The Church And Nigerian Project

It can hardly be con
tested that Nigeria provides the classic example of Africa’s most ethnically segmented modern day country. At present, scholars are yet to agree on the total number of ethnic groups in Nigeria. The various ethnic nationalities are only estimated to be between two hundred and fifty and four hundred with diverse cultures, interest, sizes, distribution of power, influence and resources. The Africa’s most populous country, Nigeria is said to have more than five hundred and ten local languages and added to these is the religious pluralism.
It has to be noted from the onset that the Nigerian people were not consulted before the artificial creation of Nigeria by the British on 1st January, 1914, which has been described as “mistake of 1914” and “geographically lopsided, ethically absurd”. Worse still, the vast peoples who were forced to live together were not well integrated. This resulted in the emergence of the North-South dichotomy in the dictionary of Nigeria’s national life. At the moment, the unilateral creation is responsible for many of the several problem confronting Nigeria as a federation.
It is common knowledge that Nigeria’s quest for nationhood has been under the assault of centrifugal forces such as lack of Nigerian based ideology, and  ethnic consciousness, religious bigotry, poverty, citizenship question, endemic corruption, clamour for resource control and self-determination, the Boko Haram menance, and so on.  At the root of all these are mutual distrust, intense competition, rivalries and struggles over political and economic power.
Having gone through all these, it is necessary to explore other non-conflict methods to resolve the lingering and festering crises which often threaten the existence of the country. Given the strategic position occupied by the church, the church must be involved in the process of transforming Nigeria from a ‘mere geographical expression’ to an organic State where justice, equity and fair play will reign supreme.
It is thus necessary to know  that the process of a nation building is for all. A nation refers to “the people of a territory united under a single government; country; state.” Likewise, the term nation building is the crave for nationhood – a political community, where the inhabitants will get equal access to the good things of life and where there will be intermingling of cultures in the economic, social and political systems.
However, the term ‘church’ here refers to the gospel of Jesus Christ, as well as the Christian denominations. The word, Christian is a generic term coined from the word ‘Christ.” The word ‘Christ’ is a derivation from the Greek word ‘Christos,’ which  is akin to the Hebrew ‘Mashiah,’ referring to the ‘anointed one.’ Christianity which started as a Jewish religion is an offshoot of Judaism. It is a religion that is built on the life, teachings, belief and behaviour of Jesus Christ while on earth. Little surprise that his followers or those who behave like him are often described as Christians that is, Christ-like.
It is obvious that the Nigerian project is for all. And if left in the hands of the few elite, the project will continue to be an illusion. It is a fact of history that the church is at the forefront of the development of many nations, Nigeria inclusive. History tells us that Christianity brought literacy, the worship of only one God and the eradication of evil pagan practices. Christianity also impacted the lives of many Nigerians through the building of orphanages, leprosiums, hospitals, maternity homes, dispensaries and clinics.
Today, the church has tremendously improved on its track record in the education sector. Most of the Christian churches have established tertiary institutions to supplement the ones established by the government. In all, the over twenty four universities out of thirty eight private universities in Nigeria are owned by the Christian denominations. The church can do more in this regard and lead Nigeria out of the quagmire of political and socio-economic malaise that currently plagues it. The church can do this by preaching against corruption among its members.
The church is an umbrella for all kinds of people. Today, all sorts of people, especially miracle seekers and the corrupt seek to exploit the church and hide under the guise of Christianity. Such cramped attended church sessions like prayer, fasting, crusades, worship services, and so on can be used by church leaders as platform to teach and preach anti-corruption messages.
Christians and Christian leaders should purge themselves of all evil acts and stand boldly against corrupt practices. For our Christian politicians, it should be made known to them that God frowns at double standards, material acquisition, indiscipline, injustice, intimidation, oppression, nepotism, bribery and greed. The accumulation of public wealth is “vanity upon vanity.” Some urgent steps and measures should therefore be taken by the church to purge the minds of their members since corruption is first conceived in the minds.
N-ue is of the Ignatius Ajury University of Education, Port Harcourt.
UeBar, Samuel N-Ue