Says the Lord:
Jeremiah 5: Run ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem [Nigeria], and see now, and know, and seek in the broad places thereof, if ye can find a man, if there be any that executeth judgement, that seeketh the truth; and I will pardon it. And though they say, the Lord liveth; surely they swear falsely… [t]herefore I said, surely these are poor; they are foolish…[w]herefore, a lion out of the forest shall slay them…because their transgressions are many… How shall I pardon for this? Thy children have forsaken me…when I had fed them to the full, they then committed adultery…[t]hey were as fed horses in the morning: every one neighed after his neighbour’s wife. Shall I not visit for these things? Saith the Lord…Go ye upon her walls, and destroy; but make not a full end.
Jer. 6, (13): For from the least of them even unto the greatest of them, everyone is given to covetousness; and from the prophet even unto the priest, everyone dealeth falsely. (14) They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace…behold, I will bring evil upon this people…because they have not hearkened unto my words… [t]o what purpose cometh there to me incense from Sheba, and sweet cane from a far country? Your burnt offerings are not acceptable, nor your sacrifices sweet unto me…
Gen. 18:26-32: Peradventure ten shall be found there (in Sodom), I(the Lord and His Destroying angel) will not destroy it (Sodom) for ten’s sake
Isaiah 66: …but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word…
Psalm 24: 3-4: Who shall ascend into the Hill of the Lord? Or who shall stand in His holy Place? He that hath clean hands and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul to vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.
2 Chron. 7:14 – If my people which are called by my name shall humble themselves, pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from Heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
1 Cor. 13:13 – David said; even the man whose heart was after the Lord; the apple of God’s eyes. He said: Let me fall into the hands of the Lord; for very great are His mercies: but let me not fall into the hand of man
Oh Lord, the God; that rules in the affairs of men; that reigns above the waves and the clouds; excellent glory; the high lofty One that inhabits eternity, and in whom eternity subsists. The ancient of days and mystery of ages; the transcendent and the immanent. Oh Lord that is full of Light, long-suffering and a multitude of mercies. Lift up yourself and draw near unto us as we cry unto thee this day. Lord, disengage thy mighty and victorious right arm from thy bosom, and stretch it out to us, that we may live and not die the death of the uncircumcised. Arise Oh Lord, our Boast, spit fire and smoke from thy mouth and nostrils; for we perish in this place.
But hear our confessions O’ Lord, and show us mercy according to thy loving kindness, and our sincerity and humility in this matter. Like Daniel before us, we confess our iniquities and wickedness that triggered your righteous anger and wrath: Our corruption and hypocrisies so great that they stank up to your throne in heaven; your eyes saw it, your ears heard it, and your nostrils smelt it. But lord, climb down from thy wrath and terrible judgement. Let mercy overtake judgement, for we perish. Here are the sins we confess before thee in tears:
We grabbed and grabbed in bribery and corruption until we robbed the beggar of the alms in his begging bowl; forgive us O’ Lord for this and all sins mentioned below. For the sake of your son and Lamb, Jesus – Amen.
We (our teachers) deflower the innocent young maidens left in their cares. Some are bold enough to demand both flesh and cash in exchange for marks.
We have also an unofficial policy of flesh or cash, or both, for a host of other things: for admission into schools; employment, job interviews, etc. We have so corrupted and polluted the Land, that there is no innocence anywhere, and truth lay comatose in the streets. We confess this too, and ask your forgiveness, Lord.
We have gladly accepted that our Law enforcement officials must always be ‘rogered’ to be effective. So much that they have graduated from when they were too embarrassed to accept money from erring commercial vehicle drivers before their onlooking passengers; to the point, as at this day, when they shoot to death, drivers (private or cab), that refuse to ‘roger’ or ‘cooperate’. Forgive us this sin also, Lord.
Our armed robbers do not raid banks or well stocked Supermarkets; no, they raid homes, and whether or they find money/valuables; they must fill up the cup of our iniquity by raping a man’s wife or daughter while forcing him to watch the scene> In some documented cases, they have asked sons to see their mother’s nakedness. A thing which is an abomination in your sight, and even before children of the world.
Our kidnappers forcibly snatch a suckling from its mother’s breast or bosom – most times inflicting injuries on the resisting mother – in order to sell the child to human traffickers, for sale to barren women; and most wickedly, sometimes to ritual killers (who are agents of our politicians and ‘big’ men, who need more money or involved in a must-win election.
We are so proud of our culture of reward and bribery that we have stated and fixed sums for all advertised positions for employment in the public and private sectors.
We have found a new way to avoid abortions, and also assuage your anger; we established baby factories; where unfortunate pregnant teens who want to dispose of their babies could come to for free (usually dangerous) deliveries, where untrained quacks are the gynaecologists, nurses and midwives. The baby buyers are on standby to take the babies as soon as they arrive; after settling the astute business owner of the factory, leaving the hapless teenager destitute than she was before the pregnancy. Indeed, the factories have hired young men to get the teenagers pregnant, after a promise of a substantial sum of money in exchange for their cooperation. Monies they never get after all is said and done. Forgive us this sin also, Lord.
Our male medical personnel also have the fringe benefit’ in their profession: of being able to touch their female patients in all parts of their bodies; some fornicate with them on their hospital beds and examination beds. O’ Lord, forgive us this sin also.
In our Judiciary, our Justice is openly displayed for sale to the highest bidder, and the most desperate; oppressing the poor in this manner, which is also the case in Police stations, is normal. Forgive us this sin also.
Our sins are too numerous to count in numbers. Such is the multitude of our sins that we need not add the envies, fits of anger, implacable and fierce personalities; our hypocrisies; ranging from that between spouses in families, to those existing amongst our extended families, etc.
But we repent O’ Lord, of all these in this day; and we beseech you to give us another chance in this space, called Nigeria. We beseech you, Lord, to hear our voice and our cry. Some of us are almost ready to kill and serve up our children as their next meal. Have mercy on us O’ Lord. Stay thy hand, O’Lord. It is enough Lord. Will you contend with us? What are we to thee, Lord, but mere dust and ashes? Mere clay that turns worthless when once to take back your spirit. Pity us, O’ Lord; we come trembling; in dust and ashes. Peradventure, you will remember to grant us the same ‘sure mercies’ you granted to David. Be merciful unto us; remember thy children; the poor and the oppressed and afflicted.
Arise O’ Lord and give us a Leader that fears you in Nigeria, come February 2023. Arise, O’ Lord and let thy enemies flee before you as chaff driven by the wind; let them melt before you as wax melts before the fire. Let them be confounded, who knowing these anomalies, have feigned ignorance, and are hypocritically campaigning to install the godless the proud and arrogant, for a mess of Esau’s porridge- to ensure our children starve to death, while they send theirs to schools in Europe and America.
By Ike P. Ibekwe, PhD ikechukwuozo@yahoo.com, Port Harcourt, Nigeria
Disclaimer:
The opinions and views expressed in this write-up are entirely that of the Writer(s). They do not reflect the opinions and views of the Publisher (Nze Ikay’s Blog) or any of its employees. The designations employed in this publication and the presentation of materials herein do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever of the Publisher (Nze Ikay’s Blog) or its employees concerning the legal status of any country, its authority, area or territory or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers. Equally, the sketches, images, pictures and videos are gotten from the public domain.
