By Modupe Gbadeyanka
An alleged plan by the Department of State Services (DSS) to arrest General Overseer of the Omega Fire Ministries, Apostle Johnson Suleiman, was foiled by Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State on Wednesday.
It was gathered that the secret police had attempted to go away with the man of God in the wee hours of Wednesday in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital.
Apostle Suleiman was in the state for a two-day crusade, which was attended by Mr Fayose.
Few days ago, the cleric was reported to have told members of his church in Auchi, Edo State to resist the killings by suspected Fulani herdsmen, who he alleged of targeting Christians for decimation.
After his crusade in Ado Ekiti, Apostle Suleiman was said to have visited the Governor at the Government House and headed back to his hotel room.
However, shortly after getting to his hotel, some men requested to see him, but security men of the hotel insisted to know their mission.
It was during this time the man of God was alerted of the development and he reportedly swiftly contacted Mr Fayose, who rushed to the scene with his security aides.
On arriving the scene, the men who had come to see the pastor fled.
Speaking after the incident, the Governor said, “If they have any issue with him, instead of arresting him in the dead of the night after a powerful and spirit-filled crusade in my state, they should just invite him.
“I personally attended his crusade and I think it is wrong for a man of God who is armless that could be invited if they have any issue against him. Are Christians and Moslems under different dispensation of the rule of law?
“That’s why I came here to rescue him. Let them kill two of us together. But when they saw my vehicles and the crowd, they fled.
“But we have information that instructions came from DSS in Abuja that the Pastor should be arrested. We are not in a fascist state, Federal Government must learn to respect the rights of Nigerians and freedom of expression.
“This is unacceptable, we are in a democracy and Nigerians should warn the Presidency against putting this country on fire because religion is an emotional thing.”
Narrating his ordeal, Apostle Suleiman said, “I came to Ado Ekiti for a crusade. But I had a premonition that I was being trailed after I preached that Christians should retaliate any attack or killings by the Fulani herdsmen.
“These Fulani headmen had turned many Christians to orphans and widowers but the time has come to protect ourselves.
“I received several calls from hidden numbers trying to locate where I am and I had warned my security not to allow any Fulani man to come nearer me.
“So when the men of DSS came in the middle of the night (around 2am) I knew their mission and I had to call the Governor because if they arrest me, they will put this country in fire.”
