It was a rare display of profound effusion in puritanism anchoring in the art of repentance and spiritual separation from past inglorious ways in a new year. As would be expected in that circumstance, the cleric who gave the impactful homily had celebrated the conversion of a political big wig who was neither lacking in influence nor affluence. The setting was apt as a year had just ended with all the attendant travails. The new year had also just dawned and was evidently pregnant with reflective hopes, warped in uncertainties and precarious permutations into the veiled womb of the future.
In a new year service at the Sacred Heart Catholic Parish Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, Senate President Godswill Akpabio had just listened to an inspired sermon, felt so touched by its exposition, his heart rend and melted, he directed his lawyers to withdraw all ongoing defamation lawsuits against several individuals, saying his heart was turned to act in that direction to start the new year on a clean slate after listening to the sermon delivered by a human vessel, Very Revd. Fr. Donatus Udoette, Vicar-General of the Catholic Diocese of Uyo, but apparently traceable to the Holy Spirit .
Speaking to newsmen on his new position, the senate president said he had filed nearly nine lawsuits against individuals he accused of defaming him but had resolved to let go for God to have His way in the spirit of the new year.
His words: ‘I had almost nine cases in court against some individuals who defamed me, who lied against me, who slandered my name. But I listened to the priest and suddenly realised he was talking to me, so I hereby direct my solicitor to withdraw all lawsuits against them’.
In the year that had just ended, Akpabio had filed several high-profile defamation lawsuits, including one against colleague Senator, Natasha Akpoti‑Uduaghan of Kogi Central.
It therefore was not much of a surprise the news caught headline attention in various media platforms even as clerics started studying the content, linguistic lacing and mode of presentation of the homily that melted the heart of the two term governor of Akwa Ibom State. The studies were still ongoing, when less than three weeks after the celebrated conversion and spiritual purgation of bitterness and unforgiveness, Akpabio, changed his mind concerning his litigation row with Akpoti-Uduaghan, as emerging facts strongly indicate that he has dragged the Kogi Central senator to the Supreme Court. How transient and tenuous can be the impact of a new year sermon on a heart that has not been fully yielded to the knowledge of God, not regenerated and not yet ready to operate fully in the established tenets of righteousness. The new year resolve and mid-January shiftiness, waverings, indecisions and outright summersault is not peculiar to Akpabio. It is in the nature of man to, in the sobriety of a new year, yearn to align with the ways of peace and righteousness. It is often an easy and most natural thing to do. It has even become the vogue. Such resolves however can only translate into a noble, laudable act when effectively sustained all through the unfolding months. That is where character realignment results in destiny fulfilment. That basically is why as an individual, I do not reckon much with decisions flagged as new year resolutions. I would rather watch and see what the subsequent months have in stock.
The media had stated that with the new year resolution after the Sacred Heart sermon in Uyo, Akpabio had formally ended all pending legal disputes arising from defamation claims, signaling closure to the publicised litigations and offering a fresh opportunity to commence the new year on a clean slate with a clear conscience.
How wrong has that projection turned out to be as the dispute over Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension has now entered a new stage, as the Senate President last week filed processes at the Supreme Court.
Documents sited last week showed that Akpabio approached the apex court to pursue his appeal against earlier decisions of the lower courts on the matter.
In the appeal, Akpabio is listed as the appellant, while Akpoti-Uduaghan, the Clerk of the National Assembly, the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, Senator Neda Imasuen, are named as respondents.
It was equally confirmed last week that Natasha’s lawyers had been served with the Supreme Court processes.
Akpoti-Uduaghan had accused the Senate President of sexual harassment, resulting in her suspension and multiple court cases, which he declared he had withdrawn.
As it now currently stands, contending at the apex court, Akpabio is seeking an extension of time to apply for leave to appeal on grounds of mixed law and fact, and an order deeming his notice of appeal and brief of argument as properly filed.
The former governor’s argued position has remained that the Senate acted within its powers under Section 60 of the 1999 Constitution, which allows the National Assembly to regulate its internal procedures.
Akpabio also is contending that as the Senate President, he was not under an obligation to immediately rule on every point of privilege and that the Senate lawfully activated its disciplinary process as it affected the representative of Kogi Central in the Senate.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, however, has maintained that her suspension was unlawful and carried out without a fair hearing, insisting that the Senate failed to follow its own rules.
The Sacred Heart sermon in Uyo was no doubt impactful. The Cleric made himself available and was evidently used of God. But one ceremonial exposure to the word of God is not enough for the expected total and all-embracing change. Scriptural prescription for faith is that it cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. The church no doubt had a bigwig convert but failed in its responsibility of follow-up to a point of being rooted in the household of faith. The impact of the sermon therefore faded away in a period of two weeks.
The enduring lesson for us all is that when next someone is giving you his words based on a new year resolution after listening to a sobering homily in a Sacred Heart cathedral or any other cathedral by whatever name, it will be wisdom to take such pronouncements with a pinch of salt. Better still, you can ask the fellow to pause awhile and have the discursion continued in details by March or April when the effect of the New Year sermon would have possibly receded.
