NIGERIA AT 57: THE DEARTH OF GODLY LEADERSHIP
I. THE TEXT: JEREMIAH 9:23-24
“23 This is what the Lord says: ‘Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, 24 but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight," declares the Lord.’”
II. PROTOCOL
III. THE TASK OF ACHIEVING PEACE AND UNITY IN A MULTI-ETHNIC, MULTI-CULTURAL AND MULTI-RELIGIOUS NIGERIA
I borrowed and modified the question raised by Bishop Joseph Bagobiri: “Can Nigeria remain as one, united, indivisible, prosperous, just, sustainable and peaceful country? Pastor Sunday Adelaja asked these questions:
(1) What knowledge or information are Nigerians being fed with?
Our lack of national unity, values and standards of life have increased the state of falsity of life to the extent that our national life is based upon falsehood, deceit, hypocrisy and mistrust. Negative values such as, prejudice, biases, discrimination, differential and preferential of others and stereotyping are all rooted in what information or ideas Nigerians have fed with, especially about each other. As a result, Nigerians do not live a transparent life, they become crime-prone, dubious, cheats, deceitful, 419ners, terrorists, kidnappers, invaders, killers, armed and pen-robbers, etc.
(2) What moral character is built into the citizenry, whether good or bad?
What moral values are built into the lives of Nigerians? How are moral values inculcated or nurtured in Nigeria? Are they of national or of common values or they are exclusively sub-national, tribal, religious, regional, sectional? The moral state of Nigeria today was not like that at independence. It was not like that even in the early 1970s. Why the sudden moral fall of Nigeria after 1976? The attitudes, behaviours and social practices of an average Nigerian are matters of great concern. Are Nigerians groomed or nurtured to become first and foremost Nigerian citizens or exclusive ethnic or religious personality that is anti-Nigeria? In effect, and as a people, we have lost speaking and living the truth. Truth is a scarce commodity in both our private and national life. We have lost truth to falsehood. What about integrity? One hardly finds people of high moral principles and standards of life. What about honesty? To be open and sincere in dealing with people. Bribery and corruption have wiped out honesty, faithfulness and sincerity. What about justice? Are we fair and impartial with each other as Nigerians? Nepotism, tribalism and religious and cultural bigotry have mortgaged our sense of equality, rights, equity, freedom and justice.
(3) What principles and values govern the attitudes, behaviour and social practices of Nigerians?
Pastor Adelaja says: “The quality of a nation depends on the moral character of their people and the principles upon which they built their lives” The present negative moral character of an average Nigerian is the greatest enemy and threat to the survival of Nigeria as a nation. Nigerians are the worst enemies of themselves and Nigeria. Our moral character has set us on course to self-destruction and collision with the Creator of the heavens and earth. We must take the challenge of moral engineering of Nigerians very seriously.
I would like to ask this Audience four thought provoking questions in light of our Nigerian experience:
Is Peace Achievable in Nigeria? What this means is that we need an army of serious and committed Peace-Makers.
Is Unity Achievable in Nigeria? What this means is that we need men and women of steel as Bridge Builders.
Is Selfless Service possible in Nigeria? What this means is that we need men and women who are willing and ready to sacrifice their comforts and serve humanity that is in need.
Is Patriotism Possible in Nigeria? What this means is that we need citizens of of Nigeria that will put Nigeria and the nation above self, sub-nationalism, parochialism and proclivity.
Yes, peace can be achieved. Yes, unity can be achieved. Yes, selfless service is possible. Yes, patriotism is possible. All these can be achieved and also are possible, but only at a supreme cost and at a high price. Personal sacrifice is needed even to the point of martyrdom. It is for this reason that we ask, “What will it cost you personally to become a peace-maker, a bridge builder, a patriot, a servant leader, one who serves selflessly and one who is ready to die at the cost of peace and unity in Nigeria at large? Why peace, unity, patriotism and selfless service are scarce commodities in Nigeria today? Why is it that Nigerians are not willing to make personal sacrifices in order to achieve peace and unity? Why it is that ethnic, religious and regional groups are not willing to make collective sacrifices in order to achieve peace and unity? Why is it that Nigerians generally are not willing to forgive one another. Why is it so difficult for some Nigerians to even renounce their rights for the sake of peace?,
IV. GOD’S FOUNDATIONAL VALUES OF LEADERSHIP
The passage read (Jeremiah 9:23-24) describes vividly the characteristics of the Nigerian soul. The heart of Nigeria consists of the following types of persons:
(1) Those who pride themselves in the exercise of selfish wisdom without God
(2) Those who pride themselves in the exercise of selfish strength without God
(3) Those who pride themselves in the exercise of selfish riches without God
Wisdom without God; strength without God; and riches without God have been the bane and dearth of leadership and are obstacles to human co-existence, unity and peace. The outcomes of such character traits are rooted in the following:
(1) A lack of the knowing God—the Sovereign Lord of the universe
(2) A lack knowing the kindness of God for all people on earth
(3) A lack knowing the justice of God for all people on earth
(4) A lack knowing the righteousness of God for all people on earth
But the delight of God is on seeing how human beings and leaders exercise knowledge of God, kindness of God, justice of God and righteousness of God on earth.
V. A PROPHETIC MODEL
A prophet looks at God and what does he see? He sees the holiness of God, the righteousness of God, the justice of God, the faithfulness of God. It is with this divine eye-glasses that he sees human society. And what does he see? Instead of holiness he sees profanity; instead of righteousness, he sees unrighteousness, wickedness, injustice and unfaithfulness of human beings.
Nigerian society is in dare need of God’s prophets and not lying and greedy prophets; prophets that preach peace and not violence. We have prophets in Nigeria right now that preach “salvation is found in violence”.
VI. GODLY LEADERSHIP
Jeremiah 9:23-24 is a godly definition of leadership and governance. The term godly occurs several times in the Bible. Its Hebrew meaning refers to "one who exercises loving-kindness toward others" (Micah 7:2), and one who also "demonstrates faithfulness to God" (Psalm 12:1). There is a great lack of such godly people in contrast to the ungodly and the wicked. In the New Testament, its Greek meaning connotes piety and devoutness (1 Timothy 2:2; 4:7-8; 6:3; 2 Peter 1:6-7; 3:11; Titus 1:1). In these passages, a devout life is always contrasted with that of heretics (devout unbelievers who oppose God's truth) and libertines (those who live a carefree live, unconcern about correct morals) (The Eerdmans Bible Dictionary 1987:429). The Bible makes it very clear that the fear of the Lord is the basis of godliness. Godly people tremble at God’s word and fear him. When they observe the glory, power, majesty, holiness and all other attributes of God, they tremble and fear the Lord (Edwards 1984:11).
God does not look for influential and powerful people as leaders, but looks at the heart, the seat of all motives and dispositions. “For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Sam. 16:7). Prophet Isaiah emphasized these inner qualities in his Messianic Ruler: He states:
The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him,
The Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
The Spirit of counsel and might,
The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.
His delight is in the fear of the Lord,
And He shall not judge by the sight of His eyes,
Nor decide by the hearing of His ears;
But with righteousness He shall judge the poor,
And decide with equity for the meek of the earth;
He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth,
And with the breath of His lips He shall slay the wicked.
Righteousness shall be the belt of His lions,
And faithfulness the belt of His waist (Isa. 11:2-5).
From this passage, a godly leader after the pattern of the Messiah has these inner qualities:
(1). He is empowered by the Spirit of God to do extraordinary things, miracles or wonders;
(2). He is guided by the moral standards and is also counseled and guided by the Spirit, wisdom, understanding, fear, and knowledge of God;
(3). He is not guided, counseled or influenced by human sight, hearing or any consideration;
(4). He is guided by God's principles of righteousness, equity, justice and faithfulness;
(5). He is guided by God's word of truth and judgment;
(6). He is protected, guarded and strengthened by God’s righteousness, integrity and uprightness.
These inner moral maxims enumerated smacks at tribalism, sectionalism, racism, religious and cultural bigotry that are plaguing Nigeria. The character of leaders should be molded, conditioned and defined by God’s moral principles.
Godliness which is the moral nature and character of God is a very strong antidote to any form of corruption in leaders and ultimately our communities, institutions and social orders. Having power and great influence over people, or having social and human skills, or managerial and administrative skills, these in themselves are not good enough. They must be rooted in godly character. A godly character can only be sustained by a disciplined moral life-style. Training in righteousness and in moral discipline produces a moral and disciplined life-style (2 Tim. 3:116-17).
Someone defines leadership as the ability to influence others to do what you want, regardless of the consequence. Leadership in this sense is strictly a matter of influence, whether good or bad. The basic leadership quality that is identified is influence or power. The morality and ethics of influence or power are not usually considered as very important. The focus is on what influence or power can achieve. A leader can influence people to achieve good ends, or bad ends. Seen from this perspective, leadership can be acquired by both good and wicked people. The focus of this type of leadership is on ensuring lasting and powerful influence upon the followers or people. Leaders of this nature rely heavily upon the power which authority gives them and also upon the power of their influence upon people and institutions. What differentiate good leaders from bad leaders are the results, or the consequences of their leadership, either of good ends or of bad ends. Leadership or governance in itself is a moral quality, it has to be judged by a higher moral standard, and this moral standard is the sovereignty and lordship of God.
In leadership, God pays greater attention to the needs and the aspirations of the ordinary people. For this reason, God holds all leaders accountable to the ordinary people. The Prophets of the Old Testament have always called upon the leaders or the rulers of the people about their acts of injustices against the poor, the widows and orphans as these violates not only their persons, but also, creation principles.
“For wicked men are found among my people; they lurk like fowlers lying in wait. They set a trap; they catch men. Like a cage full of birds, their houses are full of deceit; therefore they have become great and rich; they have grown fat and sleek. They know no bounds in deeds of evil; they judge not with justice the cause of the fatherless, to make it prosper, and they do not defend the rights of the needy” (Jer. 5:26-28).
Leaders are held accountable at two levels: (1) accountability at the level of humanity and human institutions and social orders; and (2) accountability to God and his creation orders. From human practice of leadership and governance, accountability has often been enforced at the human level, but not at the divine and creational levels. The divine and creational levels have often been left unaddressed. For this reason, human values have dominated the concepts and principles of leadership and governance.
In judging or assessing the quality of leadership or governance, the most important ingredient is usually missing, that is, the moral character of leaders.
Let us now look at leadership from another human perspective. Leadership is a constituted authority with some defined powers. When conferred with such a constituted authority by a constituted body, leadership becomes alive in a person or persons. This defines leadership in terms of legitimacy and authority. Leadership is constituted by a recognized body or authority. This is leadership with authority and power under human organizations.
But also leadership can be stolen. It can be illegitimate. It can be given or conferred, or it can be taken by force. The source and how leadership is obtained or conferred are very important in ascertaining its use and the exercise of its power(s). In a situation of power conflict, soldiers do take power by force and impose their leadership upon the people. However, taking leadership by force does not exempt such leaders or rulers from the moral exercise of good leadership or governance. A higher universal moral law of makes such leaders morally bound to rule in righteousness, kindness and justice. They are compelled to do so because the people whom they have imposed themselves upon stand within God’s creation orders. Secondly, they are also compelled to do so because their position of authority and power is subordinate to the sovereignty and lordship of God. Thirdly, they are compelled to do so because their relationships and responsibilities are rooted in the creational principles of the Creator.
Leadership as a concept and a moral principle is transcendental, that is, leaders are under the rule of higher divine authority. In the Bible, the source and origin of constituted authority or leadership is God himself. The entire book of Daniel and the Apostles Paul and Peter (Rom. 13:1-7; 1 Peter 2:13-25) clearly state that God is the source and origin of authority and power. Authority and power have a special delegated place and function in human society (Rom. 13:1-7). This understanding of the source of leadership parts company with worldly sources of constituted authority or leadership. Any leadership or constituted authority in human society is rooted in God's creative authority (Genesis 1-12). As the Creator, God owns the entire universe and every human society. God also instituted the human social orders through his creative powers. God as Supreme Creator delegated his authority and power to man. Man was given the mandate of ruling God's creation, the animal world, the human world and nature. But man's authority or power is essentially a delegated one and is rooted in God’s nature and character. Leadership, authority and power are to be exercised within God’s created orders.
No authority or power that man has that is not delegated from God (Rom. 13). Prophet Daniel made this fact abundantly clear to all the rulers of Babylon and in extension to all the rulers of human kingdoms in all ages. In fact the entire Book of Daniel is indeed a definition of how man's delegated authority or leadership ought to be in relationship to God's sovereignty. It is only God who is the Supreme and Sovereign Ruler of all kingdoms of men (Daniel 2,4,5). This revealed concept that man in all forms of leadership and governance has only a delegated authority or power. This view was taken to its highest definition and practice in the Book of Revelation (Rev. 11:15), when all the kingdoms of the earth become that of the Messiah. This is a fulfillment of the prophecy of Daniel (Daniel 7:13-14). The finality of the supreme rule of God in the entire universe was revealed in Jesus the Messiah as revealed in the book of Revelation.
From the foregoing, we can assert that man’s leadership in all forms over his fellow humans is indeed a delegated one. They are all subordinate to the supreme sovereignty, authority, power and rule of God (Romans 13:1-4). God is the only Sovereign, Ruler and Judge. If God is both the Final Ruler and the Final Judge, it means that all those exercising leadership authority and power do so only as subordinates under God's rule and judgment. No human being who is under God’s sovereignty, authority, power and rule can misbehave without incurring God’s wrath and judgment. He holds the place and position of leadership or rule only in trust under God. The Prophetic books of the Old Testament are full of God’s injunctions to all leaders and rulers to rule and judge the people in righteousness, justice, kindness and humility (Jer. 9:23-24; Amos, Obadiah, Habakkuk).
Because of its nature, form and status, leadership, authority or power must be approached reverentially, fearfully and in trembling, and it must also be handled with utmost care. As all human authority and power are delegated and subordinate, none is supreme or preeminent. The primary goal and objective of the delegated and the subordinate human authority and power is to reflect, promote, protect and defend God’s holiness, righteousness, justice, truth and faithfulness in the exercise of leadership or governance. They are to be made the moral principles of social life.
Leadership or rule is a serious business which commands God's absolute interest and attention because this affects his creatures. In Biblical history, we see that nations or peoples were blessed or became prosperous because of their godly leaders or rulers. On the contrary, nations or peoples were judged and punished by God because of their ungodly and wicked leaders. The Biblical accounts of the kings of Israel and Judah in 1 and 2 Samuel, 1 and 2 kings and 1 and 2 Chronicles give a vivid narration of God’s judgment and punishment of Israel and Judah on account of their ungodly and wicked kings, rulers, priests and prophets and at times the generality of the common people. Kings that were godly, their people enjoyed God’s blessings and prosperity.
The moral decay of nations, peoples, or social institutions is usually as a result of their ungodly and wicked leaders and rulers. On the contrary, peaceful and prosperous nations, peoples or social institutions are as a result of their godly leaders and rulers. Thus, it pays for nations, peoples and social institutions to have godly leaders and rulers.
VII. OBSTACLES TO NATION BUILDING
From 1960 to 2017, that is, a period of 57 years, we can say that Nigeria has made some modest gains, achievements, development and transformation, but has remained perpetually underdeveloped, stunted growth, confused and conflicting principles of social, economic and political development. We can trace back and identify three major fundamental obstacles to our nation building:
(1) Lack of transformational political leadership
to see themselves as transforming political leaders with the enormous task of building a nation by creating a conducive and viable Nigerian social environment where more than 400 ethnic groups, three major religions and three major regions can co-exist peacefully and harmoniously. They could not define nor develop the social concept of unity in diversity. This social and political phenomenon is being reflected in our current confusion, deception and denials about restructuring. We are not talking about ordinary politicians, but those who know what is takes to develop and transform Nigeria at two levels: the level of humanity and environment (creation). The majority of our politicians are not transformational political leaders.
(2) Lack of a vision of society/nation
At independence, our Nationalists did not address the question of a vision of society/nation. What society or nation do we want to create for all Nigerians? Our short history has revealed that our primary interest was NOT on how to create a conducive, viable, prosperous, stable and sustainable Nigerian society and nation, but our focus has been on greedy and reckless economic exploitations, on the one hand, and lust for political, ethnic, religious and economic powers, on the other. Our current divisive and rancorous clamor for Project Nigeria is a reflection of a people with a serious lack of a national vision, mission and goal.
(3) Lack of a national ethic
A lack of a National Ethic is also a lack of the Rule of Law. Why Nigerians generally do not keep and obey state laws, social rules and religious ethics? They love breaking laws, rules and ethics. Why leaders at various levels of our national life do not follow rules, but enjoy breaking them? As a result, no leadership by example; no integrity, honesty, accoutability, hard work, humaneness, discipline and godliness; no social and personal morality and ethics. We have a national ethical structure: constitution; legislations; legal systems and law enforcing agents; but they all lack legitimacy among Nigerians. As a result, there is no national ethic to guide, direct and moderate conduct, attitudes, behaviours and social life. We have become a people and nation of law-breakers. People take laws into their hands and become lawless.
There are three powerful and pervasive negative social forces that rule, control and govern Nigerians which needs to be addressed by the leaders:
(1) Ethnocentrism and primordialism
These are tribalism/ethnicity; regionalism/sectionalism; religious and cultural bigotry. Nigeria is ruled and governed by these negative sub-national, divisive, diversionary and conflictual values and interests.
(2) Moral decadence and social indiscipline; spiritual and social crises and conflicts.
Nigerian environment is characterized by moral decadence and social indiscipline with no national norms, morality, ethics, objectives and standards.
(3) Social corruption and structural decay
These are the by-products of ethnocentrism and primordialism; moral decadence and social indiscipline. Social corruption and structural decay are prevalent and pervasive in Nigeria.
(4) An average Nigerian is also ruled by three major internal evils
Self-centredness and pride: This pair reflects two forms of sinful attitudes
Greed and lust: This pair reflects two forms of sinful desires
Anxiety and fear
VIII. WHAT IS THE WAY FORWARD?
1. I appeal to all Nigerians to see the urgency and the need of raising and grooming godly transformational political leaders at all levels of our national life with the goal of developing and transforming an average Nigerian to achieve his/her full potentials, on the one hand, and equally also, on the other hand, to transform the Nigerian environment by creating a conducive, viable, united, peaceful, prosperous, stable, just, participatory and sustainable Nigerian society.
2. I appeal to all Christian, Muslim and Traditional leaders to go beyond attacking each and ineffective dialoguing to seriously engage and interact with each other so as to create new national common-ground religious values that can guide a national religious ethic of unity in diversity.
3. I appeal to all ethnic nationalities and regional groupings to go beyond attacking each other to seriously engage and interact with each other so as to create a new national common-ground inter-group values that can guide and moderate a national life and ethic of unity in diversity.
4. I passionately appeal to the Federal Government, that in view of the current state of the nation, an urgent National Conference be convened to settle the question of restructuring. As a member of 2014 National Conference much groundwork had already been done and it can be used as working document in view of present realities.
5. I passionately appeal to all Nigerians to embrace common-ground values that unite us and shun divisive and controversial values that create crises and conflicts. “Be the change you want to see” and “Change begins with me”.
May God bless Nigeria!
References
Adelaja, Sunday. 2008. “The Problem with Nigeria: Where Do We Go from Here? Nation Builder: A. Journal of the AiMP Network LTD/GTE, Volume 1 Number 1, 2008.
Bagobiri, Joseph D. 2017. “That Nigeria May Remain, One, United, Indivisible, Prosperous, just and Peaceful Country.” Reflection: 1st October: Solemnity of Our Lady, Queen and Patroness of Nigeria.
Turaki, Yusufu. 2009. “Nigeria: A Nation in Search of Its Soul.”
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