A Time of Re-awakening: Odo-Ara, My Jerusalem.
How sad a beautiful star’s light is dimming and the glory sinking to the deep. Unfortunately no one noticed it. A mother is crying for her only child; her hope, her heritage. She is wailing and mourning for her only hope and future but no one cares to render any help or give a sign of hope.
The sun is fast setting, the plan of the enemies is becoming a reality and we all stand apart, nonchalant to the events unfolding right before our eyes. Prophet Jeremiah in the Bible says “Is it nothing to you, Oh ye people that pass by?”. Our Jerusalem is in ruins! Oh Odo – Ara, the beauty of many villages, towns and cities.
Going down the memory lane; of the beautiful old days, when my dad and mum, by 22nd of every December would make sure that everyone in the family leaves for the village to celebrate Christmas and New Year. Not only my family but a good number of other families head home and the joy on our faces can not be quantified.
Oh!, dear God of all governments, no road to connect my Jerusalem with the rest of Okunland, Kogi and Nigeria, my country! No Government presence. No Christmas to celebrate. No New Year’s Day to celebrate. No Easter To celebrate. All just another ordinary days for my Jerusalem (Odo-Ara).
The enemies are never happy because they wanted us to join their many rituals and sacrifices which were made to bring the glory of Jerusalem down.
Youths are dying, glorious sons and daughters falling suddenly. Everyone runs for their lives and today we are all scattered seeking asylum everywhere while leaving our town (Odo-Ara) in ruins. Other people are making mockery of us, inviting us to join them, they are building their villages into towns and towns into cities while ours is left in a mess gradually becoming a dunghill. No one cares and no one wishes to reckon with us.
Is it nothing to you? Do you care if the city becomes extinct? What are you planning next? Or are you waiting for the death of your parents so you can close the chapter of Odo – Ara?
Answer the questions righteously in your heart:
Why am I having a sleepless night? Why can’t I fall asleep at the time others are? Only God knows…
God wouldn’t allow me to sleep, while eating; I’m reminded of our Jerusalem, I try to run away from it but it keeps coming to my heart, many questions keep running through my head and I feel if I do nothing about it, I may lose my mind!
Are you a child of God, a pastor, or a Christian? Reading through your Bible, I know you must have read about Ezra, Nehemiah and others…
God is in need of people that will rise up to this challenge, people that will challenge the authorities that have taken over our land, break the curse of the wicked operating relentlessly against the city (Odo-Ara) that God has given to us and I’m sure we will conquer and the victory shall be ours.
In conclusion, these things are worth knowing:
Whether we like it or not, Odo -Ara will rise and shine again…
A time is coming that many people won’t recognize their own portion of land again…
Many will become aliens/ fugitives in their father’s land…
Sooner, closer than we think, Odo – Ara will be remembered and some natural resources will fish the land out. Where will your portion be?
Neighboring villages will be allocating plots of land to you and I, while we look on without a say in the decision…
Children of low income and estates shall decide how our families should operate…
Let’s reflect on this my people, it is time for us to arise in prayer and take a bold step of faith to bringing our Jerusalem back because there is no place like home.
Let’s rebuild the ruins. God is our strength, our refuge and our banner. In Christ alone, we stand.
– Mrs. Ola Justina O. A. (Nee Makanju)
A native of Odo-Ara
