Primate Urges Prayer Against Kidnapping, Banditry

• The cleric, who marks his one-year anniversary as the primate, urged Nigerians and religious leaders never to despair but be more fervent in prayers to secure unity and peace for the nation.

The Primate of the African Church, His Eminence Julius Abbe, has called on Nigerians to pray against the ravaging kidnapping and banditry in the country.

Abbe, the 12th Primate of the African Church, made the call during his primatial visit to the African Church Bethel Cathedral, Ikorodu, Lagos on Sunday.

He said that peace and unity were important for any nation to survive.

He lamented that the unity of the country was being threatened due to banditry and kidnapping.

“As we celebrate my one year on the throne as the primate of the church, I want the people of God to be more devoted to Him so we can overcome insecurity in the land.

“We should love one another and continue to pray for the government, the military and other security agencies because we have no other nation that we can call our own.

“So, let us continue to do the needful that would keep us together as one people and for us to seek the welfare and wellbeing of one another in this country,’’ he said.

Also speaking, the Bishop of the Missionary Diocese, Revd. Hezekiah Adetoro told newsmen that the primate visit was special to the church because it coincided with the commemoration of his one year in office.

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Adetoro urged members to team up for the furtherance of the gospel of Christ Jesus, urging them to live in peace and ensure they propagate the gospel of the Lord.

The bishop also spoke on the need to build more churches.

“Presently, we have few churches under this diocese, which is one of the prerequisites to becoming a full-fledged diocese.

In his remarks, Mr Odofin Obayan, the church’s Vice Lay President, said the church plans to get elevated to a full-fledged diocese by February 2022.

Obayan said the primate’s visit was episcopal, adding that the visit was to check on how the church was doing in spiritual work.

“It is the first of its kind since his ascension as the primate and we use this to publicise the church more and that we still exist as a united vineyard of God.

“Presently, the status of the church is a missionary diocese and we are planning to expand the scope to a full-fledge diocese.

“This is because by the African Church constitution, to become a diocese you must have at least three archdioceses.

“As of now, we only have two,’’ he said.

Obayan said the church has, from now till the end of the year, grow its strength to have additional two archdioceses.