GOVERNMENT AND DIVINE SUPPORT (PART THREE)

PROF. BEN ONYEUKWU (REV.)

NCE(Eng.) ND/HD (Journalism); BA (Hons) MA, PhD.

Call: +2348037346939  E-mail: professorbenonyeukwu@yahoo.com

GOVERNMENT AND DIVINE

SUPPORT (PART THREE)

PROBLEM OF USURPATION OF POWER

“Abimelech went to this father’s house and killed his

brothers. And all the men of shechem went and

made him King”... (Judges 9)

Introduction:

            Every organized community or nation, no matter their form of government, have lawful access to power. In a democracy, the law provides that people can vote or stand as candidates for elections into positions of public thrust. However, when people cut corners to capture power, they are said to have usurped or taken it through lawless means. So, one usurps the authority of a state or nation when one assumes power by force or takes it fraudulently. Abimelech, as cited in the scriptural text of this piece exhibited such a treasonable vice, which in turn rewarded him and his accomplices with the bitter peals of divine judgment. With this in mind, please ascertain that:

USURAPTION OF POWER BRINGS NO BLESSING TO

THE GOVERNMENT AND PEOPLE

The book of Judges chapter nine gives a complete message on how Abimelech, son of one of the concubines of Gideon usurped authority in Israel, and how God dealt with him for the act. However, in a newspaper article titled, “the Aftermath of False Political Mandate”, Ben Onyeukwu cites a shinning example of legitimate way of acquiring political power, as he opines that, “November 4, 2008 remains a remarkable date in history, as it stand out to narrate the victory of Barack Obama over John McCain as the duly elected 44^th, as well as the 1^st black president of the United State of America. He notes that this election of an African-American, whose pedigree stretches to Kenya, in Africa became a source of world wide jubilation simply because of the transparency that pulled down the walls of racism, inequality and falsehood. In the real sense of the game, he goes on to say, “there was no rigging, no brigandage, no injustice or false justice, and so, a clean mandate of the people was achieved”.

Since that epoch making election, no one, even the enemies of America, can deny the blessings of God through the Obama administration to the American people and other races of the world. But, like the woeful administration of Abimelech in Israel, African countries such as Zimbabwe, Kenya, Nigeria and others parade governments that are products of election fraud, and yet cry, in vain, every day to God for blessings. It is disheartening to recall that the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua openly admitted that the election that brought him to power was fraudulent, yet he refused to relinquish power. Instead of stepping aside, he influenced the judiciary to accord him a false judicial legitimacy. But, to attract the grace of God for good governance, a political leader must be transparent, both in action and words. Who knows if the ungodly attitude of our leaders is responsible for the lack of the wisdom to manage the abundant human and material resources in most countries of the world, whereby leaving the vast majority of the people in abject poverty.

            Today our politicians are at it again. It is obvious that all intrigues that characterized previous elections in Nigeria have increased, instead of abating. Desperate politicians are perfecting plans to once again impose themselves and their cronies on the people, against the will of God and the citizens. Yet, we talk of free, fair and credible elections. If we are honest in the matter, what have we done to stop these crooks who call themselves politicians? Are they not the people who have again bribed party officials and delegates to emerge as party flag bearers? Have they not by their antics kicked the well meaning politicians out of the race? Who do we have as chairmen in our local government areas? Are they not the cronies of those politicians we know that have wasted the economy of this nation? Are they not those who are said to have hijacked INEC’s DDC machines in the recently concluded voter registration exercise in their bid to register the under-aged and those who by law are not required to register, as a way of perfecting their rigging plans? Are some INEC officials not as well fingered in the crime? With these demonic moves to capture power, can the nation, Nigeria, achieve credible elections or secure people who are God’s will for the services of this country in 2011? It is futile to think there will be any positive change if we do not change our attitude and allow God to reign in our democracy, as well as take to the principles of His word. For democracy is not just about the will of the people, but about the will of God expressed through the people, (Deuteronomy17), though many nations and people seem to go for the godless type, which Israel desired at first, (1 Samuel 8). Bear in mind that if we allow any form of usurpation of power, no blessing or support for our government(s) would come from God, as we will definitely continue to cry fruitlessly like Abimelech, whom Ben Onyeukwu says waited and worked in vain for the blessings of the Lord for his fraudulently installed administration in Israel. USURPATION OF POWER IS INSTRUMENT OF BLOODSHED

            According to Ben Onyeukwu, “Abimelech’s campaign of calumny gave him undue advantage to the nations sanctuary fund with which he hired reckless advantages who became his followers, (Judges 9:4). This pictures the present days political tuggery sponsored by political moneybags or godfathers to outwit opponents in their bid to ascend the seat of power. Abimelech went to his father’s home and murdered his seventy brothers on a stone. But, Jothan, the youngest son of Jerub-baal escaped by hiding, (verse 5). This paved way for his unpopular mandate or enthronement, (verse 6).

            Similarly, in Nigeria today, there are evidences of politically motivated killings or death threats from desperate politicians to their kinsmen or people from the same political zones, as well as to opponents from other zones who they feel stand in opposition to their political ambitions. In the wider world, as Ben Onyeukwu moves on to remark, “does this not reflect the attitude of Mwai Kibaki of Kenya, Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, Idi Amin of Uganda, Sadam Hussein of Iraq and a host of other world leaders who waste (or wasted) the lives of fellow citizens in their quest for power? The escape of Jothan from the massacre that destroyed the seventy sons of Jerub-Baal and his subsequent outburst of curses on Abimelech and the citizens of Shechem for their unlawful possession of the throne indicate that it is a mere waste of time and energy to pray that God blesses any administration with such a wicked foundation, (verses 7-21). But, nowadays, we pray, calling on God to bless governments that we are too sure were concocted out of fraud, instead of telling them to repent and relinquish power to the rightful winners. We hail them when they successfully bribe the judiciary for false legitimacy, and at the same time cry wolf, as we helplessly see them waste our economy. But, be sure the evil days will take a higher dimension if we fail to do something to stop fraudulent elections that bring about the usurpation of power in Nigeria or anywhere.

USURPATION OF POWER ATTRACTS DIVINE VENGEANCE

            Furthermore, in the words of Ben Onyeukwu, “knocks of divine judgment came on Abimelech and the people of Shechem after three years of his administration, just as Jothan has proclaimed against them, (verses 6-21). Thus, the Bible records that “after Abimelech has govern Israel three years, God sent an evil spirit between him and the citizens of Shechem, who acted treacherously against him. God did this in order that the crime against Jerub-Baal’s seventy sons, that is, the shedding of their blood might be avenged on Abimelech and on the citizens of Shechem who has helped him murder his brothers”, (verses 22-24).

            Now, have you ever reflected on why some politicians who some times joined forces to usurp power from the rightful owners are today bitter enemies? Have you at any time considered why on pages of newspapers you read unfriendly outbursts and replies of such former political friends? The simple truth is that God will always send evil spirits to destabilize them, and this will always lead to unfavourable situations where such a thing had happened. You can take statistics of all the states of Nigeria and other parts of the world where governments had been played into the hands of political criminals, and you would find that the story is the same.

            God is always angry when usurpation of power takes place in any community, and in response He sends evil spirit(s) (or wind) against such an administration, instead of blessing it, (verses 22-23). Ben Onyeukwu further remarks that “at times, this forces a government out of power. The administration of erstwhile Governor Chris Ngige of Anambra State of Nigeria exemplifies this. However, where such a government is allowed to remain in power, owing to the lukewarm attitude of the people, nothing concrete or meaningful may be achieved. The Lucky Igbinedion administration of Edo State of Nigeria is hereby cited. The story of Abimelech in Judges chapter nine shows why many governments are faced with insurrection, and in some cases deaths, instead of being blessed for good governance that benefit the people. An administration foisted on the people by hook or crook can hardly attract the grace of God to perform. Here lies the woes of many states and nations of the world, including Imo State and Nigeria.

            In conclusion, Nigeria’s political problems, as well as that of other parts of the world hinges on the fact that the services of most people to God and their fatherland are informed by personal interest and not patriotism or fear of God. If one fears God, one can hardly engage in anything that would not bring glory to Him, and if one loves one’s nation, one would do everything humanly possible to promote the collective interest of the nation. Therefore, in our effort to choose those who govern us, the will of God should come first, the nation’s interest second, and ours third. This is because if we please God as a people, He blesses our nation, and our nation in turn becomes a source of blessing to us. GOD BLESS NIGERIA.