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Prisoners of the Pulpit: How Congregational Ignorance Fuels Decay

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Prisoners of the Pulpit: How Congregational Ignorance Fuels Decay.

By George Omagbemi Sylvester | Published by saharaweeklyng.com

“Pastors exploit, but it is the blind loyalty of followers that keeps the chains of poverty locked.”

A Nation Enslaved by Ignorance.
It was a sweltering Sunday afternoon in Lagos. Outside the massive gates of a popular Pentecostal church, a shoeless young man selling sachet water argued passionately. The reporter had dared to question why his pastor needed a private jet while thousands of congregants could not afford three meals a day.

The young man, sweating under the sun, defended his “Daddy in the Lord” without hesitation:

“Leave my pastor alone! If he needs ten jets, let him buy them. He is doing God’s work.”

When asked if he himself had ever entered an airplane, the boy laughed bitterly. “No, but one day my seed will speak for me.”

That is Nigeria’s tragedy in one scene. A hungry man, who cannot afford transport beyond okada, defends the extravagance of a pastor who dines with politicians and owns fleets of cars. This is not faith, it is weaponized ignorance and it is destroying the nation more than bullets or bombs. “The tragedy of Nigeria is that the poor defend the rich who exploit them in the name of God.”

The Cult of Ignorance.
Nigeria’s greatest enemy today is not just the greed of pastors or the corruption of politicians; it is the ignorance of millions of followers who cheer while they are exploited. Congregants have been conditioned to see their poverty as proof of spiritual warfare and their pastor’s wealth as proof of divine favor.

As the scholar Paul Gifford put it, the prosperity gospel is “a theology of irresponsibility,” shifting blame for poverty onto demons and invisible forces, while exonerating pastors and politicians. Ruth Marshall, in her landmark study of Nigerian Pentecostalism, observed that followers often suspend critical thinking, treating total obedience to pastors as obedience to God.

This is why congregants defend jets while they cannot afford bicycles, why they fund multi-billion naira cathedrals while their children study under leaking roofs, why they clap when politicians are endorsed from the pulpit. Ignorance, sanctified in the name of faith, has become our greatest national chain.

Facts We Cannot Ignore.
The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) reported that 767 factories shut down in 2023 alone, with 335 more in distress. These were not just buildings, they were livelihoods. Yet, instead of saving industries, many of these abandoned factories were bought and converted into churches and prayer camps.

SaharaWeeklyNG.com have documented this disturbing trend. Where once machines roared and jobs were created, now microphones wail and offerings are collected. It is a cruel irony: Nigerians pray in the very spaces where they should be working.

The Obscene Contrast.
In 2015, a prominent Nigerian pastor justified his private jet by declaring that “commercial flights are filled with demons.” Another once said that a pastor without a jet is “not serious with God’s work.” Congregants roared in applause.

Meanwhile, the same congregations struggle to pay hospital bills, tuition fees and rent. Hunger stalks the pews, while luxury fuels the pulpit. As Archbishop Desmond Tutu once warned: “If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor” Nigerians are not neutral, they actively cheer their own oppressors.

IGNORANCE HERE IS NOT INNOCENCE. IT IS COMPLICITY.

The Political Dimension.
Pastors in Nigeria have long enjoyed cozy relationships with politicians, but it is the congregations who allow it. Instead of demanding accountability, they obey blindly when told: “Vote for this man; he is God’s chosen.”

This political obedience has devastating consequences. It delivers corrupt leaders to power through the pulpit pipeline. It makes democracy hostage to religion. It transforms the church from a house of prayer into an electoral machine.

Chinua Achebe’s words echo with chilling accuracy: “The trouble with Nigeria is simply and squarely a failure of leadership.” But leadership is not only in Aso Rock; it is also in the pulpits. And behind every failed pulpit stands a congregation too ignorant to resist.

When Ignorance Becomes Idolatry.
Congregational ignorance has crossed into idolatry. Many followers no longer worship God, they worship their pastors. They defend their leaders’ excesses as though their salvation depends on it. They treat pastors as monarchs, untouchable and unquestionable.

Comedians capture this tragic reality best. I Go Dye once joked: “Na only for Nigeria you go see poor man dey shout ‘Papa ride on’ when pastor dey talk about private jet. But na that same man never chop since morning.” Gordons added: “If miracle dey work the way dem talk, why pastors no lay hand on Nigeria’s economy make e rise?”

Behind the laughter lies bitter truth: a nation cannot prosper when its citizens celebrate exploitation.

The Cost of Ignorance.
The economic cost is staggering. When billions of naira are poured into offering baskets instead of investments, industries die. When factories become prayer camps, unemployment rises. When congregations treat pastors as gods, politicians find in them willing allies.

The moral cost is worse. We are raising a generation that values PROPHECY over PRODUCTIVITY, MIRACLES over MANUFACTURING, SUPERSTITION over SCIENCE. A generation that believes poverty is caused by demons instead of failed policies.

A Five-Point Wake-Up Call to Congregations.
Ask Questions. Faith is not stupidity. Any pastor who discourages critical thinking is an enemy of progress.

Stop Funding Vanity. Before you contribute to your pastor’s new jet, ask: How many jobs has he created with the billions already collected?

Invest in Education and Skills. Don’t just sow financial seeds; sow into your children’s future.

Separate Faith from Politics. Your vote belongs to your conscience not your pastor.

Return to the Gospel of Work. Scripture says: “If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.” Work not wishful thinking, builds nations.

Ignorance is a Choice.
It is time to stop pretending. Nigerians are not only victims of greedy pastors and corrupt politicians. Nigerians are also victims of their own ignorance. They willingly defend those who exploit them. They shout “ride on, Daddy!” even when Daddy rides on their backs.

As the late Fela Anikulapo-Kuti sang: “Suffering and smiling.” That is the Nigerian congregation today; smiling as they suffer, clapping as they are robbed, singing as they are enslaved.

Final Word.
Nigeria does not lack PRAYERS; it lacks PRODUCTION. It does not lack PROPHETS; it lacks PATRIOTS. Until the congregation wakes up, pastors will keep flying jets, politicians will keep looting and factories will keep closing.

The ignorance of the congregation is the real altar where Nigeria’s future is being sacrificed. Until the pews open their eyes, the pulpits will keep feeding on their blindness.

*Nigeria is not dying because pastors are greedy; it is dying because congregations are blind.”

 

Prisoners of the Pulpit: How Congregational Ignorance Fuels Decay.
By George Omagbemi Sylvester | Published by saharaweeklyng.com

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Ramadan: Adron Homes Felicitates Muslims, Preaches Hope and Unity

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Ramadan: Adron Homes Felicitates Muslims, Preaches Hope and Unity

Adron Homes & Properties Limited has congratulated Muslim faithful on the commencement of the holy month of Ramadan, urging Nigerians to embrace the virtues of sacrifice, discipline, and compassion that define the season.

In a statement made available to journalists, the company described Ramadan as a period of deep reflection, spiritual renewal, and strengthened devotion to faith and humanity.

According to the management, the holy month represents values that align with the organisation’s commitment to integrity, resilience, and community development.

“Ramadan is a time that teaches patience, generosity, and selflessness. As our Muslim customers and partners begin the fast, we pray that their sacrifices are accepted and that the season brings peace, joy, and renewed hope to their homes and the nation at large,” the statement read.

The firm reaffirmed its dedication to providing affordable and accessible housing solutions to Nigerians, noting that building homes goes beyond structures to creating environments where families can thrive.

Adron Homes further urged citizens to use the period to pray for national unity, economic stability, and sustainable growth.

It wished all Muslim faithful a spiritually fulfilling Ramadan.

Ramadan Mubarak.

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Underfunding National Security: Envelope Budgeting Fails Nigeria’s Defence By George Omagbemi Sylvester

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Underfunding National Security: Envelope Budgeting Fails Nigeria’s Defence

By George Omagbemi Sylvester | Published by saharaweeklyng.com

“Fiscal Rigidity in a Time of Crisis: Lawmakers Say Fixed Budget Ceilings Are Crippling Nigeria’s Fight Against Insurgency, Banditry, and Organized Crime.”

Nigeria’s legislature has issued a stark warning: the envelope budgeting system; a fiscal model that caps spending for ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) is inadequate to meet the country’s escalating security challenges. Lawmakers and budget analysts argue that rigid fiscal ceilings are undermining the nation’s ability to confront insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, separatist violence, oil theft and maritime insecurity.

The warning emerged during the 2026 budget defence session for the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) at the National Assembly in Abuja. Senator Yahaya Abdullahi (APC‑Kebbi North), chairman of the Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence, decried the envelope system, noting that security agencies “have been subject to the vagaries of the envelope system rather than to genuine needs and requirements.” The committee highlighted non-release or partial release of capital funds from previous budgets, which has hindered procurement, intelligence and operational capacity.

Nigeria faces a multi‑front security crisis: persistent insurgency in the North‑East, banditry and kidnappings across the North‑West and North‑Central, separatist tensions in the South‑East, and piracy affecting Niger Delta oil production. Despite declarations of a national security emergency by President Bola Tinubu, lawmakers point to a “disconnect” between rhetoric and the actual fiscal support for agencies tasked with enforcement.

Experts warn that security operations demand flexibility and rapid resource allocation. Dr. Amina Bello, a public finance specialist, said: “A static budget in a dynamic threat environment is like sending firefighters with water jugs to a forest fire. You need flexibility, not fixed ceilings, to adapt to unforeseen developments.”

The Permanent Secretary of Special Services at ONSA, Mohammed Sanusi, detailed operational consequences: irregular overhead releases, unfulfilled capital appropriations, and constrained foreign service funds. These fiscal constraints have weakened intelligence and covert units, hampering surveillance, cyber‑security, counter‑terrorism and intelligence sharing.

Delayed capital releases have stalled critical projects, including infrastructure upgrades and surveillance systems. Professor Kolawole Adeyemi, a governance expert, emphasized that “budgeting for security must allow for rapid reallocation in response to threats that move faster than political cycles. Envelope budgeting lacks this essential flexibility.”

While the National Assembly advocates fiscal discipline, lawmakers stress that security funding requires strategic responsiveness. Speaker Abbas Ibrahim underscored that security deserves “prominent and sustained attention” in the 2026 budget, balancing oversight with operational needs.

In response, the Senate committee plans to pursue reforms, including collaboration with the executive to restructure funding, explore supplementary budgets and ensure predictable and sufficient resources for security agencies. Experts warn that without reform, criminal networks will exploit these gaps, eroding public trust.

As one policy analyst summarized: “A nation declares a security emergency; but if its budget does not follow with real resources and oversight, the emergency remains rhetorical.” Nigeria’s debate over envelope budgeting is more than an accounting dispute; it is a contest over the nation’s security priorities and its commitment to safeguarding citizens.

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Rev. Mother Kehinde Osoba (Eritosin) Celebrates as She Marks Her Birthday

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Rev. Mother Kehinde Osoba (Eritosin) Celebrates as She Marks Her Birthday

 

Today, the world and the body of Christ rise in celebration of a rare vessel of honour, Rev. Mother Kehinde Osoba, fondly known as Eritosin, as she marks her birthday.

Born a special child with a divine mark of grace, Rev. Mother Eritosin’s journey in God’s vineyard spans several decades of steadfast service, spiritual depth, and undeniable impact. Those who know her closely describe her as a prophetess with a heart of gold — a woman whose calling is not worn as a title, but lived daily through compassion, discipline, humility, and unwavering faith.

From her early days in ministry, she has touched lives across communities, offering spiritual guidance, prophetic insight, and motherly counsel. Many testify that through her prayers and teachings, they encountered God in a deeply personal and transformative way. Near and far, her influence continues to echo — not only within church walls, but in homes, families, and destinies reshaped through her mentorship.

A mother in every sense of the word, Rev. Mother Kehinde Osoba embodies nurture and correction in equal measure. As a grandmother, she remains energetic in purpose — accommodating the wayward, embracing the rejected, and holding firmly to the belief that no soul is beyond redemption. Her life’s mission has remained consistent: to lead many to Christ and guide them into the light of a new beginning.

Deeply rooted within the C&S Unification, she stands tall as a spiritual pillar in the Cherubim and Seraphim Church globally. Her dedication to holiness, unity, and prophetic service has earned her widespread respect as a spiritual matriarch whose voice carries both authority and humility.

As she celebrates another year today, tributes continue to pour in from spiritual sons and daughters, church leaders, and admirers who see in her a living reflection of grace in action.

Prayer for Rev. Mother Kehinde Osoba (Eritosin)

May the Almighty God, who called you from birth and anointed you for His service, continually strengthen you with divine health and renewed vigour.

May your oil never run dry, and may your prophetic mantle grow heavier with greater glory.

May the lives you have nurtured rise to call you blessed.

May your latter years be greater than the former, filled with peace, honour, and the visible rewards of your labour in God’s vineyard.

May heaven continually back your prayers, and may your light shine brighter across nations.

Happy Birthday to a true Mother in Israel — Rev. Mother Kehinde Osoba (Eritosin).

More years.

More anointing.

More impact.

If you want this adapted for a newspaper page, church bulletin, Facebook post, or birthday flyer, just tell me the format and tone.

Rev. Mother Kehinde Osoba (Eritosin) Celebrated as She Marks Her Birthday

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