Cross Over 2024: Cleric Hails Nigerians For Sailing Through Tough 2023

… Urges Them To Be Hopeful For A Better 2024

.. As Funmi Ogu Chides APC Led Government For Making Unfavourable Policies

.By Idowu Adebomi

A Cleric pastoring at Winners’ Chapel also known as Living Faith Church, located in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State Capital, Pastor Olaife Solomon Olanrewaju has hailed Nigerians for sailing through the tough economy and hardship they experienced in the year 2023, urging them to be hopeful for a better times in the new year 2024.

Also, a former Commissioner of Works  during the Governor Ayo Fayose led administration in Ekiti State, Mrs Funmi Ogu has chided the All Progressives Congress led Federal government in the Country for introducing unfavourable policies making life unbearable and difficult for the people.

Pastor Olaife, the Mission Overseer of the Winners Chapel in Ekiti State stated the above while responding to questions from journalists in his office on the eve of the new year 2024.

Olaife in his interactions with the press, made a passionate appeal to the Country’s political leaders and office holders to make policies that will favour the masses and alleviate the lingering poverty in the land.

He urged Nigerians not to relent in praying for the country to overcome her challenges in the new year 2024.

According to Pastor Olaife, he said, “the year 2023 was a very tough one for Nigerians as a whole. Only those who had divine connections with God enjoyed it. He however implored everyone to be grateful”.

He assured the believers of a great hope for them in the new year 2024 that would be totally different from the challenges they suffered in 2023. “Take your spiritual life more serious in 2024”, he admonished.

In a separate interview with Mrs Funmi Ogu, at her Christ The King Catholic Church, Ajilosun in Ado Ekiti, she expressed her appreciation to God who protected and gave her good and sound health in 2023.

She declared that the Country’s economy in 2023 was turned upside down coupled with hardship. “In 2023, it became so bad that it was difficult for Nigerians to feed themselves if not for God’s intervention, faithfulness and mercies, many would have been consumed”.

Responding to a question, challenging that her criticism of the present government was because her political party was not in power, Mrs Ogu said, “the poverty ravaging the land has  nothing to do with political parties. She frowned at the continuous rise of the cost of goods in the market and the general high cost of living in the Country. 

“We just want to tell our people to choose right because most people occupying the elective positions are there by the virtue of godfathers and so the people should know they can choose their leaders by themselves. 

“I want to encourage our people to vote wisely and choose leaders that can be held accountable”, she concluded.

Honorable Shina Ogunleye, the Chairman of Irepodun/Ifelodun local government area in Ekiti State, in his own words was full of thanks for surviving 2023 even with the challenges facing the country.

Honorable Ogunleye used the opportunity to appeal to the federal, state and local governments to embark on policies that will favour the people.

In the same view, Bishop Andrew Olusola Ajayi of the Ekiti Anglican Diocese, while  thanking God for keeping his family  safe, admonished Ekiti people and Nigerians at large to allow peace to reign in the Country.

He advised the youths who are planning to run abroad to jettison the idea as he maintained that Youths are needed to drive the economy of the country forward.

“We should pray for the progress of the country and I also appeal to the young ones to stay in Nigeria instead of joining the “japa” syndrome. Running abroad will not bring development to the Country” he concluded.

Meanwhile, the PDP Woman Leader in Ekiti State, Honourable Folasade Akinrinmola expressed the hope that the year 2024 will surely bring a lasting peace in the People’s Democratic Party. She acknowledged the fact that the PDP is facing some challenges but that she is assured that the challenges will soon be resolved amicably. She also praised the Executive Governor of Ekiti State for being a listening leader in the State. 

Deaconess Folasade Akinrinmola expressed happiness to have finished the year 2023 despite the hurdles and going into the new year 2024. She assured that God will continue to strengthen the body of Christ thereby helping the Country to remain as one and united.

She added, that her dream is to see a Country like Nigeria, where food prices will be affordable, where the exchange rates will be favourable to Nigerians and a better economy will be enjoyed by all. 

Also, in her own remarks, Erelu Kemi Elebute Halle revealed that it is a rare privilege and an opportunity to see a new year 2024.

Reeling out some of her expectations for the new year, Erelu Kemi said she believes that with the new policies of President Tinubu that by 2024 he will be able to properly channel his agenda for Nigeria and for Ekiti.

She went on to rekindle the hope in people that Ekiti State will move forward as she urges Nigerians to continue to pray for the Country to move forward.

Reverend Dr. Olukayode Ayinde, the Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church, Ado Ekiti, he said, the 2023 has been  awesome and seeing 2024, a year he  declared as next level, jubilation is a blessing.

According to him, he is indeed very elated because the new year, he believes  will do Ekiti State, the Baptist family and the entire country good.

He was also optimistic that soon, a new hope will come to Nigeria and to Nigerians, where nothing will no longer fail. She enjoined others to pray that Nigeria would never fail.