Gowon

A former Nigerian Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (Rtd), has described prayer as a formidable weapon that can solve the nation’s many challenges better and faster.

Gowon said this in Ibadan on Sunday evening at a one-day prayer rally organised by the South-West Zone of a non-denominational religious group — ‘Nigeria Prays’.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the prayer campaign, which had gone round the country in the last 20 years, is spearheaded by Gowon.

It is the longest campaign in Nigeria to mobilise people for regular, fervent and result-oriented prayers for the healing and transformation of the country.

‘Nigeria Prays’ is also a project aimed at promoting the virtues of patriotism, transparency, integrity and incorruptibility in leadership, governance and in the entire citizenry.

At the rally held at the Rehoboth Cathedral, Oluyole Estate, Ibadan, Gowon commended the people for their usual support for the programme, and added that their prayers would never be in vain.

“And I can say this with every authority that prayer can solve problems better and faster than generals and soldiers can do with physical weapons of war.

“I have no doubt in my heart that God will honour our collective prayer and intercession for our dear nation and heal our nation of all challenges facing her,’’ he said.

The rally prayed for Nigeria, Its leaders at all levels and arms of government, and the people in general.

It also prayed for peace in the country, economic emancipation and for the rejuvenation of all the various sectors of the Nigerian economy.

In his remarks, Gov. Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State commended Gowon for the initiative, saying it was a mission aimed at promoting the virtues of transparency, incorruptibility, integrity and fellowship.

He said that Nigerians were the most religious people in the world, but extremely ungodly, adding that societies always get the leaders they deserved.

The governor called for attitudinal change, in that prayer without hard work would not solve the problems of the country.

“It is not enough to pray, but to walk the talk. ‘Nigeria prays’ is a better initiative for the Nigerian project.

“For government to succeed, the followership must support,’’ he said.

Ajimobi described Gowon as a very godly man who had always served humanity diligently, having piloted Nigeria through turbulent times at a young age.

In his views, Bishop Joseph Akinfenwa, the Archbishop of the Anglican Communion, Ibadan Diocese, said there were lots of controversies in the country, and that the nation had never been so divided.

He described Nigeria as a nation currently witnessing the struggle for its soul, adding, however, that God would never surrender the country to the devil.

“We have to be careful of how we interpret and react to the Nigerian situation. Our prayers and attitude must be connected as we pray for divine visitation on Nigeria.

“We should ensure that our confession does not contradict our demands and prayers,’’ he said.

NAN reports that the event was also attended by Bishop Taiwo Adelakun, Chairman, Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Oyo State Chapter and Pastor Benjamin Akanmu, the State Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN). (NAN)

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Finance Minister seeks Islamic Bank’s support to rebuild North-East

NAN-HE-16

Support

Abuja, Aug. 22, 2016 (NAN) The Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun has called on the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) to support Nigeria in rebuilding the North Eastern part of the country ravaged by Boko Haram.

She made the appeal on Monday in Abuja during the inauguration of the IDB Country Gateway office.

Adeosun said that Nigeria was striving towards attaining the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and would welcome the IDB’s support to achieve them.

“I call on the IDB Group to work with development partners in operationalising the recovery and peace building assessment and implementation of the recently constituted June 2016 Buhari plan for the revitalisation of the North-East.

“This entails addressing aspects of interventions relating to peace building, stability and social cohesion.

“Also, to support critical productive infrastructure and service delivery and provide capacity building and programme management support in national, state and local government institutions.’’

Adeosun enjoined the Bank to scale up its concessional resources and increase its overall financing to Nigeria and other African member countries.

She said that the new office would further enhance focus on implementation and decentralisation of activities for speedy completion of projects and better impact of development intervention.

The IDB president, Dr Ahmad Ali, said that the bank would give Nigeria its utmost support in alignment with the nation’s development priorities.

He said that the nation’s exemplary leadership and drive for national development, through good governance and zero tolerance for corruption, was an inspiration to the group and other development partners.

“This determination would go a long way in fast tracking the implementation of development programmes in Nigeria.

“The IDB group considers the education sector and particularly bilingual education among its priority areas in Nigeria and a key tool to counter extremism,“ he said.

Ali said that the bank would also focus on health, agriculture, infrastructure, small and medium enterprises and regional integration.

He added that the establishment of the country gateway office would enable the group to be more service-centric and closer to the Nigerian clients in both public and private sectors.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the IDB is a multilateral development financing institution established in 1975 in Saudi Arabia and Nigeria became its 56th member country in 2005. (NAN)