President, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oristejafor, has said that most of the challenges confronting the country were self-inflicted with corruption and terrorism top of the bill.
Oritsejafor made the statement in a sermon at an inter-denominational church service at the National Ecumenical Centre, Abuja, to mark the country’s 54th Independence Anniversary coming up on Wednesday.
He noted that corruption and terrorism, which he described as ‘the greatest’ problems facing the country were created by greedy politicians and extreme religious ideologists.
According to him, corruption is fed by greed, which in turn is rooted in poverty mentality. He defined poverty mentality as the thinking that what one had was not enough.
Oristejafor differed with the school of thought that terrorism was caused by poverty.
According to him, terrorism is caused by extreme religious ideology.
The CAN president, who based his message on Mark 4:35 to 41, said that Nigeria was a boat built by God that could never sink.
He said that as Jesus calmed the storm that threatened the boat conveying Him and His disciples across Lake Galilee, God would take the country through its current challenges and restore peace to the land.
Oristejafor warned trouble-makers to either repent and retrace their steps or be ready to face God’s judgment.
NAN reports that Hon. Justice Walter Onoghen, took the First Reading drawn from 1 Samuel 30:1-19.
The Second Reading, taken from Mark 4:34-41, was taken by the President of the Senate, David Mark.
Other dignitaries who attended the service included the wife of the president, Patience Jonathan; the president’s mother, Mrs Eunice Jonathan and former military Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (rtd).
Chief Ernest Shonekan, Head of the Interim National Government; top federal government functionaries, Service Chiefs, state governors, members of the clergy, among others, also attended the service.
Source: PMNews
