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| Paul Adefarasin, House on the Rock Leader |
Lately, the chief priest of the House on the Rock, Pastor Paul Adefarasin, has been championing an advocacy of sorts.
Merely professing Christianity, he postulates, is not what prospers a nation.
Which explains why most of the supposedly prosperous nations in Asia and the Gulf today are homes to worshipers of faiths other than Christianity.
Merely professing Christianity, he postulates, is not what prospers a nation.
Which explains why most of the supposedly prosperous nations in Asia and the Gulf today are homes to worshipers of faiths other than Christianity.
Instead, Pastor Adefarasin preaches
righteousness. Religiosity should not be mistaken for spirituality. Whereas the
former births hypocrisy, the latter begets righteousness. So, if Nigeria is under-achieving, the
Christian community is, according to the H.O.R pastor, vicariously
liable.
righteousness. Religiosity should not be mistaken for spirituality. Whereas the
former births hypocrisy, the latter begets righteousness. So, if Nigeria is under-achieving, the
Christian community is, according to the H.O.R pastor, vicariously
liable.
His prescription? It is high time
true Christians took more than passing interest in partisan politics – right
from the street to ward, council, state and national levels; so that
“public policies will be determined by the righteous”.
true Christians took more than passing interest in partisan politics – right
from the street to ward, council, state and national levels; so that
“public policies will be determined by the righteous”.
In recent memory, as president, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan would often be
found in the company of men in long, immaculate cassocks, many of whom, with
the benefit of hindsight, could now be properly addressed as false prophets.
Most totemic of that fraternity was the portrait of the Nigerian president
kneeling on Jerusalem soil and an
assortment of anointed hands congregating on his head in a supreme gesture of
supplication.
found in the company of men in long, immaculate cassocks, many of whom, with
the benefit of hindsight, could now be properly addressed as false prophets.
Most totemic of that fraternity was the portrait of the Nigerian president
kneeling on Jerusalem soil and an
assortment of anointed hands congregating on his head in a supreme gesture of
supplication.
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| ‘Pastor’ Sambo Dasuki….Corrupted The Christian Leaders with dirty money |
But such affectation of piety
obviously contrasts starkly with the stench oozing from Dasukigate in the last one year.
obviously contrasts starkly with the stench oozing from Dasukigate in the last one year.
No longer content with staying in
the corner and lamenting, like the proverbial Jeremiah, that democracy is not yielding enough fruits for the
populace, the debonair Pentecostal preacher is taking an unprecedented step:
his church has volunteered to help political parties in their individual
membership recruitment drive.
the corner and lamenting, like the proverbial Jeremiah, that democracy is not yielding enough fruits for the
populace, the debonair Pentecostal preacher is taking an unprecedented step:
his church has volunteered to help political parties in their individual
membership recruitment drive.
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So, a desk has been opened at the
imposing House on the Rock temple
where congregants are encouraged to write their names and their party
preferences with a view to formally getting them registered.
imposing House on the Rock temple
where congregants are encouraged to write their names and their party
preferences with a view to formally getting them registered.
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| Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, the man who faked ex-Preident Goodluck Jonathan with Spiritual Visit to Israel |
With that gesture, Adefarasin is undoubtedly following in
the illustrious steps of Archi-Bishop
Desmond Tutu of South Africa
during Apartheid South Africa and Martin
Luther King of the civil rights movement in the United States of the 1950/60s who counted it ungodly for the church
to remain aloof in the season of moral turbulence, particularly when social
justice comes under assault.
the illustrious steps of Archi-Bishop
Desmond Tutu of South Africa
during Apartheid South Africa and Martin
Luther King of the civil rights movement in the United States of the 1950/60s who counted it ungodly for the church
to remain aloof in the season of moral turbulence, particularly when social
justice comes under assault.
To be sure, Pastor Adefarasin is,
however, quick to clarify that he remains non-partisan as the head of the H.O.R family. Rather, he is seeking
to extend the frontiers beyond where fellow pastors like Tunde Bakare and Chris Okotie
ended.
however, quick to clarify that he remains non-partisan as the head of the H.O.R family. Rather, he is seeking
to extend the frontiers beyond where fellow pastors like Tunde Bakare and Chris Okotie
ended.
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| Pastor Tunde Bakare….The Man who would have become Vice President in 2011 |
As running mate to Muhammadu Buhari in 2011 on the platform
of CPC, the former came miserably far, far behind. While Okotie’s Fresh Party
never really went beyond the razzmatazz of the soapbox for all its consecutive
bids for the presidency over the years.
of CPC, the former came miserably far, far behind. While Okotie’s Fresh Party
never really went beyond the razzmatazz of the soapbox for all its consecutive
bids for the presidency over the years.
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| Pastor Chris Okotie brought FRESH idea to politics in 2003 and 2007 |
Through this initiative, Adefarasin is seeking to populate the
parties with “Christian missionaries” who hopefully will, with time,
purge the environment of cant and change the prevailing culture of predication to
service and sacrifice. The nation will certainly do better with
more inculcation of the values of tolerance, honesty, compassion, fairness
and justice.
parties with “Christian missionaries” who hopefully will, with time,
purge the environment of cant and change the prevailing culture of predication to
service and sacrifice. The nation will certainly do better with
more inculcation of the values of tolerance, honesty, compassion, fairness
and justice.
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| Yemi the Pastor and Muhammadu the General |
Today, we do not need to look too
far for the poster child for the foregoing qualities on the national stage. The
Adefarasins will proudly point at
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo as the
embodiment. Never shy to flaunt his evangelical credentials as senior pastor of
the Redeemed Church, the erudite
professor of law has in the past nineteen months undoubtedly cut for himself
the picture of competence, temperance, humility and integrity.
far for the poster child for the foregoing qualities on the national stage. The
Adefarasins will proudly point at
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo as the
embodiment. Never shy to flaunt his evangelical credentials as senior pastor of
the Redeemed Church, the erudite
professor of law has in the past nineteen months undoubtedly cut for himself
the picture of competence, temperance, humility and integrity.
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| Vice President, Pastor Yemi Osinbajo…Has his Pastoral trait changed anything in Abuja? |
But it is debatable if, surrounded
more by political sharks and buccaneers, Osinbajo’s
sterling persona has really changed the quality of thinking in Abuja today. Or, if the fortune of
Nigeria as a nation can be said to have dramatically changed for that matter.
more by political sharks and buccaneers, Osinbajo’s
sterling persona has really changed the quality of thinking in Abuja today. Or, if the fortune of
Nigeria as a nation can be said to have dramatically changed for that matter.
If nothing has changed, perhaps it
can be argued that it is only because the likes of Osinbajo are in the minority in the polity and the politics – a
justification, therefore, for the urgency of the Adefarasin doctrine.
can be argued that it is only because the likes of Osinbajo are in the minority in the polity and the politics – a
justification, therefore, for the urgency of the Adefarasin doctrine.
But ultimately, much more will still
be required to appreciably alter the quality of leadership in Nigeria. Equal
ethical re-engineering is sorely needed in other equally critical realms for
synergy.
be required to appreciably alter the quality of leadership in Nigeria. Equal
ethical re-engineering is sorely needed in other equally critical realms for
synergy.
A notable scholar in the cathedral, Bishop Mathew Kukah, brought a rather
jocular – but nonetheless germane – perspective to the debate recently. He
revealed that whenever any parishioner requested him to bless their business
these days he never proceeds without first establishing its nature, partly as
an insistence on a certain ethical minimum.
jocular – but nonetheless germane – perspective to the debate recently. He
revealed that whenever any parishioner requested him to bless their business
these days he never proceeds without first establishing its nature, partly as
an insistence on a certain ethical minimum.
He also added that he never accepts
gift or donation from congregants without ascertaining the provenance.
gift or donation from congregants without ascertaining the provenance.
So, bold as Adefarasin’s recipe might appear, let it however be added that its
efficacy wholly depends on the alignment of other levels of authority on the
social landscape to reorientation or rehabilitation.
efficacy wholly depends on the alignment of other levels of authority on the
social landscape to reorientation or rehabilitation.
These include traditional and
religious authorities. Dominant as political leadership is, the truth is that
it is only a reflection of the character of the civil society. So
without the led also resolving to discard their old toxic values, new
players wishing to force the stated Christian values in public office will
likely get overwhelmed before too long.
religious authorities. Dominant as political leadership is, the truth is that
it is only a reflection of the character of the civil society. So
without the led also resolving to discard their old toxic values, new
players wishing to force the stated Christian values in public office will
likely get overwhelmed before too long.
I speak from experience.
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| The Author, LOUIS ODION (R) Wants Pastor Adefarasin to look back and check the character trait of those who ever wanted to be there before now |
During my recent Sabbatical in Edo, I believe I made more foes than
friends on account on one’s inability to meet too many high expectations. Due
to the erosion of our values over the years and the ensuing addiction to
instant gratification, almost everyone – relation, neighbor, clansman, and
acquaintance – now assumes that political appointments are synonymous with
contracts, contracts and contracts.
friends on account on one’s inability to meet too many high expectations. Due
to the erosion of our values over the years and the ensuing addiction to
instant gratification, almost everyone – relation, neighbor, clansman, and
acquaintance – now assumes that political appointments are synonymous with
contracts, contracts and contracts.
To such people, the number of juicy
contracts you award them is the measure of your “performance” in office.
contracts you award them is the measure of your “performance” in office.
If you replied that as an appointee
you have no power to award contract, the insolent ones would likely counter, “So, if you can’t give contract or make
money, what the hell are you doing
there?”
you have no power to award contract, the insolent ones would likely counter, “So, if you can’t give contract or make
money, what the hell are you doing
there?”
Those in too much hurry will likely
bombard your phone daily with bank details for instant cash transfer. The
political officer’s legitimate pay is public knowledge. So, the expected
satiation of such financial demand could only be based on the unspoken
assumption: the public officer must be “making” money, anyhow.
bombard your phone daily with bank details for instant cash transfer. The
political officer’s legitimate pay is public knowledge. So, the expected
satiation of such financial demand could only be based on the unspoken
assumption: the public officer must be “making” money, anyhow.
Invariably, it is impossible for
anyone, not even the governor or the president, to meet a fraction of these
financial demands from relations, friends, neighbors and acquaintances without
having to steal.
anyone, not even the governor or the president, to meet a fraction of these
financial demands from relations, friends, neighbors and acquaintances without
having to steal.
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| Pastor Paul Adefarasin, The Man who want Pastors in Politics |
The craze for instant gratification
also explains why the provision of “stomach
infrastructure” on election eve,
rather than tangible evidence of real hard work in office, seems to have become
the new determinant of electoral outcome in contemporary Nigeria.
also explains why the provision of “stomach
infrastructure” on election eve,
rather than tangible evidence of real hard work in office, seems to have become
the new determinant of electoral outcome in contemporary Nigeria.
Not until the larger community is
also reformed would Pastor Adefarasin’s
anointed be able to proper in the public office.
also reformed would Pastor Adefarasin’s
anointed be able to proper in the public office.
