TheCable

Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo wants Nigerians to “be strong and of good courage” because the nation will “prosper” despite the prevailing economic crisis.

Speaking at the 56th independence anniversary inter-denominational church service held at the National Christian Centre, Abuja, Osinbajo said that President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration would eventually “take Nigeria across the Red Sea into the promised land”.

Quoting the Bible, he said the promise of God was that he would build a new Nigeria where there would be peace from the north-east to the Niger Delta — a Nigeria where there would be jobs for the unemployed.

“We are on our way out of the wilderness,” Osinbajo said.

“We should not be like children of Israel whom he took out of Egypt and after few problems became grumblers-in-chief. As children of God, we must declare this nation will prosper; we must be like our father who is the great encourager.

“Our message to Nigeria is be strong and of good encourage. Do not be dismayed; every Nigerian will benefit from the new Nigeria. God saw our nation and decided to put this leadership in place; this leadership will take us across the red sea to the new Nigeria.”

Samson Ayokunle, a reverend and president of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), urged the federal government to promote politics of love and not of vendetta.

In his message titled ‘Wisdom that prevails over economic recession’, he said Nigeria is at a critical time, when oil has lost its value, and there are also threats of insurgency, attacks by suspected herdsmen, militancy, armed robbery and massive unemployment.

He said the problems were self-imposed because past leaders failed to save.

“In our economic boom days we were not wise like Pharoah,” he said.

“We did not invest but squander; our leaders helped themselves to nation’s health. This was almost the plight of Egypt but for intervention through Joseph.”

Suggesting ways out of the economic quagmire, he said: “Leaders must seek divine revelation from God because with wisdom of man, you won’t go far‎. It was Pharoah’s revelation that saved Egypt from famine. We must be like children of Issacha who understood the times.

“Second is godly direction. Political leaders must look beyond party affiliation and get those with wisdom like Pharoah got Joseph, a foreigner, a prisoner, to bail the nation out.

“Our leaders must have the ability to listen to counsel that will bring about solution‎. You can also learn from your enemies.

“Our leaders must promote and celebrate values. Present stakeholders in the Nigerian state should be sacrificial.‎ Leaders should ‎learn to appreciate and encourage.”