An open petition to heaven: When plunder becomes a way of life for a group of men in a society, overthe course of time, they create for themselves a legal system that authorises it and a moral code that glorifies it – Frederic Bastiat

Hypocrisy is the audacity to preach integrity from a den of corruption – Wes Fesler

 It’s been long I visited, to bring to your attention, our situation in this country called Nigeria. Though, I have been coming to check my health status within the courtyard, to ascertain whether or not I’m healthy and sane, I still haven’t had the chance to notify you of happenings in Nigeria, our own dear native land.

Dear God, truth is: not that one doubts your ability which surpasses human thinking, and the fact that you’re more than capable of seeing beyond all human imaginations, as you’re omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent, yet, as your subject, it is important I constantly brief you of events here at home.

Religious adherents have initiated and inundated me of their load protests on daily basis at the portals of heaven but it seems our issues are yet to attract your attention hence reverting to the “the apple of your eye” for intervention knowing that  you’ll accede to their request from your abode above.

Our petition this time around is on the plague that is ravaging our nation and the toll of this yoke is snuffing out lives in hundreds of thousands at the turn of hours, as living has rather become worthless– no one is sure of safety the next minute. What we witness is perverseness of your sacred and eternal promises.

Lord, there’s no doubting the fact that we have come  short of your glory; your ordinances have been jettisoned as it’s no longer a reproach to abhor sin, it is now the soul of our nation, while all institutions of governance take turn to outdo one another in a menace called corruption.

This pandemic has eaten deep into all facets of life. It is a virus that is now full blown such that those elected to oversee her activities have turned “financial bandits” being applauded in our society. This weight has reduced our life expectancy. Many are dying as hospitals have been reduced to mere dispensaries.

The Lord’s commandments have been re-crafted, and sadly now, the creed reads:

*Blessed are the light-fingered, for theirs is the nation’s treasury.

*Blessed are they that perfect the act of election manipulation, for they shall be elected to rule and ruin.

*Blessed are they that loot, for theirs shall be the kingdom of dome/lofty chambers, and the North East and Niger Delta Development Commissions shall be added unto them.

*And to them that suffer bankruptcy/insolvency, the key to the apex bank’s vault shall be opened unto them by MaiGasikia.

*And they that hate greasing palms shall remain in penury, because theirs shall be the wretched Kingdom.

*Any appointees on oil seat, shall be drowned in trillions of offshore stream hard currency.

*The nation’s looters shall share their inheritance in the stone-wall villa.

*They that are prosecuted by anti-graft agency shall have a star added to their epaulettes.

*All the loot syphoned onshore, shall avail when in exile.

*Looters are the salt of the nation, tax evasion and juicy appointments/contracts shall roll unto them seamlessly.

*Rejoice, for all ethnic nationalities have been conquered, their land willed for RUGA passage and all to the Almighty feudalist reign.

*Your silence is the morale booster for the already festering civil dictatorship.

Supreme being, your word assures that weeping may endure for a night while joy comes in the morning. In today’s Nigeria weeping goes all through the night with teeth gnashing, weariness takes over the morning with full strength for the fear of further impoverishment. Lord, when and where would our salvation come? Will you watch as these Ba’al priests slaying us by the brook of the Niger river to finish us all without your saving grace?

Righteousness exalts a nation, as sin is a reproach to any people, yet our land gloats in sin and the reverse stares us in the face without solution. Would you not look down, now again? When will the sun of righteousness rise in our land?

As this petition is submitted at heaven’s portal, I heard a loud voice thunder, “the wicked are like chaff that the wind blows away. The enemy has come to an end in perpetual ruins, And I God, have uprooted the cities; The very memory of them has perished,” says Olodumare. Alas, it was a dream.

Lanre  Ogundipe is former National President Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) writes from Abuja, Nigeria Federal Capital