From Oluseye Ojo, Ibadan
Prelate, Methodist Church Nigeria (MCN), Oliver Ali Aba, has tasked Nigerians to unite and build a strong and united country.
He made the disclosure in his address to a four-day 61st annual synod of the Methodist Church Nigeria, Diocese of Ibadan, hosted by the Ekotedo Circuit of the denomination in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital. The synod has as theme: “Contending for the Faith.”
The cleric said all and sundry must join hands together in building a new nation, where youths would be encouraged to stay back in the country and contribute to national development instead of travelling overseas in search of greener pastures.
He said: “For posterity’s sake, we must build a strongly united country, where each Methodist must be ready to join hands with others in building a new nation, where our youths will be encouraged to stay back and not emigrate overseas (‘japa’). While most Nigerians are united in their criticism of political leadership across the land, we must not forget that leadership is a reflection of who we are as citizens.
“As the first church that pre-dates the founding of our nation in 1914, we believe the coming together of over 400 ethnic nationalities to form the nation, called Nigeria, is not an accident. It is the work of God, which each Methodist and Christian in Nigeria must uphold with prayers, hard work and personal commitment.”
On the 2023 general election, the prelate said Nigerians had high hopes about the polls, and “we note with dismay that there are reports of alleged rigging in all the six geo-political zones of the federation and pockets of violence leading to lapses on the part of the alleged actors (citizens, the umpire and security forces).
“As Methodist people, we consider the 2023 elections, work in progress. We appeal that in subsequent elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) must do better. Methodist Church Nigeria is of the view that, like any other human institution in Nigeria, with INEC, there is room for improvement in future elections.”
The synod, which began, yesterday, would be formally declared open today by the Archbishop of Ibadan, Olumuyiwa Odejayi, at the United Missionary College, Molete, Ibadan.