As we see the train of the year 2022 gradually coming to its terminus, one of the many activities which deserves serious evaluations is this habit of suspending precious man hours of valuable economic opportunities for pulpits and church sessions in our markets.
These market altar sessions and pulpits have been a tradition that has lasted for over twenty years in some markets in the state and more than that in others. The practice is a compulsory shutdown of these markets for hours for compulsory market prayers on monthly, weekly or bi-weekly bases. Most markets have particular days for this exercise while different commodity sectors or lines as they are called also have theirs. Time has come, however, for a serious and sincere evaluation of these activities to see whether ordinary traders in the various markets have benefited from these forced spiritual activities. These evaluations will seek to find out why these sessions have continued despite stiff oppositions from many traders, to examine whether these activities have truly added any spiritual values to those who have been sacrificing their precious man hours to these prayers.
As not to sound as a rouble rouser, an illustration is hereby posited from the gospel of Saint Matthew chapter 21 verse 12. There, Jesus challenged as wrong those who were engaged in trading activities in the temple despite any good intensions. This implied that even Jesus, in recognizing that the temple of God should be prayers, also highlighted, importantly, that the market place should in the same regard be a place for trading and merchandising and not for prayers. In reality, it appears this practice has led to more hypocrisy. It is funny that despite spending six to seven hour in such prayers, some of these traders who organize or participate in such sessions still come out to cheat and shortchange their customers. It is not unheard of where some of the traders who are in the lead of these prayers engage in ungodly sharing formulas with any pastor or “man of God” invited to man such pulpits.
You now hear such terms to as Market bishops, professional market preachers and even market evangelists. Traders who may not be influential to change the trend go on to develop ways to bypass the enforcement of such compulsory prayer hours to sell their goods to their customers.
Truly, this culture must be reviewed by market leaders. The state’s drive for enhanced and increased internally generated revenue can no longer tolerate these wastage. Sundays are not officially for serious trading activities in the markets and now it appears that non state actors have collected Mondays as it is seen that many people shy away from their business areas on Mondays in compliance to sit at home orders which currently have been denied to have been continued by it progenitors. Having seen how much is lost, one wonders how much is remaining for meaningful economic activities within the week.
Furthermore, the activities of these “soldiers of King Herod” who enforce the total compliance to these market praying activities is most unfortunate. The use of extreme brutality, tyranny severe force and the high amount levied on defaulters because they were looking for their daily meals is very sad.
We must recognize the fundamental human rights which include freedom of worship and where and when to worship without being coerced.
If these prayers must continue, the state government is advised to make sure that it is not through force. Markets, lines or Other parts of markets that wish to conduct such prayers should no longer be locked for such purposes. If people want to pray, they should be free to pray but they must not force those who are not interested to join by stopping their legitimate economic activities or by enforcing such prayers.
Those who want their rewards in heaven must not in any way force their convictions on those who want their rewards here on earth.
Written by PAST. UMEADI ANIGBOGU
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