Exemplary Christians in the Nigerian Public Square

"Fantastically corrupt" was how the UK Prime Minster described Nigeria, and the country's President agreed.Evidently, our beloved country is in a sorry state! It was when David Cameron was Prime Minister that he organized an Anti-Corruption conference in London. Speaking privately about it to the Queen, he said that the leaders of two of the most countries in the world were going to be present. He singled out Nigeria and Afghanistan as being "fantastically corrupt." He did not realize that what he said was picked up by an open microphone. Predictably, there was indignation on social media as Nigerians at home and abroad were outraged. However, when the President of Nigeria, General Muhammadu Buhari arrived for the conference, he agreed with the Prime Minister. It was true and it is true. Nigeria is fantastically corrupt. So much so that, humanly speaking, there is no cause for hope. We have tried British style democracy and we have tried the American variety. We have tried politicians and technocrats, we have tried the old and mature and we have tried the young and vigorous. They have all failed us beyond reasonable doubt. What hope, Nigeria?Thank God, there is hope. The battle belongs to the Lord; and this book tells the story of some of His soldiers who make all the difference in diverse spheres of human pursuit. They are ordinary men and women who serve as models for us in a wide variety of public responsibilities. They include Cornelius Adebayo and Solomon Lar as civilian governors, Yohanna Madaki as a military governor, and Gwamna Awan as a traditional ruler. There are Ishaya Audu, Chinedu Nebo and Eyitayo Lambo as academics who also served as Ministers of State, while Christopher Kolade and Gamaliel Onosode distinguished themselves so convincingly in the business world that they were drafted to put their expertise at the disposal of the nation in various ways. It is not an all-male affair. Mary Lar, Mary Abashiya, Ify Nebo, and Olayinka Ibiam feature not merely as spouses who stood solidly behind their husbands but as exemplars in their own right. This wide-ranging book has been commended widely for the depth of its underlying research, the candour of the portrayal of each character, and skillful craftsmanship of the language. The author, Emmanuel Oladipo, invites us to read and be inspired. Following his Secondary education at Provincial Secondary School, Ilọrin and Government College, Keffi, Emmanuel Oládipọ read English at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. He was later to spend a year at All Nations Bible College, Easneye, Ware, in England.He joined the staff of the Fellowship of Christian Students immediately after graduating from Zaria in 1967, and he profited immensely from the teachings and examples of his predecessors and mentors, John Dean and Ruben Ariko. In 1982, he was appointed to lead Scripture Union Africa Region, based in Nairobi, Kenya, from where he travelled all over the continent. He moved to the UK with his family ten years later when he was appointed to head up the work of Scripture Union International, which he did for 12 years. His last formal job was with Langham Preaching International founded by the late theologian of world renown, Dr. John Stott. Emmanuel is now retired and living in the UK with Ruth, his wife of 47 years with whom he has four sons. He derives the greatest pleasure in spending time with his grandchildren whenever he returns to his family home at Esie in Kwara State, Nigeria.