As I try to recall, I consider myself blessed to have been involved with many prayer projects for Nigeria, notably the Intercessors for Nigeria, anchored by barrister Emeka Nwankpa. Did a few more with Kehinde Oshinowo (of the Christian foundations, CHRISFO fame) and late Tunji Braithwaite, the former presidential aspirant of the National advance Party.
The Okigwe camp of faith stands as a memorial ground of soulful prayers made on behalf of Nigeria, late Godwin Ekuma led us in so many of such prayer expeditions.
As a young man in my twenties, I spent huge amount of my time and personal resources to be at camps and Christian meetings and literally poured out my life and youthful energy into what seemed to me a redemptive duty, a patriotic call, and I could tell that I believed with all my heart that my generation was going to be the ‘Caleb’ generation who would see Nigeria through to the promise land.
Members of my generation and prayer friends had reason to expect so much from Nigeria, we toiled in honest hope, did what we felt was our best shot in trying to shape the destiny of our fatherland.
Those were our untiring creed of faith as youngsters hungry for spiritual adventures. And these spanned for years.
25-30 years down the line, Nigeria has plummeted into a heart-breaking piece of puzzle, that it is today.
I have written in columns of some major Nigeria Newspapers and countless media platforms for years retailing hope to Millions of readers on the viability and hopeful chance of the Nigeria project.
Is Nigeria my only problem I had asked introspectively? Don’t I have personal issues that as well warrants even greater and more devoted attentions other than the recurring enigma of the Nigeria complex?
I have legions of personal issues but who brings to the public square his personal frustrations and worries?
Why bring on Nigeria’s?
Because it’s not a personal or private matter, it’s a publicly owned enterprise, a collective project and as such we are permitted to bear out our love, even disappointments, and more positively, our passionate desires to make it work for us all.
It’s easy to feel frustrated when one sees how unchanged Nigeria appears to have been over the years since we began to pray even with so much earnestness.
Prayer sets the stage for many things, either for collective repentance or better positive actions as citizens.
What are we praying for or about for Nigeria? For better governance, more responsible citizenry and a prosperous nation filled with good things as you find in other blessed nations of the earth.
How best should I pray for Nigeria? Responding with a positive attitude. Would I love to be the good citizen I want to see in others? To be the best closet leader, impacting on others positively in my little community and colleagues…?
Refusing to fall below the standards I keep praying against?
We often fall into the hazard of religious praying when we almost pray out of mere routine.
A constructive visionary praying is when you literally live out what you would soulfully hope to see happen in the nation today.
The prayer that works is the one that combines practical demonstration of faith in Nigeria, being the citizen, you so wished Nigerians would become and standing up practically to hold others to account should they fail in doing their roles.
Being a role model in words and in deeds.
“Godliness makes a nation great, but sin is a disgrace to any people”. Proverbs 14:34
You are indeed blessed and God bless Nigeria as we keep praying for the redemption of our nation.
