The National Assembly should criminalize scam artists, spiritual charlatans and ritualists equally. Regardless of their religious affiliation or origin: locally or foreign. Pastors and Imams exploit these foreign religions the way their slave masters use it to capture us. There used to be Jesu Oyibo that popularized nondenominational services in those days and he demanded tithes, usually a percentage of their salaries, from members to run the Church.
When any of us is down and in distress, we need somebody to lean on. We become vulnerable to whoever promises us deliverance. We’ve seen skillful doctors, scientists and the very rich travel far and wide outside their expertise and country for cures; only to die for lack of primary nursing care. In our most vulnerable moments, no matter how much money we have, according to billionaire Steve Jobs, we cannot buy another body to replace us on our dying bed.
The Pastors and Imams that blackmail in the name of God, by extorting money and sex from followers or politicians are popular, their transgressions are forgiven while Pastors and Imams that denounced them are ignored. They call themselves miracle workers but go overseas for treatment of various diseases. They claim they cure the same diseases. Pastors or Imams also protect themselves with armed bodyguards but tell followers to rely on God’s protection!
Africans still have reservations about exposing Catholic Church priests for extortions while the rest of the world have sued them in courts and collected millions of dollars in compensation. We just do not believe that religious leaders could be so advantageous. Even when people come forward and claim they have been extorted or blackmailed by religious leaders, some of us still express some doubts and blame the victims in Africa. Pastors’ money greed excludes religion?
Whatever religion we believe in, foreign or indigenous, brave Imans & Pastors before now had condemned charlatans among them. The Petitions of Adelabu to DSS over Primate Ayodele’s ₦150m Demand For ‘Spiritual Help” reminds us they are not better or purer than native doctors who demand unspeakable rituals. Police have raided “fetish” shrines in the Eastern or Western parts of the country but there are some reservations for foreign religious pastors and imams.
Another Pastor, Chris Okafo, founder of Liberation and Miracle Ministry was accused by Nollywood Actress Doris Ogala of various sexual affairs with members of his Church. His Nepo daughter in Canada also claimed there are more salacious secrets which she would reveal unless Pastor Okafor pays her school fees for the past year in thousands of dollars in Canada. He denied most of the allegations but kneel down in Church and beg for members’ forgiveness.
Sometimes you have to wonder if most pastors are sex maniacs or they become sex maniacs with the authority of the pastoral calling. It could also be one of the fridge benefits of the job.
Rwanda and Ghana enacted control against Pastors using extortion and false prophecies to defraud their members. When so-called men of God on the altar, call on 20 or more people to come forward with millions in donations in order to cure their hailing needs and people line up. Those lining up must share the blame with fraudulent pastors for heeding their call. How much did Jesus or Mohammed charge for their services and preachings?
Rwanda Governance Board introduced controls to license religious Preachers to have certain academic qualifications that must align with laws and regulations. They must ensure inclusion, safety and dignity. Foreign Preachers coming to the country must notify Authorities prior to their arrival for the approval of documentation submitted for visas. They must be responsible enough to maintain public order, integrity in accordance with legal religious operations in the country.
Ghana Government also enacted regulations to control Preachers that must have some proficiency in religious doctrines of Christian and Muslim: refrain from the use of honorary degrees given by tertiary institutions. While registration with the General’s Department is mostly administrative to obtain recognition and status of legal entity, lack of formal status may limit legal rights. Noise control, service duration and number in attendance must comply with public safety.
But the Pastors and Imams are willing to make money by exploiting the trust the congregation have in them. These days, they preach that God wants them to be rich and wealthy in expensive mansions, exotic cars, fine clothes and shoes. The irony is that their members cannot afford most of their tastes or send children to their schools. Even when relatives buy their parents, aunties and sister brand new cars, some donate them to the houses of Pastors.
Desperate politicians and potential yahoo boys have been extorted for millions and billions of naira in return for success by foreign and indigenous unscrupulous preachers within us in the name of God or devil. Police raids have found human body parts buried under churches and mosques. Yet, the fear of persecuting Christians and Muslims prevents police actions as they do with indigenous religions or rituals. Could be the threat of invasion to save foreign religion.
Seriously, which god demands airplanes or jets to preach in either poverty ridden or wealthy countries? We remember Jim Baker and Jimmy Swagger very well and how they repented. But African pastors and imams double down on their avarice and exploitation of the masses. African pastors are so bold, they advertise themselves on social media and national television abusing their congregations. Yet, their audience closes their eyes in prayers!
Our pastors and imams are converts of foreign religions and have firsthand experiences of how these religions have creped into our cultures to replace Amadioha, Sango or Maguzawa Kuri. We sing and dance replacing indigenous gods with Jesus and Mohammed. If we are so confident or possessed by these foreign gods, there is no reason for our pastors and imams to deviate from what is already working well and fall back on African rituals.
