The parable of the plank and the speck, found in the teachings of Jesus in Matthew 7:3-5, Luke 6:41-42, offers a timeless lesson on self-awareness and personal accountability. In this teaching, Jesus critiqued the tendency of individuals to focus on the small faults of others while ignoring their own significant shortcomings.
The imagery of a plank in one’s own eye compared to a speck in another’s eye is a powerful metaphor that challenges us to examine our own flaws before attempting to correct others.
The irony lies in the fact that the person with the plank is oblivious to their own massive obstruction while being hyper-aware of the minor issue in someone else’s eye.
Jesus points out the absurdity of this situation, asking how someone could possibly help another person with a small problem when they themselves are dealing with a much larger issue.
Chief Collins Ochi, who is a well respected man in his Awgu community of Enugu State, can be liken to those individuals Jesus Christ preached about by using the parable of the plank and the speck.
Perhaps, it has increasingly becoming a norm for Chief Ochi to bash his perceived opponents over slight leadership differences.
Today, if he is not accusing his community leadership of corruption, tomorrow, he will be everywhere accusing them of poorly executing projects. In some cases, he dragged the private life of these leaders into this fight, which to me, is unwarranted.
Yes, I quite agree that modern representative democracy is arguably unthinkable without a vibrant opposition, but this should be done with caution and decorum.
Collins Ochi doesn’t understand the fact that there should be limit to it more especially, when the individuals at the helm of affairs are doing the best they can to deliver the dividends of democracy.
It is worthy of note that when these leaders do the right thing, it is expected of the followers to applaud them, rather than launching unnecessary bitter attacks. Bitterness shouldn’t be seen as part of the opposition process.
Chief Collins Ochi, remove the plank in your own eye.
In fact, I have never for one day, thought about going ballistic against Chief Collins Ochi. He is a man I respect so much, but his recent approach towards civil issues has pushed me to draw the battle line against him.
I will like everyone that is reading this piece to ask Chief Collins Ochi, what happened to his son (I will not mention his name for security reasons), who ran away to Australia. Chief Collins Ochi, why did you refused to tell your friends and business associates the truth about his whereabout?
Why did you refused to tell them that your son who was afraid of his life for being a GAY while in Nigeria, ran away to Australia. You tactically concealed the truth from your associates. You are ashamed of being mocked because of your pride. I do understand the fact that many who are very close to you doesn’t know this. But I have to make it open for everyone to see that you ain’t clean and perfect as you claim.
Chief Collins Ochi, I know this revelation about your son being a GAY will hurt your ego so badly. This is the consequences of picking a dirty fight.
In conclusion, I will urge you to remove the plank in your own eye before helping others. People who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.
Nwankwo Jude writes from Abuja.
