VICE-President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, has said that the current challenges confronting Nigeria are surmountable, insisted that God’s promise of a New Nigeria will be fulfilled.
Osinbajo spoke on Sunday at the 59th independence day interdenominational church service held at National Christian Centre, Abuja with the theme, “Peaceful Coexistence for National Growth and Development
He said God had a mission of taking Nigeria to the promised land, hence the challenges being faced by the country though not unusual could be overcome.
Osinbajo who went spiritual in his short remark likened Nigeria to the Israelites whom God directed to be taken to the promised land but encountered challenges on their way.
He said if only Nigerians will imbibe Godly principles, that promised land is sure.
The VP said: “God has used the mouth of His prophet that He is given us a new Nigeria. May I announce to you today that indeed God is set to take us to the promised land”.
He noted that God controls the destinies of nations and the people, quoting from Psalm 24:1, which says, “The earth is the Lord, and the fulness thereof, the world, and they that dwell therein.”
Osinbajo noted that God promised the people of Israel that He would take them out from bondage, suffering and slavery into the promised land, “a land flowing with milk and honey”.
He said Joshua was used to fulfilling the promise, saying that in spite of the fact that the land was fortified, they brought down the wall and occupy the land.
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He said just as some who were sent to spy the land came back with an evil report that the land could not be subdued, many Nigerians were yet to believe that Nigeria could overcome her challenges and become a great nation God wants her to be.
“Some of them that came back said it is impossible to enter the promised land, the problems are gigantic, the issues too many.
Former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (Retd) noted that Nigeria was facing daunting challenges cutting across insecurity, economy among others, but said there was still hope of overcoming the problems.
He, therefore, charged the various security operatives to do all in their powers to secure Nigeria, while Nigerians should continue to seek the face of God.
“I am confident that God has not abandoned us, he will continue to sustain us provided we keep doing the right thing.
“Why prayer remains the key to solving our challenges, I want to charge all security operatives, the Army, Police, the Civil Defence you all owe it a duty to secure the country, especially as we would be hitting 60 next year.
“I strongly believe that there is hope for our great nation through hard work and selfless leadership we shall have a great Nigeria,” Gowon stated.
General Secretary, Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN), Rev. Dr Daniel Mbaya, who was the guest speaker at the Church Service, lamented that Nigeria is still in dark after several years of independence.
He attributed, social, economic and security crisis facing the country to lack of peaceful coexistence.
He condemned the high level of insecurity, saying peace is what is required for the country to move forward. He, therefore, called for peaceful coexistence through tolerance of one another.
The cleric also called on the Federal Government to ensure the rule of law and justice in the country, expressing optimism that Nigeria would be better and succeed.
He said: “When a man’s ways are pleasing to the Lord, he gains favour, the church should promote national unity, there is great need to break the circle of violence.
“The church should play a critical role because as Moslems and Christians we share the same political landscape, peaceful coexistence is a necessity, we should go back to where we got it wrong as a country and understand that peaceful coexistence is the panacea.
“Our government should ensure that in every policy youths should be carried along, we have instances where Nigerians are solving problems around the world,” Mbaya noted.
Among government officials present at the ceremony includes, Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege, Ministers of Science and Technology, Ogbonnaya Onu, Labour, Chris Ngige, Budget and National Planning, Clement Agba, Service Chiefs, former Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Senator Godswill Akpabio, former Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha among others.
Nigeria will officially mark its 59th independence anniversary on Tuesday, October 1st, 2019.
President, Christian Association of Nigeria CAN, Supo Ayokunle, said the woes being faced by Nigerian was their own creation and not by any external enemy.
He said if Nigerians and their leaders will change their ways and imbibe Godly ways including thinking of the welfare of others, things shall improve for the better.
While stressing on the need to empower the youth in the country, Mbaya, called on the government to formulate youth-focused programmes, saying any nation without the future of the youth is doomed.
Intercessory prayers were held for divine guidance and wisdom for the government to offer good governance, solve the security and economic challenges.
Prayers were also held for the unity of the country, the three arms of government – executive, legislature and judiciary.