So I was
asked today by my friend who does not live in Abuja
how I feel about the insecurity in Abuja.
My answer to
her was simple. I have chosen not to live in fear, anywhere could get hit.
Besides, if I were marked to die today, death could meet me even on my bed. Nevertheless, I will not put myself at risk or ignore warnings that may be sent out. She
agreed to that opinion and mentioned that she has a burden to pray for Nigeria.
I encouraged her to please pray as I know that prayer goes a long way and I
pray with pain and tears for my beloved country also. However, everybody in Nigeria
is praying and that is part of our problem. We spend all the time praying and forget
to think…the same God who is being prayed to, created brains for a reason.
Religion,
the cause of so many woes?
Violence is
being perpetrated in the name of religion, everybody claims to be praying, so
who is thinking and who is acting? The Nigerian government cannot solve all our
problems, many have alleged that the Nigerian government has failed in its
duties anyway, a stark reminder being #BringBackOurGirls.
A person I
think prays a lot but has stood out and really impressed me is Mrs. Oby
Ezekwesili. I read an interview she recently granted to Metropole magazine about her
role in the Chibok #BringBackOurGirls campaign and she mentioned very clearly
that she had had enough of just getting over events and moving on, so she had to
do something or else she would have been disappointed in herself.
Nigerians,
how many of you can speak of/to yourselves like this? All we do is complain, it
has got us nowhere. I saw a billboard with our President's face and a quote from
him saying something like real Nigerians are not terrorists…are we in denial? And
for how long? Maybe that myth has since been demystified? But on the other
hand, could that in some way mean that we are too lily livered to act?
Different
people have called for prayers at different times and on different levels but
after the prayers, what happens? I doubt that God will come down from heaven to do what he has enabled human beings to do. I also do not doubt the efficacy or power there is
in prayer, but I have to challenge you if you pray, to think. What could be done
differently? You do have a role to play. In what way have you demanded that
the government plays its role and have you played yours?
