By 'Gbenga Bankole
The General Evangelist of Christ Apostolic Church Worldwide, Prophet Hezekiah Oladeji has charged President Muhammadu Buhari to step up effort in combating crime, killing and kidnappings in the country.
The renowned Prophet made this known at the just concluded five-day 2018 CAC All Nations Holy Pilgrimage, with the theme “God of Our Fathers” that held at Odo Owa, Kwara State
Prophet Hezekiah at the programme sought prayers of the righteous against the new spate of bloodletting in the country, saying that the “Woman Like Deborah” programme of the church holding at Oke Erio between Wednesday and Saturday would be another opportunity for female Christians to pray for peace and development of the country.
The CAC General Evangelist, who expressed worries that kidnappings had continued unabated in the country also canvasses prayers for the revelation of the kidnappers and their backers.
He charged the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government to step up effort in combating crime especially the killings and kidnappings so that Nigerians could have sense of security wherever they are.
The church, which said every Nigerian is now a potential victim, appealed to the Federal Government to tackle the menace of kidnapping and killings, adding that Nigeria and many other nations were under the burden of bloodletting, cultism, drug abuse, s3xual immorality, corruption and violence of all kinds describing these as impediments to the advancement of the Christianity across the world.
The Chairman, Evangelical Committee of the programme, Pastor Olu Eyebiokin lamented that the reason why Nigerians have not enjoyed good governance had been that many of those taking positions of leadership were being guided by evil forces.
Owing to bad leadership, the cleric said: “Many nations including Nigeria have found themselves in the shackles of occultism, senseless bloodletting, s3xual immorality, drug abuse etc and these are ugly manifestations of the evil onslaughts.
“These crime are getting more horrendous by the day. Kidnapping for ransom and for rituals are becoming a commonplace that the entire populace are gripped with fear because everybody is a potential victim.
"What these tell us is that many people have been held captive by powers beyond them. There is therefore an urgent need to set these captives free in consonance to Isaiah Chapter 61 verse 1,” he said.
Eyebiokin added that the holy pilgrimage was so distinct in the sense that it was the first time the CAC will be coming up with such an evangelical programme to pray for the nation.
He expressed confidence that the God that gave womb to the barren will intervene in the affairs of the nation and solve all the crises bedeviling the church and the nation.
“I say without fear of contradiction that this programme is the first of its kind because what other churches have been organizing were mere conventions or conferences, but this one is a pilgrimage, which means some historical facts are attached and are worthy of being revisited by succeeding generations.
“This mountain where we are holding the pilgrimage was where God visited our father, Apostle Ayo Babalola and endowed him with power of holy spirit which made him God’s own battle axe and through his great exploits for the Lord, Christianity received a new impetus that we are enjoying today”, he added.
He said it was yet another opportunity for those afflicted to be liberated from their pangs if they believed in the power of God, regretting that inabilities of many of Nigerians to repose confidence in God necessitated the perpetual poverty and bondage in their lives.
The cleric thanked the men of God for their prayers for the nation and the sustenance of Pentecostalism in Nigeria, urging them to be steadfast in prayers until Nigeria attains greatness.
Eyebiokin praised the traditional rulers in attendance for displaying humility and attended the programme in spite of exalted position, saying this showed that they believe that God almighty is their creature. (NIGERIAN TRIBUNE)