Insecurity: Cleric cautions against careless trips
Tope Ilesanmi, founder and senior pastor, Revival Summit, has warned Nigerians, especially Christians against the urge to travel carelessly as we gradually approach the yuletide.
Ilesanmi in his reaction to a recent editorial of the Punch Newspapers titled, ‘Re: Kidnapping and banditry on Nigeria roads,’ said that now is not the time to embark on “careless trips.”
“My attention is drawn to the Punch editorial of 7th November, 2022. I appreciate the editors’ timely response and broad analysis of the matter. Even more do I appreciate your objective counsel to some of the lack-lustre governors of the Southwest states handling the matter with kid gloves? May God open their ears to hear, and act promptly,” Ilesanmi, who is also chairman of Ikeja province of PFN, said.
However, in a security adthe visory he personally signed, Ilesanmi stated urged Nigerians to reexamine their mind to ascertain if their trip is compulsory or just a necessity.
“If it’s just necessary, try to negotiate it off. For instance, you can give cash in exchange for physical presence at a wedding or burial. We experimented this during COVID-19, and it worked.
“Some necessary journeys are ordained by God. That is, God says you should embark on that particular journey. In 2010/11, kidnapping and political riots were on the rampage in Akwa-ibom State. We had scheduled a crusade for Mboku-eyokan in Oron LGA of the state.
“Everybody around me pleaded with me not to go, but God said we should go. We went and my team returned safely back to Lagos, while I proceeded to Kaduna State which was equally boiling at that time. God protected us! Therefore, treat such a trip like this as compulsory,” Ilesanmi stated.
Similarly, the clergyman urged Christian faithful to pray and seek divine guidance before embarking on any journey. He advised that people should not just fix a date arbitrarily.
“It could however, be compulsory by human reasoning or responsibility; for instance, you are going for a burial or wedding that can’t hold in your absence or travelling to resume school.
“A time like this will test the degree of your intimacy with God. If you have been running your Christian race with mere common sense, it will be pretty difficult to make the necessary switch now. Why? Your mind has not been trained to hear, discern or recognise the voice of God from several voices competing within you. You can apply for training at Priesthood Training Institute
“If after all the above, there is still fear, doubt or uneasiness in your heart; it’s better not to embark on such trip. Kindly, suspend other activities and settle the matter with God first,” Ilesanmi advised.