Archbishop Fape rallies support for Buhari, Osinbajo at Lagos Synod

THE Archbishop of Lagos, Olusina Fape, on Friday asked Nigerians to keep faith with the current leadership of the country.

He told newsmen at the 4th Synod of Church of Nigeria, Diocese of Lagos Mainland that the present government, with the right plan and steps on ending corruption, will get it right.

“We need to recognise the fact that recession is a global phenomenon and doesn’t afflict Nigeria alone. The present government, happens to be a government embraced by Nigerians. I know they are people of integrity that would not let down Nigerians. You can see that they are making tangible effort to tackle the cankerworm of corruption in Nigeria and they must not relent in their effort in ridding Nigeria of corruption. I believe the present government is capable of solving Nigeria problems” he said.

The Archbishop also commended the efforts of Reverend Johnson in the church.

“In fact, it is a higher standard than what we left and it is what we are praying for. He came to the office with a greater vigour, new ideas and our prayers is that God will continue to sustain him and renew his strength, so that in his reign, the diocese will grow,” he said.

The Diocesan Bishop of Lagos Mainland, Anglican Communion, Reverend Akinpelu Johnson  said the political class in the country must bear the responsibility for the country’s current predicament.

He made the statement during the second session of the Synod.

According to him, “the political class in many ways must bear responsibility for our current predicament. Politics in Nigeria, we confess, baffles us. We realise that by virtue of our current position, one cannot distance oneself from the politics of the nation.”

However, with those of us who are familiar with the politics in western countries, when we compare with what is practised here, we cannot be but disappointed and confused, because it seems that with us in Nigeria, there is no political or economic ideology.

“We don’t know what political parties or politicians stand for, except for the need to be on the right side and in a position where the national cake is mixed, baked and divided. This of course informs the do or die attitude that has been adopted amongst those aspiring for political office or appointments and their supporters. Even in these appointments, we sometimes discover that many are not qualified or suited to the positions they aspire to or attain.”

“Though the political class alone is not to be blamed. The electorate too has a great part to play, after all politicians do not come to us from Mars. We as a people seem to have lost the ethical values that our forefathers had. The current fight against corruption cannot be fought and won except we as a people fight it together. Why must we only vote for those who are ready to distribute money or food items? Where is the money for this kind of distribution coming from? Having distributed all these, when political office is attained, it follows that the common good of the nation becomes secondary to the need to recoup past expenditure and prepare for the next and the next and so the chain goes on ad infinitum.

“when we set the guilty free, who are later convicted in other countries for the same offences, what message are we giving out? When we celebrate criminals and give messiah status, what are we telling our children and the world.”

On activities of herdsmen, the Bishop called on the Federal Government to work towards the disarming of herdsmen and to make sure that their activities do not put a strain in an increasingly tense situation in the country, jeopardising the continued togetherness of the country.

He also called on Nigerians to support the change embarked on by the president.

“Our President, Muhammadu Buhari, in spite of the great expectations placed on his shoulders and his expressed desire to steer this country back to the path of peace and progress, cannot do it alone, but with the inclusion of everyone of us. The task of turning Nigeria back from the brink of collapse and disintegration cannot be worked by one person. He needs our cooperation”.

The former Deputy Governor of Lagos,Sarah Sosan, praised the effort of Reverend Johnson in the church and said the change being talked about is a collective effort and that Nigerians are the ones that can make the change manifest.