By Promise Adiele
The supernatural and physical realms of existence are opposites intricately but inevitably intertwined with each other. Both realms are unique to the extent that they possess the pristine virtues of complementarities. I am always intrigued by the vast resources that incubate opposites and their reciprocal relationships.
For example, the relationship between Orunmila and Esu on the iconic Opon Ifa prognostic divination tray in the Yoruba spiritual system, the relationship between male and female species where the relevance of one is rooted in the existence of the other, the relationship between APC and PDP, opposite political parties in Nigeria thinly veiled by nomenclature but woven into each other in terms of ideology and membership, the relationship between corruption and anti-corruption, entrenched mutually animated concepts in Nigeria. We can hardly exhaust the list of opposites with such reciprocal and complementary outlines.
Some people who are committed to unraveling the mystery surrounding human existence have posited that the supernatural realm cannot do without the physical realm and vice versa. While some argue that the supernatural realm depends on the continued patronage of the physical realm for sustenance, some have posited that humans owe their existence to the supernatural sphere and, therefore, must constantly lubricate the spiritual continuum by way of sacrifices, offerings and libations to appease chthonic powers.
In this case, religion plays a very important role. While Christians through pastors lay claims, to having access to the throne of heaven, Muslims through Imams also lay claim to superior spiritual knowledge. Traditional worshippers also have deities with presiding priests who are periodically consulted to access the supernatural highway. Amadioha in Igbo land and Sango in Yoruba land are two deities famed for their ability to achieve retribution through the swift agency of thunder and lightning and people consult them for vengeful purposes.
When man prays, it is a tacit acknowledgement of his inability to help a situation and therefore calls on supernatural powers to intervene. Regrettably, most prayers are motivated by externally induced fantasies for materialism, gain and inordinate sophistication.
Remorse and penance take the back sit when we pray. However, the Nigerian experience has shown that men and women have utterly abdicated their responsibilities and passed them over to the supernatural realm. Those who represent different religions and claim to have unhindered access to the supernatural realm have suddenly become rich in our country. They prey on the gullible and desperate among us who are in search of one thing or another.
The most abused objects in this spiritual engineering are the Bible and Quran, where pretenders of the faith misinterpret various portions of the Holy books in order to hoodwink and brainwash the naïve. Sometimes, prayers are answered and miracles are experienced, some other times the heavens remain silent and prayers are not answered, situations even get worse. It is blamed on lack of faith and perseverance is advised in total disregard to the will of the Almighty.
The doctrine of prayer and its primal psychology has unfortunately saturated the consciousness of many Nigerians who wittingly abuse the process by inundating the supernatural realm with obscene and misplaced requests. For us, prayer has become a habit to be embraced in order to subvert divine ordinance.
If a child is preparing to write an examination, he should not read, let us pray. If a sister has lived a loose life when she was young and destroyed her womb through series of abortions, now she is married and can’t have kids, we must pray. If a sister is rude by nature, always dressing in an irresponsible way, profligate with money and seeks a husband, let us pray that God will provide an unfortunate brother for marriage. If a young man is jobless and not skilled in any trade, we must pray for his breakthrough, to suddenly become a millionaire.
If a loved one dies in a hospital through incompetence and sheer negligence by the hospital authority and its staff, we must bury our dead, wipe our faces and above all rehearse the platitude, “let bygones be bygones”, while we pray. If the brake pad and tires of our vehicles are all worn out and we want to embark on a long journey, please let us pray so that God in His infinite mercy will do the needful and save us from impending disaster. If an engineer has used sub-standard materials to construct a bridge or a piece of architecture, we must pray that by the Grace of God, none will collapse. Grace, that inscrutable principle of undeserved good fortune has brought us this far, surely it will take us further afar even when we plunge into River Niger.
If the electricity distribution company does not supply us electricity but shows up with high bills every month, it is time to pray. If a landlord arbitrarily increases our house rent, let us pray. If a police officer, army, navy or any of the uniformed people maintained by our taxes harass and embarrass us, let us indeed pray.
If our national team has not prepared well for a competition, we must pray that they succeed above teams from other countries that have put tremendous effort in preparation. If politicians continue to mutilate the political structure of our country for their gain and public officers, through mindless acts of criminality, burgle the exchequer, we must indeed fast and pray, everybody in his own language. If a governor who has not paid workers for many months spends over N500 million to erect the statue of a president enmeshed in filthy lucre and corrupt enrichment in his home country, let us pray, no action is required. If we are collectively disenchanted with a government, if our lives are made worse by a government at any level, let us watch and pray. Then, we must remain at home during the next election. In fact, we must fast and pray that God in his overwhelming powers should change the government; we have no part to play in it.
It is obvious that Nigerians have consistently abused the spiritual sanctity of prayer and reduced it to a circus of redemption for every challenge. We have inadvertently burdened the spiritual space through incessant prayers and propitiations which end up in a void and, therefore, become ineffectual. By praying in this way, we violate the existing primordial laws of creation seeking to blackmail God to attend to our every whim and caprice. Most of our challenges do not require prayers, they require action. Most of our challenges are man-made, not God made.
Most of our circumstances require taking responsibility, confronting the issues directly and not the daily unconscious subscription to magic and sorcery through the much desecrated instrumentality of prayer. The time has come for us to move from our apparent lethargy and take action. God is angry with us because we have refused to take the initiative which He has completely handed over to us.
The time has come for us to take action, speak or forever hold our peace and complain no more. 2019 is a great opportunity.
Adiele, Department of English, University of Lagos.