Electoral Act Amendment Vindicates Nathaniel Bassey’s Call for National Prayers -By Ugochukwu Ugwuanyi

Like the prophets of old, gospel singer Nathaniel Bassey recently mourned. Not due to personal grief or bereavement but out of compassion for his country. In a recent installment of his Hallelujah Challenge, the pastor expressed sadness over the state of affairs in the country, lamenting that Nigeria is deteriorating despite the increasing number of spiritual activities taking place here. He therefore called for fervent supplication. As he puts it, “I want us to pray for our nation, Nigeria first and then we deal with our own selves.” That’s actually how prophets mourn.

The Old Testament packs stories of prophets grieving over the looming doom, captivity, reprobate mind, or spiritual degeneracy of God’s people. In 2 Kings 8:10-12, Elisha cried after God revealed to him what the next King of Syria would do against Israel. Prophet Jeremiah was dubbed “the Weeping Prophet” because for 40 years he deeply mourned the sins, impending destruction, and exile of Judah/Israel by Babylon. His grief stemmed from the people’s stubborn refusal to repent, idolatry, and the subsequent ruin of Jerusalem (586 BC). Prophet Amos primarily expressed grief, sorrow, and impending judgment over the sins, injustice, and complacency of the Northern Kingdom of Israel.

When the Lord Jesus said in Matthew 5:4, “Blessed are they that mourn…” He wasn’t referring to those who lost a loved one but those who grieve like these prophets. This hermeneutic is based on the scriptural understanding that the deceased has only fallen asleep (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14). At the house of the synagogue leader, Jairus, just before raising his daughter back to life, Luke 8:52 reports, “All the people were wailing and mourning for her. “Stop wailing,” Jesus said. “She is not dead but asleep.” Of course, that vocabulary is in keeping with Jesus’s identity as the Resurrection and Life. He spoke in the same manner while trying to communicate Lazarus’s death to His disciples. As such, Jesus couldn’t have been referring to the personally bereaved in Matthew 5:4, but those who express a godly sorrow for the plight of others. It is the mourning borne out of love and compassion, expressed as an intercessory response to the spiritual condition of people and nations.

This elaborate explanation had to be made to establish the concluding part of that same verse, which assures, “for they shall be comforted.” Pastor Nathaniel’s concern and prayers shouldn’t be dismissed as an exercise in futility, but be deemed as what can birth a better Nigeria as a consolation for all concerned. Their intercession becomes the channel through which God effects change and comfort in the country so that compassionate people who have been carrying the burden can be comforted. The scripture can never be broken. If Jesus promised comfort for those who mourn, so shall it be! However, the intercession mustn’t be perfunctory, but the Romans 8:26 kind, where prayers are uttered as deep groaning and sighs. It must be as heartfelt as the act of mourning.

It is because prayers for the country haven’t been accorded the seriousness they deserve that many could mock Nathaniel Bassey’s advocacy. The common pushback was, “If we’ve been praying for years, why is Nigeria getting worse?” It’s because the prayers have not been done right. Concerned citizenry have got to approach it as they would cry for the resuscitation of a loved one who just expired. That is when they would see the ability of prayers to change things. Well, Bassey’s call for national prayer couldn’t have come at a better time, coinciding with when federal legislators were busy with the amendment of the Electoral Act. There has been an intense public debate and demand for real-time transmission of election results so that electioneering in the country can be more credible and to restore voters’ confidence. The political establishment has a position that was clearly against what the masses wanted. It was expected that those who don’t consider prayers as necessary in solving national malaises would have latched on to this opportunity to set the country on the right path, but they were missing in action.

Civil society groups, opposition politicians, and some conscientious Nigerians revved the activism engine, taking protests to the doorstep of the lawmakers. For their troubles, they got tear-gassed at the National Assembly precinct. And at the end of the day, provisions in the Electoral Act that a good number of Nigerians vehemently opposed were sealed, signed, and delivered. After signing the Act into law, President Bola Tinubu said, “What is crucial is the fact that you (National Assembly) managed the process to the extent that there will be no confusion, no disenfranchisement of Nigerians, and we are all going to see democracy flourish.” On his part, Senate President Godswill Akpabio insisted that the new law addresses the core concerns raised by Nigerians over the integrity of the electoral process and introduces provisions that will make future elections more transparent and secure. According to him, “At the end, Nigerians will benefit a lot from future elections. Every vote will now count.”

With the fait accompli, so much for activism and civic engagement in Nigeria’s political milieu! How convenient for those who don’t subscribe to national prayers not to have done anything about what the opposition ADC said: “With the alarmingly speedy assent to the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, Tinubu has signed the death warrant on credible elections and by so doing set Nigeria’s democracy back by several decades.” Here’s how the PDP reacted: “This is a huge betrayal of the collective trust of Nigerians, who unambiguously expressed their overwhelming demand for the electronic transmission of results. This betrayal is most painful because it strikes the core of democracy, electoral sanctity.” Also weighing in through their chairman, Yabagi Sani, the Action Democratic Party said, “The only time-stamped device that is incontrovertible anywhere, including in court, is transmission from the voting point… When a political party is working against the interests of the people and their sovereignty, then it must be called out. The whole APC is working against the interests of Nigerians.”

Reacting on his X page, decorated political economist, Prof Pat Utomi wrote, “This gangster-style assault on the popular will by the Senate and Executive must not be brushed off. It is treason. Beyond a show of lack of character and a sense of shame, it sets up conditions that may bring Lagos and Abuja to what Khartoum, Sudan is. So, stop them we must.” Speaking on behalf of a coalition of civil society organisations, Jake Epelle said, “The decision of the Presidency to grant assent without addressing the substantive legal, technical, and democratic concerns raised by civil society sets a dangerous precedent.” He also criticised the imposition of a N50 million administrative fee for new political party registration under Section 75(6) of the Electoral Act, calling it “a financial moat designed to exclude grassroots movements, youth-led parties, and non-elite political formations from formal competition.”

It is rare to see Nigerians this interested in what elected public office holders are doing. This feverish reaction is because a foolproof Electoral Act can enable the conduct of credible elections that will usher in leaders with the capacity and political will to tackle what Nathaniel Bassey is calling for prayers over. If popular opinion doesn’t count, with civic consciousness and advocacy unable to push through a position pivotal to improving the country’s deplorable leadership recruitment process, then citizens must look elsewhere for solutions. Pundits have pointed out that the powers-that-be want an Electoral Act with loopholes that can be exploited during elections so that those who were rigged out can be told to “Go to court” after the fact. Little wonder, 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi begged Nigerians “to, please, always remember us politicians in prayers. We are the problem of Nigeria. No other person.”

The successful amendment of the Electoral Act by the authorities amid widespread opposition is a testament to the redoubtable albatross on Nigerians’ shoulders. It’s, however, a relief that prayer is seen by most as what to do when bereft of what else to do. The arm of flesh will always fail those who depend on it. Those who feel Bassey is wasting his time argue that Nigeria’s problems are not merely spiritual, but are structural, political, economic, and cultural, more so institutional. Yet they stayed away from the conversation and activism that could have successfully produced an inviolable law that would drive and guide the conduct of credible elections in the country – a panacea to solving Nigeria’s ultra-spiritual problems. Such armchair critics should just remain in their seats without dampening the morale of those grieving Nigeria!

Since the heart of the king is in God’s hand, He can definitely turn the same to wherever He deems necessary (Proverbs 21:1). Prayer is therefore required to let the Lord know the direction to direct the hearts of Nigeria’s political leaders. Ergo, let no one discourage those who believe that Nigeria can only be salvaged through prayers. Given that the President could be meek enough to seek forgiveness from citizens he has sinned against, as he publicly declared on Wednesday, Nigeria can enact 2 Chronicles 7:14, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” Doing this would amount to a national mourning, which, on the authority of Matthew 5:4, will deliver a healed country that is comfortable for everyone!

VIS Ugochukwu is a Sage, Storyteller and Brand Strategist who engages with readers via Twitter (now X) @sylvesugwuanyi