Group Warns Religious Leaders Against Honoring Individuals with Questionable Wealth

By Praise Chinecherem

A group of interfaith stakeholders have urged religious leaders to desist from honouring persons with questionable wealth.

The leaders made the call during a one-day Community People’s Parley in Awka, Anambra State, tagged, “Promoting Accountability and Anti-Corruption through Behavioral Change Approaches”, organized by University of Nigeria Nsukka Muslim Community, UNNMC in collaboration with MacArthur Foundation and Mambaya House, Bayero University Kano.

They also called on the leaders to be firm in preaching moral rectitude and positive behavioural change as the mouth piece of God and conscience of the society.

Speaking on the theme, a Christian cleric, Rev. Isaac Opayinka, traced the root of corruption to unbridled love and quest for money, which he noted now drives Nigerians, especially the youths into unthinkable things, in a bid to get rich quickly.

He said, “Money has been allowed to corrupt the society as people now seek money in anyway. They have forgotten that wealth without dignity and honour is of no value. 

“Parents, religious leaders and the society should de-emphasize money. Beginning from home is the way out. Many parents push their children to evil acts.”

For a Muslim Cleric, Mallam Usman Muhammed, “if we tackle corruption in our homes, it will disappear from the society”, while a Muslim faithful, Abdulahi Muhammad, admonished participants to understand corruption as any form of abuse of entrusted power and privilege.

“Do not only think about those in political offices. Insecurity is a function of corruption. Corruption is evident in our economy. Education is nothing to write home about. But, we all contribute to it. We must return to the manual God has given us, which are the holy books”.

The participants equally resolved to do their bid in disseminating the anti-corruption message of the to all and sundry, even as they committed themselves to living exemplary lifestyles worthy of emulation.

They were of the view that corruption begins from home and everyone who had contributed to the problem is a product of the family, hence the need to go back to the root (family) to tackle it.

They argued that successful fight against corruption, through positive behavioral change will only be possible when the family leads the campaign as the smallest and most influential unit of socialization.

During the experience sharing section, participants called for love and more intensified fight against corruption, even as they maintained that the fight against the monster will be more impactful when there are consequences for corrupt practices.

They called on religious leaders to desist from honouring people with questionable wealth and to be firm in preaching moral rectitude and positive behavioural change as the mouth piece of God and conscience of the society.

The participants equally resolved to do their bid in disseminating the anti-corruption message of the to all and sundry, even as they committed themselves to living exemplary lifestyles worthy of emulation.