Mahama’s prayer for Nigeria

IN a recent viral video, Ghana’s President, John Dramani Mahama, mentioned, among other things, that he was constantly praying for Nigeria to “get it right” so that Ghana and the rest of Africa could get it right. In his words: “If Nigeria does well, Ghana does well.” President Mahama was obviously echoing the words of many Black people and leaders, past and present, who have consistently affirmed that Nigeria bears a moral and spiritual responsibility to provide leadership for Africa and the Black race. This hope is understandable. Nigeria is the most populous Black nation in the world, has some of the most strategic and sought-after resources, and has, since its independence, made Africa the cornerstone of its diplomacy with a plethora of proofs. The Ghanaian leader’s stance may thus be interpreted as a reminder to Nigeria, which may have abdicated its vanguardist and leadership role, particularly in recent years, as its silence in Africa has become louder than imagined.

But President Mahama did not end there. The other part of his statement cuts deeper: “I mean, when you have cousins, 250 million of them, you want them to do well, so that one million of them don’t come drifting towards a small country like Ghana. So, every day I wake up, I pray for Nigeria. I say, God, let Nigeria get their act together. And so, I remember when a lot of the people in Ghana migrated from Nigeria. They find their roots in the Yoruba kingdoms and all that. And so, the Ghana people and all, you know, migrated from Nigeria.”The concluding remarks could be seen through different lenses. Some may interpret it as genuine goodwill originating from a deep cultural and family connection to Nigeria, where the Ghanaian leader spent a significant part of his youthful life. Others may perceive it as a continuation of Ghana’s trolling and banter with Nigeria: this time, trolling at the highest political level. Whether this was a heartfelt prayer meant for a country he loves and once lived in, or a subtle dig and banter, the point is made that Nigeria has a lot to do to turn its fortunes around and step up its leadership on the continent.

What is the backstory to this? Nigeria’s leadership from the 1960s through the late 1990s to the early 2000s culminated in far-reaching policies and actions that rubbed off positively on Africa. These include sponsoring liberation movements in southwestern and southeastern Africa, funding and training anti-apartheid activists in South Africa, supporting United Nations and African Union (then OAU) peacekeeping and security missions, standing up fiercely against neocolonialism in Africa; providing technical aid to needy Black nations across the world through TACS, and ending protracted civil wars in the West African countries of Liberia and Sierra Leone. However, the same magnanimous giver in Africa took ill, and things fell apart— from internal ethno-religious and political strife to grave security issues, poor economic policies, and bad governance, which led to infrastructure deficits, increased poverty, and hunger. All of these have increased the mortality rate and heightened crime, and created a general air of uncertainty which has combined to escalate emigration (a.k.a japa syndrome), which on its own has caused considerable embarrassment and pain for Nigeria’s image. The erstwhile generous and respected ‘giant’ soon developed a horrific reputation for all the wrong reasons and became one of the most despised countries in Africa.

The multiple issues and sharp decline in image are indeed worrisome and may have  caused the Ghanaian president genuine worry. So, what should Nigeria be doing to make his wish realistic? The migration of Nigerians to whichever country is willing to issue them a visa is unsettling. Many Nigerians seem to want to live anywhere but Nigeria. You will find Nigerians in the oddest of places, and it is either with an entrepreneurial spirit and a trail of successes or with a high-tempo criminal inclination that is detested by their hosts. Immigration is natural in human society. The human race is nomadic by nature. But perhaps if Nigeria fixed its basic problems, such as internal security, electricity, roads, schools, healthcare, and social security, many Nigerians thronging foreign lands would return home. Nigeria is a beautiful and endearing country when all goes well. It has some of the wonders of the world in maritime diversity, highlands, vegetation, wildlife, and cultural diversity. It is one of the most pleasant and easiest places to live in, with a welcoming and happy population.

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Many Africans look up to Nigeria. Its movies and music liven up African homes and public entertainment hubs. The American-Western European Hollywood has some recognizable Nigerian faces. Nigeria produced Africa’s first Nobel Prize winner in Literature, and one of the world’s most widely read literary works, Things Fall Apart, was produced by a Nigerian writer. The first African FIFA Under-17 World Cup and Olympic football gold were won by Nigeria, and it went ahead to win the Under-17 World Cup five times in all, making it the country with the most trophies at that level. With the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in 1999, Nigeria recorded a milestone in football. It later hosted the Under-17 World Cup in 2009. These feats inspired Egypt and South Africa to make bids for FIFA tournaments at different times. Nigeria is indeed a joy-giver in Africa. If it does well, it will inspire the rest of the continent. It is a source of confidence and hope for other African countries. If it gets its act together, it will not require sweating to get a permanent United Nations Security Council seat.

Sometime in 2007, the South African statesman, Nelson Mandela, said the Black people of the world needed Nigeria to be great. Now in 2026, whether he meant it or not, Mahama just echoed this same sentiment. But Nigeria getting its act right will mean restoring stability and hope at home, pursuing a Nigeria-centred foreign policy which would restore the dignity of Nigerians abroad, ensuring that the Nigerian diaspora respects and adheres to the rules and laws of their host countries abroad, and making every external interventions or relations to have beneficial value to national interest and development. It would mean many great things, which the government and people of Nigeria must be ready to offer.