Nigerians have been urged to eschew evil and embrace peace in the spirit of Easter.
Speaking on Friday in Akute, Ogun State during Good Friday service at the Restoration Parish of Motailatu Church of God, the Chairman, Board of Trustees of the church, Senior Superintendent Gabriel F. Akinadewo (Omo Jesu II), said it was sad that thousands of years after people chose an armed robber in place of Jesus Christ, some people still embrace evil.
He, however, said Jesus triumphed over his traducers because he committed everything into God’s hands.
Quoting Psalms 37: 5 and 25: 14, Akinadewo urged Nigerians to talk to God and commit everything into His hands for the country to take its rightful place in the comity of nations.
He said: “The people who killed Jesus Christ, where are they today? But, we are still celebrating Jesus and we will continue to worship him because he committed everything into God’s hands.
“I want to say it emphatically that all those perpetrating evil in the country today will soon become history. Nigerians will triumph because Jesus will take control of the affairs of this country”.
Also, the Bishop of Lagos, Anglican Diocese, Humphrey Olumakaiye, on Friday, warned Nigerians to desist from voting for dishonest people if they want a better nation.
Olumakaiye gave the warning while speaking with journalists after the Good Friday service, held at the Cathedral Church of Christ, Marina, Lagos.
“We should ensure we vote for righteous politicians who are ready to serve the nation with dignity and trust.
“There is a need for us to have a change of heart if we don’t want to pull this nation down.
“Let righteousness reign in this nation.
“We have been voting for dishonest and greedy people; some of them move from prison to the senate and so on.
“If we want this nation to progress, then we must champion the cause of the good people.
“So, if we want to get it right, there is a need to promote righteousness, justice and love as the way through which we can sustain the unity of this nation,’’ Olumakaiye g said.
Earlier in the sermon, titled “Give us Barnabas” with its text taken from John 18, the cleric said that the text showed the cry for evil to prevail over good.
“We behold with utter amazement and bewilderment the cry to choose terrorism and insecurity over peace and progress.
“We gaze with utter disappointment the cry to reject the Prince of Peace for a robber and insurgent.
“This scene, though occurred 2000 years ago, perfectly mirrored the sad socio-political events that have been unfolding in our country for the number of years now.’’
He said the event of Good Friday, chiefly of the trial of Jesus, “is such a fascinating and heart-breaking text to study and our consideration of it is apt in the light of persistent triumph of evil over good in Nigeria’’.
The cross is the revelation of the truth, justice and mercy.
“The mercy of the Lord is calling you,’’ Olumakaiye said.
Pastor Timothy Bakare, Zonal Superintendent for Christ Apostolic Church, Oke-Ibukun Iloro Zonal Headquarters, reaffirmed that Jesus Christ is the only hope for mankind.
Bakare made the confirmation during a ‘Good Friday Service’ at the Christ Apostolic Church Oke-Ibukun Iloro, Zonal Headquarters, on Friday, in Ile-Ife, Osun State.
He said that God created man in His own image, with the hope of serving Him, but it was a pity that men fall short of the Glory of God, by transgressing against Him.
According to the cleric, God cursed both Adam and Eve including Satan and the curse persists on humans and animals till date.
“Woe unto the world, for the adversary was sent to the world.
“But Glory be to God that has shown mercy unto the whole world, by giving us His only begotten Son, that whosoever believed in Him will not perish but have everlasting life.
“If anyone be in Christ, he is a new creature, old things have passed away, they have become new.” he said.
Bakare then charged Christians to move closer to Christ and turn a leaf in Him, by genuinely repenting of their sins, so that the death and resurrection of Christ on the cross, would not be in futility.
He urged Nigerians to utilise this period to pray for national security, embrace peaceful coexistence across the country and eschew evil.
