Consider a day for national thanksgiving, cleric tells Tinubu, N’Assembly

An Abuja-based cleric, Oladele Jegede, has appealed to President Bola Tinubu and the National Assembly to consider fixing a day for Nigerians to celebrate National Thanksgiving.

The appeal was made by the senior pastor of Redeemed Christian Church of God (Everlasting Light) during the annual women’s convention titled ‘Overflowing with Gratitude’ on Sunday at the church auditorium in Lugbe, Abuja.

Addressing newsmen after his sermon, the pastor stressed that there is a need for Nigerians to have a special day in the year to show gratitude to God Almighty for his faithfulness.

He said, “We are giving thanks to God Almighty today because, despite the situation in the country and in the world at large, the Almighty God has sustained us. God has made us to be a victor. Our women are also thanking God today because, despite the situation in the country, God really preserved their families. That is why they have themed this programme ‘Overflowing Gratitude.’

“I therefore believe that as a country we should have a time to be thanking God because despite the situation in the country, God still sustains us. In the past elections, the world thought Nigeria would not be able to survive it, even during COVID-19, people thought Nigeria would not be able to survive it. But here we are Nigeria is still standing.”

Another pastor, Mrs Lydia Jegede, also shared the same sentiment when she called on the president and lawmakers to consider setting up a ‘National Thanksgiving Day’ in the country.

She disclosed that only those who are truly grateful can enjoy the blessings of God.

She said, “Honestly, we need to cultivate an attitude of thanking the Almighty God every day, every second and every minute because God loves Nigeria. I want to appeal to the President, Bola Tinubu, to use his office to look into it by sparing a day for Nigerians to praise God once a year because if not for God’s mercy, we would have been consumed.

“With what we went through in Nigeria God still loves us. So, to spear a day out for Nigerians to praise God is a great idea. May God continue to bless our nation.”

The annual event also witnessed a special prayer for Nigeria, political leaders, public office holders and thanksgiving songs.