Why church leadership should take politics seriously – Ighodalo.
…Akinyemi chides INEC, says election must hold
…Sowore turns gospel preacher
By Ifeoma Ikem
Senior Pastor of Trinity House Church, Ituah Ighodalo, has advised church leadership in Nigeria to take politics serious and drop its ‘I don’t care’ attitude.
This is even as Dr Bolaji Akinyemi, a religious activist, cautioned the Chairman of the Independent Nigeria Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu, over alleged plan to cancel the February elections.
Pastor Ighodalo gave the advice during the fifth edition of ‘One Man Conference’ organised by Apostolic Roundtable in Lagos, that was graced by people from all walks of life.
Ighodalo said Nigeria is in a critical condition with various choices of leaders and therefore cannot afford to make a wrong choice.
“We all should arise, the ignorance of the leadership of the church is not encouraging.
“Nigeria is known as a country with natural resources but unfortunately, we do not have true leaders with genuine love for the nation,” he stated.
According to the cleric, “The nation needs true leaders who are truly passionate about Nigeria, leaders who are honest, faithful, disciplined, hardworking and energetic.
“We do not need leaders who will occupy the position for their selfish interests, but people who are well educated, with integrity, well informed and intelligent.
“What Nigeria need now are leaders that will bring change and make positive impact on the nation’s building.’’
Dr Pogu Bitrus, president of the Middle Belt Forum, reminded the gathering that good governance is a function of good leadership.
He noted that Nigerians need the right candidate, people without bias for tribe or religion, that will put the nation first, to compose the government, and which would also prioritise the protection of the people as one nation.
“What One Man Nigeria is searching for since independence is now here; we need to actualise this dream, change the former order and pursue it.
“We need to keep the ship afloat and champion this noble vision, let everyone work side by side, until we achieve this come 2023 general election,” he said.
In his remarks, Dr Akinyemi, convener of the Apostolic Round Table, cautioned the INEC boss Yakubu over report it planned to cancel the national polls slated for February this year.
He also said the nation needs a new constitution to stop the political cabal that are controlling the political space.
In his words, “We are not going to repeat what happened in 1993 in 2023. This time, they have failed; we don’t have to bring leaders who are not competent.
“We don’t owe any presidential candidate a dime; this time with God Almighty, we will get it right.”
The activist urged Nigerians to understand that election is for the people not even the INEC chairman; “he has no right to tell us that election won’t hold. It is a clear constitutional matter and no one should come with flimsy excuses.”
Akinyemi added that by now the citizenry was expecting the electoral body to be fully ready to hold the polls, with all needful materials and equipment in place in its various offices, rather than “playing this dirty game that we are familiar with.”
Some of the presidential candidates that graced the event were Latifu Kolawole of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), and African Action Congress (AAC)’s Omoyele Sowore, among others.
Mr Sowore, in his contribution, waxed religious in his approach, as he urged Nigerians to rise and possess their inheritance, restating that leadership is about service and that everyone in this nation needs protection.
“How long will we continue to sit and watch looters loot our country; how long will we continue to allow them tell us when to wake or sleep? The nation God has given to us, when are we going to possess it? God is here now. It needn’t take forever; it’s time,” he stated.
Sowore further hinted that the dream of a great and working Nigeria lies in going back to the foundation, learning to appreciate our core values, including the use of indigenous languages to drive learning in the schools.
