By Oshineye Victor Oshisada
It is conventional
that, whenever we, as Nigerians are confronted with challenges, the usual
mantra that is invoked is: “Prayer to God is the solution.” It is believed that
“prayer’’, “prayer” and nothing, but “prayer” is the solution to our numerous
problems. But, can our resort to “prayer” without pragmatic efforts solve
problems? I doubt if it is the panacea for every challenge. Two instances
readily come to my mind.
In the early 1970s, my radio-mechanic assured
me that, if he retired into seclusion for prayer, he would successfully
accomplish the task of repairs. Instantly, I concluded that he was incompetent
and a failure. The second instance was a student who confidently told me that
if she prayed on to her bath- water, she would succeed in her examinations. The
lazy drone spent hours praying in the bathroom, but failed her examinations. I
have it on the authority of the ancient Romans: `Ora et labora`, meaning. “Pray and work”. The Romans did not
exhort us to pray, and fail to work. Therefore, actions and not prayers alone
can solve our problems. It is against this backdrop that our public utilities
are examined.
