By Vivian Onyebukwa
The Fourth Quarter of the Grand Board of Trustees meeting of the Night of St John International, has ended in Lagos with the hope of new things to come in the country.
Looking at this year’s theme, “A New Thing”, Brigadier General Chuks Joachim Amangbo, the Grand President, Lagos Grand Commandry said, “We are expecting new glorious things to come. The Lord has told us through Isaiah that He will do new things for us, and going by what is happening in this country, you can’t ask for less. You should ask that things that are difficult you should get them softly for the masses because there is a lot of hunger and insecurity in this country. We are praying God to secure this country more than ever and also that God in His infinite mercy should provide for the masses and the less privileged who are presently dyeing of hunger. They don’t even have the medicare. All these we are praying for as new thing to happen next year”, Amamgbo said.
On his advice to Nigerians and the Nigerian government, he said, “The message the Knights have always passed is that of peace, supporting the church and defending the Catholic Church in this country, and then speaking to the powers that be whenever they go contrary to what they are supposed to do. The Knight of St John always stand against punitive measures and anything that would not help humanity, the country and God. Our major instrument is prayers, we keep on remembering the country in prayers. Where it requires certain things to be done, we wield into it and ensure that peace and orderliness reigns as it ought to”.
Also speaking on the motive for the meeting, Brigadier General Peter Remi Eluyefa, Immediate Past President said, “It as an annual meeting where we do all kinds of activities, and thank God for giving us the opportunity to see the end of another year”.
Looking at the theme for this year’s meeting, Eluyefa advised the youths not lose hope because there is always a future. “Nothing lasts forever. The situation may be tough now but it will get better”.
He equally advised the government to have the fear of God.
Nonye Okafor, Supreme Surbodinate Second Vice President, Nigeria Ladies Auxilliary, described Knight of St John International as family oriented under the Catholic Church. “In Knight of St John International, we stand to defend the church, work to protect the people of God to make them defend Catholic faith. It is a kind of spiritual organisation. For you to be a Knight, you have to have three things in mind-your time, talent and your treasure. You have to get your time to work with the church, your money to do charity, reach out to the poor and people working for church. We have professionals as members. We all come together using all we have to serve the church. In all, we are just working for God. Our Patron Saint is St John the Baptist”, she stated.
According to Okafor, come 2024, the group is expected to still reach out to more. “We have ongoing projects on the poor, widows, jobless, church visits, and cathecazation”.
She advised the wife of the Nigerian President, Oluremi Tinubu to use her office to end the hardship in the country. She proffered solution on the situation in the land in terms of hunger, poverty, saying the government should go to the grassroots, opening up skills acquisition. “Most people cannot go to school today because they could not fund it. They can be trained. We have people in our Order, very talented. They can reach out to them and train them on some skills. The government can help, support the trainings. We as a charitable organisation would join with the government to reach out to the people in training and funding”, Okafor said.
Looking at the crucial role women play in the society, she advised on how how women can help to restore peace in the country as peace is key. “The easiest way to do it is, let each woman speak to her husband on what is good or bad. Inspire him, teach him and tell him to stand on the truth. We have our work to do right from our bedrooms”.
The Commandry that attended the Grand Board of Trustees meeting comprises of Lagos Archdiocese, Arch Diocese of Ibadan, Ondo, Ilorin, and Osogbo on delegate purposes.
At the event was Augustine Osuora, the First Grand President of Lagos Grand Commandry. “All these local Commandries in Western Sates except the one in Lagos, I inaugurated them”, Osuora said.