His Holiness, The Most Revd Dr Rufus Okikiola OSITELU is The Primate of THE CHURCH OF THE LORD (TCL) Worldwide & President of the World Council of Churches (WCC) Africa region. He shares his thoughts with Church Times on the state of the nation and how Nigeria can be saved from socio-political misery. Find below
You have been around for a while as a spiritual leader. How will you assess Nigeria at 64?
Nigeria has gone through ups and downs in the last six decades. In the previous six decades arts and culture have blossomed incredibly. Nigeria successfully transitioned into democracy in 1999; though imperfect, it still stands today. As a multiethnic and multi-religious country, it has survived and waxed stronger. Nigerians are resilient, creative and hardworking. This is the Nigerian spirit and to God be the glory!
On the other hand, Nigeria is still facing socio-economic challenges and poverty; security and corruption challenges; and infrastructural issues, including education, health, transportation and etc.
Looking back to our experience under colonial masters do you think their coming to colonise us was the reason we are not making progress? Some people feel if we had grown our own system of government perhaps we would not be in this mess.
No. Happiness is a choice. Our situation today is as a result of the choices made by our leaders. Like some other African countries, Nigeria underwent colonialization by the British. In 1914, Nigeria was created out of the Southern and Northern protectorates. Forty-six years later, Nigeria attained independence on 1st of October, 1960. There are positive and negative impacts of colonialism.
The positive impacts of British rule, include modern idea of governance; improved healthcare; introduction of money currencies; infrastructural development – though not adequate; improved literacy; and etc. The negative impacts of British rule, include constant war and conflicts; economic dependence and resource exploitation; to some extent – loss of culture and identity; modern day slavery; and etc.
We would not be in this mess if we had done the right things, including the introduction of Fiscal Federalism with Regional Governments. This would have stopped agitation for secession, while each region would be busy working hard to deliver for its region instead of going to Abuja like beggars to collect money from the Federal Government on monthly basis.
Thus, restructuring into true Fiscal Federalism is the major panacea for the numerous challenges confronting Nigeria.
But some people wonder why the black man in many instances is not capable of doing something meaningful given the way most African countries are being governed. Is it a spiritual problem?
It is not a spiritual problem. It’s a civic problem. Our major problems are selfishness and corruption. Our major problem has nothing to do with the colour of the skin. Simply put, why is it that an average student in Nigeria travels to America or Europe and becomes one of the best students? Two things are responsible for this – the infrastructure and the value system in America and Europe. So, we need to catch them young, that is, we need to teach our children civic education and history from their tender age.
For instance, and according to “face2faceafrica”, Nigerians are the most successful immigrant group in the United States of America (USA). Nigerians thrive when the conditions are right. In like manner, Africans will thrive in an appropriate and honest situation.
The church in Nigeria has come a long way. How will you assess the impact of the church in Nigeria?
Nigeria is one of the countries in the world where Christianity is growing faster than the rate of population. The growth of Christianity is supposed to bring with it – Reformation, Education and Transformation (RET). Unfortunately, this is not the case in many African countries, and Nigeria in particular.
According to “Lifeway Research”, Christianity is growing around the world and Nigeria is not an exception; Some groups or denominations are growing even faster, including the Independents/Aladuras, Pentecostal/Charismatics, Evangelicals, and etc.; Africa, Asia and South America are experiencing rapid growth; Christianity is spreading globally; More churches are being planted and missionaries sent out; and etc. Still wickedness is growing in the societies. One can hardly see any encouraging positive impacts of Christianity in Nigeria. This is unfortunate.
Some critics believe rather than build churches we should be building factories to employ people. Do you subscribe to this view?
Yes, to some extent. We don’t need to build churches at every 20 metres distance, instead, as Christians we should be thinking of how to empower, engage and improve the lives of the people. That is our social responsibility. The Church should be a blessing to the community where it is situated.
The church is being criticised almost daily on social space. Do you think some of these criticisms are justified?
Yes, to some extent. Most of what we are seeing today in the mass media and on the social media have been revealed by God to us last year, in a Divine Revelation to Ministers of God in the world for 2024 on the Holy Mount TABIEORAR as published on the 18th of August, 2023 – the LORD God Almighty said: “… I will expose and disgrace agents of the devil who parade themselves as My Servants. They are wolves only seeking for prey to devour. Their stomach is their god… The LORD said, many Fake Prophets will be exposed in the year, for their belly is their god, who set their minds on earthly things, and whose end is destruction.” (Pages 16-17).
If you are to address the body of Christ, what urgent steps do you think should be taken to avert further denigration of the church?
I will advise Christians and Ministers of God in particular to return to their calling, repent and turn a new leaf, by living in a way that is pleasing to God (1 John 3:22; Hebrews 13:16; 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8). To abide in the faith of the Gospel is not enough, Christians must abound in the work of faith. We must strive to be holy because our God is Holy (1 Peter 1:15-16). We should not be men-pleasers, nor flesh-pleasers, but God-pleasers, by walking so as to please the LORD God Almighty.
You are widely travelled. It’s an irony that Europe is gradually becoming a post-Christian continent. What is going on? Do you fear we may have such a repeat in Africa?
What is happening in Europe is understandable. They largely behave like Christians should behave and train their children to always speak the truth. They hardly go to Church on Sundays, but they have been transformed and are the doers of the Word. You can always to a large extent see the Christian traits in them.
On the other hand, Christians in the Global South (Africans, Asians and South Americans) largely go to Church every Sunday and at other times, but are largely not the doers of the Word. One would hardly see the Christian traits in them. The Bible teaches us that we should be examples by living our faith through our actions, thus embodying Christian virtues, maintaining integrity and demonstrating perseverance (1 Peters 3:16; Philippians 4:8; Galatians 5:22-23).
The Governments in the Global North (Europe and North America) have social responsibility and programmes for their citizens, so they do not have to go to Church to seek social help. Unlike in the Global South where many are living in abject poverty and where they see the Church as their last hope. This does not mean that all those who go to Church are poor. Many people go to Church for different reasons, but not necessarily to worship God. Poverty is one of the major reasons why people of the Global South, and Nigeria in particular, attend church worship services.
Let’s talk about the government of President Tinubu. Do you think Nigeria should still be patient with him?
Yes. The administration of President Bola Tinubu has started to introduce to Nigeria what makes life worth living in the Global North – Students loan, Car loan, Housing mortgage, etc. These are measures that will allow indigent students to attend higher institutions, and help Nigerians to build or buy their dream homes and acquire their dream cars. These measures will provide the people honest means to achieve their goals and also reduce corruption to the minimum. It is human to be forgetful. Though things are very expensive right now, but many Nigerians have forgotten that about two years ago, they had to buy Nigerian currency with Naira at inflated rates. In some cases, some could not even withdraw their money from the Banks. Nonetheless, the economic situation in Nigeria will continue to ease before this year runs out. Let us be patient with the present government, both at Federal, State and LGA levels.
What other practical steps do you think the government can take to stem the tide of economic woes?
Unfortunately, power is sweet and absolute power corrupts absolutely. My advice to the Federal Government and the Lawmakers is to introduce a bill to restructure Nigeria into Fiscal Federalism with Regional Governments (5 or 6 regions). The leadership, the led and all stakeholders should engage in this process with a spirit of unity and commitment to the common good. Restructuring Nigeria is the major remedy and cure (silver bullet) for the numerous challenges facing Nigeria.
We need Constitutional review, which is pivotal for the future of Nigeria. We don’t need to invent the wheel. The composition of Nigeria can be compared to that of Switzerland. It consists of 26 cantons. Switzerland is governed under a federal system at three levels: 1) the confederation; 2) the cantons (States); and 3) Commmunes (LGA).
This democratic participation plays a vital role in Switzerland as geographically, culturally and linguistically varied like Nigeria. Since Switzerland became a federal state in 1848, various instruments are used to include minorities as much as possible. Powers are delegated upwards only when this is necessary. For Nigeria to become great again as in the early 1960s, the Federal Government must decrease while the Regional Governments must increase.
Therefore, Nigeria can adopt the Constitution of Switzerland and adjust it accordingly. The most interesting aspect is that we can have a President (ceremonial) from each Region respectively in rotation in order to carry every region along, but the Prime Minister (Chancelor – the seat of power) can come from any region and he/she should just be the best in the country, according to the opinions of the voters.
If there’s Fiscal Federalism/Confederalism, the economy of the country will grow faster and each region will like to compete with other regions and this will produce more jobs and reduce unemployment drastically.
In conclusion, together we can overcome adversity and build a nation that reflects our highest ideals and aspirations.
May God bless Nigeria, guide our leaders, and inspire each of us to contribute to the common good.
Happy 64 Independence!