In light of the nation’s security issues and in hopes of a peaceful election in 2023, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) hosted a nationwide prayer service on Friday.
After the prayers in Abuja, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, president of the CAN, told journalists that the goal was to turn around the nation’s affairs.
He explained that it was done to implore God to intervene so that the nation may experience peace, stability, and advancement in all spheres of life.
“As Christians, we are people of prayer and now that our country is preparing for the next general election, one of the major things we should do to support our nation to have a peaceful and non-violent election is to come together and pray.
And we are people of faith, we believe that any time we call upon Him with sincerity, he answers us.
“So CAN decide that it will be a good thing for us to gather particularly at this time of electioneering campaigns so that the Lord will grant us a very peaceful electioneering campaign and very peaceful seasons of the election,
” That is the reason why we gathered Christians on the platform of CAN to do this prayer,” he added.
The CAN president said that it was also important to pray against those creating fear in the minds of the people.
We have to pray to avert it, we may not know where they are but God, who is the owner of the world, knows where they are if there are any people like that.
“We have come today to pray and ask the Lord to disable the weapons of war and grant us a peaceful Nigeria.
” And restore the people who have been taken away from their lands, to return to their land and enjoy the fruit of their land once again”, the Archbishop said.
Okoh charged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies, and the electorates to use the upcoming election to rewrite the story of Nigeria through a free, credible, and peaceful poll.
“The election is one great opportunity we have to re-write the story of this country, and all hands must be on deck, everyone must be committed.
” The INEC officials, the politicians, their agents, the voters, everybody must be committed to having a very peaceful election.
“Election that will be seen to be credible not only in the eyes of the politicians, not only in the eyes of Nigerians but in the eyes of the world”, he added.
In his sermon, the Catholic Archbishop Emeritus of Abuja Archdiocese, John Onaiyekan said in the last decade, Nigeria has witnessed a gradually deteriorating condition, including a lack of peace and harmony.
He quoted the book of Second Chronicles chapter 7:14, which encourages believers a turn around when they become humble and prayerful.
“Then, if my people, who bear my name, humble themselves and pray and seek my presence, and then from their wicked ways, I myself will hear from heaven and forgive their sins and restore their land,” he quoted the verse as saying.
He said it was right and fitting that the leadership of CAN organised the national prayers.
Onaiyekan prayed for God to disarm all those planning evil against the people of the country.
“If there is any evil hidden agenda anywhere, may our God of mercy expose and neutralise them and restore lasting peace to our land,” he added.
Onaiyekan asked Nigerians to pray against natural and self-inflected calamities such as flood, insecurity, corruption, and economic mismanagement.
He advised Christians to return to God in humble prayers and repentance.
“It is therefore natural that we see a major recourse to prayer by Nigerians of all creeds, in Mosques and Churches”, he noted.
“May the Lord hear our prayers for our nation: that all who are planning evil for our people may be disarmed by the Almighty God, and converted to good behaviour by our loving Saviour,” Onaiyekan said.
Also, the Archbishop of Abuja, His Grace, Ignatius Kaigama, prayed for God’s blessings on Nigeria.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that prayers were offered for a successful election and census, and for God to avert all evil plans against Nigeria.
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