Picture Credits: www.esqlaw.com
I won’t talk about Prof Pat Utomi, because he seems already aligned with this position… being or not being is not do or die, he’s willing to work from any position to move Nigeria forward. He would willingly vice a Buhari, or take a Ribadu as vice… and that in my view is a true reflection of their experiences and how they can offer value. According to the holy books, he that is faithful in the business of managing financial resources (talents) is given charge over cities. The greatest pre-requisite to governance is financial and business mastery. Crisis becomes the order of the day when we calculate political office occupation as experience over demonstrated capacity to manage mammon. Those who take cities before they can manage personal wealth ultimately ruin cities. Don’t tell me your experience was former Governor, show us what you managed successfully before entering into the corridors of power. Even a fool knows how to spend N50 billion in a way that it will show… but then, our stomachs have craved for so long, that we now call bitter sweet!
Mallam Ribadu under “Asiwaju Congress of Nigeria” – some of these dailies are so creative. I love Ribadu, his work in the EFCC made it clear to the world, that we are all not as we are painted. It was a nationally visible role, and I would have thought that the next major assignment would have been as IG, but then, we know how it works around here. Ribadu has good followership among the elites, and if the votes were strictly out of Nigerian soil, no doubt Ribadu would have won. I don’t think anyone can take away from Ribadu his achievements within that EFCC chairman role. Most of his 25yrs as a police officer are not in public light, and there are a few here and there’s that don’t make him too saintly for the role – I have heard that we don’t need a saint, after all are we? Ribadu would get a big chance if Buhari was not running – come to think of it, the difference in their name is h and d, you can almost rearrange the letters to call the same names otherwise. I have seen the debates about the elder stepping down for the younger and supporting the younger, I think they are valid debates. I have also seen the debate of the other side. I think the answer should not be answered based on personal ambitions and a quest for “my turn”, I think it should be by “Thinking about Nigeria”.
So far, all I have seen play out, is ACN using Ribadu as it’s negotiation chip for Buhari to move to ACN as it’s aspirant. Well, I guess when a pawn reaches the line of the opponents kings, it can chose to become a queen – Let those that play chess understand 🙂
Mallam Nuhu Ribadu holds huge possibilities for a new generation in power, but is he not riding on a horse that has a mind and direction of it’s own? I like the hand he’s playing though, it’s a hand that will gather opposition support ultimately if the greed of men and their personal agenda don’t allow an alliance that has the muscle to tackle PDP, but who is thinking Nigeria? Then there is this argument that we have tried the old… in Obasanjo and are not significantly better for it (we have moved from 45% poverty to 75% poverty – the truth however is that the middle class got the better of it), let’s try someone younger. If young people support young people, young people will win – at least with population on our side. On the other hand, GEJ is also young people, and like it or not, the South South region have never had the opportunity to lead Nigeria despite producing the majority of it’s resources, and providence has provided them with one such opportunity. Let’s discount the fact that the current opportunity is being sown completely as a seed to get 4yrs, 7yrs or 8yrs (30fold, 60fold and 100fold). There is also the school of thought that we need an experience that India had in 1991, an elder state man with nothing to lose and a name to make. The thought that if a man has been in power as Governor, President, Chairman NNPC, PTF and Oil minister and can’t boast of much possessions, there shouldn’t be much else he’s looking for other than immortality.
When all the chips are down, may the options that will birth the New Nigeria be real and clear! I still believe in miracles, and nothing is too hard for God.
My prayer in all these regard, is that we would be a people that deserves the best type of leaders. Than we as a nation will humble ourselves, turn away from our wicked ways at the level of citizens and pray to the God of heaven. He says’s He’ll hear us, and heal our land! I also pray, that the fear of failure will not stop the opposition from advancing forward even if we are already late. May God help us to register, to select the best, to vote, to protect our votes and make them count.
In the final analysis, may the God that sets kings in place and deposes king, may he be our God. May the God of heaven rule and reign in the affairs of Nigeria. May the weeks ahead pass without bloodshed, and may the fresh and new Nigeria spring forth in our time. May we see the end of darkness, the end of abject poverty, the end of failed civil service and systems, the end of non inspirational leadership, the end of government by the rich that oppress the poor, the end of era corrupt generals. Let the kingdoms of this world, become the kingdom of our Lord and anointed. Amen!
15 thoughts on “Who is Thinking Nigeria? -2”
Pingback: Tweets that mention Who is Thinking Nigeria -2 | Self-Motivation, Personal Growth and Entrepreneurship Development on DeoluAkinyemi.com -- Topsy.com
Amen. Great piece.
We are living witnesses to the manipulation of PDP presidential primaries in favor of President Jonathan,so Atiku was out of the race,Jonathan in.But in all honesty can Jonathan beat Atiku in a free and fair contest,i’m not certain.Can he survive Nuhu Ribadu in general election,maybe but he won’t beat General Buhari.The people arround Jonathan will never allow him to serve nigerians with honesty,it will only be business as usual.Look at d unresolved problems in ogun state house of assembly,even d one in federal house and all the political and economic problems that has reached embarrassing condition is a pointer that the central govt is very weak.So we need Buhari now.
I am thinking Nigeria. I am praying for my dear Nigeria. It shall be well. Let think, pray, and act to have our desired Nigeria.
Some questions to think about: Buhari certainly did well as a government official but it is yet to be seen what business he handled without any political leverage or outside authoritarian framework. I expect a sincere man with enormous governmental backbone to achieve whatever Buhari achieved with absolute power.
Someone said hereditary sets the goal, environment sets the limit. My real concern is if a Buhari would thrive in a democratic context. I don’t mind a Buhari has a military head of state, but as a President of a more democratic and complex Nigeria, would he not fail? A president’s work is more complex than a commander-in-chief’s.
Your theological premise of managing a business before qualifying to manage a government makes Dangote, Adenuga, Otedola, and probably even you more qualified than Buhari. In fact it makes Chief Awolowo’s wife more qualified than him to run a government.
You prayed for MEN of value and MEN of Integrity to arise, but still focusing on one man. Without attempting to start a theological debate,I think God is not looking for 1 Man, He is looking “My People”. I would like you to tell me what happens to Nigeria should Buhari not contest in the next elections. We don’t need a messiah, we need messiahs.
Ghandi was not even in government when he caused change in India, but if we believe that government is the solution to our problem then all the arms of government is critical. And we are neglecting those arms to our peril. The powers to impeach a Buhari presidency lies with the other arms of government.
Amen.God will help and bless Nigeria.
Deolu, very succint analysis full of the insights typical of a master analyst! But I seem to have a problem with weaving this kind of politics on the thread of religion. Political kingdoms and nations as they are currently constituted are in themselves a deviation from God’s divine purpose for the rulership of mankind. The bible is frought with this fact in no unclear terms that except man recognize that only God can lead us aright, Man will continue to dominate man to each others injury. There is no missing it that Man, no matter how saintly can not rule as God has purposed it through Jesus the head of his heavenly kingdom. So for me, I don’t take sides in the politics of man. I believe only in God’s ability to lead man and solve all our problems. No matter how good humans are, they can never deliver the good in leadership in totality. I there for vote for Jesus instead.
Nice analysis though. Big ups!
@ Idris,
I am bothered about the philosophy you have bought. It sounds like the philosophy of spiritual abandonment and utter dependence on God to do all, while we watch. This is not consistent with scriptures – Christian or Islam.
God’s original intention and instruction before ever man fell, was for man to be productive, increase, subdue the earth and have dominion. God created man, to rule and take charge on earth under his influence. The whole concept of reconciliation was meant to bring man back to where he was before he lost, it not detract him. The philosophy you have expressed here, it the philosophy that is ruining the church, it’s ending the work of Christ on the premise of the Gospel of Salvation, rather than going deeply into the Gospel of the kingdom. The kingdom of this world, must be the kingdoms of our God and christ. We will not go anywhere until it happens, for the heavens must wait until all is restored under his feet.
God is not looking for a religion, He’s on the search for people who will serve and honor him. His injunction to the disciples was not to save souls, but to disciple nations. If you read his parables with the lens of governance, you will see that Jesus says at the end, the nations not individuals of the earth, will be divided into 2 categories… goats and sheep.
How was Slave trade abolished in Europe- Strong religious influence on Politics (Willberforce), How was segregation tackled in America (King Jr), If you see my argument you’ll see that the summation was indifferent about religion, what mattered were the values, but we cannot play the abandonment card. There are people dying daily in this country that don’t deserve to die, we are responsible for killing them in the name of Jesus.
Jesus said about the goat nations… when I was sick, you abandoned me, when I was hungry, you abandoned me, when I was in need you abandoned me. God is going to come hard on people who abandoned the task he gave them back to him. I hope you understand my view.
@ Ope
The president of Nigeria is still a commander in chief of the armed forces… and Buhari has handled one of the biggest businesses that none of these successful business people have handled. War is the Largest scale of commerce, and most business competition philosophies were derived from war! In the Bible age, the only way for national expansion, growth and economic climb was war. Business is a mild version of war. Business in the new economy is merely a civilized version of war. Even till today, the greatest business is still war. Buhari led two wars, one against chad, the other against Congo and won medals. Business is risk, often business men risk resources, Military officers risk their lives, some of the greatest American presidents had military backgrounds.
God seeks for a man, and calls My people to pray. If you ever find a time when change started with a group without a leader, I’ll like to learn it. WE want the other arms of government, but we know that it is one by one that a man removes his leg from the trousers.
Amen! Highly interesting analysis. I love the prayers and the post-article analysis, prompted by earlier comments. More power.
And God’s kingdom come!
Well, one thing is clear. The divine challenge between God and Satan, is that “leave man alone! They can decide for themselves (ie rule) what is good or bad for thwmselves!” Isn’t that the central crux of Satan’s deceptuion of eve? And God in his infinite magnanimity has decided to allow man try out to see if Satan was indeed right! Hence, man has tried unsuccessfully for over thousands of years to rule themselves and it has always been 1 problem or the other! Do not be carried away, NO MAN CAN DO IT!
So be it known today that anytime we pray for any human government to succeed, we are only telling God, please give this man an opportunity to rule, he can do it! Meanwhile, God says “No man can do it except I do it” and that he has purposed to do through Jesus Christ the King of God’s Kingdom.
It is however interesting watching the global comedy of man playing out a can-do drama of rulership! In the end, except we all come back to God accepting that we can’t do it, we surrender, there isn’t much any mortal can do! Not even an Obama, Ribadu, GEJ, Buhari or uncle D!
@ Idris…
Your theology is from another seminary…lol
I honestly have a 180 degrees contrary view… The Kingdoms of this world, must become of our Lord and Christ. He’s either Lord of all, or not at all. The prayer is, they kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as is heaven. We are kings and priests, he is king of kings.
If the government rests on the head and not his shoulder…. perhaps. So what do you recommend, we make no move to save the perishing? We make no move to shine as lights in the highest and most elevated platforms? Do we fold our lives and wait to be raptured? My brother…. what you have is a revelation… what I have is a revelation as well…. and we are limited by our revelations. Mine allows me to have liberty and freedom, yours seems to want to tell me to abandon all and wait till the trumpet sounds.
Buhari for me is like Obasanjo…and we can only get the same governance Obasanjo gave us. Why must we continue to recycle the old and their ways? We need new and fresh ideas.
Well Deolu,
I undestand your stance, but you have to recognize that the responsibility to delivering the kingdoms of the earth to our lord is not yours to do, neither is it mine! Honestly, it is hard fighting that innate urge to join the band wagon to cause the change we desire to see. But this would be leaving my responsibilities to usurps God’s! God has never demanded that we expend ourselves to make the kingdoms of the earth his! He has the absolute, supreme-most and eternal powers to cause this to happen!
Rev 11:15 – 18, Isaiah 9:6,7 and Daniel 2:44 is clear on this.
The books of Micah 6:8 and Matt 6:33 tells us what God is asking from us.
For me, its 2 Chronicles 20:17. I’ll rather spend my time trying to be a better me and build a better relationship with my God than wear myself out trying to change a divinely denounced temporary political system frought with corruption, oppression and injustice!
This views may be unpopular, but when we recognize that what we consider as wisdom or the logical course of action to man is foolishness to God. The picture becomes clearer to all those who have voted for God!
…….meanwhile, did i forget to say kudos for the good job?
There is an article titled “Road Lessons – Follow the Masters” i loved so much on your blog! I never get tired of reading that article. So full of timeless lessons and wisdom.
Cheers.
@Adeolu,
It’s my first contribution ever in your blog. Must say you writing is insightful, though you seem to have an bottled up burden hard to express. You will do well to revisit this article later on.
@Idris,
I must say you sound more tilting towards a JW view on politics.
Do you know free will predates the deception by the Serpent, and God from eternity committed the dominion of the earth to man (Gen 1 & 2).