What drives a society to accept poverty as a standard? What circumstances compel individuals to relinquish their rights merely for survival? Why does an entire generation resign its will to the whims of corrupt, destructive leaders?
Dr. Erwin Lutzer remarked that "an economic crisis is always a gift to a leader who seeks to capture a nation."
Adolf Hitler, under the malicious Nazi regime, recognized that "even heaven can be portrayed as hell to a people through the compelling force of propaganda." History is filled with accounts of populations subdued, stripped of spirit, and rendered psychologically incapacitated by forces beyond their control. Docility has consistently served as a powerful weapon for tyrants. Figures such as Joseph Stalin, Robert Mugabe, Idi Amin, Kim Jong Un, Vladimir Putin, and numerous others around the globe have employed fear, ideology, religion, ethnic division, and repression to cultivate obedient citizenries. The aftermath has invariably resulted in a muted society.
Richard Terrell aptly stated: "When you create a critical mass of people who cannot differentiate truth from nonsense, you will produce a society that is prepared to follow any leader."
The Bible articulates this state of being succinctly:
"Make the heart of this people dull, And their ears heavy, And shut their eyes; Lest they see with their eyes, And hear with their ears, And understand with their heart, And return and be healed" (Isaiah 6:10).
History recounts that Soviet leaders under Stalin weaponized famine and starvation in Ukraine as a means of domination. Ukrainian resistance efforts against Stalinist oppression proved futile, as they were overwhelmed by hunger, fear, and systematic manipulation. The exploitation of poverty and ignorance has always drawn totalitarian figures. Stalin employed this tactic, as did Hitler and Mussolini. South Africa's apartheid leaders utilized similar methods. Unfortunately, citizens seldom recognize that their leaders are the architects of their suffering. Hitler once quipped, "How fortunate for governments that the people they lead do not think." Tragically, his assertion held true.
What could potentially prompt two million Nigerians to rise against their oppressors? The honest answer is: nearly nothing. Intelligence reports from a few years back highlighted that certain influential politicians, supported by individuals in top political circles, conducted midnight rituals involving helicopters purportedly spewing ashes over cities as inhabitants slept. Whether these actions were symbolic or literal, they had one clear aim: to entrench a culture of national docility.
"For the leaders of the people have misled them. They have led them down the path of destruction" (Isaiah 9:16).
Under such a ruling influence, a populace becomes conditioned to accept any election result, regardless of its legitimacy. As spiritual authority has waned within the church, largely due to its absorption by materialism, this apathy was able to take root among the populace. Political decisions, even those detrimental, have often been silently accepted by citizens. Nigerians may debate and express their frustrations online, but seldom do they take brave, coordinated steps to ensure accountability from their leaders. Instead of challenging their oppressors, many turn against those advocating for their interests, a classic case of Stockholm syndrome.
Although global attention seldom focused on such narratives in the 1930s, insiders within the Hitler regime confirmed that Nazi control over the German populace went beyond military might or media suppression. Underneath the public façade, Hitler engaged in occult practices aimed at subduing the national psyche. His vision of a “1,000-year Reich” became deeply ingrained in German culture, to the extent that some pastors replaced the cross in their churches with the Swastika, which was the official symbol of the National Socialist (Nazi) Party from the 1920s until the conclusion of World War II in 1945.
Milan Hubl warned that "the first step in liquidating a people is to erase its memory, destroy its books, its culture, its history. Soon the nation will forget what it is and what it was."
In present-day Nigeria, citizens are confronted with a unique blend of destructive forces—occultic, political, and socio-economic—fostered by collaborations among local powerbrokers and global interests. This alarming amalgamation has unleashed a national spirit of docility, manifesting as an attitude of inaction, silence, and reluctance to confront systemic issues. Compounding this problem is the misinterpretation of prayer by many religious leaders who promote a passive stance, urging the populace to leave political and economic crises solely to divine intervention.
Currently, violence is rampant across Nigeria. For instance, in a recent attack, one hundred and seventy lives were lost in a village in Kwara, yet public outrage was minimal. Daily violence fails to elicit sympathy; Nigerians appear desensitized. Large-scale corruption and the mismanagement of public resources continue unabated, but many show little concern. This reflects the national spirit of docility: a population that is easily governed, compliant, submissive, and hesitant to challenge authority. Such citizens tend to avoid confrontation—for fear of repercussions—or feel profoundly disengaged. Dr. Tony Evans rightly noted, "when conscience is absent in a nation, everyone is at risk."
Various leaders in Nigeria have employed distinct tools to sustain this culture of docility: fear, information control, media censorship, an educational system prioritizing obedience over critical thinking, economic reliance, and the persistent exploitation of ethnic and religious divides. While not all Nigerians are complacent, as George Carlin famously stated, "never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups." A few million indifferent citizens can debilitate an entire nation.
As Hegel stated, "the only thing men do not learn from history is that they do not learn from history."
Today, it seems the violence that originated in the North is moving southward. Reports suggest a rise in violent extremist activities in the Southwest. Nonetheless, meaningful resistance remains absent. The church is largely voiceless. Civil society is divided. A younger generation is engrossed in social media entertainment, while content creators flourish. The nation edges closer to anarchy, and many behave as if affairs are normal. Issues that would unsettle other nations barely disturb Nigerians. This is the national spirit of docility.
Regrettably, the church, entrusted with moral guidance, finds itself fractured by conflicts, financial rivalries, and agenda-driven programs. Numerous conferences fill the calendar while adversaries conspire, taking advantage of Nigeria's weaknesses alongside both local and international collaborators. Much of the church’s impact, focus, and prophetic voice has dissipated.
Many may question the path to solutions. Where does one begin? The church must repent, and conscientious Nigerians must come together. Transformation needs to start at home, with parents instilling moral values in their children. In educational settings, educators must speak the truth and encourage critical thinking.
A movement of national awakening must emerge from those whose consciences remain alert. Individuals blinded by ethnic, religious, or political bias lack the capacity to lead this change.
Church leaders aspiring to genuinely serve God must return to righteousness, discard manipulative doctrines, and impart the principle of personal responsibility instead of passively waiting for divine intervention after electing corrupt officials. In such a revitalized spiritual environment, collective prayer can confront and dismantle the powers fueling the spirit of docility.
"And He will destroy on this mountain the covering cast over all peoples, and the veil spread over all nations" (Isaiah 25:7).
The spirit of docility will not vanish overnight. It took decades to establish; it may require time to tear down. But regardless of whether Nigeria remains united or ultimately restructures along regional divisions, no system can flourish with a docile populace. A regional government presiding over submissive citizens is no improvement over a single Nigeria with similarly compliant people. For any system to succeed, the mindset of the people must evolve, necessitating the eradication of the spirit of docility from Nigeria.
"Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away" (2 Corinthians 3:16).
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