UGO EGBUJO

They are dragging my pastor’s wife

She celebrated a lavish 60th birthday

Poor Pastor Siju Iluyomade.

Our mother whom we fondly  call Sugar Baby because that’s what  pastor calls her. 

Some argued that such a hedonistic party coming one week after the death of Herbert and wife and son who were all prominent members of the church was shockingly  callous

She might say it had been fixed and 60 is such a land mark. I know they love the Wigwes

I will say I was shocked. Herbert was a pastor and major contributor. His death alongside his wife and son in an air crash rent the hearts of millions. 

Though the church can’t mourn like those who have no hope, the church could have stepped down activities that would portray us as unfeeling, as if his death didn’t touch our souls.

I think Pastor Siju should have postponed the party by at least one month.

Then let me come to the music played on the ocassion 

Some wondered aloud  why she preferred a raunchy artiste over  gospel musicians. After all, we have all kinds of Christian music these days. Pop, reggae, fuji etc

And more over what would have been better than  a funkified  praise  session? 

She might say singing and dancing secular music is no sin. That’s true. And that she can invite whomsoever she likes to play at her birthday . That’s true. It’s her prerogative. 

I will say, all that is lawful might not be expedient. In exeercising her prerogatives she just be mindful of the position she occupies and the unintended and collateral impacts of her choices. 

The City of David is the first born of the Apapa family. The most Influential  family in the RCCG. So the COD must set the best possible  examples. 

Now seeing a bare chested Flavor crooning a love song for my pastor’s wife and inviting her to the dance floor, calling her Siju baby, didn’t sit well with me. 

I know it was  her choice. But in choosing, she should have known that the clips would be widely circulated. Ordinary  Church members can get away with it. But the mother of the Apapa family won’t. She must embody and espouse the best values. She, therefore, can’t become an  inadvertent promoter of youthful adventurousness in  an already increasingly  lascivious Christian  community.

Some picked other bones. They said the party didn’t reflect the mood of the nation

She might say, it’s her life and in any case the church feeds the poor more than any other  church in Lagos. Perhaps  when planning her 60th birthday, many months ago, she could not have foreseen that so much hunger would possess the land. That’s true. 

I will say, those who occupy visible public positions must lead by deeds. So the birthday of the mother of the Apapa family must reflect the general mood of the Apapa family members who can’t feed.

A mass party in the stadium in Surulere to feed a million would have painted the church in a better light. I think my pastor’s wife can atone by staging that party so that the poor will eat too.

Another  matter that irked some Christians and the public was her choice of dress. They said she came like a futuristic  masquerade. Some said the dress was the summary of vanity. 

She might say she was fully covered, head to toe. It was not tight and not revealing. So she  met all the  requirements. She might say everyone has a style and taste. We can’t all dress dour and sad. So bad belle people should repent. 

I will say that Pastor Siju is a known quantity. She has her style. She likes elaborate and colorful make ups. She likes glamour. But at the same time, the mother of Apapa family must teach and live moderation  in style and expense, as much as possible.

The City of David is the envy of other churches. They call us the Worldly Church to console themselves. We can’t be ruled by their petty rivalry and small minded Pharisiacal interpretation of doctrines and traditions. Yet, we can’t frivolously  help to  propagate the idea that we are the lukewarm or arabanco folks, bent on having the best of both worlds simultaneously. 

Lastly, let me say that no one is perfect. We must thank the critics in love and make amends. Let’s continue the molding and perfecting  process of ourselves by submitting to the Word and Holy Spirit. My church must learn from the experience and improve.

Lord, forgive me if I have touched your anointed. The Igbo say, Truth is life. I shall live and not die. The voice of the people is the voice of God.