28th June, 2015
By Oredola Adeola
“Yesterday, we were talking about xenophobia but today, we are talking about happiness. That can only happen when there are men of God in this world like TB Joshua”, this was the statement credited to Chief Victor Mditshwa, a Director at South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation –DIRCO.
The birthday celebration of one of Nigeria’s most celebrated pastors, Prophet Temitope Joshua held on Friday June 12, at the Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand, South Africa, may have come and gone, but going by the above statement credited to an official in the south Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), it is apparent that with the way the event was orchestrated the South Africa tourism board has again beaten Nigeria to it.
The result which includes the loss of a major tourism boost, would have brought more foreign exchange to the country, given the celebrity appeal of Prophet Joshua, whose birthday was celebrated in another Africa country instead of his home country had always hosted the event. Source close to the minister indicated that thousands of followers from more than 10 countries attended the birthday bash.
The event which was tagged ‘A Celebration Of Love’, a reference to Joshua’s popular slogan ‘Let Love Lead’, was put together by the survivors and relatives of the 84 South Africans tragic incident, who lost their lives in the infamous collapse of a guesthouse at Joshua’s church premises last year.
According to Thembelihle Mamafa, speaking on behalf of family members of the called ‘martyrs of faith’, she stated that the family knows what happened to the building, stating further that tb Joshua was tried to be pulled down by people that were against him but they failed.
“They tried to bring him down but TB Joshua –you with God are the majority, the more the attack, the greater your strength,” said Mamafa
Months after Nigeria and other African countries have back lashed South Africa following the xenophobic violence on foreigners in the country, a tourism analyst who spoke with Hallmark on the condition of anonymity said that the birthday deliberately used by the country to score cheap point as a measure to mitigate the negative impact the xenophobic attack may have had on its tourism market.
It was gathered that the event which had never been hosted outside the country always attracted thousands of foreigners to the country. A source in the church also noted that last year, when the event was held in Nigeria over 5,000 foreign pilgrims from the nations of Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania, Kenya, Swaziland, Lesotho, Mozambique and the Democratic Republic of Congo made their way into the country.
Based on the statistics from the Nigerian Immigration Service it was revealed that out of every 10 foreign travelers coming into country, six of them are bound for The Synagogue Church of All Nigeria- SCOAN which attracts 50,000 worshippers weekly.
Popular South African ‘Bishop’ Stephen Zondo from the ‘Rivers Of Living Waters Ministries’ also spoke of the unity the event had fostered within Africa, revealed that the birthday celebrated in South Africa has furthered unite Africa. He said “We had some tragedies and problems a few some months ago but your birthday has done another miracle that the government and churches failed to do. Your birthday has brought us together!”
According to Mr. Tomi Akingbogun, President, Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria- FTAN, it is regrettable that despite the impact of the church to the growth of religious tourism in Nigeria, pastor has been neglected by the tourism board and ministry at its trying time. He noted that decision of the SCOAN family and the relatives of the victims in South Africa to host the event in that country was a form of damage repair which is equally good for the image of the church.
Although, Nigeria may have lost huge foreign exchange due to the relocation of the event but the government must learn to appreciate some of its greatest assets. The pastors cannot be blamed in a situation, as nobody cares about him. He has lost huge resources from property, members to litigations arising from the unfortunate event.
He however noted that SCOAN as a religious tourism, is not suppose to be victimized in the manner it is being treated. He added that despite the recurrent death usually recorded by Nigerians pilgrims in Mecca, no one has called for the sanction of the country.
The Pastor has however not been seen in public since his crusade in Mexico last month. Unconfirmed speculation also showed that there are being influenced by the some of his followers abroad to relocate the church headquarter to their country. Every effort to get to speak with spokesperson of the church proved abortive as his phone number was not connecting.
Culled from hallmarknews.com