Asked by a journalist what he thought of the Christian belief in the resurrection, a man was reported to have responded by saying: if indeed there were life after death, it would be a pleasant surprise.
That which has been described as a pleasant surprise is what Christians commemoratively celebrate at Easter as the high point and central event of their faith. Christians believe that, after the unjust execution of Jesus of Nazareth, God raised him from the dead, and that this is God’s offer of salvation to the world. Christian faith in the resurrection is rooted in the conviction that God does not just love, God is love, and that, because God, who is love, is eternal, his love has no end. Christians believe that neither persecution, nor suffering, nor death can put an end to the love of God. They believe that love is stronger than death, and that the power of God’s love raised Jesus from the dead. However, in a world whose history has led to widespread skepticism, such a message of hope might sound too good to be true.
Given so many tragic events, past and present, the temptation to lose hope is so strong that it is almost irresistible. Wars have been fought, are being fought, and are being prepared. Innocent and defenseless victims, young and old, suffer and die because of needless belligerence of others. The history of individuals and nations is a constant battle between life and death. It is therefore extremely difficult for some to accord any credibility to belief in the resurrection. Yet, the message of Easter is that life ultimately triumphs over death because God’s love is stronger than hatred. Injustice stares us in the face, and we appear helpless. But, for Christians, Easter means love conquers hatred, injustice is defeated because justice triumphs in the end.
Many Nigerians have lost hope in the country. A seemingly endless chain of disappointing civil and military regimes since independence has taught Nigerians to be pessimistic. Repeatedly offered hope only to see the hope repeatedly dashed, many Nigerians find it difficult to consider any prospect of Nigeria rising to life.
In the dark days of military dictatorship, we were offered hope of democracy. But our experience since the second departure of soldiers on May 29, 1999 falls short of democratic ideals. We move from one electoral crisis to another because many a politician holds the belief that the goal of politics is access to Nigeria’s oil wealth by the political office holder. Quality of life continues to depreciate. Many believe they can no longer flourish. Divided and impoverished, Nigeria bears the unhappy distinction of a richly endowed land inhabited by poor people. In a country of abundance, many are hungry, while a few in and around corridors of power wallow in affluence.
Nigerians have lost hope in every institution in the land. The judiciary, the executive, the legislature, and their various agencies offer them no hope. Disappointed at the acute deficit of integrity that has for decades plagued political leadership of Nigeria, apprehensive of insecurity that has made everyone a target of kidnappers, seeing the way out of poverty barricaded, and the entire environment disabling, many young Nigeriansare ready and willing to avail themselves of the next opportunity to leave the country.
But the difficult to believe message of Easter is saying to Nigerians who are increasingly pessimistic that, one day, this country will become better because one day the forces that have kept Nigeria down will be overcome; that, one day, Nigerians would cease to permit seekers of public office to manipulate religious, regional and ethnic differences in a deadly application of divide and rule tactics; and that, one day, unseemly political behavior will give way to politics with ethical intent. Yet, this change is not automatic. None of these will happen if we are passive. Easter itself means rising from melancholic passivity. Nigeria needs to rise from her past, and the need is urgent.
The Christian celebration of Easter is celebration of courage to hope and courage to work for the fulfilment of the hope that Nigeria can rise from her past and enter into a future that befits us. But it takes men and women motivated by hope to work for a Nigeria where integrity is the watchword. We cannot get out of this situation if we have no hope that things can become better. For if we have no hope we will be passive, we will not be motivated to want to build a Nigeria of hope.
We cannot be perpetually entombed in the failures, defeats and disappointments of the past. Rather, we Nigerians need to believe that triumph is possible in the face of formidable adversity. We must therefore rise from our disappointments, doubts and uncertainties and believe in our God-given capacity to transform Nigeria into a land where the dignity of every human being is recognized, respected and protected so that all can work for a prosperous and stable Nigeria.
For long Nigeria has been weighed down by a leadership that undermines our hope. But things can change if, instead of engaging in sterile discourses and unproductive altercations, in ego-driven display of megalomania, leaders resolve to direct the affairs of the country in a manner that inspires genuine hope in the citizen. Instead of dashing our hope, let leaders lead on the path of authentic hope and genuine restoration.
