CAN prays for Ijaw, Niger Delta

By Timi Black
Chief Correspondent

The Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, has handed down prayers for the rapid progress and development in Ijaw land and Niger Delta in general to overcome abject poverty and marginalization in the oil-rich region.

The prayers were made during the the 25th Ijaw Day of Thanksgiving, held on Sunday at Bomadi, headquarters of Bomadi Local Government Area, Delta State.

While speaking, the Chairman of CAN, Bomadi Local Government Chapter, Dr Liberty Usiayo, noted that the essence of the annual thanksgiving was to show appreciation to God for His love and care for the ethnic nationality in all situations.

According to him: “The essence of this annual thanksgiving is to appreciate God for His goodness and mercies for Ijaw nation. We’re also here praying for unity and well being of Ijaw land.

“The scripture says in Isaiah 41:21 that we should come to God with a strong reason why He should answer our prayers; our prayer is that God should do greater things for Ijaw nation.

“We’re also using this medium to appeal to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to either give Bomadi a higher educational institution or locate faculties of the existing state institutions in the riverine area.”

However, the Christian association rededicated the nation to God with a 14-point prayer list for better living standards.

The prayers included completion of ongoing development projects as well as prayers against project duplication and the spirit of abandoned projects in Ijaw land among others.