BY ODEYA OGBETUO
THE Ijaws in the Niger Delta recently gathered in Warri, Delta State to praise and offer thanksgiving to God for ushering them into 2025 and also to seek his guidance for enhanced peace and development of Ijaw Nation.
The Ijaws under the platform of Izon–Ibe Christian Association (IICA) prayed for the peace and progress of the Ijaw nation. Addressing a large gathering of Ijaw sons and daughters who were mainly Christians, the President of Izon-Ibe Christian Association, Pastor Iyiki Ekpolade, said that God has done a lot of great things in Ijaw Nation since the commencement of Ijaw Day of Prayer and Thanksgiving two decades ago, adding that God favoured the Ijaw nation and His infinite mercy has brought out the Ijaws into limelight with blessings and peace.
Pastor Ekpolade said they came together to thank God for His goodness, mercy, kindness, protection and provision all through the year 2024, assuring that 2025 will be a better year for the Ijaws. He disclosed that one of the major tasks of the ICCA remains to continue evangelization of the Ijaw Nation, adding that their mandate was basically to take the Gospel of Salvation to every nook and cranny of Ijaw land.
According to him “As we go into evangelism, we also go with materials that will benefit the people physically. That is what we have been doing over the years. And we hope to continue doing that until Jesus comes. The salvation of the Ijaw man is the responsibility of the Ijaw man. We need all well-meaning sons and daughters of Ijaw Nation and Niger Delta to join hands with us to fulfil the divine mandate.”
In his brief remarks, the Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly (DTHA), Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Guwor, commended the organizers of Ijaw Day of Prayer and Ijaw Traditional Rulers for their support and suggested that in the next edition (2026) of Ijaw Day of Prayer, the IICA should invite other Churches, stressing that Ijaw Day of Prayer should not be only Pentecostal affairs. He called on the organizers to invite Catholic, Baptist, Anglican (CMS), Methodist, Cherubim and Seraphim, the Apostles, Celestial and other Churches to the programme.
“The Church of God is one, but different denominations; therefore we should make the next Ijaw Day of Prayer more elaborate to make it very effective”
The Chairman of Ijaw Traditional Rulers Forum, HRM Elder, Captain Joseph Timiyan, The Torububor I, the Ibenanaowei of Ogulagha Kingdom, said God is happy with the Ijaws of the Niger Delta because of the yearly thanksgiving and prayer programme, adding that the Ijaws will continue to praise and worship God. The Spiritual Father of the Day, Papa Ayo Oritsejafor said that he was happy and proud to identify with the Ijaws.
He said he remains very close to the Ijaws as former President Goodluck Jonathan is his son and High Chief Tunde Smooth remains his very good friend, with very close cordial relationship among other Ijaws.
The guest speaker, Bishop John Oruma urged the Ijaws to totally trust and rely on God who has been protecting and providing for them in the midst of hardship and tribulations in Nigeria.
Preaching on the theme: “And God said, Let There Be Light, And There Was Light”. Bishop Oruma said God gave us light which separated darkness and spiritually Jesus is the light of the world.
