When Boss Mustapha, Chairman Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), disclosed that the Federal Government (FG) has partnered with Nigerian Interreligious Council to declare a season of prayer and fasting in the country, I didn’t give the call any attention.
Why? Nigerians have been praying to the Creator before the sad entry of COVID-19 into the world. Is it prayer that will provide standard health and educational facilities now? Is it prayer that will provide testing kits and personal protective equipment for our medical personnel? Moreover, the SGF did not tell the public the scope and terms of reference of the prayer. But one thing is certain: The world will continue to pray to the Creator during and after the pandemic.
As I watched on media the yapping and tackling that took place in the last few days at the National Assembly (NASS) between lawmakers and some President Buhari’s cabinet ministers, I agreed with the SGF that we must pray for Nigeria.
Yes, Nigeria needs prayer! But prayer without works is dead, says the Bible. When we pray, we must pray together, and be prepared to act together on our prayer. Some cannot be praying while others are neck deep into predatory behaviours and what one of my professors called “acts of extreme financial recklessness” of public funds.
But before Boss Mustapha, there was Paul the Apostle whose original name was Saul of Tarsus. Apostle Paul told the Romans in the Great Book: “Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to discern what is the good, pleasing and perfect will of God.”
Analysing Apostle Paul’s philosophy, some theologians say that, “We are all in the world, but not of the world.” There are many things in this world that have become acceptable and many people are so blinded by what is called right in the world when really it is wrong.
In the world, theologians further argue that we want to accept everything, everyone, and everybody’s behaviour. Most of us are so afraid to call crazy, crazy, or stupid, stupid. And for anyone who musters the confidence and courage to call a wrong out for being wrong, then all of a sudden people, sometimes paid agents who have been procured by authorities, are intolerant.
The psalmist tells us in the Great Book that those who love and pray for the peace of Jerusalem will prosper. Nigeria is our own Jerusalem whether we like it or not. Can anything good come out from Nigeria? Affirmative, Nigeria can be a prosperous nation. But we must all work towards achieving prosperity and greatness. Prosperity of a nation is not served on a platter of gold, it is earned.
Those individuals irrespective of tribe, religion and political connection who sincerely love Nigeria from the bottom of their hearts will prosper. Why are a few people bent on pulling the country down? We all know that Nigeria is currently going through a sobering moment. We must collectively work towards changing the narrative for good.
Since medieval times, each generation looks for competent leaders, statesmen, and stateswomen who will do what is right and just, and who will bring improvement into the country. Effective leaders take responsibilities for their own actions, repairing and improving the social, economic and political environment of the people.
Drawing inspiration from the internationally acclaimed writer, Chinua Achebe in his book The Trouble with Nigeria, “The trouble with Nigeria is simply and squarely a failure of leadership.” It is not easy to find visionary leaders in the society. Visionary leaders are very scarce. And no nation can win the war against poverty without committed and visionary leaders. It is true that societies get the leaders they deserve, but the quality of some of those parading themselves as “leaders” in our society leaves much to be desired.
How can a group of leaders emerge either through intrigues or mischief from a given region of Nigeria only to be carrying out activities that are not conterminous to the development of their region? This beats my imagination. I am yet to come to terms with how sons and daughters of a region will choose to leave their own kin and kith in penury, only to pursue a selfish interest.
At times, the attitude of some of our leaders’ mirror the extent to which those of us who claimed to have elected or appointed them into office have made a blunder. Some of us have graduated from weeping for the country to laughing at the country. What we see and hear in the media is just laughable. But we make sure we pray for Nigeria.
For many years, Nigeria’s leadership crisis has been legendary. However, Nigeria is blessed by men and women who have influenced and are still influencing the country and the world positively using their skills and leadership abilities. We are by no means saying that they were or are not without faults, but they simply epitomise the essence of leadership qualities we need to remember at this time of our nationhood.
With over 200 million people in a country rated as the poverty capital of the world, Nigeria is looking for answers, for hope, and for change. At a time when the world is combating a pandemic, we cannot afford to be citizens of a nation with a poor rule of shame.
Initially, it was Hushpuppy- a young man who was alleged to have duped almost 1.9 million people across the globe. Yet, he was referred to as a “celebrity” by some people in our society. What? In Nigeria, a thief is called “celebrity?” Most of us celebrate crooks. Where did we get it wrong? Nigeria used to be a country of high standards and values. But we have almost lost our values. What a pity!
Granted, our value system is an integral part of the larger society, any critical assessment is not an attack on the society we all belong to. It is to remind us that the nation is drifting seriously. We are steering course made good, not course to steer. The ship of the nation is heading ashore. Those in authority need to take urgent actions to avoid going aground.
Development economists know that there is a relationship between the value system or culture of a nation and economic development. So, when we do not guard our value system jealousy, we should not blame others for our backwardness as a nation. It is difficult understanding why a scammer is referred to as a “star” in Nigeria. It is because we lost our values along the line.
A thicker plot. The case of Process and Industrial Development (P&ID) Limited versus Nigeria in which the latter is liable to pay a fine of $6.6 billion as ruled by an independent London tribunal since 2017 is a disgrace. Reports show that the fine has risen to $9.9 billion because of accrued interest and foot dragging on the part of some people who are saddled with the responsibility of protecting Nigeria’s national interest.
The amount in question according to a financial expert, is over 20 percent of both the country’s reserve and the value of its annual exports. The judgement has caused commotion in Nigeria. Public affairs analysts are asking questions: “How did Nigeria find itself on the receiving end of one of the largest ever judgements against a sovereign state. Who are the Nigerians involved in this scam?
It takes a generation of committed leaders to build a nation. Thank you! (To continue)
