I have heard leaders of the United
States of America say this phrase ever so often, "God Bless America",
it’s not often that I hear leaders of our nation, Nigeria say the same.
In America, it’s almost a cliche, but not the same with us here in
Nigeria.
A very good friend, Kemi called me
the other day and insisted she had to come see me to discuss something
important. It happened to be one of those busy times in the life of a #NewsMan,
and saying yes immediately was really not an option, but her persistence was
such that my hands were forced and I obliged.
We had a breakfast meeting and the
story of Kemi's eating habit would be told one day *big smile*, but I am
thrilled we had this meeting and the information shared truly delighted my
heart, or should I say, was amazingly heartwarming!
Kemi weaved a short tale about a
group of people who come together on Sundays to ask God to Bless Nigeria.
They do not do this by just praying and repeating a pointless mantra but
they practically become the blessing to Nigeria that a lot of our leaders have
failed to be.
This group of people gets to the
meeting point as early as 6.30am and some from about 7am on Sunday mornings.
There are Medical Doctors, Nurses, Caterers, Cooks, Drivers,
Psychologists, Barbers, Hairdressers, Cleaners, who come in bright and early,
artisans and professionals dressed in casual outfits and ready to be the
blessing to Nigeria that some of us only dream about and sometimes pray God
will send to this nation.
Kemi warned me to be dressed casually,
so I put on my blue trainers, my Jeans and a polo shirt, short-sleeve and ready
to blend in. She was kind enough to drive all the way from Victoria
Island to Opebi, just to pick me up at home, and then drive down to the meeting
point just on the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, where I am meant to join the people
who have chosen to dedicate their Sunday morning to answer the prayer,
"God Bless Nigeria".
We arrived at the meeting point at
about 8am, I felt like we were late because of my morning coffee, it takes
almost 5 minutes to warm my semi-skimmed milk without cooking it, so I can
enjoy a coffee latte that has a drop of honey and it’s the heavenly taste that
makes my morning exciting. Ignore me on this one, I am silly like that...
*laughing*. It’s one of those pleasures of life formed out of habit.
I was introduced to a lady called
Ehi, she coordinates the multi-media side of things here, Ehi welcomed me with
a big, bright smiles and a warm handshake. Ehi asked me to wait a minute and
she called a "well-rounded" gentleman, his name is Nonso, to join us.
Nonso was introduced as one of those who go out on the field.
OK, these people who have opted to
be blessing to Nigeria, by the grace of God, go out on Sunday morning looking
for Nigerians that need a blessing, that need a helping hand, that need
support, that want their lives changed, but do not have a clue of where to
start from.
I left the premises with Nonso and
we headed for Oke-Afa. Nonso told me tales of prostitutes that have been
invited and taken care of, counseled, supported, given opportunity to change
their life choices and in essence, change their lives.
Nonso talked about drug addicts who
have lost hope and are just resigned to beg or steal to feed their bad habits,
but God, in blessing Nigeria through these professionals and artisans who are
trusting God to make them the blessing Nigeria needs, these addicts have been
washed, cleaned, fed, then taken into a place of refuge and treated by doctors
that have weaned them off their addictions. These people have come off
drugs and are now gainfully employed or been given a chance to be one of the
few people now enjoying grants provided to start small businesses.
I listened and was there wondering
where all these Nigerians who choose to be a blessing to the nation came from.
Anyway, it did not take long, we were at Oke-Afa, and Nonso parked his car.
Once out of the car, I looked up and it looked like a shanty town built
on a refuse dump. It simply reminded me of BBC's documentary series "Welcome
To Lagos" which I watched and recorded in London a while ago.
The stench was overwhelming when you
are not used to it. Nonso warned me to keep my eyes glued to where I was
heading to avoid stepping on waste, both human's and dog's. A couple of
hundred yards and we were in the thick of it, as in the smell of human waste,
refuse dump fused together with cigarette and marijuana.
There were smelly young and
middle-aged men who looked like they have not seen water for ages because the
only liquid they had around happened to be Gin, Stout, Gulder, Ogogoro, Schnapps
and other alcoholic beverages, emphasis on the very cheap and strong ones.
Virtually everyone of them had marijuana in their hands, as they say, how do
you like it, thin, slim and cheap or thick, fat and "orobo", almost
the size of "igbo" you will see in the hand of Fela Anikulapo-Kuti of
blessed memory.
A small number were hiding their
"igbo" (marijuana) from Nonso, saying, "good morning pastor, how
now, I go come church today ooo, I jus wan finish sumtin wey I dey do now
now". Nonso moved close to each one, shook hands and asked them why
they were still smoking hemp? "You know you have given your life to Christ
and you are now Gideon's Army, you should be here winning souls and encouraging
others to come to church" Nonso chided.
Almost all the time, he got a wry
smile and a mumbled response that sounded like an apology of some sort.
Nonso told me these people needed help, they need re-housing, as long as
they are left with no choice but to come back to this same environment, they
will be just like pigs, washed, groomed and dressed up, then thrown back into
the dirty sty and mud, it will roll in it again and again.
I sat with quite a few of them until
I was getting a bit heady from inhaling the strong smell of marijuana being
blown in my face. I listened to their stories and encouraged them to be open
and tell me all. While some are desperate to kick the habit, some have
given up hope and just believe they will live the rest of their lives like
this.
"Sebi, you too be pastor, abi,
look all dis God tin no dey sell again, if you wan helep me, give me money make
I start business or give me job wey dey pay well well." One of them
shouted at me. There were stories that could easily become epic films and will
sell out on the bookshelves worldwide. I cannot sum it up in one go.
After about 2hours of walking
around, talking, listening watching Nonso persuade, encourage, negotiate and
reason with even some that were unreasonable, we had to leave. A 16 Seater bus
was waiting, next to Nonso's car and it was packed full with a few men, but
more of women and young children. Obviously the young men don't mind
their partners and wives going to God Bless Nigeria, but they were way too busy
smoking hemp and drinking themselves into a stupor.
I have intentionally opted to keep
the Church part out of the God Bless Nigeria Church. It is a church and
place of worship that is an initiative of Pastor Tony Rapu's ministry. When
Nonso and I got back to the church the place was buzzing, there were children,
women, including pregnant ones, there were men, young and old all milling
around, some seated in the various classes, some in the clinic to receive
treatment or run tests, other that were having a haircut and women having their
hair washed and set for them without paying a kobo.
I saw and listened to a man who said
he has just come out of prison and he did not want to do anymore what he did
that led him to prison. So, all he wants is God, and he has been told God is
here at God Bless Nigeria, so he came to meet God and see his life changed for
good. A member of the Gideon's Army took him around to get him washed,
fed, given fresh clothes and they were looking into finding a home for him.
The stories are incredible and
compelling, I waited to be part of the service after a short chat with the
Pastor in Charge for this Sunday. She was a pretty and soft-spoken lady
called Ronke Akinnola. The worship session was almost like watching a
concert with Obesere, Ayuba, Wasiu and throw in Iyanya, P-Square and Tuface all
worshipping God. It was an awesome praise and worship experience.
Watching some of these people dance
reminded me of what King David of Israel must have looked like in 2 Samuel
6:14-23. They danced with "reckless abandon" and unlike some
other churches, there were no "forming" or pretentions.
I can write a book about God Bless
Nigeria, from just one experience, and I probably will do just that in due
course. But today Part One in the God Bless Nigeria series has just been
completed.
I will end this with what a wise man
of God told me during our last conversation in my office, Bishop Matthew Kukah,
told me about his experience in America. He was offered a very juicy
position with very fantastic financial package and perks, but he turned it
down. His reason was that he will spend his entire strength, might and
abilities in America to have minimum impact, but just a sizable amount of his
strength, might and abilities spent on something positive in Nigeria will
generate impact that will surely warm the hearts of men and God in Nigeria.
That just reminded me my reason for being back home in Nigeria and my
reason for being "raison d'etre'.
If you have doubts about the work of
God Bless Nigeria Church as I explained above, watch what they recorded in the
story of Fatima, whose life was transformed -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHrqQnV2v88&feature=player_embedded
