From AIDOGHIE PAULINUS, Abuja
Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC), Mr. John Kennedy Opara, reflects on his activities at the commission in this exclusive interview with Sunday Sun.
Opara has to his credit a befitting edifice housing the commission's headquarters in Abuja. The Aboh Mbaise, Imo State-born Opara said the building brings joy to his heart each time he goes to his office.
He revealed, among other issues, that he goes to work as if it is his last day in office. Hear him: "As a matter of fact, if you look around my office, you will see so many bags. Everyday I come to this office I come with all my bags packed. I drive myself to the office.
"I always tell myself that except the Lord decides otherwise, I don't have any right or power to stay behind. "So, as you can see, I come to this office with all my bags fully packed. When I close from work, I pack my things again and put them in the car. Even if you announce today that I'm gone, I don't need to come back here for anything. I simply go from there," he said.
Opara also gave account of the encounter between Emeritus Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, Anthony Cardinal Okogie and President Goodluck Jonathan in which the former told the President that he was going to win the 2011 election but would not rule. It is interesting and revealing. Excerpts...
How are you coping with the NCPC, packaging Nigerian Christians to Jerusalem?
It has been a wonderful experience. It has been a very trying too, and I want to say with all sense of responsibility and thanksgiving to Almighty God that the Lord has been faithful. I want to say that without Him, I won't be here. He has assisted the commission to carry on its assignment. It is not an easy one, but I thank God for all the things He has done through us and what He is still doing today.
What would you describe as memorable moment, so far?
The day Mr. President came to commission this beautiful edifice, which is now known as headquarters of the NCPC, it was something we never planned.
You laid the foundation?
Yes. This building belongs to us. Before now we didn't have a building, we didn't have a shelter. But thank God for the Hajj Commission that decided to provide us an accommodation. For two years they didn't allow us to pay one kobo. For two years we shared their accommodation with them and at a stage they realized the place could not take the two organizations and they had to vacate.
That shows that Christians and Muslims can really work together. Yes, we could work together. In fact, at a stage they had to vacate the building to rent another apartment elsewhere so as to allow us use the place. I think I owe it a duty to be grateful to my friend, Bello, and to the entire Hajj Commission members
.What would you say is your low point, so far?
I would say without fear of contradiction that each time we give a deadline and the stakeholders are not able to pay, I feel sad in my spirit because it is a Christian project. It is something that should be uppermost in the heart of Christians. So, when they are unable to fulfill this simple obligation, I get worried. But over a period of time, the Lord has been faithful. He has continuously stabilized us and I thank Him for that.
With your dressing, one would think you are a pastor. Apart from being the NCPC executive secretary, do you engage in any other work?
My life is a life of ministry. I preach and I also make sure I share the good news because what I benefitted in knowing Jesus, I want my friends to benefit also. And I want to share it with them with all sense of joy; the greatest moment of my life is when I am able to win them to Christ, and make them understand that our God can do the impossible.
With your busy schedule, do you have enough time for your family?
It is a very difficult thing for me. I must tell you that my family suffers. But I thank God for the kind of wife He gave me. She has been very understanding and my kids are wonderful. Above all, anytime I have opportunity to spend time with them, I don't spare it. I make sure I give them the best of attention.
How have you been able to disconnect your office from politics?
One, I am not a politician and I don't intend to become one. I would rather be a preacher of the gospel and try to serve God than man. I have tried to make sure that our focus is to make Nigerians – politicians, students – morally and spiritually transformed. And we cannot mix this with politics. We must be able to preach the message boldly. But when you mix it up with them, you will be unable to give the message raw the way it should be. So, I believe it is a unique assignment and something God is expecting us to impact on so many lives. God is expecting us to touch so many people and we have the moral responsibility and duty as a commission to help people grow spiritually and by so doing we are able to do what He wants us to do.
How about the issue of self-sponsorship?
That has been my greatest joy because we have been able to minister to some Christians and convinced them to embark on pilgrimage on their own. It has been very wonderful because I told them it is a Christian project. Christians must own it and if they do, they would be able to hold on to that vision and I am happy to say that the number of self-sponsorship has been on steady increase.
Is it morally right for government to sponsor pilgrims?
I do not subscribe to government funding religious activities. But one thing we must take to heart is that the welfare of the citizens is very important to any legacy you want to leave behind. In other words, if you want to leave a legacy, you are leaving it because you want people to be able to maintain that legacy. When you leave a legacy and we do not have sound minds to sustain the legacy, after a while, it would be gone. Every effort you make would go down the drain. So, we advocate that government should be involved especially in the area of consular services and medical. And that is what government is doing at present because there is no way any responsible government would not be interested in the movement of its citizens to another country. As a matter of fact, no country will even deal with you as an individual moving large number of people. But when you are coming as a country, this is where the government comes in. As for funding, people don't get it right. The Federal Government does not fund individuals on pilgrimage. That, I do not subscribe to. We are trying to change the people of Nigeria. If we have 28,000 Nigerians who are morally and spiritually transformed on each of the trips, you see that over a period of time, millions would be morally and spiritually transformed and they will pursue peace and uprightness. I told you that the Christian Pilgrims Commission and the Hajj Commission stayed together for two years. There was no quarrel and the Hajj Commission that owns the building vacated it to allow us to use the building. This is very rare. This is because we understand ourselves, and if Christians and Muslims should relate that way, this country would be heaven on earth.
How you been able to separate this commission from corruption?
You know corruption is a thing of the mind and we have been trying to get people to be spiritually transformed. When a man is spiritually sound, corruption will not be part of him. He would always live above board because he believes he has a master he must give account to. Corruption is lack of satisfaction and contentment with whatever God has given you. So, we try to make sure people are focused, spiritually-minded to do what God wants them to do. And we have been able preach that to our staff. I usually organize a yearly training with all the staff of this commission to let them know that their lives should be a living example to others.
Is it not possible to have a local carrier airlift pilgrims to the holy land?
Since we came back we have been able to add local content. For the first time, we had Nigerian airlines taking part. But the only unfortunate thing is that the people that usually get the contract do not have their own private jets except Arik. Arik was once approved as the official carrier. In fact, as a matter of responsibility to our country, it is a must that a Nigerian carrier must take part in the airlift of Christian pilgrims. Just like the grand handling, before now, it was only the Israelis and Italians, but now you cannot handle our Christians without the local content.
You said earlier that if pilgrimage becomes a jamboree, you would resign. In all honesty, would you resign if pilgrimage becomes a jamboree?
I am a man under spiritual authority and God called me here to give service, to touch lives spiritually. And the moment we deviate from this, I will be the first to resign. As a matter of fact, you can look around my office and see so many bags. Everyday I come to this with all my bags packed. I also drive myself to the office.
Don't you have a driver?
I have government drivers, but in my personal car I drive myself to the office bearing in mind it is always my last day in office, except if the Lord decides otherwise.
So, you go to work as if it is your last day in office?
Yes, as if it is my last day, because that is why David said, "Teach me, oh Lord, to number my days that I may apply my heart to wisdom." I always tell myself that except the Lord decides otherwise, I don't have any right or power to stay behind. So, I come to this office, as you can see, with all my bags packed. When I close work, I pack my things back and put them in the car. Even if you announce today that I am gone, I don't need to come back here for anything. I go from there.
You won't have any regrets?
No, I won't. The only thing I would say is 'to God be the glory', because I believe in divine mandate and assignment. When God gives you an assignment or position, you don't struggle to keep it. But when you try to put yourself in a place, each day of your life on that seat is a struggle. But when God gives you a seat, He keeps, equips and empowers you.
Do pilgrims abscond?
Before now, absconding was part of the entire system. But I am happy to say that since we came aboard, we have been able to bring that to zero per cent. And I am also happy to say that even in the last operation, not even one pilgrim absconded. That is why the Italian authorities are commending us. The pilgrims do not appear before Italian authorities to get Schengen visas because they have confidence in our screening team and they believe in us. We have a moral duty to preserve the integrity of this nation. And I always tell the pilgrims that it is not about leaving this country for another. There is no country on the face of the earth that is better than Nigeria. And I always believe that there is nothing wrong in Nigeria that cannot be remedied.
If you quit today, what are the three things you would confidently say you have achieved?
One, I have been able to establish a befitting headquarters building for this commission. And you can see the expansion going on at the back. That is one legacy that anytime I am passing here, I would say 'to God be the glory'. Two, we have been able to establish six zonal offices with staff running them. Even if there is anything tomorrow, they can comfortably run and move. Three, we have been able to streamline pilgrimages to the extent that Nigerian Christians can plan their own pilgrimage. We have also extended the pilgrimage to three countries. Nigerians go to Israel, Rome and Greece at present. This is just few of the things we have done. Above all, we have brought to zero per cent the possibility of any pilgrim absconding, and that has improved our image before the international community, something to write home about. And I thank God for it.
How do you go about the welfare of pilgrims?
We make sure we give the handlers programme for the pilgrims. We made it clear that Nigerians must be given local foods while in Israel. We also make sure everything is in order in the hotels they stay so that when they come back they are satisfied materially and spiritually and that gives them fulfillment.
Anthony Cardinal Okogie said recently that one tall man called John Kennedy and another person was with President Jonathan when he prophesied that the President was going to win the 2011 election, but would not rule. You are the only John Kennedy I see around the President. What actually took place during that encounter?
You know Mr. President respects our spiritual leaders. He is a very humble man, a very unique personality. So, in one of his usual ways of according respect to these great men, both Muslims and Christians, he decided he had to pay homage to His Eminence, Cardinal Okogie. He was very frank. The Cardinal spoke his mind and the President, a very good listener, listened to him and was very happy. And after all that he prayed for us. I think it was a kind of very cordial and family meeting. I went to pick him from his house for that meeting.
Do you mean the Cardinal?
Yes, and after that I had to take him back.
But how do you see that prophecy?
He is a prophet of God because he is God's servant. The Bible says when a prophet of God speaks heaven confirms and brings it to pass. And if God has spoken through him, I know God will always bring it to pass. However, I also see that even in the Bible, God may give prophecy to a prophet and decides that when the people or the person concerned prays, for example, the case of Hezekiah, the Lord sent Prophet Samuel to Hezekiah and gave him the message. What happened was that as the prophet of God left Hezekiah, Hezekiah turned to the wall and reminded God of His faithfulness. And the Bible says God sent back the prophet to 'go and tell my servant that he will no longer die.' So, I believe when prophecy comes, it is not as if it is a do or die affair. It is not as if it must happen. What happens is that God in His infinite mercy will always find a way to secure His own, find a way to protect His own especially when you humble yourself and pray. The Bible says God now speaks with His children through visions and dreams and when He speaks, it is left for us mortal beings to pray and ask God to guide and direct us.
Would you say the prophecy has been reversed?
You see, it is not that a prophecy from God is time bound. It takes time. It is only God that can determine when it will end and how far it would go. So, we look at it that we are praying and God is in-charge. Jonathan is God's project. Jonathan is God's programme for Nigeria and I can comfortably tell you that as at today, there is no Nigerian better fitted for this assignment except him. That is how God has programmed it. And when God finishes with Jonathan, he will go and another person will come. I would rather believe it is better to give him the support he needs to to move forward and at God's own appointed time, if He raises another prophet or another person to take over, the person will come and take over. But we must understand that he is God's own project. He is God's miracle in progress for now for Nigeria and there is nothing anybody can do about it.
Via: Sun News Online