Be strong and of good courage, Osinbajo urges Nigerians

The Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo has called on Nigerians to be strong and encouraged. The Vice President who made the remark at the Church Service to mark Nigeria's 56th Independence said Nigeria is on its way out of the wilderness of recession. He urged Nigerians to persevere because every Nigerian will benefit from the new Nigeria which God has promised.
The Vice President also took a prophetic stance to pray for the country and assured Nigerians that better days were ahead. In his sermon, the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Most Reverend Samson Ayokunle, also urged Nigerians to be patient, for with God and optimism, the country will surmount all its challenges. According to him, the wisdom from God will prevail over the economic recession in the country. Despite the huge resources in the country, he said that Nigeria found herself in recession for a number of reasons. One of the causes of the recession, he said, was Nigeria’s inability to save during the rainy days. As a way out of the recession, he said that the government should go beyond party affiliations as the solutions are not limited to the members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC). The government, he said, should be able to listen to others, promote and celebrate excellent leadership. Urging Nigerians to always put God first in all they do, he called on employers of labour to always do everything possible to pay workers their salaries and allowances. He also urged the government to always promote the politics of love and not hate. Noting that the country is also being troubled by insurgency, militancy, unemployment, he advised that the quicker Nigeria stops paying lip service to agriculture, the better for the nation. He urged the government to restore religious studies and discipline in schools. Part of the scriptures the clergy read in the Holy Bible included Isiaiah 60: 9 to 20 and1st Chronicle 12:32. The 1st scripture reading was taken from Ezekiel 37: 1 to 14 by a representative of the judiciary. The 2nd scripture reading was taken from Romans 8: 28 to 39 by the Chief of Defence State, General Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin. Intercessory prayers were said for the Nigerian nation, security and economic challenges, for the President, Vice President and other executives. Prayers were also offered for the legislature and the judiciary, peace and development of the country and the unity of the church. Dignitaries at the occasion included the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir David Lawal, Wife of the Vice President, Dolapo Osinbajo, Bayelsa State Governor, Sarieke Dickson, former Vice President, Alex Ekwueme, Senator Olurunibe Mamora, Senate President, Bukola Saraki was represented by Senator Bernabas Gemade. The interdenominational service is held every year to remember and celebrate Nigeria’s independence from the British rule on October 1, 1960.