The problem of Nigeria are Nigerians —Agboola

Pastor Oluwadamilare Ebenezer Agboola is the founder and pastor in charge of Christ Apostolic Church, (CAC) Hand of God Miracle Centre, Ibadan, Oyo State. In this interview with OLAIDE SOKOYA, he talks about the state of the nation among other sundry.

 

Assessment of 2018

We need to thank God for His grace and mercy on us, especially as a nation. God has been faithful to us in all ramifications. The devil tried to pull down the country, but God prevailed. All what is happening to us as a country is the fault of both the government and the citizens and all these problems started from each family. The spirit of love has been killed in many lives and this is the most important thing we lack as a people and a country.  When we don’t love ourselves as a family, how can we love the government? The same thing is applicable to people in government, when the people we call our leaders are not showing the followers the love they need. What do you think would happen? Individual interests would set in. That is what is drawing us back as a country.

 

Lack of preaching of the second coming of God

We have different men of God with different vision. But, as a preacher, preaching of the second coming of God should not be difficult to preach. We should not base our preaching on only wealth and worldly things. So many pastors are moving with the world, which makes them turn their face away from which is of God.  Also, the country we find ourselves has made so many pastors to compromise. They want to mingle with the things of the world; they have forgotten the primary assignments given to them by God.

 

Recognising true man of God

Before you can recognise a true of God, you must first be deep about the scripture. What does the scripture say about the true man of God. Not every man that claim to be one is the true man of God; we now have wolves among the pastors, who are acting contrary to the word of God. If people don’t understand the Bible very well, all these pastors in wolves clothing will continue deceiving them. Christians must not be too lazy to read and understand the scripture; the Bible says, “by their fruits, we shall know them”.

 

Increased crime rate

We are in the end-time. Where we find the fake, there is also an original pastor. It is the little original that will make us to understand the fake ones, but the original may not be too many for us to identify. It is we (Christians) that should know who we are serving; if you go to nay church, the Holy Spirit will let you know that you are in a wrong place.

• When the church is sick, the nation is sick — Ilesanmi

 

Christians joining  politics

A friend came to me sometime ago, he asked me to join a forum called Pastor Political Forum (PPF). I told him, I can’t because that word “Political” is a dent on the forum. But, my decision did not discourage other peoples. Politics in Nigeria is very dirty. For a child of God go into politics and be clean or upright is very difficult. You have to bow to their law; you have to follow their paths. And let me tell you, no Christian can go into polities to make correction. What correction? He or she will definitely be killed. Those who are in government are everywhere; so, there is no place to hide. No one in polities

 

Advice to Nigerians

Nigerians don’t need to blame anybody at this point we have found ourselves. We are the real problem of the country. We have spoilt so many things. Is it Buhari that destroyed all the companies we are supposed to rely on? Those at the head of the big companies embezzled money and we are left with nothing. We are our own enemies. We don’t want good thing for ourselves; people no longer establish companies here, because of fear of embezzlement. We are no longer our brother’s keeper. My advice to Nigerians is that we should join hands together to lift this nation up. Let us love one another. Let us change our attitude towards our country. Let us forgo worldly things and embrace real evangelism. Pastors also must stop misleading their followers by raising funds during crusades and revivals; God does not call us to raise funds for Him in a dubious way. Nigerians must identify with their God.

 

Advice for the electorate

Nigeria has not got a leader because leaders must be ready to sacrifice. Nigeria needs a leader, who is willing to show example, transparent, and must be the one who is active at the grassroots. As far as I know, we have said we have had free and fair elections. Very good, but we have not done election in this country. We are just doing selection. We are embarking on change of baton like a relay race. Now, politics have become a venture for enriching people. For a presidential system we borrowed from America, Nigeria is overspending to maintaining that system, even more than those we borrowed the idea of that system from. That is why you cannot get a leader except that system is overhauled. What is the purpose of amassing cars with public funds? Can’t that money be used to do something meaningful? The level of illiteracy in this country is high. Our country should promote literacy.

‘Jesus Festival Crusade’ We have had a lot of testimonies of deliverance, healing and transformation. I am confident that God would manifest His power beyond His usual way. We will also use the programme to intercede for the nation and pray for all Nigerians and, most importantly, hand over 2017 to God’s hands.

God gave us that theme to cover ourselves towards the 2019 general election. There may be calamities, blood-shed and killing, but God said when I see the blood, evil will not befall us.