Many religious leaders in Nigeria do abandon their members when such members are in need of financial assistance to pay for their healthcare services and many more. The same religious leaders give special treatment to the rich members in order to ensure their continued stay and contribution to the growth of their churches/mosques and for their selfish interest. Majority of those that attend churches and mosques are very poor, yet, they still take from the little they have and give to their religious leaders because they have been brainwashed by the same leaders that by doing so, they are giving to the Almighty God.
Please, people should know that it is not only when they take something and give it to the church that it will be for God. Why should one give N50, 000 to the church in the name of offering when he or she is aware that the next door neighbour is either dying of hunger or in need of only N10,000 to pay for his hospital’s bill? It is very unfortunate that many religious leaders in the country are misleading people and using God’s name to extort their members, advancing the members’ poverty level and making others to even meet their untimely death but still, attribute everything to God. Is that fair?
Some of the so called religious leaders are part of the people driving the most expensive cars and own the most expensive houses in the country and beyond. Some of them even own private jets but claiming to be using the jets for God’s purposes. Many of these denominations have schools across the country, yet most of their members are illiterates because the members of the same denomination cannot afford to pay the high school fees due to the high cost. The same religious leaders preach that people should love their neighbours as they love themselves, be their brothers’ keepers and many more. Why can’t the same religious leaders show love to their members by helping them to come out of poverty and ensure the compulsory education of all the members of the denominations that own the schools?
Christians and Muslims in the country spend billions of naira to visit places known as holy lands, yet, other the majority of other Christians and Muslims are in abject poverty. Can’t such billions be used to transform the lives of the poor ones among them? It is not too late for the victims of religious extortion to realize that some people are using the name of God to rob them of their money and many more.
► Awunah Pius Terwase, wrote from Mpape, Abuja.
08179289948.