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Why do politicians keep visiting men of God?

By Femi Alabi Onikeku
07 January 2018   |   4:17 am
The photograph was controversial: the president of the most populated country in Africa kneeling publicly before the leader of one of the largest churches on the continent.

Liberia’s George Weah (left) shakes hand with Prophet T.B. Joshua during his October 2017 visit to the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN)

The photograph was controversial: the president of the most populated country in Africa kneeling publicly before the leader of one of the largest churches on the continent. The year was 2010. And the humble supplicant was Nigeria’s Goodluck Jonathan.

The gesture, of course, drew fiery criticisms. But just as the country’s folks thought they had seen the last of the contentious pose, a re-enactment followed in 2015.

So, why do nations’ leaders keep seeking after men of God?

For Christian adherents, there is a fountain of precedence. Old Testament kings like Pharaoh, David, Saul, Jeroboam, Jehoshaphat, Ahab and Hezekiah consulted prophets.

Civilisations come and go. Man’s nature, however, remains the same. He is eager to find answers to the unknown. And depending on his worldview, he attempts to solve life’s riddles empirically or through faith in the divine.

For Jonathan, the timing was unmistakably significant: both photographs jumped out of the cameras as countdown to decisive general elections shivered the spines of politicians.

When Liberia’s George Weah contested his country’s presidency in October 2017, he won. But there was a problem. With 38.4 per cent of the vote, his victory didn’t go far enough. He failed to secure an outright majority over second-place Joseph Boakai who polled 28.8 per cent.

A run-off was inevitable. And Weah ran to Prophet T.B. Joshua.

You’re not still asking why he came, are you?

Anyway, there was no kneeling, just a few words: “Without corresponding power, we cannot pray to God. We cannot pray against God’s will. God’s choice is our choice…” Then, there was a handshake. And Weah went on to win.

But wait. Could there have been some ‘something’ in that handshake?

Hmmn…me sef I dey ask ni o.

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