Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, said all victims of coronavirus who survived the deadly virus should be of grateful to God, adding that all souls who witness the new year should as well thank God for His mercies.
Penpushing reports that, Obasanjo stated this on Saturday at the second annual Thanksgiving service of the Christians Association of Nigeria (CAN), Ogun State Chapter held at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta.
The former President, who was full of praises to God for sparing his life in view of the coronavirus pandemic, noted that the virus posed serious threat to humanity in 2020, stressing that he would continued to serve God.
Penpushing further reports that the Asiwaju Onigbagbo of Ogun State pointed out that for him to have also survived the immediate past years, was grace of God, and not that because he was more righteous or cleverer than any of those that was swept away by the pandemic in Nigeria, Africa and the rest of the world.
The former President said he was convinced that God purposely kept him alive to serve Him and humanity more and more, stressing that outgone year 2020 worth celebrating, adding that every living souls should not be an ingrate to God’s love for them.
“It is our duty to give thanks to God. You will be the most ungrateful person if you do not perform the duty of giving thanks to God. In all circumstances, give thanks. Therefore, if you fail to give thanks, you are failing a very significant duty of yours as a Christian’, he said.
“Last year 2020,its a very challenging year not only for us in Nigeria , not only for us in Africa, but for the whole world. The fact that you are alive call for giving thanks to God. It doesn’t matter which way you look at it, that those who you know as a result of Covid-19 are no more here with us not because you are better than they are, more knowledgeable than they are, it’s just by the grace of God’.
“And if God gives you that grace, to still remain on earth, maybe for a purpose and I believe part of the purpose is for you to continue to serve humanity and to serve God. You cannot be a servant of God if you cannot give thanks to him. The purpose of being here is to perform our duty as Christians, by giving thanks to God.”
The Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria(CAN),Bishop Akin Akinsanya earlier in his welcome speech noted that year 2020 was the year of ‘lockdowns ,nose masks and sanitizers’, explaining that the annual thanksgiving service was designed to honour Obasanjo as the Asiwaju Onigbagbo of Ogun State .
Penpushing also reports that, he called on citizens to always show gratitude to God for keeping them alive despite the virus, which continued to rule the world for surviving COVID-19 pandemic last year
The National Vice President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Bishop Reuben Olu – Oke in his sermon admonished Nigerians to emulate the former president, who he said is addicted to praising and worshipping God.
Meanwhile, some notable dignitaries at the event include the Olu Ibara , Oba Jacob Omolade ; the Iyalode of Yorubaland , Iyalode Alaba Lawson, as well as number of clergymen across the state and beyond
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