Bishop Dr Joseph Ighalo Edoro, the Founding Overseer of A Touch From Heaven International Ministries, is also the President of a non-governmental organisation (NGO), A Touch of Love Humanitarian Foundation. In this interview with EJIKEME OMENAZU , he speaks on the current issues in the nation especially as they relate to Christendom. Excerpt: Before the recent #EndBadGovernance nationwide protest, President Bola Tinubu in a failed attempt to stop the protest, invited religious and traditional leaders for talks.
Would you say these leaders really have control over the people, especially the youths? The president’s invitation to Christian and Muslim leaders was proper, to see how they would manage the crisis then. But, do these leaders have what it takes to influence what he youths can do? In this case, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) leaders were invited by the president. But, what influence has CAN over the churches or Christian youths? The CAN depends on ministries.
Again, youths are passing through hard times without much support from the church. The churches take and take without giving much to the people. The president’s invitation to these leaders had no effect.
CAN only issued a statement which did not go down well with the people. But, with the attention and respect government gives to CAN and the other groups, government expects more from them. If CAN is not corrupt and politicised, government can go through it to make its policies trickle down to the people.
CAN should restructure itself so that government can use it to reach the people. Several churches like Christ Embassy are doing a lot for the youths and have a lot of youth population. But is Pastor Chris Oyakhilome in CAN? Is he in PFN? Did government involve such leaders who have large followership of youths who are not in CAN? CAN and its affiliate blocks should restructure themselves to ensure that they fulfil the yearnings of Nigerian Christians.
As it is, CAN and its affiliates are not restructured in a way people will take them serious. CAN should be in a position that they can liaise with government on behalf of the people. CAN and PFN have youth wings.
But, what are they doing? Government cannot be blamed when CAN cannot command the respect of the youths. There is a general view that the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), and the other blocks are political and are more concerned with what they get. How true is assertion? There are different dimensions to that.
First, there is the inability of CAN and the other blocks to improve the condition of the people. The people are just suffering without support from the church. So, people see CAN and its affiliate groups as more political than spiritual.
There is no evidence that they collect money from government. But, government, political parties and politicians poke their nose unto CAN and its affiliate groups during elections. From their body language, CAN and the groups are on the side of government or some political parties.
That is why people see them and their leaders as playing politics. People also see government and leaders of these bodies hobnobbing together to the detriment of the people. This is sad.
In the days of Archbishop Olubunmi Okogie, Prelate Sunday Mbang and Archbishop Benson Idahosa, things were different. Then, it was evident where CAN or PFN stood. They always speak up against bad policies of government and they were always on the side of the people.
What we have now are political church leaders. Even when a Christian leader is in politics, that must not stop him from speaking his personal views or that of CAN, PFN or the church. But, that is the situation we find ourselves.
CAN, PFN and the other blocks are now seen as political. Some Pentecostal leaders have floated a new body called the Renewed Ministers of Christ (RMC), a body of charismatic ministers. How do you see this development? The truth of the matter is that CAN, PFN, no matter the internal crises, are not pushovers.
Although there are freedom of expression and freedom of association, it is not good to rebel against or duplicate them. It does not make sense. There is no organisation that can be like CAN or PFN if they disintegrate.
Government cannot be recognising organisations when they are duplications. Most of these new groups are political. The government passes some largesse through CAN, PFN and the other groups.
That is why people are forming these new groups. It is just the work of unscrupulous few who want to create confusion to disintegrate CAN and PFN which they cannot do. It shows inordinate ambition of such people.
Their actions are ungodly. Some clerics believe that one of the problems of the church as well as Muslims is lack of standard. How do you see this position? Government cannot work with organsations without standard or structure until they have good structures.
Now, they are haphazard. This is why they have to restructure so that there will be development and bring monumental help to the people. There is a lot of lacuna on the structure of religious bodies.
There is no data. We do not know how many Christians or pastors or Imams in a particular area. How can the church calculate the amount of tithes? How many Christians or Muslims pay their taxes? How many pastors or Imams register their churches of mosques? There are quacks everywhere because there is no standard.
People do different things and call them miracles. There is so much money that are uncountable that people collect for one thing or the other. Things have to change.
There should be a revival in the modus operandi of the church. There should be a re-standardisation. Do you think that the National Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) is playing its role as a bridge between the Christian and Muslims religions? Is NIREC important? Yes.
It is a beautiful innovation. What are their terms of reference? How do their terms of reference trickle down to the people? People in modern society who are of different faith live together. It is a beautiful thing they are doing.
Positive inter-faith relationship is good. NIREC should be well funded to be able to play its roles. Where I live, the downstairs is a mosque.
Upstairs is a church. There is no dichotomy. No quarrel where I stay.
I supported the Muslims to build their mosque and they gave me the title of Baba Adini. When I do programmes, I invite the Aladura, the Celestial Church, Cherubim and Seraphim and they attend. I also invite the Muslims and they attend.
NIREC should do more to encourage inter-faith relationships. I gave the idea 10 over 10. But, some Pentecostals do not relate with Celestial of Cherubim.
We learnt that some Christian groups are being given palliatives by the state governments for onward delivery to the poor in their folds. Have you or the groups you belong to in your area received such? We just talked about standardisation. Government wants palliatives to get to Christians everywhere.
But, what are the modalities which PFN uses to distribute those things? Several churches are not in CAN or PFN or the other blocks. So, this will leave out many from the palliatives. Many Christians and churches will not get such palliatives.
Has the CAN or PFN even announced to the people that there are palliatives? When I do programmes, I make an announcement and I distribute items to the people. I do not care whether they are Pentecostals, Muslims or Aladura. When government realises that people do not get these things, government will be tired.
I have heard that there are palliatives, but, I have not seen it, either through CAN or PFN. That I do not like their style does not mean that I am not part of it. When I distribute palliatives, I give out food items and clothing.
People just collect tags and line up and go for collection. I do not ask if they are Christians, Muslims, Aladura, etc. CAN, PFN and the other blocks should find a way to get the palliatives to all Christians.
Let there be an announcement with banners stating the location for the distribution. This will even bring more members to CAN, PFN and the other groups. One day, government will question what they are doing if they are not fulfilling the wishes of the government.
What is your advice to Christian leaders at this period? My advice to church leaders is, first, I hope they have learnt their lessons. It is not all that glitter is gold. The emergence, survival and growth of gospel ministers are dependent on the economy of the nation.
They believe in tithing and philanthropy. But, tithing and offering have been demystified. Because of what is happening, the suffering, especially the hunger, hardship and poverty in the land, tithing has been demystified.
Because of what is happening, tithes have thinned down. Churches formerly living in affluence are now struggling to survive. Since COVID-19 to the current economic quagmire, churches have been suffering.
The ostentatious lifestyles of pastors and churches have declined tremendously. Churches are struggling for survival. This has led to very wrong approaches in ministrations.
I hope they have learnt their lessons. Those who claim they are full-time ministers, I hope they have learnt their lessons. Churches which cannot invest in business and human capital of their youths, I hope they have learnt some lessons.
Lastly, I will encourage them to trust God. Invest more in the human capital of their members to forestall a time of famine in the future as they are experiencing now. What is your advice to Nigerians at this difficult time? We are here.
There is no other country we have, except Nigeria. Even though it is difficult, we will still continue to pray for our leaders. Nigerians should stop cursing Nigeria because Nigeria will remain.
You cannot be proper in the land you have cursed. But, a little patience and God will prove Himself. In this life, time and chance are what will prosper and what will bless.
God bless Nigeria..
