By Rev. Fr. John Chinenye Oluoma
A friend forwarded the video of Ini edo in tears apologizing, pleading and beseeching CAN not to pull her movie down over what it considered a demeaning title. My friend wanted to hear my opinion on it. Here is what I think.
I like the fact that CAN is challenging what it sees as derogatory to Christianity. At least let people know that they can’t mess with our faith and it’s appertunances and go scot free.
Specifically to this Ini Edo’s movie title, she has vouched that there is nothing in it that demeans or disparages Christianity, rather the movie is telling stories of the things that happen in our clime. She challenged anyone to point out any aspect of the movie that ridicules or disrespects Christianity and she will pull the movie down.
Based on this, I think CAN should watch the movie, if it’s content doesn’t mock Christianity, she should be left alone and given time as she requested to do something about the title. A movie for which she invested her resources and other investments should not be destroyed or it’s viewing success sabotaged because of mere title. CAN should please let the movie be if title is just the issue.
By the way, there is supposed to be a censorship board or agency in Nigeria that is responsible for movies, CAN or any other religious group has no right to decide which movie stays up or pulled down. Ini Edo should be worried about the action of such agency than CAN, if her movie hasn’t violated ethical rules set by the country no one can pull her movie down. CAN is not a movie censorship agency.
Then to CAN, thank you for speaking up for Christianity. I just wish to observe that you have been silent on more serious issues that affect Christianity negatively in Nigeria. Some Christian ministers have been proven with evidence to fake miracles and prophecies, I haven’t heard you call them out. We have ministers who do crusades and lift crutches and wheel chairs up as evidences of miracles that happened at such events, when people ask for verifications like identities of the recipients of such glamorous miracles, no one comes up.
Some of the people hired for the arrangements of these fake miracles have confessed in camera and we are yet to hear you at least caution the fake ministers or the ministers faking the miracles.
We have churches which identify as Christian but do not accept certain Christian concepts like TRINITY, EASTER and even this CHRISTMAS you want to prosecute Ini Edo for. You haven’t made any statements about that or even organized a round table discussions where church leaders can have controlled and intelligent discussions on issues like that as brethren.
Nothing makes Christmas and Christianity dirtier than prophets and Apostles who rely on security men for protection while selling oils and some other pious objects to the people for protection and using scriptures to scam people of their hard earned money.
Please, focus more on these institutionalized ‘dirtiness’ of Christianity. These are the things the bible would describe as weightier matters than a movie title.
Let me not say more than these because there’s definitely so much to say. Remember I haven’t asked you to censor doctrines of churches, I am calling your attention to dirtier things that need your voice of rebuke and sanctions where neccessary. Thanks.
