BY TONY OKAFOR
As January 16 draws near, Nigeria is praying again. From churches and mosques to adoration grounds, Nigerians are calling upon God for peaceful elections, good leaders and a better country.
It is a familiar ritual. Nigeria is arguably one of the most religious nations in the world, yet insecurity, poverty, corruption and economic hardship continue to ravage the land. This raises a disturbing question: Is God still with us, or have our iniquities turned His face away?
The Bible provides sobering examples of nations suffering divine judgment for their wickedness. In Genesis 19, Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed because of their grave sins. Similarly, in Judges 10:13-14, God told the Israelites that He would no longer rescue them because they had abandoned Him and turned to other gods.
Nigeria must therefore undertake a serious moral examination. How can we expect divine intervention when some of the same citizens praying for good governance are already planning to engage in vote-buying and selling, political thuggery and electoral fraud? Some may not even bother to come out and vote, yet they expect miracles.
I was taken aback when someone advised a politician to budget ₦50,000 for each voter in the January 16 election. Ironically, the same person will probably be in church praying for a positive change in Nigeria.
We cannot continue to blame the devil for everything when our own actions consistently promote evil.
And what about the clergy? Some men of God have turned their pulpits into commercial enterprises, providing spiritual cover for corrupt politicians while avoiding the difficult responsibility of confronting societal wickedness. Rather than speak truth to power, some have become beneficiaries of the very system they should be challenging.
There is a vital lesson in 2 Chronicles 7:14. God did not merely ask His people to pray; He demanded that they humble themselves, seek His face and turn away from their wicked ways before promising to heal their land. When prayers appear unanswered for years, perhaps it is time for introspection. The problem may not be the absence of prayer, but the absence of genuine repentance.
Nigeria needs more than prayer vigils and religious conventions ahead of January 16. We need honesty, justice and accountability. If we pray on the eve of the election and turn around to sell our votes, rig ballots and celebrate corrupt candidates, we should not be surprised if heaven remains silent.
God is merciful, but He is also a consuming fire. The question is not simply whether God is still with Nigeria, but whether Nigerians have remained with God.
May God have mercy on Nigeria.
