By Fr Pat. Amobi Chukwuma
Sometime ago, I wrote on Chasing of shadows. That is why I titled this one part 2. The chasing of shadows is still unabated in our country Nigeria. More confusing shadows are appearing on the streets now and then. Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, New Edition, defines shadow as “a dark shape that someone or something makes on a surface when they are between that surface and the light.”In other words, a shadow is a reflection and not the reality.
Therefore, chasing of shadows is an effort in futility. As little children, we used to chase our shadows in those days. None of us succeeded in catching it. It is visible but cannot be grabbed. As you run, it runs further on the ground. It appears dark always. It disappears when you enter inside a room without light or when the sun or the moon goes into hiding.It is believed that ghosts do not have shadows. Until I see one then can I vouch for this cultural belief. Masquerades are assumed to be spirits that wear clothes, but they have shadows like any other human persons.
Nowadays, the chasing of shadows is the order of the day in many places in our country Nigeria. I was at Oyeagu Abagana last two weeks in a mechanic workshop. As my car was being repaired, I just decided to take a healthy walk. I took a bushy path behind the mechanic workshop. What I saw and heard baffled me. I saw fetish sacrifices left and right, here and there.
The contents were nothing to write home about. If I had seen dollar or Naira notes in them, I would have used it to purchase the costly and powerful liquid commodity called petrol. As I walked further, I saw some motorcycles parked beside the narrow path. A group of boys were inside the nearby bush singing and dancing as they were offering sacrifice of cow to the forest goddess. At the end of the sacrifice, they consumed the cow meat brought by their wealthy sponsor.
I heard them asking the goddess to make them rich at all costs. Those boys are ready to sacrifice their fathers or mothers in order to become wealthy. The funny thing about those boys is that they are jobless and yet aspire to become rich instantly. Their sponsors are either in Lagos, Abuja or overseas doing business while the boys are at home chasing shadows.
A week after the above incidence, I visited my priest friend at Ichida and slept overnight. During the day, I also took a walk through that part of the town. At crossroads, I saw fetish sacrifices placed conspicuously here and there. I have never met the persons who dropped the sacrifices. I think they drop those fetish things at night because their deeds are abominable.
As I went further, I came across a bushy area by my left side. A notice a board standing there. In it was boldly inscribed, “Dropping of sacrifices here is highly prohibited. A fine of N50,000 awaits any defaulter.” That particular area was clear of any fetish sacrifices. A hidden camera might have been installed there. The gods and their worshippers are afraid of fine or punishment.
The town’s authority knows that such fetish sacrifices are useless. The sacrificers are just chasing shadows. On the other hand, they provide food for birds of the air and for mad people. The vultures always look forward to such animal sacrifices for their daily bread.
In my area of ecclesiastical jurisdiction which is Achina, Onneh, Agbudu and Ogboji, such fetish sacrifices abound. They are mostly placed at crossroads. One day, I came across such chasing of shadows involving a live fowl tied with a black parcel. The fowl was struggling and crying for its life. I cleared my car and did “animalitarian” job.
I rescued the innocent fowl and let it go. However, when I went home, my cook complained that there was no meat for our supper. I regretted not coming home with the sacrificed live fowl. Since then, I have learnt my lesson. Unfortunately I have not seen any live fowl or live goat dropped as fetish sacrifice.
Sometime ago when Governor ChukwumaSoludo of Anambra State went after occult native doctors and sponsors of fetishism, the fetish sacrifices offered here and there declined. Today, they have surged up again. Those fetish native doctors who went into hiding have reappeared again. They eat from the devil’s table.
Their customers are abundant in these days of economic hardship and uncertainties in Nigeria. Many people are looking for ways to survive at all costs. Hence, the occult native doctors are smiling daily to the banks, while their customers are smiling daily to the toilets. Who is deceiving who?
Indeed it is hardship that made the crayfish to bend. God endowed our country Nigeria with abundant natural and human resources which, if well enhanced, would have made all Nigerians comfortable. Our problem is lack of good leadership. Sunny Okosun of blessed memory sang: “Which way Nigeria is heading to? After many years of Independence we still have a long way to go!” When he sang this touching song, the economy was better off than today.
If Sunny Okosun were still alive today they would shed tears. Most of our leaders at the federal and state levels are chasing shadows in the course of governance while the citizens are languishing in penury and hunger. A hungry man is also an angry man. During electoral campaigns, the politicians promise the electorates heaven on earth. Eventually, when they win, they abandon the electorates and seek for their own comforts.
After 66 years of Independence, Nigerians are still wallowing in darkness. Constant power supply has eluded us. Imagine the Seat of Power in Aso Rock Villa Abuja, being powered by the Solar system. This means to your tents Oh Israel! Once upon a time, a group of armed robbers invaded a family of five while they were taking their supper.
The father of the family who should protect his wife and three children escaped through the window and abandoned them to their fate. As he was escaping, he shouted, “Everybody find your way!” Is such a man a good husband and father? A good leader seeks the comfort of his citizens first and is ready to sacrifice his life for them. That’s why I raise my hands to Our Saviour Jesus Christ who left the comfort of Heaven and was incarnated in order to save the fallen and sinful humanity.
The dividends of Democracy have eluded us for 66 years because our leaders have been involved in the chasing of shadows instead of chasing the reality. We are dying in the midst of plenty because of lack of good leadership. The campaign for the 2027 General Elections has been lifted. We must shine our eyes well this time around. The Presidential Election is uppermost in our minds. If we elect a good leader, then, we shall face the reality instead of chasing shadows.
Unfortunately, our electoral system is marred with irregularities. Good can never come from evil. If a leader emerges through fraudulent process, then our hope for better living becomes hopeless. The present Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) chaired by Professor JoashAmupitan must try to live above board. He would be canonized alive if he writes his name in gold in 2027 General Elections, especially the Presidential Election.
His predecessor Professor MahmoodYakubu failed woefully. He organized a fraudulent Presidential Election and asked the aggrieved Presidential candidates to go to court. How can you snatch someone’s property and ask him or her to go to court? Unfortunately, some of our courts have turned into courts of injustice, where the highest bidder is proclaimed the winner. This ungodly attitude must be corrected in 2027 Presidential, Gubernatorial, and other Elections.
We have entered the month of September. I wish each and every one of us, a happy new month devoid of chasing of shadows. The year 2026 is gradually drawing to an end. God forbid that we shall continue to chase shadows into the year 2027. Let the pursuit of the reality be our watchword in our areas of engagement. In God we trust!
