A retired Brigadier General in the Nigerian Army, Akinyemi Baiyeroju, has said that brotherliness remains key to addressing the rising insurgency that continues to claim lives across the country.
He made this known in an interview with The PUNCH on the sidelines of the 29th graduation ceremony of New Covenant Bible Church, held at Covenant Close, Samonda, Ibadan, Oyo State, on Saturday.
Baiyeroju stressed the importance of unity among Nigerians, regardless of ethnic, social, or political differences, urging citizens to work together to eliminate criminal activities nationwide.
The former military officer said, “Let me use this occasion to advise Nigerians to lean more on God, that’s my safe advice because if we depend on people, people will fail any day. A human being will fail you.
“There are a lot of challenges, and the issue is that people want to take over this country because that has been their ambition for over 100 years. But with God on our side and by being our brother’s keeper, we shall overcome this prevalent insecurity.”
The PUNCH reports that the Commanding Officer of the Benisheikh Military Base, Brigadier General Oseni Braimah, was killed on Thursday morning, while military bases in Pulka and Munguno were also attacked.
Similarly, a poultry farm in Igushi Ala, Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State, was attacked, leaving the poultry farmer and her daughter dead, while three workers, including the farmer’s sister, were abducted.
It was also recalled that weeks earlier, gunmen attacked the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria in Ibadan and abducted five persons, while similar attacks were recorded in Abeokuta, Ogun State, as well as by rustlers and bandits in Oke-Ogun and Ibarapa areas of Oyo State.
Insecurity has also persisted in Benue, Katsina, and Plateau States, prompting President Bola Tinubu’s recent visit to Plateau State.
Baiyeroju, speaking at the ceremony, also advised the graduating students to live exemplary lives worthy of emulation.
“The head of a church must leave an exemplary life. Be an example to everybody around you. It’s a very tough life because a lot of young pastors, when they face financial challenges, go to other places to consult oracle, forgetting that if God gave me this job, He would make provision. That is fundamental.
“If God called you, He will make provision for all that you need. Let people know Christ through you by what you say, by your behaviour, by your utterance, by your interaction in your community, and the way you live your life. That’s what will attract people to you.
“Let’s go back to God, go back to reading your Bible, go back to meditating on your Bible, go back to memorizing portions in your Bible, go back to being patient because if you want to hear from God, you must be patient. If you have the spirit of God inside you, He will minister to you.”
The Chairman of the Governing Council Board, Aderemi Ogunfowokan, urged the graduands to uphold faith, integrity, and service to humanity as true representatives of Christ.
The Provost of the college, Akinwale Johnson, also encouraged the graduates to live with integrity, defend truth boldly, serve with humility, and depend consistently on the Holy Spirit.
Some of the graduands, including Adeola Omooba, Bosede Olatunji, Obafemi Adebiyi, and Faith Adesuji, pledged to apply their biblical training in winning more souls to Christianity.
