The General Overseer of Kings in Christ Power Ministries International, Bishop Chidi Anthony, in this interview with journalists at the conclusion of the church’s annual programme, ‘Pool of Bethsaida,’ spoke on the insecurity in the country and other socio-economic issues. Excerpts by SEYI JOHN SALAU:
With the level of insecurity in the country; is Nigeria a failed state?
It pains me that even our fathers cannot stand boldly and condemn evil, it grieves my spirit, it pains me but then again what can I do. There are people that are supposed to tell them that this is not the Nigeria that we are praying for, this is not the Nigeria we know, this is not the Nigeria of the 80’s and 90’s, what is wrong? Today, I cannot even travel to my village. See the kidnapping of students of Abia State University. We thought those things will end in the North but gradually it’s coming; if something is not done we will leave this Nigeria for them. If care is not taken there will be nothing like Nigeria, let us call a spade a spade. After all, I have two sons and daughters even if I speak the truth and they carry me, I’m 51 going to 52, haven’t I tried? I’m not even afraid; so DSS can come because already a dead man does not have anything to be afraid of.
If you see the president today, what would you say to him?
I have been saying it, and it has been published in many newspapers, I don’t know what to say again, everybody is saying it that Nigeria is turning upside down and our president cannot come and address the nation. Every day we hear presidency, look at the last time the president said that anybody that they see with Ak-47 they should kill the person, Minister of Defence came out to say that they should not kill, that it is only the court that has the right to pronounce judgment upon anyone. Is it the Minister of Defence that is ruling Nigeria now or the president? Again, are we to follow Adesina, Garba Shehu or Lai Mohammed? I do not know who is ruling? You said if I see him, people that are supposed to see him say they can’t see him, not to talk of me, where will I see him? Since he cannot come out and address the people, I wonder where Nigeria is heading. I do tell them every day that they should pray even at PMF we always declare prayers every second Saturday of every month we pray for this nation because it is only God that can intervene; Nigeria is heading to doom, I’m telling you honestly.
Are you in support of state police?
I am somebody that helps the police in fighting crime right from day one. I awarded the past Inspector-General (IG) Abubakar Adamu and towards the end of this month we at PMF would be going to see the present IGP to at least share our own little idea and see how it can help solve the insecurity in the nation. We try to encourage the police officers that are doing well, they are human beings and their power is limited, you cannot say that a man is not trying until you find yourself in his shoes. Maybe, they are doing their best and remember all of them take orders from one man in Abuja, assuming we have state policing where you can have other IGs there are things you’ll want to do and an order will say don’t do it, you cannot go contrary to it.
Let’s come back to the church; what is the peculiarity of this year’s ‘Pool of Bethsaida’?
This year’s is quite different because it ended with ordination, we ordained two of our pastors all the way from Gabon and then a pastor in Nigeria. My wife was also ordained as a Reverend in this great assembly. We have never done it like this before, this is the first time it is ending with ordination; so, it is a plus for this church and the body of Christ.
Could you shed more light on the ordination?
Well, when we talk about ordination, we do not ordain people anyhow. A person has to go through some process to know if he or she is ready. You know many that said that they have been called were only called by their stomachs because they believe that the ministry is lucrative. But if you see anybody that has passion for souls you will know, so here we do not record success on how you can preach or pull crowd; we record success based on how many you can take to Christ; our motto here is heaven at last. We believe we can make heaven and before we ordain you as a minister we watch you and find out if you truly have passion for souls and to depopulate the kingdom of hell. We don’t ordain based on academic excellence, or the wisdom you might have or because you have money. We ordain you because of what you can do to depopulate the kingdom of hell and populate the kingdom of God, this is what we watch which qualifies one to be ordained a minister in this commission.
What is your thought on the alleged commercialisation of ordination as there appears to be a quest for the office of a Bishop?
We have five-fold ministry- we have the teachers, pastors, prophets, evangelists and apostles. I also want you to understand that ordination and the so-called quest for titles is not so in this assembly, we do not do that. Like I said earlier, there must be something we find in you before we ordain you, you can’t walk in and bring out money and say we should ordain. When you cannot affect your generation you look for titles, those people looking for title, the grace has left them, and they are working based on past glory. When they cannot lay hands on anything, they go for titles; why go for titles since you know you’re affecting the lives of people? I took the title of bishop because of the position I found myself, I am the National President of Pentecostal Ministers Forum. I know what they did before I accepted the title. Do you even know how burdensome it is wearing the clothes of a Bishop?
