BEVERLY HILLS, April 08, (THEWILL) – Nigeria’s former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has observed that the activities of church leaders are contributing to the rampant cases of corruption across the country, urging the church to wield its influence against the scourge.
Speaking on Saturday at the convention of Victory Life Bible Church International in Abeokuta, Ogun State, he stated that the fight against corruption would bounce back with vengeance if it is fought as a one-off affair.
In his speech titled: ‘The Role of the Church in the Fight Against Corruption in Nigeria’, Obasanjo said, “There is no doubt that all our institutions have been tarnished by the brush of corruption.
“If the Church, as an institution, does not take bribe or get involved in other corrupt practice, the behaviour of some of our men of God leaves much to be desired.
“They not only celebrate but venerate those whose sources of wealth are questionable. They accept gifts (offering) from just anybody without asking questions. This gives the impression that anything is acceptable in the house of God.
“But if Jesus can chase out those buying and selling from the temple with the declaration that, ‘My house shall be called the house of prayer, but ye have made it a den of thieves,’ then it is time to stand up against corruption.”
The former president called on the Church to clean its Augean stable in order to restore its holiness, advocating that prosperity messages be preached with caution and moderation.
He stated that the anti-corruption crusade must first be fought within the church through ridding itself of the menace before extending it to the larger society.
According to him, “Our present day ‘money changers’ and ‘merchants’ must be chased out of the Church and put to shame in the larger society.
“While miracles, signs and wonders are the expectations of true believers, such must be based on righteousness. To preach that one can acquire wealth without labour is not only deceitful; it is a call to corruption. It is false preaching and it is sinful.
“We must be careful in believing and celebrating every testimony of miraculous blessing, hence we end up being hoodwinked into celebrating corruption.”
Obasanjo, who served as Nigeria’s president between 1999 and 2007, disclosed that the fight against corruption was made a “top priority” during his administration.
He disclosed that his government took a “bold step” to curb corruption, adding that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission, ICPC, were created then.
The ex-president, while observing that the rise of public administration and the discovery of oil and natural gas were two major events that increased corrupt practices in the country, said, “The church needs to clear its Augean stable.
“The temple of God must be cleanest to restore the holiness of the church.
“Our present day money changers and merchants. Must be chased out of the church.
“The pulpit must be used to teach and preach righteous and honest living.
“To preach that one can acquire wealth without labour is not only deceitful but also a call to corruption.
“We must be careful in believing and celebrating every testimony of miraculous blessing otherwise we end up celebrating corruption.
“The behaviour of some of our men of God leaves much to be desired.
“They not only celebrate but venerate those whose sources of wealth are questionable.
“They accept gifts (offerings) from just anybody without asking questions giving the impression that anything is acceptable in the house of God.
“The government has tried to contain corruption through the enactment of laws and the enforcement of integrity systems, but success has been slow in coming.
“Legislations alone are not enough as they are often breached by those who make them and those who implement them.”
The former president, who recalled that the church played an important role in the development of Nigeria, noted that the country has come to another historic juncture requiring the church to play a leading role.
