Former head of state and convener of Nigeria Prays, Yakubu Gowon, has called on the church in Nigeria to continually stand in the gap for the nation.
“The church must provide a moral compass for the nation and cause darkness to recede and warn people to heed to truth, imbibe the fear of God and to follow righteousness,” Gowon said.
Gowon stated this at the special National Prayer service held Sunday at the Deeper Life Bible Church headquarters, Gbagada, Lagos.
According to Gowon, the church is God’s house of prayer, hence “we must steer clear of any semblance of encouraging religious warfare in the guise of self-defence.”
Similarly, he called on the government to be accountable to the electorates. “… we must continually demand that government be seriously alive to its primary responsibility of the protection of life and property of all citizens.
“While government is encouraged to do the needful, people of faith also must be encouraged to win over unnecessarily angry and violent people with the force of love,” Gowon said.
The General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Church and host of the event, William Kumuyi, in his sermon tagged, ‘Divine Assurance when Nigeria Prays’ said, “Perplexing national problems demand the nation’s prevailing prayer.”
According to Kumuyi, the church can claim God’s unfailing promise for our nation, Nigeria.
“The healing of our land will restore health and wholeness to every section of our society. God has promised to heal our land if we humble ourselves, turn from our wicked ways and pray with expectant faith,” he said.
President Muhammadu Buhari, in a special message to the congregation, said, “Nigeria is not a mistake,” and called on Nigerians to encourage and promote passion for one Nigeria.
Buhari, who was represented by his special adviser on media, Femi Adesina, said the prayer for the nation was the right thing to do. “Non of Nigeria’s challenges is greater than God. In God we trust and He will take us through the challenges,” he said.
