In the aftermath of the Plateau carnage and the Lagos tanker explosion, President Buhari left for the AUSummit in Mauritania, in an optics that seemed like he does not care. Who knows?

Reactions to the two tragedies have been different. Lots of Pastors stepped up rhetoric and there were images of faulty trucks and tankers on social media highlighting the failures of government.

There seemed to be no urgent news of state of emergency or conflict resolution or policy or models applied instantly to prevent the problems in future. Also, it seems like the cycle to wait a little so people forget – and everything goes on, continues.

Also Read:Daddy

Government Disappointments.

For several Nigerians, governments have been a disappointment – for years. But the game of blame government andrequest the same government to do something did not leave the ideologies of people.

Governments are mostly responsible, but if there’s been consistency of pattern, may be it is better to be lessreliant on them to solve new problems.  Yes, their resources are matchless, but all the responsibility to make Nigeria better does not depend on government because if they are all similar or the same, regardless of administration, it is better to look elsewhere for real solution injections.

However, while government gets blamed, criticism is also pelted at Pastors whom many believe are friends of government. Whenever there’s a bad situation, if pastors speak, some critics would be sad, if they don’t, some would complain.

There is a measure of oblivion with thinking a pastor activist can really make any government shudder to act for real and actual development. People blamed the lead Pastor of RCCG, Adeboye, during the Obasanjo administration for not speaking the truth to power. OK. But the real purpose of a trueservant of GOD is notactivism. Which sometimes could be done due to pressure, or some could think it is for relevance or for fame.

Also Read:Pray

If a pastor would speak on everything – because something happens everytime – how often should the pastor speak and what results should the pastor expect?

Development Advocacy

Since 1999, Nigeria has witnessed different presidential characters; they have been too powerful and most times get their way. Also, since that time, Nigeria has never faced shortages for causes and activists. And there is also the opposition. Motives for all of them are different, ranging from wholehearted to totalsham. But while some of the changesprotested for have been fruitful, the major development measures in Nigeria have stagnated.

Yes, it is better to speak, than to not speak. But there’s still electricity failure, high unemployment, hardships, violence, insecurity, starvation, unsafe roads, dreaded hospitals, etc.

So Nigeria is muchbetter with knowledge as a way to develop than with activism. There are those whose line of work is – development – knowledge. They know, so they bear more responsibility.

Pastor Adeboye visited Benue in recent months, spoke against religious violence in Benue at their Church program, released a statement on the Plateau carnage and an pastor in the church said the situation is unacceptable, but there’s limit to what anyone can do, if you don’t have political power, or say as a talented and skilled expert in that field for solutions.

Also Read: Are Christians in Nigeria Brainwashed?

He’s a true Pastor. Some of the Pastors who have spoken were criticized by some on social media as inciting violence. What do criticswant?

Daddy Freeze the errand boy of insignificance said pastors are not speaking or that people should not pray for Nigeria but take actions OK. But what knowledge has he given, other than to refocus people against thoughtfulness and blindfold them – with worthlessenlightenments?

Adeboye should at point speak – himself – against the carnages, but he’s not a conflictconsultant, a university professor, a road safety expert, or the President.

Written by Nneka Okumazie

Twitter/IG: Okumazie