One of my nieces asked the other day, "What is Change?" This in relation to the ongoing election campaign in Nigeria. Here's my response to her.

Change is when an administration does not spend 6 years only to point to one thing here, one thing there, as its accomplishments, at a time when the world is moving at break neck speed in every direction. 

Change is when a government's policies touch people everyday. 

Change is when I go to Lagos and say...I didn't know Lagos could change this much. 

Change is when teachers are provided professional development that they need. 

Change is a government that ensures all its citizens enjoy good health care, education, shelter, and boundless opportunities. 

Change is when everyone is accountable for their actions. 

Change is when looters are brought to justice. 

Change is when a team of brilliant people are selected to do the work they're qualified for, and not political operatives that speak without applying much thought. 

Change is when Nigerians do not have go abroad for adequate health care. 

Change is when we are not hustling to obtain other nations' citizenship. 

Change is when I don't have to read or hear horribly grammar from graduates of Nigerian universities. 

Change is when our leaders recognize that something is wrong without expecting to be patted on the back because they stayed in Nigeria or their children schooled in Nigeria.

Change is a government that is not satisfied with the status quo. 

Change is when our officials and their wives are no longer the laughing stock of the entire world. 

Change is when our president cares more about Nigeria than Paris.

Change is a team that has a desire to wipe the shame of corruption off our faces.

Change is when university graduates don't have to languish for years without finding employment or the wherewithal to start their own business. 

Change is when we will be proud once again to say we graduated from a Nigerian university. 

Change is when the electorate demands that candidates declare a manifesto. 

Change is when we can all say, with confidence: "Proudly Nigerian."

When God is in the Land

I have just read the account of someone's revelation, the conclusion of which was that God told him the President Jonathan is His man and that God is with Him. Not wanting to be dismissive of what might be a true revelation, also knowing that I had to align every revelation with scripture, I thought about men of God in the Bible who were in political office: Joseph, Daniel, King David.

God was with them and a veritable sign of that was that the people prospered under them and The mighty hand of God was shown in His involvement with these people. In the case of Joseph, God used him to prevent what would have been the disastrous results of a famine. David was used militarily to bring peace to the people. Daniel's life and his encounter with the lions left the people in awe.

I do not see a correlation here with the case of Nigeria. The people continue to suffer. Death has invaded the land. Our citizens began to consume our female children and God has not shown Himself to our leader, like He did in time of old?

Instead of showing our leader how to secure and create provision for the future of Nigeria as He did with Joseph, the opposite has happened here.

Instead of investing in building the foundations (Nehemiah style) that have been destroyed: education, health care, roads, shelter, electricity, we continue to enrich other nations by our patronage and our contracts. It seems to be that our treasury is just for a few people.

On the other hand, I also thought about kings that God had used for His own purpose. Kings who were non- Jews. We should all spend time in the Book of Ezra and see what conclusions we draw.

I have decided to set that 'revelation' aside only because I could not align it with scripture.

The other interpretation of the revelation is that the reason things are getting worse is because God is angry with Nigeria. Could it be that He is with the president but that the nation itself is under judgment?

Hmmmn. I have to research that.

That's my vantage point of view.