Cleric Accuses Nigeria of Celebrating Illicit Wealth at Expense of Creativity

The Senior Pastor of Victory Life Bible Church International, Apostle Lawrence Achudume, has criticised Nigeria's societal values, expressing concern that the celebration of questionable wealth is discouraging creativity, innovation and legitimate enterprise.

Achudume argued that the growing perception of politics as a pathway to personal riches, rather than an opportunity to serve the people, was undermining the country's development and discouraging talented Nigerians from exploring their potential.

The cleric made the observations during a thanksgiving service organised to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Ogun State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Abeokuta.

According to a statement from the church's media office, he lamented that individuals whose wealth was suspected to have been acquired through questionable political activities often received public admiration instead of scrutiny and accountability.

He maintained that Nigeria needed a society that recognised and rewarded genuine achievements, encouraged innovative thinking and created opportunities for people to deploy their talents towards solving societal challenges.

Achudume also raised concerns over what he described as the gradual erosion of moral standards, particularly the growing acceptance of indecent dressing and nudity under the guise of entertainment and fashion.

He equally faulted the increasing obsession with social media popularity, noting that some people had reduced personal relevance and success to the number of followers they commanded online.

The pastor urged Nigerians to resist negative social influences, make responsible choices and embrace values that promote meaningful contributions to society.

On religious matters, Achudume advised Christians to establish a strong relationship with God before encountering life's difficulties, stressing that challenges were inevitable in business, marriage, careers and other aspects of human existence.

He encouraged believers to remain committed to their faith during difficult periods rather than abandon their convictions in search of questionable spiritual alternatives.

Meanwhile, the Ogun State NUJ Chairman, Wale Olanrewaju, commended the cleric for his longstanding relationship with journalists and his contributions to public-interest advocacy.

Olanrewaju described Achudume as a social crusader whose interventions on governance and other critical national issues had extended beyond his religious responsibilities.

He noted that the pastor had consistently used his platform to challenge government actions and draw attention to issues requiring urgent public attention.

In recognition of his contributions to journalism and society, Achudume received the Ogun NUJ Golden Jubilee Ambassador Award during the anniversary thanksgiving service.