CARDINAL ONAYEKAN

JOHN THE BAPTIST AND THE VALUE OF AUTHORITY

JOHN THE BAPTIST AND THE VALUE OF POWER  

Cornelius Afebu Omonokhua

 

Everything my father told me concerning power has played out in my life. My father akin to the sages of the wisdom literature of the Bible called me for a conversation one day. Among the many things he told me about integrity, the aspect concerning the value for power, position and office has remained eternally true for me. Here is what my father told me: “My son, so many people have died in the process of fighting for leadership positions. It is difficult for some people to give up the crown and many have preferred to die if they could not cling to power. Thepeople who kill and even prefer to die if they do not occupy leadership positions do so because they do not understand that kingship is a gift from God. Power in the hands of the wise person can heal the world whereas power in the hands of a fool can destroy the world. The wise lead the world with soothing words while the fool rule the world with a dangling sword. Power is a double edge sword and it intoxicates like liquor if not put under control with humility as prudent guide. My son, do not be a tyrant even if you are the strongest man on earth. If somebody is envious of your position, do not fight because some people who have stolen the position of leadership may not even know what to do with power. They do not know that power is a sacred opportunity to serve God and humanity. Life is not a bed of roses but with prayer and dedication you can build human structures. Pray for the people under you and do not prey on them. By so doing, you will not be put to shame.” 

In my journey through this earthly pilgrimage to my last destination where I hope to behold the loving God, I have realized that nothing comes easy. I have not gotten many thingson a platter of gold. I have come to understand the allegory of the mosquito who after flying for the first time returned to tell the mother, “everybody was clapping for me.” The mother told the baby mosquito, my dear, they were really not clapping for you, they were trying to kill you.” I have been denied so many opportunities in life not because of lack of merit and efficiency. The reason is that somebody simply does not need me. I do not know if I am a threat to their positions. I have learnt from experience that most of my deprivations were steps towards greater heights. Some of my deprivations have led me to meditate very deeply on the attitude of John the Baptist towards, authority, office, position and power. 

In our world today, human beings like John the Baptist are very few. If we have many types of John the Baptist in our world, the earth will be a foretaste of heaven for everybody. Some of the disciples of John the Baptist came to him and said, “Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you bore witness is baptizing, and all the people are going to him.” John answered, “A person cannot receive anything unless it is given him from heaven. You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.’ The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice. Therefore, my joy is now complete. He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:26-30). Today, how many people can say of their colleagues, “let him increase or let her increase” without the syndrome of “pull him down or pull her down.” 

John was a man of integrity and he paid for his honesty with his blood. “John exhorted the people and proclaimed the good news to them. But when John rebuked Herod the tetrarch because of his marriage to Herodias, his brother's wife, and all the other evil things he had done. Herod added this to them all: He locked John up in prison (Luke 3:19-20). John could have proclaimed himself the Messiah of the Jewish expectation but he did not. He was content with his position.  “The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Messiah. John answered them all, "I baptize you with water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire” (Luke 3:15-22). He declared his identity and his mission: "I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, 'Make straight the way for the Lord” (John 1:23). 

Genuine power is a call to service. When a true leader occupies a position of power, he becomes a point of reference as a model. Authority is derived from the word “author” hence a leader who in reality is a servant reveals his authority with genuine content of character. He has authority over his emotions and temperaments just as one of the meanings of the word “jihad” means struggling or striving to conquer one’s personal weakness. People who are emotionally and intellectuallypowerful do not intimidate the people around them with unnecessary aggression. Those who are genuinely endowed with power are meek and humble.  They are ready and willing tocope with the weaknesses of others like Jesus who said: “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart, and you shall find rest for your souls (Matthew 11:29).

If you are competent to lead the people, the way you talk and relate to people will command respect in a way and manner that you will be obeyed without issuing commands with threats. Once you appreciate the power in you, you do not need to demonstrate it by verbal force. According to Margaret Thatcher, it is those who feel powerless who act in a demanding, overwhelming, power-driven way to compensate for their perceived powerlessness. As a result, they underestimate their ability to affect others and behave in extreme ways that are aggressive or disproportionately intense. This has far more negative impact on their partners and their relationships than they had ever intended (https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/me-we/201306).Those who source for power to protect their weakness and powerlessness can never adopt the attitude of John the Baptist. Instead of creating space for others to grow, they becomeobstacles and enemies of progress.

Every serious organization that has a clear mission, vision and specific objectives take leadership training very serious. The organization source for qualified experts with merit to occupythe positions that each person specializes in. Leadership training makes human beings actualize their potentials. No organization with a clear focus exist to produce leaders without commitment. The organization therefore invest in human resource management and strategic planning to identify human beings with adequate emotional intelligence, emotional competence, personal competence with self-control, social competence and self-management. An organization whose aims and objectives are conflict management, conflict resolution, conflict transformation and peace-building needs people who are reconciled reconcilers. A peace builder needs special skills for public relations and control of anger. This calls for the capacity to be an image maker of the institution with acceptable behavioral acumen to showcase what the organization represent. The calmness of a leader reflects inner peace in relating to people. Only the meek can lead the world to true peace. May all who aspire to leadership positions take this to heart, mind and soul. 

Fr. Cornelius Omonokhua is the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC

JOHN THE BAPTIST AND THE VALUE OF POWER

JOHN THE BAPTIST AND THE VALUE OF POWER

Cornelius Afebu Omonokhua

Everything my father told me concerning power has played out in my life. My father akin to the sages of the wisdom literature of the Bible called me for a conversation one day. Among the many things he told me about integrity, the aspect concerning the value for power, position and office has remained eternally true for me. Here is what my father told me: “My son, so many people have died in the process of fighting for leadership positions. It is difficult for some people to give up the crown and many have preferred to die if they could not cling to power. The people who kill and even prefer to die if they do not occupy leadership positions do so because they do not understand that kingship is a gift from God. Power in the hands of the wise person can heal the world whereas power in the hands of a fool can destroy the world. The wise lead the world with soothing words while the fool rule the world with a dangling sword. Power is a double edge sword and it intoxicates like liquor if not put under control with humility as prudent guide. My son, do not be a tyrant even if you are the strongest man on earth. If somebody is envious of your position, do not fight because some people who have stolen the position of leadership may not even know what to do with power. They do not know that power is a sacred opportunity to serve God and humanity. Life is not a bed of roses but with prayer and dedication you can build human structures. Pray for the people under you and do not prey on them. By so doing, you will not be put to shame.”  

In my journey through this earthly pilgrimage to my last destination where I hope to behold the loving God, I have realized that nothing comes easy. I have not gotten many things on a platter of gold. I have come to understand the allegory of the mosquito who after flying for the first time returned to tell the mother, “everybody was clapping for me.” The mother told the baby mosquito, my dear, they were really not clapping for you, they were trying to kill you.” I have been denied so many opportunities in life not because of lack of merit and efficiency. The reason is that somebody simply does not need me. I do not know if I am a threat to their positions. I have learnt from experience that most of my deprivations were steps towards greater heights. Some of my deprivations have led me to meditate very deeply on the attitude of John the Baptist towards, authority, office, position and power.

In our world today, human beings like John the Baptist are very few. If we have many types of John the Baptist in our world, the earth will be a foretaste of heaven for everybody. Some of the disciples of John the Baptist came to him and said, “Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you bore witness is baptizing, and all the people are going to him.” John answered, “A person cannot receive anything unless it is given him from heaven. You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.’ The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice. Therefore, my joy is now complete. He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:26-30). Today, how many people can say of their colleagues, “let him increase or let her increase” without the syndrome of “pull him down or pull her down.” 

John was a man of integrity and he paid for his honesty with his blood. “John exhorted the people and proclaimed the good news to them. But when John rebuked Herod the tetrarch because of his marriage to Herodias, his brother's wife, and all the other evil things he had done. Herod added this to them all: He locked John up in prison (Luke 3:19-20). John could have proclaimed himself the Messiah of the Jewish expectation but he did not. He was content with his position.  “The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Messiah. John answered them all, "I baptize you with water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire” (Luke 3:15-22). He declared his identity and his mission: "I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, 'Make straight the way for the Lord” (John 1:23). 

Genuine power is a call to service. When a true leader occupies a position of power, he becomes a point of reference as a model. Authority is derived from the word “author” hence a leader who in reality is a servant reveals his authority with genuine content of character. He has authority over his emotions and temperaments just as one of the meanings of the word “jihad” means struggling or striving to conquer one’s personal weakness. People who are emotionally and intellectually powerful do not intimidate the people around them with unnecessary aggression. Those who are genuinely endowed with power are meek and humble.  They are ready and willing to cope with the weaknesses of others like Jesus who said: “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart, and you shall find rest for your souls (Matthew 11:29).

If you are competent to lead the people, the way you talk and relate to people will command respect in a way and manner that you will be obeyed without issuing commands with threats. Once you appreciate the power in you, you do not need to demonstrate it by verbal force. According to Margaret Thatcher, it is those who feel powerless who act in a demanding, overwhelming, power-driven way to compensate for their perceived powerlessness. As a result, they underestimate their ability to affect others and behave in extreme ways that are aggressive or disproportionately intense. This has far more negative impact on their partners and their relationships than they had ever intended (https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/me-we/201306). Those who source for power to protect their weakness and powerlessness can never adopt the attitude of John the Baptist. Instead of creating space for others to grow, they become obstacles and enemies of progress. 

Every serious organization that has a clear mission, vision and specific objectives take leadership training very serious. The organization source for qualified experts with merit to occupy the positions that each person specializes in. Leadership training makes human beings actualize their potentials. No organization with a clear focus exist to produce leaders without commitment. The organization therefore invest in human resource management and strategic planning to identify human beings with adequate emotional intelligence, emotional competence, personal competence with self-control, social competence and self-management. An organization whose aims and objectives are conflict management, conflict resolution, conflict transformation and peace-building needs people who are reconciled reconcilers. A peace builder needs special skills for public relations and control of anger. This calls for the capacity to be an image maker of the institution with acceptable behavioral acumen to showcase what the organization represent. The calmness of a leader reflects inner peace in relating to people. Only the meek can lead the world to true peace. May all who aspire to leadership positions take this to heart, mind and soul. 

Fr. Cornelius Omonokhua is the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC)

THE CAPACITY IN NIREC TO GROW A NATION

 Meeting of the Religious for Peace in Vienna, Ausria.

THE CAPACITY IN NIREC TO GROW A NATION

 Cornelius Afebu Omonokhua

Whenever the lyrics of the National anthem are echoed, the Nigerian citizens are reminded of their pledge to “serve our fatherland” as “one nation bound in freedom, peace and unity.” In spite of this oath of allegiance to serve one nation, some people have opined that Nigeria is not a nation but a mere geographical expression. One would have expected that the construction of this one nation that started long ago would have been completed by now with visible dividends of what a civilized nation should be. The human and natural resources are not in short supply so there is no reason to remain at the level we are now. In 1960, this building project of one nation was taken over by those who thought that the human beings who were amalgamated from different empires and tribes would have a new identity in a way and manner that each citizen would be proud to be called a Nigerian. With Nigeria’s independence, it was thought that the end of slavery and colonialism had been achieved. Unfortunately, Nigeria is still gasping for breath like a patient on oxygen with a life seeking for meaning.

This project of national identity has been fractured into Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo and the tribes that are labelled ethnic minorities. Since independence, almost every civilian and military leader thought that like a good orthopedic surgeon, he or she could mend these broken bones to form one body. The civil war slogan, “to keep Nigeria one is a task that must be done” indicated that this project to build and grow one Nigeria was not feasible. The civil war should have taught the ruling class in Nigeria that the gun and weapons of mass destruction cannot unite a nation. The gun cannot kill an ideology nor cannot it impose virtue in the hearts of human beings hence unity in diversity has become a mirage in Nigeria. The evidence before us today shows that even the level at which the colonial masters had attained in this project Nigeria has been sustained only as a selfish dream to enrich some opportunist politicians and military dictators who had access to the national treasury. Today, what rules Nigeria is not ideas but money. This is why Late Prof. Dora Akunyili who led the Ministry of Information and Communications in the “Rebranding Nigeria Campaign” died without realizing her dream. May she rest in perfect peace forever!

I would not like to go through the frustrations of the different leaders in Nigeria who have indicated interest to build a nation that is free of ethnic bigotry and religious discrimination. The incumbent President and the immediate past President would suffice for our enquiry. During the political campaigns in 2015, President Muhammadu Buhari lamented the depth of division religion and ethnicity has eaten deep into Nigeria. He said: “Wicked propagandists continue to spread vicious lies about me for political gain, including claiming that I once asked Muslims not to vote for Christians. This must be the height of absurdity. How could I ever say that, when whoever voted for me would be voting for the Christian running with me on the same ticket? And how could I ever say that of Christians when my own holy book, the Qur’an, tells me that in the entire world those that are nearest in love to me are those who believe in Jesus Christ? I ask, who, intending to win any election, ever does that? How can I choose southern Christian running mates (Chuba Okadigbo of blessed memory, Pastor Tunde Bakare and Pastor Yemi Osinbajo) and with them by my side make such silly utterances” (https://www.thenigerianvoice.com/news/267533/2019) ?

The immediate past Presidents has expressed his frustrations in his recent book: Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, My Transition Hours, Kingwood, Ezekiel Books, 2018. Just a few quotations may drive home our points in searching for this one nation: “It takes conscience to use power as a shield and ego to use power as a sword” (Page 2). “When some individuals preach one Nigeria in public, those who know them better in private simply chuckle. One Nigeria, where there is equity, fairness and justice is what I believe is best for the people of this country” (Page 17). “In Nigeria, during football matches involving the national teams and foreign teams, both Christians and Muslims sing and dance to the tune of the same music. That is patriotism. In politics, I am yet to see such patriotism” (Page 20). “Until African politicians consider their countries’ interest first in whatever they do, the continent will continue to lag behind. Politics should be about the people and not about fighting to occupy offices (Page 26).

With the above exposition, one may be right to ask me: “If the search for one nation has not be successful since the creation and independence of Nigeria, why do you venture into the same search now through the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC)? I could begin my answer with the preamble to the Constitution of NIREC that appears to me like a compass that points to the direction of our search: “We, the representative of the two Principal Religions - Islam and Christianity in Nigeria, having voluntarily decided by ourselves to come together to form an association on the 11^th day of September, 1999, and the association having been inaugurated on the 29^th day of September, 1999, guided by our divine revelations and the dictates of our CREATOR, determined, within the context of our religions, to forge Inter-Religious harmony and concord, having firmly and solemnly resolved, within the confines of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, to live in unity, harmony and peace for the welfare, security and prosperity of our peoples and our Nation under God, do hereby make, enact and give to ourselves this Constitution to guide and direct our collective endeavors.”

With this declaration, I have no reason to doubt the sincerity of our Religious leaders in this resolve to influence the politicians who are either Muslims or Christians to grow, promote and sustain a united Nigeria. I take my endorsement as Executive Secretary of NIREC as a mission given to me by God through the CBCN and the Executive of NIREC. ARTICLE 3 of the Constitution of NIREC points to a direction that can help our mission to discover a united Nigeria. This article articulates the aims and objectives of the council among which are: To honestly and sincerely understand the true teachings of the two religions; promote dialogue between Christians and Muslims; inculcate moral, ethical, social and cultural values of the two faiths for the rebirth and rebuilding of a better society; to provide a forum for mutual co-operation and promotion of the welfare of all citizens in the nation; to create fora and channels for the peaceful resolution of any friction or misunderstanding that may arise from time to time; to serve as an avenue for articulating cordial relationship amongst the various religious groups and between them and the Government; to assist the Federal, State, and Local Governments of Nigeria and the Populace by emphasizing and accentuating the positive roles religion should play in nation building and development; to serve as a forum to achieve national goals, economic growth, national unity and promotion of political stability; to consider and make recommendations to the Federal and other levels of Government on matters that may assist in fostering integral and spiritual development of Nigerians; to make recommendations on such other matters as the Federal and other levels of Government may from time to time refer to the Council and to network with organizations of similar aims at home and internationally, for the furtherance of the objectives of the Council.

NIREC can reposition Nigeria if what matters is the common good of the nation and not the contest for supremacy between Christians and Muslims. NIREC Secretariat should be a home for every Christian and Muslim. Given that the NIREC office is situated in the Federal Secretariat, the staff of NIREC should engage the staff of the Federal Secretariat in a way and manner that the Federal Secretariat could be a model of what a nation should look like. At resumption of office as Executive Secretary of NIREC, I visited the Imam in charge of the Mosque and the Police officers in the Police Station at the Federal Secretariat. They all expressed the need to work together to grow a united Nigeria where peace, progress, justice and freedom could be core values. With these experiences and the opportunity, we could take NIREC to the grassroots by visiting the different States with the message of building a nation where everybody would be proud to be called a Nigerian. If the Nigerian government could provide an office space for NIREC inside the Federal Secretariat, then NIREC is one of the ways we can discover the capacity of that can discover the nation God willed Nigeria to be. May this our search for one nation through NIREC not be in vain!

Fr. Cornelius Omonokhua is the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) (omonokhuac@gmai.com)