By Rev. Arize Nwobu
THUR, OCT 25 2018-theG&BJournal-There is a spiritual dimension to nation building. Theologically, it has been noted that nations have a ruling spirit- a Prince that work to further the kingdom of darkness through scores of demons and their human agents. The words Archas, Exousia, Pneumatikas and Kosmokratoras are Greek which speaks of powers, authorities, spiritual wickedness in high places and rulers of darkness. Kosmokratoras mean rulers of darkness who influence national and world affairs. But ironically, darkness symbolizes ignorance and suffering. Therefore Kosmokratoras could translate to agents of ignorance and suffering.
In his book, ’Survey of Biblical Geography’, the founding Rector, Faith Theological Seminary, Sango Ota, Ogun State, late Reverend Sir Ige Olumide noted that ‘’through spirit directed eyes of Scripture, we see behind nations and cultural groups powerful spirit beings, demonic principalities who shape and guide national destinies, traits and characteristics. Demons find ground for their activity through people. Power is the fundamental temptation. The dark princes cluster at power centres like carnage over vultures. Principalities assign territorial demons to cluster at national and corporate power centres.’’
The above exposition lend credence to the outcry of Reuben Abati, spokesman of former President Goodluck Jonathan when he said in a press report, ‘’I am totally convinced Aso Rock is full of evil spirits. There must be something about power and closeness to it. We need to rescue Nigeria from the forces of darkness. Should I become President tomorrow, I will build a new presidential villa, a villa that will be dedicated to the all-conquering Almighty and where powers and principalities cannot hold sway. But it is not about building and space, not so? It is about the people who go to the highest levels in Nigeria. I am tempted to suggest that this is indeed a country in need of prayers.’’
Abati was spot on. Based on the values and traits of successive leaderships, enormity of corruption and patterns and trend lines in Nigeria, it is evident the country is under the grip of forces of darkness and the reason is not far- fetched. It is because, generally speaking, Africa has a greater proclivity for ‘’black magic’’/mysticism more than for science and technology, which is believed to be a major reason the continent has largely failed to take dominion over her challenges and maximally develop her economies.
Science and technology which is rooted in exegetical theology is God’s gift to humanity to take dominion over the earth, but ‘’black magic’’/mysticism is nothing but the epitome of pride and abomination which God resists. In Africa, including Nigeria, a lot of men and women in their pursuit of political power, exalted offices and riches (filthy riches), resort to ‘’black magic’’. They go to consult Kahunas( sorcerers) to cahoots with princes of darkness.
Kahuna is a Haiwaiin word which speaks of sorcery. They come in various shades such as, ‘’Kahuna Ana ana’’- one who practice sorcery by means of prayers, ‘’Kahuna Ho Okomokomo’’- one who can send an evil spirit to possess its victim, ‘’Kahuna Po’ I Uhane’’- one who can catch a spirit and force it to do its bidding, ‘’Kahuna Oneoneihonua’’- one who performs the human sacrifice and’’ Kahuna Kilokilo’’- one who divines and predict future events.
In Africa, including Nigeria, a lot of politicians patronize local and foreign Kahunas and enmesh in spiritual filth. There, they exchange ‘brick’ for ‘stones’ and ‘slime’ for ‘mortar’. As a result, through the Laws of Magnetic Attraction/Sympathetic Resonance, they attract and open door ways to dark princes and legion of demons which would later take charge in the conduct of affairs at the power centres through their influence on the minds and actions of their patrons.
Some of the ways their influence manifest include selfishness, covetousness, pride and arrogance and fraud and stealing in the leadership. Other ways include the evolution of crooked and satanic policies, nepotism, injustice, murder, mysterious deaths, prevalence of poverty and suffering of the masses, emergence and invasion of ‘beasts’ such as killer herdsmen who kill innocent citizens, other such national cataclysms, and beclouded or loss of national glory, honour, blessings, and ever going round in circles as is the case with Nigeria where the leadership is adept in perambulation, dissimulation, histrionics and empty promises.
Five dominant demons have been identified to prevail and shaped our national traits and characteristics through successive leaderships. They are, 1. Demon of affliction and torment which is responsible for the mass suffering late Fela captured in his song ‘’Suffer, Suffer’’, 2. Demon of foolishness which is the reason we are poor in the midst of abundance. As they say, ‘’in the abundance of water the fool is thirsty.’’
In Nigeria, a country so richly endowed with resources, 100 million live below the poverty line of US$1 per day, and recently the country was declared the poverty capital of the world. It is scandalous. 3. Demon of deceit and covetousness which is the reason the political class is very deceitful and covetous. Covetousness is rapacity, the proclivity to acquire more than one need, 4. Demon of fraud and stealing- the reason the political class is very fraudulent and stealing the people blind, and 5. Demon of divisiveness- the reason there is no unity of purpose, but nepotism and mutual suspicion especially among the three major ethnic groups.
Resulting from the above, Nigeria has proven to be a downward-looking country which maintain a deficit account in the celestial because of the prevalence of deceit, selfishness and other shades of unrighteous acts, and squandering of riches by the leadership. Downward-looking countries follow the way of biblical Esau. The leadership is carnal, highly fed and profane. They are haughty and despise the spirituality, humility and stewardship which genuine and godly leadership connotes and attach greater importance to material values. Leadership in down-ward looking countries tends to place the earth above Heaven which is foolish and futile, an impossibility which translates to working against one’s fate. God resist such nations as a result of which they go round in circles as is the case with Nigeria where we not only recycle leaders but also often talk of our potentials but which never get to be potentiated for sustainable development.
Until the five dominant demons which have held us captive are bound, dethroned and cast out we will continue to go round in circles until the worst happens. The influence of the demons in governance are capable of throwing Nigeria into a deep crisis even as we have started seeing the tip of the iceberg.
As we approach 2019, may we have the wisdom and unction from above to eschew materialism in electing our leaders. We need leaders who are carriers of light who do not trust in Kahunas, but the Almighty God and truly understands that the celestial controls the terrestrial, and in all practical purposes and with utmost sincerity, who will raise a flag of righteousness above us and use celestial values and the paradoxical combination of ‘’Dominion intelligence’’ (judicious and sure-footed use of authority) and ‘’Slavery intelligence’ ’(total and childlike submission to God) to achieve the goals of good governance.
Such persons will be backed by the all-conquering Almighty and Nigeria will begin to experience a divine wind sail and our glory will break forth like light beyond the comprehension of the Kosmokratoras, Archas, Exousia and Pneumatikos.
Rev. Nwobu is a Minister of Christ. He wrote via arizenwobu@yahoo.com Tel: 08033021230
