Priests, Pastors, Prophets, & Politics of Prophecies

(By Immanuel JamesIbe-Anyanwu) – Mbaka’s god and the future of Imo

There are two consistent attributes of the Mbaka god. It is an arrogant god that forecloses commentary, hence the warning that those who will criticize the Catholic priest over this new year prophecy, will attract divine wrath. Gods are like that though—often demanding unquestioning credulity. But because critical intelligence is also a divine gift, I do not believe God gave it to us not to use it. Besides, unlike Mbaka, I am from Imo State, the constituency whose destiny is being purported for change; I should therefore be free to discuss my fate.

Second feature of the Mbaka god is that it loves the APC. Mohammadu Buhari, it once declared, would transform Nigeria. In fairness, Buhari has truly transformed Nigeria, but in reverse. “There will be more hardship in 2020”, Mbaka’s god assures again, which is consistent with the Buhari prophecy of 2015: Buhari has so far transformed Nigeria into grievous hardship, but will do even more this year. 

Hope Uzordimma, 4th runner-up in the state’s last guber poll, will become Imo Governor this year, says the Mbaka god. Hope is “an agent of salvation” who would “restore the dignity of that noble land”. This is at least the third APC prophecy largesse blasting through this curious oracle. Which raises two fundamental concerns.

Religion, Nigerian Politicians, & Ruinous Duplicity

(By SegunAdeniyi) - By imposing a theocratic order that pushes the responsibility for ‘blessing the people of the state’ to God … [Nigerian politicians] are assured of support in a society where majority of the people are ever ready to die for the faith they proclaim, even if it does not reflect in their character and lifestyles. The interesting thing is that the same people who order the destruction of vehicles carrying alcohol in Kano may be sharing such drinks with friends in the privacy of their homes. It is the same with Christian governors who build expensive cathedrals in their government houses, to reinforce the unholy wedlock between the pulpit and the political podium. …

We should all be worried about the growing importance of religion as a marker of identity and a tool for political exploitation in our country. While religion can indeed help to restore moral order, the experience of Nigeria has shown that it is actually being deployed in promotion of private interest. By invoking religious sentiments, the people are easily triggered to action in support of whatever cause the political leader seems to be pursuing. In a predominantly illiterate society, nothing can be more appealing than to be seen as ‘one of us’ by the masses.

          The story of the drunkard and his bottles of beer [see below] … is very instructive. The man could pick and choose which bottle to destroy and which one to keep because it was all part of an elaborate scam to keep on deceiving himself that he was making the right choice.

Religion, Politics, and Cycle of Poverty

(By Okenye Kenechi) - Irony of life 

Rich man marries and has four children. Poor man marries and starts mass production of children that he can't afford to train because the only thing that gives poor man joy is the body of his wife. 
The country [Nigeria] has beaten him to the level that sex is his only idea of enjoyment. 

Politicians steal your money, sleep with your wife and girlfriends and sister, make sure you don't go to school, even when you struggle to, he makes sure you don't finish on time let alone getting a job. 

He sends his children to the best schools abroad so they will take over from him when he is done playing with your future. 

He initiates a poverty alleviation program, videos himself cutting tapes during the mounting of an electric pole. He gives you 4000, bags of rice at rallies and arms to fight his opponents.

He paints the roads and puts Street lights when there is no light in your home. You hail him! 

He spends millions on billboards of his fake projects, hires the best PR experts to keep you drooling with hunger and uninformed and keep on doing damages to your common sense. You defend him. 

Second tenure, no jobs, no food, the 4000 has finished and the bag of rice wasting in the pit of your toilet. He must recover the billions he spent buying your votes. For he is not qualified to lead but you qualified him. 

Religion & Politics in Nigeria by Simon Kolawale

If you want to scare me about Nigeria, throw religion into politics. Nothing frightens me more than that. I find it hard to live with ethnically coloured politics, but I am even more frightened when religion is added to the equation. I shiver. Religion, in my experience, whips up the highest emotion in most Nigerians. There are people whose perspectives are based entirely on religion. They either accept or reject you because of your religion. This wouldn’t matter too much, however, if not that politicians are exploiting this fault line for political gains. They do not worry that once the fire starts, it is very difficult to quench. They do not worry that innocent people end up losing their lives because of religion. Nigeria can burn to ashes, for all they care. I cannot but shiver.

In recent times, religion has been a topic of discussion on the lips of politicians. As the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) continue their desperate media war ahead of 2015 elections, religion has taken the driver’s seat. The APC has consistently been accused of having a Muslim bias.

It has been “positioned” by the PDP as the Nigerian equivalent of Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood. Meanwhile, APC chieftains have also described the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) as a wing of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). CAN President, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, has been openly supportive of President Goodluck Jonathan. Also, the fact that Jonathan openly knelt down before Pastor Enoch Adeboye some years ago has also been highlighted as a promotion of the Christian agenda.