On Oritsejafor’s testimony — by Emeka Oparah

Firstly, I want to join Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, his family, friends and members of his congregation in thanking God for his healing from Cancer. It’s truly the Lord’s doing and marvelous in our eyes!

Secondly, let me now congratulate and thank Pastor Oritsejafor for giving this testimony at this time and in the manner that he did. By giving due credit to God and to the doctors (read science), he’s done what many pastors have consistently failed to do and even more consistently failed to make their followers to do.

Let me digress albeit briefly. Last year, a senior government official in Uganda, who was flown to Germany for cancer treatment, returned home and built a church to thank God for his recovery. What a conundrum!

When I read about this “ridiculous act of unmindful generosity”, I thought to myself, what if the cancer now in remission resurfaced (God forbid), where would the great politician be rushed-to the ultramodern church or back to Germany? I leave the question to your imagination.

So, what Pastor Ayo or Oritsejafor has done by this act of candor is to say to people “Trust Allah, but tie your camel”! In other words, he’s saying that in time of health challenges, people should pray to God but seek medical attention!

In actual fact, seeking medical attention and seeking divine intervention are not mutually exclusive. Oritsejafor just proved that by his actions and even more so by his testimony.

This whole saga reminds me of a certain man of God, one of the foremost Roman Catholic priests to ever get involved in the Healing Ministry, Most Reverend Dr. Emmanuel Edeh, CSSP. At his Elele, River State, Adoration Center, he built a Teaching Hospital, where he urged sick people seeking his prayerful intercession to first check in before coming for prayers!

Before I leave the flamboyant Pastor Ayo alone to enjoy his newfound peace and better health, I’d thank him to please consider investing some of his wealth (he does look extremely prosperous) in building hospital or a cancer treatment facility or support a government cancer treatment center.

This would probably be an even greater demonstration of gratitude to God and a mindful example for the Ugandan government official and others like him who don’t know how to show appreciation.

In conclusion, I want to stand on all already established protocols (Hahaha…just kidding), to reiterate my opinion that government should regulate and tax religious institutions and activities in Nigeria.

Regulation and taxation will definitely result in more instances of the Oritsejafor testimony (giving credit and honor to whom they are due) as well as control the propensity of the so called religious leaders to mislead and exploit their vulnerable and ignorant followers.

Once again, I congratulate Pastor Ayo and wish him continued good health and total permanent healing from cancer!