Acting President Yemi Osinbajo has urged Nigerians to stop the blame game and contribute their quota for the greatness of the country. He spoke yesterday at the 2017 Democracy Day interdenominational church service with the theme: The Dry Bones Shall Live Again” Ezekiel 37:11, held at the National Christian Centre, Abuja to mark the nation’s 18 years of democracy.
Drawing from the biblical story of the good Samaritan to illustrate his message, the Acting President said Nigerians must not emulate the politician and cleric in the story that looked the other way when they saw the man that was attacked by thieves and left. Osinbajo urged Nigerians to be like the good Samaritan who took compassion on him, poured oil on his wounds and took him to the hospital.
“When we look on our country, it is not the state that is the story but how the people react when you see the nation that needs to be helped. “While the politician and cleric looked the other way when they saw the man that was half dead, the Good Samaritan had compassion on him, covered the wound with bandage and took him to the hospital.
“Who truly loves the nation, is it the priest that said a prayer and walked past, or the politician that looked and walked past or the Samaritan that took the wounded to the hospital, paid some money and said treat him, on my return I will upset the bill?”
According to the Acting President, “the nation requires those that can make the sacrifices to make it great, they are those whom Jesus spoke about, people that may not be of note but prepared to make the nation great again. Some are doctors, teachers, young graduates.
“There is sacrifice of integrity against corruption. When you speak against corruption, it fights back, so you must be ready to make sacrifice no matter how highly placed or small you are. Teachers must be prepared to teach, doctors prepared to provide health services, no matter what. Make the sacrifices required to make our nation great whether you are a leader or a follower.”
At the event, Osinbajo prayed God to heal President Muhammadu Buhari and bring him back safely. He also prayed for grace on those willing to make sacrifices to make the nation great.
The First scripture reading, Ezekiel 37:1-14, was taken by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen, while the second scripture reading, Romans 129-2,1 was taken by Speaker of House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara.
In his sermon, the presiding Apostle of the Word Communication Ministries and Founder of Christ Family Assembly Churches Apostle Sunday Popoola, said the service was mainly to thank God for 18 years of unbroken democracy, to reflect on how we have played our role in the polity and to pray and seek the face of God for our glorious future.
The cleric cautioned all those contemplating coup to jettison the thought, saying a military hijack of power would not succeed in the country any more as the people would resist it.
“If you are out there like me, you will know that Nigerians are fed up and are waiting for something to spark. We need to be patient with the present government which has something to offer. Coup cannot work now and will not succeed.”
Popoola said 100 years after amalgamation, the country cannot continue to blame the imperialists, while urging that the 2014 National Conference must be revisited and the different nations that make up Nigeria must decide the future.
Prayers were said for Buhari and Osinbajo. Prayer were also said for peace, security and flourishing development in the country. Also present during the service were the President of the Christians Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Samson Supo Ayokunle; wife of the Acting President, Dolapo Osinbajo; House Speaker’s wife Gimbia Dogora; Mrs. Nkoyo Onnoghen; Head of Service of the Federation, Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita, members of the legislature, judiciary, the military, clerics, royal fathers and members of the diplomatic corps.
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