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Friday Sermon: The Sin of Ingratitude

Published

8 years ago

April 13, 2018

Eric

By Babatunde Jose

Ingratitude can be seen in the actions and behaviour of many people in today’s society, from children to adults, both the rich and the poor: It is all encompassing and pervasive. Children are often ungrateful to parents, despite all the sacrifices made to make their life worth the while. Husbands and wives often fail to appreciate each other and their efforts. The height of ingratitude is discontentment with what one has and a long throat; wanting what has been provisioned for others: Such people fail to be thankful to God and for one another.

Ingratitude is: “Want of gratitude or sentiments of kindness for favors received; insensibility to favors, and want of disposition to repay them; unthankfulness; all of which are abhorred by God and man”.

Ingratitude is, therefore, the bankruptcy of an individual of a warm emotion or feeling by the receiver of a benefit, for the benefit received, or towards the one by whom the benefit was received. Charles Spurgeon once said, “I cannot say anything much worse of a man than that he is not thankful to those who have been his benefactors; and when you say that he is not thankful to God, you have said about the worst thing you can say of him”.

Clive Wilson in his Sin of Ingratitude says that gratefulness is, “An emotion of the heart, excited by a favour or benefit received; a sentiment of kindness or goodwill towards a benefactor; thankfulness. Gratitude is a virtue of the highest excellence, as it implies a feeling and generous heart, and a proper sense of duty”.

Ingratitude however, is a characteristic of the wicked and a sin (2 Tim. 3:2; Rom. 1:18-23 cp. Num. 11:4-6). The fact that ungratefulness is included in a list of some of the most egregious sins demonstrates its enormity and abhorrence to God.

Ingratitude is often proof of pride in one’s own self and achievements as demonstrated in those ‘professing to be wise, but became fools’ and in us if we refuse to acknowledge the source of our blessings.

Last Saturday I had an unpleasant encounter and I am most grateful to God and a few good men who were able to save the day; and turned what could have been a terrible situation into amazing ending.

My brother Ahmad who is on holiday with me had a health crisis at about 12:30 AM on Saturday. It was a frightening crisis that shook all of us to our foundation and would subsequently erase any iota of faith in our healthcare system. Our first port of call was the Health Centre on Lagos Street, where the doctor on duty explained to us the gravity of the situation and the need for referral to a bigger hospital. He gave first aid in form of respirator and wrote a referral to the Emergency Unit of Lagos University Teaching Hospital. He also, provided an ambulance with a staff nurse to accompany him. Problem started on getting to LUTH where they refused to touch the patient on the excuse that they had no space; neither was the patient examined nor First Aid provided.

The Doctor at the Health Centre then asked us to proceed to Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja LASUTH. Here also, we met the same rejection; without any examination or evaluation. This has been and would be the fate of many challenged Nigerians in the hands of our teaching Hospitals. There are worse cases where the patients have died.

Meanwhile, the doctor at the Health Centre asked us to come back for him to continue his First Aid pursuant to our transferring my brother to a specialist in the morning.

Fortunately, we were able to get a Cardiologist in the morning who agreed to see him immediately. After due examination and ECG, he confirmed that the First Aid administered by the kind doctor at the Health Centre saved by brother’s life.

I am therefore most grateful to Dr Idowu and the Night Duty staff of the Health Centre for their good work and dedication to the Hippocratic Oath: Unlike the doctors at LUTH and LASUTH who exhibited a nonchalant, and lackadaisical attitude to a patience in an emergency; a topic for another day.

I also want to express gratitude to Dr Kingsley Kola Akinroye, a foremost Cardiologist; Executive Director of the Nigerian Heart Foundation (NHF), past Vice President of World Heart Federation (WHF) and Africa Epidemiological Association (AEA) and Medical Director of Humana Medical Centre, for his prompt attendance to my brother and a service above the call of duty.

Before ending this piece, let me go back to the issue of ingratitude, which was triggered by a letter soliciting for funds for the 10-Year remembrance anniversary of late Senator Abraham Adesanya; a nationalist, defender of the oppressed and a great freedom fighter for democracy; and a great friend of my late father. On seeing the letter my mind went to the beneficiaries of that great man’s struggles and I asked why the need to resort to begging and solicitation for fund. The beneficiaries alone are able and capable of underwriting the cost of whatever ceremony they want to do in his honour; particularly the governors in the South West, both serving and retired. Alas! They would not do so, ingrates and sinners. Unfortunately, it is a sign of the times in which we live. In Paul’s letter to Timothy, he said that ingratitude would be one of the evils found in the last days. Benjamin Franklin said, “Most people return small favors, acknowledge medium ones and repay greater ones – with ingratitude.” William Shakespeare addressed the subject in numerous of his plays: He said, “I hate ingratitude more in a man than lying, vainness, babbling, drunkenness, or any taint of vie whose strong corruption inhabits our frail blood.”

As we open the Quran, the first chapter starts with ‘Alhamdulillah’ which is generally translated as “all praise is for God.” In reality, the word Alhamdulillah signifies gratitude in our everyday lives. In Chapter 55 of the Quran, titled “The Lord of Mercy,” God asks the same question thirty-one times, “Which of the favors of your Lord will you deny?” God has created us and then made this world for us. We are getting benefits from all of His creations! After realizing all this abundance, how can a sensible person be anything but thankful to God?

As for me, I am thankful to God and appreciative of the kindness of the doctors; Idowu and Akinroye.

Barka Juma’at and a happy weekend

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Corruption Allegations: NMDPRA Boss Farouk Ahmed Meets Tinubu, Resigns

Published

7 hours ago

December 17, 2025

Eric

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Farouk Ahmed, has resigned following a meeting with President Bola Tinubu amid corruption allegations.

Tinubu, on Wednesday, summoned Ahmed to the Presidential Villa in Abuja, following allegations of economic sabotage and corruption.

Also caught in the web of resignation was the CEO of the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Gbenga Komolafe, according to a statement on Wednesday by Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to the president on information and strategy.

Tinubu was said to have nominated successors to the senate for approval.

“Tinubu has asked the Senate to approve the nominations of two new chief executives for the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC),” the statement reads.

“The requests followed the resignation of Engineer Farouk Ahmed of the NMDPRA and Gbenga Komolafe of the NUPRC.

“Both officials were appointed in 2021 by former President Buhari to lead the two regulatory agencies created by the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).

“To fill these positions, President Tinubu has written to the Senate, requesting expedited confirmation of Oritsemeyiwa Amanorisewo Eyesan as CEO of NUPRC and Engineer Saidu Aliyu Mohammed as CEO of NMDPRA.”

Onanuga said the two nominees are seasoned professionals in the oil and gas industry.

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Alleged Corrupt Practices: Dangote Petitions ICPC Against NMDPRA MD Farouk

Published

1 day ago

December 16, 2025

Eric

Chairman, Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has formally submitted a petition to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) against the Managing Director of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Engr. Ahmed Farouk, over alleged corruption and financial impropriety.

The petition, dated December 16, 2025, was submitted through Dangote’s lawyer, Dr. Ogwu James Onoja, SAN, and received at the office of the ICPC Chairman, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN.

In the petition, Dangote called for the arrest, investigation and prosecution of the NMDPRA boss, alleging that Farouk has been living far above his legitimate means as a public servant.

Dangote specifically accused Ahmed Farouk of allegedly spending over seven million United States dollars on the education of his four children in Switzerland, paid upfront for a six-year period, without any lawful explanation for the source of the funds.

According to the petition, the four children and their respective schools in Switzerland were clearly identified, along with the amounts paid on their behalf, to enable the ICPC verify the allegations.

The industrialist further alleged that Farouk Ahmed had been using his position at the NMDPRA to embezzle and divert public funds for personal gain and private interests, actions which he claimed had recently triggered public protests and widespread criticism of the agency.

Dangote maintained that Ahmed Farouk has spent his adult life working in Nigeria’s public sector, adding that his cumulative earnings over the years could not reasonably account for the alleged seven million dollars reportedly spent on the overseas education of his children.

“It is without doubt that the above facts in relation to abuse of office, breach of the Code of Conduct for public officers, corrupt enrichment and embezzlement constitute gross acts of corruption, for which your Commission is statutorily empowered under Section 19 of the ICPC Act to investigate and prosecute,” the petition stated.

It further noted that under the same section of the ICPC Act, any person found guilty of such offences is liable to imprisonment for a term of five years without an option of fine.

Dangote urged the commission to act decisively, stressing that the ICPC, alongside other anti-graft agencies, is strategically positioned to investigate and prosecute corruption-related offences.

“In view of the foregoing, we call on the Commission under your leadership to investigate the complaint of abuse of office and corruption against Engr. Farouk Ahmed and to accordingly prosecute him if found wanting,” the petition added.

The Dangote Group Chairman also expressed confidence that the matter, being in the public domain, would not be ignored, urging the ICPC to act in the interest of justice and to protect the image of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.

Dangote further pledged his readiness to provide additional evidence to substantiate his allegations of corrupt enrichment, abuse of office and impunity against the NMDPRA Managing Director.

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Tinubu Didn’t Win 2023 Election, Will Lose in 2027 – Abaribe

Published

2 days ago

December 16, 2025

Eric

The lawmaker representing Abia South Senatorial District, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, has predicted that it would be impossible for President Bola Tinubu to win second termn in the 2027 presidential election.

Abaribe, who claimed that the President never won the 2023 election, said the level of hardship Nigerians are currently facing has made them more determined to ensure that Tinubu does not return as president after 2027.

Reacting to suggestions that Tinubu has never lost an election, Abaribe, who appeared as a guest on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, said, “I do not think so. Everybody loses elections, and you will see when the time comes. He will lose in 2027 because I know what Nigerians are feeling outside.”

He added: “Tinubu never won the 2023 election, and everybody knows it. But we said fine, he has been declared the winner, no problem. We acknowledge him as president, but we are going to meet him in the field, and I will see how he is going to cobble together what will make him win again.

“It won’t work, because this time everybody will be ready. It will no longer be an announcement at 3am before people wake up in the morning. This time, people are ready; we are ready, and the masses are even more ready.”

The senator, who said the economy has collapsed under Tinubu and that the president has yet to solve the problem of insecurity, wondered where he would get the votes to win in 2027.

On the defection of some opposition leaders to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Abaribe vowed never to join the wave, saying he would be the last person to do so.

He said that rather than strengthening the APC as a party, the defections would deepen internal divisions and fuel leadership tussles.

“If there is anybody who is going to defect to the APC, I think I should be the very, very last one. By the time I defect, it would mean there are no parties left in Nigeria, including the APC,” he said.

“I have a very simple theory about defections. I think it is very good for us in the opposition that these defections are happening. All the APC is doing is absorbing all the problems it is going to face; they are right inside the party now. Ask yourself, in all the states where there are defections, what is going on there now?”

The lawmaker described the APC as a giant with feet of clay, saying the opposition would target its weak points during the election, leading to its collapse.

Abaribe, who reaffirmed his membership of the opposition coalition, said there is a consensus among opposition leaders to unite in order to dislodge the APC from power.

The coalition has adopted the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as the platform for the 2027 elections, but many have claimed the move is a strategy to enthrone Atiku Abubakar and compel all opposition members to support him.

However, Abaribe disagreed, saying the party has yet to release its guidelines and other arrangements ahead of the 2027 elections.