A Nation’s Hope Betrayed

A Nigerian soldier walks near a building and vehicle destroyed by Boko Haram terrorists in Gwoza in 2015. In his column, Arinze Joseph Ani says that Nigeria, like many nations, need prayer. (Photo: EPA/CNS)

Hope; the faith or yearning that something depended upon will fulfil itself — this has been the fate of many ordinary citizens of every other country regarding their government. Nigeria is no different.

Nigeria gained its independence in 1960 from the British colonialists, after a rough struggle for freedom and the people’s desire to be in charge of their land.

Our forefathers, the founders of our sovereignty and freedom as Nigeria, fought the “good fight”, nursing a hope “that Nigeria will someday be great and shine so bright that she shall stand out before Africa and the whole world as a stallion nation”.

These dreams were what the founders had at heart, and the entire population echoed these dreams. All hands were found on deck to push on to making Nigeria a wonderful land.

Almost six decades later, experience and the present situation reveal Nigeria as a hope betrayed.

More than ever before, we are now experiencing fear and trepidation. Massive gratuitous killings, abductions and other evil acts are all at a high with an alarming increase. There is no respect for human dignity.

And the government and the security agencies are always assuring the people that they are “on top of the situation”. They always come up with what look like excuses; they promise to “bring to book” the culprits in these unabated massacres, kidnappings, armed robberies and so on. Enough of the rhetoric!

Every human life is sacred and needs to be protected. All are to uphold the sanctity of human life and be true witnesses and promoters of human life.

Wake Up From Slumber

Archbishop Felix Femi Ajakaye of Ekiti quotes Alexander the Great: “I am not afraid of an army of lions led by a sheep; I am afraid of an army of sheep led by a lion.”

This, he said, “is food for thought for the federal government, state governments and the security agencies. I urge them to wake up from their slumber and be tactical and practical in their approach to the insecurity bedeviling our beloved country, Nigeria”.

The archbishop said that “these terrorist attacks on citizens and foreigners in Nigeria must be addressed concretely for the benefit of all and for the unity of Nigeria”.

He warned that, 19 years into the civilian government, “the unity of Nigeria is at the edge. There are war songs, accompanied with war drums, across the country. Unless we, both individually and collectively, engage in genuine stock-taking and begin to address our legion of problems, gradually without deception by both the leaders and the led, our country may be heading towards a calamitous fall”.

To avoid the fall of Nigeria, we are to work and pray. We are to walk our prayers and our positive talks. For our Nigeria not to fall, we are to remain optimistic and keep hope alive and active. To be optimistic is “to expect the best in all things”. Nothing should separate us from God’s love (Rom 8:31-39).

This attitude should be adhered to not only by Nigerians but by all the peoples of the various nations of the world. We all need to be closer to the Lord, now more than ever.

As godly citizens and patriots of our various nations, we owe our countries this one great task of prayer for them, daily. For without God, we can do nothing (Jn 15:5).