Photo credit: Quartz
That Nigerians are religious is an understatement. The peculiar situation of the country, where people are poor amidst a lot of resources has forced people to be looking up to God for salvation.
However, in the bid to get salvation, people must satisfy their basic needs. A person may not be able to satisfy those needs if he’s not employed.
Even those who’re employed are crying.
In Nigeria, some of the basic things people need are, shelter, food, education for their wards, health services, etc.
But since the government has not been able to solve their problems, a lot of people are now going to the chapels of men acting as God for solutions. While some of them actually find solutions to their multifarious problems, most get their fingers burnt in the process.
An example is the lady pastor who has become known for soliciting for twenty men that will donate a thousand dollars each. I know I’m a terrible mathematician, but I’m not so dumb as not to know that the total will give us seven million, three hundred thousand naira!
All in a day’s job!
No wonder, so many churches are springing up!
True, the more ‘humane’ pastors are acting like Robin Hood. That is they take from the rich and give to the poor. I mean, one thousand dollars is not easy to get in an economy like Nigeria’s.
But then, how much of the loot really goes into providing the basic needs for the people. In any case, if government had done it’s duty of providing good governance, will people necessarily be looking up to churches?
At the rate we are going, the governance of Nigeria will soon be taken over by churches and mosques. The economy has already been taken over by churches.
Abi, how do you describe a situation in which warehouses and factories are being occupied by churches?
By the way, nobody is being forced to patronize these churches, but na condition make crayfish bend!
Nigeria is surely a revolution waiting to happen!
080518
