The Saints in Nigeria

“After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb.

They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.  All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying: ‘Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!’ Then one of the elders asked me, ‘These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?’  I answered, ‘Sir, you know.’ And he said, ‘These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb” (Revelation 7:9-14).

The entire context of the book of Revelation; was a message to a suffering Church. In his vision John saw a multi-racial community who have passed through the crucibles of persecution, betrayal, temptations; and all the elements that tests’ a Christian’s resolve. Having become victorious over the struggles of earth’s journey. They now stand before the throne of God worshipping him day and night. Catholics across the world today commemorate the solemnity of all Saints. This celebration gives us, the faithful an opportunity to recommit ourselves to the hope of eternity.  All Saints’ Day also known as Hallowmas, is celebrated in honour of all the saints known and unknown. In Western Christianity, it is celebrated on November 1 by the Roman Catholic Church, the Anglican Communion, the Methodist, the Philippine Independent Church (Iglesia Filipina Independiente), the Church of the Nazareth, the Lutheran Church, the Reformed Church, and other Protestant churches. November 1 is also the day before All Souls’ Day: A day we remember to pray for all the faithful who have died.

The Christian celebrations of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day stem from a belief that there is a powerful spiritual bond between those in heaven the “Church triumphant”, and the faithful who are still living in the world (the “Church militant”). In Catholic theology, All Saints day commemorates all those who are with God in Heaven. In Methodist theology, All Saints Day mean “giving God solemn thanks for the lives and deaths of his saints”, including those who are “famous or obscure”. As such, individuals throughout the universal Church are honoured. Individuals who have led us to faith in Jesus through exemplary lifestyles; our parents, and grandparents in some cases.

Many saints are well known and may not be listed in the official litany of the saints or in the liturgical calendars; but people who lived with them know they lived virtuous and heroic lives. We all have family members who were distinctive in virtue. Some of these people may not be globally famous, but the local communities in which they lived still speak about them in glowing terms. For example, I grew up to hear inspiring stories told about my grandfather Pa Patrick Ojapah was a Christian convert from masquerade worship in Osisi town of Kogi State, between 1910-1940. He was the first to bring the Christian faith to those who practiced African Traditional Religion in Osisi Community. He taught people catechism and the values in the Christian religion. Pa Patrick Ojapah, preached the Christian form of marriage, and the need for training the girl child in school, and his action provoked the masquerade community. He equally discouraged people from divination and the use of charms. He took the gospel message very literally to his immediate community and that did not go well with them. He suffered dearly for the faith as he was severally beaten and wounded. There are many faithful Christians like Pa Ojapah who are not known. Therefore, All Saints celebration amplifies the virtues of unsung heroes of the faith. These obscure men and women are in heaven because of their selfless sacrifice in their relationships with neighbors.

In the wake of the several killing by Bandits, Kidnappers and Boko Haram; the faith and courage of so many Christians have been tested and tried in the face of untold tribulation. There are hundreds and thousands of such cases. Rev Lawan Andimi, the CAN chairman of Michika was killed by Boko Haram Jihadists. He is one great example of a hero in the faith. Notably, Seminarian Michael Nnadi was killed by kidnappers after he was kidnapped, alongside other Seminarians from their hostel in Good Shepherd Seminary Kaduna. According to the arraigned suspects who were apprehended: “Michael was preaching and urging us to turn away from our evil acts and embrace a more meaningful life. The kidnappers could not tolerate his courage and so they killed him. His courage inspired thousands and encouraged millions to remain faithful to Christ in the face of the most daunting persecution. Nigeria, like many other nations of the world, has many holy men and women, who have inspired us and have encouraged us to live virtuous lives. But these kind of people are currently on very high demand and are very scarce. Looking at the current state of our nation, we honestly lack where to draw inspiration from.

The last three weeks in Nigeria has been extremely intriguing; Saintly living might not find a fertile ground in Nigeria. As the nation was processing and accepting the loss and destruction that trailed the #EndSARS protests, Nigerians began looting COVID-19 palliatives. The looting of the palliatives has been explained differently by people. Some say the government looted the palliatives and the protesters shared them; or the protesters looted the palliatives the government wanted to share. These display of shame was experienced in Lagos; Ogun; Ekiti; Oyo; Calabar; Ilorin; Plateau; Kaduna; Abuja; Adamawa; Taraba; Kogi. As a result; over 10 persons lost their lives in the process, either during stampede or other forms of suffocation.

The state of the nation is making saintly living extremely difficult; as many corrupt and crooked means are deployed in virtually all facets of life. A young corps member who came to serve in a particular state in the North was told by her Head Teacher to prepare the children for WAEC examination. She came to the class to teach and was expecting some level of discipline and silence from the part of the students while she taught. She was shocked to notice the level of careless attitude exhibited by the students. And the students boldly told the teacher: We will copy very well whatever you will write for us on examination day. A great majority of our schools and teachers rely on examination malpractice to pass their external exams; and very sadly, it’s very normal to hundreds and thousands of students. What is not normal is the person who sees examination malpractice as abnormal. In this kind of situation, saintly and virtuous life of hard work, discipline and good character becomes more of an illusion. As we remember the many great Saintly people who have lived in our neighborhood before and now, let you and I resolve to become living saints in our neighborhood.

Fr Stephen Ojapah is a priest of the Missionary Society of St Paul. He is equally the director for Interreligious Dialogue and Ecumenism for the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, a member of IDFP. He is also a KAICIID Fellow. ([email protected])