Solomon, the greatest man who ever lived, said in the book of Ecclesiastes that there is a time to be silent and a time to speak up. And, considering our current situation in Nigeria as a country, there is no better time for this wise aphorism than now.
Terrorist acts have been a recurrent element of Nigeria's social history, and the country has swiftly degenerated into a terrorist hub. From north to south, east to west, and east to north, the story is the same.
What baffles me in this climate of fear, panic, and confusion in Nigeria is the silence of our religious organizations, especially the Christian Association of Nigeria(CAN), Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), and Church of God in Christ (COGIC) Nigeria's leadership, who are supposed to speak out about the heinous events in Nigeria and solutions to the problems we face both at the state and federal levels.
Religious Organization particularly CAN, PFN and COGIC Nigeria has a responsibility to save not just lost souls, but also a drowning nation such as Nigeria. Rather than the current silence about the sorrows of the people who turn to them for spiritual and everyday guidance, they should be concerned about the terrible situation of the nation and how to Arise and Rebuild Nigeria, as the biblical Nehemiah was in his days. But this is hardly the case of Nigeria Religious Leadership.
And it is for the above reason I boldly assert that the leadership of CAN, PFN, and COGIC Nigeria have failed the people by failing to take a strong stance against bad governance and corruption in the society, which is a result of some of them fraternizing with thieving politicians and thus losing their conscience and abandoning their calling to improve our society. Has it ever been reported that the leaders of the aforementioned religious organizations staged a large-scale state or national demonstration to pressure the government to find a long-term solution to the country's banditry, terrorism and corruption problems? Even though the country continues to suffer setbacks as a result of a suffocating climate of corruption, terror, and bombings, these religious organizations rarely speak out. Why?
Why are the leadership of CAN, PFN, and COGIC Nigeria not proactive in offering solutions to Nigeria's problems and engaging the government in meaningful ways to encourage disgruntled groups to lay down their arms and embrace peace and togetherness? Is this not what God and the Nigerian people want religious organizations to do? And how would they be able to do it when all they know is to keep silent on burning national issues.
If religious organisations like CAN, PFN and COGIC Nigeria must live out their true calling, then they should extend their leadership beyond church walls to impact society and government.
This is a wake-up call to the leadership of CAN, PFN, and COGIC Nigeria to end their deafening silence on Nigerian events and speak up for a better Nigeria.
Citizens for Righteousness and Social Justice (CRJ) is the Best Way to Go, Raising Anti Corruption Crusaders for a Better Nigeria. Please kindly forward others because Sharing is Caring for more information email me at peoplesbishop@gmail.com and together we can show God our Faith and Yes We Can.
The People's Bishop Kenneth Obi, Edo COGIC Prelate. Advocate of Humanity and Social Justice.
2 Comments
But I know God own this world with every country and the people thererin. He will never allow the righteous to perish together with the unrighteous,
My prayer let righteous still remain righteous before God.
Till He vindicated us.