Nigeria Is Seriously Sick, Needs Fervent Prayers, Say Clerics

By Steve Oni, Ilorin

Following the unabated and seemingly intractable security challenges in Nigeria, two religious clerics in both Islamic and Christian faiths in Kwara state have called for fervent prayers to deliver the country, saying Nigeria is seriously sick.

In their separate sermons during interfaith prayer sessions to commence the 2020 Press Week of the
Correspondents’ Chapel of the State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) on Friday, the clerics enjoined Nigerians to intensify prayers against ugly occurrences in the nation.

The prayer sessions held in the Chapel Secretariat were led by Pastor Adesina Adegbite of the Living Faith Church, aka Winners chapel, Gaa Imam, Ilorin and Alfa Adebayo Abdulkarim of the Markaz, Oke Agodi, Ilorin.

In his sermon at the occasion, Pastor Adegbite said that individual Nigerians are part of the nation’s problems, be it knowingly or unknowingly, in the way leaders were elected.

“Nigeria is sick. Whether we like it or not, that’s the truth. The nation needs prayers. With our prayers, God will heal the land, deliver it and protect the people. However, we are also part of Nigeria’s problems, knowingly or unknowingly. We should be mindful of how we choose our leaders who will lead us”, he said.

Pastor Adegbite, who is also a lecturer in the Department of Performing Arts, University of Ilorin, enjoined journalists to help the nation against violence, saying that media practitioners should be mindful of national interest.

“Journalism profession is risky and is one of the most abused professions. That’s the truth. It’s just like the teaching profession in the country. There you have Irregular salary, non payment at times, no money to take care of your medical bills. This should change.

“Journalism profession is endangered and there is the need for practitioners to be careful and seek God’s guidance at all times. God has told us that if we are humble, He will forgive our sins and heal the land. We should seek forgiveness among ourselves as individuals and as leaders too.

Also speaking, Mallam Adebayo Abdulkarim, who corroborated the fact that Nigeria is sick, added that Nigerian youths needs right education from home and schools.

The Islamic cleric also said that the nation needs responsible journalism to lead people in the right direction.

“Nigerians have right to protest. It’s even allowed in the Quran. If you’re being cheated or dissatisfied, you can protest, but one should not do it with hatred in mind.

“Nigerians have right to protest against police brutality but it should not lead to the disruption of societal peace or destruction of property, killing police, burning police stations because demonstration is a mini war.
Our children were given wrong education on the protest”, he said.

The annual week celebration of the NUJ Correspondents’ chapel will also feature lectures that would be delivered by a legal icon, Mallam Yusuf Olaolu Ali SAN, titled, Effectiveness of party supremacy in strengthening democratic principles and promoting national development.

Also, another key note Speaker, the chairman, Federal Character Commission, Abuja, Alhaja Muyiba Farida Dankaka, would speak on the topic, Enhancing National Unity Through Fedaral Character Principle

Other events in the celebration include health talk by members of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) in the state.

According to the committee, the health talk would afford the media practitioners to take steps to manage stress associated with the profession in order to live a stress-free life.