FORMER President Olusegun Obasanjo does not suffer fools gladly. He punches them hard on the nose. But as rugged and bullish as he seems, even OBJ, yes, the man himself has confessed that there are only two situations in life he would not dare confront, no matter his level of provocation –a reverend gentlemen on the pulpit and the referee on a playing field.
Well, there is a man who is ready to violate that rule. He is the deputy Governor of God’s Own State.
In the Southeast, the relationship between the Church and the State is quite close and if not well managed, a poor image of a politician among the clergy could ruin a career. The relationship between the Anglican Church and God’s Own State used to be good until the deputy Governor threw decorum to the wind, interrupted a church Service where the Anglican bishop was ministering to the congregation and generally tongue-lashed him as if he were his houseboy.
The deputy Governor, more or less a bully was close to physically manhandling the man of God who was an invited guest from another state in the Southeast. The bullying deputy Governor accused God’s minister of going to Abuja to peddle some influence, which did not take into account the deputy Governor’s interest.
The minister of God and the entire congregation was shell-shocked and embarrassed at the lack of respect for God, the possessor of heaven and earth and of all souls, including politicians’ hearts of stone. The deputy Governor disregarded members of the Church, visitors and all other eminent personalities that were present, sitting both inside and outside of the Cathedral, including the host Bishop. There were Judges of High Court, a Judge of the Supreme Court and other members of the bench present.
It took the honourable Justice of the Supreme Court some effort to cool the temper of the enraged deputy Governor, who did not only mind disdaining the House of God, but was ready to draw blood, were the clergy man to come down from the rostrum.
The Bishop who was terribly embarrassed, after which he spent time to convince Mr. Deputy Governor that he did not go to Abuja.
Some in the congregation chorused, “why did he not wait for the man of God to finish his message and if he had any grudge, he would then confront him?”
A bully and a Bishop! So goes the tale of friendship gone sour? Next time, let Bishop respect himself and let Bully restrict his lawlessness to Government House. Shikena!
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|