society
The Church as a Prison: How Pastors Keep Africa Enslaved
The Church as a Prison: How Pastors Keep Africa Enslaved.
By George Omagbemi Sylvester | Published by Sahara Weekly NG
They preach comfort instead of conviction, prosperity instead of truth and mental slavery instead of freedom. “Comfort replaces conviction and governments applaud their betrayal.”
The Betrayal of Christ’s Gospel.
It is no longer a secret that what we see on our pulpits today is far from what Jesus Christ Himself taught over 2,000 years ago. If the same Jesus who overturned the tables of corrupt money changers in the temple were physically present today, many of these so-called “men of God” would not only run for their lives but also face exposure for their deception. Christ preached freedom, truth, justice and boldness against the oppressive powers of His time. In contrast, many modern-day pastors have become cheerleaders of the ruling elite, deliberately reducing the church into an instrument of mental slavery.
Let us speak the truth without fear: if today’s pastors truly preached the radical gospel of Christ (condemning injustice, exposing government wickedness and mobilizing believers towards righteousness in governance) they would be arrested, harassed and prosecuted. Instead, governments across Africa and beyond give them patronage, front seats at state banquets and sometimes political appointments. Why? Because they are not a threat to oppression; they are an extension of it.
The Revolutionary Nature of Christ’s Message.
The ministry of Jesus was not one of political correctness. He was not a motivational speaker promising “BREAKTHROUGHS” and “PROSPERITY.” Instead, He declared in Luke 4:18: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed.”
Christ did not promise private jets; He promised persecution. He did not preach “sow a seed for your miracle”; He demanded repentance and justice. He called the religious leaders of His time “HYPOCRITES,” “BLIND GUIDES,” and “a BROOD of VIPERS” (Matthew 23). If pastors today echoed such thunderous rebuke, they would be on government watchlists not on billboards smiling beside governors.
Mental Slavery Disguised as Religion.
Religion, in its corrupted form, has long been used as a tool of control. The late Kenyan intellectual, Professor John Mbiti, once noted: “Religion in Africa has often been manipulated as an anesthetic, dulling people’s consciousness against the injustices around them.”
Colonialists understood this tactic perfectly. During the transatlantic slave trade, enslaved Africans were forced to embrace a distorted version of Christianity designed to keep them obedient. While verses about obedience to masters were emphasized, the liberating passages about freedom and justice were conveniently ignored. This is what Jamaican revolutionary Marcus Garvey meant when he said: “We are going to emancipate ourselves from mental slavery, because whilst others might free the body, none but ourselves can free the mind.”
Sadly, African pastors today continue this legacy. Rather than empowering the people to resist corrupt governments, they encourage blind submission, promising that “your reward is in heaven” while collaborating with the very politicians that rob the poor.
Government and the Prosperity Gospel Alliance.
It is not accidental that governments tolerate and even endorse these churches. The prosperity gospel (preaching that faith guarantees wealth and comfort) creates docile followers who do not challenge injustice. When poverty is explained as a “spiritual problem” rather than the direct consequence of bad governance, corrupt leaders are shielded from accountability.
Dr. Allan Boesak, South African theologian and anti-apartheid activist, once warned: “Any theology that is indifferent to the suffering of the people is not theology but ideology in service of oppression.” Today’s Nigerian, Ghanaian and South African mega-churches are guilty of exactly this. They preach an ideology of silence, urging members to pray for their leaders rather than demand accountability from them.
That is why the government has no problem when pastors gather millions in crusades, as long as the message is harmless to power. If a pastor dares to echo Christ and thunder against corruption, as Archbishop Oscar Romero did in El Salvador before he was assassinated in 1980, then he becomes a target.
Christ Versus the Modern Pastor. The difference between Christ and modern pastors is as clear as light and darkness:
Jesus preached AGAINST the elite; modern pastors wine and dine with them.
Jesus DEMANDED justice for the poor; modern pastors demand tithes from the poor.
Jesus DECLARED truth without compromise; modern pastors dilute truth with motivational speeches.
Jesus FACED PERSECUTION from the state; modern pastors enjoy state protection.
The late Nigerian literary giant, Chinua Achebe, once remarked: “The trouble with Nigeria is simply and squarely a failure of leadership.” That failure is not limited to political leaders; it extends to spiritual leaders who have abandoned their prophetic responsibility to speak truth to power.
Facts That Cannot Be Denied.
Africa has the fastest-growing Christian population in the world. Pew Research reports that by 2060, 40% of all Christians globally will live in sub-Saharan Africa. Yet, this growth has not translated into reduced corruption or poverty. Why? Because religion has been domesticated into an escape from reality rather than a tool of transformation.
The prosperity gospel enriches pastors not societies. Forbes reports that some Nigerian pastors rank among the richest religious leaders worldwide, with fortunes worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Meanwhile, Nigeria ranks as one of the poorest nations, with over 133 million people living in multidimensional poverty according to the National Bureau of Statistics (2022).
Government complicity is evident. In many African countries, churches are exempted from taxation, even while they collect billions in offerings and donations. Politicians regularly appear at crusades during election seasons, using pulpits as campaign stages.
These are not coincidences; they are strategies.
The Path Forward: Reclaiming the True Gospel.
If Africans are to break free from mental slavery, they must demand a gospel that liberates rather than imprisons. The words of Ghanaian scholar Kwame Nkrumah ring true: “The emancipation of the mind is the greatest task confronting our continent.” This emancipation will not come from pastors selling anointed oil or politicians buying church loyalty; it will come from believers insisting that the gospel must confront, not comfort, oppressive systems.
The church must return to its prophetic roots:
Condemn bad governance with fearless boldness.
Defend the oppressed against exploitation.
Teach financial independence, not blind dependence on “miracle seeds.”
Remind believers that faith without works (without justice, without accountability) is dead.
Final Word.
The gospel of Christ is REVOLUTIONARY, RADICAL and LIBERATING. The gospel of today’s pastors is DOMESTICATED, COMMERCIALIZED and ENSLAVING. Until the church reclaims its true mission, governments will continue to support these mental prison wardens because they help keep the masses silent.
As the great African-American theologian Howard Thurman said: “Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive and go do it. What the world needs is people who have come alive.”
Africa needs a church that is alive, not one that is asleep in the arms of corrupt power.
STILL ON DELE MOMODU by Chief Femi Fani-Kayode
I saw Dele Momodu’s response to my article on him & was amused.
I tried to be polite & restrained in that write up & I didn’t realise that it would hurt him so deeply. Yet for that I offer no apology.
I said he sounded tired & worne in his interview with Seun Okinbaloye but from his response today it is clear that he is now completely unhinged.
He has blown his gasket & his reaction is rooted more in emotion than it is in logic.
Frankly I feel sorry for him because it is clear that he is fighting a lost cause, he is badly diminished & he is now a shadow of his former self.
For Bobby Dee the glory days are certainly over & I suspect that by 2027 when Tinubu emerges victorious he will crawl back into the hole that he originally came from.
Perhaps at that time he will go back to taking pictures of former Governor Nyesom Wike, the Adeleke’s & other prominent figures for a living & shining their shoes.
Playing clips of things that I said about President Tinubu 11 years ago when I was in the then opposition & when I led the media section of President Jonathan’s presidential campaign organisation will not help him to get rid of the stench of faeces that he has immersed himself in today & neither does it derogate from the fact that he was speaking rubbish when he said Tinubu is a dictator.
Unlike others I will never deny what I have said in the past about Tinubu or anyone else but at least I had the decency & courage to admit that I was wrong & ever since I left the then opposition and joined the APC in 2021 I have not looked back.
Not only did I fight for Tinubu in 2023 during the presidential campaign but I have remained loyal & committed to him & his cause since then and I have no apology for that either.
Unlike Dele I did not benefit from him for close to 40 years, eat from his plate, collect handouts from him, stay in his house, claim to be his brother and yet refuse to support him in achieving his dream of becoming President.
Bobby Dee’s nose is so far up the posterior of those he is now slaving for that he forgot to mention the fact that every single one of them, at some point or the other in their sorry lives & career, have not only changed political parties several times over but have also opposed Tinubu bitterly & even more vehemently than I ever did only to go back & later re-align with him.
I do not begrudge them or blame them for that because that is the nature of politics all over the world.
There are no permanent friends or enemies but only permanent interests and in my view it is in the interest of Nigeria that Tinubu continues the reforms that he started in 2023 after he was elected President.
It is also my view that Nigeria must never fall into the hands of the conglomeration of court jesters, sorry clowns & motely crew of insufferable jokers that Dele is now speaking, slaving & fronting for.
I will still be gentle with my old friend because I have a soft spot for him but if he ever crosses the line with me again I will stop being so restrained.
He does not have the stomach for a real fight because he is vain and thin-skinned. He also has an over- inflated opinion of himself and a huge ego.
These are weaknesses in this game and not strengths and as we get closer to the presidential campaign he will learn this the hard way.
Meanwhile he should stay in his lane otherwise I will give him plenty to write about.
For him to compare Tinubu to Abacha was wrong and if he was anything like the dictator that Dele claims he is both Dele and those he speaks for today would either be dead or in jail.
He should count himself lucky that our President is a democrat and not a monster.
Dele’s lies, duplicity & shameless perfidy have finally been exposed & are as obvious & glaring as his very large stomach.
I advise him to do some press ups & go jogging because unlike before I will no longer remain silent as he & his friends throw mud at our President.
Game on!
(FFK)
society
OWUTU FM 2026 Ramadan Lecture: Sheikh Jamiu Asanbe Urges Muslims to Avoid Showboating in Worship
OWUTU FM 2026 Ramadan Lecture: Sheikh Jamiu Asanbe Urges Muslims to Avoid Showboating in Worship.
The Chief Imam of Agelete Central Mosque, Ikoyi Lagos, Alhaji Jamiu Asanbe, has urged Muslims to remain sincere in their acts of worship and avoid the temptation of seeking public praise for good deeds.
The respected Islamic scholar gave this admonition while delivering a lecture at the OWUTU FM 2026 Ramadan Lecture, held on Saturday, February 28, 2026, in Lagos.
Speaking on the importance of sincerity in Islam, Sheikh Asanbe cautioned Muslim faithful against what he described as “showboating” — the practice of performing charitable acts or religious duties merely to gain recognition or admiration from others.
According to him, every act of worship in Islam must be done purely for the sake of Almighty Allah.
He explained that while acts such as prayer, fasting, and charity are fundamental pillars of faith, their true value lies in the intention behind them.
The cleric therefore encouraged Muslims to remain genuine in their devotion and avoid mixing their faith with the desire for worldly praise or attention.
Sheikh Asanbe also reminded the faithful that the holy month of Ramadan presents a unique opportunity for spiritual renewal. He urged believers to increase acts of generosity, particularly by supporting the needy, vulnerable members of society, and orphans.
Earlier in her remarks, the Convener of the Ramadan Lecture and CEO of OWUTU FM, Hajia Adejoke Muyibat Balogun, encouraged attendees to use the sacred month as a time for reflection, self-improvement, and community development.
She described the lecture theme as carefully selected to promote spirituality, strengthen faith, and encourage peaceful coexistence within the community.
Balogun expressed appreciation to the numerous guests and supporters who attended the event, noting that their presence reflected the strong bond within the community.
She further reaffirmed OWUTU FM’s commitment to sustaining the annual Ramadan Lecture, praying for Allah’s continued guidance and mercy in the years ahead.
The 2026 edition of the Ramadan Lecture attracted dignitaries and representatives from various organisations including Uzamot Communications, Okutex Fabrics, and the Yeye Asiwaju of Ojota Kingdom.
The event also featured engaging activities such as a quiz competition, where winners were presented with gifts. In the spirit of Ramadan, iftar meals were shared with guests, reinforcing the values of unity, generosity, and compassion that define the holy month.
Through initiatives like this, OWUTU FM continues to play a vital role in promoting faith-based dialogue, community engagement, and social harmony.
Tinubu Abroad, Nigeria in Chaos: The Spectacle of Elite Excess
By George Omagbemi Sylvester
“Government officials queue to bid him farewell as he departs, only to rush ahead and line up again to welcome him at his destination; a stark display of misaligned priorities in Nigerian leadership.”
Wednesday, March18, 2026
In a spectacle that has plunged Nigeria’s political class into fresh ignominy, a long line of federal ministers, governors, senators and political hangers‑on queued outside a London hotel this week to welcome President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR upon his arrival in the United Kingdom for a two‑day state visit.
Not only did these government officials send off Mr. Tinubu as he departed Nigeria (a ritual in itself excessive given the scale of pressing national crises) they rushed ahead to London to line the halls of his hotel, applauding and greeting him like conquering heroes arriving on foreign shores. This is how Nigeria’s elites now comport themselves while millions of citizens endure ever‑deepening hardship.
A Travesty of Priorities
Tinubu’s visit to the UK, hosted by King Charles III and Queen Camilla, is officially billed as an effort to deepen trade relations, attract investment and strengthen bilateral cooperation between Britain and Africa’s most populous nation. While those diplomatic objectives in theory could benefit Nigeria, the optics of an entire political class fawning over a president abroad are unbearably grim against the backdrop of domestic suffering.
According to recent economic analysis, despite macroeconomic adjustments such as ending fuel subsidies and floating the naira, more than 60% of Nigerians still live in poverty and daily hardships are rampant. Security remains a grave concern with violence and banditry destabilising large swathes of the country. Instead of addressing these crises with urgency, Nigeria’s leadership appears fascinated with photo‑ops overseas.
“A System of Self‑Centred Elites”
Critics within Nigeria have not minced words. Political observers describe the spectacle as a display of self‑centred politics divorced from the realities facing ordinary citizens. One observer on social platforms summed up the broader sentiment: “Tinubu represents a system of self‑centred elites (elite consensus over popular will) and this is exactly the performative politics that lines like these embody.”
Dr. Godfrey Mwakikagile, a respected African scholar on post‑colonial governance, has long warned that bad leadership and lack of accountability are Africa’s greatest challenges. “Power in many African states is too centralised and concentrated in the hands of elites who use it to perpetuate themselves at the expense of the public good,” Mwakikagile recently argued; a critique that resonates all the more when ministers fly abroad not to pursue tangible policy but to line up like admirers.
The Cost of Foreign Pageantry
This isn’t the first time Tinubu’s foreign engagements have attracted scrutiny. His administration’s frequent travels (often with large entourages) have drawn criticism for prioritising optics over outcomes, especially when Nigeria’s economy contracts and its people struggle with food inflation and insecurity.
Former presidential candidate Peter Obi has been among the most vocal domestic critics of these priorities, noting that Tinubu’s extensive foreign travel (including to the UK) distracts from urgent national needs and has become a “matter of grave concern.” Obi insists that such actions reveal a leadership more interested in global visibility than domestic wellbeing.
Nigeria Jagajaga!
The phrase “Nigeria jagajaga” (loosely translated as Nigeria being in disarray) has never felt more apt. A nation where ministers greet presidents in plush foreign suites while citizens queue for food and services is a country deeply out of balance.
Instead of being welcomed like dignitaries abroad, ministers and governors should be at home addressing the root causes of Nigeria’s struggles: insecurity that displaces communities and kills livelihoods, an economy that leaves the majority impoverished despite reforms, and the persistent failings of governance that erode public trust.
What Nigerians Deserve
President Tinubu and his entourage should be judged not by the number of ministers who lined up to greet him in London, but by the lives changed back in Nigeria.
As scholars like Mwakikagile and critics like Obi remind us, political leadership must be accountable and grounded in service, not spectacle. Nigeria’s leaders owe the people more than applause at international hotels; they owe them safety, economic opportunity, and genuine progress.
If this nation is ever to break free from the cycle of “jagajaga,” then those in power must demonstrate sincerity, not pageantry; action, not admiration. The lines outside a London hotel are not a testament to leadership; they are a testament to where Nigeria’s priorities have tragically come to rest.
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