The Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, on Sunday prayed for Nigeria, calling for God’s blessings for the nation and her citizens.

Osinbajo made these supplications at an Interdenominational Church Service held at the National Christian Centre, Abuja as part of activities marking Nigeria’s 58th Independence celebration.

The vice president said that God deserved praises for preserving Nigerians to witness another anniversary of this great nation. “This anniversary is an opportunity to bless our nation; it is an opportunity to declare some blessings upon our nation and upon the people of our nation, of all gathered here and everyone. Nigeria, this 58 years of your independence will mark a great new beginning of peace, of prosperity, of abundance.’’

Osinbajo added that Nigeria would be exalted. “Nigeria, you will be exalted; you will excel; you will rise beyond imaginations. You will be a pride to Africa and the world; in the mighty name of Jesus; this is the season for your exaltation, Nigeria. This is the season of your renewal; the season of your restoration; all that you have lost will be restored; where you have failed, you will succeed in the mighty name of Jesus,’’ Osinbajo prayed.

Earlier in a sermon titled: ‘Harnessing Our Diversity for National Development’, Pastor William Kumuyi, the General Superintendent, Deeper Life Bible Church, Worldwide, cautioned Nigerians against carrying an air of superiority toward one another. Kumuyi expressed regret that Nigeria had not been able to achieve its full potential in spite of enormous human and material resources.

Likening Nigeria to the Biblical Corinth, he said that it had not achieved greatness because of selfishness, contentions and divisive tendencies. According to him, every section of Nigeria has a role to play in national development. “In the nation, mutual support and encouragement, sincere recognition and involvement of all well-meaning and qualified citizens are necessary to avoid wastage of lives and resources. There is no disdain for one another, no rivalry or unhealthy competition, no false humility or fatal pride, no inferiority or vain superiority, no retaliatory indifference or reactionary independence. We can, we must and we have to put the past behind us to build a great nation for the present and coming generations. Interdependent, interconnected, interrelated, we are on our way to national greatness: we are unstoppable,” he said.

The general superintendent said that Nigerians must put the past behind them in order to build a great nation for the present and coming generations.

In a prayer on behalf of the group, Nigeria Prays, Gowon prayed for unity, good governance and for peaceful conduct of the 2019 elections.

Mr Boss Mustapha, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, said that because of uncertainties, Nigeria had not been able to have a full-fledged Independence Day celebration since 2010. He thanked God for giving Nigeria the enablement to celebrate in full, its 58th Independence anniversary.

The service was attended by Service Chiefs, members of the Federal Executive Council and Nigerians from all walks of life.

Also in attendance were: Mrs Victoria Aguiyi Ironsi, wife of former Head of State, Aguiyi-Ironsi, and Dame Beatrice Ekwueme, wife of former Vice President, Alex Ekwueme.
There was special rendition from the brigade band in honour of the Nigerian Air force pilot who died in an air mishap involving two jets rehearsing for Independence parade.

(NAN)