Nigeria and China share the same independence anniversary on October 1. But while China is 60, this year, Nigeria is 49. In Nigeria the celebrations have been low key…perhaps not so in China. Why then have I titled this blog 49 years of greatness? Are we talking about the same country?
I offer words of comfort to everyone who has ever been left wondering – why was I created thus? Why am I the subject of so much ridicule, disdain and reproach? Why do I feel so despised though I know there is still so much good in me? Why do I have this conviction that greatness is my destiny – yet can only find evidence of decay, barrenness and corruption?
These were frequently the thoughts of David. Indeed when he showed up at the battle with his brothers’ lunch pack, his older brother yelled at him. I Samuel 17[28] What are you doing here! Why aren’t you minding your own business, tending that scrawny flock of sheep? I know what you’re up to. You’ve come down here to see the sights, hoping for a ringside seat at a bloody battle!”
David learnt to celebrate God and what God had etched in his soul and not what was evident. He wrote these words.
Psalm139[14] I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.
Psalm 139 [16] Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. [17] How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!
Of all the characters in the Bible, David was perhaps the most denied, humiliated, desperate and terrified…so much that we read in 1 Samuel 21 [11] And the servants of Achish said unto him, Is not this David the king of the land? did they not sing one to another of him in dances, saying, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands? [12] And David laid up these words in his heart, and was sore afraid of Achish the king of Gath. [13] And he changed his behaviour before them, and feigned himself mad in their hands, and scrabbled on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle fall down upon his beard. [14] Then said Achish unto his servants, Lo, ye see the man is mad: wherefore then have ye brought him to me? [15] Have I need of mad men, that ye have brought this fellow to play the mad man in my presence? shall this fellow come into my house?
But “mad” David was the one God called the man after His heart, the one whose life replicated so much the sacrifice of the coming Messiah and whose praises, songs and obsession with God earned perhaps (apart from Jesus Christ himself) the most celebrated and prestigious title in the annals of scripture – for Christ is called the son of David.
Join me in celebrating 49 years of greatness. Nigeria, I pray that everything that was absent from God’s plan, on that day - before the foundations of the earth when you were conceived, will soon fade away. I do say the same prayer for someone out there reading – you will yet be celebrated in Christ Jesus. Amen.
More on God’s perspective on contemporary issues can be found in my recently published book Wealth out of Ashes .
For related articles and free subscription to articles by the author please click icon below.
Bode Ososami
Dear Friends,
I share this gift with you as Nigeria celebrates her 49th year of Greatness. This is indeed a message of hope and the certainty that, “the glory of this latter house shall be greater than the former….”
God bless you as click into this blog.
Thanks for sharing. Unfortunately there is nothing to be Optimistic about in Nigeria. Is it the Corruption, lack of care for humanity, Politicians that all they want to do is loot the treasury of Nigeria, lack of health care, no good Roads, Pollution, Filth, should I go on. My mum got to Nigeria tonight, and I called her at the hotel to make sure all is well with her, just as I greeted her, the hotel went into darkness, (NEPA MU NO LO) in this day and age in Nigeria. Were still battling stupid things like this.
People are dying everyday from Cancer, the pollution from Generators is enough to give anyone all kinds of cancer. All the get rich schemes is embarrassing. Do you know how much I get made fun of, because of all this 419. All the infrastructure that the White man had left is the only thing in Nigeria that is still standing. Look at all the bridge in Lagos, no maintenance, I worry for the poor souls that drive on those bridge every day. You have to wonder is there a Government in that Country.
How much money can anyone spend in a LIFETIME. All they care about is to keep taking from the poorest of the poor in Nigeria. And God will ask all this people.The bible says that the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom, do this Politician fear this God.
Look at the poor people in Nigeria starving to death, no proper health, the roads have killed alot of the bright people that can change the future and promise of Nigeria. Arm robbers is so rampant. It is just distressing to see what a pass Nigeria has turned too. Lawlessness prevails.
There is nothing good about this INDEPENDENCE, only a “SAD” reminder of the dialection of duties of our Politician. Where we reside, we are not claiming that they have a perfect system, but we know that there is Accountability. And that’s what makes a difference.
May God have MERCY on all Nigerians and may he please help us fix our “HOME” in Jesus name. Afterall there is no place like home.
Indeed, but we must also celebrate what Nigeria will still be…and that is a great country…
I do agree with your (much understated) synopsis of our current situation and I believe if it were possible for God’s eternally enduring mercy to be depleted then Nigerians would have already exhausted it. History has however taught that it often takes only one man who will run in a brief window in time, fearing not even death, to bring great and radical transformation to a nation …for good or for bad…perhaps you or someone reading is that person…
Can Nigeria find that leadership? …are things irrevocably bad?… Is there no “Martin Luther king” or “Mahatma Ghandi” or “William Wilberforce” (who faced incredibly daunting odds and impossible resistance) hidden in the extremely vast treasure of mental, spiritual and intellectual talent that exists in this nation? Our greatest assets today may be our future dreams and the potential and the hopes we can still cling to. If we lose all hope for our nation, we abandon the future and banish our children to nothing…or at best second class stars in diaspora. We do not need another picture of decay or further exposition of our familiar maladies…we need someone to switch on the light that dispels the foreboding darkness…and a call to hope and action.
I saw a recent historical documentary of Europe and could see that they had their share of despotic/mad monarchs, revolutions, uprisings, unbelievable injustice…but over time progress seem to have come…the “dark ages” gave way to the “Reformation”…things can get better…and we can all play a role…
I do not believe irresponsible or lacklustre country leadership is sustainable, neither are the other many well known social vices that plague us. How long can mediocrity and deception continue to fool the populace? Surely not forever…This is the evidence from history. Nigeria will also have its Reformation.
I thank God and celebrate that He has preserved this nation for 49 yrs and continue to watch, pray, change and prepare towards a Nigeria we all will be proud of…soon.
Very well said.
To give up on Nigeria is to literally give up on God’s capability to turn it around.
Let’s continue to believe and pray – it’s an investment. If we do not benefit in our lifetimes (and I sincerely hope we do); it might please God to cause our children to.
Thanks for an idea, you sparked at idea from a concept I hadn’t given thoguht to before . Now lets see if I can do something productive with it.