RELIGIOUS LEADERS IN OLU- OBAFEMI'S "DO-GOODERS"

The Picture of Religious leaders in Olu- Obafemi’s “DO- GOODERS”.

In this poem, Olu- Obafemi, a senior lecturer at the University of Ilorin, Department of Dramatic Arts condemns the deceitful nature of most of our religious leaders, who live big at the expense of their poor and ignorant but devoted followers.

The religious leaders are painted as hypocrites. They deceive their adherents by asking them to close their eyes against the “things” of this world while the so- called Pastors, Imams, Aladuras and the Dibias or the Babalawos open their own eyes towards the luxuries of this life.

For instance, the shameless religious leaders enjoy the better part of life such as palatable food, expensive cars and houses, while their followers live in abject poverty (the bloated stomachs… of sprawling skeletons).

The religious leaders “chew the flesh” but their unsuspecting followers battle with bones!

The principal lesson from this poem is the urgent need to fight against the excesses of fake religious leaders who are rather called by their belly.

In an angry tone enveloped by a sad mood, the poet suggests a total elimination of these self-centred religious leaders when he says:
“Must be tied to stakes,
Blazed in flames and flakes.”

The now is : “What kind of a religious leader are you? “
- A true servant of God or a swindler?