By Gift Samuel, The Sight News
Abuja-As part of activities to mark its 54th Anniversary celebration, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF),on Sunday, held an inter-denominational church service at the Protestant Church in the NAF Base Abuja.
The Chief of the Air Staff(CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, who was represented at the service by the Chief of Standard and Evaluation, Air Vice Marshal Kingsley Lar, called on the Christian faithfuls to endeavour to always add value anywhere they find themselves, stating that, in the race to add value to the NAF,society and life in general, there is no finishing line.
He emphasized that no country can go through what Nigeria has gone through and still be standing, without the help of God; adding that, despite the challenges,the NAF has continued to discharge its responsibilities very well and so, has every reason to celebrate.
In his sermon, the Catholic Chaplain who is also the Deputy Director, Religious Affairs, Group Captain(Rev Fr), Philip Kwasau, said that the NAF is one of those cardinal key powers for security and defence that the country can never certainly do without.
He remarked, that it is a thing of joy to have such gathering to offer prayers for the progress and success of the NAF in their given tasks as well as for the leadership of the nation at the national level.
“It is good for us to celebrate, 54 years is no small age. We have made impact, but the greatest impact is still coming and we shall live to see it. We received from others, we will hand over to others. We are not only celebrating our 54th anniversary, we celebrate the greatness of a nation” he said.
The Chaplain who took his message from the book of Matthew 16:13-20, stressed the need for Nigeria to return to God so as to get her footing right, adding that the country will continue to fight obstacles until its citizens and leaders return to God.
In his words, “We will still continue to fight obstacles. Until a true Muslim returns to God and a true Christian returns to God, we will hardly get it right. Nigeria and her leaders must go on their knees in prayers to God, and acknowledge that they have done wrong and God will return the country back to the path of glory and victory, because of the love he has for Nigeria.
“When things are wrong and we count God out of it, we will continue to go wrong, until we go back to the basis and kneel in humility and ask God for his intervention and surely he will intervene” he said.
While stating that no task or ambition is too great for the NAF to accomplish, especially when the equipment needed to deliver is made available, the Chaplain prayed for God to keep and protect the officers to fly.
The Nigerian Air Force(NAF) which was founded on April 18, 1964, is currently 54 years and the theme of this year’s NAF Day Celebration is, “Enhancing Nigerian Air Force Operational Capability for Timely Employment of Air Power in Response to Contemporary Security Challenges”.
