The Chairman, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Lagos State Chapter, Bishop Stephen Adegbite, has called on Nigerians to pray towards the May 29 handing-over date, for peace to reign.
Adegbite made the call during the Providence News, 21 years thanksgiving /appreciation service, and the inaugural PROKIHA Lecture held recently in Lagos.
He said “Without peace, no one is safe. We should continue to pray together for the peace of Nigeria.”
Adgbite called on the president-elect and the incoming administration to be magnanimous in victory and bring everyone on board to build bridges across the different socio-cultural groups towards reuniting the country for holistic growth and development.
“Nobody can single-handedly solve the problems of Nigeria; it is the responsibility of all Nigerians. All of us must work together, both the leaders and the led.
“Moment we can do that, we are going to have a better Nigeria and it shall be well with all of us,” he said.
Following the outcomes of the 2023 general election, Adegbite admonished politicians and some clerics to be mindful of their statements and utterances to avoid heating up the polity.
According to Adegbite, “No one should play god. God has clearly spoken through the electorate and INEC has declared the results with the winners emerging. Everyone must obey the voice of God through the outcome of the election results, instead of claiming God says this or that will happen.
“Politicians and clerics should stop making unguided and inflammatory statements capable of igniting and threatening the peace of the country. They need to be careful, not to mislead the people,” he said.
In his remarks, the chairman of the occasion, Archbishop John Osa-Oni, the Presiding Archbishop, Vineyard Christian Ministries and deputy national president (South-West) Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), represented by one of the associate ministers, Rev. Philip Modo, commended the publication’s doggedness and focus to spread kingdom information and celebrating the glory of God in the life and endeavours of people.
He spoke on a reward system that recognises kingdom services. “Give a good reward; give something that will value the kingdom and appreciate people,” Osa-Oni said.
Osa-Oni further urged participants to as a matter of necessity develop the attitude of giving gratitude to God, and individuals that have been used in one way or the other to impact lives, society and the church.
Meanwhile, in his welcome address, the editor and publisher of Providence News, Gracious Akintayo attributed the sustainable and consistent publication of these 21 years to God’s grace.