x

Why Religion Is Number One Problem For Nigerians – Wole Soyinka

Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka has singled out religion as the number one problem hindering Nigerians from being liberated as “rational beings.”

The venerated writer made the comment while speaking recently with a professor of African Literature, Dr. Louisa Egbunike.

“All over the place, I find that religion has been cosseted too much. And liberty has been taken by religionists, which would not be considered to other movements which are considered secularists.

“If you put on a garb of a religious leader, you can close up the expressway between Lagos and the rest of the nation, simply because you are having a religious celebration. You are just a fraction of the rest of the nation. And you should be accorded no special privileges. So, until that is done, people will always find something extra by belonging and manifesting, even to an extreme extent, your religious adhesions.

“Religion has become the number one problem for Nigerians. Hope is all very well; but hope itself can become putrid. Especially if it is hope for unearned advantages in society. If religion becomes an excuse for flouting the law, then that religion has got to be tackled head-on.

“If for instance a legislator, later a Governor, can claim the right to be a pedophile and indulge in cross-border child trafficking, celebrating child marriage, consummating that event, which is against the law of a nation, and he says he has a right to do it because his religion permits it; then both he and that religion should just be shown the way to the law courts and treated like other phenomena of society.

“If you can use religion to excuse building a church which collapses on the head of humanity, many of them not from Nigeria, several from South Africa. And then you say it was caused by supernatural forces when you know very well that you flouted the conditions for increasing the floors of your building.

“So this is what has become the daily reality of Nigerians. So religion has got to be put in its place in order for people to be liberated as rational beings, beings of volition, who can tackle the problems of existence in a rational, collective way, rather than by insisting that it is only along one route that society can be transformed.

“Take a religion, practice it at home, collect around you anybody you want for collective celebration or religious seasons, nobody quarrels with that. But when you use religion to subvert the rights of others, to the extent of primordial rights, to kill, not just singling, but collectively, to burn down the places of worship of others; then it is about time we treated religion as a crime against humanity; it’s reached that level in societies like Nigeria.”

Hot this week

Chief (Dr.) Obele becomes the new Onu Igala, Ganaja Community

By Noah Ocheni, LokojaChief (Dr.) Isah Peter Obele...

Wike Commissions Wuye Engineering Infrastructure,16 years After

By Joyce Remi-BabayejuHistory was made on Tuesday when...

North Central Development Commission Condoles with Senator Abba Moro Over Death of Son, Grandson

By Abel Zwanke, LafiaThe Managing Director and Chief Executive...

Principal Urges Parents to Monitor Children’s Activities to Curb Social Vices

By Noah Ocheni, LokojaThe Principal of GYB Model Science...

CHAIN Urges Federal Government to Adopt National Policy on Religious Freedom and Equal Protection

By Achadu Gabriel, KadunaThe Christian Awareness Initiative of Nigeria...

North-Central APC Forum Backs Mutfwang, Rejects Plateau APC Leaders’ Move to Block Defection

By Israel Adamu, JosThe North-Central All Progressives Congress (APC)...

Nasarawa Farmers Triple Rice Yields with Climate-Smart Farming Innovations

By Abel Zwanke, LafiaFarmers in Nasarawa State have recorded...

Ex-Liverpool Star Explains Why Arsenal Won’t Win the Premier League This Season

Arsenal’s blistering start to the season has reignited hopes...

Ruben Amorim’s Tactical Shift Could Earn Manchester United £24 Million

Ruben Amorim’s bold decision to deploy a striker-less formation...

NGO Trains Plateau Judges, Security Operatives on Enforcement of Child Rights Law 2005

By Israel Adamu, JosThe Child Protection Network (CPN), Plateau...

Related Articles

Popular Categories

spot_imgspot_img