Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Sunday said Nigeria will rise above the current security and socio-economic challenges facing it.
The Vice President stated this during a send forth service for Revd (Dr) Israel Akanji, who served as Senior Pastor and Minister- In- Charge of the First Baptist Church, Garki, Abuja, for 22 years.
According to a statement by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Office of the Vice President, Mr Laolu Akande, Osinbajo said he is sure of healing for the country because the Spirit of God is in the land.
He spoke in a short remark he gave at the service which was also attended by the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Rev Olasupo Ayokunle and Minister of State for Health, Dr. Olorunimbe Mamora, among other dignitaries and Christian leaders.
Quoting from Genesis 1, the Vice President related events surrounding the creation of heaven and earth to the nation’s present challenges and the lives of great individuals.
Osinbajo said: “In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. The beginning was bleak, confused, without form, empty.
“This is the way of the lives of some of the greatest men and women and also nations. There might be confusion, grief, trouble, darkness and fear. But even in that confusion, the Bible tells us that the Spirit of the Lord was hovering over the face of the deep. God was in the darkness, He did not run away. He is not asleep.
“So, it is with our nation. Today, some things may seem bleak and grave, with insecurity, economic difficulties, but even in the midst of these problems, the Spirit of God is in this land, it is here, hovering over this nation
“So, what happens next in verse three? We are told that suddenly God spoke, ‘let there be light…and there was light.’ The darkness came to an end, the fear, insecurity came to an end.
“So, it shall be for you and our nation. In the next verse, scripture says, God saw the light that it was good….so it shall be for you and our nation. The light will come and it shall be good, very good”, he assured.
The Vice President also commended the attributes of the new President of the Nigerian Baptist Convention (NBC), describing Rev Akanji as a humble and credible leader who “has continued to forge pathways for peace and unity as an effective bridge builder between faiths and ethnicities, realising that Christ died for all men, and that our gospel is the gospel of peace.”
The Vice President congratulated Akanji on the occasion of his 60th birthday on Monday August 16.
He wished him more strength, wisdom and favour and asked for God’s blessing on all Nigerians.
