Celebrating The Hope And Future of The  Good People Of A Great Nation!!! – A Christ Embassy Initiative!

Pre-independent and post-independent Nigeria saw ethnocentrism, tribalism, sectarianism (especially religious), and neopatrimonialism play a visible role in Nigerian politics, while economic development was hindered by years of military rule, corruption, and mismanagement. The resultant effect of this on the polity was poor healthcare delivery, poor living conditions, insecurity and high crime rate, negligence in educational sector and a near-state of anomie amongst other objectionable ordeals.

Consequently, the term “independence” began to have a sour and unpalatable taste in the mouths of many Nigerians who had also become disinterested with activities marking the nation’s freedom from imperialist rule for there appeared to be nothing worth celebrating. The attitude and orientation of many Nigerians became one of discontent, dissidence, lack of patriotism and absence of faith in their fatherland.

This lackluster trend began to change in 2007 when Pastor Chris Oyakhilome and Christ Embassy engineered a movement—the campaign of re-building, re-orientating, re-educating and ‘re-branding’ of Nigeria, and Nigerians on the need to demonstrate a positive outlook towards the nation, and arousing in them the consciousness of patriotism through the “Reach Out Nigeria Campaign!”

So, to answer the question, “What is worth celebrating in 49 years of Nigerian independence?”  Nigeria is much more than a geographical expression. A nation is not the infrastructure or the systems, but the body or community of people. Thus, Reach Out Nigeria is a celebration of the Nigerian people—a resourceful people; a celebration of the strength and resilience of a people, acclaimed world-wide as “the happiest people on earth” irrespective of past ordeals and misadventures in our politics and government. Reach Out Nigeria is building a future and the Nigeria of our dreams. That future is worth celebrating, so the Reach Out initiative is a celebration of the Nigeria we hope for and which we have seen.     

With the feedbacks garnered, the Reach Out Nigeria Campaign has proven so successful in Nigeria that it has been replicated in many other countries around the world: South Africa, Botswana, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Italy, Australia, USA, Cameroun, to mention a few. The campaign has strengthened in the consciousness of the citizens of those nations to ‘think not what their country can do for them, but what they (the citizens) can do for their country.’

“But why Rhapsody of Realities as spear-head of the campaign? Why not rather convert the money used in sponsoring so many million copies of the book to build a school or a hospital or sponsor people to go for surgery outside the country?” Someone might ask! The answer is, how many people will one hospital treat in a year? How many people will a school educate in a year? The school, the hospital or any facility will be situated in just one geographic location and can only cater for the people in that immediate environment. But Rhapsody of Realities would inspire, educate and motivate different people in different locations in our country to build schools! It would motivate different people in different locations to build hospitals! It would motivate different people in different locations to run their businesses without the sole thought of profit influencing their decisions. It has caused criminals to change their criminal ways, it has inspired missionaries to go into the forgotten creeks and neglected places like the Niger Delta to open schools and churches in these areas which today complements government’s efforts in these places.

Come October 1st 2009, millions of free copies of the October edition of Rhapsody Of Realities will be distributed to the highest authorities in Nigeria, political office holders, communication moguls, captains of industries, student leaders, Christians, Muslims, Animists, and indeed to as many Nigerians as possible. It will be distributed from the metropolis of Lagos, Abuja, Kaduna, Bauchi, Port Harcourt, Illorin, Ibadan to the hinterlands of Bomadi, Ogoni, Kafanchan, Kebbi and every major city, town and village will be reached during the Reach Out Nigeria With Rhapsody Of Realities Campaign.

The euphoria for the 2009 Reach Out Nigeria Campaign is already palpable in every part of the nation because God has given the nation something to look forward to. Those who hitherto, had been mistrustful about the revival of the national spirit are throwing in their cynical towels and embracing the change that has come upon the land. From the past editions, Nigerians have learnt to do things differently and patriotism has been kindled in millions of our compatriots. Copious testimonies of salvation, healings, miracles, blessings and transformation of the mind and spirit of the individual have been the usual knock-on effects of the Campaign which has furthered the kindred consciousness that Nigeria is already flourishing beyond the extreme boundaries of human imagination.

God bless you and God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria!