President Bola Tinubu has urged Nigerians and the Methodist Church in Nigeria to remain steadfast in prayers for their communities, the nation, and her leaders.
Tinubu said that their prayers remained a source of strength and guidance.
The president said this during the 40th anniversary celebration church service of the Abuja archdiocese of the Methodist church held at the Methodist Cathedral of Unity Wuse Zone 5, on Sunday.
Represented by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, the President said: “I urge you, to remain steadfast in your commitment to prayer—not just for your communities but for our beloved Nigeria and its leaders. Your prayers are a source of strength and guidance as we navigate the complexities of governance”.
The president also called on the church to continue its work of service, outreach, and mission of compassion and to work hand in hand with the government, following the tenets of the Renewed Hope Agenda, to help create a Nigeria that will meet the collective aspirations of the citizenry.
According to President Tinubu, the challenges confronting Nigeria today require a united front saying: “Today, I call upon you to continue your service, outreach, and compassion mission. The challenges we face as a nation require a united front. Your church can be a platform for social transformation, where individuals come together to enact change, promote peace, and uplift the people.
“By working hand in hand with the government and embracing the tenets of the Renewed Hope Agenda, we can create a Nigeria that reflects our collective aspirations.”
Speaking on the church’s activities in its one hundred and eighty-two years of existence in Nigeria, President Tinubu said the church has been instrumental in promoting peace and unity in Nigeria through its messages promoting love, reconciliation, and understanding.
According to a statement issued by the Director Press, Office of the FCT Minister, Anothony Ogunleye, President Tinubu: “The Church has been instrumental in promoting peace and unity in our nation, and your messages promoting love, reconciliation, and understanding through the years have fostered dialogue among diverse communities, encouraging us to embrace our differences and work towards a common good’.
He also commended the Methodist church for its contribution to nation-building over the years through social, justice, education, and humanitarian outreach.
While congratulating the Abuja Archdiocese on reaching the 40th-anniversary milestone, the President urged congregants to reflect on the Methodist church’s impact on society and recommit themselves to the values of love and service that the church embodies.
Also speaking in a similar vein were former Head of State General Yakubu Gowon, former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, former Senate President David Mark and Minister of Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun.
In his message, the Prelate of the Methodist Church of Nigeria, His Eminence Oliver Ali Aba, called for support for the government, saying that the challenges currently being experienced will soon be a thing of the past.
