Nigerians kick against moving of The SCOAN to Israel

ALHAJI BALARABE MUSA (former Governor of Kaduna state and Elder Statesman)

First of all, is it believable that Israel can afford to give him acres of land? Because Israel herself is desperately in need of land and that is why they have problem with the Arab world.

Secondly, what is T.B. Joshua’s reason for deciding to move his wonderful ministry from his own country to another country? And why Israel, instead of another country? If he is accusing the Lagos State Government of persecution, why does he feel that he will have religious sympathy in Israel rather than any other country, considering the fact that Israel has a tremendous amount of problems.

So, how does he think that a Jewish state like Israel with all their internal problems with the outside world can accommodate him? I think he should re-think.

CARDINAL OLUBUNMI OKOJIE (Catholic Archbishop Emeritus spoke on phone from a London hospital bed).

The man of God should not be intimidated over hostility by government or any other body, because that is a true indication that God is working out His purpose in the midst of His people.

History of the early Church to date shows that true men of God operate in hostile environments. Our Lord Jesus Christ’s ministry was trailed by hostilities in all three and half years and he was eventually wrongly, cruelly tortured and hung on the cross with common thieves.

Also, all His disciples’ ministries followed the same pattern, so Joshua should not remove from the midst of his own people who need him greatly. He may not even realise the impact of what his ministry is doing to the poor and needy beside healing and setting captives free. Let him stay in his own country and minister to the rest of the world as he is doing.

DR. FREDERICK FASEHUN (Surgeon/Founder, Oodua People’s Congress (OPC).

Prophet T.B. Joshua’s exit from Nigeria would be one braindrain incident too many. If the man of God makes good his threat, that would be a tragedy of no mean proportion and a national embarrassment if such an eminent personality went on self-exile from his fatherland.

Nigeria and Nigerians must do everything possible to ensure that this international Preacher and Televangelist rescinds the decision and remains at home to operate his divine calling. If it happens, Nigeria stands to lose several positive dividends currently bestowed by The Scoan on not just Ikotun-Lagos, but also on the entire country.

Spiritually speaking, we shall be losing a giant intercessor, whose prayers and those of other men and women of God across all religions are helping to sustain the peace and sanity of this country.

G.P. JAMES (Barrister-at-law/Clergyman, Citadel Chambers, Ajao Estate, Lagos).

Men of God are guided by the Holy Spirit, so if TBJ says he is led to move his church to Israel, it’s not the first time it’s happening. God said to our father Abraham, leave your home, go to a place I will show you and Abraham left his home. I don’t think people should bring economy, politics, persecution or tribal sentiments into it. Joshua is a servant of God and we know he is directed by God.

Accessibility

It is God that planted him here and it’s God that is taking him wherever else. The whole wide world is God’s private and personal estate. As for the Synagogue in Nigeria, God can always give a replacement. We should believe that if God takes out one, in place of Bananas, another one will take his place. If he must TBJ can cast a lot and pick someone else to run the Lagos headquarters for him or build a larger headquarters in Israel.

Persecution

If a servant of God is being persecuted, we should not sympathise with him. If God commands him to go out – maybe because of persecution, it happened to Elija when Jezebel wanted to kill him. God took him to somewhere, so if Joshua is being persecuted by government of Lagos State and God wants to take him to drink from another brook in Israel, so be it. The poor and afflicted that are crying here, you should know that there are poor and afflicted people in Israel also. God has a way of meeting everyone in bondage at the point of their need.

PROPHET (DR) RAMAS, JP (Liberation Temple of Absolute God, Nri, Anambra State)

It is not proper for Prophet TBJ to take our God given deliverance ministry to another country because God saw Israel before He chose Nigeria, especially Egbe and Ikotun which are easily accessible to the poor and afflicted.

On the other hand, if God says he should go, then the prophet cannot say no because his exit from Nigeria will give opportunity to other smaller churches to grow. TBJ has grown so big and has become so popular that he is like a god to many people.

Agreed his visits to the widows, the old and poor are unprecedented and we all appreciate it. We have been following his philanthropic espionages to many parts of the world, and if he leaves Nigeria, it does not mean he will completely abandon his people, but if Nigeria does not receive him, he should do what God has commanded him.

THE VERY REVD MONSIGNOR LIVINUS UKAH (Parish Priest, St. Alphonsus, Aboru, Ipaja, Lagos)

TBJ is not a Jew; he is not like some Igbo people who say they have a Jewish ancestry.

As a proven servant of God, TBJ must face hostility or persecution. He shouldn’t look for a friendly environment because Jesus operated in hostile and difficult terrains, governments and even the Synagogues persecuted him, but the persecutions promoted his ministry the more.

He should remember what Jesus said to His disciples, that the way they treated Him is the way the world will treat them. A great prophet like him should not expect to be accepted wholeheartedly by the government of his land; it doesn’t happen, except that prophet is compromising his ministry.

The Israelis are wooing TBJ to “come over” because he will improve their economy and boost their spiritual well being. Lagos state government should allow him operate in his native country. Both states and Federal Government should recognise that this prophet helps to rebrand Nigeria and he brings good name to the country.

He is born in Nigeria for a good spiritual reason and he should help his own people. Other people are coming from many nations to see him here but the poor and elderly and sick Nigerians cannot go to him if he relocates to Israel…he has to think of them!

We have seen how he travels to Asia, SA and even Europe to touch their lives…is there any man of God in those countries who come to Nigeria to do the same? He helps to conquer misery.

Government should reflect seriously because he brings money and fame to the country. The Scoan is a landmark, almost a spiritual tourist hub.

If he goes to Israel or any other country, when the chips are down, they will remind him that he is not of their own stock and they will ask him: where did you come from? So there’s no place like home. Let him stay and help his people. Look at how he is helping the poor and needy, the refugees and the returnees from foreign prisons: those are the people he is sent by God to minister to – and not the government.

Now, while it is true actually that Israeli government gave him land, it does not mean the man of God is moving the headquarters of The Scoan to that country. If the people’s prayers on this matter are answered by God, TBJ may just put up a branch in Israel, like he did in Ghana.

Beside the thousands of ordinary folks, the sick, poor and hungry, some card carrying members of The Scoan and distressed people, afflicted or demon possessed who throng the Ikotun headquarters seeking spiritual, financial, health and non-descript deliverances on daily basis, Nigerian families and individuals that are employed full time by The Scoan are also praying that God will keep the man of God in Nigeria while his ministry is ministering to the rest of the world.

Nigerian workforce

As you read this, The Scoan has over 1,000 Nigerians as full time employees who are not only working but solely dependent on the ministry. Some married within the church and have raised their families under the spiritual and financial shield of TBJ.

Then if you talk about the captains of industries, traditional rulers, pastors of other churches, the totally helpless and so on, all come to The Synagogue to solicit help and none is ever turned away.

It is noted that in the last two years or so, TBJ has been the only person catering for these Libyan deportees. Besides the major publicised ones, deportees, returnees or refugees troop to The Synagogue every other day. After the group of 250 that the man of God gave N7m with 500 bags of rice, another batch of 200 came four days later and TBJ gave them N4m and 400 bags of rice. There are smaller numbers, some individuals, families that come every day and these do not come to public notice.

Another group of beneficiaries who are upset with the news are residents and hoteliers around The Scoan who are great beneficiaries of The Scoan phenomenon. Families rent out their rooms, boys quarters and guest rooms to visitors to The Scoan at prices that sustain and meet all the family needs.

“A good number of us have been praying and fasting for God to change the mind of Prophet TBJ because the man of God doesn’t know how much his Church is providing and sustaining our families.”

“It will be catastrophic if The Scoan is removed to another country because if it happens, that Synagogue moves out of this place, many people may commit suicide to tell the truth and I am not exaggerating,” our source said.