By Adeyinka Adeniran
The Archbishop of Ibadan Ecclesiastical Province Anglican Communion, Most Revd Williams Aladekugbe, has said Christians in the country has a responsibility to actively participate in politics in order to promote righteousness, justice and community well-being.
He said this while delivering the Presidential address to the First Session of the 10th Synod of the Diocese of Ibadan North with the theme, “Cast your bread upon the waters.”
The cleric noted that by their participation in politics, Christians will hold their ultimate allegiance to Jesus Christ rather than any political party, stating that the scriptures encourage voting, advocating for truth, and respecting authorities while recognising that true hope lies in God and not in human governments.
He maintained that the lack of interest by Christians in politics does not stop politicians from deciding their taxes, healthcare, safety, education, religious freedom or future, lamenting that Christians have allowed their religion to imprison them politically.
He said, “Next to God’s power is political power. Political power is people’s given, we have the people. The seven executive members in the ward are the people who determine who governs us. As Christians you must attend ward meetings to be able to influence those to represent us.
“I encourage all our lay members to fully participate in politics, register as a card carrying member in your ward, be active and ready to lead. You are in our prayers.”
While bemoaning the level of insecurity in the country, Bishop Aladekugbe disclosed that many communities have been deserted due to persistent attacks, insisting that the time has come for the Federal Government to be up and doing than always engaging in rhetorics.
“The government should be able to confront terrorism, banditry, and kidnapping headlong in order to end the continued shedding of innocent blood in our country. We salute the efforts of security agencies but the government must be more sincere in its approach to completely eradicate the menace”, he stated.
He further said that since the birth of the present republic in 1999 no governor has been as people-oriented as Governor Seyi Makinde, declaring that he has touched positively in many ways the lives of the average indigenes and residents of the state.
According to him, since progressvism is all about listening to the people and executing pro-people policies Governor Makinde makes all the difference, noting that his policies are all about the people as he listens.
Present at the event include eminent personalities such as serving and retired Bishops, Clergies, their wives, legal luminaries, laites, traditional rulers and other invited guests.
