In 1989, a reggae artist, Peterside Ottong released a song which later became a monster hit, “Where Are The Prophets?” In this column, I’m not talking music or analysing Ottong’s classic song 37 years after. I’m rather asking the same question he had asked 37 years ago: “Where Are The Prophets?” In “Where Are The Prophets?”, Peterside Ottong questioned whether spiritual leaders were sleeping or hibernating. He urged them to behave like Biblical prophets (such as Nathan confronting David) rather than engaging in partisan politics, corruption, injustice and worldly activities. So, in this column, I share or align myself with Ottong’s thought-provoking sentiment in his “Where Are The Prophets?” song.

Essentially, Prophets and religious clerics are often viewed as bridges between God and their followers. To those heavily inclined to spirituality, prophets are direct communication lines to God.

In the Christian Holy Book, the Bible, God used them to pass information about future occurrences, including looming dangers and disasters.Some persons are born prophets while other become one through anointing.

According to the dictionary, a prophet is an individual regarded as a spokesperson for a divine being, serving as an intermediary who delivers messages, teachings, or warnings from a supernatural source to humanity. They are often called to guide people back to God, reveal divine will, and occasionally foretell future events.”

 In Nigeria there are different types of prophets. There are a few true spiritual prophets and  there are also fake, money conscious, scamming prophets. Permit me to mention a few Nigerians-Christian clerics and leaders- I’m  convinced come close to real Prophets: Primate Babatunde Ayodele,

Prophet Chukwuemeka Odumeje

Prophet Jeremiah Omoto Fufeyin,

Prophet Joshua Iginla,

Apostle Johnson Suleman

Prophet/Dr. Chris Okafor, 

Prophet Joel Ogebe,

Prophet Omotosho Tope Joseph, the late,

Prophet T.B. Joshua, the late

Prophet T.O. Obadare, the late

Prophet Moses Orimolade Tunolase, the late

Prophet S.B.J. Oshoffa and 

Pastor Chris Oyakhilome. These  clerics I mentioned above operate or operated( in the case of those of them who are deceased) in the prophetic realm. This is my personal observation.

When there is a Prophet in the land evil groups like Boko Haram and other terrorist groups including ISWAP, Ansaru, Lakaruwa etc  are exposed by God because God speaks and reveals His mind through prophets.In other words, a true prophet always speaks the mind of God. 

God abhors evil and will not stand by and see his creation being slaughtered like animals without revealing to His Prophets the action to take. For instance when, according to the Bible, the children of Israel were suffering in the hands of Egyptians, God raised a man called Moses to free them from the bondage.

According to Pastor Ugochukwu Okeke who further expanded the topic by quoting 2Kings 6:8-17, things to note from the scripture are what God did through the life of the Prophet Elisha. These include:

•God revealed everythings that were secretly planned by the king of Syria to Prophet Elisha.

•By the revelation, the plans of the Syrians against the Israelites were frustrated. They couldn’t accomplish their mission.

•The King of Syria questioned his army to know who was against him but he was told that there was a Prophet in Israel who God reveals all things to. 

The question is, has God changed? After all the Bible tells us that God cannot change as He is the same yesterday,today and forever. If that is the case, why then is God not interfering in the problems of Nigeria?  The Bible tells us that God intervenes in the affairs of man, so,if God intervenes in the affairs of man, why is He not intervening in the problems of Nigeria by communicating his intentions to the Prophets in the country? I am of the opinion that the communication line between God and Nigerian Prophets have been corrupted by the Nigerian system. Could that be the reason Boko Haram terrorists invade Borno, Sokoto, Zamfara, Kastina,Plateau, Kaduna, Niger, Kwara,Nasawara and Kogi at will, attack, abduct, murder innocent citizens and pillage village and walk away majestically? Are there no true religious clerics and mouth pieces of God in these states to whom God could interfaces with on behalf of the people?

In Biblical times, Prophets were regarded as next to God, they were revered as extraordinary beings. However, in our today’s world, especially in this clime, most people parading themselves as prophets and prancing the space are transactional and mercantile characters. They swim in opulence, parade obscene flamboyant lifestyles and live in expensive homes, mansions and immerse themselves in immoral behaviours. So, how can God communicate with such characters when they find it difficult to be in the spirit by doing true work of God, fasting and praying? The consequences of this is that our politcal leaders lack spiritual information, direction and guidance that could help solve our problems as a nation, including our security challenges- information that could expose the devious plans and strategies of terrorists and enemies of our country.  The Bible let us know that God does not do anything without telling His prophets. For example, when God wanted to destroy the citites of Sodom and Gomorrah, He disclosed the information to Abraham. Again, the question is, as a country where religion and spirituality play a major role in the people’s daily life, social and belief system, why are there scarcity of divine information from above concerning the insecurity bedevilling the country?

I am informed that President Donald Trump of America consults Prophets before embarking on any military action around the world. If that is true, why are our own prophets not up and doing?

Let me ask once again, where are the Prophets?

 

New FCT CP, Ahmed Sanusi: The new broom in Abuja

The FCT Police Commissioner combines the street IQ of a detective with the systemic logic of a scholar.

He doesn’t just arrest criminals, he deconstructs the science of crime.

This intellectual depth is the engine behind his zero-impunity policy.

He believes that a police force that thinks better performs better.

Don’t be deceived by the professorial title, Sanusi is a veteran of the trenches.

As the commander of the Intelligence Response Team, IRT,

Sanusi led the nation’s most elite units against high-profile kidnappers and the bandits.

Most notably, he recently spearheaded a massive clearance operation in his home state of Kogi,

flushing out criminal elements from the rugged terrains of Lokoja and its environs,

restoring peace to a region that has been under siege.

His track record is a trail of broken syndicates, from the arrest of notorious armed robbery gangs from different parts of the country to his strategic intervention in high-level operations.

The IRT that Sanusi took over as a deputy commissioner of police was the hammer of justice that criminals dread.

Sanusi’s arrival is part of a broader strategic shift by IGP Tunji Dissu to fortify the nation’s capital.

With the 2027 elections appearing on the horizon, Sanusi’s mission is twofold.

Stabilize the city and restore the battle badge of public trust.

A strong advocate of the rule of law and respect for human rights, Sanusi humanizes his suspects.This is a psychological masterstroke.

By this approach, he aims to turn suspects into sources and the public into partners. Indeed Sanusi is the broom to sweep Insecurity away in Abuja 

By a security reporter

Security file wishes its ardent readers  wonderful Easter festivities

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