Clergyman Urges Leaders To Embrace God For Nigeria’s Prosperity
- Laments wasted years, resources
- Wants FG, States to open churches
BY UBON EKANEM, CALABAR – Worried by gross mismanagement of the nation’s resources and collapse of social infrastructure, the African Church of Christ, Calabar Diocese says the way forward for Nigeria is having leaders at all levels embrace the tenets of divine gospel and the fear of God in their daily lives.
According to Primate of the Church, His Eminence, Dr Emmanuel Josiah Udofia, years of wasted resources are now haunting the nation with coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic exposing massive rot within the health and other related sectors.
Dr Udofia however commended Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River and his Akwa-Ibom counterpart, Deacon Udom Emmanuel, on the precautionary and preventive measures adopted to check the spread of COVID-19 infections in their respective States.
“I appreciate the efforts of Akwa-Ibom and Cross River state governments on measures adopted to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and the palliatives to cushion the attendant adverse effects on their people”, he said.
The clergyman expressed regrets that despite being blessed with huge human and material potentials, most leaders, have over the years, failed to take advantage of our God given resources to develop the country to the level where hunger, deprivation and social needs would have become a thing of the past as obtained in civilized climes.
Speaking with journalists in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, Dr Udofia said gross mismanagement of available resources and abuse of office by many entrusted with leadership positions have largely been responsible for the pains and anguish being suffered by Nigerians today.
The Church Primate lamented that Nigeria has continued to depend on other nations for help despite its capacity and potential to adequately sustain itself as a flourishing nation if available resources were properly managed.
He also took a swipe at Nigerian Youths for showing clear lack of respect for the word of God, saying that explains the reasons most people, especially political leaders, are not accountable for their actions.
The respected Church leader said spreading the gospel and proactive evangelism will ensure many lives are touched and transformed as no one can be saved without the fear of God in him or her.
Dr Udofia pointed out that aside the spiritual and physical growth of the Church, plans are underway to establish and encourage the setting up of cottage industries, hospitals and schools to take care their members as well as generality of the public.
On the current lockdown over COVID-19 pandemic, the African Church Primate appealed to both the Federal and State Governments to lift the restriction on Church gatherings, noting that meeting in the Churches as a people and as the body of Christ are all in fulfillment of scriptural injunction.
