Primate of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Archbishop Anthony Okoh, in this interview with Assistant Life Editor, YINKA SOKUNBI, and Senior Correspondent, ARAMIDE OIKELOME, bares his mind on current issues of national importance, especially the Boko Haram insurgency and the abduction of secondary school girls in Chibok, Borno State. Excerpts:
Okoh
As Nigerians, it is obvious that these are very tough times for us as a nation. Many have said that the problem of insecurity and corruption came to this peak because the Church in Nigeria has failed to take its rightful position as the light of the world and salt of the earth as the Bible charges us. Some even argue that church leaders have compromised their stand, hence they cannot correct political leaders like Elijah did to King Ahab in Israel. Do you agree with this?
You are right; with the position and situation on ground, the church is very confused and everybody claims to be a leader. But when there is a little misunderstanding in the church, somebody will just break away and start his own church and because of situations like this, discipline has been relegated to the background. The purpose of the church has been undermined in pursuit of money and material gain. The society has equally been glorifying such, thus attracting more and more of such quacks. To that extent, I agree that as churches (without specifying which church), we have all played one role or the other that have not been very helpful.
Now, when we come to the church without referring to any denomination, the duty of the church is still being carried out, but the fact that they are not being adhered to can’t totally be blamed on the church. If you go through the Bible, you will see that people like Prophets Amos, Ezekiel, Hosea, Jeremiah, Micah and other prophets preached and the people did not listen, as a result of which they were eventually taken to exile.
Do you agree with some of the conversations going on again that we are having this seemingly overwhelming challenges because President Goodluck Jonathan was not really prepared to rule Nigeria or rather that he has wrong people as co-travellers on his journey?
In fact, President Jonathan is the most prepared in the sense that he was a Deputy Governor, a Governor, then he became the Vice President and Acting President before he eventually became the President, which meant he went through about five stages. So, it cannot be right to say he did not prepare for the job. But, coming to say whether he has wrong people around him, I think that there are some people among his staff who are actually discrediting his work.
Do you think there are things he should have done differently, but he is not doing. And if you think so, how can he be so advised to go in the right direction, even for the short period that is remaining for his first term?
We all don’t perceive things from the same perspective. So, it is difficult for me to say that what I perceive to be the right thing is what the President would perceive to be the right thing; or what a political party perceives to be the right thing is what another political party will perceive to be the right thing. Having said that, I would say that generally speaking, if the programmes of government are pursued consistently with what he has on ground, particularly the issue of transformation, it can take Nigeria to a higher level. It can take Nigeria to a place where the light will come, the salt will be effective and the society will be better.
In the last few weeks, the Chibok incident has permeated every fabric of the world; including politics, health, social issues, etc, but Church leaders are accused not to have categorically reacted; rather, what we hear are calls for prayer and fasting to free the abducted girls. People are asking if prayer without action is sufficient to redeem us at this time?
Again, this is a societal problem, which every part of society must contribute to work out in order to bring about redemption. From the perspective of the church, it is a divine institution, it has to call upon God for divine intervention and this divine intervention is the hands of God. Yes, some other people and nations like the Israeli, French, America and others have other things they can contribute. But for the church, it has divine angle. More than that however, the Church is also contributing her pieces of advice, which cannot be published. They are things that are with hearts of humility and must be forwarded in humility to the appropriate quarters. We do not think one thing alone can bring about the redemption of the country from Boko Haram.
What is however very worrisome is that people are treating Chibok issue in isolation. Chibok matter is not an isolated case. Yes, the abduction of women and children by Boko Haram is a new development. You will agree with me that in war situation, anything is possible. Nigeria is in a state of war and we should just know this. The real problem is not just the abduction, because, the war situation we are in is what made that possible. What is not welcome is the operation of Boko Haram itself. If we do not have the operation of Boko Haram, there would not be abduction. We should view the whole situation in a comprehensive manner and not in isolation.
If the children are brought back today, there are two things, there is no guarantee that another school will not be so attacked; secondly, you will not say that the trouble of Boko haram is over. Only recently a lot of people died in Nyanya and bombs are still exploding. If you don’t have abduction, but a lot of people are dying and bombs are exploding, it’s as serious as abduction. So, Nigerians should think of a comprehensive solution rather than isolated solution.
In view of this, in the last two days, the international media have also been awash with a claim which Nigerians find repulsive, that it is indeed a failed state. We have a country that has the largest economy in Africa, which recently hosted the World Economic Forum and the whole world came as never before with 70 leaders in one meeting and now we are told that we are a failed state. Is it that Nigeria is a failed state or that the soul of Nigeria is just been hunted by the devil?
Nigeria is not a failed state. If it is, you will not be moving about like this. There is order in Nigeria and the people are still doing their legitimate business. Life is still going on and then there is a government. Sometimes I think the western media out of racial mentality tend to desecrate Nigeria. Remember, there was recently a plane disappearance in Malaysia and the government is still there, nobody has called them a failed state. The whole world is gathered to look for that plane; they have not succeeded in finding it. Same thing happened in South Korea, a major disaster happened there and they have not set the country ablaze. I believe that colonial mentality is part of what is happening. They think they can say anything; even the language used on our President is uncalled for. So, we should not swallow what they are saying. Nigeria has a future, Nigeria is strong and Nigeria is reputable.
In view of the fact that they are now offering us support, both in terms of money and human resources, to redeem some of our insecurity images, do you really think that they are not justified by their claims and assertions?
In modern world, interdependence is the doctrine. Every country depends on another country; there is no country that is self-sufficient or an island. Even the United States itself depends on another country. When there is difficulty, one has got to seek for help. So, Nigeria needing their help or support is not enough reason to classify us as a failed nation. If they offer anything we gratefully accept.
Do you think there is hope for us to be together in 2015 as a nation even if we sort out these immediate challenges?
With this, I will take you back to my constituency as a Priest of God. I honestly believe in miracles. I believe that God who has being piloting Nigeria from the past is still on the throne. Nigeria had come close to the precipice in the past, but by the stroke of God’s hands all of these disappeared. I believe that 2014 and 2015 elections will not destroy this country. God in His infinite goodness will build us a bridge and we will cross over the Red Sea on dry land and Nigeria will get to its Promised Land.
Chibok is predominantly a Christian community and the Boko Haram leader said he would trade off the girls. Now, the girls’ parents and indeed Nigerian women are in pains. What word of encouragement do you have for everyone?
My word is not just for the Chibok families alone, but to all the families who were thrown apart in Nyanya, in the two separate bombings, as well as those who were abducted and those whose loved ones have been killed in different quarters. This is what the Bible calls perilous time, we should not give up, in the end there will be light.
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