Evangelist Theo Rays Ejikeme is an author, journalist-turned-preacher and founder of Sounds of God and Solution Ministries, Onitsha, Anambra State. He shares his thoughts on issues affecting Nigeria’s development and his recommended solutions with JUDE OSSAI. Excerpts:
How would you assess Nigeria at 57?
At 57, I see Nigeria as a failed country, although there are one or two areas in which we have made progress. We have made progress in the building of international cities like Lagos, Abuja, Kano, and a few other cities; we have made progress by sustaining democracy in the last 18 years. These are the two areas we have made noticeable progress at 57. It is only in Nigeria we hear that school teachers go on strike because government failed to provide what is required to run the system. It is only in Nigeria we hear about bad roads, epileptic electricity supply, non payment of workers’ salaries, low healthcare delivery, no jobs, no food, no money, nothing to improve the lives of the people in a country of 57 years. The worst is that at 57, we still hate ourselves, because we prefer to serve and protect the interests of religion, tribes and political parties, ahead the overall interest of the people.
It seems you are angry?
Yes, I am angry because Nigerians are not thinking. People live like they don’t have soul and destiny. Nobody cares about introspection with a view to finding our faults and making amends. People expect President Muhammadu Buhari to do magic; he is not a magician. The magic needed to fix Nigeria has to come from all of us. I am angry because people are selfish; people seem to have no idea how to solve problems facing them. I am angry because judges have failed to see that corrupt leaders go to jail; I am angry because governors are poor performers; I am angry because religious leaders are financial merchants, not priest of the Most High God; I am angry because more are interested in their tribes, religious affiliation, and political parties than the general interest of everybody. It is only in Nigeria that we hear about corruption at this age. In my books, I tried to draw the attention of people to the way forward as it relates to fighting corruption and other challenges facing the country effectively, and I won’t relent until I achieve the target.
What is the way forward on the fight against corruption and other challenges?
The way to defeat corruption and other ills facing Nigeria is to give way for men who can call to the deep and allow them to unleash their ideas and knowledge on the affairs of the country; people who can look beyond tribe, party affiliation, and religion. No more excuses, the time to fix Nigeria is now. We have people who can change this country, and the earlier we gave them chance, the better for us. The second way forward is to attack corruption and ills from the source – the people’s mindset, culture, worship and lifestyle.
Do you hear from God?
Yes I do. I am a prophet by gift and evangelist by assignment. I hear from God as a prophet, but I try as much as possible to galvanise what I hear into the mechanism of problem solution. I like solving problems and by God’s grace, I wish to take that globally. After my calling into evangelism at the World Gospel Mission, Ololi Apapa, owned by Reverend Joseph Agboola, the spirit of God ministered to me that I should not preach prosperity messages. Instead, I preach salvation, development, repentance, capacity building, greatness, globalisation, and world peace, according to the vision of God’s Kingdom.
What is your take on the calls for the restructuring of the country?
I agree, but we have to first and foremost restructure the people into sound knowledge of leadership and existence generally. We need to let them know human worth and the need to preserve the value of life, regardless of political parties, tribe and religion. We have to restructure the mindset of people first.
What is your take on the agitation for Biafra?
I support it because Biafra will bring the best out of the Igbo man. Nigeria and the world have failed to appreciate the ingenuity of the Igbo man. The Ndigbo have great minds. Philip Emeagwali, an Igbo man, is a renowned computer wizard; Bill Clinton described Emeagwali as the most intelligent human being on earth in the last 60 years. Emeka Ken Nwabueze, an Igbo man, served as presidential adviser on Science and Technology to George Bush for seven years. We have the Igbo developing businesses and providing jobs for people in virtually all cities and villages around the world. We have the Igbo, who have been successful in many areas of the polity. Nnamdi Azikiwe, an Igbo, remains a leading light in the political history of Africa. Chinua Achebe, an Igbo man, is the first African to produce a book that was translated to more than 50 languages round the world. Francis Cardinal Arinze, an Igbo man, is the only African that ever came close to becoming Pope of the Catholic Church. The Igbo are the most influential when it comes to Catholicism and the Anglican churches in Africa today; I stand to be corrected. It is not about issuing Papal awards to catholic faithful; it is about supporting Igbo against maltreatment in Nigeria.