Today marks Good Friday, a solemn and sacred day for Nigerian Christians as they join the global Christian community in commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
In several places across the nation, faithful will gather in churches for special services and masses.
Yet, for some, the significance of Good Friday extends beyond mere observance. With profound reverence, they will reenact the harrowing events leading up to the crucifixion. Parading a man bearing a cross through the streets, a reminder of Christ’s agonizing journey. In a solemn ritual, they will symbolically nail him to the cross, a lucid representation of the ultimate sacrifice.
However, amidst these sacred rites, a disquieting truth looms large – there are those among the Nigerian Christian faithful who, despite their professed devotion, would not hesitate to metaphorically nail Christ again, over 2000 years after his death.
This paradox is rendered even more distressing as the Muslim community also undertakes the holy month of Ramadan, a time of spiritual purification and devotion to Allah.
Nigeria, a nation revered as one of the religious capitals of the world according to the Pew Research Center, finds itself in a precarious position.
While religion has gained a foothold, a myriad of sins have taken root.
This contrast is exemplified by Nigeria’s unfulfilled potential. A country blessed with abundant resources and a highly intelligent people, it could have ascended to the ranks of prosperous nations like Singapore under the visionary leadership of Lee Kuan Yew. Yet, Nigeria’s economy pales in comparison to the least religious capital, China, whose economic prowess and resolute stance against corruption have propelled it to a global force.
The 2023 Corruption Perception Index, published by Transparency International Nigeria, ranked Nigeria a dismal 145th out of 180 countries, with a meager score of 25 out of 100 points. For context, that’s a harsh indictment of the nation’s struggle against the unrelenting forces of corruption.
Unfortunately, some Nigerian religious leaders have contributed to the problem. They have abdicated their sacred duty to speak truth to power, opting instead to feverishly propagate messages of prosperity, erecting grandiose churches, and dining with the very corrupt leaders whose actions have undermined the nation’s progress.
Emboldened by this unquerried immorality, their followers have embraced a perverse path, offering tithes from wealth amassed through heinous acts like blood rituals or cybercrime, and engaging in large-scale philanthropy in an attempt to cultivate sympathy for their day of reckoning.
The consequences of this descent are grave as Nigeria casually strolls on the brink of becoming a failed state.
If change is to take root, it must begin with the religious leaders themselves, those entrusted with guiding their flocks towards righteousness.
It is incumbent upon these spiritual leaders to become beacons of enlightenment, unequivocally condemning crime and never faltering in their sacred duty to speak truth to power.
While the Catholic Church in Nigeria has taken commendable strides through the work of its Justice Development and Peace Initiative/Commission, a call to action must echo across all religious bodies – Christian, Muslim, and Traditionalist alike.
They must amplify the clarion call for accountability, igniting a fire of enlightenment within the hearts and minds of their followers. They must champion and fund programs that hold leaders to account, for it is only through this unwavering commitment to moral rectitude that Nigeria can truly embody the virtues befitting its status as a religious capital worthy of emulation.
On this solemn Good Friday, as Christians mourn the sacrifice of Christ and Muslims observe the sacred Ramadan fast, let us embrace good character and forge a Nigeria where faith and action are harmonized in the pursuit of a building a greater Nigeria.
Drops Mic – Cobhams Asuquo ft Bez – Do the Right thing Plays in the background.
