A dichotomous response to Otabil’s statement- 8 questions he should answer

Today November 12, 2012 Dr. Mensah Otabil has called almost all the media apparatus of our nation and has delivered to them a statement in which he sought to impress upon Ghanaians and the world how he feels about recent developments.

The statement is well composed and garnished with good grammar and vocabulary. It begins with the pastor's life story. Until I read his statement, I didn't know that such a prosperous and successful man was orphaned at the age of sixteen, I didn't know that the Christian MVP (Most Valuable Pastor) had his basic education funded by friends of his late mother, I didn't know that it was during these trying times that Otabil heard the call of God to serve Him. In fact I wouldn't have known if I had not read his latest press statement.

Now let us drift to the substantive reason why he called the press conference. Within the last few weeks, three tape recordings broke into the media, the first two were a compilation of various spliced messages the man of God preached some time ago with regards to free education as opposed to quality affordable education. The third recording has to do with people who live from hand to mouth and profess the notion that ALL DIE BE DIE, in which he says such people are bad company.

We live in a democratic environment where every man has an inalienable right to stand up and fight any malicious attempt to provoke his personal indignation and character assassination. Otabil, like any other citizen of this great country has that right. Certainly, no one can be against Otabil for exercising his rights.

I was completely taken aback and shocked with the choice of words the man of God employed to demand justice. For instance he says “There is a sinister force on the prowl in our nation. It is a force of impunity. It is a force of treachery. It is a force of evil.” Is he claiming the president is presiding over this force of impunity, treachery and evil? Is that not being unfair to the president?

His statement, apart from his childhood story is all but a wolf's cry; an exaggeration of gargantuan proportions.

In any case, what is so evil, malicious, and treacherous about compiling pieces of recordings of moral teachings together to teach Ghanaians about how to make informed decisions in this year's elections? What is so wrong with that? Is it because it is benefiting the NDC and opposition is crying foul? I personally take a steep aloof stance from the pastor when he says “This is defamatory. This is unethical. This is criminal. This is malicious. This is Machiavellian. This is evil.”

There was not a single word in his statement that denied the voice and messages on the various sound bites as being his. Rather he says they were doctored from various sermons he delivered long ago, I therefore respectfully ask you, sir, the Gospels upon which you earn your living today, were they not put together from many various teachings of Jesus over 2000 years ago? Are you saying that your teachings of just yesterday cannot be useful today? Why are you raising a red flag when it is used today? Let me give you an analogy; Assuming you fry and sell delicious and sumptuous 'Kosey' and on the pack you

have written 'for your hot hausa Kooko', why should you have a problem if Adamu buys your Kosey and decides to eat it with tea instead of Kooko?

I have listened to all the tape recordings and your teachings were very clear. In Dr. Otabil's statement, he never said his words have been twisted in the recordings, rather he says, words he spoke long ago have been manipulatively put together to suggest a certain position in hot topics in our political discourse. Nonetheless, after all said, no one needs any clarification when he hears “education can never be free” on tape, no one.

Now the questions;
1. Is he claiming the president is presiding over this force of impunity, treachery and evil?

2. Is that not being unfair to the president?
3. What is so evil, malicious, and treacherous about compiling pieces of recordings of moral teachings together to teach Ghanaians about how to make informed decisions in this year's elections?

4. Is it because it is benefiting the NDC and opposition is crying foul?

5. The Gospels upon which you earn your living today, were they not put together from many various teachings of Jesus over 2000 years ago?

6. Are you saying that your teachings of just yesterday cannot be useful today?

7. Why are you raising a red flag when it is used today?

8. Why should you have a problem if Adamu buys your Kosey and decides to eat it with Tea instead of Kooko?

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In response to Dr. Mensah Otabil's statement

By Sonny Yenibey Namouz
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