Osinbajo berates religious leaders for not preaching against corruption and focusing on prosperity

ACTING president Professor Yemi Osinbajo has hit out at religious leaders for failing to support the federal government’s anti-corruption war when they mount the pulpit pointing out that they do not address the subject in their sermons.

Speaking at the 30th National Biennial Conference of the Students Christian Movement (SCM) of Nigeria that took place in Enugu, Professor Osinbajo noted that preachers were preoccupied with preaching prosperity rather than righteousness. He added that the problem with Nigeria was neither ethnicity nor religion but systemic corruption.

According to professor Osinbajo, corruption had been so entrenched in the country that if you dare challenge it, you will be in the minority. He challenged the youths to change the narrative and make the difference by checking the impunity of those that had stolen the resources of the country.

Professor Osinbajo said: “Very rarely do you hear our preachers talk about corruption from their pulpits. If a nation is not righteous nothing will help it.”

"Our problem in this country is not ethnicity or religion, it is not about Christians or Muslims, our problems are the same wherever you go in this country. The story of our country is about good and evil, it is about those that have left us in this condition by stealing our common resources."

He challenged members of SCM to ensure that the movement becomes one of the tools that will move the country forward. According to the acting president, young Christians have special and distinct roles to play in the transformation of the country which is superior to those of other sets of people.

“All of the great nations of the world were transformed by the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is not a gospel that tickles people’s imaginations or dwells on prosperity.

“It is not a gospel that fits your fancy. It is a gospel that teaches that righteousness exalts a nation,” Professor Osinbajo added.