I’ve listened as issues and more issues are drawn from the alleged
‘prophetic’ denunciation of President Goodluck Jonathan’s bid for a
repeat presidency by the Enugu priest, Rev. Fr Ejike Mbaka. The issue
raised, its mannerism and the surrounding controversies have got me
disconcerted that I felt it expedient to throw in my view.
But, before I proceed. Nominally and by deep conviction of faith, I am
a Christian and a Roman Catholic faithful. As a practising believer,
I’m not anachronistic to the ecclesiastical extraneous engagements,
which may appear inexplicable and dupliticious to those who are not
given to such excitations. I believe in prophecies and the feasibility
of an interplay between the humanity-divinity dichotomy as obtained in
visions, mystic unravelling, etc. etc.
And quickly, I’ll add, that I’m among the many rooting for a Buhari’s
presidency, which should make the statement alluded to Mbaka more
favourable to me.
I so chip in the disclaimer considering its relevance in this
discourse. This is for the benefits of prying offensives that might be
eager to denounce my view as mere outpouring of a disconcerted
element, who is adrift of circumstances hewn around the alleged
projections of the issue in focus.
The view though projecting my choice, stirs my disapproval for the
indecency by which it was designated.
Prophecies as one of the media through which divine intents are made
known to mortals, are sacred instruments and should be so seen for its
sacrosanctity by both the human medium and the recipients. The more
reason also it should be made with restraint and respect, for it is
the defining path for as many of the people, who by belief have
resorted to its projections.
It’s in this light that the recent ballyhoos by the renowned Catholic
priest becomes an issue that should not be waved; not for the issues
so outlined therein but basically for the (violation of) sacredness of
the process through which it’s adduced to have emanated.
Opinions we all know are stuffs to which all have the right to
express; regardless of the fact or otherwise of the constructions, one
is entitled to its expression without any hindrance. Mbaka would have
easily been spared the ensuing vituperations that have stirred since
his declarations if he had made it in the vase of a personal opinion
to which he is legitimately entitled to.
But then, by his appendage of a super-human oracle to what would have
innocuously passed for a personal expression, it became a deep
conflict- and rightly so- to verify and ascertain the authenticity of
such claims.
Subjective opinions are incoherent to religious postulations; and as
such should be inconceivable in churches and other centres of worship.
It might be acceptable to rationalize scriptural citations by way of
sermons, however, when the perception is from prophecy, it must be
circumscribed to what it is, without presumptions.
The 31st night’s subjective postulations was gravely misrepresented;
and this is because the people received the message from the
perspective of a prophetic declaration for the incoming year. Fr Mbaka
shouldn’t have feigned ignorance of this; he should have known the
evangelical norms better.
But here, the people once again were taken for whimsical ride.
Considering the drunk-like obsession of the most religious people on
earth to matters of prophecies and futurism, many ecclesiastical
agents have forcefully assume the status of divine oracles, who could
decipher the heart-beats of the divine. The gullibility has expanded
the coast that here and there, there are more prophets than the ready
adherents.
So blinded as to give thoughts to reason, the throng that beseech
these self-acclaimed prophets at their capacious arenas, swallow hook,
line and sinker the gibberish pronouncements of their mediator-lords.
They have no reason to disbelieve; it would be sacrilegious, a sin to
doubt what the ‘Lord hath said’.
I learnt the political projections of the Fr Mbaka was made at his
usual arena and on the eve of the year just ended. One could imagine
the crowd that had gathered with heightened expectations for the year
unveiling, as to give the ‘prophetic vilifier’ the inspiring tart that
had to rev up the rambling.
As obtainable, the people must have had expectations for their lives,
families and nation- no doubt about that- their desires had to be fed
without any denial. And to realize that the political process is so
crucial for the national life in 2015, the hilarious ride on it taken
by the man of God would have been but unexpected.
The ride was so intense that it nudged him into making fiery
expression of his political view centred on the most exciting process
of the political year- the presidential polls. The spice on the
cooking: Goodluck Jonathan will not win. Though striking and
incongruous to religious principles, it was accepted for what it was
by a people hungry for prophecy; for revelations.
Ahanonu Kingsley.