By SAM EYOBOKA and OLAYINKA LATONA
WHILE many Nigerians, after a cursory look at Nigeria’s 51 voyage into nationhood, calling for somber reflection on how best to evolve quality leadership that will galvanise and translate the God-given abundant hu-man and natural resources into quality of life for the people, some others have perfected plans to role out, not just the drums, but red carpet to trumpet the arri-val of another Independe-nce Day.

So come Saturday, some Nigerians who still harb-our certain nationalistic feelings towards the nation will reflect on the false steps taken thus far, while those who cannot be both-ered about a nation that continually remind them of George Orwell’s Animal Farm, will go about their normal schedule unper-turbed.

Christ Embassy paints Nigeria green again

No doubt the mood of the nation as we app-roach its 51st independen-ce celebration, can best be described as gloomy—not so much for the pervading poverty in the land, but for the grinding state of in-security in every part of the country.

Resilience

Nigerians, known for their resilience, now go to bed each day with one eye open irrespective of their faith, not knowing what may spring up the next minute. In the North as well as the Southern part of the country, the fear of violent Islamic group, Boko Haram has suddenly become the beginning of wisdom.

Prophets have warned that when the old generation who should point the way forward, fail to be the mirror on the wall and despair becomes the hallmark of the younger generation who are push-ed to seek their salvation with fear and trembling without guide, the nation is in grave danger.

It was therefore a comic re-lief recently when Belie-vers Loveworld Ministries, better known as Christ Embassy, declared during a crowded Media Launch at the Grandeur Event Ce-ntre, Oregun in Lagos that there is yet hope for the nation’s citizens despite the growing army of unem-ployed youths who easily take solace in criminality in their quest to carve a niche for themselves.

Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, the charismatic founder of the church, sure knows how to attract the young folks. It was therefore not a surprise to see an enter-prising gospel crooners, ADA, Eben and arguably the nation’s most resource-ful gospel musician, Dea-con BUCHI electrifying the atmosphere of the event with their acts.

The ReachOut Nigeria campaign, celebrated on October 1 every year, is geared towards promoting a patriotic spirit among Nigerians. It involves free distribution of the daily devotional, Rhapsody of Realities to millions of people in addition to var-ious developmental proj-ects in all the states of the federation.

This year, according to the zonal pastor in charge of Lagos I, Pastor Lanre Alabi the church would distrib-ute 15 million copies of the devotional throughout the length and breadth of the country, pointing out that the gesture is in continua-tion of one man’s convict-ion that the best way to change the nation was to change the people.

He further stated that it is the belief of Pastor Chris that the best way to change the people was to draw them to God, which is what the church would do through the Rhapsody of Realities.

Also speaking, Fela Duro-toye, an acclaimed motivat-ional speaker, spoke of his association with Oyakhilo-me’s dreams and visions for Nigeria, saying that God had told him several years ago, and which has been confirmed by Pastor Enoch Adeboye and Mama Margaret Idahosa, that Nigeria would not die in 2015 as some prophets would want us to believe, but it would transform to become one of the world’s greatest nations by 2025.

Promote peace

and unity

He charged Nigerian you-ths to be more focused and engage only in activities that would promote peace and unity in the country.

Giving the breakdown of activities during this independence season, chairman of the ReachOut campaign and zonal pastor in charge of Lagos II, Pastor Valley Olu-Thomas said the church has expanded distribution channels by the introduct-ion this year of ROR in Ibo, Yoruba, Hausa languages and Pidgin English.

There will also be an edition for the young one between the ages of one and five and another for teenagers between the ages of six and 12 which will be distributed through the local churches across the country, all major eat-eries, filling stations, Po-lice stations and markets places.

This will be in addition to e-copies and audio format which can be downloaded.