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By Ngozi Nwoke
Hand Lifters Praying Group recently held its annual prayer conference and a book launch in Lagos.
Themed ‘Africa has come of age’, the converner, Mrs. Chinyere Adegboye, narrating the purpose of the conference, said: “Our mandate is to pray for our nation, our leaders and everyone in authority. We should pray and bring ourselves out from the mentality of Africans where they think the whites are superior to us. We should embrace ourselves as Africans and not whites.
“For 21 years of having this event, the impact can be traced to the Jonathan’s regime where we prayed against the militants and everything came to an end. Also, when they brought up the islamization and colonisation agenda, we prayed, and God answered our prayer. After this programme their will be a sooth of the mindset.”
Mr. John Adegboye, the husband to the converner and cleric, noted that prayer solves all problems. He added that the country and leaders occupying public offices needs prayers, urging Nigerians to be fervent in prayers.
Adegboye said: “The purpose of this prayer conference is to let Africans know that the time has come for Africa to take her stand spiritually for things to change in Africa.
We must change our attitude and break through from the mentality of not investing in our land. After this event, Africa will no longer be called a dark continent but a light continent. We expect people to be leaders in their respective place of influence.”
Joshua Nneji, a pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Lagos, said: “My presence here is because I love prayers; whereever there is intercessory prayers I find my self there. In Nigeria we are blessed with everything reason we should always pray for our country. I believe that there are some spiritual angles to the things happening in Nigeria. I believe in prayers. I believe that things in Nigeria will change.”
Ifeanyi Igbochioma said: “We are here to pray for Africa and their is a prophetic mission for Africa. Africa will take the gospel to the whole world. Nigeria is prepared to lead Africa as the giant of Africa. We are here to pray that God will steer up Africa through Nigeria.
“The prayer has been on for more than 20 years. The prayer had worked all these years we prayed for leadership and nations. Whatever you see happening in Nigeria is as a result of prayer. Nigeria is going through trial and at the end of the trial, a new Nigeria will emerge. We trust God that He will raise men and women who will sponsor his work.”
For Mrs. Juliet Binite, no magical powers works more than prayers offered to God.
She said: “The purpose of this event is to unleash a prophetic destiny of Africa. Africa is on the verge of arising. We need to pray that accelerating people must push in the realm of the spirit for the Africa of our dream to come to pass.
“As we begin to pray, men and women will rise up to push and build Africa. Africans have proved in different parts of the world that they are good at what they do. All we need to do is to work on our land. We are here together to make that push for Africa to be where it is meant to be.”
Mrs. Tayo Ohiku lamented the alarming rate at which Nigerians relocate abroad in search of greener pastures, especially medical doctors. She stressed that no citizen will leave their country to another country if human empowerment, good governance and security were provided.
“Many things are happening in our country. Our people are leaving for the European continent. We need to pray for things to change in our country and continent for things to turn around. The abnormalities occurring in Nigeria is not God’s wish.
“We must rise up now and call on God’s intervention. Everyday, we hear and see calamities from almost all the geo-political zones in the country. This cannot be a mere coincidence. There are evil forces behind all the mishaps. This is why we have gathered here today to intercede on behalf of our leaders in all sectors and the country.”
