One hundred days of the abduction of students of Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State by the Boko Haram sect was marked by the Delta State Government with a solemn assembly where prayers were offered for their safe release.
Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan at whose instance the service was held at the Government House Annex, Warri on Tuesday used the occasion to call for prayers against drum beats of war in the country.
Dr. Uduaghan cautioned against acts and utterances that have the potential to plunge the country into crisis and war, warning that war in Nigeria could throw the entire West Africa region into serious humanitarian crisis.
“What we should not do is to politicise what is happening in the country today because if there is crisis in Nigeria, a country of more than one hundred and fifty million people, it will affect the whole of West Africa. We must never pray for war, we must never encourage those who are at war against us,” Dr. Uduaghan said.
He decried some reactions trailing activities of Boko Haram sect noting, “Nigeria is a place where almost everybody is an expert in every field. Please, we should manage our expertise in the best way to check Boko Haram.”
The Governor urged Nigerians to pray for President Goodluck Jonathan, stating, “You might not understand what it means to be in leadership position in the time of crisis until you are in such position.”
“We should always use Psalm 23 to pray for President Goodluck Jonathan and we should ask, Boko Haram, what do they want?” the Governor Uduaghan said.
Revd. Justin Okoroji in a sermon called for prayers for peace by Nigerians rather than criticism, adding that with humility of heart by the citizenry, God would hear their prayers and the abducted Chibok girls would be released.
“The government of Nigeria should do everything to check unguarded and inciting utterances,” Revd. Okoroji said, adding, “God is interested in the peace of this nation and today we call on God to liberate these girls, we call on God to liberate our nation.”
At the solemn assembly which was attended by the state’s Deputy Governor, Prof. Amos Utuama (SAN), Senators, members of the state House of Assembly, traditional rulers, politicians and the general public, prayers were offered for Nigeria, Delta State, President Goodluck Jonathan, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan and for the speedy release of the abducted girls.
