[dropcap]A[/dropcap]postle Johnson Suleman of the Omega Fire Ministry is no stranger to controversy. He’s not a saint and didn’t ask to be canonized one, but the Apostle Suleman that I know is a man who loves Christ. He toils hard in the Lords Vine Yard, laboring day after day to win souls for Christ. He does not just love Christ but ready to die for the Gospel.
When he, Apostle Suleiman spoke fearlessly on the rights of Christians to bear arms if need be to defend themselves from physical attacks by Islamists , I was agitated as I wondered what would happen to him for speaking out: Will they ignore him? Attack him? Smear him? Frame him up or bring physical harm upon him?
I was therefore, not shocked when little known Canadian stripper, Stephanie Otobo started regaling us with her infamous sexcapades with the media not asking critical questions despite the gaps in the tales.
Having reviewed her sorry tales, I reached the conclusion that she is acting out a familiar script. You need not look further to draw a nexus between Stephanie , her lawyers, Suleman’s foes, their political affiliation and their penchant for image savaging to reach same conclusion.
For starters, Apostle Suleman is being accused of sleeping with a self-confessed prostitute. Recall for emphasis that on January 28, 2013, Mallam El rufai tweeted that ‘if Jesus criticizes Jonathan’s government, Maku, Abati or Okupe will say that He slept with Mary Magdalene’. We all know of Mary Magdalene’s past as a former prostitute. Is it therefore a coincidence that years later, the chief critic of Mallam El Rufai’s persecution of Christians is being accused of sleeping with a prostitute?
They just knock of the wig to change the story depending on their target. Remember the ordeals of Pastor Ayodele Joseph Oritsejafor, the then CAN president and how he was framed with allegation of being a gun runner. Pastor Ayo’s private jet which was on charter operation was leased by the office of the former NSA for a trip to South Africa. The Nigeria Intelligence community which was infiltrated by some fifth columnists determined to embarrass the Federal Government under President Jonathan for the purpose of achieving regime change tipped the South African government who intercepted and arrested the aircraft and its cargo.
Both the local and international media were effectively deployed to make it appear like Pastor Ayo was a gun runner or privy to the arms deal. Christian clerics including my friend Pastor Chris Okotie feasted on Ayo’s turmoil and called for his head. But what was Pastor Ayo’s crime? Christians were being killed , abducted and bombed ,often times at Sunday worships by bloodthirsty Islamist group which the Obama administration refused to designate as a terrorist group.
In fact Obama and Mrs. Clinton held for long that Boko Haram are fighting social and economic inequality in Nigeria. But Pastor Ayo stood before the US Congress and called on America to quit being hypocritical. In giving what he called the Nigerian perspective to the terrorist actions of Boko Haram, Pastor Ayo argued that the Boko Haram network has never hidden its agenda or intentions. He said “Boko Haram has openly stated that they reject the Nigerian State and its Constitution and seek to impose Shari’ah Law. To this end, Boko Haram has waged a systematic campaign of terror and violence. They seek an end to western influence and a removal of the Christian presence in Nigeria.
This is outright terrorism, not legitimate political activity or the airing of grievances. By refusing to designate Boko-Haram as a foreign terrorist organization, the United States is sending a very clear message, not just to the Federal Government of Nigeria, but to the world – that the murder of innocent Christians, and Muslims who reject Islamism are acceptable losses”.
For bringing to question the hypocrisy of the United States for saying it believes in freedom and equality, when her actions do not support those who are being persecuted, Ayo’s phones were wire tapped, he was followed by shadowy figures and at a stage the integrity of his aircraft was compromised when some unknown persons placed bricks within the engine compartment. Ayo was lucky to escape death and alive to still tell his stories. But Yakowa, the former Christian Governor of Kaduna and General Patrick Aziza were not that lucky. Both died in a mysterious helicopter crash.
Recall also Pastor Adeboye and Bishop Oyedepo. Adeboye was almost bundled out of his position as GO of RCCG and Oyedepo programmed for arrest and humiliation by the DSS for speaking out against the killings of Christians.
The Apostle Suleman that I know is a good man and an apostle of Jesus Christ. Like his Master Jesus, for many years he went about doing good; he love to give and gave exceedingly to blow the mind of the receiver. He gave to the sick; many citizens down with renal and kidney failures drank from the milk of his kindness. They were never part of his congregation but he was touched by their stories. He gave to hundreds of widows and fed thousands of orphans. He gave without discrimination and would have given to that unknown stripper and harlot now turned blackmailer.
The lady had told stories of how he met Apostle Suleman in Napoli, how the man of God met his father for an introductory marriage and how the apostle got her pregnant and terminated the pregnancy without her consent, and how she bleed non-stop for one full year. She told many stories that does not add up.
Fact checking her was easy and as quick to denounce and disown his daughter was the Father, Mr. Otobo. He denied meeting Apostle Suleiman nor conducting any introductory marriage between him and the daughter. The father went on to describe daughter as wayward just like the mother. Nollywood actresses Daniela Okeke and Kadiri fingered by Stephanie also denied any sexual relationship with Apostle Suleman. The adultery allegations against Apostle Suleiman was a high -level conspiracy meant to destroy his integrity so as to silence his critical and principled voice of truth and dissent in a nation fast becoming a Stalinist state. To does that oppress Christ and His people there is no limit to how far they can go in their quest to bring anyone down.
In standing with Apostle Suleiman at his most difficult time and other men of God being directly or indirectly persecuted in Nigeria, let me also remind the apostle of how blessed and lucky he is to be persecuted at the same season of lent with our Lord Jesus Christ. The season , the way of the cross and journey to Calvary will grant him solace and peace to know that in this work, that trial will come, tribulations will come, sufferings and pains will come, but there will be no going back as we must follow Jesus Christ our Lord and saviour to the very end.
The evil and wicked plan of the enemy is to destroy the Church so as to silence every perceivable strong voice of opposition. And their mode of operation is to take on every vocal, principled, and popular man of God one after the other. Part of their strategy is bribe the media and bully ruling elites to surrender to the Islamists against the wishes of their people. The resulting turmoil has bred instability across the North of Nigeria.
Should courageous leaders like Apostle Suleman surrender preaching the gospel and defending the faith for fear of being targeted and blackmailed by known dark forces masquerading as agents of the state? Give me a break!
Clem Aguiyi is a PR consultant. He works and lives in Lagos.
The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author.
