April 17, (THEWILL) – The Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, on Thursday urged the Nigeria Prays group and other Christian organisations in the country not to relent in their prayers for the peace and unity of the country.

Senator Ewhrudjakpo, who spoke during a courtesy visit to his office in Government House, Yenagoa by the leadership of the Bayelsa State Chapter of Nigeria Prays, noted that prayers had played a critical role in preventing the disintegration of Nigeria.

To this end, he commended Nigeria Prays, especially its founder and former Head of State, Gen Yakubu Gowon (retd.), for mobilising Nigerians for regular, fervent and result-oriented prayers for the nation.

Ewhrudjakpo told members of the group that their prayers for the nation were working, which was why Nigeria had not witnessed the kind of upheavals that took place in countries like Somalia, Rwanda, Sudan and others.

He said that the country needs more intensified prayers to sustain its unity and progress, in view of the challenges threatening its corporate existence and well-being.

The deputy governor particularly charged the state chapter of Nigeria Prays and churches to organise special inter-denominational monthly prayer programmes for Bayelsa and the entire country, preferably at the Bayelsa Ecumenical Centre in Igbogene.

He urged individuals and Christian groups to make use of the Ecumenical Centre, noting that the facility which is primarily built to promote the worship of God in the state is currently underutilised.

He said, “Let me use this opportunity to give Nigeria Prays a pat on the back and particularly to former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon for their efforts in mobilising Christians to pray for our country.

“I strongly believe that without prayers, Nigeria would have collapsed a long time ago. Your prayers and that of other groups are actually working for this country. If not, we would have had the kind of upheavals that took place in Somalia, Rwanda, Sudan and other countries.

“That is why we must not relent in fervently praying for the peace, unity and progress of our country because it is one of the potent efforts to keep it together.”

Speaking earlier, the State Coordinator of Nigeria Prays, Pastor Paul Obonaje, thanked the Bayelsa State Government for providing a befitting secretariat and supporting its 2020 prayer rally in the state.

He appealed to the government to fulfill its promise to provide a monthly subvention and to employ secretarial staff to man the Nigeria Prays office at the Ecumenical Centre.