Oga-Coro: The spiritual & religious dimensions

Oga-Coro, the uninvited guest who came along with its own chair, was a shot out of the blues. It came like a thief in the night (1Thes. 5:2): suddenly, without notice, catching us unaware. Indeed, we were attacked by a stronger man (Luke 11:22). It was like nothing we have ever seen or known in this generation because the eye had not seen, neither has the ear heard nor has it been imagined by people (1Cor. 2:9; Isaiah. 64;4).

It brought terror, danger of death and wave of destruction everywhere (Jeremiah. 20:8-10; Ps. 18:4) and it appeared we were born for trouble and sorrow (Jeremiah. 20:18). Its impact was brutal, pervasive and it derived special joy in humbling the great and unlike before the ‘leaders of the flock’ were also afflicted because they had nowhere to flee or means of escape (Jeremiah. 25:35).

Indeed, the mighty fell (2Sam. 1:19-20); the high and haughty were hewn down and humbled (Isaiah. 10:33) as He brought down the high tree and dried the green ones while exalting the low ones and making the dry to flourish (Ezekiel. 17:24) and none could boast of their wisdom, strength and riches (Jeremiah. 9:23) because it is not by power or by might … (Zech. 4.6). Our money, positions, possessions, connections and achievements became useless and we realised, sadly, that ‘our greatness will not keep us from death (as) we will still die like animals’ that we are (Ps. 49:20).

Those who always spoke with certainty about tomorrow, learnt to add ‘if the Lord wills’ (James. 4:13-15). In effect, it became obvious that we plan but God decides.

The poorer people and nations were treated more ‘compassionately’ by the vicious disease, which made the usually sure-footed scientists to speak in uncertain and contradictory tongues. It shows that the race or battle is not always to the swift and strong but to whom God shows mercy (Eccl. 9:11; Romans. 9.16).

As it has always been, whenever people are faced by the incomprehensible, they seek out the Great Being, asking ‘how, why, and when?’ Because the BOOK contains everything, it came in handy as people read online, offline and between the lines in sustained efforts to understand the inexplicable and uncontrollable. The situation proved Pastor Stephen Furtick right when he said, ‘The only way God can show that he is in control is to put us into situations that we cannot control.’

Some people said the end was near or that we have so turned away from God that He decided to ‘show us’ just a little. Some searched for the Biblical origin of Coro and its containment measures. Others sought out encouraging and soothing Bible verses, especially where we were told to be still (Ps. 46:10), and depend on His awesome powers and mercy (Isaiah 41:10). Some dwelt on spiritual songs that gave succour in trying times while others believed that the end had come because of the ‘plague’ (Luke 21:11) and the assertion that the end of all things is at hand (1Peter 4:7), forgetting that nobody knows the hour (Mat. 24:36). The number and dimensions of night vigils increased, we all became prayer warriors because as Hosea 5:15 had prophesied, ‘in their afflictions, they will earnestly seek me’!

This is the theme I will explore in this intervention: the spiritual and religious dynamis of the War Against Coro. Due to the weird utterances and actions of some ‘pastors’ during the ‘Covidious’ pandemic, I will devote a special attention to them. I have written this from a Christian perspective and I know that other faiths also adopted their own religious principles to see them through those tearful and fearful days.

It was during this era that I realised that Dolly Parton was a Gospel artiste. Her 2002 song, Hello God was played and re-played, especially in the early days of Coro. The song, which she sang in that her sonorous and enchanting voice, is a tearful and penitential plea asking God to listen, to have mercy, to ‘do something’: ‘…can you help us like before?…

We cant make it without you… please forgive us and give us one more chance’. Pastor Kumuyi appeared to agree with her when he said that ‘overwhelmed by our pain and suffering, we feel abandoned by God… We wish He would show up, and end the pains we bear’ (Daily Manna, 14/5/20).

These Catholic hymns: ‘God of Mercy & Compassion’, ‘Nearer my God to thee’, ‘I need thee every hour’ and ‘I surrender all’, became instant hits as various preachers admonished us to return to God who has torn and stricken us because he would surely heal, bind, revive, and raise us (Hosea. 6: 1-3).

As early as March 2020, The Catholic Church moved from ‘prayer for Nigeria in distress’ to prayer against Coro, imploring with the Omnipotent to take charge, as we prayed for effective medication to be speedily found (that was before the vaccines) ‘healing to the sick, eternal life to the dead and consolation for the bereaved’
And then, Mike Bamiloye released the earthshaking poem titled ‘Just only one plague’, recalling how Oga-Coro had mercilessly dealt with us, how we ‘obeyed’ and then asking the key question: ‘what shall you do about the ultimate plagues when the trumpet sounds?’

Some called for repentance, arguing that He inflicted us with the Egyptian Plague because we disobeyed the commandments, (Exodus 15:26; Deuteronomy 7:15).

Others recalled the promises of God that if he sent epidemic on the people, and they pray and repent of their evil ways, he would hear, forgive and heal the land (2Chron. 7:13-14).

Some reminded us of the assurances of Isaiah 54:7-10, where He promised that his anger will abet and that he will pity us and blessed us with his faithful love and covenant of peace and that if he did not spare his son for our sake, there is nothing that is too much for him to do for us( Romans 8:32).