From Noah Ebije, Kaduna,
The General Overseer, Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adejere Adeboye, has said the challenges confronting Nigeria were more than political and require spiritual solutions.
The frontline spiritual leader said the political leaders appeared to have tried their humanly possible best, yet the problems persisted, adding that the country needs the help of God urgently to overcome the challenges.
The pastor who spoke when he visited the governor of Kaduna State, Uba Sani, noted that the socio-economic hardship was forcing Nigerians to contemplate of committing suicide, adding that such citizens need encouragement to be patient as the ugly situation will sooner than later be alright.
“We believe very strongly that people need this kind of encouragement, so that they don’t lose hope. Because when they lose hope they do all kinds of strange things; many of our youths for example are running out of the country, forgetting that those countries they are running to also have their own problems and then those who cannot run anywhere, we don’t want a situation where people begin to think of taking their own lives.
“We have had quite a few examples of people driving in Lagos to the long bridge and jumping into the lagoons. Those of them that were rescued before they drowned said they couldn’t see a future, but we keep on assuring them God is on His throne and he is not going to forsake our nation.”
Pastor Adeboye, who said he was in Kaduna to pray for the people and give them hope, expressed confidence that, though the problems seemed to have persisted and in some areas getting worse, he trusts in God that the problems will not last forever.
He also said that, his tour of Nigeria which has brought him to Kaduna, was not just to organise crusade and pray for the people and Nigeria, but an opportunity to gather people together to let them know that, tomorrow is going to be alright if Nigerians can be a little more patient with God.
“I am delighted to be here again. I was here about two or so years ago with the former Governor; at that time I came to pray for some of my members who were kidnapped and they were miraculously rescued. I came to encourage their families to let them know that all will be well.
“I have come again this time around because it has become more and more clear to us that the problems our nation is facing are more than political. Our problems will require quite a bit of spiritual solution.
“We as a country are blessed; we are blessed with people with great intelligence, we are blessed with all manners of resources and yet we have so many problems.
“And it is not as if people in authority are not trying their best; they are doing as much as humanly possible.”
And then we found out that when you have problems that are beyond human ability to solve them, then, you call on the Almighty. The reason we call Him Almighty is because He has the power to solve all problems.
“So, we have been going round in our own little ways to support the efforts of all the various governments and parastatals to call on the Almighty to come to our aid, because we need help. We need help and we need it urgently.
“Because, as much as our leaders are doing their very best to help us solve our problems, the problems seem to have persisted and in some areas, the problems seem to be getting worse. But we trust in Almighty God that these problems will not last forever. We trust God that the problem will even be over sooner than later.
“That is why we have been going round holding crusades and the crusades are just a means of gathering people together to let them know tomorrow is going to be alright if we can be a little more patient with God.”
Responding, Governor Sani who took time to eulogise Pastor Adeboye, highlighting his numerous contributions to Nigeria, said the President Bola Tinubu-led government needs prayers and support of clerics like Adeboye to succeed.
“You (Pastor Adeboye) have at critical times in our country, led interventions aimed at directing the political leadership to the path of justice and fairness. Your modern authority is a huge asset and we deeply appreciate you, sir.
“We also believe, Sir, that from the remarks you made just now, that our country at this critical time requires intervention from people like you who are tested and who have in the past intervened and helped us to find solutions to our problems. We believe you won’t be tired, we also need an intervention at this critical time.”