Biafra,Avengers: Pastor Kumuyi Drops Another Bombshell, Read What He Said;

The mega interdenominational prayer crusade held by the Deeper Life Bible Church at the National Stadium in Abuja recently presented

journalists in the FCT with the opportunity of meeting with the highly venerated Chief Minister and General Superintendent of the Church, Pastor William F. Kumuyi. He answered some salient questions bordering on the state of the nation. EBRIKU JOHN FRIDAY and ABAH ADAH were there for IGBERE TV.

What is your vision for the country at such a time that we have a lot of agitations here and there by different groups?

The vision is to see that our desire, goal and aspirations in this country are actually fulfilled, and that in our actions and relationships we are a blessing to Individuals and the whole country.

Nigerians have been waiting to see the take-off Anchor University, which is your initiative and that of the church. When will it see the light of day?

As for the state of the university, we are almost there. From the National University Commission (NUC), they have come to inspect the project and we are expecting the final green light to begin academic activities. The approval is expected to take place soon.

On Biafra & Niger Delta Avengers:
In the face of prevailing agitations across the country by different groups, many have lost hope in the unity and functionality of this country. Where do you stand sir?

It is a sensitive area but when we have national problems like this, we think and we feel that if we went this way or that, it would have been the best. But I think that at this time, we should listen to everybody. Let’s listen and put everything on the table and without any selfish Interest or ulterior motive let’s consider and reason everything together as a nation. People are talking about restructuring. Let’s look well. Anything that would further divide us should be deemphasised. Restructuring should not divide us into fragments where a southerner will have to get a visa before he can go to the north, or a northerner has to get a visa before they can come to the south. I think in a country like ours we should respect each person’s opinion. I think we should come together, put everything on the table and dialogue.

Only that way, I believe, lies the best solution to our problems. When we say many people have lost hope, sometimes even when there is no problem at all, with the rainfall, the little sunshine or little harvest going down, it is like there are some people that lose hope at every slight change which they consider unfavourable.

There is a God in heaven who answers prayers, who wants the best for every one of us and there are some of us who are praying fervently and believing that God answers prayers and will not lose hope in our country. Things are going to turn around and that is one of the reasons why we are here to pray together for national renewal, restoration and revival.

Something good is going to happen to our nation. When the new government were campaigning, they said change is our policy, it is our watch word, our vision and because we all wanted change we voted them in. Now that they have come in with the strategies they believe would work for the country, we cannot begin to confront them or become stumbling blocks now, just one year into their tenure.

We have to look at how long it will take whatever changes they will make bearing in mind the enormity of the rot that was already on ground before they came. Our Problem is that we complain at every slightest move, especially when that move is not meeting our immediate expectation, and we jump into conclusion based on rumours and hearsay without bothering to find out the motive behind a particular step taken by the government.

With the proliferation of churches and mosques and the attendant worship at such centres by the faithful, one would have thought that the country would be better for it, especially in the area of attitude change. But even as they are springing up and we are not seeing the change that is supposed to accompany it; instead we are seeing backwardness. What is your take?

Sometimes when we talk and generalise, it is easy to arrive at a wrong conclusion. We will need to analyse who the churches are reaching out to and who are the people going there. You said in your own street alone, you have about 10 to 15 churches; the question is which one do you attend because if you don’t go, the people who are going there may not have the voice? They may not be decision makers, they may not be people that can speak and the country will listen.

You can make the change to begin to happen if you go there with the genuine intention. Salient questions we need to ask ourselves in all sincerity are, is it those that are in those churches or mosques that are involved in the immorality or corruption being talked about? Do they listen to what is being said or are they like people that found themselves there just to promote religion? I think we have to turn it around. The churches are there doing their best but the people need to key into the development and practise in line with injunctions of the holy book.