Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin

The Cherubim and Seraphim Movement Church Worldwide, Ilorin District Headquarters, has ushered its members into year 2026 with a special thanksgiving service and praise to God, themed: “Praising My Redeemer,” urging Nigerians, especially Christians, to remain thankful to God for His mercy and grace despite the economic and security challenges facing the country.

The annual programme, which is the 10th in the series, held at the Church Auditorium in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, and attracted a large turnout of worshippers who had deemed it proper to begin the year with songs of praise, prayers, and reflections, drawn from Revelation 5:9–10.

Speaking with journalists on the sideline of the epoch-making event, the District Pastor, Moses Ademola Popoola, described the programme as a long-standing annual tradition that has continued to grow in impact and participation over the past decade.

He said: “It had always been a wonderful and an amazing time before the Lord. You can see from the number of people present that lives are being touched. We have been doing this programme for about 10 years now, and we keep coming back because something good has always come out of it.”

Expatiating on the theme, Pastor Popoola said the essence of the annual gathering was to remind Christians of the sacrifice and redemptive work of Jesus Christ.

“The reason we chose the theme – ‘Praising My Redeemer’ – is because Jesus did far more than we sometimes think. He saved us from sin, delivered us from the power of darkness, replaced curses with blessings and gave us access to God through His death and resurrection,” he explained.

He added that beyond personal salvation, Nigerians also had reasons to be thankful as a nation.

“Last year, many of us thought Nigeria was going to collapse because of the many problems we faced. But our Redeemer saved this nation from collapse, and for that we must give thanks,” Popoola said.

The cleric encouraged Christians not to lose hope, assuring them that God remains alive and active in the affairs of men and nations.

“No matter what you are going through, the Bible says weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. Our God does not sleep nor slumber. At the right time, He will help us,” he emphasised.

Reflecting on national issues, Pastor Popoola called on the three tiers of government, particularly the Federal Government, to holistically tackle insecurity across the country, stressing that no meaningful development could occur without safety of lives and property.

“Security is very important. Without security, the nation cannot move forward. There is a need for state or community policing because local communities know their environment better,” he counseled, adding that more security personnel should also be recruited.

He also called on the government to address the rising costs of living in the country to make life more bearable for the citizenry, urging an effective price control mechanism and more provision of basic social amenities.

“How can fuel prices drop and the prices of bread and other food items remain the same? People are suffering. Government must provide good roads, electricity, healthcare and other amenities so that businesses can thrive and jobs can be created,” he stated.

On education, the Pastor described the cost of schooling in Nigeria as rather too expensive, urging transparency in government with robust support for education programmes.

“Education in Nigeria is becoming too expensive. Government needs to be open and clear about its policies so people can truly benefit,” he said.

Popoola further called for a tougher stance on corruption, insisting that those who steal public funds must be properly punished.

“How can someone steal billions and return millions and that is the end of the matter? That does not discourage corruption. Nobody should be bigger than the nation,” he said.

On foreign assistance in tackling insecurity, the cleric said Nigeria should welcome genuine international support.

“If we have a problem and someone wants to help us solve it, why should we reject it? Nigeria has battled insecurity for many years without a lasting solution. Any sincere help should be considered,” he said, dismissing fears about loss of sovereignty.

He, however, cautioned against spreading unverified allegations, urging Nigerians to rely on evidence rather than rumours.

“Rumours can destroy lives. If anyone claims that certain people are sponsoring insecurity, there must be clear evidence. Once there is evidence, government should prosecute them no matter how influential they are,” he added.

Pastor Popoola also warned against betrayal and criminal activities, reminding parents to instil strong family values and urging government to create more jobs to keep youths engaged.

“When people are idle, evil finds a way in. If government provides jobs and communities are involved in security, crime will reduce,” he said.

The cleric concluded by advising the government not to negotiate with violent groups, but instead invest heavily in intelligence gathering and accountability within the security sector.

“Government should not negotiate with killers. What we need is serious investment in security, intelligence and accountability. Leaders
must be truthful and those who fail in their duties should be held responsible,” he said.

End