I have sat, listened, observed, and analyzed over a period the events that have been happening in our fair state, and I am moved to pen this article.
This impulse became particularly strong when I recalled the widespread outcry about the statue built on All Saints Road by Glorious Hope Ministries. And I am humbled to say: The statue has been speaking to me.
The local controversy over whether the statue represents prophecy or idolatry is, itself, a symptom of a deeper national ailment.
We argue about a piece of concrete while ignoring the unseen idols—the golden calves of greed, power, and deflection—that we have already erected in our hearts and institutions.
The message is a terrifying echo of Daniel Chapter 5: we are being “weighed in the balances and found wanting” (Tekel).
The Chain Gang Scandal (or Vehicle-Gate), which involves allegations of procurement abuse and the misuse of government assets, is a classic example of the modern Belshazzar’s Feast—profaning the sacred trust of the people for political gain.
It is the altar of Political Power and Unaccountability.
Our sacred vessels are the public trust and the integrity of office, and when they are abused for private or partisan gain, a profound spiritual sacrifice is being made.
This is coupled with the most recent episode: the Prime Minister taking to social media to publicize the licensing cards and private duty-free concessions granted to members of the political opposition.
This action, intended to shift the narrative away from the core scandal, exposes the Idol of Political Retaliation and the profanity of private data. The issue is not the legality of taking an entitlement; as citizens, we should legally take what is afforded to us.
The crime is in a government using its custodial power over private citizen data for partisan attack and deflection.
When public servants feel so emboldened to give this information to the PM for political use, it signals that the firewall protecting confidentiality and impartiality has collapsed.
Am I, or any citizen, to feel that my private information can be weaponized simply because I call out an ill I see in the land? This action is designed to create a chilling effect on free speech and public critique.
To be truly honest, we must not exempt the political opposition.
The people who sit on their laurels calling for the opposition to act must realize that past administrations are culpable too.
Previous eras have often set the very precedents of lax oversight and questionable patronage that allow the current government to operate with impunity.
The entire political class tends to unite under the Idol of Political Immunity, which dictates that yesterday’s corruption excuses today’s. This is an egregious failure of leadership.
The most damning idol of al, however, is the Idol of Complacency worshipped by the main stakeholders—us, the employers of these politicians.
Where is the collective, powerful voice of the nation’s civic organizations? Where are the NGOs, the Chamber of Commerce, the Public Service Associations, and Unions?
Their silence is a form of spiritual and civic surrender, allowing the political class to operate without fear of genuine, non-partisan accountability.
Finally, a spiritual word must be directed to the head of the nation’s governance. The Bible records that our Lord often uses powerful, flawed persons to fulfill a task on His behalf, and then He deals with them afterward.
King Nebuchadnezzar was utilized by God to discipline His people, yet when his heart was filled with pride over the might of his own kingdom, God judged him severely (Daniel 4).
To the Honourable Prime Minister, do not become too comfortable in your stewardship. You are a steward, not the ultimate owner, of the power and resources of this nation.
The authority you hold comes from the Divine. I sincerely hope your spiritual mentor or pastor (I pray you have one) is showing you this hard, cold reality.
If the Lord uses you to achieve some form of national good, that does not grant you immunity from judgment over your own pride, your handling of public trust, or your misuse of power against your opponents.
The statue has spoken. Its message is not about the end of the world, but about the end of the integrity of a nation that refuses to be weighed, found honest, and demand its promised destiny.
The Statue Speaks
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