Beyond prayers, Nigerians must turn a new leaf from cannibalistic syndrome

The collision of several winds of socio-economic and political turbulence in Nigeria has brought the Country to the point where the call for prayers has been reverberating most recently. The turn to this call may not be far fetched, as it is mostly believed that when situations have gone out of human control, the resort to divine intervention is the next reasonable thing that comes to mind. While the road to this path may require certain deep commitments, it is no doubt that there are real manifestations of special intervention from true channels of divine call. Although the festivities of the end of a season of fasting is currently being observed, the need to become more sober over the situation facing at the Country is a thought of considerable reflection. Hence, many have called that rather than gallivanting during this season, taking sober reflection for special thoughts to intercede for the Country should be the course of behaviour at this time.

Hence, religious bodies and concerned patriots who are touched by the brewing storms vitiating the Country to the point of debilitation have made efforts to organise prayers for the Country over the holidays. On its part, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has declared a 3-days national prayer for the Country to seek divine intervention concerning the spate of insecurity and violence across the states. The Christian Body in a statement on Wednesday by its General Secretary, Daramola Bade, titled, ‘National Days of Soberness and Fervent Prayers for God’s Mercy by Christians in Nigeria,’ noted that all churches in the Country were expected to comply with the nationwide directive.

The statement had read: “This is to inform you that the CAN President, in view of the continuous killings, banditry and host of other problems in Nigeria has considered it imperative and absolutely necessary that our Country needs prayers for God’s mercy and intervention in our land. Consequently, all local churches are expected to gather in the evening of each day (May 28 – 30th) set aside for the prayers to pray to God in the attitude of mourning or soberness for the bloodshed of many innocent Nigerians most especially Christians. In the light of these, the following are the suggested prayer points to be followed during the said prayer meetings: That we are sad and pained for the blood of many innocent Nigerians that evil people in our midst had shed or for those kidnapped and abused in various ways. That our leaders would do justice in leadership and show fairness to all ethnic and religious groups in all their actions so as to douse ethnic and religious tensions we have presently. That the law enforcement agents would rise to their responsibilities and provide the necessary security we need in Nigeria.That every step the terrorists, bandits, kidnappers, gunmen and other wicked people in our midst take henceforth would be failed. That unseen hands and army of the Lord would fight them and Nigeria would be at peace. That the plans of the evil people in our midst to paralyze human, social and economic activities in this nation and throw the nation into chaos would be foiled by the Lord Jesus Christ. That God should forgive our sins wherever we as a church or Nigerians, especially our leaders had sinned against God.”

It is certain that the need for prayers can neither be ignored nor underestimated, given the fact that when situations pose circumstances that outweigh human solution, the resort to divine intervention becomes the next move to embrace. However, it is significant for Nigerians as they pray to also take repentant thoughts to turn a new leaf. It is no gainsaying that the collision of ills brewing turbulent storms ravaging the Country are by and large the handiwork of humans and not aliens. It is therefore, important for all citizens in the Country to come to the understanding that it is until when all and sundry begin to act fair and lovely to another, that the relative peace and tranquility needed for a lovely society where cultural, religious and socio-economic activities can be carried out for development towards the good of all, can become possible. The desire for the much appreciable standard of living for a life of comfort will only become a reality until when all persons from the leaders — be it political, social, religious, academic, cultural, economic or business among others — to the followers, begin to turn a new leaf on nurturing the perspective of brotherhood and neighbourhood ideology for harmonious cohabitation. The prevailing cannibalistic posture of many citizens across the Country will only continue to worsen societal fabrics to the extent of a state of nature where in the words of the English Philosopher, Thomas Hobbes, ‘life is brutish, poor, nasty and short.’

The present situation of the Country is apparently pitching towards the end of the character of a state of the survival of the fittest. The need for a change in perception for redefining paradigm shift in ideology is important. Such ideological redefinition is key to remodel thoughts, and as such, forming new driving impetus guiding conducts and behaviour. It is thus, essential for leaders at all spheres of life to stand at the vanguard of driving such required  paradigm shift in the perceptional formations of the psyche of Nigerians to the path of brotherhood and neighbourhood ideological faculty for the brilliant state of peaceful cohabitation essential for a tranquil atmosphere under which development becomes possible.

While over the years it has usually been observed that during the fast crime rate do subsidise drastically, but only to skyrocket after the end of fast, it is essential for a change in the norm to come to play. It is important to note that the structures for meaningful life cannot be built and nurtured under a syndrome of hypocrisy. It is therefore, important for all Nigerians to embrace a sincere ideological reformation of brotherhood and neighbourhood dispositions towards civil conducts that do not inflict affliction nor threaten the peace of others. Hence, the need for those who have maintained civil and godly dispositions during the fast to sustain same by nurturing such civil, dutiful and humane behaviour and obligations beyond the season is paramount, while it is significantly important for those who are driven by the prevailing cannibalistic syndrome to desist from such dispositions. This is important in the interest of all, as it is non-negotiable that a meaningful life of comfort can only thrive under a peaceful and serene environment of love, peace and brotherhood. Hence, while prayer is important, the necessity for a repentant turn to the ideological reformation of love and brotherhood is more essential. The need therefore for deep sober reflection towards this end becomes strongly pertinent.