While the colonial masters preached against covetousness, their eyes were on Nigeria's huge natural resources. ...

THE colonial masters played a fast one on Nigerians. They came to the 'Niger area' with Bible in one hand and gun in the other. With the Bible they penetrated a people who were already in a romance with ancestral gods. And with the Bible they created an impression that their sole aim was to lead men's souls back to their creator. While they preached deliverance in Christ, they were busy leading many people into slavery in their plantations back home.

Covetousness, they preached against but their eyes were on Nigeria's huge natural resources. By the time Nigerians realised what was happening, their wealth and some of their kinsmen had gone. And their oppressors jeered at them. Although the colonial masters officially left the Nigerian shores on October 1, 1960, they replicated themselves in our indigenous leaders who hid under the cloak of religion (Christianity, Islam) to wreck havoc on their compatriots.

If profession of piety were a determining factor in leadership, Nigerian nation would have been a paradise by now. Every Nigerian leader has always created an impression that he is pious and cannot disappoint his compatriots. Moreover, because of too much attachment on religion, citizens behave as robots. They allow themselves to be pushed around, harassed and oppressed by their leaders. A few who have the courage to question certain religious practices are branded rebels even by those whose interest they try to protect.

Despite this level of religiosity, Nigerian nation is still lagging behind in development. Here, people are suffering and smiling at the same time. For many years now, Nigerians have been feeding on promises that are never redeemed. Some people live on charity. At the beginning of every year, they have always been promised many goodies, but, by the time the year is about to end, they are given several reasons why the government could not fulfill its promises.

The fact is that it is unimaginable why Nigerians continue to live in poverty and wretchedness. The more the people pray, the more things worsen. The truth remains that, comparing Nigeria with some countries whose people pay little or no attention to religion; one could see that Nigeria is the poorest among them all.

This simply implies that God is not impressed with lip profession of piety without a corresponding manifestation of such in the lives of individuals.

All the military leaders Nigeria had, identified themselves with one religion or the other. Those among them who were Moslems were seen at different times on prayer grounds, especially, during Moslem festivals. On the other hand, those who called themselves Christians went to church. Even while they did so, they also hid under religion to wreck havoc on the economy.

Since the power shifted to south on May, 29, 1999, and although the presidency is now directly under the control of a southern Christian, the lives of the masses have not been touched positively. It has also been a harvest of sermons of hope, urging the over traumatized electorates to keep on enduring. When Olusegun Obasanjo was voted into power, the popular feelings was that of relief. People thought the messiah has come. Greater percentage of Nigerian Christians believed that he was going to effect changes radically. His testimony of a new life in Christ endeared him to many and he told Christians that he would not forget them and everybody clapped like mesmerized monkeys on the tree. But, the bananas have refused to be released.

He preaches on 'Hope' as though he was the Bishop in the Aso Rock Cathedral. He now talks about hope as if the world was specially created for Nigerians. He talks about hope as if it was a sin for one to enjoy instant benefit of one's labour. And he hammers on hope as if Nigerians are more righteous than other countries whose citizens enjoy instant amenities with little effort.

Critics are now faulting the president's sermons, pointing out that the masses have hoped enough. The attachment on religion by Nigerian leaders has reduced swearing in ceremonies to mere fulfillment of righteousness. Today, leaders are seen during such occasions with big copies of Bible or Qu'ran, taking an oath, which they know quite alright, they will not abide by. In the midst of abundant natural resources, suffering Nigerians are being urged to continue indefinitely, in prayer and lusting. Those who milk, are still milking the nation dry, still have the conscience to quote the Bible "If my people who are called by my name shall humble themselves and pray, I will hear their prayers and heal their land".

It is amazing how evil men clutch holy books to prescribe spiritual solutions to problems they foisted on the nation. At present, manifestation of faith has become the lot of most Nigerians. People now invade religious centres for miracles and their leaders (pastors) have also capitalized on this shift of attention (as it were) to wreck further havoc on them. The sole aims of pastors nowadays are no more focused towards the attainment of the heavenly kingdom, which primarily is supposed to be the aim of Christians/Christianity.

Recently, in an interview with a national newspaper, the social crusader, Chief Gani Fawehinmi said, "the quality of life of every Nigerian today in this country in terms of security is at the mercy of either the Bible or Qu'ran. People have lost confidence in the ability of government to protect them." In some religions circles also, some "men of God" are capitalizing on the problems be setting their members, to "dupe" them. In their eagerness to grab their miracles, they are told to do all manners of things.

Moreover, a good number of Nigerians have been duped by people they regard as brethren. The reason being that of the unsuspecting victims relaxed so much and deluded themselves with the thought that so far as religion was brought into the picture they were safe. While advising Nigerian leaders on the need to stop using religion as a cloak to commit rape on their fellow citizens, the electorate should also endeavour to make a wise demarcation between what constitutes foolishness and what religion encompasses.