Nigeria: Adeboye, Okonkwo Others Lead Prayers for 2015 Polls

IT was a shower of prayers and supplications to God in Lagos Sunday, as leaders of the Christian faith and politicians converged at a special thanksgiving service hosted by Lagos State Government in Ikeja.

And with elections due in 55 days, prayers of peaceful and successful elections were the high point of the worship service.

Among those that led in prayers were General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, his counterpart in The Redeemed Evangelical Mission Church, Bishop Mike Okonkwo, His Grace, Dr. M.A. Atilade, Pastor G.O. Olutola and Dr. Mercy Ezekiel among a host others.

Besides the past state government officials, led by Brigadier-General Mobolaji Johnson, Alhaji Lateef Jakande, Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu, also present, the gathering had in attendance all the who-is-who in the All Progressives Congress (APC) nationwide and officials of the State government.

State Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN), in his welcome address, noted that the 16th edition of the thanksgiving service was in appreciation of God's grace on the state in the rather eventful year that just rolled by.

Fashola observed that it was one year (2014) where hundreds of schoolgirls disappeared, several bombs went off killing many and even military men died in the line of duty to protect Nigerians.

"Amid all these, we should have nothing else to do but be thankful. We are alive not because we are better, but because of His grace and mercy. Countries that are not of our equal and those more than us have been on lockdown because of Ebola but we are not. We cannot but be thankful," he said.

Fashola added that in that attitude of gratitude, all Nigerians must in the New Year focus on issues of common humanity, and not those things that divide us like religion and ethnicity.

Citing that it would be his last thanksgiving service as the state governor, he appealed to Lagosians to choose wisely; "choose experience and not experiment."

Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Muhammadu Buhari, in company with his running mate, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, added that the event attended by Nigerians of all religious affiliations shows the right attitude expected of all Nigerians.

Continuing, Buhari said: "Religion must never be used to oppress others or to gain undue advantage. I have always belief that all should be free to worship God regardless of their belief. It the Nigeria of my dream that we will all stay together like this as we look forward to successful and prosperous 2015," he said.

In another forum, the General Overseer, The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye urged Nigerians to cultivate the habit of giving thanks to God because of the inherent blessings and advantages in appreciating God for His goodness at all times.

Speaking yesterday during the Thanksgiving Service at the first Sunday of the year with the topic: 'Power of Thanksgiving' at the RCCG headquarters Church, The Throne of Grace, Ebute-Metta, Lagos, Adeboye said it was pertinent to give thanks to God because God is moved when in every situation we give Him thanks, adding that "Thanksgiving" brings incredible multiplication, incredible restoration, miracles in days of trouble, provokes God to do many things and also draws the presence of God.

Speaking further through the Special Assistant to the General Overseer, Administration and Personnel, Johnson Odesola, Adeboye said Nigerians have a lot of reasons to thank God and that first and foremost, should thank Him because of many resources He has endowed the nation.

"Nigerians should thank God for kicking out Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) out Nigeria. We should thank God because we have everything in abundance only that we do not know how to utilize them.