President King Nebuchadnezzar also known as Goodluck Ebele
Jonathan, received a new anointing this week when no less than his spokesman,
Mr Doyin Okupe, declared on national television that the president was “just
like Jesus Christ”. Even though quite a few people I know were outraged, I
respect this. Let me explain.
You see, when all the prophets were on earth, people doubted
them. Their followers tried to convince people but most thought they were liars
and refused to follow them. I have read the history of most of the prophets. I
will not be caught in the same mistake. Because of this knowledge of history, I
never question claims to divinity or prophethood. That is how many Jews missed
out on heaven because they refused to believe that Jesus was sent by God. There
is no way I am missing out on heaven – I have nothing to lose from taking Doyin
Okupe seriously.
Let me examine Doyin Okupe’s assertion and the few ways that
Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is like Jesus Christ.
1. Jonathan is
persecuted. Everyone hates him. I am not sure why. The same way I am not sure
why the Jews in the time of Jesus hated him so much. Look at the life of
Jonathan. Since he emerged as president, it has been one insult after another.
From clueless to bigot to corrupt to divisive. There is no reason for this. It
is not like he has not shown remarkable leadership. It is not like he has not
led by example: he refused to give into the pressure of his detractors to
declare his assets or to fire corrupt ministers in his government. This surely
makes him a strong president. It is not like he has been wicked: he has shown
mercy to many repentant criminals by granting them pardon. This takes me to
point two.
2. Jonathan is
forgiving. Do you remember when they came to arrest Jesus and one of his
disciples cut off the ear of one of the soldiers? What did Jesus do? He healed
the ear of the man who came to take him away and said that he who kills by the
sword will die by the sword. Mention one top criminal that Jonathan has
successfully prosecuted and imprisoned? He has no time for such wickedness. And
remember when Jesus said about the harlot, „he who is without sin let him cast
the first stone“? Yes. That is what Jonathan was trying to say when he said
that stealing is not corruption.
3. Jonathan came
from humble beginnings. You remember how Jonathan didn’t have shoes growing up?
You remember also how his father was a fisherman? Ok. Jesus’ father was not a
fisherman, but a carpenter is not that different from a fisherman. In fact
without a carpenter, who would make boats for the fisherman?
4. Jesus went from
being born in a manger, to riding into Jerusalem in nice robes on a donkey.
Goodluck Jonathan has gone from being shoeless and riding in a canoe to being
Nigeria’s number one public officer riding in bullet proof cars. Let’s just say
that donkeys were the bullet proof cars of the days of Jesus. And I strongly
suspect that if you do the research, you will find that the place in that
fishing village where Goodluck was born was just as lowly as Jesus’ manger.
5. Jesus changed
water into wine. There is no evidence that Jesus drank the wine that he
produced. Just as there is no evidence that Goodluck is given to a lot of wine.
Wicked people will spread rumours about the president liking his drink but who
can provide proof? Red eyes alone mean nothing. Lack of sleep can cause red
eyes.
6. Jesus was a
teacher from the time he was twelve years old in the temple until he started
giving sermons on mountains. Goodluck Jonathan was a teacher in Rivers State
College of Education. Yes a college of education is no temple or mountain but
the key word is teaching. The venue is immaterial.
7. Jesus had an
overzealous apostle who on one occasion even chopped off the ear of someone who
tried to arrest them. Jonathan has Doyin Okupe.
8. Jesus had
patience. Goodluck Jonathan has Patience.
There are many more reasons I can give to make people stop
getting angry at Mr Okupe for comparing Jonathan to Jesus. Buhari can attack
this Nigerian prophet at his own risk. But as an old man, Buhari should know
better. If the people campaigning for him are insulting this man who is just
like Jesus, he should be like Pilate who came out publicly when the Jews wanted
Jesus dead, to wash his hands clean of the blood of Jesus. Buhari should
address a press conference with a bowl of water and do this. What you don’t
want is bad luck at a time of elections. A word is enough for the wise.
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