By Kolawole Ojebisi
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has said that the current situation in Nigeria is man-made rather than God’s arrangement.
He noted that God gave Nigeria everything in abundance and the country has no reason to be a basket case.
The former president stressed that the country which ought to be a boomtown became a basket case through the selfishness and greed of its successive leaders.
Obasanjo, however, expressed optimism that the country is redeemable despite the myriad of challenges confronting it.
The former president stated this at a Commendation Special Church service of the Methodist Church to mark its 40 years in Abuja, where many eminent Nigerians were in attendance, including a former Military Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon (rtd), who received the Knight of John Wesley honour.
“God is God of peace; that is the first thing we have to understand, and God of peace has created this world for peace, and if you go back to Genesis, everything that God created was good, and what made it bad? Human greed, selfishness, lack of fear for God, and lack of consideration for others.
“What do we now do to have peace? Is to be close to God. When you talk about men of God, they should never stop being close to God and praying to God,” he said.
“I believe that God has not created Nigeria as a basket case; God has given us all that we need; what God has given us, we have messed it up. If we call the name of God and go humbly before God and we really show remorse and pray to God, He will heal our land.
Also, President Bola Tinubu, who was represented by the Minister of FCT, Barrister Nyesom Wike, charged the church to work hand-in-hand with the government to address the prevailing challenges in the country.
Tinubu further tasked the church to continue praying for the leaders of the country, as their prayers are sources of strength and guidance.
He said the challenges the country faces today require a united front, and the church can be a platform for social transformation where individuals come together to enact change, promote peace, and uplift the people.
“As we face multi-faceted challenges, the church must urgently continue playing its vital role. The government recognises the importance of collaborations with faith-based organisations in addressing these. Together we can mobilise resources, provide extension services, and advocate for the voiceless.
“The church can also spearhead moral leadership and ethical governance. I urge you therefore to remain steadfast in your commitment to prayer, not just for your communities but for our beloved Nigeria and its leaders. Your prayers are a source of strength and guidance as we navigate the complexities of governance.
In his sermon, the Prelate of the Methodist Church in Nigeria, Most Reverend Oliver Abah, charged Nigerians to remain calm and steadfast as the country will overcome its current challenges.
Recall that only Obasanjo and Muhammadu Buhari, have had the distinction and rarest privilege of ruling the country in two different dispensations. He presided over the affairs of the country as a military Head of State from 1976 -1979 and as a civilian president from 1999-2007. On his part, Buhari ruled as military Head of State between 1984-1985 and 2015-2023, respectively.
