Twitter @ lekansote 1 Relatively unknown Apostle Johnson Suleman , of Omega Fire Ministries, shot into celebrity status after condemning what he considered to be Kaduna State Governor Nasir el -Rufai ’ s anti - preaching law . He allegedly asked Christians in Kaduna State to defend themselves when attacked .
Self - defence , by the way , is the right for one to protect one ’ s person , family , and property , from harm by an aggressor . Self - defence is acceptable , where “the defendant (is ) free from fault … (has ) no convenient mode of escape or retreat by declining combat … (and ) there ( is) a present impending peril … real or apparent . ”
Adam Smith , who probably doesn ’ t agree with the principle of self -defence , observes: “ As the violation of justice is what men will never submit to from one another … civil society would become a scene of bloodshed and disorder , every man avenging himself … whenever he fancied he was injured . ”
Attempts by the Department of State Services operatives to arrest Apostle Suleman for his pronouncments , the night after he concluded a two - day crusade in Ado Ekiti , was foiled by the Ekiti State Governor , Ayodele Fayose , who evacuated him from a hotel room to the Ekiti State Government House.
Suleman disclosed , “ I received several calls from hidden ( telephone ) numbers trying to locate where I was , and I had warned my security not to allow any Fulani man to come nearer ( sic) me. So when the men of the DSS came in the middle of the night , I knew their mission, and I had to call the governor , because if they arrested me , they would put this country on fire . ”
Suleman later honoured a DSS invitation in Abuja , was interrogated , and later allowed to go . Soon after that , Stephanie Otobo , a Nigerian , said to be resident in Canada , addressed a press conference . She painted lurid pictures of supposed trysts with the cleric , whose most private anatomy , she assayed to describe .
She alleged that Suleman promised to marry her , reneged after she got pregnant, and surreptitiously poured a substance into her drink , thereby causing her to lose the pregnancy. She claimed she bled for one year , though she doesn ’ t quite look as anaemic as someone with a prolonged issue of blood . But then , only a medical doctor can determine that .
In a petition , Stephanie asked the police to confirm Suleman ’ s money transfers into her bank account , as well as their Napoli rendezvous , by examining their travelling documents , which should (presumably ) bear stamps of the same dates , at the same airport immigration points .
Stephanie ’ s claim that Suleman took drinks and gifts to her family house in Delta State for formal marriage introductions was denied by her father . Her mother has even gone to Suleman ’ s church to apologise for her daughter’ s conduct.
Even before the mother ’ s public apology , Stephanie had changed her narrative , and claimed that the introduction was done in Suleman ’ s office . Well , most Nigerian cultures hold formal marriage introductions in the home, or venue chosen by the family of the bride.
The purported tip- off that led to her alleged arrest while attempting to withdraw money from her bank account , and her arraignment, with an alleged accomplice, a certain Wisdom Godstime, at a Lagos Magistrate Court , for extortion , sounds more than a coincidence . The duo faced a four- count charge of terrorism , blackmail , and extortion, including threats to life .
If Suleman did not tip the police off, as claimed by Phrank Shuaibu, his media consultant , before Stephanie and Godstime were apprehended , why are the duo in court “ with intent to blackmail a man of God , ( and ) unlawfully demanded the immediate payment of N500 m to Stephanie , ( to wit ) by Apostle Johnson Suleman ?”
And why , if true, did Shuaibu say Stephanie was “ caught up by her own machinations , as she was arrested while trying to withdraw money paid into her account by the Church (which church ?) in a sting operation conducted by the police ?”
If Stephanie and Wisdom were alleged by the police to have attempted to extort money on February 14 , were arrested on March 3 , and released on bail of N100 , 000 on March 9 , you might be justified to conclude that Stephanie ’ s petition of March 13 , 2017 , asking the police to check her claims against Suleman , was an afterthought .
In a drama - filled Victory Service , Suleman celebrated his victory over Stephanie . He told his jubilating congregation , “ We are not fighting a physical battle , so you don ’ t expect the enemies ( of the Christian gospel ) to fold their hands while the fight is going on . ”
He may be alluding to the Anti - Christ , who opposes or denies Jesus Christ , and acts as an antagonist of Christians. The church expects the Anti- Christ to fill the world with wickedness , though he will ultimately be conquered at the Second Coming of Jesus .
Apostle Paul said , in 2 nd Timothy 3 : 12 , “Indeed , all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted . ” Suleman explained that the scandal was aimed at destroying his marriage and reputation , because he spoke against the killing and persecution of Christians.
But soon after , another accusation came , from a faceless Queen Esther, a hooker , who claimed to have had a bout of “ sexcapades” with Suleman . She refused to reveal her identity , only to later allege that el - Rufai had coerced her into making false accusations against Suleman .
Because there are a few loose ends in the whole saga , you could easily get the impression that somebody is trying to rope Governor el - Rufai into the matter , as a result of his previous altercation with Suleman . Shuaibu , who thinks el - Rufai is behind it all, may also think he is an agent of the Anti- christ .
In asking the governor to revoke the Religious Regulation Bill, Suleman , a former Muslim, had said : “ I am saying this specifically to the Governor of Kaduna (State ) , revoke this law or die !” The bill, that replaces the 1984 Religious Regulation Act, requires Kaduna State chapters of Jama ’ atu Nasril Islam and Christian Association of Nigeria to keep records of mosques, churches and clergymen . ”
The bill intends that government will issue licences , without which no one can preach; restrict religious music to homes , mosques, churches, and other such places ; and discourage abusive language in religious recording .
Suleman ’ s recommendation that the bill , which addresses Islam and Christianity, should apply to other religions , is valid . Many believe that there is a plan to sabotage Section 38 ( 1 ) of Nigeria ’ s constitution which says , “ Every person shall be entitled to freedom of thought , conscience , and religion… and … to manifest and propagate his religion or belief in worship , teaching , practice , and observance. ”
Recalling the joining of Nigeria to the Organisation of Islamic Countries by military dictator Ibrahim Babangida in 1986 , some Christians are suggesting that what has been described as Kaduna State ’ s anti - preaching bill points to el - Rufai as another node in the plan to Islamise Nigeria.
El - Rufai ’ s sympathisers argue that because he is a friend of Pastor Tunde Bakare , of the Latter Rain Assembly , he cannot be counted among the persecutors of Christians. He cannot be absolved merely because of his association with Pastor Bakare either .
Police failure to investigate Otobo ’ s claims of money transfers, attempted abortion , “ sextings , ” hotel check - ins , and travels , with Suleman is baffling . It is better to confirm her allegations , or exonerate Sulaiman - publicly. http://www.punchng.com/acts-of-apostle-suleman/Cc lalasticlala, OAM4J |
