Some prominent past and present Nigerian leaders and across the world will soon gather in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to discuss how peace can be further achieve in the polity by using religious leaders to preach the peace and harmony.
Among the leaders expected at the Golden jubilee and thanks giving service of the founder of Living Christ Mission Incorporated, Prof. Daddy Hezekiah, is Nigerian Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Former President Goodluck Jonathan, former President Olusegun Obansanjo and other past and serving Presidents of other African Nations, to discuss on the theme: “The Role of Religious Leaders in a Developing Economy.”
Speaking at a press conference Monday in Abuja, Chairman National Planning Committee of the event Prof. Obiekwe Nwanolue, said the golden jubilee celebration is put together to discuss how peace, which the celebrant stands for, could be achieved.
While urging Nigerians to rededicate themselves to God so that the country can attain its pride of place in the world, Prof. Nwanolue also advised Christians to delve into all legitimate spheres of human endeavour in order to turn the fortunes of the country around.
On the theme of the event, “The Role of Religious Leaders in a Developing Economy”, he said church leaders should stop pauperizing the people by asking them to ‘sow seeds’, saying they should instead focus on preaching holiness and how to make their followers succeed.
According to him, dignitaries across the globe will be gracing this occasion including serving and former presidents of several countries. Zambia, Central Africa Republic (CAR), delegation from America, Britain, among others, adding that the celebration has transcended beyond the activities of the church.
“His choice of choosing Abuja as venue for the celebration is to tell the world that there is peaceful coexistence, there is need for harmony, democratic stability amidst the religious and political crisis in the country.
“Interestingly, Nigeria government has indicated enormous interest in that ceremony to appreciate a man whose name is synonymous with philanthropy and generosity.”
While giving a note of caution to some of religious leaders using their pulpit to score cheap political favour, he said: “We have many men of God using religion to deceive people just to score cheap political goals. Religious leaders should face their pulpit and pray for the country. If they use their pulpit to advice the leaders of this country, the country would have gone far even though the political leaders don’t listen to advice.
“What they are doing is wrong because politics should be for politicians while raw responsibility of the men of God is to pray for the country. They should call you order with sincerity of purpose the political leaders that are not doing well.”
Head of Mission of the Central African Republic CAR in Nigeria, Aloy Michael, on his part said the president of his country, Prof. Faustin Touadera and that of Zambia, Mr Edgar Lungu are fully in support of the golden jubilee.
“The Bible says that by their fruits we shall know them. They are deceitful, the so-called men of God who are using the pulpit to score cheap political goals. Their main goal is to pray for the country. What hey are doing now is condemnable. If a leader is not doing well, call him to order, invite him, not chide him publicly.
“Believers must also go into the uniform jobs like the police and the military so that they can simply sanitize the ills that have bedeviled those professions by eliminating the rot that has eaten deep into the fabric of those institutions.”
