Spread the word
The General Overseer, Charismatic Renewal Church Ministries Dr Cosmas Ilechukwu Sunday enjoined the Nigerian governments and the citizens to join hands in building a greater nation suitable for all to live.
Ahead of the 2027 elections in the country, the clergy, who is also the Deputy President Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), harped on the need for citizens to exercise their civic rights as voters, pay their tax and maintain law and orders.
Nation builders he noted must remain focused even in the face of opposition because nations are built systematically and gradually.
Ilechukwu restated this at a Special Prayer Service for Nigeria and her leaders/ 2026 edition of the Change We Need Nigeria Initiative held at the church auditorium in Abuja.
Quoting the book of Nehemiah, the convener said nations must return to God in repentance and submission.
Nation building the clergy emphasised further is enhanced only if a vision is understood, insisting that nation is built when everyone plays their parts.
The leaders Ilechukwu said must also set goals, roll out social welfare programmes, and anchor economy on a solid ground, adding: “It is a fundamental requirement for leadership to bring the needed change.”
“The government must then prioritize the rule of law to inspire institutional growth in all facets, takes responsibility and not encourage ethnicity and nepotism and then encourage active participation of the people as a form of complementing government actions.” he said.
Citing the example of Nehemiah from the holy scriptures, he said: “Nehemiah was threatened, mocked, fought, but he prevailed as a leader,”
Baring his mind on the current state of the nation, Ilechukwu frowned at a high cost of living and fuel hikes, insisting that current leadership can change the trend and bring about a positive change.
“Today, we are buying fuel for N1,500 pr litre. That was not what it was last year. Our prayer is that by this time of next year, it should be sold for N500 per litre, then we will know we are moving in the right direction, and we shall celebrate it.
“Leaders must also set goals and anchor our economy on a solid ground. They should also tell us how they intend to transform our society. Their social welfare programme must be prioritized and felt by all.”
While enjoining citizens to join in building the nation of their dreams, he added, “we can not depend solely on government.It is a combined action. The citizens must be ready to prioritize law and orders and play their own roles too very well.
“People should know that they have to pay their tax as it is one of the principal means of income.
“I want that regime to happen in Nigeria, with the impact visible enough for all to see and feel so as to encourage the citizens to do more.
“More importantly, we must have fear of God and be law abiding. Nehemiah was who he became because he had the fear of God.We must encourage the government to do their own parts. Our actions and words must also be in tandem with our prayer points. While leaders are held accountable, the citizens must aspire to be good citizens and be responsible, too.
“As we prepare for the 2027 polls, INEC, our electoral empire must restore peoples confidence as a way of defeating voters’ apathy so that all these ideas of dragging self to court after an election would be a thing of the past,”
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