Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, has urged
Christians in Northern Nigeria to imbibe the spirit of unity,
forgiveness and continuous prayers for the nation and it’s leadership.
He made the call during the official inauguration of the Congress of
Northern Nigerian Christians under the leadership of Professor Adamu
Baikie in Kaduna on Saturday.
Hon. Dogara, argued that unity is the most difficult challenge facing
the church at the moment and that it was for nothing that Jesus Christ
prayed for the unity of the church even at the point of crucifixion as
recorded in the Book of John 17:20-23.
He cautioned against emphasing denominational supremacy over and above
the unity of the church because Jesus Christ wasn’t a member of any of
the denominations saying, “anyone who is not fighting for the unity of
the church is fighting for the division of the body of Christ.”
Speaking on forgiveness, Hon. Dogara noted that, “forgiveness was
commanded in the scripture. You’ve to have the capacity to forgive
before you can also receive forgiveness.”
“As a church we must be prepared to forgive. We must, if we forgive,
what worries us will not worry us again. That is why I fully identify
with the vision of the founding fathers of this congress.”
“My charge to the founders of this congress is that they should
continue to work for the unity of the church and if the church in the
north is united the church in Nigeria will also be united.”
He also called on Christians to continue to pray for the peace, unity
and progress of the Nigerian nation. “We call on all of us to pray for
this nation. God has a purpose for Nigeria and no one can defeat God’s
plans until it is fulfilled. ”
“I urge you all to continue to pray for the leadership of this nation
from the top most; the President to the least political office
holders. It will be well with Nigeria.”