Before the incarnation of the Son of God, God sent prophets to His people; to foreshadow the coming of the messiah, to reveal to them the truth about His Kingdom, and to chastise them from their evil ways of life. Many a time the prophets spoke so much and against the ills of their society. The prophets were persecuted and some were executed. In the same vein, we all need to speak up against the heinous crimes perpetuated in our country Nigeria, and, put into practice virtues that will build national development. The prophecy of the Prophet Micah (in Micah 2.1-5) has so many things to say about the present condition of the Nigeria state: “Woe to those who dream up wickedness and prepare evil plans on their beds! At morning light they accomplish it because the power is in their hands. They covet fields and seize them; they also take houses. They deprive a man of his home, a person of his inheritance. Therefore, the LORD says: I am now planning a disaster against this nation; you cannot free your necks from it. Then you will not walk so proudly because it will be an evil time. In that day one will take up a taunt against you and lament mournfully, saying, “We are totally ruined! He measures out the allotted land of my people. How he removes it from me! He allots our fields to traitors.” Therefore, there will be no one in the assembly of the LORD to divide the land by casting lots.”
The Prophet Micah prophesied to the people of Judah during the reigns of Kings: Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. During the reigns of these three Kings, those in government oppressed the poor, they mismanaged public funds, they were not ready to relinquish power, and they were greedy. The Nigeria story is very similar to that of the people of Judah during the prophetic ministry of Micah. Even though Nigeria is said to be practicing democracy; nepotism, corruption, injustice, oppression, and, covetousness is the order of the day. Just as how Kings: Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, and there cohorts refused to relinquish power, in Nigeria we have many politicians who want to stay in power till eternity. Amongst Nigeria citizens, we now have individuals who appraise and support corrupt politicians because of monetary gain, ethnic and religious sentiment. What many of us focus on is majorly on the acquisition of wealth at all cost; consequently, we steal public funds to acquire wealth, we commit all forms of heinous crimes like: scamming and kidnappings to acquire wealth. Even though earthly riches are needed to keep ourselves comfortable, they cannot guarantee us true happiness and eternal security.
In fact, many of those who are rich in the political sphere, in one way or the other impoverish people they are meant to serve. It is high time we have eradicated greediness from our being as Nigerians. Covetousness or greediness is egocentric and disastrous in nature – it is never centered on the common good. Greediness can only make us rich in the sight of people, but we cannot find a fulfilled life of true legacy. However, the parable of the rich fool in the gospel of Luke 12.13-21 reminds us about the uselessness in the greedy acquisition of wealth, possessions, and properties; because everything in this earthly life we surely pass away, will have an end.
Nevertheless, posterity will never forgive us if we do not join hands together to remove greedy politicians from office. Greediness have made Nigeria politicians to be thinking of the next general election, while the economy is in shambles and the educational sector is no longer functioning adequately. As citizens, we should state thinking of the next generation. We all need to stop the habit of coveting and start being committed to national development. We should be contented with what we have, and strive to be better. In our respective positions in life, we should be committed in doing what is just and good.
The Nigeria story is very glaring for all to see, even those who are blind are aware. Individually and collectively we have to be committed in electing leaders who will be committed to national development. Nigeria will not be destroyed completely by our greedy politicians, but by all of us who watch them without doing anything.
Rev. Fr. Victor Chika Ugbor is a priest of the Catholic Archdiocese of Ibadan (He writes from Igangan, Oyo State)
