Church Must Be “Militant” To Advance Righteousness, Societal Transformation, Says Obasanjo At TAC Golden Jubilee Convention

Church Must Be

 

OpenLife News reports that former President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has called on the Church to rise in greater zeal and activism, saying Nigeria would be in a better place if the Church had been more “militant” in advancing righteousness and societal transformation.

Obasanjo made the call while speaking at the Sunday service of the Golden Jubilee Annual LAWMNA International Convention of The Apostolic Church Nigeria, held at the National Temple, Olorunda Ketu, Lagos.

Clarifying his use of the word “militant”, the former Head of State and ex-military general said:

“Being an ex-military man, I understand what being militant means. It means to be zealous and active in service.”

Expressing concern over Nigeria’s current state, Obasanjo asked:
“In Nigeria, do we have peace, security, prosperity and love, yet we have churches?”

He urged the Church to fulfill its mandate of promoting peace, love, righteousness and genuine human transformation.

“If we have a militant Church on earth and in Nigeria, it would have been a different situation for us in this country…

For Nigeria to become a land flowing with milk and honey, rather than a nation plagued by poverty and insecurity, we must be zealous and active as the Church Militant on earth,” he added.

Obasanjo also disclosed that he had just returned from a meeting in Europe on the common good of humanity, noting that over 200 conflicts are currently raging worldwide.

Earlier in his sermon, the National President of TACN, Pastor Lawrence Olusesan Oladele, said the Church is facing its severest persecution in history.

Quoting 1 Timothy 6:12, the convention theme _“Church Militant on Earth”_, he charged believers to see themselves as soldiers of Christ in spiritual warfare.

“If you are still engaging in sin, adultery, fornication, fighting and strife in the Church, we are not yet soldiers of Christ,” Pastor Oladele warned.

He added that Christians must walk in the victory Christ won over death and Satan.

The 2026 LAWNA Territory International Convention began Saturday, August 1 and runs through Friday, August 7, 2026 at the LAWNA International Convention Grounds, Olorunda-Ketu, Lagos.

Obasanjo congratulated TACN on 50 years of the annual convention, describing it as a milestone of maturity and growth.