Nigerians in Ireland have been urged to “emphasise the positives” to help raise their country to greater heights.
A senior Minister in the Nigerian Embassy in Ireland made the call at a special prayer session in Dublin in advance of Nigeria’s 50th anniversary of independence on 1 October.
The non-denominational Pray for Nigeria Conference, held at the Redeemed Christian Church of God’s Jesus Centre in south-west Dublin, was attended by a cross section of Nigerians, including Anglican and Pentecostal pastors.
“Reject every negative thing somebody says about Nigeria,” said Ben Amobi, who represented Nigerian Ambassador Kemafor Chikwe. “Don’t condemn your country; lift it up and it will become great.”
Amobi said contrary to negative portrayals of the country, “every good thing flows from Nigeria; everything that comes out of that country is one of the best,” adding that it has abundant natural resources that many countries want to benefit from.
On the recent change of leadership following the death of President Umaru Yar’Adua, Amobi praised him as “the only Nigerian president who publicly declared his assets” and for opening up the country’s political sphere “by adhering to the rule of law.”
He added that his successor Goodluck Jonathan has all the qualities needed to turn things around for good, and prayed for God to grant him the wisdom to “pursue all good policies that will make Nigeria great”.
Amobi concluded by urging Nigerians in Ireland to strongly support the new president by flying high the nation’s flag.
“We are ambassadors for Nigeria, and we should project the best of Nigeria,” he said.
Pastor Tunde Oke of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) Ireland told the conference that “God is deeply passionate about Nigeria” and said he expected the country to produce positive things that “would change the world”.
Dr Anthony Eziashi of Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries was similarly effusive, saying that with Nigeria’s abundance resources “no Nigerian should suffer”.
He noted how previous leaders had “stolen its wealth” in the past, but prayed for the glory of Nigeria to return “so that only righteous people who would work for the interest of Nigerians would take positions of leadership in the country”.
His views were shared by Pastor Kunle Daniel of RCCG Ireland, who asked God to put fear in every Nigerian the world over to stop “crafty” people from leading the nation.
Conference organiser Pastor Triumphant Ighedosa of Citizen of the Kingdom Ministries urged Nigerians to see beyond problems and focus on the greatness of their country, which he said could one day “take the place of the United States of America”.
He maintained that Nigeria is being attacked by the international community because “it is about to take its rightful position in the world”.
