social Democratic Mega Party, SDMP).

I have taken a close look at the candidates and I would like to state, up front, that none of the three front runners cuts it with me on the basis of a set of criteria I have formulated, based on my understanding of what I consider as the key requirements for leadership as this stage of our national evolution. These are: integrity, consistency, antecedence, and intellectual capacity. Of course, you may have your own set of criteria, which might even be better, but, as far as I am concerned, these are it.

Let me also state, for purpose of full disclosure, that I consider Pat Utomi as the only candidate, of the lot, who meets my set of criteria and for whom I just might vote. The reason for using the word “might” will become clear later in this piece. Now let’s look at the three front runners using the criteria above, beginning with the incumbent.

Dr Goodluck Jonathan is an amiable man who affects a kind of humility uncommon in the history of our presidency. But I submit with all sense of responsibility, that the very fact that he is in this race on the ticket of PDP, puts his integrity to test. I do not support zoning, but he did. He is a signatory to the initial document that affirmed the scheme within his party and a beneficiary of the arrangement. To try, as he did, to sophistically repudiate the arrangement is sheer opportunism. Affecting to be different, he has nonetheless manifested the same double standards, which successive Nigerian leaders have institutionalized. He knows that the use of government facilities for partisan political purposes is, at least, opportunistic and immoral, if not fraudulent. Under his watch, impunity has returned, with the legislative crisis in Ogun state, denial of access to campaign venues, by governments run by PDP as in the case of Buhari at Mapo Hall, Ibadan are poster examples.

The point being made here is that the president’s rhetoric has not been matched by his actions and omissions. As for his intellectual capacity, I’ll just ask one question: has he demonstrated an ability to think on his feet?

Nuhu Ribadu’s claim to fame is his role as chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. As readers of this column might recall, I am on record as stating that the fact that he could not prosecute Chief Bode George exemplified the truth that he was little more than Obasanjo’s attack dog. While his personal incorruptibility has not been in doubt, his double standards, his Machiavellian disposition leading to Gestapo tactics makes trusting him with State power quite risky.

The ticket’s claim to being a breath of fresh air may well be true because neither Ribadu nor Adeola have ever run for the presidency. But, Adeola resigned from Goodluck’s Presidential Advisory Committee, only a few days before publicly announcing his decision to run with the ACN candidate. He was involved in the controversial Transnational Corporation (an Obasanjo idea) and served as chairman of the National Pensions Commission the same man. So it can be correctly said that he had been a part of the system. While none of these disqualifies him, it does raise questions of consistency; not to talk of street hints about the place of Obasanjo in all of these. Intellectual capacity?  Very little doubt about that and they have youth on their side too!

Buhari is just an older version of Ribadu in that incorruptibility is the reason he is a front runner in this three-horse race. That is evident in the paucity of his personal assets in spite of the many high and “lucrative” offices he has held. He approached his job as military head of state with such zeal that all human rights considerations and legal niceties were thrown out the window. To put it starkly, General Buhari has his hands soiled by innocent blood; including governors who died as a result of the trauma they went through in undeserved detention and convicted armed robbers, Ojulope and co, who should have had between seven and 14 years in jail under existant laws, but were executed under a retroactive decree. The way he ran the economy then, was a throwback to the Stone Age. As for Pastor Tunde Bakare, I shall pass, because he is a man of God whose integrity I don’t doubt, even if the consistency of his public statements over time is hard to avow.

Governor Ibrahim Shekarau has an enviable track record of infrastructural development in Kano state and has proven to be an intelligent debater, but I do not knoow enough about him to comment on integrity and consistency. His highly experienced runnung mate, John Odigie-Oyegun is however wel known for consistency and integrity. they are a pair to watch.

As for Pat Utomi, all I need to add to what I said earlier is that he also has no baggages from the past that can hinder him in  office. But Social Democratic Mega Party? They dont seem on ground anywhere, which makes his chamces very slim indeed.

Having said all of this, the big question I am asking, and which I enjoin everyone to ask, is this: “Father, since you are the only One who knows the heart of men; the only One whose counsel for this nation will stand, and who definitely Has a candidate you have chosen to use at this phase of our national journey, whom do you want me to vote for, in order to use my vote to enforce your will?”

That, in my opinion, should be the recourse of everyone who believes that God is interested in the affairs of this nation. So who will I vote for? It’s got to be that man that God will lay upon my heart to, either directly or through a vessel I get a release in my spirit to trust. So help me, God.

OLUFUNMI OLUYEDE MARCHING ON IN VICTORY



Rev Mrs Funmi Oluyede with Husband, Rev Ajibola
...smiles of God-wrought victory



March is normally one of the most important months on the calendar of Christ Chapel International Churches, CCIC, where I worship. The senior founding pastors, Rev Dr Tunde & Rev Mrs Ebun Joda were both born and got married in March. So, we not only celebrate/mark their birthdays and wedding anniversaries (more often against their wishes), but also seize the opportunity to honour them at what is known as Founders Day. This year hasn’t been and won’t be an exception. But that is a matter for another day.

I am today dedicating this write-up to another March-born pastor, who will be 50 on Tuesday (22). Rev Funmi Oluyede, was until December 2010 (along with her husband, Ajibola) was pastor of Ikeja chapter of CCIC, which happens to be my centre, and it is not an exaggeration to say that outside of my mother, my wife and a few other women I have come across, no other person of the female gender has impacted my life as positively and as enduringly as this woman of God.

She would blush at this, I know, and perhaps even feel a bit embarrassed, but I am glad to confess publicly that, this woman, thirteen years younger than I am. is one of my spiritual mothers. It’s not so much what she taught in words, and those were quite often profound, but what she taught in action. I could tell you a million and one things that I learnt from this wonderful woman of God and her husband who literally took me, my wife and our children under their wings from that moment when we met at 92 Adeniyi Jones Avenue, Ikeja where the church was located. It would however suffice here to simply state that if I understand anything about agape, the God kind of love; unconditional, sacrificial and unceasing, it is because, “Rev Mrs” demonstrated it again and again to me and my family.

All of the foregoing, however, important to me as they are, do not begin to explain why I am dedicating this column to her. You see, if the enemy had its way, we would never have celebrated the 50th birthday of this leader of men and women, except perhaps post humously. We might have strung together the best of tributes in flowery language laden with “was” and all kinds of past tenses, but she wouldn’t have been here to hear or read them!


But thanks be to God, who always gives us the victory in Christ Jesus! “Mummy Oluyede” as my children like to call her, took ill. She was eventually diagnosed with cancer of the brain and, as doctors are wont to do, given two years to live! Yes, she went through all kinds of experiences; but she held on to God and His promises. Today the two years have come and gone several times over and she’ standing.

Now that’s only part of the story. When I say she’s standing, I in fact understate it; she is firmly on her feet running even. Today, Mrs Olufunmi Oluyede is busier than she’s ever been; busy serving the Lord in several capacities than she ever did.

Check this out:

When the 2011 Spring Meeting of the American Bar Association, Section of International Law (ABA International), holds April 5 – 9, 2011 at Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill Washington, DC, USA, she would be there not as a delegate but as a Member, of the Planning Committee, who also served in both the Marketing Outreach Committee and Sponsorship Committee. She has served as an ex-officio member and second vice-chair of the Lagos branch of the Nigerian Bar Association, and is today National Treasurer of the national body. At this level, she currently also is on the NBA Human & Environmental Rights National Committee inaugurated on December 9, 2010 by NBA President, Joseph Bodunrin Daudu SAN, at his first Human Rights Roundtable for stakeholders to review the state of Human Rights in Nigeria.

Pastor Oluyede is Vice Chair, International Bar Association - Africa; Vice Chair, American Bar Association (ABA), International Human Rights Committee & Women's Interest Network; ABA Ambassador/Membership Country Representative (Nigeria); Life Member, International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA); Vice Chair - FIDA Nigeria, Lagos Branch.

Dear readers, please join me and all of my brethren in the Rehabiah Family in celebrating our very own dear Rev Mrs Olufunmi Arinola Oluyede, as she marches on into her second 50 years – to the glory of God.

OLABODE IBIYINKA JUDGED AGAIN!

"Tunde quoted the officiating minister at the thanksgiving service that was part of ‘BG Carnival,’ Tayo Aduloju, as exhorting Bode George: ‘If you are involved in any shady deal; if you are found anywhere elections are rigged; and partake in any form of manipulation, it means you have not learnt anything from your experience. Real power belongs to God. It does not belong to PDP. It does not belong to any president.’"

In November 2009, I did a piece headlined as above, without the “again”, of course. It was  a discussion on the use or abuse of people power in our clime. It was triggered by the tragicomedy that an erstwhile officer and gentleman in the Nigerian Navy, was starring in.

I recalled how Corazon Aquino, one time President of the Philippines, who died on August 1 that year had given the world the concept of people power, when her attempt to step into the steps of her murdered husband, by the popular will of Filipinos was thwarted by the powers that be in her country.

She had contested a snap election called by the then dictator, Ferdinand Marcos.  As I wrote two years ago: “The election which held three months later was called for Marcos. Cory’s supporters knew differently and would have none of it. They poured into the streets, a million strong, clad in their candidate’s favourite yellow colour. Led by rosary-wielding nuns, they stared down Marcos’ armoured tanks chanting “Cory! Cory!! Cory!!!” Four days of sustained, but peaceful street protests later, the military joined the masses and the dictator scampered out of Manila to exile in Hawaii. Cory assumed leadership of her country and “People Power” was born – with a lot of help from the Church, the dominant catholic wing of it.”

I noted then that, “People Power” in several variants, has in the 23 years since Cory inspired it, been put to effective use against vote-rigging and dictatorships in many places – from Poland, former Czechoslovakia and Thailand to, Taiwan, Mongolia and Ukraine. But, although apartheid fell to it in the Republic of South Africa, it is yet to chalk up much success on the continent”. 

I also pointed out that “People Power” was yet to chalk up any major victory in Nigeria, at that time. Of course, the exploits of the Save Nigeria Group during the so-called power vacuum crisis has changed the situation somewhat today, it was correct to say, as we did, that .  .“People Power of the manipulated kind, however, seemed to be catching on in this nation. The Abacha million-man march easily comes to mind here. But, there’s an even more nauseating manifestation of this variant and that is the reason for this musing of mine.”

I explained it this way then: “It works like this. A man (almost always, a man!) corruptly enriches himself. The law catches up with him and when he eventually manipulates his way through the system, his handlers organise a massive rally to welcome home their “illustrious son – in a show of ‘People Power’. But ex-Governor and retired top Naval Officer Olabode George took it one step further. After gorging on the resources of the Nigeria Ports Authority, on which board he served as chairman, and for years escaped justice, he finally had his day in court. He turned every hearing into a carnival, with aso-ebi clad supporters singing and dancing in the court premises. It was clearly a veiled attempt to use corrupted ‘People Power’ to intimidate the judiciary. It failed, thanks to the courage of a judge who chose to align with the dictum of the progressive school of adjudication – ‘let justice be done, even if the heavens fall...’  

I also noted then that what happened was “a clear demonstration of these wise words of the Bible: ‘They that forsake the law praise the wicked: but such as keep the law contend with them’ (Proverbs 28:4). A section of the people, obviously suborned, forsook the law and celebrated the wicked. But mercifully, a judge chose justice and contended with the wicked.”

And so, Commodore Bode George (retd) served his term, appeals to higher courts having failed. And it was time to return home. Quietly, you might think, but, “for where?” He and his comrades-in-arms in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of which he was and apparently still is a leading light,, instead put up what veteran columnist, Tunde Fagbenle characterised as the “BG carnival” complete with aso-ebi, band music, food, drinks, etc, which “would have gulped some handsome millions of naira”

I am going to quote a bit more from Fagbenle’s piece because it represents the judgment of most right-thinking Nigerian patriots on the Bode George misadventure. Quoting Prof. Okey Ndibe, wrote in this connection that “A country where a criminal emerging from jail is greeted adoringly is not simply in deep trouble — its case is grave and perhaps terminal.,” Fagbenle noted that “sadly at the head of this show of moral decadence, this depravity, are some notable names in the society, political bigwigs whom it has been our collective misfortune to have as leaders in this country. In the name of political brotherhood they came, virtually all of them in the ruling party — the PDP — to which Bode George belongs. They are celebrating the return of one of their kind! The great WS had once called the party “a nest of killers”, now they have reminded us that in the eyes of killers, looting is nothing”.

Continuing, Fagbenle wrote: “The sad part is that these blighted bleeders of our country are still seeking our votes to get or return into power at the state and federal levels, and the welcome and later arrogant frontline parade of ex-convict Bode George is their selling point to the kind of government we are to expect if we give their party our votes”.

Tunde quoted the officiating minister at the thanksgiving service that was part of ‘BG Carnival,’ Tayo Aduloju, as exhorting Bode George: ‘If you are involved in any shady deal; if you are found anywhere elections are rigged; and partake in any form of manipulation, it means you have not learnt anything from your experience. Real power belongs to God. It does not belong to PDP. It does not belong to any president.’

He documented George’s reaction as dismissive of the exhortation, as according to him, the George “promptly declared after the service, ‘now, there is a job at hand for us to do and now is the time for us to win Lagos State…’”

I conclude by aligning with Fagbenle’s advice: “It is not too late for BG to beat a retreat and retire into a more ‘dignified’ existence, quietly enjoying whatever is left of whatever he has made. He should desist from emulating the bad example of some shameless leaders out there who we know but would not name here”. If not, the judgment of history will be much harsher.

LESSONS FROM CHRISTCHURCH EARTHQUAKES

"The churches that dot the city felt some of the worst of the temblor's wrath. Spires toppled, stained glass windows exploded, walls cracked and masonry fell... Outdoor services also were held at other churches and at a library, where attendees arrived on bicycle or on foot and sat in folding chairs..."

New Zealand has had much more than its fair share of earthquakes. Records have it, that itexperiences an average of 14,000 tremors every year, and  at least 13 earthquakes measuring between 6.3 and 8.2 on the Richter scale since 1848. 

Christchurch, the country’s second largest urban centre, founded by the Church of England in 1848 in pursuit of the church’s dream of building “a Christian city in the other side of the world” had seemed  immune to all the tectonic shaking around her – until last year. On the fourth day of September, 2010, the city was shaken by a 7.1 magnitude earthquake, leaving in its wake, destruction and damage estimated at US$2.9billion (NZ$4 billion). It was the most materially destructive earthquake in New Zealand in nearly 70years, but – wait for this – no life was lost! Plus: there were only two serious injuries.   

That, many people including the secular media in the city, agreed was a miracle; one that ought to elicit profound gratitude to the source of all miracles, God the almighty. One man of God, Andrew Strom thought so, and jetted in from Australia, to join hands with local churches to put an open air thanksgiving praise and worship concert together, among other things. His experience confirms one of the things that this columnist has been harping upon: that church unity is an urgent imperative, if we are to become the victorious church that the Lord Jesus envisioned. 

Here’s Andrew Strom experience in his own words: “…One of the main things that I hoped to do in Christchurch after the first quake was to organize a large open worship event in the city - to praise and glorify God that nobody had been killed even in a huge 7.1 earthquake. I found that no such event was being planned, but there were thousands of evangelical Christians in Christchurch, and I felt very strongly that it was important for us to publicly glorify God for the miracle of surviving such a disaster with no-one killed. The place was traumatized and it was obvious that a sensitive Worship event would do much good - and even many non-Christians would likely attend. But sadly it was not to be. And this is the disturbing part.

“I have organized large events before, so the Christian Radio network knows me - and quickly agreed to promote the event for free. The PA sound people also agreed to supply excellent sound for a very low cost. And the Christchurch City Council couldn't have been more helpful. Everything was looking good. But then we ran up against the Christian leaders.

“One of the main "networking" Pentecostal leaders in the city told me that we could count him OUT of any support for the event. Then I spoke personally with the Dean of Christchurch Cathedral who told me that we could NOT use the main Square in Christchurch for a worship event for the whole Body…

“I called a number of prominent pastors and worship bands around Christchurch. I said we had the support of Radio, the Council, the sound and everything. No response. Worship bands not interested. Pastors not returning calls. (You might think they were busy after the quake - but remember no-one died and Christchurch was up and running pretty fully after only a couple of weeks). I simply couldn't understand it. The evangelicals of Christchurch had made no public acknowledgement of God at all - no public worship for this miraculous escape - no public glorifying of Jesus. Even the secular News and the politicians were calling it a "miracle". People were traumatized everywhere. Wasn't it a "no-brainer" that we should be doing such a thing? Doesn't God deserve public praise after protecting so many people from harm?...”

Evangelist Strom and his family left Christchurch in December frustrated by the uncooperative, even hindering, activities of his brethren in this “Christian city in the other side of the world”. But on February 22, 2011, another earthquake shook Christchurch. It was less than six months after the first one in a city that never experienced any in its 162 years of its existence. In magnitude, it measured less; 6.3 as against 7.1; but it has been far more devastating.  As I sign off this article, 161 deaths have been confirmed while, with rescue operations officially ended, over 200 persons were as yet unaccounted for. Figures are not yet available for the value of destruction to properties, but it has been confirmed that a sizeable number of the structures in the city centre have to be pulled down. There is an exodus from Christchurch. Heart-rending indeed.

I leave you, dear reader, to reach your own conclusions on whether or not, had the thanksgiving concert held, the recent quake might not have happened or that there would have been no fatalities. But this report by one of Strom’s correspondents is instructive.

Simply identified as Nancy, she wrote: “Today (Sunday February 27 – ed) in Christchurch many churches were forced out into the open to praise and worship God, and many people came along who would not normally go to church. There will also be more sense of unity as the churches that are not damaged are being opened up for other churches to use for services and for funerals. Prayer meetings are being organised for this week coming, to pray for the city.”

Her report was corroborated by Fox News: "Parishioners came together Sunday in parks and on the lawns of churches broken in New Zealand's earthquake to pray for the dead and missing. They sought togetherness and an answer to the question on everyone's mind: Why?"

Associated Press threw more light: "The churches that dot the city felt some of the worst of the temblor's wrath. Spires toppled, stained glass windows exploded, walls cracked and masonry fell... Outdoor services also were held at other churches and at a library, where attendees arrived on bicycle or on foot and sat in folding chairs..."

Food for thought, there! Are church leaders holding to their turf listening? Let him that has ears hear what the Spirit is saying unto the church.