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Nigeria has become a nation of poverty
amidst natural abundance and manifold
blessings. The religions represented in
Nigeria have strong and useful value
systems. Majority of religious followers
and their institutions do not adopt
these beneficial value systems and the
consequence is that Nigeria has become
worse than corruption itself.
Religious people constitute the greatest
number of Nigeria population.
Yet,corruption in private and public
sector organisations has continued to
thrive unfettered because the seemingly
religious and sacred people of Nigeria
have failed to identify with the good
value system inherent in their religions
and religious beliefs.
Religions in Nigeria have not helped
Nigeria to eradicate corruption in any
remarkable way. Instead, corruption has
continued to increase amidst poverty and
increasing number of so-called religious
institutions. The poor continue to
suffer and bear the brunt of the
suffering in the Nigeria system.
Religious institutions failed to tackle
the poverty within and outside the
various establishments.
The motives for the existence of these
seemingly religious institutions are
very questionable. Indeed their motives
for existence are very much drummed and
well published but their true
unpublished motives are at the full
glare of the public eye. How long will
seemingly religious Nigerians and
institutions continue to deceive
themselves? It is a wonder to the
uninitiated to fathom the religiosity of
blindness that has pervaded and
overtaken the country called Nigeria.
In their poverty, many Nigerians have
become lovers and followers of money.
Amidst the chaos, many poor Nigerians do
not know they have been bought for a
bowl of soup. How will Nigeria develop
as corruption rules? As corruption rules
in many private and public institutions,
it also rules in many religious places
of worship. Nigerians must act to save
the country from the stranglehold of
religious narrow-mindedness that helps
corruption to thrive.
Every Nigerian must rethink their
religiosity and truly show concern for
one another with a view to eradicate
corruption in all its forms in Nigeria.
The future of Nigeria is blighted if
Nigerians cannot turn back from their
corrupt practices. Corruption does not
negatively affect only the poor people
in Nigeria. The rich will also suffer
from the consequences of corruption as
the immediate communities in the country
remain undeveloped and in decay causing
breeding ground for criminality.
The generation of Nigerians yet unborn
will not forgive the ignorance,
carelessness and greed in our
determination to eradicate the
corruption in Nigeria. If we fail to
fight corruption today, no religious
institution or sentiments can cover the
shame that will continue to befall
Nigeria and the citizens. In future, our
children will try and test the
determination of present day Nigerians;
if we are found wanting inour behaviour,
we would have failed to correct the
correctable.
It is highly commendable of Dr Tunde
Bakare of the Save Nigeria Group. As a
Pastor of a church in Nigeria, he did
not simply preach the Bible but he added
action to his effort and formed the Save
Nigeria Group to help eradicate various
forms of corruption in the country
including electoral fraud, mismanagement
and failing governance. Dr Bakare
believes that Nigeria must change for
the better and Nigerians must take back
their country from thieves. In a similar
way, many responsible Nigerians are
fighting to eradicate corruption in one
way or another. As corruption fighters
increase, the Nigerian society will
become better. Unfortunately, the
current fight is taking longer than
necessary because the number of
seemingly religious people is increasing
while true religious worshippers are on
the decline.
Nigeria does not want the religion of
zero benefit. Religious institutions in
Nigeria must make themselves relevant in
eradicating corruption in Nigeria. Let
religion be a force for honest and
lasting change in Nigeria.
Bernard Imarhiagbe is a graduate of
the University of Greenwich and
University of Leicester, both in
England. He is the UK Coordinator for
Champions For Nigeria Organisation (http://www.championsfornigeria.org).
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