The Presiding Bishop, Rhema Christian Church and Towers, Dr. Taiwo Akinola, has called on all aggrieved parties in the country to sheath their swords, especially with the outcome of the Supreme Court ruling, and work together with the government to move the nation forward.

Speaking at the Rhema World Press Conference held at Champion Peace Cathedral, Temidire, Sango-Ota, Ogun State, to unveil the Rhema World Convention 2023, the Bishop urged governement to make concerted efforts to improve the nation’s fiscal and trade policies to shore up the naira and check its consistent downward slide, stressing that there is the need to increase foreign reserves through a proactive trade policy, reduce appetite for foreign loans and boost local production to make the nation to depend less on importation of goods, including refined petroleum products.

Commending government for the nation’s Q3 economic report, which stated that nation’s GDP rose by 2.5 per cent below the 3.5 per cent growth in 2022, but better than the Q2 figure of 2.1 per cent, he said this minimal growth was driven mainly by the non-oil sectors with the top-contributing sectors being agriculture (23%), trade (16.8%), and telecommunications (16.06%), adding that these sectors grew by 1.5%, 2.4% and 9.7%, respectively.

He said: “It gladdens the heart to note that the non-oil sector performance was powered by the agriculture and trade sectors. Although the figures are not really cosy, it is a good starting point and with more strategic policies put in place to reset the faulty economic structure, the economy will improve for good.”

With“Looking Unto Jesus,” taken from Isaiah 45:22, as the convention’s theme, Bishop Akinola disclosed that this year’s gathering will bring to attendees a new level of intimacy with God.

“We believe God is going to use it to bring dramatic solutions to all our life’s challenges, and usher in a fresh power of divine interventions in all areas of our national life. We extend our invitation to all, believing that whatever miracle anyone desires is possible by the power of God. We have model camping facilities with free meals for all the registered attendees from the beginning to the close of the convention.”

Holding at the church headquarters, Lagos-Abeokuta, Expressway, Temidire, Sango-Ota, Ogun State, from November 5 to 12, the eight-day event will feature many seasoned gospel ministers including, Rev. Kunle Adesina, Rev. Kayode Kolawole, Bishop Victor Akilla, Bishop Biodun Akinteye, Bishop Peter Adio Obanijesu from South Africa, Bishop Israel Alaya, Bishop Michael Adewusi.

Others are Pastor Sina Olufade, Pastor Femi Gbenjo, Pastor Rotimi Somuyiwa, Pastor Tofunmi Opaleye, aside celebrated gospel artistes comprising Adeyinka Alaseyori, Ayan Jesu among others.

Opening on Sunday, November 5 with anniversary lecture at the church’s headquarters and, thereafter, the great opening ceremony by 5:00pm the same day, the convention has doses of spirit-filled programmes from morning till night each day.

The yearly Hosanna Night, an explosive night of high praise, power, worship and wonders will hold on November 10 from 8pm, while others will hold as follows: Morning Prayer Rain (6am), Encounter Miracle Service (10am), Ministers’ Conference (12noon) and Evening Word Feast/Miracle Rally (5:00pm) and will round off with the yearly Family Thanksgiving, communion, ordination and commissioning service at 9:00am on Sunday at the same venue.

Still on the state of the nation, Akinola observed that many Nigerians are suffering and called on government to mitigate the situation by coming up with some solid sustainable relief measures to cushion the adverse effects of the situation.

He said: “The plan to transfer N8,000 per month for over six months to 12 million households across the country, which seems to have been designed to relieve the burden of the new economic regime on the most disadvantaged was paused along the way, thus sending wrong signals to the people. Certainly, this form of palliative is not out of place at all.

After all, so many countries in the western world are always looking for ways to support their citizens with some kind of relief, like gas support palliatives, social security and others. Nothing should stop this government from equally devising ways of ameliorating the sufferings and hardships that millions of Nigerians are being forced to bear within this short period.”