IT SEEMS GOD HAS GONE ON VACATION

Does God Exist

A particular woman has been frequenting my office recently to ask for help from my boss. As she was explaining herself the last time she came, I took note of some rare facts. She said that she belong to a prayer group that prays everyday from morning to 12 noon at the stadium; that they pray for individuals and companies like ours. She said that God has been laying it in her heart to meet my boss for help; she complained of a whole lot of problems like house rent, children’s school fees, etc. She also said that her pastor encouraged her to come and ask for help from my boss. Like other days, she left without getting the help. As she exited from my office, somebody who overheard our discussion asked some bothering questions which are: Is praying a vocation? How can she spend all her time praying without any vocation? Why did God lay in her to meet somebody to solve her problems and not also lay it in the heart of that person to meet her needs?  If prayer is the only solution to her problems why has God not answered her, or has her God gone on vacation?

So many things are happening today that people are asking: where is God? Presently, it seems many Christians are living and taking shelter under false hope. Things have gone wrong and no one seems to have a solution. People are dying of hunger and hopelessness. Talents, potentials, destinies are wasting on daily basis because there is no means of nurturing them. Evil is reigning over good. The wicked prosper in their wickedness, and they are gradually recruiting the righteous ones who are helpless and defenseless into their circle of wickedness. Christians have resorted to prayer because of hardship, but it seems God has gone on vacation. The more seed they sow, the more problem they face. The more Christians pray, the more problems they incur; especially those who are not employed and who cannot start something on their own. To so many people, church has become a ponzi platform where you provide help to only pastors and and either get help by struggling afterwards or struggle in vain without any help. Fake pastors have infiltrated the building called church and their mouths are filled with ponzi messages instead of God's Word. The new face of MMM now parade the church buildings as pastors and men of God and people are confused on who to turn to for solution. Many people have asked over and over again: Where is God? Does He exist? If actually He exists, has He gone on vacation?

God Will Never Forsake His Children, any Logical Proof?

Isaiah 49:14-17 says: “But Zion said, the Lord has forsaken me, the Lord has forgotten me. Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has born? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me. Your children hasten back and those who laid you to waste depart from you”.

With this assurance and many more of God’s steadfast love, care, protection and continuous presence with us, why does it seem that God’s promises of love is not realistic in the lives of the majority of His children? Why does it seem like God has forsaken us? God is not the problem but we are because we have refused to make His presence known.

How Big Is Our God?

No matter how fervent, long, much we pray, if we don’t put it to work, we will continue to feel that God has forsaken us. God has given us all the assurance we need, to convince us that He will never forsake us. God said He engraved us in the palms of His hands, meaning that He sees us every moment as long as He has His palms with Him. He expects us to act with His mandate in order to feel His presence and make His presence known. If David had gone into prayers alone to save the Israelites from the philistines, he would not have defeated Goliath. Prayer is the key but we need to put it to work, using God’s mandate. God cannot come down from heaven to do what we are supposed to do because He has people to do that.

Even The Heathens Experience The Testimonies We Give

There is no distinction between the righteous and the heathens as we can see today. We go to church to give testimonies about safe delivery of our children, the contracts we won, smooth graduation from high school, acquisition of a new car, house, etc. The heathens also enjoy those blessings and more. They enjoy the sunshine and the rain; they also enjoy life and sound health. Disasters that come to them like accidents, sickness, rape etc also affect the righteous. So what is the distinction?  People always ask. What is the evidence that God will never forsake His own children when they are the ones that suffer the most? The point here is that God is the God of all.  He said He will make a distinction between those who serve Him and those who do not (Exodus 8:23) and He never fail to keep His word. The problem is that we lack knowledge. The content of our prayer is poor. In Malachi 3:13-18, the righteous one seeing and hearing of the prosperity of the wicked never gave up on their God. They rather encouraged one another with the assurance that God will visit the wicked with their wickedness. They did not bless the wicked neither did they envy them. They talked God into making a distinction as He promised. We have refused to search the scriptures with understanding and report wickedness to God for justice. The heathens work hard to prosper in order to dominate the earth; the wicked intimidate the righteous and channel our God given resources to their selfish ventures while the righteous only pray and look up to heaven for miraculous manna and quails, and if such magical expectation was not met, we tend to be hopeless and frustrated; we feel that God has forsaken us. Abraham served God and even though he had a challenge of childlessness, which God is a party to, he was the envy of his generation. He worked hard and was wealthy. People around him benefited from his wealth and it was clear to them that his God is different. God has given us talents, resources and man power; let us put them to good use so we can be fruitful and increase in number, fill the earth, subdue and dominate it as God commanded us to in Genesis 1:28. Then it will be clear to us that God has not and will never forsake those who serve Him.

When God Frowns

Most times, God frowns at the frailties and errors of His children. That does not mean that God has forsaken His children. According to William Cowper, a Hymn Writer, “Behind God’s frowning Providence, He hides a smiling face”. God created us for a purpose and that purpose was made known to us through our Lord Jesus Christ. God sent His Son Jesus Christ to come and redeem our souls from the power of sin that can lead us to destruction; and Jesus Christ did give Himself as a sacrifice. That sacrifice alone shows that God will never forsake those that His Son died for. Jesus Christ finished His work and left us to continue with the task of reconciling men back to God. God’s heart beat for sending Jesus is for all to have eternal life. Jesus said to Peter three times: If you love me, keep my sheep” (John 21: 15-17). This shows that His priority is to make sure that His children are not starved of His Word. This feeding includes making sure that everything that will make His children vomit the amount of His Word that they have consumed and anything that will hinder them from hearing God’s word is dealt with. This is to make sure that people will not continue in their sins. That is enough evidence that God will not forsake His children. There are too many churches today where people go to hear the Word of God. The Word of God is preached in the buses, market places, streets, etc. Despite this, the crime rate is high. Kidnapping, prostitution, armed robbery, rape, drug abuse, illegal migration, destruction of lives and properties are becoming the norms of our society; yet, most of the perpetrators all go to church. Have we stopped to ask ourselves why this is so? We need to read the handwriting on the wall. In as much as people need the Word of God, they also need food on their tables, job security, financial freedom, sound health, etc. The possibility that a jobless man with so many financial issues will retain the Word of God for an hour is minimal. That moment he is reminded of his problems is the moment he will vomit the Word, and the alternative to survival will start running in his head. People go to church to find logical answers to their problems; the problems that evil rulers have created by way of siphoning and diverting public funds for selfish purposes. When people fail to get the answers that they seek, God frowns because He knows that those problems can make them a slave to sin. It seems the Word of God these days make no difference to people’s lives. The Word of God is losing its value in people’s lives today and God is not happy. It has become a mirage to so many people. People need to know how to apply the Word of God to better their lives. As people fellowship with one another, they want to feel that they are valued members; they need to be encouraged and motivated by way of promoting their talents, helping them to learn a trade, get a job, etc. By so doing, they will not be distracted in their service to God. God has called many men and women and positioned them to feed the hungry sheep but it seems they are too busy building cathedrals, flying jets and stooping so low to reason with evil leaders who are busy playing politics of selfishness with people’s lives. How will a man of God feel if his member dies and goes to hell because of one pressing need or the other that pushed him to sin. Men of God are human and they are equally tempted to sin a times because of one pressing need or the other; how much more their members. Let us do what we are supposed to do and stop making God a liar because He will always be true to His Word. He will never forsake His own.

Is God A Beggar?

It seems there are a high tendency these days to bribe God through tithe, seed sowing, offering, etc. in order to get God to be on our side and work for us. When God said He will never forsake us, He did not demand all that. “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it” (Psalm 24: 1). So why does it seem He wants our penny for Him to be on our side? We were not there to donate a penny when He created the heavens, earth, seas, animals, etc. Tithes, seed sowing, offering, etc. are to pledge our allegiance to the Almighty God and to honour Him as our creator. When King Solomon was set to build a temple for God, all the gifted, talented and skilled men worked sacrificially to build a house for God because they know that Solomon was working with God. They were not coaxed to do the work. Our church leaders should follow God’s heart beat, which is meeting the needs of the poor and needy. They should report the evil leaders that are impoverishing the citizens of this country to Almighty God. They should issue decrees, warnings and proclamations that will shake the evildoers and the enemies of Nigeria; like Samuel, Elijah, etc. did during their time.  By so doing, God will judge the wicked and make a distinction between the wicked and the righteous as written in (Malachi 3:13-18), thereby, creating an enabling environment for the righteous to prosper and serve God with all their hearts and resources. Our church leaders should not let their comfort zones close their eyes to the sufferings of people. God’s words are not mere theories. People want results. When we do that which God expects from us, God will be pleased to handle the rest His own way.

God’s assurance is very strong. Even if a mother forgets the baby at her breast, He will never forsake His children. God has given us so much: Talents, skills, resources, etc. and He expects that we put them to work; to be fruitful, to multiply, to fill the earth and dominate. Obedience to His word will prove to us that He will never forsake us. If God has not kept to His promise, by now, nobody will say anything against the government in power and go free; I bet you, people will be dying in silence because of too much burden of imposed silence.

Written by Olive Chinyere Amajuoyi

INCESSANT MIGRATION OF NIGERIANS TO EUROPE

26 Teenage Nigerian Girls Dead!

According to reports, the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it has begun an in-depth investigation into the death of 26 teenage Nigerian girls who reportedly died in the Mediterranean Sea, off coast Italy while attempting to cross from Libya to Europe.

The increase in the migration of young Nigerians to Europe and other parts of the world, even to some African countries have become worrisome and calls for immediate action rather than mere theories. Many Nigerians have died at Sahara Desert, Mediterranean Sea, and God knows where else; in search of greener pastures. The cause of the death of these 26 teenage Nigerians girls who died at Mediterranean Sea, which has not been ascertained, is not the problem. The problem here is not whether they were drowned, raped or killed; the problem here is rather about the incessant migration of young Nigerians to countries in Europe and other parts of the world which has become alarming. Some were sponsored to become prostitutes while some go on their own and end up as slaves to the whites. Why will young vibrant men and women want to risk their lives, embarking on a journey which they know might take their lives? What is it that makes Nigerian youths desire to spend their years in countries where they will be nothing less than sex toys, errand boys and girls, etc.?

Youths On The Run

The answer is not far-fetched; Nigerian youths want a place where they will have access to steady power supply, clean water, good roads, etc. They are tired of the giant called Nigeria that has no plan for them. A country where even hair dressing and barbing salon are difficult to manage because of the additional cost of fuel and maintenance of generator; as there is always power failure, is a threat to their survival.  A country with high increase of graduates and influx of graduates into the already crowded labour market, with no space for them to fit in is a big threat to the future of Nigerian youths.  Our political leaders have made this country uninhabitable for its citizens including themselves. Their children go to school abroad and even their medical treatment has to be abroad.

Let This Embarrassment Stop!

This is not to encourage Nigerian Youths to keep risking their lives on the altar of greener pastures but to urge our leaders to save this nation the embarrassment of burying its youths in a strange land for no reason other than illegal migration for greener pastures. Nigeria has manpower and its own unique resources that other countries admire. Nigeria is a blessed country. Our leaders should use our collective resources to make this country habitable for everyone. They should create an enabling environment for our youths to invest in and create jobs for our teeming youths.

Written by Olive Chinyere Amajuoyi

BEYOND KADUNA TEACHERS SACK; NIGERIANS CRAVE FOR REBIRTH

A Passionate Lecturer

Yawning Classrooms

Some years back, a friend of mine was denied admission to read English and Literature; the reason being that she has deficiency in mathematics. She later reapplied after meeting up with the requirements, and got the admission. In the course of her studies, one of the novels recommended for them to read was written by one of their English lecturers. What is so special about this novel is that it was written in messed up English by an English Lecturer who has already put up a defense mechanism, saying that she is not a British. A candidate was denied admission into this school to read English and Literature because of deficiency in mathematics, but a lecturer employed to teach English in the same school, probably with no academic deficiency, cannot express her English proficiency in her novel……..The irony of a people. I am not angry because they did not admit my friend in her first attempt, I understand they are following the academic requirements, but it is evil to employ an unqualified lecturer to teach a sensitive course and even to adopt a half baked novel as a study material…..symptoms of a confused society.

 Education Was Once A Masterpiece

Informal education has been in existence and in practice before the colonial masters came and made it formal. It cuts across home management, family life, health, leadership, relationship with the Creator and others etc. Parents have been the first educators but in recent times, teachers spend more time with the children than the parents. This is a fact that must attract careful attention from all stakeholders to education sector. Education remains the number one among the bedrocks of growth and development. It is the only sector that will develop every other sector, yet, it is the most neglected. Our doctors are trained in schools, our engineers, leaders, lawyers, teachers, priests etc. were all trained in schools. The abuse of education in Nigeria explains the decay in every other sector.

 Who will bail the Cat?

The standard of education and curriculum are not the problem. The problem is that dirty politics was extended to education. The leadership of Nigeria is very sick with contagious disease which has infected every sector including education. We have rich curriculum but lack qualified teachers and lecturers to interpret them, just as we have rich laws for governance but our leaders cannot abide by it. Have our leaders not destroyed our standard of education and sent their children abroad to go and study? They left the institutions that they have corrupted for the poor masses who cannot afford the abroad alternative. Our leaders have planted the leadership of theories and all the institutions followed suit.  The teacher’s and lecturer’s theories end up producing students who are more confused after graduation. Our leaders voice out their theories through the mass media and there ends it. The men of God on the other hand preach theories without logical proof, just to give hope to their members and probably get the favour of the government. Theories! Theories! Theories! Who will bail the cat?

 Are We Also Going To Import Teachers?

So many teachers cannot defend their certificates. Poor remuneration, delayed salaries, lack of modern teaching materials, unfriendly teaching environment, etc. are all causative of the decay in the educational sector, but the major factor is the influx of unqualified teachers/lecturers, with no passion for teaching, into the teaching profession. These days, graduates resort to teaching as an alternative to their desired unavailable jobs and this is a big threat to education. This factor is not limited to teaching profession; like I said before, every sector has been infected with contagious disease from the helm of affairs. The influx of greedy leaders that lack the passion and skill to lead has opened the doors for quacks to get into every sector. Nigeria has been importing a lot of things ranging from clothing, toothpicks to foodstuffs like rice, etc. If the authorities failed to intervene early enough, by now many Nigerians will be boasting of imported jollof rice, soup, etc. Are we also going to import teachers to teach in our schools? It is not that we don't have qualified and passionate teachers in Nigeria,  the fact remains that the forces of corruption have surrounded our schools; from primary to higher institutions, making it impossible for the passionate and qualified teachers to be employed. Employment in Nigeria is based on connection and bribe because unemployment rate is too high.

Leadership Test for our Leaders! Will They Pass? 

Not quite long after the Governor of Edo State Governor Adams Oshomhole sacked sacked 836 teachers in Edo State, for certificate forgery and falsification of age, Kaduna State governor, El-Rufai sacked 21,780 teachers who failed primary four exams. This is ridiculous! But come to think of it, if a leadership test is set for our leaders, how many of them will pass the test? If you are a lover of truth, your guess is as good as mine. The question now is: which school graduated these teachers? Which lecturers taught and certified them as teachers? We have a long way to go.

The Yawning Polity

Sacking of teachers is not the solution because teachers do not exist by themselves. There are educational bodies that regulate the activities of teachers and lecturers, and there are people responsible for recruiting teachers. Who are the people that make up this group? Are they all resistant to the infectious disease? What is the guarantee that the sacked teachers will not be replaced with another version of quack teachers? We need to go back to the drawing board for solution. Sanitation of quacks should start from the helm of affairs because they control every other sector. Every piece will fall into its rightful place when the political sector is sanitized. This will not happen by magic. We still have leaders of the church who can tell our leaders the mind of God concerning the evil they are cooking in this nation. I am sure the influx of fake pastors into the synagogue did not contaminate the entire church leaders. Our church leaders should please speak up because our God is not blind, deaf or dumb and He cannot come down to do the speaking and acting when he has men. If they are all waiting for God to do their job for them, I trust God, He knows how to use what we less expected to achieve His aim. He uses the foolish things of the world to confound the wise. But it is better for us to do that which we ought to do to avert so many dangers.

No Safe Haven

Meanwhile, not quite long after the sacking of teachers in Kaduna state, the Kaduna state government announced the death of Professor Jonathan Andrew Nok, the Kaduna State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology. Though it is not yet certain what killed this commissioner but for him to die few days after the mass sack of teachers is something to worry about. However, it is not strange if one points an accusing finger because this is one of the events that characterize Nigerian politics anyway.

It is not too late to start all over again. It is better we start over again as a country and get it right for the benefit of the coming generation than to keep moving in error until we are all drowned in the ocean of corruption and mediocrity.

Written by Olive Chinyere Amajuoyi

The Controversy over Zuma Statute in Imo State

The statute of the president of South Africa in Imo State erected by the state Governor, Mr. Rochas Okorocha has continued to stir dust in Imo State and Nigeria, Yet, the governor decided to ignore the feelings of the people that joyfully elected him to power.

If it was just the naming of a road after Zuma and giving him a traditional title, it would have been a lighter subject to deal with; but to spend almost half a billion naira to honour a president who is facing serious charges of corruption in his own country is an abuse of office.

What was his reason for this honour? To encourage business relationship and attract business in Imo State was his alleged reason. And what was this business all about? To sign a memorandum of understanding between the Jacob Zuma Educational Foundation and the Rochas Foundation College of Africa, a private educational foundation of the governor; was the so called business. What a selfish business deal to the detriment of those who elected him to office. Why should the private visit of a foreign leader be given such a lavish memorial, and why the president of a country where Nigeria has been at the receiving end of xenophobia attack?

This is the governor of a state where workers are owed salaries and a governor who deemed it right to demolish the market where many of his citizens depend on for livelihood. What pains the most is that the governor blatantly ignored and lashed at his critics; those who entrusted their lives and assets in his hands when they voted him into power; as if they have no say in the matter concerning their collective resources.

The problem here is not the honour accorded a great man from South Africa. The issue here is that such honour should be earned or deserved, and should not be at the expense of poor citizens. For such an honour to be given, there must be a genuine reason. There is no evidence that President Zuma has done anything for Imo People.

Is it not yet time for the church to stand out and judge evil? Is the church waiting for every one of us to die spiritual deaths before they demonstrate the power of God in this generation? Has the church eaten what they are not supposed to eat from the so called politicians that made them seal their moths to the truth? Has the church not slept enough? People are suffering and our leaders think of nothing, and do nothing other than abuse their political offices and squander peoples resources on frivolities, yet our church leaders only pray and treat the matter on the pulpit. Our today’s carnivorous politicians need messages directed to them personally from highly placed men of God, not general messages that address no one in particular. If prayer and pulpit talk are enough to solve the problems, then why is it that the more we pray and preach, the more our leaders embezzle public funds and the more youths and poor masses take to crimes? Samuel, Elijah, Elisha, etc during their own time, did not only pray but also demonstrated God’s judgment upon the then leaders. The political atmosphere in Nigeria today is so tense and does not call for a gentle approach. Our leaders want everybody to remain calm as they perpetrate evil. If we all continue to keep quiet, expecting a change, then this madness will soon become a culture that will be difficult to abolish in the future, and maybe, by then bush meat will not satisfy them but human flesh.

Everybody cannot be a governor and everybody cannot be a president. The same goes for other state and national positions of power. Imo people and Nigerians are not fools to have voted their people into positions of power. All we want are responsible leaders that will manage the resources given to them well, in the best interest of their citizens, and not selfish leaders who have hard copies of good and wonderful promises, who will match into their seats of power with soft copies of their personal and destructive agenda.

Written by Olive Chinyere Amajuoyi

IS DEMOCRACY REALLY WORKING?

Since Nigeria got her Independence in 1960, it has experienced coups and counter coups, Biafra War, series of agitations and rumors of wars. Like the adage that says: ‘When a man marries two wives, he will know the good one’, Nigeria has practiced both military and democratic government; hence, ought to have known the one that guarantees peace and stability. Even though it is confusing to say boldly which one is better, judging by what is going on in the country today, the fact remains that democracy can never be overlooked. Going by its definition, democracy is the government of the people by the people and for the people. Globally, it is the only system of government with tenets that accommodates the rights of the citizens which in essence does not give room for war. I will base my case on the following points:

Democracy ensures political freedom: This means in essence that in a democratic rule, there is freedom to form parties. People have the right to determine and change constitutional order, the right to vote and be voted for. This practice in essence ensures that there is equal participation, hence, channeling the minds of people away from war situations.

Democracy ensures equal right of the citizens: In democratic rule, everyone is equal before the law; there is equal protection in the court in the court of law. Hence, for every offense committed, there is equal punishment for all that committed it, poor or rich, etc. There are no special privileges or restrictions when it comes to race, political beliefs, religion, status, class, etc. How can there be agitations, hate speeches, rumors of wars, etc., enough to bring about wars when these practices are in place? We may have found ourselves in a strange democracy that makes no sense compared to democracy practiced in other developed countries of the world but let us not forget that those that has been in the centre of our democracy are retired military rulers. Their military ideology has polluted our democracy because a general is always a general.

There is freedom of information in Democratic Rule: It was in democratic regime that freedom of information bill was signed into law. This law promotes transparency and accountability in government, and gives the citizens access to public records. For this reason, information access to the average citizen has increased tremendously. This has helped the citizens to know what is going on in the helm of affairs; thereby knowing what to do, what not to do and how to face problem situations so as not to instigate war.

Democracy ensures freedom of speech: Democracy gives people the power to express their views, criticize the government, etc., thereby, making the leaders to redress their steps and not abuse the privilege given to them. This is because if their excesses are not checked, they are enough to bring about wars. The present administrator is a typical example. His government is characterized by hatred, vengeance, selfishness, tribalism, etc. He brought his military regime ideology into democracy. If not for free speech that people resort to vent their anger and frustrations, who knows; war may have ensued. But today, the media can tell the people what is going on in the helm of affairs without being jailed for it. It was not so during the military era. For example, during his military regime, Buhari jailed Nduka Irabor and Tunde Thompson of ‘The Guardian Newspaper’ on stories that were factually true.

Concerned citizens may argue “how come Nigeria still face the problem of social injustice, human right abuse, imposition of leaders, marginalization, poor quality of life, unemployment, corruption, etc. in Nigerian democratic setting”? This is true but I deem it right to say that the above mentioned vices are still found in other systems of government but with little or no opinion from the people. No wonder Sen. Hope Uzodinma said “Although democracy is not practiced in Nigeria as it should, the worst of it is better than military rule”. He added that we are better off disagreeing to agree, having the opportunity to air our views and contributing our quota to the development of the nation. Democracy is the best bet that gives citizens the power to use words to change things for good, which I know will be the outcome in this democratic Nigeria when the majority accept and live by the tenets of democracy.

Late Umaru Musa Yar’adua and former president Goodluck Jonathan were the two pure democrats that have ruled Nigeria and every well meaning Nigerian can attest that the citizens felt the air of democracy during their regime. The fact that they failed in some areas is because they were surrounded by animal species that were ready for war if things do not go their way. This is unlike what is happening today. Majority of our leaders in the helm of affairs do not want to criticize the president for fear of losing their positions. Thanks to the freedom of information law and free speech, one of the dividends of democracy, for giving the media the power to share information for public enlightenment, thereby curbing war like situations.

The only bottleneck suffocating democracy is the fact that those at the centre of it are retired military leaders who merged democracy with military rule ideology. It is said that two cannot walk together except they agree. There is therefore no way military ideology will agree with democratic ideology; they must clash, but not for war, because democracy will prevail because of its freedom nature.

Democracy is no doubt the best system of government in Nigeria, but will only bring positive results when pure democrats begin to control it, and surrounded by leaders that are not affected by military/cannibalistic ideology. We are yet to experience a working democracy. For now Nigerian democracy has no definition.

Written by Olive Chinyere Amajuoyi