It looks abnormal to say that Nigerians should be cautious of their spiritual heads. Corruption also has rooms in religion and it is the easiest way of deception when it is said that God or Allah says or the titles: ‘Pastor, Bishop, Deacon, Imam, Alfa, etc’ are mentioned. Corruption affects both heads and followers, especially over-consciousness of money and other materials demands in churches. By virtue of my profession, I know how religious bodies are flouted, the requirements and the tricks in compliance with law over time and the reality in religious bodies’ operation in Nigeria. I have received pathetic much complaint from clients over transactions with so called Pastors who have swindled them; similar news from learned colleagues not to talk of different spiritual heads being alleged of crime seen on media. This is not even limited to one denomination or the other – individuals’ intentions have often override God’s principles.
Simply, Nigerians are using religion, ethnicity and politics to deceive and swindle their fellow Nigerians. Where is our conscience? Where is love? Where are God fearing Nigerians when camps are filled with Nigerians with different criminal minds, wickedness and deceptions?
This writeup was prompted by a lawyer who arraigned in court yesterday for standing as a surety to his trusted church Pastor at Police Station who was alleged of swindling someone of N24 Million over land transaction he never had but collected money. Usually, law enforcement agents, including EFCC will want lawyers to stand as sureties especially if you are proving that you know your client’s constitutional rights, but as a lawyer, it should ring in your brain that you should not stand as a surety to your family, let alone your spiritual head. It was pathetic and I felt like crying for this worried lawyer and the pastor was nowhere to be found. ‘Please, no human is greater than you even in religion; we have equal access to God. “the word ‘anointing’ should not be misunderstood for followers’ stupidity.”
Happy Weekend as we work on having positive mindset towards ourselves and our country.
– Prince Olumide Akindiya, Esq.