ArchBishop David Irefin is the International chairman, Christ Missionary Crusade Fellowship for the Brotherhood of Cross and Star and a professor of Economics at the Federal University Lokoja. In an interview with OYIBO SALIHU, he warns that building worship cathedrals everywhere without love only compounds problems for the society.
Nigeria is still embroiled in worldliness despite the proliferation of worship centres. Where is the missing link?
Nigerians, like others, are faced with all of those, including economic hardships and insecurity, because they have not embraced the teachings and practices of the Holy Spirit who is the sole spiritual head of the universe in the person of Olumba Olumba Obu. The scripture does not say the establishment of many churches and mosques would solve people’s problem; rather, it says those who put the word of our Lord Jesus Christ into practice would not suffer and such people would live economic bliss and prosperity. For example, consider the Israelites how they suffered and are still suffering because they rejected the word of God.
That should be a good lesson for Nigerians, that building churches and mosques everywhere without love for one another but discriminate against one another would only multiply problems. Discrimination has even been extended into government offices and organisations. Where is this found in the universal love of God? Peaceful co-existence in Nigeria is being threatened because of discrimination and segregation in religion and political arena.
Therefore, the Holy Spirit is asking where all those evil doctrines came from. Remember that Nigerians belong to God and none belongs to Satan. We should learn how to serve all types of people, no matter their status. Olumba says no one should despise the thieves or robbers or whosoever for that matter; the Almighty God expects us to minister to them.
By so doing, they would change for the better. Taking a cue from the Scripture, we are all debtors to God to serve Him, for He owns us and all things in heaven and earth. We are His ministers and messengers and have to do everything to serve Him at all times. If we put His words into practice, then in whatsoever we engage in, He would shower His infinite blessings on us. Remember, whatsoever is done through force or compulsion is sinful and of the world.
It is true that countries are challenged with problems; however, they solve them, but why do Nigerian leaders appear helpless in Nigeria’s situation?
The question is how many Nigerian leaders, political or religious, have a copy of the Everlasting Gospel preached by leader Olumba Olumba Obu? If they don’t have this book, how would they know what God expects of them? How then can they have anything to do with God’s teachings and how can they rule successfully? God has given the wealth of the world to all the inhabitants but out of greed, the rulers, their princes and princesses divert such to themselves and allow the people to die in abject poverty. Millions of unemployed youths continue to roam the streets in search of livelihood. What is the fate of these jobless youths and the less-privileged in our society? In the Western world, unemployed youths are paid some allowances to enable them survive. Why is this not done in Nigeria?
The economic hardship we are currently experiencing is as a result of government’s insensitivity towards the plight of the suffering masses. Why should government fail to use the God-given resources to help the people? Taxes, rates, minerals and agricultural produce are all controlled by the government, yet in lack of money. A critical examination would reveal that only a few persons or group of individuals are cheating others. Anyone who wants to be a leader must first become the people’s minister. You claim to be a governor, yet your state is filled with all sorts of unsolved problems. If you claim to be a king or president and cannot solve the problems of your people or serve them well, what type of president or king are you?
Remember that no community, nation or country would enjoy peace or good things unless the ruler is ready to render selfless service to his people. In the Brotherhood of the Cross and Star, love is the principal thing. What is the meaning of love and what consequence will the people face when they refuse to practise love?
The Holy Spirit personified in the Sole Spiritual Head of the Universe Leader Olumba Olumba Obu maintains that there is only one God and law and we, all humans, are brethren. This contradicts many people’s beliefs that there are many and different gods. He further explains that God has only one commandment which is love for one another. He further explains that love means oneness; this means to regard everybody as oneself irrespective of faith, colour, status and gender.
He emphasized that God regards everybody in the world as one, whether man or woman, white or black, red, young or old, rich or poor, high or low, He regards all as same. No matter one’s situation in life: a thief, murderer, fornicator, smoker, drunkard, liar, cheat, polygamist, adulterer, God does not deny anyone because He is love and we are part and parcel of Him. If you love, you will not kill, steal and disgrace or abuse or curse any person.
A lot of people think when you give money or a building or expensive presents to another person, it means you love. No! The truth is that no matter what you give to another person, you must regard that person as yourself; that there is no difference between you and the person.
That is why our Lord Jesus Christ gave us the only one commandment, ‘Love one another as I have loved you’. Love worketh no evil against a neighbour. Love is the fulfillment of all laws.
Whosoever has love is known of God. As you think about yourself, God is thinking about every human being, fishes in the water, animals in the bush, birds of the air and all His creation. Why should we then not take stock of ourselves and regard every other person as ourselves? Our Lord Jesus Christ did not found a church nor did He erect a building.
Rather, He founded and established love, saying we should love one another as He has loved us. For you to shout ‘Jesus’ everyday at the top of your voice without putting the Word of God into practice, it profits nothing. If we have love, we would not indulge in any vice or commit any sin because love doeth no ill to his neighbour; rather, it is patient, kind, long- suffering and merciful; does not envy, not jealous, selfish, proud; it is not easily provoked and thinks of no evil.
Therefore, instead of spending all your time looking for money and other material things, use this opportunity to practise love because God does not require your money or children; but requires you to love. When you have love, you have everything in the world.
Olumba further explains that all of us are children of God; a thief is a child of God even though he is a wanted person. When we talk about prodigal children, we mean thieves, robbers, prostitutes, drunkards, murderers and those who engage in sins and vices; they are all God’s children even though may be declared wanted by the authorities.
The consequence of refusing to abide in the only law of God which is love, is the cause of all the problems we are facing today. Do what you may in the world, if you do not have love, you cannot achieve anything and there would never be peace among the inhabitants of the earth. All those who have no love remain in death and death is waiting at their door steps. All the woes, suffering, insecurity challenges, hopelessness confronting Nigerians emanate from refusal to abide in the teachings of Our Lord Jesus Christ which is centred on love for one another.
Nigerians should know that no amount of prayer and fasting, erecting of churches and mosques and political manipulation would guarantee peaceful co-existence and economic stability.
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