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From Obinna Odogwu, Awka
Prelate of the Methodist Church Nigeria, His Eminence, Dr Oliver Aba, on Thursday, advised Nigerians not to make themselves available to politicians who might be planning to set their country ablaze ahead of the May 29 handover.
President Muhammadu Buhari, whose two terms of eight years will be ending on the said date, is expected to handover to a new administration that day. But the 2023 general election that produced his successor is still generating tension in the country. The poll is also being contested at the courts.
But the prelate, in a chat with journalists shortly after inaugurating a new diocese of the church in Awka, enthroning its pioneer bishop, Onyekachi Nwakanma and presenting, Sir Ifeanyi Mba as its pioneer Lay President, begged Nigerians to give peace a chance.
“We should be able to love our country Nigeria. Are we happy with what is happening in Sudan? Are we happy about what is happening in Kenya?
“I left Kenya last Friday and it was in the news that 89 individuals were buried as an act of cultism which the Kenyan government is saying is an act of terrorism, that it has gone beyond ordinary cultism.
“And so, all I am saying is that every Nigerian must have what they call shock absorber. We must agree together to take our nation to the next level. Do you know that Nigeria is the hope of the African continent? Wherever other nations in Africa see us, they call us their father.
“And why must you not act as a father to these nations? So, we must lead by example. After all, we say that we are the giant of Africa. Then we must live by what we are.
“And so, I am only asking that that day is just a normal day; a day for democracy in Nigeria”, he stated.
The new bishop, Nwakanma, in his homily, called for unity among Christians in the country, saying that with togetherness, Christians would do great exploits in Nigeria.
He said that he would do everything within his powers to ensure the growth of the new diocese, saying that he would pay more attention to winning souls for Christ.
