WHY DO NIGERIAN CHRISTIANS SUFFER?: TELLING NIGERIAN PASTORS SOME HOME TRUTHS
(Preaching to the pastors: Part 3)

One of the most glaring differences between early Nigerian Christian leaders and modern Nigerian pastors is attitude. In the early days of Christianity in Nigeria, men of God like Reverend Israel Oludotun Ransome-Kuti, who died in 1955, were great cultural nationalists and thorns in the flesh of colonial authorities. Rev. Ransome-Kuti particularly was the founder and the first president of the Nigerian Union of Teachers and some of his colleagues on freedom wagon were the famous Alvan Ikoku, Bishop S.I. Kale and E.E. Esua.

Besides all these men of God, the pioneering nationalist efforts to liberate Nigeria also included such great men of God as Reverend Cannon Joshiah Ransome-Kuti (grandfther of Fela Anikulapo Kuti), Bishop Ajayi Crowther, Bishop Phillips and Reverend Adeyemi (founder of Ondo Boys High School), Reverend Thomas Babington Macaulay, the founder of CMS Grammar School, Lagos and the Right Reverend John Cross Anyogu, the first Igbo man to be ordained as a priest of the Catholic Church and the first Igbo bishop. In fact, colonial pastors (of all denominations) lit the fire of freedom in the hearts of their congregants like no generation had ever seen before. The British Crown was so frustrated with these patriot-pastors that they coined a moniker for them. They were called, “The Black (or Black-Robed) Regiment.” In truth, colonial pastors were more influential in the “holy cause of liberty” from their pulpits than any military regiment on the battlefield; what came out of their pulpits were more or less like ballistic missiles each Sunday. And, yes, many pastors in colonial Nigeria were among the agitators for Nigerian Independence.

Today’s pastors, however, are mostly noted for saying absolutely NOTHING about the attacks that are currently being waged against our collective liberties. And when I say NOTHING, I mean absolutely NOTHING. About the only thing they seem to be able to do is pass out some slanted “voter’s guides” for every Presidential election on who to vote for, pray for presidential candidates, collect honorarium from them and look the other way when they are committing all manner of crimes. But most do not even do that.


A few (a very few) will encourage their congregations to go into politics and when their members peradventure get into power, these pastors keep calm and peacefully enjoy the “increased” contribution to the church. Some (again, a very small number), in truth, will preach against them and it will be a great disservice to such pastors if I do not mention them. Although we know, being outspoken, could be dangerous at times but it should never be a reason to take “siddon look position”. One of such gory tales happened in my hometown, Abeokuta, in January 2010. Senator Femi Okurounmu (Ogun Central Constituency), called Baba Ijo (father of the congregation) of St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Sodubi, Abeokuta, and led a revolt with some of the church elders against the presiding Priest. The Priest was beaten up but aggrieved youths came to his rescue, sealing off the church premises to prevent worshipers from attending the Sunday Service. The aggrieved youths also threatened to lynch Senator Okurounmu. What a shameful act! An absurd mayhem that took the intervention of 15 policemen who came to prevent it from becoming extremely violent.
But most of our pastors (large number of them) will deliberately and stubbornly refuse to take a public position on any subject that has the air of “politics” around it. Yet church members are suffering excruciatingly under them. Should we really wonder why our country is teetering on the precipice of collapse and oppression? Does the liberty of the congregations matter to these pastors in the face of oppressive government? It should! Sincerely it should because being heavenly conscious shouldn’t negate being earthily relevant.

Church has a very big role to play and pastors have a bigger role in national development. Please we beg thee not to tell us that your spiritual gift is limiting you. Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a prophet, evangelist, speaker in tongues, and interpreter; all in one person, endowed with all the gifts of the Spirit. We believe you are growing in spirit likewise, and the older you are in the Lord the more your spiritual gift should be like Rev. Martin Luther King. Besides Rev. Kumuyi and Pastor Tunde Bakare, who else do we have speaking against the shortcomings of the Nigerian churches and the government? None! Pastor Tunde Bakare has never been my pastor, and neither am I trying to place him higher or above other pastors; but deciphering his gestures, I have been very much fascinated by his truths. Hate him, like him, Pastor Tunde Bakare does not care a bit. There is nobody he cannot chastise in the body of Christ or take on, one on one. His contributions to liberate the teeming populations of Nigeria from oppressive goons should be emulated by other pastors because a collective cry from more pulpits is needed at this critical time.

If all our pastors are not taking it upon themselves, hmmm, we are just sitting on a keg of gun powder covered with soft cushion. Before Christianity gets to where no pastor would be able to stand on the pulpit to preach again we should be speaking up to their ears to do something. And to you reading this: they (the politicians) cannot be coming to your church and you will afford that costly silence. If indeed Jesus is your Lord and Saviour, stand up, look them in the face and speak the truth—nothing but the truth—to their vain quest for wealth that are robbing the people.


Preaching to the pastors: Part 2-> https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10200398196031340&set=pb.1648863073.-2207520000.1367208181.&type=3&theater