Beefing Among Clergymen

NEWS COMMENTARY DISCUSSES THE PHENOMENON OF BEEFING AMONG CLERGYMEN

Since time immemorial, beefing happens typically in the entertainment industry where rival artistes particularly musicians have the penchant to occasionally throw shades at each other through song dissing. Perhaps, the fiercest of such rivalry in the annals of entertainment history was the one that existed between the two most popular American-Africans Tupac Shakur and Notorious Biggie in the early nineties. By their shenanigans, these one-time friends met their untimely death with their individual talents coming to an abrupt end. In a likewise manner, the entertainment industry in Ghana has not been spared of this phenomenon with many rival artistes taking the tangent of Tupac and Notorious Biggie- albeit to another level. A case in point was the Shatta Wale – Stonebwoy altercations at the last Vodafone Ghana Music Awards where Stonebwoy pulled a pistol on stage under the full glare of cameras. Notably, these rival artistes ever since the infamous encounter have tried to bury the hatchet and demonstrating to the public afterward, a high degree of decorum and tolerance.

While the Shatta Wale-Stonebwoy conundrum is refreshingly being put to bed, the nation now has another celebrity scuffle to contend with in the form of two self-acclaimed men of God. The Leader and Founder of the God’s Way International Church, Angel Obinim and his counterpart of the Anointed Palace Chapel Reverend Obofour have proven to be eternal enemies and are once again beating the war drums. In a video that has gone viral on social media, Angel Obinim was seen issuing a stern warning by way of innuendos which many believed was directed at Reverend Obofour. In the said video, Angel Obinim sitting on a gold-coated chair which he claims to be “the angelic seat” threatens to deal ruthlessly with his rival for allegedly seeking to paint him in a bad light. He says among other things that Ghana could not contain the two if such falsehood peddled against him by his rival does not cease. As you would expect, Reverend Obofour reacted in a banter that many consider to be the killer punch. He is heard in the video casting aspersions and using unpublishable words against his fellow man of God. Interestingly, these two men of God aside being tribesmen, share other striking commonalities: they are incidentally light-skinned, both claim to be “Angels”, have innate sense for fashion, not afraid to flaunt their wealth in public, have church branches all over and with the knack to perform miracles almost and always in a similar controversial fashion. As it stands today, their only point of divergence that has come to the public notice is that they do not see eye to eye.

The multi-million-dollar question now is what could possibly lead to the two famous ministers of the Gospel falling apart in such a worldly manner. How on earth should it be a turf war for two clergymen whose divine mandate is to win souls for Christ? Seriously, the issue beforehand is an indictment on Christiandom, considering the age-old decency associated with the clergy. Of course, Dancehall and reggae artistes like Shatta-Wale and Stonebwoy could be pardoned for occasionally displaying rascality and engaging in a battle of supremacy. It becomes intolerable when beefing extends to two so-called angels. Heaven must be sad gazing down on earth to find two angels engaged in fisticuffs. Unfortunately, the Christian leadership of the country has remained hapless and helpless in addressing the well documented errant behaviour of Angel Obinim and Reverend Obofuor for various excusable reasons. Be that as it may, the clergy as the custodian of morality, must sit up and purge itself from the influx of charlatans before their activities get out of hand. For us believers also, we do not possess any software or device to detect the genuine men of God, but at least we do have the common sense and Biblical knowledge to question their acts, commissions and omissions. Like the good old book rightly stated in Matthew 7:20 “therefore by their fruits you shall know them”. Aren’t we tired of the so-called men of God verbal wars?

BY: WILLIAM OWUSU BOATENG, A JOURNALIST.