• Commends Prayer Support Group

A clarion call has gone to Nigerians to always profess positivity about the country and its armed forces, and stop tales of ethnic and religious rivalry. This advice was given by His Royal Majesty, Oba Kamorudeen Ishola Animashaun, the Oloja of Epe Kingdom, during a courtesy visit by members of a media advocacy group, Prayer and Support for the Armed Forces and other Security Agencies. He commended the group for coming up with such a great initiative of supporting the security agencies by praying for them, while urging others to do same. “I am deeply touched by this group’s activities. Quite nice that we have people in the media who realised that our armed forces need support spiritually. I promise to pass on the message to our people in this town,” he said.

The monarch also commended the armed forces, while praying that Almighty God touch the hearts of the bad eggs among them. “We really need to pray for our security agencies because it is when they succeed that we are safe and can also have rest of mind.” He called for synergy among all security agencies, to truly achieve peace and security in the nation.

“Despite the fact that our military personnel have played major roles in various countries, using all resources at their disposal— human and capital— to restore peace in many nations, why are we still finding it difficult to restore peace in our country,” the group’s convener, Mrs. Mary Abayomi Fatile queried. She recounted the armed forces’ many feats in The Gambia and other countries.

Oba Animashaun, who received the group in the presence of his chiefs, reiterated the need for Nigerians to love one another to have a united nation. “Let’s stop the tales of woes, ethnic rivalry, negative tales. We should not allow people with evil mind to rule us or lead us astray. Let’s stop flaming anger and negativity,” he said. “It is, indeed, a great idea to have a group like yours that has self-consciousness to look at issues dispassionately.”

The group also paid a courtesy visit on the Commandant, Nigerian Army Ordinance School in Epe, Major General Adeyemi Alabi, who said prayer is very important and it being a cardinal strength of the nation cannot be overlooked. He urged members of the group to continue what they have started and be vanguard of the new generation of people ready to make the needed change, as security is everybody’s business. He, therefore, urged the populace to give security personnel necessary and useful information.

In her thank you remark, a member of the group, Hajia Sekinah Lawal, reiterated the need for unity of purpose and sincere prayers, as Nigerians have noted the challenges and successes recorded by security agencies in the ongoing fight against insurgents in the Northeast, and the lingering kidnappings and banditry across the country.

“As a group of media professionals, we believe we need to engage in mobilising Nigerians for special prayers and unique support for our gallant soldiers and other security personnel.”

As part of the group’s planned activities, there was a sensitisation talk with students of Yaba College of Technology, Epe Campus.

The students were reminded of the importance of security agencies in the society. They were also educated on security as a social contract, changing their perception of security personnel and treating them as heroes and heroines, while advocating oneness, cooperation and love among all security agencies for seamless operations, among others.

Another member of the group, Mr. John Obot of Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, FRCN, urged the students to be focused and shun drug abuse and cultism.

Fatile advised them to keep praying for the nation and the armed forces.

“As citizens, let us continue to say God bless Nigeria, and always have firm belief in the oneness of Nigeria.”

The group also participated in church services and Jumat prayers for awareness creation.