By Titilayo Oreofe
Prophet Timothy Arabambi, General Overseer of Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) Reformation Land (Ile-Atunse Special District Headquarters) Olunloyo, Akanran Road, Ibadan, has called for peace, love and tolerance among Nigerians in the spirit of Independence celebration.
Arabambi appealed to the nation’s leadership to return to the vision of Nigeria’s founding fathers, for better integration and speedy development.
The general overseer, made the call in his sermon to celebrate the 63rd Independence Day, on Sunday in Ibadan, with the theme: “Where Have We Find Ourself?”
Arabambi assured that Nigeria will get better, quoting from Gen 3 vs 8-10, said, If my people who are called by my name, humble themselves, and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and heal their land.
He identified sins of all forms, corruption, greed, indiscipline and disobedience to the word of God as the causes of the present socio-economic realities confronting the country.
The cleric also regretted that Nigeria is suffering from self-induced poverty, brought upon the people by successive leadership, which never had the care of the people at heart.
“Despite the abundant natural and human resources, many infrastructural facilities have broken down, power supply not stable, roads across the country are in terrible shape, occasional fuel scarcity, hospitals not fully equipped, unemployment is on the increase and so on.
He advised Nigerians, from the leaders to the followers to turn away from their wickedness, for God to heal our land, for righteousness exalts a nation, but, sin is a reproach to any land.
“So, we must all return to God and work for the progress and development of the land and shun vices capable of derailing the nation’s quest for advancement.
“If all of us can go back to the word of the Bible, God will refill his glory on all of us, with divine comfort, while the ministers of God, should also preach the true messages of God, to the church and the nation as a whole, and further open the eyes of the people to Biblical doctrines, principles, ways of life and true way of God.’’
The clergy decried a situation whereby division among Nigerians along ethnic and religious lines was getting wider.
He said the division needed to be corrected by the nation’s leadership, noting that several Nigerians were no longer enjoying the freedom, liberty and unity that the founding fathers fought for during independence.
The general overseer, urged the three tiers of government to work together to make the various institutions work and make both leaders and citizens accountable, to attract speedy development to the nation.
He appealed to President Bola Tinubu to intensify his fight against corruption and make it all-inclusive, for Nigeria to be great again.
Arabambi appealed to the President to evolve programmes that would unify all Nigerians.
The cleric said Nigeria is a secular state and all religions had the right to propagate their beliefs, as the people have a free will.
He said that the theme of the sermon, reading from Genesis 3 vs 8-10 was to create awareness on the real freedom that only Jesus offers, including kingdom expansion.
Highlights of the Independence service in the church was choir ministrations and special prayers for the nation.