Re-construct Churches, Institutions Destroyed by Insurgents, Buhari Urged

Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo

President Muhammadu Buhari has been called upon to, as a matter of urgency, rebuild and re-construct all churches and others institutions that were destroyed by insurgents in the North-east.

Addressing a press conference in Osogbo on the state of the nation and this year’s Pentecost Day Celebration organised by Bishop Mike Bamidele of the Victory Chapel International Ilesa, the Bishop noted that doing so would begin the healing process of the traumatised Christians populace in the North.

According to him it would be a good plus to the present administration if such action of re-building and re-construction is done.

Bamidele stressed that the federal government should go beyond reconstruction to rehabilitation, re-integration and re-conciliation. He equally urged the federal government to wade into issue of persecutions in which Christians in Nigeria is currently facing, saying that in recent times the religious extremists have been taking some Christians hostage and literally beheading them.
Bamidele noted that very few government officials rose up to condemn the act, like they readily do for other occurrences around the globe.

The clergyman stressed that in Northern states today churches are hardly given rights to own land and build churches, while it takes forever to get certificate of occupancy. He said all these issues requires attention if harmony as a peaceful federation will be enhanced.

Bamidele, who commended federal government on the efforts made to combat various crimes in the country, stressed that to overcome terrorism, kidnapping and ritual killings Nigerians need to “seek the face of the Lord in order to restore our lost glory as a nation.”

He however called on the Osun state government to as a matter of need to declare Pentecost Day as public holiday in the state to give room for religious understanding in the state.