That TB Joshua is one of the leading lights of the current prestigious status of Lagos as Africa's sixth largest economy is never in doubt. In the last three decades or more, the world-famous televangelist and prophet has brought great goodwill to the city of Lagos and by extention the Federal Republic. More than any other public relation policy or programme by Lagos State and the Federal Government, his church has iottowbrought more tourists to Nigeria, especially Lagos, portraying this much maligned nation in wonderful light around the world. Anywhere you go worldwide, the question you're confronted with is: "So you're from Lagos, the city of TB Joshua! I was in the UAE recently and some Indian clients of mine asked me: "So you live in the city of that miracle man! We watch his Emmanuel TV often on Intelsat. "
For so long, Joshua has saved or transformed millions of lives. He has shown deep compassion to the downtrodden. He has brought succor and solution to knotty family battles among Nigerians and members of the international community. Presidents, potentates, monarchs, celebrities and ordinary folks have visited Lagos in droves, courtesy of this man's ministry. Because of his gifts and vision, our Lagos is a better society. Our Lagos is one of the most sought after religious tourist destinations in Africa. And when this tourists come, they come with huge hard currency to spend into our economy.
For decades, the city of Lagos, Lagos STATE and of course, Federal Republic of Nigeria has reaped huge goodwill from the activities of this televangelist. It had always been so glorious. Then the devil, getting jealous of this glory and this joy so effusive, decided to test the will of Joshua, using human factors of course. If you don't know it, be assured today, as a discerning individual, that the tragedy of building collapse at the SCOAN was more than met the eyes. It was meant to demystify Joshua just like the crucifixion of Christmas was meant by the adversary to destroy the halo of Christ's divinity.
That Joshua still thrives and the unction still radiates powerfully is a sign that after all, God has never abandoned Joshua as the enemies had wanted. In spite of the tragedy, hundreds of millions worldwide still watch Emmanuel TV while hundreds of thousands still flock into the Ikotun Egbe Lagos based church from all corners of the world. Even the citizens of the country worst hit by the Synagogue tragedy have never been deterred by their loss. Go to the church today, the place brims with thousands of pilgrims from South Africa. If the bereaved could let go, why do we want to overflog this matter? Recently, similar occurrence happened in Uyo and the State Government refused to be railroaded into crucifying the pastor in charge. Why should anyone aide the devil in his mission to destroy a ministry that has for decades been his main Nigerian headache?
I spoke with a security expert friend recently and he wondered why the sabotage aspect of this tragedy was being overlooked. In another clime, the vivid evidence of aircraft circling the church several times before the collapse of the building that took lives, the most unusual manner in which the building caved in in one fell swoop leading to some expert asking investigators to look at the possibility of infrared demolition of this building were never explored. Why?
One thing is clear. TB Joshua has always been a promoter of life and good health. He has used his gifts to bring people back from the edge of death. Seemingly invincible, debilitating diseases had crumbled under his blessed hands. I'm convinced that this is not a man who would want to hurt anyone, not to mention the pilgrims who came to him for succor.
Truth be told, the tragedy at the Synagogue should at best have been treated as a tragedy and as far as I'm concerned, not a criminal matter. Joshua's philanthropic, life saving, succor-bringing and joie de vivre antecedents should ordinarily have earned him unalloyed self-recognizance in this sad event. It is like rubbing salt on a terrible sore, some form of double jeopardy. It is like prosecuting a loving Dad whose beloved children died in an inadvertent tragedy. One thing is clear from this whole saga. TB Joshua never planned this. Things beyond his control conspired to effect this disaster and he already bears the burden of loss. Why is it so difficult to see this as a tragedy pure and simple?
Recently, there were feelers from Israel that the government, having carefully studied the huge positive impact a great ministry like Joshua's SCOAN can bring upon a nation, saw great prospects in Joshua relocating his ministry to Israel. There were a lot of overtures to get Joshua to relocate by powerful Israelis. It became so strong a prospect that Nigeria's Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed had to come on national media platforms to plead with Joshua to stay put. Why should a powerful, popular nation like Israel be so enamoured of this man of God? The answer is simple. The Star of David has seen what we Joshua's countrymen have failed to see or deliberately ignored over the years. Other nations want to take this gift from us and we are fiddling with him! Presidents are courting him and we are dithering. What manner of nation is ours that prefers that the best of its citizens are poached by more discerning nations?
Yes lives were lost and it's extremely painful and I am sure it's a tragedy that would remain indelible in Joshua's mind. Why can't we in Lagos see this tragedy as an act of God? Children of God had been afflicted by untold mishaps and tragedies before. Sometimes God permits some happenstances to remind us of the fragility of life. Look me in the eye and tell me: Can you in all sincerity believe that Joshua would want to hurt his children? It is just unimaginable and preposterous. That's why I am of the opinion that after all is said and done, Joshua does not deserve the treatment we are giving him today in Nigeria.
There is a Yoruba proverb:"Adájọ́ má ṣ'èké, a sọ̀rọ̀ má yẹ̀, tírú wọn bá pẹ́ l'óko, wíwá là ń wá wọn. /The one who judges forthrightly and truthfully, the one always true to his words, when such tarry too long in the farm, we must look for them."
A man who has given so much to Lagos, a man who has brought so much glory to our state and nation, when such a man is afflicted by tragedy, rather than pillory, excoriate and malign him, we should sympathize and help him deal with a personal tragedy. We should show love to a man who has truly been a national treasure. That is the way of great nations.
An opinion essay by Sola Ojewusi, Publisher, The Lagosian.
