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Opinion
Connection between Paul Ohonbamu and Johnson Suleiman
Written By: Michael Odigbe
18 Aug 2025 04:53 AM
If you follow closely Thomas Hardy, author of the great work of fiction THE MAYOR OF CASTERBRIDGE you will realise why writers keep archival files of notes, data as well as press cuttings.
Prose writers are more painstaking because they deal in the hardware of facts and figures. So, understand why I warehouse them with passion.
Last week, i delved into my archival files. As I did, I ran into two of Edo State personae who with one singular stroke of pronouncement contributed significantly to the body of world knowledge.
Therefore, they have something in common uniting them into one collagen amalgam. Kai!! God forbid!!! Edo people can never carry last. Impossible!!!
Who are these people? They are Barr. Paul Ohonbamu and Apostle Johnson Suleiman.
For a start, Barr. Paul Ohonbamu is the current Edo information commissioner in the Governor Monday Okpebholo administration.
He is a scion of the Ohonbamu family which produced a bold, fearless and courageous critic in the person of Dr. Obarogie Ohonbamu.
Obarogie, a radical, reportedly taught law at the University of Lagos and published a magazine called SPARK that exposed corruption in the military-led government of General Murtala Mohammed. Infact, he wrote that Murtala Mohammed allegedly looted the Central Bank of Nigeria in Benin City when he led the Second Division of the Nigerian Army to liberate then Midwest State from the invading Biafran Army under the secessionist Ojukwu.
Given his bad antecedent, Obarogie Ohonbamu declared that Murtala Mohammed was not fit to be the head of state even in a military regime that is unacceptable to Nigerians.
Ìn a country replete with Ali Babas, Robin Hoods and Don Quixotes, yòu can see why Paul Ohonbamu is proud to have a forebear like Obarogie.
Don't ask me if Paul Ohonbamu fondly referred to as a "comrade" by Prof Felix Oriakhi – is following in Obarogie's footsteps.
The answer to this question is for another day. What interests me now is that Paul Ohonbamu has a Christ consciousness in him most people are not aware of.
Recall what Christ said when asked by the Jews whether to pay tribute to Julius Caesar. A trap. A tricky question that would put him in harm's way if a direct reply was given. So, an escapist, cryptic response was offered by Christ.
He declared: "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's." GBAM!!
Like Christ, the man Paul Ohonbamu was boxed into a similar but secular tight corner on April 24, 2020 during his first coming as an information commissioner.
A reporter with Independent Radio, Benin was in his office on Ezoti Street, Benin. He requested to know from Paul Ohonbamu why the state government was nonchalant about the enforcement of the Covid-19 partial lockdown on movement imposed by sitting Governor Godwin Obaseki in the state.
Paul Ohonbamu didn't agree or disagree with the reporter's true observation. Otherwise, he would be caught in a tarantula web. Neither would he refuse to speak. Silence isn't golden in such a sensitive issue. He must say something in the middle lane of official information management pleasing to the investigative reporter and in proper defence of the government, his employers.
Hear him: "If the government got it wrong initially in the first time, you can say the government made a mistake on the implementation of the lockdown on Covid-19. If the government continues to get it wrong a second time around, the government can be described as negligent. And, if the wrong implementation continues, certainly one can say the government is incompetent.
"The government will, therefore, step up the enforcement of the Covid-19 regulations so as not to get to the second stage of non-enforcement and be accused of negligence of its responsibility."
Good official statement. All he is saying is that there is so far only a mistake in the implementation of the Covid-19 partial lockdown. The government is neither yet negligent nor incompetent in managing the situation.
Well, I am not concerned about the linguistic acrobatics of Paul Ohonbamu. No!! What interests me is the fact that by his response, he contributed to knowledge of Science, a Theory of Political Governance which states that in project implementation, a government in an adverse condition usually navigates on a linear axis from a mistake to negligence in responsibility ending finally in incompetence.
That is brilliant!!
Paul Ohonbamu's innovative theory is born out of his high intelligence quotient which also Apostle Johnson Suleiman exhibited on July 24, 2021 at his Omega Fire Ministries Church headquarters located in Auchi Town in Etsako West Council Area of Edo State.
On this day in question, Apostle Johnson Suleiman, expectantly, asked his Auchi congregation before his sunday sermon: "How many of you read Chapter 17 of St Mark of the Holy Bible as I directed in preparation for my today's message on the need to be true believers of Christ?"
Incredible!! A multitude of hands shot into the air.
Following this, he unleashed a wry smile on his face. He then announced that there is no Chapter 17 in the Book of St. Mark. It ends in Chapter 16!! A bombshell. Explosion!!
Invariably, those who raised their ramrod, starched hands above their heads with loyal confidence were all bloody liars. Of course, as a knowledgeable man of God he knows there are 66 Books from Genesis to Revelation in the Holy Bible written by 40 authors from three of the world's continents in a long space of 1,500 years.
So, he is fully aware there is no recent forbidden addition to the bible by members of his church as it is religious sacrilege to add or remove from the bible. Therefore, where comes Chapter 17 of St Mark that some members of his congregation claim that they read? The answer is blowing in the wind!
All said, the gravamen of this narrative is that by his superlative theatrics Apostle Johnson Suleiman demonstrably shows to Christendom how to use a hearty subtle joke to rebuke liars in the House of God without recourse to bilious abuse, hostile insult and satanic condemnation.
It takes a man of high intelligence quotient to formulate this joke which reveals that the dying reading culture in our society has crept into the church. Imagine, most christians now only have the bible on their shelves. No room for secular books. Yet, they only open the bible in church to follow their pastors' sermons. It is that bad.
Yes, Barr Paul Ohonbamu has contributed to Knowledge Science a Theory of Political Governance which states that there is a linear navigational progression from mistake to negligence and then incompetence in project implementation processes by the government.
Also, Apostle Johnson Suleiman on his part has equally increased the content of the Knowledge Science by showing to the world how to deploy amazing intelligence to urge Christians to always read as well as study the bible. Herein lies the connection between Barr. Paul Ohonbamu and Apostle Johnson Suleiman. Both of them are siamese knowledge aficionados.
Prose writers are more painstaking because they deal in the hardware of facts and figures. So, understand why I warehouse them with passion.
Last week, i delved into my archival files. As I did, I ran into two of Edo State personae who with one singular stroke of pronouncement contributed significantly to the body of world knowledge.
Therefore, they have something in common uniting them into one collagen amalgam. Kai!! God forbid!!! Edo people can never carry last. Impossible!!!
Who are these people? They are Barr. Paul Ohonbamu and Apostle Johnson Suleiman.
For a start, Barr. Paul Ohonbamu is the current Edo information commissioner in the Governor Monday Okpebholo administration.
He is a scion of the Ohonbamu family which produced a bold, fearless and courageous critic in the person of Dr. Obarogie Ohonbamu.
Obarogie, a radical, reportedly taught law at the University of Lagos and published a magazine called SPARK that exposed corruption in the military-led government of General Murtala Mohammed. Infact, he wrote that Murtala Mohammed allegedly looted the Central Bank of Nigeria in Benin City when he led the Second Division of the Nigerian Army to liberate then Midwest State from the invading Biafran Army under the secessionist Ojukwu.
Given his bad antecedent, Obarogie Ohonbamu declared that Murtala Mohammed was not fit to be the head of state even in a military regime that is unacceptable to Nigerians.
Ìn a country replete with Ali Babas, Robin Hoods and Don Quixotes, yòu can see why Paul Ohonbamu is proud to have a forebear like Obarogie.
Don't ask me if Paul Ohonbamu fondly referred to as a "comrade" by Prof Felix Oriakhi – is following in Obarogie's footsteps.
The answer to this question is for another day. What interests me now is that Paul Ohonbamu has a Christ consciousness in him most people are not aware of.
Recall what Christ said when asked by the Jews whether to pay tribute to Julius Caesar. A trap. A tricky question that would put him in harm's way if a direct reply was given. So, an escapist, cryptic response was offered by Christ.
He declared: "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's." GBAM!!
Like Christ, the man Paul Ohonbamu was boxed into a similar but secular tight corner on April 24, 2020 during his first coming as an information commissioner.
A reporter with Independent Radio, Benin was in his office on Ezoti Street, Benin. He requested to know from Paul Ohonbamu why the state government was nonchalant about the enforcement of the Covid-19 partial lockdown on movement imposed by sitting Governor Godwin Obaseki in the state.
Paul Ohonbamu didn't agree or disagree with the reporter's true observation. Otherwise, he would be caught in a tarantula web. Neither would he refuse to speak. Silence isn't golden in such a sensitive issue. He must say something in the middle lane of official information management pleasing to the investigative reporter and in proper defence of the government, his employers.
Hear him: "If the government got it wrong initially in the first time, you can say the government made a mistake on the implementation of the lockdown on Covid-19. If the government continues to get it wrong a second time around, the government can be described as negligent. And, if the wrong implementation continues, certainly one can say the government is incompetent.
"The government will, therefore, step up the enforcement of the Covid-19 regulations so as not to get to the second stage of non-enforcement and be accused of negligence of its responsibility."
Good official statement. All he is saying is that there is so far only a mistake in the implementation of the Covid-19 partial lockdown. The government is neither yet negligent nor incompetent in managing the situation.
Well, I am not concerned about the linguistic acrobatics of Paul Ohonbamu. No!! What interests me is the fact that by his response, he contributed to knowledge of Science, a Theory of Political Governance which states that in project implementation, a government in an adverse condition usually navigates on a linear axis from a mistake to negligence in responsibility ending finally in incompetence.
That is brilliant!!
Paul Ohonbamu's innovative theory is born out of his high intelligence quotient which also Apostle Johnson Suleiman exhibited on July 24, 2021 at his Omega Fire Ministries Church headquarters located in Auchi Town in Etsako West Council Area of Edo State.
On this day in question, Apostle Johnson Suleiman, expectantly, asked his Auchi congregation before his sunday sermon: "How many of you read Chapter 17 of St Mark of the Holy Bible as I directed in preparation for my today's message on the need to be true believers of Christ?"
Incredible!! A multitude of hands shot into the air.
Following this, he unleashed a wry smile on his face. He then announced that there is no Chapter 17 in the Book of St. Mark. It ends in Chapter 16!! A bombshell. Explosion!!
Invariably, those who raised their ramrod, starched hands above their heads with loyal confidence were all bloody liars. Of course, as a knowledgeable man of God he knows there are 66 Books from Genesis to Revelation in the Holy Bible written by 40 authors from three of the world's continents in a long space of 1,500 years.
So, he is fully aware there is no recent forbidden addition to the bible by members of his church as it is religious sacrilege to add or remove from the bible. Therefore, where comes Chapter 17 of St Mark that some members of his congregation claim that they read? The answer is blowing in the wind!
All said, the gravamen of this narrative is that by his superlative theatrics Apostle Johnson Suleiman demonstrably shows to Christendom how to use a hearty subtle joke to rebuke liars in the House of God without recourse to bilious abuse, hostile insult and satanic condemnation.
It takes a man of high intelligence quotient to formulate this joke which reveals that the dying reading culture in our society has crept into the church. Imagine, most christians now only have the bible on their shelves. No room for secular books. Yet, they only open the bible in church to follow their pastors' sermons. It is that bad.
Yes, Barr Paul Ohonbamu has contributed to Knowledge Science a Theory of Political Governance which states that there is a linear navigational progression from mistake to negligence and then incompetence in project implementation processes by the government.
Also, Apostle Johnson Suleiman on his part has equally increased the content of the Knowledge Science by showing to the world how to deploy amazing intelligence to urge Christians to always read as well as study the bible. Herein lies the connection between Barr. Paul Ohonbamu and Apostle Johnson Suleiman. Both of them are siamese knowledge aficionados.
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