Femi Fani-Kayode: Religion and Nigerian politics – The great delusion

[Warren Stupidity]

I read Mr. Don C. Adinuba’s article titled ‘Toying With The Fire Of Religion’ in Thisday Newspaper on 5th November 2014. He raised some interesting points, some of which I will attempt to address here. There is a grave affliction that has gripped our land. That affliction is known as willful delusion. Thankfully not all Nigerians suffer from it but many of them do: particularly those from the south. They believe that religion does not play a role in our politics and that it never has done.

I agree with those that believe that religion OUGHT NOT to have a place or play a role in our politics but I am compelled to concur with those that admit, albeit in hushed and nervous tones, that it does. Whether we like it or not that is the reality.

It is the bitter truth. It is the elephant in the room that everyone pretends is not there. It is the proverbial demon that has come to stay and that we have no choice but to live with. It is the bad smell that emanates from a silent but deadly fart at a well-attended and well-heeled dinner party: everyone can smell it but everyone pretends that it is not there and that it never happened. Sadly, whether we like to admit it or not, that is the reality.

http://dailypost.ng/2014/11/10/femi-fani-kayode-religion-nigerian-politics-great-delusion/

[locks]

1. Thanks for the post

It surely seems that religion is embedded in Africa's politics even at least as much as it is in South and Central America's. In the terrible wars it is difficult to separate the old tribal enmities from religious differences but both have brought misery and strife to most African countries. It is especially noticeable now as the economies and structures in West African countries are being decimated by Ebola.

It is also difficult to separate the corruption and dictatorial governing from the long history of colonialism and segregation that Western Christianity brought to Africa.

We cannot make up for the sad results of well-intentioned or sinister exploitation of Africans but can only hope that help and concern being shown by some of their world neighbors, religious or not, political or not, will help lift them out of political, religious, and tribal mire.

[beam me up scottie]

2. "they consistently and loudly repeat the lie that religion does not play any part in our politics"

Yet many still close their eyes to the veracity of this assertion and the glaring consequences of this sad and unfortunate state of affairs. Those that that live in this wilful yet blissful denial can easily be identified by the fact that they consistently and loudly repeat the lie that religion does not play any part in our politics.

Even though they know that it is not true they say it over and over again as if to say that the repetitive chanting of this vainglorious and masturbatory mendacity is capable of changing anything or of melting away the bitter truth.

Sadly it does not and only the abjectly ignorant believe that it ever could. Worst of all is the fact that ignorance is not only a terrible disease but it is also a very dangerous one. As a matter of fact it is even more dangerous and debilitating than cancer, ebola, heart disease and aids all put together and it is responsible for far many more deaths.

Indeed.

[trotsky]

3. "everyone can smell it but everyone pretends that it is not there and that it never happened"

LOL, so true.