With the 2022 Christmas celebrations around the corner, there are chances that many Nigerians, especially Christians are gearing up to pay visit to the president of the nation, Major General Muhammadu Buhari. This is normal. But given the perilous time the country has found herself; this year’s visit should take the format of the one paid to king Ahasuerus of Media Persia by Queen Esther as recorded by the Bible.
QUOTE: “Vice President Yemi Osinbajo’s message to Buhari at Christmas should include the fact that there is acute hunger and deprivation in the land. And that this is making the fight against corruption extremely difficult. The rate of inflation is unimaginable and par capital income of the nation has dropped below a tolerable level. Many members of the society with health challenges and children cannot afford recommended diets and drugs any more. Imagine a cup of rice costing as high as two hundred and fifty naira (N250)!”
For the avoidance of doubts and better clarity of purpose, with reference to those who may not be too familiar with the Holy Bible, Esther was a strong personality among the Jews and one of the wives of late King Ahasuerus, the emperor of Media Persia. Being an influential queen in the Kingdom, she was one of the closest Jews in the corridors of power in the ancient empire.
A time came when the king issued an order for all the Jews in the country to be exterminated. This order filtered into the ears of Mordecai, the foster father of Esther. For solutions, the Jewish patriot and gate keeper at the palace (Mordecai) quickly approached his daughter and urged her to appeal to the monarch to rescind his decision to wipe out the Jewish natives in their land.
Queen Esther’s immediate reaction was that it was not possible for her to meet with the emperor, given the time of the assignment. Insisting that there was great danger ahead that will equally consume the king’s wife, Mordecai mounted pressure on her to do the needful. This was when it dawned on Esther that there was indeed great danger awaiting her and all the Jews in Media Persia.
Changing her mind, the king’s favourite wife called on the Jews to join her in prayer and fasting for three days before she would muster energy and courage to execute the task given to her.
At the end of the three days fasting, Esther moved to her husband’s inner court with a declaration; “If I perish, I perish”. She met the king and as expected by surrogate father, the matter was settled in favour of the Jews.
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In the case of Nigeria, there are no proofs of the president actually wanting the country to disintegrate or dismember some regions of the nation and their religion. But he appears to be unaware that many things have gone so bad that the bond of unity among the citizens is at the brink of collapse. Thus leading the country to an avoidable war of secession that will make the last civil war a child’s play compared to the impending one.
Many well-meaning people have spoken in the mass media to catch the president’s attention to no avail. This is why an “Esther” is urgently needed to hold a short meeting with the Nigeria’s head of government, General Muhammadu Buhari.
There are many Esthers in the land, just as we have many Mordecais but one leader like Ahasuerus who reigned in Media-Persia at the time under reference. In a mathematical sentence, we can say; “Let Mordecai equals Tinubu, Amaechi, Fashola or Oshiomhole and let Osinbajo, Keyamu, Ngige or other Christians be equal to Esther while Buhari equals King Ahasuerus. This is assuming that Buhari would open the book of remembrance where there is record of how these people aided his journey to Aso Rock villa in 2015, just like Ahasuerus opened his and found out how useful Mordecai had been to him in securing his kingdom.
With Tinubu’s initiation for example and Osinbajo’s compliance with his approach, things will certainly change for the better unless there is an unseen spiritual script at play – in which case, the dilemma the nation finds herself today still stands to be for her own good.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo’s message to Buhari at Christmas should include the fact that there is acute hunger and deprivation in the land. And that this is making the fight against corruption extremely difficult. The rate of inflation is unimaginable and par capital income of the nation has dropped below a tolerable level. Many members of the society with health challenges and children cannot afford recommended diets and drugs any more. Imagine a cup of rice costing as high as two hundred and fifty naira (N250)!
Insecurity level is fast assuming a war-like dimension. Some law enforcement agents are taking the laws into their hands just as some citizens are equally doing so. How can we stop our children, especially, in the North from going to school, given the level of illiteracy in that region due to insecurity? With the election year fast approaching, one cannot but be worried by the spate of destruction of INEC facilities and killing of innocent citizens in many parts of Nigeria.
Nigeria’s electoral reforms that President Umoru Yar’Adua and his vice, Goodluck, Jonathan introduced must be fortified if the country is serious about conducting any election that the people will accept its results in the future. The Independent Electoral Commission, INEC has continued to assure the nation of her preparedness to conduct credible polls, using the biomodal voters’ accreditation system (BVAS). Tinubu and his co-doubting ‘thomases’ must do all they can to help the electoral umpire to succeed.
The citizens’ reliance on grapevine information about the actions or inactions of governments at all levels must be jettisoned in favour of openness. The president must address issues as they come up. Enough is enough of speculative economy!
Apart from the President and a few selfish individuals, many Nigerians are in favour of restructuring the country for better inclusiveness and development. This should not continue to be seen as a call for disintegration. Let the citizens discuss the way forward for their country (not Buhari’s).
Garuba Shehu, Femi Adesina and Lai Mohammed have done their best as information managers for the government. But their performance has been less than satisfactory. Only few Nigerians believe whatever message of government that emanates from these men. Therefore, to inject credibility and trust into government information process, there is need to change them, even if it means merely assigning them to other areas of governance.
Our leader must be reminded about the fact that a leader must always govern with the end of life on earth in view. The way she or he intends to be remembered should ‘ring bell’ in the fellow’s subconscious inner being. As history takes record like circuit camera television, so are the invisible elements standing by with intention to enforce all the laws weaved into creation by the Almighty God for or against anyone in compliance or violation of the principles. No one can escape this. Whatever a man sows, he shall also reap.
Meanwhile, since after Esther’s intervention, there have not been reported incidences of tribal or war of nepotism in Media-Persia. Esther’s vow of “If I perish, I perish” did not end in her death or harm. Our own Esther should take a cue from her. The action can equally guide our religious, political and economic leaders, especially from the southern part of the country into taking the necessary actions that will make Nigeria great again