The Trial of Apostle Suleiman By Goke Butika

Karl Marx, a great thinker of the 19th century urges people in authority to resolve contradictions in the system, instead of seeing religions as barriers.

I could still recollect how a “friend” who claimed to be well versed in exam voodoo during my high school days persuaded me to get some stuff like guinea fowl, alligator pepper, black and white cotton and some amount of money for him, that would be used to prepare me concoction that would enhance my brain and make me pass any examination. Initially, when he began to talk, I pretended to be enjoying the discussion, but when he concluded that many of our friends had done it, I asked him why he chose not to use it for himself, so that he could become the star boy of his generation; he just gazed into my eyes, chuckled and left. End of discussion.

Apostle Suleiman

The story of the voodoo boy seems funny, but, I learnt truly that some of our gullible friends duped their parents to pay the con man for the exam voodoo. Though, one of them told me that the voodoo was a scam, and that he noticed that the con man quickly developed habit of eating pounded yam with guinea fowl at that material time. I just laughed and I said, the young man was clever by half, but he chose his crowd wisely, because only the gullible of the ignoramus class could be deceived by a man who is deficient of what he sells.

Nigeria is an interesting country. A country where industries had given way to churches and mosques, as if they do not work in Saudi Arabia and Israel; a country, where the battle of faith is elevated to a statecraft; a country where the lazy bones hide behind the robe and costume of religions to dupe the desperate lots who could not conquer their greed, but in perpetual habit of cutting corners; a country, where councilors are earning more than teachers; a country where illiterate politicians are promoted in the order of protocol above a Professor. There cannot be other way to explain inverted pyramid of value.

Get one thing straight, I worship my God as well. So, I cannot claim to be atheist, but it is so private to me that some diehard religionists could not place me, because I am convinced that salvation is personal. In that wise, I do not like to transact business or idea with anyone with religious seal, because that would tell me something that the fellow is out to tie me with dogma, with a view to arresting the reasoning and facts of the matter.

It was all over the news that a guy with big Christian title, Apostle Suleiman allegedly incited his crowd to kill people of rival faith, but the man denied the story later. However, he argued that it was self defence he canvassed not killing. At the same time, he threatened in front of the camera at the Ekiti State Government House where enfant-terrible Gov. Ayo Fayose is currently hibernating that should the security agency move to detain him for a day, the crisis that would be unleashed may not be contained for a year.

So, in logic, the “Apostle” certainly not of Christ but of Fayose, has admitted that he did incite his crowd to kill, because what could be the magnitude of the crisis that would trail his detention which may not be contain in one year? Surprisingly, when the State Security Service (SSS) came calling at Fayose’s hotel in Ekiti where he lodged after “crusade”, he failed to called on his God, but Fayose for rescue. I am very sure, he might have assured his crowd that only God could save one, not anyone irrespective of position or wealth, but when the hour came, our “Apostle” forsake God and ran to the governor for savior. That is the magnitude of hypocrisy in a country where poverty has redirected the thinking of the people.

That said, the failure of the government to guarantee the right to life is obvious, and to the best of my knowledge, that is a breach of social contract. The killings of the herdsmen and the religious strife in kaduna demand some explanation from the people in authority, but one must not take liberty for license. I am of opinion that Fayose over-reached himself by obstructing the security operative from their duty, because of his immunity; while his friend, the “Apostle” appears to have equated himself with God by his threat.

The import of the drama is that, Nigeria has misplaced her priority in terms of orderliness and governance. Unfortunately, the people who ought to govern are fiddling, a situation that is making them losing details of the fundamentals. However, I think it should be made clear to the religionists that none of the Holy books preaches violence.

Butika writes from Houston, Texas.