#WANNUNE2017 | IN DEFENCE OF BISHOP WILLIAMS AVENYA By Per Samuel Gar:

Still on the incident at the Catholic church in Wannune

LIKE FATHER LIKE SON
Bishop Williams Avenya's spiritual father was Bishop Emeritus, His Lordship, Athanasius Atule Usuh of blessed memory. Bishop Avenya's mentor was late Rev Fr Moses Adasu (first Priest Governor of Benue State). Both Men of God were firebrands; unpretentious, and straight to the point. They were not persons known for double talk, tongue in cheek speech, prevarication, or side talk. They spoke their minds anywhere and anytime, not minding whose ox was gored! One thing was clear about them: They never shied away from telling the truth when the truth was to be told. And they won't do this at your back. They will tell you to your face. I tell you the truth. That is the lifestyle of true PROPHETS. Sadly, the outspoken ones are always few in the Church and in the world. And they are not usually loved by bad leaders! But because they represent God, they can't do otherwise but speak out; and you have to hate and love them at the same time FOR YOUR GOOD! I know what I am talking about.

THE PROPHETIC ANOINTING
This is what God told Prophet Jeremiah: "For you shall go to ALL whom I send you, and whatever I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of their faces, for I am with you to deliver you, says the Lord" (Jeremiah 1:7-8).

If we don't have fearless Prophets (the Bishop Avenyas of Benue State and Bishop Matthew Kukahs and Rev Fr Mbakas of Nigeria), the land will quickly fall into apostasy and leaders will afflict the people without any fear or remorse! Even with these few, can you see the temerity, rascality and impunity that is going on?

THE MASTER'S FOOTSTEPS
Late Bishop A A Usuh was a great Servant of God and of the people; and his son, Bishop Williams Avenya is following in his master's footsteps and his father's footprints. Heaven is happy so it doesn't matter if Hell is angry!

IT HAPPENED BEFORE
When Governor George Akume took Benue into horrific political abyss, Bishop Usuh was the first to cast the stone of disapproval, rebuke, and finally that of rejection. Many were surprised that a Catholic Bishop would rise up to condemn the misdeeds and misrule of a Catholic Governor. That was strange only to those who did not know the People's Bishop! He stood for God and Man and not for vultures, hyenas, and caterpillars of the Commonwealth!

When Governor Akume would not change his ways, Bishop Usuh took a drastic stand to boycott all official functions of the government (the first such public rebuke and disgrace of a sitting Governor and government). When the Governor sent a brand new Jeep (through his wife) on the occasion of Bishop Usuh's birthday, the Bishop roundly rejected the gift. He went on to direct all Priests to stop the pilgrimage to Government House and also stop political Thanksgiving for politicians who think that they can buy God and the conscience of Priests with filthy lucre! Benue was silent because the Prophet - Bishop was declaring Heaven's mandate!

WHY NOT?
If Governor George Akume was reprimanded for misrule (and it was ok) and Governor Suswam was equally rebuked for same (by Bishop Avenya) and it was alright (even though, in comparison, they did better than this government), why is the rebuke of Governor Ortom such a big issue?

SON OF HIS FATHER
Indeed, if Bishop Avenya does not excel his father, he won't be a worthy son! This is why I salute his courage, Godly principles, holy disposition, and dogged determination to remain on the side of truth, of God and the ordinary people.

COMING JUDGEMENT
Of a truth, any Priest, Pastor, Bishop, or Minister of God who has seen (and is seeing) the harrowing distress of Benue workers and Benue people and is unconcerned, lukewarm, nonchalant, and noncommittal is an agent of Satan. And those hobnobbing, romancing, dining and wining with politicians and government officials (who are fleecing, maiming, and killing the helpless people of Benue) is of his father the Devil!

PROPHETIC WARNING
Permit me to address Pastors and Priests as a Christian leader: The Church is not the right place for government to keep seeking audience to sell or defend its policies or its ineptitude. Jesus Christ didn't suffer and die so that evidently bad people will come afterwards and make merchandise in His sacred Sanctuary. Burials and weddings are also not the right places for any serious government to seek to engage the people on matters of policy and governance. What is the work of the Ministry of Information?

A government that has no Radio Station or Television Station or Satellite network (after three years in office) to engage her citizens is already an abysmal failure. For that is the kindergarten of Political Communication. If you fail at this elementary level, you are to be most pitied!

For those abrading Bishop Avenya for standing for God, and for the truth, and for the people (the voiceless and the hopeless), I can only pray that you don't end up like Esau (Hebrews 12:16-17) and Gehazi (2Kings 5:25-27) and Judas Iscariot (Matthew 27:3-8) and Balaam (Jude verse 11) who lost their destinies on account of mere food, clothes, and the fee of a harlot!

Permit me to prophesy with my eyes open: In 2019 (because Benue State is now dedicated to God) many Servants of God who violate God's way and run after evil politicians for cars, food and money and (in the process) galvanize them to betray the people shall suffer uncommon afflictions and die uncommon deaths thereafter. Watch and see!

NATURAL ORDER
If a government is doing well, we should applaud it. If it is doing badly or failing the people, we should equally be bold enough to tell it so. Those who praise - sing for their bellies and for daily bread do so to their damnation and that of their children after them! It is as serious as that!

Permit me to rest my case!