Nigerians must resort to prayers to help the country surmount the security challenges it is currently faced with, says former president Olusegun Obasanjo at the Baptist International Conference Centre during the 108th annual convention of the church, VON reports.

Calling on Nigerians to be optimistic, Mr Obasanjo appealed to Nigerians to come together to ensure that the nation prospers.

Mr Obasanjo said: “On the situation we are in the country, I am an incurable optimist about a number of things particularly about Nigeria. Keep praying that the situation will only be threatening, but we won’t be overcome by it. May we continue to prosper.”

On his part, Governor Seyi Makinde, who was also present at the event stressed the need for prayers for the nation’s leaders while advising the audience to report anything strange to security agencies and authorities.

Furthermore, Ogun State governor, Dapo Abiodun, while asking Nigerians to be peaceful and always have the fear of God to make the country better, advised the church to ”to continue to seek God’s face for an end to divisive tendencies in the nation and for the nation to continue on the path of socio-economic development.”

The highlight of the event witnessed the handover of leadership baton of the Nigerian Baptist Convention from Reverend Olasupo Ayokunle to the new president, Reverend Israel Akanji.

Mr Ayokunle called for cooperation and support for the new president.