The Nation Newspaper

Tag: divine intervention

  • Let us pray

    I’m a firm believer in prayers among other Christian tenets. Much as I believe one does not have to be religious to get things done, there are too many situations in our country that do not leave one with much option than to seek divine intervention.

    When we get to the kind of situation we are that the government of the day appears helpless in the face of endless killings of people in many communities and the security men and women who are supposed to protect lives and properties, it will really take God to take control of the situation in various ways.

    Despite the outcry in many quarters for necessary measures to be taken to halt the killings, whatever the government has done does not seem to amount to much. Terrorists, herdsmen, kidnappers and other criminals are having a field day resulting in mass burials, though we are not at war with another in the country.

    Mass killings have become so common that they no longer make headlines. The high number of persons that regularly get killed sounds so unbelievable that the media gets confused if they are indeed true that they are not reported.

    When the killings happen, like even the recent incident involving soldiers killed by Boko Haram insurgents in an ambush, they are downplayed by authorities concerned who claim the reports are false, only for families and associates of the victims to start announcing the death of their loved ones in the service of the nation and for pictures of the mass burial to emerge.

    Apart from killings, so many communities have been displaced and the indigenes are now homeless, while some are lucky to live in Internally Displaced Persons, IDPS, camps under largely inhuman conditions.

    What is particularly worrisome is that our security agents don’t seem to have the required fire power to arrest and bring to book the terrorists and criminals to the extent that some leaders of the herdsmen are bold enough to justify their actions as reprisals for the killings of their cows.

    The Boko Haram terrorists are obviously law to themselves as they decide which military base they want to attack, or troops they want to ambush and do so confidently and sometimes come online and other platforms to issue threats.

    The insurgents who continue to attack and kill our soldiers are the same groups the government wants us to believe have been decimated. Nigerians sure know better with the casualty figures of both the civilian and military sides.

    In other climes where voices of the citizens’ matter and the government at all levels can be held accountable for what they are supposed to do, recourse to prayer is limited. They don’t have to believe God for basic things they are entitled to or what the government should do when there are crises situations like we have in the country.

    As it is, Nigerians who believe in prayers and are really desirous of peace before the situation gets out of hands have to urgently engage in effectual and fervent prayers and fasting which informs the call for prayers by Christian groups, churches and other religious groups.

    Since God will not come down and do what our leaders are supposed to do, our prayers among others is that God will grant them the wisdom to handle the situation and the willingness to take necessary actions.

     

  • My victory a divine intervention, says Ogah

    My victory a divine intervention, says Ogah

    Dr. Uche Ogah who has relocated to Abuja, yesterday described his victory as a “divine intervention.”

    In a short statement, he said: ”I attribute this victory to divine intervention and destiny. My message is that it is the hand of God. God has a plan for Abia and Uche Ogah is his vessel.

    “We are one united Abia; Abia must move forward. Uche Ogah has a Marshal Plan to move Abia forward.”

    Another statement by his Media Assistant Mr Monday Ubani, described the court’s decision ordering the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to  issue Ogah a certificate of return, as a triumph of good over evil.

    “It is an act of God designed by The Almighty Creator himself to bring relief and succour to Abia people from tyranny, Mal-administration, and criminal mismanagement of public wealth since the return of democracy

    “Abians should rise up and be hopeful that God has finally answered their prayers and relief is underway. Our philosophy is People first. We’ll embrace accountability, prudence and transparency to the state to into a fortress of economic activities. We will correct all the ills of the past and liberate the state from the hostage situation it has found itself.

    “This mandate is for you the people. It’s the answer to your cry for freedom from repression. We will rebuild the infrastructure of the state and we will grow the economy and not loot the meagre resources as has been the practice by successive governments.

    A new dawn has come and Uche Ogah, very successful in his business will bring the experience to governance and turn Abia state around for the better. He has what it takes to deliver on his promise.”

  • Let’s seek divine intervention on socio-economic problems, says Scholar

    Let’s seek divine intervention on socio-economic problems, says Scholar

    An Islamic scholar Khalifah Abdul Gaffar Jamiu has enjoined Muslims to seek divine solution through prayer and fasting to the socio-economic challenges facing the country.

    Jamiu, who spoke at the Ramadan Lecture organised by Dada Adams Central Mosque, Ilupewo, Ota, Ogun State, said at a time when Prophet Muhammad was a leader, his subjects were facing difficulties as Nigerians are experiencing it today.

    According to him, the prophet prayed for Allah’s intervention. The result of the prayer, he said, was the revelation of chapter 108 (Suratul Kawthar) that guaranteed abundance for Prophet Muhammad and his subjects. Since then, his people  have been enjoying economic prosperity, he stated.

    Jamiu urged Muslims to use the period of Ramadan to pray for the success of President Muhammadu Buhari in his efforts to reposition the economy.

    He urged Nigerians irrespective of faith to support the government. He was optimistic that Nigeria would come out stronger from the current challenges.

    “Great nations of the world have had similar problems facing us in Nigeria today. With perseverance, they were able to surmount them. I am confident that through prayer and fasting, there will be divine intervention for positive change,” he added.

  • Ailing economy: Aregbesola, Kumuyi charge Nigerians to seek divine intervention

    Ailing economy: Aregbesola, Kumuyi charge Nigerians to seek divine intervention

    Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State has charged Nigerians to call on God for the revival of the nation’s ailing economy.

    The governor gave the charge at a two-day crusade organised by the Deeper Life Christian Ministry in Osogbo, the Osun state capital.

    According to him, the only way out of the current socio-political, economic and religious crises in the country is for Nigerians and all religious leaders, irrespective of religion and background to continuously seek the face of God for the good of the country.

    Aregbesola said that one of the ways to ameliorate the current economic situation of the country is for all to remain united and in fervent in prayers in order to liberate Nigeria from its present cash crunch.

    The governor, who tasked religious leaders to put before God various challenges facing the country, said without their quick intervention, the nation’s economy may be heading for the worst.

    He described the visit of the General Superintendent of Deeper Life Bible Church, Pastor Williams Folorunso Kumuyi, as timely, saying his evangelical mission to Osun state would go a long way in helping his administration and the good people of the state.

    In his sermon, Kumuyi enjoined religious bodies to ask their members to fast and pray for the success of the Mohammadu Buhari administration.

    Kumuyi noted that President Buhari needed the support of Nigerians to restore a new order.

    He particularly enjoined Nigerians to support Buhari’s anti corruption crusade.

    According to him, with the prayer efforts of all religious bodies, the country would be sanitised and devoid of corrupt practices.

    He also charged Nigerians to move closer to God and always seek for His divine intervention in whatever they do.

    Kumuyi attributed the challenges facing Nigeria to “lack of dedication to the will of God” among people, saying time has come for everyone to hold on to God and seek His mercy, favour and blessings.

  • Relocation of institution: Iree residents seek divine intervention

    Relocation of institution: Iree residents seek divine intervention

    The people of Iree in Boripe  Local Government Area of Osun State are seeking divine intervention to stop the planned relocation of the state polytechnic located in the community.

    While praying for the state governor, Rauf Aregbesola, to have a change of heart over  the alleged proposed restructuring of the state-owned tertiary institutions, including the Osun State Polytechnic, Iree, residents of the town, including leaders and chiefs, as well as Christian and Islamic clerics, during the weekend, gathered at the town hall  for the prayer session, where they sought divine intervention to prevent the governor from doing “anything that will be inimical to the progress of the town.”

    During the prayer session, some students arrived with placards to register their displeasure with the proposed restructuring.

    After the conclusion of the prayers led by the pastor in charge of the Baptist Church, Iree,  Rev. Simon Akintoye  Omotoso, and the Deputy Imam of Iree Central Mosque, Alhaji Sulaimon Adeyemo,   the community spokesperson, Alhaji Fasasi Olatoke,  at a press briefing, urged the governor to exercise restraint in his proposed plan to merge the Osun State Polytechnic, Iree with another tertiary institution in the state.

    The residents expressed worries that if the state government should carry out the alleged proposed merger, the Osun State Polytechnic Iree, would go into extinction, with the attendant negative implications for the town’s socio-economic life.

    While appealing to the governor to tread with caution and not destroy the legacies of previous administrations, the residents in their four point demands read out by Alhaji Olatoke stated, “The Osun State Polytechnic, Iree, should remain in Iree and fully run by the state government for the educational, social and economic development of the community and the state at large.

    “The polytechnic should not be tampered with by means of restructuring, course rationalisation or merger with another institution. The polytechnic should not be sold to any private investor nor placed under public and private partnership. The post UTME abruptly suspended in the institution by the state government should be allowed to hold without further delay.”

    Also expressing the residents’ displeasure about the development, the president of Iree Progressive Association, Alhaji Yekini Oyedele, said: “The Iree community is vehemently opposed to this arrangement and would not accept anything that would change the status quo.”

    The institutions being rumoured for the rationalisation exercise are the Osun State Polytechnic, Iree, the Osun State College of Technology, Esa-Oke, the Osun State College of Education, Ila-Orangun and the Osun State College of Education, Ilesa.

    But the Director, Bureau of Communication and Strategy in the Office of the Governor, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, has said the state government was not planning the rationalisation of the tertiary institutions in the state.

  • Futile calls for divine intervention

    SIR: In Achebe’s classic, ‘Things Fall Apart’, we read of Unoka, Okonkwo’s lazy and improvident father sought solution to his poor harvests from Agbala. Here is what he was told by Chika, the priestess of Agbala: ‘you have offended neither the gods nor your fathers. And when a man is at peace with the gods and his ancestors, his harvest will be good or bad according to the strength of his arm. You, Unoka, are known in all the clan for the weakness of your matchet and your hoe. When your neighbours go out with axe to cut down virgin forests, you sow your yams on exhausted farms that take no labour to clear. They cross seven rivers to make their farms; you stay at home and offer sacrifices to a reluctant soil. Go home and work like a man.’

    The above captures the Nigerian situation. In fact, I could swear Achebe was speaking of Nigeria if not that when he penned down these immortal words, the country was so full of promise.

    In the very illuminating essay, ‘Religion in age of social and moral crises’, published October 20 by this esteemed paper, Dr. Akinola did justice to the force driving the prevailing religiosity among Nigerians. The commercialization of religion, and rise of charlatans who claim ability to solve so much problem but evidently have not only woefully failed to make the slightest dent on the avalanche of maladies plaguing the country but in fact seem to be contributing to it. Suffice it to say that the religiosity of Nigerians is hardly a function of hunger for spirituality but quick solutions to worldly cares, and ambition. It is mostly product of harsh economic situation. Little wonder why corruption, crime, iniquity are escalating even with the explosion of religious houses.

    It has become some sort of culture for Nigerians to seek quick solutions to their numerous cares and worries through ‘prayer’. One could sympathize with despairing and disoriented masses who think they could secure metaphysical solutions to socio-economic problems. But it is utterly preposterous to see people in leadership positions (who should know better) among the multitude calling for divine intervention. Political leaders who thread this religious path are either being devious and only wish to divert the attention of a credulous public from their irresponsibility or actually so lacking in knowledge as to expect God to fix our mess (of which they are major contributors).

    Does God arbitrarily intervene in the affairs of men? History and everyday affairs prove the contrary, yet, like Unoka, we continue to offer ‘sacrifices to a reluctant soil’. We have been calling for divine intervention for decades all to no avail. But like the proverbial fool who does the same thing expecting a different result, we obstinately refuse to learn. How many of the developed countries we aspire to be like got where they are by divine intervention? I’ve never heard any leader of a serious country tell his/her people that prayer is what they need in order to surmount some social or economic problems.

    We are quick to acknowledge the Bible account of creation where God gave to man dominion over the earth. Why then do we keep making ourselves less human by bothering God over issues He has already equipped man to tackle? Nigeria’s problems are not other-worldly. Many countries have surmounted similar challenges through positive philosophy, creative thinking and diligence. But while they work, like Unoka we ‘pray’, and consult deities. Like Unoka, we shy away from productive venture, like him we are so wasteful, like him, we have unhealthy appetite for revelry and the easy life. Every other people see how we are the architects of our woes except perhaps ourselves. Rather than waste valuable time on the shameful begging we call prayer, we can do well to practice a kind of sympathetic magic. Yes, if we can summon the will to do like the developed countries, we’ll surely become like them. It’s about time we went home and worked like men.

     

    • Nnoli Chidiebere

    Aba, Abia State.