Pastor Olumide Akinbobola is the presiding pastor of the Last Trumpet Bible Church, Koye-Oke, Olambe in Ifo Local Government of Area of Ogun state. The church celebrated its 15th year anniversary penultimate Sunday during the event, he took time to share his thoughts with EJIKEME OMENAZU on the state of the Nation and on issues ranging from Christian Association of Nigeria’s (CAN) National Prayers Day at the National Ecumenical Centre, in Abuja, 2023 general elections, among others. Except:

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) recently held a National Prayer Day for peace and unity towards the success of 2023 general elections during this election year. How do you see this development?

I see the national prayer as long overdue. The sacred book enjoined us to pray without ceasing, in season and out of season. The Abuja prayer meeting is in line with the will of God. In 1Tim 2: 1-2 God said that Christians should pray and make intercessions for all men, particularly for men in authority so that we may all lead a peaceable life. Nigerians need prayer more than ever with the wave of insecurity and reckless acts of terrorism in the country. In my opinion, both Muslims and Christians should engage seriously in petitioning God to intervene in the affairs of the country thing. It should extend to the six geo-political zones of the country. We must constantly remind God of our powerlessness and ask him to step in. Whatever is handed over to God is safe and secure.

Due to the controversies it attracted, would you say that the Muslim/ Muslim ticket (MMT) of All Progressives Congress (APC) did more harm than good for the country?

The Muslim/Muslim Ticket (MMT) of All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate in the forthcoming 2023 general elections is in bad taste, considering the polarity of religion in the country. It is a threat to Nigeria’s unity. However, we should not see it as a major issue in the 2023 general elections. This is because people who oppose the Muslim/Muslim ticket (MMT) can look to other parties as options.

Would you say that APC by insisting on Muslim/Muslim ticket has succeeded in dividing the Northern Christians who now see themselves as marginalised?

The Northern Christians should not see themselves as marginalised as long as they believe in whom they are serving. I see no reason why Muslim/Muslim ticket will divide them. It will unite them more going by the reaction of Northern Christians. Many Northern Christians in APC are resigning en masse to join other parties who fielded Christian/ Muslim ticket.

How do you see the move by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Pentecostal Felloship of Nigeria (PFN) to ensure massive Christian participation in 2023 general elections?


The move by CAN and PFN to ensure massive Christian participation in 2023 general elections is a wake-up call and it is step in the right direction. This is because faith without action is void. As we are praying to God to give us good leaders, we should also encourage Christians to get their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and vote for the right leaders. The Bible says: “Righteousness exalts a nation”. God has a part to play and we have our part to play. A man of God once said that putting everything on the shoulder of God is an irresponsible faith. We should go beyond prayers. We should encourage our Christian brothers and sisters to get their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and vote out bad leaders who are responsible for the catalogue of woes facing Nigerian people. The future of Nigeria is in our hands. The choice is ours. We should not tamper with the future of coming generation.

With the high rate of insecurity, hunger, killing, banditry, kidnapping, bad economy and dwindling value of naira, would you say that the current federal administration has fulfilled its mandate to Nigerians?

Without being bias, permit me to say that this is the worst administration in Nigeria’s history so far. They cannot be compared favourably with the past administrations. I came across the so-called manifesto of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2015 which says: Is the naira exchange of ₦250 to one dollar okay? They promised to bring a democratic change and we voted for them. They did not only bring economic hardship to Nigerians, they also brought insecurity, hunger, killings, kidnapping and dwindling value of naira. Nigerians have never experienced this kind of hardship before. They are in no way fulfilling the promises made to the Nigerian people since 2015.

What do you think the church should do to save the nation from more calamities in the years to come?

Number one, Nigerians should keep on praying to God. Let every pastor, Prophet and Evangelist enlighten their members on the need to vote for the right candidates. They should explain to them to know the importance of shuning inducement by politicians. Politicians will soon begin house-to-house campaigns, sharing foodstuffs and money. Some will be sharing ₦5,000, ₦10,000. They should not be carried away with their gifts. They should borrow a leaf from the Ghanaian electorate who rejected their politician’s foodstuffs and money.

Do you think the church has abandoned its core mandate of soul winning in favour of the pursuit of power money, miracles and worldly pleasures?

Let me say it in my mother’s tongue “tibi tire lada ile aye”. The earth is established with opposites good and bad, water and fire. In every action, there is an equal or opposite reaction. To be honest with you, there are some churches which are pursuing the core mandate of the church, which is, ‘Go ye into the world and be my witness’. But, they are few. There are also churches which are winning souls for Christ on a weekly and daily basis. There are still some churches investing in evangelism. But, because of the economic situation in the country, they are now abandoning their core mandate, thereby neglecting soul winning in favour of pursuing power, miracles and worldly pleasures.

AntiTerrorist:

independent.ng

JoeNL22:

Obi Is Cumin Into Aso Rock!.......Will You Cum With Him?

kk2027:
Tinubu called the holy communion which is the body of Christ poisoned and eaten by church rat

What insult can be higher than that?

Kagd10:
Best is for Shettima to be withdrawn for Lalong to ensure the ticket is balanced and federal character is included tbh. If I were him, that's what I would do. I mean, everyone has to be selfless here. Tinubu did for Osinbajo for example.

Besides, all the major candidates have got two zones. Atiku has NE and NW while banking on whatever votes he can get split from anywhere.

Obi has SE and SS while banking on whatever votes he can get from anywhere.

Tinubu has only got SW plus Kwara and then the likes of Yobe and Borno which aren't even up to a zone considering Atiku is contesting. So, what's Shettima persisting with exactly?

If Lalong is brought in, it would be SW plus NC. Then whatever votes votes he can get from anywhere else. And since everyone is included, a lot would join the pool, including some south South.

I hope Tinubu is not overlooking the South South and even the SouthEast and the ones in the North. These people should be involved. You need to bring them into the equation hence remove the double Muslim Muslim ticket.

Another reason why Lalong should come in is because of his chrt. Didn't even check it until later.

floret23:
For giving this sound and solid advice, you have committed treasonous offence in APC's delusional world. They have indefinite enmity with wisdom.

Kagd10:
Best is for Shettima to be withdrawn for Lalong to ensure the ticket is balanced and federal character is included tbh. If I were him, that's what I would do. I mean, everyone has to be selfless here. Tinubu did for Osinbajo for example.

Besides, all the major candidates have got two zones. Atiku has NE and NW while banking on whatever votes he can get split from anywhere.

Obi has SE and SS while banking on whatever votes he can get from anywhere.

Tinubu has only got SW plus Kwara and then the likes of Yobe and Borno which aren't even up to a zone considering Atiku is contesting. So, what's Shettima persisting with exactly?

If Lalong is brought in, it would be SW plus NC. Then whatever votes votes he can get from anywhere else. And since everyone is included, a lot would join the pool, including some south South.

I hope Tinubu is not overlooking the South South and even the SouthEast and the ones in the North. These people should be involved. You need to bring them into the equation hence remove the double Muslim Muslim ticket.

Another reason why Lalong should come in is because of his chrt. Didn't even check it until later.

Kagd10:


Says a zombidient.

Urheadmaster:


I'd prefer to cum on your mother punna