L-R: Proto Presbyter, Methodist Church Nigeria (MCN), Very Rev. Dr. Jonathan Osin; Bishop of Tinubu MCN, Rt, Rev. Dr. Omotayo Babalola; Prelate MCN, His Eminence Dr. Samuel Uche and his Wife Mrs. Florence Nneoma Uche; Prelate Chaplain, Very Rev. Jeremiah Shittu and the Rev. Chukwuemeka Madu , during the 2022 Easter Sunday Services by MCN in Lagos
By Odinaka Uruakpa
The Federal Government and appropriate authorities have been tasked to check the movement of people, especially foreigners coming into Nigeria, as they are advised to screen them (foreigners) at the point of entry, to avoid inflow of criminals and high rate of insecurity in the country.
The charge was given by Dr. Samuel Uche, Prelate, Methodist Church Nigeria (MCN), Sunday, April 17, 2022 while delivering his Easter message during the 2022 Easter Sunday Service held at MCN Lagos.
Uche advised the government to do all it could to mop up all weapons of various forms that had found their way into the hands of the wrong people.
Said he: “What I have said again and again is that government has to look at the free movement along Africa because I heard that people are free to come to Nigeria without visa. No. I say no. They should screen anybody coming into this country at the border. And they should mop up all the weapons, whether light or big weapons in the hands of wrong people, they have a way of doing it”.
The Prelate stated that the high level of insecurity in the country is a failure on the part of the government.
Ststed he: “No matter how they defend it, it’s failure on the part of the government. We have money. We have personnel. We have people to recruit to secure our nation, but it seems there is collaboration somewhere. I may be surprised that government will deliberately allow these things to happen. However, there’s an agenda, but that agenda will not succeed in Jesus name.
“So, if government wants to tackle insecurity, they will tackle it within two months, everything will stop. But now, I don’t know.
“We have a government. We went to ECOMOG, we went to Congo, we went to other places as Peace Keeping Force We went to restore peace in Sudan, and yet we can’t fight something inside us. It is very, very absurd. Our government should think twice because our patience is running out, if they don’t want Tsunami in Nigeria because there might be problem. Am not calling for problem, but they are forcing us to react. If everybody reacts, in fact, there will be no stability, and we are praying for government to be able to overcome our present predicament, our present challenges in Jesus name”.
However, the Prelate urged Nigerians to be hopeful that things will become better in the country, even in the midst of despair, as they celebrate Easter and the risen, Lord Jesus Christ.
Observed he: “In the midst of doubt, there is hope, in the midst of doubt, there is faith because our Lord Jesus Christ is reason. The enemy did their worst. They thought they had silenced him, but God granted him victory. God vindicated him, and he became the Lord of lords and the King of kings and unto him every knee shall bow, all tongues confess that he is Lord.
“Every part of the world, Jesus is being glorified. I tuned in to many stations this morning and everywhere was agog with Jesus; in foreign countries, in Nigeria, outside Nigeria. Jesus actually is the reason for the Easter. If he didn’t resurrect, there will be no Christmas. If he didn’t resurrect, there will be no Good Friday. We call the bad Friday good because Jesus Christ resurrected, which shows that there might be weeping at night, but there is always joy in the morning”.
Stating that the people may be passing along the tortuous tunnel of darkness atthemoment, he assured them that at the end of the tunnel, there will be bright light that will glitter for them.
Maintained he: “No matter the condition anybody is going through, there is hope, there is victory. I want to tell Nigerians to cheer up because our present predicament will be over very soon; very soon it will be over, God will bring a real change from him, not man’s change, his own change will come, and every Nigerian will be surprised and we will rejoice. God is a Nigerian”.
