I have often heard people lament over how Nigerians are so religious but yet the country is still highly corrupt. They tend to relate the rate at which religious buildings are flooding everywhere to the high level of corruption observable in the country. And it even gets more puzzling to think that some nations adjudged to be among the least corrupt nations in the world do not have half the number of religious houses we have in Nigeria. For instance, New Zealand and Finland which rank first and third respectively in the Corruption Perception Index is reported to have less than 2,000 churches apiece.
Yes, of a truth, there are many churches and mosques all over the street of Nigeria, and it is apparent that it is the citizens of this nation that make up the core of those organization but before we continually and hastily flow along the path of drawing direct proportionality between the high rate of corrupt practices and the proliferation of religious organizations, it would be logical to ponder on some issues.
Firstly, without holding forth or trying to paint anyone 'bad'; there is a likelihood that clerics- talk about pastors, bishops, imams and so on- in some of these religious organizations are encouraging or influencing- whether directly or indirectly- their members to engage in activities that could register as being 'indecorous' after it's all been said and done.But then there's yet another possibility that individuals who engage in corrupt habits are only following the 'evil intention' of their heart. It is upon these premises that the topic of this discourse finds its foundation.
The Bible says in Jeremiah 17:9: "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?" and in another place; "Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life" (Proverbs 4:3). From the foregoings, it is clear that God is particular about every individual heart, and that the heart needs to be worked on if one is to put his/her life in order. So, given that a man heard a message in the mold of cheating his way to get wealth; it will only take the desires of his heart for him to flow in the line of such message. On the other hand, I vehemently believe that there are religious organizations where the right way of living is preached but the members never take it (the message) to heart not to talk of taking it to the street or their places of work.
In essence, one can rightly posit that the heart is a 'treasure store' that gives out the things- either virtue or vice- it holds when acted upon by a 'stimulus'. That stimulus could be the message from the pulpit or the stubbornness- inactions/negligence- an individual decides to exercise at a given period of time. And the truth is that God really to reform the heart of man so that he (that is, man) can shine the light where darkness exist. That light is the very thing Nigeria needs in order to break free from the shackles of corruption. The light is however not shining because the heart of men- irrespective of their office or position- is drawn towards selfishness, dishonesty, greed and hatred.
As I bring this to a close; it is important to point out that the buildings- churches, mosques...you name it- are not really necessary; the heart is all that matters for it is upon it (the heart) that the right precepts, needed for nation-building, is laid.