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Emeritus Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, has raised concern over the role religion plays in societal transformation, especially regarding how politicians choose the churches they attend.
The cleric noted that many greedy politicians avoid churches that challenge their corrupt actions, opting instead for pastors and congregations that won’t hold them accountable.
Onaiyekan said, “I have noticed in Nigeria that greedy people have a way of choosing the kind of churches they go to and which preachers they listen to.
“If they go to a church where they are constantly being challenged and made uncomfortable, they won’t come back next Sunday, but we need more of that.”
The fiery cleric spoke on Sunday on Channels TV’s interview programme, ‘Inside Sources’ with Laolu Akande.
Onaiyekan also lamented that simply filling churches with worshippers or building large cathedrals was not enough if the faithful failed to be transformed.
The cleric argued that religious institutions in Nigeria must conduct a self-evaluation to ensure they are promoting the right message.
“The official religious institutions we have in Nigeria have a task to do self-evaluation. They should ask themselves: have we been projecting the right message of our faiths? If we have been doing it, we will not have this kind of outcome,” he said.
Onaiyekan further criticised the current state of Nigerian religion, saying, “We cannot just be rejoicing that our churches are full, that we are building big churches. Very good, but we still want to see where is godliness in all of these. And if religion does not lead to godliness, it is even worse than none at all.”
Speaking further about the country’s leadership, he highlighted how corrupt leaders have mismanaged Nigeria’s resources and deepened societal inequalities.
“There is so much impunity. People take a lot of things that don’t belong to them and nobody asks them. Whereas if a poor man steals a piece of yam in the village, they throw him in jail for six months or more. So, there is something wrong with the justice system,” Onaiyekan lamented.
In the same interview, Onaiyekan weighed in on the political climate following the 2023 elections, urging President Bola Tinubu to focus on governance and serve all Nigerians equally.
Despite the All Progressives Congress securing the highest number of votes, Onaiyekan reminded Tinubu that many Nigerians voted against him, and that as President, he had a responsibility to govern inclusively.
He stated, “There are Nigerians who did not vote for APC. Granted that APC got the highest number of votes, and that is why they have the right to rule us.
“But they also forget that there are millions of Nigerians who did not (Vote for the APC). Whatever the rules say, the reality is that more people vote against Mr President than those who voted for him.”
Onaiyekan urged the President to switch from campaign mode to governance mode, stressing that the time for political rewards was over.
“Mr President, it’s about time you switched from campaign mode to governance mode. Elections are over. Campaigns are over. You now have to govern and govern the whole of Nigeria and every Nigerian,” he said.
The cleric also cautioned against rewarding political cronies with high office appointments, stating that such practices would not move the country forward.
Onaiyekan added, “I would say, now that you (Tinubu) have been declared the President of Nigeria, sit down comfortably on that chair.
“As a religious leader, I would say God has allowed you on that chair. If God puts you there, you must then know that he is watching you and that He will be asking you what you did on that chair.”
