November 16, 2005
Today in this global world, no simple definition can describe
numerous religions in the world. To many people ,religion is an
organized systems of beliefs, ceremonies, practices and worship
that center on one supreme God, or the Deity. For some religion
involves a number of gods, deities. While others have a religion
in which no specific God or gods are worship. There are even
those who practice their own religious beliefs in their own
personal way, largely independent of organized religion. But
almost all the people who follow some form of religion believe
that a divine power created the world and influence their lives
.However from my own philosophy of religion ,it stands as guide
on how to live according to the ethics of religions ,to which
the end is peace and salvation in the bosom of our creator
forever.
Politics too, a complex concept with too many disputes. Politics
according to some refers to a process of obtaining power
political power and how it can be exercise satisfactorily for
the betterment and good of the society or state. Others said it
is a game of who get what, when where and how.A friend of mine
once said to me that it is a game of deceit and manipulation so
as to get political and economic power. Whatever it may be to
may people .Politics of course is politics with many
compartmentalization and it’s an everyday affair for mankind.
Both religion and politics are important institutions to
mankind, it depends on how the are being used ,it can be source
of joy and happiness and on the hand can be source of miseries,
and agony. To begin with South-Africa and the dismantling of the
apartheid government, it is a well known issue that religious
institutions were at the vanguard of the struggle along with
other political activists. Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Rev Allan
Bosak's struggle for the liberation of of the blacks was through
the religious orbit. Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu, Oliver Tambo
and Steve Biko revolution against the white minority government
was under the spectrum of political consciousness and political
activism. Of recent, one is aware of Nelson Mandela and
Desmond Tutu’s effort towards their country getting the hosting
of the 2010 World Cup.
The same story in Poland where the late Pope John Paul II
refined their quagmire and depravation while in the Poles trial
many priests were killed. The same in Philippines where
Ferdinand Marcos was chased out.
The negative application of both religion and politics can be
attributed to the Rwandan 1994 genocide, the Sudanese wars, etc.
All these do lead a nation to political instability, corruption,
mal-administration, religious and ethnic, and other phenomenon
coming through the wrong usage of our institutions.
In a country in which all of its people both in the position of
trust and leadership are religious, the positive significance of
the religiosity should have been reflected in the governmental
life and other sectors of the country. The president is a born
again along with governors so much so that some governors with
religious leaders were re-introducing many laws that have been
with us for time, but in their own architectural design so to
say. Others governors with their clerics too were counteracting
the first one.
Within a twinkle of an eye there was tension and war was
brewing right in ports of cheated indigents Nigerians amid the
poverty, servitude etc. Disharmony ,animosity, suspicions
,discord, bigotry and hatred became part and parcel of life.
This manipulations were not only played by politicians but with
religious leaders who joined suite all in the contest of power
and largesse that followed the so-called negotiation. All these
to the impoverishment of the poor unlearned masses to the
leisure’s and comfort of the elites of both institutions .
All these were orchestrated in the name of religion and
politics, Nigerians were segregated, the northerners were told
not to believe in the southerners, the same the southerners were
told not to trust in the northerners .The Muslims in the south
were told to align with Muslims in the north, the same the
Christians in the north were told to align with the Christians
in the south. While the divided poor Muslims and Christian were
killing and maiming one another the good thing the elites are
doing to celebrate and appreciate their blinding of Nigerians
indigents is to be giving themselves awards, the other time it
was in Zamfara state where some Christian clerics honored him
for his contributions towards peace and unity according to them
and the day it was in Rivers State in which the governor
according to some Muslims is the most Muslim Christian friendly
governor.
This has become a national affair of celebrating those
responsible of our disunity and disintegration.
In a nation where both institutions are compendium of Rev DR
Prof, Sheik Dr Prof, DR etc this and that one still wonder how
they cannot protect their followers from being exploited by the
unmindful and selfish leaders who preached probity and
accountability ,but negate justice, fairness ,sincerity in their
attitude of leadership. The same faction crises we are seeing in
our political parties are if not the same but worse in the
religion cycle,for there is even rigging of religious elections!
It has even come to a point in which the religious people cannot
be distinguished from politicians, for they are now accompanied
by security bodyguards in convoys akin to selfish partisan
politicians. When they are dishing out their sermons one sees
securities operatives keeping abreast of security threat .Please
where are we going with this mentality of materialistic and
worldly possessions instead of the quest for our final peace and
salvation.
Our national elections are marred with these stigma even before
time. When the president was asked some years ago, whether he
would run in 2003,he was quoted to have said until he consulted
God. After God consultations he sang a song "I have decided to
save Nigeria". One still wonder how God will endowed a nation
with many of his apostles but they are unmindful of the leads
plights. It is even on this that one is doubting the godliness
of our leadership. May be it is their own God not the supreme
God. The most pitiable thing is how government cronies are
always relentlessly propagating that there is growth and
development despite what people can attest that nothing good has
actually been sown by the government.
To my mind since the leadership is so full of godliness in
governmental business, Nigeria should have become a role models
not only to Nigerians but even those of our African siblings,
but the fact remains that Nigerians are not happy with their
government if really they have government. If we have
government, what is our national purpose and agenda as other
nations do set and work towards the realization of their agenda.
One still wonder if this what a religious nation go through in
the hands of their leaders.
Our leaders with their cultivated crudity have been using
Nigerians as a tool of object ional games .While these are going
they find solace in swapping public funds to foreign lands or
building an earth-heaven mansions before our very eyes to our
poverty and languishing. While the masses are blinded in hating
and chastising one another the elites are re-united in far away
Europe or America celebrating their loot .
Today in Nigeria, the news that the health sector has collapsed
is not a hyperbole ,absence of experienced medical personnel’s
and other hospital equipments attested this. The though that
education sector has fallen is not a fiction ,the hand-outs
saga, lectures intimidating students for cash and sex is a fact
.The fact that social vices are rampant in the society is not a
comedy .The fact that pensioners are denied their rights after a
merit able service to this nation is true. The laziness and
insensitive to duty of Nigerian civil servant is a reality. The
bastard nature of nation has even come to a situation were Army
and police are waging mini war among one federation security
outfit. All these are reflection of our country’s leadership and
fellowship. The political killings, the religious and ethnic
crises, MASSOP, Nigerdelta, Middel-bellt, the nationhood crises,
etc are of course hunting the survival of of Nigeria as a
nation. If it is one!
A government sensible should have given these priorities so as
to solve the scourge once and for all.
An irresponsible government is one that knows its problems and
failed to address it, for it shall multiplied in time and could
pose a threat to the survival and stability of that nation.
I still have one strong firm believe in my mind. That one day
Nigerians whether Christians or Muslims, Hausa or Efik would
rise one day not only to challenge but to crush their
oppressors, be they their tribesmen, religion people. It could
be a tall dream but would come to pass one day if things
continue this way. This piece excluded principle religious men
and politicians, who are not influenced by the sweet juices of
power.
Its on this that one is asking: When will religion and politics
saves Nigeria?