Recently, Pastor Paul Enenche, the senior pastor of the Dunamis International Gospel Centre, Abuja, called Veronica Anyim, a police officer, a liar on the church’s altar and questioned her law degree from the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN). This happened while the lady was giving a thanksgiving testimony in his church. KINGSLEY ALUMONA sampled the opinions of some Nigerians on this issue. Their views:
Akomolafe Ayomide
It is a two-way thing. As someone in academia, students are no longer interested in studying and it is a general problem across the country. They prefer to cut corners to attain success — whereas, cutting corners will yield negative results. On the other hand, I believe Pastor Enenche did not want the sanctuary of God to be a subject of ridicule, hence his trying to make sure what Miss Anyim was saying was right. To abate all that ensued, he has displayed the intelligence and maturity to tender a public explanation and apology to the lady concerned.
Egunjobi Abiodun
Leaders, especially church leaders, should stop taking the position of God in their churches. Interrupting programmes at will, dictating church proceedings — irrespective of who is leading — and so on, should be stopped. Pastors are not church CEOs. They are the servants. A church leader behaving like that makes him or her feel like a demigod. Humility to admit and rectify errors is key. We do not keep grudges in church.
Ekundayo Adeniran
He who jumps to a conclusion may be on the way to jumping into confusion. No matter how exalted you fancy or delude yourself, do yourself this favour: Be meek and humble enough to steadfastly learn and master the discipline of thinking and reflecting soberly before speaking, otherwise you might be landing yourself into a mess that would taint your reputation with scandals that would stay glued to you all the days of your life. Think before you speak. In the multitude of words lies a litany of indiscretions and sins. Some are wise, are some otherwise.
Mike Obebe
Vera Aryim was incongruous and incoherent during her testimony. Pastor Enenche and those who commended his disposition were not sensitive enough to realise that Miss Anyim’s LLB Law programme was from NOUN. I could tell that Miss Anyim obtained her LLB in Law by spending the most time having lectures online. She would have been more coherent in speaking if exposed to classroom questions and answers, debates, presentations, and other extra-curricular activities. We should be directing our criticism towards NOUN by now. However, Pastor Enenche’s public shaming of her speech and labelling her testimony as a lie was extreme. The pastor has apologised though.
Solomon Aderemi
This is life. Everything happens for a reason. Sometimes, certain people are underrated for some reasons. But God is not like men. God can make a nobody a somebody in the presence of everybody. His ways are not like ours. That is why He warned us not to judge nobody no matter what. And, sometimes, He allows certain things to happen to us so that mercy can take over. We could be embarrassed to be elevated. In any circumstance, all we need is to stay calm and trust God.
Dikorom Rindom
Firstly, be good at what you do. Secondly, God uses a seemingly foolish scenario to announce and promote a man. Thirdly, no matter how anointed a man of God is, he is still a man bound by human limitations. So, there is a need to forgive one another no matter the magnitude of the offence.
Ayodele Segun
Life is a mystery. What you think could not be, could still be when one has no clue of it. Do not be quick to judge and think you know everything. Be patient to know what the other person means. Be available for the betterment of people. Be yourself in all that you experience. Nobody is above correction.
Emmanuel Awode
Beyond the rebuke by Pastor Enenche, this signifies the obvious fall in the Nigerian standard of education that needs urgent attention. From the lowest rung of our educational system to the tertiary level, there are obvious gaps in policy, teaching, language of instruction, regulation, and quality assurance. The undue emphasis on certification rather than the utilitarian value of education and personal development of the educated have encouraged all means, foul or fair, to attain levels that are questionable and doubtful. Let us go back to the drawing table.
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