Sometime in 2019, our ministry hosted seven Americans. Among them was a 14-year-old girl by name, Tobey Crowe. She pleaded to be taken along on the trip.
She came to me saying she now appreciates how privileged she is to have been born in the United States. Perhaps, she is another mother Theresa in the making. She felt like not going back to the United States.
Her heart bled and she wept. She gave sweets to little children. How I wish the hearts of the average Nigerian politician, public servants including religious leaders can be like the type Tobey Crowe has for the poor Nigerian family.
About 10 years ago, our ministry hosted one of Belgium’s three female white pastors in Lagos. As we were driving through one of the streets, she saw a dead body on the road and she was horrified. Some years ago, someone from Niger Republic was interviewed on an international television station and the person said that he saw a dead body on the streets for the first time in his life in Lagos, Nigeria.
Someone out there may say, “Bishop, I thought your Love Arena newspaper column talks only about marriage and family intimacy issues.” Please, let me digress perhaps, this once. Why should I not digress when Nigerian families have become one of the cheapest families on earth? Why should I not digress when Nigerians in Ghana, Togo, Republic of Benin, among others have lost respect for Nigerians?
Why should I not digress when some time ago Africans crossing the Mediterranean Sea to Europe looking for greener pastures found it necessary to drown some Nigerians in the sea, so, as to make light the load the boat was carrying? Why should I not digress when the average Nigerian goes to bed hungry? Why should I not digress when about 20 million Nigerian children are out of school; why should I not digress when Nigerians cannot afford quality health care? O Nigeria! O Nigeria! O Nigeria!
We sing, “Nigeria we hail thee, our own dear native land.” But now, it is, “Nigeria we wail thee.” Instead of Nigeria’s tribal and religious leaders to, “Arise o compatriots… To serve our father land with love and strength and faith,” where to keep cows has further divided Nigeria. The forces of centrifugally have taken over, while the forces of centripetalism and lovely living have been cast out.
Between April 1994 and July 1994, about 1,000,000 people were massacred in Rwanda within 100 days. But out of the Rwandan ruin, a leader by name Paul Kagame arose. And in 25 years, the Rwandan family that used to be the cheapest family on earth is now being respected.
Rwanda is now a beautiful tourist attraction. Since August 2018, each time I want to relax to watch my favourite football team, Arsenal, my mind never stops thinking of Rwanda because each of the 11 players wears an inscription with the words, “Visit Rwanda.”
Sometime ago, my wife and I came across a lady in Benin Republic who was proud to introduce herself as a citizen of Rwanda. I pray that the day will come when Nigerians in Nigeria and all over the world will be proud to say, “I am a Nigerian.” Love you.
