’’Stop Standing As Obstacle To Our Prayers’’.
Bishop Of Ibadan Diocese, Church Of Nig. (Anglican Communion), Most Revd. Akinfenwa Blasts Politicians.
Most Reverend (Dr.) Joseph O. Akinfenwa, the Archbishop of Ibadan Diocese, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), is one of the most revered men of God in the country. He is known to be an upright and highly principled man of God. In fact, those close to him will surely testify to the fact that Bishop Akinfenwa is one of the few men of God that say things as they are, without giving a hoot about whose ox is gored. He is a blunt preacher who is well respected not only in the Christian circle, but also in the government due to his fearless approach to societal issues and state of the nation. These are the values that Bishop Akinfenwarepresents.
So, it was not surprising when at a burial service, recently held at the St. Annes’s Church, Molete, Ibadan, where the man of God lashed out at Nigerian politicians over their ‘might is right’ attitude towards the society and people generally. Rev. Akinfenwa said ‘’even as we celebrate the 54th independence anniversary, if we honestly look at ourselves, we have not seen yet as Nigerian masses. The people on whose behalf the declaration of independence was made are yet, and I say are yet to see the manifestation of that independence fifty-four years ago’’.
He went on to state that ’’we have prayed for our state, we have prayed for Nigeria and our state, but ‘we appeal on this occasion to our political elites to stop standing as obstacles to our prayers’. Politicians are supposed to make the wishes of the masses come true, they are supposed to be representatives of the people, but our pain and painful story is that, we have many people in the high places who just have to make sure that the wishes and desire of the people do not materialise. We have rulers, leaders frustrating the masses in many places, I pray today God will touch your hearts, so that you can do the right thing. And another worrisome dimension is that, as elections are drawing nearer the messenger of death has become more active again and killings and death associated with politics are on the increase. Many mysterious deaths probably backed by diabolic means. The battle for political powers is fought creating sorrow in many families. Therefore what you see today is that our politicians sit in the safety and comfort of their air-conditioned offices, houses and cars, but they manipulate poor people, to shoot and machete themselves.’’
In the clergyman’s words, ‘’ a terrible circle of attack and more revenge is going on in parts of Nigeria and in the lives of our politicians. Beloved people of God in Christ Jesus, the Bible says’ ‘every soul that sinneth shall die’ and the Bible says again ‘there would normally be judgement for every action or act done.
People have been sent to early graves through acts of omission in our land, people that should live are dying in our
hospitals, stray bullets from security operatives, innocent lives. Our roads are death traps, there are three points on the Lagos-Ibadan Express way where accidents have occurred every single day for about one moth now and nobody cares. How can a nation be wasting human lives recklessly like we are doing and still be talking about development, how? It is surprising what is wrong with us, why are we not thinking about the end when we shall stand before the judgement throne of God and this is what we have come to do today, to bid farewell to a soldier that has completed his duty and one thing about this God is, when He would recall anyone we do not know. A o fi fun wa Igba ati akoko ti a o pe wa, pe oya ise to se to ma bo nile. Kilowade ta o le ma se rere. Kilowade ta o le ma se igboran si Olorun? (It is not given period and time that we will be call back home why then cant we do good? Why can’t we obey God). Ecclesiastes Chapter 12-13 says ‘This is the end of everything, fear God, keep His commandments, expect judgement’. And the Bible makes us to understand that the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. This life is for a while you will be recalled home someday. Whatever you plant is what you will reap. Do good because everything will come to an end one day. You and me will come to an end, the end will come one day. W jhy don’t you think of changing your concept of life, your concept of politics, why don’t you begin to change them because in the grave there is no repentance, make amend today’, he concluded
Bishop Of Ibadan Diocese, Church Of Nig. (Anglican Communion), Most Revd. Akinfenwa Blasts Politicians.
Most Reverend (Dr.) Joseph O. Akinfenwa, the Archbishop of Ibadan Diocese, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), is one of the most revered men of God in the country. He is known to be an upright and highly principled man of God. In fact, those close to him will surely testify to the fact that Bishop Akinfenwa is one of the few men of God that say things as they are, without giving a hoot about whose ox is gored. He is a blunt preacher who is well respected not only in the Christian circle, but also in the government due to his fearless approach to societal issues and state of the nation. These are the values that Bishop Akinfenwarepresents.
So, it was not surprising when at a burial service, recently held at the St. Annes’s Church, Molete, Ibadan, where the man of God lashed out at Nigerian politicians over their ‘might is right’ attitude towards the society and people generally. Rev. Akinfenwa said ‘’even as we celebrate the 54th independence anniversary, if we honestly look at ourselves, we have not seen yet as Nigerian masses. The people on whose behalf the declaration of independence was made are yet, and I say are yet to see the manifestation of that independence fifty-four years ago’’.
He went on to state that ’’we have prayed for our state, we have prayed for Nigeria and our state, but ‘we appeal on this occasion to our political elites to stop standing as obstacles to our prayers’. Politicians are supposed to make the wishes of the masses come true, they are supposed to be representatives of the people, but our pain and painful story is that, we have many people in the high places who just have to make sure that the wishes and desire of the people do not materialise. We have rulers, leaders frustrating the masses in many places, I pray today God will touch your hearts, so that you can do the right thing. And another worrisome dimension is that, as elections are drawing nearer the messenger of death has become more active again and killings and death associated with politics are on the increase. Many mysterious deaths probably backed by diabolic means. The battle for political powers is fought creating sorrow in many families. Therefore what you see today is that our politicians sit in the safety and comfort of their air-conditioned offices, houses and cars, but they manipulate poor people, to shoot and machete themselves.’’
In the clergyman’s words, ‘’ a terrible circle of attack and more revenge is going on in parts of Nigeria and in the lives of our politicians. Beloved people of God in Christ Jesus, the Bible says’ ‘every soul that sinneth shall die’ and the Bible says again ‘there would normally be judgement for every action or act done.
People have been sent to early graves through acts of omission in our land, people that should live are dying in our
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