The Seventh Day Adventist Church has blamed religious leaders and educational institutions for the rising spate of corruption in the country.
The church also appealed to the Independent National Electoral Commission to stop conducting elections on Saturdays so as not to deny its members from going to church.
The President of the Seventh Day Adventist Church, Western Nigeria Union, Pastor Oyeleke Owolabi, said this in Ado Ekiti on Tuesday during a press briefing on the 2016 Conference of the church beginning on Thursday in Ekiti State.
He said, “Corruption has to be tackled from the family level and educational institution. Religious institution must be centre of reformation, purification and new beginning. Unfortunately, leaders of religion are involved in demonic practices. If religious leaders are corrupt, what form of teaching will they give to their followers? We should be good examples to our followers.
“Then, the education institutions, community, religious and other institutions must be involved. It has to be a holistic approach, but relying on religious institution alone may not be proper,” he warned.
Owolabi also lamented that the fixing of elections on Saturdays by INEC had been discouraging Adventists from attending church service.
“We also want to appeal to INEC to review its election timetable so that voting will not be fixed on Saturdays, our worship days,” he said.
He also said some religious leaders had turned churches to profit-making ventures, hence the move by government to start taxing churches.
According to him, churches are supposed to be for welfare and supporting government in governance.
“Unfortunately, we have many business-oriented churches in Nigeria. Before government will start taxing religious organisations, let them embark on a fact-finding mission to know who they are. All our organisations are non-profit oriented. Six per cent of tithe paid by members of our church goes to Babcock University.
“Government must not see churches and mosques as money-making ventures. Let them examine the churches and mosques very well and know those that are established for profit. Churches should not be places where you display opulence, but places for purification, transparency and accountability. They should help in waging war against corruption.” Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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What OVERALL effect or impact has religion has on NIGERIANS? I BEG STOP THIS PLS.
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