Socio-Religious and Political Implications of Righteousness in Amos 5:24 on Nigerian Developmental Milieu
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Date
2022
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NOUN Scholar Journal of Arts nd Humanities
Abstract
A good number of academic works done in the book of Amos focused basically on social injustice with little emphasis on righteousness. Despite the attempts by scholars, the Government and well meaning Nigerians to salvage the insalubrious situation, the escalation of corruption and social vices continually hindered the political and economic development of Nigeria. In the meantime, the acclaimed giant of Africa is plagued with a violation of good governance and moral values. However, this paper employed a historical-critical method to examine the theology of righteousness in Amos 5:24 and its socio-religious import in the Nigerian developmental milieu to restore justice and righteousness. The findings show that there is a dire need for God's approved righteousness that produces equity, fairness, economic growth and political stability. It is worthy to note that religious and ethnic crises are hybrids of unrighteousness and moral dissipation from the family, the religious organizations, the educational environment, political parties and society at large. There seems to be spiritual blindness of the religious adherents, and upper and ruling classes in Nigeria which is evident in the unjust exploitation of the poor. The fact is this if about 95% of Nigerians claim to be religious, who then are the perpetrators of evil in the nation? This signals the unidentified missing link in the socio-religious context of Nigeria — hence, the thrust of this article. The present study, therefore, recommends serious tracking of God's approved righteousness, responsibility and accountability in governance. Self- righteousness and hypocritical worship that substitute for the demand of the covenant should be eschewed to attract the mercy of God for national development. Religious adherents and leaders should uphold the integrity and emulate Prophet Amos in providing eternal witnessing of God's opposition to economic, political and social abnormality. To ensure that justice rolls like water and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream as stated in Amos 5:24, all Nigerians should maintain self-discipline, and moral values and advocate righteousness in all agents of socialization.