Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson has disclosed that the building of places of worship by former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo were among efforts that changed the fortune of the country.
The governor specifically noted that the construction of Ecumenical centre in Abuja and a Chapel in Aso-Rock during his tenure as the President of Nigeria was a feat, which drew Nigerians closer to God, particularly Christians.
Dickson made the disclosure at the 10th Harvest Thanksgiving celebration of the Chapel of Christ the Glorious King of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL), Abeokuta, on Sunday.
According to the visiting governor, ” I was not surprised when I arrived here. When Baba was President, he was the one that facilitated the construction of the Ecumenical centre in Abuja.
“He also built a Chapel in Aso-Rock when he was President. All these have changed the fortune of the country. They were the turning points in the history of the nation
“Though, he is retired, but not tired. Nigerians should continue to pray for him and other leaders.”
The governor commended the Church management, saying,
“I want to thank you for keeping this altar aglow,” remarking further that it was an honour to preside over the harvest as its chairman in the church.
On the state of the nation,
Dickson, called on Nigerians irrespective of religion, ethnicity and political leaning to pray for the country ahead of the 2019 general elections.
The Governor said that Nigerians and indeed all people of good will had a responsibility to pray for the country to ensure the conduct of free fair, credible and violence free elections in the country in 2019.
He said that it was important for the right thing to be done as the country moved towards the general elections to guarantee the flourish of freedoms in the polity.
He urged political leaders to see public office as an opportunity to make maximum positive impact in the society.
He said, “As all Nigerians know, things are not the way the should be.
“These are times that call for sincere prayers of all people of goodwill in all religions for the country and its leadership to get it right especially as we move towards general elections, for freedom to flourish so that people can freely make their choices.
“It is important for people to understand that power is transient, life itself is transient and whatever position you occupy, we should have the wisdom to know that it is an opportunity to advance maximum public good and that we should exercise our powers for maximum positive impact in our society.”
Those who attended the event, include; wife of the former President, Bola Obasanjo, the Olowu of Owu Kingdom, Oba Adegboyega Dosunmu, Chairman, Board of Trustees of the Church, Deacon Victor Durodola and a aide to Obasanjo, Chief Idowu Akanle among others.
Shortly after the ceremony, Obasanjo arrived from Yola, Adamawa State to take round the governor on a tour of the Library.
Kehinde Akinyemi,
Special Assistant Media
Chief Olusegun Obasanjo,
Former President,
Federal Republic of Nigeria.