SENIOR Pastor of House on The Rock, Paul Adefarasin, has called on Nigerians to exercise visionary purpose and create a new country devoid of strife and ethnic cleavages. He said this yesterday during the screening of the life-changing film Captive at the Rock Cathedral Auditorium, Lekki-Epe Expressway, Lagos.
Adefarasin said no nation is free of difficulties, but what mattered was the ability of its citizens to work together for the attainment of nationhood.
Produced by Paramount Pictures, the screening was held in conjunction with the United States Embassy in Nigeria and had dignitaries from all walks of life including diplomats, Nollywood stars and business moguls.
Adefarasin recounted the many challenges that Nigeria has faced in 55 years of existence, but which the country overcame to include “bitter civil war, a series of oppressive regimes, mis-governance and extremist insurgency. However, the reason we celebrate today is that we overcome those challenges, and to remain as one nation, we will continue to do so”.
The clergyman declared, “Nigeria must find a shared sense of purpose that galvanizes our national pursuits. Nigerians must find a shared sense of purpose that all Nigerians – and I mean all Nigerians – can collectively own and collaboratively pursue.
I speak of visionary purpose that gives hope to all Nigerians for a better life and a more prosperous future. I speak of visionary purpose that minimizes our tribal differences and promotes national cohesion and collaborative force. I speak of visionary purpose that allows Nigeria also to have her own dream.
A dream beyond pipe-borne water and pervasive transport infrastructure. A dream beyond uninterrupted power supply and a diversified and productive economy. A dream beyond widespread education and effective leadership in both the public and private sectors… A dream that all people of faith can engage their faith for”.
Adefarasin also thanked Nigerians for a peaceful election and its aftermath, when another Hollywood Selma was similarly screened at the Rock Cathedral. He, therefore, called for unity among the diverse tribes across the country.
According to him, “The last time we gathered at the Rock Cathedral for a similar event was when, a few months ago, and preceding Nigeria’s General Elections, we watched David Oyelowo inspire us in the film Selma. That event, just as it is today, was not just about screening a movie. It was purposeful; it was to educate and promote peaceful conduct during and after the election.
I, therefore, must congratulate you for the part you all played in suing for peace in the midst of a then palpable fear for the very worst. Today, we have peace because of our collective desire and not in spite of it.
“Now that we have peace and duly elected governments across our tribally-diverse nation, Nigeria must now find a shared sense of purpose that defines her national vision.”
Today, Nigeria is faced with a similar dilemma. Do we continue to view one another as different people? Do we accept that we are a united nation or do we insist that we are an amalgam of different nationalities? Do we accept that we are Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa, Fulani, Kanuri, Bini, Kalabari, Ibibio, Tiv, Birom, Idoma, Efik or the many more tribal distinctions that exist in our country or do we accept that we are simply and proudly Nigerians?
All the great nations of our world today only became great because they purposed to do so as one people of one nation around an uncompromised system of shared values. Value systems that invariably included Equal Opportunity, Equity, Freedom, Justice, Peace, Progress and the Majority Principle”.
