Why CAN has not been able to protect interests of Christians —Bishop

You recently celebrated 10 years as the Bishop of Egba diocese. How has the journey been?

Ten years as a bishop is not an easy thing, people think there are so much glamour and enjoyment being a bishop, but it is beyond that. It comes with responsibilities. In our diocese, we have over 170 priests, many members in the church, the poor, the sick and lots more. And these people will want to see you being their pastor. It is not easy carrying such responsibility for 10 years and I still have more years to spend in the office. It has just been the grace of God and we desire more grace and power to discharge our responsibility.

Some clerics are in the habit of making people to accord them so much respect and they also live flamboyant lifestyle. What is your view as regards this sir?

People will accord you respect, but it is better given to you rather than you demanding for it. As young as I am, I don’t stretch my hands to greet people older than me because of my upbringing. Apart from the respect my office gives to me, I am not meant to abuse it and definitely I will give account of how I handled it to God. Whoever allows the position or office he or she is holding to misbehave, such individual will be responsible for the consequences.

How have you been able to combine your ministry and your family responsibilities?

I thank God for my wife, she has been my great support. Your family is also your ministry, your church is part of your family because you run your family every day. When you are adequate in that, then you would be able to minister to others.  If you don’t see your family as your first ministry, you are a failure. Everything about ministry starts from home. When you let your wife and children see themselves as part of your ministry, they function in the family and also in the church which is the larger ministry.

What are those things you have achieved since you became a bishop?

I have not achieved anything. I am still asking God for what to do better. It is people that can assess what I have been doing so far, but if I would respond to this question, I would say that I am yet to achieve anything.

The comment of the Chief Justice of Nigeria that Sharia law should be part of the constitution is still generating reactions. What is your take on this?

It is a pity that people want everyone to live together, but Nigeria being a country with different religions, such clamour cannot hold. Even some Muslims don’t subscribe to the Sharia law. People are often self-centred and selfish when they hold a particular position and they take advantage of others. But let everybody in Nigeria be careful. If you believe in the project of Nigeria, be careful.

Do you think the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) is doing enough for Christians in Nigeria?

Yes, CAN is relevant, it is a body representing the Christians. If it is in Ireland, CAN would have been a political party. But the problem with CAN is that many of the people occupying one position at one level or the other always forget the importance of their positions. Many of our representatives in the body are timid and not even sure of their ability to influence the government. All they are thinking about is what they can get from the government and when you cannot close your eyes to such carrots, you fail.

How can the church contribute to nation building?

This boils down to the irregularities existing in CAN as an organisation. If CAN had done it right, things would have been better. I don’t know if CAN has a committee that meets to discuss issues affecting Christians in the country. They should generate ideas on ways the church can come in and contribute to the development of the country. My doctoral research was on the social, economic and political contributions of some people in the church to Nigeria. Ajayi Crowther contributed to the development of the country. He translated the Bible into Igbo and Yoruba. Beyond the fact that he was a bishop, he ministered beyond his denomination as an Anglican. Ajayi Crowther opened Nigeria to evangelism. Dr Milla was not a pastor but a medical doctor that lived in the north who translated English dictionary into Hausa and his contributions to the development of the country were appreciated. These people were able to contribute to the development of the country. The church needs to follow their paths and pick up from where they stopped.

 What advice do you have for the church and the country at large?

I am not going to prophesy how 2020 is going to look like, but all I can say is that 2020 requires lot of hard work. We should endeavour to work hard this year and I can assure you that the year is going to be a victorious one.