“That is your own gospel you are
preaching. This one is mine...” so said the local government official as he
openly demanded a bribe from me. I had come into his office to request his
inspection of a piece of land I intended to build on in 1998. This inspection
was required by law before the permit to build is issued. There were already
others in the office when I came in to announce my business. In their presence
he unabashedly asked for a bribe before doing his job. “I am a Christian” I informed him, “I do not do such things.” “That is your own gospel...” he said and
turned away. And pray that we
will be protected from crooked and evil people. Not everyone believes in the
Lord, you know2Th 3:2(ERV).
I was shocked at the brazen nature of his demand. What could I do? One of my cousins had a husband that was a senior
officer working in the same local government. He was familiar with me. Surely he would intervene and help me out.
I approached him and pleaded for his help. His response was as disappointing as
it was unexpected. He said in parables, “There
is no anus you put a finger into that you will not find faeces”. My Dad
speaking with him was equally fruitless. I decided to take the matter to God
before the congregation. For the rod of
the wicked shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous; lest the righteous put
forth their hands unto iniquity Ps 125:3(KJV).
There was a prayer meeting being held at our church. I went there with
a written prayer request. I submitted the official’s name before God asking for
divine intervention. My wife and I called on God to intervene on our behalf; we
desperately wanted to maintain a Christian testimony. She was heavy with child
and I had signed an undertaking to leave our present accommodation for which
the assigned owner had brought us before the police. In a bid to avoid giving a
bribe to secure the accommodation we had set out to build a small bungalow; now
we were being ambushed by bribe seeking officials. Gather not my
soul with sinners, nor my life with bloody men: In whose hands is mischief, and their right hand is full of
bribes. But as for me, I will walk in mine integrity: redeem me, and be
merciful unto me Ps
26:9-11(KJV).
It so happened that the Head of State decreed all local government
chairmen in Nigeria be removed from office. He gave them one week to round up
all activities on their desk and hand over. In that week I returned to the
official. He who demanded a bribe from me now received me and took me in the
official car to New Haven so as to inspect the property. I was only to provide
fuel for the car (fuel scarcity was recurrent at that time). Amazingly we
entered and he inspected the land. Within a week the local government chairman
had signed my building plans. So much in a hurry to sign was he that he signed
ahead of the health inspector! When I got to the health inspector he also
demanded a bribe! “But I am one of you!”
I protested. “Ok” he said, signed,
and then requested for any amount I would give to him. I left them without
giving any bribe, and with all permits fully stamped. God had delivered us.
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