society
Africa’s Real Struggle: RELIGION, TRIBALISM and POLITICAL ROT. Our Greatest Enemies Are Within
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
society
Nigerian Prophet Begs Federal Government to Stop Killing of Christians, Backs Tinubu’s Second Term
Nigerian Prophet Begs Federal Government to Stop Killing of Christians, Backs Tinubu’s Second Term
Abuja – Rev Prophet Dr Hungbenu Michael Olusegun, Founder of Celestrial Deliverance Church of Christ in Zhidu Village, Abuja, has made an emotional appeal to the Federal Government to stop the killing of Christians across Nigeria while also throwing his weight behind President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term in office.
Speaking from his Abuja headquarters, the Prophet declared that leadership is a continuum and that Nigeria’s ongoing reforms require stability and time to bear fruit. He said, “Politics has nothing to do with religion. The ballot box is not the altar. Whether you are from the East, the North, the West, or the Yoruba community, we are one people under God.”
Rev Prophet Dr Hungbenu Michael Olusegun used the opportunity to make a special appeal to the Federal Government, saying, “I beg the Federal Government, in the name of God and for the sake of humanity: Please help stop the killing of Christians across this nation. From the villages to the cities, too much innocent blood has been shed. Targeted attacks on Christian communities must stop. We plead for stronger protection, justice for victims, and lasting peace.” He acknowledged the pain of insecurity, especially the killing of Christians and farmers across the Middle Belt and Northern Nigeria, but also noted verifiable security gains under President Tinubu including over 3,000 hostages rescued from bandits and terrorists in the last 12 months, deployment of new attack helicopters and surveillance drones to flashpoints, and a reduction in oil theft from over 400,000 barrels per day to under 200,000 barrels per day.
He said, “The issue is security, and security is everybody’s business. We cannot build a nation if our people are not safe. But we must also acknowledge progress.” He added that a second term would allow the administration to consolidate its security architecture rather than restarting with new leadership.
On economic reforms, Rev Prophet Dr Hungbenu Michael Olusegun argued that President Tinubu’s first term has witnessed the most audacious economic reforms in Nigeria’s recent history, including fuel subsidy removal saving the nation over ₦400 billion monthly, a unified exchange rate attracting over $2 billion in foreign portfolio inflows, the Student Loans Act benefiting over 100,000 students, and local government autonomy. He argued that no major economy in the world has successfully reversed course after landmark reforms within a single term, adding that abandoning the reform agenda now would plunge Nigeria back into uncertainty.
Rev Prophet Dr Hungbenu Michael Olusegun stressed that President Tinubu’s emergence broke a dangerous cycle, noting that Tinubu is the first Southern Muslim to lead Nigeria since 1993, balancing power after eight years of a Northern President. He pointed out that under Tinubu, the South holds the presidency of the Senate but the Speaker of the House is from the North-West. He urged, “Let the East join hands with the West. Let the North embrace the South. Let the Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa, and all 250 plus tribes say: ‘Nigeria first.’”
Drawing comparisons to global examples such as India’s Narendra Modi, Rwanda’s Paul Kagame, and Indonesia’s Joko Widodo, the Prophet argued that second terms deliver long-term prosperity. He said, “Nigeria is not an exception. If we change leadership every four years, we will remain a building site forever.”
Rev Prophet Dr Hungbenu Michael Olusegun closed with a prayer and a charge: “Nigeria will only rise when we rise above division. I am not speaking as Ogu, Yoruba, Igbo, or Hausa. I speak as a Nigerian, and as a minister of the gospel of peace. God bless President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.” He urged all Nigerians to pray for the nation, support security agencies, and give President Tinubu the opportunity to complete what he has started. The press release was issued on 20th April 2026 from his church in Zhidu Village behind Piwoyi Village off Lugbe Airport Road, FCT Abuja.
society
₦100 Million Bribe Offer Rejected As Police STS Operatives Expose Criminal Syndicate
₦100 Million Bribe Offer Rejected As Police STS Operatives Expose Criminal Syndicate
The Special Tactical Squad (STS) of the Nigeria Police Force has recorded a major breakthrough in its sustained crackdown on the vandalisation of critical national infrastructure, with the arrest of two notorious suspects and the recovery of railway materials valued at over ₦400,000,000.
Acting on the directive of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, psc(+), NPM, to decisively tackle acts of economic sabotage, operatives of the Force Intelligence Department – Special Tactical Squad (FID-STS), under the leadership of ACP Victor Ogbeide Godfrey, executed a swift, intelligence-driven operation that led to the arrest of Chisom Goodnews (32) and Ahmed Adamu (22) on April 9, 2026, in Akwanga, Nasarawa State.
The suspects were intercepted while transporting vandalised railway infrastructure in a calculated attempt to evade detection. Recovered from them was a trailer truck with registration number KRB 355 SX, conveying railway tracks and sleepers weighing approximately 60 tonnes, cleverly concealed under sacks of groundnut shells. Preliminary investigations indicate that the suspects are part of a well-coordinated syndicate responsible for the illegal removal and transportation of railway materials from Bauchi State to Ilorin, Kwara State, representing a significant threat to Nigeria’s transportation infrastructure.
Speaking on the operation, ACP Victor Ogbeide Godfrey revealed that in a desperate bid to compromise the officers and frustrate the arrest, the suspects offered a staggering sum of ₦100 million as a bribe to allow them passage with the illicit cargo. The offer was, however, outrightly rejected by the operatives, who remained resolute in the discharge of their duties. This firm stance underscores the Nigeria Police Force’s renewed commitment to professionalism, integrity, and its zero-tolerance policy towards corruption.
Further investigations are ongoing to apprehend the intended receiver of the stolen materials in Ilorin, as well as other members of the syndicate, while efforts are being intensified to recover additional exhibits linked to the criminal network.
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, has reiterated the Force’s unwavering resolve to bring all perpetrators of economic sabotage to justice, warning that acts of vandalisation of public assets will not be tolerated. He assured that all individuals found culpable will be made to face the full weight of the law.
society
Nigeria Police Initiative Targets Youth Vices As POCACOV Undertakes Strategic Visit To Cross River
Nigeria Police Initiative Targets Youth Vices As POCACOV Undertakes Strategic Visit To Cross River
As part of a two-day strategic working visit to Cross River State, the National Coordinator of POCACOV (Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices), SP Orvenonne Ikwen, Ph.D., embarked on a series of high-level engagements aimed at strengthening partnerships, deepening community participation, and advancing the non-kinetic approach to crime prevention across the state, in line with the vision of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, psc(+), NPM, whose policing philosophy is rooted in community partnership, public trust, proactive engagement, and preventive policing aimed at building safer communities across Nigeria.
The visit commenced with a courtesy call on the Commissioner of Police, Cross River State Command, CP Rashid B. Afegbua, psc, mnips, who warmly received the National Coordinator and commended the POCACOV initiative for its significant impact in tackling cultism, bullying, drug abuse, gangsterism, school violence, and other social vices affecting young people and vulnerable groups. He reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to supporting proactive policing strategies that promote trust, restore public confidence, and ensure lasting peace and security across Cross River State.
In continuation of the visit, the National Coordinator paid a courtesy visit to the Honourable Commissioner for Youth Development, Barr. Ijom Ukam, who described the POCACOV visit as timely and highly strategic, especially during what he referred to as a volatile and transitional period in society. He emphasized that the engagement reinforces the collective responsibility of government, institutions, and citizens in addressing the growing concerns of social vices among young people.
According to him, “The primary responsibility of every government is the security of its citizens,” noting that the adoption of the non-kinetic approach by the Nigeria Police Force through POCACOV demonstrates that the Police truly care about the future of Nigerian youths. He commended the Nigeria Police Force for embracing preventive policing and pledged the Ministry’s full support for POCACOV activities in Cross River State.
Barr. Ijom Ukam further declared that POCACOV has come to stay in Cross River State and assured the National Coordinator of sustained collaboration in mobilizing young people, creating awareness, and implementing youth-focused interventions that will help eradicate crime and social vices from the state.
As part of the media advocacy component of the visit, SP Orvenonne Ikwen also visited prominent radio stations including HIT FM and Sparkling FM, where she engaged media stakeholders on the need for continuous public sensitization, youth mentorship, and strategic communication in crime prevention. She stressed the critical role of the media in shaping positive narratives, promoting civic responsibility, and supporting national efforts to discourage cultism and other harmful behaviors among youths.
The National Coordinator also met with content creators and digital influencers in the state, including popular creative personality MC Koboko, to strengthen collaboration in using social media and entertainment platforms as tools for advocacy and youth engagement. She emphasized that content creators remain powerful voices in shaping public perception and influencing positive behavioral change among young people. She called for stronger partnerships with creative stakeholders to amplify the message of POCACOV and promote peace, responsibility, and social values across communities.
She noted that POCACOV remains a major strategic initiative of the Nigeria Police Force designed to complement law enforcement with prevention-focused solutions, reflecting the IGP’s vision of policing that is rooted in public trust, inclusiveness, and strong community partnership.
The working visit further strengthened collaboration between POCACOV, the Cross River State Police Command, the Ministry of Youth Development, educational institutions, religious leaders, traditional institutions, parents, and the media, all united in the shared goal of building safer communities and securing a better future for the younger generation.
The visit stands as another strong testament to the Nigeria Police Force’s commitment to preventive policing, youth empowerment, and sustainable peacebuilding through stakeholder engagement and strategic partnerships.
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