President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday reiterated for the umpteenth times that the Nigeria will not disintegrate despite the obvious security challenges and inter-faith suspicions.
The President was emphatic that the prediction doomsayers that the country’s ethno-religious diversities would lead to its disintegration would fail.
He said, “As the 2015 elections draw near the doom’s day sayers are out and predicting how Nigeria is going to catch fire next year,” Jonathan told an interfaith dialogue conference in the capital Abuja on Monday.
The inter-faith conference brought together politicians and clergies, including head of Nigeria’s Muslims Sultan of Sokoto Alh Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar and Catholic Archbishop of Abuja Cardinal John Onaiyekan.
“In the opinion of some so-called experts, our ethnic and religious differences are bound to boil over. They portray us as bound to fail. But I can say categorically that Nigeria will not disintegrate. We will not fail.”
The president urged politicians eschew making unguarded utterances capable of triggering crisis just in the bid for power.
He also reaffirmed his commitment to delivering free and fair election in 2015.
“My promise for free and fair election is clear. 2015 elections will come and go and Nigeria will be stronger,” he said.
The interfaith conference was co-chaired by Onayeikan and Abubakar, both of whom initiated the forum to promote interfaith dialogue and advance peace.
Jonathan hailed the initiative as being in tune with his administration’s commitment to national peace and unity.
“Despite the fact that we have survived the civil war and continue to evolve as one nation with one destiny, we have among ourselves those who continue to divide us and put it that we as Nigerians cannot live together,” he said.
In their separate speeches at the event, the Sultan of Sokoto and the Archbishop pledged to work for a united Nigeria, where citizens across line will work for its greatness.
“His eminence John Cardinal Onaiyekan and I, as well as other members of the interfaith initiative for peace, will be happy leading the conversation towards a better Nigeria,” the sultan said.
Onaiyekan echoed similar sentiment, saying “It is our desire to see a united nation where we – Christians and Muslims – will relate as one, being members of the faith community.”
A communiqué is expected at the end of the two-day event upon which organizers say would form the basis of interfaith dialogue ahead the 2015 ballot.
Tension has been high in Nigeria over a deadly insurgency led by the militant Boko Haram group, which is largely described in the Christian-majority south as intended to create an Islamist Nigeria.
Although most Muslims have denounced the militant group as serving ulterior motives other than an Islamic agenda, the mainstream Christian Association of Nigeria continues to portray Boko Haram as an Islamic agenda.
Redeemed now has over 32,000 parishes in Nigeria: Adeboye
The number of parishes of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) has soared to more than 32,000 parishes in Nigeria, the General Overseer of the church, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, announced last weekend.
The church, which is adjudged as the fastest growing Pentecostal curch in the world, now has its presence in over 180 countries of the world, Adeboye told well over a million congregants that gathered at the Redemption Camp for the Friday session of the 62nd session of the church’s annual convention.
The general overseer also announced that the exponential growth of the church has made it mandatory that it completes its multibillion naira new auditorium, which would have more sitting capacity than the present one.
The vision of the church is to have a church within five minutes distance in parts of Nigeria and the globe. The RCCG is one of the few Pentecostal churches granted licence to operate in Israel.
He urged members to rise up to the occasion and build for God.
No fewer than 1,100 fresh pastors were ordained by the church on Sunday morning, the last day, of the convention.
This is just as a total of 111 babies, comprising 63 boys and 48 girls, were born during the one-week convention which began on August 4.
Adeboye thanked God and everyone who made the convention possible, described the 62nd convention as a huge success in spite of efforts made by the devil to scuttle it.
He charged the newly ordained pastors, tagged: “Holy Ghost Pastors” to be dedicated to their calling as well as depopulate the kingdom of darkness and populate the kingdom of God.
Preaching during the farewell service, Assistant General Overseer on Administration, Pastor John Odesola, who spoke on the topic: “The Seal of God,” said the desire of God for mankind was security amid troubles and evils.
Odesola, who took his scripture from Revelation 7:1-3, said the Holy Spirit, which is the seal of God, was given to believers to guarantee peace, deliverance, protection and preservation, ownership and the final journey to heaven.
He enjoined the worshippers adhere to strict obedience to Gods’s laws, strive for perfection and fruitfulness daily.
