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Sunday Adelaja'sBlog

« YOU ARE NO MORE A NIGERIAN!!! »

de: 08 . 07 . 15
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When some of my family members heard about the nature of articles I was writing before the Nigerian general elections, they decided to talk to me about my views.

It was in the process of my discussion with them that I discovered that one of my elder brothers, was actually a member of the PDP government and a staunch supporter of the incumbent President. I tried to sell my views to them to which I received a detached response, “Pastor, you are no more a Nigerian”

I became curious to find out their own reasons for supporting the current government that in my opinion, has not done so well. All the arguments they were giving me were based on the fact that this government allows us to “eat”. My brother was quick to point out that by the way, he just got a minivan for his local government to use in campaigning, for the PDP government.

I needed to be sure I was reaching the right conclusions. I asked them to tell me the main philosophy that determines who gets their vote. The answer was as clear as the question, “if we have an inroad to the table of the master, then we belong there”.

They went on and on telling me things like: “Pastor, this is Nigeria”, “Pastor, you don’t understand, this is Nigeria”. “Pastor everybody in Nigeria is like this”, “This is the only principle that works in Nigeria”. The word ‘everybody’ in their use (of course I know it is not everybody) is a typical Nigerian talk. If a particular party can guarantee their interest or benefit, they are bought over. They attempted to convince me that the above statement is the only basis upon which a normal, typical Nigerian would make their choice.

“What about character?” “What of integrity?” “What about results?” “What of deliverables?” “What about track records?” “What about facts and statistics?” These are all the questions that were coming out of me automatically like a row of bullets. To which I again received the same old answer, “Pastor, you are no more a Nigerian, you don’t understand”.

This statement, “you are no more a Nigerian, you don’t understand” kind of epitomizes our national consciousness. If I protest the giving of grants by a parent to a university Professor to help get admission for the children, I get the same response “you don’t understand, you are no more a Nigerian”

If I disagree with the fiscal policy of the government that budgeted a huge sum of money for the military, while the soldiers were running away from the war front-lines for lack of weapons. I get the same answer, “Pastor, You don’t understand, you are no more a Nigerian”.

If I ask my people, why would you vote for a government that has not performed to your satisfaction? I get the same answer, “Pastor you don’t understand, this is Nigeria”. “Don’t worry, you are no more a Nigerian”.

If I say I believe in change, that there would be a new government, they reply, “Pastor, this is Nigeria, there can never be a change of the sitting government”. Why? “Ah Pastor, the Nigerian factor now”. When I try to argue against it, the same answer is presented: “Pastor you are no more a Nigerian”.

Eventually I decided to help my family out by giving them all my articles to read, hoping that the facts that are well stated and documented will sway their opinion. I called back to find out their response, to which I got my ready-made answer, “Pastor, you are reasoning like a European” “In this country logic doesn’t win elections”, Why? “Pastor the Nigerian factor now”. “You don’t understand, you are no more a Nigerian”.

On another occasion, I was talking with a good friend who told me he needed to stop the conversation because a particular party’s campaign was about to be shown on TV. He encouraged me to tune in which I did. After a rather gruesome and torturous two hour transmission, I eventually had to put off the television. My question to my quite educated and enlightened Pastor friend was, how could you sit down by the TV to watch a campaign of shouts, noises and empty proclamations? In my opinion there was no campaign whatsoever, there was only a jamboree. You can’t believe the answer I got. Our old, same cop-out, just too familiar phrase “Pastor, you are no more a Nigerian”.

When I asked, where are the statistics? Where are the figures? Where are the facts at the campaign? To me all that transpired there was just a bunch of noise. The ready-made answer was right at the door “Pastor you are no more a Nigerian.”

Friends, since when has irresponsibility become a Nigerian factor?

Since when has grafts and giving of bribes to get your children into the higher institution become a Nigerian thing?

Since when has irresponsibility and lack of accountability in public service become a Nigerian factor?

Since when has cheating in examinations become Nigerian?

Since when has corruption everywhere, homes, streets, offices, become a Nigerian factor?

Since when has bringing stolen money to churches for the Pastor’s blessings become a Nigerian norm?

Since when has outright denial of truth become a Nigerian factor?

Friends, these are just a few of the vices in our society that we must call by name and declare it for what it is. We should refrain from using such excuses like “Nigerian factor”, “You don’t understand”, “You’re no more a Nigerian” to cover for the rottenness of our moral fabric. We must call a spade a spade!

A popular African proverb puts it this way:

“A lie has many variations, the truth none”

Every Nigerian must begin to raise their voice against our societal failures and call them as such at every juncture. In this way we could all bring about a modern, progressive and civilized society.

Those who walk righteously and speak what is right, who reject gain from extortion and keep their hands from accepting bribes, who stop their ears against plots of murder and shut their eyes against contemplating evil— they are the ones who will dwell on the heights, whose refuge will be the mountain fortress. Their bread will be supplied, and water will not fail them. Your eyes will see the king in his beauty and view a land that stretches afar. Isaiah 33:15-17(NIV)

Any nation that wishes to enjoy the fruits of development and civilization, must follow the golden rules of this scripture as a national policy and culture. Let us examine some of the values we must imbibe in the moral fabric of our nation for us to enjoy the gains and fruits of democracy:

  1. We must teach our people to exalt righteousness and uprightness as a national modus operandi.
  1. We need to teach our people to speak what is right as the highest manifestation of morality.
  1. We must teach our people to reject gain from extortion, bribery, and unrighteous grafts. These things must be utterly abhorred.
  1. Our people must be taught to desist from accepting bribes. The ability to say NO, must become a core value of our nation.
  1. We need to teach our nation to detest any form of plots, insinuations, evil intrigues and violence.
  1. We must clean our national psyche from all manifestation of evil, be it kidnapping, militancy, insurgency, murders or assassinations.

That same scripture in Isaiah 33:15-17(NIV) also highlights the rewards for living such an upright lifestyle for any Nation, community, church or group of people.

Those who walk righteously and speak what is right, who reject gain from extortion and keep their hands from accepting bribes, who stop their ears against plots of murder and shut their eyes against contemplating evil— they are the ones who will dwell on the heights, whose refuge will be the mountain fortress. Their bread will be supplied, and water will not fail them. Your eyes will see the king in his beauty and view a land that stretches afar. Isaiah 33:15-17(NIV)

Let’s take a look at this fascinating list of rewards for godliness:

  1. Such a people will dwell on high. Meaning wealth, honor, prosperity, fame, elevation, joy etc.
  1. Such a nation will dwell in refuge. Meaning security, protection, safety etc.
  1. The bread of such a nation shall be in constant supply. Talking of abundance, provision, prosperity, surplus etc.
  1. The water of such a nation will not fail. Talking of harmony between the people of the land and nature. Natural catastrophes and disasters shall be far from such a people. There shall be rain in its time, sun in its time. Nature will respond adequately to the needs and desires of such a people.
  1. The eyes of a nation like this shall see the King of kings and the Lord of lords in all His beauty. Meaning salvation and redemption shall be readily available in abundance for the people of that land.
  1. The eyes of such a nation shall view a land that stretches afar. Talking about global influence, authority, dignity and respect

We must stop calling corruption a “Nigerian factor”.

We must stop calling the looting of our national wealth, a share of the national cake.

We must stop calling bribes in our higher institutions “helping my child to gain admission”

We must stop calling our drug barons and “419ers” (fraudsters) nouveau riche, big shots or those who have made it.

We must stop seeing our Pastors, Reverends, Men of God, as infallible.

We must stop seeing our churches as a center for instant solutions and micro-wave results.

We must stop seeing our anointed men and women of God as seers, magic workers, Herbalist and “Babalawos” (native doctors)

Our film industry, Nollywood must cease portraying us as a nation of decayed values, fallen moralities and juju-obsessed people.

Let us stop our culture of silence, let us begin to speak out the truth no matter the consequences.

“One who speaks truth makes more noise and more sense than a million who are silent”

The culture of silence gives birth to a culture of impunity. Until we call things by their names, until we are bold enough to speak out loud about things which are wrong in our society, we would not be able to deliver our nation.

The more people we have talking about these things the better for us all. In the words of Martin Luther king Jr.

A nation or civilization that continues to produce soft-minded men purchases its own spiritual death on an installment plan”.

Through such cliches as: “You don’t understand”, “Nigerian factor”, “This is Nigeria for you”, “You are no more a Nigerian”, we have managed to breed a whole generation of compromised citizenry.

By such wordplay, our country continues to produce soft minded men and women who don’t know what they believe and who will never be able to stand for anything. It is common knowledge that a nation that doesn’t have values to die for will fall for anything. The same goes for churches, communities and people groups. Death is the inevitable ending of such a compromised society.

“A nation or civilization that continues to produce soft-minded men purchases its own spiritual death on an installment plan”. – Martin Luther King Jr.

 

FOR   THE   LOVE   OF   GOD,   CHURCH   AND   NATION

By Pastor Sunday Adelaja.

 

 

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5 Comments to “« YOU ARE NO MORE A NIGERIAN!!! »”
Yes we can. I believe in Nigeria
i would like to visit the Ukraine and also embassy of God
Please send your request to guest@godembassy.org
Very well said sir. I totally agree that the church in Nigeria has not woken up to its role in National Development. The likes of Pastor Tunde Bakare who are outspoken for the truth are being given cold shoulders by their very own pastor colleagues....Please keep speaking the truth and help us find our path. Whatever is wrong is wrong even if everybody is doing it and vice versa. Nigeria Rising!!!! God bless
This will make a great impact on the society If well shared and received. Pls, If you won't mind, can I include this in a recent work coming on soon in our Book. "Character revolution"

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