A Message for Easter.


It is written:

"Now there were four leprous men at the entrance of the gate; and they said to one another, “Why are we sitting here until we die? If we say, ‘We will enter the city,’ the famine is in the city, and we shall die there. And if we sit here, we die also. Now therefore, come, let us surrender to the army of the Syrians. If they keep us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall only die.” And they rose at twilight to go to the camp of the Syrians; and when they had come to the outskirts of the Syrian camp, to their surprise no one was there.” 2 Kings 7:3-5

Having recognized their humanity despite their infirmities; disregarding their powerlessness as a form of death sentence; further recognizing the powerlessness of the king in addressing their existential issues.

Chose to leverage their humanity in pursuit of a solution.

Going into the camp of the Syrians, hoping on a possible benevolence.

Unknown to them, that the Lord God had already created the solution.

For, it is written:

“For the Lord had caused the army of the Syrians to hear the noise of chariots and the noise of horses—the noise of a great army; so they said to one another, “Look, the king of Israel has hired against us the kings of the Hittites and the kings of the Egyptians to attack us!” Therefore they arose and fled at twilight, and left the camp intact—their tents, their horses, and their donkeys—and they fled for their lives.” 2 Kings 7: 6-7

By which we know that their salvation was not dependent on their expectation of benevolence by the Syrians.

The Yoruba Nation, having experienced Social Welfare through “freedom for all, life more abundant" as the foundational paradigm of the society.

Being a foretaste of what is to come through the Autonomy practiced up to 1962, despite all attempts at suppressing this hope.

Pursuit of our Autonomy bound to result in our welfare.

Regardless of the de-Cultured Nigerian Post-Colonial State.

Whose entire economic architecture is only a manifestation of the inhumanity visited upon the Peoples by the very act of its creation.

Anchored on a continuous contest for Hegemony, since the beginnings of the quest for Independence.

Now sheepishly following the Western responses to COVID-19 without a direct examination of her own underdevelopment.

Ordering a “lock down”; “social distancing”, the outward responses to the health hazard.

Ignoring humanity’s survival anchored on the exact opposite, wherein economic and social continuity is a function of social interactions.

With the Post-Colonial State unable to address its underdevelopment deficit.

Where the Peoples, just as the lepers, powerless, but human, must now have to continuously live in their powerlessness or take a leap of Faith in transforming their condition.

It is written:

“And when these lepers came to the outskirts of the camp, they went into one tent and ate and drank, and carried from it silver and gold and clothing, and went and hid them; then they came back and entered another tent, and carried some from there also, and went and hid it.”2 Kings 7:3-8

Appropriating the provisions left behind by the Syrians, with no knowledge of its source.

Fulfilling the word of the Lord, as spoken by Prophet Elisha in assuring a solution to the problematic, to wit:

“Hear the word of the LORD. Thus says the LORD: ‘Tomorrow about this time a seah of fine flour shall be sold for a shekel, and two seahs of barley for a shekel, at the gate of Samaria.’ 2 Kings 7:1

Just as it is with the death and Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Who, having become human in order to reconcile us to God, “prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” Mathew 26:39

This Will, the redemption and reconciliation to our God-given Identities, the manifestation of which confers Righteousness.

The “Western” Nation State ensured the dominance of an economic philosophy upheld for centuries as the highest form of human economic imagination.

Now exposed to the potential existential threat posed by COVID-19, through which the existing form of State is threatened.

Reversed course through a series of monetary and fiscal measures anchored on massive State intervention to ensure continuity in their economic paradigms after containing the disease.

Its form of State, resulting from the resolution of the social, economic and political conflicts in favor of high finance; its own demonstration of human capacity in all its fullness.

Bringing into light, its version of the Lord God putting all things under “man’s” feet.

It is written:

“So they went and called to the gatekeepers of the city, and told them, saying, “We went to the Syrian camp, and surprisingly no one was there, not a human sound—only horses and donkeys tied, and the tents intact.” And the gatekeepers called out, and they told it to the king’s household inside.” 2 Kings 7: 10-11

Not keeping the discovery to themselves, but alerting the Nation, through their King, of the way out.

Beneficial to their society.

Mandating the Church in the Yoruba Nation, to go to the “gatekeepers”; bearing the news of the discovery of the solution.

Just as the life and times of our Lord Jesus Christ, who already knew of the Glory set before Him, and thus was not deterred by the sufferings.

By which we know that our historical background provides the route towards reconciliation with God, and the restoration of our God-given Identity.

To which the Church necessarily must play its role, being one of the “four leprous men.”

Defined, for the Yoruba Nation, as the “Intelligentsia” (primarily the public Intellectuals); the Church (especially the Clergy); the “traditional” Institutions; and the Political Leadership.

Who, combined, and regardless of which generation they belong to, must approach the gatekeepers.

Had the four lepers balked in pursuing their hope of benevolence, they would have died, and the salvation of Samaria would have died with them.
For these four categories of the Yoruba Nation.

Remaining in their positions, without attempting to pursue the hope of salvation, and who, unlike the lepers, have the full knowledge of the possibilities, can only mean expecting salvation from the de-Cultured Post-Colonial State.

Which, by the nature of its creation, is an impossibility.

And by extension, the perishing of the hope of salvation for the Nation.

For what had been found to provide for our welfare is our Political and Economic Autonomy, established upon the foundation of our “Cultured” Nationhood.

But the Church had, over the years, not only situated itself within the ambit of the Post-Colonial State but has also enabled and empowered the inhumanity inherent in the State.

Having submitted itself to “obeying and praying for the authority” of the State outside the necessity of the State “doing good”.

Unable to show their “faith by their works”.

For which manifestation is in ensuring an alternative to the existing inherently exploitative and oppressive order.

It is written:

“We are not doing right. This day is a day of good news, and we remain silent. If we wait until morning light, some punishment will come upon us. Now therefore, come, let us go and tell the king’s household.” 2 Kings 7:9

“Evangelism”, the “good news”.

The solution to the questions of famine in the land.

Not remaining silent when confronted with the obvious solution; not ascribing the solution to high membership numbers; not aspiring to the expectations of the de-Cultured Post-Colonial State.

But in pointing the way towards resolution of its contradictions.

The Yoruba Referendum, the starting block.

The Church must now promote the Referendum.

Distributing the Bill for the Referendum within their Congregations.

Getting the Houses of Assembly, the “gatekeepers”, to act on this “good news” by passing the Bill and presenting it to the “king”, each of the Governors, for assent.

For, the king, despite his reservation, followed through on the report of the “good news”.

By which we know that the Referendum [/b]is the way to addressing the impending economic, political, cultural and social disaster confronting the Nation.

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

[b]Wale Odeku

God Bless Afonja

A referendum is needed for all the indigenous people of Nigeria.

A referendum is needed throughout the Middle Belt and South.

One Nigeria as presently constituted will forever be a failure.

A Confederation of 4 Regions or Split up into the same 4 parts will work for ALL.
1) Oduduwa region/nation
2) Middle Belt region/nation
3) Lower Niger (SE & SS together) region/nation
4) Arewa region/nation