Leading Christian bodies in the nation, the Christian Association of Nigeria and the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, on Sunday scored the government low on security noting as well that the southern part of the country as well as the Christians are being treated as second fiddle in their own land.
The President of CAN, Rev. Supo Ayokunle, and Bishop Wale Oke, the new PFN President elect spoke at the Thanksgiving Service to celebrate the election of the latter as the 7th National President of the PFN, on Sunday at the Precious Cornerstone University, Ibadan.
Bishop Oke was on March 2, 2021 elected as the new PFN National President during its biennial convention in Enugu, Enugu State.
The CAN president said, “Everybody must be given a sense of belonging in Nigeria. We have not respected the plurality that brought us together, that’s why some people are agitating to break up. They have their peculiar regional challenges. It is unreasonable that Buhari appointed 13 judges from the North and none of them is a Christian. Does that mean that we don’t have educated Christians in the North?
“Does it mean that Christians in the North are dullards? Nigerians are crying every day and needs someone to liberate them.”
Directing his speech to the PFN president, he said, “Constantly speak truth to power so as to proffer solutions to insecurity in Nigeria. It seems those in power don’t know the way out again. The way security issues are being handled in Nigeria by the present administration is frustrating.
“People will hate you because you are saying the truth, speak the truth. Be ready for religious tension. We are the watchmen for Nigeria, leadership is about delivery and satisfying He who has called you.”
On his part, Bishop Oke urged the government to be ruthless with killers, kidnappers and the bandits, stressing, “Every segment of the society must play its roles well. Our leaders, our president, President Buhari, everybody in power, please, while we the clergymen are doing our work, we want you to do your work. Do your job and deliver justice. A good government will not negotiate with bandits, a good government will not negotiate with rapists, a good government will not negotiate with killers. A good government will not negotiate with murderers.
“You were appointed to power to bring judgment upon those that default. Those that steal should be jailed, those that kill should be killed. That is the job of the government. That is not the job of the church. God didn’t raise the church to kill, no. He raised the church to save people. But those that are in power are not there to negotiate with wicked people who are killing us, who are raping, who are kidnapping and demanding for ransom, no. The government is to put its feet down and meet those people with the full weight of the law.
“Those in government understand their duties and they should deliver on it. Don’t expect us to kill the killers. We are not going to take laws into our hands. Don’t expect us to kill the rapists. No, that is what we voted you to do. Do the job courageously and let’s remind you, protection of lives and property is the responsibility of a good government. So, government, deliver on your assignment and the Lord will help you.
“We prayed, we fast. Some had said wee should raise money so that we buy guns, distribute to our people and let it be fire for fire. I can understand the frustration. Romans 12, 17, says, “Recompense no man evil for evil…vengeance is mine, says the Lord…be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
“It is not your duty, believers to kill the Muslims or those who hate us. But you asked me, but they are killing us, I know. It didn’t just start today. Jesus didn’t die by Himself. Of all the apostles of Jesus Christ, only one died a natural death. Peter, they first crucified his wife. He cried, my darling, remember Christ until she died. When it was his turn to be crucified, he said excuse me, I don’t want to be crucified like my master was crucified. Crucify me upside down. Only one, John, the beloved (who died a natural death.)
“The force of love. All dispensations failed but love stands. They killed us, they will yet kill us. But if we reply vengeance for vengeance, we will only multiply violence in the land. And, listen to me, let’s not go to their terrain. You cannot win them in their terrain. You know their culture from Genesis. When Jesus was being crucified, He prayed that father, forgive them for they know not what they are doing. Our terrain is to love, sacrificial love. The challenges in this land, the days are numbered. Evil will bow before the good in Nigeria.”
Harping on the uniqueness of figure seven, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State said God will use the seventh election coming up in 2023 to bring the country to perfection.
Governor Makinde said the fact that Oyo State currently produced the seventh President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, the President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, as well as the Worldwide President of the Christ Apostolic Church is a sign that God loves Oyo State and would redeem the country starting from Oyo State.
He said, “Just as God has given the 7th President of CAN and 7th President of PFN to us (in Oyo State) at this point in time in Nigeria for perfection and completeness, so also I am believing God to do the same thing for us in the next election.
“We started this democratic experiment in 1999 and up until 2019, we have had six elections and the seventh election is going to be in 2023. So, if we want perfection and completeness, the Church must get involved. When Bishop Wale Oke was talking, he said the population of PFN is about 65million but in the last election that brought in the current president, he scored about 15.3million votes.
“So, if we want leaders to get thrown up, who would do the bidding of God, who will serve his people, we must not allow the next opportunity to slip by. “Society will always get the type of leadership it deserves. I was anointed right in here and for this tenure, I will serve God and the people of Oyo State. So, we have to get leaders that will do that and there are many of them in our churches. We only need to encourage them and make up our minds to get leaders that will serve the people.”
On the challenges besetting the country, Makinde said, “I want to tell us today that we have a lot of work to do. We need to keep praying for this country and people in leadership positions. What is absolutely important and critical is the fact that in the midst of all of this confusion, we have to be clear-headed and do things that will solve problems.”
