Nigeria’s Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo has urged Nigerians to involve God in building Nigeria, stating that God is the real builder of nations.
Prof. Osinbajo stated this on Sunday at the Inter-denominational Church Service held at the National Christian Centre, Abuja, to mark Nigeria’s 7th Consecutive Democratic Transition and the inauguration of President-elect, Bola Tinubu and his deputy, Kashim Shettima.
Vice President Osinbajo was joined at the service by his wife, Dolapo; former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon(Rtd), and his wife, Victoria; wife of President-elect, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, wife of Speaker of the House of Representatives, Salamatu Ghajabiamila, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, among other Nigerians.
According to the vice president, God is certainly interested in building nations and prospering them.
Two instructions
Making references to the Scriptures, Osinbajo said that God has two instructions for the leaders and the people for the prosperity of nations.
“To leadership, the word of God says in Proverbs 14:34: ‘Righteousness exalts a nation, But sin is a reproach to any people. Every successful nation requires integrity at the highest levels of governance.
“When we say leadership, we are referring to the elite—the political, business and religious elite of any society.
“That is so whether it is Dubai or Nigeria or Tanzania, no country can be great if its elite is corrupt, self-serving and living for themselves.
“To the people, God instructs in Jeremiah 29:7, ‘and work for the peace and prosperity of the city where I sent you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, for its welfare will determine your welfare.’”
Prof. Osinbajo stressed that every successful nation requires integrity at the highest levels of governance.
Prays for President-elect, Nigeria
Vice President Osinbajo prayed for the incoming president, his deputy and the new government in Nigeria, pointing out that God admonished people to pray for their leaders.
“So, I pray in those same words for the President-elect Senator Bola Tinubu and the Vice President-elect Senator Kashim Shetima and the new government that as their days in office so shall they grow in stature, in wisdom and favour with the almighty God.
“I pray for our nation, I pray that the Lord will prosper this land, that our land and its people will live in peace and security.”
In her remarks, the wife of the President-elect, Senator Oluremi Tinubu called on Nigerians to come together to be renewed in the hope for greatness.
“Nigeria’s wealth is the commonwealth of all; it belongs to everyone.
“God has blessed my family; we don’t need the wealth of Nigeria to survive but to do the right thing, and I promise you on this altar that with your help, with the help of God, we will set this nation on the right path.”
Time to heal
Delivering the sermon, the Presiding Archbishop of the Dominion Chapel International, Abuja, John Praise Daniel said that the inauguration of the new government in Nigeria provides a time to heal the country’s wounds.
“One of the surest ways of achieving this is forming an inclusive government not minding who or who did not vote for the incoming president,” he said.
Archbishop Daniel whose message had the theme: “Better together in renewed hope and restoration,” reminded those who had other electoral preferences that electioneering was over and enjoined all Nigerians to join the new government in working for Nigeria’s development.
Former Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Senator Goodwill Akpabio, took the first reading at the service, taken from Psalm 133:1-3; while the wife of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Salamatu Gbajabiamila read the second, taken from Ephesians 4: 1-6.
Intercessory prayers were said for good governance, security and healing in Nigeria; for the president, vice president, president-elect, vice president-elect and other government officials; for the legislature, judiciary and civil service; for peaceful co-existence; and defence and unity of the church.
