A Catholic Priest, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka, has urged Nigerians to be patient as the nation will attain greatness in no distant future.
He gave the advice in Abuja on Friday while speaking with State House correspondents after he visited President Muhammadu Buhari to pray for him and the nation.
Mbaka said that the hardships and disturbances in the country were seasonal and that everything would soon pass away for a season of blessing in the country.
“What is happening now is seasonal; it is just a harmattan period, in no distant time this season will equally pass away. Nigeria will inhale better air.
“We are passing through a season of decay into another season of blessing.’’
The clergyman assured Nigerians success in spite of the troubles being encountered likening it to the travails of King David in the Bible who was blessed by the Almighty as a man that was after God’s heart.
“I wish to assure Nigerians that in the midst of what is happening we shall succeed because in First Samuel, Chapter 18, verse five, when God made David to be successful he was promoted.
“A time of promotion is coming for this land (nation) irrespective of what we are passing through.
“I pray for Nigeria’s success, we will succeed; I am singing a song of success. After all these we will succeed.
“In First Samuel, Chapter 14, in verse 14, in everything that David did, he was successful.
“So in everything He will do Nigerians are going to succeed.’’
The priest said his visit was to commend the country and its entire leadership into the hands of the Almighty God as well as pray for peace in the land and establish a permanent blessing on the citizens as they enter into the Yuletide.
“We wish to pray for spiritual revival; we wish to pray for economic revamp and for integral wellness and for moral probity in this country, commending the country to Emmanuel, Jesus, that is born.’’
According to him, Buhari is on a good mission and has a vision for the country, for which God will make the citizens proud to achieve.
He said that Nigerians would have cause to proclaim the greatness of God by the wonders He would do for the nation.
He gave the assurance that the God of Peace will enthrone peace in all geopolitical zones of the country.
Mbaka declined to accept that he was a controversial person saying “I am always a happy man.
“People are free to say anything and I am also free to do what God wants me to do.
“Whoever wants to understand me as a controversial man, there is no trouble.
“When God wants me to talk I talk; when He wants me to be silent, I am silent.’’
Earlier, Buhari had reaffirmed his conviction that in spite of the security and economic challenges, Nigeria would experience change with lot of hard work.
He solicited the continued understanding and patience of Nigerians to achieve the change.
Buhari said that one of the best exhortations to the nation he heard from the pulpit was the one made early this year by Father Mbaka.
He expressed appreciation to the Catholic priest for his exemplary courage.
“Thank you very much for what you have done and said.
“It brought you out to the whole country as a man of courage. It was honest and well delivered.
“It has gone into the records as one of the best concerns expressed from the pulpit, not because it favoured me and my party, the All Progressives Congress, but because it was good for the country,“ Buhari said.
The Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, who was present when Buhari hosted Mbaka, described the priest as a man “who stood for truth and propriety and declared corruption unacceptable.’’
He said that the Buhari administration “is committed to truth and justice and won’t encourage corruption in any way.’’
Earlier, Mbaka, who expressed happiness with the mission and methodology of the Buhari administration, wished the President happy 73rd birthday.
In the run up to the 2015 presidential election, Mbaka told his teeming followers that erstwhile President Goodluck Jonathan would not be re-elected because of pervading corruption and insecurity in the land.
