A Call for Unity, Reality, and Self-Empowerment

A Call for Unity, Reality, and Self-Empowerment

Happy New, my people, lets open our eyes and be wise

Our world is changing, and a painful truth is becoming clearer by the day: no foreign army or saviour will come to rescue a nation that destroys itself from within. We must look inward, to each other, and to our own hands.

For too long, many of us have been sedated by a powerful idea: that religion is the opium of the poor. It’s a potent comfort, but it has also caused immense damage right here in our communities. It has been twisted into a tool that distracts from present suffering with promises of future glory, while quietly draining pockets and dividing families. This is a shout-out, especially to the humble, hardworking people of Ogun State and beyond—the petty trader, the okada rider, the farmer—who pour their last kobo into special offerings, buy endless anointing oil, and fund “prophetic” visions, only to be left in the same hardship, while the “man of God” flourishes.

Let’s be clear: we must find a way to live together by respecting one another. If you are a settler in a community, respect the Indigenous people who welcomed you. This land is a shared home. And for all of us, we must see that religion can be an easy tool for division. Never let those who profit from it cloud your mind. They spin tales of a paradise where, after a life of struggle here in Imodi, Ijebu, Abeokuta, or Lagos, you will have ten virgins or boundless abundance. But what about the abundance of peace, good roads, clean water, and community we can demand and build today? The core message across all faiths is simple: “Be good and do good at all times.” For life operates on a fundamental principle: you are more likely to receive what you put out into the world.

Look at the stories we know too well, even here in our backyard:

· The prosperity preacher from a nearby city who jets around in private planes, wears custom agbada made abroad, and owns sprawling estates in Banana Island, while his followers—who funded it all through “first fruit” and “sacrificial seed” offerings—cannot afford to fix the roof of their house in Ita-Olowo. They are told their breakthrough is coming, even as their pastor’s breakthrough is visibly parked in his garage.

· The Alfa or spiritual leader who lives in a palace-like compound, surrounded by gatekeepers, claiming divine authority. He charges exorbitant fees for “deliverance” from poverty, while his own children school overseas. The follower remains in poverty, waiting for a miracle that only enriches the miracle-worker.

· The mega crusades in our stadiums where the poor sell their goods to attend, hoping for a healing or financial miracle. The organizer arrives in a convoy of bullet-proof SUVs, preaches for two hours about sowing a “faith seed,” and vanishes. The offerings are counted in faraway hotel suites, protected by armed guards from the very people they “served.”

These are not stories from a film; they are patterns we see and ignore every Sunday and Friday.

And let’s address another common distraction: the government, or President Tinubu, is not the sole cause of your problem. Yes, we must demand good governance and hold leaders accountable. But perpetual blame on Abuja or Abeokuta becomes another form of opium—a way to avoid our own power and agency. Waiting for a political saviour is as disempowering as waiting for a divine one.

The solution lies in your hands. Get yourself usefully engaged. Channel the energy, time, and resources you might spend on seeking miraculous intervention into learning a digital skill at a hub, building a cooperative with your neighbours, farming that family plot diligently, or holding both religious and political leaders to account. Build something real.

Remember, **life is a circle. Aye lo po. ** What you put into it comes back. If you sow division, hatred, or blind fanaticism, you will reap conflict and despair. If you put fire in the circle, you are likely to get burnt, too. But if you sow respect, hard work, honesty, and genuine kindness, you build a better today for yourself and your children.

Let’s wake up from this slumber. Let’s respect each other. Let’s focus on tangible good, critical thinking, and shared progress. Our future is not in a distant heaven or in the hands of a single leader in Abuja; it is in the daily choices we make, together, right here on this soil of Ogun State and Nigeria.

- Bosupo Onakoya, Imodi-Mosan.

#OpenYourEyes #CommunityOverCults #DoGoodNow #SelfEmpowerment #Igbenews