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| T.B Joshua resorts to threats and intimidation of critics over collapsed building |
The embattled owner of the Synagogue Church of all Nations (SCOAN), 'Prophet' Temitope Joshua, is threatening and intimidating his critics over the collapsed of a six storey guesthouse in his church, which killed at least 115 church members. Critics have alleged that the building collapsed out of the negligence and greed of T.B. Joshua, who was expanding the initially-designed two storey building into a multi storey complex to accommodate more church members.
Joshua is currently grappling to regain his shattered ego, as many have criticized the so called prophet on his failure to foresee such a calamity as he claims to do others.
Joshua has resorted to many damage control measures, including bribing Nigerian journalists to write favourable about the incident. This backfired as one of the journalists Nicholas Ibekwe exposed Joshua bringing more ridicule to him. Apparently miffed by the numerous harsh words coming his way and the prospects of him landing in jail or losing many of his 'customers', the sinking Joshua has resorted to threats and intimidation of his critics as a way to stem the wave of criticism.
In a statement posted on the SCOAN’s official Facebook page, TB Joshua warned his critics against accusing him of failing to foresee the disaster that befell his ministry. He claimed to have foreseen a vision of the incident. Stating that he knew something tragic was to befall his ministry, and prepared his parishioners on how to handle the tragedy.
“For those who are outside the Lord, they would not know. When you are outside God, you will not know what I am talking. When you are outside the light, you cannot understand what I am talking.
“For the three weeks before the incident, if you heard my message and sat down, you would know I was giving you a vision and prophetic word on how to handle the situation at hand. Trials and tests are for our belief. I go by the directives of God,” TB Joshua claimed.
Accusing his critics of being “used by Satan,” the televangelist said they were just out to “disturb” the faith of his local and international members with “negative words.”
According to him, all the “Satanic agents” criticizing him over the circumstances surrounding the incident, would soon “suffer for it.”
Since none of his critics is unable to help him raise the victims from death, TB Joshua argued that they should stop rubbishing his ministry or risk paying dearly for it.
Those who could not stop what happened (building collapse), he said, should be “careful of their tongues” as “anybody can go for it.
“I have been on this journey for 27 years. Do you think God can close His eyes and rubbish everything here? They are asking God to bring more evidence of whether He is the one who called me. Warn everyone to be very careful. This issue at hand is a delicate issue.
“People are using this to gain money and friends. This is a warning. Whatever people want to write let them write; they will be the ones to read it. I said our God would get back to them. He has started somewhere. He is coming. If your brother is involved, unless he can resurrect the people who died, he will join them. If you can resurrect the people who died, you can go free.
“The servants, the people who sent them; the people who heard the stories all around and those who want to use it for themselves and to disturb my spirit, you may likely join them. Be careful. To be forewarned is to be forearmed. Let us be very careful with our tongues,” he warned.
Urging those questioning his calling not to sway his followers, he added that they should extend love and affection to the victims and relations of those involved in the tragedy.
The prophet insisted that the 115 victims were martyrs, adding that their relations would see the continuation of the work of God “they died and suffered for.
“Your responsibility is to the victims and the relations of the victims and martyrs of faith. If you say you are born again, wherever the victims and their relations are, wherever the relations of the martyrs of faith are, look for them. Let them know you are praying for them. What you eat; let them eat it.
“What you wear; let them wear. What you have on your table, let them have it on their tables, too. Share what you have with them – your love, prayer, affection and strength. Share it with them at this time. This is what we call ‘born again’ – my pain is your pain. Your joy is my joy.
“The multitude of people who claim to be with T.B. Joshua in prayer – if the same people turn to the families of the victims and martyrs of faith, don’t you think life would be better for them than before? Join them; look for them, as many other things they are doing now,” TB Joshua added.
It is the fear of Joshua that is stopping both the Lagos State and the Federal Government of Nigeria to take decisive steps on the avoidable incident. Joshua by now ought to be cooling off in jail awaiting full investigation into what led to the killing of the 115 innocent people, who came to seek help from his church.
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