The President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, on Wednesday
dismissed fears in some quarters over next year’s general elections.
Oritsejafor said the elections will be Nigeria’s turning point.
The CAN president, who gave the assurance in his New Year message to Nigerians, acknowledged that although there are challenges, every challenge has its expiry period.
According to Otitsejafor: “Many have alluded to the fact that the 2015 general elections would throw Nigeria into chaos but as a man of faith, I see the election as Nigeria’s turning point.”
Pastor Oritsejafor harped on the need for the nation’s leaders to be wise and courageous in their decisions in the coming year in view of the fact that the challenges are becoming multifaceted from insecurity to crashing oil prices and many others.
His words: “I see a lot of positives and opportunities in the midst of these challenges and those are what I want Nigerians to absorb in their hearts.
“The year 2015 may seem quite challenging for Nigeria but it is one that equally holds a lot of hope and promise that could lead to the fulfillment that we have all yearned for.
“So I disagree with the wide spread projections about 2015, whether in terms of security, infrastructure, politics and the economy; man is not God. I believe that 2015 might just be that year in which Nigeria’s socio-economic revolution will be actualised.”
The clergyman thus called on Nigerians to brace up for the challenges ahead.
His words: “As we prepare to usher a brand new year 2015, I urge all Nigerians especially Christian faithful to brace up for the challenges ahead of us both as individuals and as a nation.
“As we reflect on the events of the past year and look forward to the times ahead, I want us to concentrate on the issue of overcoming. In this light, it is important to emphasise the postulate that all challenges are timely, and they are not accidental.
“‘That which does not kill us makes us stronger’ – these words of the famous philosopher demonstrate that we are the instruments in the hands of God. Remember, how many times you thought that this was the hardest thing you’ve ever done. Then you experience something even harder, and you understand that you became stronger. Now you can endure even more. This is the eternal process of human development.”
Oritsejafor charged all and sundry to approach the New Year with a renewed sense of vigour and the understanding of working for the kind of the society that everyone desires to have.
“If we want peace and prosperity then we must work for it and not lament over the challenges,” he said.