The Quest For Materialism

The quest to get riches in a hurry, covetousness,
insatiable  affection for mammons, power  tussle and social vices have caught up with many adult citizens of Nigeria.
The topmost on the factors responsible  for this  problem is corrupt leadership. Both civil and military leadership are corrupt. Some past and present leaders who  couldn’t afford  personal cars can after some months  in office boast of very huge bank accounts within and outside the country and at the same time use the EFCC to  apprehend whoever they suspect to have accumulated wealth in  the same ways and manner they have done.
Besides, lack of adequate security is also responsible for the inordinate affection for riches among Nigerians in Nigeria there is no security for every body, the physically challenged persons inclusive. The only option left is the rat race in which riches  are acquired though fraudulent  ways and methods.
The powers that be have no pity for anybody, the so called credible leaders only provide  epileptic power supply for which the populace pay  without any discount and so many citizens indulge in illegal oil bunkery, political thuggery, prostitution just to make ends meet.
Other consequences of this lust for riches are inimical to the social wellbeing of our country, for instance, it has led to involvement in cultism the easiest way of death for  the future  leaders of this nation.
To be gentlemanly in Nigeria nowadays  is to become a fool, what is used as yardstick for popularity  among the  educated illiterates is frivolous  donations to lure into mischief youths during election, rather than scholarship awards, creation of job etc to cushion the economic hardship they face.
Another area of indulgence  include peddling of  hard drugs, lottery, betting and pools taking, an avarice to reap where one did not  sow.
These and many more must be curtailed. Government and religious organisations must orientate  their members against the love of money which is the root of  all evil.
Government and religious leaders should be exemplary. They must dissociate  from the hidden things of  dishonesty.
Money laundering and ill-gotten wealth should  be  well probed. Any rich individual should be able to account for his riches.
There should be adequate security for all categories of people in our country as obtained  in advanced countries of the world,  security for old, young , school children and what have you.
All hands must be on deck for us to succeed against the battle of materialism
The fear of God and hardwork must be encouraged above all.
The giving and taking of bribe is no longer regarded as heinous  crime now adays. In order to  make so much money, people invent dubious means even in the educational sector, where teachers impersonate, arrange for so-called special centres for candidates to pay huge amount of money to be allowed  who cheat during the process.
No matter the rationalization of this criminal offence, it remains vicious essentially.
People have evolved new ways of stealing in order to acquire wealth,  people obtain by tricks even  through mobile  phones, account of both government and non-governmental organisations are falsified by those  who rob by the pen.
Valuable  commodities such as land are no longer distributed evenly  and equally among rightful owners, wrong owners and or one or two persons among many owners, usually mastermind a gross or grand conspiracy against the others so as to obtain everything that comes out  of the possession.
Because of money, people no longer give seriousness to the dignity of labour, morals and societal values. Nigerians forsake the law, praise the wicked and herald the dubious means the wicked make their money.
Today our society has no regard for values, ethical conduct and integrity as the end justifies the means what matters is that,  “thats our man or woman”, he or she  must be  lobbied into political offices,  conferred  with a chieftaincy title  and what have you.
The messages  preached from many pulpits of new generation churches have further compounded the inordinate quest for wealth.
What we hear now, is “wherever place the sole of your feet shall tread upon has been given to you as an inheritance and that Niger Delta which  you tread upon is your own inheritance, believe it and shout Hallelujah”.
No more “holiness without which no man shall see the Lord’ reflective messages.
Messages on prosperity and praises are overemphasized at the expense of Hebrew  12:14.
It is high time Nigerians were made to understand that life is not all about materialism, because a man’s life consists not in the abundance of riches which he possesses. People need to be reminded that it is foolishness and an evil disease on the part of any person who acquires  and accumulates wealth, he/she  cannot exhaust and consume within the limited lifespan, he/she  has to spend on this planet earth.
Furthermore, man in general has nothing to give in exchange  of his own soul  when it  shall be entangled in hell by the evil ways  he acquired his wealth.

Derefaka is an intern with The Tide.

Tamunoseimiebi Derefaka