Praying For Nigeria

Banji Ojewale

Owing to the prevalent situation in Nigeria, I am being asked to repeat the following article with slight additions to reflect the political and socio-economic circumstances on the ground. We certainly need the intervention of a Higher Force to guide us as we pass through this period.

                                                       

(pix: goddiscussions)

The famous French writer Alexis de Tocqueville visited the United States of America in the first half of the 19^th century and returned with reports of how great America had become not too long after it had emerged from its War of Independence and passed through the teething problems of nation-building. His extensive tour led him to probe the source of this eminence. 

When Tocqueville had undertaken an arduous search, he wrote: “I sought for the greatness of the United States in her commodious harbors, her ample rivers, her fertile fields and boundless forests and it was not there. I sought for it in her rich higher learning and it was not there. I looked for it in her democratic congress and her matchless constitution and it was not there. Not until I went to the churches of America did I understand the secret of her genius and power”.

(pix: pixgood)

Tocqueville attributed the prosperity of the nascent American State to the fact that its leaders instituted a national policy that encouraged the churches of the day to pray to God on behalf of “kings and…all that are in authority” as enjoined in the Holy Bible (I Timothy 2:2). As far as he was concerned it was obedience to that Divine order coupled with diligent work that brought down God’s blessings both on the American people and on the land. Indeed the concluding part of the text we quoted says such intercessions will lead to “a quiet and peaceable life” adding that “this is good and acceptable in the sight of God” (verse 3). Now it cannot be convincingly argued that what held true for America in 1831 when the French writer visited the place would not work here in Nigeria or elsewhere, for that matter. To the contrary it should work for us to a greater extent than it did in the United States if we apply ourselves to it wholeheartedly.

I’m convinced it was God at work, the same miraculous way He demonstrated His power in aid of Britain at a point during the Second World War.

On May 10, 1940, the Nazi blitzkrieg was launched against the Low Countries. In quick succession, the French defences collapsed and Nazi forces moved openly through Belgium and France. By Monday, 29^th of May, the only port left to the British was Dunkirk and it looked as if Britain was about to face the most awful defeat in her history. Indeed, the German High Command was reported to have said: “The British Army is encircled, our troops are proceeding to its annihilation”.

The British hoped only to gain time and start afresh. They didn’t expect to save more than 20-30 units at the most, out of the debacle. But a day of prayer had been called by the British monarch on May 26. And surely God came to the defence of His people by controlling the weather. He caused a storm to descend in the area of Dunkirk which saved the weary trampling armies from Nazi planes. Then He calmed the sea to enable the yachts to transport troops from the beaches.

French writer Alexis de Tocqueville 

(pix: nickadamsinamerica)

The next day, the Daily Sketch newspaper declared: “Nothing like it ever happened before”. Everywhere, the word miracle was spoken. Soldiers and civilians alike made mention of the Day of Prayer. The two strange weather conditions - the storm and the great calm - allowed the UK forces to save ten times the number even the most optimistic had hoped would be saved.

Isn’t that the kind of quandary Nigerians are facing over the future of our country? Everything certainly points to looming doom and catastrophe of indescribable dimensions.

The period we are passing through in the life of this nation as well as what we witnessed between 1993 and 1994 is clear evidence that we require Divine intervention to solve the myriad of problems we are saddled with. What do we have to show for all the hate-copy we have run in the media all in the search for peace and bread? What assured gain have we got in exchange for the loss of lives, destruction of property, maiming, job losses and all other acts of violence being unleashed on the land? We have not moved a flea-hop nearer our goal years after all this man-made strategy. And the reason is simple: We have left God out of the scheme. We have behaved as if nothing occurs without the knowledge of the Almighty, Who installs governments and appoints people to run these governments. It is the All-knowing-God Who directs these governments to serve His purpose. He sustains them and puts others where He wills. We Christians ought not to pray against the government as some have been doing. Similarly we ought not support acts of violence designed at destabilizing Nigeria. Doing so pitches us against the Power (God) behind the government. And that as we all know is the shortest route to doom.

It is obvious to us who believe in God that if people find themselves at odds with the policies of the government, they should pray to God to guide the country and its leaders for the good of all the citizens. They should heed the injunction of the Bible to pray for those in authority. We are not to conspire to oppose and thus provoke the authority. There is no aspect of the Holy Writ which preaches antistatism.

Nigerian woman casts her vote

(pix: abc.net.au)

At the moment we are encumbered with making the forthcoming elections in 2015 a huge success. We are also to work hard to resolve the numerous security challenges confronting us as a people and as a nation. We should use our privileged relationship with God to ask for Divine guidance so that we do not run into another wave of electoral chaos and civil breakdown. We should resist the temptation to resort to self-management when the Bible expressly says we should take our individual and corporate problems before Him.

Of course, asking Nigerians to pray requires us also to work and live a righteous, decent and peaceful life. We are not supposed to go to our worship centers while still living in sin, in corruption in high and low places and in violence. The two natures are incompatible.

This period is particularly a good time we can exploit to ask God to have mercy on Nigeria and restore peace and prosperity to the land through His guidance.

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*Ojewale, a journalist at Onibuku, Ota, Ogun State, is a contributor to SCRUPLES. He could be reached with: bmrtbo@yahoo.com