As many Nigerian Pastors join the race to a “better” and luxurious life, El-Rufai on commenting the speech of Bishop Hassan Kukah, also register his name among litany of those sensible Nigerians who marvel at the silent of the “men of God”. He asks a question which I judge fundamental.
Now that Bishop Matthew Kukah has spoken on Pastors and private jets, the bigots will apologise or forever hold their peace….
“Pastors With Private Jets An Embarrassment To Christianity”, Says
Bishop Kukah-The Nation – November 18, 2012 – By Sunday Oguntola
The acquisition of private jets by Christian leaders diminishes the
moral voice of the church in the fight against corruption, the Catholic
Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Most Rev Matthew Kukah, declared yesterday.
He spoke against the backdrop of the presentation of a private jet to
the National President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN),
Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, by members of his church during the celebration
of his 40th anniversary in the ministry penultimate Saturday.
Kukah, who was guest speaker at the annual Founder’s Day Anniversary
lecture of Providence Baptist Church in Lagos, described exhibition of
such opulence by church leaders as embarrassing.
The fiery
cleric who spoke on ‘Church and the state in the pursuit of the common
good’, said: “The stories of corrupt men and women being given
recognition by their churches or mosques as gallant sons and daughters
and the embarrassing stories of pastors displaying conspicuous wealth as
we hear from the purchases of private jets and so on clearly diminish
our moral voice.”
Kukah, who was represented by the
Administrator of Holy Cross Cathedral Lagos, Rev. Monsignor Pascal
Nwaezeapu, also expressed displeasure with the perceived closeness of
the CAN leadership to the corridors of powers.
He said such alliance will weaken the ability of the church to speak the truth to elected public office holders.
According to him: “CAN has become more visible in relation to national
prayer sessions, pilgrimages, alliances with state power and so on.
“Unless we distance ourselves, we cannot speak the truth to power. We
cannot hear the wails of the poor and the weak. We should not be seen as
playing the praying wing of the party in power.”
He challenged
the church to speak against corruption in low and high places, saying
such responsibility must never be jettisoned for any reason.
Apart from Orisejafor, other church leaders who own private jets include
Founder of Living Faith Ministries, Bishop David Oyedepo; General
Overseer of Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch
Adeboye; Founder of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM), Bishop Mike
Okonkwo and Pastor Chris Oyakhilome of Christ Embassy Church.
Source: El-Rufai’s Facebook Profile/18-11-12
”The truth might be hard to say, painful to bear or even drastic for the truth sayer but still needed to be said”. ALISON.
