By Donald Ugwu
The Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, on Sunday urged Nigerians to be prepared to make sacrifices to rescue the country from decay and make it great.
He said this in his address at the Interdenominational Church Service to mark the 18th anniversary of unbroken democracy in the country and two years of Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
“This nation requires men and women prepared to make the sacrifices that will make it great.
“Those men may not be leaders, they may not even be politicians and they may not even be priests and men and women of God,’’ he said.
Osinbajo recalled the story of the good Samaritan in the Bible to illustrate his message.
According to him, the story is not how the victim was beaten up or a story of who to blame.
He said it was a story of how different people reacted “when they saw a bruised and dying man, and how it is peculiar when one sees a nation that needs to be helped’’.
He recalled that a priest and then a Levite who was a ruler, politician and leader passed by and did not assist the victim.
He said the devout people were the men that Jesus spoke about in the story of the Good Samaritan, who could sacrifice and show compassion for the healing of the nation.
According to the Acting President, such people are found everywhere as teachers, doctors, young graduates whether employed of not who are ready to do something that will help the nation.
He said such Nigerians should stand against corruption and should not allow the nation to be ripped by fraud.
Osinbajo urged the people to be prepared to make such sacrifices when fighting corruption because the vice would also fight them back.
He, however, noted that there were people ready to take the risk in spite of the circumstances and difficulties.
He reminded the people that if they wanted to make the country to become a better place they must become like the good Samaritan.
“Whether you are small or big, a leader or a follower be prepared to make that sacrifice,’’ the acting president said.
Osinbajo then prayed for the healing of the country and President Muhammadu Buhari and that God should set the citizens apart to turn the nation around.
Earlier, the Founder of the Word Communications Ministries, Apostle Sunday Popoola, said that the country was in crisis because it lacked leadership for long.
He called for the strengthening of the country’s institutions, adding that the country’s responsibilities should meet with God’s ability for things to turn around.
The cleric said the people should first work hard and then pray to God rather than waiting for God to perform the magic for them.
He called on all to shun prejudices as the country was set to fulfil a divine purpose.
Popoola, who predicted that the nation would survive and become a world power in a few years, urged the people not to despair.
In the message, on the theme of the celebration `the dry bones shall live again’’ he said the amalgamation of Nigeria 100 years ago was part of the problems.
The cleric called on the government to revisit the decisions of the last national conference.
The Senator representing the FCT, Phillip Aduda, said the event was a milestone and congratulated the citizenry for sustaining democracy.
Aduda represented President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki at the event that was also attended by Speaker, House of Reps, Yakubu Dogara, CJN Walter Onnoghen and top government and military officials.
