By Vera Wisdom-Bassey
Prelate of the Methodist Church of Nigeria, Dr. Oliver Ali Aba, has called on Nigerians to eschew evil in the new year and all forms of disagreement and division causing disunity among people of the land. He urged his countrymen and women to work together as a people to build a strong, credible and peaceful country that would be the envy of other nations.
The clergyman charged the congregation and Nigerians at large to also make the country a place they and their generations unborn would be proud of to in, saying: “We do not have another country, even if we go out, we will still come back.”
Speaking about 2022 and expectations in 2023, Aba thanked God for the gift of life and a new year, which he said was the beginning of good things to come for Nigeria and its citizens.
“Nigeria is our country. We have no other place to go to. So, sincerely, I want us all to join hands, mind and spirit to have a better Nigeria because this is our country; we cannot go anywhere else,” he said.
The prelate urged the people to pray for peace in the country, especially as it enters an election year, just as he tasked them to carry out their civic duties in ensuring they go out and vote during the elections.
He said: “One thing that we should do as citizens is that we should not be lawless. We should obey the laws of the land and obey God. With these, you will move to a greater point. And I tell you, Nigeria is on the rise again.
“The way God is working in Nigeria shows He loves us more than any other nation because, when it comes to natural resources in the soil or the air, on the surface of the earth, we are there.
” Every Nigerian who has reached the required age should go out with their PVC to cast their votes, at least to have their franchise fulfilled. And I believe, at the end of the day, with prayers and other supplications, God will give us a desired individual who will govern the land.”
Quoting Exodus 14:14, he said: “The Lord says, ‘Be still. Be calm. I will fight for you. The enemy you see now, you will see them no more.’ That’s my assurance. And God said too that His thoughts towards us are not of evil but of good.”
Many dignitaries were present to see the new prelate for the very first time and hear him preach, while others were there to get a word for the new year.