Religion, The Bedbug Of Nigeria -By Francis Bowai

Religion is set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, especially when considered as the creation of superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and often containing moral code governing the conduct of human affairs.

This means religion guide or govern the entire social and moral behavior or activities of humans, in simple term, whatever one do, say, dress, eat, talk and act must be in accordance with his or her religion, he or she is to know what is right or wrong.

To God be the glory, Nigeria is blessed with two major religion, that is, Christianity and Islamic religion, and is said to be one of the countries that practice those two religion in the world, research indicates that about 70% or more of the country population belong to either of the religion. The two religion all claimed to be from one true God, the creator of all universe, the most merciful, all knowing, the same God that said, love your neighbor as you love yourself, same one that prohibited killings, reject bribes and corruptions, calling us to embrace and live in peace with one another regardless of one beliefs or hold onto, sharing the little one has with another fellow brother, etc.

Unfortunately, with all the good characteristics of God, whom we claim to serve or worship, the country is still one the countries around the glob that faces countless challenges ranging from social and political unrest, kidnapping, religion and ethnic clashes, hate speeches, criminal activities, drug abuse, unnecessary killings of innocent citizens in the name of religion. All these happen almost on daily basis but we pretend like it is normal.

Today in Nigeria people use religion for their selfish gain, this, is not only limited to politicians who represent the masses in government, those belong to islamic religion go to mosques on Friday praying to the same God, and those on the side of Christianity go to Churches on Sunday, obviously, many Pastors and Imams are at forefront of the evils activities.

There are undeniable cases of some pastors robing their innocent members who are desperately in search of true God, these include forcing people to do what is so called seed sowing, pastor asking his member to give out his or her car, house, piece of land or huge amount of money, all in the name of miracles or even forcing poor Nigerians who are trying to survive to pay tithes. But we must acknowledge the facts that we still have good men and women of God who have distinguished themselves to the service of God and humanity.

What about Imams especially in the Northern part of the country, many of whom, their major desires are to encourage religious crises in the country especially when the leadership of the nation does not favor them, provoking innocent youths to engage in avoidable killings, failing to teach what is written in Qur’an rather indulge in hate speeches, calling other people ‘ arna’ ( infidels). The very example of such was recent called by one of the prominent Sheikh who called the first Lady of Federal Republic of Nigeria a leader of Infidels (Arniya) saying she deserves to be killed.

If such provocative statements can come out from the public figure like him, what do you thing his followers do? Even though, he later retracted his statements and apologized, but was he the first religious leader that acted in such a manner?. Sometimes back, the National Assembly moved to pass an act that would regulate the activities of religious bodies, some of us kicked against that thought thinking that it politicize our noble religions, but I will suggest that the religious bodies should find a mechanism or means of regulating the system.

Just like the bed-bug makes the owner of the house uncomfortable at night time because he failed to makes his house right or proper, so is, religion has been improperly used and make every one uncomfortable in the country. The questions one has to ask are, those people in the power, do they forget about the teaching of the religion they belong once they get there? Or were we not taught properly or didn’t learn properly? For how long shall we continue deceiving ourselves? Can we stop being pretentious, perhaps face national issues, practice religion properly according to how they are written in the holy books.

FRANCIS BOWAI, MASS COMMUNICATION, ATAPOLY BAUCHI

08067037864, francisbowai@gmail.com