By Abba Muhammad Tawfiq
Most religious and social felonies are committed solely to nurturing the sown seeds of an insatiable desire for money, materialism and mundane accomplishments, reinforcing the Biblical notion that “the love of money is the root of all evil”.
On the ground of moral virtue, no religion in the worthiness of its sanctity nor a firm believer and practitioner of any faith can complement or plead devotion to whatever form of major and minor despicable moral misconduct.
There is nothing wrong with striving to make a beautiful living through the means sanctioned by religions and society. However, the aftermath of the strong inclination to live a high life at all costs, even through ways that defy basic rules and breach fundamental human civilization, is what we terribly testify to today.
The conviction of the culprit teacher and his accomplices that abducted, mutilated and buried the stiff of his naive and innocent student despite having the three million naira ransom at his disposal sparked bitter feelings of every soft conscienced individual in the country. But for the sake of money and worldly gains, this dirty act is not the ever-existing cruelty that hurts the dignity of our religions and community.
Talking to an extreme length, the deficit of love, compassion, and trust in the quest for affluence and fame have seismically cleaved even familial alliances and bonds.
On January 8, 2022, the crime bulletin aired by Neptune Prime was that of a 25-year-old Niger boy who paid an assassin the sum of N110000 to help send his father on an excursion to the land of his ancestors so as to inherit his possessions.
Similarly, on January 13, 2022, a 52-year-old Enugu father and 32-year-old Lagos elder brother allied with mum were reportedly arrested on the charge of taking malicious delight in murdering three offsprings and a sibling. All in the common interest of ritual money.
Our lack of contentment and the unwillingness to live within the ambits of our earnings give a proper insight into the pervading tragic circumstances of easy money-making. Everyone is desperate for shortcut success, power and fame–riches, expensive attire and mobile phones, and owning mansions with exotic vehicles. Thus, choose to pay that price even via ways that incur the Godly wrath on us.
May the merciful and forgiving Lord save our souls from indulging in mischievous acts, ameen
Abba Muhammad Tawfiq is a 500L Medical Rehabilitation student at the University of Maiduguri.
Greatly written