The General Overseer of Victory Life Bible Church International, Apostle Lawrence Achudume, has urged clergy and political leaders to uphold integrity and avoid living double-standard lives.
Achudume gave the advice during the church’s crossover night service in Abeokuta, Ogun State, according to a statement by the church media unit.
He specifically cautioned religious leaders against preaching one thing and practising another and advised political leaders to avoid “cornering” the nation’s wealth.
“There is this talk about church people, those of the pulpit. Our message to our colleagues is that we should live according to what we preach; we should not live a double-standard life,” he said.BOLA
“Say what you mean and mean what you say, and say what you do. We should not say something in the pulpit and do something outside the pulpit. We should be real. We should be sincere with the people,” Achudume added
He stressed that clergy are God’s agents and will be held accountable for their actions. “We should know that we are God’s oracle, we are God’s agents, and God will hold us accountable. Not only God, but also those who are leading will hold us accountable. So we should be upright and live a righteous life.”
Turning to political and religious leaders, Achudume said: “My prayers and message for Nigerians is that we should live in integrity. Enough is enough of betrayals—betrayals of one another, betrayals of the nation, betrayals of the trust the people have given to our leaders, whether pastors, imams or politicians. Whatever position we occupy is in trust for the people, and we should use our offices to help humanity.”
He lamented Nigeria’s tarnished image on the global stage, attributing it to a lack of credibility.
“Where we lack credibility and honour, the other parts of the world will look down on us as a people who are not serious. Nigeria is doing great exploits; we can repeat it here. I pray that our nation becomes God’s dream for us, that our children will be great, our nation will be great, and the era of one person cornering our common wealth will end.”
Achudume also advised youths to embrace African culture while being mindful of technology’s negative aspects. “As much as they use technology to make wealth and be a blessing, they should also be careful to see the negative side of technology and to avoid it,” he said
He concluded by reminding Nigerians that life is brief and that ill-got wealth cannot be enjoyed after death. “People have stolen things, and they die; not even Nigerians can have access to it. But I pray that Nigeria will become great and better for all of us to live in. It’s time we prove ourselves worthy of respect,” he declared.
