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Tag: prayers

  • Prayers against insecurity won’t be in vain, says Gowon

    Former Head of State Gen Yakubu Gowon yesterday spoke on the efficacy of prayers to solving Nigeria’s insecurity challenges.

    Gen. Gowon, leader of Nigeria Prays, said “prayers can solve Nigeria problems faster and better than physical weapons of war”.

    The Former Head of State spoke during  the prayer summit of Nigeria Prays Southeast zone at the First Baptist Church Wethedral Road, Owerri,.

    He said: “God would honour the collective prayers and intercessions of Nigerians for the nation and heal the nation’s wounds.

    ”Church Leaders should stand in the gap and fervently pray for peace, prosperity and security in the nation. Again, we must have to be honest with our leaders in our fellowership, and do less with unnecessary criticisms of our leaders.

    ”When it finally dawned on me that I was going to lead this great country of ours, Nigeria, the first thing I did was to go to God on my knees and asked him to help me so that I could always do the right thing. I thank God for the opportunity that he gave me in the course of service to this nation. But in the first instance, I never nursed any ambition to be a Head of State or rule this country in any form.

    “Yes we had a Civil War which was not so intended and I asked God for the will power to keep these people together. My joy today is that several years after the Civil War, Nigerians have remained bonded together as one nation despite our ethnic and individual differences.

    ”My humble appeal is that we must work together as a nation and cultivate the habit of praying for our leaders whom God has given to us instead of thinking along narrow ethnic and religious differences. It is future that will tell what great state Nigeria will become”.

    The Former Head of State also noted that “one of the things we did immediately after the war was to restore education to this part of the country where the war caused a deficit for two and half years. Let me assure you that what I had done is what  Governor Okorocha is doing. Ensure that whatever you do, you place it in the hands of God for its success”.

    Governor Okorocha said, Christianity does not preach revenge and then urged church leaders not to preach revenge concerning what is happening in Benue State and other parts of the country, adding that all the leaders in the country should take responsibility of whatever that is happening in the country.

    According to him “Christ never retaliated all the humiliations he suffered. And Christianity does not preach revenge. So our church leaders and Christians in general should not carry arms in revenge since Christianity does not allow revenge, stating that Church Leaders calling for revenge should withdraw or stop such calls”.

    The governor said:  ”at a very tender age General Gowon has commanded the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I want to specially salute him because of his tenacity of purpose and what he represents and I know that during the Nigeria Civil War, he led the Nigerian side, and your brother led the Biafran side.”

     

  • Islamic, Christian clergies hold prayers

    Parents of some of the students of the Government Girls Science Technical College, Dapchi, Yobe State, which was raided in February by a Boko Haram faction, attended the event to solidarise with their Chibok counterparts.

    All but one of the Dapchi students have been released their abductors.

    Still in captivity is Leah Sharibu who refused to renounce her Christian faith.

    Chairman of the Abuja Chibok community Muktar Nkeki expressed regret that President Muhammadu Buhari has failed to keep the promises he made to the community about the Chibok girls on his assumption of office.

    He spoke at a lecture in Abuja organized by #BringBackOurGirls (#BBOG) to mark the fourth anniversary of the abduction of the girls.

    His words:”I have to declare that the President has failed parents of the yet to be rescued Chibok girls, in view of the promises he made, when he took the oath of office.

    “The government in power when  our daughters were abducted refused to accept the abduction until it was worst and the present regime as well has refused to fulfil its campaign promises, giving excuses that the girls were not abducted under their watch.

    “To worsen the matter, government, negotiators and others have inflicted psychological pains on us through utterances like the girls have refused to come and the girls are married. The government continues to tell the global community that they have defeated Boko Haram while are girls are still in their custody.

    “Even with persistent request from us, the Nigerian government has refused to conduct in-depth investigation into the abduction and refused to make public report of so called, fact finding committee led by General Sabo. We need answers.”

    Leader of BBOG, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili said it is sad that 112 of the Chibok girls are still in captivity after four years.

    She said:”In no way were we prepared for a four year wait.

    “We thought that by standing and demanding for actions for the girls, actions will be taken and within a matter of months, they will be back.

    “We are in a crisis of governance. It is almost like a vicious circle. We are just revolving around this classical low equilibrium of governance.

    “How could Chibok girls happen and then Dapchi girls happened? Repeating exactly the same failure of our children. It is a governance crisis that we are dealing with.”

    Speaking at the lecture,   a former senator from Kano State, Hajiya Naj’atu Muhammad, said terrorism has been turned into a multi-billion dollar industry.

    She specifically accused the Goodluck Jonathan Administration of spending N2 billion daily on security and the administration of former Governor Ali Modu Sheriff of Borno State of allowing the sect to flourish.

    “The military came in and turned the northeast into cash cow; military jumbo budgets unaccounted for. I remember Jonathan was spending N2 billion every day on security but there was no security,” she alleged.

    She said the army “more than anything else has contributed to this terrorism.”

    She added:”I have been part of a committee that investigated the atrocities of Boko Haram and the committee more than anything has indicted the military.”

     

    She asked for “a thorough overhaul” of the military, stating: “anything short of this is to say our government are beneficiaries of the failure.”

    Another speaker, Pastor Tunde Bakare challenged the Federal Government to do all within its disposal to secure the immediate release of the Chibok schoolgirls and the remaining Dapchi girl Leah Sharibu, from Boko Haram’s custody.

    This, according to him, is necessary “not just because their parents and the Nigerian creeks cannot wait to see them back, but also because of what they now represent to the Nigerian nation. Leah Sharibu has become a symbol of the Nigerian constitution.”

    He said: “The fact that the Dapchi episode happened four years after the Chibok incident and one year to elections just as it was in the Chibok case is evidence of an alarming national malady.

    “There is something wrong if a nation is bitten twice, yet never shy with respect to the safety and security of its girl-child. There is something undeniably wrong when its girl-child repeatedly becomes the bargaining instrument in negotiation deals between the government and terrorist.”

    Of Leah Sharibu, he said: “Our hearts go out to parents and prayers go out to her wherever she is at the moment. And we affirm in the spirit of hope that very soon, we will see her safely returned to us.”

  • Vigils, marches, prayers for Chibok girls

    •Govt must answer our questions, says Chibok community
    •Ezekwesili: Nigeria facing crisis of governance

    Hundreds of Chibok, Borno State, residents yesterday marched to the Government Girls Secondary School to commemorate the fourth anniversary of the abduction of 276 of the students by the terror sect, Boko Haram.

    Among the marchers were parents of the student girls.

    The BringBackOurGirls group, which has been a leading voice in the campaign for the return of the girls held a lecture in Abuja yesterday to mark the occasion.

    The Chibok Community, at the event requested the federal government to  make public, investigation conducted by the General Ibrahim  Sabo fact finding committee to enable them understand what truly happened to their daughters.

    The parents made fresh pleas for the release of the remaining missing girls-about 112- and others being held by the terrorists.

    “Our only prayer is for our girls to be released and returned to us,” Hannatu Daudu, mother of captive Saratu said at the event.

    She added:”We need to know if they are alive or dead. If they are alive, let them come back to us. If they are dead, let us know so we can at least pray for them and then overcome this grief.

    “It is better to know if our daughters are dead than being left in suspense. This adds to our grief.”

     

  • Governors seek help for downtrodden, prayers for leaders

    GOVERNORS yesterday urged Nigerians to use the Easter period to help those in vulnerable situations as well as pray for wisdom for those in authority while imbibing the spirit of perseverance and endurance as epitomised by Christ.

    Tambuwal to citizens: stand up for the vulnerable

    Sokoto State Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal urged Nigerians to use the Easter period to stand up for those who have found themselves in vulnerable situations in the country and other parts of the world.

    In a statement to commemorate this year’s Easter period issued in Sokoto yesterday by his spokesman, Malam Imam Imam, the governor said members of the society should make sacrifices that would advance the cause of the vulnerable and the downtrodden.

    Tambuwal said: “Easter is a period of divine. We should spread that love around by praying and standing up to victims of circumstance that have found themselves in vulnerable situations within us and elsewhere.

    “We can do this by working closely with charity organisations to give them hope, courage and the will to be strong. Doing this will make Nigeria and the world a better place to live in.”

    Ikpeazu urges Christians

    to pray for leaders

    Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu called on Christians to pray for wisdom for those in authority to enable them lead the people with the fear of God.

    Ikpeazu made the call in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Enyinnaya Appolos, on the commemoration of Easter in Umuahia.

    He urged Christians to follow the footsteps of Jesus Christ in making sacrifices for the good of others.

    Ikpeazu called on Christians to renew their hope in God in the course of celebrating this year’s Easter.

    The governor also appealed to them to make necessary sacrifices to ensure peace and development of Abia and the nation at large

    Ahmed greets Christians

    Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed felicitated with Christians for the successful completion of lent with a call on them to imbibe the spirit of perseverance and endurance as epitomised by Christ.

    The governor, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Abdulwahab Oba, urged Christians to be agents of tolerance and peaceful coexistence for progress and sustainable development.

    Hailing Christian community in the state for supporting efforts of the government towards ensuring religious harmony and peaceful coexistence, Ahmed urged them to be more dedicated and committed to the service of God and humanity.

    “Everyone must strive harder in showing love, affection, care and sympathy to all and sundry irrespective of religious and cultural differences,” the governor said.

    Ahmed said his administration would not shirk from its responsibility of ensuring equity and justice for all.

     

     

     

  • Military deserves our prayers, support, says Dickson

    Military deserves our prayers, support, says Dickson

    Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson yesterday called on Nigerians to pray for the military and the security forces to enforce the law dispassionately.

    Dickson said that security forces did not have to be politically correct to carry out their sensitive responsibility of law enforcement in the society.

    A statement by the Governor’s Special Adviser on Media Relations, Mr. Fidelis Soriwei, quoted him as saying that the critical issue of law enforcement should not be subjected to political sentiments.

    Dickson spoke at an Armed Forces Remembrance interdenominational service in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State and also urged Nigerians to also pray for protection of the security forces in the performance of their duties.

    He said: “I advise all to continue to pray for God to protect and guide our men and women in uniform, and also for God to give them the courage to do what is right and not to be politically correct because this is a case, mainly, of law and order.

    “There is nothing partisan, there is nothing political about it. Crime is crime, a criminal is a criminal and a killer is a killer.

    “Our position in the state is very well known: that in this government under me, there is no tolerance for lawlessness, brigandage or violence or criminality.

    “And so we pray for courage, for our men and women to do what is right”.

    The governor also said that it was necessary to pray to for some misguided elements and their political leaders who sponsor them and provide them with the arms to wreak havoc on innocent citizens and communities, to have a change of mind.

    The governor noted that some criminal elements were involved in attempts to distort the foundation for peace, stability and development which his administration had labored over the years to establish in Bayelsa.

    The governor, who also called for prayers for the families of the late heroes and and their counterparts in active service demanded improved attention for the welfare of the ex-service personnel in the country

    Dickson restated his zero tolerance policy of his Administration “for lawlessness, brigandage or violence or criminality.”

  • ‘Akeredolu needs prayers, APC’s unity to succeed’

    ‘Akeredolu needs prayers, APC’s unity to succeed’

    The Acting Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State, Ade Adetimehin, has urged members to remain steadfast in their support for the party.

    Adetimehin spoke yesterday in Akure, the state capital, at the New Year prayer session organised by the party executives to usher in 2018.

    The acting chairman noted that unity of purpose and cooperation among members would ensure the continued success of the party.

    He said: “Our party members in the local government areas should show love for one another and ensure cooperation with one another to move our party forward.”

    The APC stalwart said it was important to start the new year with the dedication of the party and the government to God to enable them achieve greatness.

    He said: “We started off the New Year on spiritual note by dedicating our party and government of the state to God for a successful fiscal year. We believe that with God, all things are possible.”

    Leading the prayer, Special Apostle C. A. Ajepe said Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu and his administration needed prayers to successfully run the affairs of the state.

    The cleric sought the people’s prayers for the success of the current administration.

    He predicted that by the end of June, the nation would overcome hunger and starvation.

    Ajepe urged the residents to seek divine intervention for Akeredolu’s government to offset the backlog of salaries of the workers to mark its first year anniversary in office next month.

    Special prayers were offered for President Muhammadu Buhari and APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie Oyegun, for good health and proactive leadership.

    Other party leaders at the prayer session were three former Speakers – Ayo Agbomuserin, Oluwasegunota Bolarinwa and Victor Olabimtan – as well as Tunji Fabiyi, Ayo Alogba and Moshood Isola.

  • Ahmed calls for prayers at Xmas

    Ahmed calls for prayers at Xmas

    Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed has congratulated Christians in the state at Christmas and urged Nigerians to pray for a more speedy and sustainable economic recovery.

    In a message by his Chief Press Secretary, Abdulwahab Oba, the governor noted that the occasion calls for sober reflection on individual contribution towards growth and development of the country, saying Christians should use the period to pray for the country’s leadership.

    He urged Nigerians to pray for peace and harmony.

  • ‘Gospel music requires hard work, prayers’

    Fast-rising gospel sensation, China Nwaogu, aka St Chika, has stated that it takes deep commitment, a sense of responsibility and lot of prayers to succeed as a gospel act.

    ‘’Gospel music is not for the weak. It comes with great responsibilities. You have to be dedicated and above all prayerful,’’ he stressed.

    The 27-year-old has bagged four nominations at the Exousia Gospel Awards in just less than three months on the scene with his single hit, higher.

    Higher has made it to virtually every music blog and has been described by MyNaijaDJ as “fresh, different flows in a unique way and its definitely good music to make your day glow.’’

    But St. Chika said he had no inkling the single will go this far.

    “I never knew it will be this big. I just wrote and composed the song from my heart. It wasn’t planned. I believe it was God who gave me the song,’’ he confessed.

    He is set to drop his 14- track gospel album titled “Feel the Gospel”.

    “It is already available on iTunes, Deezer, Spotify, Amazon and major online stores but I am working towards dropping it in the local market soon through a marketer here in Nigeria,’’ he declared.

    On his advice for upcoming acts, he said: “Make no excuses. God is counting on you to work with him.

    ‘’He wants you to put your all so He can work with it. You need to give Him something to work with.”

  • Religious leaders declare three-day fasting, prayers over Ibadan chieftaincy crisis

    Religious leaders from the Christian, Islamic and traditional faith have declared three-day fasting and prayers for a resolution of the crisis on the 1957 Ibadan Chieftaincy Declaration review.

    Following a meeting with the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Akanmu Adetunji, at his palace at the weekend, the religious leaders pledged to broker peace between the monarch and Governor Abiola Ajimobi due to imminent crisis if the feud between the duo was not contained.

    Those at the meeting were representatives of Islam, led by Chief Imam of Oyo State Ansar-U-Deen Society of Nigeria, Dr. Basiru Olanrewaju, and Alhaji Daud Amao Alaga. The Christian body was led by Pastor Samuel Abiara, of Christ Apostolic Church, and Pastor Sunday Popoola of World Communications Ministry (WOCOM).

    Members of Traditional Religion Worshippers’ Association in Oyo State were led by Chief Fayemi Fatunde Fakayode and Dasola Adefabi.

    Addressing reporters, Popoola said the delegation urged adherents and residents to fast and pray for three days.

    The cleric said this would ensure that the chieftaincy review did not lead to a crisis.

    He said: “We have observed that there has been some misunderstanding over the issues of the newly appointed obas in Ibadan. We know it could degenerate into a crisis. As religious leaders – Muslims, Christians and traditionalists – we have come to meet the kabiyesi to appeal for peace.

    “We also plan to see the governor.

    “But what we have concluded today is to go and have three days of fasting and prayers.

    “Muslims should fast and pray on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and Christians should fast and pray in all churches in Oyo State on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. After that, we will meet the governor.

    “We believe we are the people who can resolve this matter, and by the grace of God, we believed God will, through us.”

    On the possibility that the monarch may not agree to allow the sleeping dog lie, Popoola said he could not say anything about this.

    He said: “I am not going to speak on that until we are able to meet the governor and do our prayers.”

    Popoola said the meeting was meant to include only religious leaders, adding that they decided not to include groups, such as Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII) and the mogajis (family heads), to avoid politicising the matter.

    He said: “Yes; it’s because we don’t want to bring in politics into this, but religious leaders only. We are neutral; we are not for the governor. We are not for the kabiyesi; we are for the people of Oyo State. And we want peace. That is all. So, we don’t want to bring in any of them.”

  • Prayers for school owners

    The Mantle Prayer Ministry Oke Isimi has concluded plans to stage a special prayer forum for Private School Owners on Monday at the Shillo Mega Hall, Redemption Camp.

    The convener, Pastor Isaac Olaomo, in a statement said the summit tagged Divine Backing will feature prayers, bible teaching, song rendition, seminar and prophetic ministration.