Goodluck Will Follow You, Jonathan Will Be Your Faithful Friend.

Sometime last year, precisely on April 16, 2011, I wrote thus on my Facebook page and on other pages: “Goodluck will follow you, and Jonathan will be your faithful friend. Vote for your Goodluck, and vote for your Jonathan-all in a pack of assurances for all.” This statement was not in any way birthed as a result of the common knowledge of the Nigerian brand of politics; rather, it came from an uncommon insight regarding the times and seasons of life. Even while I wrote it, as a man who has come to abhor, in every sense of the word, the spirit seated on Nigeria's polity, I was aware that Goodluck Jonathan was not God…as no one else is. However, one thing stood out: his election, as clearly seen, was orchestrated to touch the foundation of this evil called Nigeria – to go down the root of its existence and pull out every false plantation – no matter the consequence. This, I saw, would not be carried out, per se, by Goodluck himself when and if elected; however his presidency remains the only one so far – from the evil amalgamation to date - that will grant for the workings already decided by the watchers.

When I think of “Goodluck,” and without letting myself be dragged to the argument of those who claim to be in the “spiritual know” on whether to accept “luck” as part of “God's graces” or as men's choice of fate over faith, I quickly remember the man Nabal. In Abigail's plea - Abigail, Nabals' wife who later got married to David-, where she petitioned: “May my lord pay no attention to that wicked man Nabal. He is just like his name--his name is Fool, and folly goes with him,” I was stirred to consider the power in names. Others, in the early Bible documentations, whose names were affected either for good or evil, include Abraham (Abram), Israel (Jacob); Benjamin (Ben-oni), etc. A case which stood out was the story of Jabez; even when records show that he “was more honorable than his brethren,” he went through untold difficulties because her mother named her Jabez (affliction). Thus it remained until his heartfelt call on God changed his story. When also I think of “Jonathan,” I can't but remember the heir of Saul's throne, who saw the anointing and the mantle on the young David, and swore to him in submission and in partnership. He readily forfeited his throne which was rightly his according to the flesh, and surrendered his life and future to God through David's reign – accepting the anointing on him as the “man after God's heart and believing that, through David, God is able to keep his people and bring fulfill His promise to Israel. Following the story of Prince Jonathan of Saul's history, one thing was unmistakable: his posterity was remembered for all time.

I am aware that, in these days, when men have consciously, willingly and joyfully renounced the place of God in creation and in their lives, names – no matter what they are called - rarely carry the power and anointing inherent. That tells why a man can be answering, as a name, Ikechukwu (God's power) but is the head of a blood-money cult; a woman is called Ndidi (patience) yet is into prostitution because she lacks patience; another man is called Amin (Faithful, trustworthy, custodian) but he goes about terrorizing his neighborhood, betraying his friends and killing those who love him despite himself, while others answer Aruoriwo (grace) but cannot sleep a day without having been bedded by every man who promises to throw in the cash – doing this joyfully and making one wonder if the “grace of God” has become a boost for promiscuity. Nevertheless, there is a great meaning and influence to a name - especially when the one who bears it is conscious of God, and of his real purpose in life.

During the presidential election of 2011, many argued that Buhari would be a better candidate to deal with the many issues of Nigeria; some even saw him as that “best candidate” who would not hesitate to “lynch those perceived to be the enemies. And so, they celebrated him. But the season we have entered is a season of justice - the justice which stems from God Himself. Without having to recount why Buhari was not and will never again be relevant in the leadership of Nigeria, it's pertinent to note that, with Buhari, democracy would have died and the South would have been silenced for God-knows-how long. A statement accredited to him during the election stated that he actually “warned” the Northerners that they would never get to the presidency for more than forty (40) years to come should they allow a Southerner to sit on the seat of the presidency. So, he advised a “lynching justice” if and when (because he was sure of losing out forever) he fails to secure the presidency. Your guess as to what followed and has continued to happen in Nigeria as a result of his aggressive campaign speeches is as good a guess as mine. One thing is sure about Buhari and his democratic speeches in army uniform: he would have never allowed anyone to utter a word had he clinched the presidency ticket; democracy would have died – along with the remaining zeal of the Southerners.

In my article on the 3rd of November, 2011, titled: “Subsidies In A Federation Of Dark Leaders? Impossible!”-

http://nigeriamasterweb.com/blog/index.php/2011/11/03/nigeria-subsidies-in-a-federation-of-dark-leaders-impossible- I made it abundantly clear that it's not about subsidies but about corruption. What I mean is this: everything in Nigeria has decayed and you cannot deal with anyone of them without having to deal with the foundation itself from where the putrefying smell oozes; and having to deal with the foundation without calling for a Sovereign National Conference (the most peaceful and manly measure) is as impossible and impracticable as trying to erect a condominium on the decayed and ant-infested pillars of a mud house. The only alternative, as clearly as all can see, remains a call for a Sovereign National Conference (SNC). As things keep unfolding lately in Nigeria, one begins to question who is guiltier: the government or the Labor union and other so-called affiliate bodies. Why it's becoming clear that the corruption in Nigeria goes beyond the three tiers of government, one wonders what other alternative Nigerians actually think is feasible and practicable outside of a Sovereign National Conference - a civil war, perhaps. When a people claim to abhor corruption but refuse to acknowledge that killing innocent people (a section of Nigerians) with impunity is a fibrous root deep down the foundation of corruption, then such people cannot, in any wise, claim to be fighting a just cause - whatsoever. Just as it was in the 60s, the Northern part of Nigeria has, for months, been carrying out acts of genocide against Igbo in a Nigeria said to belong to all, yet the so-called masses did not consider themselves affected enough to call for protests; but now that it's a case of fuel subsidy removal which, according to the government (remember, they can always come up with anything…as blind leaders leading blinds) is at the root of corruption in Nigeria, some sections of the country are now shouting: “we no go gree o, we no go gree!” Looking at all these, one, looking beyond the pains the removal of subsidy is obviously going to inflict on the masses for a given time or for all time – depending on how sincere Nigerians are-, pains common to Nigerians, one wonders what these NLC are actually protesting about or against.

A nation which has any potential for lasting a little longer than expected must carry everybody along – no matter from where they are coming. To this day, Igbo are still killed in their numbers all over the North – while the so-called soldiers and police look on. According to the presidency, Boko Haram has infiltrated the three tiers of government including the army, the police and the security apparatus in the country so much so that “even if one's son is a member, one will not even know.” While the Northern killing machines give out threats and carry them out to the letter, the people of the South, especially Igbo whose sons and daughters are killed more happily than Christmas chickens, have not as much as hurt a Northerner; yet the masses neither condemned it not protested against it. It's no longer news that, days after the Suleja church bomb blast, which claimed Igbo families in a row, the so-called emir of Suleja was yet to visit the scene, let alone commiserating with those fortunate enough to find themselves on hospital beds. In his mind, obviously, those they sent to carry out the bombings could not carry out a clean job. Finally, my word to those who protest against fuel subsidy removal, and those unions and bodies who stand against it: if you want freedom, your neighbor must be free also. Unless there is something you are not telling Nigerians (which will eventually spring up, by the way), your so-called campaign and protest should not be solely against fuel subsidy; it should be against the killing of Igbo all over Nigeria (unless you are telling me that Igbo is dispensable and inconsequential - in this case, we shall see), against the maddening salaries, allowances and unchecked oversea movements of those called our leaders; it should be against the money-extorting police, against the incessant school fees hike, against the importation and selling of foreign fuel to the largest oil producing country in Africa, against the many non-functional but salary-taking offices in the country and against… The list is unending; one simply cannot recount them. So, you see, protesting against subsidy removal without as much as saying a word against other home-rending issues is nothing but hypocrisy; it is, in itself, the chief of all corruptions. Knowing this and more, I will not hesitate to tell the NLC and other bodies or groups at its tail against this so-called strike and protests that you are working in vain. A corrupt society is not innocent and, therefore, cannot fight corruption. The only way to fight it, as long as Nigeria is concerned, is to visit the foundation of the country - to call for a conference amongst different tribal/ethnic groups within Nigeria - a conference where issues of oneness and progress will be thrashed out. Until this is done, those who watch do so in vain. By the way, whether you agree to a Sovereign National Conference or not, Nigeria has broken up long before now. The protests, therefore, is worthless in the long run. Let those who clamor for their rights and for freedom release the rights of others and stand in favor of their freedom. Nothing short of this is acceptable before God and before the ground which carries all. A word to ponder on: if a group as few as ten righteous men could have saved Sodom and Gomorrah, what then would a country filled tribal-hatred do to the inhabitants of any nation? Nigeria has been searched round and round, and there is none who stands for justice amongst those seeking to lead, how then can you expect to get justice for yourselves? Behold, the hammer of justice has come with the sword of execution in pursuit, and every injustice shall be judged. Nigerians have no right to protest against fuel subsidy when they secretly rejoice at the ethnic cleansing of the 60s which has continued unabated to date. You Nigerians, especially those who lead the protests: go and have a meeting with yourselves and come out again if you are men of truth, otherwise, remain forever silent until the sword of justice cuts its pound of flesh. He, who has ears, let him hear. But as the Lord lives, He will finish what He has purposed this term and this season of Goodluck Jonathan's reign, a truck-load of evil cannot cut it short. Until then, I will continue to believe in Goodluck (faith in God's time) and in Jonathan's brotherliness and faithfulness to usher in the spirit of true justice and God's promise to His people.

By Ikechukwu Enyiagu, [email protected]