Let’s pray more for peace in Nigeria – Pastor (Mrs.) Clara Alao
Pastor (Mrs) Clara Alao
Pastor (Mrs) Clara Alao, convener of Arm of God Reconciliatory Outreach (AGRO) has expressed concern over the spate of political killings and various forms of violence because of the 2019 general elections in Nigeria, particularly the presidential election. The intercessory preacher, who was recently spotted weeping whilst praying for peaceful elections in Nigeria, shares in this interview her passion for peace and good governance in Nigeria with the prayer support of the Church.
You were recently spotted on your knees weeping profusely while praying for Nigeria. What informed your action of weeping and praying for the country?
It was informed by the spate of the violent killings across Nigeria because of the 2019 general elections in the nation, particularly the presidential poll. The peak of the killings was the reported murder of 66 persons in Kaduna State two days to the presidential poll on February 16th, 2019 before INEC postponed it to February 23. I felt like going out on the streets and appealing to Nigerians to allow peace to reign in the nation. Everyone is scared because of the elections. Even the people in the village are afraid. Nigerians at home and in the Diaspora are apprehensive. I saw some young people arguing hotly against one another that their party must win the elections at all cost. They were too aggressive. I wanted to go to them and beg them to take it easy but restrained myself because they were aggressive and ready to attack. Instead, I started praying and crying to God for peace to reign in Nigeria.
Will you say the Church in Nigeria is not doing enough to abate political violence in the country despite proliferation of churches across the country?
I don’t know if we (the Church) are doing enough to abate all forms of violence in the nation, especially political violence because of the 2019 presidential poll. But I think we can intensify our efforts in praying for peace in the nation. The Church must come together to pray for our nation. That is the vision God gave to me on the platform of the Arm of God Reconciliatory Outreach (AGRO). The Lord told me that we should be persistent and united in praying for our nation and the Body of Christ. We should not only be praying for peaceful elections. We should continue praying persistently for the nation even after the elections. The primary responsibility of the Church in every nation is to pray for the leadership of the nation. The Church should persistently pray for good governance. We need to back the government with prayer irrespective of the political party that is in power.
Do you think the challenges facing Nigeria can be solved by prayer alone?
It may not be solved by prayer alone but prayer must dominate whatever we want to do or achieve. Somebody said God would do nothing if we don’t pray. Prayer is a powerful tool. Prayer is also a tool to reach God to touch our people. When we pray, heaven will move into action. Also, we need to take a practical step, do what is right.
Pastor (Mrs) Clara Ajao, during a prayer session
Specifically, tell Nigerians concerning what the Lord has asked you do to through your platform, Arm of God Reconciliatory Outreach (AGRO)?
Yes, I want Nigerians, especially the activists and Christians to rise and join hands with me in intercessory and reconciliatory prayers for the church and the nation generally. Hatred, injustice, tribalism, discriminations among Nigerians, churches insincerity and corruption in all ramifications are already at the peak in our nation. They have destroyed the values of our nationhood and true unity. We should love one another. Love is an indispensable instrument that can foster genuine peace, unity and progress both in our nation and also among the Body of Christ. I want those who are not happy about the situation in our country to start praying and preaching true love and unity from any location of any state of the nation. I humbly appeal to all church leaders to close ranks and hearken to the desires of the Almighty God. That leaders and the entire Body of Christ should unite and begin to love one another unconditionally. They should also set up Persistent United Intercessory Prayer Network across the nation.
Specifically, what is Arm of God Reconciliatory Outreach is all about?
It is an outreach inspired by the Holy Spirit to work as a support arm of leaders, to foster unity, love and persistent united intercessory prayer network in the Body of Christ. Church leaders of all denominations must know that we carry one Bible and the Body of Christ is one. Having known this, there should be no need for discrimination and the attitude of enthroning their churches or denominations over the unity of the Body of Christ. My sincere appeal is that they should come together and use their God given gifts to build the Body of Christ in Nigeria. Moreover, Church leaders know there is no one church or doctrine of any church that would be found in heaven but people who express their faith in Christ are redeemed.
Apart from your calling for persistent prayer for Nigeria and the Church, you also promote love and unity in the Church. But there is a school of thought that it is impossible for the Church to unite because of doctrinal differences.
We have just one Master, Jesus Christ, who is the owner of the Church. What is our Master telling us about the unity of the Church? What is the word of God telling us about love among the brethren? The word of God says in John 17:21 that “that they may be one.” And the One (God) who created all is aware of what is happening (the disunity) in the Body of Christ today. Although God has called us into different offices either as teachers, evangelists, pastors, prophets or apostles, he expects us to operate together in love and unity as one Body of Christ. He also said in John 15:12 that we should love one another just the way he loves us.
