Dear Nigerian leaders, we didn’t elect God into office

On Monday, April 25, 2016, more than 100 Fulani herdsmen attacked the Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State and killed about 40 people.

State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi visited the scene of the attack the next day and burst into tears at the sight of the carnage.

More surprising than Governor Ugwuanyi’s tears however, were the comments that followed.

“May I therefore, call on the entire people of Enugu State to please fast for two days and put this into the hands of God; Enugu is in the hands of God,” the governor said.

Unfortunately, the governor is not alone in shifting responsibilities that should fall on human leaders to God.

Nigerian officials have made a habit of passing the buck to God and it seems that they expect him to fix all the country’s problems while they do nothing.

The Goodluck Jonathan administration spent N2.2 billion on special prayers against terrorist sect, Boko Haram but failed to release the funds required to purchase weapons for Nigeria’s soldiers.

In 2014, Jonathan’s media aide, Doyin Okupeprayed to God to expose sponsors and members of Boko Haram.

Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima said in January 2016 that a terrorist attack which had occurred in the state was ‘ordained by God’.

Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, this month, urged religious leaders to pray fervently for the revival of the Nigeria’s fortunes.

The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun said in January 2016 that God has a hand in the economic troubles Nigeria is currently facing.

The list is endless. Day after day, people who should be taking responsibility for Nigeria’s problems and proffering solutions instead urge citizens to put their fate in God’s hands.

Dear Nigerian leaders, God will not fix our roads or give us electricity, he won’t give us better healthcare or end fuel scarcity.

God will not come down to fight Boko Haram, neither will he rescue the Chibok girls for us. God will not stop the killer Fulani herdsmen either, no matter how much fasting the people of Enugu and their governor do.

God created human beings and gave them wisdom so that they could solve the problems that they would eventually create for each other, he’s not about to come down and do all the work by himself.

Dear Nigerian leaders, we didn’t elect God into office, we elected you, so leave God alone and do your jobs.