Let’s pray for Nigeria

The circumstance of the past few months since this government was inaugurated has called for sober reflection on the state of our nation and prayers for President Jonathan, who seems overwhelmed with the growing challenges of nation building confronting his presidency. We need to pray for him to overcome the daunting task of navigating the […]

The circumstance of the past few months since this government was inaugurated has called for sober reflection on the state of our nation and prayers for President Jonathan, who seems overwhelmed with the growing challenges of nation building confronting his presidency. We need to pray for him to overcome the daunting task of navigating the Nigerian state out of the quagmire of insecurity we find ourselves in. No doubt, prayers are important in our daily life. I am not one of those who criticize calls for prayers, especially for our nation because I believe prayers, if done with sincerity and total devotion to God Almighty, will help win divine favour, which will help us with solutions out of our problems. Five months in office is significant in the life of an elected government. This is because it sets the stage for what is to be anticipated in the near future. If the realities of our circumstances are anything to go by; then, we are faced with abysmal hopelessness, insecurity and confusion in the next few years ahead. May God forbid.

I believe whatever happens to us, is a direct product of what our own hands have signed up to. So, therefore, complaints and criticisms should be directed at us; not the man who lacks the experience and leadership temperament, but had the opportunity of using the contradiction of our existence to his advantage to clinch the presidency for himself with the simple fatalistic word “Good Luck”. Serious and passionate nations look at the past antecedent, individual capacity and charisma, morality and knowledge of the people aspiring for leadership position as a yardstick for electing them or appointing them to leadership positions. To them, leadership is a sacred responsibility that can build or destroy the social fabric of the society if given to the wrong persons.  But, for us in this country of lost opportunity, the ability of individuals or group of persons to induce and mobilize people along ethnic, regional and religious lines and the capacity to distribute illegal resources and opportunity are yardstick or score cards for the leadership recruitment process.

Whatever we may say about President Jonathan, my belief is that it is already too late, because the man is already the President and Commander-In- Chief of the most populous black nation in the world. Although he lacks the passion and leadership sagacity to lead a diverse and complicated country like Nigeria, the only thing that remains for us is for the masses of this country to pray and continue with our activism to push him to seize the moment with courage and determination in kick-starting the national redemption process and lead Nigeria out of this national hopelessness and confusion.

Bukhari Muhammed Bello Jega, Wuse Zone 4, [email protected]