Insecurity: Mixed Reactions, As Nigeria Goes Spiritual

By Uche Mbah

Overwhelmed by the menace of insecurity and political crisis, Nigerians, both at the Federal and state level, have taken solace in spiritual warfare, with all shades of alleged spiritual approaches being explored by desperate-and sometimes allegedly politically mischievous-leaders and prominent politicians.

from the travails of the Vice President to the menace of Boko Haram and Herdsmen, Nigeria has been under siege from all angles. And it is becoming clear that the thinking within government circles is that they battle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world.

Critics, however, believe many belong among those perpetrating spiritual wickedness in high places.

The first hint of resorting to spirituality came from the Military. when they organized a seminar entitled “Countering Insurgency and Violent Extremism in Nigeria through Spiritual Warfare”, at the Nigeria Army Resource Center in Abuja. It was organized by a potpourri of religious leaders within the army-Catholic chaplain, imam, and a protestant pastor. No animist or traditionalist was represented, nor any of the Numerous Asian religions.

Then the Borno state government decided that enough was enough-and promptly imported marabouts from Saudi Arabia.

The spokesperson to Babangida Zulum, the Boro state governor, Isa Gusau, revealed this to the press, claiming that one of the Marabouts has been working in the Kaaba in Maka for forty years.

Saudi Arabia, the spiritual headquarters of Islam, has been having its fair share of crisis.

“The aim is to combine different approaches that include sustained support for the Nigerian Armed Forces, aggressive mass recruitment and equipping of more counter-insurgency volunteers into the Civilian JTF, hunters and vigilantes as well as sociology-economic approach in enhancing access to education, job opportunities and providing other means of livelihood through social protection initiatives,” Gusau had said.

Maverick Pastor, Tunde Bakare, Sunday held what he termed a state of the nation address where he led a prayer session for Nigeria, after making some personal policy statements, insisting that any body in a political party of his choice can aspire to the highest office in the land, just as the Military allege that repented Boko Haram members can aspire to and become the president of Nigeria.

But reactions has been trailing the spiritual resurgence, with many believing that the army is meant for terrestrial warfare, and that spiritual warfare should be left for payer warriors.

Others still believe it is a step in the right direction.