Bassey Inyang in Calabar
Despite what seems to be endless hardship in Nigeria following the economic recession the country is facing in, the General Overseer of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry, Pastor Williams F. Kumuyi, has stated that the nation would eventually overcome the challenge.
Kumuyi, who stated this yesterday at the Margaret Ekpo International Airport (MEIA) in Calabar, also allayed fears in some quarters that Nigeria can be Islamised.
Commenting on the current economic recession in the country, Kumuyi said: “The information is now made public and official that this is the worst recession situation in Nigeria in the last 29 years. “Well, as it affects the church, it also affects everyone. But there are things we still do in spite of the economy.
“Money is just a servant to man and it is not suppose to be the master. There are things we keep doing even when the money is not there. I believe that we will come out of this recession.”
Though he said it was not possible for him to tell exactly where the nation got it wrong for economic recession to set in, he said: “Different situations brought us to this climax. So, we must have got it wrong somewhere, but I cannot pin it to one.”
On the issue of Islamisation of the country and the alleged persecution of Christians in some parts of northern Nigeria, the General Overseer of the church said: “I think it depends on the will of the people. You cannot impose a religion on a country without the will of the people. Worshiping God is a personal thing. If I chose my way, so will it be. If a country is said to be going through a process, if the people are asleep and they do not have any conviction, then it becomes easy for another person to impose what he feels he has on you. But the will of the people will not be easily overruled….
“When we say alleged killing we will need to investigate well. Neither of the two dominant religions in Nigeria, Christianity and Islam, advocate the killing of neighbours.
“The love of our neighbour is key here and the Islamic religion came in through Abraham, so basically we are having the same great grand-grandparent. So, we should rethink and understand that it would be good to allow people to leave together in peace and allow them to have their free will to chose how to worship.”
On the reason for his visit to Calabar, the capital of Cross River State, Kumuyi said: “I am here basically to show the love of God to the people. We are saying that because God Almighty is still on the throne. We should not lose hope despite the hiccups in personal lives.
