Beside ethnicity, religion is the greatest weapon of mass deception in Nigeria. When James II of Britain proclaimed divine rights of ruling over his subjects in which he declared that whatever he did was an act of God, the British people chased him out of the throne into exile in Spain. Charles the Stuart who tried to rule by divine right was not as lucky as James II. Charles was beheaded by angry Englishmen led by Cromwell. But Nigerians unlike Englishmen believe that whatever evil their leaders perpetrate on them is approved by God.
Nigerians interpret poverty as individual's direct relationship with God whereby sudden rise of an individual to opulence is believed to be a reward by God for his/her good relationship with the creator. They see material accumulation as depicting God's blessings and reward. Most Nigerian politicians do not believe they are voted for by the people as they always attribute their election victories, whether through bought, rigged or stolen elections, to the will of God. Nigeria is saturated with born-again Christian and Muslim swindlers who are in charge of the nation's political and economic affairs. In 2007, all the twelve States' Governors that enacted Sharia laws in the North in 2000 were indicted and arraigned before court for stealing billions of Naira from their respective state's treasury. A typical example of a religious swindler posing as representative of God in Nigeria is the former Governor of Sokoto State (1999-2007), Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa. On Tuesday, 15 December 2009, he was charged before Justice Bello Abbas of the Sokoto High Court for having used 47 different bank accounts to embezzle N15 billion from the State's treasury. He was refused bail but his lawyer filed a bail case at an Abuja High Court presided over by Justice D. U. Okorowo who granted him bail. Out of the N15 billion stolen by Governor Bafarawa, the EFCC claimed that N52 million belonged to Sokoto State School of Quran studies!! Through series of interlocutory injunctions the case of Bafarawa, like many of his colleagues, is pending in court till date. In 2013, Bafarawa joined PDP and in the current Dasukigate revelations, Bafarawa has been arraigned for collecting N5billion from Dasuki. Bafarawa has declared that the money was spent on Muslim Prayer Warriors for the victory of President Jonathan and PDP at the March 28, 2015, elections.
During the Senate screening to confirm the ministerial appointment of Professor Chinedu Ositadinma Ndubuisi Nebo, on Wednesday, 23 January 2013, he stated thus, "If the President deploys me in the power sector, I believe that given my performance at the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN), where as Chancellor, I drove out the witches and demons, God will also give me power to drive out demons in the power sector." It would appear the learned Professor believed that demons were responsible for inadequate electricity supplies in Nigeria and once the demons were driven out by the power of God Nigerians would enjoy uninterrupted power supply. Professor Nebo became Minister of Power and when darkness enveloped Nigeria he asked Nigerians to pray to God for light. In 2015, a Pastor collected N10,000 from some students to pray and bless their pens so that they would pass their exams without reading. When the results came out and all the students failed woefully, they petitioned the EFCC but before EFCC could take any action, the pastor approached a court and obtained injunction prohibiting any investigating institution in Nigeria from arresting, interrogating and prosecuting the pastor. In every 20 metres of any street in Nigeria, one would find a church and a mosque, yet Nigeria is the capital of hell on earth because of the behaviours of Nigerians. Mohammed and Jesus would get a lot of money if they were to sue Nigerians for defamation of their characters.
Nigerians interpret poverty as individual's direct relationship with God whereby sudden rise of an individual to opulence is believed to be a reward by God for his/her good relationship with the creator. They see material accumulation as depicting God's blessings and reward. Most Nigerian politicians do not believe they are voted for by the people as they always attribute their election victories, whether through bought, rigged or stolen elections, to the will of God. Nigeria is saturated with born-again Christian and Muslim swindlers who are in charge of the nation's political and economic affairs. In 2007, all the twelve States' Governors that enacted Sharia laws in the North in 2000 were indicted and arraigned before court for stealing billions of Naira from their respective state's treasury. A typical example of a religious swindler posing as representative of God in Nigeria is the former Governor of Sokoto State (1999-2007), Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa. On Tuesday, 15 December 2009, he was charged before Justice Bello Abbas of the Sokoto High Court for having used 47 different bank accounts to embezzle N15 billion from the State's treasury. He was refused bail but his lawyer filed a bail case at an Abuja High Court presided over by Justice D. U. Okorowo who granted him bail. Out of the N15 billion stolen by Governor Bafarawa, the EFCC claimed that N52 million belonged to Sokoto State School of Quran studies!! Through series of interlocutory injunctions the case of Bafarawa, like many of his colleagues, is pending in court till date. In 2013, Bafarawa joined PDP and in the current Dasukigate revelations, Bafarawa has been arraigned for collecting N5billion from Dasuki. Bafarawa has declared that the money was spent on Muslim Prayer Warriors for the victory of President Jonathan and PDP at the March 28, 2015, elections.
During the Senate screening to confirm the ministerial appointment of Professor Chinedu Ositadinma Ndubuisi Nebo, on Wednesday, 23 January 2013, he stated thus, "If the President deploys me in the power sector, I believe that given my performance at the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN), where as Chancellor, I drove out the witches and demons, God will also give me power to drive out demons in the power sector." It would appear the learned Professor believed that demons were responsible for inadequate electricity supplies in Nigeria and once the demons were driven out by the power of God Nigerians would enjoy uninterrupted power supply. Professor Nebo became Minister of Power and when darkness enveloped Nigeria he asked Nigerians to pray to God for light. In 2015, a Pastor collected N10,000 from some students to pray and bless their pens so that they would pass their exams without reading. When the results came out and all the students failed woefully, they petitioned the EFCC but before EFCC could take any action, the pastor approached a court and obtained injunction prohibiting any investigating institution in Nigeria from arresting, interrogating and prosecuting the pastor. In every 20 metres of any street in Nigeria, one would find a church and a mosque, yet Nigeria is the capital of hell on earth because of the behaviours of Nigerians. Mohammed and Jesus would get a lot of money if they were to sue Nigerians for defamation of their characters.
S. Kadiri
Date: Mon, 29 Feb 2016 14:40:44 +0000
From: gbola.gbadamosi@gmail.com
To: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com; dasylvaus@gmail.com; usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com
CC: toyinfalola@austin.utexas.edu; doyinaguoru77@gmail.com; shina73_1999@yahoo.com; ebomobowale@yahoo.com
Subject: Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - No Testimonies in Official Forms Please! By Pius Adesanmi.
Ademola Dasylva,
In the specific case of the driver who "invokes the blood of Jesus" I think you might have misplaced the bone of contention.
I do appreciate those special circumstances of Nigeria which you described. Nigerians particularly tend to do this, giving the erroneous impression that this situation, these challenges are unique to Nigeria. There are traffic challenges similar to what you have described in many other parts of the world.
What the driver could do and should actually do is to "invoke the blood of Jesus" in the morning privately or whenever he first come into contact with the car before his guests! I think it is rude and inconsiderate for the driver, for example, to do that in presence of others. Suppose the Professor does not believe in the blood of Jesus? Could it have been said silently as an alternative? God is not deaf!
When it comes to religion there tend to be so much "show off" with Nigerians. My God is bigger than yours! My generator is bigger that yours! "I better pass my neighbour - ha - wetin"!
I focus only on this simple example, clearly the issue we are talking about here is much bigger.
Best,
Gbolahan Gbadamosi
_____________________________
From: Ademola Dasylva <dasylvaus@gmail.com>
Sent: Monday, February 29, 2016 13:16
Subject: Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - No Testimonies in Official Forms Please! By Pius Adesanmi.
To: Bola Dauda <usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com>
Cc: DOYIN AGUORU <doyinaguoru77@gmail.com>, Toyin Falola <toyinfalola@austin.utexas.edu>, Adeshina Afolayan <shina73_1999@yahoo.com>, <ebomobowale@yahoo.com>
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From: Ademola Dasylva <dasylvaus@gmail.com>
Sent: Monday, February 29, 2016 13:16
Subject: Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - No Testimonies in Official Forms Please! By Pius Adesanmi.
To: Bola Dauda <usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com>
Cc: DOYIN AGUORU <doyinaguoru77@gmail.com>, Toyin Falola <toyinfalola@austin.utexas.edu>, Adeshina Afolayan <shina73_1999@yahoo.com>, <ebomobowale@yahoo.com>
Alagba Dauda, P.A.'s concern is not misplaced at all; he is right on the mark. He is simply drawing attention to candidates who are engaged in public examinations, essay contests/competitions, and especially, scholarship interviews and tests, TO KNOW WHEN TO DRAW THE LINE between religious practice or felicity, and a formal examinable writs. This is to underscore the practicality of addressing realistic issues as are required of them for external valuation, at all levels, local, national and international. This is the thrust of P.A.'s treatise, if I understand him well.
This other point I like to make is to address Alagba Dauda's slightly distracting remark, and overgeneralization on religion which I consider was a bit off the mark. Religious matters are sensitive issues; beliefs and practice are both cultural and personal. For example, you may not agree with the driver under reference, but you don't have to blame him should he believe that his safety is dependent on God, and on being careful too.
You will agree with me that the situation is marked ly different in Europe or America if you drive a car often on Nigerian roads. You may very well have the requisite skills, and be extra vigilant each time you are behind the wheel on Nigerian roads, but you might need more than your skills and vigilance to cope with "Okada" riders that overtake you right, left and center, as you feel "trapped" like an unprofessional bee honey collector. Or some mad driver overtaking on a blind hill and there you are, suddenly faced with a vehicle crashing straight into you, on your lane.
No doubt, there is a measured sanity in Lagos, courtesy of LASMA. Well, don't drive on Ibadan roads if you are hypertensive. The commercial vehicle operators are in some curiois fraternity with the law enforcement agents. So the commercial drivers have a field day, everyday. The Micra cabs and the "Okada" riders are lawless, they don't obey any traffic regulations, including the traffic lights. There you are, a level-headed motorist, struggling to keep your sanity. Therfore, it is not right to trivialise such a sensitive issue as religious beliefs and practice if the driver, like most Nigerians, saw it as the last resort. So you don't poke fun at an official driver who in addition to his driving skills chooses to pray to his God in order to survive the madding traffic system.
Ire o.
Ademola O. Dasylva.
University of Ibadan.
Sent from my BlackBerry 10 smartphone.
Sent from my BlackBerry 10 smartphone.
| From: Bola Dauda Sent: Sunday, 28 February 2016 23:48 Reply To: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com Subject: Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - No Testimonies in Official Forms Please! By Pius Adesanmi. |
Dear Pius, I regret to say your plea to Nigerian Professors and colleagues to address this issue is misplaced because most of them are in the same religious camp! Recently it took me over a month to recover from overdose of series of prayers inflicted on me when I accompanied Professor Falola to a Nigerian university. The official university driver invoked the blood of Jesus on the vehicle before he started the car, the Professors prayed before and after the lecture, the dinner, etc, etc. I don't know who can fix the problem, but my experiences so far in the last few years in Nigeria have convinced me that our Nigerian colleagues cannot help the students. Bola Dauda
On Feb 28, 2016 9:20 AM, "Olajumoke Yacob-Haliso" < jumoyin@gmail.com> wrote:
What do we now call this madness??.......................................................
No Testimonies in Official Forms Please!
By Pius Adesanmi.
This is a public service announcement to Nigerian kids applying for things at the international level. Some of the things you do wrong have reached epidemic proportions and one has to say something instead of constantly gnashing one's teeth during evaluation. And that is why I am always in Ghana and Nigeria running those workshops in the summer.
I am very angry and frustrated!
I've just had to play native informant, explaining Nigeria and her swags and lingo to some colleagues because "these our shudrens" won't hear word!
We just finished evaluating applications for an international scholarship reserved exclusively for students from Africa. Good spread from the continent if you look at the nationality of the applicants. As usual, when you are 180 million, you send more applications and dominate these things.
Just a straightforward scholarship scenario. The form asks about your academic profile, goals, how the scholarship would help achieve your goals, etc.
I am assessing the first one, I encounter "blood of Jesus" in the opening of the goals section. I swallowed deep and hard. I move on to the next dossier, "God willing, I hope to..." I move on to the next dossier, "By the special grace of the Holy Ghost, I aim to ..." I move on to another one tackling the question of why you need the scholarship and I see something like: "Up till now, enemies have thrown obstacles on my educational path and I have been able to do back to sender but now I need help..."
These are applications in the Humanities, Social Sciences and science. By now, I am so uncomfortable I had to explain to other members of the evaluation team why there is a preponderance of the registers of prosperity Pentecostalism in the applications from Nigeria.
I explained that Prosperity Pentecostalism is more than faith in Nigeria now. It is a cultural phenomenon whose language and diction are now part of the cultural world of all these children on Facebook and Twitter. They just don't know boundaries - hence they are doing testimony in scholarship applications. And these are kids who are already here o. Imagine what we often get from those who are still at home. Luckily, there were some who rescued one's sense of injured national reputation by not doing testimony in the forms.
So, dear Professors and colleagues in Nigerian Universities, take care of this thing. This is what these kids that you are sending our way are writing. They write like they are filling forms to serve on committees in COZA or Living Faith.
If you fill your forms like I have described above, those evaluating your dossier here will also do back to sender.
E nor finish?
--
Olajumoke Yacob-Haliso, PhDDepartment of Political Science and Public Administration,Babcock University,Ogun State, Nigeria.P. M. B. 21244, Ikeja, Lagos.Official email: yacob-halisoo@babcock.edu.ngDepartmental email: pspa@babcock.edu.ngPrimary email : jumoyin@yahoo.co.ukInstitutional website: www.babcock.edu.ng"Intelligence plus character -- that is the goal of true education" - Martin Luther King, Jr.
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