I know many will be surprised at this opinion
but it is an honest and frank progression of
thoughts from an open-minded individual, not
emboldened by any personal bigotry, political
agenda or religious connotation.
T.B. Joshua is a name I was distantly aware of
prior to the tragic collapse of a guest-house
within his premises on September 12th 2014
that plummeted over 100 salvation-seeking
individuals into a premature grave. Indeed, I
don’t think there is any Nigerian who can feign
ignorance of Joshua’s fame and miraculous
claims.
However, by virtue of both location and
vocation, there had been no specific reason for
me to form any particular opinion or
premonition concerning him despite the
volume of vitriolic reports I believe we have all
heard or read to some degree in time-past.
I certainly respected Pastor Joshua for his
commendable humanitarian services, just as I
do anyone who gainfully uses their resources
for the benefit and benefaction of others, but
my train of thoughts had not travelled toward
any further conclusive trajectory.
Therefore, the tragic incident and wave of
attention bestowed relentlessly on Joshua in its
wake provided fodder for reflection. Although
I am not a personal adherent to the rather
cryptic ‘Marmite philosophy’ of ‘you either
love it or hate it’, T.B. Joshua’s case appears to
aptly illustrate this. Just look at the vast chasm
between unreasonable detestation and
irrational devotion displayed by Joshua’s foes
and fans alike in online commentaries and
debates!
I would opt more on the side of neutrality,
governed hopefully by rationality! As a
Christian, brought up under a strict moral
barometer, I certainly consider myself a
‘spiritual realist’. I would like to believe I am
governed by the indomitable principle that
forces for both good and evil exist in this
world and an individual has a candid choice as
to which direction he swings in and thus which
influence he operates under.
Therefore, the barrage of negativity and
scathing personal attacks on Joshua that
spread like wildfire in the wake of the tragic
incident certainly irked me. I pose a question
at this point – why would a tragedy provide
any logical yardstick for determining the
authenticity of an individual related to it?
Let me state a few points I observed. Firstly,
unreasonable assertions founded on
inconclusive insinuations were published as if
they were sacrosanct. For example, the
statement attributed to a NEMA official who
had just arrived on the scene claiming the
building’s foundations were not sufficiently
strengthened to withstand the additional floors
being added was widely quoted and formed a
core basis for criticism. However, his arrival
at such conclusion without actually digging up
the foundation to test its strength was neither
questioned nor queried. Also, are disaster
management personnel in the right position to
give authoritative information on construction
matters?
Numerous reports questioned the empathy and
efficiency of The SCOAN’s initial response,
alleging that emergency workers were refused
access to the site. An article published in South
Africa’s best selling newspaper theatrically
titled, ‘Blood On Their Hands’, even suggested
the secrecy that shrouded the incident’s
aftermath resulted in a higher death toll. These
reports were accentuated whereas conflicting
reports detailing the efficiency of The SCOAN’s
response and the ‘miracles’ behind the rescues
of over 130 were significantly downplayed.
T.B. Joshua’s statement shortly after the
incident noting ‘a strange plane’ that flew over
the building several times, alongside the release
of security footage that captured the horrific
incident, was widely condemned as
irresponsible, irrational and insensitive. Yet,
to date, no NEMA official has made a public
statement explaining the plane’s mission in
Ikotun that day, if indeed nothing sinister was
involved.
Emmanuel TV’s release of a video showcasing
controlled demolitions and their remarkable
semblance to the manner in which The SCOAN
building collapsed was similarly left out of
many media reports as the conclusion of
structural defects had already been suitably
positioned in people’s reasoning.
At this juncture, I must posit that as an
individual with some knowledge in
construction matters, the manner of the
‘pancake collapse’ I witnessed from The
Synagogue security footage certainly doesn’t
suggest structural deficiencies. Let’s hope
investigators unravel the truth!
Calls for Joshua’s incarceration and
prosecution were championed by even
respected Nigerian scholars abroad even
though the official investigation has not (as
yet) declared any shred of culpability on the
part of The SCOAN.
To buttress my point, take a look at a piece
penned by one sceptic named Leo Igwe on
Sahara Reporters. It is titled, ‘T B Joshua: The
Collapse Of A Charlatan’ and basically opines
that Joshua’s collapsed building signals ‘the
slow and gradual crumbling of a mega
charlatanic ministry being spearheaded by one
of the most notorious evangelical con artists
Nigeria has ever known.’
The article contains no substance or systematic
thought processes whatsoever; it is simply a
barrage of incensed accusations of fabrication
and deception against Joshua and Christianity
in general. Why was it that Igwe’s openly anti-
Christian rantings were given such free
advertising? Surely, the focus should have
been on the well-being of those who lost loved
ones in the tragedy (to whom I send my sincere
and heartfelt condolences) and not Pastor
Joshua’s spiritual legitimacy?
Similarly, a laughable report in Nigeria’s
Vanguard newspaper shortly after the incident
questioning Joshua’s miraculous abilities was
prejudiced to the point of embarrassment. If a
similar report had been filed on another
subject matter, it would have been rejected for
its blatant disregard for journalistic ethics and
lack of credibility, yet it was not only
published but disseminated on various online
sites and foreign newspapers.
People repeatedly and usually sarcastically
questioned on social media why Joshua had not
‘prophesied’ his own building collapse despite
his famed divine insight to foresee events of
international significance. The question
certainly has validity but it is by no means a
factor by which genuineness can be
ascertained. Are we positioning Joshua on the
level of our Creator by suggesting he must be
‘all-knowing’?
I ask the question here – had this tragic
incident happened in the premises of a business
tycoon or prominent hotelier, would the venom
unleashed towards its owner have been
proportionate to that levelled at T.B. Joshua?
It appears to me that people had already
prepared and preloaded ‘ammunition’ against
Pastor Joshua, awaiting an opportunity to
unleash them in a concerted attempt at
character assassination. The tragic incident
simply provided the sufficient media and
public attention to respectably mask motives
yet spew forth venom.
In this respect, the amount of criticism levelled
toward Joshua actually had an adverse affect
on me. Why would people fight someone to such
an extent, straining to paint him black, if he
was not standing up for what is right? Why
would such vehement personal attacks arise
against an individual, who has not been found
guilty on any counts as yet, without another
sinister motive at play? What evidence is there
of a man who stands for light if darkness does
not attempt to snuff him out?
The more I listen to T.B. Joshua’s teachings on
Emmanuel TV, watch the miraculous activities,
eye-opening confessions and touching
testimonies, the more I begin to understand.
What happened that day was an attack, not
just on T.B. Joshua or Nigeria, but on the
kingdom of God.
In this matter, although it may be against
popular opinion, I humbly yield to the
promptings of my conscience – T.B. Joshua is a
servant of the Most High.
Johnson Abayomi, a football coach of Nigerian
origin, wrote this from his base in Atlanta,
Georgia, USA
http://www.kulzone.tk/2014/10/opinion-how-collapse-of-tb-joshuas.html?m=1