Come, Let Us Reason Together APPLI/AFPLI Presidential Speech 2nd NAMA PRAYER Oct 27th 2007 Good afternoon to everyone here present today at this second national prayer for Nigeria airspace safety. As the 7th year of the new millennium rolls into its third quarter, Nigerians of all works of life should start to ask each other a solemn question. “What do we want to get out of this millennium for our great country Nigeria?”  Let me start the ball rolling by asking those of you present here “what do we want to get out of this millennium for our country?” Federal, State, Local Government, Community and Religious Leaders, “What do you plan to get for this country out of this millennium?” Perhaps, we can localize the question a little bit by asking “What promises if any does Democracy offer Nigeria and how can we truly claim those promises and make them manifest and materialize for the benefits of all and not just for some in this 21st Millennium?” Let us be mindful of where we were coming from, where we are, and there chart new pathways for our feet. This is the first time in the history of Nigeria as political entity that Democracy will enter its third term. How do we want to make use of the opportunity? The 20th Millennium - A Wasted Opportunity for Most African Countries There have been no people completely free of bondage of one nature or another all over the world through all generations. If it were not slavery, colonization, occupation, or militarism, it will be political, economic, illiteracy, diseases, and even religion. However, any nation whose leaders are corrupt and whose youths are under siege as a result of drug addiction, cult practices, and lack of opportunities for self-expression and creativity, is doomed. Until a nation can equate the lack of political will of her people, economic incapacitation, infrastructural limitations, corruptions, lawlessness, diseases, decay and unproductivity, violence and unresolved conflicts, to a form of siege, bondage or slavery, it may be impossible for such a nation to advance to any of its potentials. Another insurmountable obstacle which limits potentials of any nation is the context operating within the cultural values of that nation. Worst of them all is “victim mentality” by which means citizens of a nation avoid their personal accountability and responsibility for change. Why Do Nations Go To War? One major reason why nations go to war or engage in revolutions (violent or peaceful) includes the desire to defend, preserve or liberate the future generations from any form of known bondage. While it may be a Herculean task to secure total freedom, it was always within the sphere of possibility of any generation to deal with several of the human made systemic bondages just by saying a simple “no” to anything unwholesome with determination to stand by your decision. You may say it is naive to think that one can shake off bondages and fetters by merely saying “No.” But I challenge you to start saying “a sincere no” to any known human made systemic bondage in this country, and you will see how your resistance will begin to yield positive results. You Are a Vital Cog Somewhere No matter who you are, if you are listening or reading these words, you are vital cog in the wheel of Nigeria’s development, emancipation, liberation and freedom. Everything you think, do or say now will have either a positive or negative impact on Nigeria’s future wholesome development as a Nation. Everyone is a part of everyone. The sum is greater than the individual. The goal is that we want every part to play its role in such a way that will benefit the whole. Problem solving requires the participation of everyone. Nigeria is a nation under siege. We should declare a state of urgency to combat everything that has laid a siege against us. We should stop deceiving ourselves that the solution to our problems is in London, Washington, Berlin or Quebec. I have God’s Message for You God has sent me to the people of this nation, toddler, child, teenager, adolescent, young adult, adult, and the elderly. God has sent me to student, the teacher, the pastor, the bishop. God has sent me to the professional, the lawyer, the accountant, the engineer, the technocrat. God has sent me to the tailor, the welder, the barber, the hairdresser, and to the mason, and the bricklayer. I have God’s message for everyone “Take away all tribal hatred and religious dichotomies. Work together like a one people so that we can all rebuild the ruins of Nigeria. Everyone knows where he or she represents the cog in the wheel of this nation. Remove that negative cog. Remove that cog. And remove it now. Replace the negative cog with a positive and productive cog. Let’s all work for ethnoreligious harmony. Come, Let Us Reason Together Like Prophet Isaiah I can say come let us reason together so that we can arise and shine and dispel the darkness which has engulfed our nation. Let us call a solemn assembly where we shall detach ourselves from the past and pledge to our children a brighter future that awaits them right here in Nigeria. Our children will be sought for where they have been forsaken and rejected. Nigeria can have new names and new appellations. Because Isaiah was a prince he was able to caution the princes and the nobles to shun wickedness and violent oppressions. Because Paul was an Apostle he was able to query and admonish other Apostles, including his senior, Apostle Peter. Because Paul was law abiding he was able to explicate the use of the Law to Timothy (2 Timothy 1: 8-10). Because Apostle Paul was cosmopolitan he was able to charge Titus with cosmopolitan duties at Crete (Titus 1:5-16). Because I am a technocrat I can speak technicality to technocrats. Let our Accountants develop new Accounting Standards; let the Insurers write new and modern Insurance Acts, let the Bankers introduce new rural and economic development schemes. Our technocrats should stop being lazy. If the technocrats have done their jobs well, everyone would have benefited and Nigeria would have become a better place for everyone to live. Schools and education systems would have benefited; financial security systems would have benefited; hospital and medical administrations would have benefited; legal and justice systems would have benefited and the senior advocates would have pleaded the cause of the oppressed of this nation; the security systems would have benefited and the police would have assumed their rightful magisterial roles in our communities. Because I am a teacher I have been assembling teachers and I have been teaching them on youth peace and nation building. Because I am a preacher I have been exhorting preachers and congregations “to be holy as their heavenly father is holy.” Because I am of the Royal Priesthood of Jesus Christ I can speak to princes and princesses, governors, honorables, senators and all law makers to desist from breaking the laws of the nation. And because I am a prophet, I can prophesy into the future of Africa, Nigeria and NAMA. I can say that though the Nigerian Airspace was noted for devouring air travelers, it shall do so no more! Amen! Rev. Titus K. Oyeyemi Founding President and CEO African Foundation (Projects) for Peace and Love Initiatives