• Cardinal John Onaiyekan emphasized the responsibility of religious institutions to challenge society, especially the wealthy and politically influential
• Religious leader highlighted how corrupt politicians strategically choose churches and pastors to avoid confronting uncomfortable truths
• Onaiyekan criticized impunity and unequal justice system among Nigeria’s political elite

Archbishop Emeritus AbujaCardinal John Onaiyekan spoke on religious institutions and their role in shaping society, especially Nigeria’s political and social challenges.

Onaiyekan also emphasized that to promote true social transformation, preachers must challenge their congregations, especially those who are wealthy and politically influential.

Onaiyekan made this statement on Channels Television’s popular socio-political program Laolu Akande and Internal Sources.

Cardinal Onaiyekan highlighted how some politicians strategically choose churches. priests to avoid facing uncomfortable truths about their actions.

According to the respected cleric, the practice allows corrupt politicians to maintain their influence without being held accountable for their abuses.

Also read

Mixed reactions as Nigerian Pastor leaves congregation after phone rings

“I realized that in Nigeria, greedy people have a way of choosing the type of churches they go to and which preachers they listen to.

“If they go to a church where they’re constantly pressured and harassed, they’re not going to come back next Sunday, but we need more than that.”

He also emphasized that the responsibility lies with both religious leaders and congregations to demand a more honest and transformative message from the pulpit.

Onaiyekan says religious institutions should think about their roles

While acknowledging the impressive growth of religious institutions, NigeriaAccording to the channel television report, Cardinal Onaiyekan emphasized that it is not enough to just build large cathedrals and fill them with worshipers.

He expressed concern that many churches are failing to promote the facts. pietyThis, he believes, is the primary purpose of religious practice.

“The official religious institutions we have in Nigeria have a duty to self-evaluate.

Also read

Verydarkman advises Nigerian youth not to sell their votes: “Don’t let politicians use you”

“They must ask themselves: Are we reflecting the true message of our beliefs? “If we do this, we will not encounter such a result,” he said.

Onaiyekan speaks out on Nigeria’s impunity and injustice

The cardinal also condemned widespread impunity among Nigeria’s political elite, blaming them for the country’s rampant corruption and mismanagement of resources, Vanguard reported.

He cited the stark contrast between the way the justice system deals with petty thefts and crimes of the powerful.

“There’s a lot of immunity. People take a lot of things that don’t belong to them and no one asks them.

“Whereas, if a poor man in the village steals a piece of yam, they will put him in jail for six months or more. “So there is a problem in the justice system,” Cardinal Onaiyekan said.

Source: Legit.ng