doz ideas

Africans, especially Nigerians like getting involved in what they don’t thoroughly understand, as long as there is money to be made. In 2016, people from West to East and to South of the African continent got enmeshed in the Ponzi scheme created by 3 Russians; Sergey Mavrodi, Vyacheslav Mavrodi, and Olga Melnikova (MMM). They promised as much as 50% monthly interest on deposits.

It is my opinion that the payment of a tenth (tithe) or more is very essential in order to support charitable organizations, which include Churches, etc. But there must be accountability. Our society needs charities to complement governments in the provision of social amenities, and most especially in the care of the less privileged. For instance, I attended a secondary school that was set up by the Methodist Church. During that period, also, most of the schools in Nigeria were established by Churches, such as Catholic, Anglican, Baptist and etc.

Tithe plainly means tenth. “The tenth part of agricultural produce or personal income set apart as an offering to God or for works of mercy, or the same amount regarded as an obligation or tax for the support of the church, priesthood…” – Dictionary definition. Incidentally, Jesus was not recorded anywhere in the Bible to have paid tithes, neither did He collect tithes nor condemn tithing. Perhaps, the reason Jesus didn’t collect tithes was because he wasn’t a Levite. And maybe the reason he didn't condemn tithing was because he did not come to abolish the law of Moses - Matthew 5:17. Then, why do the present day Pastors, who claim to be following the footsteps of Jesus and themselves not Levites, collect tithes?

I listened to one of Nnamdi Kanu’s spiteful, but articulate interviews. He posed a question: why don’t we have good roads in Nigeria? He further stated; all it takes to have a good road is simply mixing stones (chippings) with bitumen. We have bitumen in Nigeria – largest deposits in Ondo state, including bitumen as a petroleum by-product. There are quarries everywhere in Nigeria including at Lokpanta in Abia state, where tones of chippings are produced every hour. As you can see nothing will be imported to build roads in Nigeria, every material is localised, so why don’t we have roads in Nigeria?

It was hurricane Harvey, followed by hurricane Irma, and on its way is hurricane Jose, all originating from Atlantic Ocean. Atlantic Ocean is synonymous with transatlantic slave trade. The route African slaves were shipped to the Americas. We learnt from history that European slave traders threw into Atlantic Ocean those slaves who fell ill, and thus were weak to make the forced journey to the Americas.

Every encounter with a white supremacist reveals 3 things: he will acknowledge that he is a white supremacist; he is a Christian; he is NOT a racist. Then, what is the difference between white supremacy and racism? White supremacy is the belief that the white race is superior to any other race. Racism is, in addition to one race feeling superior over another, "intolerance of another race."

Majority of Nigerian people are brilliant. They excel in every endeavour they partake in. Be it in science and tech, medicine, literature, economics/commerce, name it; they top the crowd. Even in committing crimes, they are wonderful. However, like in every other environment, Nigeria has its share of charlatans and mediocre. Unfortunately, in the midst of exceptional Nigerian people, mediocre governs. This minority has foisted on the people – Mediocracy (government by mediocre) in the guise of Democracy.

A Muslim guy once tried to persuade me to become a Muslim. I laughed loudly to the point that he became angry on his presumption that I was ridiculing Islam. To allay his anxiety, I said you are my friend, but there’s something you don’t know about me – I have practised in the past, Islam and so many other religions. But if you have a British passport, by implication you are a follower of Jesus, which invariably makes you a Christian. He interrupted me – I have a British passport and that does not make a Christian, I am a British Muslim. Fair enough. Now, consider this perspective.