Shortly after the Nigerian Civil War early in 1970, my three-bedroom flat at 7, Edo College Lane, Benin City was inundated one night by a record 21strong guests from ‘Biafra’. The bachelor that I was, I went into my kitchen, picked 21 eggs, got some tomatoes and made egg stew to go with the boiled yam. Yes after, when I shared the experience with my wife, she smiled and told me that I did not need to break 21 eggs for that meal. Adding some diluted powered milk would have reduced the cost of eggs. Every house wife knows what ingenuity she has to put in place to ‘s-t-r-e-c-h’ meals to keep within budget.
During the Second Republic in the early eighties, Nigeria sold off her fleet of F 27 and F 28 aircrafts. A company in Libya bought one of them. Years later in preparation for a State Visit to that country by the then Head of State (President) of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Libyan Head of State got that particular aircraft which Nigeria sold as scrap refurbished for our President to use in reaching parts of Libya during the State Visit. The message was clear: Nigeria is a wasteful country.
Once-upon-a-time within the last forty years, Nigeria sold a barrel of crude petroleum for less than one US dollar. We had the singular privilege (or was it a right?), to sell the same commodity for more than one hundred US dollars! Nigeria’s gas reserves places Nigeria among the most endowed in the world. Nigerian professionals have so flooded the US that the American President has had to put a stop to further influx of Nigerian professionals. There is hardly any developed economy in the world where Nigerians are not a force to be reckoned with. Nigeria is blessed with varied climates that make all-year round food production a possibility. With the human, natural and other resources and potentials with which this nation is endowed, Nigeria did not need to wait for Year 2020 to be a world power. Our problem has been breaking 21 or even 42 eggs to prepare a meal for 21 people. The cry of everyone is that Nigeria needs to be better managed.
The Nigeria of 2015 is a particularly endangered one. Since the big joke of Sunday, 22 April, 1990, the nation’s territorial integrity has not been challenged as is the case now. Furthermore, the price of crude oil has nose-dived to $US43.05 and could degenerate further. The implication for a budget that was based on about $60 is obvious. In December 2014, Thirty-five million (35m) barrels of Nigeria’s crude was unsold! The Naira has also commenced its free fall as it exchanged last week for over N200 to the US$.
What Nigeria needs now is the equivalent of a War cabinet, with a leader that is ready to go the required extra mile, move out of the ordinary and explore new areas and strategies for survival and development. It is not a time for sentiments. For a forward movement both the Legislative and Executive arms of the government must be made up of teams with war-cabinet orientation. The putting together of these teams is the responsibility ahead of every Nigeria that has a heart for his/her country and is interested in his/her future and those of his/her children.
We have an opportunity next month to be part of selecting these teams both for the legislative and the executive arms. If you fail to be involved, you will only be delaying the survival of Nigeria. The starting point is to have your PVC. Then actually go out to vote and, keeping within the law, ensure that your vote counts. Nobody will do this for you. You owe your children the obligation. Remember, like Nehemiah, God has placed you in a position to help build the walls of Jerusalem.
Have a blessed week as you make yourself available to give Nigeria a bright future.
Your brother, Vicar & Archdeacon
S.Igein Isemede
COMMITMENT FOR THE YEAR
ALL TO JESUS I SURRENDER – CNH 618 (STANZA 1)
All to Jesus I surrender
All to Him I freely give
I will ever love and trust Him,
In His presence daily live.
Chorus:
I surrender all, I surrender all
All to Thee my blessed Saviour,
I surrender all.