[Mhiz Rebecca]

Professor of Christian theology in University of Ilorin,
Pius Oyeniran Abioje, has dismissed the agelong
Biblical claim that Jesus Christ died to save the world.
Speaking while delivering the 167th Inaugural Lecture
of the university, entitled, ‘Christian Prophets and
Other Prophets in Nigeria’, the professor said Jesus
Christ was killed by haters of truth.
Abioje, who noted that critical prophets should
anticipate opposition and conspiracy from unexpected
quarters, said: “The conspiracy that killed Jesus Christ
came from the millieu of the chief priest and the
political elite.
“Regrettably,the interpretations by many Christians is
that God wanted Jesus to die so as to save the world.
Yet the world continues to persecute innocent critical
prophets.
“Why cannot Christians emphasise that Jesus was
killed by haters of truth,the religio-political powers that
be,particularly since the world is still seeking
redemption?
“Nigerians should learn to see critical prophets as
friends of the society,and pardon them whenever they
happen to err,since no human being is infallible.”
The professor asked the people in positions of
authority to learn to see critical prophets as partners
in progress towards human edification,not as
adversaries.
The university don also admonished: “Divinatory/
esoteric prophets should avoid fraudulence.” They
should see their divinatory knowledge as divine
endowment to be used altruistically and not for
exploitation.
“People who consult esoteric prophets should be
discerning and not gullible. “ They should avoid
frequent recourse to divinatory prophecy to avoid
mediumistic psychosis”
Abioje also urged Nigerians to strive to become critical
prophets to speak against evil on behalf of God and
try to live holy lives.
He however advised: “Academic p rogrammes
generally should include introduction to critical
prophecy,which makes a person to be committed to
advocacy in godly words and actions,even as medical
doctors,engineers,architects,lawyers and so on and
not only as clergy men and women, Virtues for which
critical prophets strive is unarguably the key to
individual and social progress,even when truth can be
very bitter.”