Without a doubt, Nigeria is facing some of its toughest challenges since the civil war.
The economy is in a mess. We are witnessing a record high unemployment rate, high poverty rate, 63 per cent or about 133 million people, and inflation rates that have remained above 20 per cent for several months. Insecurity has remained a huge concern across the country.
Nigeria is currently scoring low on all human development indices, far lower than desirable. It is not difficult to see why many young Nigerians have lost hope and seeking opportunities to leave the country and migrate to other climes.
Nigeria’s situation is akin to the situation of ancient Samaria when it was besieged by the king of Syria, Ben-hadad, who mustered a great army and crippled economic activities in Samaria, Israel’s capital of Israel at the time,
The result of the siege was a great famine, which led to such a high inflation rate in Samaria that “a donkey’s head was sold for eighty shekels of silver, and the fourth part of a kab of dove’s dung for five shekels of silver”. This is recorded in the book of Second Kings chapters six and seven.
Things were so bad that women boiled and ate their children. That is indeed horrible. But, are extremely poor Nigerians not resorting to various horrible means to survive?
While the siege remained, the best economic policies could not help Samaria. The king and his officials became hopeless. In the end, the situation was resolved by a strange prophetic declaration by Prophet Elisha and irrational steps taken by rather unknown and disadvantaged men.
Elisha’s prophetic declaration defied all logic, economic analysis and projections. “Hear the word of the Lord: thus says the Lord, Tomorrow about this time a seah of fine flour shall be sold for a shekel, and two seahs of barley for a shekel, at the gate of Samaria,” he said. Unknown to the ostracised leprous men, their brave decision and action interpreted the prophetic declaration and triggered an unprecedented boom and crashed the prices of food and other goods so much so that the prophecy came true in 24 hours.
This story reveals that there is no situation that is beyond divine intervention. God can turn around the situation of Nigeria quicker than we imagine. The country needs interpreters, people whose decisions and actions will align with declarations about Nigeria’s prophetic destiny.
I recall that in October 2020, when Nigeria turned 60 years as an independent nation, God said Nigeria had entered the season of interpreters and we shall see them rise in all spheres of life and corners of society, in the corridors of power, in boardrooms, campuses, churches… everywhere – East, West, North and South. I believe that is even more true now than it was three years ago.
These interpreters are in six categories, relative to their functions in the recovery and development of Nigeria in line with our prophetic destiny.
One: The seers – These are men and women of vision, who can see and accurately interpret Nigeria’s future as Joseph did for Israel and Egypt. He saw all of Israel bow to him, which was a divine orchestration to deliver them from the future famine and ship them to the foreign country where they were to stay for 400 years as God had told their ancestor – Abraham. Like Joseph, these shall interpret Nigeria’s dreams and create pathways for their actualisation. They shall be Nigeria’s eye as Prophet Samuel was for Israel in his day.
Two: The economic advisers – Nigeria’s economic situation is not irredeemable. These shall decode divine signals and proffer timely solutions to resolve economic quagmires of all kinds. The president and governors need them in their cabinets. In following Joseph’s counsel, Egypt grew exponentially in wealth and global relevance. Such is their impact.
Three: The interpreters of seasons –These, like certain sons of Issachar, have an understanding of times and seasons both from physical and spiritual standpoints. They can tell what Nigeria ought to be doing at this time. With these, we shall no longer squander precious opportunities as a nation.
Four: The elders – Before he died, Joseph told the children of Israel that God will surely visit to bring them out of Egypt. He interpreted Israel’s situation at the time and predicted their deliverance from Egypt in line with God’s promise to Abraham. These elders are rising. They know this country deeply, not just in history, but also in spirit. Their wisdom is invaluable.
Five: The readers – Like Daniel, these understand by books. Cerebrally and spiritually intelligent, they are students of prophecy. They can translate the king’s decrees into workable policies and can read and translate the handwriting on the wall. These, too, shall arise.
Six: The nurses – These like Jochebed, the mother of Moses, can identify potential leaders, protect, nurture and train them. Jochebed’s tutorial was enough to resolve Moses’ identity crisis, set his priorities right and produce courage in him. These nurses shall midwife the emergence of true leaders in Nigeria.
Some of the most profound prophecies about Nigeria were made by an English missionary, Sydney Granville Elton, who came from England and settled in Ilesha, southwest, Nigeria in 1937 and lived in the country till he died in 1987.
Pa Elton, as he is popularly called, mentored some of the most outstanding Christian leaders in Nigeria’s history, including Apostle Ayo Babalola and Archbishop Benson Idahosa.
His prophecy about Nigeria, which is often quoted by intercessors, says: “Nigeria and Nigerians will be known all over the world for corruption. Your name — Nigeria will stink for corruption but after a while, a new phase will come — a phase of righteousness. People from the nations of the earth will hold to a Nigerian and say, we want to follow you to your nation to go and learn righteousness.”
That prophetic declaration indicates that Nigeria will experience a remarkable turnaround at some point. The first part of the prophecy has turned out to be true. I believe we are now at that turning point. Recent events indicate that dawn is nearby, hence the need for interpreters.
Fellow Nigerians and friends of Nigeria, do not stop praying for the perfection of God’s will concerning this country. In addition to praying, each of us needs to commit to contributing our quota to ensure that Nigeria becomes the great nation it was destined to be.
You might be one of the interpreters. In nation-building, everyone has a role to play. Let’s get to work.
God bless Nigeria.
Reverend Austin Ukporhe is the Point Man (Resident Pastor) at Remnant Christian Network, Lagos. Raised in Sokoto, northern Nigeria, he was trained in peculiar firebrand evangelism and was ordained as a pastor in 2001. He has experienced countless and diverse workings of the faithfulness of God over two decades and has developed a passion to see God’s will for Nigeria become a reality.
