ISSUES IN CLETUS BASSEY’S FAULTY ALTARS

Archbishop Cletus Bassey sometimes can be comical. I could recall his spats with former governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio at Ibom Hall on the heels of 2015 elections. He was then the chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Akwa Ibom chapter. He used his then privileged position to argue against Godswill Akpabio’s position on which zone should produce the governor.

While the former governor, based on principle of zoning adopted by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), favoured Eket Senatorial District, he wanted the slot for Uyo and stood up to challenge the governor’s position, during a State sponsored CAN programme. The archbishop was supporting Umana Okon Umana then SSG but he incurred the ire of Chief Godswill Akpabio who shouted him down. Akpabio won overwhelmingly.

Today, we are again on the political turf but not which zone to produce candidates for the governorship election but who is favored for the coveted seat and the archbishop has brought himself again into the fore. And we are already in for another comic relief, as will be acted by Archbishop Cletus Bassey as we progress.

History, we learn from it to adequately Guage the present and predict the future: and from all indices, the archbishop is in again for another bash. Last Thursday, he hosted an audience of pastors in his church, Destiny Tabernacle, Uyo. His main goal was to inaugurate what he described as gatekeepers forum, where he appointed 85 year old clergyman, Bishop Paul Ekpo, to pivot the initiative, which is a clear rival to the Christian elders forum, the Fathers of Faith Forum headed by Prelate Emeritus Dr. Sunday Mbang, et at.

The Cletus Bassey’s initiative is premised on an imbalance tripod: install a new government of Akwa Ibom State in 2023; stop foreign preachers from coming to Akwa Ibom State or attending government functions as guest ministers; raise altars gatekeepers for Akwa Ibom State. According to him, ACA is the only altar that would decide who prays for the state and who becomes the next governor.

For me, I just couldn’t help but wondered what could have motivated the archbishop into this. He seems not to have learned from his previous mistakes in his attempts to wrestle the political machinery of the state. If at all he recollects the embarrassment he received from Godswill Akpabio, he would have refrained from challenging state authority.

By now he would have learned to steer clear of playing God under the guise of producing the next governor, whereas he has just one vote like all of us – if at all he will remain in Nigeria when the 2023 elections come, because at the wee hours of last elections, he vamoosed to America, leaving his followers mouth- agaped, only to return at another election season to launch out on a faulty foundation. The occasion witnessed rain of curses on party delegates who will not vote his favoured candidate – OBA and coordinators for divulging his plans to the media.

There are three things his followers must consider. First, on whose authority is Archbishop Cletus Bassey raising altars? The term altar in a layman’s understanding is a place where regular sacrifice or worship is carried out. It must have a priest presiding over it, who will carry out the rituals of worship or sacrifice for it’s desired impact.

In Akwa Ibom State, the only recognized authority that has the mandate of Christians to raise or keep an altar is the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN). This body has the backings of government of the land, as well as Christian elders and church leaders. Archbishop Cletus Bassey currently has no mandate to raise any State altar because his tenor lapsed over eight years ago. Another authority is the State Governor. Therefore, what the archbishop did last Thursday was a confrontation of the State authority which had already raised an altar of worship and prayer since the Udom Emmanuel administration came to power. The weekly State House prayer meeting features credible Church leaders under the authority of CAN and the governor. So, where did the archbishop derive his authority from?

The archbishop’s gesture amounted to a child splashing bad water on the elders. Who is Archbishop Cletus Bassey to raise a state altar when Church fathers like Archbishop Elijah Akpan Mboho, Prelate Emeritus Dr Sunday Mbang, Apostle Prof. Isaiah Issong, Rev. Emmanuel Ossom, Rev. Udo Ekpenyong and even the outgoing CAN chairman, Akwa Ibom State, Rev. Dr Ndueso Ekwere, etc., are alive?

Needless to mention here that the aforementioned reputable Akwa Ibom State clergymen gathered in their numbers February this year to receive Pastor Umo Eno, when he declared interest to run for governorship under the PDP platform. They have also given their overwhelming support to Governor Udom Emmanuel’s succession plan.

Secondly, the archbishop wants to stop preachers from other States of the federation from coming to pray in Akwa Ibom State, particularly at the State Government’s functions. This is again a travesty and unscriptural. If such strange doctrine is allowed a place in our culture, it will backfire as Akwa Ibom State has hundreds of indigenous ministers who are welcome in other places.

Discriminating against anyone on the basis of tribe or colour is racism. Is the archbishop fanning the embers of racism in Akwa Ibom State? In a globalized world, can restrain minsiters of God to only their States of origin?

Akwa Ibomites are very hospitable in nature. This is known throughout the nation; so why is a religious leader propagating such racist agenda? Yet seated by him in that hall was a couple who were non indigenous preachers; Prof. Ashong Ashong and wife, Rev. Mrs. Angela Ashong. Will the altars the archbishop is building not speak against the couple?

This is why I find this exercise comical and fruitless. It is mere self-seeking agenda for political bargain. Some news reports have it that the organizers of the conference even discussed sharing formula of the incoming administration. That means the gathering was more political than spiritual.

Thirdly, Archbishop Cletus Bassey needs to know that no clergy can install any government, as the mandate comes from the people. We are a democratic nation, where everyone vote is his power, and not any altars. If the archbishop possess such authority, he wouldn’t need to brag about it. Kingmakers don’t brag. They are quiet influence and power bloc that move mountains.

Conclusively, Akwa Ibom State will not fall into the hands of wrong people. It will be precariously dangerous.

Credit : Apostle James Okrok, JP

Move Media Group