About 2 weeks ago, social media
went agog with the news that
Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka had
released his New Year
message, in which he lashed
out at the government of
Nigeria, specifically asking for
a change to the status quo. In
his typical fire brand manner
(which is alien to the Catholic
Church), he took time to
lambast the president and his
cronies. Now, the irony of this
matter is that sometime in
November last year, it was this
same priest that laid hands on
the head of a kneeling First
Lady and prayed for her
goodwill and that of the
president. He also voiced out
his support for the regime.
Turning around overnight to
criticize the same government
he supported about two
months ago is what baffled a
lot of people.
Rev.Fr. Ejike Mbaka is
renowned for fearlessly
speaking against oppressive
regimes in the past (he spoke
out against the regime of
Governor Chimaroke Nnamani,
which nearly cost him his life).
After the video of his message
‘From Goodluck to Bad Luck’
went viral, a lot of conspiracy
theories sprung up. Some
alleged that the Church was
angry that he urged Ndigbo to
support the president’s re-
election bid after the First
Lady visited his Adoration
Ministries ground, thereby
asking him to send a rebuttal
in the form of a New Year’s
message. Others alleged that
after the message was
released, the opposition party
(APC) sent a powerful
delegation to Enugu to woo
him to support them. (smh…
Naija and all the political
drama). According to the priest
himself, he stated categorically
that it was a message from the
Lord.
In a nation where
corruption thrives, it is really
appalling that religion plays a
major role in the daily affairs
of the citizens and in political
affairs. At the commencement
of any social function, the
name of the Lord is called
upon. PHCN restores power,
the name of the Lord is
mentioned. An okada man
narrowly escapes being hit by
a commercial bus, the
occupants of the bus call on
the name of the Lord. A public
servant is caught red handed
collecting bribe and he calls on
the name of the Lord. This is a
nation where people are
willing to put the devil to test
and quickly call on the name of
Lord when shit hits the fan. A
mother would gladly put her
three kids on a commercial
motorcycle and join them on it
(just picture them on the bike)
and wouldn’t hesitate to shout
– “I bind you devil”, “Jesus!,
Jesus!”, “The plans of the
enemy won’t work” – when an
accident occurs. Alright, I am
digressing.
Since the 18th century, the
founding fathers of the United
States of America struggled
and labored greatly in a bid to
separate the affairs of the
Church and the State. It was in
this period that the phrase –
Separation of the Church and
the State – was coined. Other
great leaders have also done
their best to separate these
two bodies. Many historians
have argued that separation of
the Church and the State is not
attainable. A few are hopeful
that it would come to pass.
In Nigeria, religious leaders
have been known to be
influential in the politics of the
nation in various ways. The
more common means is to
influence their congregation
during such key periods as the
General Elections. It is no
longer news that the Vice
Presidential candidate of the
APC is a pastor of The
Redeemed Church of God. Some weeks ago, the members of the
church were encouraged to get
their PVCs, come to church
with it and raise it up for all
to see. Any coincidence?
The separation of the
Church and the State! Who are
the new generation of
kingmakers? They are God’s
servants; those followers of
Christ that adorn themselves in
varying regalia depending on
the particular ideology the
priest has. One wears a ‘Jesus
Piece’ and gold rings; you
wouldn’t know the difference
between Pastor Oritsejafor and
a rapper wannabe. His
romance with politics recently
got him involved in the
$9.3million arms deal scandal.
A godless generation that
profess God’s name at every
minute.
In the good book, a woman
(I guess she’s a Samaritan)
met Jesus at Jacob’s well. Jesus
begged her for some water and
she refused, citing some
ancient reasons and stuffs like
that. Ok, fast forward to the
end of the conversation…Jesus
told the woman and I quote:
“…but the hour cometh and is
now, when the true worshipers
shall worship the Father in
spirit and in truth …” This
passage teaches us about
Spiritual Rebirth and Rebellion
against Spiritual Status Quo. It
makes us understand that
what matters is having a
personal relationship with the
Lord and not going from
church to church to seek God,
thereby making ourselves
willing victims for
manipulation by the new
generation of kingmakers –
God’s servant.
In these few weeks leading
up to the General Elections, let
our hearts guide us in making
the right decisions for the good
of the nation. Seek the face of
the Lord, if you would. But
don’t let your pastor or
spiritual leader do the seeking
for you. Make the choice on
whom to vote (without any
input from your priest)
because in the end, when you
are lost in the comfort of your
echoes and silence is all that
abound, you would realize that
you (and you alone) would
bear the consequences of the
choice(s) you’ve made. Capisce!
Se oti to?
May God bless Nigeria…this
godless nation!

culled from: www.feelgoodinconline.com/blogs/