Adeboye's jet: Missing answers
By Pius Isiekwene

MANY writers maintain that facts are sacred and should be so treated. There is indeed a dictum in journalism that whenever in doubt, a reporter or writer should vacate the issue entirely. Those who are determined to bring an issue into the public domain because of its importance or urgency must go the extra kilometre to seek out the facts.

The treatment of facts is the essential distinction between the junk writers and publications on the one hand and the serious writers and publications on the other. The sober professional writer seeks to provide answers to the questions of what, who, when, where and how. Contemporary investigative journalism also explores the idea of "what next" or the probable consequences of the events or series of reported events.

A professional reporter or writer who cannot answer all the pertinent questions restrains himself from that subject mater or waits until he has the answers. Such self-censorship boosts the integrity of the reporter and his publications. Many readers look forward to such a self-censored reporter's story and tend to believe him even after reading other possibly different accounts of the same event.

There is of course, the tyranny of deadlines and the consequent pressure in the newsroom. Each newspaper seeks to beat its rivals to the story. There is also a dangerous band-wagonism as "less fortunate" reporters tend to replicate the "facts" in the story-breaking publication without any independent checks of their own.

In perhaps a few cases also, falsehood is known to have been published out of a deliberate mischief to misinform, vendetta, enemy-propaganda, reporter-advocacy and other non-professional and subjective considerations.

The reports of the Gulfstream 4XP jet with registration number 707EA supposedly bought by Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeobye, the general overseer of The Redeemed Christian Church of God (The RCCG), have been characterised by varying levels of inaccuracies, unanswered questions and mischief in most of the newspaper publications and postings on the internet.

A check on "what" was actually bought would have revealed, for example, that contrary to widespread reports, the jet was not brand new and cost an estimated N1.4 billion, a fraction of the reported N4 billion. A further check would also have revealed that the 1996 model aircraft attracted a down payment of only 30 per cent in a purely commercial transaction handled by one of Nigeria's first generation banks.

Almost without exception, the "who" and "how" questions were bungled by all the publications in what has become known as "Adeboye's Jet" or "Redeemed Jet." The truth, however, is that the jet does not belong to the mathematician turned preacher or the church. Rather, it belongs to a group of five members of the church who procured it to run private charter services. The only Adeboye connection is that he would be given priority to travel in the jet for his pastoral duties within and outside the country at little or no cost. It is not intended for his exclusive use as the sponsors of the jet expect to service the US$7 million procurement loan with the charter proceeds. The aircraft is the collateral for the loan.

Diverse emotions have also flowed from writers and commentators as they struggled with the "probable consequences" of the Adeboye jet, particularly at a time of global economic meltdown. Some have dismissed the jet as an ill-timed and needless luxury by the general overseer of a church whose members and pastors are struggling with poverty. Like Judas Iscariot who criticised Mary for anointing Jesus with expansive perfume at Bethany (John 12: 1-5), they argued that the money should have been spent on the poor. Quite a number also argued that the jet was out of character with the life of sacrifice and holiness for which Adeboye had hitherto been known.

But to Adeboye, as one of the internet discussants argued, a jet is no more a luxury than an air-conditioned car is to a busy executive transversing diverse locations. Also, unlike a busy executive whose operations may be confined to a single city or nation, Adeboye's church has parishes in more than 100 countries spread over Africa, Asia, Europe, the Americas, the Middle/Far East and Australia. Again, unlike a busy transnational executive who does not need to be physically present at all operational locations, Pastor Adeboye's business is with men's souls and demands physical presence and contact. Even with an occasional free jet ride, he may still not be able to cover all the nations but the enhanced access to an aircraft and ease of travelling certainly make a difference.

To be sure Adeboye loathes poverty but deeply loves the poor who constitute the bulk of his target messages on how to conquer poverty. Under his leadership, The RCCG has numerous welfare programmes aimed at helping and empowering the poor. He regards the mass media with equal love as journalists who have interacted with him would testify.

The debate may not be yet over but a healthy quest and respect for facts are imperative for the Fourth Estate of the Realm - whether the subject matter is a private jet, a murder, fraud or bill. All the pertinent questions demand answers. And so do the readers.

Isiekwene lives in Lagos



SOURCE:GUARDIAN 16TH APRIL,2009

A case of pot calling kettle black.

agborodun:

Adeboye's jet: Missing answers
By Pius Isiekwene

(Skip)

To be sure Adeboye loathes poverty but deeply loves the poor who constitute the bulk of his target messages on how to conquer poverty. Under his leadership, The RCCG has numerous welfare programmes aimed at helping and empowering the poor. He regards the mass media with equal love as journalists who have interacted with him would testify.

The debate may not be yet over but a healthy quest and respect for facts are imperative for the Fourth Estate of the Realm - whether the subject matter is a private jet, a murder, fraud or bill. All the pertinent questions demand answers. And so do the readers.

Isiekwene lives in Lagos


SOURCE:GUARDIAN 16TH APRIL,2009

It seems only the writer knows of these "numerous welfare programmes" as even vanity on the other thread could not provide a list.
we know what the catholics, baptists, anglicans, seventh day etc have done and continue to do for subsidised & quality education, healthcare etc. can we say the same of redeemed?

@poster: you seems to be only one that understand what your write up is all about,,,this write up does not make anysense to me,,,,Until Pastor Adeboye comes out to make a clear-cut statement about this,,,the general public would continue to believe what the think is right,,,
One major question is that about a year ago,,it was published by that RCCG would be buying a jet and members actually contributed to that fund,,,and just one year later,,,the jet was bought!! The truth is that the manner this Jet issue is been handled shows that something is not right about this transanction,,,and each attempt to cover it up creates further questions about it.