I woke up this morning with several thoughts in my mind. I also discovered that my whole body and system ached in pains. I sought for joy but joy was far from me and I wondered what could be the reason for these feelings. The reason was, no other, than that the situation in the country has reached its boiling point. The atmosphere is so charged that the environment even though we are in the raining season is so hot for accommodation. There is fear and hunger everywhere. While in this mood, I received a ministration from God as he led me through the book of 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 where His word states: We are hard pressed on all sides, yet not crushed, we are perplexed but not in despair. Persecuted but not forsaken, stroked down but not destroyed. No wonder preachers of the gospel have constantly preached that the word of God -is power and life because after reading this passage, I became strengthened. The thought that I may not be the only one feeling this way set me writing this piece so as to encourage my friends out there that irrespective of the cloudy weather, our God is able and faithful. Do bear with me if I am sounding a bit religious this morning but the reason is that it is only in God and his word that we can but find courage. As earlier mentioned, the situation in the country is getting worse by the day that men’s hearts are failing them. I sat down and catalogued several reasons to this effect and one of such reasons is the security situation in the country. The weekly and sometimes daily attacks on the innocent citizens of Nigeria by the Boko Haram sect have caused havoc to our psyche. Recently some one showed me a horrifying scene he down-loaded from the internet – a man was slaughtered by the same sect just exactly the way a chicken is slaughtered and his sin was that he came up one day to announce that he was no longer interested in the group. In that devil’s scene, I wondered aloud the kind of heart this sect has as to kill with bare hand a soul that God created. I know that God is Almighty but that does not mean that he never dissipated energy, wisdom and talent in creating man and in a twinkle man rises up and wastes such effort without blinking an eye lid. Few days ago, a serving senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Majority Leader of Plateau State House of Assembly were murdered in cold blood by suspected Fulani herdsmen. The most painful of it all was that the late Senator was a Medical Doctor of great repute before hi gruesome murder. All the years of academic toiling came to an end because of the madness of a group of people. Where are we going from here? The several others that were killed in the same act all came from homes. Some have mouths to feed. What do we tell their wives, children and dependants? How long will this blood-shed last? Hasn’t the heads rolled enough and the blood of human beings flowed enough to stop this madness? I’m sure that as God looks down everyday from the banisters of heaven, he regrets on why he created man, but I beg the Almighty God, that mere regret is not enough but that he should come to our aid by causing the perpetrators of these acts to stop because the situation is getting tense. If he keeps quiet longer greater problems will erupt and more lives will be wasted. Every Sunday, the population of Nigeria is reduced in large numbers, and my anger is that the real people behind there are moving about freely. Which way Nigeria? Another aspect of the insecurity is the kid-napping rate which is very much on the increase. The issue of napping in the past was associated with children and even then it was a seldom occurrence. But today kid-napping has graduated into adult-napping all because of greed. Is there no other viable means of making money than infringing on the fundamental rights of people by denying them freedom? These days people move about with so much fear, the greatest and immediate companion one has is indeed Mr. “Fear”. When you see where two or three young men are gathered, one becomes skeptical as to what their mission is in the given locality they are seen. The nappers are not restricted by any barrier, they can come to the church, office, home or any where to do their job without minding. Often times wrong people who do not have what they request for are kidnapped and when they cannot afford the hot cash, they pay with their dear lives. Some people have been kidnapped and released and after some weeks are re-kidnapped again. I feel terrible about the whole scenario, that I had to ask the same question late Sonny Okosun asked in one of his Albums — “Which way Nigeria?” When will the insecurity in our country come to an end? Will we ever be given the opportunity to be the only ones who will tell the story in future or will this story extend to our children? God help us! Another factor that bothers me so much is the cashless situation in the country especially in Imo. A lot of people are wallowing in hunger and abject poverty. In some quarters salaries are not paid as and at when due. Imo is a state where the majority of the inhabitants are civil servants, who depend absolutely on their monthly salaries to run their homes. When these salaries are not paid, it leaves many suffering. Parents fast and pray that the salaries be paid and when it is not coming, they are thrown off balance as they are faced with the challenges of house rents, paying their children’s school fees, feeding the family and as well meeting other family demands. When the resources to tackle these problems are not available, it leads to hypertension, mis-understanding, and even untimely death. At such moments in my thought, I wonder why a people blessed with rich resources should be suffering this much? Why are people dying in the midst of plenty? This is a country where some people’s monthly take home pay is about Fifteen Million Naira (N15,000,000.OO) and others take home Ten to Fifteen Thousand Naira a month. Looking at such situations, one can’t but feel bad at the level of corruption and frustration going on in the land. My consolation especially in the same 2nd Corinthians 4;17-18 there the bible states that “our light affliction is for a moment and is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. But I had to remind God also that the present day affliction is no longer light but heavy and I heard him say to me. ‘My grace is sufficient and my strength is made perfect in your weakness” and I smiled, knowing that God has solution to every situation. In due time we shall be free. The classroom teachers are not left out of this tribulation. There is nothing as frustrating and discouraging as the fact that you want to teach and the facilities and situation on the ground make it very difficult to achieve effective teaching and learning. The students in Imo are on free education as pronounced by the Executive Governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha. In view of this pronouncement, students no longer buy the recommended text books. When you ask them why, the answer is that, the Governor will provide them. With all those, English and Mathematics teachers get into the class with their personal textbooks and that will be the only one in the class. The teacher reads the text and explains to the students. How does such a situation provide effective teaching and learning? Some of these students wear dresses that are torn, sandals worn out as they wait for our dear Governor’s largesse which are yet to be seen after one year. I think our dear Governor should tell Imo students where the free education begins and ends, so that they do not over step their bounds. Even parents of pupils and students in public schools have relaxed in providing for their children and wards. Should it really be so? Back in the villages, some individuals have turned themselves into lack Boko Haram sect without formalities. They are ready to snuff life out of any soul that dared their paths at the slightest provocation. Recently, a full bodied young man lost his life as a result of a quarrel over portions of farmland with a woman in his village. She vowed to deal with the man who offended her and after few days, wailing and crying was heard and the news was that the young man was dead. The family of nine that died mysteriously at Emekuku town will forever remain a mystery. How and what killed them is still unknown but the known fact is that the family of nine comprising father, mother, five children and two relations died in one night through one mysterious source. Where do we go from here? It is high time people turned to God, forsake evil practices and tendencies knowing fully well that life does not just end here on earth. After here there is this God to meet where every one will give full account of his deeds irrespective of position, rank or status. And to the downscast, draw your strength from 2’ Corinthians 4:8, 17-18. Let us not lose heart for our God lives. In due time, the wicked will be brought to book. I assure you that Nigeria will be fine, If God did it for Ghana, he will do it for us in Nigeria. Rise, dust yourself of all the problems, take a cool shower, relax and look forward to greatness for our Messiah cometh. Oh, really sure!
