S.O.S ALIEME

As at the time of writing this piece, I felt confused by the happenings with regards to the insecurity situation in Nigeria.  The American President Donald Trump has warned that he was going to step in and fight the bandits terrorizing Nigerian Christians. He called it genocide.  But to my dismay and surprise, some Nigerians have come out openly to deny any genocidal attack against Christians. Even, some of our Priests and Bishops are saying there are no genocidal attack against Christians in Nigeria.  I am so much disturbed and worried that different questions continue to crop up in my mind.  Does it mean that some priests were not killed in Nigeria? Was Leah Sharibu not abducted in Nigeria and up till now she has not been released from captivity for her refusal to denounce Christ? Does it mean Deborah Samuel Yakubu, a second-year Christian student, of Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto stoned to death by a mob of Muslim students in Sokoto, Nigeria, after being accused of blasphemy against Islam was a truce? Does it mean the 18 year old seminarian Michael Nnadi’s death is a waste? Because he was a seminarian at Good Shepherds Major Seminary, who was abducted and killed by gunmen in Kaduna State and was laid to rest at the premises of the seminary amidst tears and anguish. What about Rev. Father Tobias Chukwujekwu Okonkwo who was shot dead by unidentified assailants at lhiala along Onitsha-Owerri Expressway? Do you remember the killings at St Francis Catholic Church in Owo where Shoes, Bible pages soaked in blood, purses and other personal belongings scattered about?  The Grace was being shared when the first shot rang out where the Lord’s prayer turned into a viaticum - the final prayer for worshippers.

What is genocide? According to the dictionary, genocide is the deliberate and systematic destruction of a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group. It can involve killing members of the group, causing them serious physical or mental harm, imposing living conditions calculated to destroy them, preventing births, or forcibly transferring children out of the group. The past wounds sustained since all these years are still fresh in our memories but with God on our side all will be well. GOD alone deserves praise for preserving our lives because none of us has the power to change anything. He is the Creator and determiner of everything.  Nigeria at this point in time needs divine intervention.  Divine intervention can simply be called a miracle. It is an act of God that causes something good to happen or stops something bad from happening.

Historically and Biblically, you see divine intervention when Moses and the children of Israel were before the Red Sea. You can also see divine intervention when the whole nation of Israel was besieged by Goliath and a little shepherd boy, David, who received courage and with just a stone, fed the carcass of Goliath to the birds.  At this time in the history of our nation, we need divine intervention, over our Jerusalem (Nigeria); divine intervention over the killings of innocent people, over the taking over of our communities by the unknown; divine intervention from the fear and trembling of the land.

Just like in the past, God is certainly able to deliver Nigeria from the impending danger looming around her, annexing and total annulations. Only God can deliver Nigeria as a nation by his divine touch. Divine intervention is not a veil; neither is it a norm. This is the act of God. God delivered Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego from the furnace. Peter was miraculously delivered from prison. God also postponed the death of Hezekiah. God says: “Call upon me in the days of trouble and I will answer you.” He also says: “I know those who trust me and I will deliver them from all their troubles.” When the doom of the city of Nineveh of Jonah was to be destroyed, they gathered themselves together and God intervened. There is something synonymous in all cases of divine intervention. Those who received it, sought for it. Christians in Nigeria should not wait, they should seek it. They should gather themselves together and repent; put ash on their heads and tear their garments.

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, Daniel, Moses; they all received it. But, something unique is that people, while crying to God for divine interventions, they do not surrender themselves to His will. God is still in the business of intervention and God will intervene in the affairs of this nation. Peter was released miraculously when the saints were praying for him. Paul and Silas were released when they prayed and sang. God can still intervene in the affairs of Nigeria.

There is so much poverty in the land, and there is no clear indication that poverty will be alleviated soonest. Today, many people do not have jobs and there is no prospect that people are getting jobs very soon unless the Government does something dramatic. So, one is fearful about that. One is also fearful concerning insecurity in the land, the menace of Boko Haram, bandits, kidnappers and the Fulani herdsmen. We do not see any indication that the government is going to put that behind us. We cannot keep deceiving ourselves, embracing praise singers and scoffing at criticisms of our ways; as things stand, many Nigerians are in desperation, as the high level of crime and suicides show.

Nigeria is in great danger, if we do not deal more with corruption and insecurity of life and property, which has generated over two million internally displaced people and caused many to flee the country for greener pastures. With a high level of unemployment and over 10 million out-of-school children, government must simply work harder. Nigeria cannot live in peace if blatant disrespect of court rulings continues. It certainly cannot develop, if such infrastructure as power supply and transportation network remains so poor. The cost of governance kept high by exploitative policies and laws must be addressed. True democracy is government with the people, not about a few elected people wielding power and privileges and servicing partisan interests. When they are good people, the corrupt government will eventually come to God’s justice. A nation can eventually kill itself by turning away from God. Nigerians, as citizens of a nation that is blessed with Christian community, can humble themselves before and return the nation back to God. Even when we have done our best, we should not cease from praying, as everything depends on prayer. Prayer makes things to work out because God answers prayers.

Jesus, you are the nation’s redeemer and king. You are the author of life and the creator of all things. Your love endures forever, and you have never, and will never forsake those who are called by your name. Lord, you are righteous and we are unholy. O Lord, how great is our sin! Were you to pour out your wrath on our land, we acknowledge that you would be justified and right in your judgment on us. So Lord, today we humble ourselves before you. We bow our hearts and our heads in repentance before you O great King of kings. Cleanse us with the blood of the Lamb, your Son, Jesus Christ. Turn our hearts to Him in repentance, and cancel the great debt we owe you. Cover us with the righteousness of Christ that we may appear faultless and blameless before your throne. Create in us a pure heart and make us a pure nation. Restore to us the joy of your salvation, and may a song of gladness rise from our land again. Grant us a humble and willing spirit to sustain us and keep us continually in tune with your Holy Spirit.  Hear us O Lord, and heal our land. Dearest God, help everyone reading this column right now, whatever is holding them bound, release your divine intervention by mercy and compassion it is in the name of our Lord, Saviour and King, Jesus Christ we pray. Amen!!!

God Bless Nigeria!!!