By Bitrus Osagie
Former Nigeria’s Head of State, retired Gen. Yakubu Gowon, has called on Nigerians to be their brother’s keeper towards ensuring peace and stability of the country.
Gowon gave the charge at the inauguration of ECWA Gospel Church in Kulishin community in Shongom Local Government Area of Gombe Yesterday.
He stated that it was important for Nigerians to ensure continued cordial relationship amongst all ethnic groups and faiths as a way of contributing to the peace and wellbeing of Nigeria.
Speaking about the church edifice, the former Nigerian leader prayed that the church would be a home and centre for peace and wellbeing of Gombe State and Nigeria.
He commended the family of the family of Mr Jerry Damara for building the church for Christians in the community to worship God.
“This beautiful edifice certainly reminds me of King Solomon’s temple which he built for the Lord during his reign as King in Israel.
“The scriptures revealed to us that on the day of the dedication of the temple, King Solomon prayed that the temple would be a great blessing to the people (I Kings 8:22-54).
“It is our collective prayer that the dedication of this new edifice will be a tremendous blessing to the entire ECWA Family in Gombe State and indeed to the Body of Christ in Nigeria,” he said.
Damara while speaking on why he built the church, he said he was moved by “spiritual anger” to build the church which took him a year to complete.
He stated that in 2022, he was invited to be the chairman of the funding raising committee for the normal “small” church with a budget of N25 million.
According to him, he had the intention of inaugurating the fund raising with N700, 000.
He, however said when he saw the money that was raised on the day of the fund raising, aside what he intended contributing, he discovered that it would take years to have the church built.
“So that really struck my heart and I had to pull out the microphone from the master of ceremony with spiritual anger and I told them (the church members and invited guests for the fund raising) to leave me let me build the church.
“All I want is your prayers to succeed and complete the church and that is all; one year we are now here to dedicate the church,” he said.
Damara said he was also making other interventions in the agriculture sector, oil and gas as well as water supply in Kaltungo community which according to him was to support the development of the community and not for profit-making.
Our Correspondent reports that Damara is the Managing Director /CEO of Mesotho Group and he is a former member of the House of Representatives.
Amongst the dignitaries present at the event were Gov. Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau and former Minister of Information and National Orientation, Prof. Jerry Gana.
