As we commence a new year today in line with Gregorian calendar, it would be necessary as a country and a people to seek the face of God who led us through year 2012 successfully for another success in year 2013. After going through the events of 2012 I feel compelled to offer the following prayer for our dear country Nigeria and I invite you to join me.
Let us pray.
Almighty God, we thank thee for seeing us through the year 2012 successfully. Though not all that started the year twelve months ago are here today to witness the beginning of year 2013, it is not by our good deeds that those of us still alive today are here but by your grace, and those that have passed on can not be said to have offended you. It is Thy will that they come back home when they did and we should remain behind to complete our term. As we are enjoined to say always; let Thy will be done.
Oh Lord, it is universally agreed that apart from corruption, bad leadership has been a major problem of this country, we know it but unfortunately we’ve been unable to correct that problem.
After several decades of failed leadership we had the opportunity to turn a new leaf in 1999 with a new democratic dispensation and indeed we thought we have turned the page when retired General Olusegun Obasanjo, a one time military Head of State was elected president and commander-in-chief., but alas we ended up with 8 wasted years of that presidency.
God you know the story. Obasanjo not only wasted that golden opportunity but inflicted further pains on us when, having failed to illegally extend his tenure, he forced a reluctant president on us as a successor in the person of late Umar Yar’Adua. God, the jury is still out on Yar’Adua’s tenure but certainly not a few Nigerians will declare his tenure a failure.
When you decided to take Yar’Adua away, Obasanjo again manipulated the system and forced another colourless and reluctant leader on us in the person of President Goodluck Jonathan. Even though he still has two years to end his tenure the jury has already returned a verdict of failure on him.
Oh God our Lord, even though we have no authority to question you we want to humbly ask why you have allowed those who never had the intention of ruling Nigeria become president or Prime Minister of this country, while those who genuinely aspired did not get there. From Tafawa Balewa to Jonathan, with the exception of the Babangida and Abacha interregnum, all the leaders got there either by accident or reluctantly. Babangida and Abacha wanted to rule Nigeria and they got there, but what did they make of that opportunity.
God, power belongs to you and you only can give power and anoint leaders. We cannot question your judgment, but as we begin the countdown to the 2015 election we pray that you give us leaders at each tier of government, who are genuinely interested in serving us and not just ruling us, leaders with compassion who will feel what we feel not those who because they have power supply 24/7 in the government villas across the country forget that majority of us are still living in darkness or on “I better pass my neighbour” power generator. Not leaders who will fly their children and spouses to specialist hospitals in Germany even for common cold leaving the rest of us to attend the glorified clinics that we call hospitals here. Not those whose children and relations will attend elite schools in Europe, America, Asia and even in nearby Ghana while watching our educational system nose dive. Not those who because they can fly around in state funded executive jets forget that our roads are bad; not those who because they cruise around in fleets of government fueled limousines would want the rest of us to go around on bicycles or pay through our nose for a litre of fuel.
God, the sins of our leaders are many but even in these closing stages of their tenure preparatory to the 2015 elections, we pray that you touch their hearts to turn away from their evil and wicked ways and serve the interest of Nigeria and Nigerians. Beginning from today our Lord, we pray that our leaders will rule with the fear of God and respect for us the people.
While not blaming our leaders entirely for the woes that have befallen our country, we equally recognize the ignoble role some of us followers have been playing in bringing the nation on to her knees. Just as we pray for guidance for our leaders we also pray for committed and sincere followers who will not sell their conscience or birthright for a mere pot of porridge.
God we agree that not all our leaders are that bad, there are rays of hope of better leadership tomorrow within the ranks of our present State governors, and to a little extent members of the National Assembly. We are still waiting for those in the State assemblies and local governments to show their true colour.
But of recent God there has been a disturbing trend within the ranks of our governors that is giving cause for concern. In the course of the year 2012 the ranks of our state governors have been visited by tragedy leading to death in at least one instance and on two occasions, close to death. Governor Danbaba Suntai of Taraba State was flying a small aircraft from his home town in Taraba State to Yola airport in nearby Adamawa State when the aircraft crashed as he was approaching the airport. All on board were badly injured and Governor Suntai almost lost his life.
Almighty God as you know, our health facilities are nothing to write home about, not even our best hospital; the National Hospital in Abuja could handle the treatment of Suntai and the others on board that aircraft; they had to be flown to Germany for treatment. As at the time of this prayer, we are not sure whether they would survive but we pray that through your mercies they will survive and come back home to their loved ones in good health. Our First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan recently returned from a medical treatment in a German hospital, we don’t even know what was wrong with her.
God in this New Year please direct our leaders to establish that kind of German hospital that is good enough to treat our First Lady in at least each of the six geopolitical zones in the country, for the rest of us to also enjoy good healthcare.
God as the year 2012 was drawing to a close you decided to recall back home Governor Patrick Yakowa of Kaduna State. He died in a military helicopter conveying him, former National Security Adviser Gen. Owoye Azazi and three others including the crew to Port Harcourt airport from Bayelsa when it crashed into the creeks killing all on board. God this is one air accident too many. We are yet to fully recover from the tragic air crash involving DANA Air in Lagos. We recall similar ones in the past involving some of our domestic airliners. If this was due to our sins please God forgive us and prevent such tragedies from befalling us this year and in years to come.
Just as we are about drying the last drop of tears in our eyes as a result of the death of Governor Yakowa and co, Governor Idris Wada of Kogi State was involved in a fatal road accident that claimed the life of his ADC but left him badly injured. On top of all these accidents and death are wicked rumors flying around announcing the death of no fewer than three other State Governors. God what is happening to our governors? Please deliver them from all evils.
The accident involving Governor Wada has once again highlighted the carnage that daily takes place on our roads, especially highways. God, in our country today, as you know, road accident has taken more lives than any known disease due in part to poor conditions of the roads and the reckless suicidal driving culture in this country. .God please in this New Year direct our leaders to fix our roads for us even if they won’t build new ones and touch the hearts of our drivers.
Lord our prayers are by no means limited to these, but the space here is too small to accommodate them all, but you know what is in our hearts, please grant us those ones that will make us a better people and a better nation. In your mighty name we pray.
Amen.
