15th November, 2010
The Prelate of the Methodist Church, Nigeria, Most Rev. Sunday Makinde, has urged the Federal Government and the people of the Niger Delta to take the amnesty programme very seriously.
He gave the advice in Lagos on Sunday while speaking with newsmen during the ordination, consecration and inauguration service of 10 new bishops and 13 lay presidents of the church.
Ten members of Board of Trustee of the Wesley University of Technology were also inaugurated at the ceremony.
“My advice is this. The elections are drawing near and we should watch it very carefully.
“We should rehabilitate the repentant militants gainfully. I do not want the politicians to attempt to recruit them for election malpractice.
“The role of the Church in elections is to mobilise its members to register, vote, and do their civic duties and to give political education.
“The Church has been wanting in that area but we are saying now, please go and register,’’ he said.
Makinde urged Nigerians to vote for only credible politicians.
“Vote for credible people, do not vote for parties. Parties have no manifestos. No party is stable in Nigeria today so vote for good personalities. I have never seen any credible political party in Nigeria today and am saying it.
“So let us vote for credible personalities within these parties who would give us light, employment and security because that is very important.
“It is a shame that our leaders even go to South Africa to get medical treatment,” he said.
The 10 new bishops are Samuel Nortey, Innocent Ndiniwii, Robert Egwenre, Chikwendu Igwe, Lawson Elom, Amos Ajiboye, Uduakobong Akpan, Etim Ekong, Usien Akpanenua and Edem Offiong.
The Diocesan Lay Presidents inducted included Sir Ladi Sowemimo, Sir David Oni, Chief Olasukanmi Shobowale, Prof. Andrew Chukwuemerie and Chief Anab Atuloma.
The Board of Trustee included Sir Adebukola Adebutu who is the Chairman, Sir Bola Ogunsanwo who is the Secretary, Sir Sam Igwe-Eke, Prince Sam Ejoifor, Sir Abiye Sekibo, a former Minister for Transport and Mrs Titi Ajanaku, former Minister of State for Women Affairs.
Delivering the homily at the service, the Bishop of Northern Ghana Methodist Church, Ghana, Rt. Rev. Emmanuel Afiriyie, spoke on the theme: “Aspiring to Leadership.â€
He said that it required honourable qualities to aspire for leadership.
He said that honourable leaders should be reputable and principled people who would be irreproachable in their lives.
“The people are in dire need of true leaders but if this is what is happening in the world, it should not be so in the Church.
“In a church we should have honourable people with high leadership qualities,’’ the minister said.
He urged the new leaders of the Church to emulate the leadership qualities of Jesus Christ for the progress of the Church and society.
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