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Omobude: Every Nigerian who loves this Country must be willing to make sacrifice

By Ayoyinka Jegede
30 April 2017   |   3:33 am
The truth is that there is a lot of suffering in the land. Many people’s salaries are not paid. In most cases, pensioners are not getting their pensions, a lot of our youths have left school without employment....

Rev Felix Omobude

Rev. (Dr.) Felix Omobude is the National President of Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN). In this interview with AYOYINKA JEGEDE in Benin City, Edo State, he spoke on what Nigerians must do to make the country better and what PFN is doing to unite the body of Christ.

What is the church doing to ameliorate the suffering of members at this recession period?
The truth is that there is a lot of suffering in the land. Many people’s salaries are not paid. In most cases, pensioners are not getting their pensions, a lot of our youths have left school without employment and in most cases, and the church becomes the last hope for many of them. We may not be able to do everything, but the church has continued to be there. I feel the church should work with government to serve the people better. Some things must be done to provide basic necessities of life such as water, electricity, education, and health services. These are the basic things that a responsible government provides for the people.

The church works with every responsible government. There are lots of social services activities going on— churches sending people on medical missions, reaching out in the field of education, health and various social services, and we will continue to encourage all our leaders in this direction. We are into Bible ventures and social services. We are into education and of course, evangelism at various outreaches

What is PFN doing to unite the body of Christ?
The challenge of our unity continues to be a project for all of us. We have come a long way, but there is still a lot to be done. PFN is a collection of individual churches coming together and we have discovered that our unity is our strength and we are building on it. We are working at the ward level, local government and state levels and across the nation that we should play down on our minor differences. Whether you think someone should have low cut or shave his/her hair, or whether you wear suit or ‘agbada’ those are minor issues. We are pursuing our core objectives, which bind us together concerning Jesus Christ of Nazareth. This is what is important to us and that is what we are pursuing.

What is your vision for the next four years?
We want to consolidate on our unity in PFN and I will like to see a more coordinated Pentecostal movement. I will like to see a PFN, where our voice in national issues becomes more credible. I want to see a PFN that is relevant in rendering social services. I want to see a PFN, where the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ remains paramount in our leadership and membership. We must return to our core values of faith in God, matrimonial and family values. We must return to our value of the Bible as God’s word the way it is.

What is PFN’s view on the spate of insecurity in the country?
It is very worrisome. While we commend the government on its efforts in routing Boko Haram and subduing the group to some extent, but the issue of armed robbery, kidnapping, Fulani Herdsmen’s continuous ravage on the nation from Lagos to Kano are not abating. When you look at things like this, it is very frightening. I think that government has a lot in its hands and should rise to the occasion and make the nation safer. The church is called upon to pray and we shall continue to pray, as well as evangelise to the criminally minded to change their mind. The church will not take arms to fight, as we are not police. We will continue our spiritual work, reaching out to these people, appealing to their conscience and asking them to turn from darkness to light and where possible help them.

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