Vice-President
Yemi Osinbajo while Speaking at the 56th independence anniversary
inter-denominational church service held at the National Christian
Centre, Abuja, has said that President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration
would eventually “take Nigeria across the Red Sea into the promised
land”.
Quoting the Bible, he said the promise of God was that he
would build a new Nigeria where there would be peace from the north-east
to the Niger Delta — a Nigeria where there would be jobs for the
unemployed.
“We are on our way out of the wilderness,” Osinbajo said.
“We
should not be like children of Israel whom he took out of Egypt and
after few problems became grumblers-in-chief. As children of God, we
must declare this nation will prosper; we must be like our father who is
the great encourager.
“Our message to Nigeria is be
strong and of good encourage. Do not be dismayed; every Nigerian will
benefit from the new Nigeria. God saw our nation and decided to put this
leadership in place; this leadership will take us across the red sea to
the new Nigeria.”
Samson Ayokunle, a reverend and
president of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), urged the
federal government to promote politics of love and not of vendetta.
In
his message titled ‘Wisdom that prevails over economic recession’, he
said Nigeria is at a critical time, when oil has lost its value, and
there are also threats of insurgency, attacks by suspected herdsmen,
militancy, armed robbery and massive unemployment.
He said the problems were self-imposed because past leaders failed to save.
“In our economic boom days we were not wise like Pharoah,” he said.
“We
did not invest but squander; our leaders helped themselves to nation’s
health. This was almost the plight of Egypt but for intervention through
Joseph.”
Suggesting ways out of the economic quagmire,
he said: “Leaders must seek divine revelation from God because with
wisdom of man, you won’t go far. It was Pharoah’s revelation that saved
Egypt from famine. We must be like children of Issacha who understood
the times.
“Second is godly direction. Political
leaders must look beyond party affiliation and get those with wisdom
like Pharoah got Joseph, a foreigner, a prisoner, to bail the nation
out.
“Our leaders must have the ability to listen to counsel that will bring about solution. You can also learn from your enemies.
“Our
leaders must promote and celebrate values. Present stakeholders in the
Nigerian state should be sacrificial. Leaders should learn to
appreciate and encourage.”
