Party defections, prayer answered – Cleric

Oswald Agwu

Amidst the myriads of challenges confronting Nigeria under President Muhammadu Buhari, ranging from religious to herdsmen killings and other forms of insecurity, an Ebonyi State clergyman, Rt. Rev. Onyeuwaoma Omoke, has predicted a positive turn- around in the fortunes of the country.
Addressing journalists during a church service to mark his 23 years post-ordination anniversary and his 53rd birthday, the cleric urged Christians not to despair in the face of current persecutions targeted against at them throughout the country, but to continue to pray for the President as a Biblical injunction.
Omoke noted that not even President Buhari or any other leader has the power to Islamize Nigeria or divide the country along religious lines, insisting that Nigeria was ordained by God.
The clergyman, who is the Moderator of the East Central Synod and the presiding Priest of the Saint Peter’s Cathedral of the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria, Abakaliki, advised Christians to be steadfast in prayer, adding that such attitude was the main weapon required to turn the heart of the President to the plight of Christians in particular and the citizenry in general.
Omoke stressed that the current political defections trending in the country’s political arena was a clear manifestation of divine permutation towards changing the social, economic and political fortunes of Nigeria
Describing the development as “prayer answered”, he predicted more defections.
His words: “My message to all believers is to remain steadfast.
“You see, we are carrying a cross and the symbol of the cross has to do with persecution and trials of faith.
“So I encourage all Christians in Nigeria to remain steadfast because he who has called us is faithful an he will sustain us, protects and preserve us.
“No matter what is happening in Nigeria, Nigeria is in the hand of God and no man whether from the North, South, East or West has any power to hand over this country to any demonic world.
“This Country belong to our God, the Almighty, and I want to assure you that He will preserve it.
“No Religion can tear this country apart.
“The Bible has urged us to pray for our leaders.
“With our knees we can change the President’s heart.
“I tell you the truth: We should forget what is happening and go on our knees and, inasmuch as the heart of the king belongs to God, God can change him.
“And of course, you know what is going on at present.
“That movement is answered prayers and more will still come.”
Omoke expressed his challenges over the years to include how to nurture people, make them feel happy and how to make them understand fully the ministry into which God has called him.
Earlier in a sermon titled: “The virtue of gratitude,” the State Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Rev. Father Abraham Nwali, admonished Christians to always show gratitude to God for life, security and the grace to overcome the challenges of life.
Enumerating peace, security, procreation among others as prerogatives of God bestowed on man gratuitously, Nwali observed that life was the greatest blessing of God to his creation, adding that absolute belief in God entails that amidst all challenges, believers should have recourse to God as the ultimate solution.
In their separate remarks, the Chairman of the event and Ebonyi State Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Senator Emmanuel Onwe, described the Clergy man as a blessing to the entire Christendom and a man reputed for humility, dedication and love for his parishioners.
In their goodwill messages, some of the parishioners, including a former Senator Anyim Ude, who represented Ebonyi South Senatorial District; the Chairman of the Planning Committee, Iyke Ogbo; and other prominent guests at the event, also described Omoke as a diligent and dedicated priest of God, urging him to “sustain the momentum.”