VICE President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, has reassured Nigerians that in spite of the current economic and security challenges besetting the nation, the country will soon bounce back on the path of prosperity.
Osinbajo spoke on Sunday during the Send-Forth Service and presentation of books for Rev. Israel Akanji, at the First Baptist Church, Garki, Abuja. Akanji, was the Senior Pastor of the First Baptist Church Garki for 22 years. He is also the incoming President of Nigeria First Baptist Church.
Cardinal John Onaiyekan, Minister of State for Health, Adeleke Mamora, who incidentally was the personal physician to Dr Akanji, were among the dignitaries that poured encomium on him for his passion, spirituality, generosity and dedication to the ideals of the First Baptist Church.
Making reference to the Book of Genesis 1:1-4, Osinbajo noted that in the beginning when God created heaven and earth, the earth was without form and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep.
While drawing lessons from the scripture, the vice-president noted that even when darkness was upon the surface of the earth, God was there and that God is in Nigeria and would certainly speak to solutions of the nation’s challenges, just as He spoke for the light to come in the face of darkness.
Osinbajo described Akanji as a bridge-builder and one that has served the Lord with passion and dedication.
He said: “Everyone must agree that what Christian faith has over other faiths, is the gospel of the love of Jesus. That transformative gospel has made it possible to love one’s enemies and to pray for even those who persecute us.
“Akanji has served the body of Christ in Nigeria as the CAN (Christian Association of Nigeria) Chairman in FCT, Abuja and still serving as the leader of CAN, North Central Zone.
“When you read his life story, you will know that he didn’t just arrive here with student flight. Indeed, the life of a great man and woman like himself, even as the lives of nations, teach important lessons.
“Let me quickly refer to scripture, in Genesis Chapter One, verse One to Four, which is a story of creation. It says that in the beginning, God created the Heavens and the Earth and the Earth was without form and it was void and darkness was on the face of the deep and the spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.
“Then God said let there be light and there was light and the scripture goes on to say that God saw the light that it was God, and God separated the light from the darkness.
“The scripture says that in the beginning when God created heavens and earth, the earth was without form and void and darkness was on the face of the deep. So, the beginning was bleak and confused, it was without form and empty.
“This is the way the lives of some of the greatest men and women and also the lives of nations, including our own. There might be confusion, bleak, trouble, dark, fear, particularly in that confusion, the Bible tells us that the spirit of the Lord was hovering over the face of the deep, hovering in that darkness still, it did not run away.
“The same with the challenges of our nation. Today things may seem bleak with our security and economic difficulties but even in the midst of these problems, the spirit of God is in this land, hovering this nation.
“So, what happens next? In verse three of Genesis One, the scripture says that suddenly God said let there be light and there was light and darkness came to an end; the fears, the insecurity, and hunger will come to an end. So, shall it be for you and for our nation,” Osinbajo declared.
Rev. Akanji, also called on Nigerians to have faith in the country, insisting that the current challenges would be overcome.
