Professor Kunle Macaulay, a well-known outspoken Christian expert, has called on the Church in Nigeria to actively participate in shaping the character of the nation.
Speaking in commemoration of June 12, 2025, Nigeria’s Democracy Day, Macaulay emphasized the relevance of democracy, which he says grants people the freedom to speak to and against the government when necessary. He briefly analysed the experiences of Nigerians under military rule and the present political leadership, drawing attention to the crucial role the Church could play—if only its leaders are ready to speak the truth.
June 12 brings to mind, he said, the suffering of Nigerians under political leadership, particularly the young military officers who inflicted untold hardship on the citizens. During the era of military rule, Macaulay noted, democracy was completely abandoned. Dictatorship prevailed, opposition voices were jailed, many were killed, and others fled the country to seek asylum abroad.
According to him, the damage done during that period continues to divide Nigeria along religious and ethnic lines, and now urgently requires reconciliation. “The hidden truth must be revealed to save Nigeria that is looming in confusion,” he declared.
Macaulay said members of the public have consistently blamed the government for issues such as corruption, injustice, tribalism, and nepotism. However, they have failed to acknowledge that the Church, particularly Christian leaders, have also failed the nation.
He argued that democracy continues to elude Nigeria due to the selfishness of those in government. Many who opposed the system or criticized the mismanagement of national resources, he said, have either lost their lives or languished in prison. Yet Church leaders—who were expected to condemn immorality and help shape the conscience of political leaders and the public—remained silent, choosing instead to fraternize with politicians for personal gain.
“Nigeria is suffering because the Church is not functioning maximally,” Macaulay stated. “The Church has the responsibility to mould the character of the nation. The Church should be blamed for the character of the politicians, traditional leaders and Nigerians.”
He insisted that Church leaders are ordained and commissioned to raise Christians who will, in turn, raise Christ-like people—not merely to Christianize society. He emphasized that spiritual and biblical authority should empower leaders to denounce corruption, injustice, banditry, and kidnapping.
Referencing the Bible, he said that Christianity is people-centred. He cited Jesus, who fed and healed many out of compassion; Esther, who risked her life for her people; and Nehemiah, who wept upon learning about the destruction of Jerusalem and the suffering of his people, even though he was comfortable in Persia.
He challenged the Nigerian Church and its leaders to be as concerned about current national issues—including the killings in Benue, Plateau, Zamfara, Nasarawa and many other parts of the nation. Desmond Tutu led the
church to challenge apartheid in South Africa, Martin Luther Junior stood
for the rights of black people in America and William Wilberforce, a
British Christian fought to end slavery. The Christians have always been
involved in fighting for freedom and shaping character of people and
Nigeria should not be an exception.
Quietism has never brought any solution to human challenges.
Challenges must be attacked. Church must speak out now and take necessary actions to end all the agonies and sufferings of Nigerians.
Exhibition of financial recklessness of church leaders must be
challenged while the complacency of our politicians must be controlled.
