REVEREND KING:  WE  ARE  ALL GUILTY

¹⁰For thou, O God, hast proved us: thou hast tried us, as silver is tried.    ¹¹Thou broughtest us into the net; thou laidst affliction upon our loins.    ¹²Thou hast caused men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water : but thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place.    ¹³I will go into thy house with burnt offerings: I will pay thee my vows,                                                                        Psalm 66

 Until  the  mid 1980s, religion was  largely  a  private  affair.  Christians  and  Muslims  reminded  us  of  that  aspect  of  our  lives  only  on  Sundays  and  Fridays  as  well  as  during  the Xmas  and  Sallah  celebrations.

Religion  did  not  take  the  form  that  it  has  taken  today; it  was  quiet, sober, not flamboyant.  It  was  not  a  flourishing  and  mega business/industry  that  we  have  today.

 At  that  time it  was  customary  to  hear  people talk of  “as  poor  as the church  rat” or “ole ntele  Alfa –a lazy  man  is  the one  that  is  recruited by  an Alfa”.

 Indeed   in  Lagos it  was  customary to  enroll lazy, indolent and  not-too-brilliant  children and  adults in  Islamic  schools as  a  last  resort  in a  bid  to  make  them  useful  in life (ole baati  ogba  ile  kewu).

 That  was  the  period when  the  economy  of  Nigeria  was  booming  and our problem  then  was  what  to do  with the stupendous  wealth that  the  country  was  blessed  with.

 In  Lagos  accidents  caused  by  drunkenness  were  common  especially on  Eko  bridge and  town  council was  usually  overwhelmed by  the  heaps of  food  wastages  from parties  held  over  the weekends. The  breweries  were competing with  imported  brands yet  profits  were recorded by  them  and  the  importers  of  foreign  brands.

 Also  during  this  period,  rural-urban migration  was  low thereby  reducing  congestion and  its  attendant  stress  in urban  areas.  Crime was  at  its lowest  ebb.

 We had medium  to large  scale  industries  in  virtually  every  sector  of  our economy and  cheap  electronic gadgets (Tatung, Sanyo etc) turned  our  homes  and  courtyards into  disco  halls.  New cars  sold  for as  little as  three thousand  Naira while  hire-purchase  facilities  were  available for  anyone  who  cared.

In short,  Nigerians  were  very  happy and  living  well above the  poverty  line.

Our economy was  so  buoyant   that  we  even  employed citizens  of  other  countries notably Ghana, India, Southern  Africa  in  large  numbers.

Then  the  crunch came during  the  mid 80s; the  unexpected  happened.  The  ship  of  state  hit  the  rocks and  according to  Sandra who  sang one of  Fela’s  songs  “everything  turned upside down”.  Or  was  it  “downside up”.

A lot  of factors ranging from the rulership of the  Evil one , the  downturn in the  economy, the formal institution of corruption as a way of life, to the explosion in religious evangelism all combined  to  redefine our individual  and national goals and  aspirations.

Suddenly  we  woke  up  from  our  stupor to  discover  a  new country.  A country  of  dog  eat  dog,  a  country  where everything  goes, a country that  rewards  evil  and  operates  the  “mesi ogo” principles.

It will appear  that we consumed  the  entire  harvest by  not  providing  for the proverbial  rainy  day.  We  lived  as if  “life  is a bed of  roses”.

The  first  salvo  was  fired  by  the  Pentecostal  churches  with  their  promise of  prosperity.  The  formula  was  simple: if  you  want  the  good  life  to  continue,  just  sow  and  you  shall  reap  bountifully. And everyone started  sowing in the  hope  of  reaping  multiples (talk  about  the  Obiageli  spirit).

Indeed  the  late  Reverend  Idahosa should  be  credited with  identifying  the  helplessness  and  despair that  was  the  lot  of  our  people   at  that  time and  to  solve  “all our  problems” he  introduced  the  Pentecostal movement  in  Nigeria.

Religion  was  gradually  removed from the  backstage  to  the  centre  and  by  the  year  2000 it  had  become  a  flourishing industry.  Industries  and  factories  were  shut  down  and  churches and  other  houses  of  god  were  erected in  their  place.

The  muslims  responded  by  forming  such  groups  as  NASFAT, Hisbullah,  Quareeb  etc.  The  race  for  the numbers began in  earnest.

The  overwhelming  effect of  religion  on  our  lives  can  also  be  gleaned  from  its  effect  on  our  work.  Offices  became praying grounds  where  all manner  of  incantations  were rendered before,  during  and  after each day’s work.  People who  ordinarily  were  living  “come easy go  easy lives”  are  now  confronted  with  such  discoveries  as  witches  and  wizards, devil, etc.

Presently,  religious  organizations fix  programmes  for  work days and  faithfuls  abandon their  jobs  under  one  pretext  or  the  other  to  attend such  programmes.  Yet  they  expect  to  be  paid  full  salaries at  the  end of  the  month.  The  unwritten  law  in  my  country  is  adherents are  above  the  law  in  matters  concerning  religion and  such  activities cannot  be  queried!  Infact an  attempt  to  regulate  the  broadcast  of  miracles on  television  was  ferociously challenged  by  the  church.  In  my  country the  commandment  that “give unto  Caesar   what  is Caeser’s …..”  is  not  often  practiced.

The Conspirators

I have provided  this  background  so  that  my  reader  can  understand  the  socio-economic cum cultural  environment that  made it  possible  for  the  enthronement of  religion  as  the key,  if  not  the  most  important factor in  our  national  life. 

And  naturally, pastors and  alfas, general overseers, prophets  took  over  the  mantle of  leadership in  our  national  life both  directly and  indirectly.  Indeed  some  CEOs  will not  take  any decision concerning  their  official  responsibilities  without  the  nod  of  their  pastors and/or alfas.

These  pastors and  alfas  use  mind  control techniques laced  with  a  large dose  of  the  fear  factor to  subdue  and  capture  their victims.  The  victims,  who  are  referred to as  the faithfuls  must  not  question  their  authority and  must  consult  them for  guidance  in  all  their  affairs whether  spiritual or  not.

This  state of  affairs  provided  a  safe  shortcut  to  fame, leadership, stupendous  wealth, popularity and  so  many  more  were lured  into  the  vineyard.  Our  society  rever “men of  god”  to  the  extent  that  they  are  regarded  as  the  law,  the  oracle,  the  intermediary etc. 

This  industry  grew  at  such  an  alarming  rate  that  it  is  now  difficult  if  not  impossible  to  check  the  activities  of  the operators.  All  manner of  people  became “men of  god” overnight  and  the litmus  test  to  belong to  this  club  is  the  ability  to  “hear from god”, to perform “miracles” etc,  buy  airtime  on  television  and  before long  the  pastor or  Alfa  smiles all  the  way to  the  bank.

As  I  have  stated  earlier,  the industry  is  not  regulated  and  there is  free  entry  and  exit.  Pastor  King  is  just of the several  of  such  men  of  god in  the  two  main  religions that  have  killed, robbed, maimed and dispossessed their  followers  of  their  properties, peace of  mind and  families.  Some  are overt  in  their  dastardly  acts  while  others  are  covert.

However,  it is  important for  me  to recognize  and  appreciate  the  efforts  made  by  a  section  of  the Nigerian press (the print  media), some pastors  and  movie  producers  in  bringing  this  malaise  into the  public  arena  for  scrutiny.

Some of them even called  for  sanctions  but  all  these  fell  on  deaf ears for  obvious  reasons. 

With such  articles  as  “In the  name of  God PLC” by  Newswatch Magazine  and  similar  ones  from Tell and  The  News,  the  print media  called our  attention  to the  unwholesome, sometimes dastardly acts of  these  men  of god, the  negative  effects  of  such acts on  the followers  as  well  as society.  But  no  one  cared to  listen.

About  two  years  ago Pastor  Tunde  Bakare called  for  what  he  termed “the  raising of  standards  in  the  house of  God”  while  Pastor Tony  Rapu  wrote  several  articles in THISDAY (The Village Oracle, Death in the Pot,  Sit  we  here and  Die etc).  But  no  one  cared to  listen.

The movie  industry  was  not  left  out  as  their  works  revealed  the rituals and  other  dastardly  acts  of  these  men of  god.  But  everything  fell on deaf  ears.

Naturally,  it  will  be  naïve  to  expect  our  governments to  react  to such  warnings.  This  is  because our  leaders  at  all  levels  found an  excellent  partner in these  houses and  men  of  god. As  long  as  my people  are  kept  busy  in  churches  and mosques  where  they troop to daily in the  expectation of  Manna  from  heaven,  they  will not have  enough time  and energy  to  question the  manner  in  which  they  are  governed.  The  houses of  god  were  excellent  breeding  grounds  for  zombies,  who  in  their helplessness  will not question the  looting  and  other  activities  going on  in the various  government  offices.  Having  lost  their  self-esteem  and confidence  productivity  is  hampered and  so  will  forever  wallow in poverty  and dejection.

All  of  these  are  to the  eternal  advantage  of  our  leaders.

Our  governments at  the various  levels  are  as  guilty  as  Reverend King  for  their  conspiracy  in  the killing  and  robbing  of  our  people  by  these  monsters.

So  while  the  environment and  our  governments  created  a conducive atmosphere  for these  charlatans  to  establish  and  grow,  the  electronic media  and  my  people maintain and keep them  alive and strong.

In  short,  the  circumstances  which  produced Reverend King  and  others  like  him  was  created  by  all  of  us.  In  her delivering  judgement in the  case of  murder  brought  against  reverend  King,  the  Judge wrote :

“It is  sad  that  the  Nigerian  society  is  bogged  down with  myriad  of problems  ranging from poverty to  corruption both  in  the  economic  and  spiritual  sense,  which  has  engendered many  of its  vulnerable  elements  susceptible  to he  wares  of  religious  highway men  such as the accused here,  who offer  them  stone  when they  deserve bread and  scorpion  when  they demand  for  fish”

The  Jim  Jones  Connection

Although  the  two  cases  involved  the  loss  of  lives,  one  on  a  larger  scale than  the  other,  reverend  King  is  worse  than  Jim  Jones.

According  to Religious Tolerance Org.  “The Peoples   Temple was initially structured as an inter-racial mission for the sick, homeless and jobless. He assembled a large following of over 900 members in Indianapolis   IN during the 1950's. "He preached a 'social gospel' of human freedom, equality, and love, which required helping the least and the lowliest of society's members. Later on, however, this gospel became explicitly socialistic, or communistic in Jones' own view, and the hypocrisy of white Christianity was ridiculed while 'apostolic socialism' was preached." ₁ It was an interracial congregation -- almost unheard of in Indiana at the time”.

Infact a copy of Methodist District Superintendent John vs. Moore of Berkeley's letter of April 21, 1975 , has  this  to  say  about  Jim  Jones  and  his  Temple

   “I have known the Rev. Jim Jones and the work of the Peoples   Temple for a number of years. I have been impressed with the quality of community life of the Church and of their service to the communities in which they reside. (wnd.commentary)

Therefore inspite  of  the  fact  that  Jim  Jones  founded  a “destructive doomsday  cult”  he contributed  to  the  welfare of  his followers  and  the  communities  around  him.  That  does not  in  any  way  approve  of  his  heinous  crimes  against  humanity.  But  for  the  purposes  of  comparison,  what  do  our  men  of  god  in  Nigeria  offer  their  followers  and  communities?  Destruction –noise  pollution,  traffic  jams, etc.

Conclusion.

As  the  saying  goes,  a  people  get  the  type of  government  that  they  deserve,  therefore  for  us  to  have  a  better  society  that  we  all crave  for,  all hands  must  be  on  deck  to improve  the  economic and  social  conditions  of  our  people.  This  is not  about  looking  for  scape-goats.  We have  to  be  holistic  in our  approach  to  solving  this  problem  and governments  at  all levels  must  be  involved.

We  just cannot  continue  to  live  like  this!

As  a matter  of urgency  we  must  call on  government  to  regulate  religious  activities  in the  country.  There  should  be  an  enabling  law  to  empower  PFN, CAN, and such  other  bodies  to regulate  and  control  religious  activities.

The  electronic  media  should  have  in-house  experts  to  evaluate  the  claims of  these  men of  god  before  such  claims  or  preachings  are  aired.  It  is  also  important  that  we  ensure  that  the  broadcasting  code  is  strictly  adhered  to.

Finally,  the  time  has  come  for  all  well meaning Nigerians  to push  for laws  to  regulate  religious  activities  in  this  country.  As  I  suggested in  some  other  articles, all  religious  organizations  must  be  run  as  Trusts  under  a  Trustee  Act  designed for  that  purpose.

This  is  calling  on  the  national  assembly  and  President  Obasanjo to  conclude  the  on-going  reforms  agenda  by  including  this  key  area  of  our  national  life in  the  list  of matters  requiring  urgent  reforms.  Refusal  to  do  so  can only  mean  further  hardships  for  our  people  and the nurturing  of  more of  reverend  king.

Thanks  for  having  read  this  article.

Taslim Anibaba (FCA) 
15^th January,  2007

Robot  Villager

# 1 As a matter of urgency we must call on government to regulate religious activities in ...Read the full article. Posted by Robot| 16.01.2007 05:43

Exxcuzme  Villager

# 2 ________________________________________________________________________ This is calling on the national assembly and President Obasanjo to conclude the on-going reforms agenda by including this key area of our national life in the list of matters requiring urgent reforms. Refusal to do so can only mean further hardships for our people and the nurturing of more of reverend king. ________________________________________________________________________ Do you think OBJoke will heed this advice when he thinks all his actions are mandated from GOD? Even the National Assembly members have thesame disease as OBJoke as them shout the name of God to poverty stricken and gullible Nigerians at any chance. As long as most Nigerians are waiting for manna from heaven and we are not ready to fight for our rights, we would continue to be deceived by policitians and their magicians, the alfas and the preachers. Posted by Exxcuzme| 16.01.2007 10:32

Gatorade  Villager

# 3 =Exxcuzme;149100> As long as most Nigerians are waiting for manna from heaven and we are not ready to fight for our rights, we would continue to be deceived by policitians and their magicians, the alfas and the preachers. Absolutely and not that i am an advocate for violence but anything contrary to the current state of nigeria as a nation will continue to be a far-fetch dream until the people are brave enough to hold babangida (dead or alive) in particular, accountable for all that happened under his watch knowingly or otherwise.. Posted by Gatorade| 16.01.2007 14:10

2plus2  Villager

# 4 I am not guilty about the parasite. Simple, this is Nigeria where planes fall out of the sky by the dozen and our parlimentarians say it was an "act of god":exclaim: . Please. Right now what people need are brain scans and complete re-orientation about taking control of their lifes, personal space, community space and accepting that as members of a community (either where we live, education, place of work, village) when things are not working SOMEONE HAS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. It is not the will of god that you have to bribe someone to get your transcript from university or to get a passport (don't ask). No, this is wrong. I am not guilty. Try having a conversation with anyone about anything that does not work and you will be told "why are you stressing yourself, this is Nigeria". Now, I am often amazed at the people saying this because these are the same people that will get on the plane and set off at Heathrow and FOLLOW the RULES. You don't see them driving up a one way street, or stopping on double yellow lines or on the zebra crossing. So tell me how it is that they can so easily follow the rules when they get over there, but have great difficulty doing so in Nigeria. Boy could I go on. I have been back 5 years. Sometimes I marvel at the maddness of what people do. I am not guilty, because you don't see me joining a desparete fundmentalist nutter who says he is a Pastor. They are two for a penny these Pastor's and you can see them coming a mile away. Please. They should go and really join the monastry. Posted by 2plus2| 16.01.2007 15:16

ajis15  Villager

# 5 Mr. Anibaba: Well written and thoughtful. However, I do not think there is anywhere in the world where government regulates religion or house of worship. And for somebody like me who belief in separation of state and religion, I will not share that view. What we should do is encourage the religious organizations to take up the task of regulating themselves and save themselves the embarassment that Rev. King saga has exposed them to. It is also time for people of conscience to speak out against evil in Nigeria. I do not mean the evil that manifested itself in Rev. King, but the evil of bad goverance that cause poverty to reign on the land, and forced people to look for "messaih". God Bless Nigeria. Posted by ajis15| 16.01.2007 16:13

Tunde meee  Villager

# 6 Hello Mr. Anibaba, I commend this effort and will recommend this article to all that needs an example of a well thought and finely written article. But I think most articles of this nature, I mean talking about problems with religious practices in Nigeria, are guilty of same thing and that is as shown in this analogy. " I have got 3 kids and one of them is guilty of an offence but in order not to make people think I am biased, what I will have to do is to castigate them all". I am bold to make the following statements with no fear of contoversy: I have not seen how the mosques are affected in this on going excesses of religious practices in Nigeria. You go to a mosque and say your daily prayer, you may or may not give out anything. I can can assure you that no one builds a mosque with an intention to have any return from it. Most people that build mosques are not even the Imams in them and they have little or no say on how the mosques are run. No claims of miracles are presented in the mosques not because none are happening but simply because they are all attributable to the Almighty God and not the power of the Imam. This is in no way exonerating individual muslims from all vices going on in Nigeria but definitely making a case for the mosques not being involved. Posted by Tunde meee| 17.01.2007 08:08

tanibaba  Villager

# 7 @tunde mee thank you for kind words of encouragement. I agree with you with respect to the practice of Islam and all. However, the truth is that we have so many of these babalawo alfas who operate underground. Perhaps the only one that came to television to boast of his powers was Jabaru. Some sections of the muslim community spoke against him while some others supported him. He is now history. But we have to continue to watch everybody at this stage until this problem is brought under control. Once again thank you. @ajis15 thank you too. |Infact there are several countries in the world where religion is regulated either directly (e.g registered as trusts which gives government agencies the power to peep into their finances etc) or indirectly through bodies set up by the religious organizations themselves e.g Christian Association of Nigeria. Government can give legal backing to such an organization to regulate the activities of member organization and to sanction them. taslim Posted by tanibaba| 17.01.2007 08:30

Tunde meee  Villager

# 8 Thanks Taslim. The fact remains that the babalawo Alfas only prcatice their trade in their own house and not in the mosque. That has got nothing to do with the congregation but their personal business. But what we are discussing has got to do with the entire congregation being led in to perfidy by those in whom they put their trust. STEALING IN THE NAME OF THE LORD. Posted by Tunde meee| 17.01.2007 11:45

el_pharoah  Villager

# 9 I have always had an uneasy feeling about these new churches. Something about their obsession with money, even the so called reputable ones. My friends eldeset brother, a senior exec, working for a UK campany, called his pastor to help him with decisions in an area the pastor knew absolutely nothing about!!! Instead of the pastor to decline, the pastor went ahead with the usuall, let me seek from above and give you an answer. Of course, it was the wrong decision and it cost the company millions!!!!! Luckyly he was not sacked and lived to tell his tale. But has he learned his lesson? I'm not so sure, because he has joined another church in the firm belief that this new pastor has great "seeing talent". Can you just beleive that? Posted by el_pharoah| 17.01.2007 12:53

ajis15  Villager

# 10 Mr. Anibaba: I suspect your title FCA is that of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, ICAN. I became a member in 1988 and migrated to Canada in 1992. If you are an Accountant as I suspect, you've proven that Accountants can be good writers. God Bless. Adekunle Ajisebutu, ACA, CMA, CFE Posted by ajis15| 17.01.2007 18:32

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