Archbishop Alaba Job, in this interview, monitored on Parrot Xtra on Radio programme, broadcast by Splash FM, speaks on the current situations in Nigeria and how things can change for the better.
Looking at the way the country is today, what is your observation and where would you say we got it wrong?
It is not where we got it wrong. Everybody knows what is happening, that we are heading down the slope and that we should stop to take a look behind in order to move forward. We should stop.
Who and who would be the we?
Everybody that calls him or herself a Nigerian.
But specifically, the followership or the leadership?
All. All of us are to blame. We have reached a point that throwing stones does not work and until we repent and promise a change, committed change, until then, we are only making noise. We shall not see the light, except we change. Every one of us should accept our roles; the roles we have played and the roles we are playing in making Nigeria a make-believe institution. In the family, how are we taking care? How are we educating our children? What is the sign of respect and love for the humanity of each one of us? It is because we do not take ourselves as human beings created in the image and likeness of God that we abuse ourselves. When you see a family that has not gotten enough to eat and the woman is painting her lips and the man is wearing babaringa, is that what is necessary? This is the situation now. We are living a make-believe situation. Yes, God has blessed Nigeria. Have we shown that we are products of God by obeying his laws and commandments? We haven’t. We would be deceiving ourselves. There is no religion in Nigeria that does not accept God and if we accept God, then we should take what God has created and found to be good; we should respect and use them properly.
But let’s zero in on religious leaders, especially in Christendom. The number of churches are increasing every day…
No, no, no. I beg your pardon. Churches are not increasing. We are talking of Christians making use of Christianity for their livelihood. I mean it and I’ve been saying this since 1983. Christians are making use of Christ as a means of livelihood.
So, how do we stop that? How do we reduce it?
I said it is in the hand of the individuals, every one of us. I’m not saying that all of us will change, because I know that would be wishful thinking. Each one of us should endeavour to start.
But we need a leader to lead us or do we continue to pray?
Do you know if you go to the market today, will you be able to see unadulterated Amala laafun (Cassava flour)? Will you not be able to distinguish between adulterated laafun and the real one? If you can distinguish between tomatoes and non-tomatoes, then you have enough intelligence to really change. We are deceiving ourselves until you acknowledge, each one of us acknowledge that this thing is wrong. Today, when you go to the market, you’re not sure to get any genuine material. I have once been in an aircraft with a Nigerian going to the Far East, Thailand, and he could not fill the landing form in Rome and he brings materials for sale in Nigeria. Of course, we say put anything.
I know one doctor who lives here in Ibadan and his family is in Great Britain. He goes to Great Britain for three months of the year. On his return, he brings the essential drugs he needs in his clinic. Some years ago, he went as usual. He ordered his drugs from the factory of the pharmacy, ordering them to bring them here (to Nigeria) at 15 percent discount since he was not using them in Great Britain. He placed the order as usual, but that year, he was so surprised that when he came home, he couldn’t rest before calling me to come and see what happened. He told me those in factory asked him, “What percentage do you want in the capsule?” [When he expressed his shock to the factory manager by asking] “What?” He said the manager explained that “since it is going to Nigeria, you may want us to put any percentage but write the full percentage on the capsule.” That has been happening. It is because of that that Nigeria as a government started control agencies like National Agency for Food, Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON). Are they working? This is the question. So, if individuals who are employed to work there accept that they have to change, then they will do their work diligently.
If you were to advise President Tinubu or if he asks you for advice, what will you tell him?
President Tinubu, I know, is in a conundrum. He is like the bowl-frying akara. You can’t separate oil from one part of the bowl to the other. He is inside. He is the bowl carrying the oil. I’m sorry for him.
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