IS GAMBIA LUCKY?

In the last 48 hours, Nigeria’s warship NNS Unity has been found sailing ruggedly towards Senegal, a neighboring nation to curfew locked-in Gambia. This is also in similar dimension with the Senegalese troops who are already moving closer to the Gambian border in a bid to forcefully oust dictatorial Gambian leader President Yahya Jammeh from power. Jammeh, who lost  in the December 1, 2016 elections that produced Adama Barrow as the president-elect of the country  initially conceded defeat after the elections to Barrow but  later publicly rejected the outcome of the elections and will not be handing over. This has triggered uproar particularly by neighboring states and the international community who feels that the desires for life presidency by African leaders like Mugabe and Jammeh is insulting the conscience and consciousness of Africans.

                                                

With the many deliberations going on with Jammeh by African leaders to ensure that he willingly hands over, we need to thank God for counting  Nigeria worthy of a leader that desires to fight for the completion of a democratic process. It takes a man that has lived in such atmospheres to understand what Nigeria is doing for Gambia at this level. Sincerely, I wish to say that Gambia is lucky for several reasons.

First, 2 leaders in Nigeria, Generals Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida and Sani Abacha have ruled Nigeria without handing over to a democratic government in 1993 and 1998 even when they had all the opportunity to do so. Lives were lost in protests. The media vented her anger with the pen. Prodemocracy activists were locked up and many outspoken leaders fled into exile . Virtually all meaningful structures collapsed but there was no African country that was ready to face these 2 Nigerian leaders and help remove them.  Times and seasons might truly have changed but Nigeria could also stay afar from Gambia now, imposing sanctions upon sanctions that only bite on the poor and never scratches Jammeh..

Second, The Gambia like Botswana and Uganda has on more than one occasion picked her lead bench from Nigeria. From the time of Justice Udo Udoma who was Chief Justice of Uganda, through Justice Wowo (who went to Gambia to disgrace us) to Justice Emmanuel Oluwasegun Fagbenle, a Nigerian,  who is currently the Chief Justice of the Gambia, The Nigerian bench by producing good judges, is once again helping Gambia, indirectly but through legality and firmness to ensure sanity and order in the country. 98% of positions in Nigeria are filled by leaders who are mostly victims of chronic materialism and systemic corruption. The same Nigeria that supplies The Gambia with excellent, principled and experienced judges has a judiciary that has been filled corruption where any matter can be negotiated. I keep wondering what makes most Nigerian experts function so professionally until they step into MMA.

Gambia is lucky because a former president in Nigeria, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan decided to hand over to a democratic government after conceding defeat at the 2015 elections. With that, not only has Nigeria transited into a new democratic dispensation successfully, but has alternated democratic governments, something that has never happened since Nigeria’s independence. It is upon this feat that Nigeria developed the moral impetus to not only challenge Jammeh at those ECOWAS meetings but also to join other West African countries against this undemocratic warlord.

Gambia is lucky to have a president-elect that believes in going to exile after winning an election. Nigeria was not that lucky. While I am not against president-elects who believe otherwise, I still feel that human life is just a life to a blood sucking dictator. It has no meaning. Whether that life is that of a president-elect or a chicken is not an issue. We had Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, president-elect of the Nigerian 1993 elections that stayed home to fight and died (or was killed) in prison,  who many kids born after 1998 know almost nothing about him today. He just sounds like Shakespeare or Ajayi Crowther to them!

Lastly, Gambia is lucky to have neighboring nations that are financially and militarily ready to support her even in economic recession. Even the United Nations is supporting Economic Community of West African States in ousting Jammeh. Then and now, Nigeria still has more  neighbors that need her for economic dependence so much that talking about Nigeria’s stability is more like a needless espionage. Mind your business and get what you need is still the rule.

It is becoming important to African leaders that your life is at stake when your neighbours wall is ablaze. We are beginning to feel it that if Niger or Benin republic is economically impoverished, there is no way border  cities like saki, ilaro, idiroko Mubi or Chibok will not feel it. We are beginning to know that if your neighbours are hungry, you can never curb smuggling and needless importation, a major enemy of economic growth and manufacturing. It is becoming glaring to Africans that without democracy, there can be no rights!

As Nigeria’s NNS warship sails ruggedly against Jammeh with  Senegalese  and other west African armies pushing terrestrially and aerially against  another beast of no nation, I stand tall to say I feel proud to be a Nigerian. As Barrow gets sworn in secretly today, we await the backing out of the10^th minister, of more  military heads and a speech from our own Justice Fagbenle for Barrow’s  full inauguration in Banjul even as this west African army marches triumphantly against the soon-to-jammed-dictator. Aluta Continua, Victoria Ascerta!

Nigeria's Warship, NNS Unity sailing on ruggedly to oust Jammeh( Photo credit:Channels TV)

THE NEW RCCG APPOINTMENT AND THE ACCUSATION OF PROFESSOR ISHAQ OLOYEDE

Pastor E.A Adeboye, The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God handed over the RCCG Nigeria to Pastor Obayemi at the church's Annual Thanksgiving last saturday morning. He stated that no sooner than later, Pastor W.F Kumuyi of the Deeper Life Christian Ministry, Bishop Mike Okonkwo of the TREM and Bishop David Oyedepo of the Living Faith Church will soon comply also with the Financial Regulatory Council policy that insists on 20 years leadership for all heads of religious organisations in Nigeria.

Now the RCCG is a Nigerian church in 192 countries of the world with millions of members mostly Nigerians spread across the globe. The General Overseer, Pastor E.A Adeboye, a doctor of applied mathematics has been the head of the church since 1981. However, Pastor Adeboye's compliance action has met with sharp criticisms and praise from Nigerians of various faiths. One of such critics is Professor Ishaq Oloyede of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs who said and I quote "When I read it in a daily today, I felt a bit disturbed that they were not honest enough to say that this is not a new law. I think some people are just hell bent in creating sensation and discrediting the government. It is unfair.....The impression was being given as if the present government created the law."

I read and analyzed the words of this professor and had every reason to smile. Pastor E.A. Adeboye of the RCCG leadership appointed Pastor Obayemi of the RCCG too at an RCCG Annual Thanksgiving (in Lagos) in compliance with the rule of law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria where the RCCG headquarters is.

So My question is -By obeying a simple law, how has Pastor Adeboye become dishonest?... Is it in obeying the law that he became dishonest? Is publicizing a law the core deliverable of Pastor Adeboye? Did Pastor Adeboye break any law by complying with this law? Could telling the people that a law is new or not be as important as obeying that law? Were we not taught in law that obedience to the rules is the most essential? In what way has Pastor Adeboye's action in compliance with the law discredited this government? Why should the obedience to the law by Pastor Adeboye be a disturbing concern for Ishaq Oloyede? In what way has Pastor Adeboye's compliance politicized anything or discredited this government? What you cannot open your mouth to say to the Sultan, a professor opens his mouth to say to leaders of other faiths and smiles away. He even alleges the pastor of sharing sensational information.

I have mingled widely and seen how Muslims in Northern Nigeria carry the Sultan. I have seen how buddhists carry their spiritual heads and Gautama Buddha. I have seen how Ifa worshippers globally carry Professor Wande Abimbola, Chief Elebuibon,the late Suzan Wenger and the likes. Infact, in Benin City, there are some faiths that never speaks ill of the Oba of Benin even in their closets. I need not tell you anymore about how tenderly hinduists treat their spiritual leaders. Neither do I have to tell you how catholics carry their Pope! Now, this respect also comes with tolerance for other spiritual leaders which completely contradicts the responses of Professor Oloyede.

This statement by Ishaq Oloyede alleging Pastor Adeboye of dishonesty is most sensational. I believe very strongly that Ishaq Oloyede crossed the ambits of his own religion to allege other spiritual leaders of dishonesty for complying with the laws of the land. Religious leaders should not be uncouth. Voluntary compliance to the rule of law should be welcomed always. Ishaq Oloyede should be thinking of how to ensure that people of his faith comply with the law instead of alleging others of dishonesty. Like it was said in one of the documentaries of the legendary Boxer, Muhammad Ali, “A man’s religion is his business.” Simple! And vice versa.

Like Professor Wole Soyinka recently qualified it, For the millipedes of the internet that crawl with their hands and legs to say something about every pastor leaving slime of insults on them even for their obedience to the rule of law, I think it is necessary to let them know that gone are the days that all pastors MUST be poor. Funny people who know how to use 2m to do charms, enchantments and occultic reinforcements opens their mouths to bully Christians for going to a church of their choice No pastor flogs you to pay tithes. Neither do they put their hands in your pockets. A major beauty of Christianity is that you are only encouraged to do almost everything. You cannot be forced. If you need a poor pastor, go out there and find one. If you hate tithes, offering, dont go to church or go to church and don’t give. Infact, you can even log online and enjoy yourself virtually before your God without stepping into church. Many of us are unapologetic Christians. If the Bible says so, we will do so. God should handle the rest.

But one thing has amazed me. Since Pastor Adeboye complied to the law and these stupid criticisms started, some well known pastors in Nigeria have stayed silent! Same mode will i be too after this but really“Mind your Business” should be a law in Nigeria.lol

Pastor E.A Adeboye of the RCCG