Monarchs, clerics, others push for national rebirth

It was a conflux of the different strata of the society. The gathering was huge. The participants were diverse yet the desire was the same: a search for a national rebirth. Amosun Park, at Panseke in Ibara, Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital played venue of the just concluded ‘Easter Salvation Crusade for Egbaland and Ministers’ Conference’ with the theme: ‘The time is at had’.

Chief among others who converged on Abeokuta included Nigeria’s former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who was represented by his wife. Others were Oba (Dr) Adedapo Tejuoso, Bishop Kayode Williams who was the chairman of the planning committee, chairman of the Ogun State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Bishop Akin Akinsanya, the Oloni of Eti-Oni, Oba Dokun Thompson, the Olusi of Usi-Ekiti, Oba Adedayo Akande, among many others.

In his opening remarks, former President Olusegun Obasanjo called for more prayers for the country just as he maintained that the country needed God’s intervention at the moment than ever before. He further stressed that it had become expedient that proper time management be prioritised saying that this could affect the wellbeing of the nation. He added that political, religious and traditional rulers must understand that their time is always limited and therefore must do all in their power to utilise their time in harnessing the resources and capacities of the people that they rule over.

“The Bible is full of the usefulness and the dangers of use or misuse of time. Psalm 90 verse 12 says teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom. The Bible also teaches us to make the best of time because the days are evil. It also warns that for everything there is a season. For all children of God by common grace and saving grace, one time has come and gone. A saviour has come to live among us and gone. The time we are expecting is the time of harvest. When we do not know the exact time, we must be always prepared.

“God has his hands in the affairs of human beings. Hard and tough times will never last forever, not for too long. Time is at hand for a change for good in the affairs of our country. Everyone must be a participant in preparation for the glorious days ahead. The time is at hand for a new Nigeria, devoid of blatant corruption, ignorance, insecurity, poverty, inequity and injustice. The time is at hand when Nigerians will live life to the fullest, the land flowing with milk and honey. That is the purpose of God for Nigerians,” he said.

Sharing similar bent, the Osile Oke Ona Egba, Oba Tejuoso asked for more faith in the power of God both to save and deliver. “We are indeed glad that God has been dealing with us based on our expectations. We are confident that the prayers that we have offered will be answered,” he said.

Also speaking, the CAN chairman for Ogun State, Bishop Akinsanya encouraged the people to have more faith in the power and ability of God which can alter any situation for good.

In his message during the ministers’ conference, the Oloni of Eti-Oni, Oba Dokun Thompson called on all to understand that the primary reason for being alive and around was for God’s purpose. “We are here for God’s purpose. We are here to establish God’s glory on earth. It is not in heaven but on earth,” he said.

For Bishop Williams, it became necessary to hold such conference so as to address the spiritual and psychosocial hunger in the land. “We are here as Christians to glorify God. We are commanded to shine the light and give hope to as many people as the Lord permits. We live in very strange times and we need the power of God to operate within these times. God loves us as a nation and he wants the best for us. But we must cooperate with him to ensure that we get the best from him.

“The theme of the conference also tells us that we won’t be here forever. We need to be particularly wise in our dealings one with another and also with the Almighty God. The circumstances in which we live at the moment are making people to forget that before long we would be called home. Many have become so comfortable with their lives that they have forgotten that there is life after death and also that there is a God that they will answer to. Some others have been soaked in by the problems of life that they no longer have faith in the power of God. But we all must understand that we need a rebirth as a nation so as to begin to please God.”