T.B. Joshua: Moving on Despite the Storm

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T.B. Joshua: Moving on Despite the Storm

By Correspondent

 Ever since the ugly incident involving the collapsed guest house owned by the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN), one thing that has remained, according to those close to the church is the campaign of calumny and bad press. This and much more has remained a source of reference within and outside the shores of Nigeria. Before now, a lot of Nigerians had thought that the incident which affected many foreigners especially South Africans, would end up in a possible diplomatic war between Nigeria and South Africa. But as it is, the founder of the church, Prophet T.B Joshua has taken a decision that life must go on. This became manifest with the assurances the clergy gave to relations of the victims who lost their lives in the disaster, that the church is ever ready to be of assistance so as to be able to get over their individual loses. The clergy did not stop at that; information has it that he (Joshua) has even gone further to give a directive to members of the church to extend a hand of fellowship to the families of those that died in the incident in any manner they deem necessary. The SCOAN founder who described the deceased victims as martyrs of faith who have only transited to eternal glory equally praised them for what he termed the brave way in which they transited while seeking the face of their God on a spiritual pilgrimage. Although those who do not agree with the doctrine of the church have consistently seen the church from a negative perspective, Prophet T.B Joshua has continued to maintain the path of peace and also insisted that it is never necessary to join issues with the world. Instead of joining issues with anybody, the clergy has chosen to spend a larger part of his time attending to the needs of the less-privileged in the society. More so, thousands of people including those from within and outside Nigeria have also continued to enjoy the clergy’s milk of human kindness. To be specific, Prophet T.B Joshua through his Emmanuel TV has impacted positively on millions of lives, nations and destinies all over the world. In the words of Prophet T.B Joshua, “True love always searches for whom to help whenever and wherever it is in a position to do so.” One thing that cannot be forgotten so easily is the very mature way in which the clergy has been able to effectively manage the negative comments due to the collapsed building incident. Observers further argue that T.B Joshua has in the midst of the storm remained calm and undisturbed. These they say can only be a God-given quality. At the level of the coroner’s inquest that was initiated by the Lagos State Government to ascertain the cause of the death of the victims, it is evident that many witnesses gave different testimonies about their knowledge of the collapsed guest house. But one testimony that remains consistent is the fact that the building symmetrically collapsed which further suggests that the collapse is either induced or controlled. To be specific, a witness from the police, DSP Agboyi while testifying before the coroner maintained that he suspected sabotage through the use of explosives to bring down the building. To further confirm this testimony, a weapons expert from Kaduna State, Paul Iguniwei while insisting that the collapsed guest house must have been brought down through the use of an infrasonic weapon explained, “Infrasonic weapons can damage a building by attacking and weakening its basic components like the cement and iron rods. It is improbable that the collapse started from the ground because the building did not tilt to any side while collapsing but came vertically down in one swoop to suggest the collapse started from the top.” He also said to the court presided over by Chief Magistrate Oyetade Komolafe, “Infrasonic weapons, being highly classified, can only be owned by the state, terrorists and scientists. I became interested in the saga in order to be able to write a research paper that would enhance my academic work in that area.” In the testimony of a British-Nigerian property developer, Robert Joseph Badagry who paid a visit to the church on September 12, 2014 notified the court, “As at the time I got to the scene of the collapsed building on Saturday, September 13, 2014, most of the statutory responders especially NEMA and LASEPA were uncoordinated and preferred to talk to the media while persons were trapped under the rubbles of the collapsed building. “Members of The SCOAN and The Red Cross were the only ones who carried out rescue operations passionately and energetically. I observed that both rescuers from NEMA and LASEMA formed the habit of leaving the scene of the incident at 5:30pm daily, leaving the church members, the Red Cross, the Nigeria Police and the National Security and Civil Defense Corps to work round to clock.” Badagry equally condemned the lack of adequate working equipment on the part of NEMA and LASEMA, even as he stressed that the heavy presence on Sunday, 14th September 2014 of the first responders was due to their knowledge that the then executive governor of the state, Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) was visiting the scene. While the case continues before Justice Lateef Lawal-Akapo of a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja, one fact that has remained in the overt is the massive solidarity being enjoyed by the clergy from various interest groups across Nigeria. This is evident in the continued trooping to the court by student groups, civil society organisations, ethnic nationalities and human rights groups apparently to express solidarity with the man they call their father and the hope of the hopeless. According to a statement issued by The Nigerian Human Rights Community, a coalition of 135 civil right groups, the failure of the government to release the report on investigations suggests a string of cover-ups which strengthens the growing public perception that the collapse of the building was as a result of a bomb attack by yet to be identified, people. In a similar manner, the Oodua Nationalist Coalition (ONAC) maintained that the attack on the church might be a product of an international and local conspiracy. According to ONAC, for two decades, Prophet T.B Joshua has dedicated his life to the service of mankind. As court hearing on the matter continues, it is hoped by his followers that their father in the Lord is vindicated. Only time, of course, will tell. It is believed in the circle of opinion molders that Nigerians don’t seem to appreciate the value of the clergy who according to them has become one of the most significant forces to reckon with in the world. Aside the fact that Prophet T.B Joshua’s prophecies are characterised by accuracies, he remains one Nigerian prophet that has continued to get international patronage. For instance, heads of governments and other world-acclaimed personalities have at one time or the other paid a visit to his church apparently in search of spiritual help. 

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