At Easter, minister, clerics preach security, repentance

Minister of Women Affairs, Dame Pauline Tallen, has urged Nigerians to be security ambassadors and report any suspicious activity or movement to stem the tide of insecurity in the country.

She enjoined parents to support the government in its efforts to rid the nation of insecurity and domestic violence by giving their wards good upbringing.

The minister said: “Security is not just the work of those in uniforms, security should be everyone’s business. If you see something around your neighbourhood, say something, report to the police, give the right information, and expose the evil ones within you. Gender-based violence is so prevalent, young girls and women are being beaten to death because neighbours are not speaking.”

Former Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, advised Christians to join politics.

He said even though the political arena had been hijacked by professional politicians, manipulative of the system, the cleric urged Nigerians to be resilient.

GENERAL Overseer of The Lord’s Chosen Revival Ministries, Pastor Lazarus Muoka, at the weekend, implored Christians to seek genuine repentance.

He made the appeal at his church’s two-day Easter retreat themed, “Covenant and Blessings” in Lagos.

The cleric advised that the whole world must repent of homosexuality, fornication, abortion, cultism, adultery, malice, covetousness, unforgiveness, lies, pride and anger, adding that “heaven is real, and hell fire is real.”

He cautioned: “Amend your ways. Tomorrow may be too late. Eternity is near. God is angry, and he is about to judge this generation.”

Muoka observed that many pastors “are preaching how to prosper and make money nowadays, but Christians must ask for God’s mercy.”

He deplored the widespread corruption in public service, stressing that the development had hampered Nigeria’s growth.

SIMILARLY, the Regional Overseer of Apostolic Faith Church, Jabi, Abuja, Rev. Festus Oniyide, yesterday, maintained that the only way out of current challenges facing the country was genuine repentance.

Speaking at the church’s 2022 Easter concert, with the theme, “I gave my life for thee,” in Abuja, Oniyide warned that the direction Nigeria is currently toeing would not help anyone, adding that the most populous nation needs to go back to God and begins to do the right thing to salvage self.

He said: “The reason Jesus laid down his life was to redeem mankind from sin. We need to pray so that God can deliver the country from all its problems. We need to return to God because if we continue the way we are going, it will not help anyone.”

The minister urged Nigerians not to allow the current adversity distract them from praising God.