*Gowon advocates unity, peaceful coexistence
*Obi celebrates Christians, urges Nigerians to pray for nation
Segun Awofadeji in Gombe and Sunday Ehigiator in Lagos
Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, has urged Nigerians to tolerate each other irrespective of ethno-religious and political differences in order for the country to be in peace and witness development.
Mutfwang made the call on Saturday during the dedication of the ECWA Gospel Church in Kulishin village, Shongom Local Government Area of Gombe State.
He reminded Nigerians of the need to rekindle brotherhood among one another, support and promote the country to the glory to God.
“It is indeed a great privilege and honour to be here to sharpen one another; to build one another.
“We have come to fellowship with you and to assure you that you are our brothers and we hope that God will sustain and prosper the fellowship existing between us.”
“My prayer as I have trusted God for the people of Plateau State, I trust God also that all of us that God has deposited in the Middle Belt of Nigeria, that we will come together,” he added.
In his brief remarks, former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, joined others to commission a structure of The ECWA Gospel Church, Kulishin, Shongom LGA, Gombe State.
“This beautiful edifice certainly reminds me of King Solomon’s temple which he built for the Lord during his reign as King in Israel. The Scriptures revealed to us that on the day of the dedication of the temple, King Solomon prayed that the temple would be a great blessing to the people (I Kings 8:22-54),” he said.
Gowon added that, “May this Church, ECWA Gospel Church, Kaltungo, be home and Centre for Peace and wellbeing in the State, ensuring continued cordial relationship among all the various ethnic groups and faiths in the State; contributing your quota to the peace, stability and wellbeing of our country and nation, Nigeria, let us be each other’s brothers keeper.”
Also, speaking, former Minister of Information, Prof Jerry Gana, commended the donor of the auditorium and described it as a great service to God and humanity.
Jerry Gana admonished the community to let the act of service to God further unite them so that the entire area can be developed.
In his sermon, the Guest Speaker, Rev. Silas Yako, while delivering the message titled: “Setting a good example”, urged Christians to live more by examples in their actions rather than words.
The ECWA Gospel Church was built and donated to the community by the Managing Director /CEO of Mesotho Group and former member of the House of Representatives from the area, Mr. Jerry Damara.
Meanwhile, in commemoration of the final lap of the Lenten season, usually referred to as ‘Holy Week’, which fell on palm Sunday, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, yesterday celebrated with the Christian faithful.
He also urged Nigerians to use the period to seek divine intervention for the country, noting that many Nigerians had died in their struggle to get food for their families
In a post on his X account, Obi said, “The activities of the Holy Week, thus, present us the opportunity to soberly reflect on the many challenges facing us individually, and those facing us collectively as a nation, an opportunity to ask for God’s divine intervention.
“Even as we make our human efforts, as a people, to move our nation forward, we must leverage the solemnity of this season to pray for divine intervention in our nation.
“The hearts of many are heavy with pain, grieving the loss of their dear ones due to the high level of insecurity in the nation. Families are hungry, not knowing where their next meal will come from because they can no longer afford the basic necessity of food.
“Many of our fellow Nigerians have died in their struggle to find food to eat. The unity and love in diversity, for which our dear nation was known, have been sacrificed on the altar of tribal and religious division.
“Let us, therefore, present our nation to God for healing and restoration, in this Holy Week, so that as we labour, as humans, for the New Nigeria, it will become even more possible. I wish us all a fruitful and impactful Holy Week commemoration.”
