OAP Dotun has thrown up a conversation by saying many Nigerians now see ill gotten wealth as a divine blessing.
In a post on X, he said attributing wealth acquired through sinful means to God is an insult to prayer.
He said we can’t invoke God’s favour for things we know are polluted by bad acts. He said God doesn’t condemn or judge us in a punitive way but we must give God the reverence due to His holiness.
His post reads, “”
Dotun’s post has generated a lot of buzz on social media with many followers and commentators weighing in.
His statement is a bigger issue where questionable wealth is often justified by spiritual attribution, a phenomenon observed in many cultures.
For instance, some research have shown how economic inequality and corruption can lead to the rationalization of wealth by invoking God’s intervention.
Also, research carried out by scholars in Nigerian institutions have found a trend of attributing financial success to God despite unethical acquisition methods. Recent surveys suggest a significant percentage of Nigerians do see such wealth as divinely ordained, although the figures vary depending on the methodology and sample size of the research.
Dotun’s post has not only generated online debate but has also drawn attention from religious scholars and sociologists who stress the importance of moral integrity in financial matters.
His comments makes us think about the intersection of faith and morality in Nigerian society today.
Those against this view say equating ill gotten gains with divine blessing will erode accountability and encourage bad behaviour.
Proponents say faith is a personal thing and divine judgement is beyond human scrutiny.
The discussion is a call for ongoing conversation about the role of religion in justifying or condemning certain forms of wealth.