Michael Olugbode in Maiduguri
Christians have been told to get on their knees and start praying for Nigeria, instead of complaining about the situation of the country.
The call was made Saturday in Maiduguri by the Presiding Bishop of the Sword of the Spirit Ministries, Bishop Wale Oke, as part of the Glory to Glory Programme of the Ministry, which was initiated to bring Nigerians -especially Christians- together to pray for the unity of Nigeria and to avert bloodshed.
The respected preacher said: “We should pray for Nigeria instead of complaining about insecurity to lives and property in the country.â€
Oke, who had gone to 34 states before coming to Borno from where he leaves for Kwara state to round up his nationwide prayer crusade, said: “This was why we are all here today in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital and epicentre of Boko Haram insurgency.
“Besides the prayers for this country for peace to reign, we are here to distribute these livelihood empowerment machines and tools to IDPs, who are still taking refuge in various camps of the state.â€
He said Christians are destiny-moulders and this they can do on their knees through prayers rather than complaining.
He asked other well-meaning individuals and organisations to come to the aid of the IDPs, whose livelihood have already been destroyed in the nine-year insurgency that claimed many lives and property in the North East.
He said as peace is being restored in insurgency affected states of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe, Christians should pray that no council area or a girl should be troubled again.
He urged President Muhammadu Buhari to use his good office to protect people’s lives and property, irrespective of their religious and political inclinations.
He appealed to Boko Haram insurgents to change their hearts and lay down their arms for dialogue with the Federal Government.
He said: “We should put the past behind us; and look forward and overcome the challenges of post traumatic troubles and troops’ fatigues in the front lines of Northeast.â€
The respected clergy who also took time out to donate relief materials worth millions of Naira to internally displaced persons in five camps in Maiduguri under the auspices of Dorcas Oke Hope Alive Initiative (DOHAL), asked for assistance to victims of insurgency.
He asked the victims of the crisis to bury their past experiences and look up to God for new beginning. He said just like Job in the Bible, they can have double portion of blessings for their loss.
Earlier on Friday, the Bishop had promised to assist ten of the churches destroyed by insurgency in Yobe State with fund for rebuilding.
