The ‘gospel’ according to Adams Oshiomhole

My kinsman, the late Fr Peter Akogu, wrote a book of which I have forgotten the title. The core message of the book is that the Bible should not have ‘died’ with the Apostles because subsequent generations have done enough mighty works: witnessing for the Lord, suffering martyrdom, and spreading the gospel. My younger brother, Nonso, usually complains that it is abnormal to mention St Peter or St Paul while ignoring our own native ‘saints’. So, he usually sends supplications to Umenne, Udoye, and Ezeamaluchi.

I believe that there are some senses in the above ideas, and I want to support them by unveiling one of the ‘Gospellers’ of this generation in the person of Adams Oshiomhole, who was hitherto known as a comrade. But before delving into his ‘gospelling’ capabilities, I wish to state unequivocally that he fits well with some characters in the Bible, especially those referred to as Pharisees, because of his acute Pharisaism.

As a ‘labourer’ (they said he won an award as a ‘dua-dua’ man (itinerant tailor)), he was an action man, speaking for the masses, and his khaki dressing evidences his austere tendencies. Despite being close to the ground, God gave him a gift of unparalleled eloquence, such that even spirits bowed to his voice. Then, he was a labour economist, supporting import substitution, which saved forex, boosted industrialisation and created local jobs. But two things rubbished his pro-people claims in this sphere. First, he imported a foreign woman as his wife, despite the abundance of beautiful ladies in Nigeria. He thus wasted our foreign exchange and denied some Nigerian families the benefits of his ‘in-law-ship’. Furthermore, he built a private house in a space that is larger than the land housing OOU, one of the largest ‘landed’ universities in Nigeria. I don’t know how massaging another imported woman in a private jet fits into his image as a pro-people ‘labourer’.

Furthermore, he fought godfatherism to a standstill and crowned himself as the David that slew the Goliaths of Nigerian politics. Basking in that victory, he swore never to be a godfather here or hereafter. However, he fought a ‘bloody battle’ to pocket his stubborn successor, as the falcon refused to hear the falconer. He eventually succeeded and is currently the ‘governor’ of Edo State, even though the constitution disallows a third term. He has imposed on Edo State somebody who could not read the budget, who could not pronounce ‘GCFR’, who does not understand the cause-and-effect dynamics and whose signature is regularly irregular, adversely affecting smooth CofO administration. Let us also not forget that the troubles we are going through in this world were caused by his elder brother, who ate the forbidden fruit from the tree at the centre of the garden! We now move on to his gospel.

“Well, while the first gospel could be proved or disproved by mere observation, this one deals with the hereafter and cannot be validated until we get yonder. However, his political sinners have escaped from the local hell inhabited by the poor, hungry, unemployed Nigerians.”

Gospel, simply, means ‘good news’ preached to those who have not yet believed, to bring them to repentance and to empower them with the grace to partake in the salvific mission of Christ on earth. While Peter led the gospel to the Jews, Paul took charge of the Gentiles, the spiritual ancestors of Oshiomhole, who specialises in political sins. He left financial, forgery and thuggery sins to upcoming ‘gospellers’! Like Christ, Adams came for sinners, not the righteous (Mark 2:17). He gospels as the spirit directs, especially whenever there is a preponderance of political sinners.

His first gospel was on 17/1/19 when some PDP decampees joined APC in Benin as he declared that ‘Once you join APC, ALL your sins are forgiven,’ assuring them that the difference between the 16 years of PDP and Buhari’s 8 years would be like 7UP! The ‘truth’ of this theory is obvious as exemplified by Reno, Bwala and Akpabio. However, just like some Jews ‘countermoted’ Christ, his fellow APCian, Tony Okocha, has contradicted him by reminding him that Sim is still standing on a perpetually dangling rope, despite joining the APC. The second leg of his gospel has also fallen flat on his face: PMB’s era was not better than the PDP years, and as for the current APC government, the game is still on, but since Thursday is a precursor of what the weekend will be… we are watching.

The second chapter of his gospel was on 3/3/26 at APC Edo Congress, when he declared with divine finality that ‘political sins cannot lead anybody to hellfire.’ Well, while the first gospel could be proved or disproved by mere observation, this one deals with the hereafter and cannot be validated until we get yonder. However, his political sinners have escaped from the local hell inhabited by the poor, hungry, unemployed Nigerians.

And then I have a question: how does his gospel apply when a new sheriff comes to town? After all, the PDP, the largest party in Africa, expected to lead us for 60 years, collapsed just after 16 years, mainly because they were ‘soft’. Will his gospel hold when the APC collapses, as it surely will, or when the current APCians decamp to another ‘ruining’ party?

Ik Muo, PhD, Dept of Business, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye. 08033026625