Acting President Yemi Osinbajo berates pastors for failing to support the Federal Government’s anti-corruption war saying they fail to preach against the scourge.
Speaking at the 30th National Biennial Conference of the Students Christian Movement (SCM) of Nigeria holding in Enugu, Osinbajo noted that preachers were preoccupied with preaching prosperity rather than righteousness.
“Very rarely do you hear our preachers talk about corruption from their pulpits. If a nation is not righteous nothing will help it…
“All of the great nations of the world were transformed by the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is not a gospel that tickles people’s imaginations or dwells on prosperity.”
In response to his claims, the former aide to ex-president Goodluck Jonathan, Reno Omokri has attacked Osinbajo for also keeping mute about the abducted Dapchi schoolgirl, Leah Sharibu, who is still held captive by the Boko Haram sect.
He tweeted: “Yesterday, Osinbajo complained that Nigerian pastors don’t support Buhari administration’s anti corruption war and berated them for not preaching against corruption.
“This is coming from a pastor VP who himself DOES NOT talk about Leah Sharibu.”
Senator Shehu Sani, representing Kaduna Central, also countered Osinbajo’s claim saying religious leaders do preach against corruption in their sermons but Nigerians do not adhere to the preachings.
“We are not in short of preachings against corruption.We are in short of compliance with the sermons,” Sani tweeted.
However, a statement issued by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Samuel Ayokunle, who is CAN president makes some interesting contributions to Osinbajo’s claim.
“Being a pastor, the acting president may know what we don’t know and he has a right to correct those whose teaching or preaching contradicts the scripture,” he said.
“What we know is that the church must speak against evil in the land, corruption inclusive. The church has been speaking against the perceived genocide in the country, insecurity of life and property, hypocrisy, nepotism, greediness, tribalism, favourism, treasury lootings, lopsided appointments, etc.
“These are all manifestation of corruption. Corruption goes beyond greed and diversion of public money into personal hands. Whether our leaders, politicians and civil servants are listening is another thing entirely.
“Those who have not been preaching against the evil in the country should heed the counsel of the acting president and the leadership of CAN in turn tasks those in the position of authority to be sensitive to the yearning of the church for peace, security, job opportunities, good roads, affordable medical care, and an end to every form of hardship in the land.”
