Archbishop eulogises role of military in sustaining peace

Julius Ediwe, an archbishop and grand patron of the National Inter-Faith and Religious Organisations for Peace, has called for fervent prayers for the Nigerian military.

In a statement in Port Harcourt, Rivers state capital, on Monday, Ediwe called on every Nigerian, irrespective of religious affiliation, to intensify their supplication to Almighty God for “peace that will herald the start of longing prosperity for Nigerians”.

He also asked Nigerians to unite in one voice against those seeking to terrorise the nation.

His statement below:

I congratulate Nigerians across all faiths, particularly our Muslim and Christian faithful. I felicitate with us all because it the grace of God that has made us to celebrate today in a relatively more peaceful atmosphere than that of last year, which has strengthened my faith that it can only get better from here onwards.

The occasion has become a reminder of the great things that can be achieved together, whether in the spiritual or physical realm when we unite in prayers or work together as a nation ordained by God the almighty to be great.

The shining example of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), whose birth Eid-el-Maulud signposts, should be inspiration to us all irrespective of our creed. It should be a reminder that we can place humanity above selfish interest.

I use this time to call on Christians and Muslims all over the country to pray for the peace of Nigeria, pray for the Nigerian military, the troops and particularly the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen TY Buratai with all the other service chiefs that God will strengthen them in their determination to get rid of terrorism in the country. Let us plead with God to grant these men the kind of valour and exploits recorded by His Anointed as recounted in our scriptures.

In our recognition of the fact that only God gives victory, let use the occasion of this Eid-el-Maulud to intensify our supplication to the Almighty for President Muhammadu Buhari to win the peace that will herald the start of longing prosperity for Nigerians. Mr. President and the military need our prayers and support to defeat and conquer the remnants of terrorist elements in our country and all citizens irrespective of religion or creed are invited to pray for our country.

As we pray for them we must also match our prayers with positive actions for the good of the land. I urge us all to erase our political divisions same way we are beginning to recognize the place of harmony across religious faiths so that we can collectively stand against that which is not right.

We must thus unite and with one voice denounce those that seek to terrorize us because violent extremism poses a great threat to both Islam and Christianity and only total submission to the Almighty God can rescue the nation.

We must therefore, similar to the way we evangelize to win converts to our faiths, begin to preach peace and win converts for the peace of Nigeria so that more and more Nigerians will understand the need to contribute to the defeat of terrorism and extremism.

I pray that the good things God is doing through the Nigerian Army and its leadership that are the instrument of restoring peace shall be permanent.
God bless Nigeria.