It is no longer news that many great Nations today, are being led or ruled by their worst. There are supposedly great Nations, and there are Nations that are still struggling to be great. In the case of the latter, no thanks to bad leadership. Many across the world today have come to terms with the fact that Nations like Germany, United States, Canada, China and Britain, are great Nations. It is undoubtedly that many people today don't reckon with many African Nations as being great. Even though many believe countries like Nigeria, South Africa, Egypt, Algeria et cetera could have presented a better image of the continent to the rest of the world, however, years upon years of bad leadership have hampered these Nations from taking their rightful place.

 

There was a time Nigeria used to pride herself as "The Giant of Africa." But recent happenings in the country have completely proven otherwise. Nigeria, being the largest in terms of population in Africa, and boast of numerous natural resources of which crude oil is chief, cannot still stand up to take her rightful place among the comity of Nations. Many years of bad leadership, corruption and other vices have relegated Nigeria to a developing third-world nation. With several decades of mining crude oil and raking in huge revenue from its export, many Nigerians today still live below the poverty line. The recent NBS report confirmed that 40 percent of Nigerians live below its poverty line of N137,430 ($381.75) per year, which represented 82.9 million people out of a population of about 200 million (NBS Report).

 

Despite the fact that Nigeria have some potentials to be great, the country have remained almost on the same spot and no thanks to bad governance, bad leadership, nepotism, ethnicity and many other vices that are inimical to any nation's greatness. When a nation is ruled or led by its worst, such system is known as Kakistocracy. Kakistocracy, according to dictionary.com, is defined as a form of government in which the worst persons are in power. The Bible gave us a number of characteristics of what to expect in the leaders of a kakistocratic system of Government or leadership.

 

a) They Don't Practice What They Preach!

For example in Nigeria, it was originally believed that the current president hates corruption. But under his very nose, corrupt practices have grown in leaps and bounds. While campaigning to become Nigeria's president pre 2015, then General Muhammadu Buhari said "if we don't kill corruption, corruption will kill Nigeria." It is quite unfortunate to witness under the very man who uttered that statement, that corruption has not been killed, but thriving even in this administration.

 

b) They Don't Fight For The People!

Your princes are rebellious,
And companions of thieves;
Everyone loves bribes,
And follows after rewards.
They do not defend the fatherless,
Nor does the cause of the widow come before them.

Isaiah 1:23

 

c) They Make Unjust Laws And Issue Oppressive Decrees!

“Woe to those who decree unrighteous decrees,
Who write misfortune,
Which they have prescribed
² To rob the needy of justice,
And to take what is right from the poor of My people,
That widows may be their prey,
And that they may rob the fatherless.

Isaiah 10:1-2

 

d) They Take Gifts And Accept Bribes!

That they may successfully do evil with both hands—
The prince asks for gifts,
The judge seeks a bribe,
And the great man utters his evil desire;
So they scheme together.

Micah 7:3

 

There are a number of reasons why great Nations are sometimes ruled by their worst. The first is when good people don't show interest in the affairs of their Nations. When qualified persons refuses to show interest in politics, what is known as political apathy, then it gives room for bad people to rule. Edmund Burke said something profound in this regard. He said: "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." Nigeria for example have been led by the worst of its people. How can one possibly imagine that the current president of Nigeria is the best among the perk to lead a nation of almost 200 million people. It is absolutely unthinkable.

 

The second reason is somewhat related a bit to the first above. It is a situation when good people shows interest but the people refused to give them the leadership mandate through the ballot. Nigerian once again comes into mind. I remember countless number of great candidates have presented themselves at one time or the other during Nigeria elections. But some of these good guys never get the support of the people. Sometimes this scenario can be likened to when the people of Israel rejected Jesus as their messiah. The religious leaders at the time of Jesus were corrupt and most times, lord leadership over the people. When Jesus showed up at the scene, and trying to lead the people to follow a better path for their lives and destinies so that their experiences could change, they simply rejected Him. And because of this, many of the people who rejected Him could not enter into His rest. Apostle Paul wrote about it in Hebrews 4:3, it says: For we who have believed do enter that rest, as He has said:

 

“So I swore in My wrath,
‘They shall not enter My rest,’ ”

although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.

 

Great Nations are ruled by their worst when the people have deliberately refused good leadership. The people would rather love to stick or remain with the old system, the corrupt, nepotistic system rather than vote for change. Why? Because many of them are supposedly benefitting from such system. Even though Jesus was the promised messiah, but the people rejected Him. They rejected His Lordship. They rejected His leadership. They even got Him crucified. They would rather prefer a criminal be released than see Jesus walk freely in their streets. They shouted in their loud voices; "crucify Him." Once again, when a people deliberately reject good leadership, they will be ruled by their worst.

 

The third reason why Nations are ruled by their worst is when they refused to fear God. God loves to reign in the affairs of men. The Bible made it clear that every authority that exists are ordained by God. Why? Because God wants to have a place among men, among people.

 

"Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. ² Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves."

Romans 13:1-2

 

"Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, ¹⁴ or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. ¹⁵ For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men— ¹⁶ as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God. ¹⁷ Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king."

1 Peter 2:13-17

 

"Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, ² to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men."

Titus 3:1-2

 

Irrespective of how sophisticated democracy is today as a system of government, God is still interested in the affairs of Nations and He sometimes shows this interest through the leadership of such Nations. When a nation fears God, God gives them leaders after His own heart. We have seen this play out in the story of Israel. When they rebelled, they got king Saul. But when it was time, God gave them David, a man after His own heart. What does that tell us? Nations can be ruled or led by their best if they will allow the fear of God to guide them in the process.

 

Thank you.

Thanks for the gift of your time, I am Obayomi Abiola Benjamin!

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