Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo has warned Nigerians to resist the temptation of asking to be returned to the era of the past characterised by corruption and ethnic conflicts.
In his remarks at the 2018 Democracy Day Interdenominational Church Service held at the National Christian Centre, Abuja, Osinbajo said the current national challenges that were making some Nigerians to call for a return to the pre-2015 era were designed by God to strengthen them.
He explained that when God put individuals or nations on a journey to destiny, He did not tell them the challenges inherent in the trip, lest they would refuse to embark on it.
Quoting extensively from Exodus 14: 10 to 15, the Vice-President likened Nigeria’s current challenges to the children of Israel wilderness’ journey that was tough, difficult and fearful.
He said like some Israelites did at a point, Nigerians might be faced with the temptation of wondering why they were not left to remain in the captivity of the past.
Osinbajo said his message for Nigerians at such critical point in the nation’s history was for them to go forward and refuse to turn back because “the challenges they see today won’t be seen again.”
He said, “As it was with the journey of the Israelites, so it is in the journey of nation-building and development. Our nation is not different. We are on a journey from the past.
“There have been times where the journey is somewhat tough, difficult and even fearful.
“We looked behind us, we see the armies of the past: the armies of division which led to civil war where many of us died; the armies of religious strife that refused to leave us; the armies of corruption and graft; those who want us to remain in the captivity of ethnic and religious conflicts, these are the armies of the past.
“But ahead of us, we also see the Red Sea – bloody conflicts and the doom sayers saying the future will be worse than the past.
“And then the people say, ‘Why did you take us from where we were?’ The same people who cried in anguish to the Lord, now say, ‘You should have left us in the past, you should have left us; we didn’t know you were taking us out of captivity to kill us in the wilderness.’
“And like Moses, the leadership say, ‘What shall we do, oh Lord? We didn’t expect that this will be a journey to destruction.’ Then God said to Moses, God speaks to the leadership of Nigeria, ‘Why do you cry to me? Tell the children of Israel, tell the children of Nigeria, go forward, go forward, don’t turn back.’
“Moses, inspired by God, said to the children of Israel to go forward. He also said, ‘Do not be afraid, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians you see today, you shall see no more forever. He will fight for you and you shall hold your peace.’
“So, I say to you brethren in Christ and to you my fellow country men and women, let us go forward, let us not look back. The armies of the enemy that are today threatening to kill and maim and the colours of poverty and injustice, you shall see no more forever.
“God will fight for us and we shall hold our peace. We must move forward, we are a people of prophesy. God has said concerning this nation that he is building a nation where all men and all tribes and faith will dwell in love and peace, a nation where our people will have ample opportunities for productivity and reward. The promises of God are assured and certain.
“2 Corinthians 1:20 tells us that all the promises of God are yea and amen to the glory of God to us. All the promises of God to us are yes and amen in Jesus Christ for you and I.
“This is the future that we are heading and we are already going steadily, surely in that direction.”
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, said the Church had a role to play for the good of the nation to manifest. “The Church has a responsibility that Nigeria sees the light,” he said.