ABUJA-As Nigeria gears up to mark its 58th independence anniversary on Monday, October 1, the church has been called upon to take responsibility for the change that the nation so desires.
Making the call on Sunday in Abuja, the General Overseer, All Christians Fellowship Mission(ACFM), Rev.(Dr.) William Okoye, stressed that the church has to play its part in nation building by being responsible, praying and fasting for the nation, living righteous lives and promoting righteous living as well as showing and leading the way for others to follow.
Rev. Okoye who spoke on the topic, “The Role of the Church in Nation Building”, posited that the church is in a better position to bring the necessary change that Nigeria desires, stating that the church must engage the nation sector by sector, to work for change.
Speaking on the level of progress made by the country in regards to development, he expressed dismay that despite being 58, Nigeria has not grown with its age, adding that the country is a disappointment.
According to him, “The humiliation we are going through in this country today whether it is in economic aspect and every aspect, if you look at what is going on now, sometimes you ask yourself, what are we really celebrating? Because, nations that we were better off than several years ago, have all overtaken us.
“Nigeria is still crawling at 58 because the agents of the devil who do not want to go forward has held the nation down and said we are going no where. We are a disappointment to Africa, to the black race and to the world and unless God intervenes in the affairs of our nation, we are going no where”, he stated.
He however thanked God that things have not gotten out of hand yet, stating however, that the church must do all it can, to provide leadership and help to minimise the rate of corruption in Nigeria.
“There is hope for Nigeria, no matter how bad it is, it could have been worse and we thank God for how far he has helped us, but we have to engage our nation and work together to make our nation better. Those who are genuinely born again and serving God in spirit and in truth are responsible in ensuring that the nation moves forward.
“As a church, we must take responsibility for change in our nation by continuing to pray for our nation relentlessly and also understanding that we are to provide leadership anywhere we find ourselves, to play the role as leaders, salt and light of the nation, to help to ensure that Corruption that is eating deep into the very fabric of our nation, is reduced to the barest minimum”, he said.
Politics is dirty because dirty people are playing politics but if righteous people play politics, politics will be clean-Rev(Dr.)William Okeye.
Speaking on the just concluded Osun State governorship rerun elections, he stressed that, “what happened in Osun doesn’t give any hope for Nigeria, the election is a disaster and a shame, it is day light robbery and Nigeria is going backward rather than forward., but I believe that the judiciary will do the right thing”.
He noted that Nigeria needs to be healed and only God’s people than can draw the hand of God to the healing.
