ACTING President, Yemi Osinbajo, has stressed the need for Nigerians to undertake sacrifice of integrity for the success of the war on corruption.
Speaking at the 2017 Democracy Day Inter-denominational church service in Abuja on Sunday, he said Nigerians entrusted with different responsibilities must be prepared to carry them out diligently to enable the country to achieve greatness.
With the theme of the service which held at the National Christian Centre being: “The Dry Bones Shall Live Again (Ezekiel 37:11),” Osinbajo said: “There is sacrifice of integrity against corruption; when you speak against corruption, it fights back.
“So, you must be ready to make sacrifice no matter how highly placed or small you are. Teachers who are prepared to teach, doctors who are prepared to provide health services no matter what.
“Make the sacrifices required to make our nation great whether you are a leader or a follower.”
The acting President counselled against blame game and drawing from the Biblical story of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:30-37, he advised that Nigerians must not be like the politician and cleric in the story that looked the other way when they saw the man that was attacked by thieves and left for dead.
Rather he said, they must emulate the Good Samaritan that took compassion on him, poured oil on his wounds, bandaged him and took him to the hospital.
Osinbajo noted: “While the politician and cleric looked the other way when they saw the man that was half dead, the Good Samaritan had compassion on him, bandaged him and took him to the hospital.
“Who truly loves the nation? Is it the priest that said a prayer, walked past, or the politician that looked and walked past or the Samaritan that took the wounded to the hospital, paid some money and said treat him, on my return I will upset the bill?
“The nation requires those that can make the sacrifices to make it great. They are those whom Jesus spoke about, people that may not be of note but prepared to make the nation great again. Some are doctors, teachers, young graduates.”
Osinbajo prayed for God’s healing for ailing President Muhammadu Buhari, as well as for grace on those willing to make sacrifices to make the nation great.
In his sermon, the presiding Apostle of the Word Communication Ministries and Founder of Christ Family Assembly Churches, Apostle Sunday Popoola, who observed that the service was to thank God for 18 years of unbroken democracy, reflected on how the people have played their role in the polity and to pray and the seek face of God for our glorious future, warned against coup in the country which he said would not succeed.
However, he noted that Nigerians were fed up and waiting for a spark.
But he called for patience with the current administration as according to him, the government meant well for the country.
He added: “If you are out there like me, you will know that Nigerians are fed up and are waiting for something to spark. We need to be patient with the present government which has something to offer.
“Coup cannot work now and will not succeed.”
Popoola advised that institutions be strengthened through radical reforms.
He advised that the problem of leadership in the country must be addressed, saying that Nigerians must choose their leaders via their votes and ensure that their votes counts.
The first scripture reading, Ezekiel 37:1-14, was taken by Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen while the Second scripture reading Romans 129-21, was taken by Speaker of House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara.
Among those in attendance were: Head of Service of the Federation, Mrs Winifred Oyo-Ita; the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Reverend Samson Supo Ayokunle, wife of the Acting President, Dolapo Osinbajo, Speaker’s wife Gimbia Dogora; wife of the CJN, Mrs Nkoyo Onnoghen; members of the National Assembly, the military, royal fathers and members of the diplomatic corps.
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