By Eric Ochigbo and Emmanuel Oloniruha
A PDP Chieftain, Chief Emmanuel Ogidi, says his greatest desire is for the younger generation to inherit a peaceful, secure and prosperous Nigeria.
Ogidi, a former PDP National Vice-Chairman (South-South), stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sidelines of his Special Thanksgiving Service to mark his 70th birthday on Sunday in Abuja.
Reflecting on his milestone age, Ogidi expressed profound gratitude to God for preserving his life.
“Today, I am thanking God for the gift of life, especially having gone in for surgery and come out alive. It is purely the goodness of God. This thanksgiving is my way of acknowledging His grace,” Ogidi said.
When asked about his vision for the country, the elder statesman recalled a more stable past and urged a collective return to peaceful coexistence.
“Nigeria should be peaceful again. I hope to see a better Nigeria because I had seen a better Nigeria in the past.
“My hope is that those coming up now should enjoy the kind of Nigeria we once enjoyed. That is what we pray for,” he said.
Addressing the youth on preparation for leadership and longevity, Ogidi emphasised the indispensable value of integrity.
“As for young people, they must have integrity. It is only with integrity that Nigeria can be a better place. They should not emulate leaders or elders who lack integrity.
“Instead, they should draw inspiration from those who walk with uprightness. That is the only way to build a better society,” he added.
He also advised Nigerian youths to be committed to Project Nigeria, including getting actively involved in the 2027 general elections to elect credible leaders at all levels.
Earlier in his sermon, Joshua Fregene, former Vice-Chairman, Laity Council of GKS Church, Dakibiu, Abuja, emphasised the need for credible leaders in the country.
Fregene who represented the Zonal Pastor, Kingsly Eriferi, attributed Nigeria’s socio-economic challenges to lack of love and selflessness.
While calling for selfless and genuine love among leaders, he cited I Corinthians 13 to advise leaders to rule with love and fear of God, saying God created man to fear Him and to do His will.
According to him, when men fear God, they can exercise His love and ensure selfless service to humanity.
“Once we can achieve this, Nigeria will blossom. That is why we continue to encourage politicians to exhibit the fear of God and to be different.
“By the grace of God, we will have credible leaders that will make this country become what all of us envisaged,” he said.
Speaking on the nation’s prevailing security challenges, Fregene said that it could be effectively checked if government could leverage technology, enhance manpower and strengthen governance institutions.
“Terrorists and kidnappers are a minority, but it is the institution of governance that will ensure they remain the true minority that they are,” he said.
He advised government to recruit more security personnel and deploy more technology to address issues of insecurity.
Fregene also advised Nigerians to be of one accord, show compassion to one another and follow the example of Christ, especially in love, to foster national unity.
On his relationship with the celebrator, Fregene said that he grew up with him in Delta, adding that had known him to be a generous and charitable individual for many years.
He congratulated Ogidi for clocking 70, expressing joy for the goodness and mercies of God in his life and wished him many more happy years in good health and sound mind.
A lawmaker, Benedict Etanabene, representing Okpe/Sapele/Uvwie Federal Constituency of Delta in the House of Representatives, congratulated Ogidi for attaining the age in contemporary Nigeria.
According to him, reaching such a milestone in the face of current socio-economic pressures is a testament to divine grace.
“Before, when people got to 70, we took it for granted that life was easy. But now in Nigeria, if you hit 70, it is a thing of great joy.
“I call on Nigerians to join me in prayers for Ogidi, wishing him continued divine protection, sound health and more fruitful years ahead,” Etanabene said.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
OBE/CCN/WAS
Edited by Chinyere Nwachukwu/’Wale Sadeeq
