Dear All:
It would appear that she does not--considering the situations depicted from the account of her
coronation ceremony. Everyone kneels and bows in the presence of the Queen of England.
Not surprisingly---as she is the Head of the Church of England--the Anglican Church.
Notwithstanding the above, I am inclined to agree with Ofege Ntemnac that it is a futile exercise
to fault a man (President Jonathan) for his choice of religion and not necessarily for his policies.
political agenda etc.
President Jonathan is the President and the Supreme Commander of the
Armed Forcesof Nigeria, a secular nation. As powerful as this position is, it does
come near the absolute power of
the Queen of England, who is also the de facto head of the Church of England.
The Queen of England will never bow or kneel before the Archbishop of Canterbury; neither would she
be expected to kneel or bow in the presence of the Pope. President Jonathan is not the Head of the
Church of Nigeria ( Nigerian does not have a national church). He also not God's handpicked representative in Nigeria.
President Jonathan's kneeling down for prayers in the presence of the Pastor Adeboye who proceeded
to put his hand on his head as he prayed for him is no news in Nigeria. This is is what the Nigerian
public expects of their President. To ordinary Nigerians, Christians and non-Christians alike President
Jonathan was kneeling down for prayers before the Almighty God, represented ethereally for the moment
of the payers by Pastor Adeboye.
I would expect President Jonathan to do the same whenever he visits the National Mosque in Abuja
where he would also be expected to submit himself to the will of the Almighty God (Allah) as an
ordinary human beings.
President Jonathan's gesture is also an effective Vote Accumulating Machine.
I watched the RCCG service
on Nigerian TV. I was awed by the massive crowd of close to half a million under a massive tent as
large as up to 10 football fields.
I had initially thought that I heard the number --200 strong choir, when the RCCG Choir was introduced.
But minutes later I realized I heard it all wrong. It was a 2,000 strong Choir. The entire event was like
a huge party, filled with loud music and dancing which were only interrupted by prayer sessions
and sermons.
I started watching the program around 8 pm Nigerian TV with Madam Mrs Adeboye preaching in English
with each sentence translated in sequence by her interpreter (arowashi-repeater human machine) in Yoruba.
Madam Adeboye must have preached and prayed for the president and every other government official
and the congregation in attendance and those watching at home for no less
than two hours on stop. Her session was followed by more music and further introduction of the rest of the dignataries
in attendance--including several governors and first ladies whose political affilations corossed all party lines from PDP to ACN nd more.
Pastor Adeboye's appearance on stage was preceded by an instrumental saxophone and piano serenade which must have lasted
for no fewer than at least 30 minutes. He dressed simply in the green white green colours of the Nigerian flag, symbolic of
the event of the day. He wore a white shirt, green bow ties and a pair of green pants without a jacket. Madam Adeboye
wore a two piece green dress with matching green hat.
I retired to bed at 1:30 am Nigerian time and the party, (I mean the revival) was still waxing strong--but not before I heard the
hook--from Pastor Adeboye--which was that donations--where from 100 Naira to 100 million Naira from each Redeem member is required,depending on
what he/she can afford in order to ensure that the parking lots at the Redeem Compound are trarred before the upcoming rainy season.
Reason--the flodding of the parking lots after heavy rainfal frequently spills unto both the north and south bound lanes of the
Lagos Ibadan Express Way--a situation that creates a huge traffic havoc every 3rd Friday of the month on the highways.
Let there be no doubts--Religion has become the Number One Industry in Nigeria and Pastor Adeboye is the Chairman of the largest corporation
in this sector--the RCCG. Politicans, including Presidents and governors in the USA pay homage to the Chairpersons of the Forune 500 corporations
from whom they expect huge donations to finance their campaigns.
Likewise, wny wise politican in Nigeria who is aspiring for high office would be wise to pay homage to the church leaders and the Imama in Nigeria.
Their influence on the population ensures that they are able to deliver the votes of their people for which ever poitical party they might chose to endure.
There re two types of Nigerians.
On the one hand are the real Nigerians who live at home, (the overwhelming majority of whom are impoverished by world standards), and for whom the only
absolute constant in their lives is the HOPE of a better future delivered by church leaders like Pastor Adeboye and his colleagues and on the other,
the pseudo-Nigerians who write frequently on the Internet, completely unaware of the degree two which their relatives and friends in Nigeria have become totally sorcerized,
brainwashed
and zombiased by the powerful religious machinery in Nigeria.
The most powerful man in Nigeria might indeed be Pastor Enoch Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Chrsitian Church of God!
President Jonathan was only being politically astute
by paying homage to him and his colleagues in the Church of Mountain and similar outfits in the Christian churches and those of NAFSAT and similar congregations
with huge followership amongst Nigerian muslims. If SNG was worth giving a gift of $50,000.00, I wondered how much President Jonathan would have needed
to donate on belalf of the Presidncy in exchange for the massive political exposure, if not outright endorsement of his 2011 candidacy to continue as President
of Nigeria.
The take home message from Pastor Adeboye which I found most edifying was this:
'INEC we like and pray for You. But you must deliver clean, clear and free elections in 2011
or I will lead the protests against any bogus results myself."
I prayed that he meant what he said!
Bye,
Ola
-----Original Message-----
From: Ofege Ntemfac <ntemfacnchwete@gmail.com>
To: TalkNigeria@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Mon, Dec 20, 2010 11:04 am
Subject: NigerianID | Your president on his knees.....
From: Ofege Ntemfac <ntemfacnchwete@gmail.com>
To: TalkNigeria@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Mon, Dec 20, 2010 11:04 am
Subject: NigerianID | Your president on his knees.....
About the most futile exercise is to fault a man for his religion..or his choice of music..or what he eats. These ought to be no-go areas for the initiated. Romans 14. has sound teaching to edify they that are tempted to judge. That a man's believe his faith his God lead him...to humble himself before another "man" is between the kneeler and his God. No telescopic observer can understand the chemistry the intent thereof. Recall that Jesus washed the feet...and because of his humility God highly exalted him. Where will you hide your head when Goodluck Jonathan is highly exalted? Also, Christianity is not a religion. It is a relationship with God. Leave Jonathan alone. It is between him and his God. On 12/20/10, MsJoe21St@aol.com <MsJoe21St@aol.com> wrote: > > I have followed up this thread intermittently because of its revelation of > a peculiar strand in the African thought process; not religion. On deleting > the overwhelming nonsensical mails that jam boxes, I stopped at this > reoccurring headline because of a lesson at the end of this mail. > > Not quoting word verbatim, someone wrote that even leaders of > INDUSTRIALIZED nations knell before religious figure. Mr. Valentine Ojo > asked: Is that > why the nations became Industrialized? > > That was a poignant question, which opens a window into how we, Africans, > without any sort of critical thinking, mouths stuff that has nothing to do > with the price of beans and deepens our net underdevelopment. One does not > have to hate organized religion to question its symbolic context. For > example, some hawks lambasted Obama for bowing to foreign leaders as a sign > of > culturally appropriate respect. Yet these same people are darlings of > religious zealots in America. > > With no sound answer, the thread took swift dives in the sewers. > > Make no mistake, I am Catholic and I respect the religion of others. But > too often, people exploit religion in ways that confuse the issue, defy > further reasoning, and promote demagogic roguery. When these are called > out, > the act does not automatically move one to the atheists' column. > > This Thanksgiving, with a band of volunteers, we provided free turkeys to > families. One pastor chatted up a conversation with a lady. Lo and behold, > he told her that her troubles were related to her sins and she should turn > her life around and be " born again, " or else - next Thanksgiving would > meet her still unemployed: > > Without missing a heartbeat, the lady responded: May God Punish you, too. > > Happy Christmas Everyone. > MsJoe > > > In a message dated 12/20/2010 9:32:34 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, > azkk@yahoo.com writes: > > > > > Aren't we going off the subject, shouldn't the question here be what does > god have to do with politics? It seems to me that the presidents action > lacked political alacrity and sensibility if he hopes to rule a secular > state. > Will he now go to a mosque and ask an imam to pray for him as well or go > see a babalawo and ask for prayers too? > It is high time we remove religion as a central part of our public lives, > it is meant to be a personal relationship. If the president does not make > similar overtures to practitioners of other faiths in the country then he > has done a disservice to the wholesomeness of Nigeria or whatever is left > of > it. > Again religious zealots on both sides are the problem with Nigeria, the > president cannot be perceived of aligning himself to one side. > As long as we have the likes of Noyo and her ilk who want to throw their > belief in everyones face because they feel for some reason they are > justified to do so we will be left with a society strife with hypocrisy, > divide, > mistrust, and eventually conflict. > We are truly a brainwashed people, these foreign religions have been used > to do a number on our collective mindset. > It is time for us to mature. > > > Sent from Yahoo! Mail on Android > > > > ____________________________________ > From: Oderaigbo <odera.igbo@yahoo.ca>; > To: <NIgerianWorldForum@yahoogroups.com>; Bring your baseball bat > <NaijaObserver@yahoogroups.com>; Egbuwara isi group > <naijaintellects@googlegroups.com>; TalkNaija > <talknigeria@yahoogroups.com>; Punch me I deck U > <nigeria360@yahoogroups.com>; Shove truth Down the troat > <newnaijapolitics@yahoogroups.com>; Okpo buru na anya > <igboworldforum@yahoogroups.com>; Nmenme Ndiigbo > <igboevents@yahoogroups.com>; Ama Ndiigbo <igbo_forum@yahoogroups.com>; > Dr. Valentine Ojo <valojo@md.metrocast.net>; > Subject: [NIgerianWorldForum] PHD VAL ojo +: Your president on his knees. > Sent: Mon, Dec 20, 2010 7:02:44 AM > > > > > Val, > In my hood ,they said that ogbenye onu ojo [very poor person with bad > mouth] has a giant problem . > In your case ,i do not know what to make of you.You may be so angry > because your own parents looked at you and decided that you are not worthy > to be > called their own and sold you to that Austrian family that took you and > nuture you into human being. > If your anger against GOD is why the man used your anus as experiment > ,then go and sue him in Austria for human violation. > BTW ,your problem is beyond human ,,you used JUJU to get PHD and > mistakenly you choose to go to America ,little did you know that they will > not take > your Photocopy PHD serious ....well they put you to test and from what they > got from your result ,they made you a SUBSITUTE PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHER > .Sure it is humiliating but it is not the fault of GOD ,what you should do > is > to start reading ,go to adult education and upgrade your level ,maybe they > will elevate you to a full time PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHER. > You see you have bad height,bad look ,bad heart,bad manners and bad temper > .............it should,ve been best of you stay off your keyboard ,but > that twisted nerve in your brain cannot allow you to stay of computer even > for > few minutes ,,and every day you stayed on PC ,you must fight with somebody > or GOD. > Now go and hide or i will be very very angry and give you some medicine > that cure nzuzu. > > > Mazi Odera > > Truth is our standard,accept it in good faith or > we shove it down your throat.The Choice is yours > > _www.oderaigbo.com_ (http://www.oderaigbo.webs.com/) > > > > > > > > > > > > ____________________________________ > From: Dr. Valentine Ojo <valojo@md.metrocast.net> > To: NIgerianWorldForum@yahoogroups.com > Cc: jejelaye19@yahoo.com > Sent: Sun, December 19, 2010 7:37:30 PM > Subject: [NIgerianWorldForum] RE: Your president on his knees. > > > Jejelaye: > > First put down that your yeye oyinbo-dash-me bible which you cannot even > understand, and go and learn to write simple correct English, then maybe > you will make some sense. > > Here, you sound like a retarded elementary school kid. > > Your president looks like a BUFFOON, pathetic and ridiculous - kneeling > before Adeboye like a House Slave before his Master. > > This is a DISGRACE to Nigeria and to right-thinking Nigerians! > > > > On Sun 12/19/10 12:17 PM , jejelaye19@yahoo.com sent: > > > Eyin Agbalagba E Ba Soro Agba > Elders should speak in an elderly manner. > > For anybody whatsoever to call anybody a buffoon because the later kneels > down in front of God being represented by a man or an item as belief > dictates is senile. > > History has many of this in its legendary pocket. President Bush was a > grade C student and that wasn't a barrier for him to ruled the US. Also the > current President, Barak Obama bowed as mark or respect and spiritual > honour > to the authorities at Cairo, Egypt. Andra Sawat of Egypt did same at Israel > . > Wait a minute: what kind of president are you prof erring for our nation. > Is it a president that will not count the words of God for nothing. You > miss it. Remember at the heels of allegations against Late Ken Saro Wiwa, > the > Pope then called on the then Nigeria to shelve the death punishment, if > Late Abacha did consider this plea, Ken Saro Wiwa may still be alive. > > Let us lift this game up a bit and be more realistic! in our con junctures > I so submit. > > Ayo Orija > Ake, Abeokuta > Sent from my BlackBerry wireless device from MTN > ____________________________________ > > From: "Dr. Valentine Ojo" > Sender: NIgerianWorldForum@yahoogroups.com > Date: Sun, 19 Dec 2010 11:15:52 -0500 > To: AfricanTalk > ReplyTo: NIgerianWorldForum@yahoogroups.com > Cc: ; ; Kay Odunaro > Subject: [NIgerianWorldForum] RE: Your president on his knees. > > > > This BUFFOON is not fit to rule a hamlet in the Niger Delta! > > There is absolutely NOTHING presidential about this man and his > comportment or behavior in office so far! > > Having a Jonathan Goodluck as president is the best proof of how low > Nigeria has sunken!! > > He should remain on his knees like slaves are supposed to! > > This is SHAMEFUL and DISGRACEFUL!!! > > And trust the likes of Kayode Odunaro to try to justify the unjustifiable > - "even your president is human", Kayode Odunaro opines. > > Is being human also being made to look like a house slave kneeling before > a microphone-toting, self-made pastor...or any pastor, even the Pope? > > You cannot be serious, Chief Kayode Odunaro!!! > > But the sad thing is that your really are serious! > > How sad! > > > > On Sun 12/19/10 10:28 AM , Batokkinc@aol.com sent: > > > When he's not kneeling down for the Pope, he's kneeling down for Adeboye. > Is this man fit to rule Nigeria? > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > _Reply to sender_ > (mailto:Azkk@yahoo.com?subject=Re:%20[NIgerianWorldForum]%20PHD%20VAL%20ojo%20+:%20Your%20president%20on%20his%20knees.) > | _Reply > to group_ > (mailto:nigeria360@yahoogroups.com?subject=Re:%20[NIgerianWorldForum]%20PHD%20VAL%20ojo%20+:%20Your%20president%20on%20his%20knees.) > | _Reply > via web post_ > (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nigeria360/post;_ylc=X3oDMTJyZzBydWw4BF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzIwNzM4NjcwBGdycHNwSWQDMTcwNTA0Mzc3NgRtc2dJZ > AMyMDYwNgRzZWMDZnRyBHNsawNycGx5BHN0aW1lAzEyOTI4NTU1MjA-?act=reply&messageNum > =20606) | _Start a New Topic_ > (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nigeria360/post;_ylc=X3oDMTJmYzY4a3AzBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzIwNzM4NjcwBGdycHNwSWQDMTcw > NTA0Mzc3NgRzZWMDZnRyBHNsawNudHBjBHN0aW1lAzEyOTI4NTU1MjA-) > _Messages in this topic_ > (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nigeria360/message/20606;_ylc=X3oDMTM3NTY3azRmBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzIwNzM4NjcwBGdycHNwSWQDM > TcwNTA0Mzc3NgRtc2dJZAMyMDYwNgRzZWMDZnRyBHNsawN2dHBjBHN0aW1lAzEyOTI4NTU1MjAEd > HBjSWQDMjA2MDY-) (1) > Recent Activity: > * _New Members_ > (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nigeria360/members;_ylc=X3oDMTJnYm51YTJtBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzIwNzM4NjcwBGdycHNwSWQDMTcwNTA0Mz > c3NgRzZWMDdnRsBHNsawN2bWJycwRzdGltZQMxMjkyODU1NTE5?o=6) 1 > _Visit Your Group_ > (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nigeria360;_ylc=X3oDMTJmYXJiaWFwBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzIwNzM4NjcwBGdycHNwSWQDMTcwNTA0Mzc3NgRzZWMDd > nRsBHNsawN2Z2hwBHN0aW1lAzEyOTI4NTU1MTk-) > > USAfrica > _http://www.USAfricaonline.com_ (http://www.usafricaonline.com/) > 1st African-owned, U.S.-based professional newspaper published on the > internet. > ------ > CLASS ... 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