The Vice President of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osibanjo has charged the church to continue to remain the bastion of hope of the country and must continue to challenge the moral conscience of leadership when we do not live up to the standards of our office.
Osinbajo said this at the National Symposium organized by the Surulere District of the Cherubim and Seraphim Movement Church, Ayo Ni O, held at the church headquarters yesterday as part of the activities to mark the Golden Jubilee of the Wardens Band.
The event tagged: The State, Society and the Church: Beacon of Hope for a New Nigeria” brought together traditional ruler, government representatives, technocrat, cleric, among others.
He said that the truth is, our nation is at moral cross-roads and the consequences have dogged us for years – corruption, vandalization of public property, insecurity and the wanton pursuit of wealth by any means necessary.
Osinbajo said “we must rise up to meet them with the values required to build a sustainable future, and inspire them toward the moral imperative of doing good and honest work to the best of their ability, as a service to humanity and to God. Surely there is a future and a hope (Proverb. 23:18) for Nigeria, and what is the church but the great bastion of this hope.
He stressed that the church has a duty and a charge by God Himself to challenge the moral conscience of leadership when we do not live up to the standards of our office.
“We have the ears and the hearts of the people. We must inspire them through our own great example to look to the future with hope, and to find that hope in their God given abilities, in the strength of their character, in the enduring value of honest work and a patriotic commitment to the overall well-being of the Nigerian nation.
“Our voice must rise in the fervency of hope at this moment in our national life like never before.
“There are those who would have you believe that Nigeria has nothing to look forward to. That our continuing efforts to push ourselves into the light of a brighter tomorrow are in futility. Nothing could be more antithetical to our faith. We know all too well what God is able to do in the lives of a people through willing and ready human vessels”, he said.
In his words, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Isiaka Amao called for more cooperation between the state and the church so that we can realize the new Nigeria that we all desire.
He said that the church is a highly influential institution in the society and the current socio-economic challenges affecting the nation, such as insecurity, require an all of society approach, adding that the church has a crucial role in creating the new Nigeria we all hope for.
He asked should the part of the church be limited to only the act of worship? Should the unity and faith, peace and progress of the country be left only in hands of the government? Can he church’s influence on the society serves as that beacon of hope for a new Nigeria.
He posited that the church being part of the society can also contribute significantly to the much-needed change in various ways such as praying for the state and the society.
“The church should also provide religious and moral education, provide social/humanitarian services, and foster societal cohesion. The church is encouraged to do more to ensure that disunity in society created by gas in cultural and religious divides are bridge”, he said.
Earlier, the Chairman and Leader, Senior Special Apostle, Prophet Sunday Funsho Korede said that the hosting of the symposium is a continuity of the good works of chairman and General leader of the church for 44 years, prophet G. O Fakeye who was great bridge builder.
He noted that there is a need for a symbiotic relationship among these bodies to create and sustain a peaceful and enabling environment for each person to fully develop his or her potentials and be able to serve God dutifully, be a patriotic citizen and a useful members of the society.
