In this interview with SEYI JOHN SALAU, Reverend Femi Popoola, pastor in charge of Divine Mercy Baptist Church, Ikosi, Ketu, Lagos speaks on the xenophobic attack in South Africa, the church and the negative influence of prosperity gospel in Christendom. Excerpts:
Recently Benny Hill tendered a message of apology on his 67th birthday saying he does not want to be associated with prosperity gospel; what is your take on this?
I give glory to God for that. Well, for me that was not the first time I was hearing about it. I think I heard about it sometime ago that Benny Hill denounced prosperity gospel. Prosperity gospel is not a biblical gospel; it is a false gospel and if someone who has been in the core of it, preaching it can say that no, he is repenting; I think it is something we need to give glory to God. And, those who are into it in Nigeria should see it that look – we need to change; they need to return back to the bible.
Is that a clarion call on other ministers and ministries still pushing the frontiers of this prosperity gospel to rethink their stand in Christ?
Yes; that is part of what is causing Nigeria trouble because of our focus. There are so many churches but our focus is not on God; our focus is on things that will not take us anywhere, so we should return back to the issue of sins and forgiveness; righteousness and godliness.
The Xenophobic attack in South African on other black nationals, especially Nigerians has been put to the failure of the government; do you share this sentiment?
I think it’s a complex matter from the way I looked at it. Number one, I see the attack as a reaction of the South African people; maybe they are also having it difficult and they are looking at it that why should the foreigners be prospering in their land why they are suffering. From my own view I see it that the government of South Africa also is not also truthful; maybe they are stylishly using their people to just drive away the foreigners. And again too, from what we are hearing from our people in South Africa, there are some people that are into some unclean things and its complex – so, you can only express your views based on what you hear, since one was not there. That is my view on the xenophobic attack.
Do you support government’s immediate reaction and planned repatriation of willing Nigerians from South Africa?
I think that is good because our people there have lost their means of livelihood, and then you hear that they are being molested or being killed; it is your responsibility as a government to do what you can to at least protect them by taking an immediate measure, which is ok. But, more than that I think the federal government should wake up – wake up in the sense that if you are bringing them home; what are you bringing them home to come and do. Those who are at home – many of the youth at home; their eyes are outside, they want to go out. They want to go make things for themselves, so if they are doing that; the federal government should also know that it is time we had to do something for our own citizens that will make them feel at home and would want to stay back in the country. If what they are doing in South Africa and prospering, they might want to come and do it at home, but if the environment is not conducive how will they come back: come back to do what? So, the government has a lot of things to do.
But, back home Nigerian lives are not safe, which beggars the question; what value do we place on a Nigerian life?
It is a very big question and it calls for a sober reflection on the part of the government. I said it that the government of Nigeria needs to wake up; it’s not doing well at all as far as security is concerned. Nobody is safe now any longer; the security apparatus in Nigeria has become something else, so the government has to wake up and see to it that our lives are safe in Nigeria. There is no more security in Nigeria, even the people in government should realize that they are also not safe; and event have proved that nobody is safe and if things continue like this, I am sorry and pray that it does not escalate. So, the issue of security should be taken very serious and something drastic must be done about it.
Back to the church: the church in Nigeria, especially clergymen have been target of gunmen in the recent past; do you think it’s time for the church or CAN to take a stand on providing self protection for clerics in Nigeria?
Well, if CAN wants to make provision for the security of pastors and clergymen; does CAN have the means to do that? Definitely it cannot do that because the work of security and the responsibility to secure lives lies with the government. So, the government must do something, not only for the clergymen but for all citizens – it is the major responsibility of the government to protect lives and property: so government must wake up and do something about it.
