Ex-President says Churches are encouraging corruption

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has accused Churches in Nigeria of encouraging corrupt practices.

The former President, who was represented by Femi Olajide said the he convention of Victory Life Bible Church International in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

According to Daily Post, Obasanjo also called on men of God to preach the message of prosperity with moderation.

He said "There is no doubt that all our institutions have been tarnished by the brush of corruption.

“If the Church, as an institution, does not take bribe or get involved in other corrupt practice, the behaviour of some of our men of God leaves much to be desired.

“They not only celebrate but venerate those whose sources of wealth are questionable. They accept gifts (offering) from just anybody without asking questions. This gives the impression that anything is acceptable in the house of God.

“But if Jesus can chase out those buying and selling from the temple with the declaration that, ‘My house shall be called the house of prayer, but ye have made it a den of thieves,’ then it is time to stand up against corruption

“Our present day ‘money changers’ and ‘merchants’ must be chased out of the Church and put to shame in the larger society.

“While miracles, signs and wonders are the expectations of true believers, such must be based on righteousness. To preach that one can acquire wealth without labour is not only deceitful; it is a call to corruption. It is false preaching and it is sinful.

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“We must be careful in believing and celebrating every testimony of miraculous blessing, hence we end up being hoodwinked into celebrating corruption.”

Lt. Gen. Ishaya Bamaiyi (Rtd.), a former Chief of Army Staff (COAS) recently alleged that ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo was involved in the foiled 1995 coup plot against Gen. Sani Abacha.