YOU ARE HERE: EDITORIAL ARTICLES KIDNAP OF 'CHRIST JUNIOR' Kidnap of 'Christ Junior' Yinka Olujimi It would have been regarded as comical but for its grim nature and the danger it portends for the polity: Gunmen, last Sunday, stormed a church in Abia State and abducted the presiding cleric! God have mercy, you would say? But, how would He have mercy in such circumstances, knowing full well that Nigerian leaders probably need more of such attacks to force them have mercy on their fellow citizens? It will be most unfair of me to blame the victim in this latest saga – the abducted cleric, that is – since I have no personal knowledge of whether he is one of the numerous prosperity preachers who currently dot the land or not. Come to think of it, however, why would the kidnappers go for him if they did not have a reason to believe that he is one of the rich pastors of impoverished congregations that abound in Nigeria today?   I repeat, it may be unfair to assume that the cleric in this instance – who pastors the Jerusalem for All Nations Church in Umunteke, Ukwa West Local Government area of Abia State – is one of the prosperity preachers. The message is clear enough to those who grow fat at the expense of their neighbours: Watch your backs! According to media reports yesterday, about 15 gunmen stormed the church at the peak of service, fired several gunshots before abducting the pastor, David Kelechi, who is also known as Christ Junior in the state and beyond. According to the SUN newspaper yesterday, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Lambert Nmecha, who was at the service when the incident occurred, slumped and died, in shock. The report read in part: “Chief Lambert Nmecha, a veteran politician and widely regarded as the political godfather of the area was said to have slumped on hearing the sporadic gunshots. One of his protégés, the transition chairman of the local government, Chief Chisom Nwamuo who was also worshipping at the church when the kidnappers struck, rushed him to a hospital” where he was said to have died later. Now to the comical part of the report: “An eyewitness account had it that the hoodlums shot severally (sic) at the pastor, but surprisingly, none of the bullets penetrated his body. The bandits again used their machetes on the pastor. But after several machete cuts couldn’t penetrate him, they decided to abduct him. “The pastor was reported to have been bundled into one of his black Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) by the gunmen who sped off after efforts made to kill him failed. The bandits shot sporadically along the roads as they fled.” Praise the Lord somebody! The bullets did not penetrate the body of the pastor? Is that a piece of exaggeration or plain truth? I would love to swim with the tide of the salacious claim that several bullet shots had no effect on the body of the cleric. I pray that he regains freedom quickly, so that I may enlist as one of his members. At least that will solve a large part of the reasons that Nigerians are so mortally afraid of armed robbers. It should be left to imagination for now whether the power of bullet-proof was through Biblical means, or through some possible closeness to his African roots! Again, pardon me, it is all in the realm of speculations. It is just that I can’t help wondering: What if it is true? A Christ Junior having African insurance! The salacious report went further: “The source explained that the kidnappers emerged from nowhere immediately Sunday sermon began and shot severally (sic) into the air inside the church hall, forcing the over 5000 worshipers to lay flat on the floor while others scampered for safety. “The former chairman of Ukwa East Local Government and a close associate of Chief Mmecha, Chief Glory Kanu and the TC chairman of the council, Chief Nwamuo, confirmed the incident. However, they were not forthcoming in confirming the veteran politician’s death “Police authorities in Aba confirmed the incident, but said they were yet to get a formal report. They however assured of moves to apprehend the suspects.” Pray, how did Nigeria get to this sorry pass, one in which people will turn kidnapping for ransom into a profession; one in which even the tabernacle of the Lord no longer commands hallowed awe? Is it in any doubt that Nigerian “Men of God” have long since ceased to commit themselves to things of the spirit, but have embraced the “ things of the world?” Just like the case in the Bible when Jesus Christ, in exasperation, stormed a tabernacle and horsewhipped those who were literally trading there, prosperity clerics buy and sell in the name of God in Nigeria today. Adopting fake American accents, most of them regale their mostly poor congregation on their latest trips to Canada, Switzerland, South Africa, even Lichtenstein! Unlike the early church in Nigeria, most churches in the country today are a means of prosperity to their sole proprietors, sorry spiritual leaders who are anything but spiritual.

Is it in any doubt that Nigerian “Men of God” have long since ceased to commit themselves to things of the spirit, but have embraced the “ things of the world?” Just like the case in the Bible when Jesus Christ, in exasperation, stormed a tabernacle and horsewhipped those who were literally trading there, prosperity clerics buy and sell in the name of God in Nigeria today. Adopting fake American accents, most of them regale their mostly poor congregation on their latest trips to Canada, Switzerland, South Africa, even Lichtenstein! Unlike the early church in Nigeria, most churches in the country today are a means of prosperity to their sole proprietors, sorry spiritual leaders who are anything but spiritual.

So b'cos an UNKNOWN "prosperity pastor" was kidnapped,u now assume all Pastors 2 have embraced d things of d world?Well,for ur info,there are loads of Popular and well known pastors who stand 4 d truth and who have not been kidnapped. . .

It is quite amazing how impoverished worshipers rejoice at the earthly acquisition of these men of gods,yet these worshipers of God remain poor.

^^
Y is it only d poor u people will see?U people will never c d rich in there?