Governance: Role Of The Pulpit On Trial

AWELE OGBOGU

GOSPEL’ as defined by some mouthy preachers in recent times leaves so much to the imagination, indeed, so much to be desired. This set of preachers are suspects of the art of manipulation of public opinion, using divine platforms to disguise self-serving agenda.

The two-edged swords being carried by people in this category, no doubt, have the capacity of cutting very deep wounds in the fabrics of our democratic practice. However, the discovery of the real altar from which these words may be coming and exposure of their actual intentions is the light at the end of this tunnel.

Their defection from the pulpit to the altar of politics was demonstrated recently when rather than motivate, attempts were made to heat up the polity by exploiting current political events in the country as well as activities in some states.

A perfect example of this is an Asaba-based pastor, Mr. Tuoyo Edun of Christ Embassy, who took an unfair swipe at The Pointer newspaper on social network, Facebook. He spoke rather ignorantly and exposed himself to ridicule.

Nothing in his comment or remark reflects The Pointer of today. The state-owned media organization does not print on bad newsprint neither does it publish horrible pictures; allegations which exist only in the figments of Mr. Edun’s imagination.

As to his claim of atrocious grammar, he simply made himself vulnerable to the fact that he does not read The Pointer. Even then, we know that no newspaper in the world is 100 per cent error-free.

If his comments were well-intended or better still, if common sense was applied, he would simply have picked a copy of The Pointer to help him make an informed comment or to properly dissect the newspaper.

At this critical state of the state’s development, only genuine and constructive comments are expected from anyone speaking from the pulpit.

Against this background, Edun’s comment on The Pointer is simply blind to the existing facts and we urge him to rise above such cheap shots at credible, performing institutions.

The newspaper will do nothing to cheapen him or to make him feel cheap but it is advised that he doesn’t make himself a cheap joke or at worst, a cheap pastor.

Edun also took a plunge into same dark waters by making comments on activities in the state when he should first have asked questions or sought proper clarifications as the comments exposed a poor understanding of the issues raised.

Unless Edun simply chose to misunderstand governance, as it appeared to be the case, he should have taken time to understand the real workings of government.

Clearly, in a place where massive infrastructural developmental projects are taking place and with the beehive of activities in various sectors aimed at the transformation of the state’s economy as well as with the pledge to do much more by the government, Tuoyo Edun’s comments, beneath the observable surface presentation, definitely comes with additional layers laced with self-serving purposes.

There is also the case of Pastor Tunde Bakare of the Latter Rain Assembly, Lagos. The former vice-presidential candidate, evidently, threw restraint to the winds as well as the articulate, informed mien of people in that noble calling as he was visibly looking to rock the boat simply because he was not riding in it when he called for Mr. President’s impeachment from office.

Evidently, these individuals did not allow their audiences to gain access to the whole story and the actual situation of things but exposed their desperation to expand the flock of like-minds.

However, government’s readiness to accept constructive and articulate inputs in governance and to expand participation by all stakeholders is not in doubt just as the huge consciousness of its responsibilities, which has metamorphosed into dividends of democracy as well as its commitment to the peoples’ well-being continues to separate the wheat from the chaff.