RELIGION AND DEMOCRACY IN NIGERIA:

Today religious holiday. Tomorrow yet another; you wonder what adherents do observing these holidays... whether they intercede for man to God or perfect the art of evils that most infest the world...

Nigeria operates the American-style Democracy. But Nigeria was fittingly described by Warren Christopher, a one-time United States of American Secretary of State, as "the poorest oil-rich nation in the world.” Can you fault that oxymoron – oil-rich (poverty)?

Nigerian democracy is a façade, a veneer covering the essence of despotism that lurks beneath. Today, Saraki and Dogara are ostensibly guardians of a democratic constitution and sentinels of the legitimate aspirations of the people, they preside over a profligate, rapacious and financially dishonest National Assembly. Extreme wastefulness, grasping avarice and official corruption are the hallmarks of not only the National Assembly but all arms of the Nigerian government. Supposedly, Nigerian public servants are the representatives and servants of the people. But, in reality, sheltered in their cocoon of unbridled privileges and boundless perks, and consumed by cupidity, they are scornfully indifferent to the unbearable hardship that pervades the lives of the generality of Nigerians.

Nigerian democracy has all the trappings of democracy but lacks its essentials: rule of law, equitable distribution of the national wealth, respect for fundamental individual rights, protection of citizens from abuse by government officials and agents. It is a democracy where the generality of the people do not share in the general prosperity of the country. For a band of kleptomaniacs, masquerading as politicians, unrivaled in their thievery and profligacy, subverted a principled distribution of the national wealth, and thus, consigned a disproportionate percentage of the citizens of this wealthy country to hopeless, gateless poverty.

What is truly the essence of having religion and democracy in Nigeria? God please come down; we know you are present in our individual lives. But collectively, I beseech thee to come down... The yoke is heavy!

Today religious holiday. Tomorrow yet another; you wonder what adherents do observing these holidays... whether they intercede for man to God or perfect the art of evils that most infest the world...

Nigeria operates the American-style Democracy. But Nigeria was fittingly described by Warren Christopher, a one-time United States of American Secretary of State, as "the poorest oil-rich nation in the world.” Can you fault that oxymoron – oil-rich (poverty)?

Nigerian democracy is a façade, a veneer covering the essence of despotism that lurks beneath. Today, Saraki and Dogara are ostensibly guardians of a democratic constitution and sentinels of the legitimate aspirations of the people, they preside over a profligate, rapacious and financially dishonest National Assembly. Extreme wastefulness, grasping avarice and official corruption are the hallmarks of not only the National Assembly but all arms of the Nigerian government. Supposedly, Nigerian public servants are the representatives and servants of the people. But, in reality, sheltered in their cocoon of unbridled privileges and boundless perks, and consumed by cupidity, they are scornfully indifferent to the unbearable hardship that pervades the lives of the generality of Nigerians.

Nigerian democracy has all the trappings of democracy but lacks its essentials: rule of law, equitable distribution of the national wealth, respect for fundamental individual rights, protection of citizens from abuse by government officials and agents. It is a democracy where the generality of the people do not share in the general prosperity of the country. For a band of kleptomaniacs, masquerading as politicians, unrivaled in their thievery and profligacy, subverted a principled distribution of the national wealth, and thus, consigned a disproportionate percentage of the citizens of this wealthy country to hopeless, gateless poverty.

What is truly the essence of having religion and democracy in Nigeria? God please come down; we know you are present in our individual lives. But collectively, I beseech thee to come down... The yoke is heavy!

Today religious holiday. Tomorrow yet another; you wonder what adherents do observing these holidays... whether they intercede for man to God or perfect the art of evils that most infest the world...

Nigeria operates the American-style Democracy. But Nigeria was fittingly described by Warren Christopher, a one-time United States of American Secretary of State, as "the poorest oil-rich nation in the world.” Can you fault that oxymoron – oil-rich (poverty)?

Nigerian democracy is a façade, a veneer covering the essence of despotism that lurks beneath. Today, Saraki and Dogara are ostensibly guardians of a democratic constitution and sentinels of the legitimate aspirations of the people, they preside over a profligate, rapacious and financially dishonest National Assembly. Extreme wastefulness, grasping avarice and official corruption are the hallmarks of not only the National Assembly but all arms of the Nigerian government. Supposedly, Nigerian public servants are the representatives and servants of the people. But, in reality, sheltered in their cocoon of unbridled privileges and boundless perks, and consumed by cupidity, they are scornfully indifferent to the unbearable hardship that pervades the lives of the generality of Nigerians.

Nigerian democracy has all the trappings of democracy but lacks its essentials: rule of law, equitable distribution of the national wealth, respect for fundamental individual rights, protection of citizens from abuse by government officials and agents. It is a democracy where the generality of the people do not share in the general prosperity of the country. For a band of kleptomaniacs, masquerading as politicians, unrivaled in their thievery and profligacy, subverted a principled distribution of the national wealth, and thus, consigned a disproportionate percentage of the citizens of this wealthy country to hopeless, gateless poverty.

What is truly the essence of having religion and democracy in Nigeria? God please come down; we know you are present in our individual lives. But collectively, I beseech thee to come down... The yoke is heavy!