Nigeria on way out of wilderness —Osinbajo

VICE-PRESIDENT Yemi  Osinbajo has declared that Nigeria is on its way out of wilderness, saying President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration will take the country across the Red Sea into the promised land.

He spoke on Sunday at the interdenominational service to mark the 56th Independence Anniversary of the country, held at the National Christian Centre, Abuja.

Osinbajo noted that the promise of God was that “He is building a new Nigeria where there would be peace from North-East to the Niger Delta, a Nigeria where there will be jobs for the unemployed,” adding that “we are on our way out of the wilderness.”

He appealed to Nigerians not to be dismayed by the present economic situation, saying “we should not be like the children of Israel, after encountering some problems on their way to the promised land, became grumblers.”

President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Reverend Samson Ayokunle, called on the Buhari-led administration to promote politics of love and not of vendetta and should, while shaming those that helped themselves to the nation’s wealth, also celebrate those who were not corrupt.

Ayokunle, in his message, blamed past leaders, both military and civilian, for the nation’s current economic quagmire, saying they failed to save for the rainy days.

He said it was unfortunate that Nigeria, with all its enormous human and material resources, was in dire straits of financial crisis because of corruption and mismanagement of resources.

He commended President Buhari for the successes recorded so far in the fight against Boko Haram terrorists, but said much was needed to be done by the administration in tackling other aspects of security challenges, including Niger Delta militancy, kidnapping, robbery, among others.

While calling on the government to ensure diversification of the economy, the CAN president particularly urged the Federal Government to revive the agricultural sector that had been neglected over time because of the oil boom.

Ayokunle also appealed to the government to restore religious teachings in schools, to restore morals and discipline.

“We must return our schools to when teachers discipline students and not what is happening today, where students are elevated above their teachers,” he said.

The CAN president listed the ways out of recession to include seeking divine relevation, godly direction, counsel and promotion and celebration of values.

Other dignitaries present at the service included wife of the vice-president, Dolapo Osinbajo; former vice-president, Alex Ekwueme; Bayelsa State governor, Seriake Dickson; Senator Banabas Gemade (representative of the Senate President); Senator Olurunnimbe Mamora, members of Federal Executive Council (FEC), service chiefs, Executive Secretary, Nigeria Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC), Reverend Tor Uja, among others.