The Unchecked Lords of Ignorance in Ethiopia

By: Dr Shimels Hussien

Ethiopia’s journey toward progress demands a foundation of smart ideas and factual understanding. Yet, a troubling trend is emerging: certain pastors, acting as self-proclaimed arbiters of truth, are actively spreading misinformation, often with the tacit endorsement of the current government. This dangerous alliance allows figures like Yonatan Aklilu (pastor or prophet) to manipulate the public with grand pronouncements devoid of evidence, preying on the uneducated and undermining the very fabric of a fact-based society.

I call the likes of Yonatan the lords of ignorance. These “lords of ignorance” make baseless claims that defy logic and scientific consensus. Pastor Yonatan, for example, made a nonsense claim that half of Ethiopia’s doctors have fake degrees. This is a complete lie! Our healthcare workers study for many years and work hard to save lives. No one has found any proof that half of them are fakes. These pastors just want to look holy by putting down real heroes. This same pastor also told his followers that when people get better from medicine, it’s not because of doctors, but because God performed a miracle. This ignores all the hard work and studies that make medicine work. Saying it’s “all God” is a risky lie that might make people avoid hospitals when they really need help. The hypocrisy of these pastors is glaring. Despite their speaking badly about medical professionals, figures like Yonatan frequently seek medical treatments from the very doctors they publicly denounce. If divine intervention is indeed all-powerful, why didn’t he just pray for his hair to grow back instead of going to a hair transplant doctor? Maybe his “holy oil” ran out! I am saying this because I know how much treatment Yonatan did to regrow his hair.

The worst part is how pastors like Aklilu trick people who aren’t well-educated. They promise things like “passports to heaven” or “extra money in your bank” to take every bit of cash from poor people. Only those who haven’t had much schooling, and are desperate for hope, fall for these tricks. These pastors use people’s money worries to get rich, while their followers stay poor. Some, like Aklilu, even take public land for their “church” and then sell it for cash. This isn’t faith; it’s stealing! Pastor Aklilu also said that poor people are just lazy. This is a lazy thing to say! It shows only his ignorance of the causes of poverty. People aren’t poor because they don’t work hard. The root causes of poverty have been studied by the best scientific minds in the world, and their research consistently shows that the main reasons for poverty are bad political systems and exploitative economic systems, along with a lack of opportunities.

The inability of these pastors to engage in critical thinking is evident in their preference for loud preaching over rigorous critical debate. Science demands extensive reading, evidence-based analysis, and intellectual discipline—qualities often lacking in their approach. Instead, they often stick to one book, twist its meaning to sound smart, and then make things up. In science, you need proof—tests, data, and more tests. But pastors just say whatever comes to their minds. This is pure ignorance. It’s important to understand that science and religion are different. Pastors should stick to what they know—faith and helping people’s souls. They should leave science to the scientists. If they want to talk about science, they should learn it first. Don’t just make things up and call it the truth. That’s not how it works.

Here’s the truth: no country has ever become strong because of pastors. Look at countries like Japan, Germany, or America—they grew powerful through science, education, and new ideas, not because of pastors making noise. Furthermore, the very tools and luxuries materials these pastors flaunt are products of scientific innovation, not religious miracles. Scientists and smart workers made every single thing these pastors show off. No pastor ever built a phone or a car. That’s all science, not shouting “hallelujah.” These “lords of ignorance” are clueless, cheating people by pretending science doesn’t matter while they use it every day. Ethiopia needs its doctors, scientists, and workers, not tricksters who exploit the uneducated with fake promises. The current Ethiopian regime’s apparent endorsement of these “lords of ignorance” is a deeply concerning trend. By granting them public platforms and failing to provide adequate oversight, the government inadvertently amplifies their harmful influence, allowing them to spread misinformation and exploit vulnerable communities unchecked. This support undermines efforts to build a fact-based, progressive society and poses a significant risk to Ethiopia’s development.

In conclusion, pastors like Yonatan Aklilu, often emboldened by a complicit regime, represent a dangerous force in Ethiopia, exploiting the uneducated and spreading ignorance under the guise of faith. Their baseless scientific claims, unevidenced accusations of professionals, and manipulative practices inflict real harm on vulnerable communities. Science and religion are distinct fields; pastors lack the knowledge or critical thinking necessary to comment on scientific matters. They should focus on their domain and leave science to the experts. Ethiopia’s progress depends on its scientists and workers, not these “lords of ignorance.” The police must intervene to stop these scams, ensuring a future built on facts, not fairy tales.

The author is a health researcher, teacher and consultant based in Addis Ababa. 

Editor’s Note : Views in the article do not necessarily reflect the views of borkena.com

__

Subscribe  : https://borkena.com/subscribe-borkena/ 

Join our Telegram Channel : t.me/borkena

Like borkena on Facebook

Add your business to Ethiopian Business Listing / Ethiopian Business Directory  Business Listing Toronto 

Join the conversation. Follow us on X (Formerly Twitter)  @zborkena to get the latest Ethiopian News updates regularly.  Subscribe to YouTube channel To share information or for submission, send e-mail to info@borkena.com