Who Takes The Blame? God, The Devil or Me?

Photo by Eyasu Etsub on Unsplash

Overture

In the course of my study as an architect, I came across the legal concept of ‘Force Majeure’ (Act of God). It describes incidents beyond human control that significantly impact people or plans. Although I first learned about force majeure in the context of construction and contractual variations, it encompasses broader situations like natural disasters, wars and pandemics.

Conversely, as a Yoruba man living in Nigeria, I am well acquainted with the phrase ‘ise Esu ni’ (the devil made me do it). It is often used as a convenient excuse, an attempt to shift blame onto the eternally guilty one rather than take responsibility for one’s actions. We also use phrases like ‘Esu jebi’ (the devil is guilty).

The Plot

Recently, someone was rushed to the hospital in critical condition. Due to the severity of the case, first responders immediately placed the patient on oxygen and transferred them to a government facility for better care.

However, upon arrival at the state-owned hospital, the patient’s family were subjected to endless delays and bureaucratic procedures — payment of fees, paperwork and accommodation logistics.

For over two hours, the patient was left unattended, despite the life-threatening urgency of their condition. After fulfilling the long list of administrative hurdles (one of which included buying of bucket and soap), the patient was finally wheeled in for medical attention. Unfortunately, he died just as they started attending to him.

The following Sunday, as we prayed for the grieving family, I heard the words: “It pleased the Lord to call home one of us…” As the church gasped in shock over the news, I was gutted (more precisely, incensed) by the statement, “It pleased the Lord.”

I had only one question eating up at me… Did it?

The Question

Did it really please the Lord, or was this person snatched away from us by a corrupt, inefficient system sustained by negligence and total disregard for human life?

Having experienced the Nigerian public healthcare system firsthand, I have always questioned the ‘care’ aspect of the whole establishment. In fact, I’ve held a suppressed belief that most (if not all) Nigerian public healthcare nurses are witches. It appears the profession would best be referred to as a coven, not a workforce.

I can’t forget the story of a nurse who threatened to poke a child’s eye with a needle just because he was scared of taking an injection. You don’t need to look long to spot similar impunity, lack of empathy and corruption across other state parastatals.

Something similar was done to my uncle, who was abandoned to bleed to death from a gunshot wound, in the same government hospital. It's bad enough that he was shot by the police during a student protest. Their excuse? No available bed space.

He would have died but for providence.

The then-state governor happened to be visiting his ailing mother in the hospital, saw my uncle’s dire condition, and personally ordered his immediate treatment — along with a directive that the bill be sent to him. A bed miraculously appeared and my uncle was saved from being an amputee or worse.

So, the question lingers — who is to blame?

• The Devil for his insidious motto (Kill, Steal, Destroy)?

• God (because nothing happens on earth without His direction or permission)?

• Or Us (for assuming that we’re only humans and are somehow indemnified)?

And how many people have to die before we find answers?

The Epilogue

A few years ago, I wrote (and recorded) a song with the opening lines:

Nigeria will kill someone today,

It could be you if it’s your lucky day.

Don’t blame the devil, he’s not from here…

These words (albeit pessimistic) were born out of my assessment of the Nigerian predicament.

I am very well aware of the spiritual dimension of our reality. As one of my pastors would say, “The spiritual (reality) has a chokehold on the physical (reality).” I am also aware that these are questions better directed to spiritual leaders and mentors.

It is evident in many cases that a lot is beyond our comprehension and control, but I cannot shake the feeling that our actions and inactions count for something… in the final analysis.

It was my estimation then (as it is now), that the Nigerian people and system have taken more lives than the devil.