By Harry Awurumibe, Editor, Abuja Bureau
Many of the problems confronting Nigeria today are the direct consequences of the misbehaviour of the citizens such as indulgence in corruption which has eaten deep into the fabrics of the nation.
This formed the plank of Sunday Sermon delivered by Venerable Oluwaseun Owoeye, the Vicar incharge of Anglican Church of the Resurrection Duboyi (ACORD), Lokogoma, Abuja, who blamed the many problems of Nigeria on corruption.
Speaking on the topic: ‘Thou Shall Not Steal’, the Clergy man argued that the ills of the Nigerian society stem from the fact that citizens are prone to stealing against the biblical injunction which prohibits stealing.
Quoting from the Holy Book (Bible), Exodus 20: 15, Ven. Owoeye said that an average Nigerian is stealing in one way or another, citing “lack of contentment, envy and desire for what does not rightly belong to a person” as stealing.
The Vicar lamented that stealing has been given different names in Nigeria in order to change the narrative, saying that “robbing someone of his right, property, position, peace and life is a sin before God and man”.
According to him, ” stealing is a sin against the owner and God. It is a kind of injustice inflicted upon the person deprived. This is the bane of Nigeria today.”, he stated.
Ven. Owoeye reminded the Christian faithful that stealing has become dreadfully rampant among the leaders and the led, thereby regarding the progress of the Church physically and spiritually.
“Brethren, don’t be deceived, whether they call it misappropriation or mismanagement of funds or examination malpractice or plagiarism; be warned, whenever you take for yourself by whatever means what is not rightfully yours; it is stealing. It could be money, tithe, position, ideas of others without due acknowledgement, stealing is stealing” , he concluded.
