Africa’s Real Struggle: RELIGION, TRIBALISM and POLITICAL ROT. Our Greatest Enemies Are Within. (Opinion) 

By George Omagbemi Sylvester | Published by SaharaWeeklyNG.com

In 2025, Africa continues to bleed not from the lashes of colonialism, but from self-inflicted wounds of religious fanaticism, tribal bigotry and unchecked political greed. While the continent has achieved independence from colonial rule decades ago, it remains mentally enslaved, economically pillage and socially disoriented by the very people who swore to liberate it. THE PAINFUL TRUTH IS: AFRICA’S BIGGEST PROBLEM IS NOT THE WEST. IT IS AFRICANS.

Religion Without Righteousness. Across Africa today, mega-churches rise like castles, even in the midst of HUNGER-STRICKEN and POVERTY-RAVAGED COMMUNITIES. The new “holy war” is not spiritual but economic. Factories are being converted into religious centers, while jobs vanish into thin air. Clergymen live in obscene opulence, flying private jets and owning fleets of luxury cars, while their followers sleep in makeshift shacks. Instead of producing goods, we now mass-produce prayers.

Nigeria, for example, has more churches per capita than most countries in the world, yet it ranks among the poorest nations globally. The 2024 World Bank data shows that over 71 million Nigerians live in extreme poverty. Contrast this with the net worth of some religious leaders who rank among Africa’s richest individuals. Pastor David Oyedepo is reportedly worth over $150 million, according to Forbes estimates, while many of his congregants survive on less than a dollar a day. This is not faith. This is fraud wrapped in holy garments.

Religious manipulation has replaced colonial indoctrination. Clergy no longer challenge power; they dine with politicians. They bless looters and prophesy victory for criminals in exchange for favors. As Professor Patrick Lumumba rightly said, “Africans have become so religious that they cannot question their religious leaders even when they are clearly wrong.” The pulpit is no longer a sacred place for the truth; it has become a political podium for lies, deception and control.

Tribalism is Africa’s Terminal Cancer. We chant unity in public and sow division in private. In every African election, tribal loyalty often supersedes competence. Nations like Nigeria, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of Congo are fragmented along ethnic and tribal lines. Rwanda, once torn apart by the Hutu-Tutsi genocide of 1994, serves as a tragic reminder of what tribalism can cost.

Despite our education, tribal thinking remains deeply entrenched. In Nigeria, the “WE versus THEM” narrative has crippled national cohesion. In South Africa, xenophobia cloaked in tribal solidarity continues to target fellow Africans under the guise of nationalism. In Ethiopia, the Tigray conflict revealed how fragile the union is when tribal supremacy becomes weaponized.

As former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan once said, “We may have different religions, different languages, different colored skin, but we all belong to one human race.” Sadly, Africa has yet to internalize this.

Tribalism is not cultural pride, it is cultural ignorance when it becomes exclusionary. It stifles innovation, undermines meritocracy and empowers mediocrity. It fuels electoral violence, promotes nepotism, and discourages inter-ethnic cooperation.

Politics of Plunder, Not Progress. Perhaps the greatest tragedy in Africa is its breed of leaders who are GREEDY, SELFISH and UNAPOLOGETICALLY CORRUPT. From state houses to parliaments, political power has become a license to loot. The idea of public service is extinct; what remains is private enrichment under public titles.

Based on the Global Financial Integrity (GFI) report, Africa loses over $88.6 billion annually in illicit financial flows. Most of this money ends up in European banks, offshore tax havens and luxury real estate in Dubai, London and other parts of Europe. While hospitals rot and schools collapse, politicians siphon billions to buy yachts and castles overseas.

In Angola, former President José Eduardo dos Santos and his daughter Isabel reportedly siphoned over $2.1 billion of public wealth. In Nigeria, the late General Sani Abacha looted more than $5 billion, with billions still being recovered decades later. South Africa’s Jacob Zuma presided over what became globally known as “state capture,” a monumental abuse of power by private interests, notably the Gupta family.

These are not isolated incidents; they represent a continent-wide disease. From Zimbabwe’s Mugabe to Equatorial Guinea’s Obiang Nguema, Africa’s leaders have perfected the art of staying in power through manipulation, oppression and division.

As Chinua Achebe warned in his classic The Trouble with Nigeria, “The trouble with Nigeria is simply and squarely a failure of leadership.” That statement remains painfully accurate across the entire continent.

When Will the Healing Begin?
Africa does not need pity. It needs action. We need to stop blaming colonialism for problems created and perpetuated by Africans. Yes, the colonial past was brutal and exploitative, but six decades after independence, the excuse has expired.

The healing begins when: We hold our religious leaders accountable.
The gospel is not a business model. Mosques and churches should be taxed if they become profit-making enterprises. Religious institutions must return to their roles as moral compasses not financial empires.

We dismantle tribal politics. The media, civil society and schools must lead the campaign to promote national identity over tribal loyalty. Young people must be taught to value competence, vision and ethics; not TRIBE or TONGUE.

We prosecute and shame corrupt leaders. Anti-corruption must go beyond political slogans. We must reform our judiciary, empower civil society and adopt technology to track public funds. Leaders must be treated as servants not kings.

We invest in education and critical thinking.
An INFORMED CITIZEN is a DANGEROUS CITIZEN to CORRUPT RULERS. Schools must teach civic responsibility, not just pass exams. As Thomas Jefferson said, “An educated citizenry is a vital requisite for our survival as a free people.”

We must love Africa enough to stay and build.
The exodus of Africa’s best minds to Europe and America must be reversed. Brain drain is not just an economic issue but also a moral one. Who will fix Africa if everyone runs away?

The Time is Now. Africa has the youngest population in the world, with over 60% under the age of 25. This is our greatest hope and greatest risk. If empowered, this generation can rebuild the continent. If ignored, they can burn it down. As Nelson Mandela said, “Young people must take it upon themselves to ensure that they receive the highest education possible so that they can represent us well in the future as future leaders.”

The mirror does not lie. Africa’s true enemy is not COLONIALISM, EUROPE or AMERICA. The true enemy is the preacher selling lies for tithes, the tribal chief selling division for loyalty and the politician selling the future for foreign accounts.

It is time to stop praying for change and start acting for it. Let the healing start. Let the chains we placed on ourselves be broken; by us.

Written by George Omagbemi Sylvester
Published by SaharaWeeklyNG.com