Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, on Saturday, joined other key leaders of the Cherubim and Seraphim Church, calling on Christian clerics to remain apolitical by telling the truth to power.
Governor Adeleke made the while speaking during the St. Moses Orimolade 7th memorial lecture with the theme, “The church as a catalyst for good governance in Nigeria,” held at Victoria Island, Lagos, saying that the church must return to the era of speaking truth to power.
This was just as the governor quickly recalled the admonition delivered by Pope John Paul 11 far back in 1994, that the church must continue to exercise her prophetic role and be the voice of the voiceless, saying that by doing so human dignity would be acknowledged, while ensuring that people would always be at the center of all governments.
“The church must return to the era of speaking truth to power. As Pope John Paul 11 said in 1994, the church must continue to exercise her prophetic role and be the voice of the voiceless, so that everywhere the human dignity of every individual will be acknowledged and that people will always be at the center of all governments,” he said.
The governor argued that silence by the church was not an option, saying that it must speak loudly about free and fair elections, the dignity of all human beings, the superiority of public good over private interests, and respect for the supremacy of the constitution, among others.
He said it was imperative for the church to mount advocacy on what impedes good governance, such as autocracy, dictatorship, arbitrariness, the culture of impunity, self-perpetuation in office, and suppression of opposition, among others, even as he noted that only a leader divinely guided can deliver good governance, restore public faith in politics, avoid self-enrichment, resolve societal poverty, and observe the rule of law.
“Silence by the church is not an option. The church must speak loudly about free and fair elections, the dignity of all human beings, the superiority of public good over private interests, respect for the supremacy of the constitution, observance of the rule of law, and equality of all citizens before the law.
“As a sitting governor, I firmly believe the church should mount advocacy on what impedes good governance, namely autocracy, dictatorship, arbitrariness, culture of impunity, self-perpetuation in office, suppression of opposition, corruption, and failure to respond to aspirations of the people.
“Only a leader divinely guided can deliver good governance, restore public faith in politics, avoid self-enrichment, resolve societal poverty, and observe the rule of law. In memory of our spiritual father, I, as a governor, emphasized fear of God in decision-making,” Adeleke stated.
“Public interest is our moral compass. I govern strictly under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Hence, I strongly attribute my successes so far to my submission to the direction and guidance of the Holy Spirit. My model is what the political class needs.
“In line with the evangelism of our founding fathers, the church must support the political class in this quest. Only then can the delivery of good governance become a reality,” he added.
President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Archbishop Daniel Okoh, who was represented by the Reverend Evans Onyemara, equally urged church leaders to be apolitical.
According to him, by doing so, they will be able to “look political leaders in the face to discuss issues affecting the people, even as pointedly noted that they should see any opportunity to meet political office holders as not “representing themselves but the people.”
This was just as he observed that the church had been silent and quiet, querying how many church leaders spoke to the occasion when the youths staged #EndBadGovernance protests across the country.
He, therefore, urged the church to establish church-based advocacy groups in her role as a catalyst for good governance in Nigeria.
“Church leaders can look political leaders in the face to discuss issues affecting the people.
“When church leaders have the opportunity to meet political office holders, they should know that they are not representing themselves but the people.
“It is important we tell ourselves the truth; have we not failed? We must hold leaders accountable, as the church is too silent and quiet.
“When the youth protested against ending bad governance, how many church leaders spoke to the occasion? There’s pressure in the North, and people are moving to the South. Instead of church leaders talking about pressing issues like insecurity and terrorism, among others, church leaders are busy talking about tithes,” he said.
Also speaking in the same vein, the convener of the lecture, Baba Aladura, David Bob-Manuel, stressed that the world and indeed the Nigerian nation were looking unto the church to provide the catalyst or the balm to assuage the suffering in the land.
He said that it was only by preaching the true gospel, righteousness, and doing it that the church could take its rightful position and provide a direction for good governance.
“The world and indeed the Nigerian nation are looking unto the church to provide the catalyst or the balm to assuage the suffering in the land. It is only by preaching the true gospel, righteousness, and doing it that the church can take its rightful position and provide a direction for good governance,” he said.
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