BISHOP of Ijebu South/West Diocese, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), The Right Reverend Dr Babatunde Ogunbanwo, has called on Christians to show commitment to their faith, in carrying out political affairs.
He stated this on Friday, in his charge at the second session of the third synod of the Diocese of Ijebu South/West, at St. Michael’s Church, Odo-Jobore, Ogun State, which had as its theme: Who is A Christian?
Lamenting the political system in the country, which he described as sick, he called for concerted efforts by Christians to overcome the present challenges.
He said: “Our political system in Nigeria is sick. There are no political ideologies or principles to guide our political parties. In Nigeria, even though we have about 30 parties registered for the last elections, because one of them is in control of government, members of the other parties are falling over one another in their bid to cross over to the ruling party. Everyone wants to be in the winning team because that is where the ‘pot of soup’ is now located.
“In Nigeria, politics and political parties mean corruption, embezzlement, cheating, gangsterism,and everything you can imagine. What are the valuable programmes of the parties? Is life better for the people they claim to work for? If they have a constitution and manifesto, what have they done with them? The political parties have no cohesion, no control over party members and no planning. Today, there is no meaningful opposition party.”
As such, he called on “Christians who recognise Christ as their Lord and Saviour,” to be “part of the electoral process. Our country needs committed Christians in politics to deliver our land. We need Christian men and women to take up the challenge of contesting for elective posts in the coming elections. We urge you all to join any political party of your choice, participate actively and, if able, seek to be elected to political offices at all levels.”
He also called on government at all levels to address infrastructural decay, just as he appealed to government to “return all mission schools to the original owners for us to redeem the quality of education and offer a better future to our children.”
While Bishop Timothy Olajide Adebayo of Igbomina-West Anglican Diocese is the guest preacher at the thanksgiving service scheduled to hold today, Venerable Emmanuel Adekunle Ogunlesi preached at the opening service on Thursday, while Venerable Sanmi Ajiboye was the Bible study leader, and Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola gave the synod lecture on the topic: Being a Christian in the Public Square in Nigeria.
Reverends Babatunde Oluwole, Paul Oluwafemi and Luke Tobi Samuel, gave sermons at the daily Holy Communion services.
and then