BREAK UP NIGERIA!: IN DEFENCE OF BISHOP DAVID OYEDEPO

By

James KANYIP

During a ministration service at the headquarters of his Faith Terbanacle Ministry at Otta, Ogun State, on Sunday, 08/01/2017, it was reported that Bishop David Oyedepo rained down curses on those promoting the wanton killings in the Southern part of Kaduna State. Bishop Oyedepo was also reported to have asked God to take the best decision that would be better for the troubled nation. He said:

“Lord, if it is your will to break up Nigeria, break it now!”

As a result of this statement, Bishop Oyedepo has since been subjected to attacks and condemnations from some commentators. Some view his statement as inflammatory, inciting and divisionist. Others equate his statement with those of Abubakar Shekau of Boko Haram and Nnamdi Kanu of the IPOB who are bent on splitting Nigeria. Some others still call for his arrest for making such statements.

What is wrong with Bishop David Oyedepo’s statement?

Bishop Oyedepo does not need much formal introduction. His achievements in the service of God and humanity have since outnamed his person. To be modest, he is a living legend.

Bishop Oyedepo is a religious leader, nationalist and elder stateman who has contributed and still contributing to national growth and development. His Ministry has wide national and international coverage. He has traveled to almost all the States of the Federation in his pastoral work of shepherding. He has come across and mixed with almost all the different religions and the diverse ethnic groups in the country. Infact, his Ministry started in Kaduna State before its national and word-wide spread. He is a man who knows what it takes to be nationalistic. And as a preacher and shepherd, he knows how to chose his words carefully: he knows when to talk, what to say and how to say it. I do not think those who are attacking the Bishop because of his statement are best qualified to remind him of what it takes to be a nationalist.

The problem with some Nigerians, especially with the advent, evolution and revolution of the social media, is that they view statements and issues with circumvention and not with circumspection; they pay attention to content and not context. These have greatly impaired their sense of discernment in making fair-objective comments and commentaries on issues and statements of people.

I think the Bishop's statement was circumvented and interpreted out of context. The Bishop said: “Lord, if it is your will to break up Nigeria, break it now!”. He did not say that Nigeria should break up. He did not say that Nigerians or any part of Nigeria should carry arms and violently push for a break up. He merely handed over the destiny of Nigeria into God's hands in supplication. Was it not by the will of God that we have what we now call "Nigeria" in the first place? If we believe that the entity we have today as "Nigeria" was sanctioned by God in the first place, what is wrong if the Bishop prays to the same God that if it is His will that the entity should be broken up now, so be it? I do not see anything uncanny here about what the Bishop had said.

However, the hypocrisy in some of us has beclouded our sense of reasoning. Some people have said terribly worst things that are seriously enimical to the existence and collective unity of Nigeria, but no eye brow was raised. Some have sponsored kilings and carnage in some parts of this country, but are now walking as free men in the country. Some will actually want to see Nigeria break up, but the hypocrisy in them will not allow them to voice it out. The Bishop was courageous to speak out and all hell was let lose on him.

The truth is that Nigeria and Nigerians cannot continue to leave in perpetual self-deceipt. Some had earlier called for the break up of Nigeria in more categorical and assertive statements. For instance, on 31/08/2016, Nigeriana.org reported that Femi Fani-Kayode had given support to a call for the break up of Nigeria by Prof. Ango Abdullahi, a former Vice Chancellor of ABU, Zaria. Prof. Ango Abdullahi had earlier said that he believed that if Nigerians could no longer stay together, then the different regions of the country should go their separate ways. Has anybody called for the arrest of Prof. Ango and Fani-Kayode as making inflammatory, inciting and divisionist statements? No! This is the reality staring at us in Nigeria today.

The Bishop has made his request about Nigeria to God. Whether that request will be answered or not is now left for God, Himself, to decide; not man. If God decides that Nigeria should break up, so be it. If not, so be it. In any event, God is the Ultimate Decider. Attacking or castigating the Bishop will not change the will of God on Nigeria and Nigerians.

I stand with Bishop David Oyedepo on this, even if I am the lone and last man standing.

James KANYIP
14/01/2017.

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globalresource:
BREAK UP NIGERIA!: IN DEFENCE OF BISHOP DAVID OYEDEPO

By

James KANYIP

During a ministration service at the headquarters of his Faith Terbanacle Ministry at Otta, Ogun State, on Sunday, 08/01/2017, it was reported that Bishop David Oyedepo rained down curses on those promoting the wanton killings in the Southern part of Kaduna State. Bishop Oyedepo was also reported to have asked God to take the best decision that would be better for the troubled nation. He said:

“Lord, if it is your will to break up Nigeria, break it now!”

As a result of this statement, Bishop Oyedepo has since been subjected to attacks and condemnations from some commentators. Some view his statement as inflammatory, inciting and divisionist. Others equate his statement with those of Abubakar Shekau of Boko Haram and Nnamdi Kanu of the IPOB who are bent on splitting Nigeria. Some others still call for his arrest for making such statements.

What is wrong with Bishop David Oyedepo’s statement?

Bishop Oyedepo does not need much formal introduction. His achievements in the service of God and humanity have since outnamed his person. To be modest, he is a living legend.

Bishop Oyedepo is a religious leader, nationalist and elder stateman who has contributed and still contributing to national growth and development. His Ministry has wide national and international coverage. He has traveled to almost all the States of the Federation in his pastoral work of shepherding. He has come across and mixed with almost all the different religions and the diverse ethnic groups in the country. Infact, his Ministry started in Kaduna State before its national and word-wide spread. He is a man who knows what it takes to be nationalistic. And as a preacher and shepherd, he knows how to chose his words carefully: he knows when to talk, what to say and how to say it. I do not think those who are attacking the Bishop because of his statement are best qualified to remind him of what it takes to be a nationalist.

The problem with some Nigerians, especially with the advent, evolution and revolution of the social media, is that they view statements and issues with circumvention and not with circumspection; they pay attention to content and not context. These have greatly impaired their sense of discernment in making fair-objective comments and commentaries on issues and statements of people.

I think the Bishop's statement was circumvented and interpreted out of context. The Bishop said: “Lord, if it is your will to break up Nigeria, break it now!”. He did not say that Nigeria should break up. He did not say that Nigerians or any part of Nigeria should carry arms and violently push for a break up. He merely handed over the destiny of Nigeria into God's hands in supplication. Was it not by the will of God that we have what we now call "Nigeria" in the first place? If we believe that the entity we have today as "Nigeria" was sanctioned by God in the first place, what is wrong if the Bishop prays to the same God that if it is His will that the entity should be broken up now, so be it? I do not see anything uncanny here about what the Bishop had said.

However, the hypocrisy in some of us has beclouded our sense of reasoning. Some people have said terribly worst things that are seriously enimical to the existence and collective unity of Nigeria, but no eye brow was raised. Some have sponsored kilings and carnage in some parts of this country, but are now walking as free men in the country. Some will actually want to see Nigeria break up, but the hypocrisy in them will not allow them to voice it out. The Bishop was courageous to speak out and all hell was let lose on him.

The truth is that Nigeria and Nigerians cannot continue to leave in perpetual self-deceipt. Some had earlier called for the break up of Nigeria in more categorical and assertive statements. For instance, on 31/08/2016, Nigeriana.org reported that Femi Fani-Kayode had given support to a call for the break up of Nigeria by Prof. Ango Abdullahi, a former Vice Chancellor of ABU, Zaria. Prof. Ango Abdullahi had earlier said that he believed that if Nigerians could no longer stay together, then the different regions of the country should go their separate ways. Has anybody called for the arrest of Prof. Ango and Fani-Kayode as making inflammatory, inciting and divisionist statements? No! This is the reality staring at us in Nigeria today.

The Bishop has made his request about Nigeria to God. Whether that request will be answered or not is now left for God, Himself, to decide; not man. If God decides that Nigeria should break up, so be it. If not, so be it. In any event, God is the Ultimate Decider. Attacking or castigating the Bishop will not change the will of God on Nigeria and Nigerians.

I stand with Bishop David Oyedepo on this, even if I am the lone and last man standing.

James KANYIP
14/01/2017.

Nice one.

True talk. If it is God's will, let it break up.