Nigeria has been variously described as the most religious country in the
world. Some describe Nigeria as the most spiritual country while others call it
the most prayerful citizens on the earth.
A Nigerian pastor and his wife left the shores of the country about six years
ago to do a prayer tour of Europe. At the point of entry to Netherlands, the
immigration officials were piqued that a Nigerian missionary came all the way
to Europe to pray and while crosschecking their papers, remarked that it was
Nigeria and Africa that needed the prayers the more and that they should
redirect their prayers back to Nigeria.
The problem is that the numerous prayers and fasting have not produced
tremendous corporate results. God have deliberately shut down Nigeria from His
list of priorities. Nigerians have dethroned God from their hearts and
enthroned the desire for money, power, fame in the very space meant for God.
Therefore, God seems to have abandoned the nation to its antics.
During the build-up to the 2011 presidential elections, the President of
Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan, went on pilgrimage to the Redemption Camp near
Lagos and knelt before the most respected Pentecostal pastor in Nigeria, E.A.
Adeboye, soliciting the assistance of God in the upcoming polls. The same
scenario was reenacted all over the states and local government areas.
Politicians and those seeking public offices thronged the churches, mosques,
shrines and everywhere it is believed that God could be found. Those victorious
have not shown any act of piety or fear of God in the manner they have
administered their respective federal, states and local constituencies entrusted
in their care. It is obvious that these politicians have used and dumped God
and His prayer bands in the manner they use and dump hapless Nigerians.
God had answered the prayers of Nigerians in the past. The endless transition
of former military president Babangida led to a heavy prayer outcry Iin the
Churches especially after the annulment of June 12 elections and only Babangida
knows what hastily pursued him out of State House in August 1993. The military
Head of State, Abacha , caused so much tension in the polity that everybody
prayed for God to deliver Nigeria and by June 1998, a new leadership replaced
him. When Obasanjo wanted to rule Nigeria forever in his infamous tenure
extension bid, the highly compromised members of the national assembly suddenly
lost their voice on the final day of the deliberations in a manner which
suggests divine confusion. This shows that God can step in to draw the line for
Satan whenever his people rise in unity and objectively seeks His intervention.
There is certainly the reason why the prayer of Nigerians for an egalitarian
society has not been answered. Those praying have abandoned the path of equity,
fairness and justice and wants to bulldoze God into fulfilling parochial
agenda. Nigerian Christians are quick to command fire on those sponsoring Boko
Haram activities but they fail to chastise the incompetence of a Christian born
president whom providence have given the opportunity and the apparatus of state
to checkmate and prosecute all highly placed personalities who funded the
bloodletting. This is hypocrisy. The Nigerian prayer warrior has abandoned the
path of justice, equity and fairness and is following after interests that
serve narrow vision.
The Muslim prayer warrior follows some patriotic Muslims to solicit the help of
Allah to
checkmate the activities of suicide bombers and sneaks out at night to provide
funds and intelligence to the terrorists . His Christian counterpart in the
armed forces follows church members to command fire on all the terrorists in
the land and yet corners all budgeted security votes to contain the terrorists
into private purse, utilizing same to buy expansive houses in London, Paris and
Dubai, while the bandits murder innocent Christians and Muslims unchallenged.
This is prayer hypocrisy of the Nigerian brand.
Galatians chapter6 vs 7 says ''Do not be deceived; For God cannot be mocked,
whatsoever a man sows that shall he reap'' Therefore the Nigerian prayer
warrior is reaping the results of hypocritical prayers. Their prayers have not
checkmated armed robbery attacks, kidnappings, cult activities, witchcraft
activities and corrupt system of governance because the prayer is already
tainted with double speaks. God does not support the looting of national
treasury, confiscation of people’s electoral mandates and oppression of
innocent people. God cannot support the derailment of justice and all
infringements on people's human rights. God cannot support deliberate
impoverishment of people He created through the implementation of harsh
economic and administrative policies. Therefore, the Nigerian prayer warrior
should align with God ‘s agenda and desist from lending support and prayers to
evil causes capable of enthroning the reign of terror and poverty in the land.
The Nigerian prayer warrior should fight injustice whether the victim is a Christian,
Muslim or pagan. The prayer warrior must condemn evil whether it is perpetrated
by a church member, mosque member or shrine member. These are part of the
foundations which some western countries built; evil must be condemned, no
matter who is involved. That a family member looted national wealth does not
make it right. The prayer warrior must be objective in assessment of situations
and not side by a religious or tribal sentiment in order to cover up evil. This
is the root of intercession. Effective intercession involves unbiased
assistance, assessment and urgent solicitation for Gods intervention.
The Nigerian prayer warrior should be ready to lead by example especially when
given the opportunity to salvage the country in whatever capacity. He must
desire to change the corrupt system which had brought oppression on the people.
He must not follow in the footsteps of those who created problem for the
masses. With this mindset it will not be difficult for God to raise a savior
for Nigeria from among those praying for the progress of the nation, who will
truly put this county on the path of greatness. Continue praying for Nigeria
but get prepared to be used as a change agent who will not disappoint but
rather be used to heal the nation.
Obinna Akukwe
The prayer hypocrisy in Nigeria has been taken to the highest proportion.
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