Jonathan, CSR and the church

Businesses exists to make a profit, and where the operating rules are not clear, the lacuna enables them to get away with blue murder. This is evidently the case of firms doing business in Nigeria. With corruption enshrined in the DNA of government officials (elected and appointed), it is clearly impossible for businesses to clean up. What they usually would leave as CSR is not the traditional thing, but Corrupting Social iResponsibility given to individuals or because of individuals and not for communal benefit.

This is the tacit endorsement that makes multinationals get away with infractions and violations and to insult our nation and abuse its citizenry. The guilty ones range from blue chip companies to foreign embassies and missions. They exploit their local staff financially and morally. This is evident in salary and emoluments, sacks that do not take into cognisanse basic labour laws. Also included are racist practices which see expatriates being chauffeur-driven while workers are ferreted in trucks not dignifying enough for the cattle in their home countries. All these is premised on the argument that the Nigerian state does not value its own citizens or treat them any better.

The practice of bribing or ‘appreciating’ political office holders with buildings beyond their income is not new. Such landmarks exist in Maitama, Asokoro, Wuse II, Ikoyi, Victoria Island and anywhere else. They belong to former heads of states; governors and ministers. Little wonder then that an Italian firm saw nothing wrong in ‘renovating’ the church in the home town of a serving President. What baffles me is the pedantic and puerile defense given by Dr. Reuben Abati, a mass communicator who saw nothing morally wrong with that and even took an absurd analogy further. He reminded us that the Millennium Park in Abuja is a classic example of CSR. While one should not struggle with Abati’s right to justify his pay, he should not insult public relations with a contemptuous analogy. The renovated church in Otuoke is blatant dressed in inappropriate robes seeking the sanctification of the priest. It is left for the church as the last bastion of morality to reject it. Unfortunately, it has accepted it and defiled the altar of God whose nature is too sanctimonious to be corrupted by the priests of sleaze.

How did the Vicar in charge of the parish come to see nothing wrong in this Greek gift beats any rational imagination. The church is supposed to be the conscience of the nation. In our experience, the Pentecostal movement is now known as an illegitimate business not only corrupting the gospel but the ecclesiastical compass. But, the Orthodox Church has managed to retain some level of morality, only coming short of taking the toga of spirituality from these one man business empires so that the state can receive its due in taxes. Most Nigerian churches are big time businesses whose proprietors do not jostle for position in the Forbes list of richest but can buy Dangote and Otedola together with their so-called wealth. Very often, they do not practice CSR because they create a whole town.

The best way to judge if the Otuoke church is a gift or a bribe is to simply ask how many companies applied to renovate the church while President Jonathan was a teacher. The second is to ask whether this company is likely to apply to the Federal Executive Council for consideration as contractors. In the second instance, if they do, would they be treated like others without partiality? The answers to these questions should tell whether this is CSR or pure graft. The president should never do anything that would morally disqualify him from taking decisions without feeling pressured. We have dealt with this issue in a similar case last year involving a Canadian councillor and his estranged father who happens to be a contractor.

The church is fast losing its respect as the believer’s moral compass. Political statements which mocks faith has been coming from its leadership and rank of late. Years back, a staff of Lagos Sheraton was robbing the hotel blind and ‘investing’ the money in his local church. When he was exposed, we waited in vain to hear that his local pastor has returned the ill-gotten wealth back to its rightful owners. That would have been the best sermon, but it was not preached. I am sure there are more.

Another famous pastor who worked at INEC did not only live a double life, he built ‘successful businesses’ with the proceeds which became the subject of litigation after his death in a plane crash. Another pastor head of a bank is between trial and discharge, yet his church has yet to send back the first cheque to the bank he ruined. It is not impossible that some of those charged with wrecking the Police Pension Funds have paid huge tithes or even donated to church projects. We are yet to hear of the cheques being returned to the families of those who died waiting for their pension. That is restitution that ought to be paid and not the restitution of virginity. Christ is being rubbished by these acts of insouciance in the face of morality. The Church is denigrated by the failure of these people to do the right thing, after all, the Scriptures says to him who knows to do the right thing and does it not is sin. When Christ met the tax collector, the best advice he gave him was – be content with your wages. Maybe President Jonathan has read the wrong oath of office as his pastor friends are reading a different version of the Bible.