The President of EL-Advocates a Non Governmental Organization in the state, Barr. Ikenna Enekweizu said it is high time Christians took leadership position in the country and the state in particular.
Barr. Enekweizu dropped the hint in an interview shortly after a one day conference to sensitize Christians on the need to take leadership position across the country.
Barr. Enekweizu noted that leadership of any country directs and determines its goodness or bad result, that Nigeria has leaders in the past but they could not deliver better dividends to the people because those leaders were not the wish of the people.
He charged the church to live above board and should not abandon the leadership of any state, local government and the wards in the hands of those who are not Christians believing that the church is the light of the world where good leadership can be enthroned.
Explaining further, he maintained that El-Advocates is not a member of any political party but urged Christians to take a bold step by being a member of one of the political parties and also register as a voter that will determine their desire to make a change.
“Christian should stop complaining against any bad leadership but should critically move to take-over from those that are not given us good leadership to make a change”, he said.
In his lecture titled “identification and correction of wrong Christian View Controversies in Politics, Deacon Akro Parker expressed the need for Christians to be enthroned in the leadership of the nation and the state while blaming Christians for the laxity.
According to him, we are very convinced of the need to have believers in politics for the peace and development of the land but the question is: why are the teachings not effective? Why are criminal activities increasing despite the purification of churches?, he queried.
Deacon Parker maintained that most of the politicians in the state are Christians as most of their victories are followed as thanksgiving in the churches and most men of God also prophesied about their victories but what went wrong? He asked.
He noted that the citizens continue to experience bad governance regime after regime and the situation gets worst despite strong prayers against evil men taking over power at all levels of governance.
Speaking further, Deacon Parker explained that since the creation of Rivers State, there has never been a zoning system in the state advising a level playground for all to participate freely and democratically.
Earlier, a political scientist with the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Dr. Chris Akani warned that in politics the best are not always the winner, as electoral malpractices, rigging, manipulation, violence among others may enthrone bad leadership at the end of the day.
Dr. Akani who described the church as the body of Christ expressed the need for Christians to ensure that righteous leaders are elected in all the positions.
Others blamed some Christians who think that politics are for sinners and dirty and should not be played by Christians as misunderstanding the scripture.
In a short sermon, delivered by Pastor Dr. Richard Samuel posited that mentorship in Christianity to take over leadership posited of not only in the church but political position is very vital for the growth of a nation.
Dr. Samuel said that Christians should not only pray, but should make sure that they participate while thanking the organizers for the programme. Highlights of the conference were prayers and prophetic intervention for the state and the nation, prayers against Boko Haram and other calamities befalling the nation. ###
Emeka Jilly Ejiowhor/Pius Dukor
