Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has warned Nigerians not to blame God if peace eludes the country. Rather, they should blame themselves.
He therefore, enjoined them to continue working for peace as the 2019 general elections draw nearer, expressing his belief that the coming year would truly be a year of blessings for all and sundry in the country.
Obasanjo, spoke on Sunday evening during the 2018 Christmas Carol and Service of Six Lessons organised by the Chapel of Christ the Glorious King (CCKG) situated inside the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL), Abeokuta, the State capital.
While expressing his joy at the Carol and Service of Six Lessons, Obasanjo, decried the situation of things in the country, describing it as worrisome.
He however, expressed optimism that with the right action, Nigeria will regain its lost glory, insisting; “we had it before, there is no reason not to have it again.”
In a statement by Special Assistant (Media) Kehinde Akinyemi, the former president said: “National peace is very important in view of the growing insecurity in the country.
“The situation is getting worrisome by the day. I was in Kaduna and I thought that the story would be different. The people there said insecurity, kidnapping and killings are happening.
“If peace eludes us, it is not an act of God, but our making. That is why I am happy that our Bishop in his sermon also talked about peace. This is the appropriate time to talk about peace; this is the season of peace.
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“It will be a year of blessings for each one, and particularly for Nigeria. When people come to me and say they are giving up on the country, I tell them no and that next year is a year of blessings for all.
“With right statements and right actions, people will be trooping back into the country. We had it before; there is no reason not to have it again.”
Earlier, the in his sermon, the Archbishop of the African Church, Ogun Province, Abeokuta, Most Revd. S.O.B. Ojumu had also exhorted Nigerians to embrace peace during this festive period and as the general elections draw closer.
He particularly called on politicians to make peace their mainstay while seeking political offices, ensuring that they do away with self-interest on getting to office.
The bishop commended Obasanjo for his peace-building role in Nigeria and beyond.
Some of the dignitaries in attendance at the Carol included the Deputy Governor of Ogun, Mrs. Yetunde Onanuga who represented Gov. Ibikunle Amosun, Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Taiwo Adeoluwa, members of Owu Traditional Council as well as the campaign team of the governorship candidate of African Democratic Congress, ADC, Prince Gboyega Nasir Isiaka.
