Re-branding Nigeria: God First

By

Mustapha Ringim

s.mustapha@afribank.com

 

 

Out of its desire to promote cordial working relationship among staff, encourage intellectual productivity and add to the ingredient of professionalism in the smooth discharge of our duties, the present management of Afribank Nigeria plc. directed all its branches across the network to be holding meetings/presentations on weekly basis. Staff are expected to make individual presentation on issues related to the job or off the job, but one that will have positive impact on our social, economic and religious lives.

 

At Kaduna Race Course branch, the branch management headed by Lillian Effah(Mrs.) took this directives with maximum determination and seriousness. It was during one of such meetings, that, Ephraim Buki Sanda’s presentation drew our attention to the most vital but ironically forgotten or deliberately neglected part of our country’s national anthem, which if put into proper use thru daily recitation, will go a long way in salvaging the country from its various degrees of predicaments as well as contribute immensely in guiding the quest of re-branding Nigeria initiative.

 

A careful look at the second stanza of Nigeria’s national anthem, one can’t deny the fact that it contains a series of prayers, (which is considered as the most powerful tool of salvation between mankind and his creator) for the country, its leaders and citizens. Unlike the United States of America, that has the inscription “IN GOD WE TRUST” boldly and proudly written on the country’s currencies (USD), in Nigeria, it is only in the second stanza of our national anthem that consideration is given to God in all our national symbols. There is no mention of God in our national currency, neither is God mentioned on our national flag and coat of arms, nor is HE mentioned in the acceptable and widely recited first stanza of the national anthem. Even in our national pledge, the name of God is mentioned as a matter of imperative necessity, but, we claim to be a Godly nation, seeking for God’s intervention to achieve economic prosperity, salvation from moral decadence and political instability in one hand, and relegating the importance of the possessor and giver of glad tiding on the other hand. A bundle of deception?

 

Making a comparative analysis between the first and second stanzas of our national anthem, it is obvious, that, while the former is a call to promote national unity, peace and security, the latter, was calling on God to be a guide and companion in achieving the desired request of the former. These make a perfect combination. For example, ARISE O compatriots, Nigeria’s call obey. To serve our fathers land, with love and and strength and faith(A call to national duty, with love, enthusiasm and zeal)and O God of creation, direct our noble cause, Guide thou our leaders right, Help our youth the truth to know(A sublime prayer for the country, its leaders and its youths).

 

A historical perspective of Nigeria, suggest that, the re-branding initiative would not have come at a better time than now. This is a country that God blessed with abundant human and natural resources; vast arid land for economic development; outstanding world intellectuals, in the fields of science, literature, religious knowledge, politics and economics. A teeming number of able young men and women. A beautiful landscape with variety of tourist attraction sites, and a world recognized and brave armed forces. However, In spite of these privileges attached, five decades after achieving political independence, Nigeria is retrogressing instead of progressing. Why is it that up till now, we (as a nation) are yet to identify and chat a permanent and transparent course for our country? Why is it that up till now, our so called leaders (political, traditional and religious) are yet to identify the differences between right from wrong, truth from falsehood and reality from illusion? Why is it that in spite of the huge amount of resources spent by individuals and government agencies to travel to holy lands in the name of special prayers for Nigeria is yet to yield a meaningful result? Why? The poser this writer will like to throw open to readers is: are Nigerians truly religious. This is a country were our political, religious and traditional leaders will not accept and say in public what they will accept and say in secret (liars).This is a country were leaders steal public fund with recklessness to enrich themselves, their families and close associates, and use the remnant of their stinking loot to build mosques and churches in the name of service to God and humanity(Deceptionists).This is a country, were its citizens kill and maim in the struggle to possess and hold unto political power, but when opportune, mismanage public trust, mortgage the life of the citizenry to hunger, object poverty and deprivation(Betrayers).This is a country were people elected into public offices, lied in the name of God consciously and intentionally while being sworn into their respective offices(Evil).In a hadith (saying of prophet Muhammad),prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said “Allah(God)is pure, and does not accept anything un pure”. Therefore, in the sight of God, a corrupt system can never be corrected by corrupt practices.

 

Nevertheless, the issue of re-branding Nigeria, should go beyond media and tour campaigns that only a few will have the access to read and watch. For a solid and durable foundation of re-branding Nigeria to be laid, the culture of religious discipline (Believe and fear of God) must be inculcated in the minds of all and sundry. Genuine prayers and total submission of all our needs to God, which the second stanza of our national anthem provided, must be re-visited. Therefore, the honorable minister of information, who is the architect and founder of the re-branding project, should mandate the recitation of our national anthem in its fullest, in theory and in practice.

 

Theoretically, the minister should mandate all government and public offices to display boldly, a written copy of that stanza in a glass frame, just like the way the pictures of our president and state governors are displayed. The positive effect of doing so is that, at the end of the day, millions of people that had the opportunity of reading it, will have consciously or sub consciously prayed for the progress of the country, its leaders and citizens. Physically, the minister should impose the recitation of our anthem in full, in our primary and post-primary schools across the country on daily basis, and also encourage same before the start of any government functions, it be Federal Executive council meetings(FEC),national assemblies session, government organized or sponsored forums etc. The minister should also order for translation and production of that stanza into various Nigerian dialects for distribution, easy assimilation and understanding. A prayer offered from innocent hearts (Children) are said to be 100% accepted by God because of its purity.

 

What should be the cardinal principle of re-branding Nigeria for now is to lay a solid and concrete foundation for the initiative to properly take off. Already, oral tradition supported by recent historical documentations, has shown an outrageous decline towards our non challant attitude to genuine religious discipline, which has negatively produced various categories of wasted generations in the history of our nation. Therefore, going back to the drawing board and seek for the help of God to be the people and the nation we want to be is not late.

 

If this policy will be pursued vigorously and sustain, we should be rest assured that in the next one to two decades to come, this country will have a generational set of truly re-branded Nigerian citizens, molded to appreciate the value of God in their political, economic and social lives. These, will also give rise to citizens with blood of national interest and love for their country freely flowing in their veins.

 

In chapter 2 verse 186(al-baqrah)of the glorious Qur’an, Allah says “When my servants ask thee concerning me ,I am indeed close(to them); I listen to the prayers of every supplicant when he calleth on me; Let them also with a will; listen to my call and believe in me; that they walk in the right way”. So, re-branding or no re-branding, for any economic development to prosper, political life to be stable and moral and social life to remain un questionable, genuine commitment to religious practices must be recognized and push forward as a guide to our daily routine modus operandi. God must and should always be the first.