The Nation Newspaper

Tag: religious leaders

  • US Envoy holds roundtable with religious leaders fighting corruption

    Acting United States Special Representative for Religion and Global Affairs Amy Lillis held a roundtable discussion on Thursday with members of the Religious Leaders Anti-Corruption (RLAC) working group.

    The Religious Leaders Anti-Corruption (RLAC) working group was formed in 2016 by Muslim and Christian religious leaders with the primary goal of addressing how faith communities could take a leading role in anticorruption advocacy in Nigeria. The group has since developed partnerships with leading anti-corruption voices in civil society in order to fight corruption at all levels in Nigeria.

    During the meeting, Special Representative Lillis pledged the U.S. government’s continued support to the religious leaders as they work to find lasting solutions to stamp out the scourge of corruption.

    “The moral standing of religious leaders, and the capacity of religious institutions to reach a broad cross-section of Nigerian society, make RLAC’s work essential to the future of anticorruption advocacy,” Special Representative Lillis said.  ”It is my pleasure to be here to support this next stage of the Religious Leaders Anti-Corruption working group. Religious leaders are an essential component of the multi-faceted fight against corruption in this country.”

    She explained that working against corruption is essential to many of the priorities of both the U.S. government and the religious leaders, including constructing peaceful, secure societies, and promoting prosperity.

    At the event, the religious leaders discussed additional innovative options for bringing the principles of anti-corruption to the grassroots. They resolved to disseminate anti-corruption message through media outlets, sermons, and train-the-trainer workshops.

    The Department of State’s Office of Religion and Global Affairs was established in 2013 to strengthen the U.S. government’s efforts to assess religious dynamics and engage religious actors across a wide range of foreign policy priorities.

  • Obaseki to partner religious leaders on social development

    Obaseki to partner religious leaders on social development

    …..As religious leaders promise to lend their support

    Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, on Saturday morning, hosted religious leaders at the Government House to discuss the place and role of religion within the social framework of the state.
    Addressing the religious leaders, the governor thanked them for their support during and after the election, even as he noted that he was not collaborating with them to satisfy political desires, but to achieve social objectives.
    He further explained that the issue of street children was important to his administration and explained how the social leaders, being close to the pulse of the society, can work with the government to correct the situation and prevent the land from failing.
    “We are very keen on education and are trying to see how we can train the children. You (religious leaders) have a long history in training children. One of my major aims is to create 200,000 jobs, but our style as a government is to be efficient with our greatest resource, which is time, not money”, he said.
    Meanwhile, Reverend Felix Omobude, President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, noted that he would have been unlettered had good government policy been absent from the system. He also urged Governor Obaseki to do the best to uphold good governance.
    He said, “You cannot please everyone, but if you do good for the majority, you will be remembered. I also want to commend you; we must all realise it is only in an atmosphere of peace we can practise our religions. Be assured of our support and understanding.”
    For his part, the Otaru of Auchi, Alhaji Aliru H. Momoh (Ikelebe III) commended the governor and said that the meeting had been a long time coming.
    “You are on the right track for calling this meeting because we will leave here and meet, Christians and Muslims, at the interreligious councils, although we hardly ever have clashes at Auchi”.
    Also at the meeting were Rt. Rev. Peter Imasuen, Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria, Evangelist (Mrs) Margaret Agbonifo, Imam Abdulfatai Enabulele, Chief Imam of Benin, and other religious leaders.

  • Religious leaders should join fight against corruption

    SIR: By many measures, Nigeria is a very religious country. Nine out of 10 Nigerians, if not all, subscribe to a particular faith which brands them as followers of divinity. From serving as a pathway to eternity for many, to a factory for help or relief from disappointment, religion has thrived in our nation. But even so, it is also widely believed that Nigeria is one of the most corrupt countries in the world. As now commonly witnessed in the three arms of government, corruption has taken so many forms that cross ethnic, class or faith frontiers.

    Corruption has, overtime, impacted the Nigerian economy and remains a towering threat to peace, governance and economic development in Nigeria. In fact, it took President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-corruption onslaught to expose a series of high profile corruption scandals that have uncovered the steep size of corruption in the country.

    Even though many have described the president’s stab at curbing corruption as a pie in the sky and ‘vindictive’, his government has vowed to continue with the campaign.

    With the above in mind, I stand with many who believe that this cumbrous task should not be left for the government to tackle alone.

    Religious leaders stand in a strategic position to, in various ways, help governments and companies to battle corruption by addressing it in places of worship. They can use their influence over our consciences in a pietistic pattern.

    While it is proper for leaders from the two dominant faiths (Christianity and Islam) to pray ‘against’ corruption, I somewhat believe that, since their words carry weight, there is more that can be done by these leaders.

    For example, religious groups have been largely accused of encouraging corruption by demanding and accepting astronomical amounts of donations from political and business leaders in their churches and mosques. There is an urgent need to cut the cackle and close this growing credibility gap.

    While the church or mosque cannot investigate the source of funds worshippers donate, they can consistently teach about the consequences of stealing in relation to faiths and emphasize sincere discharge of duties in various positions or offices.

    Becoming wealthy without work is another topic religion propagated nonstop to its believers. That being the case, a large number of followers became obsessed with this ideology and sold their conscience to corrupt practices. I remember being stopped many years ago by a task force team and bundled into a waiting van for not using the foot bridge. As we drove to the local government, the leader preached and prayed for us. After which he, without a spark of decency, requested that anybody willing to part with N2,000 would be allowed to go, instead of paying N5,000 when we get to the local government secretariat. He went ahead to attribute his act of ‘leniency’ to his faith and membership of a church known for simplicity and humility. Fair enough, I took my chances and went to the local office where I ended up paying a N500 fine and went my way.

    For the most part, every human group has its own bad eggs who mostly end up being caught between two stools. But even so, since the government has drawn a line in the sand against corruption, religious leaders should stop barking up the wrong tree, and begin to change the dogma that ‘money’, ‘power’ and ‘material’ are the ultimate measurement of ‘prosperity’ and  progress in our society.

    On the whole, the sick romance with gospel of materialism must be discouraged by clerics through promoting a chaste lifestyle. This will, overtime, reverse the apocryphal doctrine of materialism which is responsible for the worsening plight of the poor in our country.

     

    • David Dimas

    Laurel, Maryland, U.S.A

  • Religious leaders urged to support commission

    Religious leaders urged to support commission

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday urged religious leaders in Ondo State to support the commission at conducting a peaceful governorship election.

    The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Olusegun Agbaje, made the call during an interface with religious leaders across the state on the need to have a violence free election on November 26.

    Agbaje said INEC has put in place measures to forestall any breakdown of law and order. He promised that the commission would give all participating parties level playing field.

    The REC debunked insinuations that INEC was involved in any complicity with any party.

    He urged the religious leaders to use every available avenue to appeal to their followers and eligible voters on the need to participate in the election.

    The Deputy Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Akure South Local Government, Rev Anselem Ologunwa and the Secretary, Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Ondo State, Abdulazeez Folayemi both promised to sensitise their followers.

     

  • Magu seeks religious leaders support in anti-graft war

    Magu seeks religious leaders support in anti-graft war

    The Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, yesterday urged religious leaders to use their platforms to advise Nigerians to shun corruption.

    He said religion is a veritable means of tackling corruption and other social vices in the country.

    Magu gave the advice while receiving members of the Inter-Faith Anti-Corruption Advisory Committee (IAAC), who were at the commission to brief him on their activities.

    He said: “Every religion abhors corruption. Therefore, there is the need for us to use religion as a platform to reach out to people to shun corruption in all its ramifications.

    The EFCC boss called for collaboration between the committee, EFCC and the Presidential Advisory Committee against Corruption (PACAC), to effectively use religion as a platform in preaching against the ills of corruption.

    IAAC’s Chairman Prof Ishaq Oloyede praised Magu for the renewed vigour deployed by the commission in tackling corruption despite daunting challenges.

    ”One thing that will not go unnoticed is the contribution you have made, God will sincerely record it for you”, Oloyede prayed.

    He called on the commission to produce more copies of the Inter-Faith Anti-Corruption Preaching and Teaching Manual, to ensure adequate circulation to stakeholders.

    Other members of the committee are  Archbishop John Praise (Secretary), Imam Ahmad Abdulrahman, Alhaji Abubakar Inaboya, Pastor Cletus Alu and Husseini Yusuf Mabera.

  • Board tasks religious leaders on polio immunisation

    Board tasks religious leaders on polio immunisation

    The Kano State Primary Health Care Management Board has urged religious leaders to support government efforts in achieving routine immunisation in the state.

    The Executive Secretary of the board, Dr Muhammad Nasir, made the call in a statement on Thursday in Kano after the Forum of Religious Focal Persons on Immunisation visited him.

    It said that the call was necessary to enable government to provide qualitative healthcare services to the citizenry.

    It attributed the success recorded in polio immunisation in the state to the strong commitment of religious leaders in the state.

    “The board is proud to be in collaboration with Imams to woo the public to come to terms with the reality on the importance of immunisation.

    “The recent delisting of Nigeria from the list of polio endemic countries by the United Nations was a great feat attained with an immense contribution of our religious leaders,’’ it said.

    The statement therefore urged them to continue to enlighten parents on the dangers associated with noncompliance to immunisation.

    It said that the board has adopted the policy of inclusiveness in approach to issues of polio eradication to give stakeholders opportunity to complement government effort in the fight against the disease.

    The statement also quoted the Chairman of the forum and Chief Imam of Hotoro Mosque, Sheikh Hadi Ibrahim, pledging to support the board to achieve the desired result in polio immunisation in the state.

     

  • Amosun to religious leaders: pray for Nigeria

    Amosun to religious leaders: pray for Nigeria

    OGUN State Governor Ibikunle Amosun has assured that the nation’s dream towards attaining the much-desired height will be fulfilled.

    He urged religious leaders to continue praying for positive change at all levels of government.

    Amosun said this in a message at the grand finale of the 2015 Tabiorah programme of the Church of the Lord World-Wide, Aladura Ground at Ogere Remo, Ogun State.

    The governor, who was represented by his deputy, Chief Yetunde Onanuga, noted that the ongoing change by the Federal Government and All Progressive Congress(APC) state governments were taking a positive shape.

    He added that only prayers from religious leaders/stakeholders could help political leaders achieve the required breakthrough.

    A statement by Press Officer in the Deputy Governor’s Office, Miss Damilola Koleade, said the governor acknowledged the support given to his administration since inception.

    He reiterated his government’s commitment to the provision of more infrastructural development and other people-oriented programmes that would improve the well-being of the people.

    Amosun congratulated the Primate of the Church of the Lord Worldwide, the most Rev. Rufus Ositelu, and church members on this year’s anniversary, which also coincided with its 79th evangelism.

    He urged the primate not to relent in praying for peace, tranquility and development of the country and state.

    He added that the theme of this year’s anniversary, “Divine prosperity”, was in tandem with the ongoing transformation agenda embarked upon by the President Muhammad Buhari-led administration to take the country to the promise land.

    In his exhortation, Ositelu decried the insecurity, corruption and unemployment among others  challenges facing the country.

    He called on Nigerians to join the Federal Government in tackling the menace that has become the order of the day.

     

     

  • Treasury looters and religious leaders

    SIR: Any country needs peace to develop.  Political upheavals and social disorders are precursors to underdevelopment and poverty.  But peace must be accompanied with justice. That is the reason most Nigerians welcomed the Peace Committee now named National Peace Council.  But some of the members are not patriots but just Nigerians in religious garb.

    Many of these religious leaders have been compromised by our erstwhile rulers. Unlike formidable clerics like Cardinal Olubunmi Okojie, Primate Abiodun Adetiloye, Bishop Gbonigi, formerly of Akure Anglican Diocese, most of our current faith leaders are just a pale different from the politicians who ran the country aground.

    Whatever the inducement and handshakes they had enjoyed in the past, it beats one’s imagination to observe that some members of the Peace Council, mostly religious leaders, give the impression that the current efforts to locate and repatriate Nigeria’s looted wealth is witch-hunting or selective efforts made in bad faith. They may be acting from a sense of guilt or loyalty to their erstwhile friends.  In point of fact, discerning Nigerians were amused at the number of times these religious figures found their way to Aso Rock in the last few years.

    With the open defence by these religious people of the past government, we now know why some of our problems in Nigeria are so fundamental.  One could see the anguish on the face of the chairman of that body, Gen. Abdulsalami, when Bishop Kukah and other sectarian members of the council were talking, that they were not on the same page.

    For example, Bishop Matthew Kukah both in speech and body language pleaded with Nigerians and the new government not to witch-hunt past leaders.  On the other hand, the Sultan was solid and unequivocal in his condemnation of the past stealing as he recommended seizure and recovery of loot and also prosecution of the shameless looters. The conclusion, therefore, is that in the last decade or so, this country has been plundered beyond reason.  To make a new start, we should look back a bit.

    The issue now is that this country must move forward.  And we can’t achieve that feat except we discontinue with the administration and financial manipulations that have been described as odious, although what has been unearthed is a tip of iceberg.  What do these religious people say of a public servant who owns 12 landed properties in Abuja? What do they say of fleeing Ministers, Directors, Chairmen and members of statutory bodies who have fled the country ahead of any investigation into their finances? Of course some of them are nominal pastors and priests and they have paid their dues to churches and their leaders.  But does that reflect the best interest of our country?

    Youth unemployment in Nigeria is perhaps the highest in Africa. The double tragedy here is that most of these unemployed youth are educated, which makes the situation potentially combustible and dangerous.  If the looming catastrophe can be avoided now, why don’t we do so?

    Most of the industries in urban areas are ghost institutions.  Those of them that still exist are operating at best at 25% capacity.   The looters of our treasury have multiple passports and many buildings and structures in choice capitals of the Middle East, Western Europe and the Americas.  The policy is he who knows how to steal must know how to escape.

    I think the least these religious people can do is to tell Nigerians that they are sorry for being chummy with the looters of Nigeria and proceed to appeal to today’s men to pinch less, if at all, than their predecessors.

     

    • Deji Fasuan, MON, JP,

    Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State

     

     

  • Support anti-graft crusade, Okorocha urges religious leaders

    Support anti-graft crusade, Okorocha urges religious leaders

    Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha has urged Christian leaders to support the anti-corruption policies and actions of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Okorocha made the appeal when the national leadership of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), led by its National President, Dr. Felix Omobude, visited him at the Government House in Owerri.

    According to the governor, “church leaders and heads of religious groups should play a leading role in the fight against corruption and should back the President in his effort to fight corruption”.

    He urged the visiting clerics to build a Pentecostal University in the state even as he promised to donate land and N100 million.

    “The whole world, particularly America, seems to be focusing on Nigeria. I was encouraged with the President’s visit to America. I feel like singing the National Anthem because I saw the honour and respect given to our President.  This is the time I would call on Christians, to support him in prayers, and see him as part of us.

    “Buhari’s administration is a government of integrity, and that is the greatest honour you can give to a nation because no nation can grow above its leaders. Once you have a good leader, you can trust the nation to move forward. This is a good time to do business in Nigeria.

    “Our nation is passing through difficult moments occasioned by bad management. I think the Christians have a bigger role to play; we do not just pray to get a government in power; we should also pray to sustain the government and ensure that the nation enjoys good leadership,” Okorocha said.

    Omobude assured the governor that PFN would work with the government at all levels for the good of the nation.

    He advised the Federal Government to address some of the excesses that have held the nation down.

    “For Nigeria to become the strong nation expected of it, we should begin to build strong families and build bridges of unity and ensure values”, Omobude said, adding that the PFN would continue to pray for the good of the nation and its leadership.

  • Religious leaders urged to help the deprived

    Religious leaders urged to help the deprived

    A cleric of the Christ Apostolic Church in Shagari Village Akure, Prophet/Evangelist Olu Sam Alo (Baba ori oke Aanu) has said the well-being of the poor should not be left for government and non-governmental organisations alone, even as he added that religious leaders should complement government’s efforts in making life meaningful for the downtrodden.

    Alo spoke during the monthly programme tagged Seven hours, seven prophets. Noting that giving draws down God’s blessings on the giver, Prophet Alo noted that God called him to financially bless the needy; even though he does not have enough. He added that it has become a routine for him to give.

    “In the olden times, people sought shelter, security and financial protection in God’s sanctuary. Prophets usually provided for the needy in the times of old. “I can sell my car to help any member. There is a message behind my giving to people. God said He would use whatever I give to people as a miracle in breaking bondages in their lives and retracing them back to God.”

    According to him, the vision for the special service was revealed to him by God nine years ago. Seven hours, seven prophets programme holds every first Saturday of the month.

    “God instructed me to speak His Word of mercy to people who see themselves in a hopeless situation,” Alo said. When God called me for this mission, he gave me the key to unlock people’s hidden glory.

    “This is the second edition even though God gave me the vision over nine years ago. But I have been waiting for signs. So, when it was time, God instructed me to go ahead. The countless testimonies that we are witness here are proofs that God has truly begun His work”

    He scoffed at the materialistic tendency among Christian clerics today. As God’s emissaries, Alo believes they must lend a helping hand to the poor in the society and not to extort the congregation.

    “Unfortunately, the gesture of giving is fast disappearing in Christendom today. Many men of God want to be billionaire overnight; that’s not what God asked us to do.

    “God, through His Word in the Bible instructs us to give and it shall be given unto you. It is not a crime for a man of God to invest in members’ lives. Unfortunately too, people are abusing the privilege. Some members will pretend they don’t have in order to collect more from the prophet. But whoever does that is collecting a curse rather than blessing,” Alo warned.