As the three days of national mourning and prayers declared by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) ended on Sunday , the Deputy Territorial Chairman of The Apostolic Church Nigeria (T.A.C.N), Igboland Territory, Apostle Joseph Okoroafor has stressed the need for Christians to pray for Nigeria.
Speaking at The Apostolic Church Nigeria Umuahia Area headquarters at the conclusion of The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) declared three-day national mourning designated Black Sunday in response to the escalating rates of kidnapping, banditry, mass displacement, and violent attacks across the country called for intensive prayers by all.
In a sermon titled, “Prayer for Nigeria”, taken from Psalms 122:1-9, Apostle Okoroafor, who is also the Area Superintendent of T.A.C.N Umuahia Area said that Christians are supposed to have the peace of their country at heart, hence the need to always pray for the nation.
He said that the happenings in Nigeria today including security, economic situations among others are disheartening, and noted that Christians need to pray for Nigeria and her leaders including security personnel.
“Traveling these days is no longer easy. Things have become difficult in our nation, our Naira has lost its value. Some people find it difficult to eat two times a day.
“Our own Jerusalem today is Nigeria. It’s not by accident that we are Nigerians.
“We need to pray for our leaders and the led. We need to pray for Nigeria against bandits and insurgents. So we need to pray for Nigeria. That’s why on Friday this prayer started.
“We need to pray for the military personnel, the government at all levels, according to 1 Timothy chapter 2, so that we will have peace,” Apostle Okoroafor stated.
The servant of God, who explained that the three -days solemn assembly was organised to seek divine intervention against the insecurity bedeviling Nigeria, used the opportunity to call on the federal government to give more support to security agents in Nigeria to enable them tackle insecurity, while challenging all Nigerians to be security conscious, and emphasised that security is everybody’s business.
“Because of the happenings, kidnapping, killings, abductions. Life is no more safe. So we, as Christians decided that we have to call unto the Lord, because that is where our help comes from.
“The Federal Government has been trying, but we need divine intervention for this situation.
“Everybody should be security conscious. Watch and know the type of people around you, the type of people you see. Because security is not the government’s business alone. it is everybody’s business.
“The advice I want to give to the federal government, while we are praying for them, they have to help the military departments and give them more support. I know it is a risk, they are there to defend the country.
“So that, if they have all the necessary support they need, so that this particular menace has to be abated in this country.
Speaking in an interview, an Elder in the body of Christ, Elder Ernest Iheukwumere Ibeji said that the essence of the prayer was to make sure that insecurity, which is emerging in the country, was brought to a check.
“The Christian Association of Nigeria is not comfortable with what is happening in the country, so that God and all Christians to begin to pray, so that the insecurity can be brought to a check.
“And if I have to suggest how to bring it to an end, everybody should be security conscious, and governments should bring in all the apparatus in its disposal so that they (security personnel) will do their work effectively.
“One of the leaders of this country in the past said that if there is continuous insecurity, continuous insubordination, and all these vices, if they stay more than 24 hours, then you know that the government is involved in it.
“And if this government must redeem their image so that people will not have wrong impression about them, they must do something to bring this insecurity on that check,” Elder Ibeji stated.
Also speaking, a mother and participant at the prayers, Mrs
Chibuzor Osoka described the heightened insecurity in the nation as highly disturbing and called on the Nigeria leaders to act immediately to stem the tides of insecurity.
“I’ve been crying since then (abduction of school children. God said we should call upon Him, when we have challenges we call on Him.
“It is only God, and we are calling upon Him, and I know He will do something.
“Let them (federal government) do something. They know what you do. So, let them do something to help. Look at the weather today. I think the weather is also the same over there, where the kidnapped children are.
“The government should do something.
At least before the end of this week, Let us hear the good news,” Mrs Osoka maintain
The conclusion of the three -days mourning and prayers attracted many congregants while prayers were offered for Nigeria, her leaders at all levels including Governor Alex Otti of Abia state, the military and other security personnel among others.
