This Nigerian has worked in Mozambique, Sierra Leone and Liberia and other war-ravaged theatres of attrition. In fact, he told me a very sad but fascinating story of how he and other experts recruited from around the world, sat together from most mornings till about most midnights every day to virtually piece together dismembered Liberia from which the country came back again from brokenness to life about 13 years ago. The country’s education had collapsed, its healthcare system was nothing to write home about; the country had no unified security; youth armed with sophisticated arms were virtually laws unto themselves; everyone acted as he or she felt. Liberia after its self-immolation looked like Israel during the days of the Judges when the Bible reports that everyone did as he pleased, no one seemed ready to be answerable to any other authority.
The Liberian Presidential election pitching the then Vice-President Boakai against the famous footballer George Opong Weah was then on. I therefore asked this gentleman internationalist who knew so much about Liberia pointedly who between Boakai and Weah he would prefer and he told me pointedly also that he preferred Boakai because of his experience and maturity. He said he feared for Liberia if in the end, Weah wins. But Weah has won and will be sworn- in today (has been sworn in). In spite of his being a senator, Weah, he told me very moodily, still parties, still does illegally what decent men do in ‘the other room’’ and that in spite of his later acquisition of academic qualifications after his first presidential bid way back in 2005, he still remains unconvinced if the man has the mental maturity and emotional intelligence to wield together a still fragile country like Liberia.
Fast forward to early January this year. One day, while at my family early morning prayers, the Holy Spirit ministered to me to be praying for George Opong Weah and the nation of Liberia, the oldest independent state in Africa. I was shocked by this ministration. Who am I in the eyes of the Almighty God to be asked to pray for a whole country and its newly elected president? Is there fire on the mountain in Liberia for a humble me to be asked to undertake that assignment on behalf of that country? If there are portents of danger ahead for Liberia, what can the prayer of one man and his family possibly do to avert any possible calamity about to befall a whole country and its helmsman?
It is said in the Bible that “the effectual fervent prayer of the righteous availeth much.” Yes but am I a righteous man? I suddenly remembered the teaching I have been receiving from my pastors that God can use anyone anywhere to achieve his purpose at any time. One may see himself as a grasshopper but God may see such a person differently. He may be a giant in the eyes of God fit to be assigned to undertake any task which seems meaningless or daunting to him. With the dawn of this realization, I told members of my family that we shall be interceding for the nation of Liberia and its(then) in-coming president George Opong Weah, begging God to forgive the people of Liberia of the many unspeakable sins they have committed, especially during their gruesome civil war. A nation that has gone through civil war must surely have violated all the Ten Commandments and must be ready to do genuine penance before they can win back the love, care and concerns of the Lord.
I also told them we shall be praying for Godly wisdom to come upon youthful President Weah. “Weah is a mere youth, Lord, full of youthful indiscretions, I said one morning as I led the prayer. Take away his inclination to engage in youthful exuberance, in words or actions that might plunge his country into another round of turmoil. The nation of Liberia has suffered enough from the foolishness of its leaders and the intolerance and needless hate of its people,” I said further and a chorus of “amen” from my wife and children affirmed our petition to God.
“Almighty Father, you are a compassionate God but quick on vengeance for those who continue to throd on the path of continuous iniquity. In any way that the people of Liberia have fallen short of your Glory, forgive them and look more favourably on their country. They are but children liable to err many times even after repeated corrections and admonitions,” we beseeched God further, sounding like true earthly advocates for Liberia that God has called us to be.
I am revealing today what was told me by God in my closet to do and which we have been doing because I want to enlist the help of other Nigerians and Africans to remember to pray for Liberia and its people. I fancy myself as a prophet unto Africa and the Black World. Any time something negative happens to, or something insulting is said about Africa and the Black World, I feel a certain kind of outrage or shame that would make me want to cane some people who are failing in their duties to make black people feel proud of their humanity. This, perhaps, explains this burden for Liberia and President Weah which God has put in my heart.
Today, Liberia is taking a huge step in her strides to pick the pieces of its torn life. This would be its first peaceful transition from one civilian president to another. This is the first time that the youth of an African country has made a generational statement by contributing more than most in the decision of who becomes their president. Let their decision not turn out to be a misadventure. In the eyes of many, especially wise elders of Africa, the successful bet on Weah is a huge gamble that should not have been allowed to prevail in the first place.
But who knows whether this is the plan and purpose of God? After all, He is the one who gives power to whom He loves. Who are we to question the choice of George Opong Weah as the president of Liberia? I like the prayer which the Living Faith Church worldwide usually prays for any team or individuals selected to execute an assignment. It goes thus: “May this assignment never crash on the heads of these ones.” As Goerge Opong Weah is unveiled today and commissioned to lead Liberia’s re-building efforts, may this assignment never crash on his head’’. Let all who read this chorus a deafening “Amen!”
Idang Alibi is an Abuja-based journalist and can be reached on idangalibi@yahoo.com.
