The
last few weeks has seen the entire media, blogosphere and rumour mill beaming
with the somewhat comical/ melodramatic event of actor Jim Iyke's deliverance
at the Synagogue Church of all Nations.
Getting
delivered for sure isn't such an issue to get fussy or agitated about,
especially when viewed against a backdrop of modern day miracles and
Christianity. My reservations towards modern day miracles and of course
Churches are well established and presented in neon light, but that, surely is talk
for another day.
To
quickly round up this episode, I'd endeavor to break my thoughts into several
subtopics, viz;
1. Don't Celebs get Possessed?
Or Since when did Demon Possession become Status based?
Demon
possession to the best of my frail knowledge has never been status
discriminatory. Nowhere has it ever been established that demons or evil
spirits carefully cherry pick their
victims or persons whom they find attractive to afflict. I'd say it’s a
'random' takeover of the victim's faculties without much recourse to whom he
is. Thus, regardless of Jim's status as a celeb, the propensities of demon
possession of him , are in my own humble opinion, far from remote!
That
dude is known for several strings of violence and extreme youthful exuberance.
Recall how he once Jet Li...ed a certain mouthy DJ Olisah, talk about
exaggerated romance/ sexcapades and a
host of other issues too numerous to mention. If JI doesn't go through a
deliverance session, who will??? Perhaps, the Synagogue should also endeavour
to extend its healing largesse to the likes or Fani Kayode, Nasir El rufai and
of course Tonto Dike. They would really be doing Nigerians a huge favour.
2. He lives his life
on camera:
The contrast between Western celebs and their
Nigerian counterpart is that while the former abhors paparazzi, the latter
solicits them. Ask Mr.West, or even Justin Beiber how much they detest photo
journalists and their overtly intrusive nature. Here in Naija, celebs feel
there is a tense competition as to whose private life is read more in the tabloids
and gossip columns.
If
other other deliverances are aired on National TV, what then is the big deal with JI’s? I’d confess that the only time I ever watch Emmanuel TV, and most other religious
televisions channels on TV are those instances when I'm flipping through to
find out which station has a live coverage of my favourite soccer or boxing game?
I'm sure that pretty much applies to many people. However, I've happened to
stumble upon several deliverance sessions, which to a large extent would get a
host of nominations for the Amy Awards.
That
said, the simple question that follows is why the airing of Jim Iyke’s session
would steer up so much hysteria. For heaven sake, its Jim Iyke; Nollywood's
poster boy and the 'male face' of the industry.
Tell
me, would it be farfetched to assume that owing to the obvious fact of JI's receding relevance in the industry, and his
undying love for the camera, he might resort to doing just about anything to
remain in the public eye rather than slipping quietly into oblivion?. Besides
his largely" Unscripted" reality TV show, one could safely conclude that he has
barely been of any effect in the recent past- Okay, Yea, he dumped a certain
Kentura, and that made news too.
Finally,
the funniest part of this ruse that I felt most was this simple question asked
by a shop attendant. "Who says it’s not just another hoax by Churches to
fool or swindle innocent and naïve Nigerians"? Granted, for a church like
the Synagogue, its status and character speaks volumes, but I still don't see
how the likelihood of falsity of the Deliverance could be TOTALLY impossible.
Well,
I never knew I had a partner in 'Church skepticism'. Hmm….
If
you really do feel strongly about the genuineness and authenticity of that
show, would you bet an arm for it?
One last word: Don't
play dodge balls with bullets, no prize
is ever worth it!
Lest
I forget, Congrats to my Darling Eagles...the only group of 25 I love more than
Arsenal.
