Flamboyant Pastor, Tom Samson, Attains Diamond Age
Certain memorable events can only be experienced once in a lifetime. Turning 60 is surely one of such milestones because it is an age that confers dignity on the celebrator. It was, therefore, not surprising when the flamboyant pastor, Bishop Tom Samson, celebrated his 60th birthday recently. The General Overseer of Christ Royal Church pulled all the stops to host a classy party to mark his grand entry into the diamond club.
Surrounded by his wife, his wonderful family, close-knit friends and well-wishers, the founder of Royal Church celebrated the landmark age with much glitter, grandeur and glamour. He also used the birthday period to lay the foundation for his university, Monarch University in Otta, Ogun State.
The Delta State pastor is one of Nigeria’s most celebrated pastors. Over the years, he has come to win the love and adulation of people for his charismatic style of worship.
You must have heard of the Cola Wars. Well, we are firmly into what I will call the Dangote Wars. Since Alhaji berthed his $20billion refinery, he has known no peace. It is one wahala or the other. From the Lagos State Government land issue, to employment of only Indians, to the NLC protest, and so much more.
Last week, however, he went in for the last fight. He called a press conference and announced that one Farouk has been paying over $5million as school fees for his five children in one European country.
He did not stop at that o, he went ahead to submit a petition to that effect to the ICPC, daring the man to face him. While at it, he slashed the pump price of fuel, leaving competitors grappling with losses estimated at over N100 billion, and threatened to double his fleet of trucks from 4,000 to 8,000, promising “fire for fire.”
Me, I don’t like that truck own sha, because that would mean total “capture” of the sector as distribution would be firmly in his hands. It would seem as if we just created another godfather in Nigeria, which will not be too good, as we are still wrestling with the “agbado” godfather in Aso Rock.
Anyway, we Nigerians in the short term are deriving benefits from this struggle – fuel price is coming down, scarcity has disappeared and this should impact transport and food costs. No wonder inflation has dropped to about 14%.
While we were still grappling with all of these, the sudden resignation of Farouk and one other person hit the airwaves showing that Alhaji has won round one. For me, I am not quite as elated with all of these as would be expected. Rather, I see an ominous dark cloud on the horizon. I do not really need that prophet that used to ask for N150million trumpets to see that, although in the short to mid-term, we would be basking in the dividends of his struggle. The spectre that we just may be exchanging task masters in the long run is refusing to leave me.
Make we still dey watch – as we say it in Shomolu. The game just began. Thank you.
