By Joseph Ibekwe
It’s painful to see inconsistency demonstrated among those that ought to know better and provide leadership. It’s painful to have a people pray to God, asking for divine intervention and when the intervention comes, they despise it.
It’s unfortunate that we ask that the will of God be done in our polity, yet as the will of God is unfolding before our eyes, we can’t perceive it.
Early in the journey of this current transition, we were all agreed that we needed a Christian Presidential Candidate from the South to take over from President Buhari. Our eyes and hopes were on the two major political parties: APC and PDP. We expected that they will do the right thing or at least follow the laid down principle of power rotation while taking cognisance of the nation’s religious sensitivity.
Many of us worked hard to see it happen. But to our shock, this didn’t happen. In order words, APC and PDP disappointed us by not giving us a Christian Presidential Candidate from the South as we had expected. To make matters worse as if rubbing pepper into the hurting wound, APC chose to run a Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket. I don’t know anything that can be more infuriating and condescending to the Christians at this time, within the context of our previous expectations.
Now that these two political parties have deliberately disappointed us, why do we still stick with them on the issue of Presidential tickets? The deed is done! Why negotiate further with them when they deliberately ignored our overtures and crashed our hopes? But then, the wisdom of God is past finding out. God never leaves His own people stranded. And God is able to bring something out of nothing. Yes, it is with us to pray, but it’s not with us to determine how the prayer will be answered.
As it has turned out, there are also other political parties that have given us Christian Presidential Candidates. The two prime examples are Prince Adewole Adebayo of SDP and Mr. Peter Obi of Labour Party. This means we still have choices. We still have options. We are not stranded. Since the big two have rejected and despised us, should we recline to lick our wounds, keep begging them for accommodation, or we should get out there and explore other options? This is my concern.
We have always said that Nigeria has a huge Christian population. Is this not an opportunity to prove it? Is this not an opportunity to mobilize them from the nooks and crannies of the land, to register and participate fully during the elections to elect a Christian president? Why are we being slack and double-minded?
It’s unfortunate that those that asked us work for the emergence of a Christian president from the south, have got what they asked for, even though from a different platform, they have now lost their steam. Their prayers were not answered according to preconceived point; therefore, they feel disillusioned.
“To the man belongs the plan, but the answer of the lips is from the Lord”, says the scripture. The earlier we reckon that the cloud has moved and follow the cloud, the better for us. And for all you care, the cloud of glory has left APC and PDP, as far as Presidency is concerned because they broke their own rules and acted with impunity. They will pay the price, because there are consequences for impunity.
If you want to follow God, you have to wake up to the reality of the times. God has opened new vista for us, though uncommon, even despised, but we have to humble ourselves to explore the new options. Don’t ask the question: “Can anything good come out of Nazareth”? Yes! Good things are coming forth. Because God uses the despised things of the world to shame the wise. Those insignificant parties and personalities bearing their flags are the new hopes. Stop desiring the dainties of Egypt. So much lies ahead. But we have to confront the Cannanites, thevAmorites, and the Perizites that stand in the way to the promised land. It’s no longer time for negotiations. It’s time to act for yourself. Enough said! Let’s move!
We can’t be “neither here nor there”.
…Ibekwe is the founder FLED International Leadership Institute
