POLITICS OF RELIGION OR RELIGION OF POLITICS?

As a Nigerian, you are probably unaware of the fact that recent trend in the field of politics and religion has made it impossible for us to make a sharp distinction between both concepts. As a keen observer, I have struggled to decipher its meeting point and I share my views. With the idea of the scramble for Africa, some religions were introduced cutting across cultural lines. In Nigeria, Islam was introduced in the North and the colonial masters struggled to mount their foothold in other parts of the country. Since the West had long learnt how to work with ideologies, the question that followed immediately was: “how can we better colonize?” Religion (Christianity) was a priceless tool to be employed. Needless to mention that countries/states and groups that attempted to revolt against the religions of their colonial masters were daunted, many of whom were killed. The close of the 20th century down into the 21st century is witnessing the resurgence of such relational ideology in our political drama. Religion on its own may not pose a problem but the misuse of it has been glaring. Have u asked yourself the reason(s) for the state association with particular religions based on the dominant group in a particular state? Why should there be a pastor or an Imam in every state house? The association of intending contenders for the presidential election with the Redeem Christian Church of God is an eye opener. The charismatic nature of its leader has made it possible to be one of the fastest growing Christian communities in Nigeria. Needless to mention that the church harbours over 8% of the Nigerian voters, not to mention other Christian communities that are offspring of the church. Little wonder, Buhari had to visit the man of God, Pastor Adeboye who has in practice over 6 million followers. The sudden friendship between the pastor and the presidency is not unconnected with some political gimmicks. That exactly is the rationale behind notable Nigerian politicians going before God to endorse their campaigns as God’s chosen leaders; kneeling before God in humility, while practically standing against God in pride. The import of this gimmickry is to the effect that we are one in Christ. It is because religion has proven to be the most potent form of deceit that the Dr. Segun Oshoba report that the government of Nigeria shall not identify herself with any religion (which means that in fact and in principle, there should be no state religion), never saw the light of the day. This is just a clarion call to all believers to wake up from their dogmatic slumber; do not be cajoled into thinking that though we are different economically we are one in God, it does not in any way tally with any pragmatic principle. Refuse to be swerved by those who constantly shift the goalpost of religion to suit their desires. If we cannot be one economically, then there is no magical transformation into oneness in God.

CONTROVERSIAL ARGUMENT: SCIENCE OR RELIGION?

Being at a seminar where comparison was made between science/technology on the one hand and religion on the other, I wish to share my candid opinion. It is said that science/technology is inclined to capitalism and should be viewed with caution. Hence, religion is to be preferred as that which brings out the oneness (equality) in humanity. But if our dumping of science is based on the notion that science and technology aligns with capitalism which seeks to exploit the individual, then religion’s flaws lies on the same logic. At the dawn of colonialism, the fundamental question was: “how can we better colonize?” and not “how can we better Christianize?” So Christianity was only a latter development, because in former times, it was primarily a tool of imperialism and by extension, an exploitative technique. Though religion (Christianity) was used as a tool, if its end is worthwhile after all, then does that justify the means? If by any yardstick the end of any scientific endeavour does not justify its means, then both religion and science end up in the same pitfall.

WHY THE POOR WILL REMAIN DESTITUTE

At the conference on Nationalism and Economic Justice, A.G.A. Bello (with many supporters) thinks that resource control ends the socio/political and security problems facing Nigeria. Some renowned activists/scholars also are of the view that giving us quality education will end our entire dilemma; this is because education will lead to man’s liberation. Long before the International Conference on Nationalism and Economic Justice, these issues have been topical themes in the Nigerian polity. The question remains: “why is the status quo still the same?” If we are to take the statistics, up to 80% of Nigerian if not more, will make recourse to the government. I will tackle these issues one after the other:

Education: Let me put it more bluntly in a way we could all understand.  Is it humanly possible for the oppressor to teach the oppressed how to be truly free? Like the slave-master morality of Nietzsche, the freedom of the slave becomes a source of worry for the master because power is only relevant where there are subjects which serve as outlets to vent such power. The freedom of the citizens threatens the existence of the bourgeois. It is a situation where the awareness of the proletariat endangers the bourgeois as increase in their awareness decreases their capacity to be trampled upon by the bourgeois. How can they exercise their lordship over the vast majority by dictating how to run the resources of the state if they are allowed to go through progressive education that liberates them? If you know that the master reasons this way, then you should be aware that no master will genuinely send you to school to become liberated since your liberation sends them to hell. There is need for some sort of mental emancipation that will disturb the old equilibrium; a level of genuine ideological war that reverses the reasoning of the elites and the trampled majority, so as to bridge the gap that has long existed between both groups of people in the African society.

Resource control: the question of the various percentages that should go to oil producing communities has lingered pendulously from one administration to another. But I do not wish to bug you with such intricacies as it is absolutely secondary to my endeavour. I want you to note that when Nigerians engage in a particular struggle, what preoccupies their minds is the fact that they are interested in the immediate and magical change of their problematic situation; as such the present moment is what is most important. Thus, a rich politician knows the psychology of the average Nigerian that when he gives him/her some handsome sum of money, he wins ticket to a political office. When we go back to history, we should be aware that African nations that sought to be independent and ethnic groups that sought to have their independent states engaged in such struggle because they were marginalized. But that on its own hasn’t put an end to the fight of marginalization. People are more disintegrated when they fight each other than when they fight common enemies; the more the limitation of the quest, the higher the chances of national disintegration. That is the exact story of resource control. Give an oil producing state 100% control over their resources and they will kill themselves daily; at this point the fight will be brother against brother.  It is so clear that when we talk of resource control in Nigeria, the first thing that comes to mind is crude oil/Niger Delta communities. The question of resource control is a conceived ideology by politicians to lure various groups toward violent agitations all for the good of the political elite, yet with little or no benefit to the greater majority who are the victims of dejection. It therefore becomes the projection of the will of a few unto the whole. But we still ask ourselves if these people are being marginalized and our answer is yes and they also have a right to a fair share of their resources, but to imagine that it automatically curbs violent agitations is erroneous.

Here is my advice to actors (misguided masses) who play the script of politicians: you can never be a director in your own movie, because the more you align with the political elite, the better you are taught the rudiments of being disqualified from existential situations which are to serve as real solutions to your plight.

PEOPLE DECEIVING PEOPLE

The first Nigerian Leadership Summit was a welcome development, yet it was an educative and a comic event. Listen to one of the notable suggestions by the Nigerian populace which was quickly adopted by public officers present at the occasion: “there should be a law that bans diplomats and all other government functionaries from sending their children to foreign tertiary institutions. Also, laws should be made to prevent such persons from depositing money in foreign accounts.” The question is: “who is to propose and make the law?” Essentially, it is the National Assembly. “Who does the law affect?” Government functionaries (the members of the National Assembly inclusive). Of course, I need not tell you that the most reasonable people in a democratic setting are always in the majority. So rationality is measured by number. So you ask the members of the National Assembly to make two notable laws that affect them negatively and it was quickly adopted. Do you expect non adherence to such proposal when it was made in public? Of course, no one could have withstood the roar of the public. Let me give you an overview of what will come out of such proposals:

1)      There will be numerous debates on the floor of the National Assembly on such issues (don’t forget that each sitting involves some handsome amount of naira to each member’s account)

2)      Due to lack of resolutions, a committee will be set aside to review the issues for determination, this also includes some investigations (also, don’t forget that you have to make payment to members of the committee for a job “well done”)

3)      The outcome will be that such a law would be unfair and unnecessary. But at this point also, the populace would have been thrown into conscious amnesia not to remember such a thing was in existence.

4)      More money has been expended on issues that yielded no result. But bear in mind that the result was worthwhile.   

But who is to blame for all these rhetorics? The citizens and not their leaders are to take the blame. If you don’t have the rationality of a bourgeois, you are bound to remain a slave

ideas at work

The primary purpose of education is to liberate us. So, until you know how it works and how to work it you have simply not gone to school.