• Nigeria Will Be Great, If We Are United

President of the Nigerian Baptist Convention, Rev’d Israel Akanji, has said that the church, particularly the Baptist, has contributed immensely to nation building, especially in education and health.

Akanji disclosed this at a press briefing to herald its yearly Baptist World Alliance (BWA), which will hold for the first time in Lagos, Nigeria, with the theme: “Ambassador Of Peace.”

Numerating role the church played in alleviating poverty and contributing to the progress and growth of the nation, Akanji said: “We are training doctors, nurses, midwives, lawyers for the nation and that is our own way of contributing to nation building. We have a university where we train Nigerians in all areas to be of benefit to the nation. This is not new, we have always been doing this just that now we must do it more.”

He lamented lack of love among Nigerians and called on citizens to be agents of God’s peace and stop discriminating against one another, adding that God’s expectation is that Nigerians should relate well with all people, love all, irrespective of where they come from or the tribe.

He stated that any attitude that makes one to hate other human being is not the right attitude, even as he noted that Nigeria’s diversity should be seen as a source of strength, unity and not discrimination.

“All the discrimination, you are Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo, Gwari, Nupe, among others, should not be the major issue. Our differences should strengthen us and not divide us. So, let everybody be his brother’s keeper. Let’s love one another no matter where you came from. Let Christians and Muslims love one another and build a great country. No country in the world will be as great as Nigeria if we are united and we have peace,” Akanji said.

Akanji, who is also the President of All Africa Baptist Fellowship, also stressed the importance of security and why governments at all levels should tackle insecurity and ensure that there is peace in the land.

He said: “Some people are confusing our brains and minds, so that, this nation will not live peacefully. We have enough for everybody to have and be satisfied, but some people are so greedy and insatiable. They take the nation’s wealth and put it in other parts of the world and some times when they die and they leave hidden resources in that country. Why are they doing this to our nation?

“So, we want the hearts and minds of the people to change for good because a changed mind will definitely bring about a changed attitude. When the heart of men are changed for good, they will fear God and when they see how God himself loved us, they will show love to others.”

Calling on Nigerians to be patient with the federal government, the cleric urged political leaders to govern by example, saying exemplary government should be merciful and have ‘Samaritan spirit.’