By Apostle Tonye Oliver
The 2023 elections have come and gone. But it has exposed the shenanigans in our system.
The presidential elections tribunal and the Supreme Court further helped to confirm the violent expression of satanic hold on Nigeria.
This is because the courts in their judgments sacrificed morality for technicality.
Beyond the judiciary, there is perhaps no aspect of our national life that has not been polluted and corrupted. Our politics, our religion, and our economy are all in some form of mess.
Thieves, fraudsters, certificate forgers, and people of the most corrupt inclinations hold sway at all levels of political leadership. Pray, what kind of laws will this kind of people pass, what kind of policies will they pursue?
Thieves do not care about others; if they cared they would not be thieves! The people are dying, hunger is everywhere, the suicide rate is on the increase, prostitution has become a booming business, and even married people are indulging in it. And then internet fraudsters known as ‘yahoo yahoo’, have taken over the space of young people. Kidnapping, murder, and an inclination to money-making rituals in the land have become the order of the day.
Attempts to break free
All these vices have become our nemesis. But there have been several attempts to break the seeming yoke of oppression on the country. Unfortunately, such attempts have not yielded the desired fruit. The celebrated EndSARS Movement was one of the attempts to end oppression in the land. But then, the unrelenting forces of oppression truncated the move.
The IPOB movement and the call for the Yoruba Nation are other attempts to break free from the stranglehold of the corrupt entity called Nigeria. They have yielded no fruit either. For some, however, the alternative is to seek refuge in other climes in what is represented in the “Japa” Syndrome.
Yet, some are beginning to clamour for a violent revolution. The frustration is mounting and people are getting desperate.
To ignore these cries is the height of foolishness because in the event of such those who think they are safe behind high walls and because they have private armies will discover that their seemingly secure havens become their graveyards and their guards their executioners.
The revolution we need
Nigeria needs a revolution! Something must happen to avert the impending doom and break this satanic chokehold! Nigeria must be delivered to fulfill her destiny. But is violent revolution the answer?
History tells us that violent revolutions never bring lasting change. In time, the freedom fighters of yesterday become the oppressors of today. George Orwell captured this excellently in his book Animal Farm.
The French Revolution is a powerful testament to the truth of George Orwell’s insights. The revolution swept away a corrupt and oppressive monarchy and installed a corrupt and oppressive republican leadership!
Historians tell us that the same set of social and economic conditions that produced the French and Russian revolutions were present in Britain. But while France and Russia experienced a bloodbath Britain seemed to have been spared.
Some believe this is so because a different type of revolution took place in Britain. It is believed the British revolution was driven by the energetic preaching of the Wesley brothers and others like George Whitfield whose work confronted the nation with her national sin and precipitated a turnaround in her fortunes.
Nigeria needs that kind of revolution, a revolution that touches the very heart and essence of the nation. The country needs a revolution that installs righteousness, justice, morality, and equity at the center of her relationships.
The moral question
Nothing shows how far the nation has drifted than the statement by the supposedly brilliant Dr. Reuben Abati that the law is not based on morality. That is an unfortunate statement even if he is quoting the law.
Morality is the foundation of the law, without morality how can there be righteousness or true justice,? Without morality, the law becomes an instrument of oppression and a tool for legalizing wickedness!
It is this thinking that produces technical judgments. Nature abhors injustice and will rebel against it.
Nigeria needs a moral revolution that strikes at the heart of the evil in our land and cuts off the heads of the hydra-headed monsters of corruption that are killing it slowly with their deadly poisons.
We need a morality based on the fear of God, natural justice, equity, and righteousness. When we have this revolution our laws will reflect this, good will be rewarded and evil will be punished.
Today it is a ‘sin’ to do right in our nation, evil men are celebrated and honored, no wonder the great Chinua Achebe rejected the offer of a national honor. Look at the roll call of the holders of the highest national awards we have, it is a list of who’s who in corruption and wickedness. The irony is that some of the most deserving of such high awards receive the lowest awards if any at all.
We need a moral revolution that affects the hearts and minds of the citizens, a revolution of the Singaporean type that transformed a third-world nation into a first-class economy in a few generations.
We need that revolution or we perish.
Pa Sidney Elton’s prophecy
I am comforted by the prophetic words of Pa S G Elton who prophesied in the 80’s
Nigeria/Nigerians will be known for corruption worldwide. But the tide will turn and Nigeria will also be known for righteousness worldwide. Many shall take hold of him that is a Nigerian, saying, we will go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.” – Pa Elton, 1986.
With this righteousness will come such prosperity that she shall be the pride of the black race and the envy of nations.
Some may call this revolution a revival and indeed it will be so for it will the hearts of men to what is good and proper, to righteousness, love for neighbor and country, and the true fear of God.
Let people of faith believe, pray, and work for this. May it come quickly and speedily for delay might be fatal and the consequences dire.
May the Lord rain righteousness upon us, may New Life come upon us, may the fear of God rule in our hearts, for righteousness will exalt this nation and deliver her from the reproach of her sin
Let the one who has ears hear and let one who has wisdom understand.
Apostle Tonye Oliver is President Jesus Heals the Sick Ministries and Publicity Secretary PFN Lagos
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