Governor of Abia State, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu has stressed the need for Nigerians to hold on to God for a solution, beyond political machinery, to the numerous challenges confronting the nation at a time like this.
The Governor made the call while speaking at the Abia Day of Fasting and Prayer programme with the theme: “Oh Lord, Heal Our Land,” held at the Michael Okpara Auditorium, Umuahia in commemoration of the 61st Independence Anniversary of Nigeria.
The governor noted that there is cause to worry as the country had found itself in a near hopeless situation, adding that, but for God, Nigerians would have little or no hope.
He however thanked God for the Grace upon Abia, noting that despite difficulties the state had witnessed, relative peace and security and had also made appreciable progress compared to other states.
The Abia State governor said that it is for the above reasons and others that he organised the fasting and prayer session to seek the face of God and pray that God heals the land.
“Anybody who is not worried in Nigeria today is either dead or spirituality blind. There is cause to worry because it is a curse if you begin to feel that your yesterday is better than your today and that your today is, perhaps, going to be better than your tomorrow. That is a hopeless situation and I think that is where we have found ourselves.
“We have also come here today to thank God for having led us thus far and to acknowledge His hand in our affairs, and to say that despite the fact that we are relatively peaceful here in Abia when you see the ominous signs happening in neighbouring states, it is also a sign for you to be spiritually vigilant”, the Governor stated.
In his opening remarks, the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Chris Ezem, said the day was a special day dedicated for praying and fasting in Abia State to call upon the Lord to heal the land.
He recalled that Nigeria is under trial as banditry, kidnapping, insurgency among other social vices had become the order of the day, adding that the essence of the exercise was to call on God to intervene in the affairs of the state.
Earlier in his sermon entitled “OH LORD, HEAL OUR LAND”, the President, Eastern Nigerian Conference Union of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Pastor (Dr) Bassey Udo, said the nation “lives in the days when the sanctity of life is no longer respected,” adding that the Church needed to be more spiritually alive through prayers now than ever.
He admonished Christians not to be afraid of the times as God is ready to protect them in spite of the current challenges across the country.
In his speech, the Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Apostle Emmanuel Agomuo lauded the governor for organising the prayer and fasting session and requested that it be made a regular exercise.
Meanwhile, the IPOB’s order on flags was largely obeyed by Abians.
Earlier last Thursday, most banks in Aba and Umuahia had obeyed the order to remove Nigeria flags.
The streets were deserted and empty of human beings. No single shop opened in Aba and Umuahia.
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