ROCHAS: SERVING GOD WITH HIS WEALTH AND POWER – – Owelle Rochas Okorocha stands out as a glowing model of one using his affluence and influence to serve Gd Almighty. Of course, that was his covenant with Gd, while he struggled in the streets of Jos, hustled with other young men at Gboko for cement, and woke up very early in the morning wearing oversized babariga to negotiate contracts with top government officials in Lagos, in Maidugri and anywhere he hears there was a job to do. He prayed to G*d thus; “Oh Lord, bless me that I may bless others, give me that I may give to those who do not have, for on my own I can do nothing, but I can do all things through God, who strengthens me.” If he has failed on anything else, he hasn’t failed in keeping to this covenant with God and he hasn’t also failed to put God at the forefront of his success stories.

Many of us grew up hearing horrid tales of how the wealthy became rich through some abracadabra of the occult world. Somehow, we might have been led to believe that all politicians are servants of some demons, who give them power in return for some blood and skulls of their innocent relatives, friends or just an unfortunate passerby, whose organs could be harvested to feed the insatiable thirst of the vampires of the underworld.

No doubt, some of these stories are true or very close to the truth. We have read in newspapers of politicians caught in the act, and the recent story of the serial killer from Ibadan whose handler remote-controls to kill people for their organs, is one of many such real-life stories that lend credence to the belief that some successful men actually indulge in bloodstained rituals to sustain their wealth or to get the wealth. This practice could be as a result of fear or ignorance, because some of the theories about ‘money ritual’ don’t sound plausible to me.

We know of Clifford Orji, the cannibal who was busted under Oshodi bridge. His lurid confessions were said to have pointed mostly in the angle that he was been retained by powerful politicians who required some vital organs of his victims for their diabolic undertakings. It is in this country that we read a story of a top official of NDDC who practically burnt some billions of Naira in a shrine as part of his ritual undertaking in return for spiritual security.

Some people are of the belief that a major reason behind Okorocha’s predicaments in the hands of a section of Nigerian elites is that they see him as a ‘Jew Man’ – a slang for the non-initiates – who broke into the ranks of the most powerful in the country without undergoing the hazings that come with it, and that the Ogboko born multibillionaire has continued to demystify power and wealth through his humility and unusual styles.

Against the usual tales of engaging marabouts to perform different types of rituals for powerful governors and other politicians, Okorocha’s biggest sin against some powerful Imo politicians during his time as governor of Imo State is the building of one of the best Government House chapels in Nigeria, and as well replicating same across the 27 LGAs of the State. He didn’t just build these chapels, but also insisted that they must be put into use by government officials and workers. He also introduced the 12 O’clock Christian prayer in Imo and made Sunday worships at the Government House Chapel indispensable. Okorocha brought God back to Imo Government House and cleansed Imo of the influence of diabolical practices.

Okorocha’s political trajectory has always been defined by a steady recourse to Godliness. It is to his credit that the National Ecumenical Center, Abuja, abandoned for over ten years was completed during Obasanjo’s administration. He collaborated with the Christian Association of Nigeria to mobilize some of Nigeria’s Christians to ensure the completion of that center. He has also donated his personal wealth to the building of numerous houses for God. He has also undertaken the sponsorship of pastors and priests of God Almighty in their chosen vocation.

A devout Christian of the charismatic Catholic background, Okorocha does not use religion as a tool for politics. He is as welcoming to Muslims as he is to Christians. He supports any good work of God, with his personal resources and influence in the society. For him; ” What matters most is sincere service to God Almighty, but we cannot serve God, sincerely without serving humanity.”

ONWUASOANYA FCC JONES