AKINWALE ABOLUWADE
Head Pastor, Passover Faith Christian Center, Osogbo, the Osun State capital, Pastor Olusola Oladeji, on Sunday ascribed the myriads of challenges bedeviling Nigeria to the dearth of true believers among the ruling class in the land.
Oladeji spoke in an interview with journalists on the sidelines of the Mid-Year Interdenominational Thanksgiving and Encounter Service of the church with the theme, ‘Breaking Forth’ – Isaiah 58:8.
According to the clergyman, some of the policies of the governments at the federal and state levels in Nigeria failed as political leaders rely blindly on economic postulations, while they ignored the need to fortify their actions with spiritual intercessions.
In his view, political office holders in the country often take for granted the fact that governance is a spiritual warfare, and that the solution to myriad of challenges rocking Nigeria is in the church and in seeking the face of God.
He stressed that the situation wouldn’t have been so bad for the country if those at the corridors of power were true believers who prayed and made supplication as did other committed believers in the country.
He advised the political leaders and other stakeholders in the country that beyond bearing religious names, they should exemplify the true tenets and the standard of God as believers while discharging their constitutional duties.
He also urged the believers not to relent in prayers, explaining that the nation would have been ‘consumed’ but for their prayers.
The clergyman said, “With the present situation of this country, there is nothing above God. There are many believers today in Nigeria who don’t steal, who don’t embezzle, and yet, they are not in the group of those complaining of hardship. So, the solution to whatever challenge that the nation might be passing through is in the church.
“That is the truth of the matter. If politicians will find solutions to the problems of Nigeria, they must come to the church. If the President of this country will find solutions to the challenges of this country, he must come to the church because that is where the solution is. Nothing is far above God.
“There are many churches in Nigeria, fine, but how many of the ruling class are actually true believers? How many of those at the top echelon of decision-making in Nigeria are true believers? They can be called James, John, Deborah or what have you, but, are they true believers? It is when we truly seek the Lord that God will save us from the challenge of this nation. So, there is hope for Nigeria if we can come to him truly, especially starting from people in leadership positions. From President, Ministers, members of the National Assembly, State Houses of Assembly and Governors.”
Alleging that forces of darkness are hovering around the governance of the nation, he urged President Bola Tinubu and the state governors to raise altars of intercessions at Government Houses for spiritual warfare against principalities and powers waging war against Nigeria.
Oladeji stated, “If we stop praying, things will degenerate. We will keep on praying until our joy over this nation comes. There is God in Heaven that still answers prayers.
“President Bola Tinubu wished Nigerians well when he removed subsidy and when he took decision on foreign exchange, but, the truth is that the best decision that is not backed up with prayers will come out to have worst effects on the people. So, I am not blaming Mr President for removing subsidy. He has good intentions for floating the Naira but governance is warfare. It is more than economic calculation.
“The best economic calculation will fail if God does not step in. So, we must not relent in praying for Nigeria. Anybody that has ever stepped into the office of the president has the love of this nation in their hearts. It is just that when those decisions are being made, the spiritual aspect of it is not properly taken care of.
“Let me quickly send this advice; let government raise altars of strong intercessions for this nation, starting from Aso Rock, down to every state. Let them gather the believers who are not looking for money together, those who will genuinely cry to God concerning this nation in Government Houses. Governance is a spiritual warfare. If you take that (prayers) aspect out of it, no matter how good your policies are, the forces of darkness that will frustrate them are there.
“The princes of darkness that are delegated to Nigeria alone, the government doesn’t have power over them no matter how knowledgeable it may be. The solution is in the church.”
The atmosphere was power-charged and colourful as the visitors and the church members who donned beautiful attires continued to worship God in fullness of the spirit. The choristers rendered powerful praise and worship songs chorused by the congregation unto God in reference to His name and in supplication for greater grace upon the Ministry and the country at large.
On the maiden edition of the interdenominational service, he disclosed that the programme would become an annual event, adding that the main aims were to give thanks to God for the first half of the year and to receive grace for the remaining half of the year and beyond.
Sermons were rendered by men and women of God that graced the occasion where gospel artistes such as Evangelist Kemi Rehoboth, Ilesanmi Oduntimorayomi and Mobisola Akinkoye among others music ministered.
