When Righteousness Exalts A Nation

After gaining their independence from the colonial masters, every country went to work in a bid to create the prosperous nation of their dreams. Nigerians, like other African countries, on the other hand, proceeded to pray and fast, abandoning nation building. So, while we were busy fasting, praying, advancing and fostering our religious beliefs, Malaysia came, collected our palm seedlings, and created a magnificent palm oil industry, servicing 24% of the global need. Singapore invested in technology, and now has the largest port in Southeast Asia and one of the busiest in the world. India entered the information and communication technology (ICT) sector and is now indispensable in almost every developed economy. China had tremendous industrialization, accounting for the world's second largest economy by nominal GDP, behind the United States. And all the while we were praising Allah (swt) and teaching our children that western education is a sin, massive infrastructure construction commenced in the UAE, the first country in the Arab world to reach Mars. The Japanese advanced their technology as we were binding and casting Lucifer. The Danes were busy educating their populace as we were speaking in tongues. The United States was putting a man on the moon while we were installing large speakers on the street. And these are countries that also serve God in their own way.

Thank God for his benevolence, he decided to compensate us based on our effort, as places of worship continued to litter every nook and cranny of the country. Instead of farms and factories, our intercity roads are filled with places of worship, with a rat race to construct the largest ones. Countries that invested in areas such as education, the justice system, technology, infrastructure development, industrialization, etc., are reaping abundant rewards, just as we continue to fast, pray, and sleep at their embassy to relocate to these countries. ?For that reason, worship spaces and houses of prayer outnumber public institutions like schools, factory and hospitals. That's why, instead of going to hospitals, we seek answers to our medical problems at prayer houses, buying soap, water, and oil, even though the heads of these prayer houses have a dedicated personal doctor, with routines abroad. Nigerians, after undergoing successful IVF, celebrate their religious leaders, without giving any kudos to the doctors and medical staff who made it possible. A country that uses taxpayers' money to send people on pilgrimages is sick beyond redemption.

Traders spends productive hours praying before opening shop, only to sell fake products, cheat and swindle buyers, owe apprentice salary, evade tax and indulge in other non-conventional practices. Life’s been lost due to fake motor parts, fake drugs, and fake beverages, yet we claim to be holier than whole. Nigeria is a nation that values prayer and reveres God. What we fail to understand, is that religion is a compliment and not a substitute for hard work. ?We only put our faith in God and forget about all the rules of the road, taking “one way” at will, car maintenance feels like a waste of money, and safety checks and seat belts while we're on the road make one feel like an amateur driver. Also, after we pray, we can drive a car that isn't fully suitable and then blame our stepmother, mother-in-law or village people if anything goes wrong. More individuals are losing their lives on our roadways because of that. A particular state in Nigeria is termed a “skull mining” state, due to the notorious penchant by certain religious leaders to use human skulls and other parts for delusional prosperity rites.

In a saner clime where religion is solely for humanity, it offers numerous benefits to both society and individuals, including the promotion of moral values that guide ethical behaviour, which helps maintain social order and harmony. It fosters a sense of community and belonging, providing emotional support and a network of social connections that enhance well-being. Additionally, religion often encourages charitable acts and social responsibility, contributing to the welfare of others. It also plays a role in preserving their cultural traditions and shared identities, passing them down through generations. It provides them with a sense of purpose and meaning in life, offering comfort in times of uncertainty or hardship. In this part of the world, the situation is of sharp contrast. Having all we need to live and establish a country, we abandon hard work, farming, and skill acquisition, and retire to prayer and fasting alone. Relying on prayers alone, we often refuse to conduct a business plan and feasibility report prior to delving into business. Guess who gets the blame when it goes south: Mr. Devil. That is why criticizing religious leaders and places of worship is wrong and could even attract mob action in certain areas of the country.

Recently, a Kenyan religious leader ordered his followers to starve themselves to death to go to heaven. Over 400 people did, and at least 600 more are still unaccounted for. We have witnessed places of worship collapse in recent years, and our leaders make us believe it’s the handy work of the devil instead of taking the advice of professional engineers, in addition to an approved building plan. That's why we put our lazy trust in God as a foundation and then accuse the devil when it falls.

?Government doesn’t build nations, people do, through relentless hard work, value, and job creation, as well as upholding civic responsibilities. Noise pollution, staged miracles, skull mining, militancy, banditry, "419," robbery, rape, sabotage, disobeying traffic rules, “education is haram," child abuse, human and drug trafficking, nepotism, and insecurity don`t exalt a nation. But righteousness exalteth a nation, just as sin is a reproach to any people. This is particularly evident in countries that cherish education, justice, freedom, technology, infrastructure development, and industrialization. Their religious activities are of tremendous benefit to humanity, including reasonable time of worship, rights of worship, food banks, donations and charities, public school buildings, etc. No loudspeaker in the wee hours of the night, no human and vehicular blocking of roads, no personified place of worship, no prayer session during work, no competition, no private jet, no staged miracle.

In conclusion, we need to ask ourselves: which kind of society we want to build—one replaced with religion, or one complimented by religion. ?Are we ready to use religion to build our nation by promoting ethical values that strengthen societal integrity and foster social cohesion through shared beliefs, without regard for tribe, gender, or language. Every day brings forth a golden opportunity to use religion to inspire hope and resilience during challenges, unite us in common goals, promote peace and reconciliation, resolve conflicts, and create a harmonious society. By encouraging community service and charity, which address social needs, religion can contribute to the overall development and stability of our nation.