Theological education’s critical roles in raising capable leaders By Emmanuel Oyemomi Going back the memory lane, as far as Nigeria isconcerned, I don’t think we have a solid plan. What we have has been a legacy andthe impact of theological education has brought into the nation. Some greatinstitutions that are renowned for this – Harvard, Oxford, etc. have become thecream of the whole world. History made us know they started as seminaries butthese institutions later metamorphosed into other areas of education. JC Pool, the first Principal of the NigerianBaptist Theological Seminary, Ogbomosho was offered a license for a chartedUniversity by the then President, Dr Azikiwe which was rejected. The same Seminary later became the firstdegree awarding institution in Nigeria. As far as this nation and Africa are concerned,writing and education are not our heritage. Treasures not documented andwhatever education is in Nigeria is heritage and an aftermath of TheologicalEducation in Nigeria. All the schools government took over started as missionschools and government was not maintaining the legacy of the mission schools. Whenyou talk of academic integrity and soundness, we find them among the missionschools across the country. They are still functional and focused in providingsound education. Government keyed into education and made it apolitical matter to fight religion. This is through legislation against the schools.History was also doctored out of the curriculum. Several subjects have been removedas well. The nation has lost its bearing in terms ofeducation with consistent strikes by ASUU which affect the future of thestudents. We are yet to get our bearingin education. Late Chieg Obafemi Awolowo ensured education became a natural priorityto benefit the citizens but the reverse is the case today. It is worrisome thatwe have no value for education as the state of the nation’s educational systemis lamentable. Impact The impact of theological education is multifaceted, as Theological Education gave birthto several churches. It also gave birth to the proliferation of schools. These arethe immediate impact but in the 1950’s, primary school in those days werevirtually free education. If children were very intelligent, themissionaries gave scholarships to children. As a nation, we have no value foreducation. The people who had primary education to standard 6 in those days canbe compared with a graduate today. Themissionaries hired such standard 6 graduates and so many lives have beenuplifted. Missionaries hired them for several jobs in public sectororganizations. Help Theological Education must be given a space toshape leaders. We need to watch the track records of our leaders. Our leaderseven boast that our votes mean nothing to them. We have a crop of leaders who have notrack records and all they do is to manipulate. Theological education has been ostracized. In thelast few years, Theological Education has been waged war against. It is a threat/war against the source of Peacewhich is GOD. Theological Education can have a great impact on ourleaders which is a study about GOD. It is education that gives a transformationto be godly. In Theological Education,you are taught how you must have concern for fellow human beings, whenutilized, the impact is huge. Theological Education indicates that God isindivisible, most people with sound theological education act right. Theological education can train people who will useand lead the people. Theological education has produced leaders for the countrywho are functioning in various places. Theological education has helped peopleto be versatile but they are being massacred due to selfishness, nepotism andtribalism in the country. God authenticates Theological education as we willall return to God. – [ ] •Oyemomi, a professor, is Rector, Baptist College of Theology, Lagos.
Wike and Atiku
By Miftaudeen Raji
Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has been mocked in a video that has now gone viral on social media as he was being referred to as “Wike O lu le.”
Nduka Obaigbena while hosting some guests, who attended the funeral of his late mother, Margaret Obaigbena during the weekend, in Owa-Oyibu, Delta state, could be heard saying, “Wike O lu le.”
The viral video on social media showed the media mogul, Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto State; Nigerian Jùjú musician, Sir Shina Peters among others heaping jibes at Wike.
Obaigbena words, “Governor of Sokoto Tambuwal; Future president Tambuwal; Chairman of PDP Governors Forum Tambuwal; Presidential candidate Tambuwal; Tambuwal! Wike ‘lule’, Tambuwal! Wike ‘lule’, Tambuwal! Wike ‘lule’, Tambuwal!”
After Obaigbena’s joke, Shina Peters, was handed the microphone by Obaigbena and opted to the stage for his performance.
“O lu le,” in English means “He fell flat.” The saying, which has now been adopted a political vocabulary in Nigerian politics, emanated from the presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
Tinubu uttered the statement in an outburst, referring to President Muhammadu Buhari, before the party’s primary while addressing APC delegates in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.
Recall that Wike lost the presidential primary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP to Abubakar Atiku in May.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been embroiled in a web of crisis since the fallout of its presidential primaries in May.
Meanwhile, Obaigbena and Wike are currently in court over allegations of libel.
Atiku had won the party’s ticket following the withdrawal of Tambuwal from the PDP presidential primary race, after ceding his supporters to Atiku.
The PDP crisis took a worst turn after Atiku picked Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State as his running mate instead of Wike, who is said to have recommended for the PDP flag bearer.
Atiku’s choice of Okowa has generated dust within the party as stakeholders believed Atiku ignored Wike, who was said to have been the preferred choice of majority of the national working committee (NWC) members.
But, despite several interventions by the leadership of the party, Atiku and Wike are yet to reach a truce as the 2023 presidential election draws nearer