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Nigerian singer Seun Kuti has stirred controversy by proclaiming that only the impoverished will attain heaven. Expressing his views, Kuti contends that the foundations of Christianity and Islam are grounded in the present, implying that individuals with bank accounts and savings may not reach heaven as they do not adhere to the belief that Jesus is coming imminently.
Seun Kuti, who identifies as a "juju" worshipper, has shared his perspective on the intersection of religion and socio-economic status. He argues that those with financial foresight and savings may be excluded from heaven due to their disbelief in the immediacy of Jesus's arrival.
The singer went on to assert that a significant portion of the Nigerian population, predominantly the poor, aligns with his interpretation and stands a higher chance of reaching heaven. Kuti cited statistics, noting that only 48 million out of the country's over 200 million residents possess bank accounts
Speaking in the latest episode of the Spill With Phyna podcast, the singer said: “When people tried to preach to me, ‘Oh Seun, you’ve to give your life to Christ.’ I always ask them this particular question: ‘Do you have a bank account? If you do, you’re just like me. Anywhere I dey go when I die, is where you’re going.’
“Because to believe in Jesus Christ is not to believe in a man or a personality. There are doctrines behind it. You must believe in the death and resurrection. Christianity and Islam are religions of now, the immediate. Everything is based on the premise that everything will end now: Jesus Christ is coming now. If you don’t believe that Jesus Christ is coming now then you’re not a real Christian. But all of you that believe Jesus Christ is coming now, you now have bank accounts for tomorrow? You’re saving for tomorrow. That means you don’t believe Jesus Christ is coming now.
“Poor people are the ones that will go to heaven. That’s what it means. In Nigeria, it’s only 48 million Nigerians that have bank accounts. The government revealed this during COVID-19 when Nigerians were agitating for stipend to be paid to their accounts as palliatives. The government said that won’t work because only 48 million out of 200 million Nigerians have bank accounts. So, hopefully, many of those that will go to heaven will be Nigerians because they have passed the first criteria.”
