The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Pray

  • We’ll pray for your success in 2017, monks tell Ugwuanyi  

    The Monks of Our Lady of Mount Calvary Monastery at Awhum in Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State have promised to always pray for the success of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi as well as the progress of the state and the nation.

    In a remark during a thanksgiving mass at the Monastery in honour of the newly sworn in Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr. James Ikeyi, Rev. Paul, on behalf of the monks, expressed delight at the governor’s leadership style, which he said centred on good governance and fear of God.

    They hailed the governor for his commitment and interest in the progress of the Monastery.

    The monks also congratulated him for his 2015 election victory, describing him as “the man of the people”.

    They noted that Ugwuanyi’s visit to celebrate the first mass of the year was symbolic and an indication of his closeness to God and the interest he had in the monastery.

    The monks pledged to continue to offer special prayers for God to protect the governor as well as give him the wisdom, grace, vision and other things he needed to discharge his responsibilities creditably, despite the economic challenges in the country.

    “Your Excellency, your coming to Awhum Monastery before and after election has indicated that you have everything in common with the monastery. May the Good Lord continue to give you the strength and ability to discharge your responsibilities well. We will continue to pray for your administration at Awhum Monastery,” the monks said.

    Ugwuanyi thanked the monks for their continued prayers and kind words of encouragement.

    The governor also congratulated Mr. Ikeyi and his family for God’s favour and love on them.

    He wished Enugu State residents a happy and prosperous New Yea.

    Ugwuanyi pleaded with the monks to remain steadfast in their prayers for him and the state so “that God will continue to order our steps to take the state to greater heights”.

    The governor visited the motherless babies’ home at Enugu in the spirit of the New Year celebration.

  • Funke Akindele to fans: Pray for me to have a child

    Funke Akindele to fans: Pray for me to have a child

    Comic actress Funke Akindele who secretly married her Nigerian rapper boyfriend Abdul Rasheed Bello aka JJC Skillz in London recently has urged her fans to pray for her.

    Funke who is the producer of hugely successful comedy, Jenifa’s Diary, took to her Facebook page yesterday afternoon to appeal for prayers from her fans.

    “I’m not shy to say this,” she wrote.

    “PLS DONT IGNORE

    “You all know I, Funke Akindele Jenifa has been married for a while now without any issue.

    “Some have even laughed at me, insulted me, judged me without knowing the pains I go through. I put up every effort in entertaining my fans and Nigerians at large, I made you laugh and some would even say I’ve inspired them in one way or the other.

    “Now I’m in another man’s house.”

    This is Funke’s second attempt at marriage. In 2012, she married Kehinde Almaro of Oloyede in a glamorous wedding which started having cracks just months after. While JJC Skillz has four children from different women, Funke is yet to have her own child and in her appeal, she also asked her fans to pray for her to conceive and deliver safely, even imploring them to share her prayer.

    “Pls always put me in your prayers. I pray this year 2016 will not pass me by. I will not only give birth, but I will give birth safe and sound. As you write AMEN to this prayer, may God answer all your hidden prayers.

    “Pls why not write Amen?

    “Why not share this posts for others to say amen?

    “Your AMEN is so powerful. Type Amen on my behalf.

    “Even when I’m not happy, I still put up a smile face. Just for you my lovers, my fans. I love you all.”

    The fans did have good words to her as the post in just a few hours generated nearly 200 shares, about 1, 400 comments and over 1, 700 reactions, wishing her the best of her matrimonial life.

     

  • Aregbesola urges intending pilgrims to pray for Nigeria

    Aregbesola urges intending pilgrims to pray for Nigeria

    Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola has urged intending pilgrims to this year’s Hajj in Saudi Arabia to pray for the economic revival of Nigeria during the holy pilgrimage.

    Addressing the 724 intending pilgrims from the state at a farewell programme organised for them in Osogbo, the state capital, he said the economic hardship facing the country required the prayers of all and sundry.

    He said: “Nigeria’s economic situation needs the prayers of all and sundry for us to survive this situation we are in today. I believe as you are going to the holy land, God will answer your prayers. So, I appeal to you to please remember Nigeria and Osun State in your prayers while you are in Saudi Arabia.

    “With God, all things are possible. We need to redirect our steps as a country and turn to God and be sincere as well. Nigeria can be great again. I congratulate you for being able to embark on this journey of spiritual rebirth despite the harsh economic situation the country is facing.

    “I want you to maximise every minute of your spiritual journey to the holy land and pray for yourselves and the growth of Nigeria. The holy Land of Mecca is a place where whatever you ask from God shall be granted; I implore you to make use of every minute of the period you will be spending there to seek the face of God.”

    In his goodwill message, the Southwest Commissioner of the National Hajj Commission, Imam Fua’ad Adeyemi, noted that the organisation of Hajj programmes in Osun was commendable.

    He explained that over the years, pilgrims from Osun State have always stood out with good virtues while at the holy land.

  • Pray for Nigeria, Dogara, Lasun urge Muslims

    Pray for Nigeria, Dogara, Lasun urge Muslims

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, has congratulated the entire Muslim Ummah across the country on the successful completion of the Ramadan fast.

    In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media & Public Affairs, Turaki Hassan, in Abuja, the Speaker  urged Muslims to use the period of Eid- el- Fitri to pray for Nigeria to overcome its present challenges.

    The Speaker also charged Muslims to allow the lessons of humility, sacrifice,love and selfless service garnered during the 30-day fast to guide their lives and activities.

    According to him, the holy month of Ramadan afforded Muslims the opportunity to show compassion, mercy and kindness to their fellow men and also advised that they should continue to put smiles on the faces of others beyond the Ramadan period.

    “May I use this opportunity  to urge the faithfuls to use the occasion to reflect on the lessons of Ramadan and continue to imbibe its teachings which are primarily premised on selflessness, sacrifice, patience, modesty and spirituality”, Dogara said.

    The Speaker also called for prayers for the success of the country’s leadership under President Muhammadu Buhari  for God to continue to guide, protect and give him the wisdom to steer the affairs of the state and actualise the change agenda.

    Similarly, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Rt Hon Sulaimon Lasun Yussuff  in a statement by his Press Secretary, Wole Oladimeji has appealed to Nigerians to love one another irrespective of religious inclination and eschew violence.

    Hon Lasun in his his Eid- el- Fitri message to Nigerians noted that it is in the atmosphere of peace, love and unity that meaningful development could be achieved rather than fighting one another.

    The 30 days of fasting is a period for Muslim faithful to reflect on their behaviors and to make amends,  just like the Christians too have their own period of fasting, therefore, there is need to make good use of the opportunity and be closer to God and eschew violence in our daily activities.

    Lasun also appealed to Nigerians bear with the president in his quest to put the economy of the country on a sound footing so that all could enjoy at the end of the day.

     

     

  • Pray for Buhari

    A cleric Oluwole Sali has urged Nigerians to pray for President Muhamm-adu Buhari so that he would fulfill his electoral promises for the people.
    He gave the advice in Lagos at a seven-day prayer programme for the good of the country. He said both Muslims and Christians should be involved in serious prayers to avert serious problems in the country.
    He described President Buhari as God-send, adding that the President was ordained by God for a special assignment. He, however, noted that there are certain inhibitive forces that want to prevent his good intentions for the country.
    Sali said: “Where there are children of light, children of darkness want confusion and wickedness to continue. There are those who benefit from confusion and wickedness who will not want PMB’s anti-corruption war to succeed.
    He said: “There is abundant grace for President Buhari God has granted him because of the special work he is to accomplish. Many things are happening that are purely manipulations of the powers of darkness to cause confusion and bloodshed. Many are working to discredit this government but the Lord will frustrate them. Children of God should just rise up and pray. When “I mean Children of God, I mean men of God who are not after money and what they will gain; men of God who love this country as their own and are willing to bleed like Apostle Ayo Babalola for the nation to be blessed.
    “It takes men of God who are not blinded by religious bigotry and denominational egos to see the mark of God Almighty upon President Buhari as it was upon Cyrus who gave the commandment of the rebuilding of Jerusalem. If the children of God will pray fervently and be patient, God will answer them, Prophet Sali,” added.

  • Saraki, Dogara to Nigerians: pray for peace, unity

    Saraki, Dogara to Nigerians: pray for peace, unity

    President of the Senate, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki and House of Representatives Speaker, Yakubu Dogara have urged Muslim faithful to use the period of this year’s Ramadan to pray for peace, security and God’s intervention in tackling the myriad socio—economic challenges confronting the nation.

    Saraki thanked God for the grace to participate in another holy obligation as enjoined by the Holy Quran.

    He said: “We have entered into another season of rededication to the worship of God and service to humanity. This is a major commandment to mankind and a season of sacrifice and forgiveness. I enjoin all Muslim faithful to rededicate themselves to the true ideals of Islam as a religion of peace.

    “Let us exploit the grace in this season to seek God’s divine intervention in our lingering economic and security challenges. As a nation, we need God’s power to overcome our present situation. Fasting is not mere abstinence from food, drink and worldly pleasures alone, but a time to seek Allah’s power through prayers to be able to faithfully carry out the sublime injunctions of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (SWT) who was sent by Almighty Allah to show humanity the way of holiness, peace and brotherly kindness,” he said.

    Dogara said the country is in dire need of special prayers in view of the present state of the economy and the security situation in the nation.

  • Pray for Nigeria’s prosperity, Ambode urges clerics

    Pray for Nigeria’s prosperity, Ambode urges clerics

    Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode yesterday urged religious leaders to intercede for the country in bringing about greater economic prosperity.

    Ambode spoke at the opening of the 33rd Synod of the Lagos Diocese of Anglican Communion, at the Our Saviour’s Church, Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos.

    The governor said the country was in dire need of God’s blessings and prosperity at this critical point in time and the church has a great role to play.

    He expressed delight at the theme of the Synod which was to discuss the Ecclesiastical business vis-a-vis the role of the church, saying the topic was apt and timely, especially at this trying period for the nation’s economy.

    “At the critical time in the history of Nigeria, there is no better time for us to talk about what the position of the church should be in this trying time. There is nothing else that can be that significant for us to actually gather and talk about the business of the church and also about how it affects the country itself,” the Governor said.

    While alluding to the fact that the church has a major role to play in the economy, Governor Ambode said those saddled with responsibility of administering the country must put the interest of the people first.

    According to the Governor, “Nigeria is in dire need of God’s greater prosperity and blessings at this time and there are no other people that can actually do that for us except we take it up by spiritual blessings that come out from the church.

    “So, one can imagine that there is a correlation between the economy and the church and if the economy prospers, it is very clear that the welfare of the people in the church will also improve. So, it is in the best interest of those of us who are in government to ensure that the economy prospers or else people will not come into the church,” he said.

    The governor, however, expressed hope that deliberations at the Synod would be of greater benefit to humanity.

    Also speaking at the Synod, retired Justice of the Supreme Court, George Oguntade commended Governor Ambode for his remarkable footprints in the state in the last 11 months, saying that the good works of the Governor can indeed be felt everywhere.

    Oguntade, however, expressed optimism that the Governor has succeeded in laying a strong foundation for a successful tenure in office which will be of immense benefit to the people.

    On his part, Bishop of Lagos Diocese, Anglican Communion, Most Rev. Ephraim Ademowo, also commended Governor Ambode for his giant strides so far, saying the State is surely in good hands.

    “As the morning shows the day, Governor Ambode has always shown that he is a serious minded person. I have personally known him for 45 years to be intellectual propitious, brilliant, well focused, hardworking, disciplined, firm and gorgeous,” Ademowo said.

     

  • LUTH Diary: Let us pray

    This piece will be the last in my three-part series on my two-week admission at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH).

    I thank those who have called, congratulating me for surviving the sickness that could have added me to the list of many who have died after ‘ a brief illness’.

    I remain ever grateful to God for divine healing and taking control of a number of instances during my admission, when even the medical personnel were not too sure of what to do.

    I still remember the drama that played out the day I was discharged.

    A team of doctors arrived my bedside and for almost twenty minutes, they reviewed my case but couldn’t agree whether to discharge me or ask that I undergo some more tests.

    A senior Consultant passing by to see another patient had to be asked for his opinion. Based on my test results, he said I had no business remaining on the hospital bed and should be discharged.

    Shortly after arriving the hospital, I was asked to go for dialysis. While waiting to find the right place for the treatment since the service was not available in the hospital, two other medical personnel that attended to me said I should put it on hold.

    Eventually, it was resolved that I went for three sessions of dialysis.  Thankfully, the diagnostic centre I went to was efficiently run, and based on the results, the doctors concluded that just one session was enough.

    Considering the critical health conditions of most of the patients on admission at LUTH, one would have expected that the necessary facilities for any kind of test and service would be available at the top rate institution. Unfortunately, that was not the case.

    The diagnostic centre I went to was in Oshodi, some kilometres from LUTH and anything could have happened on our way to and from the centre that could have complicated my condition. My wife almost got duped at a laboratory around LUTH, which did not have the capacity to conduct a test I was required to do.

    Getting the right treatment does not only depend on doctors, but also on getting the right test to properly diagnose every ailment. One of my test results from one of the most reliable recommended private laboratories turned out to be misleading. The doctor asked for a repeat and his doubt was confirmed when the new test result reverted to the trend before the wrong one.

    One of my test results went missing at the test centre in the hospital and it was later discovered to have been wrongly filed midway into conducting another one. A nurse told me how she was once given another person’s test result and she rejected it because she knew her case was not as critical as reflected by the result she was given.

    So what has prayers got to do with all the instances listed above? My son who ran most of the errands during my stay in the hospital was so alarmed by not only the critical conditions of the patients, but the dire implication of errors in the various medical procedures that he said, more than ever before, he now knows what to pray for about patients on admission.

    Prayers for hospital patients and doctors have since become top on my prayer list.

    Not only do I pray for divine healing for the patients since the best doctors themselves admit all they can do is care, I usually remember to pray for wisdom, knowledge and understanding about every medical condition for doctors.

    I also pray against wrong diagnosis that can mislead doctors, and for patience and strength for nurses to cope with the many patients they have to attend to.

  • Jonathan urges Nigerians to work, pray for nation

    Jonathan urges Nigerians to work, pray for nation

    Former President Goodluck Jonathan has urged Nigerians to pray and work for the good of the country.

    He said God will see the nation through its period of hardship.

    Jonathan spoke at the Word Illumination Ministry in Gwarimpa, Abuja, where he dedicated his first grandchild in company of his wife, Dame Patience, as well as well-wishers.

    The former President’s daughter, Mrs Faith Edwards, and her hubby, Prince Godswill Edwards, welcomed their first child, a girl, Princess Eliana Godswill Edwards, last September.

    Jonathan noted that every country has its high and low periods, adding that with dedication and hard work, nations overcome their problems.

    The former President advised Nigerians to protect and

    give their best to the country at all times.

    He said: “I will just thank God for all He has been doing for our country. I also thank you all for the prayers, for the good of our country. Whenever I am talking to Christians and other believers, depending on their faith, I always urge them to pray for the country. Every nation has to go through two periods: adversity and joy.

    “For Christians, if you read the Old Testament, you sometime think that the whole world was going to end. But God has a reason for everything’’.

  • Going home tonight? Pray and fast

    Traveller, you must set out/ At dawn,” counselled Wole Soyinka, poet and Nobel laureate, “And wipe your feet upon/ the dog-nose wetness of the earth.”

    Though the protagonist in the poem, ‘Death in the Dawn’ died in a tragic crash, a cruel irony of technology consuming its own creator, the message was clear: set out early and you should reach your destination in time.

    In the Lagos traffic of latter days, however, such commonsense logic would appear to have vamoosed. You may set out early or late; but you must arrive late — very late.  That is why you must not only vigorously pray before leaving your office at the close of work, fasting — dry fasting too — might not be a bad idea!

    Hardball is guilty of arrant exaggeration, right?  Just wait.

    On November 3, two colleagues left The Nation’s Matori, Mushin, Lagos head office, after work.  One, a female, left around 8pm. The other, a male, left around 10pm. The destination of both: Journalists Estate, at Arepo, which though in Ogun State, is on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. If you discount the normal Lagos metropolitan traffic, that trip should last less than one hour.

    But on this day?  The one that left at 8pm reached her house at about 2:10 am — solid six hours later. If she was flying to London from Lagos, she probably would be touching down at Heathrow!

    And the one that left at 10?  Marginally luckier — but just: he got home at about 3am, another solid five hours!  If he was travelling to Accra, Ghana from Lagos, he would have touched down at Kotoka International Airport, at 10:45 and hit his hotel, latest by 11:30. By 3am, he would have had no less than three hours of sound and sweet sleep! Yet, here he was, sweating it out on a jammed road, in a dark night, in the midst of a swearing, angry and cursing stranded co-commuters, in the middle of nowhere!

    You still feel one doesn’t need prayers and fasting to commute to his house, after another hard day’s work?

    But what is it with our country — does Nigeria have so much time to burn on nothingness? Why didn’t somebody somewhere monitor things and take prompt action before they fester beyond measure and inflict on people needless pains?

    The gridlock is said to have been caused by some bad parts on the ever-busy expressway.  But then, the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) have their road camps all over the place.  Didn’t their engineers spot a minor rupture on that road, grow into a pothole and extend into a crater, so much so that a three-lane traffic now contracts into a bottle-neck of one, causing that hideous traffic snarl?  Must citizens suffer and die (yes, die: because the stress these avoidable gridlocks inflict could cause some citizens fatal ailments) before the authorities act?

    That portion of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway falls within Ogun territory. But even all over Lagos, bad roads abound. Just after the NAFDAC Lagos office at Oshodi, heading towards Agege Motor Road, is a crater from which many articulated trucks and tankers have stumbled.  Yet, that crater gapes as wide as ever, like some wide-mouthed malevolent god, waiting to swallow its latest victim!

    How long will citizens continue to endure such avoidable pains?  Someone, somewhere must sit up — and fast!