Against the backdrop of the raging discourse that has trailed the reaction of popular Port Harcourt based Pastor, David Ibiyomie, to the purported tirade of ace broadcaster, Ifedayo Olorinde, popularly known as Daddy Freeze, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rivers State Chapter has come down hard on clerics who throw caution to the wind over provocations.

Chairman of the Rivers State Chapter of CAN, Dr. Stanely Dimkpa, in an exclusive interview with Kristina Reports today in Port Harcourt, stressed that the duty of ministers was an all-important task that must be attended with uncompromising focus.  

David Ibiyeomie, who is the Senior Pastor of the Salvation Ministries, Port Harcourt had threatened to deal with Daddy Freeze for allegedly insulting his spiritual father, David Oyedepo, who is the General Overseer of Living Faith Church, also known as Winners Chapel.

In a video, which has now gone viral on social media and the internet, Ibiyomie was seen using invectives on Daddy Freeze that is instigating multi-layer reaction by close watchers on both traditional and social media.

Dimkpa avowed that the fact that the Church in Nigeria was facing an unprecedented barrage of opposition signposts the need for stronger unity among Christian faithful, declaring that there should be no place for division in Christendom.

“We are working as one body, so we should be focused. There is a lot of persecution now as you know, there is so much external persecution coming from Boko Haram, Islamic communities, herdsmen and all that.”

“Today you saw what is happening in the Southern Kaduna and other extreme North. So let us be more united so that we can be able to face this external rivalry, let us be more united so that we can be able to stand against this external persecution. When a house is divided among itself, it cannot stand.”

When asked about what should constitute the baseline of Christian conduct given the narrative in the Bible where Prophet Elisha was said to have called for the devouring of erring children by a beast contrary to Jesus Christ’s injunction to his followers to turn the other cheek to be slapped as a sign of Christlikeness, Dr. Dimkpa reminded on the entries in the Holy Book that entreats Christian faithful to “pray for those who persecute them” and as well “follow peace with all men”.

“The Scripture says that we should pray for those who persecute us. The Scripture also says that vengeance is of the Lord’s. As Christians, we believe in the Scripture and the words of admonition as given by our Lord Jesus Christ. He told us clearly as you said, turn the other cheek and then for us, we have to at this point in time be united and pray down the fire.”

“Look at what happened in the days of Pentecost, the Christians were so afraid when Christ died and ascended into heaven. They were locked up inside, praying and waiting, and on the day of Pentecost, they spoke with a loud voice, the world heard them and that was the greatest revival.”

“So let us do more of what we have been thought, and that is for us to pray as the early apostles and bring down the fire. There is nothing God cannot do; there is no impossibility in the business of God.”

On the patterns of social media utilization by youths, the CAN leader warned youths to desist from discussing issues that have to do with ministers of God or face the consequences thereof.

He said “If our youths respect the supremacy of the ministers of God, they would not even discuss issues that have to do with ministers. These days, the disrespect has become so much that they don’t have regard for ministers.”

“I want to appeal to the youths to be careful with ministers of God, especially, what have just happened (David Ibiyomie vs Daddy Freeze), you talked about, probably they have a misunderstanding and they have gone up there, it is for the elders trying to speak to them to come down and not for you to begin to discuss your ministers, discuss your leaders”

The long standing academic don and University Lecturer also berated young people on social media who stop at nothing in speaking against ministers, stressing that it is not biblical and that danger was imminent for such people.

“You should be ashamed to discuss about your leaders and it is not proper, it is not advisable, it is not biblical, because only speaking against the leaders alone, or speaking about the leaders can bring down the fire upon you. Remember what happened to Aaron and Miriam, the siblings of Moses, when they spoke against Moses, what happened to them? So they (youths) should be careful.”

 “We are Christians for instance, you see, even the youths we are talking about are Christians, how could they even be discussing issues that have to do with the church publicly, slandering the sanctity of the Christian conduct. It is improper.”

“So, I advise the youths to stay away from discussing issues that are spiritual in the public. They should have respect for God, respect for church leaders, have respect for their fathers and have respect for their mothers. That is the only commandment with promise of long life.”