The Deputy Governor of Gombe State, Manassah Daniel Jatau, on Thursday received the General Overseer of Foursquare Gospel Church Lagos, Rev. Dr. Sam Aboyeji, on a courtesy visit at his office ahead of a one-day prayer crusade in the state.
Welcoming the cleric, Jatau commended him and other men of God for their sustained prayers for Gombe State and Nigeria at large. He noted that despite the security challenges affecting the North-East region, Gombe has remained relatively peaceful, attributing this to divine intervention through prayers.
He emphasised that while the current administration operates an inclusive governance policy that encourages contributions from all stakeholders, prayers have remained a critical pillar for sustainable peace and development in the state.
The Deputy Governor recalled a remark by a pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, who described Gombe as “God’s Own Miraculous Blessed Empire (GOMBE),” noting that the description aptly reflects the reality in the state.
According to him, since the inception of the present administration, several prominent clerics have visited Gombe to conduct crusades and offer prayers for both the state and the nation, which he said have attracted numerous blessings.
Jatau further appealed for continuous prayers for Gombe State and Nigeria, assuring that the government remains committed to supporting religious activities in recognition of their importance in promoting godliness and societal stability.
He also called on religious leaders to strengthen moral values by ensuring that families are firmly rooted in religious teachings. He argued that many criminal tendencies stem from poor family upbringing rather than unemployment, stressing that if unemployment were the primary cause, the level of crime would be far worse.
Earlier in his remarks, Rev. Aboyeji stated that his visit to Gombe was primarily for a one-day prayer crusade at All saint College Federal Low Cost Gombe. He explained that he deemed it necessary to pay a courtesy visit to the Deputy Governor in line with Biblical teachings that encourage respect for constituted authorities.
The cleric also disclosed plans to commission a church-owned school in Bojude, Kwami Local Government Area during his visit.
Quoting Second Thessalonians Chapter 3;16 from the Bible, he prayed for peace in Gombe State, asking that divine peace prevail in all circumstances.
Rev. Aboyeji was accompanied by the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Gombe State chapter, Rev. Father Joseph Alphonsus Shinga, alongside other officials of the association.
