Today, I really want to welcome you into the second half of the year 2009. The match started January 1 this year and it was you vs 2009. It’s a great time to ask yourself what the scores are, and what your strategy for the next half should be. It’s a good time to do your life audit, and a good time to seek Gods face afresh for direction, for grace and for help! While this is something I’ll like to write about very well, I’m sorry that today I must write about something else that really bothers my heart – Nigeria!
I’m sure you read the title and wondered what was going on, I’ll like you to join me in this video I’m about to paint with words. Sorry, I could have done it on You-Tube, but our link in Nigeria is not strong enough to allow most people to watch it, it’s even going to be difficult for me to upload. So bear with me, and use your minds eye to follow me in this journey of our imagination!
Imagine with me if you can, that Pastor E.A. Adeboye indicates interest in becoming the president of Nigeria. What do you think will happen? Let me tell you what I think. First of all he’ll likely win, I do not attend the Redeem Christian Church of God, but I know many people from different churches and religions who will gladly and passionately vote for him. We’ll have the largest voters turn out in the history of Nigeria’s voting. I know many churches that will align, I know many people from diaspora that will fly in if voting was restricted to Nigerian soils. I know that many things will shift, peoples attitude to participating in Nationhood will dramatically change, Nigerians will know that something different was in the air. All our dreams and aspirations for a New Nigeria would all of a sudden seem possible to millions of Nigerians who believe in this man of God. All these if he indicates interest in becoming president, now imagine what is possible if/when he wins. In case you don’t know who Pastor Adeboye is, he’s the General Overseer of the Redeem Christian Church of God, and Newsweek ranked 49th most influential man in the world and 1st most influential person in Nigeria.
Let’s take our imagination forward a bit before I head for where I am going. Imagine that Pastor E.A. Adeboye actually emerged the president of Nigeria! Apart from the northern perspective that it will be Christianizing Nigeria – a crime we could have blamed most of our past leaders for as regards Islam but didn’t, there are a lot of great things that will happen in Nigeria. First, we’ll have a leader who earned the 49th most influential person in the world on the grounds of honesty as our leader. Being a very revered man, we’ll likely have Nigerian office holders being a lot more careful in looting the countries money and in being corrupt. Being a strict disciplinarian, he’ll definitely set the right standards with his conduct. Being a visonary who envisioned a church every 5 mins apart from each other and actually is making it happen, he would envision and execute, hospitals, libraries and manufacturing companies every 5 mins apart. Being a very humble person who has broken lots of records but has not boasted about them, Nigeria will shortly break new world records and will see it as natural. Nigerians all over the world, would find it easy at his word, to pray for the nation, and even donate money to make the country the most desirable country to live in, in the world! Can you imagine this? With 14,000 branches in the nation and counting, 360 in the UK and about the same number in America, missionaries around Asia and operations in about 110 countries, there is sufficient leadership to drive any organization.
Lets snap out of that imaginary dream world for a while and face the cold facts. It’s not very likely that he’ll indicate interest in Presidency! If that was all, I probably won’t be so sad as the fact that as long as I have followed Nigerian politics I have not seen him or any other influential honest personality in Nigeria throw their influence behind getting a proper leader for Nigeria. Before you crucify me with the argument that Christians or any religious body should not engage in politics, I’ll recommend that you don’t even go there! If we are the light of the world, we should show the way, not hide underneath a bushel under a bed. I listened to Martin Luther King Jr’s speech again recently – he was introduced as the moral leader of America. He spoke for about 30 mins, and you would have no doubt that he was a pastor. For him, getting the blacks their right was a matter of faith, of deep conviction of his perspectives about how God wanted man to live with man irrespective of colour or race. The founding fathers of America were men of faith, you can read their declaration of independence to feel their convictions. Abolition of Slave Trade, Equality of Black and White, and many other movements that have changed world views have been sponsored by lights to the world that decided to shine.
Before you go thinking this is about Pastor E.A. Adeboye, you are wrong. This is about you, and also about me. It’s about the people who can do the job of leading this country and have not stepped up to it. It’s about the people who are old enough to make a difference with thier votes and have not. It’s about the people who have bought the lie that our votes don’t count. It’s about all the people who could make a tremendous difference to this country and have not! It’s for the people who think that those who want to steal money as leaders should be better motivated than those who desire to turn the country the right side up!
I look forward to a 2011 where we have credible leaders joining forces together to position and elect credible leaders. I personally think that it’s sad that there are so many churches in Nigeria, so many mosques and muslims as well, and things are so terrible. Have you seen our roads? I know what it is to be stranded at 2am on one of them. Have you seen our hospitals? I have sat around and watched many who came in alive wheeled away as corpses. Have you seen what the villages look like just 10mins from town? I have been around and no matter how bad the cities are, they are heaven compared to many nearby villages. The state of our electricity is indicative of our true spiritual state, we are a nation in darkness, our agents of light are disengaged from shining their lights, we have sold our rights to a say in our country to just any charlatan willing to buy. We need to stop this current trend, we need to put our influence and powers behind credible people, and wether they win or not should not be a deterent.
Hmmmmm………………
Th journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step. 2011 is almost at the corner. We can start to re-build Nigeria today. For us to see the change we desire, credible politicians must come out and people must be ready to ensure that such people are voted for and truly installed. Our votes must count and we mustn’t employ a siddon-look attitude in 2011. It’s time to rise up!!
The third and fourth paragraphs got me day-dreaming, but the following ones snapped me back into reality. It would be a blessing to Nigeria if Pastor Adeboye would decide to lead her. Greater blessing awaits if another true light of the world(as you stated) decides to stand up to the task. This piece stirred up something that I have never paid attention to prior to this moment. Thank you.
Good job Deolu. You are very correct.
I’m on my feet right now!
We would continue to push and push until the revival consumes
the nation.
Don’t wait till you want to become a governor to manifest.
Manifest now!
I feel u deolu. We need people of impecable laced with high integrity to kead us to d canan land. Keep impacting on ,igeria. U re appreciated
It is possible! Yes We Can!
This is right on time.As many as decide to shine their lights, don’t forget that WITH GOD ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE.Thanks for this insightful piece, you are one in a million.
The greatest examples we have for overcoming obstacles are ones you and I are willing to initiate, starting today!!!
What are we believing? …….That our problems are too big for us to hit or too difficult for us to miss? Indeed we need to do an audit not just about the year but about the nation, our lives and our destiny. Then we need to “hit the gym” and start changing and realigning for the future we really deserve. Thank you Deolu!!!
This is truely an invitation to the slumbering nation our dear country nigeria.
This is quite timely. We need to hear this and hear it repeatedly until we not only believe it beyond all doubts but also start to act on it.
“WE ARE THE ONES WE’VE BEEN WAITING FOR” – BO
I remember that in 1993 many christians were able to put religious sentiments aside to stay on the queue for Abiola, I am not very sure that our Northern brothers would do the same for Adeboye. I am beginning to imagine the radical change that will befall ‘sermons’ in the Mosques.
This is really a nice peace. We need to do more of these. The era of keeping silent and just hope a miracle will happen is over. If indeed we are the light of the world, ‘lighting’ up Nigeria shouldn’t be an impossible task for us as it ‘seems’. We just need to shine!!!
It will really be good if people, especially the “light bearers” will read in between the lines and know that its just not about Pastor E.A. Adeboye but about us. We could imagine all you have described in that article to happen because Pastor E.A. Adeboye dared to ‘shine’ in his own little, way God on his side. How great that light will be if all of us can just just give expression to our “light bearing” potential!
All that has read this article, please lets encourage ourselves and be MOTIVATED TO POSITIVE ACTIONS! we all need to SHINE the LIGHT and save our dear country. How long shall we be tagged a “Sleeping Giant”. Mind you when a sleeping giant never wakes up, it is as good as Dead!
Before we shift again from us to Nigeria, if Nigeria is a sleeping giant, its because the “light bearers” are not shinning! Nigeria is as sleeping a giant as much as we are not living our true potential as light bearers and allowing this darkness to persist. There are no two ways to eliminate darkness, just “light up the light”.
Deolu, I look up to a 2011, where we have many influential light bearers that will DECIDE to shine the light and change the course of history for our dear nation. I think our own part is to appeal to the potential in all of us by all avenues we can, one of which is sharing thots like this. Keep the light shining and keep sparking the light in others. Light shall prevail!
Tight!!! Great article, but I am also not very sure that our Northern brothers will vote for Adeboye oh!
With the happenings in Ogun State; there is no better time for this article than now.
Oath taking and other fetish things are the order of the day in our dear country. Those who are not visiting Babalawo’s are bent on making sure all the top posts in the country goes to their region regardless of qualifications. Sometimes u just wanna cry for Nigeria, for the beloved country but it is not a matter of crying – it is a matter of taking charge and forging a way forward. The present political parties are a bunch of nonentities with strange bed fellows sleeping together like whores. Isn’t it sad to see an idiotic AC senator decamp to PDP. Well that is the order of the day now. A lot of ANPP member have also decayed. Out whole political system has to be destroyed and rebuilt, have u ever heard a Republican Mayor decamping to the Democrats? NOPES. It shows our fundamental flaws. I know that one day very soon; we will have young Nigerians rise up and form a party based on IDEOLOGIES and not the collective selfish notion of defrauding our nation. PDP and the rest will be chased off and that is truly when we can have a NEW NIGERIA. With the ignoramus we have now, a NEW NIGERIA is a facade.
Chairman, eku lakaye, O GOD OF CREATION, DIRECT OUR NOBLE COURSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Deolu, You’ve been a source of inspiration. Anyway, whatever is concievable is achievable. if pastor Adeboye is willing, we are also willing. We need this change!!!!
This is a good one Deolu, We should forgo the “Sidon look approach” and take active roles in the affairs of Nigeria. We don’t have another country that we can call our own.
How I wish it’s possible daddy Adeboye indicate interest,how I wish God ask him to hence he won’t without God’s instruction,things will change against any discrimination.Be it religion or racial God’s choice will rule. However, before the end of this tenure let’s pray God to send David or daddy Adeboye like; to lead/serve Nigeria. More wisdom for you bro.’Deolu.
Great tots Bros
You remind me of my days back on campus as a president of one of the fellowships and was being castigated for maintaining the view that tested and trusted Christians workers (and/or honest member) be encouraged to participate in Student Unionism – as President or any other elective position. Imagine what impact that will have on our campuses/higher institutions of learning. I off cause saw some professed Christians then who did messed up, and there were also those who measured up. Being a Christian or Muslim does not automatically make you a saint, just as I say that being a Pastor does not make you fantastic husband and father – ask Eli. I’ll rather vote a leader who has conscience, than to fast and pray for God to change an imposed devil.
However, sincerely we need to stand up to this occasion in our land. The fact that buildings collapse all around us is not sufficient a reason for anyone to relocate to live under the tree or in the street. In spite of several motor accidents many still crave to buy cars – ‘Tokunbo’ or ‘tear robber’. Let us not lock-in the potentials because of the ‘lions’ in the streets. He/she who has a calling or passion for politics and his/she is tested and proven should be supported by all, based on quality and what such a fellow can deliver and not for ‘return on investment’.
Let nobody think we are shying away from the present monsters facing us in terms of bad leadership, corruption, etc but such are invited to see the future we crave and aspire to achieve. And the truth is that Yes we can. Nigeria Shall Be Great Again.
We need God fearing people at the helm of affair in Nigeria,when the righteous rule people rejoice.it’s by discarding fear of assasination and the believe that Nigerian hates the truth our light can shine.If God’s children have confidence in themselves and faith in God nothing stops them from joining the force making Nigeria become God’s own country. Let us rise up to the task as children of God to build our nation with HIM on our side.
It interesting and thought provoking,let keep pushing until we (sleeping giant)all wake uo
Hope is not lost yet, we have credible leaders within us and they need to be encouraged, We need to be fearless. It is written that even the kingdom of God suffereth violence and the violent taketh it by force. No be by talk we must act!
The so called Federal Executive Council have their own individual interest overriding the national interest and that is what is killing us. The nation is in a sorry state and i feel we are sitting on a time bomb & if WE Nigerians don’t take action now we may not live to tell the story. God will not come down o! Eeeeeeehhhhhhhhh!
We need selfless leaders!
You are right, as children of the Lord we are the light of the world. We need to begin to fulfill our kingdom responsibilities. We can’t afford to fold our arms and expect things to change in Nigeria. All hands must be on deck. I am a member of an organization called Congress World Breakthrough Network. We are a people commited to affecting our community and the world at large via kingdom principles. One of our principles is to ensure that we live a accurate life style that God demands from us. Living a life of accuracy in christ means taking up challenges, one of the challenges of Nigeria right now is leadership issue. We as kingdom people must begin to fulfill our leadership responsibility as the salt of the world. Babylon! must fall!!!!!!!!!!!
We look forward to leadership with results and not leaders entangled with blood oath. God save us!
A thought and question came to mind when you said: “Before you go thinking this is about Pastor E.A. Adeboye, you are wrong. This is about you, and also about me. It’s about the people who can do the job of leading this country and have not stepped up to it.”
The thought: This may be you putting out the ‘feelers’ for what you’re about to do.
The question: Will you bell this cat ahead of 2011? If the answer to the question is yes, what do you want me to make happen?
one thing kept ringing in my mind as i read through. our value system is so weak that we do not know the people we should cast our votes for neither do we understand that our willingness to vote for credible leaders is the first step to changing the trend. we have credible leaders in this country but i do not know whether to say that they do not have passion for this country or they do not believe they can change the trend but i will say we all as a nation have a lot to do as regards 2011 if we are truly sicka nd tired of the weaknesses and flaws of our leaders.
True my brother/sister
If anyone on the blogg is willing to go, including chairman himself…not just for us nor for self but for the nation and the generations to come. Step forward and let individual decide on such. As Deolu stated in Lessons on MJ, start early. Starting even now is never too late. Abi?
Just be sure its your calling and persion, that is why i know Daddy GO – Pastor Adeboye won’t dump the pulpit for Aso-Rock. Who is called in the house?
Great post Deolu. The Lord will one day send Messiah to rescue leadership and governance in this country from babalawos, hoodlums and curtist in Jesus name.
I am speechless! Such a state Nigeria is in……..
I wonder where they got the notion that Christians should not be involved in politics.
A very nice piece…
I agree with you. I imagine a country with leaders like the likes of Pastor Adeboye, and you are right, Christians, agents of light need to rise up and dispel the darkness around us, we all like to quote Isiah 62……..the light and glory of God in our lives is for a purpose.
and I could not agree less with your phrase ‘The state of our electricity is indicative of our true spiritual state, we are a nation in darkness, our agents of light are disengaged from shining their lights………………’
God help us to KEEP ON praying for Nigeria, and do our won part to make this country the Nigeria of our dreams
Good.
It is about every sane Nigerian who wants to see the good of the Land. If my people that are called by My name can humble themselves and Pray (Pray the second stanza of the National Anthem daily amongst others)….. You know the rest.
God Bless Nigeria.
What if 2010 comes and Pst. Adeboye declares he needs to be the president. Don’t be surprised, i have seen Mrs. Iweala gunning for 2011 president.
father save us……when we start moving
I thoroughly agree with this…… This is one of the strongest things on my heart… The need to step up and step out.. Two thumbs up
progress always invovles risk;u cant steal second base and keep ur foot on first.
I subscribe 100%, we are been told a lie everyday that our votes dont count and a lot of us because of that dont get involved in politics. Until we bother to venture Nigeria may not experience any change. I have already started the process to contest a political office in 2011.
the price of greatness is the greatness of the price says Myles Munroe. tge truth about the Nigerian society is this: we uphold in high esteem what will make us loose and break our word and value. if our leaders will be sincere to tell us their personal experiences with party stakeholders we will see that in most cases these stakeholders are the ones that dictate the pace for them-the leaders. let our leaders be responsible and be bold enough to do what they feel wiould better the lots of Nigerians instead of following the nstructions of their party chieftains. we need leaders that can die for this country not leaders that want the country to die for them.
Deolu,
Thank u its a great write up here, I am guilty – just as most of us – the category of us Nigerians in the lowest level of the elite club (basic first degree graduates) are.
I am about your age and I have never voted before. I decided that since 1993/1995 after following up through TELL magazine the unfolding drama of June 12. I did a random sample of how many educated ppl in our generation paricipated in d last general election & learnt dat of the about 20 ppl i asked not a single one did. We have left the process of selecting our leaders in the hands of the “NFA’s” CAN WE START THE CAMPAIGN NOW ! and I think ppl like prof Pat Utomi & Pst Chris Okotie should groom politicians who will first transform a ward, then a Local Govt. I think we need to talk.
This truly is our responsibility. We all need to rise up to it. I’m taking my place in the society. God bless Nigeria.
Thank God for people like u in this nation sir, we appreciate u!
Correct!!! I am a believer of a Godly and goodly person to be the president or a prominat leader in the state of affairs of any nation. Like Oba said, being a christian does not amount to a good leader. I like the fact that you sited a leader known for honesty. Someone might as well ask, why we all did not rally behind Chris Okotie…Well i guess our individual answer, have something to say… infact let me leave the answer to us.
Nigeria will be saved, that i am very sure
@ Martins Emmanuel
Beyond prayers let’s also look around for the Davids and Adeboye’s, at least someone brought and introduced David to Saul/the palace and Baba Adeboye was brought into the RCCG through the instrument of a man. In prayers let’s watch.We’ll get there, and in my time too!
@ toyin
I salute your courage to go if called and passionate about it. Shot out all who are out to discourage you, threaten you, give you a 1000 and one reasons why you may never smell that political office, etc. Take all they say as a fuel for your resolve/determination not to give it up. However, remember to appreciate them when giving your inaugural speach…and deliver on your promises.
See you then.
the rise of president Obama has proved the fact that one man who believes in change and can present that change to the people will ultimately gain their support. we must note however that, whoever that one man is will not be accepted by everybody. Even Jesus Christ with His best intentions for everyone has not being accepted by all!!!
My resolve
We must choose to be that on man that believes in change and is ready to inspire other to do the same
@Deolu. I tender my condolence on the transition of your Mother. I pray that God will grant you the fortitude to bear the loss. painful to miss a loved one most especially a mother that I see her efforts revealed in your wisdom. Hope to see on that resurrection morning. Sun re o Mama Wa. Uncle Deolu put youself together and deliver on your promises as God strengthens you.
Nigeria,together we stand, divided we fall.
i doubt if Past. Adeboye will become the present. May be we should stop day dreaming and focus on more real things. He will be the best leader we just can NOT have in Naija. Friends, lets get back to wor for we have a long way to go.
@Deolu
Beloved accept my condolence too. We stand with you in such a time as this. May the good Lord grant you the strength needed for such a time as this.
Amen