History has it that over 300 years ago Europeans found their way to Africa, the flourishing home of the black race. They hunted the men like bush animals, plundered, maimed, killed and captured as slaves; other very unlucky ones had their mouths locked as they toiled for the master in faraway sugarcane plantations in America; the rest is still in history.

Most definitely we had accustomed to the “setting” until a will to tackle the menace came up and deliberate moves initiated to put an end to it. Now these moves were made by clergymen, real vessels of God that had a conviction to arise and stop all inhumanity of the minority whites against the majority blacks in places like apartheid South Africa and Congo. Ironically for as long as these people have tried to put an end to general barbarism Nigeria has been in the throw of self-inflicted carnage, massacre, terror, tyranny and all sorts of wickedness.

Now the thing to worry about; are there no men,no women, no people of God like George Grenfell, Alfred Saker, Mary Slessor, David Livingstone, AnjezeBojaxhiu (Mother Theresa) or other European preacherswho were selfless enough to have made an attempt to stop slavery or killing in whatever form or men and women in the Bible like Moses,Elijah,David,Deborah or Esther who they preach about daily?
Esther said “Go gather all the Jews who are in Susa and fast for me, I and my maids will fast as you do. When this is done I will go to the King even though it is against the law and if I perish, I perish”. Another part of the scriptures (Psalm 122:6) says “pray for the peace of Jerusalem” and just the next verse says “peace within thy walls…for the sake of brethren and friends peace be within you” ; that was the prayer of David a man of God; the message was UNITE, NOT scatter!

A popular comedian once joked about how there is a church in Nigeria for every letter of the alphabet and the world is not unaware of our high number of Pastors, Bishops, Venerable, Prophets and so on yet we are known as a permissive society with lazy moral standards and a highly tribal people; they say Christian leaders (and their Muslim counterparts) lay undue emphasis on annual pilgrimage, yet holiness and trust are absent in the country; they say if Christian leaders exert half the energy exerted on getting members to part with money and valuables in development and peace moves Nigeria will be a better place.

I understand that the Church has been infiltrated and doctrines have been adjusted to allow a lot of things fit into the books but there must be a Joshua as there certainly is a Caleb who will champion the fight against our enemies, corruption and tyranny.

It is easy to say the vibe of polity and nation building is dirty but we must remember that “bad things thrive because good people keep quiet about things that matter”.

Every Head of State/President from Aguiya Ironsi to Goodluck Jonathan, Shagari to Muhamadu Buhari has come up with one policy or another to eradicate corruption and tyranny. War Against indiscipline, Ethical revolution, EFCC, ICPC, Niger-Delta Amnesty are all initiatives that were hailed as genius in their birth time but it’s almost like we have ended up worse than we were; right now it seems that the government cannot purge itself of corruption or cleanse this curse of tyranny and the collective voice of individuals and civil organizations is not strong enough, it is time for the clergy to join the cause and with utmost sincerity. Surprisingly though just in the last dispensation of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan we saw a notable traffic of (especially) Christian leaders to Aso villa and we know what came out of that time but the good ones should not give up.

Church and Mosque leaders will have to do more than just talking on pulpits and sometimes making inciting comments. While it is easy to get emotional people like Paul Enenche of Dunamis and David Oyedepo of the Living Faith church should understand that they wield a lot of influence, if they can’t help our peace they shouldn’t scatter us more.

Politicians find a way to reach people that matter in times that matter so that they can “speak the truth” why is it seemingly difficult for religious leaders who are supposed to be custodians of truth to really come forward and speak what it is? Our clergymen should understand that they are first citizens of the country before being religious leaders and it is their responsibility to make sure the society is sane; anybody can be useful to this effect if the person is ready.

A lot of us will have read that it was Moses a religious leader that led the Israelites on the long walk to independence. In the days when Haman was plotting to kill and wipe off all the Jews, Esther braved the path and stopped the pogrom. Our ministers of God are yet to fully arise or awake to save the land from corruption and tyranny; sometimes policies might have to be spoken against just as some peace moves might have to be initiated; sacrifice some ego, sacrifice some time, sacrifice some money, nature will hold you responsible.Religious/missionary ventures will crash if our nation collapses and what will be our gain?

I was told when King David committed a grave offence by killing a man’s wife it was Nathan a religious leader that rebuked him and said “You are the one troubling the Land.” John the Baptist went straight to Herod and said to him as powerful as he was “It is wrong of you to take your brother’s wife. Speak and take a step.

To the men of God in government, Okechuckwu Enelama, Tunde Fowler, UsaniUguru, Yemi Osinbajo etc, we really hope you are clean and you tell them the truth in your meetings.

Finally my brethren what will Jesus do if he was a religious leader in Nigeria now? That is what all of you should do. Men, women and ministers of God join politics to rebuild and refashion Nigeria and then the dry bones will rise again.

Evangelist Adewoye Oluseye
FB Page: God of Elijah
Email address: [email protected]