I received a emergency message from my friend, Gabriel, in Nigeria, requesting prayer. Gabriel and I are on a Zoom call each Saturday with a group of guys from around the world, who come together in the name of Jesus, for prayer and encouraging fellowship.
Nigeria is having its presidential election on Saturday. The current president, Muhammadu Buhari, is a muslim who has allowed the widespread, deadly persecution of Christians. In fact, when President Donald Trump met with Buhari in 2018, he told Buhari, “We are deeply concerned by religious violence in Nigeria including the burning of churches and the killing and persecution of Christians. It’s a horrible story,”
Buhari must go, and in his place a leader who will stop the horrid violence against Christians must be elected.
Now, here’s the message from Gabriel:
“… the Nigerian presidential elections come up this Saturday, the 25th February. Which means we may not be in attendance on the call. There are very valid fears of uprisings whichever way the elections go. If the Christian and most qualified candidate wins, ‘wild fires from the Islamic north may sweep through the south’. If any of the other Muslim candidates win, Nigeria may erupt in religious crisis. Already, panic buying to stock up supplies are currently ongoing as we speak. Even churches, from the pulpits, encouraged members to be prepared this past Sunday. However, I propose a day of fasting and prayer before that day…”
It is very difficult for us in the West to grasp the tension in Nigeria. Nevertheless, please take some time to pray for our brothers and sisters in the country.