The Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has stressed the need for public office-holders at every level to create a just and equitable society, saying that faith in God must go hand in hand with responsible leadership.
Governor Makinde emphasised that leaders must pursue peace, seek and stand up for truth, and ensure opportunities that allow every child, regardless of background, to realise their God-given potential.
The governor spoke at the opening of the Methodist Church Nigeria’s 50th/15th Biennial Conference, which brought together 1,000 delegates across Nigeria and the diaspora, ongoing in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, on Thursday.
“Those entrusted with leadership must ensure a fair and just society. We must pursue peace. We must seek and stand up for truth, just as the Prelate demonstrated in his address. We must ensure opportunities that allow every child, regardless of background, to realise their God-given potential,” Makinde said.
Governor Makinde commended the church’s readiness to hold public office-holders accountable, saying the denomination had added another important responsibility to its legacy.
“From the speech I have just heard from the Prelate, there is one more thing to be added. The Methodist Church now speaks truth to power,” Makinde said.
Also in his remarks, the Nigeria Democratic Congress presidential candidate and former Anambra State governor, Mr Peter Obi, blamed the nation’s greatest problem on leadership and appreciated the Methodist Church for its contributions to national development.
He noted that Nigeria has enough land to cultivate the food we need and enough human capital to develop like any nation, adding that the nation has abundant natural resources to generate enough revenue.
He said, “There is nothing wrong with Nigeria. The only thing wrong with Nigeria is leadership. We have enough land to cultivate the food we need. We have enough human capital to develop like any nation.
“We have enough natural resources to generate enough revenue. There is absolutely nothing lacking in this country except responsible leadership.”
Additionally, Obi drew evidence from a World Bank report that millions of Nigerians are facing active hunger, saying that food insecurity is an instance of governance failure.
“The World Bank has stated that millions of Nigerians are facing active hunger. It should never be so,” Obi said.
Delivering his address earlier on the conference theme: “I Will Fight For You” (Exodus 14:14), the Prelate of the Methodist Church Nigeria, Dr Oliver Ali Aba, appealed to the Tinubu-led administration to prioritise critical constitutional responsibilities of securing human lives and property, addressing inflation, the free fall of the naira, and the fluctuating cost of energy.
Aba noted that the rising cost of living has continued to affect education, healthcare and businesses across the country.
He said, “These remain trying times for Nigerians. The rising cost of living continues to affect education, healthcare and businesses across the country.
“The Methodist Church joins other well-meaning Nigerians in appealing to the Federal Government led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to meaningfully address inflation, the freefall of the naira and the unrealistic cost of energy.
“I call on the federal government to rise to one of its primary constitutional responsibilities of securing human lives and property.”
The Prelate urged the Tinubu-led administration to take meaningful steps to reverse the trend, adding that leaders must not abdicate the responsibilities for which they were elected.
He said: “Our governments must not abdicate the responsibilities for which they were elected. It is good to pray, but leaders must perform their duties creditably,” he said.
Additionally, the Methodist Church’s Prelate warned against negotiating with criminals, advising the government to, instead, strengthen security operations.
He said, “Governments must stop paying ransom to kidnappers. The Federal Government must become proactive on issues relating to banditry, kidnapping, and insecurity.”
He described the rescue of the kidnapped schoolchildren and teachers from three schools in Oriire Local Government Area, Oyo State, as one of the few encouraging security successes recorded recently.
“We thank Jesus Christ for the rescue of the 46 Nigerians abducted in Oyo State. Their freedom was made possible through the combined efforts of praying Christians and security agencies,” the Prelate said, calling on Christians to remain steadfast in prayer while demanding accountability from leaders.
“We need prayers to overcome our personal and national problems. We pray that God will grant Nigeria mercy, justice, prosperity and leaders who will faithfully serve the people,” he said.
Deliberations at the ongoing conference are expected to focus on national development, security, economic reforms, moral leadership and the role of the Church in promoting justice, peace and national unity.
