Mr Akinfenwa made the call during the Advent Carol of Nine Lessons and Songs held in Ibadan on Sunday, December 3, 2023. The event was attended by hundreds of faithful who sang praises and listened to the word of God.
The Anglican Bishop said the situation of things in the country, especially the high cost of food items, transportation and accommodation, required urgent God’s intervention. He said the country was blessed with enough natural resources and should not suffer as such.
He stated however that the situation was not limited to Nigeria but the world at large. He cited the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, terrorism, and other global challenges as signs of the end times.
"But that of our country calls for worry and all of us, not only the government, need to join hands and tackle it. This is because we are blessed with enough natural resources and therefore shouldn’t suffer as such. Everybody should be involved but the government should do more.
“Those in government can cut their salaries and allowances and use the money to cater for the poor, to show a good example,” the Bishop said.
Mr Akinfenwa also advised all Christians to be focused on the second coming of Christ as all things happening in the world showed that the end would come one day. He said the season of Advent was that of joy and carols about celebrating the works of Christ’s salvation to mankind.
“To prepare for Christ’s coming, the faithful has to pursue a deeper relationship with God and always put God’s word into practice,” he stated.
He urged them to shun the love of money and imbibe the culture of forgiving one another in spite of all odds.
"We shouldn’t love our traditions more than God. Let’s allow the Holy Bible to deal with the problem called the love of money. Let’s not be distracted with the happenings of these days and forget that Christ is coming again.
“We should all be at alert because His second coming is the most significant event this era is waiting for. No matter the situation we may find ourselves in, let us always find succour in God’s word,” Mr Akinfenwa said.
He prayed for God’s mercy and grace upon the nation and the world, and urged the government to heed his call for a national prayer and fasting programme.
(NAN)