Peace in Benue, proof that God answers prayers — Osinbajo

Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo says the return of peace in Benue is a proof that God answers prayers.
Osinbajo said this while addressing congregants at the 15th National Biennial Delegate Conference of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria tagged `Benue-2019’ in Makurdi on Thursday.
He said the conference would not have come to fruition if peace had not returned to the state.
Osinbajo, who started with a praise and worship song, acknowledged that it was God that spared his life in the recent Helicopter crash.
He said: “It is a special pleasure to be here; I have a special reason to be grateful to God; I bring to you very warm greetings from President Muhammadu Buhari for a successful conference.
“My reason for being excited is because Benue, in many senses, is a proof that God answers prayers; it is a proof that Nigeria is in the hands of God.
“I have been here on three previous occasions; to sympathise with flood victims; to attend funeral of priests and thirdly to visit Internally Displaced Persons affected by the farmers/herders clash.
“All the three were occasions of mourning; of course, for those of us who know the history, Benue has had clashes, killings, farmers/herders clashes every year since 2011.
“Today, because of your prayers, prayers of saints, PFN is gathered here in a peaceful Benue.”
The vice president said families of the congregants would not have allowed them to attend the conference if tales of clashes and killings were still the case in the state.
He said the state which is the food basket of the nation, deserves prayers.
According to Osinbajo, it is righteousness that exalts a nation; hence the need for Christians to stand on the side of truth not that of corruption.
He urged PFN members to always love and pray for Nigeria.
The vice president told the congregants that there was need for them to also fast and pray for him.
PFN’s President, Rev. Felix Omobude, led the congregation on a special prayer session for Osinbajo.
Omubude assured Osinbajo that PFN would continue to pray for him.
Dr Cosmos Ilechukwu, the PFN National Vice-Chairman, South-East, said the fellowship had no fewer than 40 million members which he encouraged to exercise their franchise in the forthcoming election.
He called on stakeholders to ensure that the elections were free and fair, while urging security agents to respect human lives.
Governor Samuel Ortom, Chairman, Benue State Traditional Council, Tor Tiv, Prof. James Ayatse were among dignitaries who attended the conference.