President Muhammadu Buhari has told the leadership of Cherubim and Seraphim Unification Church of Nigeria that their prayers will help him to emerge victorious in the coming election.
Playing host the group at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Friday, he commended them for upholding the administration and the government in prayers, particularly as the general elections approach.
“I am very grateful for this visit,” the President said. “God will answer our prayers. With your prayers, we will go into the field and be victorious. Your good intentions and prayers are appreciated. This is what is expected of institutions working for God.”
According to a statement issued by Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to the President (Media and Publicity), President Buhari said he was glad that the church lauded the good work being done by government in the areas of infrastructure, anti-corruption, and security, noting: “It will encourage us to do more. We have no other country than Nigeria, and we must do the best for her. I said it more than a generation ago. Thank you for identifying with our objectives.”
Leader of the delegation, His Most Eminence, Prophet (Dr) Solomon Adegboyega Alao, told President Buhari to remain resolute, particularly in the war against corruption, stressing: “We anticipate that corruption, which is killing Nigeria, may fight back, but you will prevail because majority of Nigerians are with you.”
The visitors asked the President to use his good offices to ensure the release of Leah Sharibu, being held captive by Boko Haram for refusing to renounce her faith; canvassed a level playing field for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct free and fair polls; and a consideration of the clamour for restructuring of the Federation.
Established in 1925, the Cherubim and Seraphim Unification Church of Nigeria is an umbrella body of all Cherubim and Seraphim Churches founded in Nigeria and in the Diaspora.
In the prepared text made available to State House Correspondents, Alao appealed to the President to consider restructuring of the country.
He added they were in the villa: “To appeal to Mr President to give a second thought to the unabated clamour for restructuring the country along the basics bequeath to us by the Nigerian founding fathers, the trio of Sir. Ahmadu Bello, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe and Chief Obafemi Awolowo, so that we could once again have true federalism (formerly Regional Federalism).
“This implies devolution of more powers to the states and reduction of the competition for the centre with the attendant consequences, and return the country to the basics before the intervention of the military in 1966.
“Posterity will never forget Mr President if you put the necessary machinery in motion in that direction within 18 months of your second coming, as we pray for your success in the forthcoming elections.
“To appeal to His Excellency to ensure that the INEC enjoys complete independence to give us free, fair and credible elections, such that the losers will have no reasons to challenge the results. Such credible results would vindicate Mr President’s victory at the 2015 polls.”
