Nigeria at 61: Church leaders ignite hope, put government on its toes

As many Nigerians are still in the euphoria of the 61st anniversary of their country’s independence from colonial rule, Christian bodies and leaders have also joined others to raise the hope of citizens that there shall be light after the tunnel in spite of huge challenges.

While Christian bodies lament bad and selfish leadership as having largely contributed to poor state of the nation, they however, stressed that the task of making the country great was the responsibility of all.

In addition, Christian leaders have spoken positively onto the land and prophesied its restoration. They also sought the face of God for unity more than ever before.

Tribune Church here chronicled the positions and prayers of Christian bodies and leaders across the country on the occasion of Nigeria’s 61st independence anniversary.

 

We shall experience showers of blessings —CAN

President of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Reverend Dr. Olasupo Ayokunle, in his goodwill message charged Nigerians to renew their hope in the fate of the nation, just as he assured that the country shall experience showers of blessings.

Ayokunle, in his message, however, lamented that bad and selfish leadership have largely contributed to the unfortunate state of the nation. He also noted that the situation was bleak. He, however, stated that with God, there was hope.

“On behalf of the Christian Association of Nigeria, I congratulate all Nigerians on this occasion of the 61st Independence Anniversary of Nigeria from the colonial rule of the British.

“With full assurance of faith in the Lord and the power of the Holy Spirit, at this difficult time, I prophesy that there shall be showers of blessings in the name of Jesus. Ezekiel prophesied to a people in captivity of the Babylonians that there shall be showers of blessings.

“…The situation in Nigeria and of Nigerians today looks like that of Israel and Judah in captivity. We are already in the hands of the enemies because of our corrupt and sinful life. We are in pains of insecurity, inflation, unemployment; poverty is stirring many people in the face.

“For the past years, the bad and selfish leadership we have, had largely contributed to the unfortunate state we are today. These bad leaders did not plan for the country to grow and if they did, they never make effort to implement the development plans. They embezzled the commonwealth of the nation. By their action, they threw the citizens into unnecessary suffering and pain. Unemployed youths have taken to criminalities,” he added.

 

To Make Nigeria Great, Task for All —PFN

President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Bishop Francis Wale Oke, in his own message noted that the task of making Nigeria great is the responsibility of all the people of the country.

Bishop Oke also asserted that both the leaders and the led must desist from the known traditional blame games often associated with the country.

In his independence message issued by his Media Office on Thursday, the PFN President insisted that for the nation to navigate back to its glorious past, every Nigerian would have to play a worthy role.

He maintained that the situation the nation currently finds itself is of great concern to all well-meaning Nigerians.

“If we must find our way back to the glorious past where religion, ethnicity, and security among other present-day challenges were never our problems or issues of concern, then all of us must truthfully work together as an indivisible entity for our good,” he said.

Bishop Oke, who advocated an end to segregation, nepotism, and favoritism, urged Nigerians home and abroad to embrace God by fearing and worshipping him truthfully.

The notable cleric, who is also the presiding Bishop of The Sword of the Spirit Ministries, Ibadan, Oyo State, however, expressed the optimism that the country would be great as envisioned by the founding fathers.

He implored the Federal Government to do all it could to revamp the nation’s ailing economy, lamenting the depreciation of the country’s currency against other foreign currencies, which he said is disturbing and disheartening.

 

We are grateful to God Nigeria is not in turmoil —Adeboye

Notable cleric and the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, stressed that Nigerians should be grateful to God for the present state of the country, adding that “if not for God on our side, the nation would have been in turmoil by now.”

Pastor Adeboye, in his independence message noted that he has no other words than to express his gratitude to God for how far He has brought the nation, praying that God’s mercy over Nigeria would not cease over Nigeria.

“On this day that has been set aside to celebrate the independence of our great nation Nigeria, I have no other words than to thank God for how far He has brought us because if it were to be that God has not been on our side, the nation would have been in turmoil by now. It is my prayer that God’s mercy will not cease over this land, the genuine labours of our heroes past shall not be in vain, and peace and prosperity will continue across all sectors and sections of Nigeria. God bless Nigeria. Happy Independence Day,” he added.

 

We thank God for keeping us together despite challenges —Oyedepo 

Visioner of the Living Faith Church (aka Winners Chapel), Bishop David Oyedepo,  took to his social media handle to express his feelings over the celebration of the 61st anniversary of Nigeria’s independence, appreciating God for keeping the country together in unity despite its many challenges.

“Father, in the name of Jesus, we thank you for keeping this nation together as one thus far. Thank you for keeping us together in unity despite the challenges and tumultuous moments, and we thank you for being Lord overall. (2 Cor. 2:14),” he added.

 

It is a celebration with lamentation

—ECWA President

President, Evangelical Church of Winning All (ECWA), Reverend Stephen Baba Panya, in his own message stated that Nigerians are marking the country’s 61st independence anniversary with lamentation, saying that there is no more justice, fairness and equity in Nigeria.

He added that Nigerians are marking the day with a bag of mixed memories, recollecting that in those days the country enjoyed nationhood where everybody was his brother’s keeper.

“Now, we are only hoping. There is still a slim hope. But my message is that as we pray and face reality, we should be able to say ‘enough of wickedness, enough of madness in our land.’ Let us fear God and turn a new leaf and start doing the right thing, especially our leaders,” he said

On his assessment of President Muhammadu Buhari, Panya said that the truth is that his best is not enough as he could do more beyond what he calls his best, “and this is enveloped in extreme religious fanaticism, especially in the North.”

The other major issue that has not been addressed, according to him, is the agitation for secession, the reason being that there is lack of justice, fairness in the distribution of federal appointments as a lot of Nigerians feel alienated.

Panya also reminded the government that Leah Sharibu and others still in captivity of the Boko Haram have not been forgotten by the Church.

 

We shall sing a new song —Akinfenwa

Bishop of Ibadan Diocese (Anglican Communion), Most Reverend Joseph Akinfenwa, in his independence message stressed that Nigerians have every reason to thank God for another milestone in the annals of Nigeria as a nation, despite great and perplexing challenges the nation has experienced.

“We acknowledge that God has been good to this nation. Nigeria is blessed; and we cannot cease to give thanks to God for His blessings over this nation. Of course, a Nigerian with some keen awareness of current affairs may ask: what is there to celebrate when our exchange rate is at an all-time low of 575 Naira to 1 dollar? And also the hike in prices food stuffs; mass retrenchment both in private and public sectors; increase in kidnapping; threat to agricultural and economic growths, among other challenges facing the country.

“However, we must celebrate. We must celebrate hope. Hope for a better tomorrow. Hope that the forces of darkness shall not prevail ultimately; that there shall be light at the end of this dark tunnel. Job 14: 7,” he added.

He also urged all Christians at home and in the Diaspora not to lose hope and surrender the fate of the nation to forces of evil and injustice. He also charged them to rekindle their hopes “to move us to a place of passionate intercession and positive action concerning our nation.”

 

We need to restructure our world-view, archaic feudal mentality —Bishop Badejo

The Catholic Bishop of Oyo Diocese, Most Reverend Emmanuel Adetoyose Badejo, also said that Nigeria “is a mixed bag of praise and pain, delights and delusions” at 61. He noted that “we need to restructure our worldview and archaic feudal mentality in order to see the light and truth that will lead us out of the current quagmire.”

Bishop Badejo in a statement issued to commemorate the 61st independence anniversary of the country noted that “the glories of Nigeria belong to God, its failures, to us human beings,” adding that “praise be to the living God. Our failures as a nation are very serious indeed but we cannot despair, because God is involved in Nigeria. He made us, we belong to him (Rom 5:5).

“Let Nigeria arise from the ashes of despair and say like the psalmist: “My soul is waiting for the Lord, I count on his word,” (Psalm 130:5) and with the disciples to Jesus: ‘Lord to whom shall we go, you have the message of eternal life (Jn. 6:68).’

“As things stand in Nigeria, we must all work hard to be accountable ourselves and hold our leaders accountable; the gross ongoing abuse of people’s rights and social justice will require a lot of determination, work and political will to redress,” he added.

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