The Right Of A Child

THE RIGHT OF A CHILD…WITHCRAFT and CHILD ABUSE. In the continent of Africa, the right of a child is only really treated and considered on paper. The emergence of democracy in many African nations had been expected to herald the genesis of a society that tolerates and respects the African child as the true leader of tomorrow. Contrary to this expectation, the attitude of the people and leaders alike to the plight of the children of Africa has been appalling to say the least. Activities such as hawking and trading as well as ill treatment, poverty, lack of access to basic amenities of life are some of the problems and challenges that the average African child has to contend with. In Nigeria, especially the southern region of the country, there are daily cases of children who are accused of witchcraft and possession of contrary spirits. Physical abuse, and sometimes death, is the fates of such children. One such case was of a family who was seeking divine intervention from God at The Synagogue Church Of All Nations Healing and Deliverance Service with the believe that Young Favour was a witch. After seeing many possessed with contrary spirits delivered through the power of God in the life of Prophet T.B. Joshua, some of Favour’s family members decided to take Favour to The Synagogue, Church Of All Nations Healing and Deliverance Service in hope of deliverance from this family shame. As the prophet approached, her cousin cried out, “She is the one that killed her mother! She caused my father a serious accident! They say she even attacks people in the dream. If she comes to church, they will send her away. The pastor called me and said if I keep her with me, she will destroy my family. She was born with witchcraft power – they said she cannot be delivered, that we should drive her out. If she’s going to die, let her die. It is better she dies before killing us…” As Prophet T.B. Joshua stopped at the scene, he asked Favour, “You heard what they are saying? Are you a witch?” The crowd of about 20,000 present at the service and viewers worldwide gazed at the small girl, awaiting her response. “I am not a witch.” The

crowd gasped. “I did not kill my mother or cause anybody accident. I am a child of God!” With a controversy at hand, the crowd waited to hear the mind of God through Prophet T.B. Joshua about Favour. Cheers erupted throughout the congregation as Prophet T.B. Joshua declared that Favour was not a witch. He said, “You can say what you like but as for me and my family and my household, Favour is not a witch. If your family rejects Favour, the Kingdom of God is for her. How can you turn Favour of God to witch?” After vindicating her from this accusation, Prophet T.B. Joshua further declared her as a promised child with a great future. Immediately, her cousin confessed that the mark on her head, which had been noted as a mark of witchcraft, had actually occurred during one of the beatings she had received. Comments, phone calls and emails flooded in from around the world from those who had been touched by Favour’s case, with many pledging to financially sponsor Favour to any educational level she desired. The following Sunday, Favour’s family recounted the experience, thanking God for unveiling the truth. Prophet T.B. Joshua lead the entire congregation in prayer on their knees for forgiveness for the grievous sin of calling one created in the image of God, an image of Satan. It was a time of sober reflection.

Prophet T.B. Joshua explained that the gift of God in Favour is what prompted Satan’s attack, saying that the experience served a purpose. “If gold must be gold, it must pass through the furnace,” he said, stating that Favour was a promised child with great potential. He said he would be ready to join the throng of callers in sponsoring Favour to study abroad if she so desired, stating that she deserved the best. These kinds of events should serve as a wakeup call to the people of Nigeria, and the African continent at large. Such issues are capable of causing economic backwardness and instability to the society. When the children who are supposed to be the leaders of tomorrow are subjected to this kind and form of abuse and torture, then we

can only imagine the type of future that we will have when they do become leaders. It brings forth certain questions, such as: 1. Who is a witch? 2. How does one know a witch? 3. Who can identify a witch? 4. Who can deliver a witch? It is indeed obvious that these things are things of the spirit and can only be understood by those who dwell in the spirit. To have a complete understanding of the happenings in the world of witchcraft, one must have a good knowledge of the things of the spirits. Anybody can label others a witch but only those ordained by God have the authority to deliver them of the spirits that possess them. Finally, it is important to note that majority of the accusations of witchcraft is based on poverty and lack of moral and educational impetus. Illiteracy and poverty are the major reason why children will be accused to be witches and are then subjected to physical and emotional abuse.