By Rev. Fr. Gerald Nwafor
While growing up we used to say a prayer for the Russian people (Ekpele maka ntogha Russia).
The prayer for the conversion of Russia has been a necessary part of the Roman Catholic tradition in the 20th century. However, at a point in our history, we had the same thing for Africa (Ekpele maka ntogha Africa). I should not say that God did not listen to those prayers, but I think Russia needs more prayer. My critiques will point at the economy of Africa and the sit-tight presidents in some African countries, but I will not throw banter today because I want to focus on the Russian events of this week and the last six months.
The Ukraine issue, the death of the Russian private military guy, Chief Yevgeny Prigozhin (Wagner group leader), and the recent killing of Alexei Navalny worry my mind. The international community having a security meeting in Germany saying that Putin is not a good man is not enough. The Ukrainian president asking for weapons to defend himself, and the way some countries are playing politics with it, shows you how the world responds to matters of interest.
The American president would like to know first if he would lose his presidential seat if he supported Ukraine, likewise the German chancellor, French president, and the British prime minister. Therefore, the support to Ukraine is politically motivated at any time.
What is there for me? If not, let the people of Ukraine continue to perish under the iron fist of Putin. I agree with my uncle who told me long ago that when there is a problem in the land, the ruling class gains (Ani adiro mma bu ulu ndi nze). Was it not in the news that France buys Uranium from Niger for 80 Cents a kilo while the true market price is 200 Euros?We may argue that our political leaders have not assassinated their opponents in the last 30 years or so, but I ask the difference between the teeming population that has been plunged into untold hardship that kills the populace slowly and, in some cases, massively. Examples abound of people who were killed on the East-West Road in Warri because of the bad road.
Do I need to mention the Enugu-Onitsha express way in Anambra and Enugu state? Those contractors that pocketed those funds and the government looked the other way, are they not in a cohort in the assassination of the poor masses? I do not want to turn the torchlight on the kidnappers and the Boko Haram group that will be a Pandora’s box or can of worms. Last month (January), I read that the government and the governors are planning to start state police in Nigeria. I would advise that we should tread with care on that aspect.
The thief with a knife should not be given a gun. If the governors who do not pay the Federal Police can use them to intimidate their political opponents, imagine what they will do when they are paying their salaries. I recall what Dave Umahi, the current Minister of Works, did with the local vigilante corps (Ebube agu) they formed to checkmate the kidnappers. It was used to silence his political opponents in Ebonyi State.
Meanwhile, his real name is David not Dave because people who are not satisfied with their real names normally put a twist on it to make it sound European according to Nkem Owoh (Osuofia). Nicodemus is Niko, Elizabeth is Eliza, and Taitus is Tai, on the other hand, David is Dave. Alright, back to the matter.Russia is one of the big heads in the communist economy, like China, but the level of killing and impunity going on inside Russia is a far cry from what you can see in any other communist and socialist republic.
I was in Russia 4 years ago to research education. I would not take it away from them, St Petersburg is a city that can compare favorably to any city anywhere in the world today. From modern aesthetics to economic activity, social aggiornamento, religious dynamism, and intellectual sagacity. There was a city by the side of Petersburg that was solely high-tech.
I saw Sony, Samsung, Sharp, and many other big names in electronics and internet services. But Putin has been in power for the past 25 years in Russia. Maybe as secretary of the security council, leader of united Russia, prime minister, or the president as we have him today, but the fact remains that he has been calling the shots since 1999. All the opposition have been killed or silenced.
The killing of Alexie Navalny is the latest in the litany of killings done by Putin, and the war in Ukraine is a defiant attempt by Putin to recreate the old USSR (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics). If the political world would stand by and watch this carnage continue in the 21st century, please, the Christian community should not. We should quickly go back to the old prayer manual, dust it off, and bring back the prayer for the conversion of Russia (Ekpele maka ntogha nke Russia).
Similarly, the Nigerian community should look for the old prayer book that has the prayer that says, “Nigeria in distress.” (Nigeria noo na ife oke egwu).The problem of Russia could have been the gain of the Nigerian oil business because the Europeans and the Americans placed bans and sanctions on the sale of Russian oil.
It means that Nigeria will sell more oil at a higher price and make more money. But if you ask now where the money is, the federal government would feel insulted, but I don’t mind, I will ask them. Government of Nigeria, please, where is the oil money? I heard Godwin Emefiele had some but not all of them. So, where are the rest, Mr. Olayemi Cardoso?
