I felicitate with Nigerians at this auspicious moment to go to the polls from Saturday, February 25, 2023, which has been revealed to me by divine inspiration as an opportunity for service that occurs once in one thousand years. It is a great privilege to be among the living in Nigeria today, because the nation has been going through rehearsals of hell, from high costs of education and attendant uncertainties of academic sessions, insecurity, degraded road systems, increasing armed robberies, ritual killings, unstable government policies, nepotism, avoidable flood disasters, distrusts among Nigerians and the likes.
I have always knelt before the Lord in quest on the way forward for my beloved country. There has never been an urgency in me to travel and live outside Nigeria. God’s blessings on Nigeria are second to none.
With the advent of technology, I have seen many self-styled people in religious garb speak into events happening in Nigeria, we must understand that we are answerable to God, not man at the end of our sojourn on earth.
When I compare us with Europe, UAE and USA, I wonder which type of constitution we are operating that made our leaders unaccountable.
I had prayed and enquired from the Lord on many occasions of our troubled times in Nigeria, from June 12 annulment, to politicians calling Abacha to run in 1998, kidnap of Governor Chris Ngige, peaceful election in Anambra in 2010, fuel subsidy agitation in January 2012, peaceful election in 2015, challenges to the unity of the nation in 2019, formation of cabinets in 2019, party primaries in 2022, these events had provoked my prayer for a secured and progressive nation. Some of these prayerful interventions are on my Facebook page, Anthony Nwokoye.
Everyone has something to contribute for the growth of Nigeria. I was encouraged by a quotation in the book , ”Profiles in Courage”, Memorial Edition, where in the foreword by Robert F Kennedy, he reported President John Kennedy’s favourite quote from Dante, that, “the hottest places in Hell are reserved for those who, in a time of great moral crisis, maintain their neutrality.”
As 2023 general election drew near, I prayed to the LORD on the way forward. This is my 30th year of intensive intercession for this country and communities, through outreaches, PRAYER AND FASTINGS. Honestly, it baffles me to see the ostentatious lifestyles on display among rulers and Nigerians in the face of the social and economic gloom.
Ransoms are paid for kidnaps, yet the victims are killed, I have met people whose loved ones are kidnapped as they frantically seek for 10 million naira to secure their loved ones.
I observed the ENDSARS event, I prayed the act will not consume the nation. I am a witness to what some persons termed it a southern affair at toppling President Buhari but the northerners soon had their protest denouncing Buhari’s government.
Nigeria is on her birth pangs, Isaiah 26:16,17, God opened my eyes to Isaiah 26:1-19 on the birth of a NEW NIGERIA.
For the past 23 years, we have had rulers as bosses, the only time the electorate are bosses is during electioneering time. The electorate are cajoled in many ways to vote for them. Nigerian leadership needs to be taken back to Nigerians.
We are witnesses that state funds are under the disbursements of the president and governors, while the legislators are their appendages in sharing our commonwealth.
Some civil servants that presently profit from the present corrupt status will be among those to reject a new order in Nigeria. Our system has degenerated to people losing confidence in it and the quest for quick gains are rife. Infact, most people in public offices live on daily corrupt enrichments, because they are not sure of their gratuities at the end of 35years of strenuous service.
When I compare us with Europe, UAE and USA, I wonder which type of constitution we are operating that made our leaders unaccountable.
Every system is compromised, resulting in increased moral decadence and vices.
Can we forget that the so called recovered stolen funds from 16 years of PDP was re-looted, yet, heaven did not fall.
I shared with some persons, the likely candidates of APC and PDP for this election, I did not see Nigerians in happy mood for that.
I got the revelation that a presidential aspirant that shall align with Labour union, accepted by civil societies, youths and generality of Nigerians will lead the pack in the New Nigeria.
I got the understanding that the political party members are not more in number than the entire electorate, hence, Nigerians can defiantly elect their preferred leaders at all levels.
Nigerians will have opportunity to choose their candidate.
The candidate will have acceptability as in 1993, massive turn out of voters. The politicians penchant to weep up ethnic and religious coloration in electing Nigeria president’s and leaders shall be totally wiped away.
The reason for our lack-lustre leadership is because some politicians patronize demonic centres for power and are diabolic. They engage in ungodly covenants of godfatherism, unlike their contemporaries in US and UK that allow their works to speak for them and also profer superior arguments to win votes and pass bills in the legislature.
Bad politicians keep their wards unschooled and impoverished as willing tools to promote their elections through hook or crook. They make them their weapons of state capture. You will notice the penchant use of drunken and intoxicated thugs on election sites, while security agents look on.
The LORD opened my eyes to see that non- Nigerians will be enrolled to vote in this election, so, Nigerians must hold INEC and interior ministry accountable for failures in this regard.
We can all see that the lives of most politicians are better after office than the improvement on our infrastructures, constitutional developments and living standards of the majority. Some politicians take so much from the system, to even boast of being richer than states. These acquisitions take away the humble relationship required of leaders, because they have the false illusion that, their money can work out anything for them.
The lifetime emoluments of past governors and the requests of the 8th national assembly for such extensions to them is very eye opening.
Taking a cue from the church, it is a known fact that the advent of new generation churches in Nigeria, championed by Spirit-filled young ministers have transformed the Nigerian church, such that, healthy pursuit for survival has ensued as the bars of excellence in ministry is continually raised. Some ministries have developed their own power generating systems that there had not been energy failures for years in their mega events. My dear country is still an eyesore in many developmental goals (infact, we are no longer on the world radar on this, due to continuous inconsistencies), due to severe backward thoughts of nepotism, ethno-religious sentiments promoted by bad leaders and their followers.
In our schools and colleges, east, west, north and south, little regard is given to our places of origin.
Learned people seek for who will deliver on the goals than to look out for places of origin. People that resort to languages, tribe and religion in their quest for public office are a danger to leadership.
New wine needs to be poured into new wineskin of Nigeria, Matthew 9:16-17. Nigeria needs new set of leaders in 2023, instead of reposing our trusts in the misrule of the last 23years, so I requested of the LORD.
The emergence of Peter Obi as the presidential candidate of Labour Party was a sharp reminder to me about the mold of the next president of Nigeria.
By his emergence and the events that have unfolded, he stands tall among other contestants in terms of credibility, prudence, capacity, knowledge and fear of God. The LORD says that He has given Nigerians OPEN VISION to choose rightly.
The song that came to my heart as the political climate in Nigeria took a wild turn on the emergence of H E Mr Peter Obi, was, “I didn’t know you will answer Nigeria this way X3,Peter Answer Nigeria this way, Peter, thank you Jesus.”
The LORD revealed to me that old politicians will drum up their old ways of ethno-religious sentiments for self-preservation, embark on sudden distribution of hoarded commonwealths of the state and other means to curry favour to themselves.
The LORD, says the election will be a measure of people that wish a turn of events in Nigeria for good, restoration of virtues in public life, rise of a new nation with her diaspora desiring to return to their fatherland and those that wish to continue in the old habit of we own Nigeria, we are connected, brains does not matter, but political mirth.
The old path has not promoted peaceful co-existence, but poverty of knowledge, corruption at every corner of our national and state lives.
Nigerians must decide who to follow and denounce the promoters of tribes and religion which has not developed this country of many ethnic nationalities.
The large mass of unschooled and uninformed persons who are willing tools in the hands of politicians needs to be talked out of the dilemma of their actions.
The emergence of H E Mr Peter Obi, is a 1000 years chance occurrence in a nation, Nigerians must hold him to victory with their hands.
All well-meaning Nigerians should engage in this project to a logical conclusion. Nigerians should not be distracted by the media publicities of career politicians to hoodwink them.
The election of H E Mr Peter Obi will immediately begin to change the fortunes of this country beginning from the stock exchange and prices of goods and services will be brought lower. Our present problem is that, the system is not trusted, self-imposing, disoriented and disjointed, so there is no cohesive leadership, from national to states, impunity is very manifest. The righteous in this country is under intense pressure to compromise, diseases and ill-health are also the lot of many today.
Nigerians should allow PDP and APC to continue in their accusations and counter-accusations, while the rug of leadership is pulled out from them on election Day.
Someone has said that there is no morality in politics, so, if such ideology produces leaders, there will be no morality for good followership. I have observed speeches by so called elder statesmen, which defies sound judgement, all in a bid to achieve a set goal.
There is no moral justification for a northerner to seek presidency of Nigeria after excruciating eight years of another northerner, they should collapse their structure to H E Mr Peter Obi of Labour Party early enough.
I know that ethno-religious jingoists will show their true colours as the D-Day of election draws near, so they are doing now, deceits, this is the way they are, this nation should never come under them again.
I believe H E Mr Peter Obi represents the new breed towards rebuilding Nigeria and restoring confidence in our polity. This is not about Igbo presidency or forcing other regions to buy into it (which is not necessary to say), NO, it is an event whose time has come. I refuse to keep silent as I am mandated to express it to Nigerians. Nigerians of all tribes, religion, shades and calling should promote his candidature and other tested candidates in prudence and character.
Just as the church and mosques have blossomed on the entrance of young intelligent God-fearing ministers, so also H E Mr Peter Obi will raise the bar over Nigeria leadership.
The almighty God has always intervened when Nigeria is at crossroads, He will surely intervene in this election.
Let Nigerians in every corner get to the mountains, the valleys, the seaside’s, motor parks, eateries, offices, markets, village squares, etc, to promote the candidacy of this once in a lifetime divine occurrence.
I have a word for the G-5 governors, they have done the noble act of disagreeing with PDP, it is the Lord’s doing, they belong to the NEW NIGERIA, I know they trust H E Mr Peter Obi.
They will also be a strong support for his government. Some persons left PDP under GEJ, so, it is not new to disagree on principle. Please simply align with Labour Party, stand to be counted. This is the way to go now. Please, less the talk, focus on the ball to ensure victory on Saturday, 25th February, 2023. You will live to thank God that you did.
I am persuaded to ask Senator Kwankwanso to form alliance with Labour Party to move the nation forward. The 21st century Nigeria cannot revert to the Second Republic era of NPN, UPN, NPP which the naysayers are pushing for, God is bigger than them, Nigerians cannot fall into that trap.
God resents the conduct of acclaimed ministers that are pushing this ideology into the media space, Nigerians should be united for FRESH AIR through Labour Party.
I encourage the trusts, resilience and sacrifices of Nigerians in the grassroots promoting this course of action.
May God be with you, reward you and bless your efforts with resounding victories, indeed, it is said to be a miracle, indeed.
God is God of miracle. Just as Anambra State was delivered on July 20, 2006 through Dr Chris Ngige, so NIGERIA shall come into greater light on February 25,2023, through the instrumentality of the man who christened Anambra State, Light of the Nation.
H E Mr Peter Obi is married to a non-Igbo from Akwa-Ibom, a south-south personality, so he is evidently detribalised.
Other convictions about H E Mr Peter Obi is that his opponents ought to retire in politics than seek to retire into presidency.
The almighty God has always intervened when Nigeria is at crossroads, He will surely intervene in this election.
Nigerians should remember the case of Late Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, who did not retire when the ovation was loud, until the military ousted him. The presidential candidates have played their good roles in governance, Nigeria should avoid a MUGABE experience.
I charge all Nigerians to fast and pray on Wednesday, February 22,2023 for safety of all personnel involved in this election, politicians and electorates. The grounds of all polling units are decreed safe for people of goodwill, but no fly zone to all trouble formentors.
“The hottest places in Hell are reserved for those, who in a time of great moral crisis maintain their neutrality”, I have delivered the message.
Are you still on the fence about, the POSSIBILITY OF A NEW NIGERIA FOR YOU AND THE UNBORN GENERATION OF NIGERIANS OR TO VOTE IN PERSONS THAT WILL GO INTO RETIREMENT AT ASO ROCK? Only time will tell.
A New Nigeria Is Possible. Let us play politics with love if we have the people at heart. Please share this message and let it inform Nigerians.
▪Rev Nwokoye is of Christ Anglican Church, Kwale, Delta State.
