Matters Arising

 

 I have honestly tried to keep this piece within for the fear of more critics it would attract than fans but I recently find it a matter of necessity that I relieve myself of this mental tension before it causes any damage to my congested state of mind.

I will love to begin this piece by reciting a poem written by one of our own stunted philosopher and social crusader, Kwesi Brew;

 

Lest we should be the last,

To appear before you;

We left our corn in the barn,

And unprepared we followed,

The windy way to your hut,

Our children begged for water

From the women bearing golden gourds,

On their heads,

And laughing on their way from the well,

But we did not stop

Knowing that in your presence,

Our hunger would be banished,

And our thirst assuaged

By the flowing milk of your word,

Now we have come to you,

And we are amazed to find,

That those you have loved and respected

Mock you to your face

I have taken my time to consider the role of religious leaders in the socio-economic and political growth of our dear country and have resolved to the position that our men of God have been misconceived as god of men and a sedative pill to the aching society who tirelessly seek celestial relief from the terrestrial burden and economic yoke that the government has placed on them seeking a divine visitation from the metaphysical haven of abundance where all demands are met (Matt 7; 7). You still don’t get me, do you?  

Once upon a time in my college days, an instructor was taking my class on a topic he called The Carriers of Development Theory in the Third world Countries. He carefully analysed how the intelligentsia, the military, the political elites and of course the Capitalists practically determine the socio-political and economic decisions that affects a third world country (like ours). In an interactive gesture, a classmate(Obikoya Adegboyega)  tried to identify and explain how the religious leaders should be acknowledge as part of the carriers of development theory with tangible and ideological premises which was condemn by the said lecturer. That was six years ago.

Today, I have gathered facts and evident to refer and back his claim that religious leaders are not only part, but also plays a vital role in the development of ‘this kind nation’.

What I mean to say is simple. Theoretically, not all nations believe in God as much as we do in Nigeria if we have to go by the rate of the Pentecostal and Islamic mission expansion in our country.          A country where there exists an average of three churches in a street. A country where you have Church Street, Church Bus stop, Mosalashi Bus stop, Cele express, Cele Bus stop, Church Crescent etc. just look out the window and there is one close to you (and so is one crime).

Now, who are Carriers of development theory? The essence of clarification is to give clearly defined criteria for evaluation and assessment (T.A Salami, 2005:83). These are the cabals whose activities, decisions, actions, inactions and of course participative politics affect the entirety of the nation’s economy progressively or retrogressively.  We feel the resonance of these people when they walk and talk and when they don’t, as if our lives depend on it. I mean it actually does depend on it. When they bark, we jump.

The disjointed complexity in the interpretation of the role ought to be played by these “microscopic few” makes it more interesting. The legislative house wants immunity. The executive now interpret laws. The capitalists contest for a socialist focused office. The acclaimed intelligentsia are now busy lobbying for political office and special appointment. Some of our ‘comrades’ are even loitering around Wall Street in Washington to get (a well-done, thou faithful servant) award from the “Wife of Mr President of the United States of America”. Some ‘pastors’ now suffers identity crisis as to who they really are; a pastor? a politician or an activist. In short, we are all confused as to what ideological theme we can give to the present socio-political system. You can chose to write or comment on these thematic issues as the essence of this paper is to assert my position on the contemporary religious incorporation with the State.

We all (0k. some of us) are by literature, familiar with the state of life by nature in the classical era when life was brutish, cruel and nasty (John Locke1632-1704). The option of liberalism was fashioned out as a saving grace for the subsistent existence of the stone men. Then came the medieval age when the likes of Rev Thomas Aquinas, Augustus, Valentino and Bernadino came up with the Churchist’s ideology of “Two arms Of the State”. We were made to believe that the state operates in the terrestrial and celestial order; the seen and the unseen. Those who understood and can mediate between both arms were made the Head of States e.g. the Pope. The Church by divine Charismatic symbol was in charge.

At the beginning of the protestant reformation, some renowned scholars articulated the doctrine of two kingdoms which marked the beginning of modern conception of separation of the church and the state.

Countries have varying degrees of separation between government and religious institutions. Since the 1780s a number of countries have set up explicit barriers between church and state. The degree of actual separation between government and religion or religious institutions varies widely. In some countries the two institutions remain heavily interconnected. There are new conflicts in the post-Communist world.

Due to the multi-religious nature of Nigeria, it will not be easy to attach a religious caucus of the colossus with the government policy, suffer it not to say these groups however minor are not put into consideration before any policy is adopted or implemented.

 Today the religious body do not only contribute but determine what goes on in the state that is supposed to be secular or multi-religious in structure. Consider what the Boko Haram sect stated as the condition for the workability of the amnesty programme. If a genocide villain gets 3 million naira and a capacity building support from the same government he has nefariously destabilized and depopulated in the name of whatever he claim to stand for, while the minimum wage of a crime free, law abiding and tax paying Nigerian citizen pegs at 18 thousand, If the Niger delta militant gets more allocation in the budget than the whole of the Health sector in a fiscal year, what then is the role of the state to the populace? Where are the gate keepers? Who is advocating for the many lives lost in the heat if the pseudo-revolutionary movement? What is the proverbial reward for good behaviour?

Now it gets more annoying..

 

Whenever there is a convergence of the stakeholders to discuss delicate matters that would put or take away food on the table of Nigerians, these religious leaders would be there to spiritually declare the meeting open and cover all said (but not done) with the blood of Jesus, most times would be allotted a segment on the agenda for a word of charge. What do they (men of God) really say? I might not seem thoroughly bred with the bible but I have read about Moses, Samuel, Elijah, Elisha, Isaiah, Jeremiah and Nathan who would look into the eyes of the kings and say “Thus said the Lord”. I only know of a pastor who openly rained brimstones and fire on the Boko Haram and their sponsors on live broadcast. I thought God said ‘be not afraid of their faces’ (Jer 1;8)?. I think that explains why a man of God got a waiver for multibillion naira worth of imported goods at the expense of the staggering economic status. That explains why we see churches and mosques openly breach the constitutional and fundamental restrictions of land acquisition code. That explains why you will see babelian towers right along the express ways without conscious consideration of road users. That justifies why these religious leaders enjoys what I have called a sacramental immunity that allows churches and mosques to gracefully evade tax. Didn’t Jesus pay tax? (Matthew 17:22-27). No wonder why Nigerians complain of casting down and the pastors can boldly say there is lifting up. (Job 22; 29). You don’t help make the word of God come true. It just does. Do I still have a Christian friend?

These unreserved benefits that this group enjoy from the government however have its salient implications; the politicians will invite them for birthdays, thanksgiving, dedications and exhibition of political relevance to create political scene to intimidate their opponent. I don’t know if you watched the thanksgiving cum political campaign recently held in Rivers State. The mouth-leaking governor carelessly utters words with pride and openly attempt to debase the integrity of Baba Adeboye. He was feeling cool to have him in the gathering he claimed to be a thanksgiving service and in his guise to show how close he’s been with baba said ‘don’t mind pastor Adeboye’. This was program that was broadcasted live on AIT. I wonder what Apple and Android is doing about viewers getting even with people through the TV screen (ugh.’)

If the place of the religious leaders is so esteemed that our mis-leaders want to be identified with them, then I believe that the task to advocate for the demands of the people is in a whisper. It would relief the men of God of the burden to have to intercede for the congregation in every matter. The members will not have to pray their way to get everything; miracle jobs; miracle marriages; miracle food on the table; miracle PHCN supply; miracle escape from Boko Haram; miracle oil subsidy; miracle education; miracle life. I am not saying it is wrong to hope on God in all these but why bother God on everything? Sometimes it takes wisdom to take delivery of some of our seemingly herculean demands. Let the gospel of good governance be preached. Let these opportunist know what God meant in 2 Timothy 2;15. Let them know the implication of self-glorified governance (Daniel 4). Let the true Muslims spread the message which God has confidently asserted his through surat al kawther when he said ‘Inna a 'taina ka-l-Kawthar, Fa salli li-Rabbi-ka wa-nhar, Inna shani' a-ka huwa-l-abtar’. (Lo! We have given thee Abundance; So pray unto thy Lord, and sacrifice. Lo! It is thy insulter (and not thou) who is without posterity.)

 If the wise refuse to write history on paper, the fools will use blood to write it on the sand.

 

I need a coffee break...