Stop using derogatory comments against Nigeria, cleric urges

Babatope Ilesanmi, the former chairman of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) Ikeja Province, has urged Nigerians to stop using derogatory comments against the country and instead pray and bless Nigeria through their actions and inactions.

“Over time, I noticed that Nigerians often make derogatory statements and even curse Nigeria. This doesn’t exclude clerics,” Ilesanmi said at the recent media parley to unveil his new song titled: ‘Adura fun Nigeria (Prayer for Nigeria).’

Ilesanmi said that no individual, natural or artificial object can survive under curses. He disclosed that the lyrics of the song were influenced in the course of interceding for the nation, and that the Holy Spirit turned the prayer into a song and inspired him to launch the song.

“I therefore enjoined anyone who wishes Nigeria well to say the prayers by singing the song to counter every spell in the air against Nigeria,” Ilesanmi said, disclosing that the song is available on his YouTube channel.

The cleric also called for collaborative effort to reset the mindset of Nigerians towards nation building, stating that the action cannot be left to the government alone. “There’s no political will in the heart of our government to reset the minds of Nigerians in this regard. Am sure the churches are trying in this regard. But the obvious disappointments from the rulers keep dousing the hope of the citizens.”

Ilesanmi also reiterated the need to reframe messages targeted at reorienting Nigerians by the Nigeria Orientation Agency and other governmental agencies. “When a statement is coined in a song, it spreads. As people listen to it over and over again willfully or by default, the intensity of that song keeps the lyrics or the melody in their subconscious,” he said.

According to him, people will consciously or unconsciously imbibe the messaging of a song through its lyrics. “The song begins to come out of their mouth. And as they sing it, the air is filled with a positive spirit. More people hear it, and their hearts are equally remoulded in line with the song for the good of the nation.

“A Pastor’s perspective was changed when she listened to my album on praying for Nigeria. She immediately convinced those within her influence, and they bought into the vision of praying for Nigeria,” he said.

Ilesanmi also urged the NOA to do more in owning the narrative and engaging the youth at strategic times and places, to persuade them through empirical statistics of government’s performance with a trajectory of a better tomorrow.

However, he added that creating enabling environments for the younger generations to manifest their potential should be topmost for the government ahead of the general elections. “This will boost their confidence that tomorrow will be better.”