What a Country

As I write this treatise I remember a book by Alan Parton that I read as a form 2 secondary school pupil. This book was titled “Cry the Beloved Country”. Although I cannot now vivdly remember all that is in that book but what has remained indelible in my mind is the oppression of the South African white settlers on the black people of South Africa. I can readily say that this was one of the books that created the awareness of man’s inhumanity to man in me. I have continually seen this inhumanity while growing up in Nigeria but at no time has this been as pronounced like it is today in that country.

The God Whom I serve is a just God. He is fair and treats everyone equally. In the Bible we see a God Who hates oppression, wickedness, greed, injustice etc. The God of the Bible takes interest in the welfare of widows, orphans, strangers and other less priviledged people (Deut 10:18) and expects His followers to do the same (Pro 28:4; Pro 31:8-9).
Nigeria is one country where events never cease to baffle you. There is no week that passes without a mishap, inconceivable corruption revelations and other horrifying happenings. Just two weeks ago we witnessed the crash of one of the planes of Dana Airlines. I’m still in pains whenever I remember the loss of more than 150 persons whose lives were rudely cut short due to avoidable circumstances. I say avoidable because if the authorities of the airline had taken the comments of the governor of Akwa Ibom State seriously on the state of their aircrafts, the crash might not have happened. But they refused to do that because they believe that they are in Nigeria where nothing works and anything goes. All you need do is to bribe the officials and they will turn their faces to the other side. You see foreign companies do in Nigeria what they cannot conceive of doing in their home countries. I ask myself do these officials with oversight responsibility of these airlines unaware of the consequences of their actions and inactions on their fellow human beings. These may include themselves, family members, friends, loved ones etc. We have been told as usual that no stone will be left unturned to bring all the culprits to book. We are still waiting for this to happen. We are fast forgetting all about this crash and we are back to business as usual, without anybody thinking on how this can be prevented from happening in future. What a nation.

We all woke up last week to hear that the chairman of the House Representatives Committee, Hon Lawan Farouk collected bribe from Mr Femi Otedola, the business mogul. We have seen accusations and counter accusations running thus between the duo:
Femi: you be thief
Lawal: I no be thief
Femi: you be rogue
Lawal: I no be rogue
Femi: you dey steal
Lawal: I no dey steal
Femi: you be robber
Lawal: I no be robber
Femi: you be amu (armed) robber
Lawal: I no be amu (armed) robber
This is a clear case of “Authority Stealing” (apologies to the late Afro Beat maestro). It’s dog chop dog. If I were a Nollywood movie producer, here is a very good story line that is a potential chart buster. I would title the film “Thief thief Thief”. What amazes me is the zeal with which the Nigerian Police Force is prosecuting this case. While I am not against the “thorough” investigation being carried out by the police, I would expect that the Nigerian Police for the sake of equity and fair play do the same to the House of Representatives report on the Fuel subsidy and other corruption cases calling for their investigation. This is another clear case of selective justice. To say that the PDP government led by President Goodluck Jonathan is a joke is an understatement. This government is part of God’s judgement upon Nigerians for our wickedness and evil doing. If we refuse to repent more evils await Nigeria. The government of a nation is to a large extent a reflection of the kind of people in that country. People who fail to say the truth and stand by the truth will always have this type of government.

The Bible says that “Righteousness exalts a nation but sin is a disgrace to any people.” When we fail to seek and obey Him, disgrace, reproach becomes our lot. But when we on the other hand seek Him in sincerity and in truth, He exalts and honours us (Pro 11:11; 29:.
The Boko Haram from newspapers’ reports has vowed to wipe off Christianity from the Northern part of Nigeria (or is it Nigeria as a whole). Personally I am not shaken by their threats. All I want us to know is that Christianity is of God. No power in the heavens, on the earth, underneath the earth, in the waters etc can stop the growth of Christianity anywhere in the world. Socialist Soviet Union and others tried it, where are they today? One billion Boko Haram cannot stop the Church of Jesus Christ from existing in any part of Nigeria. The God of the Bible will fight His battle. This He will do not because of the righteousness of the Nigerian Church but for His great Name’s sake (2 Kings 19:34). The God Who subdued Sennacherib the king of Assyria when he rose up with his army against Hezekiah king of Judah is still on the throne (2 Kings 19:35-37). The God Who brought confusion into the camp of the armies of Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir when they came together against Jehoshaphat king of Judah is still the same God Who will bring confusion into the camp of the enemies of the Church in Nigeria (2 Chr 20:22-23). The God Who delivered the children of Israel from bondage in Egypt and drowned the hosts of Egypt including Pharaoh in the Red Sea is able to do the same against forces that rise up against His Church (Ex 14:26-31).
He is the God Who causes the omens of boasters to fail, making fools out of diviners, causing wise men to draw back and turning their knowledge into foolishness (Is 44:25). He will do the same unto Boko Haram and all the enemies of the Church in Nigeria in Jesus’ name, Amen. He is Jehovah Sabaoth, the Lord God Hosts. The Lord is the Man of war, the LORD is His Name. He will build His Church and the gates of hell cannot prevail against His Church. To all true believers of the Lord Jesus Christ and my beloved brothers and sisters in Sokoto, Kaduna, Damaturu, Kafachan, Kano, Jos etc, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

God bless you.

[quote author=oludyke]What a Country

As I write this treatise I remember a book by Alan Parton that I read as a form 2 secondary school pupil. This book was titled “Cry the Beloved Country”. Although I cannot now vivdly remember all that is in that book but what has remained indelible in my mind is the oppression of the South African white settlers on the black people of South Africa. I can readily say that this was one of the books that created the awareness of man’s inhumanity to man in me. I have continually seen this inhumanity while growing up in Nigeria but at no time has this been as pronounced like it is today in that country.

The God Whom I serve is a just God. He is fair and treats everyone equally. In the Bible we see a God Who hates oppression, wickedness, greed, injustice etc. The God of the Bible takes interest in the welfare of widows, orphans, strangers and other less priviledged people (Deut 10:18) and expects His followers to do the same (Pro 28:4; Pro 31:8-9).
Nigeria is one country where events never cease to baffle you. There is no week that passes without a mishap, inconceivable corruption revelations and other horrifying happenings. Just two weeks ago we witnessed the crash of one of the planes of Dana Airlines. I’m still in pains whenever I remember the loss of more than 150 persons whose lives were rudely cut short due to avoidable circumstances. I say avoidable because if the authorities of the airline had taken the comments of the governor of Akwa Ibom State seriously on the state of their aircrafts, the crash might not have happened. But they refused to do that because they believe that they are in Nigeria where nothing works and anything goes. All you need do is to bribe the officials and they will turn their faces to the other side. You see foreign companies do in Nigeria what they cannot conceive of doing in their home countries. I ask myself do these officials with oversight responsibility of these airlines unaware of the consequences of their actions and inactions on their fellow human beings. These may include themselves, family members, friends, loved ones etc. We have been told as usual that no stone will be left unturned to bring all the culprits to book. We are still waiting for this to happen. We are fast forgetting all about this crash and we are back to business as usual, without anybody thinking on how this can be prevented from happening in future. What a nation.

We all woke up last week to hear that the chairman of the House Representatives Committee, Hon Lawan Farouk collected bribe from Mr Femi Otedola, the business mogul. We have seen accusations and counter accusations running thus between the duo:
Femi: you be thief
Lawal: I no be thief
Femi: you be rogue
Lawal: I no be rogue
Femi: you dey steal
Lawal: I no dey steal
Femi: you be robber
Lawal: I no be robber
Femi: you be amu (armed) robber
Lawal: I no be amu (armed) robber
This is a clear case of “Authority Stealing” (apologies to the late Afro Beat maestro). It’s dog chop dog. If I were a Nollywood movie producer, here is a very good story line that is a potential chart buster. I would title the film “Thief thief Thief”. What amazes me is the zeal with which the Nigerian Police Force is prosecuting this case. While I am not against the “thorough” investigation being carried out by the police, I would expect that the Nigerian Police for the sake of equity and fair play do the same to the House of Representatives report on the Fuel subsidy and other corruption cases calling for their investigation. This is another clear case of selective justice. To say that the PDP government led by President Goodluck Jonathan is a joke is an understatement. This government is part of God’s judgement upon Nigerians for our wickedness and evil doing. If we refuse to repent more evils await Nigeria. The government of a nation is to a large extent a reflection of the kind of people in that country. People who fail to say the truth and stand by the truth will always have this type of government.

The Bible says that “Righteousness exalts a nation but sin is a disgrace to any people.” When we fail to seek and obey Him, disgrace, reproach becomes our lot. But when we on the other hand seek Him in sincerity and in truth, He exalts and honours us (Pro 11:11; 29:.
The Boko Haram from newspapers’ reports has vowed to wipe off Christianity from the Northern part of Nigeria (or is it Nigeria as a whole). Personally I am not shaken by their threats. All I want us to know is that Christianity is of God. No power in the heavens, on the earth, underneath the earth, in the waters etc can stop the growth of Christianity anywhere in the world. Socialist Soviet Union and others tried it, where are they today? One billion Boko Haram.You subject does'nt match with all text you wrote.But stil,you tried